KARL FREUDENBERG GMBH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00423R001900230001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 8, 1998
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: May 10, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 1, 9I09I24 : CIA-RDP83-00423ROO190O 01-5
SEE BOTTOM OF PAGE FOR ADDITIONAL SPECIAL CONTROLS, IF ANY
I N F~OPMA 't 002 T
This material contains information affecting the
National Defense of the United States within the
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meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.S.C.
PREPARED AND DISSEMINATED BY
Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
of which in any manner to an unauthorized per-
son is prohibited by law.
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Karl Freudenberg, Gi.H
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DATE OF INFORMATION (Date or dates, on or between which,
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Mar 5
events or conditions described in report existed)
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THIS IS
SOURCE
During March 1955.1 visited Karl Freudenberg_GmbI in Weinheim near
Heidelberg Germany (Federal Republic) which I can describe as follows:
Address: HSnerweg !t. A number of buildings throughout the small town,
.grouped with at least three to an-area.
History: Founded in 181.9 as a leather tannery. Developed manufac-
ture of leather finishes and then substitutes for artifi-
cial leather. More recently the firm has turned to metal
stamping and plastics although it still makes leather
products.
Owners: Started by`Karl Freudenberg and now wholly owned by three
sons. Karl, Jr., while retaining an ownership interest,
is not active in the business, preferring his professorship
at the University of Heidelberg. His brother, Hans, is
the firm's technical man while the other brother, Richard,
handles the firm's finances. A nephew, HermannFreudenberg,
has been brought in to learn the business with the goal of
replacing Hans when he retires. The owners are progressive
in philosophy and are modernizing the equipment as fast
as possible.
Products: Leather and artificial soles;, heels and inserts. Grommets,
metal stampings, gaskets and clutch faces for all types
of Western European autos. Volkollan--type rubber soles
for Army-type boots and resin-impregnated unwoven fabrics.
Buildings: I visited only three of the many plant buildings. They
were one-story brick buildings, while others in the town
were one and two stories. Housekeeping everywhere was
excellent. None of the firm's plants suffered any
World War II damage. Owners are modernizing equipment and
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have a very modern Bamberg sie/mixer mill set-up.
Compared to finest in the US the mixer is not too
impressive but compared to German standards it is the
best. It is at least a 60-inch mill requiring two
operators. A3lother equipment is adequate.
Water and ruei: No shortages
Power: Firm gets power from town supply and possibly has a standby
power plant. However I did not have any opportunity to
examine this possibility.
Source of raw material; I do not know..
Production: Firm does US 7,5,million business per year. I have no other
figures on production.
Sales: Most sales are in European markets although currently
(March 1955) the firm is selling a lot of VVlco]An,
rubber soles for Army boots to Brazil or Argentina. Firm
has granted a license to a US firm for manufacture of
impregnated unwoven fabric and plans to establish a US
laboratory to expand use of the product. I have been
asked to find a competent laboratory director but actually
the firm plans to direct the laboratory's activities
from Germany. The firm plans to use US materials combined
with Germany's know-how.
Employees: About four thousand - - - average pay about US $ .45 an hour
for 48 hour week. One shift. Owners visualize employment
shortage when country rearms. This is partly responsible
for their desire to get modern labor-saving machines.
Employees live in and around Weinheim.
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