Trelleborg begins coolant hose production in Brazil

SAO PAULO, Brazil (March 27)—Trelleborg Automotive Americas, a unit of Trelleborg A.B., recently began production of low-pressure coolant hose at its Brazilian plant. It invested about half a million dollars to install an extrusion line and hired another 10 to 15 people to run it, said Mark Brooks, president of the American company. Instead of having a braided design like competitive hose, Trelleborg's product improves performance and costs less by utilizing proprietary fiber technology acquired with Laird P.L.C's Automotive Components Division in 2000, he said. Trelleborg currently produces the hose in France. Initial coolant hose production in Brazil is for Renault S.A., but General Motors Corp. also is interested "because of the localization opportunities," Brooks said.