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Freudenberg Performance Materials invests in new production line in China

Business with innovative headliners is being expanded

Weinheim, Germany / Suzhou, China. March 24, 2015. Freudenberg & Vilene Nonwovens is investing in a new state-of-the-art production line for automotive headliners as its Suzhou facility in Eastern China. Start of production is scheduled for summer 2016. Freudenberg Performance Materials is the nonwovens specialist in the Freudenberg Group. The Business Group has a presence in China through Freudenberg & Vilene Nonwovens, a joint venture with Japan Vilene Company, Tokyo, Japan.

The automotive market in Asia is growing, and is particularly dynamic in China. According to figures published by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), some 1.9 million vehicles were sold in China in January 2015 alone, around 13 percent up on the same month last year. Demand for high-quality products is rising steadily, with automotive headliners enjoying a particularly strong trend. Asian OEMs prefer printed headliners that meet the high design standards of Japanese and Korean car manufacturers.

Freudenberg & Vilene Company introduced printed headliners in 2010 and is currently the only manufacturer with in-house printing capabilities. As a result, Freudenberg is able to offer customers innovative, individualized products with the most up-to-date designs while at the same time delivering on consistently high quality.

Freudenberg headliners are based on nonwovens and can be finished in various ways to provide additional functions. Apart from excellent abrasion resistance, outstanding acoustic properties and improved stain resistance, these products in combination with other vehicle components contribute to a marked reduction in vehicle weight. “Our commitment in China underscores the fact that we are a leading reliable partner for our customers worldwide and at the same time reaffirms our headliner expertise,” Bruce Olson, President and CEO of Freudenberg Performance Materials, commented.

The company partly uses recycled materials in the manufacture of its products. Special innovative surface treatment processes create sustainable products that meet all the demands of sophisticated vehicle design.

Freudenberg Performance Materials is an established reliable partner for the global automotive industry, particularly in the market for headliners. Freudenberg & Vilene Company maintains long-standing relations with Asian OEMs and holds a leading position on the market in Asia and China. Success is founded on a wide range of headliner innovations.

With this latest investment in a new production line – and thus in state-of-the-art technology and new products – the nonwovens specialist is reaffirming the significance of collaboration with the automotive industry.

Apart from products used in automotive interiors, the modern product range of Freudenberg & Vilene Company’s Chinese facility also included industrial nonwovens for the apparel and electronics industries as well as the energy and construction sectors.

About Freudenberg Performance Materials
Freudenberg Performance Materials is a leading global supplier of innovative performance materials offering differentiated value propositions to a broad range of markets and applications such as Automotive Interiors, Apparel, Building Materials, Hygiene, Medical, Shoe Components and Specialties. The company generates sales of over €900 million and has more than 20 manufacturing sites in 14 countries and more than 3.800 associates. Freudenberg Performance Materials has many years of experience in technical textiles and applications. The company attaches great importance to social and ecological responsibility.

The company is part of the Freudenberg Group. In 2013, the Freudenberg Group with its Seals and Vibration Control Technology, Nonwovens, Filtration, Household Products, Specialties and Others Business Areas generated sales of over €6.6 billion and employed approximately 40,000 people in around 60 countries. For further information please go to <a href=”http://www.freudenberg-pm.com”>www.freudenberg-pm.com</a>

Further information on the joint venture partner Japan Vilene Company is available from www.vilene.co.jp