Germany’s Freudenberg is acquiring Filc, a Slovenian producer of needle punch nonwoven textiles and laminated materials, including filtration media, particularly for the automotive and construction industries.
Privately-owned Filc is headquartered in Škofja Loka, north of Ljubljana. The company has a production facility in Škofja Loka and operates two more manufacturing sites in Mengeš and Lendava, Slovenia, as well as a US sales office in Dayton, Ohio.
Founded in 1937, Filc has been in the nonwovens business since 1963 and employs around 360 people.
“With the acquisition, we would like to further strengthen our performance materials business, and expand our portfolio and technological footprint in Europe,” said Freudenberg Group CEO Dr Mohsen Sohi.
“Filc has great needle punch know-how which we will benefit from, especially in terms of composites. Filc’s exceptionally good adhesive coating abilities will allow us to offer customer solutions in adjacent segments in the construction business,” added Dr Frank Heislitz, Freudenberg Performance Materials CEO. “In addition, we will expand our technical expertise in acoustics, both in construction and automotive, and provide customers a broad technology portfolio with lamination, printing, and coating,” said Heislitz.
“Becoming part of a globally active company offers an opportunity for regional and global expansion of our business. In addition, sharing our expertise in technology will be crucial to scale up our growth,” said Anže Manfreda, CEO of Filc.