Concentric opens European hydraulics centre in Hof, Bavaria


Concentric AB has opened a new plant in Hof, Bavaria, consolidating all its
European hydraulics manufacturing operations into a single site.
The inauguration of the new 9,000 m² Hof facility is the culmination of a SEK36
million (approximately €4.2 million) restructuring programme to create one
centre of excellence for Concentric's hydraulics technology and manufacturing in
Europe. It involves the closure of the existing older plants in Hof and Skånes
Fagerhult, Sweden and the gradual transfer of all production lines into the new
facility during 2013.

The Swedish plant has now completed the transfer of the business and ceased all
production, in line with the previously announced restructuring programme, and
deliveries of Concentric power packs from the new Hof plant are already under
way.   Other production lines including the company's range of hydraulic pumps,
motors and flow dividers will be transferred in a staged programme through the
remainder of 2013 and it is anticipated that the old Hof plant will finally
close at the end of the year after a working life of some 125 years.

Like Concentric's American centre of excellence in Rockford, Illinois, the new
Hof plant is designed to create a “best in class” hydraulics facility in the
region. This announcement completes the reorganisation of the company's
hydraulics business (formerly known as Haldex Hydraulics Division) which became
part of Concentric AB when it was formed in June 2011, following the break-up of
the Haldex Group.

The project is being run according to the Concentric Business Excellence model
and so lean manufacturing principles have been applied across the multiple
manufacturing channels. The new plant in Hof represents approximately 30% more
space than that of the two old plants combined, providing ample capacity for
future growth. The consolidation within a single plant will deliver significant
economies of scale as well as offering customers a single point of contact for
customer service, applications support, design engineering, quality and
logistics.

Wim Goossens, Concentric's Senior Vice President of Europe and Rest of World
(RoW), commented: “Consolidating our European hydraulics business not only
delivers synergies and enhanced co-ordination but also maximizes the great
tradition of engineering excellence we enjoy in Hof. Concentric AB believes
strongly in the growth potential of the hydraulic business and the new facility
is evidence of our growing strength in the market.”

Concentric's range of Haldex branded hydraulic pumps, motors, power packs and
flow dividers are specified by leading OEMs for a wide range of applications
including lift trucks, aerial work platforms, agricultural equipment,
transmissions, mining, construction and road-building machinery. Applications
include cooling fans, axle cooling systems, rotary drives for agricultural
equipment electro-hydraulic lifts, transmission clutch actuation and
lubrication, auxiliary brake and steering systems.

For further information, please contact David Bessant, CFO, +44 121 445 6545

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