ContiTech halves CO2 footprint with new air springs compound

Hanover, Germany – ContiTech has upgraded its material compound for commercial vehicle air springs to reduce the CO2 footprint of the products.

ContiTech’s ‘Touch RuNR’ air springs for commercial vehicles – to be presented at the IAA Transportation in Hanover in September – feature natural rubber (NR) enhanced with EPDM.

The compound combination replaces the traditional chloroprene rubber (CR) used for the production of the air springs, ContiTech explained 29 July.

With the substitution, it said, the carbon footprint of the rubber compound has been reduced by more than 50% compared with conventional air springs.

Moreover, the air springs can be used in a wider range of climates, resisting both extreme heat and cold.

According to ContiTech, prior to this development, manufacturers had to choose between NR-based air springs or CR-based products.

While NR air springs offer resistance to a very cold climate, CR air springs withstand tough environmental conditions such as high temperatures, ozone conditions and UV exposure.

The new air springs “can, therefore, be used for broader, more dynamic performance applications,” stated the German-based manufacturer.

Alongside the new air springs, ContiTech will showcase sustainability advances at the IAA show, including the use of recycled, renewable and bio-based materials in rubber compounds.