Dayco, an original equipment (OE) engine products and drive systems supplier, says it is constantly reviewing its product portfolio to reflect the needs of the independent service and repair sector, with focus on the shift in momentum from internal combustion engines toward hybrid & electric powertrains.
As a result, its offering has grown from just power transmission-related products, to include thermal management with a comprehensive range of water pumps (mechanical and electric) and thermostats, as well as wheel bearings and recently, steering & suspension.
Dayco said it appreciates the importance of the working relationships it has with its many wholesaler partners and how these allow both parties to benefit when the company introduces new product groups that it wasn’t previously supplying to the aftermarket.
One of these partners is Alan Skuse, a four-branch independent motor factor based in the South West and aligned with GROUPAUTO.
“We must have been working with Dayco since around 2004, when the company was still quite a small operation,” explained Company Buyer, Chris Sandison. “However, we’ve grown a lot over the last few years and now have branches in Plymouth, Kingsbridge, Saltash and Ivybridge, and turned over more than £5 million last year, and as we’re very, very busy, we hope to do over six this year, so it sounds like a success story, which is nice.
“Dayco has been an important, long-term partner supplying us with OE quality belts, tensioners and timing belt kits, as well as auxiliary drive components. So, when the company introduced water pumps and thermostats a couple of years ago, it was an obvious step to take on these parts because we’d previously used a bit of a mish mash of other suppliers and sometimes had quality issues, so wanted to supply a premium product.
“I think it also helps that as more vehicles have timing belt driven pumps, they want a quality pump to replace it with, so a Dayco pump, in a complete kit that has all the replacement parts, is the perfect solution.
“I think, going forward, we will probably be selling a lot more kits complete with a pump, and this is part of a transition in the same way that years ago we used to sell timing belts without the other components and now, no-one ever really buys anything other than a kit.
“In terms of thermostats – although they’re a bit more reliable than they used to be, so we don’t sell lots of them – because they are much more complex, when we do, they are now a higher value item, so are more profitable. So, in short, Dayco thermal management parts have started very well for us because we tend to try and offer the best quality parts from a tier one supplier.”
Additional support
Chris concluded: “Dayco is very, very proactive and area sales manager, Ann- Marie, visits us regularly; in fact, I think she’s scheduled again next month for two or three days, when she’ll go into garages and provide the education they need to fit parts properly or learn a bit more about what’s changing in the industry.
“It’s this kind of thing that makes the partnership, and I’m sure that’s one of the things that has helped us to be able to grow as much as we have, which is why we are so keen to keep working with such a great brand and a helpful team.”
