TMD pulls out the stops welcoming Autosupplies to factory

Autosupplies and its customers receive an insight into TMD Friction’s stringent manufacturing processes at its Hartlepool factory.

TMD Friction has welcomed representatives from Autosupplies and three of its workshop customers to its manufacturing site in Hartlepool, to experience a greater understanding of its manufacturing processes.

In attendance were area sales managers, Conor Milnes and Kevin Best, from Autosupplies, as well as four of its customers from three workshops. Ian Webb, technical field support and Del Smith, area sales manager from TMD Friction, were also on hand during the tour and answer any questions they had.

As a business, TMD Friction runs factory tours throughout the year, inviting motor factor and technician customers to explore its manufacturing facility in Hartlepool, as well as allowing the attendees to see up close and first-hand the processes that go into manufacturing world-class brake pads.

The attendees were guided through the factory to experience all elements of the manufacturing process, from the humble beginnings as a virgin back plate, to the end product being packaged and packed, ready for onward transport to TMD’s warehouse in Warrington and throughout the world.

The customers were able to learn more about the multiple quality checks that TMD runs through-out the manufacturing process and were able to understand the reasoning behind the checks, as well as how they benefit the customer as installers of the product.

Smith commented: “It was an honour to welcome our long-standing customer, Autosupplies and its loyal customers, to our site in Hartlepool to showcase our precise manufacturing processes from beginning, right through to the end product.

“Throughout the tour, the attendees were very engaged, asking the TMD technical experts a number of insightful questions, with the team ensuring that before the end of the day, they had a new-found understanding and appreciation for our brands and products.”

David Clarke, managing director at Autosupplies Group, said: “It’s fantastic that leading suppliers in the automotive aftermarket can offer such insightful tours of their manufacturing facilities. It instils confidence in factors and technicians of the quality product being produced, which is imperative for such a safety-critical application.”

After the tour, the attendees were able to break for lunch, before the TMD team gifted them with an array of complimentary merchandise and shared a short and informative presentation with them. This covered topics such as a general overview as to what materials are used in its friction materials and why, why brake pads are chamfered and slotted, why shims are used, and, why copper slip shouldn’t be used, as well as much more.

For more information on TMD Friction, please visit: https://tmdfriction.com/