Source: Freudenberg Performance Materials

Filc is a manufacturer of needle punch nonwoven textiles and laminated materials

German technology company Freudenberg has signed an agreement to fully acquire materials company Filc, the company announced in a press release on 27 November. Filc is a manufacturer of needle punch nonwoven textiles and laminated materials, with a focus on the automotive and construction industries. The transaction is subject to approval by the antitrust authorities.

“With the acquisition, we would like to further strengthen our performance materials business, and expand our portfolio and technological footprint in Europe,” said Dr. Mohsen Sohi, CEO of Freudenberg Group.

Significance: The acquisition of Filc is expected to boost Freudenberg’s performance materials business. Freudenberg Performance Materials is a global manufacturer of innovative technical textiles offering differentiated value propositions to a broad range of applications, including automotive. In 2018, the company generated sales of more than EUR920 million and had 23 manufacturing sites in 13 countries and more than 3,600 associates. Slovenia-headquartered Filc has two more production sites in Mengeš and Lendava, Slovenia, and employs 360 employees. “Filc has great needle punch know-how, which we will benefit from, especially in terms of composites. Filc’s exceptionally good adhesive coating abilities will allow us to offer customer solutions in adjacent segments in the construction business. In addition, we will expand our technical expertise in acoustics, both in construction and automotive, and provide customers a broad technology portfolio with lamination, printing, and coating,” said Dr. Frank Heislitz, CEO, Freudenberg Performance Materials.

In October 2019, Freudenberg also acquired the startup FRICTins to improve the friction coefficient of automotive components. FRICTins uses a hard particle coating process that is combined with a nonwoven designed by Freudenberg in order to achieve a friction coefficient that is better by up to a factor of 8. The technology developed by FRICTins enables improved designs due to factors such as lower material thickness and reduced corrosion.

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