Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems is celebrating Global Reman Day by continuing to emphasize the benefits of remanufactured parts, while reaffirming the company’s decades-long commitment to industry leadership in remanufacturing.
Global Reman Day, April 11, is an initiative of the Remanufacturing Industries Council and an occasion to advance the remanufacturing industry through remanufacturer-hosted events and workforce development programs.
In 2018, Bendix produced nearly 2.5 million remanufactured components across its broad product lines.
“Remanufacturing is a vitally important, growing aspect of our industry, and Reman Day is outstanding for building awareness,” says Maria Gutierrez, director of corporate responsibility and sustainability. “At Bendix, the triple bottom line – people, planet, and profit – guides our reman strategy. Achieving sustainable, long-term growth is what drives us, along with consistently reducing the environmental impact of our company. The tonnages of new metal components and CO2 we save every year tie directly to our dedication to sustainability and environmental stewardship. Remanufacturing helps drive energy conservation, the reduction of raw materials usage, and the elimination of landfill space, which ultimately impact climate protection.”
What qualifies as a genuine remanufactured product? Bendix says Global Reman Day offers another opportunity to revisit the ground rules.
“To qualify, a component must be factory rebuilt by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) using a mix of reconditioned components and brand-new components from the same suppliers they use on original equipment,” says Henry Foxx, Bendix director of remanufactured products. “Wear components and items subjected to high stress or high temperatures, or subject to high fatigue or corrosion, are replaced with original spec components identical to those on a brand-new product. In addition to reducing the environmental impact of new part production, remanufactured components help reduce replacement costs and extend vehicle life.”
According to Foxx, remanufacturing is not to be confused with rebuilding as the terms are not interchangeable. Bendix says rebuilders may just reline brake shoes with new friction, instead of coining to return them to the proper OEM geometry. Also, OEM-level remanufacturers, like Bendix, conduct much more stringent postproduction testing, because they have the resources, rigorously monitored practices, and deep expertise already in place.
“Lower-cost alternatives to reman parts are often rebuilt rather than remanufactured,” Foxx says. “For instance, consider the example of a rebuilder breaking down the core of an air compressor for reuse. They may not have full access to OEM-quality replacements – and, consequently, they may simply clean or repaint the compressor’s parts, reuse the wear components, or replace them with inferior versions.”
