EAST LONDON, South Africa (Oct. 24, 2012)—TrelleborgVibracoustic, the anti-vibration products joint venture formed and launched by Trelleborg A.B. and Freudenberg and Co. K.G. earlier this year, has entered into a joint venture with South Africa's Ikhwezi Investment Holding to manufacture chassis bushings in the country.
The two companies initially are investing about $4.4 million in a new plant for the business, called TrelleborgVibracoustic-Ikhwezi. The company will make its products for Mercedes-Benz's C and E class vehicles and support South Africa's leading supplier of automotive suspension systems, Foxtec-Ikhwezi, TrelleborgVibracoustic said.
TBVC will be the majority owner of the business.
The joint venture headquarters and plant will be located in East London. It is scheduled to start production in 2013 and will initially have a work force of about 21, the company said.