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Natrad celebrates 40 years

For Natrad, 2024 is a milestone anniversary, marking 40 years of supporting Australia’s motorists, transport operators and trade customers with quality cooling solutions and repair parts.

Back in 1984, Bob Hawke was prime minister, the median house price in Melbourne was $65,000 and Ford’s XE Falcon was the top-selling car in Australia. A lot has changed since then.

Something that hasn’t changed though, is Natrad’s commitment to providing quality cooling solutions, repair parts and services that help keep vehicles and equipment running right across the country.

Solving cooling issues has always been a key strength of Natrad workshops.

The ‘N’ in the Natrad brand itself represents heat entering (red arrow) and cool leaving (blue arrow) after passing through a heat exchanger.

The first Natrad workshop was established in Newcastle, NSW in 1984. Image: Natrad

The Natrad Auto Cooling Service Centre franchise group was created by Natra, which was an original equipment radiator manufacturer and supplier to General Motors Holden and Chrysler back in the 1950’s. Later in 2006, the Natra Group of companies was acquired by Adrad (also an Australian radiator manufacturer).

With this history comes a depth of knowledge and understanding about heat exchangers, which means Natrad has a wealth of experience with radiator inspections, repairs, maintenance, re-coring and replacement services.

Natrad workshops are unique, with the group being founded in automotive parts manufacturing in Australia for both original equipment (Natra) and aftermarket (Adrad).

Natrad workshops quickly developed a reputation for superior radiator repair work and high-quality cooling products and led the industry with an extended warranty on passenger vehicle radiators.

This has continued with Natrad’s three-year nationwide warranty being fully supported by their workshops all across the country.

With around 50 workshops nationwide, Natrad has become a market leader and specialist in the repair and maintenance of engine cooling and air conditioning systems for passenger and heavy vehicles. Their product range has significantly expanded from radiators to include many kinds of engine cooling parts such as oil coolers, intercoolers, and EGR coolers. To restore cabin cooling, a variety of air conditioning products are available including compressors, condensers, evaporators, TX valves and hoses.

Need a service or repairs? Natrad offers brake parts, filters, spark plugs, shock absorbers and much more to keep vehicles well maintained.

Natrad technicians are familiar with diagnosing, maintaining, and repairing cooling systems. Having access to Natrad’s wide range of quality products and parts makes them fast and efficient at providing you with practical cooling solutions. They can advise and quote on a variety of options to achieve purpose-built cooling solutions for specialist applications including passenger vehicles, on-highway, off-road, racing, high performance, agriculture, earthmoving, rail, marine, mining and power generation.

The evolution in design of vehicles and equipment includes the materials used in parts construction. Natrad provide radiators made from copper and brass materials to aluminium and plastic. Sometimes modern materials such as plastic and aluminium can lack the strength and durability of older designs. Natrad can provide copper-brass radiators to replace plastic-aluminium ones, which have been particularly favoured by 4×4 enthusiasts for their ease of repair if damaged and the ability to withstand corrosive environments.

Heavy duty cooling

Within the Natrad workshop group there are some with specific specialist skills. Natrad Heavy Duty Cooling (HDC) workshops have the specialist know-how and equipment to repair cooling products for large trucks and heavy vehicles. They have a wealth of knowledge about the best cooling solutions for hard working vehicles and tough operating environments. These facilities are fitted with cranes and large test tanks needed to rebuild such large cooling components.

During October and November, a special 40-year anniversary bonus offer is available to Big Rigs readers. When re-coring your truck radiator with an Australian made Adrad bolt-on radiator core or air radiator core, you’ll be able to claim a BONUS Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ WiFi 64GB tablet.

These cores feature welded header construction for extra strength and can be optioned with Ultra-T high density tube design for high performance cooling.

Click here to enter your claim.

In 2024 and beyond, Natrad will continue to grow their parts range, supporting vehicle owners, operators and repairers with specialist knowledge and quality products.

Regardless of your machine’s type or size, when you “Nip into Natrad”, you will be rewarded with access to friendly, knowledgeable advice and quality products that are backed with national warranty support.

Visit natrad.com.au to find your nearest workshop or call 131 723.

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