Sri Lanka-based specialised tyre manufacturer Global Rubber Industries (GRI) recently held a ground-breaking and foundation-laying ceremony in the site of its newest specialised tyre factory in Badalgama, Sri Lanka.
The factory will be focused on producing pneumatic tyres for agriculture, industrial, off-the-road (OTR) and construction vehicles for the export market.
“This factory will be designed and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, will focus on technical innovation, precision engineering and operational excellence. It will rank among the best in the world,” said Prabhash Subasinghe, Managing Director of GRI, who laid the foundation in the ceremony.
GRI will invest over US$40 million in the new factory, which will be built on 10 acres of land belonging to GRI adjacent to its current solid industrial tyre factory.
The company has been producing and supplying high-performance solid industrial tyres to countries worldwide. The new GRI factory will be the largest in Sri Lanka dedicated to producing specialty tyres. It will also be the first in Sri Lanka to produce radial agriculture tyres.
“Strategic expansion of GRI into manufacturing of specialty tyres is a historic event for both the company and the Sri Lankan Rubber Industry. GRI will strengthen the implementation of the Government Rubber Master Plan. Our new plant is expected to commence trial production by the end of 2017,” said Ananda Caldera, Executive Director of GRI, who is now leading its efforts in specialty tyre production.