Trelleborg (company)


Trelleborg AB is a global engineering group focused on polymer technology, with headquarters in Trelleborg, Sweden, with approximately 24,000 employees, and with yearly revenue of 34 billion SEK. Its stock has been publicly listed on stock exchanges since 1964, and currently is listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm, large cap. It has operations in about 50 countries and describes its mission as the development of "engineered polymer solutions that seal, damp and protect critical applications in demanding environments".

History

The company was founded in 1905 as "Trelleborgs Gummifabriks AB" by Henry Dunker and Johan Kock, who were both already active in the rubber industry. Initially, the company had 150 employees and produced bicycle tires and rubber for industrial applications. During World War I, the Swedish Armed Forces placed substantial orders.
By the mid 1930s, the number of employees had reached 1,000. Beginning in the 1950s, the share of revenue from sales outside of Sweden increased; in 1950, it was 4%, and in 1970, it was 40%. In 1964, Trelleborgs Gummifabriks AB was floated at the Stockholm Stock Exchange. The current name was adopted in 1977. Between 1983 and 1991, the strategy was to act as a wide-ranging industrial conglomerate, with a particular focus on mining and metals. Later, the company's focus returned to rubber products. In 1999, the scope was further narrowed by specializing in industrial applications. In 2003, polymer-based precision seals were added to the product offerings. In 2009 the European Commission fined several marine hose producers, among them Trelleborg AB, "...for participating in a cartel for marine hoses between 1986 and 2007 in violation of the ban on cartels and restrictive business practices in the EC Treaty and the EEA Agreement." In mid 2012, Trelleborg and Freudenberg formed a 50/50 joint venture in antivibration solutions for light and heavy vehicles, TrelleborgVibracoustic. In summer 2016, Trelleborg divested all of its shares to Freudenberg and that concluded the Automotive antivibration journey.

Operations

Trelleborg AB is divided into the following business areas:
Trelleborg AB was in 2011, according to Rubber & Plastics News, the third largest player in the world market for non-tire rubber products.
Ranking by salesCompanyCountry
1Continental A.G.Germany
2Hutchinson S.A.France
3Trelleborg ABSweden
4Freudenberg GroupGermany
5Bridgestone CorpJapan
6NOK Inc.Japan
7Tokai Rubber Industries Ltd.Japan
8Pinafore Holdings B.V.United Kingdom
9Cooper-Standard AutomotiveUnited States
10Parker-Hannifin Corp.United States

The net sales for 2018 had the following geographical distribution:
RegionShare of sales
Western Europe48%
Rest of Europe10%
North America22%
Asia and other markets16%
South and Central America4%

Ownership

The 10 largest shareholders of Trelleborg AB, as of December 31, 2018:
NoShareholderPercent of share capitalPercent of votes
1Dunker Fund & Foundations10.70%54.01%
2Didner & Gerge Funds6.20%3.20%
3Allianz Global Investors5.00%2.60%
4Janus Henderson Investors4.40%2.30%
5AMF Insurance & Funds3.70%1.90%
6Lannebo Funds3.50%1.80%
7First Swedish National Pension Fund2.80%1.40%
8Vanguard2.40%1.20%
9Handelsbanken Funds2.40%1.20%
10Norges Bank1.90%1.00%

Governance

Since April 26, 2018, Hans Biörck has been Chairman of Trelleborg AB. The following table lists the chairmen in chronological order since the company was founded.
PeriodChairman
August 24, 1905 – December 18, 1909Gustaf Lagergren
December 19, 1909 – May 1, 1945Johan Kock
May 2, 1945 – May 3, 1962Henry Dunker
May 17, 1962 – May 24, 1965Lars Gunnar Ohlsson
May 25, 1965 – May 25, 1970Hadar Hallström
May 26, 1970 – May 17, 1976Lars Gunnar Ohlsson
May 18, 1976 - May 30, 1985Åke Ståhlbrandt
May 31, 1985 – May 30, 1990Ernst Herslow
May 31, 1990 – April 23, 2002Rune Andersson
April 24, 2002 – April 23, 2013Anders Narvinger
April 24, 2013 – April 25, 2018Sören Mellstig
April 26, 2018 –Hans Biörck

Since October 1, 2005, Peter Nilsson has been president and CEO of Trelleborg AB. The following table lists the presidents and CEOs in chronological order since the company was founded.
PeriodPresident and CEO
August 24, 1905 – May 17, 1947Henry Dunker
September 1, 1939July 21, 1949 Hilding Ståhlbrandt
August 29, 1949 – May 17, 1976Åke Ståhlbrandt
May 18, 1976 – April 30, 1983Arne Lundqvist
May 1, 1983 – May 30, 1990Rune Andersson
May 31, 1990 – January 26, 1999Kjell Nilsson
January 27, 1999 – February 8, 1999Hans Porat
February 9, 1999 – September 30, 2005Fredrik Arp
October 1, 2005 –Peter Nilsson