CHINNAPANDURU, India — Apollo Tyres Ltd. has commissioned production at a car and truck/bus tire plant in Chinnapanduru, Andrah Pradesh, its fifth factory in Indian and seventh overall.
Apollo has budgeted $280 million for Phase I of this factory project, with capacity for both car and truck/bus tires ramping up gradually over the coming 12 to 18 months.
The plant is designed to produce 15,000 passenger and 3,000 truck/bus radials per day at full Phase I capacity, Apollo said. Built using a modular layout, the facility's capacity can be expanded with "minimal" engineering efforts and with economies on investments, Apollo said.
"This ultra-modern facility is a reflection of our growth aspirations and manufacturing capabilities, showcasing some of the best practices available across the globe in tire manufacturing," Apollo Tyres Chairman Onkar Kanwar said.
Mr. Kanwar was on hand for the commissioning ceremony along with his son, Neeraj Kanwar, chairman and managing director, and other supervisory board members and senior management.
The highly automated plant uses information technology-driven systems and robotics, Apollo said and employs young, skilled workers recruited for the most part locally.
"This plant mirrors the hopes and aspirations of the new self-reliant India," Mr. Kanwar said.
The use of state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies at this facility will enable the company to target premium OEMs and aftermarket customers in India, Apollo said, further consolidating vision of providing world quality products to global markets.
The plant, located on a 256-acre plot in the Chittoor District of India's southerneastern Andhra Pradesh state, will feature roof-top solar panels for optimum usage of natural light for the shop-floor with an eco-friendly power source, Apollo said.
The plant is considered a zero-water discharge facility with an on-site effluent treatment plant and is outfitted with energy-efficient utility and process equipment and specifies the use of environment friendly coolants.
Apollo also has equipped the plant with ergonomically balanced and weight-optimized materials-handling equipment to help reduce human fatigue and improve productivity.
The commissioning of production was in line with projections Apollo disclosed when it broke ground on the plant in January 2018. The new plant is located about 160 miles west of Apollo's plant in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, which opened a decade ago.
Apollo's other plants are in Kallamasserry and Perambra, Kerala; and Limda, Gujarat.