Trelleborg prepares for JV with organisational changes

Swedish company Trelleborg has announced a number of organisational changes in preparation for the start of a light and heavy vehicle anti-vibration solutions joint venture with Germany’s Freudenberg & Co. KG. Trelleborg says the changes will “further strengthen and focus the Group.” The planned reorganisation does not involve company’s tyre making operation, Trelleborg Wheel Systems.

Trelleborg Automotive will now focus upon antivibration solutions and the division’s other operations – polymer boots for drive shafts and steering applications and noise damping solutions for brake systems – will be integrated into Trelleborg Engineered Systems and Trelleborg Sealing Solutions respectively. Through this, Trelleborg believes the operations will “benefit from better efficiency, footprint and access to global marketing structures.”

Trelleborg Engineered Systems will focus on three prioritised areas: offshore and infrastructure construction, general industrial applications and polymer-coated fabrics for advanced industrial applications. Three people will assume new positions in Trelleborg’s Group Management: Denis Blanc, Mikael Fryklund and Dario Porta. Trelleborg’s president and CEO Peter Nilsson will hold overall responsibility for Trelleborg Engineered Systems.

Lennart Johansson, Trelleborg Engineered Systems current president, and current president of Trelleborg Automotive, Jim Law, have been appointed as the Trelleborg Group’s representatives within the management board of the Trelleborg-Freundenberg joint venture company. Trelleborg president and CEO Peter Nilsson will become the joint venture company’s chairman. Completion of the joint venture transaction is subject to the approval of the relevant competition authorities.

“We are preparing for the joint venture of anti-vibration solutions for light and heavy vehicles by concentrating Trelleborg Automotive into a business entirely focused on solutions for anti-vibration,” explained Peter Nilsson. “Those operations that will be integrated into other parts of the Group will have a better foundation for continued development and growth. We are also strengthening Trelleborg Engineered Systems with a more efficient organisation, with shorter decision-making and even more active portfolio management as they will be focused on prioritised areas.”