Crain News Service report
DURBAN, South Africa (Oct. 14, 2014) — Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. is investing $100 million through 2017 at its plant in Ladysmith, South Africa, to expand overall capacity and upgrade capacity for high-performance tires.
The capacity expansion — to 12,200 tires a day by 2016 and 14,500 tires a day by 2017 from 9,600 currently — will help support Sumitomo Rubber expand its tire business throughout the African continent and accelerate the pace of its global expansion, the company said at a ceremony marking the opening of its new headquarters for Sumitomo Rubber South Africa Ltd. (SRSA).
The plan includes initiating production of Sumitomo-brand tires, range extensions and quality enhancements to the Dunlop brand, the company said. Sumitomo acquired the plant and rights to the Dunlop brand throughout Africa in December 2013 from India's Apollo Tyres Ltd.