Conti’s CSEasy Awarded ‘Archie’ for Innovation

Continental’s CSEasy industrial tyre has received the Fork Lift Truck Association’s (FLTA) prestigious innovation award. FLTA members, journalists and end-users selected the design effort of the Continental team, and the company received its award at the ‘Archies’ dinner and prize giving ceremony that took place in Birmingham on February 9.

The tyre is the first of its kind to be fitted with a torque-limiting wrench and to eliminate the need for a mounting press, and as such has brought what many view as a sea change to materials handlings departments. Lower ownership cost during the tyre’s lifespan have been reported for the CSEasy in comparison to standard forklift tyres, through the delivery of higher mileage and lower rolling resistance. Through this last feature energy consumption and CO2 emissions are also reduced with the Continental tyre.

FLTA chief executive David Ellison explained: “The CSEasy is a deserving winner because it is a very innovative product which is of great benefit to users in our industry among others. For this reason, it was considered to be the design achievement of the year.”

“I am thrilled that Continental and the industrial tyre team have been recognised in this way,” added Hans-Jürgen Sauerwald, developer of the CSEasy. “We have always known that the CSEasy was a ground-breaking solid tyre. When we developed the tyre our main aim was to simplify the tyre changing process for the end user whilst producing a tyre that met our high performance criteria.”

The ‘Archie’ trophy is modelled on Archimedes, acknowledged as the father of modern engineering, who embodies and represents the application of intellect and innovation over brute force. The Archie will take pride of place at Continental Tyre Group Ltd head office in Middlesex.