Continental will be presenting solutions at Automechanika Frankfurt that respond to the challenges increased sustainability. The Continental Transmission Group will unveil a trio of innovations for drive belts and belt drive components, as well as additions to its range of products.

Marking its debut will be a new timing belt whose profile side is made not from the usual polychloroprene, but from a new and patented synthetic rubber compound. This has many benefits for both the environment and the climate. 

“The raw materials used already have a significantly lower global warming potential,” says Hermann Schulte, responsible for the Timing Belt Development for the Automotive Aftermarket at Continental. “And the new compound generates an around 50% smaller carbon footprint – from its manufacture to the disposal of the belt.” 

The new timing belts also enable higher power transmission and offer improved cold and heat resistance. These will be introduced worldwide up to the middle of 2023.

Continental will also introduce a new packaging concept for its accessory drive kits with water pump at the show. Previously, the individual components of these kits (belts, water pump, tensioner pulleys, etc.) have been packed into individual boxes, which are then stacked together in a large outer box. In future, however, a specially folded cardboard insert will ensure that all components are held securely in place with good protection inside the box without the need for individual packaging. This means only half the amount of cardboard has to be produced, significantly reducing CO2 emissions. It also helps to reduce transport emissions. 

A further innovation on show at Automechanika will be Continental Mild-hybrid kits. Belt alternator starters (BASs) like Continental’s 48V Eco Drive system, cut fuel consumption and therefore CO2 emissions by up to 15% in many modern engines with hybrid drive. To ensure these benefits continue even after the belt is replaced, special belts are required which can withstand the particular challenges presented by hybrid drive systems. To this end, Continental is expanding its range of products to cover practically all relevant vehicle applications in the European market. Among the new items are multi V-belt kits with the product designation “EXTRA” for over 670 special vehicle applications. The Omega tensioner pulleys typically found in these drive systems are included, as are all small parts required for assembly. This means fitters have everything they need easily to hand – enabling safe and efficient repairs to hybrid vehicles with BAS. 

Fitters can find the full range of products, together with helpful additional information, in the Continental Product Information Center (PIC).