From Germany to all European countries

What makes a good brake cylinder? It should function reliably. And it should be as durable as possible. Reliability and durability go hand in hand, because both are a question of quality. “We are talking about one of the most safety-relevant parts of all, so we use the highest-quality components we can get”, says Patrick Schmitt, Managing Director at TSE Brakes GmbH in Mörfelden-Walldorf. TSE Brakes is part of the US Marmon Group - ubiquitous in Germany, but not so well known. But more on that later.

TSE Brakes is one of the world's largest developers and manufacturers of diaphragm brake cylinders, which are installed on tractors, axles and trailers. In order to fulfil its own quality standards, the company builds its brake cylinders differently to other companies. The individual components make the difference. "For example, we manufacture the housing entirely from steel and do not use cast aluminium as a second component. This process is more complex, but increases the service life," says Schmitt. Der Grund ist ganz einfach: zwei unterschiedliche Metalle reagieren miteinander. The result is corrosion. And TSE Brakes has declared war on corrosion. The connections of the housing components are firmly joined together by roller burnishing. Nobody can open them, so nobody can take them apart and reassemble them improperly. And for the centrepiece of the brake cylinder - the spring - TSE naturally also relies on quality. It is coated and rustproof. “No rust, no breakage”, says Schmitt, summarising the simple formula.

Safety, durability, up to four years warranty

The research and development work is carried out by colleagues in Alabama, USA. They put a new product through its paces before it is ready for the market. This includes extensive tests with cold, heat, salt water and abrasive mud - factors that commercial vehicles are confronted with all over the world. The result is safety, durability and a four-year guarantee. TSE Brakes is primarily active in the OE business. This is why the company is hardly known in this country. In Europe, the market share for diaphragm cylinders is around 40 per cent, in America it is even higher. The centre of supply in Europe is the Mörfelden-Walldorf site near Frankfurt. “We probably have the largest warehouse for brake cylinders in Europe here”, reports Michael Storm, who has been working for TSE as European Sales Manager since the beginning of the year 2024. 80.000 brake cylinders are currently in stock here in order to be able to absorb supply fluctuations.

Practised quality

However, Mörfelden is more than just a dispatch warehouse: no part leaves the site without the employees having put the brake cylinder through its paces. This includes, among other things, leakage tests or checking the assembly bolts and air connections. Only when the brake cylinder is marked with a green dot is it allowed to travel. “We consistently live our quality philosophy right down to the last link in the supply chain”, says Schmitt. Together with Storm, he intends to further accelerate business in Europe over the next few years by further expanding the OE business, ensuring a nationwide supply of fleets via the independent aftermarket and increasingly increasing market presence.