A global producer of automobile tires Continental started operations at its factory in the city of Kaluga in Russia. According to Continental’s executive board member and head of the company’s tires division Nikolai Setzer, the Greenfield plant in Kaluga constitutes the most cutting-edge manufacturing asset in the company’s chain of production facilities worldwide.

The Continental plant in Kaluga represents a critical element of the group’s vision to expand its presence on the Russian market. In the words of Mr. Setzer, the new plant furthers the group’s commitment to its existing customers looking to obtain replacement products. In addition, the facility fulfills an important role in supplying leading Russian auto producers with quality products. There are a number of car manufacturers situated within the Kaluga region alone.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Kaluga factory took place in 2011. Since that time, the whole facility was built in a record timeframe I and with exceptional precision. On the day the ‘ plant was launched, Mr. Setzer thanked the project team and Continental’s partners, as well as the regional government for outstanding efforts in bringing the facility into operation.

The target for the plant’s production capacity in its first phase of operation will be four million tires per year. Continental’s cumulative investment stood at EUR240 million. The plant’s workforce will number 800 employees.

The products that the plant will produce are to be supplied to tire dealer chains and directly to car manufacturers. One important advantage of Continental products is that they meet the most stringent European standards. According to Jaron Wiedmaier, head of marketing and sales for Continental’s Russian operations, the products come certified in line with the ISO 16949 standard.

The company’s list of products manufactured at the facility in Kaluga includes summer tires in addition to studded and studdless winter tires. Both tires for passenger cars and light trucks are to be produced at the facility. The facility manufactures tires of the following three brands: Continental, Gislaved, and Matador. The new plant utilizes the most technologically advanced production methods with enhanced resistance to precipitation. Similar equipment is used at only one other Continental facility located in the German city of Korbach.