German technology firm Continental will make a significant investment of over US$40 Million to expand its hydraulic business in North America. A new, state-of-the-art industrial hydraulic hose production facility will be built in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, to increase and complement manufacturing capabilities in the region and beyond. The new facility will provide additional capacity for diverse hose solutions to support growing needs across North America.
“The over-proportional growth in North America is a focus for us,” explained Andreas Gerstenberger, responsible at Continental for the global business area Industrial Fluid Solutions. “We have many successful facilities in the region that will be complemented with this investment thanks to additional production capacity. The new facility will allow us to further expand our hydraulics business with the most compelling portfolio of hoses available and continue to strengthen our commitment to our customers and the North America region. It underlines our strategic approach to be the top performer in our markets.”
Hydraulic products support many key industries, including agriculture, construction, energy, engineering, as well as fluid transport in agricultural, construction and many other industrial vehicles. Product development focuses on climate neutrality and a 100% responsible value chain, the firm adds.
The new production facility will create approximately 150 new jobs. The investment will help to increase regional manufacturing capabilities and supply chain efficiencies. It creates multi-location capabilities across the region and is a part of Continental’s commitment to growth in North America.
The firm also says the facility is designed to achieve the highest-possible manufacturing efficiency. Industry 4.0 standards, which connect production with modern information-and-communication techniques, will be applied to connect and integrate 100% of the machinery into the production landscape on site.
In addition, a new level of energy efficiency and sustainability will be achieved on site thanks to innovative production processes and highly-efficient utility generation. Green and environmentally-safe factories are an essential part of the Continental strategy, according to the firm.
“The demand and growth of the hose market necessitates an investment like this,” added Gerstenberger. “We’re proud to be a leader in industrial fluid solutions and we’re investing to build that success across the entire business portfolio. The new location will support ongoing activity in other Continental facilities to ensure all operate efficiently and effectively for the long term. This investment in additional regional capacity will fuel further growth for all of our facilities and operations.”
Construction of the facility is expected to commence later this year. Operations are expected to start in 2024.
Continental offers an extensive portfolio of industrial hoses and hose fittings and its designers and engineers are constantly seeking new innovations across agriculture, construction, energy management, manufacturing, and transportation applications.
Founded in 1871, the technology company, in 2021, generated sales of EUR33.8 billion and currently employs more than 190,000 people in 58 countries and markets.