Tirex based itself in Montreal in 1995 and developed the patented tire recycling prototype (TCS) with the support of The Federal Government of Canada receiving over 4 million dollars CDN in research and development tax credits. The Canadian Economic Development Agency also granted Tirex over $700,000 CDN to develop the TCS technology and its markets.

Tirex's TCS technology was accredited in 2001 by Recycle Quebec*. The TCS prototype demonstrated Tirex's unique process that is economically viable, environmentally friendly and produces a higher value added crumb rubber called Rutex^TM.

Simpro S.p.A., the licensed manufacturer of the TCS technology is prepared to assemble the first commercial TCS system in Italy.
 

* Criteria Employed by Recyc-Québec for Purposes of Accreditation

In order for any tire recycler operating in Quebec to participate in the Quebec Used Tire Management Program, and thus be eligible to receive tire shipments and tipping fees, each and every tire recycler seeking such participation must first be accredited by Recyc-Québec.

Accreditation is issued following evaluation by Recyc-Québec experts of the tire recycling technology and following receipt of other documentation by Recyc-Québec officials.

The technical evaluation comprises the following factors

• The tire recycling process is technically sound and produces crumb rubber at a rate (tire processing rate, yield of rubber per tire, etc.) and quality (exempt from steel and fibre contaminants) such that not only is the rubber crumb marketable, it will in fact be sold, as attested by purchase agreements with recognized customers. Note that the crumb rubber produced could also be used in the production of downstream finished products in a vertically integrated company. It is important to note that the subsidies paid out by Recyc-Québec to recyclers are paid on the basis of crumb rubber actually sold, not on the basis of crumb rubber produced.
• The tire recycling process must be environmentally sound (minimal production of residue and minimal production of release of polluants), as attested, following evaluation, by competent environemntal authorities such as the city of Montreal, the Quebec Government Ministry of the Environment, and formerly (and it did apply in the case of Tirex) the Montreal Urban Community (no longer in existence).

The accreditation process requires that the recycler provide to Recyc-Québec the following documents, as well as any other document, report, analysis, etc. that Recyc-Québec might reasonably request to complete their evaluation of the request for accreditation.

• detailed description of the recycling system process
• detailed equipment list including equipment diagrams
• mass balance analysis (amount of rubber, steel, fibre and waste per tire produced
• processing capacity and storage capacity
• other technical information, including, without limitation, energy costs, specifications of the Air Plant, maintenance program, etc.
• copies of relevant permits (environment, operating, etc.)
• crumb rubber output sales agreement(s)
• proof of ownership or right to use of intellectual property
• latest financial information.