Stemco announced Thursday, April 9, that it has formed a strategic alliance with Duroline SA, a Vipal SA partner. Stemco says the Duroline alliance will provide brake linings to the on-highway commercial vehicle market in North America.
Duroline, based in Caxis do Sul, Brazil, manufactures friction material for commercial vehicles utilizing its proprietary “Wave Process,” which is designed to deliver superior stopping performance while reducing noise and drum wear.
Under the alliance, Duroline will transfer all distribution of its products in North America to Stemco, and Stemco will invest in the expansion of Duroline’s Brazilian manufacturing facility. The alliance will utilize Stemco’s 45-member fleet-based technical sales team to assist customers with the repair and selection of friction products appropriate to their needs, according to the company; the sales team also will provide on-site foundation brake training to maximize both the life of friction material and vehicle safety.
“This alliance combines Duroline’s great product with Stemco’s precision training to improve the braking performance of customers’ equipment while lowering their total operating costs,” says Jon Cox, president of Longview, Texas-based Stemco. “We are very excited to enter into this relationship with Duroline. We are committed to the long-term success of this relationship, and we look forward to exploring other opportunities to expand it in the future.”
