• SafeTrap scaffolding hatch ensures safety on the construction site
• Flexo printing plate with microstructure enables cost-effective printing of conductor paths
• Fuel lines with conductive liner for industrial machinery
• Fire-retardant plastic engine mount makes household appliances safer

New technologies, new materials, new products: ContiTech will be bringing numerous innovations to the 2015 Hannover Messe trade fair, where it will have two stands this year. At the corporate stand in Hall 6 (Stand F18), it will be all about the process and materials expertise of the rubber and plastics specialist and its added-value partners. At Stand B18 in Hall 25, the focus will be on products such as drive belts, hoses, hose lines and air spring systems as part of the leading trade fair, Motion, Drive & Automation.

The Highlights from Hall 6

Highlights from the stand in Hall 6, which will bear the slogan "Engineering Next Level," will include the SafeTrap scaffolding hatch; printed electronics, with which electric conductor paths can be printed cost-effectively; and a vehicle component made of plastic that opens up new performance classes. The SafeTrap scaffolding hatch has passed fall tests and is now being used for the first time by our development partner ALTRAD plettac assco, one of Germany's leading one-stop suppliers of fa?ade, modular, and mobile scaffolding systems. The self-closing, flexible scaffolding hatch offers maximum safety. Whereas conventional solutions are flexible only to a limited degree, SafeTrap is based on a combination of an aluminum profile and a vulcanized rubber layer with fabric reinforcement. Workers on scaffolding can open the hatch with their heads when climbing. This means that they do not have to put down tools, building materials, or other materials in order to open the hatch. The hatch then closes by itself or with a push from the worker's foot.

Printed electronics are becoming ever more significant in industry. The term "printed electronics" includes electronic applications manufactured by means of printing processes. As flexo printing specialists and full-service providers in the printed electronics segment, ContiTech and SAUERESSIG FLEXO together offer their customers an easy means of access to this market. Instead of printing ink, electrically conductive materials are printed, thereby producing RFID solutions, sensors, displays, or solar cells. The opportunities for cost-efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly production in flexo printing are far from exhausted, according to experts in the industry.

ContiTech uses its expertise in lightweight construction to conquer other areas of application where metal once dominated. For the first time, the bearings specialist has developed a transmission crossbeam from fiberglass-reinforced polyamide BASF Ultramid for the rear axle, which is used in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The new variant is about 25 percent lighter compared with diecast aluminum versions, and represents a milestone in the use of polyamides in the chassis segment. It is used in Mercedes-Benz vehicle models with all-wheel drive - with the exception of the AMG range. The component boasts optimum strength, good NVH performance, and high crash-protection. As a central component of the rear axle, it supports forces and torques of the rear axle transmission.

A new engine mount made of halogen-free plastic, fire-retardant up to 220?C, provides greater safety around the house. Among other things, it meets the requirements of the U.S. fire protection standard UL 94 V0, which is identical in content to the European standards DIN EN 60695-11-10 and -20 and the Canadian standard CSA C 22.2. Further advantages for the appliance user: The domestic appliances are noticeably quieter when running due to the professional mounting. At the same time, wear and tear on components such as the drive train in the motor is reduced. This increases the service life of the domestic appliance. Maintenance periods and costs can be considerably reduced. The new ContiTech engine mount is already being used in high-end clothes dryers in the U.S.A.

The Highlights from Hall 25

The products on display in Hall 25 will include drive belts, hoses, hose lines, and air spring systems from ContiTech. ContiTech has broadened its range of eco-friendly drive belts marketed under the BlueConcept label. The label stands for environmentally compatible and healthful industrial applications. In the future, a timing belt will also be available for project business. The CONTI? SYNCHROBELT PIONEER contains no carbon black and is free of allergens, making it the alternative drive solution for the consumer goods industry. With the CONTI? POLYROPE, ContiTech has made further developments to the successful flat belt technology that was introduced to the elevator industry in the late 1990s. The CONTI? POLYROPE is certified according to the 95/16/EC Lifts Directive, and offers numerous advantages over conventional steel cord. The coating is abrasion-resistant and resistant to hydrolysis, and has excellent traction characteristics - reliable power transmission is ensured even at maximum load. The CONTI? POLYROPE is available in widths of 25 mm and 50 mm and with both a flat and a ribbed rear side.

Fuel lines with electrically conductive liners have been used in series production in the automotive field for some time now. And this application is now becoming increasingly interesting for industrial vehicles as well - not least due to the relevant regulations in the U.S.A. The conductive inner layer made from FPM (fluoropolymer rubber) prevents a static charge from forming at high flow rates, which - in the worst case scenario - could lead to flying sparks and the spontaneous ignition of the vehicle. The ultra-flexible fuel lines from ContiTech are suitable for gasoline, diesel, and biodiesel, and permanently withstand operating temperatures from -40?C to 160?C. Projects with sustained temperatures of 180?C are currently undergoing final testing.

The CONTI? CLEANJET - FDA is the multi-purpose hose for the food industry and is suitable for both the thorough cleaning of machines and systems as well as for the hygienic processing of liquid foodstuffs containing oil and grease. Thanks to a specialized, highly resistant rubber compound, the CONTI? CLEANJET - FDA can even handle corrosive chicken fat. The robust brand-name hose also reliably delivers hot water up to a temperature of 80?C and an operating pressure of 90 bar, which sets this high-quality universal hose apart from all other cleansing and food hoses available on the market.

In the past few years, the special Value-Adding Partner (WeP) show has become a fixed feature of the ContiTech presence at the Hannover Messe. In collaboration with ContiTech at the stand in Hall 6, select suppliers show how important it is for industrial partners to interact with one another and trust one another when manufacturing a high-quality product. They also highlight the latest technical trends. The technologies of the value-adding partners extend from high-performance plastics and fabrics through to systems solutions in mechanical engineering.