June 2026
Innovation in braking technology: Our completely redeveloped braking system
At Koetsenbouw De Laat, quality, reliability and durability are at the heart of everything we do. Due to changes in European regulations, we found that certain components we had relied on for many years no longer met our high quality standards. As a result, we made a significant decision: to completely redevelop our braking system from the ground up.
What followed was an intensive development process. Since there are no braking systems specifically designed for horse-drawn carriages, we had to start literally from scratch. The challenge is unique: a carriage requires significantly less braking force than a car, while wheel rotational speeds are also much lower. As a result, existing braking systems are simply not suitable for this application.
After a lengthy development process involving extensive calculations, prototypes and countless field tests, we are proud to present the result.
Developed 4-Piston brake caliper
Our brake caliper has been fully developed in-house, in cooperation with specialized suppliers, and CNC-machined from high-grade aerospace aluminium. This component has already been successfully used on our carriages for quite some time and has proven itself extensively in real-world conditions.
Thanks to its 4-piston design, the caliper delivers substantial braking force. Combined with a compact brake disc, rolling resistance remains minimal. Particular attention was also paid to proper piston retraction after braking, ensuring optimal pad clearance from the disc. This contributes to smooth operation, minimal wear and a highly reliable braking system.
Newly developed brake master cylinder
The brake master cylinder has been developed entirely in-house and is manufactured from the same high-quality materials as the brake caliper. Thanks to a carefully engineered design, in which the piston rod operates within a precision guide, wear is minimized to the greatest extent possible. This results in an exceptionally long service life, validated through extensive durability testing.
In addition, the design simplifies the bleeding process, helping to ensure consistent and optimal brake pressure at all times.
Brake discs and brake pads
Perhaps the greatest challenge of the entire project. Finding the ideal combination of disc material and brake pad compound required months of research, testing and refinement. Our objective was clear: maximum reliability, minimal wear and the elimination of unwanted squealing and resonance noises.
We also invested significant effort into developing the spring clips behind the brake pads. These prevent rattling and ensure that the pads retract properly from the brake disc after braking.
The end result is a braking system that has been fully developed, manufactured and tested in-house. A system specifically engineered for the unique characteristics of horse-drawn carriages and built to the high quality standards we set for all our products.
From the first sketch to the final product: fully developed, manufactured and tested under the name Koetsenbouw De Laat.
