GATES

The safety belt of the engine. Along with several patents and unique technologies, GATES is credited with inventing the V-belt. Gates laid its future foundation with this. Gates develops complete belt drive systems in close cooperation with automobile manufacturers. As a result, Gates supplies the first oil pump system without a timing belt and the belt that drives BMW's latest Start-Stop system. Gates was commissioned by Ducati, as the belt drive expert, to solve the timing belt drive in the V2 engine. Previously, this engine had to be serviced every 5000 km due to belt tension.

As part of the latest developments, the belts are made from chloroprene (rubber derivative) and EPDM, which is more durable and better withstands the engine's increased heat load. This represents a technological shift similar to when lightweight metal frames were replaced by carbon. Their latest product is the Stretch Belt, which is a material-elastic longitudinal ribbed belt without tensioner.