Tenneco makes major investment in Milan

MILAN — A Fortune 500 company pioneering global ideas for cleaner air with smoother, quicker and safer transportation methods just enhanced the process at its Milan offices.Not too long ago, Tenneco executives upgraded their Lockwood Road engineering development laboratory to upgrade work with elastomer products.In a nutshell, elastomers represent a critical component of Tenneco's ride performance business.They're used in vehicles, from subcompacts to off-road construction equipment, with goals of reducing noise, vibration and harshness. Some customers of Tenneco include GM, Volkswagen, Ford, Nissan, BMW, John Deere and Caterpillar.At the Tenneco engineering development laboratory in Milan, the operation recently underwent several upgrades to improve its facilities handling elastomer products. They're used in vehicles, from subcompacts to off-road construction equipment, with goals of reducing noise, vibration and harshness. While executives didn't divulge the actual monetary investment — they did say it's in excess of $1 million — they did, however, provide some insight into improvements made. Among the ride performance areas upgraded include areas focusing on:• Component and system-level validation testing for dynamic and static response• Component-level stiffness and damping response• Fatigue and life capabilities improvements• Sound and vibration level enhancements"This all allows us to jump out ahead of our competition and allow our customers to have a product that does not have to go through iterations of constant testing," said Steve Pohlman, the vice president and general manager of Tenneco's global elastomers department.The commitment made in Milan also means ensuring the 76 workers keep their employment with possibilities of employment expansion there."The people and the personnel we have working here, there is a great deal of knowledge that we have," Pohlman said. "From where we are, we can draw from universities (across Ohio) for engineers. This location is the best place for us and what we do."Bio blast: TennecoThe company's history as a stand-alone entity began in 1999, when it emerged from a conglomerate formerly consisting of six businesses: shipbuilding, packaging, farm and construction equipment, gas transmission, automotive and chemicals.Through various public offerings, sales, spinoffs and mergers beginning in the 1980s, the company divested all of its businesses, leaving Tenneco Automotive as the remaining part of the original company.In 2005, the company rebranded its name to Tenneco, to better represent the expanding number of markets the company serves.Tenneco is a $9.3 billion global manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois, and approximately 32,000 employees worldwide. The company serves customers from 92 manufacturing facilities and 15 engineering and technical centers globally.Tenneco's Milan, facility, part of the company's Ride Performance business, is the global research and development/ engineering center for Clevite elastomer noise, vibration and harshness control products. The 37,500-square-foot facility employs 76 people, focusing on elastomer application and advanced engineering, testing, rubber chemistry, sound and vibration analysis and prototype build and testing.Source: TennecoAt the Tenneco engineering development laboratory in Milan, the operation recently underwent several upgrades to improve its facilities handling elastomer products. They're used in vehicles, from subcompacts to off-road construction equipment, with goals of reducing noise, vibration and harshness. Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.Noise, vibration and harshness engineer Cameron Brant demonstrates one of the tests that can be conducted at Tenneco's Milan office since a recent upgrade. All upgrades revolved around improving facilities handling elastomer products. They're used in vehicles, from subcompacts to off-road construction equipment, with goals of reducing noise, vibration and harshness.