Birmingham-based Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has won a deal to support the world’s fleet of more than 270 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft.
News of the deal – one of the biggest in Dunlop Aircraft Tyres’ 105-year history – follows the announcement that the company is investing in establishing its first ever tyre distribution and retreading facility in the United States.
Dunlop’s eight-year agreement with Boeing will see it provide new and retread tyres for the C-17’s main and nose wheels. Each aircraft has a total of 14 wheels – 12 on the main landing gear and two on the nose.
Boeing estimates that Dunlop will need to provide approximately 10,000 new and retreaded tyres each year to support the worldwide fleet.
This includes supporting aircraft operated by forces from Australia, Canada, India, NATO, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. The United States Air Force, which flies more than 220 of the aircraft, is the largest operator.
“This major contract is excellent news for the company,” said Dunlop’s chairman, Ian Edmondson. “In winning it, we faced significant competition from other manufacturers.
“Additional new tyre and retread capacity has been added to support this important new contract and, following successful completion of the flight testing, we are now supplying tyres to Boeing.”
Boeing’s supply chain technical lead engineer, Randy Liedahl said: “Since the moment of contract award, Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has proven to be a very proactive and thorough supplier and partner to The Boeing Company.
“The company has invested in new equipment and personnel to meet the requirements of our programme.
“The development of the new C-17 Tyres went remarkably quickly from prototype to the final qualification test articles. We have completed final flight testing and have now received the first tyre deliveries for our customers.”
Dunlop has a successful track record of supplying tyres for military transport aircraft including the new Airbus A400M and Lockheed C-130 Hercules.
