Australia’s largest brake parts manufacturer, Bendix, has made a strong commitment to Australian manufacturing by commissioning a $3.5 million dollar molding press at its Ballarat manufacturing facility.

The new fully automatic press centre is capable of handling various friction material compounds, automatically weighing, apportioning and compressing material to metal backing plates in a technically advanced hot pressing and curing process with 16 pressing and ventilating cycles. Press and ventilating cycles as well as temperature divergences are controlled by microprocessors which automatically calculate and control the required cycle time. The production capacity and efficiency of the new press will increase output dramatically. and assist in advancing leading edge brake technology.



With new press, Bendix can help further develop and apply class leading technology and research to their wide range of brake products.



Speaking at the opening ceremony FMP Group (Bendix) General Manager, Graeme Dixon stated, “The new press from world leading manufacturer IAG Industrie Automatisierungsgesllschaft M.B.H of Austria delivers a new era in technology allowing our highly skilled engineering team to develop and bring to market the most advanced products to secure our future as Australia’s and the region’s leading brake component manufacturer. This high-tech press coupled with investments in other advanced equipment totalling $8.8 million is the largest made in this business in the last decade and demonstrates our commitment to our shareholders, our employees and to Australian manufacturing,” he said.

Mr Dixon and the management team were supported at the opening ceremony by Dr Rainer Bostel, Honeywell International President of Friction Materials worldwide.

FMP Group (Australia) Pty Ltd (Bendix) is a joint venture company owned by Honeywell International (USA) and Pacifica Group Limited (Australia) and is the technical engineering and research and development centre for Asia Pacific. In addition to the extensive Australian manufacturing facilities in Ballarat the company operates manufacturing plants in Malaysia and Thailand.