The only molecular imaging provider for the tire industry
Transform how you develop, test, and optimize tire compounds.
More durable and sustainable tires
Our mission is to decrease tire pollution globally by providing tire manufacturers with the necessary tools to create longer-lasting, durable tires, include more sustainable (including recycled) ingredients, reduce the harmful impact of toxic ingredients and microplastics on the environment, and make tire manufacturing increasingly circular.
To decrease global tire pollution and increase sustainability within tire manufacturing Akin Solutions provides tire manufacturers with services and products focused on rubber polymers, fillers, and antiozonants.
Our molecular imaging services and rubber degrading enzymes provide novel information regarding the distribution of tire ingredients, advancing tire development.
Environmental Challenges in Tire Manufacturing: The Need for Sustainable Solutions
The global tire industry faces critical environmental challenges requiring innovative solutions to enhance sustainability and reduce ecological impact. Key areas demanding immediate attention include tire wear particle pollution reduction and improved end-of-life tire recycling technologies.
Tire Wear Particle (TWP) Pollution: A Growing Environmental Concern
With 1.5 billion new tires produced annually consuming approximately 70% of global natural rubber resources, the environmental impact is substantial. Recent research reveals that Tire Wear Particles (TWP) represent a significantly larger pollution source than previously recognized—potentially 1850 times more harmful than vehicle exhaust emissions.
TWPs constitute the primary source of microplastics in countries like The Netherlands, with 80% contaminating soil environments while also polluting air and water ecosystems. This problem is projected to intensify with electric vehicle adoption, as EVs generate approximately 20% more tire wear particles than conventional vehicles due to their increased weight.
As vehicles travel, tire-road friction releases microscopic rubber particles containing synthetic polymers, carbon black, and chemical additives that disperse through air currents and stormwater runoff. These compounds contain harmful components directly linked to aquatic wildlife damage, including the documented decimation of North American salmon populations.
Regulatory Pressure Driving Innovation
New regulations including the EU Euro 7 tire emission standards reflect growing global demand for sustainable tire solutions. Manufacturers now face increasing pressure to develop more durable tire compositions that minimize TWP generation throughout product lifecycles.
Solving these challenges requires precise information about compound distribution within tire compositions. Well-blended formulations significantly improve tire durability while reducing wear rates. Molecular imaging of tire compounds in situ provides R&D departments with critical visibility into how materials interact at the molecular level, enabling manufacturers to select optimal compounds early in the development process.
By leveraging advanced molecular imaging technologies, manufacturers can visualize previously invisible compound distributions, accelerating the development of more sustainable, durable, and environmentally responsible tire products.
Industry Partnerships
AKIN is actively collaborating with leading tire manufacturers to develop custom imaging protocols specifically tailored to their unique R&D challenges. These partnerships are creating new standards for quality control and innovation in tire development.