SUSTAINABILITY
Extended Life Cycles FOR TRUCK TYRES
Environmental considerations form part of our operational approach at the ContiLifeCycle facility, influencing activities across manufacturing, resource management and waste handling processes. This includes the management of production materials, the operation of our retreading processes and the development of products designed to support extended tyre lifecycles.
Across the business, no operational waste is sent directly to landfill. Materials generated through manufacturing processes are either recycled or recovered for energy generation, where suitable facilities and applications exist. One by-product of the retreading process is buffing dust, which is collected and processed for use in a range of secondary applications, including tyre manufacturing, sports and recreational surfaces, equestrian arenas and playground safety products.
Renewable energy forms part of the site’s energy mix. The facility incorporates a 1,300-square-metre solar installation, which contributes a portion of the plant’s electricity requirements.
Retreading enables selected tyre casings to continue in service through an additional stage of their lifecycle. According to industry data, retreading a truck tyre can reduce the quantity of raw materials required compared with manufacturing a new tyre, as a significant proportion of the original casing remains in use.
Through retreading, material recovery and resource management initiatives, we continue to explore opportunities to make effective use of materials throughout the tyre lifecycle.
Here are some other energy saving projects and initiatives we’ve applied within our production facility:
Advanced Energy Monitoring System
Advanced energy monitoring system keeps track of the energy levels and output of every piece of equipment across the whole factory, ensuring optimum environmental sustainability and efficiency at every stage of the process. When the factory shuts down at 6am on a Saturday morning, management can ensure everything is switched off.
Our Offices, Factory & Warehouse
The offices, factory and warehouse all have solar panels installed, making best use of natural resources.
Steam Recovery Systems
Steam recovery systems throughout the press line helps to reduce and reuse otherwise-wasted heat. When machinery is up and running, a steam recovery system is implemented within the manufacturing process, so energy is reused.
Insulation
Insulation is installed, mainly to keep the heat around the ‘ovens’ that are used to press tyres.
Water-based Solutions
All chemical solvents have been replaced with water-based solutions.
Natural Resources
Ongoing projects are in place to investigate utilising natural resources such as rainwater to feed the boiler rather than mains water.
Nitrogen
The use of compressed air in our moulding line has been changed to nitrogen instead – this increases curing bladder life by up to 8 times.
Designed to Extend Tyre Lifecycles Through Retreading
Our retreading facility has completed the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) assessment, a UK regulatory requirement designed to identify opportunities for energy efficiency improvements. The assessment highlighted potential projects and operational initiatives that may help reduce energy consumption across various areas of the business.
We continue to review our operations and manufacturing processes to identify opportunities for improvement. As new technologies become available, they may be evaluated for suitability within our facility, alongside ongoing research into materials, production methods and process developments. Hear what our Quality & Environmental Manager Justin has to say about our ongoing environmental commitments
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