Continental launches OTR unit in the Americas

FORT MILL, S.C.—Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C. has initiated sales of off-the-road tires in the Americas markets, marking the return of Conti to the sector for the first time in a decade.

The re-entry coincides with the expiration of a 10-year General-brand licensing agreement covering OTR and farm tires with Titan International Inc.

Conti is focusing initially in the Americas—covering the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil and the Andean markets—on the earthmover segment of its Commercial Specialty Tires business unit.

The tire maker is marking the occasion with an employee event at its U.S. headquarters in Fort Mill, where it will have on display a Caterpillar 980 loader and an OTR tire service truck.

Conti is planning a broader, more public launch of its expanded ContiEarth radial OTR portfolio at this year's MINExpo 2016, scheduled for Sept. 26-28 in Las Vegas, according to Federico Jimenez, manager, the Americas for the CST business unit. The company is planning to roll out four sizes initially and expand the portfolio into 2017.

The addition of the OTR segment will increase the CST unit's scope as a supplier of materials-handing tires, including forklift, airport, port and container handling segments.

“From a tire dealer's perspective, Continental is a great partner,” said Dan Rice, president of Piedmont Truck Tires, in a statement provided by Continental. Piedmont is described as a “longstanding” Continental truck tire seller founded in 1978, with nine locations in and around the Carolinas.

“Continental has trouble-free products at fair prices that allow the dealer to make money and still offer a great value to the customer. We're all very excited to see them bring OTR back into the mix.”

Continental earlier also said it plans to re-launch a General-brand farm tire, and more recently it announced plans to add capacity for radial agricultural tires at its Continental Mabor Industria de Pneus S.A. plant in Lousada, Portugal.

Jimenez, who has been with Conti in the industrial tire area since 2004, called the earthmoving segment a “very robust market” and said Conti is “in a position to do truly great things for our customers across the Americas.”

He was promoted to his current position in 2012.