While BorgWarner created and presented the plaque this year, it actually commemorates Area Diesel for earning the Franchise Distributor designation in 2011, when the company was selected as one of just nine original Franchise Distributors.
“First, we want to extend a sincere thank you’to all the people at BorgWarner,” says Area Diesel Service Founder & President Val Leefers. “Their hard work results in extremely powerful, high-quality turbos that diesel enthusiasts request by name. I also want to thank my team for providing the unbeatable service that keeps people turning to Area Diesel for BorgWarner turbos and the other diesel parts they want. Their service and expertise are what led to our position as a Franchise Distributor.”
BorgWarner Regional Sales Manager Sam Tuley presented the plaque to Val Leefers and his son, Vice President & Turbo Department Manager Von Leefers.
There are more than 200 distributors for BorgWarner Turbo Systems, yet only Area Diesel and eight others have been selected by BorgWarner for the Franchise Distributor program.
“Just a few years after I founded Area Diesel, we got the opportunity to distribute some of the most impressive turbos we had ever installed,” says Val Leefers. “Back then, the line was owned by Schwitzer. The turbos, the service and our relationship have only gotten better over the years.”
BorgWarner later purchased Schwitzer along with AG Kühnle Kopp & Kausch and began offering the turbo products under the BorgWarner Turbo Systems brand.
