Brake malfunction can cause serious damage to your personnel, equipment, and facility, possibly including the injury or death of personnel.
For example, Toyota recommends replacement of forklift brake shoes every 5000- 7000 hours. Cranes have hour maximums and brake lining thickness minimums. Elevators do too.
The most important safety feature on any piece of industrial equipment is the ability to stop.
If you are in the market for the new brake pads, we have the definitive list of the five qualities to look for in the best brake pads for industrial machinery. Keep reading to learn more.
What Do You Need to Stop?
Not all applications are the same.
Typically an elevator is equipped with a negative electromagnetic brake.
A 50 to 60-ton rough terrain crane is designed for operation on compacted earth as well as in narrow spaces. It uses a double caliper brake system, with two disc brakes per wheel.
Disc brakes slow, hold, and stop high kinetic energy (very fast-moving or heavy) loads, absorbing kinetic energy very quickly, if necessary. They are suited to applications that require high speed or high energy stops, high torque or high tension control. They absorb the energy generated by braking, then release it as heat.
Disc brake pads should be inspected for wear and replaced regularly.
Your unique combination of needs can only be met by specific brake pads. With a broad range of brake pad manufacturers available, finding the best brake pads for your use starts with determining the solution you need.
What Kind of Machinery Needs Brake Pads?
A broad range of heavy-duty industrial machinery might need brake pads. Some examples to consider:
- Bottling Machinery
- Conveyor Systems
- Cranes
- Elevators
- Forklifts
- Marine Winches
- Packaging Machinery
- Paper Handling
- Printing Presses
- Roller Coasters
- Wire Tensioning
- Wind Energy
You may have hydraulic brakes, electromagnetic brakes, spring applied brakes, active pneumatic brakes, or dual function brakes for multiple purposes. The right pad is available!
Which Brake Pad is Right for Your Application?
Several different styles of brake pads are available to fit different requirements. Each model offers different standard features and configuration options.
Consider your operating conditions:
- Indoors or outside, ambient temperature, mounting orientation, and any hostile environments such as exposure to salt water, excessive humidity, or contaminants
- Required stop time, in seconds
- Number of stops per minute, hour, or day
- Maximum allowable disc diameter and thickness
- The amount of energy/heat generated
Based on your operating conditions, the five criteria for best brake pads used for industrial machinery are:
- Materials- choose from semi-metallic, rigid molded, or sintered friction pads for resistance to heat
- Maintenance- choose pads with thorough testing and quality assurance
- Performance- look for the most reliable and well-tested pads for your application
- Friction- for high heat dissipation select cutting-edge technology sintered pads
- Long Life- OEM or reverse engineered replacement, look at the replacement and ongoing maintenance costs
Detailed specs for all products and manufacturers we recommend are available on our website, and we’re only a quick contact away if you have questions or need recommendations for the five best brake pads specifically for your application.