Custom friction materials and components for demanding industries
FTL supports engineering, R&D and technical teams in aerospace, defence, wind energy and industrial equipment.
The starting point may be a new programme, an existing friction system that is not performing as required, or a legacy component that can no longer be sourced.
Each sector has its own operating, documentation and approval considerations. FTL connects the relevant engineering and manufacturing stages through one accountable route, from friction-material formulation and component development to machining, bonding, finishing, testing, inspection and repeat supply.
Choose the closest sector, then tell FTL what the application or component needs to do.
FTL at a glance
Standards and registrations
The standards, documentation and approval requirements applicable to an individual project are confirmed during the technical review.
Choose the sector closest to your application
Each sector page explains relevant applications, common engineering concerns, service routes and supporting capabilities.
Sector selection is a starting point rather than a substitute for reviewing the complete application.
Aerospace
Aerospace friction materials and components. FTL supports aerospace engineering teams developing or sustaining braking, locking, actuation and motion-control components.
Confirmed application examples
- Landing-gear locking pads and systems
- No-back and electromagnetic holding brakes
- Flap, slat, aircraft-door and ramp actuation
- Cargo-handling locks and winch or hoist brakes
- Trainer-aircraft wheel-brake linings
- Rotary dampers and torque limiters
Typical project routes
- New programme support
- Obsolete-component redevelopment
- Performance optimisation
- Controlled repeat manufacture and supply
Relevant proof
- AS9100 / EN9100
- SDTS obsolete aircraft brake-pad case study
Defence
Defence friction materials and components. FTL supports defence engineering and technical teams requiring custom friction materials and complete brake or motion-control components through a controlled manufacturing route.
Common programme considerations
- Engineering capability
- Manufacturing repeatability
- Inspection and traceability
- Documentation
- Supplier accountability
- Legacy-component and supply continuity
Relevant proof
- JOSCAR registration
- Cyber Essentials
- ISO and AS9100 / EN9100 management systems
Wind Energy
Wind-energy friction materials and components. FTL supports custom friction-material and component requirements for wind-energy braking and motion-control applications, including yaw-braking requirements.
Typical project routes
- Development of a new material or complete component
- Review of braking, wear or thermal-performance concerns
- Redevelopment of an obsolete or unavailable component
- Prototype manufacture and testing
- Repeat and scheduled call-off supply
Industrial Equipment
Industrial friction materials and components. FTL supports industrial equipment where friction is used to brake, hold, lock, damp or control motion.
Confirmed application areas
- Industrial braking systems
- Crane applications
- Motor applications
- Safety equipment
- General brake and motion-control components
Typical project routes
- New component development
- Performance optimisation
- Legacy-component redevelopment
- Prototype-to-production support
- Inventory and call-off supply
Does the application cross more than one category, or is the exact sector not shown? Describe what the friction component must do and FTL will confirm whether the requirement is a suitable technical fit.
The sector provides context. The application defines the solution.
A sector label alone does not identify the correct friction material or component route. FTL begins by establishing the function, operating environment, available evidence and programme requirements.
- What the application is, and whether the component brakes, holds, locks, damps or controls motion
- Whether it is a new design, an existing system to improve, or an obsolete component to replace
- The operating environment: temperature, load, speed, contamination, installation space
- What technical information is available (drawings, specifications, existing components, test or inspection records)
- What must be demonstrated or approved, and where the supply needs to get to
A complete technical pack is not required before the first conversation. Expected annual volumes are discussed once the application and technical context are established.
Three ways FTL supports teams across these sectors
The industry establishes the application context. The service route describes the engineering problem FTL is being asked to solve.
New Programme Support
Develop a new friction material or complete component from the initial application brief through:
- Material selection or formulation
- Engineering and component development
- Prototype manufacture
- Testing and inspection
- Validation support
- Controlled serial production
Legacy & Obsolete Component Reverse Engineering
Establish a replacement route when the original friction material, component, drawing or supplier is no longer available. Support can include:
- Existing-component and application review
- Component redevelopment
- Replacement material selection or development
- Prototype manufacture
- Testing and revalidation support
- Repeat manufacture and continuity of supply
Friction System Performance Optimisation
Investigate inconsistent braking, excessive or unpredictable wear, or thermal-performance concerns. The review considers:
- Friction-material behaviour
- Component design
- Operating conditions
- Manufacturing and inspection evidence
- The appropriate prototype and comparative-test route
From sector requirement to controlled component supply
The technical and approval details vary by application, but the project should move through a clear series of decisions.
Define the application and sector context
- What the component must do
- Which sector and programme requirements apply
- Whether the component is new, underperforming or obsolete
- What information is currently available
Establish the operating and evidence requirements
- Temperature, load, speed, contamination
- Required behaviour
- Available drawings and specifications
- Testing, inspection and documentation needs
Confirm the service and material route
- New programme development
- Reverse engineering
- Performance optimisation
- Established formulation, optimisation or new material route
- Component-development work
Develop and manufacture the component
- Friction-material formulation
- Engineering and design
- CNC machining
- Bonding and surface preparation
- Finishing and assembly
- Inspection
Test, inspect and support validation
- Agreed engineering, material, dimensional or bond testing
- Evidence included within FTL's scope
- Identify any customer, system-level or regulatory work remaining
Transfer the approved route into repeat supply
- Repeat manufacture
- Production and inspection controls
- Traceability
- Inventory holding and scheduled call-off
- Customer-specific packaging and labelling
- Export documentation and international delivery
Materials, components and manufacturing support shaped around the application
FTL does not assign one material family to an entire sector. The appropriate route is determined by the component function, operating environment, required behaviour and agreed test or validation process.
Across all four sectors, FTL can select or develop the friction material (organic, composite, sintered, Kevlar or woven), manufacture the complete brake or motion-control component, and connect the supporting engineering and manufacturing capabilities through one route.
One accountable route across material, component and supply decisions
Sector-specific friction programmes can become fragmented when the material supplier, machinist, bonder, finisher, test provider and production supplier operate independently. FTL connects these stages through one manufacturing chain, maintaining a clearer route from the engineering brief to the finished component, with one technical and commercial point of accountability.
Quality and supply support for programmes delivered worldwide
FTL's quality systems and registrations support regulated-sector programmes; the certified scope and applicability to an individual project are confirmed on the Quality & Certifications page.
Inspection, testing and batch or lot traceability are agreed per project. FTL manufactures in Caernarfon, North Wales and supplies components worldwide (84% of output is exported), with controlled repeat manufacture, scheduled call-off, customer-specific packaging and export support where agreed.
Proof linked to real applications and programme requirements
“The quality of the manufactured product is remarkable. Thanks to FTL, we can continue to fly, land, and brake safely.”
Olivier Moulin SDTS
Read the SDTS Case Study →Aerospace continuity: obsolete aircraft brake-pad replacement
SDTS approached FTL after the original aircraft brake pad was no longer available.
FTL redesigned the pad with a material meeting the stated aeronautical technical requirements, adapted the component to SDTS's aeronautical environment and supported the route to a certifiable aircraft modification.
Is FTL the right route for your application?
FTL is a strong fit when:
- Your team has an engineering brief rather than a standard purchasing request
- The application requires a custom friction material or complete component
- A new programme needs support from development into production
- An existing system has a braking, wear or thermal-performance concern
- A legacy or obsolete component creates a continuity risk
- Repeatability, inspection, traceability or documentation matter
- You want one accountable supplier across several connected production stages
- Prototype work may need to progress into controlled repeat manufacture
- The finished components must be supplied internationally
A different route may be more appropriate when:
- You need an off-the-shelf part immediately
- You are buying from a standard parts catalogue
- You have only a part number and do not require engineering support
- Price is the only selection criterion
- You need a consumer or online retail brake-pad purchase
Frequently asked questions about the industries FTL supports
Which industries does FTL support?
Does FTL only work in aerospace and defence?
Can FTL review an application that is not shown on this page?
Does the industry determine which friction material is used?
Can FTL support both new and existing systems?
Can FTL manufacture the complete component?
Can prototype work progress into serial production?
What information should we provide at first contact?
How does FTL support quality and repeatability?
Does FTL supply customers outside the UK?
Does FTL sell standard products by part number?
Can FTL guarantee that a material is already proven in our application?
Tell FTL what the application needs to do
Select the closest sector, then describe the component, system or programme requirement.
A short brief is enough to start. The relevant technical, engineering and commercial team members can then review the operating conditions, available evidence and most appropriate service route.
Optional drawing or specification upload available. No long engineering questionnaire, standard price or catalogue selection is required before the first conversation.