Custom friction materials for servo brakes, electromagnetic brakes and high-cycle motion control
FTL supports automation engineering, R&D and technical teams when a new machine needs a friction solution, an existing brake is not holding or stopping as required, or a legacy material or component can no longer be sourced.
Automated lines brake, hold and index thousands of times a day, and FTL formulates friction materials for that duty and machines them into finished components under one roof.
A trusted, accountable supplier since 2003
High-performance friction and braking solutions, backed by decades of in-house expertise and supplied to OEM and aftermarket customers worldwide.
FTL industrial automation manufacturing credentials
Company standards and registrations
These are company-level standards and registrations. They do not in themselves confirm approval of a material, component or individual automation programme.
When automation teams engage FTL
Start with the machine or performance situation that has created the requirement.
A new machine needs a friction solution
The duty is understood, but the friction material, component construction or repeatable manufacturing route still needs to be established. FTL can support the route from technical review and material development through prototype manufacture, testing, validation support and controlled repeat production.
A brake is not holding or stopping as required
The engineering team is seeing inconsistent stopping position, drift on a held axis, excessive or unpredictable wear, thermal concerns at high cycle rates, or variation between machines or production batches. FTL can review the application, current component, friction material, operating conditions and available evidence before proposing the next engineering step.
A legacy material or component is no longer available
The original material, drawing, supplier or complete component has become obsolete, while the installed machines still require a dependable supply route. FTL can review the available component and application information before proposing redevelopment, prototype, testing and revalidation work.
The current supply route has too many handovers
Material formulation, machining, bonding, finishing and inspection are divided among separate suppliers, creating unclear responsibility when quality or performance questions arise. FTL can connect the relevant stages through one accountable manufacturing chain.
The programme needs repeatable and scheduled supply
The requirement must move beyond initial samples into controlled manufacture, traceability, inventory holding, scheduled call-off and international delivery.
Automation applications FTL can supply into
FTL formulates friction materials for repetitive braking, holding and indexing duty, and manufactures them into finished components. The right route for a given machine depends on the duty cycle, the operating environment, the space available and the evidence the solution must provide.
Servo motor brakes
Friction components for servo brakes, where the brake must hold the axis reliably at rest and on power loss, and behave the same on the first cycle of the day as on the ten-thousandth.
Electromagnetic brakes
Linings for electromagnetically actuated brakes. This is established FTL ground: electromagnetic actuation holding brakes are already supplied into aerospace and defence applications.
Packaging machinery
Braking and holding components for high-rate packaging equipment, where stopping position has to stay consistent across long production runs.
Automated production lines
Friction components for indexing, stopping and holding stations along a line, where an unplanned stop is measured in lost output.
Pick-and-place systems
Compact braking for fast, repetitive transfer motion, where the component has to fit a tight envelope and shed heat at a high cycle rate.
Linear actuators
Holding and controlled-motion components for actuator assemblies, including fail-safe holding on the vertical axes that must not drop their load.
Automated handling equipment
Friction materials for the brakes and clutches inside handling and transfer equipment, engineered around the duty rather than selected from a catalogue.
High-cycle clutches and brakes
Core catalogue work. FTL formulates for repetitive engagement and can machine the material into the finished clutch or brake component.
Motion control across the machine
Wherever a machine has to stop, hold or control movement, the friction component is doing the work. FTL formulates the material and machines it to the finished part under one roof, across organic, composite, sintered, Kevlar and woven families, so the material and the component are engineered against the same duty rather than sourced separately and hoped to match.
Section through a servo brake: the friction disc, in green, clamped by the spring pack so the axis holds its load when the coil is not energised.
This page describes an engineering and manufacturing service. It is not a list of stocked components or a claim that one material is suitable for every machine design.
Define the application before selecting the friction material
A material family, coefficient value or existing part number does not define a complete solution on its own. FTL begins by understanding what the component must do and the conditions under which it must operate.
What is the application?
Share:
- The component's function
- Which machine and which station it sits in
- Whether the requirement concerns a material or a complete component
- What has prompted the enquiry
Is this a new design or an existing component?
Confirm whether the project involves:
- A new machine or programme
- An existing component under review
- An obsolete component
- A supply-continuity problem
- A performance concern
- A prototype moving towards production
What operating conditions are known?
Useful information can include:
- Holding or braking torque required
- Cycle rate and expected service life
- Temperature and available thermal path
- Speed at engagement
- Dry running or lubricated
- Available installation envelope
- Contamination or washdown conditions
- Known wear or thermal concerns
What technical information is available?
This can include:
- Drawings
- Partial drawings
- Specifications
- Existing components
- Material information
- Performance requirements
- Inspection records
- Test results
- Batch or production records
A complete technical pack is not required before the first conversation.
What must the solution demonstrate?
The programme should establish:
- Required holding and braking behaviour
- Wear expectations across the service life
- Thermal requirements at the working cycle rate
- Dimensional requirements
- Bonding or assembly requirements
- Inspection requirements
- Acceptance evidence
- Validation responsibilities
How will the component be supplied?
Later programme discussions can cover:
- Prototype quantities
- Expected annual volumes
- Repeat-production schedules
- Inventory holding
- Scheduled call-off
- Packaging
- Labelling and identification
- Export and delivery requirements
Expected annual volumes and detailed commercial qualification are discussed after the initial application and technical fit have been established.
Three engineering routes for an automation programme
New Programme Support
For a new machine, station or actuator requirement that needs a defined material, component and production route. Support can include:
- Application review
- Material selection or formulation
- Component engineering
- Prototype manufacture
- Testing and inspection
- Validation support
- Transfer into controlled repeat production
Legacy & Obsolete Component Reverse Engineering
For installed machines that must stay supported after the original material, component, drawing or supplier becomes unavailable. Support can include:
- Existing-component and evidence review
- Dimensional assessment
- Component redevelopment
- Replacement material selection or development
- Prototype manufacture
- Testing and revalidation support
- Controlled repeat supply
Friction System Performance Optimisation
For an existing brake or clutch with holding, stopping, wear, thermal or repeatability concerns. Support can include:
- Symptom and evidence review
- Operating-condition assessment
- Material and component investigation
- Prototype or comparative-component manufacture
- Testing and inspection
- Support for the agreed implementation route
What FTL can deliver within an automation programme
Not every project requires every stage. FTL can support one part of the programme or connect the route from custom friction-material development, through component engineering, machining, bonding, finishing, testing and inspection, into traceable repeat and lifecycle supply.
A controlled path from automation requirement to repeat supply
The detailed route varies by project, but each stage should provide enough evidence to support the next engineering decision.
Establish technical fit
- The application
- The required function
- New, existing or obsolete
- Current programme stage
- Performance or supply concern
- Information available
Define operating and performance requirements
- Holding or braking torque required
- Cycle rate and service life
- Temperature and thermal path
- Speed at engagement
- Installation envelope
- Dry running, lubricated or washdown
- Existing performance evidence
- Inspection and documentation needs
Establish the material and component route
- Whether an established material may suit
- Whether formulation work is required
- Whether the component also needs development
- Which manufacturing stages apply
- Which information remains unknown
Agree the prototype and test plan
- What FTL will manufacture
- Which variants will be assessed
- Which dimensions or characteristics inspected
- Which tests FTL will complete
- What evidence is required
- FTL responsibilities
- Customer or third-party responsibilities
Manufacture the prototype components
- Material-production stages
- Machining
- Bonding
- Surface preparation
- Finishing
- Assembly
- Inspection
Test, inspect and review
- Agreed testing and inspection completed
- Evidence reviewed against requirements
- Material, geometry or route refined where needed
Support the agreed validation route
- Engineering, manufacturing, test, inspection and traceability evidence within scope
- Final machine, line, customer or regulatory approval responsibilities agreed per project
Transfer into controlled repeat supply
- Repeat-production controls
- Inspection and traceability requirements
- Inventory holding
- Scheduled call-off
- Customer-specific packaging and identification
- Export documentation
- International delivery
The evidence automation buyers need before approving a route
Can FTL match or improve the required performance?
FTL can review the current material, component, operating environment and required behaviour before proposing an established, optimised or newly developed material route. Whether performance can be matched or improved depends on:
- Available application information
- Defined operating conditions
- Existing component evidence
- Agreed test conditions
- Acceptance criteria
- Component construction
- Validation responsibilities
No outcome should be guaranteed before that work has been completed.
What makes a material survive a high cycle rate?
Cycle life is a property of the whole design, not of the material alone. It depends on the energy absorbed at each engagement, how quickly heat leaves the assembly, the holding torque required, whether the brake runs dry, and the envelope available. FTL formulates for repetitive engagement and can assess an application against those constraints. The life a given design will achieve is established through the agreed test programme rather than quoted in advance.
How does FTL support consistent quality and repeatability?
The available route connects:
- Friction-material formulation
- Component engineering
- Machining
- Bonding
- Finishing
- Testing
- Inspection
- Production documentation
- Batch and lot traceability
The exact control plan and acceptance requirements are agreed for the individual programme.
Can FTL support more than material supply?
Yes, where the programme fits FTL's confirmed capabilities. FTL can support:
- Material development
- Complete-component engineering
- Prototype manufacture
- CNC machining
- Bonding and finishing
- Testing and inspection
- Repeat manufacture
- Inventory and worldwide delivery
How quickly can FTL support the programme?
There is no standard lead time for every automation project. Timing depends on:
- Information available
- Material-development work
- Component complexity
- Prototype iterations
- Testing and inspection
- Customer validation
- Production quantities
- Supply requirements
FTL should confirm proposed stages and timing after the initial technical review.
Select the friction-material route around the duty cycle
Material selection should consider the required holding and braking behaviour together with the component, cycle rate, operating environment, production route and evidence needed for approval.
Organic friction materials
An organic material may be considered where its characteristics align with the agreed application requirements. Suitability must be established through the technical review and appropriate testing.
Explore Organic Friction Materials →
Composite friction materials
Composite formulations can be developed or selected around application-specific requirements, including repetitive dry-running duty.
Explore Composite Friction Materials →
Sintered friction materials
A sintered route may be assessed where its characteristics align with the application, operating conditions and complete-component requirements.
Explore Sintered Friction Materials →
Kevlar friction materials
Kevlar is part of FTL's stated formulation range and can be reviewed where relevant to the engineering brief.
Explore Kevlar Friction Materials →The final decision
The appropriate route may involve:
- An established material
- Optimisation of an existing formulation
- A newly developed material
- A component change alongside the material
- Further application evidence before a change is recommended
Published data is a starting point. Final material selection depends on the application and agreed validation route.
Keep the friction material connected to the finished component
A fragmented route can divide material development, machining, bonding, finishing, inspection and supply among several organisations. FTL can connect those stages through one engineering and manufacturing chain, keeping the material, component and production decisions aligned with one technical and commercial point of accountability. Actual lead-time, procurement or cost improvements depend on the current supply arrangement and agreed project scope.
Engineering capability backed by controlled manufacture
SDTS approached FTL after the original aircraft brake pad was no longer available. FTL worked with SDTS to redesign the pad, establish a suitable material route and manufacture a component aligned with the stated aeronautical technical requirements. The work supported SDTS in certifying a modification applicable to its aircraft.
“To continue flying our aircraft, we approached FTL to find replacement solutions for our brake pad problem, as the original part was no longer available on the market. The quality of our discussions, from both a technical and commercial standpoint, FTL's responsiveness in redesigning the pad with a material that meets aeronautical technical requirements, and their ability to adapt to our aeronautical environment allowed us to certify a modification applicable to our aircraft. The quality of the manufactured product is remarkable. Thanks to FTL, we can continue to fly, land, and brake safely.”
Olivier Moulin 
Customer proof
Published technical data
FTL publishes coefficient, form and environment data for its material range, filterable by the values that matter to a braking or holding duty. It is a starting point for narrowing the route before the technical conversation, not a substitute for it.
- Friction-material and complete-component capability
- In-house machining, bonding, finishing and inspection
- ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001
- Manufactured components supplied worldwide
- Part of n Industries Group since February 2025
Is FTL the right manufacturing route for your automation application?
FTL is a strong fit when:
Your team has an engineering brief rather than a stock-parts request
A new machine or station needs a custom friction solution
A brake shows inconsistent stopping, drift, wear or thermal concerns
An original material, component, drawing or supplier has become obsolete
The duty is high-cycle and the component has to hold up over a long service life
Prototype work may need to progress into repeat manufacture
Testing, inspection and traceability matter
You want fewer suppliers across the connected manufacturing chain
The programme requires scheduled or worldwide supply
A different route may be more appropriate when:
You need a stocked part immediately
You are purchasing solely by a standard part number
You need an online catalogue rather than engineering support
Price is the only selection criterion
No technical or manufacturing review is required
Frequently asked questions about industrial automation friction materials
What automation applications can FTL supply into?
Does FTL make friction material for electromagnetic brakes?
Does FTL supply servo brake friction material?
What friction materials does FTL work with?
Does FTL manufacture complete components or only friction material?
Can FTL reverse engineer an obsolete brake or clutch component?
Can FTL investigate inconsistent stopping, wear or thermal problems?
How many cycles will the material last?
Can FTL guarantee improved performance?
What information should we provide?
What testing and inspection can FTL support?
Who is responsible for final validation?
Does FTL stock brake or clutch parts by part number?
Can FTL support customers outside the UK?
Bring us the design brief, drawing or performance problem.
Tell FTL what the component needs to do, what has prompted the enquiry and what information your team currently has.
A short initial brief is enough. The relevant technical, engineering and commercial team members can then review the application, material route, component requirements and most appropriate next step.
Optional drawing or specification upload available. No long technical questionnaire, standard price or guaranteed programme timescale is required before the first conversation.