Why remanufacturing matters for turbochargers

Remanufacturing is key to meeting automotive aftermarket demand for turbochargers, according to Allan Mitchell, the managing director of The Turbo Guy.

The role of remanufacturing is essential for meeting the growing aftermarket demand for turbos and ensuring you can meet the needs of workshops when it comes to sourcing replacement units. This is especially relevant for late-model cars and vans where brand new OEM replacement turbos may not be available, and remanufactured units provide a primary option.

Trend set to continue

Stringent emissions rules are in place, which has seen an uptick in the use of compact turbocharged engines and hybrid powertrains, many of which have twin turbo systems, as a transitional technology in the drive to electrification.

The use of electric turbos is also increasing in new cars in order to eliminate ‘turbo lag’ and support the introduction of 48V mild hybrid power systems. For older vehicles, remanufacturing supported by exchange units also ensures that turbos are available for some time after production of a particular model has ended.

Remanufactured units from The Turbo Guy cost around 40% less than brand new OEM turbos, which offers workshops cost-effective and sustainable options, as less energy and materials are used in the remanufacturing process. This is confirmed by analysis from the Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA) Europe, which has found that remanufacturing saves 85% of raw materials and 55% of energy compared to manufacturing brand new components.

Process of remanufacturing a turbo 

Remanufacturing has been a mainstay of The Turbo Guy since the business was established in 2010. The process involves a complete strip-down and thorough cleaning of the turbo. All external housings are examined and checked against OE specification and any non-conforming components are replaced, while all internal components are also automatically replaced. The turbo’s rotating assembly is balanced to OEM specification and oil flow rates are also checked. Once fully assembled, turbos are subjected to a detailed final inspection and are flow tested to ensure performance.

For peace of mind, our remanufactured units are supplied with a 12-month warranty through our trade-only distributor network. The quality of our turbos is shown in the appearance of every unit, which is comparable in finish to a brand-new turbo.

Recognising the importance of aftersales support for distributors, we have a dedicated sales technical support team, which can be reached via a range of contact options including phone, email and WhatsApp. We have also just moved our full range of exchange units, as well as warranty claim processing, onto the TecCom portal to provide direct access to information.

We remanufacture 2,000 turbos per month and are expanding our presence across the UK, to meet growing demand from the trade. We sell turbos exclusively to the trade, with stock availability that covers over 90% of the UK’s petrol and diesel car and LCV vehicles.