History
| 1909 | Dunlop U.K. established Japan’s first modern rubber factory. | ||
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| 1910 | Began production of bicycle tires and tubes and solid rickshaw tires. | ||
| 1911 | Started production of rubber tubing, gloves and water pillows. | ||
| 1913 | Started production of automobile tires. Produced Japan’s first automobile tire. |
 The first Japanese-made automobile tire |
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| 1917 | Incorporated as a Japanese corporation with \1.18 million capital. | ||
| 1930 | Started production of golf and tennis balls. |  DUNLOP 65 (Released in 1935) |
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| 1935 | Started production of motorcycle tires. | ||
| 1944 | Izumiotsu Factory commenced operations. | ||
| 1954 | Developed Japan’s first tubeless tire. | ||
| 1960 | Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Corporation took a stake in the company. | ||
| 1961 | Nagoya Factory commenced operations. Started production of DUNLOP FORT tennis balls. |
 DUNLOP FORT |
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| 1963 | The Japanse side's investment ratio exceeded 50%. Changed name to Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. |
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| 1964 | Started production of golf clubs. | ||
| 1966 | Started production of the SP3, Japan’s first radial tire. |  SP3 |
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| 1967 | Started production of marine fenders. | ||
| 1972 | Kakogawa Factory commenced operations. | ||
| 1974 | Shirakawa Factory commenced operations. | ||
| 1976 | Miyazaki Factory commenced operations. Developed Japan’s first Formula-1 racing tire. | ||
| 1981 | Malaysia Factory commenced operations. | ||
| 1984 | Acquired six tire plants in the UK, Germany and France as well as Dunlop Tyre Technical Division in UK. |
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| 1986 | Acquired Dunlop Tire Corporation in the U.S. Okayama Driving Test Course completed. | ||
| 1994 | Head office building completed. |  Head Office building |
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| 1995 | Kobe Factory closed due to the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake. | ||
| 1996 | Ichijima Factory commenced operations. | ||
| 1997 | Indonesia Factory commenced operations. | ||
| 1999 | Formed alliance in the tire business with The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company of the U.S. | ||
| 2000 | Started production of rubber parts for medical applications. | ||
| 2001 | Zhongshan Factory (China) commenced operations. | ||
| 2003 | Merged with The Ohtsu Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. Established SRI Sports Limited* and SRI Hybrid Limited. |
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| 2004 | Changshu Factory (China) commenced operations. | ||
| 2006 | Released ENASAVE ES801, 70% fossil resource-free tires. Thailand Factory commenced operations. Vietnam Factory commenced operations. SRI Sports Limited listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. |
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| 2008 | Released ENASAVE 97, 97% fossil resource-free tires. | ||
| 2009 | Celebrated the Company’s 100th anniversary. Tyre Technical Center completed. |
 Tyre Technical Center |
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| 2010 | Integrated Dunlop Falken Tyres Ltd. and SRI Hybrid Limited. Established a natural rubber processing plant in the northern part of Thailand. |
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| 2012 | Launched MIRAIE, a vibration control dampersr for wooden houses. The Group’s second tire factory in China commenced operations. Established a tire sales joint venture in India |
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| 2013 | Released ENASAVE 100, 100% fossil resource-free tires. * Since the use of synthetic rubber became the mainstream. * Based on our in-house research. Secured a tire production base in South Africa through the acquisition of Apollo Tyres South Africa. |
 ENASAVE 100 |
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| 2014 | Released ENASAVE NEXT, 50% less Rolling Resistance tires, achieved the "AAA-a"rank under Japan's tire labeling system. Established Tire sales corporation in Australia. Launched premium runflat tires DUNLOP "SP SPORT MAXX 050 NEO" and FALKEN "AZENIS FK453 RUNFLAT" with “NEO-T01” High-Precision Metal Core Tyre Manufacturing System. |
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| 2015 | Acquired Lonstroff Holding AG a Swiss medical rubber parts manufacturer. Dissolved the alliance agreement and joint ventures with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Acquired a USA factory. Turkey Factory began operation. |
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| 2017 | Acquired the DUNLOP Brand Overseas Business Acquired Micheldever Group Ltd. a leading tire distributor in the UK. USA Technical Center and Europe Technical Center bagan operation. Introduced "SMART TYRE CONCEPT" - a new technology development concept. |
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| 2018 | Integrated Sumitomo Rubber Group's sports business. | ||
| 2019 | Slovenia Factory commenced operations. Launched "ENASAVE NEXT III" as the world’s first* tires to incorporate “Cellulose Nanofiber”. * Based on our in-house research. |
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| 2020 | Established corporate philosophy structure"Our Philosophy". | ||
| 2021 | Established Long-Term Sustainability Policy: “Driving Our Future Challenge 2050”. Began providing "Tire Pressure and Temperature Management Service" for passenger cars. |
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*Renamed Dunlop Sports Co., Ltd. in May 2012.
Sports Division Overview here >>