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The company invested $11 million to expand its capabilities to supply lining to its customer base for commercial vehicle business in North America. The company's expansion added new equipment to its Prattville facility and allowed it to hire nearly 100 new employees in 2012 and 2013.
The Prattville facility complements Fras-le’s global manufacturing. Heavy-duty brake lining is also manufactured in Brazil for global distribution and in China for distribution in Europe and Asia. The addition of brake lining production in the U.S. has increased Fras-le's global capacity significantly. Until now, Fras-le only manufactured disc brake pads at the Prattville facility.
"One year ago we announced our expansion plans and I am proud to say that we met our goal, on time, and that the first order of heavy-duty linings ever produced by Fras-le in North America, shipped on January 2.” said Daniel Randon, Fras-le CEO and president. "We appreciate all the support we've received from officials in Alabama, our Fras-le teams around the globe, and our strategic partner, Meritor."
Randon cited Gov. Robert Bentley, Mayor Bill Gillespie and the Prattville Industrial Development Board, led by Chairman Richard Williams, for their help in bringing about the facility expansion.
“Fras-le’s expansion is a compliment to the workers who are making this company successful in Alabama,” Governor Robert Bentley says. “This also reflects the business-friendly climate that we have worked hard to create throughout our state. We are committed to helping companies grow and succeed. And here in Prattville, that means nearly 100 additional people have found good jobs. I appreciate Fras-le’s investment in Alabama, and I want to thank everyone who worked together to make this expansion a reality.”
The new friction materials being made in Prattville are supplied to Meritor for aftermarket use on new and remanufactured brake shoes in North America. Meritor’s aftermarket group is the exclusive distributor of Fras-le’s heavy-duty brake linings in North America.
Last year, also at HDAW in Las Vegas, Fras-le S.A. and Meritor Inc. announced the renewal of an exclusive, five-year friction material supply agreement for brake lining for the North American commercial vehicle market. Fras-le and Meritor have enjoyed a successful supply partnership for 16 years, including the co-development of friction materials to address the needs of North American commercial vehicles.
For more information about Fras-le, phone: (248) 735-4900, e-mail: [email protected], or visit: www.fras-le.com.br/en.
About FRAS-LE
A global leader in brake technology and innovation, Fras-le is one of the largest friction materials manufacturers in the world. Fras-le, certified in ISO 9001, ISO 14000 and ISO TS 16949, also has its own state-of-the-art research & development center. Fras-le manufactures over 10,000 part numbers including heavy duty brake linings, light brake linings, brake pads, clutch facings, motorcycle brake shoes and pads, molded and woven brake linings, brake shoes for railway and subway and universal flat sheets. Fras-le brake pads and linings are available in the North American OE and aftermarket, and around the world. All of the company's friction products are comprised of application specific formulations, are made from top-quality raw materials and are asbestos-free. Applications include a wide variety of on- and off-highway commercial vehicles, trucks, tractors, trailers, buses, dump trucks, light vehicles and other specialty vehicles and equipment. With plants in Brazil, China and the United States, distribution centers in Argentina and Europe, and commercial offices in the United States, Chile, Europe, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Africa and China, Fras-le keeps a well-structured team to serve its customers in more than 90 countries on all continents. More information about Fras-le can be found at www.fras-le.com.br/en.
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