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.”
Potential terrorism or a disgruntled worker? Continental Tire the Americas has increased security measures at its Mt. Vernon facility after receiving two bomb threats. Potential suspects are being investigated as part of a wider action to ensure the safety of plant workers.
Germany’s Continental AG is said to be discussing the potential acquisition of Kumho Tire, and is just one of several tyre makers apparently interested in purchasing the company. News of this development comes at a time when Kumho Asiana Group chairman Park Sam-Koo’s efforts to regain control of Kumho Tire have run into difficulties.
As an official sponsor of this summer’s UEFA Euro 2016 tournament, Continental will continue positioning of its brand close to the top level of European football, a strategy that continues to prove successful, and popular with competitors. As part of its sponsorship package with the tournament, Conti will equip the transfer buses taking teams all over France to the ten host cities with its premium bus tyres, a feature previously seen at the Brazil-hosted World Cup in 2014, when Conti supplied a special edition ContiGol Urbino. In addition to the buses used by all 24 teams who have qualified, the specially designed Conti Goal HA3 tyres will also run on 20 VIP buses provided by selected private transport companies. Conti will use an exclusive special edition tyre for the tournament based on its Conti CityPlus HA3 tyre for regional transportation. The size 295/80R22.5 Conti Goal HA3 was developed in Germany by the manufacturer’s engineers, and can be fitted to any axle.
Continental has introduced a further Conti Hybrid HT3 size, and the tyre maker says this 385/55 R22.5 fitment “completes” its Conti Hybrid range. The new size has been awarded a ‘B’ label rating for wet grip, and Continental reports that its use can reduce fuel consumption by six per cent. Like all Conti Hybrid tyres, the Conti Hybrid HT3 385/55 R 22.5 trailer tyre can also be retreaded, and newly-introduced regrooving indicators in the tread profile making it easier to perform regrooving properly.
Three years ago, Continental began focusing on non-automotive areas of its business in order to better balance the company’s sales footprint. An early beneficiary of this new emphasis was Continental’s Commercial Specialty Tires (CST) business, with the first investments to grow the CST portfolio directed at the port tyre segment. Now, in 2016, it is the turn of earthmover tyres, and a new EM range will be introduced later this year. As was the case with the port tyre range, the earthmover products will reflect the 2013-initiated drive to establish the Continental name as the company’s primary brand in the OTR sector.
Although Continental says the economic environment in the first quarter of 2016 was as “difficult as expected,” the company reports making a good start to the year. In the three months to 31 March, the tyre maker and automotive supplier’s sales rose three per cent year-on-year to €9.85 billion, even though negative exchange-rate effects had reduced this sales growth by 2.1 percentage points. Adjusted EBIT climbed to €1.1 billion. At 11.3 per cent, the adjusted EBIT margin was higher than the previous year’s level of 10.6 per cent.
Thatcham Research, Bosch, Continental and ZF TRW are joining forces at the London Motor Show as part of the Global NCAP #StopTheCrash partnership. Their goal? To ensure consumers considering buying a new car ask three questions, the group believe are life-saving, namely:
This month, Continental is introducing a new aftermarket tyre sealant kit and other sealant products. The company says these products are made to OEM quality and offer a solution to drivers looking to replace existing kits – products that, according to Continental, need to be substituted after around four to five years.
Patrick Haarmann is now head of Continental’s Asia Pacific (APAC) Truck Tire business. He began in this role on 1 March, succeeding Benoit Henry, who now works for Continental in Mexico. Haarmann is located in Continental’s APAC headquarters in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia and is responsible for the region’s replacement truck tyre business. He reports directly to Dr Andreas Esser, executive vice-president at Continental and head of the company’s Commercial Vehicle Tires business unit.
The Barum 200 R truck tyre range will be extended this year with the introduction of new steer, drive and trailer fitments. At the CV Show this week, Continental presented its size 315/70 R22.5 BF200 R steer axle tyre; this will be launched in the UK in June, together with the 315/70 R22.5 BD200 R drive tyre.
Evans Transport is to introduce Continental Tyres’ ContiPressureCheck system into its fleet. The 150-truck, 220-trailer fleet said that early trials have shown safety and economy gains from installing the system.
Continental brand Semperit is introducing further additions to its Runner commercial tyre range, having launched the line in 2015. The steer-axle tyre, Runner F2 and the drive-axle tyre, Runner D2 which are for use in combined regional and long-distance transportation are now available in the size 315/70R22.5, joining the existing 315/80R22.5 model. The high-mileage tyres offer both a long service life and good fuel efficiency. The complete Runner range, which includes the trailer-axle tyre Runner T2, are on display at the Commercial Vehicle Show 2016 in Birmingham.
Prelude to a new era of production or the Tyre Maker Who Cried Wolf? News out of Tanzania suggests that General Tyre East Africa Ltd. (GTEA) may be ready to start making tyres again, something it hasn’t done for close on a decade. And while Tyrepress.com reported on moves to recommence production several years ago and has followed the often bitter negotiations between minority shareholder Continental AG and Tanzania’s government since 2007, this time the decision to restart tyre manufacture lies with one party alone.
Continental has established a new business unit in Ghana. Continental Tire West Africa has been set up in Ghana’s capital, Accra, and will target new opportunities in a range of sectors. The operation will also help the tyre maker expand its distribution channels and retail outlets in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Equipment manufacturer, Gordonind reports that Continental AG has completed a programme of testing the firm’s Mini Mobile Press. According to Aryeh Fried, sales and marketing manager for Gordonind, the tests – which began in October 2015 – were completed with “very satisfactory results”.
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