The Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) is driven by a dedicated team committed to strengthening and advancing Illinois manufacturing. Guiding this mission, the IMEC Board of Directors comprises local industry leaders and partners who help steer the organization toward achieving the best possible outcomes for manufacturers across the state. One of our newest Board Directors is Mauro Frangipani, Freudenberg Household Products LP (FHP)’s North America Operations Director. Frangipani sat down with us virtually to discuss FHP and his lifelong passion for manufacturing.
Manufacturing in Illinois
Twenty-five years ago, Freudenberg Household Products (FHP), as part of Freudenberg Group, entered the U.S. market by acquiring MB Walton, a Chicago-based manufacturer of mops and brooms under the Roll-O-Matic® trademark. In 2003, FHP further expanded by acquiring the O-Cedar® brand and relocating its primary manufacturing to Northlake, IL. Today, FHP continues to thrive with its facility in Aurora, IL, contributing to the company’s leadership in branded cleaning solutions across North America. Originally designed for warehousing, the Aurora plant began manufacturing products as well, which led Mauro’s job to be moved from Brazil to Illinois.
Unique among fellow Board Directors, Mauro’s manufacturing leadership knows no continental bounds, as Frangipani spent the first 25 years of his career in Brazil, with a brief stint in North Carolina, before moving to the Chicago, IL area.
Unsurprisingly, Frangipani holds dual citizenship. “My family originates from Italy,” Frangipani explained, “and I hold Italian citizenship. I was born in Brazil and have Brazilian citizenship. I am currently working in the US (maybe one day I will become an American citizen 😊), and I am part of a German group, expanding business in America.” Talk about being a global citizen!
Recently in his career, Mauro joined the IMEC Board of Directors at the request of our President, David Boulay. Mauro’s response: “Well, this was not my plan, but why not?” What Boulay recognized in Mauro was his passion for manufacturing, so it did not take Mauro long to realize that his goals and the goals of IMEC aligned. He is excited to now have the opportunity to not only help Freudenberg Household Products grow, but the Illinois manufacturing industry as a whole.
Growing Up Making
Mauro’s passion for making and fixing things began in childhood. “Since I was very young, five or six years old,” he recalled. His father, a mechanical engineer, inspired Mauro’s interest in mechanical engineering and automobile repair, a tradition passed down from his grandfather.
At a young age, years before Frangipani would be old enough to drive, he helped his father paint cars and even fix their engines. Mauro painted a picture of his mother coming homeand handing her eleven-year-old son the keys, proclaiming, “Son, the car isn’t working. Do it.” And then Frangipani would fix the issue himself!
Naturally, mechanical engineering was Frangipani’s field of choice in college. “In Brazil, it’s five years,” Mauro said when explaining his college experience in the country where he was born. In the middle of his undergraduate education, he had the opportunity to start an internship in mechanical engineering. This proved to be another perfect fit, as Mauro stayed employed with that same family-owned company for 25 years before transitioning to FHP.
Making Vs. Leading
Today Frangipani leads the North American operations of FHP, however Mauro began his manufacturing career as an engineer who worked closely with machines, laboratories, and research. After ten years, he began leading projects. One day, Frangipani’s boss approached him and declared, “Mauro, you must lead more people.”
Mauro’s response: “I don’t like to lead people. I like engineering and machines.” Luckily, this supervisor insisted that Mauro could do more and create more impact by leading others. Thus began the second decade of his career.
While Mauro states that his heart is still with the machines and manufacturing process, he continues to lead others, just closer to the manufacturing floor than the typical executive office. Frangipani refers to this as “being really close to the reality,” and attributes this proximity to the manufacturing floor as one of the keys to his success over the years.
Success is dependent partly on having the best person in each role and building a strong leadership team, but also, as Mauro explained, offering the best products, the best innovation, and the best experience for the customer, as Freudenberg Household Products offers their customers.
To illustrate this point, Mauro pointed to a spin mop. “We are not the cheapest,” Mauro stated. “If you don’t care about quality, your comfort, or your effort, you can find a spin mop for a few dollars.” This cheap mop might work initially, but within a few months, it will need to be discarded and replaced. “Freudenberg offers a sustainable product that you’ll buy and won’t need to replace for a long time.”
Prior to joining the Freudenberg team, fiber to Mauro was just fiber. Now, he is aware that FHP’s spin mop products utilize fiber specifically designed to hold, and then dispose of, waste and dirt. These are designed not just to get rid of dirt, but to also reduce the amount of effort consumers need to expend to clean their homes. They are designed to get the job done and to make consumers’ clean up easier. Cleaning should be a pleasure, not a chore.
Looking Ahead
With decades of experience in manufacturing across countries, Mauro Frangipani brings a unique global perspective to the IMEC Board of Directors. His journey from working hands-on engineering to leading operations at Freudenberg Household Products is a testament to his adaptability, passion, and commitment to excellence. Now, as part of the IMEC team, he is eager to help shape the future of Illinois manufacturing—ensuring innovation, quality, and continuous improvement remain at the forefront of the industry.
Welcome to the IMEC Board, Mauro!
