Continental Strengthens Manufacturing Footprint of its Specialty Tires Production in Sri Lanka

• Investment of 13 million Euro further enhances local pre-production capabilities
• Continentals plant in Kalatura, Sri Lanka produces material handling tires since 2009
• Material Handling Business Field is set for further growth worldwide

Hanover, Germany, February 1, 2024. Continental is expanding the global manufacturing footprint of its Specialty Tires business area in Sri Lanka. By further enhancing local pre-production capacities, its Kalatura plant in future may produce material handling tires self-sufficiently. This ensures an optimized manufacturing process and limits cross-country dependencies in logistic supply chain. Continental will be investing around 13 million Euro over the next three years, creating around 200 additional jobs. Customers will benefit from better product availability due to the optimized supply chain.

“Our Kalutara plant is an integral part of our global production network. The most recent investment decision is a testament to that. At Kalutara we manufacture tailor-made specialty tire products for our customers worldwide”, says Klaus Framenau, Head of Business Field Material Handling. Continentals Material Handling Business Field is looking to further expand its share of the growth markets worldwide. “We continue to systematically grow our Specialty Tires business, as laid out in our Vision 2030 strategy program.”

Since 2009, the Kalutara plant has produced industrial solid tires for forklifts and other material handling vehicles. The plant manufactures Press-on-Band tires and Super Elastic tires with a strong focus on serving American, Asian and selected European markets. With its specialty tire brands Continental, General Tire and Barum that cover a wide range of applications, Continental serves the many different requirements of its customers worldwide.

Continental’s Specialty Tires business area develops, produces and markets a great variety of different tire applications. From agricultural, earth-moving and port vehicle tires to material handling, bicycle, motorcycle and racing tires. It also offers tailor made digital tire solutions that enhance its customer’s efficiency, helping to sustainably reduce their operational costs. Continental is continuously working to advance innovative technologies and sustainable products and services along the entire tire value chain, from the procurement of sustainable materials to the recycling of end-of-life tires.