- Targets emerging opportunities in Middle-East, Africa, South America, Asia and Oceania
- Invests in expanded manufacturing capacity, new product lines
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 new Managing Director, Pushpika Janadheera.
A member of Sri Lanka’s largest diversified conglomerate, the Hayleys Group, DPL currently offers a
wide variety of specialised industrial, medical, and household gloves to customers in over 70
countries across the globe, including major retailers across the European Union and North America.
With more than 24 years of experience in working 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 significant manufacturing process optimization, total
manufacturing capacity expansion, and a continuous focus on research and development leveraged
towards development of innovative products.
During his tenure with DPL, Janadheera has also 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.
Over the coming year, Janadheera explained how DPL would be working to further consolidate its
presence in established market strongholds, while exploring new opportunities in Oceania, Asia, the
Middle-East, Africa, and South America.
“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.
In addition to consolidating our reputation as a global leader in sustainable and ethical manufacturing,
we are also committing substantial investments towards expansion of our production capacity.
Similarly, we are exploring high value-niches like sports gloves, while accelerating our research and
development programmes in order to create new innovations that will unlock even greater growth
potential over the short-medium term,” he stated.
Janadheera added that DPL had already committed significant investments towards the establishment
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 customized, 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.
Together with DPL’s efforts to vertically integrate smallholder rubber farmers into its supply chain
with a fair pricing mechanism, the company continues to pioneer a ‘grassroots’ led approach to Sri
Lanka’s export development.
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.
About Dipped Products PLC
Established in 1976, Dipped Products is a global leader in protective hand-wear, serving close to 5%
of global demand for natural and synthetic latex based Household, Industrial, Sports and Medical
gloves. Backed by a strong reputation for innovation, quality, and responsible manufacturing
practices, its products now reach over 70 countries. With 4 manufacturing facilities in Sri Lanka and
1 in Thailand, as well as sales and marketing operations in Italy, Poland and France. DPL is also one
of the world’s leading manufacturers of ethical gloves, offering a holistic value proposition to all its
partners across the value chain.
About Hayleys PLC
A centrepiece of the Sri Lankan economy, the Hayleys Group maintains a global presence across five
regions with business interests spanning 16 diverse sectors. Accounting for USD 600 million of the
country’s foreign earnings and 4.2% of the nation’s total export income, Hayleys is a champion of
sustainable innovation and represents one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent success stories.