Trelleborg to close US factory, re-locate in lanka to produce tyres

Walter JAYAWARDHANA

RE-LOCATION: Trelleborg, one of world's largest industrial tyre producers will close down its North American plant and relocate its factory in Sri Lanka, the company announced.

Trelleborg, even at present is having two tyre factories at Kelaniya and Biyagama and one of the factories will be expanded to take over the moved industrial tyre production from Ohio, USA , Trelleborg further said.

The company's industrial tyre section at Hartville, Ohio is currently producing tyres and complete wheel solutions for materials-handling and transport vehicles used at facilities such as ports and airports, for example, fork-lift trucks and other highly utilised materials-handling vehicles.

The company did not announce what factory they would choose between Keleniya and Biyagama for the expansion when the Ohio factory is relocated.

Observers said the relocation confirms the unshaken confidence of foreign investors in Sri Lanka despite military clashes in isolated spots in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

"Trelleborg is consolidating its industrial tire production to Sri Lanka and will invest in increased production capacity at one of Trelleborg Wheel Systems' plants in Sri Lanka.

As a consequence of this the production of industrial tyres will be terminated and relocated from Trelleborg Wheel Systems' plant in Hartville, Ohio, in the US.

The cost of closure, production transfer and investments will total approximately Swedish Krone 130 Million (9.7 million British pounds) over a three-year period," the company said.

"By doing this, we are creating the conditions for a strong global production structure in Wheel Systems," said Maurizio Vischi, Business Area President.

"This enables us to remain competitive and grow the business organically. The measures will improve our profitability and position in the North American market, where we are currently also building an efficient sales and distribution organization."

In Hartville, industrial tyres are manufactured for material-handling vehicles such as forklifts. The unit has about 200 employees, of whom about 115 are involved in production.

The production will be transferred successively to Sri Lanka in 2008. Production in Hartville is expected to continue until the first quarter of 2009. Subsequently, there will continue to be resources in sales, technical service and distribution in North America.

Trelleborg Wheel Systems' two plants in Sri Lanka, in Kelaniya and Biyagama, outside Colombo has around 900 employees.

"We have conducted business successfully in Sri Lanka for many years, and with this investment, we are improving the operations further," says Maurizio Vischi.

"The investment in extended production capacity will involve upgraded production and enhanced efficiency, and we expect to handle the additional volume within the framework of the current workforce.

We have an excellent skills base in place and another benefit is that Sri Lanka has a first-rate location with proximity to good supplies of raw materials.

"The investment in production in Sri Lanka amounts to about Swedish Krone 100 M, of which a large portion is attributable to the production transfer.

The costs of closure and relocation of production from Hartville are expected to amount to about Swedish Krone 30 M before tax, most of which will mainly affect cash flow in 2007.

The positive earnings effect is estimated to amount to about Swedish Krone 35 M before tax on an annual basis, with full impact from the third quarter of 2009.

Costs and investments related to the transfer of production are expected to have a payback time of less than three years, while this will also create a better strategic position for the future."