Press Release
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Two New Environmentally Friendly Industrial Tire
Lines from Continental
 Innovative Ameri*Steel solid tire line uses recycled base and press-on band
 Newly-designed Astrum Blue super elastic is made from recycled tire cores
Fort Mill, South Carolina. April 18, 2013. The Commercial Specialty Tire business unit of
Continental Tire the Americas is launching two new brands of remolded industrial tires for
sale in North America, the company said today.
Under the Ameri*Steel brand, Continental is introducing a full-sized industrial solid tire in
press-on band construction to the market. Manufactured from recycled base bands and with
new rubber, the Ameri*Steel line will be offered in a standard black compound with smooth
tread design. The product is available in 11 core sizes and offers excellent stability along with
high load carrying capacity.
“With the lowered cost from a recycled base and band, our new Ameri*Steel solid tires
provide a green alternative for forklift operations. This tire offers a viable solution, addressing
our customers’ economic and environmental needs, and also provides the heavy duty
construction and stationary stability that forklift operators need,” said Dr. Michael Andreas
Maertens, managing director of Continental CST.
Designed with a traction tread pattern for the North American market, the new Astrum Blue
line will also be launched in 17 sizes for standard rims and Snap-In-Tire rims. This new super
elastic solid tire is manufactured from recycled solid tire cores that are remolded with new
rubber and a robust sidewall in a standard black compound. Astrum Blue super elastic tires
offer an environmentally friendly alternative by using the recycled cores, as well as low
maintenance from their robust, puncture-resistant construction.
“Astrum Blue solid tires offer all the benefits of a solid industrial tire in super elastic
construction. Excellent for tough applications with a high risk of impact and cut damage,
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Your contact:
Jackie Pobiega, Phone: 704.583.8564
-2Astrum Blue solid tires are extremely stable, puncture resistant and they are also mountable
on both industrial and pneumatic tire rims,” said Maertens.
Both of the new lines offer forklift companies an environmentally friendly and lowercost
product for forklift operations. Ameri*Steel and Astrum Blue industrial tires will be available in
May from authorized Continental commercial specialty tire dealers.
Continental’s focus on green
These two new industrial tire product lines underline Continental’s strategy to adopt ecofriendly changes at all stages of the product’s lifecycle, from initial tire development all the
way through production. Continental is seeking to minimize the use of environmentally
harmful materials with a heavy carbon footprint. The company has also removed nitrosamine
and polycyclic hydrocarbons, which are aromatic oils that have traditionally been used in tire
production. Throughout the production process, the aim is to increase the use of recycled
materials and reduce the use of fossil-based resources like oil to a minimum.
The company is committed to clean, energy-efficient production – for example, by recovering
more waste heat from the curing process, which can then be fed back to the production
process. At the same time, Continental has also earned itself a reputation as a pioneer in the
development and research of innovative and renewable raw materials. For example,
Continental is currently taking part in a research project to examine the potential of Russian
dandelions as an alternative source for natural rubber of rubber trees, potentially being used
for all tire applications. This solution would significantly reduce the pressure on conventional
rubber supplies. Continental also invests heavily in compounding research to achieve tire
products with reduced rolling resistance, which lowers fuel consumption.
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Your contact:
Jackie Pobiega, Phone: 704.583.8564
-3With preliminary sales of €32.7 billion in 2012, Continental is among the leading automotive suppliers
worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis,
instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires, and technical elastomers,
Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also an
expert partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently has approximately
170,000 employees in 46 countries.
As one of the world’s leading tire manufacturers, with more than 42,000 employees, the Tire division
achieved preliminary sales of €9.7 billion in 2012. Today, the division has 22 production and
development locations worldwide. The broad product range and continuous investments in R&D make a
major contribution to cost-effective and ecologically efficient mobility.
The Commercial Vehicle Tire business is one of the largest manufacturers of truck, bus and
specialty tires worldwide.
Continental’s Tire Division is an Official Sponsor of the German DFB Cup, 2014 FIFA World CupTM in
Brazil and the UEFA EURO 2016TM in France.
Contact for Journalists
Jackie Pobiega
Communications Manager, Commercial Vehicle Tires
Continental Tire the Americas, LLC
1830 MacMillan Park Drive
Fort Mill, SC 29707
Phone: 704-583-8564
Fax: 704-583-8737
E-mail: jackie.pobiega@conti-na.com
Online Media Database: www.mediacenter.continental-corporation.com
CTA Commercial Vehicle Tires Media Site: www.ContiMedia-CVT.com
Continental Commercial Specialty Tires Web Site: www.continental-specialty-tires.us
Your contact:
Jackie Pobiega, Phone: 704.583.8564