Gasgoo Munich- With Euro 7 looming in 2026 and China VII accelerating, the global auto industry faces a stricter emissions overhaul. Central to this shift: particulate emissions from braking systems will fall under mandatory control.
Wei Honghuan, a development manager and Ph.D. at the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC), recently outlined the regulatory roadmap. Starting November 29, 2026, the European Union will enforce Euro 7 type approval for new models, introducing mandatory limits on brake particulates for the first time. China’s draft for light-vehicle National VII standards is imminent, with implementation expected between 2028 and 2029. While component-level testing aligns with GTR24, vehicle-level brake emission methods are under intense study.
Stricter rules will force the global braking sector toward low-wear, low-emission solutions. In this transition, laser cladding—once a backup option—is fast taking center stage. Moving from a European consensus to global practice, it is becoming essential for compliance with both Euro 7 and China VII.
Euro 7 and China VII: Brake Disc Industry Faces Systemic Overhaul as Laser Cladding Emerges as Key Breakthrough
For two decades, brake disc makers focused on wear resistance, thermal cracking, and NVH. New policies demand a new metric: particulate emission limits. Studies show friction braking contributes 16% to 55% of urban non-exhaust PM10 and 39% to 63% of PM2.5. Technological overhaul is urgent.
"The industry must act on both technical and management fronts," Ma Chuang, director of the Brake System Professional Committee at the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said at a recent Euro 7 laser cladding forum. "We need to accelerate R&D on low-emission discs and pads, and establish matching test methods and limits."
Among the technologies cutting emissions, laser cladding is seen as the critical breakthrough.
Lü Baojing, director at the China National Inspection & Testing Group’s Xianyang branch, explains why. "Brake emissions are a systemic issue requiring synergy between friction material and the disc. In Europe and domestic high-end markets, low-metal pads are standard. But paired with standard cast iron, they often miss Euro 7 limits. That’s why laser-clad discs are gaining traction—they provide a 'shielded' interface for high-performance materials, solving the emissions problem at the system level."
Laser cladding fuses a hard alloy coating onto gray cast iron, creating a metallurgical bond that delivers performance gains across several dimensions:
1. Superior wear resistance and extended life. The cladding layer achieves a surface hardness of ≥600HV, boosting wear resistance 3 to 5 times over conventional products.
2. Significant reduction in particulate emissions. Third-party tests show laser-clad discs cut brake particulate emissions by over 50%.
3. Dual excellence in heat and corrosion resistance. Electric vehicles, relying heavily on regenerative braking, use mechanical brakes less often, leaving standard cast iron discs prone to rust. Laser cladding offers superior corrosion resistance, eliminating rust risks at the source.
For this reason, laser cladding is recognized in Europe as a mainstream path to Euro 7 compliance, driving expanding demand for these discs.
Market Potential, Supply Chain, and Equipment Breakthroughs: Laser-Clad Discs Enter the Fast Lane of Industrialization
How big is the market? Zhou Yingjun, editor-in-chief of Auto Brake Network, points to Europe's 15 million annual car sales, driving demand for about 60 million brake discs. China’s exports to Europe are also critical. In 2025, Chinese-made vehicle exports to Europe are set to top 1 million for the first time. Under Euro 7 requirements, that alone creates demand for over 4 million laser-clad discs annually.
In Europe, leading players are moving fast. Brembo has deployed capacity for over 3 million laser-clad discs, while Volkswagen Group—covering Audi and Porsche—has secured over 3 million. Traditional manufacturers like Buderus, Fritz Winter, and Aisin Seiki are each adding capacity in the millions. Non-traditional players like Germany’s HS Technik are also buying equipment. By April 2026, Europe’s installed or purchased capacity for laser-clad discs is estimated at 12 million units.
A mature supply chain underpins this expansion. For lasers, Germany’s TRUMPF and Laserline, along with U.S.-based IPG, lead the way. In powders, Sweden’s Höganäs, Switzerland’s Oerlikon Metco, and domestic firms like Hunan Zhaoyi, Luoyang Jinlu, and Bomin New Materials have built supply capacity. High-precision grinding solutions come from Germany’s Supfina, DVS, EMAG, and Nagel, plus France’s Fives Group. Crucially, Chinese firms are rising in system integration: Haitian Precision, Maanshan Hengjing, Nanjing Zhongke Yuchen, and Nanjing Huirui all now deliver production lines.
Haitian Precision’s strategy deserves attention. A wholly-owned subsidiary of machinery giant Haitian Group, it was an early mover in laser cladding equipment. Its first-generation solution for brake particulate emissions, unveiled at last year’s ATC show, drew global interest. Its approach to solving emissions via laser cladding has gained industry acceptance. "Brake disc laser cladding isn't an isolated gimmick," said General Manager Gao Shiquan at a launch. "It’s a natural extension of our years of work in machining, automation, and thermal management."
Recently, Haitian Precision launched its second-generation fully automatic laser cladding line—just 10 months after the first.
Compared to its predecessor, the second generation achieves breakthroughs in three areas:
A leap in cladding efficiency. Optimized optics and powder utilization have shortened processing times significantly, boosting annual line capacity to 260,000–300,000 discs.
Systematic cost optimization. The line automates the entire flow—from preheating and cladding to grinding—enabling unmanned production. This cuts scrap rates and pushes powder utilization above 90%, directly lowering the cost per disc.
Deep integration of intelligent systems. Equipped with online quality monitoring and adaptive process controls, the line tracks cladding thickness and uniformity in real time, automatically compensating for deviations. This is vital for meeting Euro 7 and China VII consistency requirements. Manufacturers no longer rely on spot checks; they achieve closed-loop control, ensuring every disc meets regulations.
Across the supply chain, a fully domestic ecosystem for laser-clad discs is taking shape. Zhou Yingjun estimates: "Once the domestic aftermarket kicks in, annual demand will hit 10 million units."
Conclusion:
Euro 7 is ticking down, and China VII is on the horizon. For the brake disc industry, this is both a compliance test and a chance to redefine value. Laser cladding has moved from Europe’s lead to China’s adoption, and from imported equipment to local R&D and iteration by firms like Haitian Precision. The supply chain is maturing fast.
With regulatory certainty meeting supply chain readiness, laser-clad discs are no longer a question of "whether to do it," but "when to scale."
