CSEasy Does it from Continental

Continental has introduced what the company describes as “a novel wheel/tyre system” which it believes could revolutionise the fitting of industrial tyres.
Called the CSEasy, the tyre can be fitted on any Lemmerz-type rim without using a mounting press and using only a special, conical-shaped adapter and a torque wrench. The advantages are obvious; no call-out delay and greatly reduced downtime as the tyre is fitted on-site straight away. “CSEasy,” says Continental, “will revolutionise Super-Elastic tyres forever.”

However, there is more to the CSEasy than just simple fitment, as the tyre claims to offer operational benefits compared with conventional Super-Elastic tyres. These benefits include lower rolling resistance, greater tolerance to heat build up and enhanced load-bearing capabilities.

CSEasy tyres will be introduced in popular sizes during 2006 and 2007. The sizes available from January 2006 are 180/70-8 and 7.00-12, with size 125/75-8 being introduced in April. Thereafter, size introductions will be as follows:
150/75-8, 200/75-9 and 225/75-10 (from July 2006); 6.00-9 and 250/75-12 (from October 2006); 5.00-8 (January 2007) and 6.50-10 (July 2007).

The CSEasy has been tested in the field by a number of companies, with Continental analysing the results. One operator has been trialling the tyres on a fleet of around 40, 4.5 tonne forklifts with an average of 2,500 hours operation annually. The current average service life is 1,200 hours, or around six months’ average use. After six months’ use, the CSEasy has nearly 40 per cent of its tread left, thus adding greater service life to the benefits gained from ease of fitting.

Case study number two involved a fleet of over 100 forklifts, ranging from 1.6 tonne to 7 tonne. Again, the tyres have been operating for six months and the indications are that the wear rate is better than the tyres in current use. When it comes to mounting the tyre, the person in charge of service and maintenance of the fleet described it in the following four words: ”Simple, fast, reliable, efficient.” When it comes to comfort, he adds: “There have been no complaints of fatigue from the drivers, it handles well on the vehicle and my personal impression is that it offers a soft ride.”

Continental – Number 1 in Europe

Industrial tyres are an important part of the Continental portfolio and the company claims to hold the number one spot on Germany and in Europe and to be among the top three companies worldwide.

Globally, 40 per cent of the industrial tyre market is accounted for by Super-Elastic (SE) tyres, with pneumatic tyres taking a 32 per cent share and press-on band tyres 23 per cent.

Of these three categories, press-on band tyres tend to be less comfortable for the driver, while pneumatic tyres are not suitable for many industrial situations, for example a forklift working in conditions where there is broken glass, shards of metal etc.

“Super-Elastic tyres are in a class of their own in both technical and economic terms,” is Continental’s view, with the company adding: “Their solid-rubber design is the optimum choice for many jobs – in the warehouse, in industrial production and logistics, among others.”

Continental Super-Elastic tyres (CSE) are ideally suited to gruelling applications, described by the manufacturer as “virtually breakdown-proof and absolutely maintenance-free.” They have a long pedigree too, having been manufactured in Korbach, Hesse, for 40 years.

Over this time, Continental has developed a number of innovations in the industrial field, including the first SE tyre capable of being mounted on a pneumatic tyre rim – the forerunner of today’s CSE product group. Continental also produces the SIT (Snap-In Tyre) range and claims to be the only manufacturer offering a comprehensive product range in the industrial tyre sector.