SODERTALJE, Sweden, Sept. 29, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Scania (Other OTC:SVKBF): Omni plans to shut down the production of bus bodies in Katrineholm during the spring 2004. This operation will be moved to the production site in Poland. The move is intended to help Omni achieve its long-term financial goals and objectives for profitability and competitiveness. This will directly affect about 100 employees who will be offered jobs within the Scania Group. Codetermination negotiations have started.
"By relocating the production to the plant in Poland, where the cost and expenses structure is more advantageous, we are taking a big step towards achieving long-term profitability," said Mr. Hans Hansson, Managing Director of Omni.
The cost for assembling a bus body, which is a labour-intensive operation, is substantially lower in Poland than in Sweden.
The remaining operations in Katrineholm comprise about 75 people, who are involved mainly in development and the assembly of prototypes.
Omni Katrineholm AB, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scania with production plants in Poland and Russia, was founded a couple of years ago when Scania restructured its European bus and coach business. The operations were divided into the industrial production of bus and coach chassis, and the labour-intensive body-building of buses.
For further information, please contact: Mr. Hans Hansson, Managing Director telephone +46 150 72025 mobile +46 70 37016 11
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