Posted by Heston Le on | Comments Off on Restoring Automotive Stability: How Aranda Tooling Can Fill Production Gaps Created by First Brands Group Bankruptcy
First Brands Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2025, leading to the shutdown of Raybestos and Centric Parts in January 2026. These two major brake component manufacturers supplied automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and aftermarket retailers across North America. Their exit has created immediate sourcing challenges for companies dependent on these suppliers.
For over 50 years, Aranda Tooling has manufactured high-volume metal-stamped components for Tier 1, 2, and 3 automotive suppliers. With production capacity exceeding 1 million parts per week, we help manufacturers maintain continuity when established suppliers exit the market.
This article covers the production impact of the First Brands bankruptcy and key capabilities to evaluate when selecting alternative metal stamping suppliers.
Production Impact of the First Brand’s Closure
First Brands reported net sales of approximately $5 billion for 2024, with braking products representing 33% of revenue. The scale of this closure means thousands of automotive manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers must identify new sources for brake backing plates, mounting brackets, hardware, and related stamped components.
The shutdown affects both replacement parts markets and original equipment production. Manufacturers that relied on Raybestos or Centric for production components now face gaps in their supply chains. Lead times from remaining suppliers have extended as demand concentrates among fewer manufacturers.
Companies transitioning away from affected suppliers should prioritize manufacturers with demonstrated capacity, quality systems, and operational stability spanning multiple decades.
Essential Capabilities for Alternative Suppliers
When evaluating metal stamping suppliers to replace First Brands’ sources, manufacturers should assess these key areas:
Production capacity. Press tonnage ranging from 60 to 1,300+ tons
handles both small hardware and larger structural components across different production volumes.
Material flexibility. Capability to work with stainless steel, carbon steel, and aluminum in thicknesses from 0.005 to 0.5 inches with maximum part widths up to 48 inches.
Quality documentation. ISO 9001:2015 certification
and experience meeting OEM specifications across automotive supply tiers.
Tooling support. In-house tool and die design reduces lead times for custom components and engineering changes during production transitions.
Proven track record. Decades of operational history demonstrate supply chain stability and the ability to maintain long-term partnerships.
How High-Volume Stamping Addresses Supply Gaps
Metal stamping produces consistent parts at volumes that match automotive production schedules. Once tooling is validated, stamping operations can ramp up quickly – a key factor when replacing suppliers on short notice.
The process works efficiently for brake components because it handles the material specifications and tolerances these parts require. Progressive dies can form, punch, and trim parts in a single press stroke, reducing per-part costs at volume while maintaining dimensional accuracy.
For manufacturers evaluating new suppliers, production volume matters less than production consistency. Suppliers should demonstrate the capability to maintain quality and delivery schedules across thousands or millions of parts.
Aranda Tooling’s Automotive Production Capability
Since 1975, we’ve manufactured precision metal components for automotive OEMs and their supply chains. Our facilities house over 50 presses, and we employ over 300 workers worldwide, producing more than 1 million precision parts per week.
Our automotive stamping services include progressive die, transfer die, and compound die processes. We work with engineering teams to develop tooling for custom specifications and maintain production schedules for ongoing orders.
For companies affected by the First Brands closure, our high-volume metal stamping capacity can accommodate significant production volumes. Our maximum press bed handles tooling up to 240 by 70 inches with press strokes reaching 31 inches, accommodating larger automotive components when required.
We maintain quality documentation and traceability systems aligned with automotive industry requirements, and our production planning supports both long-term contracts and shorter-term sourcing transitions.
Next Steps for Affected Manufacturers
The First Brands bankruptcy requires automotive manufacturers to act quickly. Companies should begin qualifying alternative suppliers now to avoid production interruptions.
When evaluating suppliers, request capability documentation, quality certifications, and capacity details. Review sample parts to verify dimensional accuracy and discuss lead times for both tooling and production.
If you need to source stamped brake components or automotive parts, contact us to discuss your specifications and request a quote.
Posted by Aranda Tooling Team on | Comments Off on Automotive and Aftermarket Part Manufacturing: A Breakdown for OEMs and Tier Suppliers
Automotive parts manufacturing demands precision tooling and suppliers who understand the nuances between OEM specifications and aftermarket requirements. For procurement managers evaluating American auto parts manufacturers, the choice often comes down to tooling capabilities, lead time guarantees, and the ability to maintain tight tolerances across high-volume production runs.
As the U.S. automotive landscape evolves with electric vehicle (EV) adoption, understanding how tooling and stamping processes affect part quality is essential for informed sourcing.
What Is an Aftermarket Auto Part? Understanding the Terminology
Aftermarket parts serve as replacement components after a vehicle’s initial sale. Unlike OEM parts, automotive aftermarket parts manufacturers produce components designed to fit existing models without requiring original tooling.
Key distinctions include:
Specifications. OEM parts follow exact original material grades and finishes. Aftermarket parts focus on functional equivalence, often using alternative methods to reduce costs.
Tooling Ownership. OEM production typically utilizes customer-owned tooling. Aftermarket runs often use manufacturer-owned dies developed via reverse engineering.
Volume. OEM contracts align with new vehicle production schedules, while aftermarket runs accommodate fluctuating demand across various model years.
We support both OEM and aftermarket programs, adapting our stamping and assembly processes to match specific regulatory and budgetary requirements.
Automotive Parts Manufacturers in the U.S.: Trends and Capabilities
The shift toward electric vehicles is redefining the industry. Components for internal combustion engines require different geometries than the battery enclosures and motor mounts needed for EV platforms.
Current trends for automotive parts manufacturers in the US include:
Material Diversification. We increasingly process aluminum alloys and high-strength steels required for EV battery structures, each demanding specialized die designs.
Tolerance Tightening. Automated assembly requires tighter dimensional control, with many specs shifting from ±0.030” to ±0.010”.
Regionalization. Supply chain disruptions have driven a preference for domestic capacity to ensure just-in-time delivery.
Our facility operates stamping presses up to 1,300 tons, providing the capacity needed for large-scale EV parts stamping. Our in-house tooling department ensures we maintain control over lead times from the first article through production.
Car Parts Manufacturing: Tooling Requirements for Consistency and Durability
Tooling design directly impacts part consistency. For automotive applications where parts must maintain accuracy through millions of cycles, die construction is the most critical factor.
Other key factors include:
Die Selection. We utilize progressive dies for high-volume, streamlined parts and transfer dies for complex geometries requiring multiple forming operations.
In-Die Sensors. Modern tooling incorporates real-time sensors to monitor press force and part position, identifying issues before they generate scrap.
Preventative Maintenance. We track cycle counts in-house, performing scheduled maintenance to prevent dimensional drift and avoid unexpected downtime.
Reducing Scrap and Improving Throughput With Optimized Tooling and Stamping Processes
Scrap reduction is vital for high-volume automotive economics. We focus on material utilization, optimizing nesting during the die design phase to minimize the scrap skeleton.
By combining vision systems that verify blank positioning with consistent lubrication protocols, we improve yield and throughput. If you have a problematic part design, our engineering team can perform reverse engineering to identify root causes and propose manufacturable alternatives that improve performance.
Partnering with Aranda Tooling for Reliable Automotive Part Production
Since 1975, Aranda Tooling has provided reliable metal fabrication services for both OEM and aftermarket customers. Our capabilities span from prototype fabrication to high-volume automated production, backed by an ISO 9001:2015 certified quality system.
If you are evaluating automotive stamped parts manufacturers in the US, our combination of 1,300-ton press capacity and in-house engineering support offers the stability your program needs.
Posted by Aranda Tooling Team on | Comments Off on How Reshoring Strengthens Your Supply Chain
Reshoring manufacturing can enhance supply chains and improve operations for domestic manufacturers. By reducing time and distance to market, U.S. manufacturers improve product quality and reliability of services, increasing competitiveness in an ever-changing global business environment. This blog will discuss the benefits of reshoring and how it can strengthen your supply chain.
What is Reshoring?
Reshoring is the process of bringing any number of manufacturing functions back to a company’s country of origin. It is the reverse of “offshoring,” in which manufacturers relocate facilities overseas in an effort to reduce production and labor costs. While outsourcing in this way once held certain economic benefits, it can lead to quality control issues, business disruptions, and less oversight in business operations.
The Supply Chain Benefits of North American Manufacturing
While offshoring production can expose companies to geopolitical risks, tariffs, and complex regulations, reshoring helps to mitigate these risks and the disruptions that might follow. This opportunity to simplify supply chains also comes with a number of advantages, such as:
Shorter turnaround and lead times
Adaptability to shifts in market demand
More direct operational oversight
Improved compliance and quality control
Fewer supply chain disruptions
Enhanced brand reputation
When domestic operations run more tightly, businesses can see the road ahead with greater clarity, with daily decisions having a more direct and pronounced effect on operational success. For a deeper look at the strategies and quality engineering practices behind this transition, see our Ultimate Guide to Reshoring.
Reshored manufacturers similarly attain quicker feedback. They see the results of their efforts play out more swiftly in local markets and derive greater effect for less input. Supply chains are also more direct, with fewer moving parts. This allows for faster response times and greater adaptability as market conditions change.
Aranda Tooling’s Role in Reshoring Success
Aranda Tooling is proud of our role in helping strengthen America’s domestic manufacturing sector. Over the course of a half-century, we’ve grown from humble beginnings to consistently producing over 1 million precision-engineered parts each week. Our engineering and tooling departments have also grown and developed extensively in that time, designing high-quality tooling and fixtures for welding, inspection, assembly, and automation.
As a dedicated partner in large-scale tooling and manufacturing, we’ve supported domestic supply chains for a wide range of industries, including:
Automotive
Medical
Renewable energy
Plumbing
Construction
As we forge more partnerships in domestic markets, we help our manufacturing partners enhance their supply chain agility, reducing risk and dependence on foreign markets while improving the quality of their products and services.
Strengthen Your Supply Chain by Reshoring Metal Stamping Services
At Aranda Tooling, we understand the importance of quality and apply this mentality throughout our work. Our expert tooling and custom metal stamping services are backed by extensive training, expertise, and advanced fabrication technology and processes, allowing us to achieve extremely tight tolerance windows and parts uniformity in line with client needs. Our facilities fully adhere to ISO 9001:2015 quality control processes, led by over 300 skilled workers and an experienced team of dedicated management personnel.
Contact us to optimize your supply chain with domestic tooling services and to learn more about Aranda Tooling’s capabilities.
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