Dunlop Zimbabwe introduces new range of tyres

Published: 08 July 2013

DUNLOP Zimbabwe has introduced a new brand of tyres from Netherlands amid revelations that Apollo Vredenstein which owns a majority stake in the company has purchased six new presses for the production of high quality tyres with the intention of buying 18 more to increase production volumes.

Dunlop managing director Mr Kennedy Mandevani said the company takes pleasure in extending its consumer range in line with satisfying the ever changing needs of the customer.

"This new tyre range promises safety, durability, style and modernity. Apollo Vredenstein have just bought six new presses for the production of high quality tyres with a plan to buy 18 more over the next few years to make the production volume more than 5 million tyres," said Mr Mandevani.

Dunlop last month indicated that it has increased its capacity utilisation to close to 50 percent. It is one of the few manufacturing companies in Bulawayo that have not closed shop or relocated to Harare.

The company has seen an increase in demand of its tyres on the export market while domestic sales are also surging.

"The major importer is South Africa and we believe that also gives us the opportunity to increase our range (of tyres) because some of the sizes that we sell into the export market are not the same as those that we sell in the domestic market, so we are having to produce a wider range than before," said Mr Mandevani.

Dunlop has gone on record to allay any fears of closing shop or relocating from Bulawayo saying the company has only one production facility that is Bulawayo.

"There is no other factory in the country except Bulawayo, so Dunlop has no intention at all of either closing down or relocating to other parts of the country. We are here to stay," said Mr Mandevani.

- sundaymail