Continental acquires mold specialist for commercial vehicle and specialty tires
09 April 2024
Continental has acquired the mold manufacturing specialist EMT s.r.o., based in Puchov, Slovakia. All shares of Continental’s long-standing supplier were transferred to Continental effective 2 April 2024. The tire manufacturer had entered into a respective agreement with EMT’s shareholders, Dynamic Design (Romania) being the majority shareholder. All 107 employees, who have specialist knowledge in mold manufacturing, have been taken on by Continental. Further details of the agreement were not disclosed.
EMT is a manufacturer of special tire molds, especially for commercial vehicle and specialty tires. The company specializes in the milling of molds made of steel. With the acquisition of EMT, Continental completes its internal portfolio for mold making technologies. From now on, the tire manufacturer can independently produce tire molds for all applications if required.
A first major step in this direction was the takeover of German mold manufacturer A-Z Formen in 2015 and Czech mold specialist VFC in 1993. Both companies specialize in producing molds for passenger car tires.
With the acquisition of EMT, we can act completely independently in mold making if required. Having expertise for all mold applications in house is a strategic advantage, given the economic uncertainties worldwide.
—Dr. Bernhard Trilken, Head of Production and Logistics at Continental’s Tires group sector
Molds are used in tire construction as part of the vulcanization of tires. In this production step, raw rubber is converted into a flexible and elastic rubber. With the help of molds, a tire gets its desired stability and shape.
EMT’s main production and development is focused on directly milled molds such as: truck and bus molds, passenger molds, agricultural tire molds, two-piece molds as well as containers, sidewalls, beadrings, clamping rings, treadshoes. Direct engraving is the main production process.
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