Freudenberg Performance Materials Apparel Europe (Freudenberg) has expanded its facility in Sant'Omero, Italy, into a competence centre for finishing and coating apparel interlinings. Customers will benefit from faster and more flexible order processing. In the long term, they will also be able to count on products originating in Europe. The competence centre was officially opened on May 26, 2023. 

The Freudenberg team in Sant'Omero has over 35 years of expertise in the manufacture of high-quality interlinings for menswear: base materials produced at the site are finished and coated to customers’ specifications. With the new competence centre, the facility will now focus on coating and finishing all nonwoven, woven and weft apparel interlinings in Freudenberg’s portfolio.

“Freudenberg stands for a high level of technical know-how and comprehensive experience in apparel interlinings – from product development through to consultation. With the new competence centre in the core Italian market, our customers will benefit from even greater production flexibility and swifter delivery,” Dr Hannah Koeppen, general manager Freudenberg Performance Materials Apparel Europe, explained.  

Freudenberg installed the necessary finishing and coating technology at the new competence centre in Italy over the last few months, building a new production hall for this machinery and equipment. Until recently, the bulk of interlinings were coated and finished in Weinheim, Germany. The facility there will now operate as a further competence centre specialising in the production of base materials for apparel interlinings, the company said in a press release.

In addition to establishing the competence centre, Freudenberg has also improved logistics. A new central warehouse in Italy now supplies customers in Southern Europe. It complements the central warehouse in Germany that delivers goods to customers in Northern Europe. As a result, Freudenberg is shortening both delivery routes and delivery times.