In response to legislation requiring the
reduction of copper in friction formulations, Bosch has announced the use of
its first copper-free ceramic material in the premium-grade QuietCast line of
braking products. Bosch provides full coverage for domestic, Asian and
European cars, vans and SUVs.

“This new material meets our highest
performance standards and will be introduced in the first quarter of 2014, well
ahead of the 2025 deadline,” said Robert Backode, director of product
management, Automotive Aftermarket Brake Components, Robert Bosch LLC. “In
fact, many of Bosch’s semi-metallic formulas already meet this 2025 requirement
so, with this introduction, Bosch is well on the way to having our entire
braking portfolio be compliant with this future regulation,” said Backode.

The automotive industry’s shift to
low-copper content in braking products is a result of legislation passed in the
states of California and Washington in 2010 that requires reduction of the use
of copper to below five percent (2021 low copper) and .5 percent (2025 no
copper). Similar legislation has been introduced in Rhode Island, Oregon and
New York.

Bosch QuietCast Disc Brake Pads are
engineered to match braking performance and efficiency precisely to the needs
of different types and sizes of vehicles.

“We carefully select friction
formulations from a vast array of compounds to provide the blend of materials
best suited to each vehicle. We choose compounds that assure quiet, reliable
and long-lived braking on all types of vehicles, from subcompacts to large
SUVs,” said Backode. “Further, dedicated engineers source and rigorously test the
materials and formulations to ensure that the final product meets the
highest-quality standards. Bosch QuietCast Disc Brake Pads also feature
rubber-core shims and many include Molded Shim Technology (MST), which add
long-lasting anti-squeal characteristics to our friction formulations.”