Technology company Continental inaugurated its greenfield plant in Pune, India, manufacturing surface solutions materials mainly for the Indian automotive and two-wheeler market. With investments totalling about Rs 2 billion (more than 20 million Euro) covering facilities and machinery, Continental will produce premium surface materials for car interiors, including electric vehicles and two-wheeler seats, catering primarily to the domestic market and exports.
Continental offers a wide range of premium quality surface solutions to ensure that customers have various interior combinations options to attract car buyers. Compared to natural leather, the company's surface material products are durable, innovative, easy to maintain, and affordable.
The new location is Continental's 16th surface solutions plant globally, producing well-known surface materials like Acella Eco used by worldwide top car manufacturers and automotive brands.
Sustainability is a key driver
The 149,000 square feet (approx. 14,000 square meters) manufacturing facility, with an initial annual capacity of five million square meters of surface material, can be scaled up to 10 million square meters. Landry Tchapda, head of the surface solutions plant management, explained, "The new plant features best-in-class energy efficiency standards, sustainable production processes, an ergonomic work environment, 100 per cent sewage and wastewater treatment as well, exhaust air treatment of all processes, and use of energy from a renewable source."
He also mentioned, "With a skilled workforce and cutting-edge technology at our disposal, our production is world-class, to cater to the requirements of our customers. In addition to production, storage, logistics, purchasing, and sales, we have also scheduled resources and capacities for laboratories, design and product development. India is a promising market to grow. So, we expand our operations at a rapid pace. Our innovative surface solutions are available for a variety of car interior and two-wheeler applications, and we strive to be making us the market leader in the near future."
The new surface solutions plant in Pune will primarily manufacture Acella Eco and Acella Lux materials, which add aesthetic value to vehicle interiors. Eco-friendly foam foil Yorn and Yorn Light will also be produced in the near future.