Dunlop India Planning to Produce Aircraft Tyres

Despite the recent troubles that have plagued Dunlop India, the company is remaining positive and has announced that, as part of an initiative to revive its fortunes, the company will begin manufacturing aircraft tyres and industrial products at its Sahaguni and Ambattur factories in September. Production at both factories is currently halted, allegedly due to a shortage of working capital.

“We will start manufacturing industrial products like conveyor belts and other products used in steel and other industrial plants and these will be part of the revival programme,” reported Dunlop India vice-president Dhrubojyoti Nandi. “The production will start in September, when both the factories in Sahagunj and Ambattur resume full operation.”

“Both the plants are undergoing refurbishment and we are also changing the machinery. The plants will start operating again in September in a full-fledged way,” Nandi added. The Sahaguni capacity will reportedly have a capacity for 130 tonnes of tyres per day when this work is finished. Furthermore, Nandi stated that Dunlop India is currently holding talks with a European tyre major regarding the production of aircraft tyres, and the company would soon enter this segment.

“There is an aviation boom in the country and we are focussed to take advantage. We are the only licensed aero tyres manufacturer in the country and this will obviously boost our sales,” he said. Dunlop India’s Shahgunj facility is reportedly the only tyre plant in India capable of producing aircraft tyres.