| Surface Transforms, makers of high-technology
carbon fibre reinforced ceramic (CFRC) materials for the aerospace and
high-performance automotive markets, has signed a two-year co-operative
agreement with German automotive parts supplier METEK. The agreement with
METEK, one of Europe's leading suppliers of braking systems to the automotive
industry and owner of Advanced Materials Lanxide of the US, is for the
design, development and supply of carbon ceramic brake discs and pads
to the European automotive industry.
The companies expect to generate revenues of €60,000 during
the initial testing and development phase of the co-operation. During
later phases of the contract, further income will be derived from road
car model specific licence and supply agreements.
Over the past 12 months, Surface Transforms and METEK have completed an
initial period of evaluation and road car testing of carbon ceramic brake
discs and pads. The tests, undertaken at METEK, show that CFRC materials
give a significant improvement in performance over traditional steel brake
discs and organic pads. A 60 per cent reduction in weight and a 50% improvement
on stopping force has been achieved. The three-dimensional structure of
the carbon ceramic discs contributes to very good wear characteristics
whilst retaining significant disc integrity when compared to the competition.
These properties have also been demonstrated in the wear and integrity
tests undertaken on Surface Transforms' aircraft brake discs.
The European steel brake disc and pad market is currently estimated to
be 360 million units per annum at a supplier market value of €3.5bn
($4.3bn) per annum. The directors of Surface Transforms estimate that
once carbon ceramic brake technology is accepted by the automotive majors,
initially up to 1-3 per cent of the market (principally a proportion of
the executive and luxury segments of the road car market) will adopt the
new technology brakes with their superior braking, handling and environmental
performances.
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