Italian import auto parts manufacturer Metelli S.p.A. has reported demand climb across its four product lines— engine parts, transmission parts, water pumps and brake parts. In the U.S., for the water pumps product line.
Since completing its brake parts range for medium- to high-end car applications in 2010, Metelli has committed to disseminating information about the manufacture of brake parts, including brake and clutch hydraulics, brake drums, brake shoes, preassembled brake shoe kits, brake rotors and pads. Metelli has increased its range of brake products, beginning with the introduction of brake and clutch components in 1975; brake drum manufacture in 2000; and the manufacture of brake pads in 2008. Two mergers dramatically increased output: in 1996 with brake and clutch hydraulics manufacturer Cifam S.p.A., originally a spinoff from Metelli; and in 2001 with GRAF Company, maker of water pumps and brake discs.
Metelli brake parts in the USA and Canada can be purched at Altrom, Worldparts, CWD, Entrepot de Montreal, IMC, International Auto Parts, KW Parts, Northside Imports, SSF-Imported Auto Parts.
Metelli’s brake parts range was completed last year with the introduction to the world market of brake shoes and coated brake discs (DSP) at Automechanika 2010 in Frankfurt. The DSP brake discs use a specially developed paint on the brake disc that prevents oxidation on the areas of the disc not in contact with the pad.
Metelli’s brake parts are subjected to rigorous testing, meeting and exceeding regulations, and in compliance with the tightest geometric tolerances and best surface finishes, in order to guarantee the progressive braking that makes for a comfortable, consistent and safe drive. This level of testing also ensures the proper adjustment of the disc on the pad, and pad on the disc.
Beginning with highest quality raw materials—Metelli uses X-rays and a variety of tests on its raw materials—and moving through the production process, each step includes redundant testing and extra care to guarantee quality. Cast-iron brake discs, for instance, are subjected to no fewer than 12 finishing operations. Aluminum pistons, which function in tandem with the master cylinder, are surface-treated with a hard anodization process. Random testing and rigorous postproduction testing, including pressure testing, add to the redundancy that gives Metelli its superior ranking among aftermarket suppliers.
According to Metelli, it is committed to furthering its research and development in the European car-parts market, which includes BMW, Mercedes, Audi-Volkswagen, Volvo, Porsche, Land Rover and Saab. Its internal research laboratory continues to offer innovations that result in new product development, updated designs and parts; all these elements enable Metelli S.p.A. to remain highly competitive in not only the U.S. aftermarket but the world aftermarket. The development of the DSP coated rotor or brake disc is one such innovation that has advanced the science of brake manufacture.
Metelli’s range of braking components includes 1,548 parts in its Brake and Clutch Hydraulics line (wheel and brake master cylinders, pressure regulating valves and clutch and slave cylinders) and 3,180 parts in its Friction, Brake Disc and Drum line (coated brake discs with DSP technology, brake shoes, brake pads, brake discs or rotors, brake drums and rapid kits).
Metelli was founded in 1962 as a mechanical factory by Luigi Metelli. Beginning in 1970 the company began to manufacture car components, and today its range consists of more than 10,000 catalogue items, covering most of the European car PARC and including light commercial vehicles. Metelli exports to 90 countries. The components are used for cars from Europe, Asia and the U.S., manufactured for the independent aftermarket, original equipment suppliers (OES) and original equipment manufacturers (OEM).