Key Players
Competitive Landscape
The market is divided between companies that engineer CVT systems and specialists that solve application-level calibration problems. TEAM Industries and Hilliard Corporation show system engineering through recent patent activity. CVTech-IBC couples driven-pulley products with formal geometry and alignment guidance. STM Powersports and EPI Performance expose helix and spring selection directly to the buyer, while Dalton Industries packages calibration around defined vehicle and tire combinations.
The commercial dividing line is the amount of diagnosis that remains after the customer selects the product. A dealer still needs answers to three questions: whether the assembly fits the exact model, whether belt alignment will remain within tolerance, and whether the secondary calibration matches the intended load. A supplier that resolves all three before installation can justify complete-assembly replacement more easily than one selling hardware without a configuration path.
Company Developments Mapped to Drivers, Trends and Opportunities (2026-2036)
| Development | Driver | Trend | Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton Industries introduced the DB HD11-2 in June 2026 for 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 models using 33 to 34 inch tires. | Larger tires change CVT load, upshift behavior and backshift requirements. | More recalibration products are being tied to exact vehicle and tire combinations. | Package complete setup guidance around defined tire sizes and working conditions. |
| TEAM Industries received US 12,422,024 B2 in September 2025 for a CVT clutch with a movable-sheave actuator. | Vehicle platforms require greater control over CVT ratio response across changing operating conditions. | Secondary-side control can extend beyond a fully passive reactive mechanism. | Develop serviceable controlled-clutch architectures for selected off-highway platforms. |
| Hilliard Corporation's EP 4 563 849 A1 was published in June 2025 for a driven clutch with separate acceleration and engine-braking helix ramps. | Secondary clutches must react to torque in both driving and deceleration conditions. | Helix geometry is becoming more application-specific within driven-clutch design. | Use differentiated ramp behavior to address engine braking and backshift within one assembly. |
These developments attack the same commercial problem from different directions. Dalton starts with a changed vehicle configuration and recalibrates the CVT for it. Hilliard separates torque response during acceleration and engine braking through helix geometry. TEAM Industries adds an actuator-based path for sheave movement. The common opportunity is to reduce the gap between supplying a complete assembly and delivering one that behaves correctly in the target vehicle.
How do suppliers differentiate in the Secondary Clutch Assembly Market?
Supplier differentiation occurs at three levels. System-oriented companies compete through clutch architecture and integration with the rest of the CVT. Performance specialists expose secondary spring and helix choices so the buyer can alter shift behavior. Replacement specialists narrow the decision around exact model, tire or duty requirements. These are different propositions even when all three ultimately sell secondary-side hardware.
Which companies provide complete secondary assemblies with visible tuning depth?
STM Powersports offers billet secondary assemblies with selectable helix angles and spring options. EPI Performance lists direct-replacement secondary clutches as well as applications requiring new spring or helix components. Dalton Industries sells calibrated kits for defined vehicle and tire combinations. In each case, the configuration decision is visible before the vehicle enters the workshop.
Which recent developments matter for secondary-clutch calibration?
Dalton's June 2026 DB HD11-2 directly addresses larger-tire calibration. Hilliard's June 2025 European patent application separates acceleration and engine-braking helix behavior. TEAM Industries' September 2025 U.S. patent introduces an actuator-based route for moving a sheave independently of the clutch's normal reactive mechanism. Together, these developments show that secondary-clutch competition is moving beyond simple worn-unit replacement toward more deliberate control of ratio response.
What should dealers evaluate when choosing a secondary-clutch supplier?
Dealers should start with model year, belt geometry and intended vehicle load before comparing price. The next question is whether the assembly retains the original spring and helix or requires a different configuration. Alignment procedures and tightening torque also matter because a correctly selected clutch can still generate a poor service outcome when installation geometry is wrong.
Representative Company Overview
| Company | Positioning | Verified Development |
|---|---|---|
| TEAM Industries | CVT and drivetrain engineering with complete clutch-system capability | US 12,422,024 B2 granted in September 2025 for a CVT clutch with a movable-sheave actuator. |
| CVTech-IBC | Driven-pulley and CVT supplier with formal installation-geometry guidance | February 2025 pulley specification guidance details alignment checks, shims and tightening torque. |
| EPI Performance | Aftermarket replacement and clutch-calibration specialist for ATV and UTV applications | Current secondary-clutch catalog distinguishes direct replacements from applications requiring new spring or helix components. |
| STM Powersports | Performance secondary-assembly supplier with selectable helix and spring configurations | VELOCITY tuner secondary assembly is offered with multiple helix-angle and spring choices for Can-Am Outlander applications. |
| Dalton Industries | Vehicle-specific powersports clutch calibration and replacement specialist | DB HD11-2 introduced in June 2026 for 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 models using larger tires. |
| Hilliard Corporation | Driven-clutch engineering focused on torque-reactive secondary architectures | EP 4 563 849 A1 published in June 2025 for a driven clutch with separate acceleration and engine-braking helix ramps. |
The representative set spans system engineering and application-level calibration. That distinction matters because a buyer may be restoring a worn clutch to factory behavior, correcting setup after a tire or duty change, or deliberately changing how the vehicle responds under load. Each job places a different value on complete-assembly coverage, model fitment and secondary-side tunability.
Research Methodology
Competitive analysis combines current company product documentation with recent patent records, regulatory material and public corporate filings. Benchmark criteria focus on complete secondary-assembly coverage, secondary-side calibration depth and vehicle fitment support. Country analysis considers vehicle operating conditions, manufacturing activity and service-channel structure. Market sizing follows the product boundary, segmentation and forecasting approach stated earlier in this report.
