You’ll still see the Continental brand on printing blankets – and car tyres for that matter – but don’t expect to see it on rollers and sleeves for much longer.

The German company says production is to cease by end of this year, because of a “difficult market environment with high competitive and cost pressures”.

A cost-cutting programme by Continental’s ContiTech division in 2021 “did not bring the hoped-for turnaround in the product segment”.

Around 20 employees in Waltershausen, Thuringia, will be affected by the production stop. Just under 1,000 people in total work for Continental in Waltershausen.

Continental Elastomer Coatings EMEA regional head Andreas Bakenhus said the printing industry remained an important customer group for Continental.

“Despite the obvious challenges, we believe in the future of the printing industry," he said. “That’s why we’re adapting our portfolio to supply our customers with products that are both high-quality and cost-effective.”