25th June 2008 - TMD Friction Develops New Generation of Hybrid Brake Pads

Building on its success as a global Original Equipment (OE) supplier TMD Friction introduces an innovative hybrid brake pad generation. TMD Friction's engineers succeeded in covering European, Asian and American market requirements in one material family. Production is scheduled to start in 2009. Derek Whitworth, CEO of TMD Friction, says: "In addition to environmental compatibility, our customers profit from greater comfort, a longer service life and reduced brake-dust." Worldwide close cooperation between the engineers of TMD Friction in Germany, the USA and Japan resulted in the development of this new friction material generation.

Brake friction products vary around the world greatly according to regional traffic conditions: while the Americans and Asians have low speed limits and attach great importance to comfort factors, the Europeans tend to have a faster driving style and therefore favour high brake performance over comfort. 70% of all passenger cars in Asia and America use so-called NAO (Non Asbestos Organic) materials, often including ingredients with open environmental concerns, which have been forbidden in the EU for several years.

TMD Friction's new material generation combines the comfort factors of the so-called 'NAO materials' with the use of more environmentally friendly raw materials. This combination has provided TMD Friction with a high performing product that is benchmark in the industry. "No matter how you brake or where – TMD Friction now offers the widest range of brake friction materials available in the world", Whitworth concludes.

About TMD Friction

TMD Friction Group is the world's leading manufacturer of brake friction materials in the original equipment market of the automotive and brake industry. Its product portfolio comprises disc brake pads and drum brake linings for passenger cars and commercial vehicles together with brake pads for racing and friction materials for industry. TMD Friction also supplies the global aftermarket with its Textar, Pagid, Mintex, Don, Cobreq, and Cosid brands. With locations in Germany and six other European countries, the USA, Brazil, Mexico, China, Japan and Malaysia, TMD Friction generated a turnover of 690 million Euros in 2007 and employed 4,500 people worldwide.

Source: TMD Friction Press Release