Sri Lanka's GRI expands U.S. sales efforts

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Nov. 21, 2016) — Industrial tire producer Global Rubber Industries Pvt. Ltd. of Sri Lanka has acquired industrial tire distributors in Indiana and Kentucky in order to accelerate its strategy to establish itself in North America as a viable alternative to more established solid tire competitors.

GRI recently acquired Leffler Industrial Tire & Rubber Track Inc. of Indianapolis and Kentucky Industrial Tire Inc. of Louisville —both owned by Mike and Sherri Leffler — to complement its existing sales office in Canton, Ga., and enhance its ability to distribute products throughout the U.S.

Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.

The Lefflers founded Leffler Industrial Tire in March 2009 in Indianapolis and expanded operations in January 2016 with the establishment of Kentucky Industrial Tire Inc. in Louisville and Lexington, Ky.

Acquiring Leffler Industrial Tire and Kentucky Industrial Tire will help GRI “provide our customers in the U.S. products and services at a level beyond their expectations,” according to Prabhash Subasinghe, managing director of GRI.

The companies offer a wide portfolio of tires for the materials-handling and construction industries, GRI said, with core products such as solid resilient and press-on band tires for forklifts, polyurethane tires, construction tires, skid-steer tires, OTR tires and rubber tracks. Services offered include mobile onsite installation and poly fill solutions.

Mr. Leffler called GRI a “trusted and reliable supplier for many years with a strong commitment to high-quality industrial tires. It is a privilege to now be a part of this multinational company. This union allows us to continue providing premium tires with outstanding service to our customers while expanding our footprint.”

Colombo-based GRI produces solid and pneumatic tires and rubber tracks for materials-handling, industrial, agriculture, OTR and construction vehicles. It distributes its products in more than 50 countries worldwide, including in Australia, France, Germany, Netherlands and the U.S., where it has sales offices.