Kit Masters
Kit Masters is a family-owned Perham, Minnesota manufacturer of aftermarket fan clutches, rebuild kits, and belt tensioners for heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks, selling exclusively through a distributor network across North, Central, and South America.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersPerham, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kit Masters does
Kit Masters, Inc. is a family-owned, Perham, Minnesota-based manufacturer and marketer of aftermarket thermal-management components for heavy-duty and medium-duty commercial trucks, with secondary exposure to motorcoach/bus applications. The company's product portfolio centers on fan clutches and rebuild kits (GoldTop, 2-Speed GoldTop, 8901N, 8905N, 8001N Kysor-style, and the Spectrum modular viscous line), belt tensioners (PolyForce with polymer torsion cores), and electromagnetic fan clutches and driveshafts for Prevost buses, supported by proprietary technology including the patented Auto Lock fail-safe system and engineered magnetic flux designs. Manufacturing is conducted across a 110,000 sq ft Perham facility (expanded by 32,000 sq ft in 2017) and a 13,000 sq ft Grand Rapids building shared with sister company Swan Machine, a precision machine shop.
The business operates on a one-time product sale model with associated core charges for remanufactured units, sold exclusively through an independent distributor network across North America, Central America, and South America — Kit Masters does not sell direct to the public. The company provides same-day shipping from 12 North American locations, a distributor portal, and Kit Masters University (KMU), a free online training program. Customers are fragmented across heavy-duty and medium-duty fleet operators and individual truck owners, served through distributors rather than direct enterprise contracts. The company is the largest North American aftermarket distributor of BorgWarner/Kysor On/Off fan clutches, representing a single significant brand-licensing dependency alongside its own branded lines. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, and the company offers industry-leading warranties of 3 years/300,000 miles on fan clutches and 2 years/200,000 miles on PolyForce belt tensioners.
Kit Masters firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kit Masters
- Legal name
- Kit Masters, Inc.
- Website
- https://kit-masters.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Kit Masters is a family-owned Perham, Minnesota manufacturer of aftermarket fan clutches, rebuild kits, and belt tensioners for heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks, selling exclusively through a distributor network across North, Central, and South America.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kit Masters industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Heavy-Duty Truck Fan Clutches and Belt Tensioners
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers (42312), Machine Shops (33271)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aftermarket Tools, Equipment & Garage Accessories Manufacturing (Jacks/Lifts/Diagnostic Tools/Compressors) (IMACANAM)
Keywords
Where Kit Masters is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Perham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Kit Masters business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Fan Clutch Sales (New and Remanufactured): Kit Masters sells new (8901N, 8905N, 8001N) and remanufactured fan clutches through distributor network. Some products have core charges associated with them.
- Rebuild Kits: Complete rebuild kits (GoldTop, HP Kits, HT/S style, Kysor-style) and friction-only kits sold to distributors and fleets. High versatility - single kit can rebuild many different fan clutch models.
- Belt Tensioners (PolyForce): PolyForce belt tensioners sold as complete units and modular components. Mobile repair kit also available for mobile repair professionals.
- Engine Fans and Accessories: Thousands of different fans, controls, thermoswitches, solenoid valves, and bearing kits.
- Core Charges: Some products include core charges (e.g., $1,337.00 for core return freight on 14-PF Press Fit Tool). Customers can pre-pay for return freight or ship using own method.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | No public pricing available |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Kit Masters product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kit Masters manufactures and markets premium aftermarket fan clutches (new and remanufactured), fan clutch rebuild kits, heavy-duty belt tensioners, engine fans, controls, and accessories for the heavy-duty and medium-duty commercial trucking markets. Products are sold exclusively through an independent distributor network and are engineered to meet or exceed OEM specifications, with patented fail-safe and polymer-core technologies differentiating the GoldTop and PolyForce lines.
Product overview
Kit Masters is a manufacturer and marketer of heavy-duty and medium-duty trucking components, specializing in fan clutches and related products. The product portfolio centers on the GoldTop fan clutch line (including 2-Speed variants), which offers rebuild kits for Horton DriveMaster and similar style fan clutches with over 5,000 inch-pounds of torque. The company also produces Kysor-style fan clutches (8901N, 8905N, 8001N), Spectrum modular viscous fan drives, PolyForce belt tensioners with polymer torsion core technology, and electromagnetic fan clutches for Prevost buses. Supporting products include engine fans, controls, rebuild kits, and specialty tools like the 14-PF press fit tool. Key technology features include Auto Lock fail-safe technology that prevents roadside breakdowns. The company operates as an independent manufacturer, not affiliated with the OEM brands they reference (Horton, BorgWarner, Kysor, etc.), and serves markets across North America, Central America, and South America.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GoldTop: Premium line of fan clutches and rebuild kits featuring over 5,000 inch-pounds of torque with patented Auto Lock fail-safe technology
- PolyForce
- Spectrum
- Auto Lock
- GoldTop 2-Speed
- Kit Masters University (KMU)
Products and services
- GoldTop Fan Clutches Air-controlled fan clutch and rebuild kits for Horton DriveMaster-style fan clutches, delivering over 5,000 inch-pounds of torque with Auto Lock fail-safe technology; sold through the Kit Masters distributor network for heavy-duty and medium-duty trucking fleets.
- 2-Speed GoldTop Fan Clutches Two-speed fan clutches that rotate at 15-25% engine RPM when disengaged to provide constant airflow while drawing virtually no horsepower, improving fuel economy and clutch life; sold through distributors to fleet and individual truck buyers.
- GoldTop Remanufactured Fan Clutches
Quantifiable outcome
- GoldTop fan clutch provides over 5,000 inch-pounds of torque to handle nearly all fan blades
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Kit Masters
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kit Masters technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Kit Masters partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- BorgWarnercoreKit Masters is the largest North American distributor of BorgWarner aftermarket fan clutches. They distribute Kysor On/Off fan clutches by BorgWarner which are described as dependable, durable and easy to maintain.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kit Masters competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BorgWarner: OEM and aftermarket manufacturer of Kysor fan clutches (On/Off style) that Kit Masters distributes as its largest North American channel partner. Direct product overlap in K-series rear and front air fan clutches for heavy-duty trucks.
- Litens Automotive: Specialist manufacturer of belt tensioners and decoupling pulleys for ICE and hybrid powertrains. Direct competitor to Kit Masters' PolyForce tensioner line in heavy-duty and light commercial applications.
- Dayco: Manufacturer of belt drive components including heavy-duty belt tensioners. Competes with Kit Masters' PolyForce line in the heavy-duty aftermarket for tensioners and related accessories.
- Kysor (BorgWarner brand): Legacy Kysor brand of K22/K26/K30/K32 rear and front air fan clutches for trucks and buses. Kit Masters' 8901N, 8905N, and 8001N are Kysor-style direct replacements, putting them in direct competition/distribution overlap.
- USUI International: Japanese manufacturer of thermal management and engine cooling components, including fan clutches and water pumps for global OEMs. Competes with Kit Masters in electromagnetic and viscous fan clutch technology.
- Horton: Original DriveMaster-style fan clutch maker and the dominant OEM supplier of on/off fan drives for heavy-duty trucks; Kit Masters' GoldTop line is specifically positioned as a Horton-compatible aftermarket replacement.
Broad incumbents
- Gates: Global leader in power transmission belts and related drive components; competes broadly with Kit Masters in belt tensioners and accessories across heavy-duty and medium-duty truck markets, but from a much larger portfolio.
Regional players
- Velvac: North American manufacturer of vision and air management components for heavy-duty trucks including cooling fans. Regional aftermarket competitor with overlap in fans and accessory components sold through similar truck channels.
Others
- NTN USA: Major bearing manufacturer whose bearings are used in fan clutch assemblies (Kit Masters highlights its 14-PF press fit tool for bearing installation). Adjacent component supplier to the fan clutch value chain.
Emerging players
- Mitsubishi Electric (Automotive): OEM supplier of electric cooling fans and electrified thermal management modules for modern heavy-duty and commercial vehicles. Represents the technology shift away from mechanical fan clutches that could compress Kit Masters' core market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kit Masters social profiles
Digital presenceKit Masters financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kit Masters leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Kit Masters subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Kit Masters funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kit Masters M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kit Masters
What does Kit Masters do?
Kit Masters manufactures and markets premium aftermarket fan clutches (new and remanufactured), fan clutch rebuild kits, heavy-duty belt tensioners, engine fans, controls, and accessories for the heavy-duty and medium-duty commercial trucking markets. Products are sold exclusively through an independent distributor network and are engineered to meet or exceed OEM specifications, with patented fail-safe and polymer-core technologies differentiating the GoldTop and PolyForce lines.
Is Kit Masters a public or private company?
Kit Masters is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Kit Masters founded?
Kit Masters was founded in 1998. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Kit Masters based?
Kit Masters is headquartered in Perham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kit Masters make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Fan Clutch Sales (New and Remanufactured) is the primary driver. The others are rebuild Kits, belt Tensioners (PolyForce), engine Fans and Accessories and core Charges.
Who are Kit Masters's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BorgWarner, Litens Automotive, Dayco, Kysor (BorgWarner brand), USUI International and Horton. Gates is listed as a broad incumbent. Velvac is listed as a regional player. NTN USA is listed as an others. Mitsubishi Electric (Automotive) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Kit Masters have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kit Masters.
What industry is Kit Masters in?
Kit Masters's product category is Heavy-Duty Truck Fan Clutches and Belt Tensioners. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACANAM, Aftermarket Tools, Equipment & Garage Accessories Manufacturing (Jacks/Lifts/Diagnostic Tools/Compressors). Its NAICS code is 42312 and its SIC code is 5013.