Trelleborg engineering operations being expanded in India

Trelleborg, a leading global engineering group, continues to show a strong commitment to the Indian market, increasing its physical presence and customer support in this key region with the opening of multiple new facilities in 2011 and more planned for this year.

Establishing a platform for local presence and expansion across a wide variety of industries, Trelleborg now has several facilities in the region, with its Trelleborg Engineered Systems, Trelleborg Automotive and Trelleborg Sealing Solutions business areas all having either a manufacturing facility or head office in the country.

The President and CEO at Trelleborg, Mr. Peter Nilsson, commented: “India has a vast and growing economy with an average growth of 6-7% expected in the next three years in industrial production alone. Therefore the decision to increase our investment into this key area couldn’t have been an easier one, and we are pleased to announce that all of our facilities are reporting excellent sales; we have seen an 18% increase in sales from M 418 SEK (INR 3.2 billion) in 2010 to M 493 SEK (INR 3.7 billion) in 2011”.

“These investments, including the relocation and centralization of our Trelleborg Engineered Systems operation that works with marine systems, will enable us to get closer to the action in our chosen market sectors in India and around the world. Through the ‘Engineering and Design Centre of Excellence’ in Ahmedabad, we can provide a complete cradle-to-grave service that maintains quality right through the supply chain to our existing customer base. In the marine industry, for instance, we strongly believe that Trelleborg can contribute to the upcoming renewal and expansion of ports in India and globally.”

In a bid to capitalize even more effectively on the future growth in the country, Trelleborg Engineered Systems has also recently established another new operation in Bangalore. This will be officially inaugurated in September this year and will comprise development, manufacturing and sales within industrial antivibration and molded components, mainly amongst customers in the telecom infrastructure sector and industrial vibration.

These new facilities add to Trelleborg’s already strong presence in the region. Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, which is recognized for its high quality products and technical expertise in industries like aerospace, automotive, transport equipment, agriculture and offshore oil & gas, has been active in the Indian market since 1978.

For the last ten years it has supplied the market with seven million of its Turcon and Zurcon seals per year. As such, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has taken a strategic decision to make further investment into the country by establishing a Center of Excellence for a select number of production processes and industrial niche segments in Bangalore. The new facility was officially inaugurated on April 27.

In 1996, Trelleborg Automotive established its business in Noida to offer innovative solutions and products such as anti-vibration rubber, rubber-to-metal bonded and polyurethane parts for passenger cars and truck applications. Trelleborg has since become a market leader in India. With its global customer base and significant growth potential in the automotive sector in India, it foresees a prosperous future. In addition, this Trelleborg facility is planned to establish a joint venture with another company during the current year.

“We have long been present in India and are now approaching a total of about 1,000 employees there. Having the engineering, design and marketing aspects of each of the Trelleborg business areas centralised in this way enables us to drive cost efficiencies and improves collaboration to enable cross fertilisation of ideas across our global offices. Looking ahead, India’s structural changes in terms of continuing population growth, industrial development and demand for infrastructure such as railways, roads, tunnels, airports and ports, in combination with a great concern for sustainability, make India a perfect match for Trelleborg”, Mr. Nilsson added.