Trelleborg restructuring to include plant closings

TRELLEBORG, Sweden (Oct. 30)—Trelleborg A.B. has closed four plants and cut staff. The company, working to streamline its European anti-vibration systems business and integrate the Laird Automotive Components activities, shut down automotive components plants in Peterborough, England, and Neumunster, Germany, along with two small fluid systems plants in France, and transferred production to other operations, the company said. Trelleborg also has targeted an acoustics products plant in Bow, England, for closing by the mid-2002, At the same time, Trelleborg Automotive has budgeted $14.6 million to build a new anti-vibration components plant at its Leicester, England, site. In addition, Trelleborg Engineered Systems closed its Tianguistenco, Mexico, rubber sheeting plant, resulting in 160 job losses, and Trelleborg Wheel Systems is taking a charge against earnings in the fourth quarter of $14.6 million to $19.5 million to cover restructuring costs.