Performance Friction Corporation

What Performance Friction Corporation does

Performance Friction Corporation (dba PFC Brakes) is a privately held, women-owned manufacturer of high-performance friction brake components founded in 1984 and headquartered at a 200,000+ square foot production facility in Clover, South Carolina, with a regional European headquarters and production site in Montmeló, Barcelona, Spain established in 2022. The company designs and manufactures brake pads, calipers, and discs for two primary end-markets: motorsports (circle track, sports car, open wheel, rally, TCR touring, NASCAR, endurance, and motorcycle) and severe-duty/fleet (light-, medium-, and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, police, emergency, school bus, off-road, and first responder applications).

The company's core technical platform is its proprietary CarbonMetallic® carbon-metallic friction material, formulated to be 100% copper-free, asbestos-free, antimony-free, lead-free, chromium-free, and cadmium-free — a position that predates relevant EPA copper-free legislation by approximately nine years. Supporting technologies include ZeroDrag™ pad-retraction calipers (developed from 2002, patented 2010), V3 disc technology (introduced to IndyCar in 2016, awarded the 2017 BorgWarner Louis Schwitzer Award), ZeroFailures™ rotors with isolated ABS rings (runout <0.0005 in., thickness variation <0.0002 in., maintaining ABS signal to 210 cycles vs. competitor failure at 45 cycles), and a patented slot pattern design (1999). PFC holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 9001:2024 (Spain), IATF 16949:2016, and ISO 14001:2015 certifications.

PFC sells through a worldwide network of authorized distributors and dedicated sales teams (Severe Duty, Motorsport, Europe), an online WebCat parts finder (pfc.parts), and direct OEM supply (including as the sole North American chassis supplier to Porsche AG for Porsche Motorsport since 2012, and as official brake supplier to NTT INDYCAR SERIES since 2016). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; the company positions its products as premium-priced but cost-efficient over the full lifecycle. Reported revenue is not disclosed.

Name

Performance Friction Corporation

Legal name

Performance Friction Corporation

Website

https://pfcbrakes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Performance Friction Corporation (PFC Brakes) is a privately held, women-owned US manufacturer of high-performance brake pads, calipers, and discs serving motorsports (IndyCar, Porsche Motorsport, NASCAR, endurance racing) and severe-duty/fleet (commercial, police, off-road) markets under proprietary CarbonMetallic, ZeroDrag, and ZeroFailures technologies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

High-Performance Automotive Braking Systems

NAICS

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

SIC

Fabricated Rubber Products, Nec (3060)

akta.pro primary industry

Brake Friction & Rotors (Pads/Shoes/Discs/Drums) (IMACAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aftermarket Brake Components Manufacturing (Pads/Rotors/Calipers/Lines) (IMACANAB), Truck Chassis, Axle, Suspension & Brake Systems Manufacturing (IMACABAL), Service & Parking Brake Systems (Mechanical/Electronic Parking Brake) (IMACAIAC), Passenger Vehicle Chassis, Suspension, Steering & Braking Manufacturing (ICE) (IMACAAAJ), Brakes, Clutches & Couplings (Electromagnetic Brakes, Torque Limiters) (IMAGACAK)

Keywords

• High-performance brake systems
• Automotive brake components
• Friction material manufacturing
• Motorsport brake calipers
• Severe duty braking

Headquarters

HQ city

Clover

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Brake Hardware Sales: PFC generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of brake hardware including calipers, discs (rotors), and brake pads. Products are sold to automotive retailers, workshops, vehicle manufacturers (OEM), and racing teams through distributors worldwide. The company serves light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicle applications as well as race, off-road, and motorcycle markets.
2. OEM / Vehicle Manufacturer Supply: PFC supplies brake products to vehicle manufacturers in domestic and international markets, serving as both an original equipment supplier and aftermarket provider. Products are available through major automotive retailers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Performance Friction Corporation (PFC Brakes) manufactures high-performance brake calipers, brake discs/rotors, and brake pads at its 200,000 sq ft Clover, South Carolina facility. The company serves automotive OEMs, motorsport racing teams, severe-duty/fleet operators, and the automotive aftermarket through a dedicated distributor network, with separate Motorsports and Severe Duty product lines supported by proprietary CarbonMetallic® friction material technology.

Product overview

Performance Friction Corporation (PFC Brakes) is a braking system manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of high-performance brake components divided into two core product lines: Motorsports Brakes and Severe Duty Brakes. The Motorsports line includes ZR-series race calipers (ZR94, ZR24, ZR105, ZR43 ZeroDrag), V3 and Direct Drive race discs, and CarbonMetallic RaceReady brake pads in various compounds (68, 82, 84, 40, 41). The Severe Duty line features ZeroFailures rotors with patented isolated ABS ring technology, air disc brake pads, and Z-Rated brake pads for fleet and off-road applications. All products are 100% American-made in PFC's Clover, South Carolina facility using proprietary CarbonMetallic friction material technology. The company also offers specialized brake fluids (RH605, 665), caliper repair kits, and complete Track Day Kits for BMW and Porsche platforms. PFC pioneered ZeroDrag caliper technology with patented pad retraction, and all products are copper-free and environmentally compliant.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ZeroFailures™: Patented rotor technology for severe-duty applications featuring runout < 0.0005 in., thickness variation < 0.0002 in., anti-corrosion properties, and patented isolated ABS ring.
• CarbonMetallic©
• ZeroDrag™
• Z-Rated®

Products and services

• CarbonMetallic® Brake Pads

Quantifiable outcome

• <1% noisy stops for CarbonMetallic® brake pads in noise tests
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• TCR EuropeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Official brake partner for the 2026 TCR Europe Touring Car Series. Includes 'Challenge PFC Brakes' incentive program offering product discount and free pad sets following race victories. Series calendar spans Mugello, Spa-Francorchamps, Paul Ricard, Hungaroring, Monza, and Barcelona-Catalunya.
• IndyCar Series (NTT INDYCAR SERIES)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Official brake supplier to NTT INDYCAR SERIES since 2016. Extended agreement for ongoing supply; featured on the new car launching in 2028. PFC introduced V3 Disc technology and pad retraction technology to the series in 2016.
• TatuuscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Exclusive brake supplier for the new Tatuus T-326 F3R Gen 2, developed for the next generation of FIA F3 Regional championships including Formula Regional Middle East and FREC. Tatuus building 50 cars for Middle East and European series.
• JRD MotorsportsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Official brake supplier for the all-new rally car developed for the ARA Rally 2 Championship. Includes complete brake package with rally legend Marcus Grönholm testing the car. Car to be showcased at PRI trade show.
• SRI PerformancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Official NASCAR supplier partnership. SRI Performance serves as an authorized NASCAR distributor for PFC brake products.
• Formula Regional European Championship (FREC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Official brake supplier for FREC series. PFC products trusted by teams competing at Formula Regional level across Europe. Kean Nakamura-Berta won the FRME season championship using PFC brakes.
• USF Pro Championships (Andersen Promotions)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Complete brake supplier since 2020, covering USF Juniors, USF2000, USF Pro 2000. Agreement extended to 2030. Series serves as the primary development pathway for IndyCar drivers.
• Eurocup-3 and F4 SpaincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Official brake supplier and partner for Eurocup-3 and F4 Spain championships in 2026. Over 70 drivers and best teams worldwide have used PFC products since 2019. Eurocup-3 moves to Dallara 326 platform.
• Porsche AG / Porsche MotorsportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Official brake supplier to Porsche Motorsports since 2012. PFC is the 1st and only North American chassis supplier to Porsche AG.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Alcon: UK-based manufacturer of motorsport-spec brake calipers, rotors, and clutch systems. Direct competitor in high-end motorsports brake supply — particularly GT and endurance categories where PFC's 82/84 endurance compounds compete — with comparable technology positioning in caliper architecture and rotor thermal management.
• EBC Brakes: UK-based performance and aftermarket brake pad and rotor manufacturer with broad product coverage including racing, motorcycle, truck, and street applications. Comparable to PFC's aftermarket and track-day positioning, particularly in enthusiast-channel pad SKUs and motorcycle friction products.
• Akebono Brake: Japanese brake manufacturer supplying friction materials to global OEMs and the aftermarket, with strong presence in Japanese OEMs and Asian vehicle platforms. Comparable to PFC as a specialty friction manufacturer with global OEM relationships and an emphasis on advanced ceramic and low-copper formulations.
• AP Racing: British motorsport brake specialist producing calipers, discs, and pads for GT, touring car, and formula racing. Highly comparable to PFC in product mix, customer base (race teams and series), and the integration of caliper/disc/pad systems engineered for racing-grade thermal and friction performance.
• Hawk Performance: Performance friction materials manufacturer specializing in brake pads and rotors for motorsports, severe-duty, and street-performance applications. Directly comparable on product category (friction materials and rotors), racing-heritage brand strategy, and severe-duty fleet/pursuit channel mix.
• Wilwood Engineering: US-based performance brake manufacturer offering calipers, rotors, and pads for motorsports and street-performance/aftermarket applications. Comparable to PFC in being a privately-held, US-manufactured specialist focused on racing pedigree and direct-to-consumer/retail channels, with overlap in short-track and aftermarket product lines.

Emerging players

• Rotora: Performance brake system manufacturer specializing in slotted/drilled rotors and big-brake kits for sports cars, track-day, and severe-duty vehicles. Comparable as a smaller specialty brake manufacturer competing in the same enthusiast/severe-duty aftermarket channels as PFC's ZeroFailures and Z-Rated lines.
• Baer Brakes: US performance aftermarket brake system supplier focused on calipers, rotors, and big-brake kits for street, track, and severe-duty vehicles. Comparable to PFC's severe-duty/aftermarket caliper and rotor product family and target enthusiast installers.

Broad incumbents

• Brembo: Global OEM-scale brake manufacturer and the dominant high-performance brake supplier in F1, MotoGP, and most major motorsports. Directly comparable as the largest premium brake competitor across PFC's motorsports and severe-duty segments, with broader OEM passenger-car reach and substantially larger manufacturing footprint.
• Stoptech (Brembo Group): Performance and severe-duty aftermarket brake brand owned by Brembo. Comparable to PFC's severe-duty and enthusiast aftermarket positioning with branded big-brake kits, rotors, and pads, leveraging Brembo's parent scale in distribution and OEM channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PFCbrakes
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/pfcbrakes
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/performance-friction
• Instagraminstagram.com/pfcbrakes

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Performance Friction Corporation