Ivybridge becomes Continental LifeCycle manufacturing facility

Ivybridge, the home of leading retreader, Bandvulc, has been rebranded as a Continental LifeCycle production facility, with new signage installed throughout February. The move sees the factory become more closely aligned to Continental’s Stöcken LifeCycle plant, which produces hot-retread tyres.

Bandvulc employs some 280 people in and around Devon and was welcomed into the Continental portfolio in 2016. The plant focuses on hot retreading for the UK market, with Bandvulc tyres being designed and manufactured in Ivybridge. The site also produces ContiRe branded tyres in partnership with the Stöcken plant. There is no impact to job security with no redundancies taking place as a result of the Continental rebranding.

Tony Mailling, Head of Hot Retread Production

EMEA and Plant Manager of ContiLifeCycle Ivybridge and Stöcken, said: “Although the name has changed, the values on which Bandvulc was built will continue at our Ivybridge site. The facility is undoubtedly one of the most technically advanced retreading plants in Europe and our people are a testament to this achievement. In becoming a LifeCycle site, Ivybridge’s position is strengthened as part of the wider Continental manufacturing network. “With the Bandvulc tyre range set to grow further during the next 12 months, staff and customers can rest assured that the brand will continue to be a major player in the Continental tyre range.”

ContiLifeCycle is Continental’s cradle-to-grave approach to maximising tyre longevity and sustainability. New Continental truck and bus tyres are designed with retreadability in mind, and casings are engineered for multiple service lives. The LifeCycle plants in Stöcken and Ivybridge sit at the core of Continental’s retread operations.

All the Benefits of Digital Tyre Management in a Single Solution

Continental has launched an Advanced package for its recently upgraded ContiConnect 2.0 tyre management solution that will make it possible to record additional data, including tread depth and tyre condition.

This marks the next step for the technology company as it progresses from pure tyre monitoring to asset management, with the integrated ContiConnect platform now detailing all data on a tyre’s condition and history within a single system. The standard version of ContiConnect already allows for comprehensive tyre monitoring using its customisable tools. “The Advanced package now lets customers capitalise on all the benefits of tyre management,” explains Dushyanth Rajagopal, Product Manager Digital Solutions at Continental.

With ContiConnect 2.0 Advanced, every tyre can be tracked individually, whether it is on the vehicle or in the warehouse. There is a digital twin of each tyre in the system, complete with article number, meaning the customer always knows which tyre is fitted on which vehicle and in which position. Pressure and temperature, tread depth and tyre condition can also be recorded and monitored. The newly developed secondgeneration ContiConnect sensor additionally relays information on distance travelled, allowing fleets to keep track of tyre mileage at all times. The charge level of the sensor battery is also displayed within the system.

In addition to the exact data readings, ContiConnect 2.0 Advanced users also receive alerts for tread depth and temperature, recommendations for tyre pressures, as well as reminders when vehicle inspections are due.

“This paves the way for an even more efficient, straightforward, sustainable and forward-looking form of fleet management,” points out Rajagopal.

The new On-Site App brings ContiConnect 2.0 straight to the user’s smartphone and even keeps them informed of the sensor battery’s charge level.

The newly developed On-Site App brings ContiConnect 2.0 straight to a customer’s smartphone. This is thanks to the new generation of sensors, with Bluetooth capability enabling direct data transfer from the sensor to the app. The task of inspecting tyres to record tread depth and tyre condition can therefore be carried out directly at the vehicle, making tyre management even simpler and more convenient. With the On-Site App, the new web portal and the Driver App, Continental has the right solution to suit every purpose and user.

Excellent fleet efficiency

“ContiConnect 2.0 Advanced offers haulage companies the advantage of greater fleet efficiency through reduced costs and time savings, as maintenance and workshop appointments can be planned in advance,” explains Rajagopal. This avoids unforeseen breakdowns and vehicle downtime. Better tyre maintenance also saves fuel and helps to keep costs and CO2 emissions down, as does the longer service life resulting from the mitigation of premature tyre changes. Latest-generation sensors allow all relevant information to be collected directly at the tyre. Thanks to its comprehensive consultancy approach that helps operators seek to achieve the lowest overall driving cost, Continental is able to help businesses to further reduce tyrerelated operational costs. After all, tyres have a significant impact on fuel, maintenance and repair costs, which account for more than 53 percent of total fleet costs. Optimum tyre selection, datadriven servicing management and tyre checks at exactly the right time can reduce these outgoings substantially. A 24/7 breakdown service and optimisation of the customer’s ordering, administrative and invoicing processes also form part of the Continental service.