Conti South Africa Investing in Capacity

Over the next year Continental Tyre South Africa intends to invest around ZAR100 million (£8.9 million) to increase production capacity and equip its Port Elizabeth factory to produce ranges that are in demand. “There is a big demand in South Africa for the off-road and 4×4 type tyres and there is some new ranges coming into South Africa over the next two years and we have picked up a lot of this business," he said,” commented Wayne Brown, general manager of Manufacturing. Brown added that Conti's South African produced 4×4 tyres are also sought after in global markets, such as Australia. “This is where we will be focusing our attention,” he commented.

During the last six years Continental Tyre South Africa has invested more than ZAR260 million (£23.2 million) in new equipment and processes in both its passenger car tyre division and radial truck tyre division. Some 70 million of this has been spent on improved curing technology, testing equipment and processing for the company’s TBR business in the previous four years. According to plant engineering manager Andrew Singer, an additional ZAR30 million (£2.7 million) is now being invested to enable the latest TBR product lines to be produced at Port Elizabeth.