Latvian company turns used truck tyres into rubber tiles

Latvian company SIA M.V., which operates under the Cover Power brand, makes rubber tiles from used truck tyres. Most of its output is sold on foreign markets, and the company is now assessing whether to buy a new production line to grow further, according to company representative Miķelis Vālbergs.

From tyres to tiles

The plant can process up to 4,000 tonnes of truck tyres a year. The tyres are shredded into rubber granules of various fractions, which are used to make tiles. Steel wire found in the tyres is removed with magnets and sold to metal wholesalers. The granules are bonded with a binding agent and pressed into moulds. The tiles come in larger and smaller formats, in black or with a coloured granule top layer.

The company uses only truck tyres, since its equipment is not designed for passenger car tyres, whose composition and structure differ. The choice of raw material affects the quality and properties of the finished tiles.

Where the tiles are used

In industry, they are laid under solar panels, next to machine tools and equipment to reduce vibration and noise, and on flat roofs as walkways for maintenance. Farmers use them in animal housing, such as horse stable floors. Households use them for paths, terraces and garage floors. Developers of playgrounds, sports grounds and fitness centres are also important customers.

Exports and growth

The Latvian and Baltic market for such a specialised product is small, so exports are essential for profitable production. Europe is the main market: products are delivered to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, France, Austria, Switzerland and the Nordic countries, as well as to some customers outside Europe. Competition with tile makers from other countries is very intense.

Compared with the corresponding period of 2025, the company's revenue has risen by almost 50%. This was driven by higher sales of products with greater added value, the launch of new products and price increases caused by global events. In planning for 2027, the company is cautious about its growth rate.

The existing machinery is running at high capacity, and further growth depends on a new production line. Buying it would require borrowed funds, and the key question is the payback period. There is space for the new line in the current premises, and it could also increase headcount, which currently averages 20.