Continental announces ‘multi-million’ retreading investment

At Continental Tire the Americas’ annual truck dealer meeting, company executive vice-president Paul Williams announced plans for a ‘multi-million dollar’ investment in the ContiLifeCycle tread rubber plant in central Mexico. This investment will double plant space to more than 4,000 square metres and include the addition of extra curing and finishing lines.

“We first opened the ContiLifeCycle tread rubber manufacturing plant in May 2011 with the intent of supplying our ContiLifeCycle retread licensees and company-owned plants throughout our current footprint of the US, Mexico and the Andean region, and expanding in the near future to include the Mercosur countries,” Williams stated. “Due to overwhelming demand, today I am happy to announce a multi-million dollar investment at this central location, which is occurring more than a year earlier than anticipated.”

Williams said the investment allows Continental to accommodate the growing need for retreaded truck tyres in our current markets and to comfortably expand as we reach even further across the Americas.” When the expansion work is complete in July 2012  Continental will have the ability to retread more than 1.2 million truck tyres per annum with its ContiTreads. Williams also stated that a further expansion involving the installation of “yet another curing and finishing line” has already been planned for 2014.

The executive vice-president said he attributes the growth of the ContiLifeCycle business to the need for fleets in the Americas to have an economical lifetime truck tyre solution plus the high level of interest shown by dealers in each country CTA represents. “It’s been absolutely phenomenal, how many dealers are approaching us and wanting to be a part of this new business for Continental. We know that the ContiLifeCycle has a lot to offer as far as independence for retreaders, excellent products and great support. Since we’re already expanding, dealers can be confident that we will be able to meet their needs with a reliable supply of tread rubber and related materials. These things put together are a very attractive combination that we know many dealers are interested in adopting.”

According to ContiLifeCycle manager John Barnes, Continental currently offers 14 ContiTread tread patterns in various widths and depths, and the portfolio continues to expand: “The new truck tyres we release beginning in 2012 will be evaluated for production as ContiTreads,” he stated. “The majority of these product launches will immediately include a retread component with the same pattern as the new tyre, and performance just like it as well. So this year marks the beginning of our seamless transition from new products just available to the market to ContiTreads as well, making even greater availability of a true lifetime product.”

“This is an exciting meeting, and these are exciting times to be a part of Continental truck tyres,” Paul Williams concluded. “In 2012 we’ll be offering many things that our dealers and fleet customers have never seen before. From our investment in the ContiLifeCycle plant to the products and strategies seen here at this meeting, Continental is going to be the truck tyre company to watch in 2012.”