Global provider of industrial consumable products and services, Xerium Technologies has commissioned its new plant in Corlu, Turkey, which will serve customers in Turkey, Southeast Europe and the Middle East. 

 

“Xerium has conducted business in the region for many decades as an exporter, and has now built an indigenous supply capability,” it said in a press release. 

 

The new plant took over two years to design, build, equip and commission and will continue to ramp production capabilities throughout the third quarter. 

 

The facility contains state-of-the-art rolls and services machines from Europe, while Xerium has transferred all of its best practices and all of its patented technology solutions to the region. 

 

“The plant has state-of-the-art information systems and supply chain interfaces and is conducting business from an SAP technology platform,” it added.

 

“For the first time ever, customers in the region will receive locally provided & locally optimised state-of-the-art rubber extrusion technology and polyurethane technology,” Xerium informed. 

 

The Corlu plant will be able to service large rolls from any industry or application, since it has one of the largest grinding machines in this region and was built to handle rolls up to 80 metric tons in weight.

 

According to Xerium, the commercial objective is to provide machine optimization solutions with world-class technology, short lead times, and a local cost structure. 

 

Xerium further added that this new business start-up is part of Xerium’s investment strategy to realign its global business model and global factory locations to line up with growth markets in the world.

 

The Xerium team in Duren, Germany trained the operations team and helped install and transfer the company’s technology and best practices. 

 

The operational startup has been led by Bernd Hahne, global vice president for all of Xerium’s rolls and service plants.

 

Harold Bevis, CEO of Xerium said, “This new business start-up is an important part of the new business strategy being deployed at Xerium, which is to reposition the company into growth markets.” 

 

“We are excited that this new business is underway selling machine clothing, performing on-machine service, and performing in-factory service,” Bevis too added. 

 

Xerium Technologies with 25 manufacturing facilities in 12 countries around the world employs approximately 3,100 employees. (AR)