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Solideal Braces for Sales Dip with More Lay-offs

DUBAI — Solideal, a leading global manufacturer of heavy-duty industrial pneumatic tyres, plans to lay off more workers at its tyre plants in Sir Lanka and China as the global recession started to impact its exports.

Philippe Daneels, founder and president of the Belgium-headquartered tyre company, said Solideal, which laid off 1,100 workers recently, might slash more jobs as it expected a five per cent contraction in global exports in 2009.

Solideal had a workforce of 8,100 before its started downsising at its production plants.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Daneels said the company was also pondering an expansion into India. At present, Solideal is looking for distributors in India for its exclusive range of products. “We are also considering the setting up of a manufacturing base in India for solid tyres.”

Daneels, who founded the company along with his compatriot Pierre Pringiers, Solideal has become a vertically integrated group with R & D facilities based in Europe and Asia; manufacturing in Europe, North America, and Asia, and over 100 distribution and service locations throughout the world.

“As a specialist manufacturer of tyres for the material handling and construction industries, our mission is to enhance mobility for the productive world.”

· issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com