Based near Turin, Italy, Newfren is one of the market’s leading brake pad, disc and clutch plate manufacturers. The company started as a brake shoe specialist and says it still offers “the most complete catalogue of motorcycle and scooter brake shoes in Europe”.
Founded in the 1950s by Alessandro Barbero, Newfren was an innovator and early adopter of a number of new brake technologies - such as bonded friction material, gravity and high pressure die casting, and brake shoes without rivets.
 |
| Newfren grooved performance brake shoes use a grooved organic friction material to remove any water or used braking material away from the brake drum surface during braking |
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.
 |
| In recent years CEO Valter Barbero has overseen a heavy investment programme in new manufacturing technology at the 65,000 sq ft facility/100,000 sq ft site near Turin |
Today Newfren remains the largest manufacturer of brake shoes in Europe and has continued to innovate with developments such as new, patented, water-grooved friction material for brake shoes.
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 facility/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 its 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.
NEWFREN S.R.L
www.newfren.it
