Xerium Announces First Phase of New Press Felt Plant In China
Xerium Announces First Phase of New Press Felt Plant In China
YOUNGSVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Xerium Technologies, Inc. (NYS: XRM) , a leading global provider of industrial consumable products and services, today announced plans to build a new, high-end press felt plant near Shanghai, China. This greenfield plant will employ the industry's most advanced press felt manufacturing technology capable of supplying the highest quality products for the most demanding machines in the region.
Production at the new plant is expected to begin by Q1 2015. Xerium's decision to build a new machine clothing plant in China is based upon several important business reasons.
The company's sales in Asia are growing differentially higher than in other parts of the world and 3rd party market estimates are for these consumption rates to continue for a long time.
There is strong customer preference for the company's high-end press felt products in Asia, especially in tissue. Today, the company supplies products to the region from 21 of its global plants.
Xerium is committed to reducing its overall cost structure by repositioning its manufacturing footprint in low cost countries. Xerium is already expanding its current operations in Mexico, Brazil and China. This investment will be another step forward in that direction and the building plant site is being designed to accommodate future expansions to further lower Xerium's cost structure materially.
This new plant enables quick turns for customers with short lead time and emergency coverage requirements.
The company will fund the investment from its normal cash flow and capital structure and Xerium's overall capital spending will be substantially similar to previous estimates.
"This new low-cost, high-tech plant in China is another big step forward for Xerium," said Harold Bevis, Xerium's President and CEO. "This state-of-the-art facility will produce the most advanced press felts in the world and its quality processes are being modeled after our plant in Gloggnitz, Austria, which will create one of the best press felt facilities in the world. It will be a big advancement for our Chinese customers specifically as it will allow Xerium, for the first time ever, to provide quick in-county press felt service to the largest pulp, paper and board market in the world. This new facility will immediately become our lowest cost plant and strengthen our global manufacturing base. This investment decision demonstrates our commitment to making material changes to improve Xerium's go-forward sales and profit business model. Several options exist for the next steps in the China plant evolution, but no decisions have been made yet. We will do one phase at a time in a high-quality, low-cost manner and build from there."
About Xerium Technologies
Xerium Technologies, Inc. (NYS: XRM) is a leading global provider of industrial consumable products and services. Xerium utilizes a broad portfolio of patented and proprietary technologies to provide customers with tailored solutions and products integral to production, all designed to optimize performance and reduce operational costs. With 28 manufacturing facilities in 12 countries around the world, Xerium has approximately 3,200 employees.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "goals," variations of such words, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that the statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated. These risks and uncertainties include the following items: (1) our plans to build a new facility in China may not materialize, may cost more or may be delayed longer than we anticipate; (2) once operational, the facility may not provide the benefits we anticipate; and (3) the other risks and uncertainties discussed elsewhere in this press release, our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, our Form 10-Qs for the quarters ended March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013 and our other SEC filings. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from what we projected. Any forward-looking statement in this press release reflects our current views with respect to future events. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Copies of our SEC filings are available from the SEC and in the investor relations section of our website at www.xerium.com.
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Xerium Technologies, Inc.
Phillip B. Kennedy, 919-526-1444
Investor Relations
IR@xerium.com
KEYWORDS: United States Asia Pacific North America China North Carolina
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:
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