Volkswagen Factory Tour

- 2001 By Del Griffin

The opportunity to visit the Volkswagen factories and associated companies in Germany doesn't come along too often; so upon a chance remark and subsequent conversation to Robin Boyett of the Worcester VW owners Club led to my inclusion to join a party through VW driver magazine.

Robin, who presides as accounts manager at VW Driver magazine's publishing house of Autometrix in Bedfordshire, has organised similar Tours with Autometrix and VW Driver's forerunner VW Audi car.

Never easy to organise and expect things to run like clockwork for an overseas specialist holiday, Robin's past experience certainly was welcomed with the 20 strong group; and with expert assistance and Volkswagen overseas liaison officer Stewart Miller flying over from Milton Keynes with colleagues Eileen Rice and German PR lady Margret Seithe - our five-day motoring blitz was assured.

Our travelling âhome' from the UK was to be a superb luxury coach, ferrying us between the various factories and hotels.

The tour's original starting point was Birmingham airport with party numbers made up by enthusiasts literally from around the UK; Glasgow and Dublin to name but two!

Leaving the UK on a bright dry and sunny Sunday April 8th; the appearance of pleasant early spring weather was surely an optimistic portent of the week that lay before for us.

The twelve hours journey to our first evening stopover in Hamm including a very smooth and fuss-free bypass through the Channel tunnel, which for those of you who've yet to take this alternative to the traditional ferry crossing could be pleasantly surprised that its homogeneous informality.

Monday April 9th. Requiring an early take-off as we made for the Continental Tyre factory of mammoth proportions encompassing UniRoyal, Semprit, Viking General Tyres (the USA sister arm) and Barumm.

Welcomed by public relations guru, Bob Powell (expatriate Scotsman), Continental is an even bigger European player than many would otherwise appreciate; with total sales figures in the 1999 of ¤9.1 billion/DM18 billion/£6 Billion.

Continental employs 62,000 personnel worldwide producing, 27 different tyre models' with a resultant 90 million annual worldwide production figure. The Conti Group as a whole having an overall income of ¤235 million.

The obligatory factory tour followed through the multitude of small separately

co-ordinated production areas , observing the soft sticky malleable raw rubber compound worked, shaped and hued with all attendant component parts gelling together; through a steel strap rubber encased rim , canvas supporting inner girdle, apex side inner and outer reinforcement for side walls - to eventual chronological completion.

Leaving nothing to chance in the quality control network, every single tyre produced is checked, double-checked and X-rayed.

After a fine complimentary lunch we are invited to to experience their testing and test track facilities - even allowing the coach along a white-knuckle ride around the 45 degree banked circuit. This was just one of several different punishing circuits of veering terrain and texture to give the research and development of present and prototype tyres an exhaustive and comprehensive work out, alongside multi-data feed back to both engineers and Lab boffins alike.

We travel on to the Wolfsburg factory and Autostadt in part two, next month.