Gates Corporation Settles Lawsuit Against Dorman Products, Inc.

Gates Corporation is pleased to announce it has settled its litigation against Dorman Products, Inc. concerning marketing statements by Dorman directed to its automatic belt tensioners. By Order dated May 24, 2010 from the federal United States District Court of Colorado, Dorman, its officers, agents, and employees acting at the direction of Dorman to advertise, sell or distribute automatic belt tensioners have been permanently enjoined from using the following phrases, individually or in combination, or any reasonably colorable variation of them in advertising, sales promotion or distribution of automatic belt tensioners, namely, “All SAE Specifications,” “OE Solutions,” “OE Quality” and “OE Performance.”

As an industry leader for almost 100 years, Gates provides quality parts to the independent aftermarket. “We felt it was critical to take legal action to prevent confusion in the market as to tensioner quality and performance,” says David Miller, Vice President of Global Product Marketing for Gates. “As a complete belt systems supplier, Gates is aware of the effects of tensioner quality. OE quality tensioners maximize life and performance of every component in the accessory belt drive system.”

Gates ensures that every tensioner manufactured is built to rigid OE tolerances and specifications that guarantee fit, form and function. Parts meeting these specifications can be installed with confidence. Gates is an OE supplier of tensioners on all continents supplying every major OEM. Gates offers a full line of 550 automatic belt tensioners globally.

About Gates

Gates Corporation ( gates.com) is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of industrial and automotive products, systems and component with operations in 33 countries. Gates maintains sales and marketing operations in every major industrial and automotive market, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Gates is part of the Industrial & Automotive group of Tomkins plc, a global engineering group listed on both the London (TOMK) and New York (TKS) stock exchanges, and with revenue of $4.2 billion in 2009. Tomkins plc has over 25,000 employees worldwide and enjoys strong market positions and technical leadership across all of its business activities and owns some of the best-known brands in their respective markets.