The manufacturer Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, specialising in high-performance materials and advanced products for the automotive sector and industry in general, has opened its new production plant in Parets del Vallès (Barcelona). The new facility replaces the old one and will enable it to increase its production capacity by 15%.

The German company has invested over 11 million euros in this factory, which manufactures shock absorbers and steering components for the motor vehicle industry. The design of the new building, which is entirely carbon neutral, has been conceived to prioritise sustainability and environmental protection.

Spain as a business hub
With 171 employees, the new factory has a surface area of 6,800 square metres, enabling the company to increase its annual production by 15%. As the company's Vice-President and head of the facility, Carlos Arnau, pointed out, “The investment in the new plant in Parets del Vallès is the best proof of Freudenberg's commitment, both to the motor vehicle industry and to Spain as a business hub”.

The original Freudenberg Sealing Technologies plant in Parets del Vallès was founded in 1973. Around 80% of the production volume stays in Europe, with Spain and Poland as the main markets, followed by Germany. The rest is exported to America and Asia. From its new facility, it will contribute to the company's goals to reduce its emissions and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.

100% sustainable
All systems in the new building run entirely on green electricity. Twenty-five per cent of the energy is generated in the plant itself by means of a roof equipped with solar PV panels. It does in addition use energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technology to extract the stale air, and also involves the use of micro-organisms that metabolise hydrocarbons in solvents into water and carbon dioxide. This avoids the use of gas, which is the usual fuel for this process.

All these features make the plant one of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies' most modern and sustainable facilities, as Arnau explained, “This is a highly innovative, carbon-neutral plant in line with current and future automotive industry standards”.

The company's Chief Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Matthias Sckuhr, explained, “We know that we can only achieve our climate goals if we move quickly and decisively. This means that we want to conserve energy quickly by continuously optimising our products and technologies, reducing waste and improving the energy efficiency of buildings. For us, sustainable management means using materials and energy consciously and minimising carbon dioxide emissions during production.”

^{Photo: Freudenberg Sealing Technologies}