Gates has stretched its lead in the supply of online technical data.

The inclusion of a new search engine for the global digital data platform, GatesAutoCat extends access to more Gates product groups and makes the identification and selection of appropriate replacement hoses for most vehicles on European roads much easier.

Optimised for PCs, laptops, smartphones and tablets, GatesAutoCat provides free and easy access to technical data for parts distributors, fleet engineers and professional vehicle mechanics wherever they happen to be – at the counter, in the workshop or at the roadside.

From today, a new ‘Hose’ icon sits alongside the original four search engine icons for Passenger Car, Heavy Duty, Reference Number and New References. Gates has taken the opportunity to add details about its Universal Hose range to GatesAutoCat for the first time. The Universal Hose range is suitable for use on all common vehicle models, whereas the Application‐specific Hose range services specific engine platforms. The ‘Hose’ icon allows users to initiate product enquiries across the entire hose range, enabling them to identify the correct hoses for specific vehicles from a wide range of options.

The inclusion of over 30 different product groups from the Universal Hose range means that technical data about the Gates hose ranges is now accessible from one single source. Although a limited amount of information about certain hoses has been accessible through GatesAutoCat (via both the passenger car and heavy duty search engines), Universal Hose data was previously available only in printed form.

A major bonus for GatesAutoCat users is that the new Hose icon provides access to a series of onscreen ‘Sliders’.

Once GatesAutoCat has identified the correct part, users can ‘click’ through a series of additional options that open windows to more information. Details about materials used in construction, guidelines that may assist with installation, or specifications relating to the operating environment (Working pressure or temperature ranges) are good examples that can either be viewed onscreen or downloaded for later use.