Gradeall International has supplied the core tire baling equipment for a dedicated tire recycling facility commissioned by WasteServ at its Ħal Far Civic Amenity Site in Malta, supporting the country’s efforts to improve handling of end-of-life tires and strengthen links to downstream tire recycling markets.

Commissioned in 2023 as part of WasteServ’s broader site upgrade, the facility centers on Gradeall’s tire baling and handling systems, designed to process both passenger and commercial tires into compact, transport-ready bales for export to mainland recycling facilities.

Video by Gradeall.

Gradeall equipment at the center of the operation

The Malta installation includes three main pieces of Gradeall equipment working as an integrated system:

  • MKII Tire Baler – designed to compress whole passenger tires into dense, uniform bales for storage and shipping
  • Tire Baler Conveyor – automates tire feeding into the baler, improving throughput and reducing manual handling
  • Truck Tire Sidewall Cutter – prepares larger truck tires for baling by cutting sidewalls and tread sections into manageable pieces

Together, the system allows mixed tire streams to be processed efficiently using a single baling line, improving operational flexibility.

For facilities managing large volumes of end-of-life tires, equipment integration is a key factor in processing efficiency, worker safety, and transport economics.

Baling improves tire recycling logistics

A central feature of Gradeall’s approach is tire baling, which addresses one of the industry’s biggest logistical challenges: transport efficiency.

Loose tires contain significant empty space, making them costly to ship over long distances. Compressing them into dense bales reduces volume, improves stacking efficiency, and increases the amount of material that can be loaded into containers.

This is particularly relevant for export-dependent markets, where tires are shipped to facilities producing crumb rubber, rubberized asphalt, or advanced pyrolysis products such as tire-derived oil, recovered carbon black (rCB), and pyrolysis char.

Improving transport density can lower handling costs and strengthen the economics of tire recycling supply chains.

Remote monitoring and international support

Gradeall’s MKII Tire Baler includes built-in remote monitoring technology using 4G connectivity, allowing operators and service teams to monitor machine status, review diagnostics, and address operational issues remotely.

The company said remote support can help reduce downtime for international customers by identifying common mechanical or sensor-related issues without requiring on-site engineering visits.

The system also provides maintenance alerts and throughput notifications, allowing site managers to monitor productivity and servicing needs more closely.

As industrial recycling operations become more automated, remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance are increasingly being integrated into equipment design.

Expanding tire recycling solutions globally

Gradeall has deployed tire processing systems in more than 25 countries, with installations across Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, and Australia.

This international footprint reflects growing investment in equipment that supports the collection, handling, and preparation of tires for rubber recycling and material recovery.

As markets continue expanding tire recycling capacity, technologies that improve collection logistics, reduce transport costs, and prepare tires for downstream processing are expected to remain an important part of broader sustainability efforts in the sector.

To learn more about the Gradeall's installation at WasteServ, read the full story here.