Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • BEST PLACES TO WORK
  • News
    • HUMANITARIAN
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
    • MID YEAR REPORT
    • SERVICE ZONE
  • ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Resources
    • Events
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • AWARDS
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Best Places to Work
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
April 09, 2012 02:00 AM

Conti reveals big plans for S.C. factory

Bruce Davis
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C.'s long-range plans for the $500 million tire plant now under construction near Sumter include a near doubling of the plant's size and capacity by 2021 and possibly the addition of truck tire capacity, company executives said at the plant's recent groundbreaking.

    Conti's $500 million budget covers the first phase of the project, starting with a 1 million-sq.-ft. plant on a 330-acre plot of land several miles south of Sumter in south-central South Carolina and ramp capacity up to 5 million units by 2017.

    Longer term, though, the company plans to add more manufacturing space and boost annual capacity to 8 million car and light truck tires by 2021, according to Craig Baartman, project manager.

    The site has sufficient space, he said during a conversation with Tire Business, to accommodate another doubling of capacity to 16 million units and the addition of manufacturing space for truck tires. There are no concrete plans for either of these at the moment, he added, but the space is laid out to accommodate such additions.

    CTA expects to start installing equipment by May 2013 in time to start production by early 2014, Mr. Baartman said. Production should hit 800,000 units the first year, 2 million in 2015, 3 million in 2016 and 5 million by 2017, he said, by which time employment will hit 800.

    Therafter, the plant's second-phase expansion would kick in, he said, to push capacity to 8 million units and 1,600 employees.

    Conti started clearing ground for the site late last year, but held a ceremonial groundbreaking March 28 with South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley among the invited guests.

    CTA CEO Jochen Etzel called the groundbreaking a “celebration of collaboration” among state and local authorities and his company, and said it “shows Conti is dedicated to the U.S. market” and reflects “Conti's commitment to our customers.”

    Conti is keen to get the plant operating, he said, in order to improve the firm's ability to supply American customers, both replacement and OE, with U.S.-built product.

    Nikolai Setzer, member of Conti's executive board and head of Continental's global tire business, called the project “an important part of Continental's growth strategy worldwide and, in this case, in particular for the U.S. market.”

    Ms. Haley told Tire Business South Carolina faced a lot of competition for the project, but, “Losing (the project) was not an option.

    “At the end of the day, (investors) want cash flow and profit margins,” she said, “and if we can give them (these), then they can hire more people, . . .”

    The project is being supported by more than $40 million in state and local assistance, according to county and city officials, including a $31 million grant for purchase of and improvements to the 330-acre site south of Sumter, approved by the Sumter County Coordinating Council, and a $4 million federally funded Community Development Block Grant through Sumter County to offset costs associated with road and public infrastructure improvements, according to Sumter County Economic Development.

    Mr. Setzer said Conti has experienced growth in North America of about 20 percent annually the past few years and the added output from this plant will help fulfill demand.

    CTA also is expanding its headquarters in Lancaster County, S.C., and will add about 80 jobs there to support the firm's growth.

    During the ceremony at the plant site, Mr. Etzel presented a $25,000 donation to Sumter School District to help pay pay for 200-book classroom libraries for English classes in each of the seven middle schools in the district.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Point S launches aggressive growth plan
    2
    ITDG promotes Barry to vice president of sales
    3
    Hankook upgrades truck/bus tire lineup
    4
    Goodyear to trim jobs amid 'uncertain' economic outlook
    5
    Natural rubber production impacted by ‘severe' leaf disease outbreak
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • BEST PLACES TO WORK
    • News
      • HUMANITARIAN
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
      • MID YEAR REPORT
      • SERVICE ZONE
    • ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Resources
      • Events
        • ASK THE EXPERT
        • LIVESTREAMS
        • WEBINARS
        • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
        • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION