Conti Expands into OTR and Agricultural Segments in the American Market

Continental AG, the German manufacturer of premium tires had launched its Commercial Specialty Tires business unit back in 2012 as part of its expansion drive. Now, the company has announced that it will be expanding geographically with ints entry into the OTR and agricultural segments in the American tire market. It will begin

it plans to roll out in North America this year certain SKUs of its ContiEarth radial mining tire line and introduce a range of General-brand farm tires.

In order to manage the expansion of the earthmover pision, Continental has hired T. Shawn Rasey who is a longtime tire industry veteran with stints at Bridgestone Americas, Yokohama Tire Corp. and BKT Americas as the director global business development, earthmover. In 2012, Conti had renamed its industrial tire business unit as the Commercial Specialty Tires unit headed by Michael Maaertens which would focus on the earthmover, mining and agricultural tire business in view of the immense potential of the OTR and mining tire markets. So far, Conti introduced its earthmover tires in the Asia/Pacific, Europe and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions and plans on entering the American market this year though has not revealed details of the product range or sizes for the American market. When it comes to agricultural tires, Continental plans to introduce tires under the General brand of farm tires. These tires are notable for their

“V-Ply” technology, with a hybrid carcass that utilizes aspects drawn from both bias and radial tires.

Continental AG, the German manufacturer of premium tires had launched its Commercial Specialty Tires business unit back in 2012 as part of its expansion drive. Now, the company has announced that it will be expanding geographically with its entry into the OTR and agricultural segments in the American tire market. It will begin its plans to roll out in North America this year certain SKUs of its ContiEarth radial mining tire line and introduce a range of General-brand farm tires.

In order to manage the expansion of the earthmover pision, Continental has hired T. Shawn Rasey who is a longtime tire industry veteran with stints at Bridgestone Americas, Yokohama Tire Corp. and BKT Americas as the director global business development, earthmover. In 2012, Conti had renamed its industrial tire business unit as the Commercial Specialty Tires unit headed by Michael Maaertens which would focus on the earthmover, mining and agricultural tire business in view of the immense potential of the OTR and mining tire markets. So far, Conti introduced its earthmover tires in the Asia/Pacific, Europe and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions and plans on entering the American market this year though has not revealed details of the product range or sizes for the American market. When it comes to agricultural tires, Continental plans to introduce tires under the General brand of farm tires. These tires are notable for their

“V-Ply” technology, with a hybrid carcass that utilizes aspects drawn from both bias and radial tires.

Continental has already established its presence in the agricultural sector in the American tire with the 2014 acquisition of Veyance Technologies Inc which specializes in rubber tracks. Sold under the Trackman brand name, Veyance’s reputation in the market is expected to bode well for Conti’s entry into the agricultural tire business in the Americas.

Conti is not only in the tire business but also specializes in the production of different automotive components and according to the company can cater to a wide range of requirements from the farm sector including sensors, camera and instrumentation solutions, conveyor belt technology and rubber tracks.

“Our focus is on efficiency, environmental friendliness and conservation of resources,” the company said, “and we clearly see a strong benefit in being able to serve the customer so comprehensively.”

Thus Conti will be able to offer customers comprehensive OTR tire solutions including the ContiPressureCheck tire pressure monitoring system.

Continental will be sourcing its specialty tires for the American market from its different manufacturing units spread across the world including Korbach in Germany, Petaling Jaya in Malaysia, Otrokovice in the Czech Republic and Kalutara in Sri Lanka. The company also recently finalized an agreement with Eurotire Inc. for the manufacture of radial OTR tires at the Eurotire factory in Drobeta, Romania.