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.”
Continental is now offering truck tyre retailers tyre labelling help through its website. As well as a comprehensive overview of the new EU tyre label legislation, its background and targets this said to include information on how to read the label, its implications for different industry sectors and importantly, its relationship to lowering the cost of driving.
Following the news that Continental AG shares will once again be traded on the German DAX list, financial analysts have been assessing the impact that this likely to make on the company’s share price. For its part Morgan Stanley estimated that the impact will actually be “relatively small from a trading perspective – circa 1-2 days of trading volume and circa 1-2 per cent of the current available freefloat.”
Continental has developed its first winter coach tyre, the HSW 2 Coach. Designed primarily for safety, but with the varying road surfaces involved in coach travel applications, quiet running, comfort and economy also in mind, the tyre, suitable for use on all axles of the coach, uses “intelligent tread pattern design” to provide the characteristics necessary for winter passenger transportation. But the really clever bit is that the tyre has been designed to wear in a way that will make it suitable for continued use when spring arrives.
Almost four years after being shown the door at the DAX 30, Germany’s Continental AG is set to re-enter the exclusive group of the 30 major German companies trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Stock exchange operator Deutsche Börse announced Conti’s return to the DAX 30 on the evening of 5 September.
Say Ni Hao to two of Hefei’s newest ‘honourary citizens’. At a recent ceremony in the capital of China’s Anhui Province, Mr. Burkhardt Koeller, Continental Tire division’s executive vice-president Finance and Controlling, and Dr. Tobias Kerle, general manager of the company’s Hefei tyre plant, were awarded Hefei City ‘honourary citizenship.’ This distinction, says Continental, is an official award acknowledging the Continental Tire division’s contribution and long-term commitment to Hefei city’s economic development. Mr. Wu Cunrong, secretary of the Hefei Municipal Party Committee, presented the award to Koeller and Kerle.
It is 25 years since Michelin launched the first radial motorcycle road tyres, and the French manufacturer has announced that it will mark the occasion at London’s Ace Café. Michelin will attend the venue’s regular monthly ‘Streetfighter Night’ on Friday 7 September, with ex-250 and 500cc world champion, Freddie Spencer. Spencer will arrive at the café at around 18:00-18.30 on a Michelin Pilot Road 3 liveried Virgin Limobike, which has been painted to mark to company’s switch to the ground-breaking Michelin sport touring tyres, which are now fitted to its entire fleet of Yamaha FJR1300s.
Continental boasts that its latest North American replacement market tyre, the PureContact, brings together “best-in-class wet braking, fuel efficiency and ride comfort.” The all-season tyre is available to North American consumers in a number of 15 to 18-inch rim diameters, a UTQG rating of 700 AA, and H and V speed ratings.
Family-run steel haulage company Randall Barber Transport reports that it is saving an average of eight pence per kilometre per tyre with Continental, with each tyre travelling up to 10,000km further compared with the fleet’s previous brand of tyres. The company also say it is enjoying the benefits of technical advice from the manufacturer’s Technical Services team. The firm originally selected Continental as preferred tyre supplier in 2009.
Continental Tire the Americas announced a major expansion of its US headquarters in Ft. Mill, South Carolina. US industry publication Tire Review shares that the three year old headquarters building will be extended by 16,000 square feet, creating a total area of 91,000 square feet. Along with a larger floorspace, the expansion will bring 80 new jobs to the headquarters over the coming four years.
The inaugural plant manager of Continental’s still under construction Sumter plant in the US has been named. South African Craig Baartman, a 18-year Conti veteran, will be responsible for the factory’s overall leadership of the facility which, according to Continental Tire the Americas’ CEO Jochen Etzel, is scheduled to open in late 2013.
On 31 August, Roger Stansbie, currently director of truck tyre technologies for Continental Tire the Americas’ Commercial Vehicle Tire business unit, will retire. Stansbie intends to return to the UK following his retirement and will be succeeded in his US-based role by Czech Republic national Libor Heger, who has been employed by Continental AG and its associated companies for the last 13 years.
As a sponsor of the World and European Cup championships, Continental is well aware of the expense involved in supporting the beautiful game. Even individuals fork out a tidy sum for the privilege of supporting their favourite team. Figures released by Continental Tyres indicate that the average football fan will spend nearly £56,000 over a lifetime doing just that.
Mitas Tyres UK Limited says its customers will benefit from extension of its distribution contract with Derbyshire-based Ascott Transport Limited (ATL); the deal with ATL enables next-day delivery on the company’s range of agricultural, industrial and motorcycle products. ATL manages the storage and distribution of the tyre maker’s tyres throughout the UK, and hold stocks of Mitas, Continental and Cultor-brand tyres to the value of £800,000 to £1,000,000.
The Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (REDISA) has appointed Continental SA sales director Eddie Jordaan and Alliance Tyre Africa managing director Piet Swart to key positions within the fledgling recycling scheme. Both men take up their posts with REDISA on 1 September.
Continental says it plans to premiere its next generation of truck tyres at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show 2012, which takes place in Hannover, Germany from 20 to 27 September. According to the German tyre maker’s account, there should be plenty to see – Continental says it will launch the “most comprehensive range of truck and bus tyres in the history of the company” during 2013. Nikolai Setzer, head of Continental’s Tyres division, Dr. Andreas Esser, head of the Commercial Vehicle Tyres business unit and Herbert Mensching, head of Marketing and Sales Truck Tyres EMEA, will discuss this and other current plans and developments at a press conference on 18 September.
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