Innovation
We generate customer value by applying proactive and innovative thinking in everything we do.
Innovative thinking is not only associated with products and solutions, but is equally important in all processes. An innovative culture is created by people’s curiosity, questioning approach and willingness to change. Innovation is one of Trelleborg’s core values and an important element in our competitiveness.
- Leading expertise in engineering, applications and polymers.
- Solving our customers’ existing and future requirements by focusing on continuous development.
- A culture and attitude that is dynamic and open to change.
- Curiosity, continuously challenging and basing actions on ways in which we can improve.
With technology and a base of in-depth materials know-how, Trelleborg develops a variety of solutions that satisfy the specific needs of various industrial customers. The function is the same: to seal, damp and protect to secure values in demanding environments. Research and development is conducted at three levels.
The first level comprises fundamental physical and chemical materials know-how concerning polymers and other materials. The second level involves applications expertise within the Group’s global market segments. The third level is the specific design of products and solutions.
Our development units throughout the world are at the disposal of our customers. These provide advanced equipment for sound analysis, pressure, temperature and load simulation,measurement of wear and friction, system analysis and non-linear material analysis. An extensive test function exists to guarantee lasting quality.
Among other parameters, we test compression, fatigue, pressure resistance, wear, load, vibration and sound. In the final phase, testing of prototypes and finished products is often performed at the customer’s facility and under realistic conditions.
At a number of the development units, there is fundamental physical and chemical materials know-how regarding polymers and other materials and, accordingly, capacity to develop technology, including strategic products and materials. Examples include the proprietary materials Turcon® and Isolast® that are used in a number of sealing solutions.
We customize polymers and combine them with other materials to obtain unique properties, such as elasticity and resistance to various stresses in a number of demanding environments. In such products as seals, fenders and antivibration mounts, polymers are combined with other materials and electronics to form intelligent solutions to advanced technical problems in diverse industries.
During 2010, research and development expenditure amounted to SEK 487 M (482),corresponding to about 2 percent (2) of sales.