Name and Location
Tyre manufacturing plant upgrade and expansion project, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Client
Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (SRSA).

Project Description
The project will be completed in two phases.

Phase 1 entailed upgrading and modernising the tyre manufacturing plant to increase the output of passenger sport utility vehicle (SUV) tyres.

New SUV tyre models were also introduced to the manufacturing line in response to market demand for these models in South Africa and other African markets.

The Phase 2 expansion project will introduce truck and bus tyres to the manufacturing line.

This Dunlop-branded product line is currently imported into South Africa from Sumitomo Rubber Industry plants in Japan and China, owing to a lack of suitable manufacturing capacity locally.

The new investment will terminate this import arrangement and establish a suitable local manufacturing base.

Value
Phase 1 entailed a R1.1-billion investment.

Phase 2 will entail a R910-million investment.

Duration
Work on Phase 1 started in 2014.

Work on Phase 2 will be completed in mid-2018.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
SRSA manager: public relations and communications Alisha Molechan, tel +27 31 242 1317 or
email alisha.molechan@srigroup.co.za.