GRI prepares for start-up of new tire facility

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—Specialty tire producer Global Rubber Industries Pvt. Ltd. will expand its agriculture and construction tire product offerings with a plant opening in January, the company announced Nov. 1.

The tire maker broke ground on the $44 million manufacturing facility in Badalgama, north of Colombo, in late 2016. The unit is located next to GRI's existing solid industrial tire factory.

The 1.25 million-sq.-ft. plant will have a rated capacity of 25 metric tons per day, making it the largest in Sri Lanka that is dedicated to making specialty tires. It also will be the first to produce radial agriculture tires, according to GRI.

Employment, GRI said, will be 200 at start-up and 350 at full capacity.

As all the products made at the new plant are destined for export, the company has stepped up its marketing drive, appointing new directors for Europe and Americas.

GRI named former Camso executives Kurt Verbrugge as sales director, Europe and Maury Shnier, sales and marketing director for the Americas.

Verbrugge most recently was OEM sales director EMEA agriculture for Camso. Before that, he was OEM business development director for Camoplast Solideal, the predecessor company of Camso.

Shnier also previously worked with Quebec-based industrial tire manufacturer Camso as executive director of sales and operations for the materials-handling aftermarket division in Canada and the U.S.