Continental uses Pyrum recovered carbon black in solid tires

Hanover, Germany - Continental AG is using recovered carbon black (rCB), supplied by Pyrum Innovations, in its solid tires produced in Germany.

The ‘Super Elastic’ solid tires, manufactured at Continental’s Korbach factory, now feature rCB, part of the tire’s 60% renewable and recycled materials content, said the German group 12 Sept.

While the rCB is currently featured exclusively in the Super Elastic range, Continental said in a statement to ERJ that it is “continually working to increase the amount of renewable and recycled materials in all of our product lines.”

The recovered carbon black is supplied by German waste tire pyrolysis company Pyrum Innovations, one of Continental’s partner companies.

Earlier this year, the two companies extended their partnership with the signing of a ‘long-term’ contract for the supply of rCB for use in Continental’s tire compounds.

The use of rCB is part of the German tire maker’s pledge to produce 100% sustainable tires by 2050.

Solid tires have a high load capacity and are extremely stable, puncture-proof, maintenance-free and are mainly used in material handling by forklift trucks, airport and heavy transport vehicles.

According to Continental, the “advanced rubber compounds” used in the new solid tires enable low “rolling resistance, long service life and a comparatively high proportion of sustainable materials.”

As most forklift trucks in intralogistics are powered electrically, the low resistance of the tires can improve the range and the charging time of the vehicles.

Furthermore, the targeted use of recovered carbon black in the rubber compounds increases the stability, strength and durability of tires, Continental added.

“Our customers want to make their operating processes even more environmentally friendly, resource-saving and efficient,” said Matthias-Stephan Mueller, product manager for material handling tires in Continental’s Specialty Tires business area.

Continental’s ‘customised’ tire solutions, noted Mueller, can support the demanding requirements of forklift trucks which are now “moving heavier loads and traveling further distances at higher speeds.”