Hannover-based Continental AG is a leading automotive supplier and – according to the company – is “the choice of leading car manufacturers, offering award-winning tyres that deliver responsive braking in all weather conditions.”
According to Jay Kunkel, president of Continental’s Asia region, the German tyre and automotive component supplier intends to have sales within Asia account for 25 per cent of the company’s global total by 2013. Growth in the key market of China and throughout the region is already occurring and in response the company has established a new facility for the production of electronic brake and powertrain systems and interior electronics products.
Car maker Volvo reports sales of more than a thousand winter tyres since its Winter Tyre Programme was launched in the UK in October. “Interest in the Volvo winter tyres has far exceeded our expectations, with Scotland, the North of England and London seeing the greatest number of inquires and sales,” stated Lee Berrell, Aftersales manager for Volvo Car UK. “While some are struggling with supply, we pre-ordered a large number of tyres to ensure all Volvo customers can be catered for, even into the New Year."
Tyre fanatics now have a winning justification for purchasing an iPhone – Continental has announced that the first tyre race game for the darling of the smartphone world is now available for free downloading from the iTunes Store. Called the ContiTireRace, the aim of the game is to take the racetrack with ContiWinterContact TS 830 as quickly as possible, along the way collecting points that give the rolling tyres additional speed and thus better lap times. The app is available in English and German.
The seat on Continental AG’s Supervisory Board left vacant by Rolf Koerfer’s resignation on November 29 is to be filled by Professor Siegfried Wolf. The 53-year old Austrian, who is also chairman of the Board of Directors at Russian Machines OJSC, was nominated to the Conti board on December 4; Wolf’s nomination received the Board’s unanimous support and his appointment will be applied for at the local court in Continental’s home town of Hannover, Germany early this week.
The adaptor developed by German firm KTS Kunststoff Technik Schmölln for Continental’s CSEasy industrial tyre has received an innovation award from TecPart, the German technical plastics manufacturers’ association. In reporting the KTS product’s attainment of a TecPart Innovation Prize 2010, Continental comments that the CSEasy adaptor not only enables wheel changes without the need for mounting presses or specialist involvement, thereby greatly reducing forklift downtime and the expense involved in changing the wheel – it also lowers the tyre’s rolling resistance, gives longer mileage, and improves safety and environmental compatibility.
As a means of thanks for their contribution to the company’s recovery from the recession, Continental AG’s 146,000 employees worldwide will receive a one-off payment. Executive Board member responsible for human resources, Heinz-Gerhard Wente, announced that a total of 45 million euros has been set aside for this purpose. “After the serious economic and financial crises last year, our employees throughout the world demonstrated their commitment, working hard to contribute substantially to Continental’s speedier-than-expected recovery,” he said. “In recognition of this commitment, the Executive Board decided on the one-off payment for the spring of 2011, even though the company is still facing several major challenges.” Exactly how much an employee will receive depends on where he or she lives, however. While Continental’s 45,000 workers in Germany will receive 400 euros, those employed in lands with ‘lower living costs’ will receive only 200 euros.
List prices for Continental’s replacement summer and all-season tyres in numerous Asian markets will increase by five per cent on December 1. According to the manufacturer, the increase in “in response to the current very high price level for the main types of natural rubber used in the production of tyres," and will apply to all Continental passenger car and light commercial vehicle tyre brands. The price increases apply in China, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore.
It’s getting cold out there, and tyre maker Continental notes “there are no Europe-wide regulations for winter tyres in sight.” So until the day when nations throughout the region are encouraged to sign up to the tyre world’s equivalent of EMU, those planning to take their vehicles across the Channel during the coming cold months need to study up on the various national regulations in effect. Fortunately, Continental has made such swotting easier by outlining the winter tyre rules currently in effect in Europe.
In November, Continental Tire the Americas launched the first tyre it has specifically engineered to both meet the needs of the people moving segment and to perform on roads throughout North and South America – the steer and all-position HSR2 SA. This heavy steer regional tyre was designed and will be produced at the company’s Mt. Vernon plant in Illinois, and according to Clif Armstrong, CTA’s marketing director for commercial tyres in the Americas, the HSR2 SA completes the tyre maker’s product portfolio for people movers. Conti’s American people mover range also contains a long-distance steer/all-position tyre for heavier buses and recreational vehicles (the HSL1 Coach, introduced in January 2010) and a steer/all-position tyre for urban bus traffic, the HSU1.
Continental Industrial Tyres has partnered with the world’s leading champagne producer, Moët et Chandon, for ten years now – all the time cooperating so the brand which is so famous for producing celebratory wine can avoid popping a cork for the wrong reasons.
Just as Continental Industrial Tyres are able to develop and produce products tailored specifically to customers' specifications and requirements, so the vintners and champagne makers at Moët et Chandon are able to meet individual demands. Both companies can also look back on long traditions. Admittedly, the champagne manufacturer was founded in 1743, making it older than Continental, which was established in 1871. Continental produces over 100 million tyres every year. In 2008 Moët et Chandon produced some 36 million bottles of champagne, with a good 100 million bottles being stored in the manufacturer's cellars, up to 35 metres below the ground.
On November 11 Continental Tyres launched its first in-app video advertising campaign, delivering content to iPhone users. The campaign, which promotes Continental’s winter tyre line-up, operates on the ‘Yoc Ad Plus’ rich media advertising platform and enables video to be viewed within the app without redirecting to third party sites.
Research from Kwik-Fit notes that, although the weather outside still seems relatively mild, millions of rush hour drivers are already facing winter conditions on their morning commute. This is because, the fast-fitter elaborates, when it comes to winter driving the key figure motorists should bear in mind is not freezing point; it is a much less chilly 7°C. It is at this temperature when the performance of summer tyres deteriorates and the shorter braking distance offered by winter tyres comes into its own. Comparative tests between summer and winter tyres (carried out by Continental) show that winter tyres has stop a car 4.8 metres before summer tyres on a wet road, and when ice becomes a factor this stopping distance extends to 11 metres.
Since its establishment early last year, one of the primary focuses of GITI Tire (UK) Ltd. has been to provide a class leading level of service to both small and large fleets. In recent months the company has reported signing a number of agreements with UK fleets, including tyre supply for the 50 plus vehicles operated by Derbyshire based BJ Waters (Transport) Ltd. and for the 50 plus vehicle fleet belonging to Manchester’s Hadfields Transport Limited.
At this year’s Eima international agricultural machinery exhibition in Bologna, Italy, CGS Tyres is displaying a number of its products, such as the Agroforest, a product the manufacturer says preserves the benefits of forestry and field tyres as it is 15 per cent more durable and puncture-resistant than a standard tyre. Also being presented are tyres fitted to the latest agricultural vehicles, such as the prototype Deutz-Fahr eight-wheel 600hp Agro XXL tractor mounted with CGS manufactured Continental brand super volume tyres.
General Truck Tires is offering severe service and construction vehicle fleet operators in the NAFTA region a new all-position wide base tyre intended for super single fitment on steer and trailer positions. Named the Grabber OA (Off Road, All Position) Wide Base, the tyre is being introduced in size 445/65R22.5 during November and two further additions to the range will be made in 2011.
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