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.”
In order to ensure motorists maintain tyres at the correct pressure with the minimum of fuss, Continental has produced an air pressure table that covers some 700 current vehicle models from 42 manufacturers. The table provides unladen and laden values and includes each model’s various tyre options.
Late last month a new organisation was formed to represent tyre makers in a region some refer to as the “tyre capital of North America”. The establishment of the Tire Manufacturers’ Council was announced by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce on 29 May; it says the council’s aim is to “evaluate and propose policies relating to the manufacture of tyres in South Carolina.” Foundation members include Michelin North America, Bridgestone Americas and Continental Tire the Americas.
The worst of the flooding in Central Europe is now over and the time has arrived to clean up – an effort that some estimate will cost up to €12 billion. Continental has chipped in towards these efforts with a donation of €250,000.
Bartec USA, LLC has released the R50 software update, which adds the ability to program popular aftermarket sensor solutions from Alligator and Orange in addition to the Schrader EZ-sensor range to the Tech400SD.
Bartec reports that it first developed and created the process of using a TPMS scan tool to program these sensors. It was also said to have been the Bartec range of TPMS tools that first programmed the Schrader EZ-sensor and according to Scot Holloway, Bartec CEO, “Bartec’s experience and expertise in sensor programming keeps us at the forefront of TPMS innovation; now you can add the Alligator Sens.it and the Orange Electronic ID Clonable sensors to a growing and distinguished list of programmable sensors our tool covers.”
Earlier this month, Continental’s Malaysian operation, Continental Tyre PJ Malaysia Sdn Bhd, announced the official local launch of the Conti360° Fleet Services tyre management system. Currently the programme is offered in ten Malaysian states – Kedah, Penang, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Selangor/Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor – and Continental says it will expand Conti360° Fleet Services to the states of Sabah and Sarawak in the near future.
Breakdown statistics collected by Germany motorists’ organisation ADAC indicate that its crews were called out to 2.6 million breakdowns last year. In almost one-third of these cases, motorists summoned the ADAC because their car simply failed to start due to a flat or defective battery. Battery-related problems are the single most common cause of breakdowns, and have been so for a number of years now. But in future, vehicles will be able to identify a low battery and report this to drivers via a smartphone app.
Continental has been in business for 142 years, and since 1882 the company has utilised the ‘prancing horse’ in its logo. This year, Conti’s logo and corporate image has been given the once-over in order to, as the company puts it, underline its change over the years from being a pure tyre maker to becoming one of the world's largest system suppliers for automotive technologies. The horse still features prominently in Continental’s new logo – the company says it now holds a more natural and dynamic position – and it is joined by a new slogan: Continental, the future in motion. This is written in a new font, although the uninitiated may be hard pressed to spot the difference between the new and old.
“Our technological solutions are helping people to enrich the quality of their life through mobility and to structure their living space in a sustainable manner,” explains Continental’s chief executive officer Dr. Elmar Degenhart. “We create fascinating solutions and products for volume production in reliable, first-class quality and faster than our competitors. Our brand symbolises this goal and is the promise to our stake-holders by which we measure ourselves on a daily basis.”
According to Deutsche Bank Markets Research, Michelin is expected to announce the closure of its Tours, France truck tyre factory tomorrow. Research analyst Gaetan Toulemonde reports that closure of the 1.2 million tyre per annum capacity plant would be a product of weak volumes in Europe; while the European passenger car tyre market is now six per cent higher than 2007 pre-crisis levels, at 404 million tyres, over the same period the European truck tyre market has dropped eight per cent to 20 million tyres. Continental and Pirelli have already reduced a total of 2 million truck tyres from their European capacity in the last five years, and Michelin’s European truck tyre operations currently only operate at 60 per cent capacity.
Italian sports car manufacturer Maserati has homologated Continental’s ContiSportContact 5 P for the new Quattroporte. This is the first approval the German tyre maker has ever received from Maserati, and the tyre will be supplied in six 19 to 21-inch sizes in line with equipment specifications and engine size. The tyres built specially for the Quattroporte will be marked with the letters “MGT” to avoid confusion with other tyres from the same series.
High performance cars are by definition a cut above the average family run-around. That means they’re far more demanding on their tyres. Consequently have to be more careful when it comes to choosing replacements, says Stapleton’s.
Kumho is promoting its ECSTA LE Sport KU39, an asymmetric ultra high performance tyre designed, as a product designed for Europe’s top car marques. According to the company, it was developed using the company’s KADAS prediction tools and on Europe’s most demanding test tracks. The Y speed rated product’s key selling points are said to be its enhanced performance, braking in wet conditions and controlled ride and refinement. Its high grip tread compound ensures maximum traction and braking performance, while its specially designed casing provides impressive high speed stability.
UK manufacturer of balance weights, Trax JH Ltd has won a £1m per year contract to supply adhesive and clip-on products to Jaguar Land Rover. Managing director John Hallé says that the business was won on design and quality competence and is delighted that the work put in over the last few years by Trax staff has finally come to fruition.
Marangoni Group once again shared a large stand at Autopromotec, probably the largest in the dedicated retreading section of hall 22.
With regard to retreading, which accounts for most of the group’s business in the Italian market, Marangoni announced that important new additions have been made to the Marix range of retreads. These includinged the MD National Grip 3 for regional heavy transport, and upgraded compounds mainly in the Energeco line for long distance applications. For the earthmoving sector, the MDT Recaflex pattern, available in size 27.00X49 for heavy-duty dumpers has been added. Other products on display include patterns for 4x4s, SUVs and vans, representing a wide range that has been expanded even further.
Continental has much to talk about having recently begun a series of planned third generation commercial tyre launches with three coach and bus tyres. The third generation is being marked by an increased level of application specialisation in the commercial segment, the details of which can be found on pp. 52-53 of April’s Tyres & Accessories. The Conti Coach, for long distance travel, the Conti CityPlus, for regional, or intercity use, and the Conti Urban, which has been optimised for typical city-based usage. All three tyres are grouped under the more traditionally Conti-style product number, HA3, though increased branding is one of the focal points for Conti’s third generation.
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April’s annual gathering of the UK logistics industry, The Commercial Vehicle Show at Birmingham’s NEC represents a fine opportunity for those in the tyre industry to connect with this side of their business. The 2013 iteration boasted the best exhibitor turnout since 2009, and the show itself seemed to have exceeded many expectations for visitor numbers, which usually number around 16,000 over its three days, the organisers say. Certainly Tyres & Accessories witnessed busy stands visiting the show on day two.
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