TIMISOARA, Romania—Continental Tires has completed a $3.9 million investment in an RTO (regenerative thermal oxidation) system for olfactory emissions treatment at its production facility in Timisoara.
The system disintegrates volatile organic compounds—the molecules responsible for most odors—by oxidizing them as they occur during the production process of tires, Conti said in a news release.
The unit has five combustion chambers and the capacity to treat 120,000 cubic meters of air per hour.
The new equipment will replace the system installed in 2015, Conti said.
According to the tire maker, the construction and installation stages of the equipment were completed in December 2020, and the system was being tested for performance during the first half of the year.
"Sustainability is an integral part of the Continental 'Vision 2030' strategy for the Tires division and is rooted in our values," said Carlos Bernabe, who took over as the general manager of Continental Anvelope Timișoara last March.
The goal, he said, is "to be the most progressive tire company in terms of social and environmental responsibility."
In addition to the RTO unit, Continental said it had opened a $177,000 training center at the Timisoara location, as part of a strategy to invest in its employees.
The vocational training center is equipped with various technologies to support computer training, human resources and digital services, Continental said.
Operational since 1998, the Timisoara plant has produced more than 250 million tires to date.
The location produces a wide range of tires, from 13 to 20 inches, including ultra high performance tires, tires for electric cars and tires for light commercial vehicles.