Trelleborg Establishes New Purpose Built U.S. Facility
Trelleborg’s marine systems operation announces plans to further enhance its manufacturing capabilities with the opening of a brand new, purpose built facility in Berryville, Virginia, U.S.
As part of ongoing investment in its U.S. operations, Trelleborg Marine Systems will relocate all of its existing employees from its current site in Clear Brook, Virginia, to operate from Berryville. The development of the state-of-the-art facility is expected to be complete towards the end of 2014.
The new site will house a 45,000 square foot manufacturing facility for foam-based marine fenders and buoys, as well as an 9,000 square foot sales and business development office.
Customer-focused approach
Richard Hepworth, President of Trelleborg Marine Systems, says: “At Trelleborg’s marine systems operation, our customer focused approach ensures that we are continuously looking for ways to improve our offering. It is essential that we are best placed to meet ever-growing customer demands, both in terms of capacity and developing innovative, cost-effective solutions that enhance safety, and improve efficiency and performance in demanding marine environments.”
As part of its ongoing commitment to accelerating performance in a sustainable way, Trelleborg is also investing heavily in new, advanced polyurethane spraying and foam winding equipment, which will further increase production efficiencies.
High speed test rig
The facility will also contain a new state-of-the-art high speed test rig capable of testing both full size rubber and foam fenders in accordance with PIANC guidelines.
“Testing is critical to ensuring our portfolio remains at the leading edge. To complement our world leading materials testing programme, we’re adding full scale testing facilities which will ensure products perform above and beyond customer expectations. Whilst our Clear Brook facility has served us well, the market is evolving rapidly and our commitment to quality means we need to keep pace through truly cutting edge capabilities,” continues Hepworth.
New Houston office
Trelleborg’s marine systems operation has recently opened a new regional sales office in Houston, Texas, U.S. Joining colleagues from Trelleborg’s offshore operation in its facility. The Houston office will serve the local U.S. and Gulf of Mexico region across all five product areas of Trelleborg’s marine operations: marine fender systems, oil & gas transfer technology, vessel technology, docking & mooring and marine products.
As the Trelleborg Marine Systems representative in the global capital for oil and gas, the new office will offer business development support, on behalf of the whole business unit, to global projects requiring assistance from within the region.
Both the new manufacturing facility in Berryville and the new Houston office will be strongly supported by the engineering and design center of excellence in Ahmedabad, India.
Press Release, May 12, 2014; Image: Trelleborg
