Fras-le began production of heavy-duty brake lining at its friction manufacturing facility in Prattville, Ala. earlier this month.

This is the first time Fras-le has produced heavy-duty brake lining in the U.S. The news was announced here at the 2013 Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week.

The company invested U.S. $11 million to expand its capabilities to supply lining to its customer base for commercial vehicle business in North America. The company's expansion added new equipment to its Prattville facility and allowed it to hire nearly 100 new employees in 2012 and 2013.

The Prattville facility complements Fras-le’s global manufacturing. Heavy-duty brake lining is also manufactured in Brazil for global distribution and in China for distribution in Europe and Asia. The addition of brake lining production in the U.S. has increased Fras-le's global capacity significantly. Until now, Fras-le only manufactured disc brake pads at the Prattville facility.

The new friction materials being made in Prattville are supplied to Meritor for aftermarket use on new and remanufactured brake shoes in North America. Meritor’s aftermarket group is the exclusive distributor of Fras-le’s heavy-duty brake linings in North America.