What Platinum Driveline makes

Platinum Driveline USA is an aftermarket distributor and assembler of manual-transmission driveline components, not a foundry or a stamping shop. Its catalog is built around the clutch system: more than 1,000 clutch kits, plus 377 flywheels, 447 slave cylinders, 421 master cylinders, 63 prefilled hydraulic systems, and lines of clutch covers, discs, cables, and forks. Products are sourced from established overseas manufacturers, then assembled, kitted, and shipped from the company's facility in Eureka, Missouri.

Two lines sit outside the core clutch business. Platinum is the exclusive United States and Canada distributor of Miba Frictec pressed-sinter clutch friction material, an Austrian OEM friction supplier founded in 1927, whose sintered discs deliver improved wear rates and smoother engagement in modern drivetrains. It is also the North American distribution partner for Stabilus, the OEM manufacturer of gas and electromechanical lift supports, a relationship that explains the 2,482-part lift-support catalog running alongside the clutch range. The mix, deep clutch coverage plus two named OEM distribution agreements, positions Platinum as a channel between global parts makers and the North American aftermarket.

Ownership and history

Platinum Driveline was founded in 2012 by two industry veterans: Robert (Bob) Insalaco, former General Manager at AMS Automotive, and Art Lottes III, former President of Carquest Auto Parts. The company remains founder and family-owned, with Robert Insalaco as president and owner and Erin Insalaco as co-owner and head of human resources. Day-to-day operations run through a small management team: Mick Desmond leads product management and technical support, and Richard Ives manages quality and customer service.

The company has grown mainly by acquisition and distribution agreements rather than by building plants. In 2018 it opened a subsidiary distribution center and sales office in Queretaro City, Mexico, in partnership with Seire. In March 2021 it acquired Global Parts Source of Holland, Michigan, a distributor of FTE clutch hydraulic parts, adding that customer base and hydraulic program. In August 2022 it took on the exclusive Miba Frictec distribution rights for the US and Canada. In October 2023 it opened an additional distribution center in Warwick, Rhode Island, to shorten transit times for Eastern-region customers. On January 1, 2024, it was named a vendor partner to the Automotive Parts Services Group, extending its reach through Federated Auto Parts and The Pronto Network.

Certifications and quality

Platinum Driveline USA announced ISO 9001:2015 certification of its Quality Management System in October 2023, a step the company described as requiring collaboration across every level of the organization. It maintains a written quality policy, re-signed in 2026 and posted on its own site, built around customer focus, leadership commitment, process discipline, and continual improvement. For a distributor, an ISO 9001 system covers inbound inspection, supplier control, and order accuracy rather than production, which fits a business whose value is sourcing the right part and getting it to the shelf. Buyers evaluating a channel partner on supplier quality processes can read the certification and policy directly.

Known customers

Platinum Driveline sells through the aftermarket distribution channel rather than to named OEM production programs, so its "customers" are parts groups and program partners rather than vehicle assemblers. The documented relationships:

These are distribution and vendor agreements, the demand side of Platinum's business. Its supply side, the manufacturers it imports from, shows up separately in the customs record below.

Sourcing evidence

Platinum Driveline's import record reads exactly like a clutch distributor's: 744 sea shipments since January 2015, almost entirely clutch discs, covers, kits, flywheels, and hydraulic cylinders under HS heading 8708.93 (clutches and parts thereof) and 8483.50 (flywheels). Goods in, kitted parts out. The most recent shipment on record landed September 15, 2026, so the import program is active. Bills of lading name the foreign manufacturers behind the catalog; the most active:

Seven shown of a longer supplier list; Platinum also imports under 14 names and 12 addresses in the records. By origin, the sourcing is heavily Asian: China 418 shipments, South Korea 172, and Taiwan 56, together about 92% of volume, with Germany (29), the United Kingdom (23), and Austria (3, consistent with the Miba friction line) making up the European remainder. One name of note is Valeo Pyeong Hwa, the Korea joint venture of Valeo, a tier-one clutch maker, which supplies Platinum's highest shipment count and signals OEM-grade sourcing rather than commodity clutches.

Volume has softened recently: the trailing 12-month shipment count is down about 24% year over year, though the program remains active with shipments landing into September 2026. For buyers weighing tariff exposure and nearshoring, the concentration in China and Korea is the relevant fact, partly offset by a Mexico distribution presence and the European friction supply.

Coverage caveats: these are US ocean-freight records only. Air, truck, and rail movements do not appear; some records name freight intermediaries rather than manufacturers; and product categories come from declared manifest codes, which are noisy. Absence of a record is not evidence of absence.

Frequently asked questions

What does Platinum Driveline make?

Platinum Driveline USA is an aftermarket distributor and assembler of manual-transmission driveline parts: clutch kits, flywheels, clutch covers and discs, clutch cables and forks, master and slave cylinders, and prefilled hydraulic systems. It also distributes Stabilus lift supports and Miba Frictec sintered clutch friction material. Products are sourced globally and assembled at its Eureka, Missouri facility.

Who owns Platinum Driveline?

Platinum Driveline is founder and family-owned. It was co-founded in 2012 by Robert Insalaco, former General Manager at AMS Automotive, and Art Lottes III, former President of Carquest Auto Parts. Robert Insalaco is president and owner, and Erin Insalaco is co-owner. The company is independent, not part of a larger parent group.

Where is Platinum Driveline located?

Platinum Driveline's headquarters and main distribution center are at 116 Workman Court, Eureka, Missouri 63025, in the St. Louis metro area. It also operates a distribution center in Warwick, Rhode Island (opened 2023) and a subsidiary distribution center and sales office in Queretaro City, Mexico (opened 2018).

Who are Platinum Driveline's customers?

Platinum Driveline sells through the aftermarket distribution channel. It is a named vendor partner to the Automotive Parts Services Group, reaching Federated Auto Parts and The Pronto Network, the North American distribution partner for Stabilus lift supports, and the exclusive US and Canada distributor for Miba Frictec friction material.

What certifications does Platinum Driveline hold?

Platinum Driveline USA holds ISO 9001:2015 certification of its Quality Management System, announced in October 2023. It maintains a written quality policy, re-signed in 2026 and posted on its website, covering customer focus, process control, and continual improvement.

Where does Platinum Driveline source its parts?

Per US customs bill-of-lading records, Platinum Driveline imports mainly from South Korea and China, with its largest suppliers including Valeo Pyeong Hwa International and Seojin Automotive in Korea and Taizhou Victor Clutch and Ningbo Hongxie in China. About 92% of shipments originate in Asia, with a smaller European share that includes Austria, consistent with its Miba friction line.

Last verified September 28, 2026. Is this your company? Request a correction.