Swedish industrial group Trelleborg has signed an agreement to acquire the privately owned Australian solid tyre distributor Solid Service Group, which has about 40 employees and annual sales of approximately AUD11.2 million (USD9.9 million).

Solid Service Group is one of the largest distributors of solid industrial tyres in Australia, with its head office in Dandenong, outside Melbourne. The group has branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin and Tasmania.

The operation focuses on specialised service for industrial customers, including fixed pressing units and mobile pressing units for onsite fitting of all types of industrial tyres, primarily for various types of forklifts.

"Solid Service Group is a specialised, leading trader in the Australian market for industrial tyres. This acquisition represents an expansion of our presence in the Australian market and strengthens our current logistical network across the continent, creating new opportunities for our own tyre products and for our continued growth in Australia," says Maurizio Vischi, business area president of Trelleborg Wheel Systems.

The acquisition is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2007.