Continental Timisoara produces the aspherical mirror for head-up displays

The expansion of the Continental Automotive production center in Timisoara, inaugurated last autumn, comes with a substantial increase in the number of products for the car user experience and comfort, especially the display units on the windshield, known as Head-up Displays. In addition to manufacturing numerous such car components, the megafactory also began to produce aspherical mirrors, a key element without which the commissioning of a Head-up Display would not be possible.

Aspherical mirrors are the most important optical components of a Head-up Display (HUD). Such equipment displays information exactly where it is needed in the driver’s line of sight. Drivers receive all important information, such as speed, warning signals and indicator arrows for navigation, without looking down at the instrument cluster or secondary display in the car’s dashboard, which reduces driver distraction and increases driving safety.

The production of aspherical mirrors requires a special process known as “high precision molding”. The procedure involves a high degree of knowledge, even from the most experienced specialists in the field.

“The Head-Up Display is one of the biggest technological advances in the automotive industry, because thanks to it drivers remain focused on the road, have access to crucial information about the vehicle they drive. This reduces driver distraction and contributes to safe driving. For the megafactory in Timisoara, to see this new type of component, which is called aspherical mirrors, come off the production line, requires new skills and responsibilities, as well as a plus in terms of expanding the spectrum of automotive components we manufacture here”, said Lucian Mărgineanu, director of the Automotive production center in Timisoara.

The first models of windscreen display systems appeared in other areas, and then they were introduced in the automotive industry. Since then, it has been continuously developed, including in the development and research center, as well as in the Continental Automotive production center in Timisoara. Display units ensure more safety for road users, improving the driving experience by keeping drivers’ attention on the road.

In the megafactory in Timisoara, over 17 million products are manufactured annually. Among the main ones can be listed: electronic control units of the airbag safety system, electronic braking and parking systems, accelerator pedals with feedback circuit, control units for hand detection on the steering wheel, attenuation and vertical stabilization of the air suspension, power steering control units, control units for suspension adjustment and dynamic load stabilization, centre display units of the standard type, windscreen display systems and instrument clusters. The factory has delivered over 148 million components to customers in over 16 years of activity. Over time, the production center has developed in the direction of Industry 4.0, integrating equipment and technologies such as the innovative storage system, trigeneration plant and others.

Between 1999 and 2022, Continental invested more than EUR 2.2 billion in its activities in Romania. All three areas of activity of the company are represented in Romania. Continental owns six production units and four engineering centers in Timisoara, Sibiu, Carei, Nadab, and Iasi. The company has a tire distribution center in Bucharest. At the end of 2022, Continental had more than 19,000 employees, more than a third of whom were engineers and computer scientists and will continue to hire based on future projects.