About Bendix
About us
Bendix
FMP Group, as the company is now known, originated in 1955. The company was established by the BBA Group of the U.K and was known as Mintex Ltd. The company initially employed 30 people and was founded to manufacture friction materials for the emerging Australian automotive industry.
Eight years later, in 1963, The Bendix Corporation of the U.S.A. obtained a 51% share in the company and created the joint venture company, known as Bendix Mintex Pty. Ltd.
In 1965 Bendix Mintex commenced manufacturing Disc Brake Pads and won its first Original Equipment contract to supply General Motors Holden. This was followed by orders from other manufacturers to become the sole Australian supplier of friction materials to local automotive companies.
Up until 1970 Bendix Mintex’s products were confined to passenger car and commercial vehicle brake linings and disc pads. In 1971 they acquired the Australian manufacturing operations of H.K. Porter who had a considerable number of Original Equipment contracts for clutch facings. As a result, the Company reinforced itself as a leader in the manufacture of automotive friction material.
In the 1970’s Bendix Mintex established an office in Singapore and appointed a company in New Zealand to manufacture products under licence, and in conjunction with the Repco Corporation, established strong export sales into North America. Also in the 1970’s Bendix Mintex made a decision to manufacture its own Backing Plates for Disc Pads. This provided the Company with the ability to produce a wide range of quality products to meet the needs of local and export markets.
During the 1980’s Bendix Mintex invested heavily in advanced manufacturing facilities and became Australia’s largest friction material manufacturer.
In November 2002 the company changed its name to FMP Group (Australia) Pty Limited, standing for Friction Materials Pacific, to more accurately reflect the product produced. FMP continues to market its product under the Bendix brand name.
In 2003 FMP invested heavily in developing non asbestos products considerably more environmentally friendly, and to cleaning the Ballarat site to ensure it was asbestos free.
FMP Group (Australia) Pty Ltd is Australia’s largest automotive friction material manufacturer. Today the company is a joint venture between Honeywell International of the U.S.A. and Pacifica, an Australian public company. The company’s manufacturing plant in Ballarat, Victoria employs an average of 250+ personnel and manufactures a large range of disc brake pads and has gained a reputation of manufacturing, marketing and distributing quality products with high levels of customer service. The company specialises in providing a full range of friction material for passenger and commercial vehicles, along with industrial applications. The affiliation with one of the world’s largest friction material manufacturers, Honeywell Friction Material (USA) gives the company access to the latest friction material technology and techniques. This technology base, together with its strong global links, gives FMP Group the ability to tailor friction solutions for all customer’s applications.
It also manages two smaller manufacturing plants in Malaysia and Thailand, producing similar products. FMP sells products under many different brands to more than 40 countries worldwide. Export markets currently include South East Asia, The Pacific Rim, Middle East and niche markets in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. The company’s ability to identify, win, service and profit from export markets has won FMP a series of export achievement awards. Access to world class technology has been one of the keys to the Company’s success.
Postal Address: PO Box 631
Plant Address: Elizabeth Street, Ballarat VIC 3353
Tel: 1800 819 666
Fax: 1800 805 336
Malaysia Representative Office:
FMP Automotive (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
Malaysian Sales Office:
No. 17 Persiaran Sabak Bernam, Section 24, 40000 Shah Alam, Seangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Tel: (603) 511 1893
Fax: (603) 511 1307
Thailand Representative Office:
FMP Automotive (Thailand) Limited
Plant Address:
Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate (Rayong 64/16 Moo 4. T. Pluakdaeng, A. Pluakdaeng, Rayong 21140 Thailand)
Bangkok Sales Office:
719 KPN Tower, 20th Floor, Rama 9 Road, Bangkapi, Huaykwang, Bangkok 10320 Thailand.
No. Of Employees: 450+
Aust. Comm. date: 1955
Trade Names:
Bendix General CT, Bendix Heavy Duty, Bendix 4WD
Bendix Ultimate, Bendix Street Road Track, Bendix Race, Bendix Brake Shoes, Bendix Fleetrans, Bendix Protrans, Bendix Riveted Shoes, Bendix Brake Parts Cleaner, Bendix CV Disc Pads, Prima.
Export Markets:
North America, New Zealand, Japan, South-East Asia, Fiji, Middle East
Products:
Disc brake pads and backing plates; brake linings; riveted brake shoes; bonded shoes; brake and parts cleaner
Quality Descriptions:
(Ballarat Facility) ISO/TS16949, ISO9001, Ford Q1, ISO14001
(Malaysian Facility) ISO/TS16949, ISO9001, ISO14001, OHSAS 18001
(Thailand Facility) ISO/TS16949, ISO14001
