New Delhi, Feb 17 (UNI) Continental AG has been named 2017 Tire Manufacturer of the Year by UK-based trade journal “Tire Technology International”. Reacting on the award, Nikolai Setzer, member of the Executive Board of Continental AG responsible for Corporate Purchasing and head of the Tire division, the world’s fourth largest tire manufacturer with sales of more than 10 billion euro, said “We are very excited about this award because it appreciates several technology projects and innovations that we have already realized, working consistently within the scope of our Vision 2025 long-term growth strategy.” “At the same time, being awarded as the most innovative tire manufacturer highly motivates our global team, now more than 50,000 employees to continue on this path, step by step,” he said. Among Continental’s innovations that persuaded the judges were the opening in June 2016 of the High Performance Technology Center in Korbach, Germany; the Taraxagum project that involves setting up a research center in Anklam, Germany, for the industrialization of natural rubber from dandelion roots; and production of the first ever truck tire with tread made of dandelion rubber. The judges also mentioned the announcement of a research and development center for agricultural tires in Lousado, Portugal, and the expansion of Continental’s truck tire production operations in Otrokovice, Czech Republic. “Consumers of everything from ultra-high performance tires to agricultural ones, in markets from Europe to China, will benefit from Continental’s outstanding commitment to investment in research and development, testing and manufacturing in the past 12 months. Congratulations to our Tire Manufacturer of the Year!” said Graham Heeps, editor, Tire Technology International and chairman of the judging panel. This annual award for innovation and excellence honors particularly bright ideas and the hard work put in by the tire design and production industry. Candidates are either nominated by the readers of Tire Technology International or put forward by the editorial staff. The independent panel of experts then votes to choose the winners. In the context of its Vision 2025, since 2011 Continental has already invested more than 3 billion euro in the construction of new production plants in Hefei (China), Kaluga (Russia) and Sumter (South Carolina/ USA). Continental Commercial Vehicle Tires is one of the largest manufacturers of truck, bus and commercial specialty tires worldwide. The business unit is continuously developing from a pure tire manufacturer to a solution provider, offering a broad range of products, services and tire-related solutions. UNI ADP SHK 1552