ContiTech Grand Ocean Fluid to produce air-con lines for Ford in China from 2015

ContiTech Grand Ocean Fluid in the Chinese city of Changchun has opened a subsidiary plant in Hangzhou, approximately 2,000km away. It will produce underfloor air-conditioning lines for Ford in series production from March 2015. A total of €1.3 million have been invested in machines for the whole project in Changchun and Hangzhou. They have been used to produce initial samples since the beginning of October.

Up to 40 jobs are being created on the 2,000 m2 site in Hangzhou, with space for further expansion. "We are underscoring our commitment to supporting our customers in their successful development in China," emphasized Matthias Schönberg, head of the ContiTech Fluid Technology business unit, at the opening of the plant.

The lines for the Ford plant in Hangzhou are prefabricated in Changchun and then assembled on site. This minimizes the risk of these long lines being damaged in transit.

The plant in Hangzhou is the fourth ContiTech Fluid Technology production site in China. ContiTech Grand Ocean Fluid was established in 2002 with Grand Ocean Industries and FAW. Air-conditioning lines, power steering lines, fuel lines, and industrial lines are produced on the 13,000 m2 site in Changchun. Important customers include Ford, Daimler, Volkswagen, FAW Car, and BMW, as well as Linde, Jungheinrich, and Atlas Copco.

ContiTech Fluid Shanghai was launched in 2000. It produces lines for the power steering and chassis control, powertrain, and commercial and industrial vehicles segments. In 2011 ContiTech China Rubber & Plastics Technology commenced operations in Changshu. The location produces hoses and lines for the Heating/Cooling Systems, Air Induction Systems, and Power Steering & Chassis Control segments. The ContiTech fluid plants in China employ more than 1,000 people.

Image: Opening ceremony in Hangzhou (left to right): Christopher Friz (GM of ContiTech Grand Ocean), Wally Santoso (executive board of ContiTech Grand Ocean and chairman of Grand Ocean International), Matthias Schönberg (head of ContiTech Fluid Technology Business Unit), Zhenfang Ruan (executive board of ContiTech Grand Ocean and deputy general manager of FAW Asset Management) and Junsheng Liu (president of ContiTech China).