Global integrated rubber glove manufacturer, Dipped Products PLC (DPL), is taking aim at lucrative emerging opportunities in new export markets, and high-value niche product segments, as part of an ‘innovation-led’ growth agenda spearheaded by the new Managing Director, Pushpika Janadheera.
DPL offers a wide variety of specialised industrial, medical, and household gloves to customers in over 70 countries, including major retailers across the European Union and North America.
With over 24 years of experience in industries connected to the rubber sector, Janadheera joined DPL in 2017 as Director Operations, where he oversaw many of DPL’s most transformative initiatives. This included manufacturing process optimisation, total manufacturing capacity expansion, and a continuous focus on research and development leveraged towards development of innovative products.
During his tenure with DPL, Janadheera actively championed the company’s progressive approach to implementation and continuous enhancement of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, and the company’s more recent alignment to Group-wide targets set out under the Hayleys Lifecode.
Janadheera said, “For nearly half a century, DPL has steadily moved up the value chain in hand protection. In that time, we have developed an unmatched reputation for quality, and served as a hub for high-level product innovation and best practices in sustainable manufacturing and an authentic commitment to ESG.
“We are also committing substantial investments towards expansion of our production capacity. Similarly, we are exploring high value-niche products such as sports gloves, while accelerating our research and development programs that will unlock even greater growth potential over the short-medium term,” he said.
DPL has already committed significant investments towards the setting up of a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for the production of sports gloves at the Biyagama BOI Investment Zone. “Relative to our larger international competitors, DPL’s value proposition has always been built on delivering high value product innovations and unmatched service while maintaining a powerful commitment to ethical, sustainable manufacturing.
“From everyday home and garden usage, to the specific needs of high-performance athletes, electrical engineers, cleaning professionals and medical practitioners; we understand the challenges people face around hand protection and provide solutions to meet all aspects of industry and life.
“We pride ourselves on providing a superior service for customers, through customised, flexible manufacturing. This potent blend of quality, customer-centric product development, and a total commitment to continuous elevation of ESG standards, is what we will leverage to capture new ground,” Janadheera said.
DPL’s outstanding commitment to sustainability is also being leveraged to support broader efforts to drive a 30% group-wide reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emission by 2030 and increase reliance on renewable energy.