Fras-le North America Inc., has started producing brake disc pads for the off-highway market at its manufacturing facility in Prattville, Ala. Production began this month and marks the first time the company has manufactured products for the off-highway market in the U.S. The announcement represents a substantial investment in equipment and the addition of jobs to the local economy in Prattville and is in response to growth demands in the North American and global off-highway markets.
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Earlier this year, Fras-le announced that the company would move part of its block production for the heavy-duty market to Prattville, adding nearly 100 employees over the next two years and representing an $11 million U.S. investment.
Off-highway products, primarly brake pads, are produced by Fras-le for OE and OES customers and are are used in agricultural, mining, construction and earth moving equipment. Off-highway materials are currently manufactured by Fras-le in Brazil. The addition of off-highway manufacturing in Prattville provides added capacity for the company to serves its customers.
"Adding production in the U.S. helps reinforce Fras-le's position as a global leader in off-highway dry friction," says Daniel Randon, Fras-le CEO and president. "It also puts us closer to our North American customer base, allowing us to drastically reduce lead time to customers."
Fras-le brake pads and linings, known for their quality and performance features, are available in the North American OE and aftermarket, as well as in more than 80 countries. All of the company's friction products are comprised of application specific formulations, made from top-quality raw materials and asbestos-free.
