SKS acquires Mehler’s tire cord assets in US

Gothenburg, Sweden – AB Svenskt Konstsilke (SKS), a Swedish supplier of single-end cord (SEC) for tires and industrial fabrics, is expanding production capacity with a recent acquisition of assets in the US.

The company has purchased the assets from Mehler EP’s 153,500-square-foot Martinsville plant in Virginia to support its global growth, said a 20 Nov statement by SKS.

The equipment will be used across SKS’s production facilities in Estonia, China, and Mexico, adding 3,000 tonnes annual capacity for SEC.

The acquired assets include multiple dipping lines, twisting machines, winders, and a fully equipped laboratory.

“By integrating these assets into our global operations, we’re not only increasing capacity but also improving flexibility and efficiency,” said CEO Urban Olsson.

The acquisition comes at a time of rapid growth for SKS, which has doubled its turnover over the past three years.

The company has linked the growth to intensified focus on innovation and ‘operational excellence’.

Mehler is a Germany-headquartered manufacturer of technical textiles and produces engineered yarns across locations in Europe, India and China.

In September, the group announced a strategic decision to exit SEC products for the tire market and to divest its manufacturing facility in Martinsville.

Other industrial textile production capacity from Martinville has been relocated to other Mehler sites.