SUMTER, S.C. — Continental Tire the Americas is expanding its plant in Sumter to accommodate production of the company's ContiSeal puncture-sealing and ContiSilent noise-absorbing passenger tire lines.
The project will add about 29,0000 square feet of space to the approximately 2 million square feet of manufacturing space under roof in Sumter. Conti did not disclose its investment in the expansion but said the project should create up to 50 jobs dedicated to the new production lines.
Producing these tires in the U.S. will increase the supply of tires on hand and reduce the turnaround time from order to delivery to customers throughout the region. Conti produces the ContiSeal and ContiSilent tire lines at plants in Otrokovice, Czech Republic, and Lousada, Portugal.
"This announcement celebrates Continental's trust in the Sumter facility to continue delivering quality products to our customers," Ahmed Boualam, Sumter plant manager, said.
Continental plans to begin installing equipment in September, and is targeting the start of production for May 2020. The new lines will be rated at 1 million tires a year full production in 2021, Conti said.
Producing these products in the U.S. will expand Conti's portfolio in the Americas for new mobility solutions, according to Juan Botero, Conti's vice president of key account management for original equipment passenger and light truck tires.
