Saint-Gobain Inaugurates Indonesia Bearings Plant

After obtaining certification for automotive production quality from the International Automotive Task Force (IATF), Saint-Gobain, the producer of the renowned NORGLIDE Bearings, has announced that its new Bekashi facility in Jakarta, Indonesia has kicked off full production. The facility is the French company’s first-ever composite bearing production plant in the country, which manufactures sliding bearings with a self-lubricating liner of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). It brings Saint-Gobain’s advanced technology, production processes and expertise closer to customers in the growing Indonesian market.

IATF developed ISO/TS 16949, the globally acclaimed technical specification and quality management standard for the automotive sector. This certification brings together all standards from across Europe and the USA to define the best practices for designing, developing, manufacturing installing or servicing automotive products. Obtaining this certification serves as a huge milestone for Saint-Gobain’s production in Indonesia.

Speaking at the plant’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, where company executives announced the kickoff of full scale quality approved production, Stuart Kelly, Marketing Manager Asia, said that it was a momentous time for them at Saint-Gobain and for their customers.

He noted that obtaining automotive quality certification is a huge step forward for them and a proof of the hard work of their talented team on the ground in Jakarta, adding that the considerable strategic investment in this new facility shows their commitment to their Tier 1 and OEM partners in Indonesia. “Plus, it strengthens our presence in the wider pan-Asian market, allowing closer co-operation, a more responsive service and reducing customer lead times and inventory holdings. At Saint-Gobain, we make the small parts that make a big difference, and the new facility allows us to deliver for our customers today and gives us capacity to expand operations in line with the market going forward.”

Indonesia’s automotive sector is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 7.3 percent between this year and 2020. The initial focus of the new Saint-Gobain plant is on customer demand for established NORGLIDE solutions for applications within the seat and hinge categories. Every solution is custom developed with expert Saint-Gobain engineers in collaboration with the customer to deliver on OEM specification and make a huge difference to the end user.

NORGLIDE composite bearings have PTFE liners and filler compounds making them maintenance-free and corrosion-resistant, providing constant controlled friction over the automobile’s life. The PTFE liner compensates for tolerances and misalignments in case of thermal expansion. Moreover, NORGLIDE composite bearings can be customized for a variety of automotive applications to guarantee wear and tear resistance, optimum weight as well as noise and vibration dampening.