- ABB partnership keeps production of Wettex-Vileda sponge cloths running
- ABB solutions at Freudenberg facility include low-voltage switchgear, circuit breakers and frequency converters
- Modernization of electrical distribution supports efficiency improvements
For more than 70 years, Wettex sponge cloths – Vileda in some markets – have been an efficient way to tackle jobs around the house. Every day, thousands of meters of Wettex sponge cloth are produced at Freudenberg’s factory in Norrköping, Sweden. With a focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, and safety, progress is driven forward here with the help of solutions from ABB Electrification.
ABB is a trusted partner that keeps the production running, with smart power distribution solutions. In the factory, thousands of drives are fed with current and voltage from ABB’s low-voltage MNS3.0 switchgear with Emax 2 circuit breakers. The tough production environment places high demands on equipment that can withstand difficult conditions, but this is not noticeable in the bright switchgear rooms. Here, the switchgear rows are easily accessible to Freudenberg’s electricians.
Freudenberg’s facility is being modernized to improve efficiency. Sustainability work takes place on many levels – improving the company's energy performance is one of them.
"Our facility is being modernized and made more efficient, and the same applies to our switchgear from ABB,” says Richard Thörnkvist, Maintenance/Electrical Manager at Freudenberg. “They are rebuilt and upgraded when they are 20–25 years old. Old appliances and components that are difficult to obtain are replaced with more modern equipment that is more energy efficient. With new products, the risk of interruptions in production is reduced. We aim to have no breakdowns, and we have very few stoppages. These are good products."
“We always adapt our solutions to the industry they serve,” says Per Jennedal, Sales Representative at ABB Electrification Sweden. “Tinned rails and double contactors in an emergency stop circuit are two examples of special solutions here."
The simplicity of the end product, a colorful sponge cloth, does not reflect the complicated process of making it. Renewable resources such as paper, viscose, cotton, and salt are used to produce a mass, that is extruded, steamed, and baked in an oven before patterns are printed and the sponge cloths are cut to the right size.
ABB and Freudenberg have a long and successful history of cooperation. It's easy to be fooled by Wettex sponge cloth’s unassuming look. But it takes both innovative engineering and energy efficient solutions for our sinks to shine.
Wettex® and Freudenberg
In 1949, Curt Lindqvist created the first Wettex sponge cloth at home in his kitchen by grinding a sponge through a meat grinder. Lindqvist’s wife, Margareta, named it Wettex®, short for wet textile. Since 1990, Wettex® has been manufactured by Freudenberg, which is present in 60 countries and has 50,000 employees worldwide.
ABB solutions at Freudenberg
The Wettex production facility is home to a range of ABB power distribution solutions, such as switchgear, frequency converters, circuit breakers, I/O-units.
Left to right: Richard Thörnkvist, Maintenance/Electrical Manager, Freudenberg; Per Jennedal, Sales Representative, ABB Electrification Sweden; Dick Jakobsson, Electrical and Automation Technician at Freudenberg 
Freudenberg’s production of Wettex/Vileda sponge cloths requires many process steps and thousands of drives: low-voltage switchgear from ABB supplies production with electricity 
ABB Electrification Sweden Sales Representative Per Jennedal: “We adapt our solutions to the industry they serve” 
Each year Freudenberg’s factory produces around 8 million square meters of Wettex/Vileda sponge cloths 
Richard Thörnkvist, Maintenance/Electrical Manager, Freudenberg: "Our facility is being modernized and made more efficient, and the same applies to our switchgear from ABB.” 
Richard Thörnkvist, Maintenance/Electrical Manager, Freudenberg; Per Jennedal, Sales Representative, ABB Electrification Sweden; Dick Jakobsson, Electrical and Automation Technician at Freudenberg 
Norrköping is home to two Freudenberg factories that manufacture and package Wettex-Vileda sponge cloths
— | ||
External Communications | ||
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com
ABB’s Electrification BusinessArea: Electrifying the world in a safe, smart and sustainable way, ABB Electrification is a global technology leader in electrical distribution and management from source to socket. As the world’s demand for electricity grows, our 50,000+ employees across 100 countries collaborate with customers and partners to transform how people connect, live and work. We develop innovative products, solutions and digital technologies that enable energy efficiency and a low carbon society across all sectors. By applying global scale with local expertise, we shape and support global trends, deliver excellence for customers and power a sustainable future for society. go.abb/electrification
