Tristone eyes Serbia for new automotive hose factory

London – German manufacturer of automotive fluid systems Tristone Flowtech is planning to build a new production facility in the central Serbian city of Paracin, according to local authorities.

Paracin municipal assembly approved the go ahead with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the city’s mayor and the Frankfurt-based hose-maker last month, said a recent news release by the Paracin municipality.

According to the local authority, Tristone has twice submitted a letter of intent to build a factory in Paracin’s Zmic Inudstrial Zone, in an area spanning 9.2 hectares. The €30-million facility, it stated, will create 1,000 jobs over three phases.

Construction work on the project, according to local reports, is set to begin in early 2023 with operations scheduled for end of 2023.

Reports of the planned factory follow Tristone’s prediction earlier this year of a ‘steep growth’ in sales, helped by “ongoing start-ups in China, Europe, North America, and India.”

The decision to invest in Europe also comes after Tristone permanently closed down its production facility in Moorsville, North Carolina, only two years after opening the plant.

A spin-off of the former Fluid Automotive business unit of Trelleborg AB in July 2010, Tristone operated as a stand-alone company until February 2017 when it was acquired by the Zhongding Group.

The company currently has 10 existing production plants in Mexico, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, India and China.

It is specialised in fluid applications in the areas of motor and battery cooling as well as air charge systems, and supplies parts to major OEMS including Ford, General Motors, VW and BMW.

ERJ has contacted Tristone for further information.