Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) President and CEO Robert McKenna and Undercar Express Managing Director Rob Wright testified on behalf of the Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association (MERA before a U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) hearing on the remanufacturing industry on Feb. 28.
The hearing served as a supplement to the USITC study of the U.S. remanufacturing industry, Remanufactured Goods: An Overview of the U.S. and Global Industries, Markets and Trade, to further evaluate U.S. remanufactured goods industries and markets, U.S. global trade in remanufactured goods, and factors affecting trends in remanufactured goods trade.
McKenna’s testimony focused on important role remanufacturing plays in the motor vehicle parts industry and the U.S. economy, as well as its sustainability benefits.
“The economic, environmental, and employment benefits offered by remanufacturing can be significantly increased given a wider and more thorough understanding of the industry,” McKenna says. “The ITC study will provide state and federal policymakers with a greater understanding of the industry, thereby helping to provide guidance on what issues need to be addressed to promote remanufacturing.”
Wright provided background on the challenges and opportunities facing Undercar Express (UCX) — a full-line brake remanufacturer in Cleveland, Ohio — and offered his technical expertise to the panel.
“Even though remanufacturers provide quality products at a competitive, and often times, lower price, not all consumers readily reach for a remanufactured part,” Wright told the ITC panelists. “MERA, MEMA, and UCX all support efforts to draw attention to the value of remanufactured products.”
Brian Lewallen, operations director, Detroit Diesel Remanufacturing, also testified during the USITC hearing on the importance of continued elimination of trade barriers to remanufactured goods.
MEMA and MERA will continue to work closely with the USITC on this important study. The final ITC report is expected by Oct. 28, 2012.
