COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—Global Rubber Industries Pvt. Ltd. has invested more than $40 million in a calender to improve process efficiency at its specialty tire plant in Badalgama, Sri Lanka.
The precision calender, sourced from Italian machinery maker Comerio Ercole S.p.A., delivers high-quality output and accuracy in rubberizing tire cord fabrics, GRI said in a May 30 announcement
Particularly used in the production of agricultural tires, the machine can process up to 300 metric tons of material a day, enabling GRI to make steel-belted radial farm tires.
The machine is fitted with up- and down-stream equipment to rubberize fabrics such as nylon, polyester and steel, the tire maker added.
Opened in January 2018, the Badalgama pneumatic tire factory produces mostly agricultural tires along with construction and forklift tires.
GRI said it has employed automated machinery, including tire-building equipment and an Agrifest Italy extruder sourced from Marangoni Group's Marangoni Meccanica S.p.A., at the site to enhance consistency and quality and to reduce cycle times.
The factory is certified ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 and was recently accredited with the ISO 50001 energy management certification.
The plant features 1.2MW solar panels, biomass boilers and fully recyclable waste and water management systems.