NeoBrake Systems

What NeoBrake Systems does

NeoBrake Systems, Inc. is a privately held heavy-duty brake remanufacturer and friction material formulator headquartered at 900 West Drexel Avenue, Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Founded in October 1988 in the wake of the asbestos ban, the company rebuilds commercial truck brake shoes and formulates its own asbestos-free friction material under the proprietary NeoKinetic Friction Technology brand. Its product portfolio centers on the Matrix NeoCast lightweight cast iron brake shoe, NB1088 cohesive friction linings, Matrix Revolution brake drums, and the broader Matrix Wheel-End line (bearings, grease, wheel seals), with air disc brakes and specialty adhesives rounding out the catalog. The flagship Matrix NeoCast and NB1088 combination is marketed under the Triple Double Guarantee, promising twice the lining life of conventional products.

NeoBrake serves U.S. heavy-duty trucking fleets and independent owner operators through an exclusive independent distributor network, supplemented by direct phone-based inquiry handling. The go-to-market is relationship-driven and channel-mediated, with sales inquiry routed through a toll-free number (1-888-411-9916) and an active 'Become A Distributor' recruitment program branded as the '#matrixmovement' / 'Reman Up' initiative. End customers include construction and trucking fleets; one documented validation comes from Holden Earth Moving & Construction, whose dump truck trial of Matrix NeoCast and NB1088 products outlasted a two-year evaluation period.

The business is hardware-driven, with revenue generated from sales of new and remanufactured brake shoes, friction linings, wheel-end components, and specialty products. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company deliberately positions itself as one of the few remaining independent U.S. brake remanufacturers, competing on proprietary friction formulation and premium-grade materials against consolidated, lower-cost competitors. Leadership is led by Founder/CEO Rick Ballew, who has run the company since inception, alongside General Manager Jay Czuk.

Name

NeoBrake Systems

Legal name

NeoBrake Systems, Inc.

Website

https://neobrake.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NeoBrake Systems is an independent heavy-duty brake remanufacturer and friction material formulator based in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, serving U.S. commercial trucking fleets and owner operators through an exclusive independent distributor network with proprietary asbestos-free brake shoes and linings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heavy-Duty Commercial Truck Brake Components

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Brake System Manufacturing (336340), Motor Vehicle Brake System Manufacturing (33634)

SIC

Fabricated Rubber Products, Nec (3060)

akta.pro primary industry

Trailer Brake Systems Repair (Air/ABS/EBS) (TLAKACAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialty Rubber Compounds (FKM, HNBR, NBR, Silicone, CR) (IMANAJAB)

Keywords

• Heavy-duty brake remanufacturing
• Asbestos-free friction linings
• Commercial truck brake shoes
• Wheel-end replacement parts
• Friction material formulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Oak Creek

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Brake Remanufacturing Products: Revenue from remanufactured brake shoes, friction linings, and related brake components for heavy-duty trucking applications. Products include new brakes, reman brakes, wheel-end components, and specialty products like Matrix NeoCast brake shoes.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

NeoBrake Systems is an independent brake remanufacturer that rebuilds heavy-duty commercial truck brake shoes and formulates proprietary asbestos-free friction material. The company produces new and remanufactured brake shoes (Matrix NeoCast), friction linings (NB1088), brake drums (Matrix Revolution), and supporting wheel-end components (bearings, grease, wheel seals) for commercial trucking fleets and owner operators across the United States.

Product overview

NeoBrake Systems is a heavy-duty brake remanufacturer and friction material formulator offering a comprehensive portfolio of asbestos-free brake products and wheel-end components. The company operates a single-brand, multi-product architecture organized around two main categories: (1) New and Remanufactured Brakes, including Matrix NeoCast (lightweight cast iron brake shoes), NB1088 cohesive friction linings, and various performance tiers (Standard, Heavy-Duty, Extra Heavy-Duty, High-Performance); and (2) Matrix Wheel-End components including bearings (Matrix T-RAD), drums (Matrix Revolution), grease (Matrix 460SFX), and wheel seals (Matrix Jamseal). The company also produces specialty adhesive (UltiBond) and air disc brakes. The flagship Matrix NeoCast and NB1088 linings are offered together under the Triple Double Guarantee, promising twice the lining life of conventional products. NeoBrake differentiates through proprietary NeoKinetic Friction Technology and in-house friction formulation without cheap fillers, positioning quality over cost-cutting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Matrix NeoCast: World's first lightweight cast iron brake shoe, delivering cast iron performance at pressed-steel weight.
• NB1088 TFT Linings
• Matrix Revolution
• Matrix Wheel-End
• Neokinetic Friction Technology

Products and services

• Matrix NeoCast Brake Shoe Lightweight cast iron brake shoe (4707Q) that combines the durability and heat dissipation of cast iron with the weight of pressed steel, delivering maximum braking power through multiple relinings without flex or warp. For heavy-duty commercial trucking applications.
• NB1088 Cohesive Friction Linings Non-abrasive cohesive friction linings for heavy-duty braking applications. Marketed under the Triple Double Guarantee, promised to last twice as long as conventional linings when paired with NeoCast shoes and Matrix Revolution drums.
• Matrix Revolution Brake Drum Premium machine-balanced brake drum engineered to work with Matrix NeoCast shoes and NB1088 linings for optimal braking performance and reduced vibration. Part of the Matrix Wheel-End product line.
• Matrix T-RAD Wheel Bearings Tapered roller bearings for commercial truck wheel-end applications. Part of the Matrix Wheel-End replacement product line.
• Matrix 460SFX Specialty Grease Specialty grease formulated for wheel-end applications in commercial trucks. Part of the Matrix Wheel-End replacement product line.
• Matrix Jamseal Wheel Seals Wheel seals for commercial truck wheel-end applications. Part of the Matrix Wheel-End replacement product line.
• UltiBond Lining Seal Adhesive Lining seal adhesive used in brake lining installation and maintenance.
• New Brakes (New Manufacture) Newly manufactured brake shoes and linings (not remanufactured), available in Ultimate Combo, High-Performance, and Standard grades for heavy-duty commercial trucking applications.
• Remanufactured Brakes Remanufactured heavy-duty brake shoes and linings stripped, straightened, reconditioned, and relined with fresh friction material. Available in Non-Abrasive (TFT), High-Performance, Extra Heavy-Duty, Heavy-Duty, and Standard grades.
• Air Disc Brakes Air disc brake products offered as an alternative to traditional drum brakes for commercial vehicles.

Quantifiable outcome

• NB1088 linings last twice as long as conventional linings when paired with NeoCast shoes and Matrix Revolution drums (Triple Double Guarantee)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• WABCO (ZF): Major supplier of air brake systems, electronic braking (EBS), and braking electronics for commercial vehicles, now part of ZF. Overlaps with NeoBrake's heavy-duty truck brake focus as a much larger incumbent with broader product portfolio and global OE relationships.
• Eaton: Diversified industrial manufacturer with a commercial vehicle components segment that includes brake systems, clutches, and actuation. Overlaps with NeoBrake in heavy-duty truck brake and drivetrain products as a much larger incumbent with global footprint.

Direct peers

• ConMet: Manufacturer of wheel-end components, cast hubs, and brake rotors for commercial vehicles. Directly comparable to NeoBrake's wheel-end business, supplying both OE and aftermarket wheel-end assemblies for trucks and trailers.
• Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems: A leading North American manufacturer of commercial vehicle air brake systems, foundation drum brakes, and friction material, supplying both OE truck/trailer makers and the aftermarket. Directly competes with NeoBrake in heavy-duty truck drum brake shoes, friction linings, and air disc brake products.
• Webb Wheel: Manufacturer of heavy-duty truck and trailer wheels, brake drums, and hubs. Directly comparable to NeoBrake's wheel-end replacement components (drums, bearings, seals) sold into the commercial vehicle aftermarket.
• Stemco: Heavy-duty wheel-end product manufacturer including brake components, bearings, seals, and brake chambers. Directly comparable to NeoBrake's Matrix Wheel-End portfolio in the commercial vehicle aftermarket.
• Carlisle Industrial Brake & Friction: Manufacturer of friction material and brake components for industrial, heavy-duty on-highway, and off-highway vehicles. Directly comparable to NeoBrake as a friction-formulation specialist serving commercial vehicle and heavy-duty applications.
• Haldex: Global supplier of brake and air suspension systems for heavy-duty trucks and trailers, with a significant commercial vehicle friction and foundation drum brake portfolio. Directly competes with NeoBrake in HD truck/trailer brake systems and aftermarket wheel-end components.
• Gunite (Accuride): Manufacturer of heavy-duty truck and trailer brake drums, hubs, and rotors, owned by Accuride. Directly competes with NeoBrake's Matrix Revolution drum and other wheel-end components in the commercial vehicle aftermarket.
• Federal-Mogul (DRiV): Friction and braking products manufacturer within Tenneco's DRiV aftermarket business, producing brake linings, pads, and friction materials for commercial vehicles. Directly competes with NeoBrake's NB1088 friction lining portfolio in the heavy-duty commercial vehicle aftermarket.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/neobrake-systems-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NeoBrake Systems