It so happened that the rights to use the brand Dunlop owns a host of companies. This brand is highly fragmented. Beyond the company Dunlop Rubber, with which it all began, there are many other unrelated companies that use the word "Dunlop" or who have the rights to manufacture products with that name. The only thing that unites them is that they all produce products that are more or less related to rubber. For example, a company founded in 1999 Dunlop Tires, engaged in the production of tires and the most famous in our latitudes. She on 75% belongs to the company Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and on 25% - companies Sumitomo Rubber Industries.
Car tires Dunlop also produced by an Indian company Ruia Group and South African Apollo Tires Ltd. (they got this opportunity as a result of the takeover of regional factories Dunlop India и Dunlop Tires Africa). There are other companies: independent Dunlop Aircraft Tires (tires exclusively for aircraft), Dunlop Oil & Marine (hoses for oil platforms and ships, belongs to the German Continental AG), Dunlop Adhesives (various building materials - sealants, sealants; belongs to the German Ardex GmbH), Dunlop Fabrications (production of flexible tanks, owned by the Swedish Trelleborg AB) and many others.
In general, as a result of fragmentation, it is very difficult to track the brand structure. For example, brand Dunlop Sport (golf and tennis accessories) is owned by several different companies around the world.
The process of brand diversification has continued almost throughout its history, starting from the 20s of the last century. But the modern confusion began already at the end of the century, starting in 1985.
Veterinarian John Dunlop was a resourceful and observant man. He also loved his son very much, who, in turn, was very fond of riding a bicycle, which his father gave him. But when it was necessary to go out onto the cobbled streets, riding became a real torment for the boy, as the cyclist was subjected to hellish shaking - solid tires provided good grip, but not comfort. And then Dunlop came up with a simple but effective idea - he removed the cast tire and instead wrapped the wheel in a special form of a chamber glued together from several rubber strips and filled with air - the prototype of the modern tire. The ride immediately became much more comfortable. It was in 1888.
Dunlop was also an enterprising man. He immediately realized the full potential of his invention and in the same year he patented it. And engaged in the production of pneumatic tires, founding a company Dunlop Pneumatic Tire Company. At first, such tires were simply glued to the wheel and were non-removable. The removable pneumatic tire was invented in 1891 by a French company. Michelin.
The company has always understood the importance of dedicated research to develop and create tires with the best performance. At the end of the 19th century, the first research centers appeared. Dunlop one of the first to conduct serious tests of its products. The company owns a lot of innovative solutions in the tire business.
The arrival of the car
The advent of the automotive industry Dunlop (which already felt good) a new path for development. Representations begin to appear throughout Europe, and somewhat later in the USA and Canada. In 1902 the company changed its name to Dunlop Rubber Co. Ltd., moving its headquarters to Birmingham, UK (Birmingham, UK).
Gradually, it expands its production, tires for aircraft, agricultural machinery and special equipment appear. Her achievements in sports are admirable: in the early 60s, the company was for some time an absolute monopolist in matters of tires for Formula-1; and what about a few dozen victories in Le Mans won by cars with tires Dunlop.
How did it all end
But by the beginning of the 80s of the last century, the position of the company was fundamentally shaken. Since 1985 the company Dunlop Rubber, by that time thoroughly mired in debt and problems, belongs to the English conglomerate BTR plc. It was then that the active diversification of the brand began - the sale of divisions Dunlop various third party companies.
Company Dunlop Tires was formed in 1997 when a Japanese company Sumitomo bought the right to manufacture tires Dunlop. The result was the appearance Dunlop Tires Ltd. - so the Japanese began to call their European division. And a little later good year bought from Sumitomo all European and North American divisions, so that the company became a joint venture.
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