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ReMaTecNews REMANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL
• Remanufacturer of the Year 2012
• APRA celebrates 25 years in style
• Meritor’s Doug Wolma – a step up the ladder
Friends United takes over MD Rebuilt • APRA News • FIRM News • International events www.rematecnews.com
2012 - NO 3 - VOLUME 12
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ReMaTecNews REMANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL
The only international news magazine and website dedicated to Automotive and Heavy Duty remanufacturing worldwide
13,230 readers per edition Worldwide circulation Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Africa
ws e i V s w e N Reman ts n e m p o l e v e D ReMaTecNews is aimed at • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Remanufacturers/rebuilders Core suppliers Suppliers of OE components Suppliers of components for remanufacturers Suppliers of rebuilding equipment and machinery Suppliers of test equipment Suppliers of cleaning equipment Distributors – importers – wholesalers of rebuilt parts Government and non-government organisations Banks of commerce and insurance companies Automotive trade associations Car manufacturers – OEMs Fleet operators
Press releases and news to editorial@rematecnews.com
www.rematecnews.com • • • • • • •
Subscriptions Magazine online e-Newsletter Marketplace online Website Expert blogs Video items
For advertising please contact me, Eva Barten, +31 (0)20 5042800, from US and Canada 011 31 20 5042800, e-mail advertising@rematecnews.com
In association with
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CONTENTS
NO 3 • MAY/JUNE 2012 • VOLUME 12
Remanufacturer of APRA celebrates MD Rebuilt finds the Year 2012 9 25th anniversary 10 a new home 14 Nominations are now open for ReMaTecNews’ Remanufacturer of the Year Award. The award ceremony will take place during the World Remanufacturing Summit at University of Bayreuth, Bavaria, on Monday September 3. This prestigious award will be given for the eight time.
APRA’s symposium in Krakow provided the setting for an inspiring get-together for Europe’s reman industry. More than 140 participants from across the world participated in the event, that offered a broad range of presentations from experts.
Renowned German remanufacturer of starters and alternators, MD Rebuilt, prepares for a future under new owners. Last month founder Martin Detzen sold out to a partnership consisting of German parts supplier, Hella, and Danish reman specialist, Jens Lindholm.
‘If I know anything of the independent market, it’s that they are survivors. Their will to succeed rivals none’ Russ Schinzing, President, Electronics Remanufacturing Company
4 Editorial 5 Cummins expands in Europe 6 World Reman Summit 20 New reman web portal 21 Wolma steps up at Meritor 22 Transmission World
26 Electronics & Mechatronics News 29 FIRM News 30 APRA News 34 International events and trade fairs www.rematecnews.com
Eight issues in 2012: February, March, May/June, June/July, August, Sept/Oct, Oct/Nov, December Special pages on Transmissions and Electronics & Mechatronics in edition 1, 3, 5, 7 Special pages on Heavy Duty/Trucks in edition 2, 4, 6, 8
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EDITOR’S LETTER
ReMaTecNews Volume 12 – Number 3 – May/June 2012
Hang together – or hang separately
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: RAI Langfords B.V. P.O. Box 10099 1001 EB Amsterdam The Netherlands In association with
Over the past year, this famous English quotation seems to have taken on new life – at least as far as remanufacturing is concerned. Across the US and Europe as well as in Asia, there is an emerging acceptance of the fact that remanufacturers and their organisations could work more closely together. At least from this vantage point nothing makes more sense. Remanufacturers are operating in an ever more competitive environment and inside as well as outside pressures are set to increase, not decrease, over the next few years. There are a number of reasons for this. The current climate, however, provides one overriding reason why remanufacturers should, wherever the opportunity arises, speak with one voice. And this reason is that rarely, if never, before have the official attitudes of national governments, agencies and international organisations been so tuned in to the benefits of remanufacturing. Not only automotive and heavy duty remanufacturing but, in fact, any product that can be transformed from worn out or obsolete to new or as good as new. The fact that a growing number of new initiatives and organisations are beginning to speak on behalf of remanufacturing is an encouraging sign. The fact that such bodies are now showing a stronger commitment to working together is even more welcome. The more they speak with one voice, the more impact the reman industry will have where it counts. With governments and with local governments. Within the automotive and commercial vehicle industries and with the general public. The opportunity is there. Seize it.
Editor-in-Chief, Magazine William Schwarck Phone +44 (0)1865 340 435 Fax +44 (0)8704 215 681 editorial@rematecnews.com Editor-in-Chief, Online Eric van Spelde Phone +31 (0)20 504 28 00 editorial@rematecnews.com Advertising Sales Eva Barten Phone +31 (0)20 504 28 00 Fax +31 (0)20 504 28 88 advertising@rematecnews.com Managing Director RAI Langfords B.V. Ron Brokking Publisher Luuk Aleva (responsible under Dutch Press Law) l.aleva@rematecnews.com Editorial Advisory Board Niels Klarenbeek Production Niels Zwan, Sebastiaan Dekker Phone +31 (0)20 504 28 00 traffic@railangfords.nl Design & Art Van Munster & Bos, Amsterdam Printing MediaCenter Rotterdam, The Netherlands Copyright RAI Langfords B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands
William Schwarck, Editor-in-Chief Reproduction Permitted, providing ReMaTecNews is credited Subscription magazine and e-newsletter 8 editions 1 73 See www.rematecnews.com Change of address Phone +31 (0)20 504 28 00, Fax +31 (0)20 504 28 88 E-mail info@rematecnews.com Website www.rematecnews.com ReMaTecNews magazine online www.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.
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NEWS FROM THE INDUSTRY
Cummins establishes Logistics Centre for parts in Belgium In late March Cummins inaugurated a new global logistics centre in the town of Rumst in Belgium. The new centre which, in part, replaces the company’s existing Mechelen site, will serve the American engine supplier’s customers in Europe, Middle East and Africa besides other Cummins’ distribution centres and plants worldwide. In keeping with Cummins’ strategy of building an integrated aftermarket channel, the new Rumst operation combines all parts and warehouse activities for Cummins Engine, Power Generation and filter businesses as well as the US giant’s remanufacturing operations, Cummins Recon. “For many years, Cummins has maintained distribution operations in Belgium. We recently merged the aftermarket activities for all our business units into a consolidated group we call Cummins Global Logistics,” says Norbert Nusterer, Cummins Vice President of New and ReCon Parts. “Our Rumst
workforce serves an enormously diverse region. They provide a vital link between
Cummins products and customers around the world.” The inauguration event on March 26 was attended by the United States Ambassador to Belgium, Howard Guttman, and the Head of the Flemish Government, Kris Peeters as well as the local mayor, Eddy Huyghe. Cummins has remanufactured engines and parts for more than 45 years. Its philosophy is based on the proposition that it offers customers genuine Cummins products to get their equipment back in operation faster than local rebuilders. Latterly, Cummins has significantly strengthened its focus on remanufacturing under the brand name, ReCon, backed by what the company claims is the world’s largest parts and service network.
Vice President, New and Recon Parts at Cummins: ‘Our workforce in Rumst (Belgium) provides a vital link between Cummins products and customers.’
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NEWS FROM THE INDUSTRY
Fraunhofer Society in huge boost to remanufacturing Fraunhofer to build EUR 8 million R&D facility for reman in Bayreuth, Germany.
By William Schwarck
Participants in University of Bayreuth and ReMaTecNews’ joint event, the World Remanufacturing Summit, in Bayreuth, Germany, in early September will not only gain new insight into the practical application of scientific advances into remanufacturing. They will also experience the birth of what, within the space of two years, is set to make Bayreuth into Europe’s, perhaps the world’s, most important centre for scientific and technical research into remanufacturing. This is the outcome of a decision by the Fraunhofer Society, Germany’s well renowned technology research organisation, to establish an EUR 8 million research and development centre for remanufacturing on land adjacent
Artist impression Germany’s renowned Fraunhofer Society is planning to build an ultramodern research centre for remanufacturing in Bayreuth.
to Bayreuth University’s current site. When completed in 2014, the first building of the R&D complex will house 75 scientists, engineers and technicians and comprise 2000 sq. m. of laboratories and offices. Subsequent expansion will broaden the centre’s capacity further. International remanufacturing expert, Professor Rolf Steinhilper of Bayreuth University’s Department of Manufacturing and Remanufacturing, will head up the new R&D centre. Besides his work at the University, Rolf Steinhilper has coordinated the reman activities of the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany
for three decades. Since his appointment to the Chair in January 2001 Rolf Steinhilper has established the department as one of the world’s preeminent remanufacturing knowledge centres. “We believe that the new R&D Centre will add enormously not only to scientific and technical insight into remanufacturing but also to the benefits this offers the operators in the remanufacturing industries,� Dr.-Ing. Stefan Freiberger, Deputy Head of Bayreuth’s Department of Manufacturing and Remanufacturing, told ReMaTecNews. “All this is a recent development and we look forward to revealing more of the facts at the World Remanufacturing Summit in September.�
Remanufacturer of the Year Award 2012 ReMaTecNews’ annual Remanufacturer of the Year Award will be awarded for the eighth time in 2012. This year, the award will be given at University of Bayreuth and ReMaTecNews’ World Remanufacturing Summit in Bayreuth, Bavaria, scheduled for September 3 and 4. The award ceremony itself will take place during the summit dinner on Monday September 3.
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Fraunhofer Society Employing more than 20,000 people of whom by far the majority are scientists and engineers, Fraunhofer Society is Europe’s largest application-oriented research organisation. Worldwide Fraunhofer operates more than 80 research units, including 60 Fraunhofer Institutes, at different locations in Germany. Outside Germany the organisation runs research centres and representative offices in Europe, USA, Asia and the Middle East. Of Fraunhofer’s annual budget of EUR 1.8 billion, 1.5 billion is generated through contract research. More than 70 per cent of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s contract research revenue derives from contracts with industry and publicly financed research projects. Almost 30 per cent is contributed by the German Federal and Länder governments as base funding.
k
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Bayreuth in September – a key date for reman Eight plenary sessions and a further 36 specialist workshops for participants to choose from. Opportunities for high-level networking with a broad cross section of the international reman industry. Gaining new inspiration for improving business methods and technical processes. In short, a rare opportunity to look into the future of the reman industry. These are just some of the offers to the automotive remanufacturing industry when University of Bayreuth, alongside ReMaTecNews, open its doors to one of the most important remanufacturing events in recent years – the World Remanufacturing Summit. Scheduled for September 3 and 4 at Professor Rolf Steinhilper, Bayreuth University in Bavaria, Germany, the University of Bayreuth. 2012 World Remanufacturing Summit will focus on enhancing the partnership between science and the reman industry. In the light of the ever-increasing demand for new and more competitive reman processes, some of the world’s foremost experts will present practical solutions as well as visions for automotive and heavy duty remanufacturers from different sectors of the industry. The summit will be presided over by Dr. Nabil Nasr, Provost, three of the world’s preeminent remanufacGolisano Institute of turing scientists, Dr. Nabil Nasr of Rochester Sustainability, Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, Professor Institute of Technology, Zhu Sheng of Beijing’s National Key LaboratoNew York. ry and Professor Rolf Steinhilper of University of Bayreuth. In addition, a number of academic experts and leaders with practical experience from the industry will present findings, views and predictions during plenary sessions as well as at workshops. “The fact that this is taking place within an academic framework should not be taken as an indication that the summit is a theoretical exercise,” says Professor Rolf Steinhilper. Professor Zhu Sheng, “On the contrary, this is very much an effort National Key Laboratory directed at the practical application of science of Remanufacturing, and research within the remanufacturing Beijing, China. industry. We know that the rapidly increasing complexity of automotive components will present ever increasing challenges to remanufacturers over the coming years and I don’t think that anybody wishing to be a successful remanufacturer can prosper without assistance from technology and reengineering experts.” While automotive and heavy duty remanufacturing is clearly the main theme, the summit will also present some workshops on segments outside these sectors such as remanufacturing for Medical Health, Science and the environment in general. For further information please contact Sandra Seifert, Engineer, Chair of Manufacturing and Remanufacturing Technology at 00 49 921 Sandra Seifert. 557334 or Sandra.Seifert@uni-bayreuth.de.
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NEWS FROM THE INDUSTRY
Nominations open for Remanufacturer of the Year 2012 The winner of ReMaTecNews’ eight Remanufacturer of the Year will be honoured at the World Reman Summit at University of Bayreuth on September 3. Nominations are now open. Do you know of a remanufacturer or other player in the reman industry who deserves to be honoured for a continuously excellent performance and for making a special contribution to the industry? If so, ReMaTecNews would like to hear from you. Likewise, if you feel that your business deserves wider recognition than is perhaps the case today. If any of this applies to you, we would like to remind you that the deadline for nominations is three months away and that the winner of ReMaTecNews’ Remanufacturer of the Year Award for 2012 will be announced on
Monday September 3 during the World Remanufacturing Summit at University of Bayreuth in Bavaria, Germany. As in previous years, the award honours an individual or organisation that has served the automotive or heavy duty reman sectors with distinction within fields such as innovation, technical excellence, customer service and commitment to the promotion of the qualities of remanufacturing. Nominations should include a clear and reasoned explanation for the nomination as well as the background of the organisation or individual proposed.
Candidates who have been nominated before can be renominated and, without any obligation, the panel of judges would welcome such nominations. The panel of judges for the 2012 award consists of Volker Schittenhelm representing FIRM, Fernand Weiland, Vice Chairman, APRA’s European Division and William Schwarck, Editor-in-Chief, ReMaTecNews.
The nominations must be submitted by e-mail, no later than August 1, to: remanaward@rematecnews.com
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Remanufacturers g For a few days in April Poland’s third city became the hub of European remanufacturing when APRA Europe celebrated its 25th anniversary.
An ancient venue, but new visions! That was the overall theme when remanufacturers from across the world met for the APRA European symposium plus exhibition in the old city of Krakow in South Western Poland on April 23-25. Celebrating its 25th anniversary APRA Europe gathered participants from Europe, the US and Asia for wide-ranging presentations by key figures from across the automotive and heavy duty reman industries. Altogether more than 15 presentations were given by remanufacturers, suppliers, manufacturers and academics on subjects ranging from major reman trends worldwide via ‘how to contract core surcharge for core management’ to ‘reman solutions for heavy duty applications’. On Monday 23rd, the day prior to the symposium, the exhibition attracted more than 40 exhibitors. In his first presentation as new Chairman of APRA Europe, Bosch’s Peter Bartel set out his vision for the association’s immediate future, emphasising its role as ‘the voice of remanufacturing’ and outlining its future objectives. “APRA will actively promote the unique advantages of remanufacturing, support free trade for reman products and cores and aim at obtaining financial support for the development of new reman technology,” he said. Moreover, Bartel announced APRA’s intention to join forces with other organisa-
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The corridors were heavily trafficked during the APRA exhibition at Krakow’s Galaxy Hotel. The symposium’s presentations attracted an international audience.
tions from within the automotive aftermarkets and other remanufacturing industries as well as contributing to the creation of trading standards, a much discussed subject in remanufacturing. “APRA will be the platform for networking in the automotive parts remanufacturing business and must develop a media centre for promoting remanufacturing,” he says. “We have watched the reman industry in
Europe prosper and grow to help solve the driving needs and the pocketbooks of consumers in Europe,” Peter Bartel concluded. “We are pleased with the progress, but continue to believe that remanufacturing will increase as part number proliferation continues to mean smaller runs of new units. Remanufactured units are becoming the ‘value proposition’ as opposed to new units from emerging markets.”
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s gather in Krakow Speakers at Apra’s symposium
Dr. Stefan Freiberger of University of Bayreuth
Fernand Weiland, Vice-Chairman of APRA Europe,
introduced the electronics/mechatronics session.
welcomes Josef Frank of CLEPA to the rostrum.
Josef Frank (r) of CLEPA discussed remanufacturing Peter Bartel, APRA’s new chairman.
with Günter Wolf, chairman of Germany’s VMI.
• Reman in Europe – Trends and Changes – Prof. Carsten Bucker (BU Drive) • VALEO Aftermarket with Focus on Reman Commitment – Francois de Ribet (Valeo) • The Latest Developments of Remanufacturing Inside CLEPA – Josef Frank (CLEPA) • 25 Years of APRA Europe: Opportunities and Tasks for the Future – Peter Bartel (APRA Europe) • How to Contract Core Surcharge/Business Models for Core Management - Maria Bonelli (Bosch) • Focus on Testing Electrical Systems, Including Hybrids – Philip Falk (D&V Electronics) • Testing COM/LIN Regulators – Mr. Sitarski (Konceptis) • How to Solve Complexity Issues in Remanufacturing – Hans-Henrik Westermann (Bayreuth Univ) • Remanufacturing Solutions for Heavy Duty Applications – Ian Buxcey and Didier Westphalen (Meritor) • Remanufacturing in Times of Electromobility – Sandra Seifert (Bayreuth University) • Car Network Communication – Alexander Nagel (Bayreuth University) • Heavy Duty Mechatronics & Electronics Remanufacturing – Joe Kripli (WABCO Reman Solutions)
Professor Carsten Bücker, Managing Director of BU Drive in Germany, gave a broad overview of opportunities in remanufacturing worldwide. ‘The outlook is positive,’ he said.
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New alliance between Sunair and Airstal After six years of cooperation Sunair Europe and Airstal have entered into a distribution and R&D agreement, the two companies announced during the APRA exhibition in Krakow. On the backdrop of the rapidly growing automotive AC segment the deal enables the two companies to enhance their knowledge. As a first step a new catalogue has been developed. This allows the customer to key in any compressor OEM reference and obtain a complete list of Sunair spare parts for that specific OEM reference, Sunair and Airstal announced. The database is an online based search tool with daily updates. A workshop paper version containing the most important spare part categories and tools is available from May. Concurrently Lodz-based Airstal has been appointed sole distributor for Sunair in Poland. Sunair in Europe and Airstal both started operations seven years ago with Sunair specialising in compressor spare parts and the largest range of agriculture and truck
compressors in Europe, while Airstal focuses on the remanufacturing of all types of automotive AC compressors. “We’re both excited about the new
partnership and are fully committed to making the new partnership a very successful venture,” Bo Hansen, Managing Director of Airstal told ReMaTecNews.
Wil Linders (centre) of Sunair Europe, Bo Hansen (right) of Airstal and colleagues in the new venture.
Thai delegation search for reman knowledge Among the visitors to APRA’s symposium and exhibition in Krakow in April was a delegation from Thailand. Comprising officials from Thailand’s Ministry of Industry and leading academics, the delegation had come to Europe to search for information on remanufacturing in order to pave the way for a reman sector within Thailand’s strong auto-
Official Thai delegation toured the exhibition in Krakow.
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motive sector. Thailand is currently tenth among the world’s most important car industries, and the South Eastern Asian country’s public and private sectors are both committed to further strengthening its position. “There is a growing interest in remanufacturing in Thailand for both commercial and environmental reasons,” the delegation
said. “We accept that the West has significantly more experience with remanufacturing and realize that there is much to learn.” Following the visit to Krakow, the delegation will submit a report on its findings to the Thai Ministry of Trade. Another Asian country ready to move into remanufacturing?
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Lindholm and Hella takes over MD Rebuilt Last month saw the emergence of a new force in the European starter and alternator segment when Germany’s Hella and Denmark’s remanufacturing specialist Jens Lindholm bought MD Rebuilt in Illingen, Germany. The deal opens up new horizons for the company.
For Martin Detzen, founder of long-standing German starter/alternator remanufacturer MD Rebuilt, it marked the end of a search: a search for someone to take his ‘child’ into a new age. Last month the search ended for the former winner of ReMaTecNews’ Remanufacturer of the Year Award. “Yes, I’m very happy,” he said. “The company that I built is in very good hands and its future is secure.” The hands are those of Jens Lindholm, who ran Denmark’s Holger Christiansen for close to 25 years until 2008 – and Hella of Germany, which owned Holger Christiansen until selling out to Bosch. Together the two parties now own 50 per cent of MD Rebuilt with Lindholm as Managing Director (Lindholm himself is another former winner of ReMaTecNews Remanufacturer of the Year Award). The deal puts MD Rebuilt with its 130 strong workforce in Illingen, Saarland and in Hernand, Hungary, on course for development
‘is not a major player’ but that it has the potential to develop into a much more influential force in the industry. “We’re not looking to become the biggest, but we certainly want to be one of the best,” he says. “That doesn’t come easy but with the ‘right product at the right time right now’ I’m confident that we will get there.”
The market Referring to other players in the market he claims that ‘we have no intention to take anything away from others’. “There are lots of units still to be included in our programme and that’s one of the things we’ll be working at. Apart from that, we’re aiming at a fair market share. You don’t have to be the cheapest. But you have to be among the best.” As mentioned in a previous edition of ReMaTecNews, Jens Lindholm established his own trading company under the name of Powermax outside Holger Christiansen’s home
‘We have no intention of taking anything away from others’ and expansion. That’s certainly the intention of both owners. Hella has publicly stated that the rationale behind the move is to strengthen its position in remanufacturing and Lindholm says that the aim is to invest in and improve both locations.
Technical centre of competence “Illingen will become the technical centre of competence, with Hernad in Hungary having responsibility for production and fast moving items,” he told ReMaTecNews. “We all believe that MD Rebuilt has a bright future and we will now focus on making the necessary changes in terms of the programme, production strategy and other immediate tasks. The programme is currently a bit narrow and that has to be improved.” In terms of market position Lindholm accepts that, as of today, MD Rebuilt
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town of Esbjerg on Denmark’s North Sea coast. Powermax will continue to operate on its own. In an unsual development, the deal reestablishes the partnership between largescale German supplier, Hella, and Jens Lindholm. Throughout most of the first decade of the new millennium, Jens Lindholm worked as Managing Director of Holger Christiansen A/S in Esbjerg, Denmark, after Hella’s acquisition of the company. In 2007, however, Hella decided to leave starter the remanufactured starter and alternator segment and sold Holger Christiansen to Bosch which wanted to broaden it’s activitities within the segment. For two years, until 2008 Lindholm remained MD of Holger Christiansen and it’s global activitities before deciding to leave. At the time Bosch had significantly reduced production at the Holger Christiansen Esbjerg plant, which today serves
mainly as an administrative centre. Having resigned from Bosch, Jens Lindholm took two years leave before establishing a new trading company, Power Max in Bramming, Southern Denmark, to exploit opportunities within international trade in starter and alternators. Describing Lindholm as ‘an internationally renowned remanufacturing expert’ Hella clearly looks forward to the new partnership which currenly will have a turnover of some eight million euros, a figure that can be expected to increase significantly over the next few years. “The deal enables Hella to extend its product portfolio and build on existing market share,” the company says. Hella is a global, family owned automotive supplier with more than 25.000 employees in 70 locations in excess of 780 countries. With 3.800 employees within research alone, the company places considerable emphasis on advanced development within the areas of electronics, light-systems and other automotive part. Last year the company ranked among the world’s 50 largest automotive suppliers as well as among Germany’s 100 largest companies. MD Rebuilt was established by Martin Detzen a quarter of a century ago and has been run by the founder ever since. In view of his impending retirement, Detzen, Remanufacturer of the Year 2007, had for some time been looking for a partner. Which, obviously, he has found now. For the immediate future Martin Detzen will continue to act as an adviser to the two owners from his base in Illingen. While maintaining his residence in Denmark, Jens Lindholm will also set up a home in Illingen.
Old friends “I have known Hella for 25 years and Martin Detzen for as long so it was natural for us to talk,” Jens Lindholm told ReMaTecNews. “That, of course, helped with the negotiations. We all knew each other, so we know what we’re getting.” What the market will get is for the future. A good bet, however, is that the ‘new’ MD Rebuilt will make some considerable impact.
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Jens Lindholm (left) and Martin Detzen.
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NEWS FROM THE INDUSTRY
FAR – right for reman A UK conference hosted jointly by the Federation of Engine Remanufacturers (FER) and the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) discussed new ideas to help raise the UK’s reman profile but also saw the launch of a new organisation designed to unite remanufacturers. FER secretary Brian Ludford announced the birth of the Federation of Automotive Remanufacturers (FAR), a body designed to represent the interests of reman specialists from across the automotive spectrum and help attain a higher profile. FAR is an umbrella organisation that will support members from a broad range of remanufacturing disciplines, such as rotating electrics, transmissions, engines, turbochargers, brakes and electronics. FER President Alan Johnston says FAR members will receive administrative and business support services as well as opportunities to express their views at the highest level: “An essential service we will be able to provide will be an ear to govern-
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ments and the EU. It’s vital that political decision makers understand the needs of remanufacturers and appreciate the potential that this industry can offer in terms of energy and material savings, jobs and growth.” Late last year, the FER announced plans to broaden its membership. This announcement marks a significant advancement of that strategy. FER and FAR will operate in tandem in order to ease FAR access through existing political channels. Brian Ludford, secretary of the FER said it is the logical way forward for so many different reasons: “This is no time for remanufacturers to be operating in isolation. The FER has been
supporting engine remanufacturers as a whole for 75 years and as engine parts have become more complex, specialised remanufacturers have evolved into separate groups. FAR will be able to represent their interests at national and international government level.” Key moments in the conference came when guest speaker Dr Winifred Ijomah, from Strathclyde University, pointed out that the Chinese and Indian governments were investing heavily in reman research programmes because of its proven profitability. As they had already successfully exploited ‘copy new’, she said that if they developed a leading edge in the reman market, the UK reman industry will have nowhere to go.
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The future of the ind from a remanufacturi Remanufacturers are exposed to competition on several fronts. That, in itself, is nothing new. Nevertheless, never before has the independent reman sector faced such a variety of challenges as today.
Russ Schinzing, an 18 year reman veteran and founder/co-owner of ERC, Electronic Remanufacturing Company in Michigan, USA, sets the stage and points towards some solutions.
Independent remanufacturers have been around for a long time and have found an important niche in the service of aftermarket parts to the driving public. Their value propositions have long been price, position, and coverage. They price their product so that after all the distribution markups, the final price to the installer is 20-50% less than the price of the new part. Through the vast distribution network they position their product as close to the customer as physically possible and have stock on hand to deliver to the customer most parts the same day. They then offer an ‘all-makes, all-models’ programme so that they become the one-stop-shop for the end user. These advantages have proven to be tough competition for the OE dealer. Two ingredients are necessary for an independent remanufacturer to be successful in the automotive aftermarket: cores and
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specification data. In the past, most remanufacturers relied on the OEM using proven parts in many different vehicles and for many years. The law of economies of scale worked out for all involved. The OEM paid less for each part and the remanufacturer was able to amortize the reverse-engineering development work over a large quantity of units. The ROI (Return On Investment) for the remanufacturer was relatively easy. Then it happened, the Japanese struck. No, not Pearl Harbor, but it had a similar long term effect on the independent aftermarket. What the Japanese brought to the American manufacturing machine was the idea of continuous improvement both on the product side and on the supply chain side. Eliminate waste at all cost and if it isn’t broken, break it and make it better. Change was good. Another major change in the industry starting around the early to mid 80s was the introduction and widening acceptance of electronics targeted to control emissions. This humble beginning burgeoned into a technological revolution of what and how things are controlled on the vehicle. Electronics drove change and innovation at an exponential rate. The independent remanufacturer began to see many more model year changes in parts as well as specialized parts for specific models. This changed the game completely and is still affecting how independents approach new part number introduction. For most independent remanufacturers, CASH IS KING! Therefore, any factors that disturb the delicate balance of cash flow that remanufacturers manage could have a catastrophic affect on their future viability.
Parts proliferation As discussed earlier, parts proliferation due to continuous improvement or technology advancement is here to stay and must be managed within the independents’ new part introduction process and justification. Small variations need to be dealt with; an extra
By Russ Schinzing
mounting boss, mounting ear, higher rated component, and even software changes. In fact, before the advent of Flash Reprogramming, most OEMs would change the part number any time they made a software change. Those who programme for a living know that with any robust system, those changes happen frequently. Reverse engineering activities can be very pricey even within a product category that an independent already has deep coverage in. Even small variations need to be accounted for and therefore every characteristic needs to be measured and documented. New replacement parts need to be measured, drawn, sourced, inventoried, and scheduled. When you’re doing 30 part numbers for 50,000+ total sales per year, this is no big deal, but when you’re now doing 100 parts for 9,000-10,000 total sales per year, the cost become significant. Add to that the disassembly, cleaning, fixturing, component repair, and testing processes that have to be validated or developed, and it can grind new part introduction processes to a slow crawl. Independents have attempted to deal with this issue by ‘family-izing’ part numbers. This way they are only dealing with the small variation changes within a group of parts. Despite this adaptation, coverage gaps are appearing in many of the ‘full-line, full-coverage’ companies.
Technical complexity Technology is getting more complex. For independent remanufacturers, it’s a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that it limits competition; the curse is that it significantly stretches their technical capabilities. Products that once were purely mechanical in nature now have electronic controls in what has been termed as mechatronic parts; power steering replaced by electrically assisted rack & pinion, integral ABS replacing master cylinder, electric water pump, and the list goes on and on. When complexity increases, cost increases. With less volume due to higher
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ndependents – uring perspective parts proliferation, this cost, in many cases, can kill a business case and ultimately cause a remanufacturer to decide not to cover those applications, leaving large coverage gaps.
Core availability Parts proliferation as well as increased competition has had an effect on core availability for the independent. However, the most significant factor that is limiting core availability is the awakening of the OEM/OES community to the importance of core ownership to market share retention. On an increasing scale the OEM and OES are understanding the timeless reman adage, ‘He who owns the core, owns the market’. The OEM/OES have the best chance to capture the core since they can put a core deposit on every part sold from SOP (start of production). The only way for the independent to get a hold of those core parts is to either buy surplus new, surplus core from the OEM, offer the OE dealer more for
the part than the OEM core deposit, or wait for them to reach the scrap yard.
The implications Many of the large independent remanufacturers that are attempting to maintain the ‘all-makes, all-models’ approach to their market have resorted to different strategies to accomplish their goals. One of these strategies is to catalogue every part number in existence and, for those parts that they cannot get enough cores to launch a stocking programme, they code it as an R&R (repair and return) only part. Customers are directed to send in their part and wait, in some cases, up to a week to get their part back repaired. The cost and lead time for this programme is significantly more than the usual stocking programmes and can really undermine the value proposition of the independent – lower cost and faster part delivery than the OEM. Another implication of the increase of technology and parts proliferation is the
growth of niche remanufacturers. These remanufacturers specialize in certain makes, models, and commodities that are, in many cases, underserved by the larger independent remanufacturers. A solution to the problem would be for the independent remanufacturer to attempt to do business with an OEM/OES as a thirdparty supplier so that technical information is provided to lower the cost associated with the reverse engineering process. Unfortunately for the independent, the OEM/OES community is sensitive to giving any information to the independent channel for fear that they could lose market share when that independent uses the information to service their independent customers. Is all lost for the independent? Certainly not! If I know anything of the independent market, it’s that they are survivors. Their will to succeed rivals none. They will find a way, this I know for sure. It will just have to be in different ways than they are operating now.
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NEWS FROM THE INDUSTRY
ReMaTecNews.com launches new and improved web portal ReMaTecNews.com, the leading global provider of remanufacturing intelligence, has launched its new web portal which integrates the ReMaTecNews magazine, information about the ReMaTec exhibition, news and press releases, social media, video and Marketplace, an online searchable catalogue. The portal incorporates the sites of the ReMaTec2013 Amsterdam exhibition and ReMaTecNews, the only international magazine dedicated to automotive and heavy duty remanufacturing worldwide. Visitors to the website get access to news and in-depth reports on a broad range of automotive and commercial vehicle components, including automatic and manual transmissions, electronics and mechatronics, cores and much besides. They can also comment, discuss and share the articles directly on the site or through the various social media channels. ReMaTecNews is active on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. For the latest news you can sign-up for the electronic newsletter.
Portal for the remanufacturing industry worldwide.
ReMaTecNews’ digital magazines, subscription and advertising.
Daily news, blogs, features and new developments.
All information about ReMaTec2013 exhibition in Amsterdam.
Marketplace online catalogue, browsable and searchable.
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NEWS FROM THE INDUSTRY
Meritor’s head of remanufacturing takes on greater responsibilities Doug Wolma to take charge of Meritor’s global operations After six years as General Manager, Remanufacturing, at Meritor, Doug Wolma, 43, has been promoted to General Manager with responsibility for global operations and strategic deployment, including remanufacturing, distribution, and supply chain for the worldwide aftermarket.
Key role The promotion recognises Wolma’s key role in the large American supplier’s increasing commitment to remanufacturing. Since Wolma’s appointment to head its reman operations in 2006, Meritor’s reman business has tripled in size and expanded significantly, including the acquisition of the former Trucktechnic business in Liege, Belgium in 2008. In his new role Doug Wolma will be in charge of 20 facilities located in 12 countries around the world. The acquisition of Trucktechnic marked a significant expansion of Meritor’s European Aftermarket operation in terms of product offering, geographical footprint and remanufacturing capability and capacity. The brand now includes a broad range of brake kits and components as well as a significant portfolio
of remanufactured, all-makes brake calipers, valves and compressors. “This new role with expanded responsibilities does not remove me from the Meritor reman Operations,” Doug Wolma told ReMaTecNews. “To the contrary, we see significant synergies between the reman business and the distribution business at Meritor. By consolidating these two operations we can do a better job of aligning our worldwide capacities, footprint, and human resources to continuing growing while maintaining the quality, breadth of offering, and service levels that our customers expect. There are areas of the world where we have a significant world class distribution presence without having remanufacturing operations. It will be a lot of fun to see how we can use this to aid our reman growth.”
Perfect fit “Doug’s familiarity with all aspects of aftermarket operations and his demonstrated capabilities make him the perfect fit for the worldwide expansion required of our aftermarket business,” Joe Mejaly, President of Meritor’s Aftermarket and Trailer division said in a comment.
Doug Wolma
Remanufacturing brings benefits Robust trade in remanufactured products will bring greater investment opportunities, create jobs and promote green growth in the Asia-Pacific region. That was one of the key messages business representatives, government regulators and research scientists from across the APEC region took away at the conclusion of a workshop on remanufacturing research and development in APEC economies in Singapore today.
Industries reliant on remanufactured goods, including those ranging from earthmoving and automotive parts to electronics and information technology, got a needed boost through sharing best practices on reliability engineering, quality assurance, and inspection. “Remanufacturing represents not only a new paradigm in manufacturing, but also presents a second-life business model that makes production of goods both environ-
mentally and often cost attractive,” Dr. Raj Thampuran, Executive Director of the Science and Engineering Research Council at Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research, said in his keynote address. “There is a renaissance occurring in manufacturing,” he continued. “With emphasis on high-value engineering methods, supportive regulatory systems, and good capabilities across the supply chain, I believe remanufacturing can take off in a big way.”
MERA to host reman conference MERA will host a remanufacturing conference on Oct. 2, 2012, in the Detroit metro area. Leading speakers will cover topics on remanufacturing, sustainability and corporate social responsibility. MERA members and
industry guests should save the date for important unique event. A preliminary agenda will be available soon. Opportunities for partnership are also available. In addition, the MERA Sales & Market-
ing Council plans to meet before the conference on Oct. 1 from 12-5 p.m. EDT at the MERA office in Southfield, Michigan, USA. For more information, contact Tom Rippinger at (248) 750-1280 or trippinger@mera.org.
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NEWS FROM THE INDUSTRY
Turkish reman supplier targets UK and EU Turkish reman parts supplier Das Group has established a UK sales agency and is looking to develop a distribution centre. London-based sales agent Berkant Hussein says the company, which is a brake parts reman specialist, is also
considering plans to establish a parts reman business, which would give it a manufacturing foothold in the EU. The company recently posted its intentions with respect to the UK market at the Commercial vehicle Show, in Birmingham, UK. The company specialises in reman brake parts, especially calipers and currently has markets in Dubai and Asia. It also supplies a range of other reman parts for commercial vehicles as well as for the bus and coach market. A catalogue has been produced and an English language website is under construction. From left to right: Berkant Hussein, General Manager Enes Alima and International Trade Manager Mustafa Unal.
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Hard work is pa The long hard slog is paying off for Stephens Engineering in Ware, Hertfordshire in the UK. Run by founders Bill Stephens and his wife, Lesley, together with their son, Jason, automatic transmissions specialist Stephens Engineering is celebrating its 42nd anniversary and still going strong. In fact the family firm and its staff, many of whom have been with the company since its foundation in 1968, are committed to building on the reputation that it has established over the decades: a reliable small firm that provides a professional service to customers in their local area. And, maybe, beyond because the company is currently engaged in discussions with a potential US customer. “We’re constantly looking for new ways to further our expertise and are currently involved in setting up the e-see shift system to run our dyno and valve body machines,” Bill Stephens told ReMaTecNews. The 10,000 sq.ft. workshop has ten ramps with dyno and two valve body rigs. It
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TRANSMISSION WORLD
is paying off for small family firm also comprises a fully-equipped machine shop with a torque converter reconditioning facility and OE scanning equipment. With particular expertise in automatic transmissions for some of the biggest names in the motor industry – Porsche, Bentley, MercedesBenz, Aston-Martin, Lotus, Audi and BMW – Stephens Engineering is living proof of the fact that small operators can still survive in an environment of increasing competition and very large players.
Rebuilt valve bodies The Stephens family recently added a facility elsewhere in Hertfordshire to be able to remanufacture all its automatic work. Most of the orders currently come from main dealers, independents and the
public, but the company is also in talks with a large potential customer to supply rebuilt valve bodies. Bill Stephens has also employed
a full-time engineer to deal with semi-automatic gear boxes. “It has been our experience as automatic gearbox specialists that over recent years it is essential to back a highly qualified team of engineers with the most high tech equipment, and this year we have installed from America two test and simulator machines. This enables us to run the automatic gearboxes under road conditions using hydraulic pressures and switchable currents and loads to pinpoint any possible weakness either now or more importantly in months to come.”
Jason (left) and Bill Stephens – commitment to constant improvement.
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TRANSMISSION WORLD
Transmission seminar all at sea – The Black Sea A frequent organiser of technical seminars, Ukraine Transmission Company (UTC) has long been responsible for bringing technical expertise to transmission rebuilders in Ukraine. Along the way owner/manager Sergey Arkhypenko has also established himself as the country’s leading transmission rebuilder and parts supplier. This was again in evidence in December when Kiev-based UTC attracted some sixty transmission rebuilders to its 5th seminar in the famous resort of Yalta on the Black Sea. Here the participants listened to presentations on new technology for today’s automatic transmissions by Bill Henney from Bluereach Automation with Alan Gadd, Sussex Transmission Parts in the UK and Roni Zelichonok.
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Celebrating the first ten years of the seminars, the participants subsequently enjoyed a splendid dinner at a traditional Ukrainian restaurant on The Black Sea. “The seminars assist our customers to become successful which, in turn, helps my business grow,” says Sergey Arkhypenko. He hosted a second seminar in May – during a cruise on the Black Sea from Odessa in Ukraine to Istanbul in Turkey.
UTC owner, Sergey Arkhypenko, is a frequent organiser of transmissions seminars in the Ukraine.
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marketPLACE ASSOCIATIONS
APRA Forsbachstraße 13 51145 Cologne Germany phone +49 (0)220 3292984 info@apra-europe.org www.apra-europe.org
FIRM Rue Vautier, 54 1050 BRUSSELS Belgium phone +32 (0) 498 802740 secretariat@firm-org.eu www.firm-org.eu
CLEANING EQUIPMENT
Metalas Cleaning Systems BV James Wattweg 28 3133 KK Vlaardingen The Netherlands phone +31 (0)10 4356036 info@metalas.com www.metalas.com
Proceco Ltd. 7300 Tellier Street Montreal, QC H1N 3T7 Canada phone: +1 514 254 8494 cleaning@proceco.com www.proceco.com
CORES
Autoenterprises Ltd. Units 5,6,14,15 Pembroke Centre, Gardiners Lane South Basildon, Essex, SS14 3HX United Kingdom phone +44 (0)1268 285888 john.snr@autoenterprises.co.uk www.autoenterprises.co.uk
Premier Components UK Ltd. Unit 701 Long Marston Storage Campden Road Long Marston Stratford-upon-Avon Warwickshire CV37 8QR United Kingdom phone +44 (0)1789 720061 www.premiercore.com
R.A.S.E.D. S.p.A. Spaco Diesel Via Padova 183 20127 Milano Italy Phone +39 022722161 info@rased.it www.spacodiesel.com www.rased.it
Van Der Star Bvba Van Der Star Bvba Ind. Leuerbroek 1094 B-3640 Kinrooi Belgium phone +32 (0)89 703657 vanderstarbvba@msn.com www.vanderstarbvba.com
• Cleaning equipment • Consultancy - Research • Cores • Environmental products • Lubricants - Chemicals • Organisations - Associations • Parts for remanufacturers • Production equipment • Remanufactured products • Test equipment Rates 2012 1 placement 1 160 5 placements 1 695
Gobbi Spare Parts Srl Via Capannaguzzo, 3681-47521 Macerone di Cesena (FC) Italy phone +39 0547 3111346 info@gobbisp.com www.gobbisp.com
A.E.S. Auto Electric Service BV Cannenburgerweg 59c 1244 RH Ankeveen The Netherlands phone +31 (0)35 6563444 info@aes.nl www.aes.nl
REMANUFACTURED PRODUCTS
ERA Benelux Drieslaan 78 B-8560 Gullegem Belgium Phone +32 56 439300 info@erabenelux.be www.erabenelux.be
Wah Seng Industry Sdn. Bhd. 22 Jalan Industri Beringin 14100 Juru Industry Park S.P.T. Penang Malaysia phone +6 04 5079982 marketing@wahseng.com www.wahseng.com S.D.A. Im-Export BV Duizeldonksestraat 7 5705 CA Helmond The Netherlands phone +31 (0)492 524463 Info@sdaim-export.nl www.sdaim-export.nl
INFORMATION For more information please contact Eva Barten, phone +31 (0)20-5042800 advertising@rematecnews.com www.rematecnews.com
BU DRIVE GmbH Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 129 49811 Lingen/Ems Germany phone +49 (0)591 71050 info@bu-drive.com www.bu-drive.com
Alto Europe BV Marconistraat 2a 7442 DD Nijverdal The Netherlands phone +31 (0)6 10432191 rudy.cents@altousa.com www.altousa.com
TEST EQUIPMENT
Auto-Matic C/ Laguna 20 (Pol.Ind.Urtinsa II) 28923 Alcorcón Madrid Spain phone +34 91 644 44 22 auto-matic@auto-matic.es www.auto-matic.es
Dynostar Hogerwerf 15 4707 RV Roosendaal The Netherlands phone +31-165521336 info@dynostar.com www.dynostar.com
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Supplier of automotive core parts
CLUTCHES
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS
TRANSMISSIONS
ACTUATORS
STEERING LHD & RHD
TURBOS
FI
NE MET
A LS
Catalytic Converters
(U
K) L ITE IM
D
Tel: 0044 (0) 1403 824 246 info@autoparts-uk.com www.autoparts-uk.com
RE
London, United Kingdom
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ELECTRONICS & MECHATRONICS
Learning about electronics and mechatronics in Bayreuth
The complexity and the constantly accelerating technological developments within automotive mechatronics and electronics make the remanufacture of these products ever more The workshops at Bayreuth University include the following topics: overview of vehicle bus systems, introduction to CANbus, LIN-bus and MOST-bus protocols, the physical-layer and the transport-layer, introduction to CANoe and Databases with CANdb++. Other areas comprise measurement and analyzing with CANoe, filtering and logging, using replay blocks and interactive generators, diagnostic sessions and protocols, using panel designers and working with system and environment variables.
challenging. With up to 80 mechatronic and electronic systems communicating mostly via the CAN-bus it is understandable that remanufacturers may find it difficult to obtain the necessary test procedures, connection-pins, communication parameters etc. Remanufacturing these automotive systems requires innovative reverse engineering know-how. But where to get it? One way is offered by University of Bayreuth in Bavaria. The university’s Chair of Manufacturing and Remanufacturing offers a range of tailor-made workshops for common bus systems in vehicles like CAN and LIN. The aim is to teach participants how to undertake diagnostic sessions in the vehicle, how to access different ECUs, to log and analyze communication data as well as reverse engineering. The department has its own vehicle fleet from dif-
ferent manufacturers for these training programmes. “Getting the required information about specifications and so on, is very difficult for remanufacturers,” explains Dr.-Ing. Stefan Freiberger from the Chair of Manufacturing and Remanufacturing Technology at Bayreuth. “Mechatronic and electronic systems collect masses of data from the vehicle network and driving conditions using lots of sensors and the CAN-bus network. As a consequence, connecting all sensors and the power plug to the system alone is not sufficient unless the device is connected to the network of an actual car or an adequate simulation of all the communications can be carried out. The key to successful remanufacturing of the system, therefore, lies in simulating the entire network communication of the vehicle.”
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ELECTRONICS & MECHATRONICS
Turbo actuator reman for Europe April 1 marked a milestone for Flight Systems European Group, as they began turbo actuator reman and testing for all EU customers. “We have continued to expand and develop our product offerings and technical electronic capabilities for the EU market”, says Marc Baines, Managing Director of FS-Europe, based in Vrchlab in the Czech Republic. “Turbo applications continue to grow worldwide. Our reman solution is very technically sound and cost effective. Turbo actuator reman is very attractive for our OE and aftermarket customers.” In addition, Flight Europe has in recent months installed a new Samsung SMT electronics assembly line to support OE and service reman solutions. “Many of our customers have core supply issues. Our new SMT line gives us the flexibility to evaluate new build service solutions for their EOL/core problems, when core or components, are unavailable,” added Eric Beerhorst, Production Manager of Flight
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Flight Systems’ European Group recently started up turbo actuator remanufacturing in the Czech Republic.
Systems Europe. Flight Systems has continued to grow its presence within the many EU reman markets, including, Diesel, Turbo, Medical and Automotive Electronics. “Expanding in these critical areas will complement our diverse product lines and give our customers options.” says Marc
Baines. “We have a global strategy, and Flight Europe is also continuing the development of our HD truck reman offerings. Based on this growth, we will announce a facility expansion soon. We feel good about our position, projects, and products that we are launching in the EU.”
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NEWS
By Volker Schittenhelm, Head of Information, FIRM
Collaboration is the key The reman industry is currently undergoing a significant and dynamic process where the ‘reman snowball’ is becoming bigger and bigger, driven by the players in the trade. The industry is clearly on the right track and we will all profit from it. But who is pushing the snowball? Besides the industry itself, i.e. the remanufacturers, and ReMaTec/ReMaTecNews as a platform with significant impact, a group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and associations, institutes and working groups are all working on presenting the message of reman to political leaders and their administrative bodies. In addition, numerous reman summits, symposiums, conferences and meetings are taking place across the world. Although most often organised separately from each other, they all add to the size of the snowball. But let us look at it from the perspective of our audience – the public, the end consumers and the political actors. What do they see? A uniform, well organised industry that speaks with one voice and acts in unison? Sadly, the answer is far from it! In Europe, FIRM has, for some considerable time, recognised this and, as a result, has strived to consolidate the lobbying and PR activities of FIRM, APRA and Clepa’s Aftermarket Division. From our point of view, these three organisations are the only big players to represent Europe’s entire automotive reman industry: APRA covers the independent automotive parts remanufacturing sector while FIRM represents the interests of the independent engine remanufacturing industry. CLEPA’s Aftermarket Division, among its other aftermarket activities, promotes the reman activities of its members: the OEM and TIER I suppliers. Moreover, institutions such as the Centre of Remanufacturing and Reuse (CRR) in the UK, Bayreuth University’s Reman Chair in Germany and the Federation of Engine
Remanufacturers, FER, in the UK form a fourth group with which FIRM is engaged in networking and mutual communication. Do we speak with one voice for all these groups? No we don’t - and, for competitive reasons, we’re unlikely ever to do so. Nevertheless, we all have the same target: to make the public recognise and accept the values and benefits of remanufacturing and, through them, make an impact at governmental and political levels. We all have the capability and the responsibility for convincing our target groups that remanufacturing is manufacturing at a high level – that a reman product is, in fact, ‘as good as new’! We should not prevent other industry players across the
world jumping on board. But, of course, we must expose those who do so if they are not qualified or entitled to join. Keeping the snow white and maintaining remanufacturing as a high-level, professional industrial activity, FIRM and APRA’s boards have agreed on closer collaboration – without compromising their respective independence. As a next step, FIRM and APRA, in their capacity as the leading organisations for Europe’s independent, automotive reman industry, would like to coordinate our targets and interests better with CLEPA’s Aftermarket Division. This would be a big step forward towards effective networking within the automotive remanufacturing industry.
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For further news about APRA Europe, please visit www.apra-europe.org
APRA Europe
NEWS
APRA Europe – the road ahead
By Peter Bartel, Chairman, APRA Europe
Over the past 25 years APRA Europe has successfully promoted remanufacturing in Europe. In fact, our organisation has been the epicentre of communication and networking for automotive remanufacturing. A key factor behind our success is the way APRA Europe has managed to represent all players in the remanufacturing industry including suppliers, manufacturers and even the world of science. Today APRA is facing a changing environment. In the past, remanufacturing was driven by market demand for comprehensive quality products for the automotive aftermarket. As reman technology developed over the years the products reached quality levels matching those of original, new units. Now, however, new products coming out of low
cost countries, developed specifically for the automotive aftermarket, represent real competition. APRA Europe as the voice of remanufacturing Meanwhile, the arguments for saving raw materials, protecting the environment and reducing CO2 emissions are getting more important as a driver for our business. European and national politicians, political organisations, therefore, must be persuaded of the advantages of remanufacturing so that
remanufacturing can be included in current and future industrial development initiatives. Accordingly, to become even more successful APRA Europe should aim at joining forces with other organisations in the automotive aftermarket in general and the remanufacturing industry in particular. APRA Europe will define standards The remanufacturing industry in Europe remains heterogeneous, from small-sized family owned companies to big international players. At the end of the day, the success of all members will come from working together. Common trading standards will create synergies – to the benefit of everyone. APRA Europe will create measurable benefits for all members Moreover, APRA must comprise different trade levels and sales channels. A clear commitment to remanufactured products at the point of sale will support sales directly and create immediate, measurable benefits for the businesses – benefits that will be available to all active supporters of APRA in Europe. I believe that these three tasks will ensure sustainable growth for our industry in the changing – and challenging – environment which we face over the next few years. The key to success lies in the active support of APRA’s members.
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Carsten Bücker joins the board of APRA Europe The board of APRA Europe is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor, Dr.-Ing. Carsten Bücker to the board of APRA in Europe. Carsten Bücker is a skilled business leader with an impressive track record of growing his businesses. With his enthusiasm for remanufacturing and relentless energy Carsten Bücker will be an important addition to the board and the association.
Well known and highly respected across the remanufacturing industry Carsten Bücker is majority owner, Chairman and CEO of ‘BU BÜCKER Unternehmensgruppe’ and its subsidiaries, BU DRIVE and BU POWER GROUP. BU DRIVE, which remanufactures engines, transmissions, sub-assemblies, turbochargers and diesel equipment, has operations throughout Europe and in the US. His philosophy is to raise the quality and technology of industrial remanufacturing, especially focusing on environmental protection. In 2011 he was appointed Professor by the ‘National Key Laboratory for Remanufacturing in Beijing’ and in 2009 was named ‘Remanufacturer of the Year’ by ReMaTecNews magazine. Besides his new role at APRA, Carsten Bücker is involved in many other areas within the reman industry. His experience and skills will be a great asset to APRA’s European Board. Fernand Weiland Vice Chairman
s in ent e at ubvice val-
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NEWS FROM OTHER ORGANISATONS
More news from reman organisations Recent years have seen the birth of new reman-lated organisations – and a rapid increase in the activities undertaken by existing organisations. In consequence, ReMaTecNews will now extend its coverage of the actions of the associations involved in remanufacturing across the world.
AASA report on – What Else Is in the Box? In the latest of its ‘Special Report’ series addressing aftermarket replacement parts quality, the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) examines the many processes and services which accompany quality products in, ‘What Else Is in the Box? Beyond Aftermarket Replacement Parts’. “There are many resources, including other AASA ‘Special Reports’ that address the basic question of ‘what’s in the box’,” said Steve Handschuh, President and COO of AASA. “In our report, we address the broader question, ‘What else is in the box?’ – those vital intangibles that go into producing and standing behind high quality replacement parts.” “When it comes to choosing the right part for the job, technicians often ask, ‘What’s in the box?’ Simply looking at a part or even comparing it to the component being replaced is not enough,” noted Jack Cameron, AASA Vice President and author of the report. “Parts that appear the same on the outside do not always perform as well as what was installed when the car was built.” ‘What Else Is in the Box?’ examines the important processes and services which accompany quality products, Cameron noted. Divided into three broad categories, these are incorporated prior to, during and even after the quality product is manufactured. The processes and services provided by full service aftermarket suppliers include: • Product specification and engineering • Category management • Quality control • Product liability • Intellectual property protection • Supply chain management • Application knowledge and technical support • Defective product and labor claim protection. “When it comes to full service manufacturers’ products, there is far more in the box than the part. That is the basis of the Know Your Parts® slogan, ‘It’s What’s Inside That Counts’,” Cameron explained. “Just as the
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knowledge, experience, training and reputation of the professional technician who installs a part makes all the difference, so too, are the parts themselves. That’s why it is so important to remember ‘What else is in the box?’ when selecting a manufacturer,” he added. For more information about the AASA Know Your Parts campaign, visit www.KnowYourParts.com.
FER to send message to British government Alan Johnston, President of the UK’s Federation of Engine Remanufacturers, is intending to appeal to the British government to do more to promote remanufacturing’s greener benefits: “Our aim is to secure automotive remanufacturing ‘priority status’ at Government level, to earmark it as a sector that can deliver both growth and environmental benefits - one worthy of promotion on a national scale,” Alan Johnson says, adding: “We will be pooling some powerful arguments - highlighting some significant figures and producing some clear examples of the financial and environmental benefits that we are already generating. The title of the upcoming conference is ‘Remanufacturing Renaissance’, but it’s not about what we have achieved so far. It’s all about what we might be able to achieve in the future based on the firm foundations we have already put in place.” “We will have some powerful speakers on the platform, but we are hoping to attract some even more powerful speakers from the floor who will help generate proposals for a marketing plan to reinforce our sector’s green message.”
John Goodman has decided to retire to ‘spend more time with the grandchildren’. AERA, which this year celebrates its 90th anniversary, expects to have a successor in place before the summer. During Goodman’s tenure AERA’s activities have expanded considerably. These activities include the publication of the Engine Professional magazine which, for the fifth year, serves engine builders and rebuilders worldwide. Another initiative is the launch of the AERA Certificate programme, a rigorous 18 unit online course covering all aspects of engine tear down, cleaning, machining and assembly. Once completed, the successful candidate is awarded with two AERA certificates, Cylinder Head and Engine Machinist. Among other AERA offers is the new and growing Component Failure Analysis Manual now in second edition printing with over 135 pages of cause and effect engine component failures, new servers in New Zealand and the United States to handle Internet based PRO-SIS to users around the
John Goodman retires from AERA.
world and marketing tools for members to better promote their businesses. In close cooperation with Europe’s FIRM John Goodman has also been instrumental in setting up WERC, the World Engine Remanufacturing Council to promote engine remanufacturing globally.
Engine specifications
AERA to get new president in 2012 Towards mid-2012 AERA will have a new president. After 9 years at the head of America’s Automotive Engine Rebuilders Association,
Moreover, under John Goodman AERA has gathered and archived thousands of engine specifications from original equipment manufacturers worldwide to make available to its members upon request. “Our three man tech department is equalled by no other association and getting
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NEWS FROM OTHER ORGANISATONS better every year,” he tells ReMaTecNews. “I’m really proud of my AERA team has created over these wonderful nine years. We may be small but we are quality.”
to promoting the benefits of remanufacturing before the more than 125,000 aftermarket professionals that participate in AAPEX and Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week,” says John Chalifoux, President and COO of MERA.
MERA to organise reman section at AAPEX 2012 In a new initiative MERA, the remanufacturing division of the US’ Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association, will organise a remanufacturing section at the 2012 AAPEX aftermarket show in the autumn. The show, America’s largest aftermarket event, runs from October 30 to November 1 in Las Vegas immediately after APRA’s Big R reman exhibition. Exhibits in the area, which will be reserved for members of MERA, will focus on the economic, environmental and product performance benefits of remanufactured motor vehicle components, MERA says. The exhibition space will be shared with members of the AAIA Engine Repower Council, which promotes the benefits of remanufactured engines in the US. “MERA and its members look forward
SMMT – Reman debate in the UK An inaugural conference about remanufacturing sectors, organised by the UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, took place in Birmingham in March. The UK Centre of Remanufacturing and Reuse gave a presentation about reman standards, in particular, the certification required in connection with the BS 8887-220 standard. This lists the steps required to change a used product into an as-new product, with at least equivalent performance and warranty of a comparable new replacement product. This remanufacturing process can include parts or components to be used in subsequent assembly. A positive view of remanufactured products was put forward by one of the biggest fleet operators in the UK, Pullman Fleet Services. Health and safety was also on the list of topics discussed, while the SMMT rounded off the event with a look at its skills related activities and plans for 2012. SMMT says future reman conferences will take place.
John Chalifoux.
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INTERNATIONAL EVENTS & TRADE FAIRS 31.05.2012-03.06.2012 Saigon International Autotech & Accessories Show Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) 02.06.2012-10.06.2012 AMI - AUTO MOBIL INTERNATIONAL with AMITEC - Trade Fair for Vehicle Components, Workshop Equipment and Services and AMICOM - Trade Fair for Entertainment, Communication and Navigation Technology in Motor Vehicles Leipzig (Germany) 06.06.2012-09.06.2012 AutoSib - Trade Fair for Automobiles, Garages, Auto Service Novosibirsk (Russia) 06.06.2012-10.06.2012 AUTOTEC - International Fair of Utility Vehicles, Parts, Accessories and Garage Equipment Brno (Czech Republic) 07.06.2012-11.06.2012 Auto Chongqing - Automobile Exhibition Chongqing (China)
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21.06.2012-23.06.2012 GWTS - The Truck Show Las Vegas (USA) 21.06.2012-24.06.2012 Automotive Manufacturing - Asean Machinery Expo for Automotive Parts Manufacturing Bangkok (Thailand) 21.06.2012-24.06.2012 Vietnam AutoExpo - International Automobile & Supporting Industries Exhibition & Conference Hanoi (Vietnam) 01.07.2012-07.07.2012 SYRMOTORSHOW - The Syrian International Motorshow Damascus (Syrian Arab Republic) 18.07.2012-20.07.2012 PAACE Automechanika Mexico - Mexico and Central America’s Int. Trade Show for the Automotive Aftermarket, OE Manufacturing and Service Industry Mexico City (Mexico)
11.09.2012-16.09.2012 Automechanika - The World’s Leading Trade Fair for the Automotive Industry Frankfurt/Main (Germany) 13.09.2012-16.09.2012 AUTOSHOW NITRA - International Exhibition for Passenger and Commercial Vehicles and Accessories Nitra (Slovakia) 18.09.2012-20.09.2012 Automotive Testing Expo China Shanghai (China) 20.09.2012-22.09.2012 KLIMAMOBILITY Bolzano (Italy) 20.09.2012-27.09.2012 IAA Nutzfahrzeuge - International Motor Show Commercial Vehicles Hanover (Germany) 26.09.2012-30.09.2012 Vietnam Motor Show Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
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ReMaTec 2013 INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR FOR REMANUFACTURING
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