CEAT Kelani ceremonially opened its new hi-tech production facility for radial tyres for passenger cars and Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs). The formal opening saw Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development accompanied by Kumara Welgama, Minister of Transport, Johnston Fernando, Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, Dr Mervyn Silva, Minister of Public Relations and Public Affairs and other dignitaries, cut the traditional ribbon, unveil a commemorative plaque, start up a tyre building machine and witness a tyre coming out of a curing press.
Seamlessly integrated with the existing CEAT Kelani manufacturing complex at Kelaniya, the new radial tyre production facility enables the company to augment its radial tyre building and curing capacity by 70 percent to 450,000 tyres a year, thereby substituting more than 60 percent of the country’s imports in this category.
Speaking at the event, Chanaka De Silva, Chairman – CEAT Kelani said that the post-conflict resurgence of Sri Lanka has provided companies with a fresh incentive to grow, and CEAT Kelani has supported this process very tangibly, by investing in capacity expansion, and enhancing the range and quality of its products. “The new radial tyre production facility that has just been declared open is only part of this commitment,” he further added.
N C Venugopal, Managing Director/CEO of CEAT Kelani Holdings mentioned that the new technology acquisitions for the Radial plant include the latest Bead Apexing Machine, Cap Ply and Cap Strip Machine and improved tyre building machines and curing presses that will enable the company to produce a new grade of high performance radials in all sizes for high-end cars.
All products that come out of the new radial plant are engineered to provide all-round performance and meet the expectations of the discerning segment of radial tyre users who drive expensive Japanese and European vehicles.
