SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Federal-Mogul Corporation has developed an innovative, environmentally-friendly product that helps General Motors eliminate noise in a vehicle's cabin using recycled waste packaging and other by-products normally discarded at a vehicle manufacturing plant. QuietShield(R) GRN's (Green Non-woven) first application will be in the 2010 Buick LaCrosse luxury sedan, to be introduced at the North American International Auto Show on January 11. Cardboard packaging used by manufacturers, in this case from General Motors' Marion Metal Stamping plant in Marion, Indiana, is recycled into QuietShield GRN and is used as eco-friendly acoustical padding in the LaCrosse's headliner to reduce noise in the passenger compartment. Importantly, QuietShield represents a lower cost solution to provide acoustical padding versus traditional products, in addition to reducing landfill utilization and waste disposal costs.
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Automotive manufacturing plants today receive numerous parts for delivery to the assembly line in cardboard containers and other packaging. Some of these containers are made of recyclable materials, others are not. In both cases, when empty, the automaker pays to transport cardboard packaging and other refuse to a recycling center or landfill. Federal-Mogul's QuietShield(R) GRN -- an eco-friendly acoustical padding that is manufactured from by-product materials -- offers customers a new solution to these problems. The contents include domestic cardboard, carpet fibers, recycled yarns and fabrics, plus certain Asian cardboards, not previously thought to be recyclable due to short fiber length construction. The recyclable by-products collected at the manufacturing plant are shredded, combined with other recycled materials, formed into a web and bonded in a unique manufacturing process by Federal-Mogul. The manufacturing process was developed by Federal-Mogul's engineering experts, drawing on their expertise in the development and manufacture of high performance textile-based protection products. The padding can be used by automotive manufacturers and other industries to fabricate linings and sound deadening padding in headrests, headliners, door and kick panels, and trunk liners to abate noise entering the occupant compartment of the vehicle. QuietShield GRN can also be used in other habitat or industrial environments where noise isolation is required.
"Producing QuietShield from materials that would otherwise be discarded is not only cost effective but truly earth friendly, enabling our customers and all of us to progress in our efforts to be environmentally responsible," said Rene Dalleur, senior vice president, Vehicle Safety and Protection, Federal-Mogul. "We expect QuietShield, and innovative products like this, to have a larger presence on vehicles and many other applications in the future."
QuietShield(R) GRN is another solution provided by Federal-Mogul's Systems Protection group, maker of Bentley-Harris(R) brand protection products and the world's foremost supplier of protective solutions for passenger and commercial vehicles. These solutions provide protection against abrasion and mechanical damage, noise, vibration and thermal conditions, as well as reduce emissions, for example by insulating exhaust pipes to improve diesel particulate filter performance.
Manufacturing automobile, commercial vehicle or industrial products from materials that reduce environmental impact is not a new concept for Federal-Mogul. The company is today the world's leader in the design, development and production of a number of environmentally friendly products for these markets.
About Federal-Mogul
Federal-Mogul Corporation is a leading global supplier of powertrain and safety technologies, serving the world's foremost original equipment manufacturers of automotive, light commercial, heavy-duty, agricultural, marine, rail, off-road and industrial vehicles, as well as the worldwide aftermarket. The company's leading technology and innovation, lean manufacturing expertise, as well as marketing and distribution deliver world-class products, brands and services with quality excellence at a competitive cost. Federal-Mogul is focused on its global profitable growth strategy, creating value and satisfaction for its customers, shareholders and employees. Federal-Mogul was founded in Detroit in 1899. The company is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and employs nearly 45,000 people in 35 countries.
Note to Photo Editor: See graphic of Federal-Mogul's QuietShield GRN lifecycle process CONTACT: Paula Silver - 248-354-4530 Jennifer Rass - 248-354-7502
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