“Business As Usual” As Trelleborg Acquires All Of TWS

The joint venture company Trelleborg Wheel Systems was officially founded on January 1st 1999, with 60% owned by Swedish manufacturer Trelleborg and 40% by Pirelli. The joint venture brought together two complementary brands – Pirelli’s radial range of tractor tyres and the Trelleborg range of cross-ply agricultural, implement and forestry tyres. Thirty months later, it has been announced that Trelleborg has purchased Pirelli’s 40% share of the business, making it the sole owner of TWS.

On 1st June, Maurizio Vischi was appointed President of TWS and he confirmed that the change of ownership would have no noticeable effect on products or quality of service, with both Pirelli and Trelleborg brands continuing in the company’s portfolio. There will be no impact on job numbers as a result of the latest move. Mr.

Vischi declined to reveal the price paid for the 40% share, but he revealed that the eventual sale of Pirelli’s share had been written into the original joint venture agreement, and the price was agreed at that time. Despite the sale, the close relationship with Pirelli will continue, said Mr. Vischi; TWS supplies compounds to Pirelli’s factories in north Italy, while Pirelli supplies TWS with rubberised fabrics for its tyres.

In addition, both companies buy their raw materials jointly. In some countries, for example Switzerland or Greece, it is not economic to set up a sales force from scratch, and TWS products are sold through the existing Pirelli sales organisations. These commercial partnerships will continue, said Mr.

Vischi. Something that will change later on in the year is the introduction of a range of radial tyres, branded Trelleborg and made in the factory at Tivoli – the first Trelleborg tyres to be made there. The first of these is the TM 2000, which is a radial for harvesting machinery and which is due on the market in November.