UK-based brake and clutch manufacturer Alcon has reported significant growth in the opening months of 2015. The company states that this growth is down to a ‘three-way success story’.
Alcon was responsible for the brake systems supplied to the all-electric Formula E championship, which has grown in popularity and world-wide coverage since its introduction towards the end of 2014.
“Development of a complete system for such an unusual application has been exciting and it is complete in every sense of the word, including discs, calipers, pads, balance bar and master cylinders,” explained Ben Edwards, sales manager of Alcon. “At Alcon, we’re in tune with the principles of reducing carbon emissions – part of the movement to make motorsport sustainable – and we’re delighted to be associated with the growth of Formula E and look forward to it becoming an established series.”
Alcon’s expansion in to the key North American market has seen the company increasingly involved in top-level competition, with major teams being supplied in most of the headline attractions including braking systems for big off-road events across the continent, such as the Baja 500 in Mexico.
Phil Stubbs, president of Alcon USA, is enthusiastic at the opportunities opening up for the 32 year-old company: “We’re also heavily committed to the development of front-running brake systems for NASCAR and from this year, every Joe Gibbs racecar for the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series will be equipped with Alcon brakes.
“Pike’s Peak is another major challenge facing us and we will be there with a major but top secret entrant employing state of the art Alcon brake technology,” added Stubbs.
Away from motorsport, and the UK-firm is also increasing its work with OEMs. As the market for advanced road car braking systems continues to grow, Alcon states that it is ‘progressively increasing its market share’. Its most recent projects include working with Peugeot, on its RCZ-R sports coupe (above), and with Bentley on the Continental GT.
“At Alcon we know exactly what our customers want, because we demand the same, if not more, from the performance brakes we drive, race and engineer,” concluded Jon Edwards, sales director at Alcon.
