Machines and systems for rubber and plastics processing: mixing technology, extruders, tire curing presses and automation.
Harburg-Freudenberger Maschinenbau GmbH (HF GROUP)
Hamburg-Harburg (DE) · Freudenberg (DE) · Topeka, Kansas (US) · Qingdao (CN) · Bengaluru (IN) · Dubnica nad Váhom (SK) · Belišće (HR) · Rochdale (GB) · Rescaldina (IT) · Ansonia, Connecticut (US)New on Amplifa
About HF GROUP
Harburg-Freudenberger Maschinenbau GmbH (HF GROUP) develops and manufactures machines and systems for rubber and plastics processing. The portfolio includes batch mixers (BANBURY®, INTERMIX®, TANDEM, TECNOLAB®, UMIX®), continuous mixers from FARREL POMINI®, extruders (SINDEX®, CONVEX™, FILTEX®), tire curing presses with over 6,000 units delivered worldwide, mixing mills, cutting machines as well as mixing-room automation (ADVISE®) and control systems. In addition to new machine manufacturing, the company offers overhauls, retrofits, spare parts, service contracts, pre-engineering and digital services such as condition monitoring. The group employs 1,890 staff at 16 locations worldwide and achieved sales of €398 million in 2024. The German production site is located in Freudenberg (Siegerland), the headquarters with office building, assembly hall and machine test stand in Hamburg-Harburg; the company belongs to the Possehl Group.
- Site
- Hamburg
- Processes
- Manufacture of batch mixers (BANBURY®, INTERMIX®, TANDEM, TECNOLAB®, UMIX®, UMIX®-L), Manufacture of continuous mixers (FARREL POMINI®, FCM™, Compact Processor), Manufacture of tire curing presses (eCuring, HF CureMaster® PCR & TBR, HF Classic MCP, hydraulic, Manufacture of extruders (CONVEX™ twin-screw extruders, SINDEX® single-screw extruders, FILTEX®, Manufacture of cutting machines (BALECUT® rubber slab cutter, STRIPCUT® strip cutter), Manufacture of mixing mills (MILLMIX®, TECNOLAB® laboratory mills), Mixing-room automation (ADVISE®, Mix Vision) and control systems, Design and construction of custom mixing-room systems and pyrolysis systems
- Materials
- Rubber/Natural rubber, Rubber/Technical rubber goods, Polymers/Plastics (compounding), Rubber compounds (masterbatch, final mix), Rubber recycling material (ELT, end-of-life tires), Rubber/technical rubber goods, Polymers/Plastics, Rubber compounds (masterbatch/final mix)
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, EcoVadis Gold Rating, EcoVadis Gold
- Founded
- 1848 (HF
- Employees
- 1890
- Industries
- Tire industry, Technical rubber goods, Plastics processing/compounding, Pyrolysis/recycling, Adhesives
- 01
Pre-engineering and mixing trials in the Technical Center
- 02
Design and development
- 03
Manufacturing and assembly
- 04
Machine test stand
- 05
Installation and commissioning
- 06
Service, spare parts, upgrades and overhauls
- 07
Digital services (condition monitoring, MyHF Portal)
Materials and Processes
Rubber/Natural rubber
Processed in extrusion and mixing applications for granulates and strips.
Rubber/technical rubber goods
Target material of the mixing technology, extruders and tire curing presses.
Polymers/Plastics
Compounding in FARREL POMINI® continuous mixers, also for temperature-sensitive and highly filled materials.
Rubber compounds (masterbatch/final mix)
Batch mixers for masterbatch and final mix processes.
Rubber recycling material (end-of-life tires)
Processing in thermal pyrolysis and recycling systems.
Locations & Offices
Hamburg (Harburg)
DEHeadquarters with office building, assembly hall and machine test stand
- Assembly hall
- Machine test stand
Freudenberg
DEProduction, development, design and service
- Manufacturing of INTERMIX®, TANDEM, BALECUT®, STRIPCUT®, UMIX®, TECNOLAB®, ADVISE®
Topeka, Kansas
USNorth American rubber mixing technology: machine building, service, spare parts
- Assembly and warehouse hall
Qingdao
CNService, spare parts, installation and commissioning
Bengaluru
INDesign and manufacture of mixing machines
Dubnica nad Váhom
SKProduction, service and development site for Europe
Belišće
HRLargest production unit of HF GROUP, machines for the tire industry
Machines and Systems
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacture of batch mixers (BANBURY®, INTERMIX®, TANDEM, TECNOLAB®, UMIX®, UMIX®-L)Mechanical engineering/mixing technology | – | – | – | – | Rubber, Rubber goods, Polymers |
| Manufacture of continuous mixers (FARREL POMINI®, FCM™, Compact Processor)Mechanical engineering/mixing technology | – | – | – | – | Polymers, Plastics (temperature-sensitive, abrasive, highly filled |
| Manufacture of tire curing presses (eCuring, HF CureMaster® PCR & TBR, HF Classic MCP, hydraulicMechanical engineering/vulcanization | – | – | – | – | Rubber/rubber goods |
| Manufacture of extruders (CONVEX™ twin-screw extruders, SINDEX® single-screw extruders, FILTEX®Mechanical engineering/extrusion | – | – | – | – | Rubber, Rubber goods |
| Manufacture of cutting machines (BALECUT® rubber slab cutter, STRIPCUT® strip cutter)Mechanical engineering | – | – | – | – | Rubber, Elastomer |
| Manufacture of mixing mills (MILLMIX®, TECNOLAB® laboratory mills)Mechanical engineering/mixing technology | – | – | – | – | Rubber goods, Plastics, Adhesives |
| Mixing-room automation (ADVISE®, Mix Vision) and control systemsAutomation/Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Design and construction of custom mixing-room systems and pyrolysis systemsEngineering/System integration | – | – | – | – | – |
| Overhaul, retrofit and upgrade of mixing machines of all brands (Francis Shaw, Farrel, KruppService/Repair | – | – | – | – | – |
| Safety and maintenance solutions (mBox®, mChute)Components/Safety | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pre-engineering, mixing trials in the Technical Center, process support, Smart Final Mix as aEngineering/Testing | – | – | – | – | Rubber compounds |
| Service for tire building machines (spare parts, upgrades, obsolescence management,Service/Repair | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of bead wrapping machines and single-screw dump extruders (historical products)Mechanical engineering | – | – | – | – | Rubber goods |
19 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batch mixer | HF GROUP BANBURY® | – | – | – | – |
| Intermeshing mixer (internal mixer) | HF GROUP INTERMIX® | – | – | – | Freudenberg, Germany |
| Multi-stage rubber mixer | HF GROUP TANDEM Mixer 2.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Laboratory mixer | HF GROUP TECNOLAB® | – | – | – | – |
| Universal mixer (batch) | HF GROUP UMIX® / UMIX®-L | – | – | – | – |
| Continuous mixer | FARREL POMINI® FCM™ / Compact Processor | – | – | – | – |
| Single-screw extruder | HF GROUP SINDEX® | – | – | – | – |
| Twin-screw extruder | HF GROUP CONVEX™ | – | – | – | – |
| Strainer extruder (filter extruder) | HF GROUP FILTEX® | – | – | – | – |
| Tire curing presses (electric/hydraulic) | HF GROUP eCuring, HF CureMaster®, HF Classic MCP | over 6,000 | – | – | – |
| Post Cure Inflator | HF GROUP PCI | – | – | – | – |
| Rubber slab cutter | HF GROUP BALECUT® | – | – | – | – |
| Strip cutter | HF GROUP STRIPCUT® | – | – | – | – |
| Industrial mixing mill | HF GROUP MILLMIX® | – | – | – | – |
| Laboratory mill | HF GROUP TECNOLAB® laboratory mill | – | – | – | – |
| Mixing-room automation system | HF GROUP ADVISE® | – | – | – | – |
| Custom control systems for rubber mixing | Mesabi Control Engineering | – | – | – | Oakdale, Minnesota, USA |
| Mixing machine (MASTICATOR kneading machine, historical) | Werner & Pfleiderer MASTICATOR | – | – | 1879 | Freudenberg, Germany |
| Thermodynamic end-of-life tire processing plant (prototype) | WF RECYCLE-TECH | – | – | – | Camberley, United Kingdom |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality and Certifications
The Freudenberg site is certified to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018; HARBURG-FREUDENBERGER MASCHINENBAU GMBH has been awarded the EcoVadis Gold medal. Overhauls are carried out to original manufacturer specifications with access to all original drawings.
| Evidence | Freudenberg |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 | |
| ISO 14001:2015 | |
| ISO 45001:2018 | |
| EcoVadis Gold |
History
- 1848
Group history – more than 175 years of experience
- 1879
Hermann Werner and Paul Pfleiderer develop the MASTICATOR kneading machine in Freudenberg
- 1959
Acquisition of HEB by Friedrich Krupp
- 1960
Foundation of Midwest Machine Works (today HF Rubber Machinery Inc.) by Leonard Smith
- 1970er
Start of rubber mixer production at Midwest Machine Works
- 1989
Acquisition of Midwest Machine Works by Werner & Pfleiderer
- 1995
Foundation of Harburg-Freudenberger Machinery India (June)
- 2005
Possehl Group acquires the parent company; renaming to HF Rubber Machinery Inc.
- 2007
Foundation of Harburg-Freudenberger Machinery (China) in Qingdao (29.09.)
- 2009
Acquisition of FARREL by the group
- 2011
FARREL POMINI becomes part of the HF GROUP
- 2012
HF Slovakia in Dubnica nad Váhom
- 2013
Foundation of WF RECYCLE-TECH
- 2014
Expansion with new assembly and warehouse hall in Topeka
- 2022
Occupancy of the new office building in Hamburg-Harburg
- 2024
Sales of €398 million