Conti Increasing Capacity at Chinese Plant

Continental AG will increase production at its Hefei, China, plant from 5 million tires annual to 14 million tires by 2019.

“Expansion of the plant forms part of our long-term ‘Vision 2025’ strategy in which, since 2011, we have systematically invested more than €2 billion in the establishment and expansion of global production capacities and high-tech projects for tires. It will increase the number of jobs at the Hefei plant from 1,150 at present to 2,700,” said Nikolai Setzer, head of the tire division at Continental AG.

The tiremaker also plans on ramping up production in the plant’s bicycle tire segment from two million tires to 12 million by 2025.

Continental’s Hefei tire plant opened 2011. The company has already invested more than €250 million in the facility and once all investment plans have been realized will have invested more than €500 million, Continental said.

In April, the tiremaker also opened a new R&D center at the site of its Hefei plant. The 6,000 sq. meter facility allows Continental to machine test roughly 6,000 tires annually. Plans for a second phase are already in the works, the tiremaker said.

Ascot Supply Corporation, based in Newnan, Georgia, has selected Mark Paquette for the newly created position of vice president. In this position, Ascot Supply said Paquette will oversee the growth of the company's products, corporate profitability, manage marketing and advertising and assume many other responsibilities.

He will work under the direction of current President David Kessler and officially begin his new role on June 3. Paquette joined the tire and automotive industry in the early 1980s at his father's tire shop, and his contributions to Mohawk Rubber Sales were instrumental in the company's growth and eventual sale to Myers Tire Supply in 2021, according to Ascot Supply. Paquette eventually was given a promotion to the role of director of operations at Myers Tire Supply.