Freudenberg holds innovation forum to nurture new ideas

Weinheim, Germany - Freudenberg Group discussed with employees and parners how to turn an idea into a business model at its annual innovation day held on 25 Sept.

Freudenberg said it has developed a programme to facilitiate and accelerate the transition from an original idea to ongoing business with specific projects. “Innovations are the fuel for driving our company forward”, is how Dr. Martin Stark of Freudenberg's Management Board explains the strategic significance involved. Stark saids social mega-trends such as environmental awareness are driving innovation . Growing health-awareness, for example, and higher life expectancy will sharpen people's focus on products for daily electronic health checks, for home furnishings optimized for allergy-sufferers, and anti-bacterial coatings.

Freudenberg development staff confirmed that in future more functions will be incorporated in a single product. One such example is Freudenberg's Simmerring with built-in sensors, which provide the engine's control system with information on the rotational speed and position of the crankshaft, thus enabling the injection or ignition timing to be optimised. This technology means that fuel consumption can be reduced and with it the CO₂ emissions as well. Electronic functions are also increasingly being incorporated in household products, as exemplified for the forum's participants by the development of an electronic wiper that will also absorb fine dust. A new bonded coating was presented, which reduces squeaking noises at car window seals, for instance. The coating incorporates special fluids that are released only under pressure from the ascending glass, and form a microfilm, which prevents the rasping noises without letting the pane get wet.

Stark said he expects several hundred ideas like this to emerge in his company over the next five years. In order to progress them swiftly into products and turnover, there is now a special fast-tracking scheme in place at Freudenberg for promising ideas. Development engineers can, as it were, concentrate entirely on their innovation and take it all the way to market maturity.

This is an external link and should open in a new window. If the window does not appear, please check your pop-up blocking software. ERJ is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Press release from Freudenberg