Carlisle Brake & Friction has broken ground on a larger manufacturing site in Chennai, India, that will produce off-highway paper wet friction discs and steel separator plates, with the new facility scheduled to open in 2027. The company has manufactured mechatronic products in the region for more than 15 years and will relocate those operations to the expanded site while adding the wet friction lines. The move brings friction production for the off-highway sector to India for the first time, according to the company, which is part of CentroMotion.
Why Is Carlisle Adding Wet Friction Capacity in India?
The company reports the expanded space is intended to meet growing demand across the agriculture, construction and, in particular, mining industries in India and Southeast Asia. Local production is expected to improve supply chain responsiveness while supporting both original equipment and aftermarket requirements in what the company describes as cost-sensitive markets.
Carlisle Brake & Friction says the Chennai plant will house a wet friction manufacturing operation built on the same processes used at its existing global facilities, giving the company a more resilient regional platform for durable wet friction products used in off-highway equipment.
What the Facility Will Produce
- Paper wet friction discs for off-highway brake and transmission applications
- Steel separator plates that pair with the friction discs in wet clutch and brake packs
- Mechatronic products, relocated from the company’s existing Chennai operation
The company characterizes the project as an expansion of its global friction material manufacturing capacity and a step toward serving India and Southeast Asia with local engineering and production.
The groundbreaking follows a wave of brake-industry investment in Chennai, including Knorr-Bremse’s €200 million campus announced earlier this year. Carlisle Brake & Friction, which marked its 100th anniversary in 2025, is headquartered in Medina, Ohio.
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