Passion for the best Frauenthal Automotive

PassIon foR ThE BEsT

Frauenthal Automotive is a leading premium supplier and development partner to the European automotive OEMs and a market leader in several automotive segments. The company has over 100 years of industrial experience under its belt: a strong tradition and maximum customer focus, combined with innovative approach, have been key to its success. Romana Moares reports.

Established in the 1890s, Frauenthal has been continuously improving its expertise in automotive parts development and manufacture. Since 1975 it has led the industry in supplying parabolic springs; since 1983, air suspension springs; since 1996, 3D air suspension springs and since 1999 front mono-leaf springs for heavy trucks.

Frauenthal Automotive supplies the majority of the European commercial vehicle industry as well as selected car customers. In addition, the company is also active in the non-automotive sector – a segment with great potential. Headquartered in Vienna and employing over 1800 people, the company is one of two divisions of Frauenthal Holding AG, and has become an irreplaceable industry partner. Three pillars

The cornerstone of today’s Frauenthal Automotive was laid in 2002 when the first spring plants were acquired in Austria and Germany. Further acquisitions of major European commercial vehicle suppliers followed. In 2005, Frauenthal produced the first high-stress 7.5tonne front-axle mono-leaf springs and today it is Europe’s industry leader in the supply of LCV, truck and trailer leaf springs. As a highquality manufacturer of commodities, the company focuses on a long-term partnership with customers who appreciate the security of supply, cost-optimisation and flexibility.

The division maintains three product groups: the Powertrain division develops and produces connecting rods, balancing shafts and distributor rails with two locations in Germany and supplies the

European passenger car and truck industry. The Gnotec Group, with two locations in Sweden, one in Slovakia and one in China, has state-of-the-art equipment for sheet metal processing through stamping, pressing, cutting and welding. The compressed air tank business line, with locations in Germany and the Czech Republic, is the European market leader for compressed air tanks made of steel, which are used, among other things, in the braking systems of heavy trucks. Top development expertise

Today’s automotive world is faster-paced than ever before, with the application of new technologies and demands for intelligent solutions. Weight reduction, improved use of the chassis and total cost optimisation over the vehicle’s lifetime – those are the current requirements affecting the sector development.

Frauenthal Automotive’s innovation strategy is aimed at increasing product and process performance, expanding the product range with more powerful components, and optimising service to customer needs. Product innovations are rooted in simplification, with the aim to streamline the solutions in order to reduce total costs and to make it easier for customers to install or continue using certain components. In order to increase the efficiency of parts, the company strives to improve material properties, develop new product designs and optimise production processes.

Product development follows a clearly defined cycle: lower weight – reduction in materials used – reduced environmental impact – increased cargo capacity – lower fuel consumption – lower total cost – enhanced profitability. The results of this approach include dual chamber air tanks and plastic air reservoirs, and the focus on simplification has brought the Headfix solution for air reservoirs: this innovative head mounting product uses a completely new design, removing the need for an additional holding assembly.

New business

Facing current market challenges including the rising cost pressure and decreasing production of heavy commercial vehicles; the

company’s strategy has been based on further automation of the production line and layout optimisation, further quality improvement and increasing the customer base in the automotive sector as well as other industries.

The company boasts maximum customer orientation and is committed to long-standing and close customer relationships, continuously improving existing products as well as offering customised solutions for new products. In addition to premium quality, the company’s competitive advantages include utmost flexibility, the highest levels of supply security, as well as cost savings generated by specialisation.

The focus on increasing value for customers has paid dividends. As both the European commercial vehicle market and the passenger car manufacturers relevant to Frauenthal recorded growth rates in 2017, the company’s financial performance has further improved. “Frauenthal Automotive was able to win orders for new business in all product areas, which will contribute to sales growth in the years to come,” confirmed Dr Ing. Martin Sailer, CEO of Frauenthal Holding, adding that for the Frauenthal Automotive division, the good market situation is expected to further increase earnings in the near future. n