TMD Friction Products, a global manufacturer of brake friction materials, has announced a new agreement with Global Parts Network, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vipar Heavy Duty, which will make TMD’s Don and Textar brands exclusively available through Vipar Heavy Duty distributors in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. TMD Friction will supply the majority of friction products to GPN from its factory in Queretaro, Mexico, and the products will ship from GPN’s CoMan Centers (Cooperative Manufacturing Centers) in the United States.
TMD Friction manufactures brake friction materials in the original equipment market and aftermarket for passenger cars as well as commercial vehicles. Under the agreement with GPN, TMD Friction will make available a full line of OE premium friction products in economy, standard, premium severe-duty, long-life and vocational grades of friction for all vehicle applications. TMD Friction has locations in Germany and four other European countries, as well as in the United States, Brazil, Mexico, China and Japan.
“During my career in the heavy-duty industry, I’ve developed a great respect for the Vipar Heavy Duty organization and their distributors,” says Russell L. Armer, North America business development manager for TMD Friction. “TMD Friction looks forward to working with our new partner in this exclusive distribution agreement.”
Established as an independent company, GPN provides service and support exclusively to the Vipar Heavy Duty network of distributors and suppliers. “This new relationship with TMD Friction and the ability to exclusively offer the Don and Textar products alongside our other highly recognized brands will position the Vipar Heavy Duty stockholder with a strong brand portfolio,” says Gene Damron, GPN’s general manager. “This will not only enhance the value proposition for our distributors, it will increase opportunities for all the business partners who work through our CoMan Centers.”
TMD Textar brand was established in 1913 and is a premium quality OE friction product line. TMD Don is a standard friction brand with friction formulas available in economy, standard and premium grade.
“TMD Friction is driven by its goal of providing engineered solutions to brake and friction problems, while Vipar Heavy Duty is driven by its desire to provide excellent value and service to its customers,” says Tom Green, managing director, NAFTA, TMD Friction. “At TMD Friction, we look forward to combining the business passions of our organizations into a winning formula for success in the commercial vehicle market.”
“TMD Friction will provide dedicated technical sales support to all Vipar Heavy Duty distributors, as required, to support business development and growth,” says Mario Gudiño, TMD Friction’s aftermarket sales director, NAFTA.
