The roadmap, under development since 2009, aligns FNST more closely with the sustainability objectives of its customers and markets. It will influence what materials the company uses in its products, how it will enforce environmental standards, what processes it adopts and even how it communicates with suppliers about environmental and safety priorities.

 “Freudenberg-NOK’s sustainability roadmap provides the company with a philosophical guide and tactical strategy for developing more environmentally-friendly materials and manufacturing processes,” said Sarah O’Hare, vice president, HR, Communications and Health, Safety and Environment, FNST. “It outlines our environmental priorities and how to achieve them.

 “Freudenberg’s Guiding Principles stress environmental responsibility, people, value to customers and innovation. They are the foundation of the sustainability roadmap,” O’Hare continued. “This document defines the kind of company we are and want to remain – one devoted to initiatives that help our customers and associates achieve technological, environmental and financial success.”

 FNST manufactures elastomeric seals and custom molded products for many industries from automotive and aerospace to medical and heavy industry.  The company will use the sustainability roadmap to push initiatives that lower its energy consumption, and reduce its volatile organic compound emissions (VOCs) by developing products that incorporate water-based rather than hazardous substances.

 The company has begun analyzing its carbon footprint to set a benchmark for its efforts and has partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy and various state universities to conduct energy audits at its U.S. locations.

 “We are implementing sustainability initiatives centrally through our advanced process engineering and materials development organizations,” said Joe Walker, corporate director, Materials Development and Chemical Regulatory Compliance for the Americas. “The roadmap is imperative. It ensures that we apply aggressive safety, environmental and quality standards in every FNST facility and to every product and process we develop.”

For example, the company is pursuing initiatives to reduce the amount of energy it uses in its molding operations and eliminate the amount of engineered scrap it produces. It has begun replacing machinery, presses and lighting in some facilities with more energy-efficient designs. FNST is also sharing its sustainability roadmap with its supply base in an effort to promote collaboration on environmental strategies that will help it achieve these objectives.

 In addition to its own manufacturing practices, FNST is also pursuing products that will help its customers meet new environmental regulations that require lower emissions, better fuel economy and an ability to use alternate fuels.  The company’s Low Emission Sealing Solutions (LESS) program encompasses a number of patented low-friction seals that use less than one-quarter of the energy used by conventional seals. Its new Levitex seals reduce friction by up to 94 percent. Development of other products like a gas-lubricated mechanical seal will help lower gas consumption and tail emissions in the automotive industry. And an extensive research study it has undertaken will help customers evaluate the best sealing materials to use in engines that will run on a variety of biofuels including methanol.

 “FNST’s goal is reduce the environmental impact of its processes, lower its production costs and lower its operations costs all while having a no worse than neutral impact on its performance,” said Walker. “We want our customers to have one global, sustainable sealing solution whether they are in Rome, Georgia, or Rome, Italy.”

  About Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is the Americas joint venture between Freudenberg and Company in Germany and NOK Corporation in Japan. Founded in 1989 under the legal name Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a leading producer of advanced sealing and elastomeric technologies for a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, appliance, diesel engine, agriculture, construction, heavy industry, and alternate energy.

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich., and has facilities throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Malaysia. With annual revenues approaching $US 1 billion, the company employed approximately 4,700 people in 2011. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg-nok.com.

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is part of the Freudenberg & Co. Group of Germany. Freudenberg & Co. is a family of companies specializing in seals and vibration control technology, nonwovens, filtration, lubricants and release agents and other specialty business areas. The Freudenberg Group generated sales of more than $7.8 billion and had 37,000 employees in 2011. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg.com.

 FNST, the world’s largest producer of elastomeric seals and custom molded products, is using its materials expertise, global innovation and market analysis to introduce a line of custom-developed micro-seals that will help customers build increasingly complex systems in tiny packages. The seals are expected to have broad applications in the medical, chemical and even automotive industries, among others.

 “Freudenberg has identified miniaturization as an important megatrend of the future,” said Steve Koch, market director for FNST Special Sealing Products division. “Micro-seals provide Freudenberg-NOK with an excellent opportunity to expand its sealing technology capabilities to new industries and markets.

 “We’ve been making micro-seals in Europe for more than five years and plan to bring the technology to North America so that we can produce the seals where our customers need them.”

 Micro-seals designed for the medical and chemical industries must meet stringent specifications and require a specialized rubber-to-metal bond. To date, most rotary micro seals available are made from Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

  Perfluoroelastomer is formulated for stringent environments and, because it is more elastic than PTFE, is better suited for longer life. FNST’s strong capabilities in molding techniques allow for manufacturing parts with microscopic tolerances. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies in Europe, for example, has successfully manufactured micro-seals that can seal rotating shafts with a diameter of only one millimeter spinning at over 10,000 rpm. These Micro-Simmerrings® are available through Simrit, FNST’s general industry channel.

 Freudenberg currently produces micro-seals at two manufacturing facilities in Europe. The company plans to expand this production to two as yet undisclosed Special Sealing Products Division manufacturing sites in North America in 2013. Timing of a North American manufacturing launch will depend on logistics such as building clean rooms, setting up manufacturing equipment, and assessing demand from customers.

 “Small technology applications are growing in every industry,” Koch said. “At FNST, we work closely with our customers to develop and deliver the best possible products. We push our limits, and that allows them to push the limits of what they can do to stay ahead of their competition. It takes close customer cooperation to develop these seals.”

  About Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is the Americas joint venture between Freudenberg and Company in Germany and NOK Corporation in Japan. Founded in 1989 under the legal name Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a leading producer of advanced sealing and elastomeric technologies for a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, appliance, diesel engine, agriculture, construction, heavy industry, and alternate energy.

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich., and has facilities throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Malaysia. With annual revenues approaching $US 1 billion, the company employed approximately 4,200 people in 2010. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg-nok.com.

 Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is part of the Freudenberg & Co. Group of Germany. Freudenberg & Co. is a family of companies specializing in seals and vibration control technology, nonwovens, filtration, lubricants and release agents and other specialty business areas. The Freudenberg Group generated sales of more than $7.13 billion and had 34,000 employees in 2010. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg.com.

 “With ‘green’ vehicles expected to garner a lot of attention at the North American International Auto Show, we are pleased that Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a leading supplier of products that help automakers’ efforts to meet market demand in this segment,” said Brad Norton, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies. “We are committed to developing innovative products for the cars on the road today and for the concepts that will be available in the future.”

 A common theme in many 2012 vehicles is fuel efficiency and lowered emissions. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies’ new Low-Emission Sealing Solutions (LESS) helps address these automaker demands. The LESS package contains reduced-friction sealing solutions that cut wear and power loss. It contains innovative products that optimize the combustion process, support modern downsizing concepts and make start-stop systems possible.

LESS is paving the way for better performance, enhanced driving pleasure and more efficiency, while contributing to a sustainable reduction in consumption and emissions.  For example, LESS solutions now in production include friction-reduced dynamic seal ranges from the Elastomeric Energy-Saving Seal or the Power-Optimized PTFE Seal.

Special Sealing Solutions

Freudenberg-NOK has developed two new piston seals that reduce friction and lower energy consumption in applications such as mechanical transmissions for the automotive industry. New products include Torque Control Seal (TCS) and D-ring with PTFE enhancement.

The TCS is a friction-optimized bonded piston that was specially developed for translational motion as a transmission shift piston. This seal combines the superior frictional characteristics of PTFE with the rigidity, centering and lip shape (similar to that of a channel gasket) of the bonded transmission piston seal with the metal carrier that was previously used. The TCS is resistant to high temperatures, allows for the mounting of a single part, has an integral piston and offers excellent centering.

The D-ring was developed as a groove seal with PTFE foil enhancement as a friction-optimized piston seal. Developed for use in a reciprocating application, the D-ring with PTFE enhancement is a general-purpose piston seal solution that offers very low coefficient of friction and high heat resistance. Offering a range of designs with different diameters, the seal does not twist, is resistant to gap extrusion and offers simple installation.

Gaskets

Freudenberg-NOK’s gasket division offers a global EPDM compound and gasket design that is ideal for use in coolant circuits using automotive coolants in engines, battery packs, power inverters or other applications using liquid thermal management. This material is currently in use at four major automotive OEMs and one commercial vehicle OEM.

The company’s gasket division has also become a major partner in the electric vehicle and hybrid electric vehicle market by sealing oversized large battery housings. Thanks to its large press equipment, Freudenberg-NOK is able to produce oversized gaskets that are 1.5 meters long x 1 meter wide. They are designed with a double bead for better sealing performances together with limited reaction forces, press-in-place features for fast and easy assembly and can be designed to eliminate water intrusion on “dirty” side external modules or packs.

Fluid Power

With a variety of fluid power products for the automotive industry, Freudenberg-NOK specializes in using the optimum material needed to achieve its customers’ goals. Whether the customer wants to save costs or improve fuel efficiency, Freudenberg-NOK fluid power sealing applications innovate with new materials, such as its transmission seal rings, transmission thrust washers and plastic accumulator pistons.

Freudenberg-NOK’s transmission seal rings are the primary source for PTFE seal rings in North America. The company has developed substantially more durable materials and has the capability to engineer solutions for most seal, groove and bore requirements. In particular, Quantum™, PTFE, PEEK™, Torlon^® and other specialty resins continue to push the boundaries of high value, engineering resins for automotive sealing applications.

With an ever-increasing focus on friction, weight, thickness and axial flatness, Torlon^® transmission thrust washers with a unique, diaphragm-gating technology offer exceptional flatness capability and minimized strength loss typical with standard gating options.

Freudenberg-NOK has also expanded its sealing expertise into other related areas such as metal replacement with thermoplastic designs. The industry-recognized thermoplastic accumulator piston is chemical resistant, cost reducing, has high temperature with high load capabilities and extremely tight dimensional stability, which results in an increased system efficiency, and reduced cost.  

“These solutions only scratch the surface of Freudenberg-NOK’s innovations,” added Norton. “We will continue to solve customer’s needs in the automotive industry to meet current and future sealing requirements.”

About Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is the Americas joint venture between Freudenberg and Company in Germany and NOK Corporation in Japan. Founded in 1989 under the legal name Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a leading producer of advanced sealing and elastomeric technologies for a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, appliance, diesel engine, agriculture, construction, heavy industry, and alternate energy.

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich., and has facilities throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Malaysia. With annual revenues approaching $US 1 billion, the company employed approximately 4,200 people in 2010. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg-nok.com.

 Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is part of the Freudenberg & Co. Group of Germany. Freudenberg & Co. is a family of companies specializing in seals and vibration control technology, nonwovens, filtration, lubricants and release agents and other specialty business areas. The Freudenberg Group generated sales of more than $7.13 billion and had 34,000 employees in 2010. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg.com.

 Norton most recently served as the Speaker for the Office of the Chief Executive (OCE)   In his new role as president, Norton will oversee the ongoing evolution and growth of FST’s regional management functions in the Americas. Norton joined the company in 2007 and has served as president of the company’s Automotive Sealing and Corteco divisions.

 Yoshindo Masumoto, also a previous member of the OCE, will continue in his role as senior vice president, Technology and Quality, and will report to Norton. Masumoto will also assume increased responsibilities for FNST’s quality, materials development, process technology, tooling, advanced product development and manufacturing organizations.

 About Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is the Americas joint venture between Freudenberg and Company in Germany and NOK Corporation in Japan. Founded in 1989 under the legal name Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a leading producer of advanced sealing and elastomeric technologies for a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, appliance, diesel engine, agriculture, construction, heavy industry, and alternate energy.

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich., and has facilities throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Malaysia. With annual revenues approaching $US 1 billion, the company employed more than 4,700 people in 2011. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg-nok.com.

 Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is part of the Freudenberg & Co. Group of Germany. Freudenberg & Co. is a family of companies specializing in seals and vibration control technology, nonwovens, filtration, lubricants and release agents and other specialty business areas. The Freudenberg Group generated sales of more than $7.8 billion and had 37,000 employees in 2011. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg.com.           

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Version 1.1 of MySeal, the free materials application (app) for devices using Android™ and Apple^® operating systems, lets engineers and technicians answer these questions instantly. Developed by Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, the app can be downloaded in English and German and provides users with immediate access to a database of seal materials and the ability to evaluate the best material for a particular industrial use.

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies (FNST) is a leading producer of advanced sealing and elastomeric technologies for a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, appliance, diesel engine, agriculture, construction, heavy industry, and alternate energy.

The easy-to-use MySeal app is FNST’s first foray into cutting-edge knowledge sharing. The service is rounded off by a link to a video about materials on YouTube.

MySeal provides a conduit for users to become more informed on material characteristics, acceptable temperature ranges and final use in suggesting acceptable materials for a particular application. The app also provides other important information such as material alternatives and material specifications.

The idea of business-to-business apps is rapidly gaining popularity: one recent survey found that 42 percent of companies are working on producing a B2B app for their customers and employees.* Apple’s 2011 launch of a B2B App Store platform similarly displays that B2B apps are rapidly gaining traction in the workplace. 

MySeal was first introduced by Freudenberg Sealing Technologies in 2011 as a mobile resource for Apple’s iPhone, iPad or iPod devices. It was expanded in 2012 to support the web-based Android operating system.

Response in Germany to MySeal has been good, notes Luis Lorenzo, vice president, Advanced Product Engineering, FNST. Since the app is also available in English, it can deliver cutting-edge technical information to English-speaking customers in the Americas and other regions.

“Freudenberg pursues innovation in everything it does, and MySeal is no exception,” Lorenzo said. “This mobile app offers engineers and technicians immediate access to material specifications and data that will help guide engineering and design decisions as they unfold. This real-time access to information will allow our customers to establish program parameters that are feasible right from the onset of the product development process.”

 “The MySeal app is a great way for us to improve customer service,” agreed Jeff Michalski, global director of automotive marketing for FNST. “It allows us to hold a wealth of knowledge about sealing materials at our fingertips.”

MySeal can be downloaded free of charge from iTunes, the Apple app store or by visiting FST.com and accessing the MySeal link.

*Research reported by The Guardian’s Apps Blog.

  About Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is the Americas joint venture between Freudenberg and Company in Germany and NOK Corporation in Japan. Founded in 1989 under the legal name Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a leading producer of advanced sealing and elastomeric technologies for a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, appliance, diesel engine, agriculture, construction, heavy industry, and alternate energy. Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich., and has facilities throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Malaysia. With annual revenues approaching $US 1 billion, the company employed approximately 4,200 people in 2010. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg-nok.com.

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is part of the Freudenberg & Co. Group of Germany. Freudenberg & Co. is a family of companies specializing in seals and vibration control technology, nonwovens, filtration, lubricants and release agents and other specialty business areas. The Freudenberg Group generated sales of more than $7.13 billion and had 34,000 employees in 2010. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg.com.

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Freudenberg-NOK, one of the region’s premier employers with facilities in Ashland, Bristol and Northfield, embraces a corporate culture of good corporate citizenship and community responsibility. Associates are encouraged to participate in fundraisers and other charitable events that support local organizations. 

“Our company and our employees care about their communities,“ said Sheila Corneau, Human Resources Lead. “With more than 700 employees in the Lakes Region, Freudenberg-NOK has donated hundreds of volunteer hours and thousands of dollars in financial donations to charities and groups that provide critical services to people throughout the year. We are proud of our employees. Their generosity makes a difference every day, and they embody our corporate values of great people, strong communities and organizational leadership.“

During this holiday season, for example, Freduenberg-NOK associates in Bristol organized a fundraiser for CADY (Communities for Alcohol and Drug-free Youth) and raised more than $800 for the organization. Virtually every employee bought a raffle ticket to support CADY and grabbed a chance to win the grand prize donated by the company, a new laptop and printer. CADY is a non-profit organization which has served the communities of Lin-Wood, Newfound and Pemi-Baker regions since 1999. CADY provides drug and alcohol counseling to teenagers with a focus on comprehensive, outcome-based prevention including environmental prevention strategies and evidence-based programs.

Dozens of other charitable initiatives have been championed by Freudenberg-NOK associates throughout the year, including American Red Cross blood drives, a Knowles Pond Conservation Area cleanup day, support of the Officer Phil Program through the Northfield Police Department, sponsorship of charitable relays and fun runs and helping the Girl Scout’s of America distribute more than  13,000 boxes of cookies. Associates have also hosted a Newfound School District teacher’s workshop, raised money for Tri-County Cap Fuel Assistance, helped organize food pantry drives, supported the New Hampshire Humane Society‘s Push for Pets, taken part in the American Cancer Society‘s Daffodil Days, and particpated in the Secret Santa program with local real estate company, Century 21.

In capping off this year of generostiy, Freduenberg-NOK employees will deliver 24 Christmas food baskets to families in Bristol as part of the company’s ongoing Community Partnership Program that encourages facilities to get involved in community activities.

“Our employees are very special people,“ Corneau said. “They demonstrate enthusiasm and pride at work as well as in their communities, and we are fortunate to have them represent our corporation.“

About Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is the Americas joint venture between Freudenberg and Company in Germany and NOK Corporation in Japan. Founded in 1989 under the legal name Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a leading producer of advanced sealing and elastomeric technologies for a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, appliance, diesel engine, agriculture, construction, heavy industry, and alternate energy. Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich., and has facilities throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Malaysia. With annual revenues approaching $US 1 billion, the company employed approximately 4,200 people in 2010. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg-nok.com.

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is part of the Freudenberg & Co. Group of Germany. Freudenberg & Co. is a family of companies specializing in seals and vibration control technology, nonwovens, filtration, lubricants and release agents and other specialty business areas. The Freudenberg Group generated sales of more than $7.13 billion and had 34,000 employees in 2010. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg.com.

 “As customers demand more and more green products, Freudenberg is driving the innovative development and production of things people and businesses use every day – all made from recycled plastic,” said Leesa Smith, president of Freudenberg North America Limited Partnership and a member of the company’s Global Executive Team. “Our green practices are reflected in the buildings we work in, our daily actions and in the way we manufacture products. This has enabled us to expand our work force in key areas, and we expect the uptick in business to continue.”

Freudenberg North America Limited Partnership, the North American holding company for Freudenberg & Co. of Weinheim, Germany, owns a family of companies which operate 15 unique businesses. Together, these companies provide innovative products and solutions to customers in industries ranging from automotive, aerospace and medical to chemical, oil and gas, and construction.

• Freudenberg Nonwovens, headquartered in Durham, N.C., uses millions of pounds of 100 percent post consumer and post industrial recycled plastic a year to make environmentally sustainable materials for building and construction substrates, landscaping and weedblock materials, residential and commercial wallpaper, carpet backings, filtration devices, and automotive floor mats and carpeting

The company has resumed operation of its recycled polyester fiber line, hired approximately 30 employees over the past year and seen commercial demand for its Lutradur® and Lutradur® ECO recycled plastic products increase.  

• Its partner, Freudenberg Vitech, is an industry leader in the production of nonwoven automotive fabric made from 100 percent post consumer recycled material. It manufactures fabric in its Hopkinsville, Ky., facility for automotive headliners, sun visors, seat backs and packaging trays using fabric made from 100 percent post-consumer PET bottle scrap

The company has landed important industry contracts and increased its work force 30 percent during the past 12 months by developing new technology (and manufacturing methods) that improve the appearance of today’s automotive interiors.

• Freudenberg Household Products, headquartered in an environmentally certified building in Aurora, Ill, manufactures household and institutional cleaning products, including recycled broom fibers. Earlier this year, the company established a joint venture in Aurora with SP Berner Plastics Group S.L to consolidate production of recycled mop and broom components such as handles and bristles. FHP-Berner is hiring more than 50 employees to run the new operations, which were previously held in other global production locations
• Freudenberg Texbond, based in Macon, Ga., recycles more than 1 million plastic drink bottles a day in production of its nonwoven roofing membrane and building materials. Its products address soundproofing, waterproofing and thermal insulation challenges for the construction industry while helping customers meet green purchasing initiatives. Texbond processes the plastic from bottles into polyester fibers, which are further processed into fabric
• Freudenberg Filtration Technologies uses 100 percent post consumer recycled plastic to create the material used in its high-quality commercial and industrial Viledon^® air and liquid filtration systems

These are just some of the many different ways that Freudenberg North America is implementing environmental processes in its products to meet the increasingly stringent green requirements of its customers while increasing employment in local communities.

“By finding new, innovative uses for recycled bottles, we are keeping them out of landfills and setting an example as responsible stewards of the environment,” said Smith. “In fact, Freudenberg recycles more than 377 million plastic drink bottles each year for these innovations –– enough, that if laid end-to-end, would reach around the world more than two-and-a-half times.”

With this continued emphasis on going green in new and innovative ways, Freudenberg North America companies intend to help set industrial environmental benchmarks for generations to come.

About Freudenberg North America Limited Partnership.

Freudenberg North America Limited Partnership, the North American holding company for Freudenberg & Co. of Weinheim, Germany, owns a family of companies that operate 15 unique businesses. Together, these companies provide innovative products and solutions to customers in industries ranging from automotive, aerospace and medical to chemical, oil and gas and construction. Freudenberg North America companies develop and manufacture custom-engineered seals, vibration control technology, filters, nonwovens, release agents, lubricants, expansion joints, household products, and IT software and services.

# # #

Just ask the Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technology (Freudenberg-NOK) team involved in the development of a new clip being introduced this week at the Solar Power International Show in Dallas, Texas Oct. 18-20. The clip, which introduces new materials and faster, cost-effective assembly capabilities to the solar panel industry, grew out of a three-year effort by Freudenberg-NOK to move from a simple existing product to a visionary industry first.

The new patent pending solar panel retaining clip requires no mounting hardware and only two essential parts. Its ergonomic design includes a bolt-free, theft preventing fastening mechanism. Additionally, the solution offers a fast “two step” assembly, is compatible with industry standards and certifications, and because it is an engineered plastic, has endless design and system integration possibilities. The clip is being marketed under the company’s Simrit brand and is on display at Simrit Booth #6831 at the show.

At the heart of this new clip are Freudenberg-NOK’s advanced engineering capabilities and an innovative approach to product development that incorporates in-depth global trend analysis.

The company’s advanced product engineering group relies upon collaborative spirit and communications to integrate employees with different specialties into project teams which explore the potential for new technologies, such as the plastic solar clip. The company’s process for developing ideas starts with a trend analysis that looks at the global market, determines why customers are making certain decisions about a product and explores the future needs of the customers as well as the disadvantages of the product currently on the market.

“Most companies develop products as a reaction to current  market needs but  Freudenberg-NOK’s advanced engineering group systematically assesses the existing market solutions, analyses the overall system function, and  merges current and future requirements  into a footprint  that becomes the basis for innovative product development,” said Jason Kohn, director of product pre-development with Freudenberg. “You have to talk and work together to come up with a solution. You have to talk with customers about their products and fully understand what they expect – from our product and their own.

“Our philosophy is that no existing product is ever good enough and can always be improved upon,” he continued. “Our employees constantly strive to develop the next big idea, and our innovative, plastic solar panel retaining clip is just one example of the power of Freudenberg-NOK’s advanced product engineering process.”

Like all Freudenberg family companies, Freudenberg-NOK embraces a culture of innovation and provides employees with the time and resources needed to pursue that next big idea. Validation and trend analysis play a crucial role in the process. The advanced product engineering group assigns employees to evaluate new technology trends – doing search engine analysis, using Google, talking with consultants, reading white papers, researching the competitors and attending research and development conferences. The results of these studies influence how the company improves current products and pursues new market opportunities.

In developing the plastic solar clip, for example, Freudenberg spent  months meeting with customers to learn how they use standard metal clips, what challenges they present to the industry and how new materials and designs might solve those challenges.  Lead engineer Armin Barth lead this effort and also worked closely with material suppliers to validate what kind of plastic could be used in development of a new solar panel retaining clip.

“It would take 30 years to test the solar clip in real-world conditions so we worked very closely with our materials department and suppliers to insure that the best material was selected based on rigorous laboratory testing,” said Barth. “Real life data was obtained and paired with this testing to ensure that our product is ready for the field.”

Ultimately, Barth and the advanced engineering team consolidated its research into development into this solar industry first.

“We look at what we can offer the customer to convince them to leave the path they’re currently on,” Kohn said. “We show them why our technology is superior. We are not afraid of being the first to try something new and demonstrate why it’s better. A solar retaining clip made of plastic? I am sure the automotive industry asked the same thing about plastic bumpers at one point in time.”

Solar Power International 2011 (SPI), presented by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA), is designed to serve and advance the solar power industry and draws more than 24,000 professionals representing over 128 countries. SPI ’11 takes place Oct. 17 – 20 at the Dallas Convention Center.

About Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is the Americas joint venture between Freudenberg and Company in Germany and NOK Corporation in Japan. Founded in 1989 under the legal name Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a leading producer of advanced sealing and elastomeric technologies for a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, appliance, diesel engine, agriculture, construction, heavy industry, and alternate energy. Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich., and has facilities throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Malaysia. With annual revenues approaching $US 1 billion, the company employed approximately 4,200 people in 2010. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg-nok.com.

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is part of the Freudenberg & Co. Group of Germany. Freudenberg & Co. is a family of companies specializing in seals and vibration control technology, nonwovens, filtration, lubricants and release agents and other specialty business areas. The Freudenberg Group generated sales of more than $7.13 billion and had 34,000 employees in 2010. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg.com. 

About Simrit

Simrit is part of Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies and offers an extensive portfolio of precision-manufactured products for the aerospace, agriculture, appliance, construction, energy, fluid power, mechanical power generation, mechanical power transmission and recreational markets. Simrit’s global sales exceed $1.3 billion. For more information, visit the Simrit website at www.simrit.com

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Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies (Freudenberg-NOK) is a leading producer of advanced sealing and elastomeric technologies for a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, appliance, diesel engine, agriculture, construction, heavy industry, and alternate energy.

The company has successfully launched 38,000 lean Kaizen projects since 1992 that have resulted in total cost savings of $342 million. Its Six Sigma program, launched in 2000 as a complement to its lean practices, has resulted in training of 85 Black Belts, 573 Green Belts and approximately $43 million in combined project savings. Freudenberg-NOK’s Manchester, N. H. gasket facility provides an exemplary model of how lean manufacturing/ Six Sigma principles have been adopted by the company to improve plant performance and customer service, eliminate waste and improve operational efficiencies.  

While Freudenberg-NOK does not endorse political candidates, it is willing to share its own successful journey in founding a corporate culture that embraces lean principles in every aspect of its operations. A long-time proponent of lean/ Six Sigma management techniques, Gingrich is urging business leaders who have successfully applied these quality practices to share their expertise with politicians and government officials in an effort to establish a lean/ Six Sigma culture within the federal government.

“We are proud that our Manchester facility has been associated so prominently with successful implementation of lean manufacturing and Six Sigma practices,” said Al Nadeau, lead center manager for Elastomeric Gasket Operations in Manchester. “We have certainly been on a lean journey that has resulted in tremendous quality and process improvements in our operations. I am extremely proud of the employees and work teams responsible for adopting lean manufacturing and Six Sigma standards and training into their everyday functions. They are dedicated and highly disciplined in their approach, and this facility is a true benchmark within the organization for lean standards.”

Freudenberg-NOK’s Manchester plant produces elastomeric engine and transmission gaskets and seals and employs approximately 240 plant associates. The plant’s people and products have been instrumental in supporting technology development on customer flagship vehicles such as the Chevrolet Volt and Jeep^® Grand Cherokee. In fact, Chrysler LLC awarded this facility its coveted Supplier Achievement Award in 2010 for its role in developing a complex water pump gasket for its new Pentastar engine.

“Freudenberg-NOK’s use of lean/ Six Sigma is a model for the nation and can teach the government a lot about how to save taxpayer money while delivering better results,” Gingrich said. “Politicians, their staff and agency officials owe it to the American people to learn and apply successful waste reduction principles from the private sector to control spending.”

Freudenberg-NOK launched its lean program in the Americas under the acronym GROWTTH – Get Rid Of Waste Through Team Harmony. The program is now considered an industry benchmark for lean systems. The addition of Six Sigma training and projects has allowed the company to address and improve its process capabilities as well.

About Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is the Americas joint venture between Freudenberg and Company in Germany and NOK Corporation in Japan. Founded in 1989 under the legal name Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a leading producer of advanced sealing and elastomeric technologies for a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, appliance, diesel engine, agriculture, construction, heavy industry, and alternate energy. Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich., and has facilities throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Malaysia. With annual revenues approaching $US 1 billion, the company employed approximately 4,200 people in 2010. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg-nok.com.

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is part of the Freudenberg & Co. Group of Germany. Freudenberg & Co. is a family of companies specializing in seals and vibration control technology, nonwovens, filtration, lubricants and release agents and other specialty business areas. The Freudenberg Group generated sales of more than $7.13 billion and had 34,000 employees in 2010. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg.com.

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The company has introduced a unique technology innovation that will ensure a safer and more reliable energy storage system for items such as lithium-ion battery packs. This innovation is now readily available to the many industries that need it.  

Freudenberg-NOK’s patent-pending pressure control valve for battery pack systems continuously monitors battery pressure levels while the batteries are in use and releases gas from the battery housing when excess pressure is detected to prevent system damage and harm. This new safety component is easily installed in the large format battery systems now being introduced in electric vehicles, heavy industry applications, energy storage and even network backup systems.

 “There is really nothing like this on the market today,” said Rory Pawl, manager, Innovation and Trend Research for Freudenberg-NOK. “This is an incredible safety innovation that can be used in any type of battery pack without requiring major retooling. It’s an innovative, unique and affordable technology breakthrough that promises to revolutionize the safety and ultimate reliability of battery pack systems.

“This overpressure valve is also another clear example of how Freudenberg-NOK consistently identifies and addresses important industry challenges on behalf of its customers by developing unique, proprietary engineered solutions,” he added.

The pressure control valve, which has also been introduced in Europe by Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, offers increased functional reliability over conventional pressure-relief systems. The elastomeric material from which it is produced withstands temperatures between -40 and 80°C and remains operational even when dirty. This EPDM formulation is also chemically resistant to leakage and swelling. With the assistance of protective components, the valve can withstand tough environmental conditions such as the impact of stones and other road debris and industrial cleaning processes. The pressure valve’s increased durability further reduces the weight and cost of large-format battery systems.

Freudenberg-NOK’s pressure control valve also offers customers two completely unique yet significant advantages when installed in large format battery systems. First, batteries that incorporate the new component can be shipped by air because the valve can be manually opened to prevent pressure damage to the battery housing during take-offs and ascents. Second, a valve that has opened due to a pressure relief, can be reattached, thus protecting the battery’s interior and allowing safe transportation when recycling batteries.

A permeable component can also be attached to the pressure control valve to ensure normal pressure differentials can occur through the exchange of air, moisture and volume between the battery pack and the atmosphere. To assist with this effort, functionalized water-repellent and oil-repellent nonwovens, produced by Freudenberg Nonwovens, can be integrated into the valve cover or added separately. In the event of a rapid increase in excess pressure, this version of the valve acts simultaneously as a pressure compensation element and pressure control valve.                                          

About Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is the Americas joint venture between Freudenberg and Company in Germany and NOK Corporation in Japan. Founded in 1989 under the legal name Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a leading producer of advanced sealing and elastomeric technologies for a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, appliance, diesel engine, agriculture, construction, heavy industry, and alternate energy. Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich., and has facilities throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Malaysia. With annual revenues approaching $US 1 billion, the company employed approximately 4,200 people in 2010. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg-nok.com.

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is part of the Freudenberg & Co. Group of Germany. Freudenberg & Co. is a family of companies specializing in seals and vibration control technology, nonwovens, filtration, lubricants and release agents and other specialty business areas. The Freudenberg Group generated sales of more than $7.13 billion and had 34,000 employees in 2010. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg.com.

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