Sumitomo confirms plan to quadruple capacity at China car tyre plant

Kobe, Japan -- Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. plans to quadruple production capacity for passenger tyres at its plant in Changshu, China, by year-end 2008 and add capacity for radial truck/bus tyres by mid-2006.

Kobe-based Sumitomo Rubber, which controls the Dunlop brand throughout most of Asia, will invest between $86 million and $129 million in the project, the firm said, which will raise car tyre capacity to 6,000 tonnes a month from 1,450 tonnes, or about 5000 tyres a day.

SRI did not divulge the expected truck tyre capacity at the plant, which operates as Sumitomo Rubber (Changshu) Co. Ltd.

SRI opened the plant in Jiangsu Province in mid-2004 after a two-year, $55 million building project.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)