Sumitomo Rubber Industries’ South Africa division plans to expand its Ladysmith plant, located in the country’s Kwazulu-Natal Province. The plant will now also produce TBR tires.
“Employment levels are already being increased due to Phase One. The first of nearly 120 new employees needed over the next few years have already been recruited, and Phase Two will attract a further 300 lifting the Ladysmith plant to over 1200 employees on completion of the second investment phase” said SRSA CEO Riaz Haffejee.
During Phase One in 2014, parent company SRI provided R1.1 billion provided for upgrading and installing new technology and equipment for manufacturing high quality passenger and SUV tires, SRI said.
In Phase Two an estimated R910 million will focus on manufacturing Dunlop branded truck and bus tires for commercial use. This Dunlop branded tires are currently imported into South Africa from SRI plants in Japan and China.