Sekhar Research Innovations Sdn Bhd

Gopi Sekhar and Dato’ Frank Steinleitner, Chief Operating Officer of SRI, recently visited  Magnum D’Or Resources at their Colorado, USA facility.  The visit and site tour focused on the imminent crumb production at Magnum USA’s facility and the scheduled delivery and commissioning timelines for the SRI Activation System.

The SRI team was impressed with the sheer size of the Hudson, Colorado site and what it represented in terms of available raw material feedstock.

From left: Joseph Glusic, Frank Steinleitner, Gopi Sekhar and Bryan Brammer.

SRI’s CEO, Gopi Sekhar was recently interviewed by Karamjit Singh of The Edge, a financial and investment weekly publication here in Malaysia. The following is an excerpt.

One of the biggest environmental problems plaguing the world is the estimated one billion tyres lying in dumps around the world. The tyres cannot be easily disposed of or recycled and lie in massive dumps — some up to six football fields deep — leaking chemicals into the ground. Some catch fire spectacularly. These fires do not burn out easily. YouTube has videos showing tyre dumps on fire, spewing out thick black smoke and flames. The fires will last for days, the smoke for years. One tyre dumpsite was simmering deep in its bowels, releasing smoke for five incredible years.

“It is a common occurrence,” says Gopi Sekhar, CEO of SRI, who nonetheless believes he has found the solution to the rising mountains of discarded tyres around the world. He and his research team have created a compound which goes into making retread tires. More importantly, a light tyre for trucks, which was made with more than 14% recycled rubber, has been independently validated and tested by the Rubber Research Institute (RRI) of the Malaysian Rubber Board. The RRI noted that the performance of the tyre made by SRI was even better than that of a tyre made of virgin rubber (read full RRI report at http://magnumresources.net/investors/565).

An ecstatic Gopi welcomes the RRI validation. “What we have here is nothing less than the solution to the global tyre and rubber scrap problem. It will address not only the annual  accumulation [of tyres] but also the backlog in the landfills. The introduction of the Magnum SRI custom compound as an industrial raw material effectively means cost-effective value-added consumption, which will make it irresistible as a green raw material. We believe that this is the future of global rubber recycling,” he says.

The rest of the article can be read at The Edge

RRI inspecting inspecting light truck tire

SRI is pleased to announce 2,500km mark of the RRI on the road validation trials of our light truck tires  has been passed successfully. The RRI results confirm no appreciable difference in abrasion resistance and performance to date. SRI will be clearing the 5,000km mark in the coming week. This is a significant performance marker for new tires. SRI now expects to quickly progress through the protocol so that we may carry out the required tests with European Light truck compounds.

Today 21st October 2009 the SRI truck fitted with Magnum SRI Custom compound tires and control units was driven into the Rubber Research facility of the Malaysian Rubber Board for the tires to be measured and marked by the tire lab staff to commence the validation exercise. Appropriate measurements of tread depth and other relevant specifications were taken in addition to taking odometer readings before starting the validation exercise, measurements will be taken based on distance traveled according to the protocol set by the Tire Lab.

Dr. Alias Othman the Director of the Technology and Engineering and Puan. Che Su Head of the Advance Technology unit were on hand to witness the historic event and take a close look at the tires and measurements taken.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Magnum D’Or Resources, Inc., a next generation rubber recycling Solutions Company, announces Magnum SRI, technological innovation marks historic level for Rubber Industry at its best. To view the summary of the Rubber Research Institute independent test results as well as official test certificates issued by the Rubber Research Institute of the Malaysian Rubber Board as support documents of the summary provided.

“What we have here is nothing less than the solution to the global tire and rubber scrap problem; it will address not only the annual accumulation but the backlog in the landfills. The introduction of the Magnum SRI custom compound as an industrial raw material, effectively means cost effective value added consumption which will make it irresistible as a Green raw material. Not only will it appreciably reduce the raw material cost of the manufacturer but it will potentially reduce cost for final consumers. We believe that this is the future of global rubber recycling.” Quote from Gopi Sekhar, CEO of SRI

1. Comparative Chart 01

This chart involves a full battery of tests where control sample production tire and Magnum SRI Custom Compound production tire were independently subjected to the full ASTM standard tests (Standard Test reference is on the chart) for Light Truck tires. All the information on the chart is important. The Magnum SRI Compound Tire is a composite compound using the manufacturers Light Truck compound with a substitution of 20% with our Magnum SRI custom Compound.

In this case it means that tread compound has 14% of recycled content and the sidewall of the tire has a little more than 14% recycled content. Virgin compound modified to allow for customization added to the activated compound will make the final custom compound proportion 20%. Here the tensile, elongation at break and Abrasion resistance (the lower the value the better) of the all the samples are tested following the protocols of the prescribed standard by the Rubber Research Institute’s (http://www.lgm.gov.my/) Tire Lab of the Malaysian Rubber Board.

On review of the results it will show that in spite of the inclusion or substitution of 20% (in this case 14% recycled material content) without custom compound that we were able to ensure no loss in properties, in fact we were able to prove that we could even exceed the original specifications in certain cases. Also the fact that we have done it in the sidewall and tread compounds makes it all the more impressive.

2. Comparative Chart 02

This (above) chart is a comparison of the manufacturers Light Truck Tire Compound and a composite compound which is the same compound with 20% substituted with the Magnum SRI Custom Compound (14% recycled rubber content). These compounds, the control and the composite were then tested for tensile and elongation at break to show that there is no appreciable loss or change in properties.

In the case of Batches 6 & 7 we increased the recycled content a little but please note that the variance is considered near test error difference. Regardless we feel that all the results are impressive and make our point without exception.

3. Plunger Energy Test

The plunger test  effectively measures the amount of force required to make the tire that has been normally inflated to fail or burst when it is applied to a specified area of the side wall using a regulation test plunger. The minimum specification to pass the test is that the point of failure or bursting must be achieved due to force in excess of 6,759kg.cm or 5,700 in.lb.

The control or manufacturers original OEM compound tire was measured to require a force of 7,029kg.cm to make the plunger break through.

The Magnum SRI custom compound tires not only passed the minimum specification but it managed to comfortably exceed the control at 7,798kg.cm and 8,800 kg.cm.

This test is of specific significance as the Magnum SRI activated compound was not only incorporated into the tread compound but it was also introduced into the sidewall compound. This test is not only measuring the overall resistance of the tire to measured trauma but it is a test that points clearly to the performance level of the side wall compound. The Magnum SRI compound in the current format was intended to be equal to the control specification; this was achieved and exceeded which leaves additional room for further cost reduction based on the sidewall formulation.

All these test results were the result of independent testing and evaluation by the Rubber Research Institute of the Malaysian Rubber Board.

Based on these test results, what has been achieved here is historic, there has never been a case of scrap rubber/tire dust or powder, regardless of the technology employed that has ever exceeded a couple of percentile. Before this innovation exceeding 2 plus % recycled content in a tire compound always meant what is referred to in the industry as “catastrophic failure”. History has been rewritten, the Magnum SRI custom compound has been able to incorporate more than 14% recycled content in both the tread and sidewall compounds of a light truck tire and actually had it provide performance parameters equal to and higher than the original compound. Obviously the content levels would be substantially higher in lower to medium level applications. Magnum SRI is currently unmatched having broken new technological ground in recycling whose impact and significance will be effect the entire rubber industry.

Magnum SRI’s revolutionary compound’s, technical reach and ability to perform in premium volume applications will not only ensure substantially improved viability for rubber product manufacturers but will make environmentally friendly “green” production the norm rather than the exception. Finally there is a real solution to the “Tire Mountains” and the environmental pollution from them. Magnum SRI activated custom compounds allow for substantial recycled content to be applied in nearly all volume applications cost effectively without appreciable loss of properties.

Sekhar Research Innovations announces Worlds’ first ever Light Truck Tires produced with 20% Magnum SRI Activated Custom Compound!

Video #3 Revolutionary Technology: Magnum/SRI Light Truck Tire Production:

Magnum SRI is proud to announce that it has successfully produced Light Truck Tires in a commercial production plant using a significant proportion of its custom compound. All preliminary tests have been positive and in accordance with specifications of the original control. Magnum SRI is confident that its current attained success is of critical importance and great significance to the rubber industry. Moreover, Magnum SRI is certain that this represents ‘History in the Making.’

The Magnum SRI Custom compound was originally produced in full production batch in a Banbury Mixer in the World Renowned Malaysian Rubber Board’s, Rubber Research Institute facility in Sg. Buloh http://www.lgm.gov.my/ and subsequently shipped to the manufacturer’s plant.

Magnum SRI Compound was then mixed and formulated with virgin light truck compound in a range of pre-agreed proportions. This blending process was successful without any alteration. Upon completion, the resultant compound was put through the balance of the manufacturing process.

Upon the success of the process the tires have now been shipped for independent testing at the World Renowned Malaysian Rubber Board’s, Rubber Research Institute facility in Sg. Buloh http://www.lgm.gov.my/. Where they will be subjected to a two phase process:

First, the Institute will conduct a full range of tire lab tests which will include abrasion resistance. The tests will be carried out on both the original control tires in parallel with the tires containing the Magnum SRI Compound. Second, Magnum SRI light truck compound tires will be tested and compared alongside the control units.

Further, the tires will also be installed on a commercial truck operating in real time conditions for their useful life under standard load. The vehicle will return to the Rubber Research Institute Tire Testing Lab, where results should show the compounds aligned with all the protocols in terms of kilometers run tests so that proper measurements may be taken.

Magnum and the Magnum/SRI Force are positioned to become a major player in the international tire compound market. Magnum SRI possesses unique technology and will soon be introducing it to the global market.

Gopi Sekhar, CEO of SRI, stated, “In an industry that has now come to terms with ever increasing raw material costs, both from natural and synthetic rubbers which are further exacerbated by very serious environmental concerns, in terms of the responsible management of the resultant used tire scrap, there has been no real solution that could adequately address either the backlog nor the growing annual accumulation that has it in a literal stranglehold.

All efforts thus far have either, in some way added to the already burgeoning global pollution problem or ended up being niche applications, which relative to the problem are irrelevant.

Today Magnum SRI has unveiled a technology and process which for the very first time can address both the accumulation of scrap tires and over time the enormous backlog. The Magnum SRI process is designed to match industry volume processes and conditions; it further lends itself easily to a full and wide range of applications as a real value added raw material. This makes it a very valuable cost saving raw material to manufacturers at a time that they really need it, while at the same time allowing them to be environmentally responsible by substantively and meaningfully addressing a very serious global pollution problem.”

RECAP FROM VIDEO 1 AND 2:

If you watch Video #1 Magnum SRI Successful Revolutionary Compounds Produced and then take Video #2 Magnum/SRI Next Generation Light Truck Compound it will start to paint the big picture. By the time you watch the Video #3, released in today’s news, it clearly proves how Magnum/SRI is making history and stands to have an enormous positive effect on the global market of rubber.

Download source video (requires Quicktime to playback)

Sekhar Research Innovations announces the successful blending of the Magnum/SRI Next Generation Custom Compound as Raw Material in Manufacturers Production Process.

Video 2 Magnum/SRI Next Generation Light Truck Compound

Magnum/SRI has successfully cleared almost all the key manufacturing and process hurdles in one of the most challenging and demanding product manufacturing processes. This is a product (Magnum/SRI custom compound) that provides for very high final performance specifications as well as significant increase in added value and savings in raw material costs. Subsequent to succeeding in laboratory trials, Magnum/SRI has officially duplicated the success of its products under actual challenging conditions.

After recently successfully producing the Magnum/SRI custom compound in commercial scale at World Renowned Malaysian Rubber Board’s, Rubber Research Institute facility in Sg. Buloh http://www.lgm.gov.my/, using standard manufacturing equipment and processes, Magnum/SRI sent the custom compound to a commercial manufacturing facility in order to be utilized as a value added raw material. This institutional facility produces between 1,000 to 1,500mt of compound per month which they then manufacture product with including light truck tires, retread, motorcycle tires, bicycle tires, all types of tubes and tire flaps.

The Magnum/SRI custom compound was introduced at the facility in the dump mill/sheeting mill stage, where it successfully blended into the manufacturing process without any issues and beyond the few seconds it took to physically load our material onto the operating mill (to allow the camera to see it happen), there was no increase in process time. The composite material in this case a blend between our custom compound (Produced earlier at the RRI http://www.lgm.gov.my/) and the manufacturer’s standard Virgin Light Truck Tire Compound.

The composite final Light Truck compound was then sheeted out, dipped into slurry of anti-tack solution (prevent the sheets from sticking together), passed through a cooling festoon and then set aside for conditioning. This conditioning process is between 4 hrs to 12 hrs, in this case the composite final compound was conditioned for 12 hours. Subsequently, it will be tested, evaluated and compared against manufacturer’s regular production material statistics. Further, it will be determined whether the product passes and is considered for further processing, in this case light truck tires.

The significance of using this Magnum/SRI blended Next Generation composite compound is that in a very competitive environment of rising raw material and processing costs is that it allows for a savings in raw material costs (for the manufacturer) of between 4-11% subject to application, without compromising their product quality (basically unheard of in the rubber industry).

All the laboratory tests conducted on this product have proven that it will be within required parameters; however, real success will come when the product is evaluated under actual production conditions, an answer Magnum/SRI will present in the next few days.

Gopi Sekhar, CEO of SRI (Sekhar Research Innovations Sdn Bhd) stated, “Today is a major watershed moment for the Magnum SRI custom compound in terms of technical hurdles. All earlier tests and trials have been on small scale and without the vagaries of actual production conditions which can have huge temperature swings, process time limitations and variable conditions that can be very challenging to say the least. Further, of all the applications that we have tested for, this would be the one with the highest performance parameters and properties. To have cleared this stage of manufacture is of enormous importance to us in the Magnum/SRI project as it effectively confirms our ability to be used without problems and without causing any process changes of process time losses to the manufacturers. With this we can safely confirm our smooth entree into a very wide range of applications whose process conditions would be much less challenging than this while meeting all their performance characteristics. This successful portion of the production trial effectively confirms the financial viability of the Magnum/SRI Next Generation custom compounds with quite a wide variety of volume mid range applications.”

Download source video (requires Quicktime to playback)

After passing all tests Magnum SRI final compounds and products will be independently tested and analyzed at the World Renowned Malaysian Rubber Board’s, Rubber Research Institute

Sekhar Research Innovations announces Successful Production of Magnum SRI Custom Compound in Full Commercial Scale.

Magnum/SRI have successfully produced and tested the Revolutionary Magnum SRI Custom Compounds in a full production scale using a conventional Banbury mixer in the World Renowned Malaysian Rubber Board’s, Rubber Research Institute facility in Sg. Buloh http://www.lgm.gov.my/. This is the same facility where final compounds and products produced with our activated compound will be immediately sent for independent testing and analysis.

After producing 40 mesh crumb (whole truck) in Magnum’s Magog facility and subsequently Magnum’s Colorado facility the material would be “Activated” using our know-how technical process. In addition, the material will be compounded and blended using processing aids and modified compound to customize it. The latter part of the process effectively allows ease of mixing and programming specific requirements which are essential for a range of products and applications. Furthermore, we have now successfully achieved customised blends of our customised compounds, suitable for mid range retread and Light Truck tire compound applications. This is a major breakthrough!

In this commercial scale demonstration we produced the Revolutionary Magnum SRI custom compounds, duplicating the exact production conditions which we intend to install at the Magog facility and subsequently in Colorado. Moreover, we have produced representative product that has been independently tested to meet all parameters without exception. The material would provide for substantial and commercially viable off take from the Magnum crumb production. This achievement is very important at two levels:

First, we now have a commercially viable way to consume the tire crumb in large volume. Second, the material will be processed for added value which will reflect in cost savings for consuming manufacturers, while still providing a healthy margin for Magnum.

The material will be a raw material compound with specified properties not a processing aid or filler. The compounds that we are working with are of high volume and high value and have requirements in terms of performance parameters that would preclude the addition of recycled material in any volume beyond the minimal.

Our tests have shown that we have processed powdered tire scrap (from truck tires) into performing compound on a commercial scale. Further, our results have shown that we have blended our activated compound into a range of value added product compounds in proportions ranging from 5% to as high as 20% depending on the application, without any appreciable loss of properties. This is a history making event.

The recovery process and our ability to sustain real time conditions on a commercial scale has shown that our technology has enabled us to achieve our goals thus making this process the first of its kind that will have an impact on the rubber market today.

Once our results of Magnum/SRI custom compound have been independently verified, it will lead to demand on an enormous scale. There has never been an alternative performing material like this that can immediately provide manufacturers with substantial savings. Having successfully cleared an array of tests, including abrasion resistance, our current expectations are very high.

Download source video (requires Quicktime to playback)

Magnum/SRI Next Generation and Revolutionary Rubber Recycling Solutions

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Magnum D’Or Resources, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: MDOR – News), a next generation rubber recycling solutions company releases new information on breakthrough technology.

CEO of SRI, Gopi Sekhar, commented, “Magnum/SRI development work has covered a relatively wide area of activity which we have endeavored to narrow down to address short and mid-term operational priorities with specific reference to the Magnum Magog facility output. Assuming a starting point ranging from 40 mesh crumb through to cryogenic rubber powder (up to 200 mesh) our work has covered custom compounds in value added applications through to introduction into TPE’s.”

In terms of custom compounds, the ultimate goal is to have it successfully introduced into OEM tires of every kind. This would ensure substantial and wide ranging value added consumption; thus, guaranteeing viability and success of the project. However, it should be noted that in technically challenging compound applications, such as OEM tires, the proportion of recycled content has historically been limited to a very small proportion. Usually the amount of surface treated tire crumb utilized in these applications is limited to the 2% to 3% range. Any lager amount tends to lead to very serious and unacceptable consequences in terms of performance parameters and even catastrophic failure. Since people’s lives are dependent upon performance parameters in this category they are not taken lightly.

CEO of Magnum, Joseph Glusic stated, “Even in the case of Retread compounds the level of recycled content and usage of processing aids is limited. This translates directly to the quality and performance of the retread. In developing markets the reclaim rubber content can be excessive with the tire dust diluting the performance threshold to the wire. In developed markets; however, performance parameters make manufacturers limit such activity. Various alternative materials ranging from new high performance compounded reclaim rubbers, cryogenic and other devulcanized material continue to be developed and tested with varying degrees of success. Problems and challenges ranging from depressed and inconsistent properties to storage hardening generally occur. Also, throughput limitations and processing problems of one form or another have made increasing the addition of substitute virgin material quite a challenge.”

CEO of SRI, Gopi Sekhar, also commented, “Our challenge was to come up with a composite compound that could be produced cost effectively at the highest level of throughput of a large capacity 40 mesh crumb plant or full range cryogenic crumb plant at maximum production. The compound or range of compounds needed to be targeted at specific market segments with attractive levels of value addition and mid to high end performance parameters. Our material needed to be robust enough to handle the vagaries of production plant process conditions, have the ability to manifest consistent properties in each compound category and maintain these properties within reasonable shipping, storage and process durations. A tall order and one that becomes even more challenging once you look beyond general rubber goods and mid-range retread compounds to OEM tires. If we succeed in incorporating the Magnum SRI compound in such substantial proportions this would be the first time that this has ever been done effectively making history in terms of what is technologically possible.”

CEO of Magnum, Joseph Glusic, further stated, “It should be noted that regardless of whatever claims that are made, tire manufacturers will generally evaluate materials confidentially and test it over a period of time and under all manner of conditions to ensure that manufacturer’s liability issues are adequately addressed before making tangible decisions. To date we are not aware of any material, process, or technology that has been able to successfully break into this category which covers automotive to heavy truck tires. Any successful inroad would be of enormous commercial significance (once the due diligence evaluation of the manufacturers has been completed) due to the sheer volume of potential application which would become realistically available. Today the only area that allows any kind of volume would be low end fillers for low specification products such as mats, flooring material, etc. These markets are saturated with manufacturers which are highly competitive and generate very low margins.”

CEO of SRI, Gopi Sekhar, finished by saying, “For our purposes we have targeted light truck tires as an entry point that will afford us the best opportunity to be accepted both technically and commercially. For quite some time now we have been working on several versions of customizable compound produced from Magnum’s Magog crumb and surface treated cryogenic powder. We have made process durability and final performance parameters as our main priority without losing sight of other specifications that will need to be addressed eventually. Our expectation is that success in producing a light truck tire with a substantial Magnum SRI custom compound component (ranging from 5% to 20%) with no change in essential parameters, including abrasion and other similar parameters, will serve to propel our efforts in moving compounds in the retread sector and will get the process of validation end evaluation by OEM tire manufacturers started. This would be an instant breakthrough in the Global Rubber Industry making history. The effect on the Magnum/SRI bottom line will of course be in the most favorable terms while substantially boosting industry credibility.”

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Statements contained in this document that are not historical fact are forward-looking statements based upon management’s current expectations that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. The results anticipated by any or all of these forward-looking statements may not occur. The company is not required to update its forward-looking statements.

            Contact:
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            Fort Lauderdale, FL
             1-954-315-3883
            www.magnumresources.net
            mdor@magnumresources.net

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            Human, Public, Investor Relations
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An evaluation of the potential of using the buffings from OTR tyres in Magog to produce premium compounds. The compound for these specialized tyres are generally of superior properties and although for commercial reasons are currently being used for the production of rubber chips and coloured mulch, we are investigating the potential production of high end, premium compounds allowing for greater returns. Obviously our primary focus is still on the recovery from whole tyre crumbs however the opportunity that presents itself in the current Magog equation may have some very interesting and profitable ramifications.

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