- First 250,000 tyres featuring Cokoon dip technology currently in production with more to be produced in 2020 and beyond
- More than 40 industry players already showing interest in open-source technology
- Licensing pool welcomes interested parties to join
Continental AG, the German technology and tyre company and Kordsa, a global player in tyre and construction reinforcement have announced the series production of the first 250,000 passenger car tyres featuring their new sustainable adhesive technology known as the Cokoon dip. The two partners have been working together on this new eco-friendly dip technology since 2017.
The new Cokoon dip technology essentially enables the bonding activation of textile reinforcing materials with rubber compounds without the use of resorcinol and formaldehyde in the textile dip.
Textile reinforcing materials are widely used in tyre manufacturing, as well as in the production of mechanical rubber goods such as hoses and conveyor belts. However, their bonding activation with rubber compounds has always required the use of non-eco friendly chemicals such as resorcinol and formaldehyde.
This is exactly what makes the Cokoon dip revolutionary. Prior to Cokoon, the chemicals resorcinol and formaldehyde were irreplaceable, however now that the technology is available, there are more environmentally friendly alternatives available that can be used to replace resorcinol and formaldehyde. Formaldehyde exposure infact is highly carcinogenic in nature. Thus, the Cokoon dip is not only beneficial for a sustainable supply chain but also for tyre cord manufacturers and their employees. It is worth noting that employees in tyre plants and end-consumers are not exposed to any of the substances found in Cokoon dip as they are chemically altered through the vulcanization process.
Also, another massive advantage of the new Cokoon technology is that no changes in process equipment are required in order to accommodate the technology.
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Since the first announcement of Cokoon as an open innovation technology in March 2019, many players in the industry have been continuously in touch with Continental to enquire about the possibilities of testing the material. These companies don't just include tyre manufacturers but also textile suppliers and converters. Around 20 or so have already received samples and many are considering joining the licensing pool.
All of the interested parties have been invited to join the pool and obtain free licensing in order to contribute to the development of this new green technology. The licensing pool is handled by the independent law firm AdvInno. Companies can find more information and the appropriate contacts on the official website www.cokoon.com.
The development partners Continental and Kordsa have decided against any development or licensing fees for their Cokoon dip. However, what they do expect in return is that companies who are given access, make their patents concerning the further enhancement of this technology available to the other partners free of charge via a licensing pool.
"The sampling process was a big success and exceeded our expectations. Feedback from the industry encouraged us to proceed with the integration of Cokoon into our tires and to begin series production of the first tires back in 2019. Expanding use of the Cokoon technology in our tyre production in 2020 and in the following years is a high priority for us," says Dr. Andreas Topp, Vice President Material and Process Development and Industrialization at Continental Tyres.
Devrim Ozaydin, Global Technology Director at Kordsa, outlines the underlying idea: "With Cokoon, we want to implement an eco-friendly industry-wide standard for bonding textiles and rubber. We, therefore, invite all interested parties to join the pool, obtain free licensing, contribute to the enhancement of this new open technology and introduce Cokoon into their mass production."
