Continental has announced the official start of production at a new tyre plant in Kaluga.
The construction of the plant started in November 2011 and was successfully completed within less than two years and on schedule, the company said.
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“The new Greenfield in Kaluga – as of now the most modern and technically advanced manufacturing site in Continental’s manufacturing footprint – is a key pillar of Continentals long-term growth strategy in Russia. This is a major step toward our replacement clients and the fulfilment of our commitment to the leading car manufactures who have established plants in this region as well”, said executive board member and head of the division tyres, Nikolai Setzer.
“I am excited to take part in today’s plant opening ceremony after I attended the ground-breaking ceremony in 2011. It is great to see that such a substantial project has been realised so fast with such a precision and I express my gratitude and pride on behalf of the executive board to the whole project team as well as to our partners and the local administration for the great support and extraordinary result.”
For the targeted annual capacity of 4m tyres in the first phase in which Continental invests EUR240m (US$330.49m) in total, a workforce of more than 800 employees will be established until 2015.
“With the opening of the Continental plant in Kaluga automotive cluster in the region has grown to three dozen companies. Here is a very high value added, because this product will be produced in Kaluga, and our engineers will be able not only to apply their knowledge, but also to improve our products as a result of scientific and technical international cooperation. I am glad that with the successful cooperation of specialists of the Kaluga region and Continental’s experts such a significant project was accomplished successfully in a short time,” said the governor of the Kaluga region Anatoly Artamonov.
Kaluga is already home to a cluster of major European vehicle producers such as Volkswagen, PSMA, Volvo Trucks, and suppliers such as Magna, Faurecia, Benteller, Gestamp and others.
“The plant output will be sold to tyre dealer chains respectively, the tyre replacement business as well as to the Russian car manufacturers. The key competitive advantage of Continental is not only the local production site but also the fact that we fulfil the highest European quality standards right from the beginning. Russian clients will get products certified by the ISO/TS 16949 standards”, commented Jaron Wiedmaier, head of marketing and sales and general director of ‘Continental Tyres RUS’.
The production portfolio will consist of summer as well as studded and studdless winter tyres for passenger cars and light trucks of the brands Continental, Gislaved and Matador. This includes technologies with highest complexity for the production of studded tyres with enhanced resistance to precipitation which was used at one other Continental plant in Korbach, Germany.
Currently Continental is represented by three production sites in Kaluga. Besides the newly opened tyre plant Continental Kaluga, Continental invests in the expansion of production facilities of plant ‘Continental Automotive Systems RUS’ for the production of electronic auto components and elements of fuel distribution. Together with this Continental is finalising the construction of ContiTech plant that will produce air conditioning and power steering systems.
