Based near Turin, Italy, Newfren is one of the market’s leading brake pad, disc and clutch plate manufacturers, which started as a brake shoe specialist. The company says it still offers “the most complete catalogue of motorcycle and scooter brake shoes in Europe”.
Founded in the 1950s by Alessandro Barbero, Newfren were innovators and early adopters of a number of new brake technologies - such as bonded friction material, gravity and high pressure die casting, and brake shoes without rivets.
The revolutionary glues that Barbero developed are said to have “changed the production of brake shoes forever”. Replacing the rivets for fixing the friction material on the jaws (“bells”) with glue established the first motorcycle and scooter brake shoe bonding manufacturing process in Europe.
The process has since evolved of course, with production techniques such as the introduction of grinding with the open tumbling shaft perfecting the stopping power, and durability and reliability of brake shoes thanks to the parallel evolution of industrial machinery for specific purposes.
Today Newfren remains the largest manufacturer of brake shoes in Europe and has continued to innovate with developments such as their new, patented water-grooved friction material for brake shoes.
The company says that EICMA this year will see it introduce a new 2019 range of brake shoes and additions to its discs and pads programmes. In brake disc terms, Newfren has enjoyed considerable success with its factory direct replacement and upgrade disc options for Triumphs and other brands, and its classic floating discs for street bike and off-road applications are top-sellers.
The company is still in family ownership with Valter Barbero at the helm, and in recent years has invested heavily in new manufacturing technology at their 65,000 sq ft facilty/100,000 sq ft site.
Ahead of industry requirements where environmental manufacturing and compound formula requirements are concerned, Newfren has been granted UNI EN ISO 9001-2000 certification for their quality control systems and ABE certification from the German KBA for many of their products. As part of a continuing process, they are on the way to obtaining environmental certification ISO 14000.
www.newfren.com
