Continental deploys autonomous robots at Hanover tire plant to boost efficiency

At Continental’s ContiLifeCycle retreading plant in Hanover-Stöcken, seven autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) have been transporting truck and bus tires since March 2025, freeing employees to focus on skilled tasks such as machine operation and quality control.

“Self-driving robots have been supporting our production workflow for six months now,” said Felix Hantelmann, head of the ContiLifeCycle plant. “They handle simple, repetitive transport tasks such as moving a tire from one point to another. The robots are directly connected to our digital order system, so they know exactly where to go and how to coordinate with each other to get there. They are a valuable addition to our daily operations and help create a safe, efficient and ergonomically optimized production environment.”

The robots navigate the production hall independently using sensors, 360-degree cameras and AI-based control technology. They transport tires at speeds of up to two metres per second, moving them between the tire-building machine, curing presses, intermediate storage and quality control.

Hantelmann noted that employees no longer need to manually carry tires weighing up to 250 kilograms, reducing physical strain and allowing workers to concentrate on more complex production tasks.

Continental supported the rollout with training programs and involved employees in naming the robots — Cargo Knight, Rubber Ranger and LifeCycle Commander — helping to boost acceptance.

The Hanover plant has retreaded more than one million tires since opening in 2013, reusing up to 70 per cent of the original tire and producing products comparable to new tires in safety and performance. Continental has introduced similar autonomous solutions at other facilities globally, including North America, Europe and Asia.