The technology company Continental is investing around €14 million in additional capacities and sustainable production conditions at its German location in Weißbach. “With this investment, we are securing the future viability of our plant for surface materials and at the same time giving our approximately 1,000 employees there a perspective for the future,” explains Dr. Dirk Leiß, who heads the Surfaces Business Unit at Continental. Twelve million euros will be invested in a film production line, and another two million euros in an additional exhaust air purification system.

The new film line, including a cutting machine, will enable the site to continue to grow. It will significantly increase the capacity of the site. Among other things, design and functional films are produced in Weißbach for end consumers who want to decoratively embellish or functionally upgrade their four walls. This trend has increased strongly, especially in pandemic times. In the industrial sector, innovative, durable and weather-resistant exterior films are produced for window profiles, front doors, garages and facades, as well as films for kitchen, bathroom and home furniture.

“The demand for our film products is growing continuously,” explains Leiß. “The investment in an additional production line now allows us to win new customers, open up further applications and offer additional products and customer services.” Part of the new line is a film cutting machine that makes customised packaging possible. The entire line is expected to be commissioned in early 2023.

With the new thermal regenerative exhaust air purification plant, which is also planned, Continental is already preparing the plant for upcoming stricter limit values. This plant is expected to go into operation in autumn 2022. With the additional purification capacity, the site will then be able to purify 160,000 standard cubic metres per hour – almost twice as much as before. “This means we even have reserves for changes in quantity or for an additional machine,” says Leiß. The plant can also be expanded if production continues to grow. “So this investment is another step on the way to a sustainable future.”