November 2020

view and access to the system components. Generally speaking, FAG wheel bearings are less troublesome, and when we do see failures it’s usually related to road damage or fitment issues, which includes not using the correct bearing-specific tools as recommended.” Varied Tim’s days vary tremendously: “Later today I will be going to our training workshop in Hereford. We have an engine arriving that we are going to carry out technical tests on, as we have seen some issues related to this application. We will find out what goes wrong, then do a training video on that problem, which will take about two days. We will also do some other training stuff for the REPXPERT channels, and of course, a load of other things will come up while we are there. “On another day I’ll just be writing presentations and reviewing their content, because information is constantly evolving as new material comes along. You are forever W e hear about Schaeffler’s REPXPERT team pretty often here at Aftermarket, and we thought it would be interesting to see what goes on for them on a daily basis. With this in mind, we spoke to REPXPERT Tim Adams, who is more specifically Product Specialist for INA/FAG. Tim said: “I sit between the technical guys and the Territory Managers out in the field, and my job is to understand how our products work. I then use this knowledge to help develop the supporting promotional and technical training materials we need to keep our customers in the loop regarding emerging new technologies and fitment related issues. “If there are any issues with an INA or FAG product then I get involved. I will find out why it has gone wrong, and try to make it happen again, so we can understand if there is a genuine fault within the product itself. That said, normally there is something else causing it.” The next stage is releasing the findings: “This is firstly through training via REPXPERT videos or technical releases. Our training courses are offered via various channels, either from ourselves through REPXPERT, or in partnership with our distributors. “We might be also be invited by our distributors to attend a trade show where we will present a live technical talk. We try and make something punchy that will appeal to everyone, so they all take a bit of information away. This will usually be just a snippet so they will want to come along on a full day training course and get the whole picture. “It’s a lot of training, it’s a lot of technical stuff, a lot of people contact as well, it’s the perfect job for me.” 46 AFTERMARKET NOVEMBER 2020 DAY IN THE LIFE www.aftermarketonline.net BACK TO SCHOOL WITH THE REPXPERTS Above: INA stud tool training Aftermarket gets schooled as it finds out what makes up a typical day for one of Schaeffler’s REPXPERTs Experts That is what the REPXPERTS do, but what makes them REPXPERTS in the first place? “These guys are specialists,” explained Tim. “Technicians in garages are specialists at repairing cars, but they are not necessarily the specialists on the components. “We make those parts, and because it is our chosen subject, we know the intense testing regime these parts are subjected to, and we know why it is designed a certain way and what it has to achieve. The technician who fits it usually knows about LuK, INA and FAG, and hopefully also knows they are good brands. It’s genuine OE, has been designed in collaboration with the car manufacturers, it’s been tested in every conceivable way in the lab and on the road – and we know it works. That’s the difference. “As I said, I look after two product groups. Most of my time is spent with the INA brand these days, not by design, but mainly due to the complexity of the modern timing system and in particular the restricted