Dunlop India Reopens After Inactivity

Dunlop India Limited’s plant in Sahagange, reportedly the oldest tyre plant in Asia, restarts production today (Tuesday 30 October) after years of inactivity. Dunlop’s Ambattur plant re-opened a little over a month ago. “We are dealing with old machines at Sahagange. The problem has been compounded by damage and thefts when the plant had be closed,” S K Paul, managing director of Dunlop India, told reporters at the opening of the Ambattur plant.

The management, which has invested 1.6 billion rupees in the plant, is upbeat about the factories future. Originally, the Sahagange plant manufactured bias-ply tyres for heavy and light commercial vehicles, agricultural equipment, off-road vehicles like earthmovers, and aviation. The plant also made industrial products like hose, V-belts, mattresses, conveyor belts, adhesives and sports goods. Its claim to fame, however, was it status as the country’s sole aero-tyre manufacturer.

When it restarts Sahagange will only make certain industrial products and off-road vehicle tyres. “We hope to get back into aero-tyre production in another three or four months,” Dunlop India Pawan Ruia told reporters.