BMW is relying on SportContact 6 tyres from Continental as original equipment for the new M4. The new BMW M4 Competition Convertible with M xDrive will be available in South Africa from the fourth quarter of 2021.
BMW is relying on SportContact 6 tyres from Continental as original equipment for the new M4.
The SportContact 6 has been developed in particular for sporty vehicles and is especially designed for handling, precision and driving stability at high speeds.
As the only point of contact between the vehicle and the road, tyres play an essential role in providing an optimal driving experience without compromise.
– Dr Holger Lange, head of tyre development for Continental’s original equipment business
In addition, it has been rated best in the EU tyre label in the wet grip category, meaning that it is particularly convincing in terms of braking performance on wet roads. Continental received global approvals for the dimensions 275/40 ZR18 (103Y) XL and 285/35 ZR19 (103Y) XL.
“As the only point of contact between the vehicle and the road, tyres play an essential role in providing an optimal driving experience without compromise,” said Dr Holger Lange, head of tyre development for Continental’s original equipment business. “Our engineers develop OE tyres that perfectly match the respective vehicle model and thus optimally support the car’s performance. To capture the specific requirements, Continental works closely with vehicle manufacturers on tyre development.”
Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA) has appointed a new senior management team for its tyre manufacturing plant in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), Continental’s only tyre production facility on the African continent.
As the new Deputy Plant Manager, Ramoabi Moeng has gained vast experience in the manufacturing sector since 1997. He spent 11 years in vehicle production, including a one-year training stint in Germany, before joining a pharmaceutical company in 2008 where he headed up the Engineering, Production and Operational Projects portfolios over the ensuing seven years.
I am looking forward to learning more about the tyre manufacturing operations under the leadership of Ahmed and the rest of the CTSA Exco team.
– Ramoabi Moeng, Deputy Plant Manager : Continental Tyre South Africa
Moeng joined Continental Tyre SA in 2016 as Maintenance Manager, and was selected to lead the Manufacturing Engineering Technologies team in 2018, a position he held until his appointment as Deputy Plant Manager in August 2021.
“I am looking forward to learning more about the tyre manufacturing operations under the leadership of Ahmed and the rest of the CTSA Exco team, while ensuring that we produce quality tyres on time and at competitive costs for our local and international customers,” Moeng says.
“Part of my responsibilities includes the role of regional coordinator for Continental’s Sustainable Production of Quality Products initiative for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). This involves ensuring that our local plant is fully integrated into Continental’s global quality structures, and that we consistently produce tyres of the highest quality for our customers around the world,” he says.
Moeng has a National Diploma in Electrical Engineering, a Diploma in Business Management and a qualification in Advanced Maintenance Management – the latter from the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany. He completed a Management Development programme in 2006, and followed this up with a Master of Business Administration degree from Nelson Mandela University in 2012.
Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA) has appointed a new senior management team for its tyre manufacturing plant in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), Continental’s only tyre production facility on the African continent.
Ahmed Boualam is the new General Manager for Manufacturing with responsibility for overall management of the plant operations. Ramoabi Moeng has been appointed Deputy Plant Manager, supporting Boualam with the running of the facility – both of whom have extensive experience in both the manufacturing and tyre industries.
Boualam was seconded from Continental’s South Carolina Sumter tyre plant in the United States, where he served as Plant Manager for the past two years.
Continental Tyre SA’s outgoing GM for Manufacturing, JJ Dowling, has relocated to the US to take up the position of Production Manager for the Sumer plant.
“I want to thank JJ Dowling for all of his hard work and commitment to CTSA over the past five years he was with us, and wish him all the best for his new role at our sister plant in Sumter,” says Martin Buday, MD of Continental Tyre SA. “We extend a warm welcome back to Ahmed who takes over the reins as our new GM for Manufacturing.
“Our Gqeberha plant in South Africa is not new to Ahmed as worked here for three years prior to his move to the US. I am certain that he, along with our newly appointed Deputy Plant Manager Ramoabi Moeng, will be a force to be reckoned with as they use their combined experience and expertise to successfully steer the manufacturing side of our business,” Buday says.
It is fantastic to be back in South Africa, and I look forward to working with the local management team to continue increasing the production of light truck tyres.
Ahmed Boualam, new General Manager for Manufacturing, continental tyres South Africa
Ahmed Boualam is the new General Manager for Manufacturing
Boualam has been involved in the tyre industry since 2007, starting in his native France as a production management engineer before moving up to Production Manager in the curing and final finishing areas. He joined Continental in France in 2011, initially as Area Manager in the Curing and Mold Shop, and later in the hot preparation and mixing room.
A three-year stint as Production Manager for the Continental Tyre plant in South Africa followed in 2016 before he was selected to head up the Sumter plant in 2019.
“It is fantastic to be back in South Africa, and I look forward to working with the local management team to continue the transformation of our facility as we work towards increasing the production of light truck tyres,” Boualam says. “While optimising the output of our current assets, we are working closely with our colleagues in Hanover and will be making further investments in our factory to expand our production capacity for this important sector.
“The goal is to make Continental Tyre SA a major producer of light commercial vehicle tyres within Continental globally, and supply tyres of the highest quality to more markets around the world,” Boualam says. He is a qualified mechanical and production engineer, and has a Master’s degree in Business Management which he completed in 2005.
Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA) is proud to announce that Martin Buday has officially taken over the reins as managing director, bringing with him, almost two decades of experience in the tyre industry with Continental in various roles in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Martin Buday has stepped into the position of Managing Director, replacing Shaun Uys who took up a new assignment with Continental Tire in the United States. Previously, Buday served as General Market Manager and MD for the Czech and Slovak markets.
Now on South African soil, Buday is ready to lead the South African operation, which includes Continental’s only tyre manufacturing facility on the African continent, producing world-class tyres for domestic sales – supplying the original equipment and replacement sectors – along with exports to the Americas, the Asia Pacific region, as well as Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Despite the products being the same around the world, this is a new market for me.
– MARTIN BUDAY, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CONTINENTAL TYRE SOUTH AFRICA
As the only tyre company that supplies seven of the major vehicle manufacturers in South Africa, Continental Tyre SA plays an important role in the local automotive industry.
“Last year was very difficult for all of us, but I am looking forward to this exciting new opportunity to be a part of the Continental team in South Africa,” Buday says.
“For 2021, one of the key objectives for the management team is for CTSA to get onto a growth path again and improve our financial results.
“We need to reignite our winning mindset, motivation, energy and focus on achieving our short and medium-term goals, and at the same time show a high level of flexibility and agility to be able to adapt to the changing market environment. The implementation of Continental’s Vision 2030 strategic program for the tyre business will ensure that we have a solid foundation on which to build,” he adds.
Buday has spent his entire working career in the tyre industry. His association with Continental started in 2007 when the tyre manufacturing giant took over Matador, one of the last independent tyre producers in Europe. Buday had been employed by Matador since his graduation in 2002, having held several positions in marketing and sales over the years.
Buday’s decision to join the South African entity was made in February 2020, mere weeks before the pandemic effectively brought the world to a standstill.
“I’m very happy to finally be in South Africa, and I want to use this opportunity to thank to my colleagues from the executive management team for steering the organisation.”
Buday states. “Despite the products being the same around the world, this is a new market for me, and I have to admit that still I need to gain a better understanding of the market environment.
However, it’s already clear that the South African team is committed and has established a strong presence in the original equipment market and the replacement market.
“Now we need to focus on the long-term sustainability of our business and operations in South Africa, capitalising on our strengths, improving where and how we can, and exploiting all growth opportunities. We need to ensure that we make full use of the opportunities provided by Continental’s Vision 2030 strategy.”
Vision 2030 is focused on the systematic customer-centric alignment of the Continental Tires business area and related activities. In addition, the Tires business area is targeting further profitable growth and, in a fast-changing market environment, aiming to set itself apart from the competition in respect of sustainability, and through digital solutions.
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