Performance Friction Brakes
Performance Friction Corporation (PFC Brakes) is a US-based, women-owned manufacturer of proprietary CarbonMetallic® brake pads, discs, calipers, and brake fluids serving professional motorsport series (IndyCar, USF Pro, Porsche Motorsport) and severe-duty commercial fleets worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersClover, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Performance Friction Brakes does
Performance Friction Corporation (d/b/a PFC Brakes) is a privately held, women-owned US manufacturer of high-performance hydraulic brake systems founded in 1984 and headquartered in a 200,000 sq ft facility in Clover, South Carolina with 260+ employees. The company designs and manufactures brake pads, discs, calipers, and brake fluids built around a proprietary CarbonMetallic® carbon-metallic friction matrix and a portfolio of patented technologies including ZeroDrag™ pad-retraction calipers (ZR24/ZR43/ZR94), V3 ventilated race discs, and ZeroFailures™ rotors with an isolated, zinc-nickel plated ABS tone ring.
PFC serves two primary segments: professional motorsports (official brake supplier to NTT IndyCar since 2016, USF Pro Championships to 2030, Porsche Motorsport since 2012, plus Eurocup-3, F4 Spain, TCR Europe, GB3, and chassis-OEM integration with Dallara, Tatuus, and Ligier) and severe-duty commercial/fleet applications (light-, medium-, and heavy-duty trucks, school buses, ambulances, police pursuit vehicles, air disc brake programs). A smaller aftermarket/performance-enthusiast segment is served via the pfc.parts e-commerce parts finder and worldwide distributor network.
Revenue mechanics combine direct B2B sales teams (Severe Duty and Motorsports), multi-year OEM/series supply contracts, a worldwide authorized distributor network, the company's own pfc.parts WebCat parts finder, and direct fleet/law enforcement engagement (including annual Michigan State Police vehicle testing participation). Geographic operations span a US headquarters, a 2022-vintage European HQ (PFC Brakes Europe SL) in Barcelona serving Europe/Asia/Middle East/Oceania, plus offices in Colombia and Japan. The company holds ISO 9001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 9001:2024 (Spain), and IQNet certifications, is copper-free since 1984 and 100% antimony-free, and has a stated target of 50% recycled or landfill-diverted materials in friction formulations by 2035.
Performance Friction Brakes firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Performance Friction Brakes
- Legal name
- Performance Friction Corporation
- Website
- https://pfcbrakes.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Performance Friction Corporation (PFC Brakes) is a US-based, women-owned manufacturer of proprietary CarbonMetallic® brake pads, discs, calipers, and brake fluids serving professional motorsport series (IndyCar, USF Pro, Porsche Motorsport) and severe-duty commercial fleets worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Performance Friction Brakes industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performance Brake Systems (Automotive Braking Components)
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Brake System Manufacturing (33634), Motor Vehicle Brake System Manufacturing (336340), Fluid Power Cylinder and Actuator Manufacturing (333995)
- SIC
- Ball & Roller Bearings (3562), Gaskets, Packg & Sealg Devices & Rubber & Plastics Hose (3050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Brake Friction & Rotors (Pads/Shoes/Discs/Drums) (IMACAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hydraulic Brake Systems (Master Cylinders/Calipers/Lines/Boosters) (IMACAIAD), Brake Control & Modulation Systems (ABS/ESC/EBD Modules & Hydraulics) (IMACAIAF), Service & Parking Brake Systems (Mechanical/Electronic Parking Brake) (IMACAIAC)
Keywords
Where Performance Friction Brakes is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Clover
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Performance Friction Brakes business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales - Branded Aftermarket & Severe Duty: Primary revenue from sale of manufactured brake pads, discs, calipers, and brake fluid (CarbonMetallic®, Z-Rated®, ZeroFailures™) to thousands of workshops, fleet operators, vehicle manufacturers, and end consumers in domestic and international markets via direct sales and distributors.
- OEM / Series Supplier Contracts (Motorsports): Recurring contract revenue as official or exclusive brake supplier to series (NTT IndyCar, INDY NXT, USF Pro Championships, Eurocup-3, F4 Spain, TCR Europe, GB3, F4 US/UK/Brazil, F3 Regional US) and chassis manufacturers (Dallara, Tatuus, Ligier). Also supplies Porsche Motorsport, Ferrari, Ford Motorsport, Alpine, Honda JAS, TTM, Radical, and Ginetta.
- Distributor & Dealer Channel Sales: Revenue generated through global network of authorized PFC distributors (motorsport, motorcycle, severe duty) and direct B2B sales team supporting purchase orders and product inquiries.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based pricing via worldwide distributor network and direct sales team; not publicly disclosed. |
| Other | Multi-year contract | OEM / series supply contracts negotiated directly. |
Go-to-market motion5 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Performance Friction Brakes product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Performance Friction Corporation (PFC Brakes) designs, manufactures, and sells high-performance hydraulic disc brake components — brake pads, discs (rotors), calipers, and brake fluids — for professional motorsport and severe-duty commercial/fleet applications. Products are produced at a 200,000-square-foot Clover, South Carolina facility and sold under proprietary brands including CarbonMetallic®, Z-Rated®, ZeroDrag™, and ZeroFailures™.
Product overview
Performance Friction Corporation (PFC Brakes) operates as a single manufacturing business centered on hydraulic brake systems — calipers, discs, pads, and brake fluids — sold under two main go-to-market programs (Motorsports and Severe Duty), with shared underlying technologies across both. The motorsports program spans Circle Track (Asphalt and Dirt), Sports Car, and Open Wheel (IndyCar, Tatuus T-326 F3R Gen 2, Tatuus T-421 F4, Dallara 326) and is built on the CarbonMetallic® pad family (including Z-Rated®), ZeroDrag™ calipers (ZR24, ZR43, ZR94), and V3 / V3 ZeroFailures™ race discs. The severe-duty program extends the same CarbonMetallic® chemistry into light-, medium-, and heavy-duty aftermarket and fleet applications (police, ambulance, school bus, fleet van/truck, air disc), paired with ZeroFailures™ rotors and the patented Zero Failure Isolated ABS Tone Ring. Supporting products include RH605 and 665 brake fluids, the 68 Compound street/track-day pad, 82 & 84 endurance compounds, and the 40 Compound TCR pad, all complemented by the PFC Parts Finder (WebCat) and distributor locator tools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CarbonMetallic©: Revolutionary non-asbestos friction material product line for brake pads, the foundational brand of PFC.
- Z-Rated®
- ZeroDrag™
- ZeroFailures™
Products and services
- CarbonMetallic Brake Pads Flagship non-asbestos friction material family launched in 1984, used across motorsports and severe-duty applications; engineered with a Carbon-Metallic matrix for thermal stability, longer pad life, and Quieter/Quicker/Last-Longer performance.
- Z-Rated Brake Pads Premium Carbon-Metallic pad variant providing additional cold bite for high-performance and severe-duty applications using a slightly different matrix from standard CarbonMetallic.
- 68 Compound Street/Track-Day Pad PFC's newest street/track-day pad compound engineered for daily drivability and on-track performance with high cold bite, consistent coefficient of friction at extreme temperatures, smooth release, responsive pedal feel, low dust, and non-corrosive characteristics.
- 41 Compound (ZR94 Short-Track Pad) Highest-friction short-track pad compound from PFC, released in 2026 for the ZR94 caliper with a significant step-up over the 39 compound in heat tolerance and disc conditioning.
- PFC 82 & 84 Endurance Compound Brake Pads New-generation endurance compound pads engineered for GT-class endurance racing; used in victories at the 2023 Nurburgring 24 Hours (Ferrari 296 GT3) and 2025 Rolex Daytona 24 Hours (Ford Multimatic Mustang GT3).
- 40 Compound (TCR Racing Pads) Pad compound used in TCR World Tour and TCR Europe sprint racing; cited for sharp initial bite, smooth release, and precise control in demanding sprint braking conditions.
- ZeroDrag Calipers (ZR24, ZR43, ZR94) PFC's patented pad-retraction caliper family using ZeroDrag technology to eliminate brake drag; includes the ZR43 (RACE TECH 2011 Most Innovative Motorsport Product), ZR24 (asphalt pro late model), and ZR94 (asphalt super late model / short track), available in 2-, 4-, and 6-piston configurations.
- V3 Disc Technology (Race Discs) Patented iron disc design with unique dynamic symmetry geometry and chemistry; introduced to INDYCAR in 2016, won the 2017 BorgWarner Louis Schwitzer Award, and remains a flagship race disc across PFC's motorsport applications.
- ZeroFailures Severe-Duty Rotors Severe-duty rotor line with 100% American-made construction, runout < .0005 in., thickness variation < .0002 in., 47+ vanes turned on OD & ID, surface finish < .7 microns, and 100% inspection; includes the patented Zero Failure Isolated ABS Tone Ring that lasted over 5x longer than one-piece designs in GM9540P corrosion testing.
- V3 ZeroFailures Race Discs Race disc variants of V3 technology used across circle-track, open-wheel, and sports-car applications; available with direct bolt, 8-tab, or hat-mounting configurations in multiple diameters and thicknesses.
- RH605 Brake Fluid High-performance heavy-duty application brake fluid launched in 2014.
- 665 Brake Fluid PFC's high-performance racing brake fluid sold for asphalt super late model and other motorsport applications.
- PFC Severe Duty Aftermarket Pad Line (CarbonMetallic) After-market severe-duty brake program covering light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles, fleets, off-road, school buses, ambulances, police vehicles, and air disc applications, paired with ZeroFailures rotors.
- Circle Track Brake Packages (Asphalt and Dirt) Bundled brake packages combining PFC ZR24/ZR94 calipers, V3 race discs, and CarbonMetallic pads for asphalt and dirt short-track racing (Super Late Model, Pro Late Model, Tour Modified, Late Model Stock, Dirt Late Model, Open Wheel Modified, Trans Am TA2).
- Sports Car Brake Applications (BMW F/G, Porsche) Application-specific brake kits for sports-car racing, including BMW F/G-series and Porsche-specific catalogs and Track Day Kits; used in IMSA, Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge, Porsche Cup Racing, and Pirelli World Challenge.
- Open Wheel / IndyCar Brake Package Official NTT IndyCar Series brake package including new INDY500 small-bore brake calipers with pad-retraction design, V3 carbon discs, and lightweight, easily assembled mounting; exclusive supplier since 2017.
- Tatuus T-326 F3R Gen 2 Brake Package Complete brake package (pads, calipers, discs) for the new Tatuus T-326 F3R Gen 2 used in FIA F3 Regional championships; 50 cars planned for Middle East and FREC.
- PFC Air Disc Brake Pad Line CarbonMetallic brake-pad friction formulas for the heavy-duty trucking market using air-disc brakes, launched in 2004.
- Patented Medium-Duty Isolated ABS Ring Retrofit Disc Patented retrofit disc with isolated ABS tone ring that reduces heat transfer and is plated to prevent corrosion, maintaining ABS signal at 210 cycles versus 45 cycles for competitors in GM9540P accelerated corrosion testing.
Quantifiable outcome
- PFC rotors with Zero Failure Isolated ABS Tone Ring last over 5x longer than traditional cast-in designs in GM9540P corrosion testing
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Performance Friction Brakes
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Performance Friction Brakes technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature7 records
Performance Friction Brakes partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
32 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- TCR Europe Touring Car SeriescoreOfficial brake partner of the TCR Europe Touring Car Series for the 2026 season. Includes the 'Challenge PFC Brakes' incentive offering product discounts and free pads per race victory for teams using PFC brakes. Quoted: 'We race and we win' — Luis Carlos Maurel, Director of PFC Brakes Global Motorsports.
- Eurocup-3coreOfficial brake supplier and partner for Eurocup-3 with new brake pad and ventilated disc package introduced in 2026, optimized for the Dallara 326's increased aerodynamic load. Partnership since 2019 with more than 70 drivers.
- USF Pro Championships (Dan Andersen Promotions)flagshipPFC Brakes has been the complete brake supplier to USF Pro Championships since early 2020 and has extended the agreement to 2030. Covers USF Juniors, USF2000, and USF Pro 2000 series.
- F4 Spanish Championship (F4 Spain)coreContinuing as official brake supplier and partner for F4 Spain championship in 2026; series continues with the Tatuus T-421 chassis. PFC has been a proud partner since 2019.
- SRI PerformancecoreSRI Performance distributes PFC brakes as the official NASCAR supplier; PFC continues the partnership for 2026 season. Listed on pfcbrakes.com Authorized Distributors page.
- JRD MotorsportsminorPFC Brakes is the official brake supplier for JRD Motorsports' all-new ARA Rally 2 Championship car. Complete brake package; rally legend Marcus Grönholm will test the car following completion.
- DallaracoreSupplier to single-seater manufacturer Dallara across multiple series including the new Dallara 326 chassis for Eurocup-3 in 2026.
- TatuusflagshipPFC is the exclusive brake supplier for the new Tatuus T-326 F3R Gen 2 chassis; 50 cars to be built for FRME and FREC championships, each equipped with PFC's latest generation braking technology. Also supplies Tatuus T-421 for F4 Spain.
- LigiercoreSupplier to single-seater chassis manufacturer Ligier across motorsport programs.
- Ferrari (Motorsport)corePFC supplies brakes to Ferrari in motorsport programs, including the 2023 Nürburgring 24 Hours victory with Frikadelli Racing on the Ferrari 296 GT3 using PFC 82 & 84 endurance compounds.
- Ford MotorsportcorePFC supplies brakes to Ford Motorsport, including the 2025 Rolex Daytona 24 Hours victory with Ford Multimatic on the Mustang GT3 (GTD PRO P1 & P3) using PFC 82 & 84 endurance compounds.
- AlpineminorPFC supplies brakes to Alpine motorsport programs.
- Honda JAS MotorsportcorePFC supplies brakes to Honda JAS; Esteban Guerrieri's Honda Civic TCR runs PFC 40 compound in the FIA TCR World Tour championship fight with Cabra Racing.
- Radical MotorsportminorPFC supplies brakes to Radical Motorsport.
- GinettaminorPFC supplies brakes to Ginetta motorsport programs.
- Camping World SRX Series (Superstar Racing Experience)minorThe Camping World SRX Series became PFC Equipped in 2021; PFC was officially selected as an official supplier.
- NTT IndyCar SeriesflagshipOfficial brake supplier of the NTT IndyCar Series since 2016. Recently extended; PFC will be the exclusive supplier through the new IR28 chassis launching in 2028, including new INDY500 small-bore brake calipers tested at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for 2026.
- Porsche Motorsport (Porsche AG)flagshipPFC became the first and only North American chassis supplier to Porsche AG in 2012. Continues to supply brakes to Porsche Motorsport with a dedicated Porsche full-spec catalog and Track Day Package.
- Buzze RacingminorAuthorized PFC distributor listed on the Asphalt Brakes page.
- Day Racing ProductsminorAuthorized PFC distributor listed on the Asphalt Brakes page.
- Fury Race CarsminorAuthorized PFC distributor listed on the Asphalt Brakes page.
- Hamke Race Cars and PartsminorAuthorized PFC distributor listed on the Asphalt Brakes page.
- Howe RacingminorAuthorized PFC distributor listed on the Asphalt Brakes page.
- Joe's Racing ProductsminorAuthorized PFC distributor listed on the Asphalt Brakes page.
- Left Hander ChassisminorAuthorized PFC distributor listed on the Asphalt Brakes page.
- Motor State DistributingminorAuthorized PFC distributor listed on the Asphalt Brakes page.
- McColl Racing (MRE)minorAuthorized PFC distributor listed on the Asphalt Brakes page.
- Port City RacecarsminorAuthorized PFC distributor listed on the Asphalt Brakes page.
- Racecar EngineeringminorAuthorized PFC distributor listed on the Asphalt Brakes page.
- Senneker PerformanceminorAuthorized PFC distributor listed on the Asphalt Brakes page.
- Vandoorn Racing DevelopmentminorAuthorized PFC distributor listed on the Asphalt Brakes page.
- Wine Country MotorsportsminorAuthorized PFC distributor listed on the Asphalt Brakes page.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Performance Friction Brakes competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- StopTech: High-performance brake systems manufacturer for motorsport and performance street vehicles, owned by Centric Parts. Competes with PFC in sports car and track-day brake kits, with strong overlap in BMW, Porsche, and Corvette applications.
- Alcon: UK motorsport and high-performance brake specialist supplying calipers, discs, and pads to GT, touring car, and OEM motorsport programs. Closely comparable to PFC on caliper and disc technology with overlap in GT, rally, and endurance racing customers.
- Brembo: Italian premium brake manufacturer and the global leader in motorsport and high-performance OE brake systems. Directly competes with PFC in F1, MotoGP, IndyCar, NASCAR, IMSA, and the performance aftermarket; significantly larger scale and R&D budget.
- Wilwood Engineering: US-based performance brake manufacturer serving circle track, drag racing, off-road, and severe-duty applications. Comparable product portfolio (calipers, rotors, pads) and similar US manufacturing footprint; overlapping customer base in short-track and severe-duty segments.
- Hawk Performance: US-based performance brake pad manufacturer with motorsport and severe-duty product lines. Direct competitor to PFC's CarbonMetallic® and Z-Rated® pad families across circle track, road racing, and fleet applications.
- EBC Brakes: UK-founded, US-headquartered performance and severe-duty brake pad and rotor manufacturer. Comparable product portfolio across motorsport pad compounds, severe-duty air disc pads, and a global distributor network serving motorsport and commercial-vehicle segments.
- AP Racing: UK-based motorsport brake specialist offering calipers, discs, pads, and pedal boxes. Direct competitor in single-seater (F1, F2, F3, F4, IndyCar support categories), GT, and touring car championships; comparable product portfolio across pad compounds, caliper families, and vented discs.
Emerging players
- Movit: German motorsport brake specialist offering calipers, discs, and pads for premium GT and tuning applications. Comparable to PFC's high-end motorsport caliper and disc range, particularly for European supercar and tuning segments; smaller scale and more narrowly distributed.
- Tarox: Italian performance brake specialist with motorsport and severe-duty offerings. Comparable to PFC across caliper families, vented discs, and pad compounds; smaller and more focused on European aftermarket and club-racing customers.
Broad incumbents
- Akebono: Japanese OE brake manufacturer with significant North American presence, supplying major automakers and a growing motorsport program. Overlaps with PFC in copper-free ceramic and severe-duty formulations, though Akebono is broader and OEM-focused versus PFC's motorsport specialty.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Performance Friction Brakes social profiles
Digital presencePerformance Friction Brakes compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance12 records
Performance Friction Brakes financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Performance Friction Brakes leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Performance Friction Brakes subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Performance Friction Brakes funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Performance Friction Brakes M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Performance Friction Brakes
What does Performance Friction Brakes do?
Performance Friction Corporation (PFC Brakes) designs, manufactures, and sells high-performance hydraulic disc brake components — brake pads, discs (rotors), calipers, and brake fluids — for professional motorsport and severe-duty commercial/fleet applications. Products are produced at a 200,000-square-foot Clover, South Carolina facility and sold under proprietary brands including CarbonMetallic®, Z-Rated®, ZeroDrag™, and ZeroFailures™.
Is Performance Friction Brakes a public or private company?
Performance Friction Brakes is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Performance Friction Brakes founded?
Performance Friction Brakes was founded in 1984. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Performance Friction Brakes based?
Performance Friction Brakes is headquartered in Clover, United States, in the North America region.
How does Performance Friction Brakes make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales - Branded Aftermarket & Severe Duty is the primary driver. The others are OEM / Series Supplier Contracts (Motorsports) and distributor & Dealer Channel Sales.
Who are Performance Friction Brakes's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are StopTech, Alcon, Brembo, Wilwood Engineering, Hawk Performance, EBC Brakes and AP Racing. Emerging players are Movit and Tarox. Akebono is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Performance Friction Brakes have an API?
No public API is recorded for Performance Friction Brakes.
What industry is Performance Friction Brakes in?
Performance Friction Brakes's product category is Performance Brake Systems (Automotive Braking Components). Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAIAE, Brake Friction & Rotors (Pads/Shoes/Discs/Drums), with a secondary code of IMACAIAD, Hydraulic Brake Systems (Master Cylinders/Calipers/Lines/Boosters). Its NAICS code is 33634 and its SIC code is 3562.