Freudenberg extends brake hose production in Romania

By Liz White, ERJ staff

Weinheim, Germany-Freudenberg Dichtungs- und Schwingungstechnik (FDS) has announced that is planning a significant increase in its activities in Romania. FDS intends to invest about Euro 1.5 million there in the coming months to move production into new, larger premises on the site at Ploiesti, about 70 km north of the capital, Bucharest.

"This is a response to the growing demand for brake hoses, which the company has been producing in Ploiesti for the Central and Eastern European market since 2003," said a statement from FDS on the investment.

About 60 employees currently produce brake hoses in the Romanian plant. The subsidiary, Freudenberg Flexibile des Frana Srl, hopes to have total sales of about Euro 6 million this year, said FDS.

Once the company moves into the larger premises next spring, this figure is expected to increase to Euro 10 million in 2006.

FDS says that numerous carmakers around the world use Freudenberg's Flexitech brake hoses. The plant in Romania supplies several car manufacturers, including Dacia. This company, a member of the Renault group, has been highly successful on the Eastern European market with the Dacia Logan. The Logan features not only brake hoses, but also a large number of seals from Freudenberg, the company added.