In July 2022, technology group Wärtsilä announced it would reduce its manufacturing capability in Trieste to centralise its 4-stroke engine plant at Vaasa, Finland.
Trieste’s production activities have since been stopped, with manufacturing volumes now concentrated at Vaasa.
Recently, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has agreed to take over the Trieste manufacturing site. As a result, 255 employees and the production facility have been transferred to MSC, with the rest of the buildings and assets to be switched later this autumn.
The full annual cost savings, as well as the transformation costs, are estimated to end in line with the plan announced in July, 2022, with majority of the transformation costs taken as Items Affecting Comparability in 2022/2024 and the savings realised in 2024, Wärtsilä said.
While production activities in Trieste have already been discontinued, the Italian site will remain important for Wärtsilä with R&D, sales, project management, sourcing, service, and training activities still undertaken.
“At the core of our strategy is to shape the de-carbonisation of marine and energy industries, requiring continuous focus on competitiveness and operational efficiency. As planned, we now have a strong European industrial base in Vaasa and will continue to also support our customers with our expertise in Trieste as part of the global Wärtsilä team,” said Håkan Agnevall, Wärtsilä’s President and CEO.
“With this transaction, we are now able to increase clarity to the transferring employees after a period of uncertainty. Wärtsilä in Italy will continue serving our customers through our expert teams in Trieste, Genoa, Naples and Taranto,” added Roger Holm, President of Wärtsilä’s Marine business.
