ACM Parts redefining repairs

The average Aussie driver knows very little about what happens to their car once it is no longer driveable. For thousands of mechanics, these vehicles contain a veritable buffet of components that are still very much useable. Enter ACM Parts, one of Australia’s leading recycled parts handlers and distributors.

More than 800,000 vehicles are deregistered every year in Australia. From the get-go, the team at ACM Parts has its finger on the pulse at bidding sites across the nation. ACM Parts Recycling Operations Manager Chris Mallon said “once a vehicle is purchased, the company’s extensive dismantling process begins. We purchase those vehicles and extract the value from re-used parts that can be recycled back to a repairer”.

According to Chris, there are about 1450 registered dismantlers across Australia. This includes ACM Parts, who meticulously takes vehicles apart and sorts the pieces.

Chris said that while larger components such as engines and transmissions are among the most valuable, a lot of useful pieces are in each vehicle.

range, which makes use of outer parts such as panels, taillights, headlamps, and bumpers. Scrap, including precious metals, catalytic converters, wiring and ferrous from a vehicle and used. Chris said his team works through about 500 vehicles each week, dealing in more than 50 vehicle brands across hundreds of makes.

ACM Parts takes the greatest of care removing, polishing, and handling the parts it dismantles. Chris said for a large company like ACM Parts, these processes are driven by the numbers. “We have access to about a million stock-keeping units (SKUs) in our inventory management systems,” he said. “Every time a customer calls, we track that demand on that part.”

“Once parts arrive to the warehouse, they are organised and barcoded. When a customer calls with a request, the sales team engages with the customer to place the order, and parts are transported out across the country.”

The reclaimed-parts offering from ACM Parts is part of an important industry across Australia. Recycled parts are usually of a very high standard and can often cost less than 50 per cent of the asking price of new components.

ACM Parts has a massive library of parts and components to supply workshops across the nation. ACM Parts Mechanical Sales Manager Jarrod Burrows said there are some parts naturally more in demand than others. When it came to popularity, high-demand vehicles with a high workload – such as Toyota HiLuxes and Ford Rangers – are what get consistently quoted in the recycled-parts industry. “Anything with a high volume on the road comes with high demand when things go wrong. We are then able to offer an alternative cost effective option, saving our customers money” Jarrod said.

While being a cost-effective choice for mechanics is a massive drawcard for recycled parts, they are also naturally much better for the environment as well. Rather than forking out for a new component, mechanics have peace of mind knowing they are not only getting a quality part that is proven to work, but also lessening their impact on wastage.

“The more we can do to extract value out of a vehicle and resupply that, rather than have to manufacture and store a new product, it’s more sustainable,” Chris said. “It’s part of that circular economy we’re all looking for.”

One challenge all recycled parts dealers face in terms of sustainability is parts that are hard to re-use. ACM Parts has been a big contributor to discussions between stakeholders about what can be done to find a place for pieces which cannot be recycled.

“How do we find industry re-sale value for plastics, glass, and rubber? We’re starting to get traction on tyres as we’re putting them in roads and other things,” Chris said. “Those markets just haven’t developed yet, the challenge for us and other dismantling operators is finding someone to provide value in those spaces.”

ACM Parts’ main trade may be in recycling parts; however the company’s offerings are evolving as it sets the standard of auto trade in the Australian auto parts industry with additional offerings:

The best of brand-new OEM-equivalent components. A cost-effective alternative to OEM or recycled parts, offering high quality and genuine pieces.

Top-notch upgrades and accessories. Parts are sourced from certified manufacturers, with particular emphasis on lighting and cooling systems. BorgWarner has partnered with ACM Parts and offers some of the most advanced systems, including radiators, intercoolers, and condensers. Hella and Valeo are ACM Parts’ lighting part suppliers.

Both offer a huge range of headlight options for vehicles, specialising in European cars such as BMW, Renault, Audi, Volkswagen, and Mercedes.

ACM Parts stocks a huge catalogue of consumables, including high-quality PPE, tapes, abrasives, polishes, wipes, and adhesives.

“It’s about having multiple options for the customer,” said Jarrod. “We started off in recycled parts, and we’ve progressed through parallel parts into the aftermarket. “Consumables is a big thing – we have customers procuring their consumables from multiple suppliers. How can we support that through ACM? When our customers call for an engine, transmission or a suspension part, we can offer them the adhesives, degreasers, gloves and rags they need for the job.”

Gone are the days where wrecking yards were self-serve and first come, first serve for buyers. ACM Parts is a piece of the evolution of recycled-parts retail for mechanics and end users. ACM Parts sets itself apart from other offerings by making the lives of its customers as straightforward as possible.

You can find more information about ACM Parts and its catalogue at acmautoparts. com.au, or by calling 1800 226 727.

Once parts are extracted and polished, they’re catalogued and sorted to one of ACM Parts’ immense warehouses.