Continental celebrates the opening of its rebuilt hall for truck tire production in Otrokovice

• Grand opening ceremony attended by local authorities and members of Continental top management - Business Unit Commercial Vehicle Tires (CVT)
• Overall investment in the reconstruction and installation of new technological equipment amounts to around 165 million €
• Over 130 new jobs created since 2014

Otrokovice, October 12, 2016 – Yesterday, the worldwide premium tire manufacturer and technology company Continental inaugurated a newly reconstructed truck tire production hall in its manufacturing facility in Otrokovice, Czech Republic. The reconstruction project was the biggest investment of the Continental Corporation in Otrokovice tire plant in the last three years, amounting to around €165 million (4,4 billion CZK), and creating 130 new jobs. The inauguration of the new manufacturing building was attended by Stanislav Mišák, hetman of Region Zlin, as well as business partners, suppliers, representatives of regional and local statutory authorities and journalists. The opening ceremony also brought together representatives of the top management of Continental Corporation Mr. Andreas Esser, Head of Commercial Vehicle Tires, Constantin Batsch, Vice President Region Truck Tires EMEA, Thierry Wipff, Head of Manufacturing CVT & Engineering Tires, and many others. 

Manufacturing line inside rebuilt CVT2 hall for truck tries in plant Otrokovice

The CVT management outlined the strategic development of the production of truck, bus and specialty tires in the coming years in Otrokovice. “Today we are celebrating the finalization of a three-year project, a strategic step focusing on long-term market growth of Continental’s Commercial Vehicle Tires business unit. As the largest tire plant worldwide, Otrokovice plays a special role in our manufacturing landscape. With this investment, the plant has developed into a production hub for America as well as for the emerging markets in Asia Pacific”, said Andreas Esser, Head of Commercial Vehicle Tires.

“Here in Otrokovice we have implemented state of the art manufacturing processes as well as sophisticated technologies. Once again, I am impressed with the great achievements of the Otrokovice plant team in this project. Despite the high level of complexity, the plant team showed us yet again that we can rely on their expertise, their team spirit and their passion to win. Therefore, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all those involved in the project”, added Thierry Wipff, Head of Manufacturing CVT & Engineering Tires.

Recontrusted production hall CVT2 for truck tires from aerial view in plant Otrokovice

The reconstruction and expansion of the CVT2 production hall started at the end of 2013 and was completed last year. It was gradually equipped and trial operations have already begun. The first unit in the CVT2 hall was cured in 2014 while testing presses, but the first serially produced tire was manufactured in April 2015. At this time, production had started with one tire-building machine and six vulcanizing presses. By the end of 2015, additional tire-building machines and presses allowed production to grow. Now, all machines have been installed and are operating. The tire-building and curing departments run nonstop across four shifts. The production capacity of truck tires will thus grow to nearly 1.6 million tires per year. Libor Láznička, Plant Manager in Otrokovice, emphasized: “This investment shows the trust of our management and customers in the expertise of our Otrokovice team. I would like to thank the local authorities and our team for the constant support to make this project a success.”

In 2015, Continental Barum produced 21.1 million units of passenger tires, 919,000 units of truck tires and 119,000 units of industrial tires. This year, one million units in truck tire production will be surpassed. In comparison to 2005, production has increased almost threefold. This production increase was driven by a project supporting the manufacture of 22.5” tires and mostly by production in the new hall.