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.”
Cokoon is the brand name of a new bonding system technology that all tyre manufacturers and their suppliers can use as an open source solution. The development partners, tyre maker Continental and reinforcers manufacturer Kordsa, began work on this eco-friendly dip technology in 2017. Continental says it has produced quarter of a million tyres featuring Cokoon since beginning volume production last year.
Following the purchase of Bandvulc in the summer of 2016, then managing director David Smith was promoted into the wider international role of Head of Channel Management Distribution and Region, North Europe for Continental. His 2018 promotion followed a 12-year tenure as UK MD that saw turnover at the UK business more than double. The latest news is that he has returned to the UK, so with all this in mind, Tyres & Accessories recently caught up with David Smith in order to talk about his return as well as both Continental and Bandvulc in the UK.
Continental has launched the new WinterContact TS 870, a winter tyre for small to medium sized cars, at an event in Kittilä, Finland. The tyre is the successor to 2016’s WinterContact TS 860, which has been widely recognised for the quality of its performance in tyre tests. The new tyre, which has a newly designed high-technology tread design and a new iteration of Conti’s Cool Chili compound with optimised crosslink density, features balanced performance improvements over the TS 860, notably five per cent shorter braking on ice and grip on snow, seven per cent increased tread life, and best-in-class noise, represented by one-wave (70dB) on the EU tyre label.
Carlos Bernabé has returned to Continental’s tyre factory in Timișoara, Romania to take on the role of plant manager. The four-decade Continental veteran officially began in this position on 1 February after managing the company’s tyre plant in Alor Setar Malaysia for three years; prior to his sojourn in Malaysia, he worked at the Timișoara plant as production manager.
Goodyear has launched the EfficientGrip Performance 2. According to the company, the new tyre can achieve 50 per cent higher mileage than its predecessor and 20 per cent better mileage than Michelin. The claims are based on tests conducted by TÜV SÜD, which also found that the EfficientGrip Performance 2 had the shortest braking distances on wet and dry roads compared to leading competitors.
Continental is extending its ContiSeal technology to van tyre ranges. Production of ContiVanContact 100 tyres featuring the self-sealing puncture solution began this month and will initially be available for the popular dimensions 215/65 R 16C 106/104 T. Going forwards, Continental will introduce the solution in further sizes and also offer ContiSeal products in its all-season and winter van tyre ranges.
Continental’s sixth-generation range of award-winning car tyres provide grip and safety across a broad range of road car applications.
Various road and climatic conditions are encountered within the Continental Tire division’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) business, and for this reason, it is introducing commercial trailer tyres that reflect regional requirements. The first of these is the Conti Hybrid HT3 WR.
Locally-sourced alternatives to natural rubber, such as Continental’s ‘Taraxagum’ Russian dandelion project, look set to benefit from new government policy in Germany. Yesterday, the German cabinet approved its ‘Nationale Bioökonomiestrategie’ (National Bioeconomy Strategy). This brings together existing bioeconomy strategies and paves the way for further development in this area, including funding for research.
Continental has renewed its tyre distribution partnership with Emirates for Universal Tyres (EUT). EUT will continue as the exclusive distributor of Continental tyres in the UAE at least until 2023.
Continental has introduced a new range of tyres for intercity buses. It says the Conti CoachRegio offers “reliable and safe touring between cities and villages under variable speed conditions, excellent handling and high mileage on hilly and winding regional roads.”
Chichester District Council has extended its tyre supply and management contract with Bandvulc for its fleet of 26 Mercedes-Benz ‘Econic’ refuse collection vehicles for a further two years.
As of 1 January, Jörg Burfien has succeeded John DeSalle as president of Hoosier Racing Tire. This role within the 2016-acquired company is the third US-based assignment that Burfien has taken on since joining Continental in 1998.
New sport, road and all-terrain tyres from Continental will await riders awakening from their winter hibernation. The ranks of the brand’s motorcycle tyre portfolio are set to swell in 2020 with six fresh products.
Startup Europe Partnership (SEP), an initiative by the European Commission, has distinguished Fiege as an Open Innovation Challenger. Having first achieved this standard a year ago, Fiege is being distinguished for the second time in a row. The annual ranking also includes multinationals like Google, Nestlé and Bridgestone. Next to Fiege, a further three German enterprises were distinguished: Bosch, Daimler, and SAP.
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