For nearly 60 years, automotive brake-component manufacturer Util Group, headquartered in Italy, has been supplying many of the world’s OEMs of cars, trucks and other vehicles with fineblanked and stamped backing plates, brake shoes, piston clips, springs and other parts. Most recently, it launched production of components for the 2017 Volvo S90, Jeep Cherokee, Hyundai Veloster and Tucson, and Mazda CX-5. 

As explained by Frank Taraschi, president and general manager—Americas, the firm operates four facilities employing 1400 people around the world, and is an early adopter of fineblanking technology—a process widely used for forming brake backing plates, which require tight tolerances…