Auto supplier opens plant in Rayong

TrelleborgVibracoustic, which supplies automotive and commercial vehicle companies with anti-vibration solutions, will use the plant to produce engine mounts, chassis mounts and body mounts for local customers such as Ford, GM, Nissan and Volvo.

"With our new production site in Rayong, TrelleborgVibracoustic is strengthening its global footprint in one of the world’s most important automobile growth markets" said Jim Law, member of the management board of TrelleborgVibracoustic, in his speech at the opening ceremony. Guests from customers, suppliers and local authorities took a look inside the world of vibration control technology during a plant tour. "Many OEMs welcome our presence in Thailand," said Matthias Sckuhr regional president for China and Asia/Pacific at TrelleborgVibracoustic.

"By setting up operations in Thailand, we strive to expand our customer base with focus on Japanese OEMs. After all, due to import tariffs, in particular, car manufacturers in Thailand want to purchase more locally-manufactured parts," he said.

The new facility is located in the Hemaraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate close to Ford, GM, Suzuki and other OEMs. Starting with 30 employees, it is planned that until 2018 a workforce of around 200 will produce chassis mounts, engine mounts and dampers for local customers and export. The site is the company’s 39th in the world and represents the first operation of a western supplier for automotive anti-vibration solutions in Thailand.

"An important point is also the rapid availability of components. With a local supplier network, our customers can reduce their storage capacity and cut costs in terms of logistics," Sckuhr said.

By improved direct links to locally-producing manufacturers, TrelleborgVibracoustic strives to achieve further growth in that region.

Thailand is one of the 15 largest automobile producers in the world and has the ambitious goal of becoming the automotive centre of the Asean alliance, which currently covers ten countries in Southeast Asia.

By 2020, production in Thailand is expected to increase to five million vehicles per year.

TrelleborgVibracoustic was founded as a joint venture by Freudenberg and Trelleborg in 2012, the company generated sales of approximately 1.8 billion Euro in 2014. TrelleborgVibracoustic has around 10,000 employees at 39 locations in 19 countries. It develops and produces powertrain and chassis components for automotive vibration control.