Brembo celebrates Michigan parts plant expansion and welcome Noth America as lead market by year-end 2014. The high-end auto parts manufacturer celebrated the grand opening of its expanded North American manufacturing operations in Homer, Michigan. The celebration renewed Brembo’s commitment to North America. The investment, which will total more than $115 million dollars (83 million euros) through the end of 2015, expands the facility that houses production of brake, disc, caliper and corner module manufacturing.
Brembo announced that North America will become the number one market for the group by the end of 2014. North America closed 2013 with a 19.4% increase in revenue from 2012 and recently announced a 27.7% increase during the first quarter of this year compared with the first quarter of 2013. “This expanded and modernized production facility represents a new foundation for Brembo in North America, enabling us to increase our presence in the U.S. market and offer better service to our clients,” said Brembo S.p.A chairman, Alberto Bombassei.
Brembo bought the Hayes-Lemmerz brakes discs division in 2007. That acquisition included the Homer, Michigan plant, where Brembo began manufacturing discs in the U.S. In 2013, the facility produced 10 million discs and 300,000 calipers and corner modules and is expected to produce 12.5 million discs and 400,000 calipers and modules in 2014.
While the company has always had a strong presence in the North American market due to its significant European-based original equipment manufacturer (OEM) applications, Brembo North America’s recent growth was spurred by two events: the purchase of the Hayes-Lemmerz Automotive Brake Component division in November of 2007 and the substantial growth of US-based OEMs.
Brembo’s North American Headquarters and R&D Center are in Plymouth, Michigan. Brembo also has additional manufacturing facilities in Monterey, Mexico and Avenel, New Jersey.
With a very successful history in racing dating back to 1975, Brembo also has a facility in Mooresville, North Carolina, near the headquarters of several major racing teams. Brembo’s high performance brake systems have supported F1, IndyCar, NASCAR and Sports Cars Racing Series, among others.
