PLYMOUTH, Mich. (Jan. 16) — Freudenberg Group secured 1,222 patents for its products and technology in 2003, bringing the company's total to more than 11,000 patents, the firm said.
The group — which includes Freudenberg & Co. of Germany, Japan's NOK Corp., and Plymouth, Mich.-based Freudenberg-NOK G.P. — said it believes it holds more patents in automotive sealing and vibration control than any other supplier.
"This wealth of innovation recognized by these 1,200 patents further underscores Freudenberg-NOK´s status as a ´technology specialist´ that offers a specialized product focus, technical depth and the ability to provide innovative products to all levels of the supply chain," said Mohsen Sohi, Freudenberg-NOK president and CEO.
Freudenberg-NOK can produce all of the approximately 400 seals in the typical vehicle, the company said.