10-04-2017, 08:28 PM
Madras Rubber Factory Limited, commonly known by the acronym MRF, is an Indian multinational and the largest tire manufacturer in India. It is based in Chennai, India. The company manufactures rubber products including tires, treads, tubes and conveyors, paints and toys. MRF also runs the MRF Pace Foundation, Chennai and MRF Challenge in motorsport.
Madras Rubber Factory was founded by K. M. Mammen Mappillai as a toy balloon manufacturing unit in 1946 in Tiruvottiyur, Madras (now Chennai). In 1952, the company ventured into the manufacture of rubber tread. Madras Rubber Factory Limited was incorporated as a private company in November 1960 and ventured into tire manufacturing in partnership with Mansfield Tire & Rubber Company based in Ohio, United States. The company was made public on April 1, 1961 and an office was established in Beirut, Lebanon to develop the export market in 1964 and its current muscleman logo was born. In 1967, it became the first Indian company to export tires to the United States.
In 1973, MRF began manufacturing nylon tires for the first time. The Company signed a technical know-how collaboration with B.FGoodrich in 1978. The Mansfield Tire & Rubber Co sold out in 1979 and the name of the company was changed to MRF Ltd during the year. The company concluded a technical collaboration agreement with Marangoni TRS SPA, Italy for the manufacture of pre-cured rubber for the retreading industry. MRF tires supplied tires to Maruti 800, India's first small modern car. In 1989, the company collaborated with Hasbro International USA, the world's largest toy manufacturer and launched Funskool India. In addition, they entered into a pact with Vapocure from Australia to manufacture polyurethane paint formulations and with the Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli for the manufacture of conveyors and elevators. During 2004-05, the company's product range expanded with Go-kart & rally tires and two / three-wheel tires.