Bates Australia is a saddle manufacturing company founded in 1934 and headquartered in Perth, Western Australia. The company is run and owned by Ron Bates, who himself is a rider and trained saddler.

"To strive for excellence and innovation in our products" is a philosophy Bates Australia adheres to strongly, and it is from this philosophy that the revolutionary range of Wintec saddles emerged. Wintec is a brand of high quality synthetic saddles manufactured by Bates Australia. Wintec saddles are constructed using radically unique synthetic materials like Equisuede and Equileather.

Equisuede is a premium material to be riding in as it provides the perfect level of grip, does not get slippery when wet and is quick drying. Equileather on the other hand is of the highest UV resistance, is specially impregnated to be sweat resistant and is the lowest maintenance material available for use in the construction of a saddle. Wintec is internationally renowned and sold in more than 20 countries around the world. The success of Wintec has made Bates Australia the biggest volume seller of saddles under the one brand name in the world. The success of Wintec has also won Bates Australia a number of prestigious export and design awards.