Conti to Close Austrian Rubber Mixing Site

Continental has reported the need to ‘respond’ to the continuing downturn experienced by OE and replacement passenger car tyre markets – a market which currently has a production overcapacity of more than 18 million tyres in Europe. As a consequence, the company states, the demand for raw materials is also markedly lower.

“Today, Tuesday, we are informing workers at the Traiskirchen site (in Austria) that we are forced to phase out the mixing and gumming activities in Traiskirchen, which employs a total of 195, by the end of this year,” explained Dr. Bernhard Trilken, in charge of worldwide production for the Continental Passenger and Light Truck Tires division, on June 16. “We assume that in the coming years we will not again reach the high level of production attained in 2007 and the first half of 2008. Therefore we must adjust capacity within the European passenger car tyre division to current market conditions.” The production of rubberised steel cord will then, as noted, cease by year’s end.

“We will support all affected employed as quickly as possible in the acquisition of new skills and employment. The operating agreements from 2002 and 2005 are still fully valid. The financing of these instruments has been secured,” added Conti’s European personnel chief Dr. Thomas Winkelmann.

The former Semperit factory was designated a Modular Manufacturing Process plant in late 2000, however tyre production at the site ended a couple of years later. The mixing facility is the last production operation based in Traiskirchen. Following its closure only a sales division, employing around 100, will remain there.