Freudenberg-NOK plans to expand Morristown, Ind. facility to accommodate new manufacturing processes, products

MORRISTOWN, Ind., June 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The uptick in the automotive industry's fortunes is driving demand for quality components. Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is answering the call with plans to expand its Morristown, Ind., manufacturing facility and hire dozens of new employees.

Company officials announced today Freudenberg-NOK will pursue a 20,000-square foot expansion of the existing 65,000-square-foot facility. The company will hire an estimated 75 new production, supervisory and administrative employees over the next five years. The plant now employs 266 workers.

Final company decisions are dependent on formal approval of all State of Indiana workforce and incentive programs.

Freudenberg-NOK's Morristown plant produces product for both general industry and automotive customers.  The facility's core products include off-set seals, transmission seals, fuel system seals, driveline seals and diaphragms. The plant produces more than 100 million components annually. 

Freudenberg-NOK expects to invest $20 million in the five-year project, which also will include new building construction, interior modifications, driveway modifications and additional employee parking.  The project investment also includes a significant investment in capital equipment.

"Freudenberg-NOK's Morristown facility provides highly-engineered, custom sealing components to general industry and automotive customers in the Americas and around the world. It is absolutely essential that we invest in this facility and its work with what has become a burgeoning customer base," said Dr. Theodore G. Duclos, president, Freudenberg-NOK. "We are happy to invest in the success of this facility and the greater Morristown region with this construction. This expansion will help us better serve crucial markets with highly innovative, quality products."

Freudenberg-NOK executives worked with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Shelby County Development Corporation and the City of Morristown to secure this important expansion project within the State of Indiana and Morristown.

"Indiana's reputation as a manufacturing leader continues to attract investment and new jobs," said Governor Mike Pence. "With more than 20 facilities across the country, Freudenberg-NOK's decision to expand its operations here in the Hoosier State is no coincidence. Our low-cost business climate and highly-skilled workforce assures companies from across the globe that Indiana is a state that fuels economic growth and works for the future of advanced manufacturing."

"For Freudenberg-NOK to reinvest in their Morristown, Indiana facility speaks volumes to what long-term relationships mean; not only for Morristown and Shelby County but for our overall region," concurred Chris Ross, Shelby County Commissioner, North District.

Morristown is a company leader in Kaizen methodologies and collaboration on the plant floor.  The facility has hosted extended workshops with NOK Corp. and the Special Sealing Automotive and Diaphragm Lead Centers in Reischelsheim, Germany to ensure that all facilities are coordinated in their production methodologies and leverage the latest tooling concepts, manufacturing technologies and quality improvement programs.

"This project is a tremendous testament to the skills and collaboration of our people and the community at large," said Stacy Flora, Competence Center Manager, Special Sealing Automotive, Morristown. "This plant expansion will allow us to continue our pursuit of special sealing solutions that solve our customers' most vexing challenges. We are all excited about the opportunities this addition will bring to Freudenberg-NOK and the surrounding community. As a top employer in the region, these jobs will have a tremendous economic impact in and around Morristown."

"We welcome the expansion of Freudenberg-NOK in our community," said David Benefiel, president, Morristown Town Council. "We look forward to working with them in the future as we have in the past."

The Morristown expansion will provide the needed space for the facility to execute planned growth and the launch of new business that will increase production by approximately 40 percent over the next five years.

The company will begin filling positions immediately. Applicants for hourly production positions may apply through Kelly Services' onsite office in the Freudenberg-NOK Morristown facility. Applicants for salaried supervisory and administrative positions can visit the Freudenberg-NOK website at www.fst.com/career to learn more.

About Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies
Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is the Americas joint venture between Freudenberg and Co. in Germany and NOK Corp. in Japan. Freudenberg-NOK is a leading producer – through its Automotive, Merkel, Process Seals and Simrit sales channels –
of advanced sealing technologies for a variety of markets including: aerospace; agriculture;  appliance; automotive; construction; diesel engine; energy; food and beverage; heavy industry; and pharmaceutical. Founded in 1989 under the legal name Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership, Freudenberg-NOK is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich. and operates more than 20 facilities across the Americas. For additional information, please visit www.fnst.com.

About the Freudenberg Group
The Freudenberg Group is a family-owned company offering customers technologically advanced and support-intensive products and services. The Group develops and manufactures seals, vibration control technology components, filters, nonwovens, surface treatment products, release agents and specialty lubricants, medical technology and mechatronic products. Freudenberg also develops software solutions and IT services primarily for small and medium-sized enterprises. Consumers enjoy Freudenberg's state-of-the-art household products marketed under the vileda®, O-Cedar®, Wettex®, Gala®, Marigold® and SWASH® brands. In 2014 the Freudenberg Group had 40,456 employees in 57 countries and generated revenue of more than 7.0 billion euros ($9.3 billion). More information about Freudenberg is available on the internet under www.freudenberg.com.

SOURCE Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies

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