TSE Brakes Inc has added the Leland brand to its product portfolio, with Jason Gerding leading the expanded business as TSE president. Gerding previously was president of Leland Brake & Wheel Parts.
“With 14 years in the transportation industry and a solid understanding of 80/20 business principles, Jason brings strong management skills to the combined operation,” said Pedro Ferro, president of the Marmon Highway Technologies (MHT) Undercarriage Group, which includes both TSE and Leland.
Greg Smith, son of company founder Ted Smith, is leaving TSE to pursue other interests. Under the Smith family's leadership, the company has grown from a Northern California regional provider to an enterprise serving customers in more than 30 countries.
TSE is an OEM supplier of air brake actuators, offering Ultralife, Omnibrake, and Alumiline brands. The Leland brand expands TSE's aftermarket product line to include brake hardware kits, S-cams and cam-related parts, slack adjusters, and air brake valves.
In a related action, TSE will relocate its headquarters from Fresno CA to Cullman AL and expand its engineering, R&D, and customer support capabilities. This move enables TSE to work closely with the MHT Undercarriage R&D Center and Testing Facility in Cullman. Distribution services also will be improved with the addition of Leland's distribution centers in Dubois PA and Fontana CA to TSE's distribution network, which includes facilities in San Luis AZ and Greenfield IN.