Work starting on Continental’s Russian dandelion rubber lab

For the past six years, Continental has worked with partners on projects to source rubber from Russian dandelions for its tyre production. In 2016, the company announced plans to establish a new facility for industrialising this process. A seven-acre site in Anklam, not far from Germany’s Baltic coast, was selected for this research laboratory. The tyre maker now reports that groundbreaking for the 35 million-euro initial phase of its Taraxagum Lab Anklam will take place this coming Monday.

Amongst the Continental team and invited dignitaries scheduled to participate in Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony are Dr Boris Mergell, global head of research and development into passenger car tyres at Continental; Dr Andreas Topp, head of material and process development and industrialisation for tyres at Continental; Carsten Venz, site manager of the Taraxagum Lab Anklam; Dr Carla Recker, research and development project leader and Continental; Michael Galander, mayor of Anklam; and Harry Glawe, minister of economic affairs, labour and health in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The aim of the Taraxagum Lab Anklam is to reduce Continental’s dependence on imported raw materials by establishing the sustainable use of dandelions as a local and regional raw material. The commercialisation of ‘Taraxagum’ rubber is viewed as a mid-term goal.