In 1911, Charles C. Gates acquired a tire and rubber company and set up shop in Denver, Colorado. A few years later, Gates invented the V-belt, which revolutionized power transmission. After this start, the Company went on to introduce countless other innovations in power transmission and fluid power that have impacted virtually every industry. Over a century later, Gates still calls Denver home, but that small family-owned business has grown into a global leader in power transmission and fluid power products, services, and solutions, with more than 15,000 employees and over 100 locations in 30 countries.
The Gates Corporation invested in a new power transmission facility in the Aegean Free Zone in İzmir, Türkiye in 2009. The investment enabled Gates to benefit from local market growth potential for its automotive business. It also offered a strategic location from which to further grow markets to the West, East and Middle East. This plant supported the fast-growing demand for oil pumps and tensioners in Europe.
In 2018, Gates strengthened its presence in İzmir with the acquisition of a Turkish company Rapro, manufacturer of molded and branched hoses and other products used primarily in commercial, heavy-duty and light vehicle replacement applications. Today Gates operates in three different locations at Aegean Free Zone (ESBAŞ), İzmir Kemalpasa Organized Industrial Zone (KOSBI) and Turgutlu, Manisa, in Türkiye.
