ReMaTecNews 01-2013

• APRA News• FIRM News• International events

www.rematecnews.com

• Nominations open for2013 Reman Award

• Bayreuth’s Köhler joinsChina’s Mingjie Group

• Mayer succeedsFrank at CLEPA

ReMaTecNews2013 - NO 1 - VOLUME 13REMANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL

ZF – 50 years with reman clutches

REMATECNEWS 1-2013:REMATEC-1/2004 05-02-2013 10:14 Pagina 1

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CONTENTS

ReMaTec2013is gearing up 16The 2013 ReMaTec exhibition is preparing fora bumper year. Set to be the year’s largestautomotive and commercial reman show, arecord number of exhibitors have signed up.

A UK remanufacturer of replacement partsfor trucks and buses has introduced what’sbelieved to be the country’s first two-yearwarranty for remanufactured brake callipers.And the move is generating more sales.

ZF’s remanufactured clutch operations areamong the world’s largest. ReMaTecNews visited Bielefeld in Germany, where it all started 50 years ago.

50 years and stillgoing strong 12

www.rematecnews.com

‘OE suppliers have always talked remanufac-turers down. Well, we are talking them upand we are selling more than ever’

4 Editorial

5 Chinese post for German academic

7 Change at CLEPA Aftermarket

9 ERC wins award

26 Nominations open

24 APRA News

26 FIRM News

27 Transmission World

29 News from other organisations

30 International events and trade fairs

In 2013: 6 editions ReMaTecNews Magazine Special pages on Transmissions in edition 1, 3, 5Special pages on Heavy Duty/Trucks in edition 2, 4, 6

NO 1 • FEBRUARY 2013 • VOLUME 13

Longer warrantyboosts sales 18

Andrew Bennett, Managing Director, RSL, UK


Towards the end of 2012 the American government’s Inter -national Trade Commission, USITC, published its long-awaitedreport entitled ‘Remanufactured Goods: An Overview of theU.S. and Global Industries, Markets and Trade.’ It can be down-loaded from www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4356.pdf –and it’s more than worth the effort.

Besides a general overview of remanufacturing in the US, thereport provides a range of data relevant to remanufacturerseverywhere. Ot least Europe. Between them, they give a goodindication of trends and developments within the various fieldsof remanufacturing globally – of which automotive and commercial vehicle reman, is, of course, a very important part.

With the US market for remanufactured products growing by 17 per cent (from 3.3 billioneuros to 3.9 billion euros) between 2009 and 2011, heavy duty and automotive remanaccounted for a considerable percentage of the increase. That trend is undoubtedly mirroredelsewhere.

Thus the report sends out two important signals to the wider world. Governments – in thiscase the US administration – are increasingly recognising remanufacturing as an importantdriver in the battle against CO2 emissions and the decline in the world’s stock of raw materials. At the same time, it points towards the many new opportunities for remanufac-turers arising from governments’ endeavours to accelerate the greening of the planet.

Both testify to the ‘New Normal’ – which is that remanufacturing is now taking its rightfulplace among the key segments of the global motor industry. And not only that, reman is coming to many other areas of industrial activity worldwide. The trends are there for everyone to see. Now it’s up to remanufacturers to seize their moment.

Reman – a truly global industry

ReMaTecNews

4 l ReMaTecNews

Volume 13 – Number 1 – February 2013

ReMaTecNews, the only international news magazine and website dedicated to automotive and heavy duty remanufacturing worldwide, is an independent channel for news, views and developments within the remanufacturing industry.

Published by:Amsterdam RAI B.V.P.O. Box 777771070 MS AmsterdamThe Netherlands

In association with

Editor-in-ChiefWilliam SchwarckPhone +44 (0)1865 340 [email protected]

Advertising SalesEva BartenPhone +31 (0)20 549 13 75Fax +31 (0)20 549 18 89Ewoud BarinkPhone +31 (0)20 549 13 75Fax +31 (0)20 549 18 [email protected]

PublisherNiels Klarenbeek (responsible under Dutch Press Law)[email protected]

Production Niels ZwanPhone +31 (0)20 549 12 [email protected]

Design & Art Van Munster & Bos, Amsterdam

PrintingMediaCenter Rotterdam, The Netherlands

CopyrightAmsterdam RAI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Reproduction Permitted, providing ReMaTecNews is credited

Subscription magazine and e-newsletterwww.rematecnews.com

Change of addressPhone +31 (0)20 504 28 00, Fax +31 (0)20 504 28 88E-mail [email protected]

Websitewww.rematecnews.com

ReMaTecNews magazine onlinewww.rematecnews.com

Circulation 13,230 readers per edition. The magazine is delivered on a controlled circulation basis to recipients in Western Europe, Eastern Europe,Africa, North America, South America and Asia.

EDITOR’S LETTER

William Schwarck, Editor-in-Chief

Follow ReMaTecNews on Twitter, LinkedIn,YouTube and Facebook


ReMaTecNews l 5

NEWS FROM THE INDUSTRY

From Bayreuth in Bavaria, Germany, toGuangzhou in Southern China is quite somedistance – and quite a cultural gap. Not alwayseasy to bridge.

Nevertheless, that is precisely what 31year-old, Dr.-Ing. Daniel C. F. Köhler, a formermanagement consultant and scientist at theUniversity of Bayreuth, is currently undertak-ing. Having vacated the Chair of Manufactur-ing and Remanufacturing in Bayreuth in thesummer of 2012, Daniel Köhler now heads upthe Strategy and Development Department atthe Mingjie Group in Guangzhou, one ofChina’s fastest growing companies within thefield of environmental protection technolo-gies, logistics and remanufacturing. In view ofthe company’s extensive reman investmentprogramme, all indications are that Mingjie isset to emerge as a new force in Chinese (andinternational) automotive remanufacturing.

The tie-up between the German acade-mic and the Chinese company happened as aresult of a project undertaken by University ofBayreuth on behalf of Mingjie when the Chi-

nese started to roll out their plans for divertinginto remanufacturing. On the backdrop of itsinvolvement in recycling, utilization of renew-able resources such as domestic electrical andelectronic appliances, plastics, copper and alu-minium alloy products, Mingjie sees newopportunities in automotive remanufacturing,and recently decided to enter the market.

One of the initial steps involved a con-tract with Professor Rolf Steinhilper’s Chair ofManufacturing and Remanufacturing inBayreuth, another the initiation of a large-scale building programme for advancedremanufacturing in Foshan near Guangzhou –and a third was hiring of Dr. Köhler as part ofMingjie’s management team in charge ofdeveloping Mingjie’s Remanufacturing Busi-ness Unit.

The business unit focuses on large-scale,high quality remanufacturing with focus onremanufactured turbochargers, engines andstarters and alternators,” Daniel Köhlerexplained to ReMaTecNews.”Later in the yearwe expect to inaugurate what will be one of

From academia to Chinathe one of the most advanced reman facilitiesin China.”

OpportunityAs for his own involvement, Dr. Köhler men-tions factors such as the impressive develop-ment of the Chinese economy, the Chinesegovernment’s promotion of remanufacturingand the Mingjie Group’s culture. “I’m reallypleased with the opportunity to be part of creating something new and huge - from theearliest plans to the running of the business,”he says.

During his time at the University ofBayreuth, Dr. Köhler was involved in morethan two dozen industrial and scientific pro-jects, ranging from small sized companies toglobal players and OEMs. In addition to his2011 doctoral thesis, Regenerative SupplyChains, Daniel Köhler has published severalarticles about remanufacturing, Life CycleAssessment, Logistics and Supply Chain Man-agement. He has also delivered presentationsat national and international conferences.


13-14th March 2013Workshop with plant visits in Almelo (Netherlands)

Plant visit of Actronics

Plant visit of Ganzeboom

Accommodation @

On Wednesday 13th plant visit @ Actronics and on Thursday 14th plant visit @ Ganzeboom

Top Speakers: APRA Europe:Fernand Weiland - European Remanufacturing: Market Development Peter Bartel - Reliability, Safety & Quality of Remanufactured PartsActronics:Leon Kleine Staarman - Introduction to remanufactuing Electronics & MechatronicsUni Bayreuth:Alexander Nagel - Use of Remanufactured Parts for future Service ProcessesBU Drive Group:Prof. Carsten Bücker & Clemens Ortgies - New Technologies in Industrial Engine Controls and their Impact on RemanufacturingBlue Reach:Dr. William Henney - Remanufacturing Transmissions with embedded MechatronicsGanzeboom Transmissies:Michel Ganzeboom - Remanufacturing TransmissionsReMaTec Exhibitions:Niels Klarenbeek - Preview Rematec 2013

Preliminary PROGRAM

More informations about the workshop, program sequence, payment and accommodation at:

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ReMaTecNews l 7

Wolfgang Mayersteps inAn experienced automotive executive has beennamed the successor to Josef Frank, Senior Advi-sor, at CLEPA’s headquarters in Brussels. Witheffect from March 1 Wolfgang Mayer, a Boschexecutive since 1996, will take over at the in -fluential aftermarket association. His areas ofresponsibility will include CLEPA’s reman-relatedactivities.

Having worked in a number of differentcountries in Europe,Africa and North andSouth America – andin different manage-ment positions withinBosch’s AutomotiveAftermarket Division -Wolfgang Mayerbrings wide experi-ence to his new posi-

tion. Since 2008, he has held the post of Region-al Director for Spain and Portugal for the Ger-man aftermarket giant. Long before this, in the1970s, he worked in Brussels when Bosch estab-lished its first regional organisation in Europe.

“As you know, reman is an importantactivity within Bosch and we clearly see theadvantage of the reman business for the envi-ronment and for the economy in terms of theconsiderable savings in raw materials,” Wolf-gang Mayer told ReMaTecNews. “Nor shouldwe forget that the reman industry provides avery large number of jobs in Europe. I fully sup-port the endeavours of the industry to establishreman as a recognised product category andwithin my new position in CLEPA I shall contin-ue to pursue this task together with my col-leagues from the other associations.”

Josef Frank leavesAfter close to 50 years in the motor industry,Josef Frank, Senior Consultant with CLEPA in

Brussels for the pastsix years, is retiring.He will, however,maintain some ofhis links to theindustry as an inde-

pendent consultant.During his time in Brussels, Josef Frank has

played a central role in placing reman at theheart of CLEPA’s activities. Throughout histenure, Josef Frank exercised considerable influ-ence through lobbying on behalf of the inde-pendent aftermarket and supporting consumerchoice within the EU framework.

“To get results for our members one needsknowledge, reciprocity, fairness and respect forother stakeholders. We had interesting issuesduring these years when the focus was on main-taining competition for the sake of consumersand suppliers and to underline the importanceof suppliers in the whole chain,” he once said. Asentiment which Josef Frank has more thanlived up to himself.

Changes at CLEPA

timely delivery, high quality

Phone: +31(0)546 819 510 [email protected] www.ganzeboom.net The Netherlands



ReMaTecNews l 9


ERC 2013 HD Remanufacturer of the YearAt the HDRG Remanufacturing Summit in LasVegas in January, the Heavy Duty Remanufac-turing Group of the Automotive Parts Reman-ufacturers Association (APRA)awarded Electronics Remanu-facturing Company (ERC) ofMichigan its ‘Mike Hill HeavyDuty Remanufacturer of theYear Award.’

The award is given to acompany or individual who hasdemonstrated innovative waysto create and grow a successfulbusiness model and advance thescience of remanufacturing.

“The panel’s decision toaward ERC this year’s award rec-ognizes their pioneering effortswithin electronics remanufac-turing in the commercial vehi-cle market,” said Bill Gager,President of APRA/HDRG.

ERC’s board is made up of commercialvehicle industry veterans, Jim Morrow (CEO),

former President of Detroit Diesel, RussSchinzing (President), former GM of DetroitDiesel Remanufacturing Electronics Division

and Warren Klein, formerowner of Transaxle.

Underservices market place“ERC was formed in January2010 to service an underservicedmarketplace,” said PresidentRuss Schinzing. “We were oneof the first independent, com-mercial vehicle focused, elec-tronics remanufacturers to rec-ognize that there were manyelectronic components on theengine, cab, and trailer thatwere not being offered asremanufactured parts.”

“ERC began as an engi-neering heavy company with

very strong reverse engineering capabilities tohelp OEM and Tier 1 customers that want to

remanufacture electronic modules apart fromtheir direct supplier of new,” Schinzing said.“We independently re verse engineered manyof the abandoned products and worked withthe OEM and Tier 1 engineering teams toachieve process and specification approval.”ERC was recently awarded the 2012 NorthAmerican Company of the Year Award in theRemanufacturing Electronics market by ana-lysts Frost & Sullivan.

Company president Russ Schinzingaccepted the award from Sandra Standley,HDRG Chairman. ERC became the 6th recipi-ent of this award joining past recipients Preci-sion Rebuilders (St. Clair, Missouri), WellerTruck Parts (Grand Rapids, Michigan), Arvin-Meritor (Plainfield, Indiana), Camerota TruckParts (Enfield, Connecticut) and TransAxle(Cinnaminson, New Jersey).

“The award given to ERC award is a fit-ting tribute for a company that has helpedmany remanufacturers understand theopportunities in electronics and mecha -tronics,” Standley stated.

ERC President Russ Schinzing.


10 l ReMaTecNews

Therefore, if anyone knows of a reman-ufacturer or other player in the reman indus-try who deserves to be honoured for a con-tinuously excellent performance and formaking a special contribution, ReMaTecNewswould like to hear from you. Likewise, if youfeel that your business deserves wider recog-nition than is perhaps the case today. Thewinners of the the annual Remanufacturer ofthe Year Award comprise some of the remanindustry’s foremost achievers. Other compa-nies and individuals, however, are also deserv-ing of the honour and we would like toencourage them to step forward.

Nominations open for 2013Remanufacturer of the Year

The panel of judges for the 2013 award consists of Volker Schittenhelm representing FIRM; Fernand Weiland, Vice Chairman, APRA’s European Division and William Schwarck, Editor-in-Chief, ReMaTecNews.

Fernand Weiland Volker Schittenhelm William Schwarck

The Panel of Judges

Doug Wolma, Head of World-Wide Aftermarket, Meritor, was named ReMaTecNews’ Remanufacturer of the

Year in 2012. Wolma received the award from Dr. Nabil Nasr of Rochester Institute of Technology, New York,

and William Schwarck, Editor-in-Chief, ReMaTecNews.

Every year since 2005 ReMatecNews hasawarded the automotive and commercialvehicle reman industry’s finest honour, theRemanufacturer of the Year Award, to anindividual or a company that has served thereman industry with particular distinction.The winner of this year’s award will beannounced at a ceremony on Monday June17 during the ReMaTec2013 show in Amster-dam, The Netherlands, and we now invitenominations for the award to be submittedno later than May 15, 2013 to:

ReMatecNews’ Remanufacturer of the Year Award [email protected]

Candidates will be evaluated on the basis ofinnovation, technical excellence, customerservice and commitment to the promotion ofthe qualities of remanufacturing. Nomina-tions should include a clear and reasonedexplanation for the nomination as well as thebackground of the organisation or individualproposed. Candidates who have been nominated beforecan be renominated and, without any obliga-tion, the panel of judges would welcome suchnominations.


ReMaTecNews l 11

Doug Wolma, Meritor Philippe James, Remy Automotive Europe François Augnet, TRW Carsten Bücker, BU Drive Group

Johan van Gerven, MRT Engines Martin Detzen, MD Rebuilt Alexander Schäfer, MS Motor Service Int. Jens Lindholm, Holger Christiansen


12 l ReMaTecNews

A few miles outside the centre of Bielefeld,an 800-year-old city in North Rhine-West-phalia in western Germany, lies a quiet resi-dential area. Nothing unusual in that. Tens ofthousands of similar districts are dottedacross German cities and towns. Green, grassyand almost rural.

Except that, bang in the middle, is a fac-tory – and a pretty busy one at that. Howev-er the neighbours adjacent to the plant nevercomplain. In fact, a significant number workthere, which means they can walk to work.Not an insignificant benefit at a point in timewhen millions spend hours a day commutingto and from their workplace.

“Like many here, I’m one of those whocan walk to the office,” smiles Core ManagerAndré Temme. “In fact, our location is thereason why we have so many loyal employeeshere. If we were to relocate somewhere else,perhaps 50 per cent might leave us. And wecannot afford that because we need highlyskilled people. Moreover, we see our goodrelations with our neighbours as evidencethat we run a very environmentally-friendlyoperation. Which we strive to do.”

The plant in question is ZF Bielefeld,Germany’s oldest clutch remanufacturingoperation and ZF Friedrichshafen’s firstreman business. Established in 1963, theplant has been in continuous operation eversince under the Sachs brand, rising from hum-ble, almost coincidental, beginnings to whatit is today, Europe’s largest clutch remanu-facturer. Part of this year, therefore, willrightly be dedicated to celebrating its firsthalf century.

Bikes and motorcycles“Our roots go back even further,” explainedPlant Manager Jürgen Palupski. “Originally,

the factory here made bicycles and lightmotorcycles. Then a small-scale clutch manu-facturing business started up. And that, inturn, led to the remanufacturing of clutches.We’ve now been doing that for fivedecades.”

Obviously, much has changed over theyears. In the early part of the new millenniumtorque converters for commercial vehicleswere added to the programme and in recentyears, the plant has seen extensive upgrad-ing. In November a refurbished hall wasopened and a number of other improve-ments carried out at a total cost of more thanone million euros. The plant may be 50 yearsold but its operations are entirely up-to-date– which is in keeping with the ZF’s groupsoverall approach to environmental protec-tion measures and remanufacturing.

One example of this was the group’s“Year of Energy” initiative last year underwhich all units worldwide were set targets forenergy improvements, which resulted in a sig-nificant reduction in ZF’s overall energy con-sumption. “Since one of the great benefits ofremanufacturing lies in energy savings, it’s

ZF Bielefeld – 50 years oEach year the giant German automotive and CV supplier, ZF Friedrichshafen, remanufacturesmore than 2 million clutch cover assemblies and clutch discs at plants in Germany, Slovakia,Brazil and South Africa. At the heart of ZF’s clutch reman operations lies its plant in Bielefeld,Germany. ReMaTecNews visited the place, where it all started – 50 years ago this year.

� By William Schwarck

‘ W

v

Core Manager André Temme, Plant Manager Jörg Witthöft and Logistics Manager Jürgen Palupski:

Commitment to high-quality clutch remanufacturing.


ReMaTecNews l 13

only natural that we here in Bielefeld dideverything in our power to meet the target ofsaving 20 per cent in energy over the year.And we more than succeeded, proving thatenergy savings go hand in hand with reman-ufacturing,” said Senior Manager Jørg Wit-thoft.”

Production

The size and ambition of the operations inBielefeld, a central part of the ZF group’sreman activities can be illustrated by somesimple figures. Employing a workforce ofsome 250 people, each year the plant dis-patches more than 220,000 remanufacturedparts, 12,000 torque converters for commer-cial vehicles, the latter having been added inthe early part of the last decade.

As Andre Temme explains: “We addedtorque converters because our peoplealready possessed the skills required. Whenyou install a dual mass flywheel you have toopen up the whole power train anyway so it

makes sense to add this additional product tothe range.”

Global marketsThe products from the plant in Windelsble-icher Strasse reach customers across theglobe, although primarily OEMs and almostexclusively applications for European vehicles.US built vehicles are not a focus area because

clutches from the US vary greatly from Euro-pean ones. Russia, however, is on the radar –although everyone recognises the practicaldifficulties in a difficult market – and someconsignments also go to China and Japan.

As for the future? On the backdrop ofthe recent upgrading programme at theplant, confidence is running high. ”We willcontinue to optimise material and productionflow in order to make procedures more effi-

cient. One problem for remanufacturers isthat material costs are on the rise, while pricesremain stable. One way of dealing with this isto become more efficient,” says Jurgen Palup-ski.

High standardsAndré Temme adds: “You can grow the busi-ness either by speeding up processes andworking faster, which would not be fair onour people. So we have to improve the pro-duction system. The challenge, of course, is todo this while maintaining high standards.

High standards clearly are a high priori-ty at ZF Bielefeld. This, in fact, is a recurringtopic during ReMaTecNews’ extensive talkwith the management group at Bielefeld:André Temme, Jürgen Palupski, Bernd Luithleand Jörg Witthoft. As Witthoft says: “Oneproblem for us is that we have many smallcompetitors around the world, who remanu-facture clutches and leave our name on theclutch. When they do a poor job, it damages

our business. We set very high standards forourselves and our products and we put a lotof effort into preserving the reputation of ZFas a remanufacturer which our customers canrely on 100 per cent.”

s of remanufacturing

‘ We see our good relations with ourneighbours as evidence that we run avery environmentally friendly operation’

The management group behind ZF Bielefeld: From

left Core Manager André Temme, Core Manager

Bernd Luithle, Plant Manager Jörg Witthöft and

Logistics Manager Jürgen Palupski.


14 l ReMaTecNews

In a small office at ZF Friedrichshafen’s plantfor remanufactured clutches in Bielefeld inGermany sits Frank Lass looking at a veterancar on his computer screen. A 45 year old

mechanic with 22 years of clutch reman expe-rience at ZF, Lass, however, is not the averagereman operative. He is, in fact, one ofEurope’s – perhaps one of the world’s - lead-

ing specialists in restoringclutches for up to one hundredyear old cars.

As such, Frank Lass is partof the heritage of the motorindustry – as well as an exampleof how some large companiesare willing to devote time andeffort to make even a handfulof customers satisfied.

As the old-timer clutchremanufacturer in residence forthe past 11 years, Frank Lass hasbeen responsible for extendingthe lifetimes of a significantnumber of old cars that wouldotherwise not still have beenrunning - foremost amongstthem a German Protos. Built inBerlin between 1892 and 1928

only three remains in the world – and onethem runs on a reman clutch provided by Lasswho spend three weeks returning the clutchto life.

Research“Remanufacturing a clutch after such a

long time is not easy,” Lass says. “There areoften no drawings, you have to do a greatdeal of research, finding the most suitablematerials and make sure that the clutch willlast for another 50.000 kilometers.”

“At the same time, we learn somethingnew from every clutch that comes in. This wecan use to help others because it will help usdo better next time. In the end it’s all worth itwhen you see that you have a very happy cus-tomer.”

“Although the numbers are very small,we see this as good for the company,” addsCore Manager André Temme. “It shows ourcustomers that we care and we learn from allthe work that goes into it. It’s really a win-winsituation.”

Keeping 100 year oldcars alive for posterity

Frank Lass, Clutch reman specialist at ZF in Bielefeld, Germany.



16 l ReMaTecNews

ReMaTec2013

The Remanufacturing Committee of theChina Resource Recycling Association (CRRA)and the China Internal Combustion EngineIndustry Association (CICEIA) are both work-ing on sending delegations to the show forthe purpose of establishing new business contacts in Europe as well the USA.

“The ReMaTec shows are an importantitem on the agenda for remanufacturers andas remanufacturing is becoming increasinglyimportant to China, we feel that it is impor-tant to be there,” said Jianfu Luo, presidentof CRRA’s Remanufacturing Committee. “Wehope and expect to be able to link up withnew contacts in both Europe and the US andthus strengthening connections between ourreman industry and those of the West.”

CRRAFounded in 1993, the China NationalResources Recycling Association (CRRA) is anassociation of industrial and mining compa-nies, recycling processors and traders, scien -tific organisations and individuals, authorizedby China’s Civil Administration Ministry. Theassociation currently has 600 members.

CICEIAChina Internal Combustion Engine IndustryAssociation( CICEIA ) comprises a large num-

ber of internal combustion engine and partsmanufacturing businesses and scientificresearch institutions. Established in 1991 andlocated in Beijing, the Association is approvedby the Ministry of Civil Affairs It has 16 affilia-tions and more than 1000 members.

China LoungeTogether with the two associations, Amster-dam RAI will host a special China lounge withinterpreter services on the first day of the

ReMaTec2013 show to facilitate businessmeetings between the two Chinese delega-tions and prospective customers.

In addition to attending ReMaTec2013the CRRA and CICEIA delegations work on aprogram to visit a number of reman compa-nies in Europe.

Visitors and/or exhibitors wishing to getinto contact with representatives of CRRAand/or CECIEA can contact Niels Klarenbeekon [email protected]

What better way to start a visit to the Nether-lands and ReMaTec2013 than to socialize withcontacts, customers and colleagues on thecharming Amsterdam canals? Visitors andexhibitors alike can take part in an entertain-ing 1.5 hour boat tour on Saturday 15th ofJune, the day prior to the opening of the show.

At € 50 per person, including wine, beer,soft drinks and typical Dutch finger foods youwill have a real networking opportunity whilstenjoying scenic water views of Amsterdam’shistoric landmarks. Departure is from the RAIConvention Centre’s own harbour at 5.30 pm. There are special packages available forReMaTec2013 exhibitors who plan to inviteassociates.

Interested in taking part in this uniquesocial reman event? Please submit your ticketenquiry to [email protected]

Significant Chinese interestin ReMaTec2013Two of China’s important players within the field of remanufacturing have announced theirpresence in ReMaTec2013.

Social Event ReMaTec2013


ReMaTecNews l 17

ReMaTec2013

To continue in 2013: the ReMaTec Theatre formula

Organisational changes forReMaTecNews Visitor

registration to open in FebruaryA direct marketing campaign and showpromotion through exhibitors, mediapartners and trade associations will posi-tion ReMaTec2013 as the must-attendevent by any professional in the remanindustry. Visitors can pre-register free ofcharge via www.rematecnews.com.Once preregistered, regular updates willbe made available with all the shownews, seminar programmes and specialoffers.

Left to right: Eva Barten (Sales Manager

ReMaTecNews), Ewoud Barink (Sales Man-

ager ReMaTec) and Niels Klarenbeek

(Domain Manager Remanufacturing)

have joined forces.

Launched during ReMaTec2011, the ReMaTecTheatre was prominently located on the exhi-bition floor where the half-open seminar areaoffered easy access to lectures as well as to thelatest information on trends and develop-ments in the reman industry. Again this year,exhibitors can book time slots of 30 minutesand thus maximise the benefits from the pro-gramme. With 14 well attended seminars,product presentations and technical sessionsover three days the concept proved highly suc-cessful in 2011.

“For organisers of international tradefairs the educational element of our events isincreasingly important,” explained NielsKlarenbeek, Domain Manager, Remanufactur-ing at Amsterdam Rai. “The ReMaTec Theatreis our answer to that. Moreover, the theatreoffers automotive professionals outstandingopportunities to become more familiar withremanufacturing.”

The seminar programme will beannounced in edition 3 of ReMaTecNews.Exhibitors interested in booking time slots cancontact Niels Klarenbeek [email protected]

With effect from January 1st 2013, the man-agement of ReMaTecNews magazine hasbeen transferred to Amsterdam RAI from itsprevious owner, the magazine publisher, RAILangfords. Hence, ReMaTecNews is now part

of the remanufacturing domain of RAI Exhibitions.

“With the integration of the magazineinto RAI Exhibitions we are now a truly multi-media domain that provides the reman indus-

try with news, market information,sales leads and networking opportu-nities via our own media, saidDomain Manager Niels Klarenbeek.“Our trade fair ReMaTec, theReMatecNews magazine the portalReMaTecNews.com are all marketleaders within their field enabling usto optimize the cross media proposi-tions to our customers. Moreover, theeditorial independence of ReMaTec-News remains guaranteed as WilliamSchwarck remains in charge of theeditorial content as Editor-in-Chief.”


18 l ReMaTecNews

“OE suppliers had scaled back theirbrake caliper production. Suddenly, therewere no calipers in the aftermarket,” he says.

AlternativeThe aftermarket customers needed an alter-native and RSL stepped up:

“Suddenly we were able to sell remanbrake calipers to distribu-tors that we had beenunable to sell them tobefore. They were beingforced into switchingfrom OE-based product toreman due to very highcustomer demand fromfleets and independentworkshops.”

RSL business hassince trebled in size andits distributor base hasgrown.

Perhaps that’s hard-ly surprising: “Their work-shop customers soon

realised they were getting products that werejust as good if not better than OE productsthat were previously costing them twice theprice.”

New investmentA new investment of over £200,000 in coreand stock profile development helped RSL tokeep pace with demand, while investment intraining ensured it stayed in touch with devel-opments in electronics that are now a stan-dard fit on all the OE brake calipers produced:

“When we first started remanufactur-ing, there was nothing like that. They were alleither air over hydraulic or air run brakecalipers with wear sensors in the brake pads.Now there is even a range with potentiome-ters on the calipers.”

That makes the product more intricateto work on, more complex, more expensive toreplace and increases the cost of the product.As well as making the OE part more expen-sive, this increases the attractiveness of thelower cost reman product.

End users should not be fooled by

A UK remanufacturer of replacement partsfor trucks and buses has introduced what’sbelieved to be the country’s first two-yearwarranty for remanufactured brake callipers.

Remanufactured Systems (RSL), which isFcallibased at Swadlincote, Derbyshire in theEast Midlands, plans to make the two-yearwarranty exclusively available through a net-work of distributors that’s committed to pro-moting the brand as their first line of choice.Other distributors will still be able to supplythe brake calipers, but their customers’ brakecalipers will continue to be covered by theone-year warranty.

“OE suppliers have always talkedremanufacturers down. Well, we are talkingthem up. We are selling more than ever andwe are saying that we can do the job betterthan you because our warranty is twice asgood as yours,” says managing directorAndrew Bennett.

He hopes to begin the two-year war-ranty programme with a sales network ofaround 120 UK outlets and is already plan-ning for future growth.

“Current sales are already 25 per centup on the figures for this time last year andwe are now producing 1100 calipers permonth, around 200 more than just three orfour months ago. We have exhausted ourexpansion capacity here, so we will be lookingto move to new premises later in the year.”

It’s an upward sales trend that began in2008 during the depths of a UK recession thatfollowed the world banking crisis.

Braking CoverReMaTecNews learns how a UK remanufacturer of brake calipers is using an improved warranty scheme to strengthen its brand and enhance the profile of the reman industry.

The RSL two-year warranty scheme on brake calipers will be launched in the UK at the beginning of March

2013.

� By Steve McQueen


reman’s lower cost price tag. It doesn’t relate to the use of inferiormaterials, it’s more a reflection of the re-use of existing parts and tech-nology. A brake caliper that has been properly remanufactured hasbeen stripped down, cleaned, shot blasted and re-equipped with theappropriate seals and kit items that must always be replaced as part ofa quality reman process. Only then are the friction material, sensorsand electronics added.

As well as the brake calipers themselves, RSL repairs the elec-tronics components. As Andrew Bennett points out, one of the mainbenefits is that any previous issues with either can be amended at thispoint. It provides the evidence to support remanufacturer claims thatin many cases, reman product can be better than the original part.

FARRSL has also added new weaponry to take the fight to the OE suppliers. Last year it became one of the first companies to join a newUK representative organisation called the Federation of AutomotiveRemanufacturers (FAR).

The motivation to join was clear. RSL could already demonstrateISO accreditation. An FAR endorsement might make the difference

“We deal with national trade distributors and they are keen tosee their suppliers progressing to the ‘next level’. They want to knowwhat sets us apart as a remanufacturer from other parts suppliers inthe industry. They want to see what we are doing in order to demon-strate that.”

Joining FAR has already helped open doors: “FAR membership endorses the quality of the remanufacturing

process in general and has also helped underpin confidence in Reman-ufactured Systems’ products at distributor level,” he says.

For its part, FAR is delighted to be associated with the successand acknowledges the mutual benefits that are emerging:

“This is strong evidence that the FAR brand not only representsquality workmanship, but that it is being accepted as such. RSL’s success is also a major boost for our profile, too.”


New garages network in the UKGROUPAUTO UK & Ireland Ltd, the UK’slargest parts trading group, and a number ofpartners have launched a new garage initiative aimed at making it easier formotorists to locate independent service andrepair garages. Named Approved Garages,the programme is a not-for-profit initiativethat will provide consumers with a networkof trusted independent garages delivering

quality and transparency. For the garages thescheme is intended to create new and repeatbusiness.

“These dual benefits will be made possible through the development of a fastand user-friendly website – www.approved -garages.co.uk – through which motorists canfind, cost and book their car service and thatwill therefore drive business to the Approved

Garages network,” GROUP -AUTO says.

GROUPAUTO’s researchinto the servicing require-ments of the motorist backsup many people’s own expe-rience: that the internet isfast becoming the first choicefor locating a garage. Lastyear more than 1.8 millionsearches were made for ‘carservicing’ in the UK.

The garages in theApproved Garages networkcannot simply sign up, they

have to provide guarantees for their qualityand reputation, subscribe to Motor Codes,adhere to Approved Garages procedures andbe selected by invitation only.

The Approved Garages programme isbeing launched to the trade throughout January and February via a series of regionalpresentations and face-to-face meetings during which the concept and vision for thenetwork are explained.

Challenging negative perceptionsThe purpose of the Approved Garages net-work is to challenge the negative perceptionthat many motorists have of the independentgarage.

“The only way to do that is to channelgenuine enquiries from motorists that needto find a reputable garage through to a net-work that will do a quality job,” statedGROUPAUTO. “This will raise the reputationof the network, the individual garages withinit and the reputation of the independentautomotive aftermarket.”

20 l ReMaTecNews


For advertising please contact me, Eva Barten,+31 (0)20 549 13 75, [email protected]



INFORMATION For more information please contact Eva Barten • phone +31 (0)6 29 07 43 97 • [email protected] • www.rematecnews.com •Cleaningequipment•Consultancy-Research•Cores•Environmentalproducts•Lubricants-Chemicals•Organisations-Associations•Partsforremanufacturers •Productionequipment•Remanufacturedproducts•Testequipment•Rates2013•1placement € 160•4placements€ 610•6placements€ 875

marketplace

22 l ReMaTecNews

CLEANING EQUIPMENT

Metalas Cleaning Systems BVJames Wattweg 28 3133 KK Vlaardingen The Netherlandsphone +31 (0)10 [email protected] www.metalas.com

POWERGENT PEERESS INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATES302, Shimizu Bldg., 2-18-20,Shinmachi, Nishi-KuOsaka, JAPAN #5500013phone +81 [email protected]

CORES

M&M Dronten GM Specialist All Car Makes Pioniersweg 76-78 8251 KR Dronten The Netherlands phone +31 (0)321 318635 [email protected]

Autoenterprises Ltd.Units 5,6,14,15 Pembroke Centre, Gardiners Lane South Basildon, Essex, SS14 3HX United Kingdomphone +44 (0)1268 [email protected]

S.D.A. Im-Export BVDuizeldonksestraat 75705 CA Helmond The Netherlandsphone +31 (0)492 [email protected]

REMANUFACTURED PRODUCTS

R.A.S.E.D. S.p.A.Spaco DieselVia Padova 18320127 MilanoItalyphone +39 [email protected]

Gobbi Spare Parts SpaVia Capannaguzzo 368147521 Macerone di Cesena (FC) Italyphone +39 0547 [email protected]

ERA Benelux Drieslaan 78B-8560 GullegemBelgiumphone +32 56 [email protected]

TRANSMISSION PARTS

STARTERS AND ALTERNATORS

Diesel Line SrlVia Verona 731046 Oderzo (TV)Italyphone +39 0422 [email protected]

Wah Seng Industry Sdn. Bhd.22 Jalan Industri Beringin14100 Juru Industry ParkS.P.T. Penang Malaysiaphone +6 04 [email protected]

Auto-MaticC/ Laguna 20 (Pol.Ind.Urtinsa II)28923 Alcorcón MadridSpainphone +34 91 644 44 [email protected]

A.E.S. Auto Electric Service BVCannenburgerweg 59c 1244 RH AnkeveenThe Netherlandsphone +31 (0)35 [email protected]

BU DRIVE GmbHFriedrich-Ebert-Str. 12949811 Lingen/EmsGermanyphone +49 (0)591 [email protected]

AUTO-STARTERUl. Wosia Budzysza 780-612 Gdansk, PolandVAT PL5830136464phone +48 58 304 12 [email protected]/asplcom

Pos Service Holland Stichtse Kade 47c1244 NV ’s-GravelandThe Netherlandsphone +31 (0)35 [email protected]

TEST EQUIPMENT

Emmetec S.r.l.Sede operativa-Headquaters: via Stazione, 8 - 21020 Ternate (VA) - Italyphone +39 0332 9618.86 / [email protected]

Ganzeboom Transmissies Planthofsweg 45 7601 PH Almelo The Netherlands phone +31 (0)546-819510 [email protected]

Schenck RoTec GmbHLandwehrstr. 5564293 DarmstadtGermanyPhone +49 6151 32 [email protected] www.schenck-rotec.com

ReMaTecNews l 23

A current 3-year EU exchange programmeinvolving eight European and Chinese Univer-sities, is aimed at strengthening remanufactur-ing and recycling practices within the electron-ics industry. The outcome will be implementedinto the EU’s overall GREENet architecture andused to update existing European/ChineseWEEE remanufacturing research.

“The importance of the programme isthe rapid growth of electronics in all prod-ucts,” Dr. Winifred Ijomah, Head of Remanu-facturing at University of Strathclyde in Glas-gow, Scotland, told ReMaTecNews. “Currentvehicles, for example have 30 per cent elec-tronics and this figure is set to rise to 70 percent even without considering electrical andhybrid vehicles. Therefore inability to remanu-facture WEEE will cause a deterioration inindustry sectors such as the automotive indus-try where remanufacturing currently thrives.Moreover, within the next few years, China isset to overtake the United States and becomethe world’s largest consumer of electronicproducts. It is important that sustainable WEEEmanagement systems are put in place in orderto responsibly handle the growing amount ofold products entering the waste stream, and to

ensure their remaining valueis recovered.”

Key aimsThe programme’s key aimsare to:• Develop state-of-the-art

research around globallysustainable Waste Electricaland Electronic (WEEE)Management systems bylinking up researchers inEurope and China.

• Establish an active interna-tional research communitydedicated to transferringknowledge and research synergies in thearea of e-waste management.

As part of the programme, two researchers,David Stewart and Gillian Hatcher, from Strath-clyde University last year spent two months inChina investigating Chinese industrial practicesin remanufacturing and recycling. In addition,they gave lectures and seminars at various Chinese research institutions to disseminateremanufacturing knowledge about Reverse

Logistics and Design for Remanufacture. The ‘GREENet’ programme runs from

2011 to 2014, is funded by the EU and involvesTsinghua University, Fudan University,Huazhong University of Science and Technolo-gy and the Research Centre for Eco-Environ-mental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciencesin China. The European participants are Univer-sity of Strathclyde, UK; Technical University ofCluj-Napoca, Romania; Coventry University, UK;University of Skövde, Sweden.

China-EU reman research collaboration

Two PhD researchers from University of Strathclyde in Scotland, David

Stewart and Gillian Hatcher, spent two months in China.

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Can remanufacturers do moreto mitigate climate change?

NEWSNEWSAPRA EuropeAPRA Europe

The United Nations claims that climatechange and greenhouse gas effects havealready raised the earth’s temperature by 0.5degrees Celsius. Unless something dramatic isdone, the increase will total four degrees bythe end of the century – which, of course,would be catastrophic.

Unfortunately the recent climate sum-mit in Doha did not reach a binding agree-ment on limiting global warming. The scopeof the future challenge, therefore, meansthat not only the world’s governments butalso everyone who inhabits our planet mustask the question: ‘What should we do?’

Remanufacturers are in a comfortableposition since they are already contributingsignificantly towards saving energy andreducing the carbon emissions (CO2) thatcause global warming. In my recent book, Iestimated the CO2 savings generated by auto-motive remanufacturing in Europe to be300,000 tons per annum. Globally, of course,the figure is much higher. Based on figurespublished by international consultancies, Iestimate global CO2 savings to be in theregion of one million tons.

Bigger PictureSince these figures apply only to automotiveremanufacturing, I would like to show thebigger picture by estimating the total for the

entire global remanufacturing industry,including other industries such as aerospace,machine tools etc. According to a recent sur-vey by the US Department of Trade, automo-tive remanufacturing represents ‘only’ 30 percent of the reman industry. On that basis,global savings from remanufacturing current-ly amount to at least three million tons ofCO2. In addition, it should be pointed out thatthe whole industry keeps expanding - not justin western countries but even more in Asia.Therefore, the figure of three million tonscould easily double, if not triple, in the future.

Back to our own business - automotiveremanufacturing in Europe - and the questionof what we can do better to slow down climate change? One answer is, simply, toremanufacture more. In my view just half ofall remanufacturable components are reman-ufactured in Europe – which leaves us withplenty of opportunity for replacing new com-ponents manufactured by OEs with remanu-factured products. Naturally, the same is thecase with those copied products, which we allknow are of a far inferior quality. The resultwould be a substantial improvement to thecarbon emission balance.

Enhancing green performanceTo become more familiar with the subject ofsaving energy and CO2 emissions, I recom-

mend that each remanufacturer estimatestheir own contribution. What Bosch has done,every remanufacturer, small or big, is capableof doing, too. You will find some guidelinesand examples of suggested calculations by Dr.Daniel Köhler in my book.

What more can we do to enhance the‘green performance’ of the reman industry?Did you know, for instance, that there aretwo areas in which remanufacturing performsless well in terms of energy consumption com-pared to new components? Cleaning (whichuses a great deal of energy and should beconstantly reviewed) and logistics.

Transport of cores, in fact, significantlypenalises the remanufacturing industry interms of energy. Efficient core transport andcore management is not only the make orbreak issue in selling remanufactured prod-ucts but also an area that allows for consider-able energy savings. Generally speaking, coremanagement is our Achilles heel and we haveto put more effort into solving the issuesrelating to cores. Let’s us not forget, thatactivities and investments in respect of energysavings are almost always self-financing.

By embarking on such changes we canbe sure to contribute to a better climate. Per-haps, APRA should consider creating certifi-cates of excellence for members achievinghigher bench marks.

24 l ReMaTecNews

For further news about APRA Europe, please visit www.apra-europe.org

In addition to the election of Nick Staub ofRomaine Electric in Kent, Washington, APRArecently announced the following as its officers for 2012-13.

Vice Chairman Joe Kripli, WABCO RemanSolutions, Rochester Hills, Michigan; TreasurerTim Roth, SRC Electrical, Springfield, Missouri,

and Secretary Omar Cueto, L&J Diesel Service,Jacksonville, Florida.

Continuing on the APRA ExecutiveCommittee are Past Chairmen Dennis Jacinto, Lester Catalog, New Castle, Califor-nia; Gary Phillips, Reliable Transmission Service, Riverview, Florida, and George Davis,Remy International, Pendleton, Indiana.

� By Fernand Weiland, Memberof the Board of APRA Europe

APRA US Board for 2013


APRA Workshopin Almelo

International Reman Forum in Shanghai

ReMaTecNews l 25

APRA’s 2nd International RemanufacturingForum was held in the Renaissance ShanghaiPudong Hotel on December 10, 2012, the daypreceding the Shanghai Automechanika. Theevent was opened with comments from JoeKripli, Vice Chairman of APRA, and YipingHuang, Asia Pacific Division Chairman ofAPRA.

Following their comments Wang XiaoYang, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Indus-trial and Industry Information spoke aboutChina’s policy’s toward remanufacturing, andthe certification program currently in place forremanufacturing in China. While China’s government is beginning to see the benefits ofremanufacturing, there are still many barriersto allow remanufacturing to exist as a freeenterprise. Such barriers include the fact that adozen ministries are involved in remanufactur-ing, the lack of a viable core network and weakcustomer acceptance of remanufactured parts.

Nevertheless, as Daniel Green of the USEmbassy in Beijing explained: “During negoti-ations between China and the US govern-ment, remanufacturing is in the Top 10 List.”

International scopePresentations from Akira Ikeda of Shine Autoin Japan, Joe Kripli of Wabco Reman Solutionsin the US and Poland, Jon Statler, of MavalManufacturing in the US, and Rex Vandenbergof Injectronics of Australia explained theiroperations, showing the diversity of remanu-factured products in other parts of the world.

Dr Huang led a discussion for what wastitled a ‘News Media Event.’ This panel discussion was used to help the media under-stand remanufacturing and how it will affectChina in the future. A second panel discussionled by Ricky Wang of Meritor explored themany problems of remanufacturing in China,and how the original 14 pilot plants wereselected.

While it is illegal to import used partsinto China, it is acceptable to import scrap. Professor Chen Ming from the Shanghai JiaoTong University explained the current autorecycling business. Auto recycling is a verylarge business in China, and provides a lot ofraw material for future Chinese products. Thispresentation was followed by Dr. DanielKoehler from the Guangdong Minjie Group.This group is currently a large auto recycler inChina, but is now transforming to do remanu-facturing on select parts of the vehicle beforerecycling the balance of it.

The 3rd annual IRF event will take placeduring the Shanghai Automechanika inDecember 2013.

Visit to Electronics & Mechatronics remanufacturer Actronics in Almelo, www.actronics.eu

Presentation: Remanufacturing Electronics &Mechatronics by Leon Kleine Staarman,Actronics

Presentation: Reliability, Safety & Quality ofRemanufactured parts by Peter Bartel, APRA Europe

Presentation: Use of Remanufactured Auto-motive parts in future Service Processes, by Alexander Nagel and Joachim Kleylein-Feuerstein, University of Bayreuth

Presentation: European Remanufacturing,Market Development, by Fernand Weiland, FJW Consulting

March 13th, 2013

APRA Europe’s workshop in Almelo, TheNetherlands, on March 13 and 14, 2013 offersa number of presentations on the Europeanreman market, lean remanufacturing, reman-ufacturing of electronics & mechatronics aswell as automatic transmissions and othercomponents. The program will include planttours to mechatronics and electronics remanufacturer Actronics and transmissionsremanufacturer Ganzeboom Transmissies.

Please visit www.apra-europe.org for moreinformation and registration.

Presentation: New Technologies in IndustrialEngine Controls and their impact on remanufacturing by Prof. Carsten Bucker &Clemens Ortgies, BU Drive Group

Presentation: ReMaTec2013, by Niels Klarenbeek, Rematec Exhibitions

Cocktail Reception and Dinner

Opening Remarks and Introduction by Fernand Weiland

Presentation: Remanufacturing Transmissionswith embedded Mechatronics, by Dr. William Henney, BlueReach

Presentation: Remanufacturing AutomaticTransmissions by Michel Ganzeboom,Ganzeboom Transmissies

Visit to Ganzeboom Transmissies in Almelo,www.ganzeboom.net

March 14th, 2013

Mechatronics and electronics specialist, ACtronics in Almelo.Ganzeboom Transmissies in Almelo.

From left to right: Mark Kothe, APRA, USA, Tim Roth,

SRC, Missouri, Ge Hong, Vice Secretary General, CICEIA,

Yiping Huang, Chairman, APRA Asia Division.


NEWSNEWS

We all depend on new car sales. Dealers forsales of new cars and workshops and remanu-facturers for service, maintenance and extend-ing life times and value. The bigger the carparc, the better for the aftermarket.

The positive side for our industry is illus-trated by the fact, that the average age of passenger cars for e.g. Germany has increasedfrom 8.3 to 8.5 years as a result of the economic crisis and uncertainties surroundinginvestments.

The downside to this, however, is thatconsumer concerns have led to a significant cri-sis for Europe’s car production. While by Octo-ber 2012, there was a strong global demandnew cars, EU markets suffered huge decline.(See graph. Source: International EuroCar Seminar by R. L. Polk & Co, Essen, Germany.

At the same time, however, the Indepen-dent Aftermarket, has shown significantlyhigher growth than the OES-segment in recentyears as a result of which the OEMs have beenforced to compensate for the decline in salesand to counteract the IAM developments. Topromote their OES-business, raise spare partsales and increase workshop capacity, theOEMs have defined two target groups:A) Car owners of the II and III segments, i.e.

cars of between four and eight years, andcars over eight years and

B) the independent car workshops them-selves.

Target group A is affected by the following: • Price reduction on spare parts and service

(VW, economy packages)• Availability and use of 2nd-line quality

spare parts (VW, economy package)• Price reductions on spare parts (BMW -

‘Value Line’)• Allmakes – programmes (Eurorepar,

Motaquip, Motrio)• PR: • OE-branding as TOP-quality• Promoting car functionality to maintaining

value • Repairs using reman parts

So how can FIRM react to this and what can wedo for our members? We must continue to promote the IAM as avalue alternative and present our workshop’ssophisticated competencies in respect of failure and break-down diagnosis. Enginecompetence is our unique selling point vis-à-viscustomers, i.e. the segment II and III car own-ers.

Under a variety of names and programsOpel, VW, BMW and Mercedes (e.g. NORA atVW, FWLZ by Opel) offer original, brandedspare parts at significant lower prices (up to50%) to AIM workshops. This is combined with

full technical support (all needed technicalinformation and specifications, comprehensiveindividual and personal support) by specialtrained service staff in OES-workshops.

Even in case of warranty services, byindependent workshops using original, brand-ed parts, OEM / OES adapted the workshop’sreimbursement for the spare parts exchange(disassembly and assembly).

Impact Does this impact on our business? Yes - and invery positive way. Indeed, we are in a rathercomfortable situation! With OES as an appro-priate alternative, we have no problems withprocuring spare parts from independent

(engine) spare part dealers in respect of keycritical success factors like availability, supplycapacity and price.

In addition, we carry out our work withoriginal branded parts. Although we acceptthe ‘same-quality-strategy’ of spare part man-ufacturers and dealers, we achieve bigger mar-gins when sourcing our parts from OES. Inturn, this enables us to offer better sales prices.As a second benefit, we avoid discussing partquality with customers or incompetent, unin-formed ‘car-experts’ regarding engine failuresand break-downs. Last, but not least, the inte-grated technical support we receive from

OEM/OES is comforting inour daily business. There-fore, we and all the work-shops belonging to ournational members do nothave a spare part problem.

Closer lookIn fact, it’s the engine sparepart dealers that have prob-lems because, betweenthem, they lose turn-over ofseveral million euros! Tomake up for this, they shouldtake a closer look at engineremanufacturing whichwould allow them to put

together a package of alternative measures.But are they really interested in engine reman?

Renault has even stepped-up its OEM /OES – activities for new customers by direct-mailing all French independent repair work-shops about the benefits of Renault-remanu-factured spare parts and components. OtherOEMs with reman activities will follow.

As competition gets tougher lobbyingand PR is crucial and must have top priority inour work in 2013. With our close cooperationwith APRA and CLEPA and as a partner ofReMaTec, FIRM has a solid basis to do just that.

Good luck and best wishes for 2013.Volker Schittenhelm

Independent workshops vs OEM/OES

26 l ReMaTecNews

� By Volker Schittenhelm,Head of Information, FIRM


ReMaTecNews l 27

Having changed track after working for over30 years as an automatic gearbox remanufac-turer, Alan Smith has not been idlingaway his time.

In 2010 he took the reigns of theestablished precision engineering com-pany, Cottingham Engineering Limited.This enabled them to provide services tothe Automatic Transmission industrysuch as Torque converter remanufactureand also develop various tools andequipment. In the same year, Seal-e-ZeeLtd joined Cottingham as a subsidiaryand in 2012, Hydra-Test was added tothe Cottingham family.

“After working closely for manyyears with Bob Fotheringham weacquired the business of manufacturing

the Valve Body Test machine. Along with thisthe Test plates will now be manufactured in-

house and future test plate development willbe carried out by our experienced engineer-

ing team. Bob was the originaldesigner and will remain a valuablemember of our development teamdespite his efforts to fully retire,”said Alan Smith.

During the recent PowertrainExpo in Las Vegas, Alan Smithdemonstrated Hydra-Test’s newVBT2011 valve body machinery tothe US market.

ATP Industries of Cannock in the UK recentlyintroduced its latest initiative in the transmis-sion market, a new mechatronic transmissioncontroller. During the ATRA’s Powertrain exhi-bition in Las Vegas in November, ATP and itsUS subsidiary, PTM in Ann Arbor, Michigan,attracted substantial interest in the controller,which Technical Director Amir Fallah describesas follows:

“The system is offered as a turnkey solu-tion or can be integrated with third partysoftware. Currently supported transmissionsinclude Volkswagen DSG, ZF 6HP, GM 6L80/90,and 6T70/75. The forward thinking approachto the controller design enables future trans-missions to be supported with a softwareupgrade. We consider this an importantadvance in that following the introduction ofmechatronic valve bodies in automatic trans-

missions, traditional testing methods can nolonger operate the transmissions”.

ATP, which claims to be Europe’s largestindependent remanufacturer of transmis-sions, torque converters, ECUs as well as arange of related products, operates on aworldwide scale with subsidiaries in the USand China. PTM electronics manufacture realtime test equipment for organisations such asDelphi and Harley Davidson.

An impressive group of transmission special-ists is lined up for the Showpower 2013 Expoin Memphis, Tennessee from 21-23 March. Ineffect, the organisers of the transmis-sion/undercar expo are presenting the showat Memphis’ Cook Convention Center as a“transmission university”.

The presenters comprise ATSG’s WayneColonna and Jim Dial, ATTS’ Jerry Truglia,Autotech’s Bob Nuttall, Sonnax’ Bob Warnkeand John Parmenter of Centereach Transmis-sions. In the general session, Malcolm Siss-

more of Delphi will explain how aftermarkettelematics can help independent shops keepand increase their share of repairs. Sissmorewill also set out how telematics communica-tion systems now allow service providers tocontact motorists when their vehicle developsproblems. This was previously exclusive tonew car dealers.

The show will also offer a range of prod-uct demonstrations for shop managers andtechnicians in addition to the technical andmanagement seminars.

TRANSMISSION WORLD

Hydra-Test has a new home withinCottingham Engineering Ltd

ATP develops transmission controller

Showpower 2013

JasperexpandsJasper Engine Exchange, one of America’s pre-mier engine and transmission remanufactur-ers, is planning to expand its headquarters inIndiana, creating up to 40 new jobs by 2016.

The company, which remanufacturesdrivetrain components, will invest $550,000 toupdate and equip its current 367,000 square-foot facility in Jasper. The expansion willaccommodate Jasper Engines’ growing alter-native fuels division, remanufactured dieselengine related product line and support theincreased production of gas engines for theCanadian Postal Service.

“Jasper Engines recognises that Indianais a cost-effective environment for growing itsbusiness,” said Dan Hasler, Chief ExecutiveOfficer of the Indiana Economic DevelopmentCorporation.

Alan Smith of Cottingham Engineering

had a busy time during Powertrain

Expo in Las Vegas.

Amir Fallah of ATP.


28 l ReMaTecNews

Chinese reman companies and associationswill gather in Beijing on April11 and 12, 2013,for the remanufacturing conference ‘ChinaInternational Remanufacturing Summit2013’. The event, which has been renamedfrom its previous title of ‘China Reman andUsed Equipment Summit’ should not to beconfused with the World Reman Summit heldin Bayreuth, Germany, in September 2012 andits future editions,

Reman conferencein Beijing

A broad range of, mainly Chinese,industry representatives, will lecture ondiverse issues such as technical standards, fis-cal policies intellectual property and the sec-ond stage of the Chinese government’s pilotscheme for remanufacturing companies. Onthe agenda will also be presentations onengine and transmission remanufacturing aswell as on IT and printing equipment reman.

Co-organised by CPRA, (The Remanu-facture Committee of the China Associationof Automobile Manufactures, the conferencewill take place at Crowne Plaza BeijingChaoyang U-Town Hotel.)

MERA, the US Motor and Equipment Reman-ufacturing Association, has set up a specialcouncil for chief financial officers and othersenior finance executives from member com-panies. The new council’s inaugural meetingtook place in Detroit on January 31, 2013.

“The CFO Council will provide a forumfor senior executives to address issues of com-mon concern, share best practice, benchmark

MERA launches CFOCouncil

business performance and create practicalindustry tools,” MERA said. “These actionscan enhance individual company perfor-mance and advance the motor vehicle partsremanufacturing industry as a whole.”

A new website (www.autoreman.co.uk) fromthe UK’s Federation of Automotive Remanu-facturers (FAR) is broadcasting the messagethat remanufactured components are ‘green’,better for the environment and often betterthan original parts.

Established early in 2012,FAR hopes to unite remanu-facturers across the automo-tive spectrum, providing themwith one voice that can speakdirectly with government representa-tives at national and international level.

“The autoreman website explains ourmission, defines our role and highlights thebenefits for our new members”, says FARspokesman and independent remanufacturingindustry consultant Brian Ludford.

Website broadcastsgreen message

NEWS FROM OTHER ORGANISATIONS


ReMaTecNews l 29

The websitelaunch follows theinstigation of a UK-wide membershiprecruitment cam-paign at the end ofNovember 2012.Brian Ludford addsthat new membershave been drawnfrom companies such

as brakes remanufacturers, alternator andengine remanufacturers.

Truck components distributor and remanufac-turer, Roadlink International Ltd, has receivedthe prestigious CV Supplier of ExcellenceAward for 2012 from the UK automotiveindustry’s Independent Automotive After-market Federation (IAAF).

Roadlink currently employs over 60 staffat its sales, distribution and remanufacturingsite in Willenhall in the Midlands and in adepot in Southern England. Celebrating its

UK’s IAAF honoursCV parts supplier

firt 25 years last year, the company recentlybroadened its extensive range of remanufac-tured disc brake calipers for commercial vehi-cles.

“Market acceptance for remanufac-tured automotive products has grown enor-mously in recent years, with more than 33%of customers now being prepared to buy‘green products’, driven in part by significantcost savings compared to new,” the companysaid. “The growing market for high qualityremanufactured components has lead usto become one of Europe’s leading remanu-facturers of CV brake shoes and calipers.”

Twenty members of MERA (Motor and Equip-ment Remanufacturers’ Association) exhibit-ed during Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week,HDAW, January 22-24 in Las Vegas, the associ-ation announced – to promote the benefits ofremanufactured parts to the 2,100 distribu-tors, suppliers, service providers, educatorsand industry media attendees.

MERA also hosted the winter meeting

MERA well repre-sented at HDAW

of the Sales & MarketingCouncil, which was attend-ed by nearly two dozenindustry leaders.

“Remanufacturedparts help to keep Ameri-ca’s truck fleets on theroad,” said John Chalifoux,president and COO, MERA.“The heavy duty remanu-facturing industry is an important and grow-ing component of our membership, andHDAW is a great event for members to show-case their parts.”

NEWS FROM OTHER ORGANISATIONS

Brian Ludford

John Chalifoux


21.02.2013-24.02.2013absolut allrad - Exhibition for 4x4 Wheels andOff-Road Vehicles Salzburg (Austria)

27.02.2013-03.03.2013FIACRUZ - Automobile Fair Santa Cruz (Bolivia)

28.02.2013-03.03.2013TRANSPOTEC & LOGITEC - Trade Fair forIndustrial Vehicles, Road Transport and Logistics Verona (Italy)

01.03.2013-03.03.2013automobil - Automotive exhibition Dresden (Germany)

01.03.2013-03.03.2013AUTOMOBIL - Sales and Information Exhibition. New Cars Freiburg (Germany)

01.03.2013-03.03.2013Moto Park - Moscow International Motor-Park Moscow (Russia)

01.03.2013-03.04.2013CIAACE - China International Auto Accessories Commercial Expo Beijing (China)

03.04.2013-03.07.2013EQUIP AUTO Algeria Algiers (Algeria)

03.07.2013-03.09.2013Automechanika Kuala Lumpur - MalaysiaInternational Trade Fair for Automotive Parts,Equipment & Service Suppliers Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

07.03.2013-10.03.2013RETRO CLASSICS - Classic car exhibition Stuttgart (Germany)

07.03.2013-10.03.2013Erbil Autoshow – AUTOMOBILE AND SPAREPARTS EXHIBITION Erbil (Iraq)

07.03.2013-17.03.2013Geneva International Motor Show Geneva (Switzerland)

08.03.2013-10.03.2013FIRAUTO-EXPOCAR - Automobile and PartsExhibition Elche.Alicante (Spain)

13.03.2013-14.03.2013APRA Europe - Workshop with plant visitsAlmelo (The Netherlands)

13.03.2013-16.03.2013Motortec Automechanika Ibérica Madrid (Spain)

14.03.2013-16.03.2013Auto & Transport Asia Karachi (Pakistan)

21.03.2013-23.03.2013MATS - Mid-America Trucking Show Louisville (the United States)

22.03.2013-24.03.2013Autosalon Chemnitz - Motor Show Chemnitz (Germany)

30 l ReMaTecNews

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