Brembo

Brembo was founded in 1961, when widespread prosperity allowed ever wider bands of the population to use the car. It began as a small mechanics garage located a few kilometres from Bergamo, run by the current President's father Emilio Bombassei. Experience gained in mechanics and metallurgy was put to good use when the founder started working for customers such as Alfa Romeo. 1964 marked a milestone in the company's history: from then on, Brembo began manufacturing the first Italian brake discs for the aftermarket. Until then, discs had been imported from Great Britain. The production of brake discs was then followed by other braking system components. The skill, specialization and quality of the products and services of this Curno-based company began to gain recognition on an international level, gaining leadership in Europe's brake disc aftermarket. For the first time in 1972, the Brembo brand was applied to motorcycles manufactured in Europe, with a supply for Moto Guzzi. In short, Brembo became leader in the braking systems market for two-wheel vehicles. Brembo's high technological standards were consecrated in 1975, when Ferrari's patron, Enzo Ferrari, entrusted the Bergamo company with the task of attending to the most prestigious Formula 1 car. Brembo soon became leader in braking systems for racing. Since then, teams equipped with Brembo brakes have won hundreds of car and motorcycle world championships.Brembo amounted to 146 employees in 1975, with a turnover of 2.8 billion lire. At the beginning of the year 2000, Brembo concluded some important takeovers and agreements, extending its borders even further. In Brazil, it took over the company Alfa Real Minas for car brake disc machining and motor flywheel assembly for O.E. Brembo clinched a Joint Venture in South Africa with a ZF Group company Lemförder and the South-African company Autoindustrial. This Johannesburg-based Joint Venture controls a cast iron foundry manufacturing brake discs, a plant for hot pressing steel uprights and hubs, and a plant for component machining and assembly. Brembo then took over the UK-based company AP Racing Limited, which is specialized in manufacturing brake and clutch systems for racing, the upgrades aftermarket and O.E. brake and clutch systems for high performance sports cars. In the aim to develop in the field of motorcycles, Brembo acquired 70% of the company Marchesini, which specializes in magnesium wheels for racing motorcycles. Brembo then signed an agreement with the Swedish group SKF, for the development of Brake-by-Wire systems, which are destined for the high performance car market and replace the hydraulic ones currently in use. The latest Joint Venture was signed in China with Yuejin Motor Group, forming the company Nanjing Yuejin Automotive Brake System for the manufacture of braking systems for cars and light trucks. Brembo had approx. 2,800 employees in the year 2000, with a turnover of 887 billion lire.