News
When the new Freudenberg Filtration Technologies Business Group gets down to business on January 1, 2009 it will be serving a market that represents one of the mega-trends of the 21st century: clean air, clean liquids, a clean environment. The decision by Freudenberg Nonwovens to spin off its filter activities puts an even closer focus on this trend. The aim is to generate new growth opportunities.
The history of Freudenberg Filtration Technologies began before business had officially started. On October 1, 2008, almost 100 days before the official launch, the first new company belonging to the filter group was set up in India. Legal requirements made this early start in India necessary. Earlier in the year, in spring, the existing national filter company in Finland and a newly-acquired company in Italy registered under the new name. This happens in most other countries on January 1, 2009, and the former Filter Division of Freudenberg Nonwovens becomes a standalone Business Group called Freudenberg Filtration Technologies. Innovative filter solutions will further expand business in air and liquid filtration - most definitely a market of the future.
"The filtration business is an area of strategic growth with its own business model within the Freudenberg Group," Dr. Martin Stark, the Management Board member responsible for the new Business Group explained. Dr. Jörg Sievert, Managing Director Filter, added: "Today, Freudenberg already offers convincing solutions for making many industrial processes more efficient, saving resources, protecting our environment and raising the quality of life. We will be expanding this range of products and services further at Freudenberg Filtration Technologies." As the Business Group's CEO, Dr. Sievert will share responsibility for the workforce of some 1,200 and 32 locations with Dr. Andreas Kreuter. For customers, probably the name will be the only change. "They will continue to enjoy the same high standards of quality and reliability," Dr. Kreuter says. Nevertheless, the main argument in favor of the new Business Group is that this sharper focus gives Freudenberg Filtration Technologies the opportunity to concentrate even more inten- sively on its customers. Global service support and project business in industrial filtration will be given a higher profile in the new Business Group. Freudenberg filters and filtration media are today mainly marketed under the Viledon brand name for intake and exhaust air and liquid filtration in many industrial applications, and under the micronAir brand name for automotive cabin air filters. The new Business Group will be offering filter solutions for health protection in areas such as laser printer filters, air conditioning, respiratory masks and vacuum cleaners. Freudenberg Nonwovens, which has so far also run the filters business, will concentrate on manufacturing and finishing rolled goods. In future, this Business Group will be responsible for the Interlinings, Spunlaid and Industrial Nonwovens Divisions. From January 1, the company will also supply Freudenberg Filtration Technologies. Not all regions will be operating standalone filter companies in 2009; in some countries, such as England, Italy, Spain and China, filter business will still be part of the Freudenberg Nonwovens organization in 2009. But in spite of this formal affiliation, business will be managed by the new Business Group, which also holds full responsibility, so that customers everywhere receive the same service. The new filters group has set itself ambitious targets. The range of products and services is to be expanded and innovative new filter products developed. The mission for all activities of the new Business Group is the same: "Our outstanding filter solutions improve the quality of life." Freudenberg Filtration Technologies is determined to make its contribution to a cleaner environment and more efficient processes.
Dr. Jörg Sievert (53) studied chemistry at Karlsruhe University and spent an academic year at Loughborough University in England. He completed his doctorate at Karlsruhe in 1987 and joined Freudenberg in the same year as product group manager for industrial air filtration application technology. He then spent time in the US as Director of Applications Engineering Filtration and was sales manager for air filtration in Germany. From 1994 until early 1999, Dr. Jörg Sievert worked as global sales and marketing manager at a filter company outside the Freudenberg Group and was also Managing Director of a mid-size company specializing in environment and waste separation technology. Dr. Sievert became head of the Filter Division in March 1999. Dr. Sievert is CEO of the newlyfounded Freudenberg Filtration Technologies.
Dr. Andreas Kreuter (41) studied industrial engineering at Karlsruhe University and subsequently worked as a scientific assistant in the Organization faculty at Mannheim University, where he completed his doctorate in 1997. He joined Group Controlling at Freudenberg & Co. in the same year, assuming responsibility for strategic planning tasks. He then spent three years on a posting to Parets (Barcelona) for Freudenberg Nonwovens as Director Finance & Administration Spain and also became responsible for the Interlining Division from 2001. In early 2007 Dr. Kreuter joined the Filter Division management and becomes a member of the new Business Group's Management Board on January 1, 2009.
Markets and brands: General industry (Viledon air filters, dust removal technology and liquid filtration), automotive industry (micronAir cabin air filters, engine intake filters), health protection (micronAir Office Filter, VitalAir residential air conditioning filters, Viledon filter media for respiratory masks and vacuum cleaners)
Associates: approx. 1,200 worldwide
Headquarters: Weinheim
Sites: 32 (15 with production facilities: Argentina, Brazil, China, Germany, England, India, Italy, Mexico, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, USA)
Internet: www.freudenberg-filter.com
Contact Freudenberg Group North America:
Cheryl Eberwein
47690 East Anchor Court
Plymouth, Mich. 48170-2455
Office: +1 (734) 354-5373
Cell: +1 (248) 767-1068
Fax: +1 (734) 451-0043