Tenneco Automotive to make rubber parts in Europe

By Liz White, ERJ staff

Hanover, Germany-Tenneco Automotive has launched its elastomer business in Europe, setting up rubber-part production at its facility in Ermua, Spain.

Tenneco said it will produce torque rods, links and suspension bushings for commercial vehicle customers in Europe-which currently include Land Rover, Case New Holland, and Van Hool.

This business will be able to take advantage of the strong position of Tenneco's Clevite Elastomers brand in North and South American markets, said a Tenneco statement on the expansion.

The operation will also be able to draw on Tenneco's success in the North American commercial vehicle market, added the firm's statement. It will offer parts designed to meet increasing customer demand for better vehicle and cabin stability, better vehicle ride and handling, and noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) reduction.

"We are well-positioned to capture new opportunities in the European commercial vehicle segment with our proven experience in elastomer engineering and production, global manufacturing and programme management capabilities and solutions tailored to specific customer needs," said Lois Boyd, Tenneco's vice president of commercial vehicle and specialty markets, speaking 21 Sept at the International Commercial Vehicle Motor Show (IAA) in Hanover.

As well as making custom-engineered elastomer products including bushings, links and mounts-developed and marketed under the well-known Clevite brand-Tenneco also produces custom-formulated rubber compounds and metal components for its products.

Tenneco's core business is in supplying both ride-control and emission-control products and systems for commercial vehicles, including heavy-duty truck, off-highway, bus and recreational types.

The $3800-million turnover Tenneco Automotive business has its headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois and employs some 19 200 worldwide.