Freudenberg Sealing Technologies Merkel – a success story
Founded in Hanover, Germany, by Heinrich Martin Merkel as plant for chemical specialties
Relocation to Hamburg (production focuses: packing glands and flat gaskets).
Start of elastomer production with automatic gaskets and lip seals. Used mainly in heavy machinery.
Almost total destruction in World War II, reconstruction starting in 1945 with 75 employees.
Start of seal production from PTFE (Teflon) as first producer in Germany.
The 100-year storm surge in Hamburg destroys low-lying areas of administration and production. Rapid reconstruction thanks to spontaneous fundraising campaign by domestic and foreign customers.