Dunlop Aircraft Tyres doubles Chinese sales
BIRMINGHAM-based manufacturer Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has more than doubled the number of tyres it sells in China during the first half of this year, compared with the same period last year.
The company, which last year won the Queen’s Award for Export, made the announcement at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow.
The company uses Dunlop Taikoo (Jinjiang) Aircraft Tyres Company Ltd, its joint venture distribution and retreading company in Jinjiang, Fujian Province, to serve the needs of aircraft operators throughout Asia Pacific.
It opened the site in November 2009 and in the first six months of this year saw its volume of retreads increase by 114% compared with January to June 2011.
Airlines from countries including India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Philippines and Taiwan are among those being served by the joint venture.
Dunlop said it attributed the success to the recent gaining of regulatory approval from aviation bodies in Australia, China, Europe, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand.
“Our strategy to expand globally using regional distribution and retreading facilities is proving to be the right one,” said Ian Edmondson, DAT chairman.
“These figures show that year-on-year we have more than doubled the number of retreads we have handled in China, and we are also selling more UK-manufactured new tyres into Asia Pacific than ever before.”
Dunlop Taikoo (Jinjiang) Aircraft Tyres Company Ltd is a joint venture with Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Ltd (HAECO) (28%) and Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Company Ltd (TAECO) (9%).
DAT itself is the world’s only dedicated aircraft tyre manufacturer and retreader. It specialises in the supply of aircraft tyres and tubes from design thorough to delivery, using sophisticated manufacturing techniques.
The firm’s customers include major international airlines, aircraft constructors, wheel and brake manufacturers and maintenance facilities.
AAC Capital Partners acquired 74.6% ownership of the business in May 2007.
