Trelleborg to discontinue motorcycle tire production in Czech Republic

London – Trelleborg is to discontinue the manufacture of motorcycle tires at its production facility in Zlin, Czech Republic, due to persistant inefficiencies at the site.

In a written statement to ERJ, Trelleborg said the output would be absorbed by other manufacturing sites in order to optimise production capacities globally.

“At the Zlín facility, Trelleborg has been dealing with high production costs and an inefficient production flow for manufacturing moto tires for a long time,” said Trelleborg.

The main driver for the decision related to a long-term strategic plan to improve competitiveness across Trelleborg’s global manufacturing network.

Under the restructuring move, said the group statement, Slovenia and India will be the future production sites of moto tires.

Trelleborg said it intends to cease production at Zlin by the end of June, affecting about 130 employees. 

In addition, the move will see the the rubberised steel cords production at the plant transferred to the group's off-road tire production site in Otrokovice. 

“Some of the employees have been offered [opportunities] to transfer to the Trelleborg mixing facility in Zlín," it said.

Some others have been offered options to transfer to Otrokovice, which is within commuting distance from Zlín.

Trelleborg manufactures motorcycle tires, aircraft tires and membranes, and rubberised steel cords at Zlin.

With a total workforce of 215 people, the site also includes a compound mixing facility.