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SRI LANKA
5,000 tyres per month, but due to tough market condition, it now retreads at only half capacity. “There is a cash liquidity problem in the market disrupting the whole business cycle. We could increase production any time but no one is willing to pay on time making it difficult for us to maintain production,” said U W R Wimalagunarathna, Factory Manager, Lanka Autolands Co (Pvt) Ltd.
He further stressed, "We are keen on maintaining the retreading and tread rubber volumes at last year’s levels."
The company caters mainly to the price sensitive segment, where margins are already under
pressure due to increasing competition in the market. “With long-term credit practices common in the Sri Lankan market, it has become increasingly difficult for us to operate with even minimum margins,” said Wimalagunarathna.
Autolands started retreading in 1982, making 1,200 tyres per month by the hot cure process and 1,300 by the precure system. “We also have a tread rubber making plant in Matara in the South, producing 30 tonnes of both hot and cold rubber under the Autolands brand, which feeds both our plant and the outside market,” he explained.
Colombo – Kandy road from where Colombo is around 48 miles and Kandy about 27 miles,” informed G E P Machadu, Manager, Kegalu Tyre Services.
The company has
plans to add more
equipment like a
buffing machine and another six-tyre chamber. Currently, the plant has one 12-tyre chamber sourced from Rajmahal from Coimbatore. When asked how long would it take to shift to new location, he
confirmed, “We will shift by the end of 2018. Once we shift to the new location, capacity would also be doubled. Moreover, we are also sure of producing more volumes at the new location,” he hoped. Kegalu also distributes new
tyres from various international brands like GT, Bridgestone, Ceat, and Continental. The company sources its tread rubber from Elgi Rubber’s Sri Lankan plant.
Kegalu Tyre to Relocate to Bigger Location
Kegalu Tyre Service is working on a plan to shift the plant to Kegalle Town in the next couple of years. The existing plant, which retreads 300 tyres
per month, is facing space constraints, and the idea is to shift the plant to new bigger location. “The new location is strategically located on
Curing Bladders Inner & Outer Envelopes Outer Envelopes ST Curing Tubes Wicking Pads
G E P Machadu, Manager, Kegalu Tyre Service
New
New