Leading friction manufacturer to begin serial production of Euro 7-compliant OE braking products in 2027
Knowledge gained in OE development used to enable cleaner braking solutions for the aftermarket
Euro 7-compliant aftermarket products currently in the intensive testing stage; expected to be market-ready in time for new legislation
TMD Friction has developed a complete portfolio of Euro 7-compliant Original Equipment braking solutions. The company has now entered agreements with several leading vehicle manufacturers to begin serial production and delivery of the new products next year. The parts will be available for vehicle manufacturers who serve the European car parc.
The OE solutions represent the complete spectrum of friction solutions. This encompasses both low-met and NAO pads on grey cast iron discs, and low-met and NAO pads on hard-metal coated discs.
„We are proud to support leading vehicle manufacturers with a complete portfolio of brake friction solutions designed to meet the new Euro 7 emissions requirements, without compromising on performance, comfort, or reliability," says Christian Stolz, EVP OE Sales & Engineering at TMD Friction. “As leading material scientists in friction technology, our customers can rely on us to deliver safe, compliant friction solutions.”
What is Euro 7?
Euro 7 is the first European emissions legislation to regulate non-exhaust emissions, which include brake and tyre abrasion. For the OE, the legislation will come into force on 29 November 2026 for new vehicle type approvals and 29 November 2027 for all new vehicle registrations.
Euro 7 applies to Original Equipment as well as to the aftermarket. The OE homologation will be covered by the UN-R179, and the aftermarket regulation is still under development.
Euro 7 presents an opportunity for brake friction manufacturers like TMD Friction to reduce the environmental impact of their products by creating less particulate pollution. But developing braking solutions which fulfil emissions requirements without sacrificing existing requirements also comes with new challenges. For example, reducing brake dust emissions is more complex than simply removing an ingredient from a friction formula. Within brake pad compounding, each raw material must be carefully selected to work in harmony with each other to achieve the perfect performance, quality and stopping power. Removing just one ingredient can compromise the integrity of the product.
Another consideration is that around 80% of brake emissions are abrasion from the brake disc – not the pad. The interaction between the pad and the disc creates a complex system where material properties, surface characteristics and thermal behaviour all influence particulate emissions. This means that in order to fulfil emissions requirements, brake friction solutions must increasingly be considered in terms of pad-disc pairings rather than individual products. Brake pads and discs may, in the future, be homologated as an inseparable pair.
“Brake pads are often seen as a simple, everyday component, but the introduction of Euro 7 demonstrates the remarkable science and engineering behind them,” says Christian Stolz. “Euro 7 is pushing innovation to new levels and changing the way our industry thinks about friction development. It’s a reminder that even the most familiar products can play a critical role in creating a more sustainable future.”
Why TMD Friction is in a good position to meet Euro 7 requirements
With 145 years of experience with brake friction manufacturing and more than 52,000 friction formulations developed to date, TMD Friction is a world leader in friction science and has been shaping the Euro 7 legislation from an early stage. The company has been actively involved in the Particle Measurement Programme (PMP) working group of the European Economic Commission of the United Nations (UNECE) since 2016 to support the methodology, test cycle, and test bench construction for the measurement of brake dust emissions for the Euro 7 standard. As an active participant, TMD Friction contributed directly to developing the testing methodologies that now define compliance standards.
In addition, TMD Friction was one of the first manufacturers to invest in its own in-house emissions dynamometer, allowing for more control over the development and validation processes with less reliance on external independent testing agencies.
“Because we were involved in the development of Euro 7 requirements from an early stage, and thanks to our strategic position within the industry, we were able to begin developing compliant solutions well before the legislation came into force,” says Clement de Valon, EVP Independent Aftermarket. “The knowledge and experience we have gained in Original Equipment provide a strong foundation for the next step: bringing Euro 7-ready solutions to the aftermarket. For us, reducing brake dust emissions is more than just achieving legal compliance – it’s about enabling clean braking and reducing the environmental impact of our products.”
Technology transfer: from OE to the aftermarket
The Independent Aftermarket has a complexity which creates additional challenges. Yet while specific aftermarket requirements differ from Original Equipment applications, the underlying friction know-how, testing expertise and validation capabilities remain the same. In the race to develop Euro 7-compliant aftermarket products, TMD Friction is currently in the intensive testing stage and has already identified several friction formulations which meet emissions requirements.
“Our message to customers is clear: customers can be confident that TMD Friction will be ready when the aftermarket requirements come into effect,” says Marco Loth, Vice President Global Aftermarket Sales & Product Management/R&D. “Thanks to our extensive OE experience, we are well positioned to offer braking solutions which lower emissions while still delivering the performance, comfort and safety our customers expect."