Cleveland Wheel and Brake Systems

What Cleveland Wheel and Brake Systems does

Cleveland Wheel and Brake Systems designs and manufactures aircraft wheel assemblies, brake assemblies, hydraulic components, and FAA-STC-approved conversion kits for the general aviation, turboprop, business jet, rotorcraft, and military markets. Founded in 1936 by Elmer VanSickle and headquartered in Avon, Ohio, the company operates as a subsidiary of Signia Aerospace and produces all products in a single U.S. factory. Its portfolio includes 247+ wheel assembly variants (main, nose/tail, dolly), 245+ brake assembly variants (internal and external single/dual caliper, flange- and tubewell-driven, rotor brakes), hydraulic components (master cylinders, parking brake valves, shimmy dampers, actuators), and the Obsidian premium brake disc sub-line, with FAA-TSO, EASA-STC, ANAC-STC, and FAA-PMA certifications covering a broad range of aircraft models.

The company's revenue model is primarily OEM hardware sales to aircraft and landing gear manufacturers, supplemented by a 650+ product aftermarket catalog distributed through a global authorized distributor network and the Boeing online marketplace. Distribution partners include CJ Aerospace (Australia), S Cross, and Airpart Supply (UK); technical documentation is monetized through a subscription partnership with Veryon (formerly ATP). Named enterprise customers include Cessna, Pilatus, Sikorsky, Air Tractor, Bell/Boeing, Daher, and Piper Aircraft, with the Pilatus relationship explicitly extended in 2026 for the PC-12/PC-24 programs. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, and revenue is not reported; the business derives durability from regulatory certification barriers, an 85-year brand, and deep integration into both new-build airframes and the existing installed base.

Name

Cleveland Wheel and Brake Systems

Website

https://clevelandwheelandbrake.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cleveland Wheel and Brake Systems designs and manufactures aircraft wheels, brakes, hydraulic components, and FAA-STC conversion kits for general aviation, turboprop, business jet, rotorcraft, and military OEMs, producing all products at its Avon, Ohio factory as a Signia Aerospace subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Avon

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Wheel and Brake Assembly Sales: Direct sales of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) wheels, brakes, and hydraulic components to aircraft manufacturers, landing gear manufacturers, and through distribution network.
2. Aftermarket Parts and Conversion Kits: Replacement parts, repair kits, conversion kits, and maintenance supplies for existing aircraft fleet. Includes over 650 products cataloged.
3. Technical Publications and Services: Component Maintenance Manual subscriptions, Technician Service Guides, and product support services through partnership with Veryon (formerly ATP).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cleveland Wheel and Brake Systems designs and manufactures aircraft wheel assemblies, brake assemblies, hydraulic components (master cylinders, parking brake valves, shimmy dampers, actuators), and FAA STC-approved conversion and repair kits for general aviation, turboprop, business jet, rotorcraft, and military aircraft markets. The company offers more than 650 cataloged products, all manufactured at its factory in Avon, Ohio, USA. Its premium sub-line, Obsidian Brake Discs, uses advanced materials for extended service life.

Product overview

Cleveland Wheel & Brake Systems is a manufacturer of aircraft wheel and brake systems offering a comprehensive portfolio of products for the general aviation, turboprop, business jet, rotorcraft, and military markets. The product portfolio consists of four core product categories: Wheel Assemblies (Main, Nose/Tail, and Dolly types with 247+ variants), Brake Assemblies (Internal/External Single/Dual Caliper, Flange Driven, Tubewell Driven, and Rotor types with 245+ variants), Hydraulics (Master Cylinders, Parking Brake Valves, Shimmy Dampers, and Actuators), and Conversion & Repair Kits. The company also offers Obsidian Brake Discs as a premium sub-product line. All products are manufactured in the USA at the company's factory in Avon, Ohio, and are supported by a global network of authorized distributors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Obsidian Brake Discs: Aircraft brake discs engineered for longer life, part of the company's product line.

Products and services

• Wheel Assemblies Aircraft wheel assemblies for landing gear systems, including Main Wheel Assemblies, Nose/Tail Wheel Assemblies, and Dolly Wheel Assemblies. Designed with split-rim (divided type) for easy tire mounting, high-strength through-bolts, tapered roller bearings for dimensional stability, and molded grease seals. Available in FAA TSO-C26, C26a, C26b, C26c, and C26d variants with 247+ variants cataloged. Target customers are aircraft OEMs, landing gear manufacturers, and aviation maintenance operations.
• Brake Assemblies Aircraft brake assemblies with qualification-tested, open-style construction that allows maintenance without jacking the aircraft for lining changes and easy removal for overhaul. Includes Internal Single/Dual Caliper, External Single/Dual Caliper, Internal Flange Driven, Internal Tubewell Driven, and Rotor Brakes for helicopters. 245+ variants are cataloged for general aviation, business jet, rotorcraft, and military applications.
• Hydraulics Hydraulic components designed to complement Cleveland wheel and brake products. Product line includes Parking Brake Valves, Standard Master Cylinders, Reservoir Master Cylinders, Shimmy Dampers, and Actuators. Designed for long life, reliability, compact and lightweight form factor, simple and smooth operation, and low owner/operator cost. Holds FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA).
• Conversion & Repair Kits Kits for wheel and brake system upgrades, nose wheel conversions, and hydraulic seal repairs. Includes FAA STC-approved conversion kits for aircraft such as Beechcraft King Air, Piper, and Pilatus PC-7, plus EASA STCs (e.g., 10027890, 10068773) and ANAC STCs (e.g., 9210-04, 2013S02-15) for international coverage. Customers include mechanics, MROs, and aircraft owners performing retrofits and repairs.
• Obsidian Brake Discs Premium aircraft brake discs engineered for longer service life using advanced materials technology. Marketed as "Performance That Goes the Distance," offering enhanced durability and longevity over standard brake discs. Positioned as Cleveland's advanced materials sub-product line for operators seeking extended brake life.

Quantifiable outcome

• Millions of flight hours and braked landings accumulated on aircraft programs including Cessna 172, Pilatus PC-12/PC-24, Black Hawk and Apache helicopters, Air Tractor 602/802, Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey, Daher TBM series, and Piper M-series

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• PilatusflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Press release announcing extension of relationship between Cleveland Wheel & Brake Systems and Pilatus for PC-12/PC-24 aircraft programs. Daher TBM series also supported.
• Airpart SupplycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 January 2026UK-based aviation parts supplier has entered a new distributorship agreement with Cleveland Wheel & Brakes. The partnership is intended to strengthen Airpart Supply's product offering and expand customer access to Cleveland Wheel & Brakes' technologies globally.
• Veryon (formerly ATP)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Veryon for technical publications subscription service. Our partnership with Veryon will help keep your fleet in the air by providing access to specific technical publications for Cleveland Wheels and Brakes products.
• Signia AerospaceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and part of the Signia Aerospace family of industry-leading partners in innovation, manufacturing and delivery of highly specialized aircraft systems and components. Cleveland Wheel & Brake Systems is proud to be a Signia Aerospace company along with other brands including ACE Thermal Systems, Hartzell Aviation, International Water Guard, Lifesaving Systems, Meeker Aviation, Mezzo Technologies, Onboard Systems, and Onboard Hoist & Winch.
• BoeingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProducts available through Boeing's online marketplace for aviation parts, expanding reach to Boeing's customer base.
• CJ AerospaceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralian authorized distributor representing Cleveland Wheel & Brake products in the regional market.
• S CrossminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Cleveland Wheel & Brake products.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/clevelandwheelandbrake
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aircraftwheelandbrake

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Cleveland Wheel and Brake Systems