TMD FRICTION Products, a global manufacturer of brake friction
materials, has announced a new agreement with Global Parts
Network, LLC (GPN), a wholly-owned subsidiary of VIPAR Heavy Duty,
which will make TMD's DON and TEXTAR brands exclusively available
through VIPAR Heavy Duty distributors in the U.S., Canada, Mexico
and Puerto Rico.
TMD FRICTION will supply the majority of friction products to GPN
from its factory in Queretaro, Mexico and the products will ship
from GPN's CoMan Centers (Cooperative Manufacturing Centers) in
the U.S.
TMD TEXTAR brand was established in 1913 and is a premium quality
OE friction product line. TMD DON is a leading standard friction
brand with a reputation for quality with friction formulas
available in economy, standard and premium grade.
Under the agreement with GPN, TMD FRICTION will make available a
full line of high quality OE premium friction products in economy,
standard, premium severe duty, long life and vocational grades of
friction for all vehicle applications. TMD FRICTION has locations
in Germany and four other European countries, as well as in the
U.S., Brazil, Mexico, China and Japan.
"During my career in the heavy duty industry I've developed a
great respect for the VIPAR Heavy Duty organization and their
distributors," said Russell L. Armer, North America business
development manager, TMD FRICTION. "TMD FRICTION looks forward to
working with our new partner in this exclusive distribution
agreement."
Established as an independent company, GPN provides seamless
service and support exclusively to the VIPAR Heavy Duty network of
distributors and suppliers.
PAGE 2
"This new relationship with TMD FRICTION and the ability to
exclusively offer the DON and TEXTAR products alongside our other
highly recognized brands, will position the VIPAR Heavy Duty
stockholder with a strong brand portfolio," said Gene Damron,
GPN's general manager. "This will not only enhance the value
proposition for our distributors, it will increase opportunities
for all the business partners who work through our CoMan
Centers."
"TMD FRICTION is driven by its goal of providing engineered
solutions to brake and friction problems, while VIPAR Heavy Duty
is driven by its desire to provide excellent value and service to
its customers," explained Tom Green, managing director, NAFTA, TMD
FRICTION. "At TMD FRICTION we look forward to combining the
business passions of our organizations into a winning formula for
success in the commercial vehicle market."
Mario Gudiño, TMD FRICTION's aftermarket sales director, NAFTA,
said, “TMD FRICTION will provide dedicated technical sales support
to all VIPAR Heavy Duty distributors, as required, to support
business development and growth.”
For more information on TMD FRICTION, visit www.tmdfriction.us. For more information on
VIPAR Heavy Duty's Global Parts Network, visit www.globalpartsnetwork.com.
