CEAT tyre's Sri Lankan JV expanded its radial tyre building capacity

CEAT Kelani Holdings of Sri Lanka has expanded its radial tyre building and curing capacity by 70 per cent to 450,000 tyres a year. Sri Lanka's Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa led a team of government ministers to this milestone event. Since 2009, the CEAT Kelani joint venture has invested Rs. 2.5 billion in enhancing capacity, modernising its factory and setting up this new radial plant. Besides contributing to a substantial saving of foreign exchange, the new plant would also cater to CEAT Kelani’s exports of radial tyres from Sri Lanka. More than a third of current radial tyre production fromthe company’s production facility is exported.
Speaking at the event, CEAT Kelani Chairman Chanaka De Silva said the post-conflict resurgence of Sri Lanka has provided companies with a fresh incentive to grow, and CEAT Kelani has supported this process very tangibly, by investing in capacity expansion, and enhancing the range and quality of its products. “The new radial tyre production facility that has just been declared open is only part of this commitment,” he said.
Elaborating, N. C. Venugopal, Managing Director/CEO of CEAT Kelani Holdings said that the new technology acquisitions for the Radial plant include the latest Bead Apexing Machine, Cap Ply and Cap Strip Machine and improved tyre building machines and curing presses that will enable the company to produce a new grade of high performance radials in all sizes for high end cars.

CEAT Kelani Holdings (Pvt) Ltd - CEAT Ltd - India (RPG Group) & Kelani Tyres PLC joint venture-is the largest tyre manufacturer in Sri Lanka. CEAT Kelani’s total monthly production of 1,450 tons, about 500 tons or a third is exported to markets in South Asia, the Middle East, the African continent and many other countries, and is finding international acceptance. A global tyre brand present in 110 countries and now headquartered in India,The company is in the business of manufacturing and selling automotive and industrial tyres, tubes and flaps. The organisation dominates Sri Lanka’s domestic tyre market with over 55% share in the Truck and the Light Truck Segment. It is also a market leader in radial tyres, 2- and 3-wheelers and farm tyres. The company has 450 dealers across the Island—one of the largest dealer network. CEAT Kelani has three state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, which match International standards.