Brembo opens Mich. foundry

HOMER, Mich. (May 3, 2016) — Brembo North America Inc. conducted the first pour recently at its new cast iron foundry  built at its Homer brake parts production facility.

The $100 million Homer cast iron foundry is the fourth in Brembo's worldwide foundry network and the first Brembo cast iron foundry in North America. The foundry also is the third factory that Brembo has expanded or built at the Homer manufacturing site.

“The start-up of our new, state-of-the-art foundry in Homer is further proof of Brembo's commitment to Michigan and is a key component of Brembo's continued global expansion. The growth of our Homer operation exemplifies our commitment to the North American market — the top geographic market for Brembo worldwide,” said Matteo Tiraboschi, deputy executive chairman, Brembo S.p.A.

“Having our own dedicated foundry in the United States allows us to have maximum control over our process and costs,” said Dan Sandberg, president and CEO, Brembo North America. “Our customers benefit by having a dedicated, fully integrated manufacturing process for their brake components.”

Brembo said it will ramp up production in May and the foundry is expected to be fully operational in 2017. The operation is adjacent to Brembo's 440,000-sq.-ft. facility that machines discs and drums for the original equipment market.  Brembo also operates a caliper and corner module assembly facility at the same location.

At full capacity, the foundry will be capable of 80,000 tons of brake disc castings annually. The foundry operations will cover an area of about 300,000 square feet and will create 250 jobs at the foundry and at Brembo's North American headquarters in nearby, Plymouth, Mich., the company said.

Brembo acquired the Homer disc plant in 2007 as part of its purchase of Hayes Lemmerz's brake business.