Trelleborg Wheel Systems To Establish Spartanburg Facility, Create 150 Jobs

May 6, 2014

$50 Million Investment Represents Company’s First North American Facility For Agricultural Tires
COLUMBIA, SC – May 6, 2014 – Leading global supplier of off-road tires, Trelleborg Wheel Systems, has selected Spartanburg County for the company’s first North American manufacturing facility that will produce radial tires for agricultural machinery. The $50 million investment is expected to create approximately 150 jobs by 2018.

The new, 430,000-square-foot facility will be located on Trelleborg’s existing premises in Spartanburg, which includes Trelleborg Coated Systems US, Inc. The location will provide Trelleborg Wheel Systems advantages in supplying the North American agricultural equipment market by introducing domestic manufacturing of the tire line. The facility will be strategically important to the company’s growth, supporting the company’s global production of radial tires for both original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and tire dealers. Production of these agricultural equipment tires is expected to commence in late 2015.

The company’s investment also includes new, state-of-the-art equipment designed according to the latest Trelleborg technology standards. The new machinery, which will also be installed by 2018, will cater to market growth and ensure that OEMs, dealers and farmers alike benefit from Trelleborg’s proximity and product availability.

Trelleborg Wheel Systems Americas is a division of the Italy-based Trelleborg Wheel Systems business area, which is part of the Trelleborg Group. Trelleborg Group was founded in 1905 and is a publicly traded company with annual global sales of $3.3 billion. The parent company is headquartered in Trelleborg, Sweden and has more than 15,000 employees in over 40 countries with approximately 90 manufacturing plants worldwide.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project.

“In coming to Spartanburg County, we’ll be located in a modern facility in a prime location, capitalizing on existing partnership agreements with major OEMs and distributors while facilitating the transfer of technology from one part of the world to another. Although we already sell our products in the United States and Canada, local production offers considerably more favorable conditions, thus enhancing our competitiveness,” said Maurizio Vischi, president of the Trelleborg Wheel Systems Business Area.

“We are pleased that Trelleborg will be repurposing their Spartanburg County facility for the Trelleborg Wheel Systems Group. We welcome this international operation, supplying the agricultural industry, and greatly appreciate their investment and job opportunities,” said David Britt, chairman of the Economic Recruitment Committee of Spartanburg County and member of the Economic Futures Group Board.

FIVE FAST FACTS

• Trelleborg Wheel Systems has selected Spartanburg County for the company’s first North American manufacturing facility that will produce radial tires for agricultural machinery.
• $50 million investment is expected to create 150 jobs by 2018.
• The new, 430,000-square-foot facility will be located on Trelleborg’s existing premises in Spartanburg, which includes Trelleborg Coated Systems US, Inc.
• Production of these agricultural tires will commence in late 2015.
• The new machinery, which will be installed by 2018, will cater to market growth and ensure that OEMs, dealers and farmers benefit from Trelleborg’s proximity and product availability.

About Trelleborg Wheel Systems:
Trelleborg Wheel Systems is a leading global supplier of tires and complete wheel systems for agricultural and forest machinery, forklift trucks and other materials-handling vehicles. The company offers highly specialized solutions to create added value for customers. Trelleborg is a partner to leading manufacturers of tractors and agricultural machines. It has annual sales of about 485 million EUR, over 3,000 employees and eight manufacturing facilities around the world.

About Trelleborg:
Trelleborg is a world leader in engineered polymer solutions that seal, damp and protect critical applications in demanding environments. Its innovative engineered solutions accelerate performance for customers in a sustainable way. The Trelleborg Group has annual sales of about SEK 21 billion (EUR 2.5 billion, USD 3.3 billion) in over 40 countries. The Group comprises five business areas: Trelleborg Coated Systems, Trelleborg Industrial Solutions, Trelleborg Offshore & Construction, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions and Trelleborg Wheel Systems. In addition, Trelleborg owns 50 percent of TrelleborgVibracoustic, a global leader within antivibration solutions for light and heavy vehicles, with annual sales of approximately SEK 15 billion (EUR 1.7 billion, USD 2.3 billion) in about 20 countries. The Trelleborg share has been listed on the Stock Exchange since 1964 and is listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm, Large Cap.