A Decade-Long Partnership Between Rushlift and Continental

Rushlift is a leading provider of cutting-edge material handling solutions and renowned as a vital supplier of ground support equipment (GSE) and maintenance services at major UK airports such as Heathrow,  Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham. As their business has experienced rapid growth in recent years and they look to grow internationally in the future too, it is imperative for Rushlift to collaborate with suppliers who offer exceptional quality, add value, and give confidence to them and their customers.

The selection of the most suitable tyre for specific applications has been the primary rationale behind Rushlift's enduring trust in Continental RV20 tyres. These have been chosen as the standard fitment for their fleet of electric baggage tractors (EBT) for over a decade. Rushlift even collaborates with their fleet manufacturers to ensure that every new EBT machine is delivered with RV20 rubber. Continental tyres are also fitted to the majority of their Push Back Tugs (PBT) and other equipment at each of the UK airports they operate.

One of the most significant features that Continental offers with their material handling tyres is the Tread Wear Indicators (TWI), which allows customers such as Rushlift to incorporate the recutting of tyres. This allows for an additional 6-7 weeks life from the tyres – crucial in an industry where tyres are pushed to their limits day-in, day-out. It also provides peace of mind to the customer and contributes to reducing the overall service costs. 

This enduring tyre partnership is facilitated through Rushlift’s approved tyre fitter, City 1^st Tyres. Their role is to complete all fleet checks for Rushlift’s vehicles and provide expert recommendations and solutions. City 1^st Tyres have been on the front foot when it came to addressing the company’s previous issues. Rushlift experienced frequent tyre failures, which were leading to operational disruptions, increased maintenance costs and safety concerns. City 1^st Tyres were so confident that a switch to Continental tyres would deliver increased durability and reliability that they offered Rushlift a complementary set of test tyres. Rushlift were hugely impressed by the longevity of the new tyres on the machine, which amounted to three-times the service life on the previous policy tyres. As the tyres were fitted fleet-wide, Rushlift saw an overall improvement in fleet reliability and operational efficiency, as well as a reduction in vehicle total cost of ownership.

The three-way relationship between Continental, City 1^st Tyres and Rushlift is built on mutual trust and commitment to delivering exceptional performance and service. Their collaboration has resulted in significant cost savings and improved performance metrics for Rushlift, with their direct customers benefiting from notable KPI improvements. 

"I have absolute confidence in the tyres, and knowing that hundreds of vehicles at airports rely on Continental’s tyres is incredibly reassuring. They have truly exceeded my expectations, and I would one hundred percent  recommend them to others without hesitation."

Stewart Salmon, Regional Operations Manager, Rushlift. 

Also reflecting on the partnership John Papantoniou, Managing Director of City 1st Tyres said, "Continental provides the best tyres and tread for the application, coupled with outstanding customer service and a highly cost-effective solution. To hear such praise from Rushlift about the tyres that we recommended means we’re meeting our brief, and it’s great that Continental continue to deliver without fail."

The decade-long partnership between Rushlift, Continental and City 1st Tyres exemplifies the power of collaboration, trust and commitment to excellence. The success story underscores the importance of choosing the right partners and solutions in driving business growth and satisfaction. With this solid foundation of trust and performance, the partnership is poised to continue delivering results well into the future.