PRATTVILLE, Ala. –– Fras-le North America has started producing brake disc pads for the off-highway market at its manufacturing facility in Prattville, Ala. Production began this month and marks the first time the company has manufactured products for the off-highway market in the U.S. The company said the move represents a substantial investment in equipment and the addition of jobs to the local economy in Prattville, in response to growth demands in the North American and global off-highway markets.  
 
Earlier this year, Fras-le announced that the company would move part of its block production for the heavy-duty market to Prattville, adding nearly 100 employees over the next two years in an $11 million U.S. investment.
 
Fras-le produces off-highway products, primarily brake pads, for OE and OES customers in the agricultural, mining, construction and earth moving equipment industries. These off-highway materials are currently manufactured by Fras-le in Brazil. The addition of off-highway manufacturing in Prattville provides added capacity for the company to serve its customers, according to CEO and President Daniel Randon.
 
"Adding production in the U.S. helps reinforce Fras-le’s position as a global leader in off-highway dry friction," said Randon. "It also puts us closer to our North American customer base, allowing us to drastically reduce lead time to customers."
 
Fras-le brake pads and linings are available in the North American OE and aftermarket, as well as in more than 80 countries. All of the company’s friction products are comprised of application-specific formulations, made from top-quality raw materials and asbestos-free, according to the company.