Freudenberg encourages women to succeed in engineering

ERJ staff report (LMH)

Weinheim, Germany -- The automobile and automotive components industry is often still seen as a man's world, according to sealing and acoustics company Freudenberg. The Freudenberg Group said it wants to change this attitude and supports women working in technical and scientific areas.

One example is Dr Hannah Köppen, who works for Freudenberg Research Services. The 31-year-old mechanical engineer works on the latest process engineering innovations for the automobile industry.

"What women still need are role models, women who have made their way in male-dominated areas," explained Köppen.

As a project manager in process engineering, Köppen works on innovative production processes for rubber compounds with long shelf lives used in O-rings and other sealing solutions, Freudenberg said in a 5 Jan news release.

"In order to recruit qualified women, work must be compatible with family life,” Köppen said, noting that Freudenberg offers flexible working time, allowing staff to obtain the optimum work-life balance.

According to Köppen, the Girls Day at Freudenberg is an ideal way of providing girls with an introduction to technical professions. This year, the Group took part in the national event for the ninth time. Freudenberg claims that over the past few years, it has succeeded in attracting hundreds of young women to male-dominated vocations.

"Freudenberg and other companies should go further in this direction to give even more girls and women the confidence they need to chose a career in science or technology," said Köppen.

She added that confidence in your own abilities and confidence in general are essential if a woman is to survive in the male-dominated world of engineering. She said that often faces the prejudice that women cannot reach the same levels of specialist competence as men.

Freudenberg Research Services carries out research and development work for the group and other companies in fields including polymer materials, rubber compounds and polyurethanes. "We have a good balance between men and women in our team," Köppen said. "I am convinced that mixed teams perform the most productive work."

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Press release from

Freudenberg