STOCKHOLM, Sweden—Trelleborg Industrial Solutions has entered into an agreement to purchase Schwab Vibration Control from the Freudenberg Group for an undisclosed amount.
Headquartered in Velten, Germany, where it operates a production plant, Schwab is a German and Swiss manufacturer of industrial anti-vibration components and systems, mainly for the rail industry.
In addition to the Velten factory, the acquired firm has engineering and sales offices in Adliswil, Switzerland, and Laudenbach, Germany, Freudenberg said.
Completion of the transaction, expected to be finalized in the fourth quarter, is subject to the approval of relevant authorities.
“The acquisition is part of a wider strategy to enhance the service Trelleborg's anti-vibration solutions operation provides its customers, extending its geographical reach across Europe and expanding its international distribution network,” a Trelleborg spokeswoman said.
Schwab offers a broad and complementary product portfolio to Trelleborg, mainly within anti-vibration for rail original equipment manufacturers and rail authorities, off-highway vehicles and dedicated industrial segments, according to Mikael Frylund, business area president for Trelleborg Industrial Solutions, a Trelleborg A.B. business.
He said Stockholm-based Trelleborg Industrial Solutions' expertise within the anti-vibration sector will be enhanced by the acquisition because “Schwab offers world-class, cutting-edge engineering and solutions.”
Schwab is a niche company with a strong presence in hydraulic anti-vibration technology in Europe, the Trelleborg spokeswoman noted.
She said the purchase strengthens Trelleborg's anti-vibration products operation within rail and industrial applications in the European region.
But she said Trelleborg and Schwab combined only will gain a smaller part of the total rail and industrial market for industrial anti-vibration goods.
However, once the transaction is finalized, Frylund noted that the combined offerings of Trelleborg and Schwab will be extended into markets such as North America, China, Southeast Asia and India.
Trelleborg's anti-vibration operation focuses on rubber-to-metal bonding for the removal of unwanted noise and vibration in the off-highway vehicle, rail and mass transit, marine, energy and general industry sectors.
Under Trelleborg, Freudenberg said in a prepared statement, Schwab has an opportunity to continue to grow and expand internationally.
Products it produces for the rail market include air springs systems, bearer springs, Chevron primary suspensions, mounts and hourglass springs, the spokeswoman said.
Schwab's products include spherical mounts and bushes, air springs, layered springs and axle guiding bushes.