It was founded in 1897 by Herbert Frood (1864–1931),[1] with manufacturing starting in Gorton in 1901 and moving to Chapel-en-le-Frith in 1902.[2] Ferodo was the first company to use asbestos for brake linings and developed the first modern brake friction materials.[3]
Ferodo UK became part of Turner & Newall in 1926. It had a factory at Chapel-en-le-Frith and in 1964 opened another at Caernarfon.[4]
In 1998 Turner & Newall was acquired by the huge automotive group Federal-Mogul.[5] It is now part of Federal-Mogul Aftermarket UK Limited. In 2012 £13m was invested in new floors, insulation, low energy heating and new process machines.[6]
Asbestos trust
Federal-Mogul got into financial difficulties and filed for Chapter 11 protection as a result of asbestosis claims.[7] In the United Kingdom the business went into administration in October 2001,[8] leaving a pension fund deficit estimated at £400 million.[9]
The T&N Subfund of the Federal-Mogul Asbestos Trust[10] was organized to pay all valid Asbestos Trust claims for which the T&N Entities have legal responsibility. The Trust was created December 27, 2007 as a result of the confirmation of The Federal-Mogul Chapter 11 Joint Plan of Reorganization.[11]
For claimants whose principal exposure to asbestos was in the United Kingdom or one of several other non-US countries, a UK Asbestos Trust[12] was established to provide for the payment of asbestos claims in addition to the US-focused Asbestos Trust described above. This includes posthumous payments to families of Ferodo factory workers.[13]
Advertising
Ferodo is famous in Britain for advertising by having the Ferodo brand name painted on railway bridges over main roads.[14]