Johnson Controls GWS crosses Atlantic with Freudenberg Group to manage North American manufacturing facilities

Johnson Controls News Release:

Johnson Controls GWS crosses Atlantic with Freudenberg Group to manage North American manufacturing facilities

U.S. win builds on existing four-year partnership in Europe

LONDON, UK – February 21, 2013 - Johnson Controls Global WorkPlace Solutions (GWS), a leading provider of facilities, corporate real estate and energy management to many of the world’s largest companies, has signed a new three-year agreement with industrial manufacturer Freudenberg Group to provide technical facilities management and services to its production, warehousing and office complex in the U.S. city of Durham, North Carolina. The win builds on an existing, four-year partnership with the Freudenberg Group in Germany.

Johnson Controls will provide a full range of enterprise-wide services that will optimize building efficiencies and allow Freudenberg to focus on its core business of manufacturing spunweb fabric.

The scope of work includes technical and electrical maintenance, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), energy management, waste management, cleaning and landscaping, as well as security and safety management systems. The area of the buildings managed by Johnson Controls totals almost 500,000 square feet (46,000 square metres) and houses more than 250 employees, who work around the clock. Its spunweb manufacturing business in Durham supplies non-woven products to the automotive, building and industrial markets.

John McNabb, general manager, Freudenberg Spunweb Company, Durham, said: “Johnson Controls has proven its ability to deliver global solutions locally. We started our partnership a few years ago for HVAC maintenance services.  Johnson Controls’ performance exceeded our expectations and we decided to expand the services. By using Johnson Controls as our facilities management provider, we can refocus internal resources on our production lines to improve our production performance.Johnson Controls GWS has been a key partner in Europe since 2009 and we will leverage that experience in the U.S.”

Mike Runicles, vice president Global Industrial Solutions, Johnson Controls GWS, said: “Increasingly we are seeing industrial customers work with us across geographies. This agreement is a strategic partnership for both parties. The success of our working relationship with Freudenberg in Europe provides a solid platform for America. It will support Freudenberg's continued expansion in North America, where it supplies key growth markets in industry, automotive and construction.”

As well as securing this new US contract, Johnson Controls in Germany has expanded its partnership with the Freudenberg Group with a new five-year contract to manage the company’s production plant in Berlin, which opened in 2012.  

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About Johnson Controls Global WorkPlace Solutions

Johnson Controls Global WorkPlace Solutions is a leading provider of facilities, commercial real estate and energy management for many of the world’s largest companies. We create business advantage for our customers through tailored solutions that optimize their real estate performance and employee productivity while reducing total occupancy costs. Our 21,000 employees have delivered over $3 billion in savings for our customers over the last 10 years and ensure the business continuity of the 1.8 billion square feet of real estate that we manage in more than 75 countries. 

About Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 170,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2012, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #5 company in its annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list.

For additional information, please visit: http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.

About the Freudenberg Group
The Freudenberg Group is a family company offering its customers technically challenging product solutions and services. The Group develops and manufactures seals, vibration control components, filters, nonwovens, products for surface treatment, release agents and specialty lubricants, medical and mechatronic products. And especially for mid-size companies Freudenberg develops software solutions and IT services. The end-user can find modern Freudenberg household products in the shops under the brand names of vileda®, O-Cedar®, Wettex®, Gala® and SWASH®. The Freudenberg Group employed over 37,000 people in 58 countries and generated sales of more than €6 billion in 2011. For further information, please go to www.freudenberg.com.