Continental to discontinue agricultural tyre production amid strategic shift
Continental was founded in 1871, offering solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation.
Tyre manufacturer Continental is celebrating the 90th anniversary of its launch of Europe’s first pneumatic agricultural tyre onto the market.
Its 1928 launch saw the advent of the T2 agricultural tractor tyre (AS), and four years later it produced the T3 AS tyre with optimised tread and improved tractive force.
Continental is said to have revolutionised the market again in 1938: as Germany’s first tyre manufacturer the company decided not to link individual tread lugs in its new T4 AS. Since then, the tread lugs in agricultural tractor tyres have been separated in the tread centre, which create a higher tractive force. What’s more, it ensured minimal slip by effectively interlocking with the soil, so rendering chains and grippers unneccesary.
In 2004, Continental’s agricultural tyre segment was sold, with the licence for production and marketing agricultural tyres under the Continental brand passed to CGS/Mitas. However in 2016, Continental reacquired its brand rights and returned to the agricultural tyre market in 2017 with its Tractor70 and Tractor85 premium radial tyres.
Both tyres are characterised by their extreme robustness and durability, and also guarantee a high degree of ride comfort, soil preservation and tractive force.
They have Continental’s patented N. flex technology. This helps increase impact absorption thanks to the nylon textile, while also improving shock absorption due to its robust carcase.
In August 2018, Continental added the new TractorMaster radial tyre with leading-edge D.fine technology to its range.
Three New Zealand agritech companies are set to join forces to help unlock the full potential of technology.
As the sector heads into the traditional peak period for injuries and fatalities, farmers are being urged to "take a moment".
Federated Farmers says almost 2000 farmers have signed a petition launched this month to urge the Government to step in and provide certainty while the badly broken resource consent system is fixed.
Zespri’s counter-seasonal Zespri Global Supply (ZGS) programme is underway with approximately 33 million trays, or 118,800 tonnes, expected this year from orchards throughout France, Italy, Greece, Korea, and Japan.
Animal owners can help protect life-saving antibiotics from resistant bacteria by keeping their animals healthy, says the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
According to analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA), New Zealand red meat exports reached $827 million in October, a 27% increase on the same period last year.

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