1871
Continental-Caoutchouc- und Gutta-Percha Compagnie is founded in Hanover. Production of technical rubber products, rubbercoated materials and medical articles is launched. Pneumatic tires for bikes and rubber hot water bottles become classics of their kind.
1911
The ContiTech plant in Hanover-Vahrenwald: Developers create the first elastic printing blanket. Although simple, the design proves precedent-setting. A multi-layer fabric structure provides firm backing; the cover layer is slightly elastic and capable of neatly transferring the ink from the printing cylinder to paper. The basic idea underlying compressible printing blankets is born. And it has proven itself to this day.
1931
Sequences in the plants are optimized. From this point on, printing blankets are made in Hanover-Limmer. Continental acquired the plant previously with the takeover of its Hanover rival Excelsior in 1928.
1946
Challenges: Spring flooding causes major damage at the plant in Limmer. With natural rubber in short supply after the war, Continental develops a synthetic rubber alternative.
1951
Expansion in view: Continental takes part in the first edition of the Drupa printing trade show.
1954
Program expands: Blankets for metal decoration are included in range.
1961
Continental develops a special blowing process that enables it to manufacture compressible printing blankets and applies for a patent on this innovation.
1969
A strong brand is born. CONTI-AIR® is registered as a trademark. And the triumphal march to the top of the graphics supply industry begins.
1970
Relocation to Northeim: More room is needed for printing blanket production. The Continental Plant in Northeim can offer this.
1988
Continental refines the production process; the so-called CONTI-AIR® compressible layer appears on the scene. In conjunction with the highstrength fabric, it makes for still more uniform printing conditions and reproducible results at all times.
1996
Introduction of calender technology. For the first time, printing blankets can be produced with double width.
1999
Eyes fi xed on the future: ContiTech applies for a patent on metal back blankets.
1999
More service for customers: In the new format center, printing blankets are cut and barred to customers' requirement.
2001
Asia is booming: ContiTech Printing Blanket Shanghai is founded.
2003
Practice instead of theory: For the first time, printing blankets are tested on a dedicated test rig.
2004
Market introduction of the HC line: The new, highly compressible (HC) layer offers greater resistance to jamming.
2005
ContiTech buys PHOENIX Xtra PRINT GmbH in Hamburg- Harburg. ContiTech Elastomer Coatings thus becomes one of the world's biggest printing blanket manufacturers.
2010
Boost for the environment: ContiTech Elastomer Coatings markets climate-friendly printing blankets.
2010
Enhanced customer proximity: The service center in Shanghai is now twice as large; a new location opens in Singapore.
2012
Market launch product group „Stickybacks“: High quality, self-adhesive printing blankets for tubes, cans and label printing.
2014
Market launch new coating blankets: Foil and fabric based, strippable coating blankets for high quality packaging printing and finishing.
2014
Re-launch Glass bead blanket: BLACK PEARL for foil-embossing, security, banknote, sheetfed gravure and RGB printing.
2014
Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the plant in Northeim.
2015
Organizer of the annual KBA Workshop.
2015
The plant in Northeim has its own power plant with a gas turbine for energy supply in operation.
2016
Participation in the Creatura Roadshow, with focus on finishing and high quality prints.
2016
An own 5+1 unit printing machine is put in operation to get important insights for the continuous development of our products.
2016
Successful participation in the Drupa 2016 with new products for packaging printing.
