Recent Years

Restructuring Initiatives

-One major organizational change of  Freudenberg & Co. KG came into effect on January 1, 2011. Freudenberg's classic sealing business, which had previously been conducted on a regional basis by the Freudenberg Seals and Vibration Control Technology Business Group in Europe and the Company (Formerly, Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership Business Group) in North and South America, was brought together in the Freudenberg Sealing Technologies Business Group. Therefore, the Company changed its name to Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies and Vibracoustic North America, L.P., the vibration control business of the Company, was spun-off as Vibracoustic.

-In 2009, to conclude its capacity adjustment actions initiated, the Company completed the closure process for the plants in Spencer, Iowa, USA, and Germantown, Wisconsin, USA.

Acquisitions

-In Feb. 2007, the Company acquired the assets of Precision Industries Corporation of Germantown, Wisconsin, a developer and manufacturer of specialized custom diaphragms. (From a press release on Oct. 31, 2007)

-In Feb. 2005, Vibracoustic North America, L.P., the vibration control business of the Company, announced that it acquired the assets of Gates AirSprings, a division of Gates Corp.

Contract

-In 2008, General Motors selected the Company as a development partner for the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in electric vehicle which uses over 200 seals in its battery cooling system. The Volt is scheduled for introduction to the mass market in 2010.

-Sigma Freudenberg NOK, a joint venture between the Company and Sigma (India) becomes the sole supplier of engine and drive train seals for Tata Nano. (From a press release on Jan. 15, 2008)

Awards
-Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) Outstanding Achievement Award - 2009

-Hino Quality Award for Outstanding Performance – 2009

-CAMI #1 Supplier: 700,000 Parts Shipped Zero Defects – 2009

R&D Structure

-In 1999, the Company's headquarters located in Plymouth, Michigan, expanded and the Company has a state-of-the-art 35 million US dollar Technical Center.

 

Product Development

Surface treatment process Reduced Friction by Nanotechnology (RFN) method
-In 2011, the Simrit Division of the Company has developed an advanced surface treatment process Reduced Friction by Nanotechnology (RFN) method. Applications that require low stiction and long service life, such as valve sealing components and diaphragms, can greatly benefit from Simrit's RFN treatment. RFN treated surfaces have shown a 70 percent reduction in static coefficient of friction (COF). (From a press release on April 25, 2011)

Energy Saving Seal (ESS)
-In 2010, the Company developed a new radial shaft seal - Energy Saving Seal (ESS) - designed to limit power loss by reducing friction. (From a press release on Feb.11, 2010)

New Oil Seal for Heavy duty trucks (MileMaker)
-In 2010, the Simrit Division of the Company developed MileMaker, a new oil seal for heavy duty truck wheel and axle applications. The MileMaker seals operate with over 50 percent less torque than conventional seals and help realize fuel-saving benefits. (From a press release on Mar. 26, 2010)

Investment Outside USA

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-In Jan, 2005, Sigma Freudenberg NOK, a joint venture, opened the new production plant in Mohali, Northern India. The production of Simmerrings for both the local and export markets has already been successfully initiated.