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Affinia Reports Successful Outcome to National Institute of Justice, Michigan State Police Brake Pad Performance Evaluation Project

According to Affinia, Raybestos brand police brake pads took the lead in the outcome of test results.
By Shop Owner Staff
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Affinia Group has announced that its Raybestos brand police brake pads were given top marks in recent testing by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and Michigan State police.

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This past summer, the NIJ and Michigan State police conducted an evaluation of aftermarket disc brake pads to provide police agencies around the country with information to make informed decisions regarding the best friction products for police use. The evaluation is part of a voluntary testing program to confirm the safety of the braking components installed on police vehicles. The 2010 test was the third such evaluation the NIJ has commissioned.

According to Affinia, results of the testing confirmed the superiority of Raybestos Police Brake Pads in a number of stages of testing. The program consisted of two test stages. Stage One – prescreening – included an FMVSS 135-based inertia dynamometer laboratory performance screening test with high-speed (125 mph) pursuit sections added. These tests were conducted independently at Greening Testing Laboratories in Detroit. A maximum of three top candidates for each vehicle application continued on to Stage Two testing. Not all pads submitted passed the FMVSS 135 requirements and were not able to move on to the next stage of testing.
      
Stage Two – on-track evaluation– was conducted on four police pursuit platforms: Dodge Charger, Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, Chevrolet Impala and Chevrolet Tahoe. Each was equipped with friction that passed Stage One testing. The tests measured straight-line braking from two different speeds and timed laps around an enclosed road course. The straight-line tests included two series of 60-0 mph and 125-0 mph stops. The last stage of the on-car evaluation simulates actual conditions encountered in pursuit or emergency situations. Each vehicle is driven on a road course for 32 timed laps using four separate drivers. The test is conducted blindly to prevent product bias, according to the company.
      
Affinia reports that 28 friction suppliers submitted product for testing, but only five suppliers made it past the first stage of dynamometer testing. Stage One of the test uses FMVSS 135 as criteria for passing to the next phase of testing. According to Affinia, Raybestos was the only aftermarket brand to have product that passed on more than one platform. In addition, the company says Raybestos was the only aftermarket brand to pass the first stage of testing on all four vehicles. The other four suppliers that made Stage Two testing each passed on only one platform. Raybestos was the only aftermarket manufacturer that passed Stage One testing on the Dodge Charger and Chevrolet Tahoe, according to Affinia. The company also said Raybestos outperformed OE in stopping distance on three of four platforms.

“Most severe duty commercial brake pads are designed for a variety of different types of usage and vehicle applications,” said Jerry Forystek, director of product development, Raybestos Friction, a member of the Affinia family of brands. “Many manufacturers often compromise performance or noise when designing severe duty friction. Police agencies are looking for pads that have high-friction performance, high-temperature fade resistance, low wear and quiet operation.”
      
According to Affinia, Raybestos brand Advanced Technology Police disc brake pads are designed specifically for police patrol and pursuit applications and utilize special materials to provide exceptional stopping power, temperature stability and provide “Quiet on Arrival” (QOA) noise-free braking performance.
      
For more information on the new Raybestos police brake pads, or for questions on any Raybestos brand brake or chassis product, visit www.raybestos.com.

To see the complete 2010 Aftermarket Brake Pad Evaluation from Michigan State Police, click here.

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When Your Shop Is Worth Much More Than You Thought

Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.

By Art Blumenthal
Leveraging more than 30 years of experience as both an aftermarket business owner and aftermarket technology executive, Art Blumenthal LLC provides business intermediary and advisory services to both buyers and sellers of industry businesses of all sizes. Art is a member of IBBA (International Business Brokers Association, Inc.). For more information, or to initiate a no-obligation confidential consultation, visit www.art-blumenthal.com.
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Case Study: Owner of San Francisco-based Import Service Shop Delighted to Discover Just How Valuable His Business is to Qualified Buyers
I sometimes share case studies of the clients I have been able to assist in my role as an aftermarket business broker and provider of intermediary and advisory services. I do that when I think the story will provide a reader in similar circumstances with new insights or helpful information.
In the case of Cowden Automotive, Inc., I acted in a consulting capacity assisting the owner and his broker in valuing the business, creating a marketing plan, finding a qualified buyer, and arranging financing for the sale.
Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.
Needless to say, delivering that kind of good news to a shop owner is a rewarding experience. Discovering that the sale of his business would result in his retirement nest-egg being substantially larger than he had ever thought was a fitting tribute to someone who had spent his entire working career as a busy automotive service shop owner.

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