Dunlop Taikoo - Serving Asia Pacific

Dunlop Aircraft Tyres, the world’s only specialist aircraft tire manufacturer, today announced it has begun preliminary ground work investigations and held a traditional stone-laying ceremony on the site of its new retreading facility in China.

The move follows the agreement of terms and signing of a contract between joint venture partners Dunlop Aircraft tires (63%), Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO) (28%) and Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (TAECO) (9%).

Birmingham, UK-based Dunlop Aircraft Tires will be the majority partner at the new facility in Jinjiang, Fujian Province. It is due to be operational early next year as Dunlop Taikoo (Jinjiang) Aircraft tires Company Limited.

“This facility will significantly increase our competitiveness in the global aerospace market,” said Dunlop Aircraft tires’ chairman, Ian Edmondson. “Airlines are expanding rapidly within the Asia Pacific region, both in their size and numbers.

“This pace of expansion has encouraged aircraft manufacturers to increase their forecasts of jet airliner deliveries and we are delighted to be able to access a $100 million market that is demonstrating double-digit annual growth.

“By partnering with HAECO, one of the world’s leading aircraft engineering companies and TAECO, its subsidiary in mainland China, we will be able to accelerate our entry into the marketplace and offer a compelling range of products and services to the region’s airlines.”

P.K. Chan, deputy chairman & chief executive officer of HAECO and chairman of TAECO, added: “This joint venture is already progressing well, and we have launched the site with a traditional stone-laying ceremony.

“tire retreading will enhance the service we provide to current and future airline customers in the Asia Pacific region and we are delighted to be introducing this in partnership with Dunlop Aircraft tires, a world leader in its field.”

AAC Capital Partners, formerly the private equity business of ABN Amro, acquired 74.6 per cent ownership of Dunlop Aircraft tires in May 2007.

Fred Chan, general manager, HAECO’s Component and Avionics Overhaul division (left), Ian Edmondson, chairman, Dunlop Aircraft tires (centre) and P.K. Chan, deputy chairman & chief executive, HAECO and chairman of TAECO (right) at stone-laying ceremony on site of new aircraft tire reading facility in China.