Who we are
As the TMD Friction family, we have stood for sustainable quality for over 135 years and are now part of the Japanese Nisshinbo Group. As a leading international company in the manufacture of brake pads for vehicles and industrial applications, our employees in 12 countries across all five continents work on optimising brake performance. Our company philosophy is PASSION – much more than merely passion for our work:
Our employees contribute commitment, talent and ideas and are an asset to our company. After all, our customers and employees benefit equally from a successful company that can offer security for the future through high standards – a win-win situation for everyone involved! Constantly setting oneself new goals and achieving them is our path towards steady progress.
We work with our heads, hearts and hands for an open, honest and respectful working relationship. The courage to address weaknesses openly in order to improve processes by joining forces – this makes our company strong.
For us, innovation means more than major research results: it is also creative re-thinking on a small scale that constantly finds new ways to improve working processes and environments and inspire colleagues.
We approach our tasks in an optimistic, open-minded and positive way as we are convinced that in this way we are more successful as a company and our employees are more satisfied. To this end, we don’t give up until our objectives have been achieved – even if it sometimes demands the courage to abandon familiar paths and dare to start afresh.
Wenfang
Account Manager Ford & Project Coordination Manager China
“TMD Friction has continually developed its international orientation over recent years. This configuration was the reason why I applied here in 2010. Working in such an international environment suits my personality well, and I appreciate working with colleagues who see the big picture. I have been responsible for project coordination for Asian customers right from the start. I have also been the Account Manager for Ford since 2015. The flexible working conditions that the company offers me as the mother of a seven-year-old daughter are a further bonus. This is not a matter of course in all industrial companies.”
Lucas
Student
“It is a great opportunity for me to complete my combined vocational training and degree programme in this international company. When I started at TMD Friction in 2014, I had little practical experience. This has completely changed over time as I work in various departments and thus gain wide-ranging insight into multiple fields of work. I will soon complete my training as an Industriekaufmann (industrial clerk) and then, one year later, finish my studies with a Bachelor of Arts in International Business Administration.”
Athanasios
Pilot shop worker
“To be successful, you have to be constantly on the ball – there is always something that you can do better. I experience this daily in my work in production, where we further develop and improve the brake pads for cars and trucks. I enjoy the good working relationship within the team and the fact that the managers always have a sympathetic ear for us.”
Anatolij
Product Designer
“For TMD, I am quite literally always in search of a constructive solution for customer requests. I turn these into technical drawings so that they can be constructed accordingly. It is important to me here, that I have an employer who also appreciates my skills and lets me do what I do best. At TMD, I have the necessary freedom, a great team and ready access to the very latest software and hardware in the field of Product Design – this makes work fun!”
Christiane
Head of R&D IT & Know-how-Management
“Software and IT are the keywords on which my work has focussed since joining the company in 1987. In this context, you have to always keep up to speed and focus on the latest IT trends. A 10-year excursion to an external IT outsourcing service provider, where I worked for TMD Friction, has significantly shaped my customer orientation. Together with my small team, I now analyse business processes and push forward innovative (software) solutions that are used around the world in Research & Development and in Production at TMD Friction. This is an extremely exciting process, which brings new challenges with it every day.”
Mohan
Production Worker
“In my day-to-day work, I ensure that the quality is right: have the pads been cut properly and are they the right size? I accompany the process, from filling machines to painting the finished, cut pad. After all, reliability is important when it comes to braking. For over 15 years, TMD Friction has been able to rely on my work – and I have been able to rely on having a secure job with lovely colleagues and great managers.”
Enrique
Senior Manager Physical Research
“Developing now what will be needed in ten years’ time – I find that aspect of my work especially exciting. The Physical Research division is a crucial field for TMD Friction as a technological leader. The most important areas of research here are material-, process- and friction dynamics, and NVH (noise development). Here, I can work with my team to realise innovative ideas and help guide TMD Friction safely into the future.”
Marvin
Production Operator
“I have been working in Production at the Essen site for over 20 years. During this time I have gained a great deal of experience and have further developed my professional skills. As a line operator, I am responsible for batch production in the manufacture of smaller quantities in the High Performance field. To ensure this runs smoothly, I pay attention to the precise set-up of the machines, the running performance and quality control. In addition to this, I have been a safety officer since 1996 and thus bear additional responsibility.”
Mona
Group HR Specialist Organisation & People Development
“During my studies in International Business and Business Administration, I had the opportunity as a working student in Group HR to lay the foundation for my professional career. The broad spectrum of tasks and the collaboration with international HR colleagues fascinated me so much that I also wrote my Master thesis there. I am delighted that I could continue to work here after completing my studies and thus begin my career path. Today I take care of many interesting fields such as the management of the internal training academy, the development and implementation of international management and junior management programmes, and the development and supervision of Group-wide HR standards.”
Peter
Executive Vice President Group Human Resources
“Just as everyone in our company does in their own way, the HR team and I work on the sustainability of TMD Friction. This often demands the courage to progress, change, and above all, to accordingly support and further develop our employees. However, it also involves discovering talented individuals and encouraging them according to their personal strengths. It is important to me that our employees identify with the company and feel comfortable – only then can we face challenges together and achieve our goals!”
Dominik
Marketing & Business Development Manager
“I started in Sales as a dual-studies student on the Commercial Engineering course. Following a semester abroad in India, I was able to gain profound insight into the strategic marketing field. After completing my studies, I was hired by this division and have now even been able to assume personnel responsibility. Today, I take care of widely differing topics – from coordinating long-term sales plans to creating promotional films. I work with colleagues from all plants virtually every day. I find contact with colleagues from our parent company in Japan especially exciting.”