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Freudenberg to set up automotive headliner line in China

27 Mar '15

3 min read

Freudenberg & Vilene Nonwovens, a Chinese joint venture between Freudenberg Performance Materials and Japan Vilene Company is investing in a new production line for automotive headliners.

Start of production at the automotive headliner production new plant which is located at its Suzhou facility in Eastern China is scheduled for summer 2016.

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, up 13 per cent year over year.

“Demand for high-quality products is rising steadily, with automotive headliners enjoying a particularly strong trend,” the German headquartered Freudenberg said in a press release.

“Asian OEMs prefer printed headliners that meet the high design standards of Japanese and Korean car manufacturers,” it added.

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, individualised products with the most up-to-date designs while at the same time delivering on consistently high quality.

Freudenberg headliners are based on nonwovens and can be finished in various ways to provide additional functions.

Apart from excellent abrasion resistance, outstanding acoustic properties and improved stain resistance, these products in combination with other vehicle components contribute to a reduction in vehicle weight.

“Our commitment in China underscores the fact that we are a leading reliable partner for our customers worldwide, which also reaffirms our headliner expertise,” Bruce Olson, CEO of Freudenberg Performance Materials said.

The company partly uses recycled materials in the manufacture of its products and special innovative surface treatment processes create sustainable products that meet demands of sophisticated vehicle design.

Freudenberg Performance Materials is an established reliable partner for the global automotive industry, particularly in the market for headliners.

Freudenberg & Vilene maintains long-standing relations with Asian OEMs and holds a leading position on the market in Asia and China. Success is founded on a wide range of headliner innovations.

Apart from products used in automotive interiors, the product range of Freudenberg & Vilene also includes industrial nonwovens for apparel, electronics, energy and construction sectors.

Freudenberg Performance Materials is a leading global supplier of innovative performance materials offering differentiated value propositions to a broad range of markets and applications.

The company generates sales of over €900 million and has more than 20 manufacturing sites in 14 countries and more than 3,800 employees. (AR)

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India