The Repro SME in Semarang has found new hope in recycling old tires, thanks to an innovation developed by the Engineering Faculty at Universitas Dian Nuswantoro (Udinus). This innovation was an output of the Community Service Program (PKM) conducted by lecturers and students at Udinus. 

The community service was entitled ‘Development of Crumb Rubber Production Technology and Its Supply Chain Management Through the Means of Recycling Old Tires.’ This project aimed to support the sustainable circular economy. 

The team conducting this project was led by Heru Agus Santoso, Ph. D—the Dean of the Engineering Faculty at Udinus. It also involves two other faculty members, including Dewa Kusuma Wjiaya, M.Sc., and Nur Islahudi, M.T. This project also involved six students, namely, Yestika Nur Jayanti, Rano Islamiyanto, Muhammad Sriaji Nugroho, Bima Ananta Kurniawan, Alfaturachman Maulana Pahlevi, and Zidan Alfarezi Sukoco.

Heru Agus Santoso, Ph.D—the Dean of the Engineering Faculty at Udinus. He explained that the program was a response to the increase in old tires due to the excessive uses of transportations in Semarang. Heru Agus also revealed that these old tires were often seen taking spaces at landfills, meaning that it would take a particular form of technology to address this issue. 

“Through this project, we developed a crumb rubber device to process old tires into industrial materials with increased value,” Heru revealed.

Crumb rubbers are materials with a good potential in the industry, as they can serve as mixture materials for asphalt, layering sports fields, and component in the shoe industry. The project spanned for six months, from July to December of 2024. 

“This technology does not only provide economic benefits, but also environmental ones, as a means to reduce the number of old tires in Semarang.,” Heru Agus Santoso, Ph.D., added. 

In addition to designing and creating the innovation, the team also gave a training program to the Repro Enterprise. This program was provided to equip workers in the enterprise to operate and manage the supply chain of old tires independently. 

After the training program was conducted, the crumb rubber device was handed to the Repro Enterprise in the I building at Udinus. As for the fabrication technology process, it was done in a lab for production systems. 

“The device is specifically designed to crush old tires, which are generally elastic, unlike other types of waste. We have also published this innovation in the form of a scientific paper to be replicated in other regions,” Heru Agus Santoso, Ph.D., said.

Through this program, hopefully, the recycling process of turning old tires into crumb rubbers can also be applied in other regions, allowing positive impacts to occur in social, economic, and ecological sectors. (Humas Udinus/Alex. Foto: Dok. FT)