Fras-le North America Inc. on Tuesday, Aug. 14, announced the company has started producing brake disc pads for the off-highway market at its manufacturing facility in Prattville, Ala. – the first time the company has manufactured products for the off-highway market in the United States.

Fras-le said the move is 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 and representing an $11 million U.S. investment in equipment.

Off-highway products, primarly brake pads, are produced by Fras-le for OE and OES customers and are used in agricultural, mining, construction and earth-moving equipment. Off-highway materials currently are manufactured by Fras-le in Brazil, and the company said the addition of off-highway manufacturing in Prattville provides added capacity for the company to serve its customers.

“Adding production in the U.S. helps reinforce Fras-le’s position as a global leader in off-highway dry friction,” said Daniel Randon, Fras-le chief executive officer and president. “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.