Battery Separators of Freudenberg steps into Indian market to prevent short circuits

December 20, 2011 - India

The Freudenberg Group, a 5.4 billion Euros family company offering its customers technically challenging product solutions and services steps into the fast growing Indian market for electrical vehicles with 100,000 electrical scooters estimated to be on the road already. The company`s special coating for battery separators helps to prevent possible short circuits in lithium-ion batteries, which is expected to make e-mobility safer. Freudenberg has developed a separator that increases the intrinsic safety of battery cells and thus helps to prevent possible explosions. For this purpose, a wafer-thin polyester fabric is coated with a paste. The product is a result of indigenous innovation at the company’s R&D facilities worldwide. As the world’s largest manufacturer of nonwovens, world market leader in sealing and vibration control technology, and a specialist for filters and mechatronic products, Freudenberg intends to become the leading component manufacturer for this highly promising future-oriented technology. The company is all set to tap the market for battery technology being used in electric vehicles in the Indian market.

With the networked knowledge and the experience of group companies across the world, Freudenberg develops separators, seals, filter-systems and mechatronics solutions based on flexible printed circuits for lithium-ion batteries. As a result, Freudenberg is one of the few companies worldwide to offer such a comprehensive range of components for this technology.

As a group, Freudenberg believes in quality, research and development which is being demonstrated in the production of an ultra-thin homogeneous fabric and the special coating technology. Freudenberg nonwovens products are being well accepted and used as the standard equipment in the separators of nickel metal hydride batteries.

Apart from the separators, Freudenberg products for electric cars include Simmerrings®, flat seals and O-rings. The temperatures in lithium-ion batteries used in such vehicles are high, making cooling especially important. Freudenberg has developed special seal materials for the various coolants that may be used. In addition, lithium-ion batteries consist of a package of cells for which Freudenberg provides frame seals. For the connection of batteries to vehicle systems, Freudenberg has developed elastic components that replace rigid screwed joints making the connections safer and more reliable.

Freudenberg’s automotive sector leadership – 70 different products found in any car

In 2010, the automotive industry accounted for roughly 40 percent of Freudenberg’s overall sales. Freudenberg has a comprehensive portfolio of more than 300 different products ranging from Simmerrings® or encoders, nonwovens for car headliners and carpets, flexible printed circuits, cabin air and engine intake air filters, specialty lubricants and release agents to vibration engineering products that reduce vehicle noise and vibrations. On an average, some 70 different Freudenberg products can be found in any car built today.

About Freudenberg in India:

Freudenberg has held business ties with customers and partners in India for nearly 100 years. The Group has a workforce of more than 2,300 associates at eleven locations. The combined sales of its ten operating business units in India stood at `794 crores in 2010. The Group operates at over 30 facilities in India and maintains a long-term commitment to the Indian market.

About the Freudenberg Group:

The Freudenberg Group is a family company offering its customers technically challenging product solutions and services. The Group is first and foremost a supplier specializing in seals and vibration control technology, nonwovens, filtration, lubricants and release agents as well as mechatronic products. The end-user can find modern Freudenberg household products in the shops under the brand names of vileda®, O´Cedar® and Wettex®. And especially for mid-sized companies Freudenberg develops software solutions and IT services. In 2010, the Freudenberg Group employed more than 34,000 people in 59 countries and generated sales of over 5.4 billion Euros.