| Country: | Germany | Primary Focus: | Tires |
| Years of Operation: | 1871 - ? |
The Continental AG (in Germany commonly known as Conti) is today one of world's largest tire manufacturers. Most bicycle tire production is located in Korbach where tubular tires are still handmade. In the early years they were very successful (for example, in the years 1896 and 1897 they paid out a 55%-dividend!) and have grown from a plant with 250 employees in 1875 up to 13.000 in 1914. This rapid development originates from the prosperity of the bicycle industry, itself quickened by the invention of the pneumatic tire.
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1871, 8. October
Founded as an Inc. named Continental-Caoutchouc-
und Gutta-Percha Compagnie in Hanover. Besides soft rubbered goods production covered from the beginning tires (solid tires) for bicycles and coaches.
1882
The rampant horse is adopted as trademark.
1892
Continental is the first German company to manufacture pneumatic tires for bicycles.
1893
Production volume of bicycle pneumatics: 55.6321
1894
Production volume of bicycle pneumatics: 161.5651
1895
Production volume of bicycle pneumatics: 211.0591
1896
Production volume of bicycle pneumatics: 387.5371
1909
Specimens of synthetic rubber developed at
the Bayer laboratories are successfully vulcanized at Continental and
processed to make the first test tires.
1921
The company's 50th anniversary sees
Continental as the first German company to bring cord tire onto the
market. The stiff linen square-woven fabric is thus replaced by the
more pliable cord fiber fabric.
1926
Carbon
black is used as a reinforcing filter to give the tire more resistance
to wear and ageing, as well as its characteristic color.
1928/29
Merger
with major companies of the German rubber industry to form Continental
Gummi-Werke AG. Takeover of Excelsior Gummiwerke in Hanover-Limmer and Peters-Union Korbach/Hesse.
1936
Synthetic rubber is introduced into the tire manufacturing process. | 1938
Foundation stone is laid for the tire plant in Stöcken, Hanover. |
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1945
Heavy bomb damage to the plants in
Hanover-Vahrenwald and Korbach. The British military government grants
permission as early as June, 1945 for the Hanover factories to resume
production.
1979
Takeover of the European tire operations of Uniroyal, Inc., USA, gives Continental a wider base in Europe
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1985
Takeover of the tire operations of the Austrian company Semperit. | 1987
Acquisition
of the North American tire manufacturer General Tire, Inc. The company
has been operating under the name of Continental Tire North America,
Inc., since 2001. |
Source: http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/com/en/continental/portal/themes/continental/history/history_en.html
1 All mentioned production volumes from: Paul von Salvisberg: Der Radfahrsport in Bild und Wort, Munich 1897 (Reprint Hildesheim 1980) P. 265
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| Recent Added / Updated Components |
| Continental Grand Prix 3000 | Tires | 05/11/2016 |
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| Continental Super Sport | Tires | 08/02/2011 |
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| Continental Grand Prix GP3000 | Tires | 09/25/2010 |
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