Continental will celebrate its 150th anniversary on 8 October, 2021 and to commemorate the occasion, the company highlights a few of its achievements since its foundation in Hanover, Germany in 1871.

The tyre maker has come a long way from a small factory in Hanover to becoming the oldest independent and one of the largest tyre manufacturers in the world. A few of the major milestones that came their way include the development of the first treaded tyre, the first tyre with a detachable rim, the patent for the world’s first tubeless tyre and, its all-terrain model, the first dedicated winter tyre. Likewise, the first pneumatic tractor tyre came from Continental. Later came the first rolling resistance-optimised tyre and the first production tyre to feature a tread made of dandelion rubber.

It didn’t take long for Continental to get into the digital race; by 1999 it started developing an intelligent tyre, connecting its tyres and its sensors to the cloud and offering its customers completely new, smart and digital tyre solutions and services.

Christian Kötz, Head of Tyre Business Area and Member of the Executive Board of Continental, said, “Tires are our passion. Our technological excellence has ensured safety, reliability, and sustainability for 150 years. We are proud of this. Many of today’s technology standards in tires come from Continental. Time and time again, we push the boundaries of what is possible. Our goal is to produce our entire product portfolio exclusively from sustainable materials in a climate-neutral way by 2050 at the latest.”

As for the future, the company’s Vision 2030 strategy program talks about developing a customer-centric orientation of the organisation and business activities. In addition, it aims to continue to grow profitably and differentiate itself from its competitors in a rapidly changing market environment in the areas of sustainability and digital solutions. (TT)

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The latest data from the German rubber industry highlights severe challenges at the domestic location are compelling companies to fulfil local demand primarily through their foreign production facilities, according to the German Rubber Industry Association (wdk).

A recent business climate index indicates a slight improvement in industry sentiment for the second half of 2025. However, wdk President Michael Klein sharply contradicts this optimism, stating that the data reveals a far grimmer reality. He emphasises that critical performance indicators – including revenue, sales, employment and production – are all showing deeply negative results for the domestic market, underscoring a troubling exodus of manufacturing from its core German base.

Klein has acknowledged the federal government's pledge to launch an ‘autumn of reforms’ as a positive signal. Nevertheless, he insists these measures must urgently deliver tangible relief and cost reductions for industrial companies of all sizes. He argues that what is needed most is a decisive and rapid approach to the promised reduction in bureaucracy, stressing that only verifiable results, not further promises, will count towards improving the competitiveness of the German industrial location.

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Chinese tyre manufacturer Sailun Group has begun construction on a new USD-1-billion tyre facility in Egypt. The plant is situated within the Sokhna integrated industrial zone, part of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE). This investment, one of the largest Chinese industrial projects in Egypt, was officially launched at a ceremony attended by SCZONE General Authority Chairperson Walid Gamal El-Din.

The expansive 350,000-square-metre factory will be developed in three phases over a three-year period. The initial phase is scheduled to become operational in 2026, with a planned production capacity of three million passenger car tyres and 600,000 truck and bus tyres annually. This first stage is expected to generate 1,500 new jobs. Upon full completion, the facility's total output is projected to surpass ten million tyres each year.

As a global leader in tyre manufacturing with an extensive international sales network, Sailun Group will utilise this new factory as a strategic hub. The facility is designed to meet rising demand within the local Egyptian market while also creating substantial opportunities for export to regional and international markets.

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With the rise of electric vehicles reducing exhaust emissions, attention is shifting to non-exhaust emission like Tyre and Road Wear Particles (TRWP). These microscopic particles, generated from tyre and road surface friction, are a growing environmental concern and will be addressed in the upcoming Euro 7 emissions standard. To tackle this challenge, Nynas has joined a major research consortium coordinated by the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), alongside Volvo Cars, Scania and the Karolinska Institute.

The project aims to close a significant scientific knowledge gap by thoroughly investigating the formation, characteristics and environmental impact of TRWP. Nynas contributes a unique dual perspective to this interdisciplinary effort, bringing deep expertise in both tyre rubber compounds and bitumen-based road materials. Pär Nyman, Technical Manager – Tyre & Chemical Industries, Nynas, represents the company in the project alongside the company’s Chief Scientist, Dr Xiaohu Lu, who brings extensive expertise in bitumen and asphalt to the collaboration. A key focus will be understanding how different materials contribute to wear mechanisms.

The research scope extends beyond particle analysis to include measuring the rolling resistance of various tyre and bitumen combinations, a parameter directly linked to vehicle energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions. By uniting industry and academia, this collaboration is poised to drive innovation and set new benchmarks in sustainable mobility research.

Pär Nyman, Technical Manager – Tyre & Chemical Industries, Nynas, said, “While Sweden lacks domestic tyre manufacturers, Nynas' research capabilities fill that gap by providing foundational insight into the chemistry and physics behind TRWP generation. Nynas' rubber and asphalt labs are at the heart of this contribution. One of the core insights driving this initiative is that wear particles cannot be fully understood by analysing tyres or roads in isolation. It's the interaction – the system – that matters. By studying both tyre composition and road structure, the project aims to develop a holistic view of TRWP formation, dispersion and toxicity. At Nynas, we are excited to contribute our unique knowledge of materials to help solve an important challenge for both the environment and human health. Through collaboration and scientific inquiry, we aim to pave the way for cleaner roads and cleaner air – one particle at a time.”

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Ecolomondo Corporation, a Canadian developer of sustainable tyre recycling technology, has released its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ending 30 June 2025. The period was marked by significant progress in commercialising its Hawkesbury thermal decomposition facility, particularly within the recovered carbon black (rCB) department. A major milestone was reached with the installation and commissioning of new milling equipment, a critical step for the plant to achieve full operational capacity, as rCB is its primary revenue generator.

Following the quarter's end, the company's main rCB client formally approved the product quality, leading to five consecutive purchase orders for multiple truckloads delivered between July and August. A separate US-based customer has also approved the rCB quality, with bulk purchase orders anticipated imminently.

Financially, Ecolomondo secured USD 1.5 million through private placements and finalised a significant agreement with Export Development Canada (EDC). This arrangement provides a temporary postponement of principal and interest payments on three existing loans, improving the company's working capital and investor confidence. This debt modification resulted in a gain of USD 2,495,209, which contributed to a reported net profit of USD 1,452,712, for the quarter, despite an operating loss, which stood at USD 1,042,497 for the quarter, compared to USD 443,418 for the same period of 2024.

Revenue saw substantial growth, increasing by 212 percent to USD 395,149 compared to the same period in 2024, driven by product sales and tipping fees at the Hawkesbury plant. Capital expenditures for the Hawkesbury TDP turnkey facility totalled USD 51,358,723 after accounting for depreciation, while the company’s cash and cash equivalents stood at USD 1,508,645. Over the coming 12 months, Ecolomondo anticipates utilising an additional USD 2.0 million, which will be primarily allocated to covering ongoing working capital requirements and essential capital purchases for the Hawkesbury facility.

The company also advanced its global expansion strategy, signing a definitive agreement with ARESOL, a renewable energy group, to construct four turnkey recycling facilities in the European Union. The first plant is planned for Valencia, Spain. At its Annual General Meeting, all management proposals were unanimously adopted by shareholders.

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