NANCHANG, CHINA — Federal-Mogul Powertrain, a division of Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation, announced Tuesday it will build a new facility for sealing and gasket products in Nanchang, China to satisfy the growing demand from Chinese OEMs to meet stringent environmental regulations. The new 24,000 square-meter (78,740 ft) facility will double the capacity of the company's current sealing manufacturing operations in Nanchang and will be located in the Nanchang Economic and Technological Development Zone. Production is expected to begin in 2016.
The sealing business in China has grown at an annual rate significantly higher than the growth rate of engine production in the past five years, based on the increased demand for vehicles that provide high combustion efficiency and low emissions.
"Federal-Mogul Powertrain offers a complete range of dynamic seals and gaskets, which enable Chinese auto manufacturers to design and manufacture vehicles that are more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly," said Jan Maiden, senior vice president and general manager, Sealing and Gaskets, Federal-Mogul Powertrain. "China plays a pivotal role in the continued expansion of Federal-Mogul Powertrain's global footprint, with the new plant in Nanchang serving as one of the most advanced sealing manufacturing facilities in the world. This investment also lays a solid foundation for further growth of Federal-Mogul Powertrain in the Chinese market and will further increase our competitiveness and market share there."
Federal-Mogul Powertrain opened its first Chinese sealing and gasket plant in Nanchang in 1996. The gaskets, heat shields, dynamic seals and hydraulic pistons manufactured there are widely used in engines, transmissions and driveline systems. These products are recognized by domestic OEMs in providing improved vehicle performance and fuel economy. The new, additional plant in the same city will expand the available capacity for sealing and gasket products by building on already existing resources and skills in the current facility.
"Federal-Mogul Powertrain offers a variety of innovative products focusing on sealing systems that improve fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions," said Richard Paoline, business director, Sealing, China, Federal-Mogul Powertrain. "When the plant is operational, new automated production lines will be introduced to further expand the capacity for existing products. We also plan to manufacture MicroTorqTM low friction dynamic seals there, which are specifically designed for the next generation of engines in the Chinese market."
Federal-Mogul established its first manufacturing operation in China in 1995. With globally networked engineering and localized production capabilities, Federal-Mogul Powertrain has established itself as a leader in the Chinese automotive market, providing sustainable, high-performance engine components for its customers there. Today, Federal-Mogul Powertrain operates 13 wholly-owned or joint venture companies in nine locations. Federal-Mogul Powertrain's Shanghai-based Asia Pacific Technical Center is one of the company's globally networked engineering and technical centers, providing leading edge technologies and services to domestic and foreign transportation manufacturers throughout Asia.