Contec

What Contec does

Contec S.A. is a Poland-based clean technology company that operates a commercial tire pyrolysis plant in Szczecin, processing end-of-life tires (ELTs) into three recovered industrial material streams: ConBlack® (recovered Carbon Black), ConPyro® (recovered tire pyrolysis oil), and ConWire® (recovered steel). The company's core technical asset is Molten® — a proprietary continuous pyrolysis process that uses molten salts as a heat transfer medium to pyrolyze tires at 400–1,000°C in an oxygen-free environment. Contec describes the Szczecin facility as the world's first plant to operate this molten-salt continuous pyrolysis architecture, developed over five years of R&D in collaboration with Warsaw University of Technology. The process recovers approximately 85% of incoming tire mass as sellable product (40% pyrolysis oil, 33% carbon black, 15% steel), with the remaining 15% combusted as non-condensable gas to provide process heat, and the facility runs on renewable electricity.

The company sells recovered materials through a direct enterprise field-sales motion, led by a Sales Director and a Business Development Director, targeting tire manufacturers (for tire-to-tire circular supply), the chemical and petrochemical industry (as a circular feedstock), rubber goods manufacturers, paints and coatings producers, and steel applications. Pricing is quote-based under multi-year contracts and is not publicly disclosed. The company holds ISCC, ISCC Plus, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001 certifications, and is actively participating in ASTM International Committee D36 to develop quality standards for recovered Carbon Black — a category in which no industry standards previously existed.

Contec is venture-backed, with Warsaw Equity Group as the majority shareholder since inception in 2015. In 2023, the company raised a total of EUR 15 million across two rounds (EUR 10M from HiTech ASI/VINCI and Warsaw Equity Group in March, plus EUR 5M from Polish steel manufacturer Pruszyński in June) — described as one of Europe's largest CleanTech investments of the year. Commercial sales of recovered carbon black commenced in January 2023, and the EUR 15M raise is funding a near-tripling of Szczecin processing capacity to 33,000 tons of ELTs annually (targeted for H1 2024) as well as the construction of additional commercial plants across Europe. The company has reached a first milestone in a Circular Carbon Black Partnership with Orion, a major carbon black incumbent, providing an initial commercial anchor in the tire-grade carbon black market.

Name

Contec

Legal name

CONTEC S.A.

Website

https://contec.tech

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Contec S.A. is a Poland-based clean technology company that converts end-of-life tires into recovered carbon black, pyrolysis oil, and steel using proprietary Molten® molten-salt pyrolysis technology, serving industrial customers including tire manufacturers, chemical companies, and refiners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tire Recycling and Circular Recovered Materials

NAICS

Rubber Product Manufacturing (3262), Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (325212)

SIC

Fabricated Rubber Products, Nec (3060), Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)

akta.pro primary industry

Tire Recycling & Processing (Shredding, TDF, Pyrolysis Feedstock) (IMANAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tire Recycling, Disposal & Sustainability Services (TLAKADAI), Tires, Plastics & Glass Recovery from ELVs (Non-metal ELV Streams) (EUAIAJAK)

Keywords

• Tire pyrolysis
• Recovered carbon black
• Circular tire recycling
• Recovered steel wire
• Tire pyrolysis oil

Headquarters

HQ city

Warsaw

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Recovered Materials Sales: Contec generates revenue by processing end-of-life tires through its proprietary Molten® pyrolysis technology and selling recovered materials: ConBlack® (recovered Carbon Black), ConPyro® (recovered tire pyrolysis oil), ConWire® (recovered steel), and recovered gas. The company sells directly to tire manufacturers, rubber goods producers, paints and coatings industries, refineries, and other industrial customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Contec processes end-of-life tires (ELTs) through its proprietary Molten® continuous pyrolysis technology to produce and sell three circular raw materials: ConBlack® (recovered Carbon Black), ConPyro® (recovered Tire Pyrolysis Oil), and ConWire® (recovered steel). The materials are sold B2B to tire manufacturers, chemical/petrochemical firms, rubber goods producers, paints and coatings companies, and steel applications.

Product overview

Contec S.A. is a Poland-based provider of circular rubber and plastic solutions specializing in tire pyrolysis technology. The company's product portfolio consists of three core circular products derived from end-of-life tires (ELTs): ConBlack® (recovered Carbon Black/rCB), ConPyro® (recovered Tire Pyrolysis Oil/TPO), and ConWire® (recovered steel). These products are produced using Contec's proprietary Molten® continuous pyrolysis technology that uses molten salts as a heat transfer medium. The process recovers 85% of tire materials into valuable raw materials, with the remaining 15% converted to energy. The company operates its first fully-operational plant in Szczecin, Poland, with plans for facility expansion and new plants across Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ConBlack®: Recovered Carbon Black (rCB) - a sustainable alternative to virgin Carbon Black, produced from pyrolysis of end-of-life tires. The rCB carbon footprint is over 80 per cent lower compared to virgin Carbon Black.
• ConPyro®
• ConWire®

Products and services

• ConBlack® (Recovered Carbon Black / rCB) Recovered Carbon Black produced from end-of-life tire pyrolysis. A sustainable alternative to virgin Carbon Black with over 80% lower carbon footprint, with properties comparable to N550–N772 vCB grades (N650 and N660 as closest matches). Sold to tire manufacturers, rubber goods producers, paints and coatings manufacturers, and other industrial buyers.
• ConPyro® (Recovered Tire Pyrolysis Oil / TPO) Recovered tire pyrolysis oil produced through ELT pyrolysis — a thick, viscous dark brown/black liquid with high aromatic hydrocarbon content (over 50%) and bio-based carbon from natural rubber. Used as circular feedstock for refineries, petrochemical processes, and fuel additive production. Documented carbon footprint of 399.75 kg CO2e per tonne.
• ConWire® (Recovered Steel) Recovered high-tensile steel from tire steel cord and bead-wire. Over 98% of steel is separated from ELTs during shredding. Sold for reuse in tire cord production and other steel applications including additive to carbon steel.

Quantifiable outcome

• rCB carbon footprint over 80% lower than virgin Carbon Black (vCB)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OrioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for circular carbon black supply. First milestone reached in Contec and Orion's Circular Carbon Black Partnership. Orion is a major player in the carbon black industry, and this partnership enables supply of recovered carbon black from Contec's tire pyrolysis operations.
• Warsaw University of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in five-year R&D collaboration to develop Molten® technology. University experts involved in technology design, building of pilot plant, and launching of technology demonstrator. R&D collaboration continues with technology improvement efforts.
• ASTM International (Committee D36)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContec actively participates in ASTM Committee D36 to develop industry quality standards and testing methods for recovered Carbon Black (rCB). Since no existing rCB quality standards existed, company leverages its knowledge over years of R&D to help establish industry standards.
• Waste Management and Recycling Cluster (KGOIR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Key Cluster certified by Ministry of Development and Technology of Republic of Poland. Contec is a member organization in the cluster focused on green economy and closed cycle economy. Contec won award for investment efficiency from this cluster.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tyre Recycling Solutions (TRS): Swiss-based ELT processing company recovering high-quality powder and other materials from end-of-life tires. Adjacent competitor for sustainable feedstock into rubber goods and tire manufacturing.
• Bolder Industries: US-based tire pyrolysis company recovering Carbon Black, oil, and steel from ELTs. Same product portfolio as Contec and competes for global tire manufacturer qualification programs.
• Pyrum Innovations AG: German-based tire pyrolysis company operating a similar ELT-to-rCB/TPO/steel model with multiple planned plants in Europe. Direct competitor for the same tire manufacturer and chemical offtake customers as Contec.
• Black Bear Carbon: Netherlands-based tire pyrolysis company producing recovered Carbon Black and other materials from end-of-life tires. Direct competitor in the European rCB market with established customer relationships.
• Delta-Energy Group: US-based pyrolysis operator specializing in recovered Carbon Black from end-of-life tires, with comparable product positioning to ConBlack® in the rubber and plastics compounding markets.
• Scandinavian Enviro Systems (Enviro): Swedish tire pyrolysis operator commercializing recovered Carbon Black, oil, and steel from ELTs, with publicly disclosed offtake agreements with major tire OEMs. Competes head-to-head for European tire manufacturer rCB supply contracts.

Broad incumbents

• Continental (Taraxagum Lab): Major tire manufacturer running internal dandelion/rubber-rubber recycling R&D programs and ELT recovery pilots. Represents both a potential Contec customer and a competitive threat should OEMs vertically integrate rCB supply.
• Tokai Carbon: Major Japanese carbon black and graphite producer with global tire-industry relationships. Sets the performance and quality benchmark that rCB producers like Contec must meet to win OEM qualifications.
• Birla Carbon: World's largest Carbon Black producer and part of the Aditya Birla Group. Broad incumbent that competes in the same tire-grade CB market Contec is targeting with rCB substitutes.
• Orion S.A. One of the world's largest producers of virgin specialty Carbon Black and a Contec strategic partner. Represents both a critical offtake/distribution channel and the dominant incumbent whose specification approval rCB must achieve.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/contec-co

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Contec