The rubber goods factory of the French company Strucflex/Pronal located in the municipality of Aljustrel is now part of the Michelin group and will receive an investment of up to three million euros to double its production capacity.
Operating since 2015 in this Alentejo municipality, in the district of Beja, the Strucflex/Pronal factory specializes in the production of products based on elastomers and plastomers.
The unit will now receive “a second phase” of investment, “with the doubling of the structure to increase the competitiveness and productivity of these facilities in Portugal”, the executive president of the French company (CEO), Gautier Dezitter, explained to the Lusa agency.
According to this official, the current investment, estimated at between “two and three million euros”, includes the installation of a new autoclave and the creation of another 30 jobs, which will join the approximately 100 already existing.
“We will continue the transfer of technology from France to Portugal, because some products are currently manufactured in France and the idea is to import them here”, indicated Gautier Dezitter.
The CEO of Strucflex/Pronal added that the Aljustrel factory produces articles worldwide and exports to around 70 countries, representing “55 to 60% of the group’s turnover”.
The factory’s portfolio includes the production of products for the defense, environmental, mechanical and fuel industries, as well as tanks for water, hydrocarbons and unconventional gases, heavy duty pads, rock fall pads, palletizers for glass bottles and parts for oil rigs.
This new ‘stage’ of the factory in the Alentejo municipality of Aljustrel comes at a time when the company joined the Michelin group, which opens up ‘new horizons’ for the future.
“Being part of the Michelin group will be beneficial for us, both in terms of business development and our industrial growth strategy”, acknowledged Gautier Dezziter.
The CEO added that, currently, Stucflex/Pronal “is an SME [pequena e média empresa] whose development of new products is limited due to financial constraints”.
“Joining the Michelin group allows us to take that step forward” and “enter other sectors and develop new products”, particularly for civil aviation, he indicated.
Gautier Dezitter also highlighted that Strucflex/Pronal could contribute to the diversification of Michelin’s activities, at a time when the tire market, the group’s traditional business, “is highly competitive”.