NOK-Freudenberg ramping up in China

By Nina Ying Sun, ERJ Akron Bureau

Shanghai, China-NOK-Freudenberg Group China, a partnership between Freudenberg & Co. and NOK Corp., will be producing the full range of its parent companies' products in China by the end of 2006.

The Chinese joint venture produces rubber and fluoropolymer seals for engines, transmissions, steering, dampers, and brake systems for light vehicles and trucks, according to Michael Heidingsfelder, co-general manager.

About half the products will be used in the auto industry, and the other half in general industry”- which includes washing machines, generators, air-conditioning units and machine tools, said Heidingsfelder.

He said big customers include Volkswagen, General Motors, Ford, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Toyota, Honda and Nissan, as well as Chinese companies such as First Auto Works Group, Geely Holding Group and Chery Automobile Co.

Headquartered in Shanghai, NFGC has production plants in Changchun, Wuxi and Taichang, and sales offices in Changchun, Guangzhou, Tianjin and Wuxi. The Changchun unit was started in 1993 and the Wuxi unit in 1995.

NFGC employs about 1200 in China.

The venture's annual sales are in the high two-digit million US dollar range,” Heidingsberg said.

Weinheim, Germany-based Freudenberg posted 2004 total sales of Euros 450 million in China.

Besides NFGC's sealing and vibration-control business, Freudenberg also has Chinese operations in building systems, nonwovens and special chemicals. The company and its partners employ a total of 6500 at 22 locations in China.