GRI mixing facility to support tire capacity expansion

Colombo – Off-highway tire manufacturer Global Rubber Industries (GRI) is on track with the construction of a new mixing facility in Mirigama, 25km to the west of its speciality tires production plant in Badalgama, Sri Lanka.

The new unit will have a mixing capacity of 200 tonnes per day, a significant upgrade compared to the company’s current 50-60 tonnes per day, GRI said in a statement 30 Sept.

“We opted for a new mixing plant to meet the current demand and facilitate further expansion,” said Ananda Caldera, executive director of GRI. 

GRI broke ground on the project in August last year and is investing $20 million (€17 million) in the first phase of construction, the company told ERJ in a written statement 5 Oct.

To feature “best in class” equipment with automatic weighting capabilities, feeding systems and high capacity Banbury mixers, the initial phase of the facility is set to be completed in April 2021.

The auto-feeding of fillers at the plant, said GRI, ensure that no dust is generated by carbon black while silo systems and dust collection mechanisms reduce wastage.

Equipped with machinery from Germany’s HF and UK’s Farrel, the new facility is being built to support a planned capacity expansion at the company’s Badalgama site.

According to GRI, the company’s current manufacturing capacity for both solid and pneumatic speciality tires stands at about 15,000 tonnes per year.

In its statement to ERJ, the tire maker said it expects to increase production to about 20,000 tonnes per year “in about a year’s time” and increase capacity further based on demand.

GRI produces agriculture tires, construction tires and material handling solid tires at its €32-million factory in Badalgama, which started operation in January 2018.

Over the past years, the company has invested in a number of efficiency measures, including a new Comerio Ercole precision calender, particularly used for agricultural tires.

The plant features 1.2MW solar panels, biomass boilers and fully recyclable waste and water management systems.

Among the products manufactured at the plant are Green XLR 65, 70, 80 and 95 radial series along with the Green XLR F77 Floatation tires.

GRI also features the bias-ply range of Green EX RIB 3 implement tires, Green EX FL700 Flotation and RT100 tractor tires.