Brazil / Germany - The plant of Freudenberg-NOK Components Brazil Ltda, a Freudenberg Group company, based Diadema, São Paulo is to close. Formed in 1958, it was one of the first components companies to set up an automotive assembly plant in Brazil; it currently produces sealing components for light to heavy vehicles and motorcycles, such as sealing rings, seals, gaskets and hoods, among other products. The plant is the only one in the sealants division that operates in Brazil; the closing process should be completed in one year, by October 2020.

In a statement, Freudenberg-NOK said the decision was part of the company’s market repositioning strategy and that the components would be imported from factories operating in other countries, including new portfolio items. The company also it would continue to support customers via its sales and engineering team and that other group plants in Brazil would not be affected. Continuing subsidiary operations in the country include Chem-Trend, EagleBurgmann, Klüber Lubrication, SurTec, Vibracoustic, Freudenberg Performance. Materials and Freudenberg Filtration Technologies.