PLYMOUTH, Mich.—Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies has won a Manufacturing Leadership 100 Sustainability award.
The award from the Frost & Sullivan Manufacturing Leadership Council is for the firm's laser welded narrow band forming technology. Known as SUL, it has the potential to eliminate 73 percent of waste. Freudenberg-NOK said that could be a savings of up to 1,800 tons of scrap per machine per year.
The process—designed and used at the company's Weinheim, Germany, facility—also doesn't require petroleum-based lubricants, which makes the process environmentally friendly, in addition to requiring lighter and easier tooling to help reduce energy consumption.