Carlisle-based DMack has been supplying competition rally tires since 2011, sourced mainly from China's Shandong Yongtai Chemical Group, in Dongying Province.
The name DMack is derived from the business' owner, Dick Cormack, an entrepreneur who started the company in 2010 as an alternative to tire majors Group Michelin and Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
The company produces a “small amount” of tires in the U.K., at Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.'s factory in Melksham, England, Mr. Patterson said, “but we plan to increase our capacity for premium tires in the U.K. and that's why we are building the plant.”
Carlisle, a town in northwest England close to the Scottish border, is potentially one of the locations for the factory. An alternative, undisclosed, location in southern England also is under consideration.
According to Mr. Patterson, the new plant will be manufacturing passenger car tires in addition to motor sport tires, and is scheduled to take “a couple of years” to build.
“We are expecting to employ 500 people by the time we are running at full capacity,” he added.
Dmack offers a range of passenger, truck and industrial tires under its name in addition to the rally and track-day tires.
Mr. Patterson did not give a breakdown of the planned tire production or the total capacity of the plant.
“We are still holding key meetings and within the next six to eight weeks we should know better,” Mr. Patterson said when asked about the selection of technology suppliers for the project.
Finnish tire consulting company Black Donuts Engineering Inc. is advising DMack on the design and engineering of the plant, which, according to Mr. Patterson, will be a state-of-the-art facility.
Dmack Tyres has expanded its presence in the WRC steadily over the years, and this year founded its own team, campaigning a Ford Fiesta RS with Estonian driver Ott Tänak.
_________________________________________
This report appeared on the website of European Rubber Journal, a United Kingdom-based sister publication of Tire Business.
