Custom robotics friction materials and joint holding-brake components
FTL supports robotics engineering, R&D and technical teams when a new axis or joint needs a friction solution, an existing holding brake is not performing as required, or a legacy material or component can no longer be sourced.
Robots hold position, arrest motion and control movement through friction, and that is the work FTL has done since 2003 across every industry it serves.
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 robotics 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 robotics programme.
When robotics teams engage FTL
Start with the programme or performance situation that has created the requirement.
A new axis or joint 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 holding brake is not behaving as required
The engineering team is seeing drift on a held axis, inconsistent stopping, excessive or unpredictable wear, thermal concerns, or variation between units 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 base still requires 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.
Where FTL friction components work inside robotic systems
FTL supplies friction materials and complete components into these areas today. The right route for a given axis depends on the duty, the operating environment, the space available and the evidence the solution must provide.
Industrial robots
Holding and braking components for the axes of industrial robot arms, where a joint must hold position under load and arrest motion predictably across a long service life.
Collaborative robots
Compact, low-mass friction components for cobot joints, where the brake has to fit inside a slim housing and behave consistently from cold.
Robotic joints
Friction materials engineered around the joint itself: the holding torque required, the envelope available, the thermal path out of the assembly and the cycle life expected.
Robotic arms
Fail-safe braking for arm axes, where the brake must hold the arm and its payload safely on power loss as well as at rest.
Holding, braking and controlled-motion components within robotic systems
Beyond the named classes above, FTL supplies the friction components that hold, stop and control movement wherever they sit inside a robotic system. FTL formulates the material and machines it to the finished component under one roof, including Kevlar, sintered and composite formulations suited to compact, dry-running, high-cycle duty. FTL also works with raw-material suppliers already established in the robotics sector, so material selection starts from proven robotics-grade inputs.
Section through a joint holding brake: the friction disc, in green, clamped by the spring pack to hold the axis when the drive is off.
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 robot 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 axis or joint 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 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 torque required
- Duty cycle and expected cycle life
- Temperature and available thermal path
- Speed at engagement
- Dry running or lubricated
- Available installation envelope
- Particulate or cleanliness constraints
- 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 cycle life
- Thermal requirements
- 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 a robotics programme
New Programme Support
For a new joint, axis or robotic friction 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 an installed base 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 holding brake or friction component with drift, 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 a robotics 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 robotics 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 torque required
- Duty cycle and cycle life
- Temperature and thermal path
- Speed at engagement
- Installation envelope
- Dry running or lubricated
- 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, cell, 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 robotics 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.
Will the material hold up over a high cycle count?
Cycle life is a design requirement, not a property of the material alone. It depends on the holding torque, the energy absorbed at each engagement, the thermal path out of the joint, whether the brake runs dry, and the envelope available. FTL formulates for compact, dry-running, high-cycle duty and can assess an application against those constraints, but the expected life for a given design 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 robotics 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 complete joint assembly
Material selection should consider the required holding and braking behaviour together with the component, 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 compact, 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 has been used in specialist robotics work, including Kevlar rings in the finger joints of advanced robotic hands.
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
Robotics programme history
FTL materials have run in specialist robotics work, including Kevlar rings in the finger joints of advanced robotic hands, and development work with Boston Dynamics. FTL also works with raw-material suppliers already established in the robotics sector, so material selection for a new programme starts from proven robotics-grade inputs.
- 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 robotics application?
FTL is a strong fit when:
Your team has an engineering brief rather than a stock-parts request
A new axis or joint needs a custom friction solution
A holding brake shows drift, stopping, wear or thermal concerns
An original material, component, drawing or supplier has become obsolete
The brake has to fit a tight envelope and run dry
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 robotics friction materials
What robotics applications does FTL supply?
What friction materials does FTL work with for robotics?
Does FTL manufacture complete components or only friction material?
Can FTL support a new robotics programme?
Can FTL reverse engineer an obsolete robot brake component?
Can FTL investigate drift, inconsistent stopping, wear or thermal problems?
Can FTL work to a tight installation envelope?
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 robot brake pads 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.