All the answers to your remanufacturing questions
Autoelectro has championed remanufacturing for nearly 40 years. Specialising in starter motors and alternators, the Bradford-based company is proud of its availability, reliability, and customer service. With a wealth of experience under its belt, Autoelectro is well-placed to answer the burning questions about remanufacturing. Harnek Bhogal tackles them.
Q. How reliable are remanufactured products?
A. “From Autoelectro’s perspective, our remanufactured products undergo rigorous testing and quality control processes; for example, our skilled engineers and technicians disassemble, clean, inspect and rebuild all of our products to meet or exceed OE specifications, all supplied with a comprehensive two-year warranty.
“We employ meticulous processes for every single part that comes off our production line. By exclusively remanufacturing OE cores, combined with the materials used, both motor factors and their garage customers can be confident of selling or fitting an OE quality remanufactured part.”
Q. Is remanufacturing just another term for recycling?
A. “While both involve reuse, remanufacturing is distinct from recycling. Remanufacturing restores a product to like-new condition with the same or, in our case, improved functionality. Recycling, on the other hand, typically involves breaking down materials to create new products.”
Q. Are remanufactured products more expensive?
A. “While remanufactured products may initially come with a higher upfront cost, their quality often translates into substantial long-term savings through reduced maintenance and operating expenses.
“Our dedication to maintaining the highest quality standards is evident in our internationally recognised ISO9001 accreditation. Nevertheless, we also prioritise providing competitively priced options to our customers, aiming for a fair balance.”
Q. How environmentally-friendly and sustainable is remanufacturing?
A. “Remanufacturing is considered one of the most environmentally friendly practices. By restoring units, like starter motors or alternators, to a like-new condition, remanufacturers reduce waste and conserve resources compared to manufacturing new products.
“Where traditional manufacturing processes demand substantial amounts of raw materials and energy-intensive procedures, remanufacturing circumvents these resource-intensive practices by restoring existing components, thus, reducing the need for new materials. This conservation of natural resources also helps decrease the environmental footprint associated with traditional manufacturing.
“Our commitment to environmental sustainability also aligns with the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly solutions. A recent survey by YouGov discovered that 82% of UK consumers believe that businesses have a responsibility to protect the environment, while 75% are willing to pay more for sustainable products.
“We are the only supplier of starter motors and alternators in the UK with the internationally recognised ISO14001 environmental management standard, and we have won awards for our commitment to sustainability too.”
Q. Do remanufacturers offer the same levels of technical support as OEMs?
A. “Our support includes technical expertise and tailored assistance that has amassed over four decades. We offer support over the phone, e-mail, WhatsApp or via the 1986 Dashboard for account customers. Furthermore, our boxes, donned in the renowned red and white livery, contain, where necessary, partspecific technical notes.
“These part-specific technical notes advise technicians on best practices when fitting the part and help distributors understand common vehicle faults. Our technicians work with old cores and identify common themes among specific part numbers. This means we have the ability to strip, inspect and test exchange parts; we get straight to the root causes of recurring faults.
“This proactive approach allows us to go beyond merely supplying parts; we offer invaluable insights into potential issues associated with specific engines or vehicle makes and models, remanufacturing a part to meet, or exceed, OE-specification.
“We have such confidence in our remanufactured products and ability to service the customer. We are proud to still be remanufacturing in the UK and will continue to make remanufacturing accessible to businesses of all sizes.”
Conclusion
Autoelectro is confident that by answering these questions, it can continue to raise awareness of remanufacturing and showcase the benefits of its approach to both its current and potential customers.
