Freudenberg-NOK Continues Its Commitment to Investing in Fuel Cell Technology

PLYMOUTH, Mich., April 18 -- In its most recent investment in support of its ongoing fuel cell development program, Freudenberg-NOK purchased two fuel cell test stations from FuelCon Systems, Inc., based in Vancouver, British Columbia.

These new stations enable the company to perform completely automated full frequency scans at its Plymouth, Mich. headquarters and $30 million Technical Concept Center -- the most extensive supplier-operated sealing and noise and vibration testing facility in North America. As the most sophisticated single cell polymer electrolyte membrane test stations available, they will enhance the supplier's efficiency, capability and accuracy in the development of fuel cell sealing technology.

"Fuel cells have made great progress the past several years and Freudenberg-NOK has played an instrumental role in helping drive product and process development technologies that will aid fuel cells in becoming integrated into more markets," said Theodore G. Duclos, vice president, operations and technology for Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership. "Our expertise as a Technology Specialist in sealing, materials and processes has enabled us to become a preferred development partner for fuel cell technology."

For more than 10 years, Freudenberg-NOK and its global partners have been driving the advancement of fuel cell technology for various applications and markets by continuing to invest in a number of research and development projects related to the technology.

Freudenberg-NOK has worked with several companies on a variety of projects, including the development of multiple highly engineered sealing solutions, which are customized to best fit each of their customer's fuel cell stack characteristics.

Founded in 1989, Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership is a joint venture between Freudenberg & Co. of Germany and NOK Corp. of Japan.

Freudenberg-NOK is a leader in automotive sealing and noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) products and is a supplier to all automakers producing in North America, as well as all major tier one chassis and drivetrain suppliers. The company's headquarters and technical center in Plymouth, Mich. houses the most extensive supplier-operated sealing and noise and vibration testing facility in North America.

Freudenberg-NOK offers its automotive customers globally integrated products, including sealing packages for transmissions, engines, brakes, axles and steering, NVH components and packages, and all rubber, plastic and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) components for suspension, electrical and fuel systems.

The company also offers an extensive portfolio of special precision seals for the aerospace, appliance, business machine, fluid power, marine, medical, off-highway equipment and recreational vehicle markets. For more information, visit the Freudenberg-NOK website at http://www.freudenberg-nok.com/ .