Freudenberg-NOK Focuses on New Materials and Green Technologies for the Automotive Industry

DETROIT, Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies, the world's largest producer of elastomeric seals and custom molded products, has helped automakers reduce emissions and improve fuel economy in three powertrain areas: gaskets, fluid power and special sealing solutions.

"With 'green' vehicles expected to garner a lot of attention at the North American International Auto Show, we are pleased that Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a leading supplier of products that help automakers' efforts to meet market demand in this segment," said Brad Norton, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies. "We are committed to developing innovative products for the cars on the road today and for the concepts that will be available in the future."

A common theme in many 2012 vehicles is fuel efficiency and lowered emissions. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies' new Low-Emission Sealing Solutions (LESS) helps address these automaker demands. The LESS package contains reduced-friction sealing solutions that cut wear and power loss. It contains innovative products that optimize the combustion process, support modern downsizing concepts and make start-stop systems possible.

LESS is paving the way for better performance, enhanced driving pleasure and more efficiency, while contributing to a sustainable reduction in consumption and emissions.  For example, LESS solutions now in production include friction-reduced dynamic seal ranges from the Elastomeric Energy-Saving Seal or the Power-Optimized PTFE Seal.

Special Sealing Solutions

Freudenberg-NOK has developed two new piston seals that reduce friction and lower energy consumption in applications such as mechanical transmissions for the automotive industry. New products include Torque Control Seal (TCS) and D-ring with PTFE enhancement.

The TCS is a friction-optimized bonded piston that was specially developed for translational motion as a transmission shift piston. This seal combines the superior frictional characteristics of PTFE with the rigidity, centering and lip shape (similar to that of a channel gasket) of the bonded transmission piston seal with the metal carrier that was previously used. The TCS is resistant to high temperatures, allows for the mounting of a single part, has an integral piston and offers excellent centering.

The D-ring was developed as a groove seal with PTFE foil enhancement as a friction-optimized piston seal. Developed for use in a reciprocating application, the D-ring with PTFE enhancement is a general-purpose piston seal solution that offers very low coefficient of friction and high heat resistance. Offering a range of designs with different diameters, the seal does not twist, is resistant to gap extrusion and offers simple installation.

Gaskets

Freudenberg-NOK's gasket division offers a global EPDM Compound and gasket design that is ideal for use in coolant circuits using automotive coolants in engines, battery packs, power inverters or other applications using liquid thermal management. This material is currently in use at four major automotive OEMs and one commercial vehicle OEM.

The company's gasket division has also become a major partner in the electric vehicle and hybrid electric vehicle market by sealing oversized large battery housings. Thanks to its large press equipment, Freudenberg-NOK is able to produce oversized gaskets that are 1.5 meters long x 1 meter wide. They are designed with a double bead for better sealing performances together with limited reaction forces, press-in-place features for fast and easy assembly and can be designed to eliminate water intrusion on "dirty" side external modules or packs.

Fluid Power

With a variety of fluid power products for the automotive industry, Freudenberg-NOK specializes in using whatever material is needed to achieve its customers' goals. Whether the customer wants to save costs or improve fuel efficiency, Freudenberg-NOK fluid power sealing applications innovate with new materials, such as its transmission seal rings, transmission thrust washers and plastic accumulator pistons.

Freudenberg-NOK's transmission seal rings are the primary source for PTFE seal rings in North America. The company has developed substantially more durable materials and has the capability to engineer solutions for most seal, groove and bore requirements. In particular, Quantum™, PTFE, PEEK™, Torlon^® and other specialty resins continue to push the boundaries of high value, engineering resins for automotive sealing applications.

With an ever-increasing focus on friction, weight, thickness and axial flatness, Torlon^® transmission thrust washers with a unique, diaphragm-gating technology offer exceptional flatness capability and minimized strength loss typical with standard gating options.

Freudenberg-NOK has also expanded its sealing expertise into other related areas such as metal replacement with thermoplastic designs. The industry-recognized thermoplastic accumulator piston is chemical resistant, cost reducing, has high temperature with high load capabilities and extremely tight dimensional stability, which results in an increased system efficiency, and reduced cost.  

"These solutions only scratch the surface of Freudenberg-NOK's innovations," added Norton. "We will continue to solve customer's needs in the automotive industry to meet current and future sealing requirements."

About Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is the Americas joint venture between Freudenberg and Company in Germany and NOK Corporation in Japan. Founded in 1989 under the legal name Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a leading producer of advanced sealing and elastomeric technologies for a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, appliance, diesel engine, agriculture, construction, heavy industry, and alternate energy.

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich., and has facilities throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Malaysia. With annual revenues approaching $US 1 billion, the company employed approximately 4,200 people in 2010. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg-nok.com.

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is part of the Freudenberg & Co. Group of Germany. Freudenberg & Co. is a family of companies specializing in seals and vibration control technology, nonwovens, filtration, lubricants and release agents and other specialty business areas. The Freudenberg Group generated sales of more than $7.13 billion and had 34,000 employees in 2010. For additional information, please visit www.freudenberg.com.

SOURCE Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies