New Radial Motorcycle Tyre From Continental
Continental has launched a new radial tyre for motorcycles, targeting the sport touring segment. The “ContiForce” is available in three sizes for the front and in eight sizes for the rear.
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.”
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Traiskirchen Factory Designated MMP Plant
Product NewsDr. Hans-Joachim Nikolin, Chairman of the Semperit supervisory board and board member of Continental AG, confirmed during a supervisory board meeting of Semperit Reifen Ges.m.b.H. in Traiskirchen in mid-December that the Semperit factory at Traiskirchen will play an essential strategic part in the introduction of a new manufacturing process. Continental has developed a European strategy for the Modular Manufacturing Process (MMP), envisaging three MMP factories, each responsible for the supply of one large European region. The Traiskirchen factory has been chosen to supply the South and East European markets. The decision about a second MMP location to supply Western Europe is said to be imminent, whereas a suitable supply plant for the North European region has not yet been found. The production plan for the year 2000 gives 1.5 million car tyres made by the standard and one million by the MMP process, a total number of 2.5 million units as originally planned. However, since the manufacturing process of MMP tyres is less complicated than the standard production process, a reduction in the workforce is inevitable and cannot be compensated for by the planned increased output of 825,000 commercial vehicle tyres in the year 2000. The MMP tyre is produced in modules allowing the cost-effective production of smaller lots, and a fast reaction to the requirements of the market. MMP is therefore primarily designed as a means of reacting fast to developments in the replacement markets, and only in exceptional cases would it be considered for original equipment. This production process does away with the necessity to make a large variety of products at the standard factories, thus freeing them for large-series production.
Continental Profit Figures Continue To Improve
Product NewsContinental’s profit figures have improved for the sixth time running. Group turnover was 9.13 billion Euros (including Continental Teves business for the first time). EBIT rose to 511 million Euros.
Joint Venture ContiTech Air Spring Systems And Dae Won Kang
Product NewsContiTech Air Spring Systems, a business unit of Continental AG’s ContiTech group, announced a “Letter of Intent” for founding a joint venture company with South Korean company Dae Won Kang to build up a plant for producing complete air spring systems. Dae Won Kang’s market share in this field in Korea is nearly 100 per cent.
Further Price Increases Necessary Soon
Product NewsRecently announced price increases effective from the 1st November have not been sufficient to compensate for constantly increasing costs. The Continental Group therefore sees the necessity to increase prices again. The company expect to announce rises of around four to five percent early in the new year, Jescow von Puttkamer told NEUE REIFENZEITUNG.
Pirelli: Investments In Telecommunications And Internet
Product NewsAccording to Italian financial analysts Pirelli will use the US$ 2.15 bn received from the purchase by Cisco of their ‘Terrestrial Optical Networking Systems’ for investments in telecommunications and the Internet.
Continental Wants To Buy Back Shares
Product NewsThe German newspaper Handelsblatt says in today’s issue that Continental is planning to buy back its own shares. This will be confirmed at the general meeting taking place on May 19th. The Supervisory Board proposes the usual limit of 10 p.c. of the original capital and a time limit up until the end of October 2001. With this move Continental wants to keep the option open to make acquisitions by exchanging shares.
Opinion Poll: Continental After Bosch And Siemens
Product NewsIn a recent opinion poll, by the magazine Automotive Engineering Partners, 200 car producers and supplier experts regarded Bosch, DaimlerChrysler and the “FEV-Motorentechnik” as the most innovative companies in the automotive industry. Continental was third, behind Siemens, in the supplier section.
“Shaping the Future Together” – Pirelli Dealer Forum in Hamburg
Product NewsWith the theme “Gemeinsam Zukunft gestalten” (“Shaping the Future Together”) a Pirelli dealer forum, one of six held in various German cities, took place just outside Hamburg at the end of March. In a number of speeches Pirelli explained how it wants to “shape the future”. Dr. Paolo Masera, for instance, managing director of Pirelli Reifenwerke as well as being responsible for the Italian manufacturer’s original equipment business worldwide since the beginning of the year, gave the tyre dealers an insight into Pirelli’s OE activities. He was able to tell them with pride that Pirelli had gained 254 homologations since 1996, no less than 169 of them in speed categories V and above. Last year almost ten million tyres went to European original equipment. With six or seven factories the Italians say they cover 95 p.c. of the OE business and 60 p.c. of the replacement market as well. With 12 p.c. European market share in ultra-high-performance tyres the company claims place three behind Michelin, the market leader, and Continental. Dr. Klaus Betka, board member with responsibility for production, spoke about the new manufacturing process MIRS (Modular Integrated Robotized System), while Roland Steindorf, managing director of the Sales Marketing Company, spoke about the possibilities and opportunities of “e-commerce”, i.e. selling on the internet. Within the framework of the so-called “e-Pirelli Project” the Italians plan to invest roughly two trillion lire in all divisions of the group on internet applications and new technology by the year 2002. Details are explained in the April edition of NEUE REIFENZEITUNG.
Newly Created Summer Tyre Named Velocity
Product NewsVelocity is the name of a newly created summer tyre. The program includes eleven sizes from 185/60 R14H to 205/45 ZR16. Continental and Dunlop South Africa are producing the tyre for the Tiger Wheels Group.
“XL” Winter Tyre: The “ContiWinterContact TS 790 V”
Product NewsIn the context of summer passenger car tyres the “V” speed rating is a common application. However, in the last year V-rated winter tyres have also entered the market; a development that even quite recently was unthinkable. This year German tyre manufacturer Continental is launching a V-rated winter tyre – the “ContiWinterContact TS 790 V XL”. According to the press release it is the “first true V-rated winter tyre”, allowing for speeds of up to 240 kph. The “XL” stands for extra load, meaning that the new tyre has been developed with a higher load index than competitors’ products. This compensates for obligatory load reductions which usually mean a tyre with a normal load index is permitted to drive at up to 220 kph on a full load, or the wheel load has to be reduced by 9 % to allow it to run at 240 kph. With the higher load index on the Continental TS 790 V XL no compromise will be required, and the tyre may be run at 240 kph at full wheel load. The new tyre is available in ten sizes to cover 96 % of the market segment. Prices will be 11 % higher than the H-rated version of the TS 790. Find out more in the November issue of NEUE REIFENZEITUNG.
Andreas Scheiba Leaves Continental Group
Product NewsAndreas Scheiba, co-managing director of the Group’s equities Vergölst (Germany) and Profi (Austria) has left the group by mutual consent.
Continental Denies Shareholding in Apollo Tyres
Product NewsContinental has denied reports in Indian newspapers that it has a 15% shareholding in Apollo Tyres. Continental is in talks with other companies in India but the results will not be announced until later this year.
New Trailer Tyre Offered By Continental
Product NewsContinental has introduced the trailer tyre size HTR 385/55 R 22.5 for heavy trucks in regional traffic. The HSR tyre in the same size for steer axles will be available from this autumn.
Multi-brand Salesforce From Hanover
Product NewsFrom the beginning of 2001 the Continental Group will be working with a “multi-brand” salesforce on the German tyre replacement market. The salesmen will represent Continental, Uniroyal, Barum and Semperit. The aim is to streamline and improve relationships with trade customers. Gislaved (Reiff) and Viking (Meyer Lissendorf) will keep their exclusive distribution in Germany, while Mabor will be supplied almost exclusively to Volkswagen.
