November 2019

44 AFTERMARKET NOVEMBER 2019 REMAN www.aftermarketonline.net I n a world where the long- term consequences of producing items that end up being thrown away but are still usable has become a mainstream concern, remanufacturing seems to have come into its moment. Many vehicle components, from engines to electronics could be returned to use through the remanufacturing process. There is still some resistance however, which Kevin Barnbrook from ACtronics laments: “For some within the automotive industry, ‘remanufacturing’ can be a dirty word. This could be because of the stigma that has been attached to remanufacturing over the years, and the loss of trust. “This could be because of bad experiences or horror stories that have been passed through the trade. However, remanufacturing processes have moved on a long way in the last few years with remanufacturing becoming an important option in the arsenal of choices for garages.” Beyond the ecological concerns and back in the workshop, in an uncertain world, remanufacturing is also a reassuring process to fall back on when all hope seems lost on a job: “As constraints on spending have tightened as Brexit approaches, remanufacturing services become more inviting for garages and mechanics as costs for the end customer become an important factor, especially as customer service is an important aspect for garages and mechanics as they look to retain customers.” It’s just as important for technicians to know what options are available when it comes to their customers’ cars being fixed and back on the road. Kevin observed: “Do those in the garages know the differences between repair and remanufacturing of a new unit? Do they know about the price differences between a new unit and theirs being remanufactured? How about the extra time and costs of programming a new unit to the vehicle against the unit from the vehicle being remanufactured and being ‘plug and play’? “More often than not, a remanufactured unit can outperform and outlive that of a new unit, let alone the car itself. It is also important to remember about the environmental factors of choosing to remanufacture a unit over purchasing a new one, which is explained in the ethos of the circular car, to which ACtronics adheres.” He continued: “Did you know that remanufacturing will cover the faulty component as well as all the known common failing components on the particular unit, which is likely to extend the lifetime of the unit? Meanwhile, repairing units is simply fixing/replacing the faulty part/component on the unit, which can be a gamble on how long the unit and its other known common failures will last under the daily stress it is put under.” Common On the ACtronics offering, Kevin said: “Another advantage of sending a unit to ACtronics is that the unit can be tested to confirm or deny the technician’s diagnosis. It is often that a unit that has been sent in can test ok, which would be expensive for the customer if a new unit was purchased, with the original diagnosis. “For example, a common failure we are seeing more of involves corrosion and breaking of the 12-volt power lines between the ECU and fuse box in the instrument cluster of a Ford Focus mk2. This can trigger the U1900 fault code. Simple testing shows us this, but it can easily be missed or forgotten, and it could become an expensive exercise if a new unit was purchased because no one thought to check this.” He continued: “As we see, the automotive industry is moving forward technologically at an increased rate. We are seeing the technology ramping up within the vehicle. This means control units, such as ECUs, become more technical and intricate, meaning specialist equipment is needed to test and remanufacture them. “However, because money is tight, and third-party work is often seen as expensive, it may seem that the unit is will have to be dumped and replaced because a garage lacks the skills and equipment to fix it themselves. This is not the case.” Kevin added: “As market leaders in remanufacturing electronic automotive components, ACtronics will always offer their customers a Above: Remanufactured engines at Ivor Searle ROUND AND AROUND – REMANUFACTURED COMPONENTS Why opt for an unknown quantity? Remanufactured components offer many advantages. Find out how remanufacturing is putting parts back into use