TMD Friction Ups Manufacturing Capacity

TMD Friction, the world’s leading manufacturer of friction parts for original equipment in the automotive and brake industries, is increasing its manufacturing capacity. Since 2002, around 37 million euros have been invested in modernisation and expansion at its plants in Coswig and Hamm, Germany, focussed on the growing commercial vehicle market.
Derek Whitworth, CEO of TMD Friction, says: “This is our reaction to the global rise in demand for brake friction parts for trucks. Thanks to investing early and to our strong OE market position we were able to profit from a booming market in 2007. We can now better meet customers’ requests for larger volumes, even at times of peak demand.”

The five CV locations of TMD Friction in Coswig and Hamm/Germany, Langsele/Sweden, Indaiatuba/Brazil and Shijiazhuang/China are capable of creating capacities at short notice whenever the customer needs them.
In 2007, global demand for truck disc brake pads rose by approximately 15 per cent. Following investment, the capacity of the TMD Friction production plants in Germany now totals more than ten million disc brake pads per year, making TMD Friction the world market leader in the CV air disc brake pad segment.
TMD Friction also aims to strengthen its position in the segment for CV drum brake linings. For instance at the TMD Friction plant in Indaiatuba/Brazil, work is currently underway to increase annual capacity from seven million to around ten million units.