ICER, the Spanish brand specialising in braking systems, is the leader in the launch of new brake pad references for the aftermarket. Every year, ICER is the First To Market with brake pads for dozens of new vehicle models – many of them bestsellers. ICER therefore offers its distributors the possibility of being, for a time, the only ones in the independent aftermarket able to meet workshop demands.

When a new vehicle model hits the road, ICER’s technical and R&D+i departments, start to work on developing the brake pads, in order to be the first to offer these new references to the market.

A differentiating value that involves a complex process that the manufacturer centralizes in its plant in Navarra, Tudela. This is how they do it, step by step.

The process, step by step

In ICER’s technological centre, the R&D department determines the friction material formulation that best suits the needs of each model.

Meanwhile, the technical department designs the pad drawing and develops and approves all the components that will later go in the set: backing plates, shims, wear indicators, etc. It is worth noting that ICER is the only manufacturer that includes an anti-noise grease sachet in all its brake pads sets, to help ensure the best possible experience for the workshop, as well as for the driver, from the very first moment.

Simultaneously, the company ICER TOOLS (part of the ICER Group), designs and manufactures the moulds and tools that will be used for the production of the brake pads. It is important to highlight that ICER manages the production in-house, which allows for meticulous quality controls over every detail.

Next, the first prototypes are then manufactured, and a first batch of pads is produced to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Later, once all the rigorous quality checks are successfully passed, the new references are sent to the appropriate authority for ECE-R90 certification.

From start to finish, this is a process ‘made in Spain’, representing ICER’s commitment to its customers – who highly benefit from ICER’s differentiating solutions.

Icer Brakes has received the 'Sustainable Company 2023' award, organised by the Chamber of Commerce of Navarra.

This award recognises our commitment to sustainability and the environment, which is embedded in our company culture and our business model:

• Ecological products free of copper and heavy metals
• Sustainable packaging that reduces the environmental impact on the carbon footprint
• Photovoltaic installation for self-consumption
• Responsible manufacturing process and use of recycled materials

Innovation on sustainable products, such as ecological brake pads for electric vehicles.

Icer Brakes was present at this year's Automechanika Frankfurt, which was held between 13 and 17 September in the German city.

During these days we welcomed a large number of professionals from more than 350 different companies to our stand, and we were able to meet again in person with many of our customers, exhibit our new corporate image, and present our two new product lines:

e²: Ecologic Brake pads for Electric vehicles

The e² brake pads are the first brake pads manufactured in Europe with a galvanised steel backing plate, NRS mechanical retention system, no paint or adhesives, and a unique friction material formulation developed specifically for electric and hybrid vehicles. 

These pads are also environmentally friendly, copper-free, noise-free and of NAO formulation. They are therefore environmentally friendly and low-emission.

This new range initially consists of 13 references, covering the main electric and hybrid vehicles available on the European markets (such as Tesla Model 3, Peugeot e-208 or Volkswagen ID.3, among others), and the company plans to expand the range with new references.  

LMD: Long life brake pads for Last Mile Delivery vehicles 

Icer has also introduced a new line of brake pads designed specifically for Last Mile Delivery vehicles, called LMD, which offer a much longer duration for these types of vehicles. According to tests carried out on real vehicles, these pads increase duration by 40% to 75%. 

They are also environmentally friendly and low-emission, and their formulation is free of copper and asbestos.

In this first phase, the range contains 18 different references, for models such as Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Transporter or Peugeot Expert. In the future, Icer plans to continue to increase the number of available references in this range.

Icer Brakes has achieved ISO 45001 certification which recognises our company's efforts to implement and maintain an occupational health and safety management system. 

This achievement reflects our strong commitment to the people employed in our company, and our willingness to provide them with a safe and suitable work environment.

We are glad to welcome a new company into our family.

Icer Tools, belongs 100% to Icer group, is a new firm and its main activity will be the manufacturing moulds, dies and toolings. This very strong investment is another proof of our commitment to keep and reinforce our position as the friction supplier with the widest range and “1^st to market” for any new part number.

Icer Tools, managed by Pablo Gracia, is a young, dynamic and flexible company equipped with state of the art machinery that will allow us to speed up even more the new to range development process.

ICER BRAKES has been awarded with the EUREKA Label, which distinguishes technological projects that have been approved by the European organization and represents an instrument to support international technological cooperation, promoting the competitiveness of European companies with the development of technological projects, guided to products with a clear comercial interest in the international market and base on innovative technologies.

The project MILDBASS (acronym for Material Innovation for Low Dust Brake Systems) enables transnational cooperation among organizations with complementary capabilities that pursue the overall objective of development of an environmentally friendly brake system by minimizing the brake dust which is released upon interaction between rotor and friction material. To this extent, the scope of the project will be developing an optimum coating for rotor and an adapted friction material.

MILDBASS is formed by a partnership of 3 companies (ICER BRAKES, DEKA and MICROTHERM) under the leadership of a large industry (TOFAŞ) as the coordinator, engaged in a sustainable cooperation for joint research and development activities of 24 months and follow-up engineering and manufacturing for the global market.

In particular, the goals of the project will be the following:

  - Achieve a 50% reduction of brake dust, environment friendly content and a cleaner appearance on rim, anticipating the increasingly stricter legislations on emissions by the EU

This will be carried out by:

• - A specific thermal spray coating application for brake discs.
• - A specific friction material formulation developed to work in harmony treated rotor surfaces in order to minimize the brake dust. Besides this main target, new friction material should be capable of satisfying all other performances requested from the brake system such as efficiency, wear and NVH.

- Extending the lifetime of service of rotors by making them corrosion free and increasing the wear resistance

It is important to note that this development will be of special important for electric and hybrid vehicles, not only for adding an ecological extra with the reduction of emissions, but also avoiding the corrosion issue on the rotor surface.

In PHEV (Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) the hydraulic brakes will be used less frequently than in ICE (Internal Combustion Engine), due to the regenerative braking. The rotors will be exposed to more corrosión caused by humidity, temperature and salinity, because the cleaning effect of the friction pads will be reduced.

Álvaro Lozano,  is newly incorporated in the Engineering department. Állvaro, with a background in Mechatronics Engineering, will collaborate in reinforcing Icer's leadership in launching new references.

Roberto Colleoni is the new Export Area Manager of Icer Group. Roberto, with several years of experience in companies in the sector, speaks Italian, Spanish, English and French, and confirms that he is very excited about this new challenge. With his incorporation, Sébastien Pennequin brings strength to the Export team (Miguel Sancho, Natalia Steporjinschi, Marek Pilarek…) increasing the presence of Icer Brakes in international markets.

The Icer Group begins the installation and assembly of a new six-station automatic press that will start operating at the beginning of January. This press is part of an ambitious project which will confirm Icer Brakes as a leader in the new to range.

ISO 14001
In line with our commitment to the environment, the Icer Group has been certified according to this standard, which consists of having an Environmental Management System (EMS), which helps to identify, prioritize and manage the environmental risks derived from our industrial activity.

ISO 9001
The Icer Group is proud to report that our Quality certification based on ISO 9001 has completed 25 years in force.