Date: 17 – 20 March 2025 Venue – McCormick Place Chicago

Discover the latest solutions to move your business forward as industry-leading innovators showcase their latest manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain equipment and systems at ProMat 2025, March 17 – 20, at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Booth number – S1077.  

Commenting on this proud moment, LAUGFS (Corporation) Rubber Ltd Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Chinthaka Wegapitiya, stated: “We are immensely proud to receive these prestigious awards at the National Business Excellence Awards 2024. These accolades reflect LAUGFS Rubber’s unwavering dedication to corporate governance, strategic excellence, and sustainable business practices. Competing in the highly competitive Large Category, we stood out for our exceptional achievements in business and finance, underscoring our leadership in the industry and commitment to excellence across all facets of our operations.”

The annual National Business Excellence Awards highlight excellence in various domains, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and sustainable growth within the business community. The NBEA’s rigorous three-stage evaluation process underscores the significance of these accolades. Applications were initially screened for conformity and then reviewed in detail by a technical panel. The shortlisted companies proceeded to the second stage, where interviews were conducted to allocate marks based on sector-specific criteria. The final stage involved a thorough review by the Panel of Judges, who selected the award recipients based on comprehensive evaluation reports and interview outcomes. Criteria included excellence in corporate governance, strategy, capacity building, performance management, local and global market reach, corporate social responsibility, and environmental sustainability.

Further commenting, Wegapitiya noted: “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our entire team. It inspires us to continue our pursuit of excellence and innovation. We extend our gratitude to the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, our partners, and our customers for their continuous support.”

LAUGFS Rubber specialises in the production of industrial tyres, serving customers in over 45 countries worldwide. With subsidiaries in the United States (LAUGFS USA LLC) and Europe (LAUGFS Europe B.V), the company has established a robust international presence. LAUGFS Rubber’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility stands as a beacon of innovation and sustainability. The facility adheres to international best practices, generating 40% of its energy needs through solar panels and utilising high-quality rubber compounds and Total Quality Management (TQM) processes to produce REACH-compliant solid tyres. The company’s commitment to quality and environmentally sound manufacturing practices are further evidenced by its ISO 9001:2015, ISO 50001:2018, and ISO 14001:2015 certifications.

The prestigious NCQP Awards 2024, organised by the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Quality and Productivity (SLAAQP), was held at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, recently. It brought together industry leaders, professionals, and innovators to discuss and celebrate advancements in quality and productivity. Held under the theme “A Quest for Quality, Productivity, and Innovation” this year, one of the highlights of the NCQP 2024 was the Quality Circle competition, which showcased the efforts of non-executive employees from various reputed organisations to enhance productivity. It was in this event that the team from LAUGFS Rubber earned their Gold Award, securing them an opportunity to represent Sri Lanka at the upcoming International Convention on Quality Control Circles (ICQCC) 2024, a global event.

Commenting on the achievement, Chief Executive Officer LAUGFS Rubber, Chinthaka Wegapitiya, said, “We are incredibly honoured to receive this award, and I wish to congratulate our team. Winning the gold award at the NCQP 2024 represents the hard work and dedication of our shop floor teams. This accolade not only recognises their efforts but also sets a benchmark for quality and productivity within the industry. We are excited to represent Sri Lanka at the ICQCC 2024 and showcase our commitment to excellence on an international stage. I take this opportunity to appreciate the commitment and hard work that our teams put in every day, in our quest to achieve exceptional excellence.”

The ICQCC will be hosted in Sri Lanka in November 2024, and will provide a global platform for showcasing Sri Lanka’s advancements in quality control and productivity, with LAUGFS Rubber being amongst the leaders. Representing Sri Lankan enterprises, the LAUGFS Rubber team is ready to showcase its expertise and share its success story at this much-anticipated international forum. As it emerges victorious at the NCQP 2024, LAUGFS Rubber remains dedicated to maintaining the highest standards for quality and excellence.

LAUGFS Rubber specialises in the production of industrial tyres, serving customers in over 45 countries worldwide. With subsidiaries in the United States (LAUGFS USA LLC) and Europe (LAUGFS Europe B.V), the company has established a robust international presence. LAUGFS Rubber’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility stands as a beacon of innovation and sustainability. The facility adheres to international best practices, generating 40% of its energy needs through solar panels and utilising high-quality rubber compounds and Total Quality Management (TQM) processes to produce REACH-compliant solid tyres. The company’s commitment to quality and environmentally sound manufacturing practices are further evidenced by its ISO 9001:2015, ISO 50001:2018, and ISO 14001:2015 certifications.

Upon receiving the award, LAUGFS Rubber Chief Executive Officer, Mr Chinthaka Wegapitiya, expressed his gratitude, stating, “We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to NCCSL. It is more than a pleasure to be recognized as the Runner Up in the Export Sector category at the National Business Excellence Awards 2023. This achievement would not have been possible without our exceptional team’s dedication and collective effort, whose passion and expertise drive our success. As we move forward, we remain committed to upholding our position as a leading exporter, delivering superior products and solutions, fostering innovation, and striving for excellence in everything we do.”

As a trusted and reliable partner for international customers seeking high-quality tyres, LAUGFS Rubber’s export performance not only contributes to its own growth but also plays a pivotal role in promoting the rubber industry of Sri Lanka on the international stage. This achievement highlights LAUGFS Rubber’s commitment to excellence and its strong focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. For instance, LAUGFS Rubber recently opened a rubber collection center where rubber farmers can sell their produce directly without the involvement of a 3rd party.

LAUGFS Rubber, a subsidiary of LAUGFS Holdings, operates with a specialized focus on industrial tyres, exporting to customers in over 40 countries. Venturing further into international waters, LAUGFS Rubber also operates two subsidiaries; one in the United States (LAUGFS USA LLC) and the other in Europe (LAUGFS EUROPE B.V). Functioning at high capacity, both companies are equipped with warehouses and distribution points, effectively catering to the growing demand across the regions.

In line with international best practices, the company boasts a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly manufacturing facility, which generates 40% of its energy requirement through solar panels. This facility uses the finest rubber compounds and the globally recognized Total Quality Management (TQM) processes to produce REACH-compliant, solid tires of international standards. Given its strong commitment to quality and environmentally sound manufacturing practices, the Company has received the ISO 9001-2015 certification for policy management, ISO 50001-2011 certification for energy management and ISO 14001-2015 for environment management.

“We are humbled to have been recognised as the ‘Most Outstanding Exporter’ for 2022 and receive a ‘Gold’ Award at the NCE Awards ceremony. This is a testament of the hard work and continuous dedication put forth by all our employees throughout our journey over the past 17 years. Despite the recent macroeconomic challenges, we faced many roadblocks, nevertheless we were able to strive through and achieve our goals, fueled by our passion as a customer-centric company. We will continue to innovate and adopt the best sustainability practices to improve our product offerings and cater to the growing demand of global markets,” commented LAUGFS Rubber CEO, Mr Chinthaka Wegapitiya.

The Annual Export Awards are organized annually by the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka and is specially designed to recognise and reward the outstanding performance of exporters of our country. NCE follows a stringent and comprehensive evaluation criteria process to screen the applicants. LAUGFS Rubber was thoroughly evaluated on the following categories:  Financial performance for the past 3 years, statistics related to export performance, value additions, foreign exchange earnings, effective management techniques, branding – managing and evaluating brand performance, innovativeness (product, process, service, market) and research & development.

LAUGFS Rubber, a subsidiary of LAUGFS Holdings, operates with a specialized focus on industrial tyres, exporting to customers in over 36 countries. Venturing further into international waters, LAUGFS Rubber also operates two subsidiaries; one in the United States (LAUGFS USA LLC) and the other in Europe (LAUGFS EUROPE B.V). Functioning at high capacity, both companies are equipped with warehouses and distribution points, effectively catering to the growing demand across the regions.

In line with international best practices, the company boasts a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly manufacturing facility, which generates 40% of its energy requirement through solar panels. This facility uses the finest rubber compounds and the globally recognised Total Quality Management (TQM) processes to produce REACH-compliant, solid tyres of international standards. Given its strong commitment to quality and environmentally sound manufacturing practices, the Company has received the ISO 9001-2015 certification for policy management, ISO 50001-2011 certification for energy management and ISO 14001-2015 for environment management. 

Sri Lanka has been able to become a significant player among global rubber exporters with rubber being a key agriculture product and economic export crop. Identifying the business potential in this lucrative industry, LAUGFS Holdings diversified into the rubber industry in 2008 through the establishment of LAUGFS Corporation (Rubber) Ltd., which is specialized in manufacturing industrial solid tires. The Minister toured the LAUGFS Rubber factory in Horana; and obtained a detailed overview of the manufacturing facility.

With the core pillars of cutting edge technology, sustainable processes and strong ethics, LAUGFS Rubber currently operates one of the most modern and eco-friendly manufacturing plants in the country. The plant in Horana produces a full spectrum of industrial tires including industrial solid tyres which are used for material handling, construction, mining and support equipment for a multitude of industrial operations. 

Bolstering these capacities are LAUGFS Rubber’s highly skilled workforce and heavy focus on research and development, including its fully fledged tire and accessory design facility. In January of 2020 LAUGFS (Corporation) Rubber, unveiled the latest addition to its product portfolio with the Super Solid Loader Grip Tire, the largest tyre manufactured in Sri Lanka.

LAUGFS Rubber concentrates on maintaining sustainable eco-friendly operations, its facility is outfitted with several environmentally friendly technologies including solar panels for electricity generation, an effluent treatment plant for recycling factory waste and rainwater collection to be used in the manufacturing process. 

With a strong commitment to quality and environmentally sound manufacturing practices, LAUGFS Rubber has received the ISO 9001-2015 certification for policy management, ISO 50001-2011 certification for energy management and ISO 14001-2015 for environment management and utilizes globally recognised Total Quality Management (TQM) processes to produce Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) compliant solid tires of international standards. LAUGFS Rubber tires are exported to over 36 countries across 6 continents including the United States and Europe and the organization maintains overseas distributions offices in Illinois, USA and Florijnweg, Netherlands. 

LAUGFS Corporation (Rubber) Ltd. is planning to construct the second line of production, by adding a new solid tire plant, which would expand the factory capacity and double its current output. This project is estimated to be completed in two years. In addition to that an industrial pneumatic tire plant is in the pipelines. The company has already taken steps to expand its distribution network by appointing three new distributors in France, UAE and the West Coast of the USA.

LAUGFS Holdings is one of the largest diversified business conglomerates and a trusted and well-loved home-grown business in Sri Lanka. Founded in 1995, LAUGFS today has expanded across 20 industries in Sri Lanka and overseas, establishing a strong presence as a leader and pioneer in the power and energy, retail, industrial, services, leisure and logistics sectors. With 3,500 employees and an annual turnover exceeding Rs. 60 billion, LAUGFS continues to expand and empower millions as a trusted Sri Lankan brand.

20.5 – 25 is designed for extreme applications in the scrap yards, glassworks, dumping sites, wastes sites, and loading fields. It has high loading capability as required for loader trucks and other industrials applications and is resistant to cuts, chunking and chipping on hard off the road terrains.

With self- cleaning wide lug tread pattern and aperture sidewalls, it provides excellent traction and grip with long wear life and makes it ideal for loader/grader applications. The robust design complemented by superior compounds and construction offers outstanding performance with Zero maintenance.

It is available in Smooth tread too for specific applications. And also available with the wheel as an assembly.

LAUGFS Rubber is planning to launch its new pneumatic range of tires for forklifts and skid steer before end of 2019. The pneumatic tire market opens a very large opportunity for LAUGFS Rubber which the company will be vigorously pursuing in the coming years. LAUGFS Rubber is entering into the pneumatic market purely from the demand perspective to serve its customer base to the maximum extent.

Initially, Company is planning to introduce all major sizes for industrial – forklift and construction – skid steer applications. Addition of pneumatic range to LAUGFS’s product portfolio will add synergy to its product offerings and add more value to its product strength, leading to improved customer satisfaction.

During the past four years, market size maintained an average annual growth rate of 1.56% for pneumatic tires for industrial applications. Industry analysts believe that in the next few years, the market size will be further expanded for industrial pneumatic tire applications. The market size of the pneumatic tires for industrial applications will reach 1350 million in 2021 with the rising production of industrial equipment.

LAUGFS Super Solid tires are designed for tough on the road and off the road construction machinery and vehicles. It is designed with extra deep directional tread and deep lugs to provide traction and durability. The wide-tread pattern and extra thick sidewall prevent tire distortion while cornering. Its self-cleaning design keeps the tire clean of mud and dirt and makes the machine more energy efficient.

Available Sizes

1. 00 – 24  8.5”
2. 00 – 24  8.5”
3. 00 – 25  11.25”
4. 5  – 25  14.00”
5. 5 –  25  17.00”