Trelleborg buys all of Wuxi Trelleborg antivibration business

By Liz White, ERJ staff

Trelleborg, Sweden-Trelleborg Group is buying the 45 percent of shares in its Wuxi Trelleborg Vibration Isolator Co. joint venture owned by its partner Wuxi Guolian Group.

The venture, based in Wuxi, outside Shanghai, is run as part of the Trelleborg Automotive unit, and has been majority owned by the Swedish rubber group since 2000.

"The acquisition of the remaining holding in Wuxi represents part of our strategic drive to reinforce our competitiveness in Asia," commented Peter Nilsson, ceo of Trelleborg, in a company statement on the share purchase.

"Full ownership makes increased investment possible," Nilsson added. Pointing out that the new, ultra modern plant at Wuxi gives Trelleborg the capcity and efficiency to meet growing demand, Nilsson went on to say that this will benefit "both domestic and international customers."

The new 20 000-sq.m Wuxi operation employs 300 and was inaugurated earlier this year to replace an older plant at Wuxi. The expansion doubled capacity for its vehicle components, mainly antivibration systems, Trelleborg claims.