Gates has added belt-driven original equipment (OE) quality water pumps to its specialist range of aftermarket products for heavy duty trucks and buses.
Heavy duty water pumps will become part of its FleetRunner range. For the first time, truck and bus operators will be able to carry out a complete accessory belt drive system overhaul using heavy duty parts (water pump, coolant hoses, belt, tensioner and idler) covered by the same extended Gates warranty.
Water pumps are among the key components powered by the belt, and with a track record for supplying heavy duty water pumps in the US and Canada, Gates said it appreciates the particularity of fleet engineers when it comes to the quality of the drive system parts fitted to their fleets. The heavy duty water pumps in the FleetRunner range are an ideal fit for any preventive maintenance strategy.
A computer-tooled manufacturing process, with assembly lines that are subject to strict quality controls, ensures the water pumps all match or exceed OE quality standards and conform with various international standards (such as ISO/TS 16949). A precisely balanced impeller ensures OE fit and function. Finally, all units are subject to a rigorous leak-testing programme that checks all seals and bearings, as well as the individual casings.
For parts distributors, the new FleetRunner heavy duty water pumps offer a wide range of benefits, including the ability to stock parts for which there is already rising demand and an opportunity to supply water pumps covered by the extended Gates warranty programme.
Installers benefit from a first time fit and a comprehensive level of technical support, which often takes form via direct training or online training for workshop mechanics. In addition to basic fitting instructions and information around the importance of flushing out the cooling system after installation, the available technical support also extends to webinars that cover more complex areas such as cooling system diagnostics and how to maintain optimum coolant condition.
Bert De Lange, business development manager for heavy duty aftermarket sales and marketing, of Gates Europe, said: “Our initial range of FleetRunner heavy duty water pumps is well-researched and only stocked with popular applications that are already in demand. We will be able to cover over six million trucks and buses on EMEA roads from day one. That’s all possible thanks to our OE drive systems development experience, coupled with water pump manufacturing expertise and extensive knowledge of the heavy duty drive systems markets.”
