May 2019

systems and equipment as those who manufacture new series products. In addition, the same quality checks and standards apply to both remanufactured and new series products. Another benefit when choosing our REMAN products: our customers do not have to wait. Units are supplied from a stock of REMAN products and you receive a credit note for your old turbocharger. Its value depends on whether parts are missing, flanges are broken or there are similar problems. It is therefore well worth it to remove your turbocharger carefully before handing it in to BorgWarner.” Cost-conscious The cost-saving is an added bonus: “By remanufacturing used turbochargers which are not working properly,” points out Ian, “we offer customers all around the world a cost- conscious alternative that fits in with the current value of their older vehicle. In general, a remanufactured product will cost you around 30% less than a new series product will. Ian adds: “BorgWarner’s REMAN program is based on a complex worldwide professional operation featuring the highest possible engineering standards as well as quality testing.” Satisfaction Despite the benefits, some people still need persuading. ACtronics’ Kevin Barnbrook says: “There seems to be a stigma attached to remanufacturing that suggests that remanufacturing a unit is not going to be able to provide the customer satisfaction, reliability, durability or quality that a new unit can provide. Is it fair to think that? Some believe a new unit is the only trusted solution, because a brand-new unit cannot fail, or can it? In this profit-driven industry, is it really the best option for a garage and their customer? In reality, remanufacturing is the solution for low-cost repairing, one that also provides a quality service.” Ethos Understanding counts in this area. Kevin comments: “A lot of people fail to know what the difference is between repairing and remanufacturing and this has led to the failure of trust and understanding between the company and the garage in using a remanufacturing service. Repairing an electrical control unit means you will be replacing the particular component causing the failure. However, remanufacturing replaces all the components that are known to fail whether they have failed or not, making the control unit ‘as new’, like out of the factory. “At ACtronics we believe in the ethos of the circular car and how a car does not need to succumb to an early end of use many years before its projected ‘use-by date’, because an expensive control unit needs to be replaced. Our aim is to provide a quality lasting remanufacture on control units, at a competitive price, so that costs can be kept to a minimum for the end customer and for the car to get back on to the road. “We do more than just remanufacturing at ACtronics though. We are here to give advice to our customers on the faults provided and whether it is indeed the unit at fault. Take the example of a brake pressure sensor fault on an E46 BMW. This is usually an external feature located on the master cylinder rather than the ABS unit. As part of our remanufacturing process, we rarely have the need to touch or adapt the software or programming on units. Whether the unit has been tested ok or has been remanufactured, the unit will go back onto the vehicle as it came off, but in a working remanufactured way. This is in contrast with a new unit, which will need to be programmed to the vehicle, necessitating extra time and money being spent.” Kevin adds: “ACtronics offers its customers a two-year warranty on all remanufactured units, which stays with the part, not the owner or the vehicle, unlike the one-year warranty offered on new units from a dealer, giving more peace of mind for the customer.” Trends Trends in car design are having an impact on the trend towards remanufacturing. Helen Robinson, Marketing Director at Euro Car Parts, comments: “Over the past decade, there has been a significant trend towards the use of remanufactured turbos. Roughly 70% of the turbo market is taken up by remanufactured units. “The majority of turbos begin to have issues or fail after around six or seven years. Even then it is often the case that only high-mileage or poorly maintained vehicles will be affected – with the cause often related to improper or no oil change. As such, turbos are a high-ticket item and certainly not an impulse purchase, offering garages with the training and commitment the chance at increased profits. If you do not currently have the in-house skills to repair turbos, it might to time to address it now as the market is only set to grow.” Helen continues: “Euro Car Parts stocks a comprehensive and 52 AFTERMARKET MAY 2019 REMANUFACTURED COMPONENTS www.aftermarketonline.net Remanufactured components require 80% less energy ”