In collaboration with Australian steel manufacturer Molycop, the University of New South Wales (UNSW SMaRT@UNSW), and the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC), Crawford Boots has been a part of a world-first “green steel” manufacturing project, which will see rubber tyres recycled into steel.
Crawford Boots, AMGC, SMaRT@UNSW visiting Molycop facility.
Scientists from the University of NSW have collaborated with Crawford Boots, Molycop, and AMGC to commercialise a process that replaces coking coal with rubber from discarded tyres. This revolutionary method drastically reduces the volume of greenhouse gases emitted per tonne of steel produced.
For collaborator Molycop, It is estimated that the technology will reduce their reliance on imported carbonaceous materials by up to 20%. It will also reduce their power use by 2.5%, and emissions by 18%. Up to 90,000 tyres will be removed from landfill as a result of the project.
Penny Crawford, founder of Crawford Boots, said that collaborating with a leading manufacturer and a researcher has expanded the company’s perspective and brought new insights.
“Being involved with this project has led to us looking at the entire life-cycle of our products,” Crawford said.
“From protecting the feet of workers in mines to how our boots are used at time of disposal, we now have revised our products to make them more suitable to polymer injection technology – collaborative programs like AMGC’s lift the entire manufacturing industry.”
Dr Veena Sahajwalla, Director of the UNSW SM@RT Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology, and 2022 NSW Australian of the Year, said that the collaboration between manufacturers and researchers is essential in addressing environmental challenges and achieving commercial success.
“By working collaboratively with Molycop we have been able to prove that polymer injection works and is commercially viable. It is only through partnerships like this that we can truly achieve positive environmental outcomes at scale.”
For more information on green steel, visit https://www.smart.unsw.edu.au/technologies-products/ green-steel, and for more information on Crawford Boots, visit https://www.crawfordboots.com.au or contact:
- Amanda Lacey at amanda@popcom.com.au or 0418 448 570