Long-standing Australian automotive component manufacturer Disc Brakes Australia (DBA) is farewelling its founder, Phillip Joseph Snr, who is retiring after almost 40 years of growing the business.

The business, which is now part of GUB Holdings, has appointed Mr Joseph’s son, Phillip Jnr, as general manager of operations.

Mr Joseph Snr started his automotive career in 1973 with his father Oscar at Sydney Clutch and Brake Exchange in Waterloo, which changed one day in around 1980 when a customer wanted a replacement brake rotor for a 1967 HR Holden, and so Phillip offered the owner a rotor that was custom made by his father.

Although Oscar had the foresight to register the Disc Brakes name as early as 1963, it was not until the 1980s that the word Australia was added and disc rotors became more commonplace and demand for replacement rotors started.

DBA has always been a family-owned company with its head office, engineering and production facilities based in Sydney.

Under Phillip Joseph’s leadership, it has remained at the forefront of innovation and product design by introducing patented technology including the Kangaroo Paw ventilation design, DBA’s T2 and T3 slotted rotor design, En-shield coating, and DBA’s 4000 Series and 5000 Series two-piece rotors for high-performance applications.

DBA has won more than 22 industry awards for excellence in manufacturing and export, and in recognition of his services to the industry, Phillip Joseph was inducted into the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association’s Hall of Fame in 2011.

Mr Joseph has led numerous campaigns to improve safety standards and passionately supported the education of generations of mechanics through his work with the Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers (IAME) and TAFE.

He has also worked closely with motorsport teams and ran his own Holden in the V8 Ute Racing Series.

DBA now exports to over 30 countries in America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

By Neil Dowling