North Coast and Loctite Establish key distribution partnership

North Coast Bearings Inc. (USA) and Henkel Loctite Corp. (Germany) have established a strategic partnership, giving Loctite the same penetration to auto and truck differential and transmission rebuilders it commands on the original equipment side of the business. The partnership establishes North Coast as the exclusive Loctite distributor to transmission and differential rebuilders. The relationship works to the market strengths of both companies. Loctite is the largest OEM supplier of sealants, adhesives and related products to the original equipment market, while North Coast is the largest producer of transmission and differential rebuild kits. Founded in 1983, North Coast Bearing now offers more than 2,000 transmission and differential kits and 17,000 SKUs. The company sells internationally from three U.S. locations. In 1997, North Coast and The Timken Company (USA) established a joint marketing venture, DT Components. Under DT Components, both companies market and distribute differential kits, transmission kits and components to the light, medium and heavy-duty aftermarket. Loctite, formerly Loctite Corporation (USA), was acquired by the Henkel Group in 1997. Henkel Group, a widely diversified international manufacturing conglomerate in electronics, automotive and biomedical, dominates the world market for sealants, adhesives and various surface technologies. For many of us, the depth and breadth of Loctite's product line can be disorienting. As part of the arrangement with North Coast, Loctite has issued a product catalog specifically targeting rebuilder applications and problem-solving issues. The catalog of adhesives, antiseize/lubricants, cleaners, epoxies, gasketing products, hand cleaners and thread treatments is backed up by detailed product descriptions and the Loctite website. The best all-around guide to Loctite products is the "Do It Right" Users Guide. (Requires Adobe's PDF reader). The North Coast Bearings website is http://www.northcoastbearings.com.