Friction One has acquired the Raybestos brand and a portfolio of related braking assets, positioning itself to relaunch one of the aftermarket’s best-known names later this year.

The acquisition includes the Raybestos brand along with product formulations, engineering specifications, application data, catalogue resources, technical documentation and marketing assets that have supported the braking line for decades.

The company said it intends to preserve the brand’s engineering heritage while investing in manufacturing, product development and supply chain capabilities under what it describes as an “Authentic Raybestos” strategy.

Raybestos is one of many aftermarket brands that were part of First Brands Group, which declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in fall of 2025 amid alleged financial misdealings. Since then intellectual property assets have been sold off alongside some physical operations, while many have been closed.

“We are thrilled to complete this deal, as Raybestos is one of the most respected names in the industry,” said Jim Zhang, founder and CEO of Friction One.

“Raybestos has earned the trust of the aftermarket over many years. Our commitment is to carry that legacy forward through disciplined engineering, advanced manufacturing capability, rigorous validation, continued innovation and long-term investment.”

Friction One said the acquisition is about more than securing a well-known brand name. The company also acquired the engineering resources, application coverage, catalogue data and technical information required to support the Raybestos product portfolio.

For warehouse distributors and jobbers, the company said maintaining application coverage, product consistency and dependable supply will be central to its strategy.

“Authentic Raybestos means respecting what customers have trusted while building the support structure needed for the future,” said Richard Speros, vice-president of sales, North America. “For customers, that comes down to coverage, consistency and support.”

Adding further continuity to the transition is Nate Kinkley, Friction One’s director of product engineering. Kinkley previously served as director of product engineering at Brake Parts Inc., where he helped develop the Raybestos product portfolio.

“This represents a full-circle moment in my career,” Kinkley said. “I’ve had the privilege of supporting Raybestos across its products, customers and engineering heritage. Friction One stands out as the ideal steward for that legacy.”

Friction One expects the first Raybestos-branded products under its ownership to reach distribution in the fourth quarter of 2026, beginning with brake friction products, drums and rotors.

Founded in 1902, Raybestos has been a leading name in braking for more than a century, earning a reputation among technicians and installers for its extensive application coverage and OE-inspired engineering. Friction One manufactures brake components through facilities in Mexico and China and supports the North American market through U.S.-based engineering, distribution and catalogue management.