Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has announced changes in the Dynamic Sealing Division. As of January 1st, 2025, Lead Center (LC) Powertrain has been officially founded following the merger of LC Transmission & Driveline and LC Engine.
The Dynamic Sealing Division of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) has started the new year with some exciting changes. Following the earlier merger of Lead Center Transmission & Driveline and LC Engine, a new Lead Center (LC) Powertrain has been founded, effective January 1st, 2025.
Lead Center (LC) Powertrain sets out with the intention to optimize operations and forge leadership in the sealing industry. In pursuing its vision, LC Powertrain will drive excellence and growth in the internal combustion engine and e-mobility sectors. The Lead Center will focus on four primary customer applications: e-powertrain, transmission, engine, and driveline. To fully support these applications, Powertrain provides a six-strong portfolio of product lines: valve stem seals, radial shaft seals, composite seals, eCON grounding, encoders, and other vehicle systems for actuators and pumps. In total, these product lines account for the production and sale of 600 million individual units per year worldwide.
Powertrain’s goal of advancing the e-mobility sector reflects FST’s commitment to innovation and forward-thinking, but it will take more than alignment with company values to make real progress; concrete action is required. Part of LC Powertrain’s plan to achieve this goal is to expand its electrified powertrain product portfolio. Alongside the importance of e-powertrain applications, the portfolio management of legacy business will be a top focus area, where the aim is to grow market share beyond the current 50 percent by 2030.
2,500 associates, 30 nationalities
The Lead Center’s staff consists of approximately 2,500 dedicated employees spread globally across twelve sites, representing 30 nationalities. This multicultural team enriches LC Powertrain’a culture and fosters curiosity, innovation, and collective growth. The resulting work environment is part of what makes the Lead Center a breeding ground for new talents.
Associates at the Pinerolo plant of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies.
Lead Center Vice President, José Serrano, is aware of the demanding nature of the market that Powertrain operates in. However, he trusts in his team’s ability to accomplish its business mission. “We’ll need to design and deploy solid product strategies to ensure our product portfolio can conquer the market. We have a huge challenge in front of us, but we’re meeting it head-on with passion and optimism.” In this sense, Powertrain management team is building the new LC structure with a dedicated focus per functional area, to extend best-practices across sites and sustain competitive advantages.
“We’ll need to design and deploy solid product strategies.”
José Serrano, Vice President Lead Center Powertrain
Head of Finance and Controlling, Cecilia Cai, underlines the constant effort required in multiple areas to achieve Powertrain’s ambitions. “We strive for strategic innovation and financial excellence, as both are indispensable to global growth and operating efficiency.” Powertrain’s products, processes, and materials are some of the areas where this strategic innovation will need to take place.
“We strive for strategic innovation and financial excellence”
Cecilia Cai, Head of Finance & Controlling
Lead Center Powertrain provides solutions to all the global automotive OEMs, such as Volkswagen Group, Ford, Stellantis, AAM and General Motors. FST has earned the trust of all of these OEMs through the solidity of its products. Powertrain Marketing Director, Simon Planicka, is determinedto spread this trust even further. “We want to elevate brand presence in both legacy and emerging markets, and to be recognized as market leaders in terms of performance, quality and reliability.”
“We want to elevate brand presence in both legacy and emerging markets.”
Simon Planicka, Marketing Director Powertrain
Built on tradition and thriving on transformation, the LC Powertrain team is prepared to take on the future with a multi-faceted approach to realizing its vision.
