The exchange rate continues to place pressure on companies importing products and components. A smart alternative to purchasing new engine components is the remanufacture of components to OEM standards.

“There is a misconception that diesel engine component repair or remanufacture can only be done properly in Europe or America. However, Metric Automotive Engineering belies this idea with a proven track record in southern Africa over the past 40 years. Our facilities and competencies are comparable to anywhere else in the world and in addition, it is far more cost effective to carry out such repairs or remanufacture locally due to the weak exchange rate,” says Andrew Yorke, director at Metric Automotive Engineering.

Yorke emphasises that remanufactured components need to conform to the same standards as new parts. Customers can be assured of comparable quality and capability by aligning themselves with a service provider that invests in the latest technology to improve the quality and capacity of its repair and rebuild services.

This should be complemented by a technically trained and competent team capable of using the technology appropriately. These factors must also be supported by best practice quality procedures that underpin the standard of the workmanship and offer the customer complete peace of mind.

Metric Automotive Engineering realises that using the right technology, such as the newly commissioned Rottler F109 extra heavy duty multi-purpose CNC machining centre and Berco RTM 575 crankshaft grinding machine, will give the company the necessary capacity to remanufacture components. Significantly, the CNC machining centre is the only one of its kind in Africa.

“The engines currently being installed into new vehicles are highly sophisticated; not in their major elements but in the minor components that are so critical to performance and emissions efficiencies. It is therefore important that a remanufacturer’s equipment should be capable of machining new generation engine components, since these require far tighter machining tolerances and advanced machining methods during the remanufacturing process. This necessitates far higher skill levels among remanufacturing engineers as well as more accurate equipment because there is a less room for error,” adds Yorke.

He continues that the quality of workmanship is critical as it can affect the operational life of the component and the engine itself, and it is therefore important to use a remanufacturer that can deliver uncompromising quality. Not only is Metric Automotive Engineering able to refurbish large diesel engine components and offer services such as cylinder head remanufacture, cylinder block line boring, milling, honing and boring, camshaft grinding, crankshaft grinding, engine assembly and dynamometer testing, but it is also able to salvage major components that would otherwise be rendered unserviceable.

Yorke points out that the case for remanufacturing engine components in South Africa is strengthened by the fact that many replacement parts are no longer available ex stock in the country. This means that they would need to be shipped into South Africa and in instances where they are needed urgently, and then air freight charges would add extra costs to the overall component pricing.

Metric Automotive Engineering is the authorised IPD Parts distributor in southern African and uses these quality parts in the remanufacture of engines. Manufactured by IPD Parts in the USA, these components are produced in a Lloyds Register accredited ISO 9001:2008 quality controlled environment to ensure integrity and optimum performance under working conditions. Engineered to meet the OEM parts specifications, IPD Parts are available at a lower cost. Metric Automotive Engineering maintains a comprehensive stockholding of IPD components to ensure that time delays are minimised.

Another benefit Metric Automotive Engineering offers customers is the diagnosis and fault analysis service provided by its sister company Reef Fuel Injection Services. The ability of Reef Fuel Injection Services to remanufacture the latest generation fuel systems means that companies save substantial amounts on components that would otherwise be considered as waste.

“An investment in the latest diagnostic equipment ensures that Reef Fuel Injection Services stays abreast of available technology. The company offers Bosch, Delphi, Stanadyne and Denso approved fuel injection services and it is acknowledged as a specialist in CAT fuel systems,” says Yorke.

The bottom line is that earthmoving equipment operators simply cannot afford the downtime that is typically associated with the long lead time on importing components. In addition, one needs to factor in the substantial cost benefits derived from remanufacturing locally. Where quality can be assured, this is a very attractive alternative for the local market.

“With the capabilities provided by Metric Automotive Engineering and Reef Fuel Injection Services, the local industry has access to an OEM standard component remanufacture service that can cover both engine and fuel system components. This affords them a faster turnaround time, which will naturally have a positive impact on their business operations, with the added assurance that component specifications and tolerances are strictly adhered to,” Yorke concludes.