SM series

The SM series consists of "tailor-made" engineered composites, specifically designed to replicate or improve the performance of existing chemical specialties in the market. They are not simple physical blends but co-processed products where different components (metal sulfides, solid lubricants, friction modifiers) are integrated into a single particle to ensure homogeneous and synergistic performance.

The fundamental purpose of the SM series is to provide supply chain security and continuity to friction material formulators. They are designed to be:

• An Alternative to Products with Unstable Supply: They replace chemical specialties from suppliers facing supply issues, long lead times, or geopolitical uncertainty.
• A Replacement for Obsolete or Discontinued Products: They offer a modern solution to replace legacy products that are no longer manufactured, allowing for the continuation of proven formulations.
• A Second Source Option: They enable manufacturers to diversify their sources for critical raw materials, reducing risks and improving their negotiating power.

RIMSA's approach is collaborative and focuses on understanding the customer's needs to develop a superior solution. We invite our clients to explain their challenge, and our process typically includes:

1. Target Performance Analysis: We study in detail the functional behavior and properties of the product that needs to be replaced or improved to define the technical objectives.
2. Tribological Validation: We evaluate the impact of the reference product in a friction matrix to establish a performance baseline (friction, wear, NVH) that we must match or exceed.
3. Solution Development: With this information, our R&D team designs an SM series composite that, through the synergistic combination of our raw materials, meets or exceeds the required functionality and performance.

• Supply Security: With production in Europe, RIMSA offers a stable, reliable supply chain with shorter lead times.
• Cost Stability: By being based on raw materials with more stable markets, the SM series provides greater cost predictability compared to products dependent on metals with volatile prices.
• Modernization and Compliance: It presents an opportunity to replace older products that may contain now-restricted substances (like lead or antimony), updating the formulation to comply with current regulations (e.g., REACH).
• Technical Support: RIMSA not only supplies a product but also offers its full technical support and testing capabilities to validate the replacement and ensure a smooth transition.

Not necessarily. Although its main focus is to be a direct alternative, the custom development process allows for introducing improvements over the original product. For example, the particle size distribution can be optimized to improve processability, or the composition can be adjusted to enhance high-temperature stability, thus offering a product with superior performance to the one it aims to replace.