Trelleborg buys US manufacturer of marine products

By Liz White, ERJ staff

Trelleborg, Sweden-Trelleborg Group has added US-based Ecoboard, a developer and manufacturer of marine piling and deck constructions, to its marine supply business which offers a wide range of fenders and bouys to port and marina authorities globally.

Ecoboard, which has annual sales of about SKr 20 million (Euro 2.2 million), makes its composite marine piling and decks from recycled polymeric materials.

This acquisition adds to Trelleborg's product range in marine engineering, with port facilities as the primary end-customer, said a 4 Nov statement from Trelleborg.

The acquisition reinforces Trelleborg's leading position in this market, Trelleborg's statement commented. Ecoboard will be fully integrated with Trelleborg's existing US operations, the firm said.

In early 2003, Trelleborg bought Seaward International Inc. of Clearbrook, Virginia, with £22 million (Euro 31.5 million) in annual sales. This business built on its 2001 buy of a $23-million (Euro 18-million) turnover group of companies in Singapore, Germany and Australia, making the Fentek range of fender products.

Mariner fenders are part of Trelleborg Engineered Systems division. Following the acquisitions in recent years, the group now claims to be the world's largest manufacturer of such systems. Major competitors include Bridgestone Corp., Sumitomo Rubber Industries and Metso Trellex.

Trelleborg's sales of marine fender systems have risen tenfold increase since 2000 and the group claims in its annual report currently to be the only player with a complete product portfolio and global presence within this segment.