Launched in 2006, Mintex Xtreme brake pads have already become a 'must have' product for any serious motor entheusiast.

Mintex Xtreme is developed and engineered by TMD Friction, on eof the world's leading friction manufacturers. In addition to its aftermarket brands, TMD Friction supplies origional equipment friction to the majority of the world's performance vehicle manufacturers including Aston Martin, Bugatti, Ferrari and Porsche, as well as race teams at the highest levels of motorsport.

You may have noticed that we have developed a technical section to the APSW site... and as you may have guessed, this will house articles written on parts or  techniques in the motor trade. We feel that the current hot topics are sensors and so we have started with the throttle potentiometer amongst others.

Throttle potentiometers monitor the throttle opening for the ECU to adjust fuel flow.

KYB - the UK aftermarket division of the world's largest supplier of original equipment automotive shock absorbers - celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

Established in January 1997, the UK company started with just three customers who had previously imported KYB products directly from Japan.

Since then, KYB UK has seen considerable growth, developing its customer base to more than 300 and becoming the UK market leader with around 32% of the UK aftermarket.

Sales increased by an impressive 556% between 1998 and 2006, and the UK branch now employees 26 people at its 20,000 sq ft warehouse and office facility in Warrington. In recent years the company has expanded with an additional 5,000 sq ft overflow warehouse to cope with the rapid growth in business, most recently from coil springs.

KYB UK has several long standing employees including, Sue Clough, customer service manager who has been with the company since February 1997, and operations manager Julian Rose who joined in 1998.