The power transmission sector of the automotive aftermarket is one where a small number of well established brand names have tended to dominate for many years. However, in more recent times a new name has emerged as a serious market contender, backed by huge resources and a very impressive OE pedigree. Now distributed in Ireland by Somora Motor Parts, Hutchinson has been steadily gaining favour with garages nationwide and Somora has big future plans for this OE brand in Ireland.

Somora Sales Manager Stephen Lawless says, "Hutchinson is a true global technology giant, but one that many people might not know. Its expertise and innovation means it is having a huge impact across diverse industries all over the world and its products and support make it a match for any competitor in the automotive aftermarket.”

To get an idea of the scale and the scope of the Hutchinson organisation you need to delve into its history. The company was found in 1853 by an American businessman called Hiram Hutchinson who moved to France to establish a factory making rubber shoes. It was a major success and quickly expanded into Germany, Spain and Italy. At one stage a fire devastated the main factory but an impressive replacement was designed by none other than Gustave Eiffel, the man behind the famous Paris tower. By the turn of the century Hutchinson used its rubber expertise to become a leader and innovator in emerging tyre technology for bikes and cars, its first venture in the automotive world. 

Hutchinson also became active in aerospace technology and supplied the fabric for the first airship to cross the English Channel. Throughout the 20th century Hutchinson supplied key components for transportation on land, in the air, at sea and even into space. Today the group has four core activities, Transmissions (belts, rollers), vibration, acoustic and thermal insulation, sealing, and fluid transfer. It has presence in 21 countries and 80 production sites around the world producing products and systems ranging from the flight deck on Airbus planes and components for Ariane rockets to anti-vibration technology on high speed trains. 

Hutchinson has well established links to major car makers and is an OE supplier to General Motors, Volkswagen, Toyota, Peugeot-Citroën, Renault-Nissan, Mercedes, BMW, Kia-Hyundai, and Ford. It also works closely with these companies in the development of future mobility solutions. The same original quality components are also supplied to the aftermarket, allowing garages to benefit from its original fit expertise and quality.

The Hutchinson aftermarket portfolio features a full range of timing belts, timing belt kits, tensioners and water pumps, as well as auxiliary belts, tensioners and pulleys. The company can offer excellent application coverage across cars, vans and commercial vehicles and all products are supplied in true original quality with a full warranty. 

Stephen Lawless says, "Many customers are genuinely surprised by the excellent quality and the range of Hutchinson products we supply. It allows stockist to offer a great value, complete power transmission solution that is different to the traditional brands, but that delivers the same levels of performance and quality.”

Stephen says that Hutchinson Timing Belt Kits with Water Pump have proved especially popular with customers. He comments, "These kits provide a complete best practice solution for timing belt replacement with everything needed in one box. The belts are made to original spec using CR, HNBR and Teflon and supplied with either OE, or superior to OE, tensioners. The water pumps are also precision engineered to meet the original standards and garages can be confident in fitting them with complete peace of mind.” 

The Hutchinson Timing Belt Kit with Water Pump range features over 190 kits and offers comprehensive coverage on popular applications. The range is also support by an online digital catalogue, easy access fitting information and full technical back-up.

Stephen concludes, "We believe that Hutchinson can provide the Irish aftermarket with a genuine original equipment alternative when it comes to power transmission. It is already hugely popular with stockist and garages who have tried it and we believe it has the potential to achieve even greater success.”