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Dunlop to produce aircraft and radial tyres
 Kolkata, Oct 13 (UNI)

Ailing tyre major Dunlop India’s main plant at Shahgunj, which reopens later this month, will produce aircraft tyres in future, a top company official said.
 ‘‘Initially, the reopened Shahjunj unit will manufacture tyres and industrial products, but later we will produce aircraft tyres,’’ Dunlop India chairman Pawan Ruia said.
 Ruia said the factory was ready for reopening and a date was being finalised in consultation with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Defence minister Pranab Mukherjee for them to be present.
 If the company succeeds in doing so, it would mark the comeback of aero tyre manufacturing in India. The Shahjunj unit is the only plant in the country with the capability of producing aircraft tyres.
 Initially, the unit would produce tyres for LCVs, mining equipment and industrial products. Although the installed capacity of the unit is 130 tonne per day, production would start with 20 tonne per day. The output would be scaled up gradually and by January the unit would reach full capacity.
 Ruia said the group would also foray into radial tyres. Currently, Dunlop produces cross-ply technology tyres.
 ‘‘We will get into radial tyres, but it will take another two years. We have not decided whether we will set up in the same location or elsewhere,’’ Ruia said.
 The company would employ 1,200 workers in the Shahgunj unit, Ruia said. The company has also roped in 250 rubber and tyre professionals recently for both the units.
 Ruia had recently acquired Dunlop and Falcon tyres from Chabbrias at a total cosnideration of Rs 200 crore financed by a Singapore based SPV of foreign bankers and strategic funds.

Dunlop had a great ad on Doordarshan in the early 1990s. Showed a landing 747 and the wheels close-up. Ended with the line Dunlop is Dunlop!!