Freudenberg Sealing Technologies launches innovation offensive

Weinheim-based seal manufacturer is presenting more than 40 new products and innovations

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Nov 14, 2013, 09:00 ET

WEINHEIM, Germany, Nov. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Seal manufacturer Freudenberg Sealing Technologies is launching an innovation offensive to respond to the industrial challenges of the 21st Century. The issues of mobility, renewable energy, dwindling raw materials and demographic change have emerged as megatrends. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has decades of experience in materials development and can offer solutions to these pressing problems.

"As the global market and technology leader, we feel it is our duty to cope with the effects of these global megatrends with forward-looking research and innovative products," Claus Mohlenkamp, CEO of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, said today at a press conference in Mannheim, Germany.

More than 40 new products and innovations have been presented at the company's accompanying Trend Forum at the Rosengarten Congress Center in Mannheim.

State-of-the-art sealing technology harbors substantial capacity to make valuable contributions to sustainable mobility in cars, air and rail transport, and shipping. It is always important to minimize friction, to optimize combustion processes and reduce weight, thus cutting the energy consumption and emissions of the means of transportation. In this way, Freudenberg's Low Emission Sealing Solutions, bundled into its 'LESS' package, are already pointing the way to the mobility of the future.

The gas-lubricated mechanical seal Levitex is the best example of this. It comes extremely close to the vision of a friction-free seal. The slide ring interacts with a counter-ring to form a cushion of air, resulting in 90 percent less frictional loss than a conventional crankshaft seal ring. This reduces CO₂ emissions by 0.5 to 1 gram during driving. And that's not the only benefit: longer operating times are possible due to decreased wear. Downsizing and intelligent engine management systems are raising the internal combustion engine to a new level of efficiency – but they are also creating new challenges for low-friction and heat-resistant seals. As they do so, even the smallest improvements count when it comes to achieving global objectives.

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies materials expertise, built up over decades, is the breeding ground for seal technology. In this field, it is the mixture that makes the difference, together with a sophisticated design. The Weinheim-based company produces high-quality basic materials for its seals in its own mixing plants. Several hundred employees in materials engineering and the plants lay the foundation for the high quality, functionality and long-term functional stability of the seals.

The new polyurethane standard material, produced in Schwalmstadt, is one of the latest examples. The new generation of polyurethane was devised especially for a broad spectrum of use without displaying weaknesses in a particular area of application. The material is much more resistant to water and withstands major temperature swings. The application range is between -40 and +120 degrees Celsius. This was made possible by the targeted modification of the PU components responsible for temperature characteristics -- without having to compromise on the remaining characteristics. In this way, manufacturers no longer have to store different versions of components such as hydraulic cylinders.

The new polyurethane generation is designed as much for challenges in the arctic as for tropical climatic zones. The material is also a genuine high-performance material when it comes to pressure. In a comparison test at 40 MPa and 100 degrees Celsius with different extrusion gaps, seals made from the material show no appreciable signs of wear. Their tensile strength also surpasses the current possibilities by far. It is about 35 percent greater than other materials.

The company's materials expertise is an important factor in other fields as well. In wind power systems, for example, it is a huge challenge to replace a leaking seal 100 meters in the air in stormy seas. To eliminate the need for this, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies developed seal materials specifically geared to the stringent requirements of wind turbine manufacturers. Salty air, ozone, weather and temperature extremes, aggressive lubricants – the seals stand up to them all. Tests and trial runs are impossible for seals up to three and one-half meters in diameter. This makes reliable in-house simulations and test processes all the more important. FEM calculations are one example. So we develop materials for seals that combine extraordinarily high reliability and functional stability with a long operating life.

The company's Ventoguard materials series, which was especially developed for seal profiles in wind turbines, incorporates the premium quality to meet the highest possible demands. Sealing the main bearing on a wind turbine's rotor shaft poses a particular challenge. The newly developed Merkel Radiamatic R 55 has an integrated deflector lip to protect against environmental influences. It makes a second seal – which has been needed until now – superfluous. Along with cost-savings, the small installation space required for the solution is an argument in its favor from the standpoint of equipment manufacturers and operators.

Food production has to nearly double by 2050 to provide enough food for a growing global population. This calls for greater automation with long operating times as well as the high flexibility required for rapid product changes.This is precisely what sealing solutions from Freudenberg Sealing Technologies make possible. Freudenberg's external-sealing Hygienic Usit washers are one example. There is always the threat that a highly undesirable medium for germs may be forming under nuts and hexagonal screws. This is prevented by Hygienic Usit washers combined with precisely calibrated special screws and cap nuts. They provide maximum safety in food production and minimize the operator's service and maintenance work. The sealing material Fluoroprene XP is another example of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies' innovative power in the food sector. It is an all-purpose weapon against the carry-over of flavors during product changes and the adulteration of taste in food production. That means a Pilsner tastes like a Pilsner and the soda produced later really tastes like a soda.

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.

SOURCE Freudenberg Sealing Technologies