Conti adding capacity for tire sealant, noise products in US

Sumter, South Carolina  — 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 approximate 2 million square feet of manufacturing space in Sumter, the company said 4 April.

The statement 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 US will reduce the turnaround time from order to delivery throughout the region, explained Continental.

The company produces the ContiSeal and ContiSilent product lines at plants in Otrokovice, Czech Republic, and Lousada, Portugal.

Continental said it plans to begin installing equipment in September, and aims to start of production in May 2020.

The new lines will be rated at 1 million tires a year on full production in 2021, according to Continental.

While these products are for all customers, there was a strong focus on the needs of its OE customers, the company added.

Launched in 2007, ContiSeal puts a layer of sealant polymer on the tire inner liner that envelops foreign objects such as nails, and prevents air loss, even if the object is removed

ContiSilent  introduced in 2013, involves the application of a polyurethane foam to the tire inner liner to absorb interior noise.