Dunlop to build rubber plants

Press, 24 August 1988, Page 43

Dunlop to build rubber plants

NZPA-AAP Melbourne Pacific Dunlop will spend sAust7o million (SNZB9M) on two new factories in Sri Lanka and Thailand to manufacture latex products. Managing director, Mr Philip Brass, said the extra capacity would allow the company’s Ansell division, already the world’s largest supplier of surgical gloves and condoms, to strengthen its hold on world markets. The Sri Lankan factory will make medical gloves and condoms. Construction will begin soon and production is expected to start by the end of 1989. The Thailand factory will become the com-

pany’s main international production centre for balloons. Pacific Dunlop said Ansell had 10 per cent of the world balloon market. Concentration of production on one site in Thailand would bring economy of scale, lower production costs and allow the company to meet strong long-term growth in demand, Mr Brass said. The plant, which would use advanced technology developed by a Los Angeles manufacturer Pacific Dunlop acquired last year, would enable Ansell to double balloon capacity within a year and increase it four-fold within three years, the company said.