Freudenberg Performance Materials opened a new Apparel Performance Materials R&D center at its Taoyuan facility in Taiwan on March 14, 2018.

The new R&D center will focus on innovative developments in the field of performance apparel interlinings, sustainable solutions such as recycled fiber and biodegradable interlinings, adhesive technology as well as new processing technology. With a modern physical and chemical laboratory, it will help speed up product development, materials analysis and the use of sustainable technology.

The Taoyuan factory where the new R&D center is located was established almost 30 years ago. Its more than 120 employees produce interlining materials for the apparel industry. The site has undertaken several sustainability projects, including energy and water savings programs, in an effort to minimize its environmental footprint. The positive impact of these initiatives is proven by certificates for clean processing, GRS (Global Recycle Standard), and Oekotex100 class 1.

“Our overall investment concept in China is in line with market and customer requirements. We react to the growing demands of our customers for the development of innovations that meet the specific needs of the Chinese market,” says Bettina Schoen-Behanzin, Freudenberg Regional Representative Asia.

Freudenberg Performance Materials is a Business Group of Freudenberg Group, which consistently pursues an investment policy based on the requirements of the regional markets in which it is active. In 2016, Freudenberg Group invested 282 million RMB in China.

During the last 5 years, the Freudenberg Group has invested some 1.2 billion RMB in its sites, production facilities and technology centers in China. The R&D center is the latest in a series of investments made by Freudenberg Performance Materials in the region. Last year the company opened its first Shirt Technology Center in Nantong, China, expanding its service and support for shirt manufacturers in Asia.