New Brembo Ventilated Brake Rotor for Commercial Vehicles With “Star” Pillars

[DriVer]

New Brembo Ventilated Brake Rotor for
Commercial Vehicles With “Star” Pillars

PLYMOUTH, Mich., April 18, 2011 – Brembo has introduced a new ventilated rotor for commercial vehicles. The brake rotor, featuring pillars with a new “star” type of geometry, is also manufactured from a special cast iron featuring higher carbon and low silicon content. The key advantages derived from the new material and exclusive ventilation system are: - Weight reductions for the disc of up to 10%; - Lower operating temperatures; - Less risk of thermal shock, consequently less risk of failure; - Longer service life for both pads and rotors; - Improved active safety thanks to the special shape of the pillars which are designed to halt the progression of surface cracking.

Created and patented by Brembo, the new ventilation system with star-shaped pillars considerably improves resistance to cracking that can occur on heavy duty rotor braking surfaces. These surface cracks are often induced by the higher temperatures seen by commercial discs and tend to spread further with increasing wear. Thermal shock tests conducted by Brembo engineers and technicians have shown that, after 100 brake apply cycles, the length of cracks on vented rotors with Brembo pillars is restricted to 8 millimetres, whereas on conventional rotors with vanes, the cracks can extend on average to 31 millimetres or more.

The new Brembo innovation translates into increased safety of the brake system, and longer rotor life. Also, with better dissipation of heat — which means lower operating temperatures — there is less stress and longer life for the vehicle’s brake pads. The new rotor is manufactured from special low-silicon cast iron, which also helps to minimize noise and vibration. These metals are not typically used in standard rotor production, as they require hi-tech foundry machinery and specific metallurgical expertise — both of which Brembo possesses.

About Brembo SpA
Brembo SpA is a world leader and acknowledged innovator of disc brake technology for automotive vehicles, with US$1.5 billion in revenues. Brembo supplies high-performance brake systems for the most important manufacturers of cars, commercial vehicles and motorbikes worldwide. Brembo also manufactures clutches, seats, seat belts and other components specifically designed for racing and is a leader in motorsports with more than 200 championship wins. Today the company operates in 15 countries on 3 continents with 36 production and business sites with a staff of 6,000 employees, about 10% of whom are engineering and product R&D specialists. . For more information, visit us at Brembo - Brake systems or contact Brembo North America.

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