The new facility is a hub for innovation, focusing on research tailored to meet the specific needs of the regional market. Expanding Trelleborg’s presence in the region, it strengthens partnerships with local industries while enhancing responsiveness and competence in the dynamic market landscape in Asia-Pacific. It focuses on a range of advanced sealing technologies, including both material and design innovations. Teams of researchers and engineers will work on developing new solutions that address sector-specific challenges faced by various industries including hydraulics, off-highway and industrial automation.

Dr. Konrad Saur, VP Innovation ? Strategic Business Development with Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, says: “This R&D facility is our second in Asia and our first in India and it significantly enhances our local capabilities. Our R&D centers are essential in driving material and product development, ensuring the performance excellence of our solutions across diverse applications. We've always prioritised substantial investments in R&D to meet the dynamic demands of the industry.

“The facility is part of our strategic approach to get closer to our customers and foster stronger partnerships in the Asia Pacific region and specifically in India. It is configured to meet both global and local needs, particularly in material testing, materials application conditions and media compatibility. This will enable us to effectively address the stringent regulatory compliance and material compatibility requirements that industries are increasingly adhering to.

“We are committed to driving innovation and look forward to forging even stronger partnerships with our customers to help them achieve their goals with our advanced sealing solutions.”

Initially the R&D center will focus on analyzing the physical characteristics like tensile strength, elongation, modulus and tear strength of elastomer compounds, in addition to compatibility of high-performance materials with critical application fluids. Equipment includes aging ovens to conduct compatibility studies in air and fluid media which allows Trelleborg to examine the compatibility of materials with customer-specific fluids, whether locally procured or sourced from global labs.

Future plans include incorporating additional capabilities like analytical testing, benchmark analysis and product testing. It will also support local sales and manufacturing teams during failure analysis or with customer feedback, enhancing the company’s ability to serve customers and improve products. The additional capabilities supplement existing local engineering, simulation and design competence.

Vinay Balakrishnan, General Manager Industrial Asia Pacific, says: “This reflects our dedication to building robust relationships with local companies and industries. We're focused on delivering tailored, high-quality solutions that meet the specific needs of the Indian market, including the demand for durable solutions with long lifetimes. Our aim is to be a trusted partner and a key contributor to the growth and success of our customers in India.

“With the new R&D center, we can partner on early development with customers and validate the designs. It enhances our ability to provide customers and partners with a more personalized and responsive approach to their needs, making us better equipped to collaborate closely with our customers and meet their unique challenges by delivering tailored solutions.”

The investment demonstrates Trelleborg's strong commitment to the Indian market, bringing advanced research capabilities closer to customers to enable quicker and better support.

Salome Martin, Director R&D Services India, says: “This is a big step forward by Trelleborg in the Asia region. The development is carried out in a structured manner understanding the current needs of our customers and developing capabilities, solutions, and technical expertise accordingly.

”The Indian market is different and having a local presence enables this center to focus on the needs of our customers and collaborate with them to meet their growth aspirations.”