The Gates power transmission facility and its employees in Elizabethtown, Kentucky were named recipients of a key supplier award in May from long-time, valued customer Harley-Davidson for participation in the company’s Supplier Continuous Improvement Process. The award recognizes excellence in broad business management, quality, cost, delivery, technology and continuous improvement. Elizabethtown employees were honored for exceeding all performance improvement goals and best-in-class metrics established by Harley-Davidson. In acknowledging the performance by the Elizabethtown facility, Harley-Davidson vice president of materials management Paul Wiers noted, “Gates exceeded all performance improvement goals and best-in-class metrics established by Harley-Davidson. The company demonstrated truly outstanding performance.”

Tribby Warfield, president of Gates Commercial North America, said, “This is a great achievement for the Elizabethtown facility and I can tell you all associates are very proud to be recognized for their performance and commitment to continuous improvement. We are thrilled to move forward with new growth projects with Harley-Davidson.”

The Elizabethtown plant recently had the distinction of receiving the first annual President’s Award for 2010 by Gates Corporation. This newly established award recognizes Gates manufacturing facilities in North America that make the most overall improvement over the prior year. The Elizabethtown plant reduced costs across the board while also increasing sales.

Ken Friedman, president of Gates Operations, presented the Gates award to Larry Brewer, Elizabethtown plant manager, in Denver, Colorado, earlier this year. Joining in the presentation was Warfield and James McCoy, vice president, North America Operations. A second presentation took place in Elizabethtown and included many of the plant’s 163 employees.