Ceat sets up 1st radial tyre plant at Colombo

Mumbai, Sept 8 (UNI) Tyre major, Ceat, today inaugurated Sri Lankas first fully-automated radial tyre plant, a part of the tyre manufacturers Sri-Lankan venture.

The company informed the BSE, that it had set up with an initial capital of Sri Lankan's currency rupees of Rs 350 million, the high productivity plant which would have an initial installed capacity of 26,000 tyres per month. The temperature and humidity controlled plant is located at Kelaniya, 55 kms off the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo.

Catering both to the domestic and export markets of the company, the plant would initially focus on two ranges of radials - for cars and vans, which are currently the most sought after sizes in the local market.

''The new hi-tech Sri Lankan facility would be a significant step in marking the companys global ambitions. Each electro-pneumatic machine imported for the new plant requires just one operator to input a sequence of commands and then it motor process,'' Ceats MD Paras K Chowdhary said.

Built alongside the existing plant in Kelaniya, the radial plant will produce T-rated steel-belted radial tyres with high durability polyester carcasses and unique tread patterns designed for Sri Lankan roads, he revealed.

The company also plans to export light commercial vehicle (LCV) and passenger car radials from the plant to the Indian market, taking advantage of the FTA between India and Sri Lanka, he added.

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