The Freudenberg Group was founded in 1849 by Carl Johann Freudenberg and Heinrich Christian Heintze as a tannery in Weinheim, Germany. Initially focused exclusively on leather production, the company quickly innovated with patent leather, which became a specialty and secured its early success. The company expanded internationally soon after its founding, establishing trade relationships and branches in multiple countries by the mid-19th century.
Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Freudenberg established itself as the largest leather manufacturer in Europe. It embraced continuous innovation and diversification, with early 20th-century developments including chrome tanning and expansion into Asia. The company faced challenges during the 1930s but used this period to diversify into new materials such as sealing rubbers and nonwovens.
Post World War II, Freudenberg expanded beyond leather into products like Vileda cloths, marking its entrance into consumer goods and industrial applications. Today, it serves more than 40 markets worldwide and offers thousands of applications spanning automotive, industrial, consumer, and healthcare sectors.
Freudenberg’s corporate culture is grounded in values established since the 1880s: modesty, honesty, financial solidity, and adaptability. These principles have guided its growth from a small tannery to a global technology and manufacturing group, renowned for quality, innovation, and long-term customer partnerships.
The company headquarters remain in Weinheim, Germany, reflecting both its heritage and ongoing commitment to engineering excellence and sustainability in its diverse product lines that include sealing solutions, vibration control technologies, filtration products, and nonwovens.