For the ninth year in a row, Dynamic Friction Company (DFC) has been honored with the FMSI Award for New Assignments and Applications. This recognition reflects our continued commitment to precision, innovation, and leadership in braking technology.
Each year, the Friction Materials Standards Institute (FMSI) acknowledges the manufacturers who contribute the most to its standard part-numbering system. This system is critical to the industry, helping ensure consistent, accurate fitment across friction products. DFC continues to lead the field by consistently submitting the highest number of new, validated part numbers.
This achievement is no fluke. It takes time, investment, and a dedicated team of engineers and researchers to develop each number. From reverse engineering original equipment to validating application data, we put in the work to make sure every part meets or exceeds expectations.
For our customers, this means confidence. Accurate data means fewer fitment issues, reduced returns, and better results at the service bay. Whether you’re a technician, shop owner, or warehouse distributor, you can count on DFC to deliver the coverage, quality, and consistency you need.
Winning this award for nine consecutive years is something we’re proud of. It reinforces our mission and shows that our focus on quality and innovation continues to move the industry forward. Thank you to our team, our partners, and our customers who help make this possible every day.
When it comes to brake parts, compatibility and precise fitment are crucial. One small discrepancy in a brake pad or rotor can lead to performance issues, safety risks, and increased wear. That’s where FMSI standards come in. These standards ensure compatibility across all brake system components, emphasizing the importance of each part in maintaining safety and performance.
For auto shop workers, purchasing groups, and warehouse distributors, understanding FMSI (Friction Materials Standards Institute) codes ensures accurate part selection and optimal performance.
1. What Are FMSI Standards?
The Friction Materials Standards Institute (FMSI) was established to create a universal identification system for brake pads, brake shoes, and linings. This system assigns a unique alphanumeric code to each friction material shape and backing plate.
Why Is This Important?
✔ Ensures consistent sizing and shape across manufacturers ✔ Reduces misfit issues between pads and rotors ✔ Standardizes part identification for mechanics and distributors
Each FMSI number is tied to a specific vehicle application, making it easier to match the right brake pad or rotor with the correct braking system. FMSI standards also help in ensuring the correct rotor size for each vehicle application, which is crucial for optimal performance and safety.
2. Brake Component Types and FMSI Standards
The brake system is composed of various components, each playing a crucial role in ensuring safe and efficient braking. Understanding the different types of brake components and their corresponding FMSI (Friction Materials Standards Institute) standards is essential for selecting the right brake parts for your vehicle.
How FMSI Standards Improve Brake Pads Compatibility
Consistent Fitment Across Brands
Without a universal standard, brake pads from different manufacturers might have slight variations in shape, thickness, or mounting points, leading to fitment problems. Consistent fitment is crucial for all brake system components, including the brake pedal, to ensure effective and reliable braking.
FMSI prevents this by ensuring all manufacturers follow the same specifications, making it easier for mechanics and distributors to source and install the correct brake parts.
Eliminates Guesswork in Part Selection
For warehouse distributors and purchasing groups, FMSI numbers streamline inventory management by ensuring each brake part is assigned to the right vehicle applications. This provides a better idea of part compatibility, eliminating guesswork in the selection process.
✔ Reduces returns and exchanges due to incorrect fitment ✔ Helps identify the right parts quickly for large-scale purchasing ✔ Standardizes cross-referencing across multiple brands
FMSI and Brake Rotors Compatibility
While FMSI numbers primarily apply to friction materials, they also play a role in rotor compatibility.
🚗 Pad and rotor misalignment can cause uneven wear, excessive noise, and reduced braking efficiency. 🚗 Using FMSI-matched pads and rotors ensures proper friction contact and heat dissipation.
For example, DFC Premium Brake Rotors are designed using OEM specifications and FMSI-compliant pad shapes, ensuring proper contact and maximum stopping power. These rotors are also engineered to handle extreme heat, preventing warping and cracks during intense driving conditions.
4. The Role of FMSI in OE vs. Aftermarket Brake Parts
FMSI numbers bridge the gap between original equipment (OE) parts and aftermarket brake solutions.
🔧 OE manufacturers rely on FMSI standards to design factory-installed brake components. 🔧 Aftermarket brands, like DFC, use these same codes to create direct-fit replacement parts. Many aftermarket brake pads, including semi-metallic ones, are made from a blend of materials like steel, iron, and copper, offering superior performance in high temperatures. 🔧 This ensures aftermarket brake pads and rotors meet or exceed OEM fitment standards.
For mechanics, this means: No modifications, no guesswork—just perfectly matched brake parts every time.
6. FMSI Standards and Brake Safety
FMSI standards play a critical role in ensuring brake safety by providing a framework for the design, testing, and certification of brake components. By adhering to FMSI standards, brake manufacturers can ensure that their products meet the required safety and performance standards.
5. How to Use FMSI Standards When Selecting Brake Parts
When choosing brake pads or rotors, look for FMSI numbers on: ✅ Manufacturer catalogs✅ Brake pad backing plates✅ Retail and distributor websites
Selecting the right brake pads can also minimize brake dust, as different materials like semi-metallic and ceramic pads generate varying amounts of brake dust.
This eliminates confusion and ensures every brake component fits precisely with its intended application.
Final Thoughts
FMSI standards are the backbone of brake pad and rotor compatibility. By following these guidelines, mechanics, distributors, and purchasing groups can ensure optimal fitment, performance, and safety. Additionally, FMSI-compliant parts are engineered to provide quiet braking, minimizing noise and vibration for a smoother, more comfortable driving experience.
Looking for **FMSI-compliant brake pads and rotors?**DFC offers premium, direct-fit brake solutions that adhere to industry standards for quality, reliability, and performance.
Recognizing Excellence: What the FMSI Award Means for DFC and the Brake Industry
The FMSI Award is a distinguished honor in the automotive brake industry. It recognizes companies that excel in innovation, quality, and contributions to industry standards. For Dynamic Friction Company (DFC), this award is not only an honor but also a validation of their commitment to quality and leadership. Join us as we explore the Friction Materials Standards Institute(FMSI), the significance of its prestigious award, and the influential role DFC plays in shaping the industry.
What is FMSI?
The Friction Materials Standards Institute (FMSI) provides a standardized numbering system for friction materials. This system helps manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors match friction materials and brake parts accurately across brands. According to Jesus “Chuy” Villalobos, DFC’s Research and Development Manager, FMSI “serves as the standard bearer for the part numbering system that the entire industry uses.” Thus, this standardized approach simplifies product identification, ensuring compatibility and quality across products.
The Importance of the FMSI Award
The FMSI Award for New Assignments and Applications honors companies that make significant contributions to expanding the FMSI catalog. For companies like DFC, this award represents their dedication to advancing FMSI’s objectives. By introducing new friction materials and part numbers, DFC helps improve accuracy and efficiency across the industry. For automotive brake manufacturers, these contributions are essential to smooth product identification and distribution.
Since 2017, DFC has earned this award multiple times. Each year, DFC submits around 100 new part numbers, covering approximately 95% of all new entries to the FMSI system. This dedication solidifies DFC’s influence on industry standards and ensures compatibility across brake programs.
DFC’s Role in Setting Standards and Driving Innovation
DFC’s commitment to quality extends beyond individual products. Instead, it’s about advancing industry standards as a whole. Jesus “Chuy” Villalobos, who has worked with FMSI on behalf of DFC since 2015, takes great pride in this work. As his colleagues explain, “Once he’s done identifying everything, it comes directly after FMSI, and as a result, he supplies the most data and wins the award year after year.” For DFC, this dedication to cataloging new parts and identifying applications makes them a leader in the industry and highlights their focus on quality.
Additionally, DFC’s R&D team ensures all products meet or exceed OEM quality standards. This commitment shows in their high-quality brake pads and rotors, which are designed to suit various vehicle needs. Through these innovations, DFC has become a reliable choice for distributors and customers looking for premium brake products backed by high standards.
Why the FMSI Award Matters to DFC Customers
For DFC’s customers, the FMSI Award is more than a symbol of excellence—it’s a mark of trust. By choosing DFC brake products, customers know they are selecting parts from a brand committed to safety, quality, and innovation. Reflecting on his passion, Chuy shared, “Every time I open a box of pads or a rotor, it’s like opening a Christmas present.” This excitement, combined with DFC’s dedication to FMSI’s system, drives their delivery of award-winning quality.
Driving the Future of Braking Excellence with FMSI Leadership
Ultimately, DFC’s FMSI Award proves their leadership in the automotive brake industry. Their work in maintaining industry standards shines through in every product they manufacture. By supporting FMSI and introducing new part numbers each year, DFC reaffirms its position as a leader in braking. Through their dedication to compatibility, consistency, and performance, DFC shapes the industry’s future.
For the 6th consecutive year, DFC(Dynamic Friction Company) has been honored by FMSI (Friction Materials and Standards Institute) with the 2022 award for New Assignments and Applications.
DFC is proud of its contribution to the brake industry and honored by the recognition. We have been recognized in the following categories:
New Vehicle Applications: 67
New Disc Steel: 35
New Disc Friction: 35
New Relationships: 4
Total: 141
Carry Overs: 43
We look forward to serving the automotive industry by continuing to provide new vehicle friction applications.
“DFC continues to demonstrate unwavering commitment to providing the aftermarket with high quality brake components. This year’s FMSI award is an affirmation of the competitive advantage we offer our customers. We provide unrivaled quality and are consistently bringing first-to-market brake components to the automotive community.”
– Jesus “Chuy” Villalobos, R & D Manager
Founded in 1948 as a trade organization, FMSI has a 70 year tradition of providing the automotive aftermarket industry with the most recognized standardization of original equipment part numbers, universally used by brake component manufacturers and suppliers.
FMSI works closely with manufacturers around the globe to bring the aftermarket the most reliable and current brake part number data for every sector of the distribution and installer network. It relies heavily on progressive and innovative manufacturers like DFC in order to achieve that goal.
For a 5th consecutive year, DFC(Dynamic Friction Company) has been honored by FMSI (Friction Materials and Standards Institute) with the 2021 award for New Assignments and Applications.
DFC is proud of its contribution to the brake industry and honored by the recognition. We have been recognized in the following categories:
New Vehicle Applications: 113
New Disc Steel: 39
New Disc Friction: 37
New Relationships: 17
Total: 206
Carry Overs: 54
We look forward to serving the automotive industry by continuing to provide new vehicle friction applications.
“DFC continues to demonstrate unwavering commitment to providing the aftermarket with high quality brake components. This year’s FMSI award is an affirmation of the competitive advantage we offer our customers. We provide unrivaled quality and are consistently bringing first-to-market brake components to the automotive community.”
– Jesus “Chuy” Villalobos, R & D Manager
Founded in 1948 as a trade organization, FMSI has a 70 year tradition of providing the automotive aftermarket industry with the most recognized standardization of original equipment part numbers, universally used by brake component manufacturers and suppliers.
FMSI works closely with manufacturers around the globe to bring the aftermarket the most reliable and current brake part number data for every sector of the distribution and installer network. It relies heavily on progressive and innovative manufacturers like DFC in order to achieve that goal.
Cerritos California based brake parts manufacturer DFC (Dynamic Friction Company) announced that it has once again been honored by FMSI (Friction Materials and Standards Institute) annual 2020 award for New Assignments and Applications. This marks the fourth consecutive year DFC has been recognized for its contribution to the brake industry by FMSI. DFC not only provided the industry with the most new vehicle friction applications, but also accomplished surpassing the previous years submissions from 200 to 252 new vehicle applications.
FMSI has a 70 year tradition of providing the automotive aftermarket industry with the most recognized standardization of original equipment part numbers utilized virtually universally by brake component manufacturers and suppliers. FMSI works closely with manufacturers around the globe to bring to the aftermarket the most reliable and current brake part number data to every sector of the distribution and installer network. It relies heavily on progressive and innovative manufactures like DFC in order to achieve that goal.
“Our goal is to not only provide the aftermarket community with the finest quality in brake components, but also the most complete and updated brake program with first-to-market competitive advantage,” said R & D Manager Jesus Villalobos.
About Dynamic Friction Company
DFC is an award winning brake components manufacturer and supplier headquartered in Southern California. DFC offers a complete brake systems program for all passenger car, pickup, & medium duty trucks. DFC is recognized for its devotion to bringing its customers the latest and greatest in brake products available without the exorbitant costs. DFC boasts a full complement of dedicated in-house engineers and R&D staff who work vigorously to give our customers first-to-market advantage and assurances that modern technological complexities are fully addressed.
Cerritos California based brake parts manufacture DFC (DynamicFriction Company) announced that it has once again been honored by the Friction Materials and Standards Institute (FMSI) annual award for New Assignments and Applications. This marks the third consecutive year DFC has been bestowed with the prestigious award for submitting more part number assignments than its competitive peers.
FMSI has a 70 year long tradition of providing the automotive aftermarket industry with the most recognized standardization of original equipment part numbers utilized virtually universally by brake component manufacturers and suppliers. FMSI works closely with manufacturers around the globe in order to bring to the aftermarket the most reliable and current brake part number data to every sector of the distribution and installer network. It relies heavily on progressive and innovative manufacturers like DFC in order to achieve that goal.
This year DFC furnished FMSI and the industry with 200 submissions.
“We continually strive to be at the top of our game and once again receiving the FMSI honors for a third consecutive year demonstrates a solid testimonial to our dedication to providing the industry with the best first-to-market R & D and enhanced value to our customers,” stated DFC CEO Dan Nguyen. “While we are humbly honored to receive this award, our focus remains solely on providing value added benefits based on our goal to be innovative.”
About DynamicFriction Company
DFC is an award winning brake components manufacturer and supplier headquartered in Southern California. DFC offers a complete brake systems program for all passenger car, pickup, & medium duty trucks. DFC is recognized for its devotion to bringing its customers the latest and greatest in brake product available without the exorbitant costs. DFC boasts a full complement of dedicated in-house engineers and R&D staff who work vigorously to give our customers first-to-market advantage and assurances that modern technological complexities are fully addressed.
Cerritos, California (June 28, 2018) – Dynamic Friction Company (DFC) is pleased and honored to announce that on June 2nd 2018, the Friction Materials & Standards Institute (FMSI) bestowed the newly created “Legends of Industry” award to Dino Crescentini. The award was presented to Mr. Crescentini during the FMSI annual membership meeting in Longboat Key, Florida.
Rick Jamison, FMSI Treasurer and President of ABS Friction stated, “There are few living legends in our industry and we wanted to recognize somebody that has left an indelible footprint on both innovation and utility. Dino was the obvious first choice. No one person has contributed more to the aftermarket brake sector as Dino. Much of the new product and development in today’s brake friction market is attributable to Dino.”
Mr. Crescentini has devoted his life to providing the automotive aftermarket with an ever evolving and sensible approach that has benefitted manufacturers, distributors, and the consumer alike. “I am among the few who are fortunate enough to do what they love while getting the opportunity to work with others who have the same curiosity for parts and passion for the industry.”
About Dynamic Friction Company
DFC is an award-winning brake components manufacturer and supplier headquartered in Southern California. DFC offers a complete brake systems program for all passenger car, pickup, & medium duty trucks. DFC is recognized for its devotion to bringing its customers the latest and most comprehensive brake program in the market. DFC boasts a full compliment of dedicated in-house engineers, product managers, catalog managers, and R&D staff who work vigorously to give its customers first-to-market advantage, while addressing the intricacies and complexities of the modern braking system.
Cerritos, California (June 28, 2019) – On June 4, 2018, the Friction Materials and Standards Institute (FMSI) held its annual meeting in Longboat Key, Florida. Once again, FMSI honored Dynamic Friction Company (DFC) with its second consecutive award for New Assignments and Applications as the single largest contributor for new parts assignment to FMSI.
FMSI has a 70-year long tradition of providing the automotive aftermarket industry with the most recognized standardization of original equipment part numbers utilized universally by brake and clutch manufacturers, distributors, and installers.
The award was presented by Frank Oliveto, Chairman and President of FMSI, to DFC Research & Development Manager, Jesus Villalobos. “To be recognized for something we at DFC do everyday is truly an honor and a humbling experience.” stated Mr. Villalobos. Continue reading FMSI Awards Dynamic Friction Company for the 2nd Consecutive Year
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