2026 Global Polymer Summit Recovered Carbon Black Symposium

Klean Industries Inc. (“Klean”), a developer of advanced pyrolysis and gasification technologies for converting end-of-life tires and other waste streams into recovered carbon black, tire pyrolysis oil and other valuable resources, is pleased to announce that its CEO, Mr. Jesse Klinkhamer, will be a featured speaker and panelist at the 2026 Global Polymer Summit (“GPS”), September 28-30, 2026, at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.

Jesse Klinkhamer has spent two decades working in solid waste management and the resource and energy sectors, with a particular focus on pyrolysis and gasification technologies that convert waste into value. His work spans tire pyrolysis, recovered carbon black (rCB), circular economy systems and zero-waste-to-landfill strategies. In 2010, Jesse was the first speaker to present on recovered carbon black at the World Carbon Conference. He regularly speaks at international clean technology and environmental conferences and is an active voting member of ASTM International committees D24 for Carbon Black and D36 for Recovered Carbon Black.

Mr. Klinkhamer’s Presentation: Why Equipment Alone Is Not Technology

As global demand for sustainable carbon black alternatives grows, more companies are entering the recovered carbon black (rCB) sector believing that purchasing pyrolysis equipment is enough to create a successful tire recycling operation. Industry experience shows otherwise: equipment alone is not technology, nor does it guarantee the consistent production of marketable, specification-grade rCB.

True tire pyrolysis technology requires the integration of feedstock preparation, thermal conversion, process controls, operating procedures, maintenance, recovered carbon black upgrading, quality assurance, environmental compliance and commercial market development. Producing specification-grade rCB depends on a cohesive industrial system in which every component performs consistently and in harmony.

The presentation examines the factors that distinguish commercially successful rCB projects from those that struggle, including feedstock consistency, reactor integration, automation, product finishing, preventive maintenance, operational expertise and quality management. It also considers how these interconnected elements influence key recovered carbon black properties such as surface area, structure, ash content and particle size distribution, as well as ultimate customer acceptance.

Drawing on lessons from tire pyrolysis projects worldwide, the presentation explains why recovered carbon black production must be approached as an integrated industrial ecosystem. Equipment can be purchased, but technology must be developed, integrated, operated and continuously improved to create a bankable, scalable and sustainable manufacturing platform.
The 2026 Global Polymer Summit will feature a dedicated Recovered Carbon Black (“rCB”) Symposium during the September 28-30 event at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. The symposium brings together leaders from across the tire recycling, carbon black, rubber, polymer, advanced materials and sustainability value chains.

The symposium will focus on the technical and commercial progress of tire pyrolysis and its products, including recovered carbon black, a circular material produced from end-of-life tires and increasingly evaluated or adopted for applications in rubber compounds, plastics, inks, coatings and construction materials. Tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) will also be addressed, reflecting the importance of successful TPO commercialization to the long-term development of the tire pyrolysis industry.

Chaired by Dave Abdallah of Abdallah Consulting, the Recovered Carbon Black Symposium is intended to provide a forum for open technical and commercial dialogue among rCB producers, compounders, researchers, tire pyrolysis technology and equipment suppliers, customers and policymakers. Although the symposium’s primary focus is rCB market development, topics related to TPO are also included.

“Some format changes are planned for GPS this year that makes the symposium sessions much easier to attend,” said Abdallah. “The Smithers rCB Europe Conference is well done and highly attended. We are hoping to create a similarly valuable experience more accessible for the Americas. Creating this symposium within the GPS gives operators an opportunity to network with potential rCB and TPO customers already attending the event regularly.”

The symposium will feature industry presentations addressing recovered carbon black technology, applications, standards and commercialization. The planning committee will also organize a panel discussion with industry experts, with the topic to be announced separately.

The Global Polymer Summit attracts an international audience from the tire, rubber, polymer, recycling and advanced materials sectors, creating an important venue for technical exchange, customer engagement and collaboration around recovered carbon black and circular tire materials.

Recovered carbon black has progressed from proof-of-concept toward broader commercial qualification as a strategic circular material for the tire and rubber industries. The two-day symposium will bring together technology developers, tire manufacturers, equipment suppliers, researchers and market experts to examine developments across the value chain, from tire pyrolysis and rCB upgrading to application validation, processing, standards, regulation and market outlook. The program is intended to highlight both the remaining commercialization challenges and the progress being made toward scalable, high-performance circular carbon materials.

The Recovered Carbon Black (rCB) Symposium is scheduled for Tuesday, September 29 and Wednesday, September 30, 2026, from 10:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. as part of GPS 2026 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
The symposium sessions will be held on the Expo Floor in Theater 1 on Tuesday and Theater 3 on Wednesday, featuring presentations on the technical, commercial and regulatory developments shaping rCB adoption in the tire and rubber industries. Key participating organizations listed in the draft program include:

• Klean Industries
• Bridgestone Americas
• Cabot
• Continental Contitech
• Cyclonaire
• G3C Technologies 
• Robert Weibold GmbH
• RJ Lee Group
• Kera Energy
• Notch Consulting
• KBR

About the Global Polymer Summit

Launched in 2025 through the combination of the Rubber Division, ACS International Elastomer Conference (IEC) and the Rubber News International Tire Exposition & Conference (ITEC), the Global Polymer Summit brings together companies, technical experts, researchers and buyers from across the tire, rubber, elastomer and polymer industries. The event is designed for manufacturers, suppliers, researchers, engineers and other professionals seeking the latest technical developments, market intelligence and industry connections across these sectors.

Don’t Miss the Recovered Carbon Black (rCB) Symposium at GPS 2026

Louisville, KY - On Tuesday, September 29, and Wednesday, September 30, from 10:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Global Polymer Summit will host the Recovered Carbon Black (rCB) Symposium on the Expo Floor in Theater 1 on Tuesday and Theater 3 on Wednesday.

Global Polymer Summit – September 28-30, 2026: https://gps2026.events.rubber.org/

About Klean Industries

Klean Industries (“Klean”) provides best-in-class technologies and solutions in the waste-to-value industry. Our international team of award-winning experts boasts decades of experience in designing, engineering, and manufacturing top-quality equipment that converts waste streams into valuable energy and resources. Our unique products and services are the result of our combined expertise in recycling design, resource recovery, waste management, and energy generation projects. Our global project management experience ensures schedules and budgets are secured, enabling projects to be completed in less time and at a lower cost.

Klean uses proprietary technologies to rapidly develop projects that produce premium fuels, recovered carbon, and green hydrogen from various feedstocks. Our expertise and technical skills enable us to specialize in building projects that utilize advanced thermal conversion technologies, such as pyrolysis, gasification, and carbonization. These technologies transform end-of-life tires, non-recycled plastics, and municipal solid waste into domestic energy, sustainable commodities, and new clean-tech jobs. We create a symbiosis between waste, resources, and energy. Klean Industries is the link between a low-carbon, closed-loop economy and the goal of zero waste being sent to landfills.

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