industrial Heritage Is Retained

After plant closure had been earlier mooted, part of the fabric of Europe's marine diesel engine industry now looks set to be retained following a new proposal for the restructuring of Wartsila's operations in the Netherlands. Wartsilii is now prepared to outsource manufacturing of engine components at the extensively modernized Zwolle factory, selling the production capacity to an outside supplier. In addition, the Finnish group will develop its maintenance and repair services at the works, and continue local sales activities.

Although engine design and assembly would, as originally foreseen, be relocated to Wartsila's Trieste complex in northeastern Italy, the revised plan would avert the shutdown of Zwolle, hitherto the production point for the Wartsilii 26 and 38-series engines. The service function had also been slated for transfer to the unit in Schiedam, near Rotterdam.

At the time of writing, discussions were underway with personnel on the details of the proposed solution, but this appeared to have received general support.

Other stories from April 2002 issue

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First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.