For: Immediate Release     Date: December 8, 2004    Contact: Duane Sampson

Torrance, Calif--High-performance brake system manufacturer, StopTech, has received patent number 6796405 for break-through developments in the air-flow design of its AeroRotors®, producing increases of up to 80% in the cooling capacity of performance brake systems.

StopTech developed the unique directional vane design of its two-piece floating AeroRotors®, which minimizes turbulence, and improves induced airflow through the rotor, keeping brakes cooler, and working more efficiently. Extensive computer-based airflow testing, both in StopTech's lab and on the track, confirmed the success of the new design, yielding airflow increases of up to 80% over original equipment rotors, and 10-30% over other racing rotors that are currently available.

"We're a technology-driven company," said Stephen Ruiz, StopTech's Engineering Manager, "and we've already made significant improvements to the AeroRotor® metallurgy. We believed that there was a further untapped opportunity for improving the airflow characteristics of modern rotors, so we put our best minds to work on it, using advanced turbo-machinery principles."

StopTech's engineers analyzed the cooling properties of most popular rotors, using the latest Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Finite Elemental Analysis (FEA) tools. With FEA modeling software, they determined the optimum rotor vane design, and Ruiz even developed a custom rotating-frame airflow bench, to more accurately measure the subtle differences in induced airflow.

The new design involved fine-tuning the angle and profile of the vanes within the rotor, and it required hundreds of hours of painstaking calculation, prototyping, and analysis to achieve the advancements made. Improved airflow in the rotor enables cooler operating temperatures within the braking system, yielding substantial benefits, including reduced brake fade, improved vehicle handling and braking, and prolonged life of the pads, rotors, and overall braking system.

"This patent alone features 20 points of differentiation between StopTech's AeroRotors® and other rotors on the market," continued Ruiz, "and we're already working on a number of further developments."

StopTech's two-piece AeroRotors® feature unique patent-pending directional aluminum hats, which increase airflow to the outer faces of the rotors. This improves brake performance, with much less heat stress on the rotors, reducing the likelihood of coning or cracking under aggressive driving conditions. Furthermore, StopTech's innovative anti-rattle hat mounting system ensures a quiet ride.

Standard 48-vane AeroRotors® are available in 282 x 25mm, 328 x 28mm, 332 x 32mm, 355 x 32mm, 380 x 32mm, and 380 x 35mm formats, with a choice of standard, drilled, or slotted finish. All AeroRotors® feature an industry-standard ten-bolt mounting flange for easy interchangeability.

"We're pleased to receive this patent, which was originally filed in 1999, and it validates what we've learned on the track, and from our customers," reported Bob Lee, General Manager of StopTech. "Our engineers are always searching for better solutions, and our entire organization is dedicated to constant improvement.”

StopTech brakes were the system of choice for top 2004 World Challenge teams and the Championship Turner Motor Sport/Bill Auberlen BMW. StopTech brakes recorded wins in the World Challenge, Rolex, Grand-Am Cup, and Pro Solo competitions, as well as achieving stunning performances in magazine tests.

StopTech LLC, located in Torrance, California, manufactures high performance brake systems and components for production and production-based racecars. The company is the leader in Balanced Brake SystemsTM for production cars and has two patents in basic brake technology and two others pending. StopTech has a worldwide network of resellers.