Page 20 - CTB n6 - 2014-02

COMPANY NEWS
Dr Frank Walloch at the CV Show
Continental Outline Technical Developments in CV Sector
new launch includes the Hybrid 22.5” steer as well as 17.5 and 19.5 Hybrid steer and drive. The
Hybrid HD 3 drive tyre is scheduled for mid 2015 as is the new trailer application Hybrid HT3.”
A particularly interesting development is the fact that Continental is now bringing Hybrid technology into their 17.5” and 19.5” sizes. These tyres are designed on the same platform as the 22.5” range, and, as such, they are claimed to offer even greater perforemance improvements over their predecessors than the new 22.5” tyres.
“Our concept,” says Frank Walloch, “has been to develop a
toolbox of technologies so that a series of platforms can be built for use across various applications. The key message that we wish to communicate is that we’ve launched almost every component of the tyre. “Technology,” he adds, “is going in two directions – rolling resistance compounds, using silica and new polymers. We are also using a new carbon black type in which the carbon black particles have different sizes, which reduces the friction of the particles.
“Belt construction has also been
changed. Whereas we previously used a standard 3+6 belt configuration, with three thinner filaments in the centre surrounded by six larger filaments around the outside, we now have a 1+5 configuration, with all filaments the same size with one in the centre and five around it. This allows for a bigger distance between the cords, resulting in better endurance of the belt, reduced load between cords and improved retreadability. “Another area we have worked on has been rubber volume optimisation – for example, rubber has been taken from the shoulder area and placed in the centre of the tyre. This has helped reduce heat build-up in the shoulder area. Our new drive tyre look is ver y different to the typical tyre design for the application in that it includes lots of sipes rather than blocks but still has a snowflake design. The sipes have the same effect as blocks negating the need for a block design.”
“Finally,” says Walloch, we have made big improvements in retreadability. We are not quite where they want to be yet but we are gettiing close. In this regard, we have been helped significantly by the opening of our new retread plant in Hanover.”
Continental’s have used sipes in their new truck tyres to increase grip
During 2013 Continental began the gradual roll out of their Generation 3 tyre programme for the commercial vehicle sector with the introduction of a new dedicated range of products for the bus and coach sector. With the ContiCoach HA3, ContiCityPlus HA3 and ContiUrban HA3, the company introduced its first tyres in the new generation of products, which are tuned to specific customer applications whilst also being targeted towards lowering overall operating costs. At the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham we were fortunate enough to get the opportunity to speak to Dr Frank Walloch, who is in charge of product development in the company’s EMEA region. According to Walloch Continental has designated 2014 as a year to concentrate
on the Goods sector so the company will be launching a complete new EcoPlus line consisting of the HS3 Steer HD3 drive and HST3 trailer tyre, which will, says Walloch, incorporate a number of new features and technologies.
“The main aim,” says Walloch, “is to provide the best possible fuel efficiency by optimising rolling resistance, whilst keeping
the mileage performance at the same level as the predecessor tyre. For fleets doing really long distances the new tyre achieves a fuel saving of 1.9 litres per 100km compared with its predecessor.” The trailer tyre, it is claimed, offers a particularly impressive reduction in rolling resistance.
The steer tyre, meanwhile, incorporates a special grip compound, which supports wet braking . In addition, deeper sipes combine with the new compound to produce an extra special level of wet performance.
In addition to the EcoPlus range, Continental will also be beginning the introduction of a new range of hybrid tyres for regional transport, the product segment which offers the largest volumes. Says Walloch;”We have launched a new hybrid steer tyre for the regional sector – the Hybrid Steer HS3. Some sizes are already available in this design but by mid 2014 the main part of the new hybrid launch will have been completed.
“The focus this year is on steer tyres so this year’s
20 Commercial Tyre Business