Caterpillar and Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) convened at Caterpillar’s facility in Mossville, Illinois, to recognize supplier excellence and align on strategic initiatives. The event marked a milestone in the ongoing partnership between the two companies, with Caterpillar acknowledging FST’s delivery performance and commitment to quality.
The recognition was based on FST’s rolling 12-month delivery performance, which exceeded 96 percent across global customer locations, 100 percent on-time Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) submissions, and a parts per million metric that met Caterpillar’s standards. These results reflect FST’s ability to meet stringent requirements despite global supply chain challenges and the post-pandemic environment.
Representatives from General Industry Sales, Mobile Machinery, and the Caterpillar Account Team, including Lance McFadden, Hich Bourdane, and Tomo Sharpee, joined Fluid Power Industry colleagues from Troy, Ohio, including Jay White, Kyle Schoenherr, Elton Santos, Ellen Hogan, and September Grubb. The agenda included a Growtth workshop focused on identifying corrective actions to improve customer satisfaction further.
Before the Mossville event, FST was recognized in early September at Caterpillar’s Global Supplier Excellence event in Dallas, Texas, for the performance of its European supplier code managed by Thierry Langlet and Severine Vaugeois.
The supplier excellence certification is a prerequisite for new business awards at Caterpillar, positioning FST for future opportunities. The strategic alignment developed during the event is expected to support collaborative initiatives and sustain positive momentum.
“We would not have secured this demanding certification without the excellent support of the dedicated customer service and inside sales team, Alicia Shupe, Amy Borders and Austin Tiernan,” said Angelika Mulac, Vice President Mobile Machinery.
According to Mulac, the certification brings FST closer to realizing its potential at Caterpillar. It is relevant for multiple FST divisions, including Static Sealing, Dynamic Sealing, and Fluid Power, all of which are aligned with the company’s sales growth strategy through regular coordination between the Sales Team and Lead Centers. The business development model established for Caterpillar is being considered for expansion to other large accounts within Segment Construction.
Caterpillar remains a strategic global customer for FST, and the event reinforced the importance of maintaining high standards and fostering strong partnerships.
