Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies was recently recognized as a Partner-level supplier in North America by John Deere Power Systems during John Deere’s Achieving Excellence (AE) Supplier Conference in Bettendorf, Iowa.

Partner-level status is John Deere’s highest supplier rating. Freudenberg-NOK supplies John Deere Power Systems with a variety of engine and fluid power, transmission and axle components including radial shaft seals, valve stem seals, “Plug & Seal” connectors, gaskets and rod and piston sealing packages. The company also works closely with John Deere Power Systems on product development activities and technical engineering programs such as value analysis and value engineering.

Suppliers who participate in the Achieving Excellence program are evaluated annually in several key performance categories, including quality, cost management, delivery, technical support and wavelength, a measure of responsiveness. John Deere Supply Management created the program in 1991 to provide a supplier evaluation and feedback process that promotes continuous improvement.

“Achieving Partner status with John Deere Power Systems is the culmination of nearly two decades of highly productive relations between our companies,” said Joel Johnson, vice president of Freudenberg-NOK’s Mobile Machinery sector. “We are honored to receive this top supplier rating and gratified that our years of service to John Deere Power Systems have helped the organization prosper and grow.”

Freudenberg-NOK provides high-quality components and technical support to John Deere Power Systems in North America through several manufacturing facilities including those located in Milan, Ohio; Manchester and Northfield, New Hampshire; Cleveland, Georgia; Troy, Ohio; Morristown, Indiana; and Cuautla, Mexico. Facilities that were rated attained nearly perfect point scores from John Deere Power Systems in a broad variety of categories including technology delivery and process innovation, order fulfillment, part conformity, cost management, warranty, material compliance, product resolution and risk evaluation and management.

“Our teams representing elastomeric gaskets, axle and engine cassette seals, valve stem seals, fluid power products, radial shaft seals and specialty molded products have collaborated with each other in critically important business areas to achieve excellent customer satisfaction,” said Johnson. “Our ongoing focus on innovation and continuous improvement has been core to our success.”