Making A Big Splash In The Marine Market
The average individual that would have owned a performance car in the 1960s, and the baby boomers that did, in many cases no longer have a modern affordable toy they can tweak to their own satisfaction. Serious performance today is often available to only a few with large checking accounts or extra good credit, and
Tackling High Performance Work
Obviously, there are many questions to be answered before a shop enters or expands its activities into the high performance arena. There are moderately successful performance-oriented machine shops scattered from one end of the nation to the other. There are also a significantly smaller number of VERY successful shops. Typically, the difference between the former
Forklifts
Engine rebuilders often classify themselves as an automotive (car and light truck), and/or medium duty/heavy-duty diesel or industrial rebuilder, and usually primarily stay in one market or the other. Some cross the line and do business in both markets, but most tend to stay in familiar territory where they’re comfortable. Yet rebuilding forklift engines is
Salvage Yards
For more than 75 years, automotive recyclers have had a role in the supplying of used parts to commercial repair operations including body shops, new and used car dealers, auto and truck fleet businesses, independent repair shops and garages. Through recycling more than 11 million vehicles a year with more than $5 billion in annual
Performance Small Block: Chevy Engines
Small block Chevy engines long ago became mainstays in both thetraditional and high performance marketplace. So many of themhave been rebuilt over the years, and so much has been writtenabout the rebuilding process, it would appear that nothing moreneed be said. But the small block engine has changed over the years and so haveconsumer preferences
Diesel Dialog: The Nature Of The Diesel Aftermarket Has Become Increasingly Competitive
In recent years, the nature of the diesel aftermarket has become increasingly competitive. Many of the bread-and-butter engines that diesel shops have focused on have become so common that the factory replacement parts and reman engines available leave little profit to be made by the machine shop trying to stay competitive. One important factor in
Shot Blasting Equipment Maintenance: Simple Does Not Mean Maintenance-Free
The technology of hurling steel or glass shot at more than 100 mph is pretty simple. But in the world of shot blasting machines, simple does not mean maintenance-free. The essence of these machines, no matter what their design, is that clean core parts come at the price of dramatic wear-down of media, as well
Reducing VOCs In The Shop
Well, here we are again, talking about how to reduce VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in your shop. It’s surprising, in light of today’s regulatory environment, to see how many businesses still don’t even think or care about the subject…but it’s an important part of our business lives. In some states it seems that VOCs are
Rebuilt Market Reviews – Engines Market
Total engines remanufactured by all production engine remanufacturers (PERs) in 1995 increased a modest 3.5%, growing to 1.318 million units last year compared to 1.273 million units produced in 1994. Production totals are based on a U.S. and Canadian universe of 120 PERs that produced an average of 10,609 remanufactured engines annually in 1995. Survey
Rebuilt Market Reviews – Cores Market: The Perfect Example Of Supply And Demand
In some businesses, the classic law of supply and demand is hard to identify. But that’s not the case in the core business. “The core market is the perfect example of supply and demand,” comments John Lathan, plant engineer at The Hastings Co., a rebuilder in King, NC. “When one company is looking for a
Rebuilt Market Reviews – Electronics Market
If flexibility and the ability to quickly diversify are the marks of a successful rebuilder, then Denver, CO-based electronics rebuilding specialists, cciUPTIME, was destined for this industry. cciUPTIME remanufactures electronic control modules (ECMs) for Mercedes-Benz and other high-end import vehicles. These units include everything from on-board computers to climate control, cruise control, idle speed control,
Rebuilt Market Reviews – Brakes Market: Rebuilders And Suppliers Chant The Same Mantra
When it comes to current trends in the brake rebuilding market, rebuilders and suppliers chant the same mantra – “price” and “quality.” Both are the primary forces driving parts and equipment suppliers’ and rebuilders’ business. Consumers demand the best performing materials, but of course, at the lowest possible price. Unfortunately, say many rebuilders and their
Rebuilt Market Reviews – Electrical Market
Though the overall demand for rebuilt alternators and starters continues to be relatively soft, particularly in the Midwest and Northeastern parts of the United States, sales, in general, have been up in the South. Weather seems to play a major role in driving the demand for electrical products. Cold winters are hard on starters and
Rebuilt Market Reviews – Clutches Market: New Rules And A Changing Field Of Players.
Anybody who’s in the clutch rebuilding business today knows that it’s an entirely different ball game, one with new rules and a changing field of players. A proliferation of new passenger car and light truck clutches in recent years, plus an influx of low-cost new clutches from offshore manufacturers, has driven the cost of new
Perspective On Using CBN Versus Polycrystalline Diamond (PCD) Cutters
In your June Shop Line you offered Jerry Lawson’s of DCM Tech, Inc., perspective on using CBN versus poly crystalline diamond (PCD) cutters. Have any other manufacturers voiced their opinions? In PERA’s May 1996 Current Concerns publication, Andy Rottler of Rottler Manufacturing made the following observations on CBN versus PCD cutters:Rottler says that due to
The 1995 Camaro That Served As The Basis For Project Road Rocket
As noted previously, the 1995 Camaro that served as the basis for “Project Road Rocket” received a change in rear end gearing and that, in combination with the repair of an exhaust system leak really brought the car to life.From a best quarter-mile performance of 12.87 at 109.27 miles per hour the Camaro blasted to
Caliper Clinic: Rebuilders Not Only Can Improve An OE Design, But They Can Also Improve The Consumers’ Opinion
Rebuilders not only can improve an OE design, but they can also improve the consumers’ opinion about the rebuilt auto parts business, in general. Many people still believe that all rebuilt parts are sub-standard compared with original equipment parts. However, most rebuilders are continually working to improve the reputation of rebuilt parts by producing quality
Complete Circuit: The Components That Are The Cause Of Most Starter Failures
If you had to categorize the components that are the cause of most starter failures, the starter solenoid, without a doubt would be on top of the list. The starter drive may come in a close second. Some large rebuilders may opt to rebuild their starter solenoids in-house or have them built to their specifications,
Eis Brake Parts: Consists Of Five Separate Remanufacturing Facilities In The U.S. And Canada
EIS Brake Parts has come a long way since it began as a manufacturer of hydraulic brake hose couplings back in the early 1930s. Today the company, which became a division of Standard Motor Products in 1986, consists of five separate remanufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Canada. The facilities are located in Berlin, CT;
Grinding Techniques: In Thousands Of Years, The Basics Of Grinding Haven’t Changed
Grinding is one of the oldest methods known for shaping and sharpening objects. It was first used in prehistoric times to make weapons and other tools by rubbing wood, stones, bones and eventually metal against hard, abrasive rocks. In thousands of years, the basics of grinding haven’t changed. We’re still rubbing an abrasive against metal