Continental Partners to Boost Port Logistics & Manufacturing
Global manufacturing firm Continental has partnered with the Port of Tilbury, London's main trade port, to boost the efficiency and reliability of its logistics.
The collaboration targets better performance, stronger safety measures and improved sustainability across the port’s operations.
In a setting defined by industrial scale and throughput, the Port of Tilbury requires robust systems to meet the ongoing pressure on its supply chain.
With Continental’s tyre technology and digital solutions now fully embedded into the site’s daily running, both operational continuity and environmental targets are now better supported.
Industrial scale, industrial demands
Tilbury is the largest port within the Forth Ports Group, the UK's third-largest port operator. The port occupies over 1,000 acres with 56 berths, 31 terminals, 10.2km of quay and five million square feet of warehousing.
It handles 16 million tonnes of goods each year, making it the busiest port on the River Thames.
This high industrial volume demands constant support from automotive systems across the site.
The port operates a fleet of handling equipment, including cranes and lifting machines from manufacturers Kalmar, Hyster and Liebherr GB. The workload requires more than 500 tyres in rotation across straddle carriers, reachstackers and forklifts at any given time.
To meet this requirement, Tilbury has selected Continental as its sole tyre supplier and digital solutions partner. The aim is to consolidate the port’s tyre management and streamline supply to match the scale of its throughput.
Andy Darlington, Senior Procurement & Facilities Manager at the Port of Tilbury, explains: “We have partnered with Continental for our tyre requirements for a number of reasons. The exceptional performance of their tyres, combined with their advanced digital solutions, gives us reliability and endurance in our day-to-day operations.”
Digital tools support day-to-day flow
Continental’s StraddleMaster tyres, developed for heavy port equipment, are already in use across Tilbury and have shown high durability and performance.
In addition, digital platforms ContiConnect and ContiPressureCheck now deliver real-time tyre monitoring and allow the port to move towards predictive maintenance.
These systems detect pressure and temperature shifts and alert the operations team before faults disrupt production. Real-time data is now accessible both on-site and remotely.
Andy adds: “The real-time data from Continental’s tyre sensors is accessible both on-site and remotely. It gives our team full visibility and helps us plan more effectively.”
Three Continental YardReader stations are also installed. These read tyre sensor data within a 65-foot radius, helping the maintenance teams act promptly and make informed decisions. Since their introduction, the port reports a 20% drop in unplanned downtime linked to tyre failures.
Alongside this, the Port of Tilbury continues to work with Halfords Commercial Fleet Services. This service partnership handles the logistics of tyre inspections, inventory and replacement to keep all equipment in use.
David Housden, Head of Engineering & Procurement at the Port of Tilbury, says: “Halfords CFS expertly manages our tyre husbandry. This, combined with Continental’s innovation, supports us to keep our fleet moving.”
Manufacturing-led sustainability gains
Sustainability is central to the port’s long-term planning, and its tyre choice supports this agenda. The StraddleMaster tyres’ low rolling resistance helps reduce fuel use by up to 30%, a gain with direct environmental and cost impact.
Continental’s manufacturing also reflects these priorities. Its tyre production plant in Lousado, Portugal, is ISCC PLUS-certified, meaning it meets sustainability and carbon neutrality criteria.
The plant runs on renewable energy and supports the tyre supplier’s move towards more sustainable manufacturing.
Mike Leedham, OTR Sales Manager at Continental, states: “This partnership is about more than tyres. It’s about powering the future of ports through innovation and sustainability.”
Tilbury itself is described as the UK’s greenest port. It operates four wind turbines and continues to reduce its use of fuel, water and power. By embedding Continental’s tools and tyre systems, it maintains focus on responsible operation while also improving output.
In aligning its logistics with Continental’s technology and support, the Port of Tilbury sees improvements in daily operations, equipment lifespan and resource use.
The combination of durable manufacturing, smart systems and service management is allowing the port to meet both industrial and sustainability benchmarks.
