Freudenberg & Vilene Nonwovens is investing in a new state-of-the-art production line for automotive headliners as its Suzhou facility in Eastern China.

The start of production is scheduled for summer 2016. Freudenberg Performance Materials is the nonwovens specialist in the Freudenberg Group, which has a presence in China through Freudenberg & Vilene Nonwovens, a joint venture with Japan Vilene Company, Tokyo, Japan.

Automotive market in Asia

The automotive market in Asia is growing, and is particularly dynamic in China, the company reports. 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, showing around 13% increase 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, the manufacturer reports.

Commitment and expertise

Freudenberg headliners are based on nonwovens and can be finished in various ways to provide additional functions. Apart from great abrasion resistance, outstanding acoustic properties and improved stain resistance, these products in combination with other vehicle components are said to 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,” explained Bruce Olson, President and CEO of Freudenberg Performance Materials.

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

Reliable partner

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.

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.

www.freudenberg-pm.com