GURGAON, India—Apollo Tyre Ltd.'s manufacturing facilities in Perambra and Kalamassery, India, are nearly back to full operation following a temporary shutdown and subsequent reduction in operation resulting from late August flooding.
Operations were stunted because employees could not access the manufacturing facilities because of high waters, according to a news release issued Sept. 5. The tire maker said all of its employees were accounted for and reported that all were safe.
None of the equipment in the building was damaged as a result of the flooding, but the company estimates loss of production at around 3,000 metric tons. Loss because of natural calamity is "adequately covered" by insurance, Apollo said, adding that it planned to file a claim following an assessment of the total loss.
In a Bombay Stock Exchange filing on Aug. 20, Apollo reported that production at the facilities had halted because of the flooding. The next day, the company told European Rubber Journal that 30 percent of its work force had returned.
Since the flooding, Apollo has played a role in the relief efforts throughout the region. The company said it sent four truck loads of cleaning kits, including disinfectants, detergents, and first aid kits to areas impacted by the flood waters. Apollo also has helped with removal and safe disposal of waste from flooded homes, and it has supported the deployment of mobile medical vans and doctors who can attend to the immediate health care needs of residents.
Apollo operates four plants in India—in Chennai, Kalamassery, Perambra and Baroda—and early this year laid the foundation stone for a fifth in Chinnapanduru Village.
The Gurgaon-based tire maker is ranked as the 16th largest in the world with 2017 sales of $2.2 billion, according to Rubber & Plastics News' most recent Global Tire rankings.