“2022 is a year of milestone celebrations for Massey Ferguson. We applaud the hard work and dedication of our colleagues in Beauvais to produce our one-millionth tractor. We’re also excited to celebrate Massey Ferguson’s 175 years of straightforward, dependable equipment innovation this year. These dual milestones prove our status as agricultural problem solvers dedicated to providing the right equipment, at the right price, for individual farming operations. Our equipment, just like our customers, is Born to Farm.”

said Darren Parker, vice president of Massey Ferguson, North America.

Celebrating 62 years of production in Beauvais
Thierry Lhotte, vice president and managing director, Massey Ferguson EAME, and president of AGCO in France presented the one-millionth tractor produced in Beauvais – a brand-new MF 8S.305 Dyna-VT – to Thierry Aubrée, an arable farmer and contractor from the village of La Chapelle des Fougeretz in Brittany, France. “On behalf of all our employees and dealers, I want to thank our customers for their steadfast trust,” said Lhotte. The new 8S adds to Aubrée’s expanding Massey Ferguson fleet that already includes four tractors, three combines, and two large balers.

Boussad Bouaouli, vice president, manufacturing Beauvais, emphasized employee commitment on the Beauvais MF campus development.

“From 1960, there have always been people who kept the site moving, always with the right farmer-first focus to address challenges of the times and, above all, with a clear view to the future,”

Bouaouli said.

It all started with the MF 825 in 1960. From then, the site grew continuously, producing iconic tractors driven by innovation, including:

• MF 3000 Series in 1986, the first tractor with onboard electronics,
• MF 8600 in 2008, introducing the efficient power concept, which reduces environmental impact, courtesy of the first use of SCR technology on an ag machine,
• MF 8S Series in 2020, with its award-winning Protect-U concept, which features a 9.4-inch gap between the cab and the engine installation, reducing heat, noise, and vibrations being transmitted to the cab and improving cooling and performance. The MF 8S Series received the Tractor of the Year 2021, Red Dot: Product Design 2021 and Farm Machine 2022 awards.

“The Beauvais plant and our dedicated employees embody Massy Ferguson’s commitment to farmer-focused equipment solutions. This plant, named Factory of the Year 2016, represents the modern era of Massey Ferguson. This campus sets our future and new standards,”

Bouaouli said.

The site has seen innovative developments in recent years, including implementation of Lean Manufacturing practices, expansion of the Beauvais 2 cab assembly line and a logistics center, and a Tractor Customization Workshop. The facility produces many of the brand’s most popular tractors, including the MF 4700 M, MF 5700 M, MF 5S, MF 6S, MF 7S, MF 8S and MF 8700 S Series. Up to 100 tractors can be produced and shipped daily to dealers in more than 70 countries.

“As we hand over this one-millionth tractor, we are set to unify our sites into a single MF Campus with all our departments under one roof. This offers high flexibility and leverages the unique experiences, skills and commitment of the people who work here. This tractor milestone is our 2,500 employees’ success, including our GIMA transmissions’ Joint Venture.”

Lhotte said.

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In 2022, Steyr is celebrating three-quarters of a century since manufacturing its first tractor, a Type 180 model, in 1947. The brand, today a key component of CNH Industrial’s agricultural equipment business, is marking ‘75 years of quality made in Austria’ to underline the reputation Steyr has gained for its high build standards.

The famous red and white livery

The first STEYR tractor, a green 180 model, was produced in 1947. In 1966 STEYR tractors adopted the distinctive red-and-white colors that remain a hallmark of its tractors. Eight years later, tractor assembly and sales moved from the town of Steyr to St. Valentin, where they can still be found today. In 1996, Case Corporation, then the parent of Case IH, purchased the Steyr agricultural division.

Steyr’s first tractors with continuously variable transmissions debuted in 1999, with Steyr subsequently helping to shape this powertrain segment. In February 2005 the 500,000th Steyr tractor was produced. The St Valentin site is today the European headquarters of Case IH and Steyr, and with over 600 employees is one of the region’s largest employers. Besides a strong presence in their German-speaking ‘home market’, Steyr tractors are today sold across 20 countries throughout Europe, following gradual market expansion in recent years

Technological leadership

The brand has underlined its position as a forward-thinking technology innovator with the unveiling at Agritechnica 2019 of the Steyr Konzept. This futuristic tractor uniquely combines innovative technologies to create an environmentally friendly yet efficient and functional tractor concept that shows what the future of tractor development may look like. At its heart is a modular hybrid electric drive, combining a combustion engine, generator, and several individually-controllable electric motors to supply energy where it is needed.

In 2022, this was followed by the Hybrid Drivetrain Konzept. Derived from the thoughts and discussions prompted by the Steyr Konzept in 2019, the Hybrid Drivetrain Konzept takes the driveline aspects further down the development road. Work has focused on the potential of electric drive systems to power a lightweight, high-horsepower tractor delivering fuel consumption advantages averaging 8%. Supercapacitor technology enables power to be boosted when demand rises, providing up to 25% faster acceleration. In the field working with implements, also helps cover peak load in high draft applications, and has allowed the development of differential torque vectoring, reducing turning radius. In addition, it is possible to transfer power to an implement, via high-voltage sockets front and rear.

Linking the tractors of yesterday and today

“The first Type 180 and today’s STEYR Terrus CVT flagship tractor are obviously far apart in terms of technology, but one common thread they share is their build quality,”

believes Hannes Wogerbauer, plant manager at the STEYR tractor factory in St Valentin.

“Many of the factory team are from farms and understand what our customers expect from their STEYR tractor. It’s why we are proud to state‘Quality made in Austria’, and why the STEYR brand has a high level of customer retention.”

Innovation has also long been a reason why Steyr tractors are chosen by those seeking features to help them farm better, suggests Christian Huber, CNH Industrial Vice President of Global Tractor Product Management.

“The 180 was light, maneuverable, and powerful, a combination that had not always previously been possible in a tractor. Today, our designs retain those characteristics but, of course, incorporate numerous other innovations, such as our S-Brake patented trailer braking system.

“That’s why we say we are the partner to rely on, providing products backed by customer support, thought-through solutions, and skilled employees. STEYR tractors have a hard-earned reputation for quality, largely due to the commitment and craftsmanship of those employees, and the passion with which they build STEYR tractors remains as strong today as when we began. There are 75 years of history behind us, and many more to come, providing the agricultural, municipal, and forestry sectors with tractors of the very highest quality.”

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AGCO Corporation announced its exhibit on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on March 21-22, as part of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ (AEM) Celebration of Modern Agriculture event.

Agriculture equipment manufacturers and AEM partners in the Washington D.C. ag community will showcase how “innovation enables sustainability” in the nation’s capital. The event will take place outside USDA headquarters between the Smithsonian Museums and will feature America’s farmers, ranchers, and agriculture innovators on the cutting-edge of science and technology.

“AEM is pleased to provide a forum for showcasing these fascinating displays of the innovations that are enabling modern agriculture to sustainably provide for a growing world, as it will serve as an opportunity to help educate policymakers on the sustainability of today’s producers,”

said AEM Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs Nick Tindall.

On display will be innovations in such product categories as autonomous robot concepts, combines, applicators, windrowers, data management, in-field conservation practices, creative chemistry, tractors big and small, and much more. All the exhibits will feature the advancements that drive American agriculture’s long history of producing more while shrinking its environmental footprint.

“‘Ag on the Mall’ is a great opportunity to showcase how AGCO is helping farmers develop more productive, efficient, and sustainable practices to feed a rapidly growing world. Visitors will see revolutionary products that have won awards for engineering excellence, such as the Fendt Rogator 900 Series Applicator and Massey Ferguson 8S Series Tractor. And we’re very excited to demonstrate our Project Xaver Planting Robot concept, which represents the industry’s most cutting-edge autonomous technology as AGCO leans into the future of farming.”

said Robert Crain, AGCO SVP of Customer Experience and AEM chair.

“Bringing the ag community together for National Ag Day to tell this important story couldn’t happen at a more critical time, as USDA is in the process of developing its Climate-Smart Agriculture & Forestry Partnership Program and environmental sustainability continues to be hotly debated in Congress and the media. Highlighting how innovation enables sustainability will be vital to ensuring policies allow farmers and ranchers to produce and innovators to innovate.”

said Tindall.

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AGCO Corporation celebrates the 75^th anniversary of Hesston by Massey Ferguson in 2022. The innovative equipment manufacturer began in 1947 when a farmer and manufacturer came together to solve harvesting inefficiencies. Since then, the company has kept producers at the heart of every user-friendly, highly productive product design it has produced. As Hesston by Massey Ferguson reflects on 75 years in business, the company continues to build on its legacy of innovation, promising revolutionary new products in 2022 and beyond.

Farmer-Focused Innovation

Hesston Machine & Manufacturing was founded in Hesston, Kansas, in 1947 by Lyle Yost and Adin Holdemann. Yost, a farmer, and contractor recognized inefficiencies unloading grain from combine grain tanks. Working with Holdemann, a manufacturer, he developed a new method based on an unloading auger that increased productivity and safety for this important task.

The company continued to produce innovative non-powered implements that revolutionized grain harvesting. In 1955, the company entered the hay industry with the first commercially available self-propelled windrower — the Hesston Model 100, which increased productivity and hay quality and encouraged the company to specialize in hay harvesting equipment. Today, Hesston by Massey Ferguson is recognized across North America as an innovative leader in hay equipment manufacturing.

“Since its inception, Hesston by Massey Ferguson has sought to provide the straightforward and dependable solutions that address the everyday needs of farmers. As a specialized hay equipment manufacturer, we have cultivated a deep understanding of the hay industry and hay producers, allowing us to lead the way with the right products at the right time,”

said Matt LeCroy, marketing director, Hay and Forage North America for Hesston by Massey Ferguson.

Revolutionary Legacy

Over the last 75 years, Hesston by Massey Ferguson has introduced many revolutionary products that improved hay production and quality for both commercial and traditional operations. Important developments in this lineage include:

• 1970, the introduction of the StackHand 60, the world’s first loose hay stacker.
• 1976, the introduction of the 5400 and 5800 large round balers, turning hay production into a one-man operation.
• 1978, the introduction of the Hesston 4800, the world’s first large square baler, producing 4-by-4-foot square bales that minimized dry matter loss and increased hay production efficiency.
• 2007, the introduction of the MF 2100 Series common platform large baler, brought the original large square baler into the modern era.

“By focusing on the farmer in the field, Hesston by Massey Ferguson has remained at the forefront of the hay industry for 75 years and promises tremendous value for customers in the decades to come. To date, the company holds more hay-inspired patents than any other manufacturer,”

LeCroy said.

Looking to the Future

The facility in Hesston, Kansas, continues to manufacture some of the most cutting-edge hay equipment in North America, including the company’s very popular windrowers, balers and combines. An additional investment of $45 million in 2013 added a new state-of-the-art paint facility.

“We are proud to be a part of 75 years of straightforward, dependable equipment manufacturing and a cornerstone in the Hesston, Kansas, community. We look forward to the next 75 years of farmer-focused innovation as North America’s leading hay equipment manufacturer,”

said Seth Beytien, director, supply chain, plant lead for Hesston by Massey Ferguson.

Today the Hesston, Kansas, facility is AGCO’s number one location in North America for manufacturing implements and combine harvesters. Hesston by Massey Ferguson continues a tradition of innovative engineering, producing revolutionary and timely hay equipment, including the release of the new WR Series self-propelled windrower in 2022.

The post Hesston by Massey Ferguson Marks 75th Anniversary appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

“Massey Ferguson has been offering farmers around the world straightforward and dependable machines since its inception nearly 175 years ago. Few brands around the world can claim such a lasting impact in the agricultural industry. Massey Ferguson was truly ‘Born to Farm’,”

said Eric Hansotia, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of AGCO Corporation.

Luis Felli, senior vice president, and general manager for Massey Ferguson adds,

“Massey Ferguson is now pivoting from being a pure farm machinery manufacturer into a provider of straightforward and dependable experiences that provide the best value for farmers and make their business more profitable and sustainable. This globally consistent, farmer-first approach enables customers to experience the transformation of the brand in a unique way all over the world. Complemented by a synchronized Global organization, it was only natural to launch a new logo during this unprecedented moment in our history.”

“2022 will be THE year of the new Massey Ferguson global brand. We have been thinking of a new logo since we unveiled the MF NEXT Concept at Agritechnica 2019.  MF New Era started to come to life with the MF 8S launch in July 2020 followed by the launch of a full line of products these past 18 months, including our September 2021 Born to Farm Digital Event.  November is an iconic month for the brand, falling exactly 63 years after the announcement of the brand’s creation and its iconic logo. As we celebrate the 175th Anniversary of Daniel Massey’s first farm equipment workshop in 2022, we felt it was the perfect time to refresh the logo while introducing a new meaningful tagline,”

said Francesco Murro, Massey Ferguson vice president of global marketing, sales enablement & partnerships.

The Massey Ferguson Triple Triangle – The most recognizable icon from 1958

“The triple triangle shape is a strong icon that has embodied Massey Ferguson since 1958. Our new logo is a mix between our strong heritage and fresh brand values. The three triangles overlap to represent the mutually beneficial relationship and trust between farmers, dealers, and the brand,”

added Mr. Murro.

“Working as one Massey Ferguson Global Team, we aim to make farming operations easier, more profitable, and more sustainable across the globe. We want to use this new logo to invite farmers, more than ever, to become part of the Born to Farm Massey Ferguson family. We also took this opportunity to transition to a modern, sleek and flat design while giving the logo life through the interaction of three triangles interlocking one into the other. Drawing it with one single, solid, and straightforward gesture creates the appearance of movement. The flat design is very reflective of our current digital world, allowing us to manipulate the logo to bring it to life for our websites, applications on smartphones and smartwatches, or even the screens inside the machines themselves,”

says Alfredo Jobke, director marketing global Massey Ferguson.

“Our September 2021 Born to Farm event was the first expression of this new logo and its “Born to Farm” tagline. The great feedback and amazing enthusiasm we received, pushed us to really go for it. The new tagline conveys our unique brand value proposition and sets Massey Ferguson apart in the market and in the communities we serve,”

concluded Mr. Murro.

New Global Massey Ferguson Brand Identity rollout in 2022

The new logo will be progressively implemented across the globe. It has already begun to be featured in the brand’s digital channels and will be updated in all Massey Ferguson marketing material moving forward. This change builds momentum as Massey Ferguson prepares to celebrate its 175th Anniversary starting in January 2022.

The Massey Ferguson logo and tagline refresh provide the brand with a unique opportunity to realign its key messages to focus on the farmer first approach and the straightforward, dependable, accessible, and sustainable brand drivers. Farmers around the world will be able to experience the new Massey Ferguson brand identity for the first time toward the end of Q1 2022. The company will also implement a step-by-step introduction into its facilities, factories, and offices across the globe, as well as in Massey Ferguson Dealer Network signage starting in 2022.

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He worked with both his father and brother at John Blue. Asked what his favorite part of the job is, Duck says,

“Everything. I love what I do and that’s the reason I stay and come back here to work every day. It’s a good place to work.”

Jeff Ferguson, Director of Manufacturing Operations, says,

“Donald checks the box for all of John Blue’s core values. He puts the customer first, he bleeds blue, he is honest and conscientious, he gets the job done, and above all, he has fun doing it. Duck is like family to all of us that have been at Blue. He never met a stranger and is always willing to help.”

Donald and Judy, his wife who recently passed away, were married for 52 years. She was the love of his life. They have two children, Jason and Tye, and three grandchildren.

Duck also has a love of antiques and has a booth at Candlelight Antiques in Elkmont, Alabama.

John Blue Company appreciates and thanks Donald “Duck” Vassar for his 55 years of exceptional service and being TRUE BLUE.

The post John Blue Longtime Employee Celebrates 55 Years of Work appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

This pioneer of autonomous agricultural robots is already celebrating its 10 years of existence and growth. To mark this occasion, the founders look back at some key dates that have made Naïo Technologies today.

Naïo Technologies’ beginnings

Aymeric Barthes and Gaëtan Severac, both robotics engineers, decided to embark on the adventure following the first discussion with farmers in Pontoux-sur-l’Adour during the Asparagus Festival held on 1 May everyday year. Their first encounter with a producer gave them the idea of creating a robot to help him and his colleagues with their time-consuming, arduous, and repetitive tasks.

After two years of sketches and trials, in 2013 Naïo Technologies was the first company in the world to market an agricultural robot in the field, called Oz, on the farm of a couple of Occitan market gardeners in Belberaud (department 31). At the time, this little assistant was perceived as a real revolution in the agricultural domain!

The story continues

The family expanded in 2016. A new range of robots made their appearance. Alongside Oz, Naïo Technologies welcomed Dino, dedicated to the mechanical weeding in large-scale vegetable fields, and Ted, dedicated to the viticulture sector.

Among other things, the French start-up accelerated its international development between 2016 and 2019 through the establishment of a distribution network in more than 25 countries: Germany, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Canada, Hawaii, Japan, New Zealand, etc.

In 2020, Naïo Technologies conquered the United States, opening an American subsidiary in Salinas, California. With a team of 15 people now, the company offers the service provider of a robot, the famous “Robot As A Service”, which is proving highly successful.

The year 2020 also marked the launch of the second version of Ted, the robot for vineyards, and the evolution of the pioneering Oz, now fitted with new tools allowing it greater versatility and henceforth a multi-task machine.

The post Naïo Technologies Celebrates its 10th Birthday appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

“I was excited about the energy I saw throughout the event. Rooms were packed with good interaction, and attendees were having engaged and constructive conversations on key challenges we’ve identified. This conference sets us up well for a very productive 2022,”

“He is a consistent voice championing interoperability tools for developers, challenging us to continue providing value to member companies, promoting AgGateway as a place where good work is being done,”

“Dan has been relentless in identifying and addressing misunderstandings and seeking out opportunities across myriad industry events to tell the ADAPT story,”

“Their technical expertise is matched only by their unbiased and patient management of ADAPT’s highly complex code base,”

“We never cease to be amazed by the collaborative spirit among the army of developers and system architects that build and maintain ADAPT,”

• North America: Mike Altman, Syngenta
• Latin America: Ronaldo Pereira de Oliveira, EMBRAPA SOLOS
• Europe: Joachim Crombez, Proagrica

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Continental is the oldest independent and also one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world. Over the past 150 years, the company has set standards in the tire industry with its pioneering spirit and innovative strength.

Time and again, it was Continental’s engineers who, with their ground-breaking inventions, ensured that tires became safer, more efficient, and sustainable. Milestones in Continental’s tire development include the first treaded tire, the first tire with a detachable rim, the patent for the world’s first tubeless tire, and, with its “all-terrain” model, the first dedicated winter tire. Likewise, the first pneumatic tractor tire came from Continental.

Later came the first rolling resistance-optimized tire and the first production tire to feature a tread made of dandelion rubber. Continental is also one of the pioneers in the field of digitalization. As early as 1999 the tire manufacturer demonstrated that the data required for advanced driver assistance systems can be determined even more accurately and quickly if the tire is used as a data source.

This was the birth of the intelligent tire. Meanwhile, Continental is connecting its tires and their sensors to the cloud and offering its customers completely new, smart, and digital tire solutions and services.

“Tires are our passion. Our technological excellence has ensured safety, reliability, and sustainability for 150 years. We are proud of this. Many of today’s technology standards in tires come from Continental. Time and time again, we push the boundaries of what is possible. Our goal is to produce our entire product portfolio exclusively from sustainable materials in a climate-neutral way by 2050 at the latest,”

said Christian Kötz, Head of the Tires business area and member of the executive board of Continental.

Continental’s roots go back to the early days of the founding era. On October 8th, 1871, the “Continental-Caoutchouc- & Gutta-Percha-Compagnie” was incorporated. The product range initially included a variety of rubber products, such as toy balls, rubber mats, roller coverings, rubberized fabrics or balloons, and solid tires for carriages and bicycles. When the bicycle began its worldwide career in 1892 with freewheel and coaster brake, Continental was the first German company to produce pneumatic bicycle tires, and hence “pneumatics” soon became a household word.

A short time later, in 1898, the production of pneumatic tires for cars also began. The first pneumatics was still treadless and had comparatively limited handling characteristics by today’s standards, especially on wet or wintry roads. All tire manufacturers were looking for solutions to the sliding susceptibility of their products – until Continental presented the world’s first car tire with a tread in 1904.

Industrialization and mobility needs as early drivers of innovation

The triumph of individual mobility and advancing industrialization demanded tire products forever new fields of application. In addition to safety, the theme of comfort also increasingly became the focus of attention.

In 1908 Continental engineers caused a worldwide sensation with the invention of the detachable rim, which made the wheel and tire mounting much easier. To mark its 50th anniversary, Continental was the first German company to launch large tires for commercial vehicles on the market. In 1928 tires for agricultural tractors and tractor units were manufactured for the first time.

The T2 agricultural tractor tire was the first pneumatic agricultural tire in Europe. In the industrial sector, Continental revolutionized the segment of solid tires, which are used on forklift trucks, airport vehicles, and other heavy-duty industrial applications. Introduced in 1932, the great success of the ContiSuperElastic solid rubber tire led to the abbreviation for this category that is customary in the industry today: CSE.

Another milestone in the industrial history of the 20th century is the first tire made of synthetic rubber, which rolled out of Continental’s factory hall in 1936. Under the effects of the shortage economy during the war years, the tire manufacturer launched the first research series to obtain rubber from Russian dandelions. A project that was taken up again in 2011 and has been successfully driven forward since then. The “Urban Taraxagum” bicycle tire is Continental’s first tire made in series production using rubber from dandelions.

In 1943 Continental filed a patent application for the tubeless tire. An invention that significantly improved the rolling resistance of tires and became a common technological principle in the post-war period and still is today. Continental first enabled particularly safe driving in winter in 1934 with its “all-terrain” model, its first dedicated tire designed for snow, and thus its first winter tire. In 1953 Continental crossed the snowy St. Gotthard Pass in Switzerland with its M+S tires (mud and snow) under notarial supervision, successfully completing the first winter tire test in history.

Intensive testing enables safety – in city traffic or when driving under extreme conditions

Before a new tire from Continental is launched on the market, it has to successfully pass a wide range of tests, be it technical innovations in the passenger car, truck, or special tire sector. In total, new tire models cover 25 million test kilometers each year before the actual start of production. The enormous effort is justified. Because it is the foundation for the product quality of the tire manufacturer from Hanover, for all applications – even under extreme conditions. In 2003 Continental became the only supplier of a production tire with a permissible maximum speed of up to 360 km/h with the ContiSportContact Vmax. In 2007 the ContiSportContact Vmax was the first tire to be entered in the Guinness Book of Records and was the first choice for numerous record-breaking races of well-known tuners.

For the testing of tires and all conceivable conditions, the company maintains state-of-the-art tire testing facilities worldwide. The Contidrom near Hanover, the “prototype” and reference of all Continental tire test centers, was opened in 1967.

As early as 1968 the first electronically controlled driverless car took to the track at the Contidrom, to the astonishment of the press and public. Continental has further developed this technology and now uses it at its test site in Uvalde, Texas, USA, to subject its tires to endurance tests.

In 2012 the Automated Indoor Braking Analyser (AIBA) was officially opened at the Contidrom test site. This facility, which is the only one of its kind in the world, enables the brake performance of tires on different road surfaces to be tested all year round, regardless of the weather, and fully automatically using unmanned vehicles. In the future, tires will also be tested there is a new type of dynamic driving simulator.

Thus, professional test drivers will also be carrying out realistic driving scenarios virtually. Having each test cycle completed in the driving simulator instead of on real roadways means fewer test tires need to be produced. Hence, this investment in the new testing technology also contributes to Continental’s extensive sustainability efforts.

Resource awareness as an early driver of technological excellence

Continental has been committed to greater sustainability in the tire and automotive industry since the early seventies of the last century. The effects of the oil crisis in 1973 provided the impetus for a research project to develop tires with optimized rolling resistance.

The insights gained in this project ultimately led to the presentation of a previously unprecedented product in 1993. For the first time, a tire in the ContiEcoContact combined environmental benefits and economic aspects with outstanding driving and safety characteristics.

Since then Continental has been facing major challenges in dealing with finite raw materials and the need to reduce CO2 emissions. For many years now sustainable and responsible management has been an integral part of Continental’s corporate strategy. Efforts here are centered around the strategic topics of climate action, low-emission mobility, the circular economy, and sustainable supply chains, thus embracing all phases of the value chain.

As early as 1903, a branch plant was set up in Seelze near Hanover for the reprocessing and recycling of rubber scrap. In 2013, Continental opened its unique ContiLifeCycle plant in Hanover Stöcken. With its integrated approach to retreading for truck and bus tires and a specially developed industrial-scale rubber recycling plant, it is an industry pioneer.

In order to make the tires of the future even more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly in terms of production, use, and recyclability, the company is systematically investing in the research and development of new technologies, alternative materials, and environmentally compatible production processes. For example, the tire manufacturer intends to gradually switch to 100 percent sustainably produced materials in its tire products by 2050.

Sensor technology and digitalization enable innovative tire solutions and services

Continental is also one of the pioneers when it comes to the digitalization of tires. As early as 1999, the tire manufacturer demonstrated that the data required for advanced driver assistance systems could be determined even more accurately and quickly by using the tire as a data source. That was the birth of the intelligent tire.

Since then Continental has continued to drive forward the digitalization of tires, enabling completely new services for fleet and end customers. Since 2010 Continental has bundled all services for fleet customers under the umbrella of its brand Conti360° Fleet Services. From the recommendation and perfect selection of the right tires to correct mounting and quick assistance in the event of a flat tire to constant inspection and comprehensive tire reports for all their vehicles, the fleet operators receive a highly professional all-around tire service.

The company is continuing to expand the ecosystem of smart, digital solutions for Continental’s premium tires that have been created in the meantime. As one of the world’s largest suppliers of electronics, sensor systems, and software in the mobility industry, Continental has a decisive competitive advantage here.

For example, Continental’s ability to allow the tire to communicate with other safety-related components as a central element in the vehicle system led to a ground-breaking project back at the beginning of the millennium: the 30-meter car.

The coordination of all systems involved in the braking operation resulted in a vehicle that came to a standstill after only 30 meters with full braking at 100 km/h. At that time the average braking distance was still between 36 and 40 meters. This corresponded to shortening the braking distance by up to 25 percent.

Today, Continental is using the direct connection of its tires and sensors to the cloud to offer completely new business models. Fed by a large number of data points, Continental’s fleet customers can check the condition of their tires at any time using algorithms developed in-house.

This means that tire maintenance can be carried out on an as-needed basis, not as a preventive measure, and thus much more efficiently. Fleet providers thus benefit from minimized downtime due to repairs, increased safety, lower overall costs due to greater energy efficiency, and generally more efficient operation. In 2020, Continental set new standards with the presentation of its successful pilot project for significantly accurate tread depth monitoring using algorithms and vehicle telemetry data.

In the future, Continental will continue to stand for innovative excellence in tire technology with its premium portfolio in the passenger car, truck, and special tire segments. In its new strategy program presented in 2020, Continental describes its path into the new decade. The focus of the Vision 2030 strategy program is the consistently customer-centric orientation of the organization and all business activities. In addition, the tire sector aims to continue to grow profitably and differentiate itself from its competitors in a rapidly changing market environment in the areas of sustainability and digital solutions.

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Väderstad, one of the world’s leading companies in tillage, seeding, and planting is now celebrating 30 years of the Seed Hawk line-up on the North American Market. Seed Hawk continues to be the go-to solution for farmers on the challenging Canadian prairie.

The post Väderstad Seed Hawk Celebrates 30 Years appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.