19 Jun 2013
ERJ staff report (BC)
Darmstadt, Germany and Bursa, Turkey –TrelleborgVibracoustic and HSS Otomotiv have closed a joint venture agreement to form a new company for the global supply of commercial vehicle air springs, following antitrust clearance. The JV was first announced in March.
The new company will be called Vibracoustic CV Air Springs GmbH and will be headquartered in Hamburg, Germany.
HSS Otomotiv chairman Ramazan Sahin said: “With the formation of this joint venture we have become the second biggest air spring manufacturer in Europe and the third largest worldwide.”
TrelleborgVibracoustic is well positioned in the premium air spring segment, supplying its Aircruise brand to the major European heavy truck, bus and trailer manufacturers. HSS Otomotiv has a large share of the air spring aftermarket under the Blacktech brand, which has a strong reputation in the market for quality products at all stages of the vehicle lifecycle. Joining these two strong brands together creates a broader product offering for both the OEMs and distributors, a complete portfolio of air springs for chassis, cabin and seat applications.”
Vibracoustic CV Air Springs will employ around 600 people worldwide with sites in Germany, Hungary, Turkey, North America and China. TrelleborgVibracoustic will hold 50.1 percent of the shares; the former owners of HSS Otomotiv/Blacktech will hold 49.9 percent.
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