Blanket maker ContiTech has celebrated the 50^th anniversary of its Northeim location in Germany.

The site, which is home to the Elastomer Coatings business unit, celebrated with 6000 employees and their families.

Executive board member Hans-Jürgen Duensing emphasised how the company has changed in the last ten years: "ContiTech Northeim has stood up to the competition.

“It has learned to become more international and has invested a great deal in innovation and environmental conservation,” he said.

This had resulted in not only more jobs but also higher sales and profits – the best way of ensuring a site's survival and an essential requirement for further investment in the future.

The most important investments currently include construction of a more environmentally-friendly power station with a combined heat and power system at a cost of around 6 million Euros. It comes into operation in February. “Moreover, each year millions are invested in modernising systems, machinery, and buildings,” Duensing says.

Continental acquired the plant from rubber shoe manufacturer Elconia in 1964, along with about 550 employees. Initially the plant manufactured rubber washers for bottle caps, rubber rings, bicycle repair kits, and bicycle tubes. Shaped hoses for cars followed in 1966, conveyor belts in 1968, and later sealing elements.

Today, around 1800 employees at produce products including conveyor belts for mining and industry, technical materials, hose lines and brake seals for the automotive industry and diaphragms… and of course, printing blankets.