Madras Rubber Factory

Madras Rubber Factory, popularly known as MRF, is a major tyre manufacturing company located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

• MRF is mainly involved in making vehicle tyres. It is India’s largest tyre manufacturing company, and among the dozen largest worldwide. It exports to more than 65 countries.

A young entrepreneur, K.M.Mammen Mappillai, opened a small toy balloon manufacturing unit in a shed at Tiruvottiyur, Madras (now Chennai).

• Although the factory was just a small shed without any machines, a variety of products, ranging from balloons and latex-cast squeaking toys to industrial gloves and contraceptives, were produced. During this time, MRF established its first office at 334, Thambu Chetty Street, Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India.
• MRF ventured into the manufacture of tread rubber. And with that, the first machine, a rubber mill, was installed at the factory. This step into tread-rubber manufacture, was later to catapult MRF into a league that few had imagined possible.
• MRF soon became the only Indian-owned unit to manufacture the superior extruded, non-blooming and cushion-backed tread-rubber, enabling it to compete with the MNC’s operating in India at that time.
• The quality of the product manufactured was of such a high standard that by the close of 1956, MRF had become the market leader with a 50% share of the tread-rubber market in India. So effective was MRF’s hold on the market, that the large multinationals had no other option but to withdraw from the tread rubber business in India.
• The Company was incorporated as a private limited company on 5 November. The Company Manufacture automobile, aircraft, cycle tyres and tubes in collaboration with the Mansfield Tire & Rubber Co., Mansfield, Ohio, U.S.A. The tyres are sold under the trade name Mansfield Tyres (MRF). The Company also produces other industrial products made of rubber like conveyor belt, hoses etc. It took over the entire business of the Madras Rubber Factory as a going concern as from 16 November, for a consideration of Rs.25 Lakh.
• The Madras Rubber Factory Private Limited was converted into a public company on 1 April, and additional capital was issued in order to start the manufacture of automobile tyres and tubes in collaboration with the Mansfield Tire & Rubber Co., Mansfield, Ohio, U.S.A.
• The Company was given permission to export tyres having Mansfield trade mark to all world markets except U.S.A. and Canada. : 2,49,650 shares allotted without payment in cash. 350 shares subscribed for by the signatories to the Memorandum of Association. 2,50,000 shares reserved and allotted directors. 5,00,000 shares issued to public in April 1961. The balance 2,50,000 shares allotted to collaborators as payment for machinery.