Global Markets for Friction Products and Materials

Report Highlights

The global market for friction products and materials was valued at $13.8 billion in 2011 and is projected to reach nearly $14.7 billion in 2012, and $19.5 billion in 2017, a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9%.

Report Scope

The scope of this report is comprehensive, covering the present status of and future prospects for OE/aftermarket friction materials and products in North America (i.e., the United States and Canada), Western Europe, Japan, China, India, and other global markets.  The North American market is covered in the greatest detail. The report covers diverse segments such as light vehicles, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, the automotive aftermarket, aircraft/aerospace, construction and other off-road equipment, and various industrial applications.  These are analyzed in detail as well as technology developments, market conditions and opportunities, and 5-year forecasts.  The role of new technologies is reviewed in this comprehensive report.

In order to generate the information necessary to construct a reasonable future market for friction materials, it is necessary to undertake an examination of the advantages and disadvantages of the various types of materials.  In particular, environmental concerns are very significant for some types of friction materials.  This report covers two types of friction materials:

• Dry friction materials, such as non-asbestos organic (NAO), semimetallic low-metallic, and asbestos friction materials.
• Wet-friction materials such as paper products.

In addition to various friction materials and products, the report also covers the many issues concerning the merits and future prospects of the business, including corporate strategies, technologies, and the means for providing these products and service offerings.  It also covers in detail the social, political, regulatory, and economic issues that so many regard as critical to the industry’s current state of change.  The report provides a review of the friction materials and products industry and its structure, and the many companies involved in providing these materials and technologies.  The competitive position of the main players in the market and the strategic options they face are also discussed, as well as such competitive factors as marketing, distribution, and operations.

The values presented in the forecast tables represent the value of the friction products purchased by the OE manufacturers and other industrial companies.  These measure value at the point of apparent consumption, regardless of where the friction product was manufactured.  For materials, the values represent those paid by the friction product manufacturers.  The volume data represent the consumption of these materials by the friction product manufacturers at the point of manufacture for these products, regardless of where the product is sold and used.

Analyst Credentials

Andrew McWilliams spent more than 25 years as a consultant with Ernst & Young, McKinsey & Company and A.T. Kearny focused on manufacturing before segueing into research analysis. He has been covering myriad technology categories for BCC Research for more than 15 years. McWilliams has a BA from Princeton University and an MA from Harvard University. He has worked in more than 40 countries and he resides in the greater Boston area.