Olbo & Mehler, a specialist in the development and manufacturing of technical textiles, has received an ISO/TS 16949 - Automotive Quality Management, the only quality management standard recognized worldwide in the automotive and motorcycle supply chain.

“The positive business development in the past decades shows that Olbo & Mehler is on the right track and this certification allows a decisive advantage – we are market leaders in many areas and it will continue to be so,” commented Alberto Tavares, Olbo & Mehler CEO.

“Our products are in use worldwide and have been approved and tested in numerous technical applications. Thanks to a structured innovation process and significant investments in cutting-edge technology and quality control, we can entirely fulfil the requirements of the international markets.”

Automotive industry

The automotive industry is one of the most challenging industries in the world. It operates under extreme pressures of cost and time. Being able to rely on suppliers is the key, not only for the car manufacturers, but also for other organizations in the supply chain, the company reports.

They all require suppliers that have their processes under strict control and because of that ISO/TS 16949 is based on eight quality management principles: customer focus; leadership; team engagement; process approach; system approach to management; continual improvement; fact based decision-making and mutually beneficial supplier relationships.

Product portfolio

Olbo & Mehler is located both in Portugal and Germany and offers a product range that addresses the needs of a large variety of industries, from automotive, pharmaceuticals, safety and defence to mining.

The company is covering almost all technical applications, which nclude fabrics for coatings, ballistic and chemical protection, belts and membranes for automotive industry, hoses, handrails, folding bellows, auxiliary fabrics for pharmaceutical industry and heavy fabrics for manufacturing rubber conveyor belts.

Export markets

Almost 300 years of combined experience of Olbo and Mehler are reflected in the development and manufacturing of conveyor belt fabrics and fabrics for special applications. The company exported in 2014 to 39 countries being the main market Germany followed by Netherlands, USA, Brazil, Mexico and Australia.

The most relevant country for exports is Germany representing 25% of the company sales. In 1996 Olbo established a production facility in Portugal. The facility is located in Vila Nova de Famalicão near the large port city of Porto, which offers excellent logistical conditions especially for shipping overseas, according to the manufacturer.

www.olbo-mehler.com