Freudenberg-NOK Expands Offering for Oil and Gas Product Markets Through Acquisition of Imperial Rubber and Urethane Corporation

    PLYMOUTH, Mich., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Freudenberg-NOK General
 Partnership announced today that it has acquired the assets of Imperial
 Rubber and Urethane Corporation of Nisku, Alberta, Canada, to expand its
 business of elastomer products for the oil and gas market. Terms of the
 agreement were not disclosed.
     The company will continue to manufacture oil and gas products at its
 two current facilities located in Nisku, Alberta and will distribute these
 products through Simrit, the company's sales and marketing organization for
 industrial products.
     Imperial Rubber was founded in 1979 and had grown to be a leading
 provider of elastomer products and engineered solutions for the oil and gas
 service industry in Canada and around the world. Commencing in 2001, Brian
 Jones, president and chief executive officer, and his team successfully
 refocused the company in the key elastomer oil service markets of cementing
 (plugs and packer cups), well service (swab cups, pipe wipers and blow-out
 preventer parts), safety products and downhole tools.
     According to Jones, the company services renowned industry leaders and
 others worldwide. Jones will continue to manage operations at Imperial
 Rubber for Freudenberg-NOK.
     "Freudenberg-NOK has a goal to grow in the oil and gas products market
 and this acquisition reflects our commitment to that vision," said Dr. Jorg
 Schneewind, general manager of the Special Sealing Products Division,
 Freudenberg-NOK. "With the addition of Imperial Rubber's product expertise
 and sales team, as well as our technical and material capabilities, we will
 employ the most advanced technology currently available to meet our
 customers' needs in North America and worldwide."
     Founded in 1989, Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership is a joint venture
 between Freudenberg & Co. of Germany and NOK Corp. of Japan.
     Freudenberg-NOK is a leader in automotive sealing and noise, vibration
 and harshness (NVH) products and is a supplier to all automakers producing
 in North America, as well as all major tier one chassis and drivetrain
 suppliers. The company's headquarters and technical center in Plymouth,
 Mich. houses the most extensive supplier-operated sealing and noise and
 vibration testing facility in North America.
     Freudenberg-NOK offers its automotive customers globally integrated
 products, including sealing packages for transmissions, engines, brakes,
 axles and steering, NVH components and packages, and all rubber, plastic
 and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) components for suspension, electrical
 and fuel systems.
     The company also offers an extensive portfolio of special precision
 seals for the aerospace, appliance, diesel engine, marine, medical,
 off-highway equipment, oil and gas, recreational vehicle and semiconductor
 markets.
     For more information, visit the Freudenberg-NOK website at
 http://www.freudenberg-nok.com .
 
 

SOURCE Freudenberg-NOK