A manufacturer of brake pads based in Budzyń, north-western Poland, has installed new production lines and a range of start-of-the art machinery through a project supported by the European Regional Development Fund. The investment has enabled Lumag sp. z o.o to introduce a new series of brake pads for luxury cars. The project allowed the company to develop a new line of brake shims, which stop pads squeaking and vibrating.
- 06 March 2019
Thanks to this project, the complicated logistics of coordinating multiple semi-finished products manufactured at several separate workstations have been replaced by supervising a single machine. In addition, concentrating the production within the plant in Budzyń made it possible to implement better quality control, directly contributing to better reliability of the manufactured elements.
The project’s overall goal was to help the company become more competitive by developing innovative, cutting-edge products. To that end, the investment provided for the purchase and assembly of a brake shim production line; the purchase of a set of 67 tools for manufacturing the shims; and the purchase of 33 pressing tools for the manufacture of new and improved brake pads. Storage facilities and transport equipment relating to the new production processes were paid for through the project.
Brake shims are a key element in brake pads as they dampen vibration and reduce noise. Standard production methods require many different presses and a multi-stage process, which is not economically efficient. A Swiss industrial machinery producer called Bruderer has provided solutions allowing Lumag’s research and development department to create a new method for manufacturing brake shims using one machine.
Greater safety
Other newly introduced products include a line of brake pads for premium passenger cars. They provide the highest level of safety when driving and ensure effective and comfortable braking in any road conditions. The new line was tested at Grossglockner, a famously demanding Alpine road in Austria.
In addition, the project investment will help Lumag improve its products. The modern production line supports a dynamometer workstation dedicated to testing brakes. As a result, test runs of innovative constructions can be manufactured and assessed at the research workstations.
Thanks to the research and tests carried out, a new-generation ceramic friction material with improved thermal conductivity has been developed which improves braking comfort. Finally, no copper is used in the new brake pads, making the product more environmentally friendly than requirements laid down by international standards.
The investment has created four permanent jobs at the company.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Lumag” is EUR 3 485 247 (PLN 15 106 958), with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 1 139 035 (PLN 4 937 834) through the “Wielkopolskie Voivodeship” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “SME competitiveness”.