The Freudenberg Group is to transfer its 50 percent shareholding in enmech GmbH & Co. KG, Weinheim, and enmech Hungary Bt, Pécel, Hungary to its long-term joint venture partner, NOK Corporation, Tokyo, Japan. The business is now transferred at the beginning of 2016. With a shareholding of 25.1 percent, the Freudenberg Group is a principal shareholder in its Japanese partner, NOK.
enmech has been a Freudenberg Group and NOK Corporation joint venture since 2002. The Japanese partner company will incorporate enmech into its subsidiary Nippon Mektron, the world’s market leader in flexible printed circuit boards and its European subsidiary Mektec Europe. The step will lead to the expansion of Nippon Mektron’s (Mektec Group’s) automotive business.
enmech has systematically developed its FPC technology over the past few years and today offers both interesting and promising solutions for the automotive industry with its portfolio of mechatronic products, which complement Mektec Europe’s products and solutions excellently.
The range of services that enmech offers comprises the development and production of mechatronic solutions based on large, flexible circuit boards including connector technology.
Pending further notice, both enmech companies with some 500 employees and sites in Weinheim, Berlin and Pécel, Hungary are to be managed as independent companies – but integrated into Mektec Europe. The global network and technology of Mektec Group will support enmech’s international development.
Mektec Europe, with 600 employees and headquarters in Weinheim, is a specialist in flexible circuit board technology (FPC) including processing (mounting and laminating of mechanical components, etc.). The company develops and manufactures products which are used in car transmission controls, switches, sensors, drive technology controls as well as in-car infotainment or the medical and industrial technology industry. Furthermore, the company is responsible for the distribution of Mektec Group’s products in Europe.
About the Freudenberg Group
Freudenberg is a global technology group that strengthens its customers and society long-term through forward-looking innovations. Together with its partners, customers and the world of science, the Freudenberg Group develops leading-edge technologies, and excellent products, solutions and services for more than 30 market segments and for thousands of applications: seals, vibration control components, nonwovens, filters, specialty chemicals, medical and mechatronic products, IT services and the most modern cleaning products.
Innovation strength, strong customer orientation, diversity and team spirit are the cornerstones of our Group. Commitment to excellence, reliability and pro-active, responsible action belong to the company’s core values lived for more than 165 years.
In 2014, the Freudenberg Group employed over 40,000 people in some 60 countries worldwide and generated sales of more than 7 billion Euros (including pro-rata consolidation of 50:50 joint ventures). For more information, please visit www.freudenberg.com
About Nippon Mektron
Nippon Mektron is a global subsidiary of the NOK Corporation, a Freudenberg Japanese joint venture. Nippon Mektron (Mektec Group) generated sales of some USD 3,3 billion with flexible printed circuits (FPC) and their manufacture to FPC modules in 2014. Customers in telecommunications and data technology generate the greatest sales volumes for the Mektec Group, both with 30 percent of total sales.
9 percent of sales (ca. US$ 300 million) are generated by customers in the automotive industry. The company employs some 30,000 employees and has more than 17 production sites in China, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, Japan and Europe, although the greatest capacity exists in Asia. For further information, please visit www.mektron.co.jp