In the ContiLifeCycle plant of Continental in Hannover-Stöcken, seven autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) have been supporting the internal transport of tire blanks since March 2025. The company aims to make workflows more ergonomic and to increase efficiency in the retreading of truck and bus tires.
According to plant manager
Felix Hantelmann, the AMRs take over recurring transport tasks between the individual stations of the production process. The robots are connected to the plant's digital order system and autonomously travel to their destinations. Employees are thus to be deployed more for activities such as machine operation or quality control.
Functions of the AMRs
The AMRs navigate through the production hall using sensors, camera systems and AI-based control. They transport the tire blanks between the tire-building machine, heating presses and quality control. Previously, the tires weighing up to 75 kilograms were moved manually by crane or trolley.
The introduction
of the robots was preceded by corresponding training, which, according to Continental, contributed to broad acceptance among the employees. The team also participated in naming the individual vehicles. Continental already uses similar automation solutions in other tire plants worldwide, including locations in North America, Europe and Asia. (Source: Continental)
