Continental Tires to expand testing facility in China

Hefei, China – Continental Tires is planning a second phase project of the research and testing center at its site in Hefei, Anhui province.

“Growth in China and the Asia Pacific region is raising the requirements for Continental Tires’ engineering capabilities,” said the project’s environmental filing. “[The center aims to] meet our premium customers’ differentiated demand.”

With €4.8 (37.5 million yuan) investment earmarked, the second phase has over 2,100 square metre total area and 12 extra sets of equipment, and will up the center’s annual testing capacity by 10,000 tires.

The project is slated to begin construction in September 2018 and come on stream in September 2019, said its environmental filing.

The first phase, able to test 2,678 tires per year, started full operation in 2016. It accommodates labs for durability testing, high speed testing, strength testing, analysis as well as space for section buffing and rim storage.

When the expansion is completed, the center will have additional labs for durability and high speed testing and new facilities for mounting, buzz, squeak and rattle testing and maintenance, repair and overhaul.