Textar grows brake range
TMD Friction, through its Textar brand, has extended its wide range of brake pads for the European commercial vehicle (CV) market, introducing Brake Pad Set 2921101, which fits a Kögel Trax Trailer application.
TMD Friction, through its Textar brand, has extended its wide range of brake pads for the European commercial vehicle (CV) market, introducing Brake Pad Set 2921101, which fits a Kögel Trax Trailer application.
Textar sponsored Newell & Wright Motorsport achieved third place in the British Truck Racing Championship Division One. In the season-ending Brands Hatch meet, driver John Newell battled all weathers to finish ahead of his rival and consolidate third place.
TMD Friction has revealed that it is continuing to fight back against fake parts amid reports of a rise in the number of fake components entering the aftermarket. The manufacturer is currently working on a security seal that will be directly linked to its computer system, allowing any factor or garage to check the authenticity.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has just released its ruling on a complaint made by TMD Friction regarding comparison results featured on the stopsecret.org website run by Unipart Automotive. Six brands of brake pads were tested by the VCA MIRA test centre using mean fully developed deceleration tests, an industry-wide recognised test for effective braking performance. The same vehicle was used for each of the tests with a human driver and onboard measuring equipment. Details of the nature and results of the tests were downloadable from the website and indicated that the Unipart brake pads produced the best results. TMD claimed that the advert was misleading as they believed the test used for comparison was unreliable.
Autoparts UK has named TMD Friction as its supplier of the year 2013. The news was announced at Autoparts’ Burns Night celebrations, which also included fellow customers and suppliers in an event comprising Haggis ‘n’ Neeps, Robbie Burns poems and some professional boxing at the St. Andrews Boxing Club. Branch managers and staff from Autoparts’ 13-strong branch network were asked to vote for their supplier of the year against a criteria of parts availability, technical assistance, sales support and customer service.
TMD Friction given its Mintex brand a facelift including a global roll out of new brand identity, packaging and advertising.
According to the company, the strapline ‘Braking With Tradition’ plays on words to reflect the company’s commitment to safer braking whilst alluding to a programme of continuous product development that safely stops the cars of millions of families across the world.
TMD Friction Group has announced plans for the acquisition of bt Bremsen Technik. TMD Friction has been a minority shareholder of bt Bremsen since 2001. On 16 December Derek Whitworth, president and CEO of TMD Friction Group, Luxembourg, and Dieter Goldbach, managing director, bt bremsen Technik GmbH, Rosbach (Hessen, Germany) jointly announced TMD Friction’s acquisition of the remaining 51 per cent of bt Bremsen. The transaction also includes the business of bt Brake Technology of America, registered in Florida.
UK Batteries, the company behind the Platinium brand of aftermarket batteries, has appointed Mark Higson as marketing manager. Higson joins UK Batteries from TMD Friction where he was marketing manager for over three years and was responsible for the development of the company’s various aftermarket brands.
The 26-year-old has taken over the role of UK Batteries’ marketing manager from James O’Connor who has moved into the company’s OE and key accounts department to play a leading role in the development of new and existing accounts.
TMD Friction has introduced an innovative hybrid brake pad generation; the company’s engineers have succeeded in covering European, Asian and American market requirements with 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.” Close global cooperation between the engineers of TMD Friction in Germany, the USA and Japan resulted in the development of this new friction material generation.
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.”
TMD Friction has appointed Nafeesa Qabaz to the role of Group Pricing and Marketing Intelligence Manager. Nafeesa has managed similar functions within the UK Aftermarket for a variety of companies, most recently Federal Mogul.
TMD friction has announced the appointment of John Hudson as its new chief financial officer (CFO). Mr Hudson replaces Peter Cheung who had worked for TMD Friction products for the last three and a half years.