Darren Robinson takes over new position as Vice President Racing and High Performance.
The world's leading brake friction part manufacturer TMD Friction has strengthened its position in motor racing. As form April 1st 08, the TMD High Performance Division combines all development and sales activities in racing and for the outfitting of high-performance road sports cars. Darren Robinson, 39, has taken up his post as Vice President Racing and High Performance and reports directly to the board of management.
With the new department, TMD Friction will increase its innovative strength in product and material development gearing the processes more accurately to the customers' needs in racing and in original equipment (OE) in the high-performance segment. Derek Whitworth, CEO of TMD Friction, says, "We will significantly increase our flexibility and pace in the development and implementation of products", adding that this is much easier to achieve with a dedicated division. In contrast to large series production, the processes for racing and sports cars are solely performance-orientated, while price considerations play a less important role.
In the future, the new division will guarantee the global coordination of all racing and high-performance activities. At the heart of the new division is BT Bremsen Technik GmbH, a subsidiary of TMD Friction. BT Bremsen Technik has had many years of success in the international racing business with PAGID brake friction parts. "The advantage of the new structure is that our clients retain their contacts while we are getting stronger", says Dieter Goldbach, president of BT Bremsen Technik. The new department also embraces the application technology and sales activities for the racing and high-performance products of PAGID and MINTEX brands from the OE and replacement parts markets. The new department will be assisted by the specific development service of TMD Friction's central engineering division.
In racing, TMD Friction holds a leading position in Europe and is rapidly gaining market shares in USA. In the future, the company also plans to increase its supplier activities in the Asian market. TMD Friction supplies brake friction parts for almost all racing series with the exception of Formula One.
About TMD FrictionTMD Friction Group is one of the world's leading manufacturers 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 manufacturing facilities in Germany and other European countries, the USA, Brazil, Mexico, China, Japan and Malaysia, TMD Friction generated a turnover of 690 million euros last year and employed 4,500 people worldwide. Please click here to download this article.
