Wärtsilä expands in Mexico - opens new modern facilities in Veracruz

11.06.2009

Wärtsilä Corporation Trade and Technical press release 11 June 2009

Wärtsilä today opened its new office and workshop facilities in Mexico, in the city of Veracruz, which is the largest container shipping port in the country and is home to the Mexican Merchant Marine Academy. The new facilities will further expand Wärtsilä’s offering in all market segments, especially in the marine and offshore segments. Since Wärtsilä is a strong player in the automation field, customers from the industrial market will also benefit.

The new facilities, which cover an area of over 4000 m2, have been set up to enhance Wärtsilä’s capabilities in the region. The 1000 m2 new workshop features an optimized layout for equipment, and will expand Wärtsilä’s current services offering to include cylinder head and liner repairs, fuel system, governor and turbocharger maintenance and repair, as well as adding new capabilities for machining operations and increased lifting capacity.

“Increased crude oil activities in the Gulf of Mexico have resulted in an increased demand for our services and associated equipment. Our expansion into these new facilities will strengthen our regional capabilities for engine servicing and overhauls. Furthermore, given the expansion plans for the port and other growth expectations, these new facilities not only enable Wärtsilä to support its customers locally, but enable us to expand our commitment to regional activities,” said Mr Carlos Dguez Romo, Area Manager, Services, Wärtsilä in Mexico.

The workshop’s employees are trained in the disciplines needed to maintain quality products and services, and to fuel growth opportunities. The new facility will be able to benefit from the training services available through the Marine Academy in Veracruz.

Wärtsilä has been present in Veracruz since February 2004. The company’s first Mexican-based service facilities were opened at that time, together with parts processing and logistic operations departments. Since that time, Wärtsilä has been able to offer its Mexican customers a variety of services, including engine retrofits and upgrades, system modifications, propulsion upgrades and overhauls, basic engine component repairs, overhauls of non-Wärtsilä products, and technical seminars.

Wärtsilä’s involvement in Mexico dates back to the 1980s, when it supplied engines, parts and services to a state-owned oil company. Wärtsilä was established in Mexico City in 1993 with the Power Plants division, with the Service division being opened at the beginning of 1998. Wärtsilä has delivered power plants to Mexico, producing a combined generating capacity of more than 115 MWe.

Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total efficiency, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers.
In 2008, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 4.6 billion with 19,000 employees. The company has operations in 160 locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland.

Wärtsilä Corporation, press release