Post war Dunlop Rubber

dutch tennis players tom okker , jan hajer pose dunlop , slazenger rackets in 1964

a further factor in dunlop s decline decision during 1960s develop cheaper textile radial tyres rather more durable steel-belted radial tyres. dunlop lost market share michelin company , other manufacturers marketing steel-belted tyres.

meanwhile, uk productivity , quality poor. salesmen preferred products company s continental factories.

in 1967, company changed name dunlop rubber company ltd dunlop ltd, reflect more diversified nature of business. @ time, around 60 percent of sales came overseas, , tyres represented 60 percent of company turnover.

sir reay geddes, son of sir eric geddes, became chairman of dunlop in 1968.

in 1968, dunlop acquired george angus ltd of newcastle upon tyne, world leader in supply of fire hoses , fire fighting equipment. same year, dunlop had operating profits of £31.8 million, net profits of £11.2 million. late 1960s, dunlop 35th largest company in world outside united states. in 1970, dunlop had 102,000 employees.

in 1971, dunlop merged pirelli of italy form world s third-largest tyre company after goodyear , firestone. merger not takeover either company, joint venture arrangement each company took minority interests in other s subsidiaries. merger not successful, , joint venture dissolved in 1981. pirelli not profitable throughout entire duration of merger.

the decline of british car manufacturing industry 1972 onwards impacted core dunlop business. matters compounded 1973 oil crisis.