Freudenberg Performance Materials, the leading global manufacturer of technical textiles, has inaugurated a new production line at its Weinheim location. The line will manufacture elastic interlinings, knows as knits, for the international fashion industry. Freudenberg Performance Materials acquired the business from Hänsel Textil GmbH in Iserlohn in August 2014. Relocation of production to Weinheim began in 2015. The line was officially inaugurated on Tuesday, 24th May 2016.

“The Hänsel brand continues to stand for quality ‘made in Germany’ under the umbrella of Freudenberg. With the knit products from Weinheim we can offer our Hänsel customers an even broader range of interlinings,” Dr. René Wollert, Chief Financial Officer Freudenberg Performance Materials, emphasized. Until today, the Business Group, which is part of the Freudenberg technology group, manufactured nonwoven and woven interlinings.

The main customer grouping for elastic interlinings is the international fashion industry. Knitted interlinings are highly elastic and have a low volume, which makes garments more comfortable to wear. These special fabrics give women’s outerwear or men’s jackets the required stability.

Relocating the complex Hänsel equipment to the Weinheim facility was a major challenge. “We had to dismantle the machinery in Iserlohn and reassemble it in Weinheim in stages in order to ensure production continuity and uninterrupted deliveries to customers,” explained Volker Del Monego, the project manager at Freudenberg Performance Materials responsible for integrating Hänsel. 19 knitting machines have found a new home in Weinheim.

About Freudenberg Performance Materials

Freudenberg Performance Materials is a leading global manufacturer of innovative technical textiles offering differentiated value propositions to a broad range of markets and applications such as Apparel, Automotive, Building Materials, Hygiene, Medical, Shoe and Leathergoods as well as Specialties.  In 2015, the company generates sales of almost €980 million and has 25 manufacturing sites in 14 countries and more than 3.800 associates. Freudenberg Performance Materials attaches great importance to social and ecological responsibility. For more information, please visit www.freudenberg-pm.com

The company is part of the Freudenberg Group. In 2015, the Freudenberg Group employed over 40,000 people in some 60 countries worldwide and generated sales of more than 7,5 billion Euros (including pro-rata consolidation of 50:50 joint ventures). For more information, please visit www.freudenberg.com