Wärtsilä Corporation will invest in the manufacture of steerable thrusters in China and the Netherlands. The investment value is Euro 8.7 million.
In China, Wärtsilä will invest in the machinery and assembly equipment for the manufacturing of Lips Compact Thrusters in the Wuxi factory. This will allow the transfer of the assembly of such smaller type thrusters from the Netherlands to China during 2007.
In Drunen, the Netherlands, the investment will cover an assembly hall including tooling for the larger Lips Modular Thrusters for offshore applications. The investment will thus enable the Drunen factory to focus on the large thrusters.
The investment will support the expectations for growth in the market. Wärtsilä, for example, is gaining an increasing number of orders from the offshore industry for propulsor units to be supplied to semi-submersible rigs and drill ships as well as pipe-laying and heavy-lift vessels. There is also growth in the numbers of supply and support vessels and offshore terminal tugs to be equipped with Wärtsilä propellers.
The new capacity in China and the Netherlands will come into production by mid 2007.
For further information, please contact Mr Jari Salo, Vice President, Wärtsilä Propulsion, tel +31 416 388 575, mobile +31 6 5101 6594.
Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä enhances the business of its customers by providing them with complete lifecycle power solutions. When creating better and environmentally compatible technologies, Wärtsilä focuses on the marine and energy markets with products and solutions as well as services. Through innovative products and services, Wärtsilä sets out to be the most valued business partner of all its customers. This is achieved by the dedication of more than 13,000 professionals manning 130 Wärtsilä locations in close to 70 countries around the world.
