Wind is considered one of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies’ strategic future topics in the energy sector. In 2024, the company generated a low double-digit million euro amount with applications in the wind industry. A record figure to which many Lead Centers contribute. Against this backdrop, employees from Technology, Marketing and Management from the Heavy Industry, Special Sealing Industry and Fluid Power Industry Lead Centers active in this market segment met with representatives from Sales General Industry at the two-day “Strategy Meeting Wind” in Hamburg at the end of November.
Anyone who looks up at the Eiffel Tower from the esplanade on Place du Trocadero in Paris is always impressed anew. The landmark of the French capital rises imposingly some 300 meters into the air. It was the tallest building in the world for several decades.
Today, the rotors of modern offshore wind turbines alone are almost as monumental as the Eiffel Tower. In China, the first rotors reach almost 300 meters in diameter. That is outstanding in both senses of the word. Until a few years ago, the rated power of wind turbines was still in the single-digit range, but now the new energy giants are reaching 20 megawatts and more. There is a trend behind this: the 25,000 or so new wind turbines that are connected to the grid worldwide every year are currently getting bigger and more powerful – and the quality requirements of turbine manufacturers are growing with them.
“Wind is one of our strategic topics for the future in the energy sector”
“Wind is one of our strategic future topics in the energy sector,” says Marcel Schreiner, Global Segment Director Energy. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) generated impressive sales with applications in the wind industry in 2024. Many lead centers contributed to this success.
Getting the ball rolling
Against this backdrop, employees from technology, marketing and management from the Heavy Industry, Special Sealing Industry and Fluid Power Industry lead centers active in this market segment met with representatives from Sales General Industry at the two-day “Strategy Meeting Wind” in Hamburg at the end of November.
“We experienced two days full of lasting impulses with all kinds of aha moments, got the ball rolling and initiated numerous collaborations and projects,” summarizes Schreiner. Looking beyond the confines of their own Lead Center proved to be extremely fruitful. What makes colleagues from other lead centers successful in this market segment, and what can the other lead centers learn from them? “There are many bilateral support opportunities and areas in which we can learn from each other,” says Schreiner.
For example, in the organizational approach. The “Focus Team Wind” of the Lead Center Heavy Industry provides a good example of an efficient set-up. Or: Can the direct line to the plant manufacturer of a Lead Center also benefit other Lead Centers that “only” supply upstream component manufacturers? Or: Can uniform standards for service life simulations of wind power seals be defined across the lead centers?
Lube & Seal with Klüber Lubrication
Additional opportunities are offered to FST by the cooperation with an established sister company in the wind power sector, the lubricant specialist Klüber Lubrication – among other things in the form of joint Lube & Seal offers tailored to customer requirements. By pooling the respective competencies, for example, a sealing and lubricant solution could be found for the imminent switch from grease-lubricated to oil-lubricated bearings in wind power. Klüber Lubrication is also strong in the plant maintenance and repair business. FST, on the other hand, focuses on original equipment, but would also like to make further gains in the aftermarket.
In his keynote speech, Daniel Narnhammer, who is responsible for the wind power business at Klüber Lubrication, told the participants of the strategy meeting about an essential prerequisite for success in the aftermarket business: customer proximity in close daily exchange.
As a second speaker, FST was able to attract Henrik Stiesdal from Denmark, a high-caliber figure in the wind power industry: He has been one of the wind power pioneers since the 1970s and continues to provide the industry with a tailwind with his expertise. He was also unable to give a reliable answer as to whether the gigantism of turbine sizes will continue. However, he did give a hint: for economic reasons, container ships have also become smaller again in recent years and the “giant bird” Airbus A 380 has disappeared from the order lists of airlines.
But no matter how monumental and powerful future plants will be, as sustainable energy generators they will all contribute to environmental and climate protection. However, they will probably never achieve the fame and elegance of the Eiffel Tower.
