Dunlop Aircraft Tyres: Why a British Manufacturer Chose Mocksville for Its First US Operation
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres, the British aircraft tire manufacturer, selected SouthPoint Business Park in Mocksville, North Carolina for its first US retreading operation. An existing Hollingsworth building fit Dunlop's specifications so well it saved hundreds of thousands in upfit costs, and Dunlop signed a 20 year lease. The operation opened in 2016 and serves airline and military customers.
At a glance
| Client | Dunlop Aircraft Tyres |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aircraft tire manufacturing and retreading |
| Location | 205 Enterprise Way, SouthPoint Business Park, Mocksville, NC |
| Building | 108,480 SF, expandable to 150,000 SF |
| Lease | 20 year agreement |
| Upfits | $1.9 million completed by Hollingsworth |
| Why it won | Open floor plan and existing sprinkler system met Dunlop's specifications, avoiding roughly $300,000 to $400,000 in upfit costs; direct I-40 access; port proximity for imports from the UK |
| Outcome | First US retreading operation for the company, FAA certified, serving airline and military customers, including a $7.6 million US military contract awarded in 2024 |
Who is Dunlop Aircraft Tyres?
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres is a British manufacturer of new and retreaded aircraft tires, supplying airlines and military operators worldwide.
When Dunlop decided to establish its first retreading operation in the United States, the site decision carried weight beyond real estate. The company needed FAA certification, efficient import logistics for tires arriving from the United Kingdom, and a building that would not consume its capital budget in modifications before the first tire was retreaded.
What did Dunlop Aircraft Tyres need?
Dunlop needed an existing building that could accept a specialized retreading operation with minimal modification, in a location with strong highway access and a community that could move at the company's speed.
Dunlop's team, represented by Colliers International, evaluated sites across the region. The Hollingsworth building at 205 Enterprise Way in SouthPoint Business Park offered a wide open floor plan and an existing sprinkler system that already met Dunlop's specifications, which eliminated roughly $300,000 to $400,000 in upfitting the company would have paid elsewhere. Direct access to I-40 and proximity to deep water ports handled the logistics of importing tires from the UK and distributing nationwide. Dunlop's project manager described Mocksville as one of the more flexible communities in the Carolinas and Virginia on permitting.
How did The Hollingsworth Companies help?
Hollingsworth had already built the right building. It then completed $1.9 million in upfits to adapt the 108,480 square foot building to Dunlop's retreading operation under a 20 year lease.
This is the quiet case for speculative development done well. Because Hollingsworth builds its buildings with manufacturing users in mind, clear heights, sprinklers, power, and open floor plans are already in place when a company like Dunlop starts its search. The building was ready when the decision was made, the upfits were handled by the same organization that built the shell, and the building can expand to 150,000 square feet as the operation grows. Davie County and the Town of Mocksville supported the project with local incentives, and North Carolina awarded a $500,000 building reuse grant.
What were the results?
Dunlop opened its first US retreading operation at SouthPoint Business Park in 2016, earned FAA certification, and serves airline and military customers from Mocksville.
Dunlop committed to a minimum of 40 jobs within two years and invested $6.3 million in equipment. Early customers included Compass Airlines, Republic Airlines, and military operators. The commitment has proven durable: in 2024, Dunlop Aircraft Tyres was awarded a $7.6 million US military contract, work that runs through its US operation. A 20 year lease from a landlord that has owned its buildings for decades means Dunlop's real estate partner is the same one it signed with.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Dunlop Aircraft Tyres choose Mocksville, North Carolina?
The Hollingsworth building at SouthPoint Business Park matched Dunlop's specifications closely enough to avoid roughly $300,000 to $400,000 in upfit costs, and the location offered direct I-40 access, port proximity for UK imports, and a community known for flexible permitting.
What did The Hollingsworth Companies provide for Dunlop?
A 108,480 square foot building at 205 Enterprise Way, expandable to 150,000 square feet, with $1.9 million in upfits completed by Hollingsworth under a 20 year lease.
What has the Dunlop operation in Mocksville accomplished?
Dunlop's first US retreading operation opened in 2016, earned FAA certification, and serves airline and military customers, including a $7.6 million US military contract awarded in 2024.
Does Hollingsworth's speculative building program work for specialized manufacturers?
Dunlop is the proof. Because Hollingsworth builds manufacturing grade buildings on speculation, an aircraft tire retreader found a building that fit its operation before it ever became a tenant, then had the same organization complete the specialized upfits.