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CRP Marks 40 Years of Pentosin Fluids in North America
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By Counterman
To further enhance and expand its replacement parts and service business in North America, Stellantis announced the bproauto aftermarket parts brand as its new line of high-quality, competitively priced, replacement parts.
Following decades of success in Europe and other international markets, including the Middle East and South America, the newly introduced
link hidden, please login to view is available for most makes and models to help combat the rapidly changing aftermarket and the long-term shift to electrification as vehicles and their components are becoming increasingly complex and digital, the automaker noted. The original-equipment-backed parts come with up to a two-year/unlimited-mile warranty. In addition, batteries have up to two-year free replacement coverage and brake pads carry a limited lifetime warranty, according to Stellantis.
“With the introduction of bproauto, we’re further enhancing the customer experience by offering a new, competitively priced, private-label line of high-quality, factory-backed parts for most makes and models,” said Mike Koval, head of Mopar North America. “While Mopar will remain the global original-equipment parts and authentic accessories brand for Stellantis, bproauto will offer an alternative for nearly all brands and all cars – new, used, owned, rented or shared. With Mopar and bproauto, our dealerships offer a 360-degree, multi-brand, one-stop-shop solution for nearly all customers, all vehicles and all brands.”
In North America, 30 parts categories will be available for most makes and models to support the ongoing transition of the automotive repair industry. Additional product lines will phase into the Stellantis dealership network.
The following parts are available now from bproauto:
Air filters Batteries Brake pads Brake rotors Hub bearings Oil and oil filters Tire-pressure monitoring systems Additional high-quality products coming from bproauto will include:
ABS sensorsIgnition coilsA/C compressorsLubricantsA/C condensersO2 sensorsA/C evaporatorsRadiatorsAlternatorsShocksBall jointsSpark plugsBattery cablesSpark plug wiresBrake calipersStartersBrake hardwareStrutsBulbsTaillampsChemicalsThermostatsControl armsTie-rod endsFiltration: cabin and transmissionTiming belts/tensionersFuel injectorsU-jointsFuel pump modulesWater pumpsFunctional fluidsWiper bladesHeadlamps The post
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By Counterman
In August of last year, NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.), Inc. announced the intention to change the company name. On its face, a name change may seem pretty straightforward, but for this iconic global ignition and sensor specialist, this rebranding brings a whole host of new opportunities.
The new name – Niterra North America, Inc. – which became effective on April 1, is a combination of the Latin words “Niteo,” for shine, and “Terra,” for planet Earth. The company said the new branding reflects its future vision and expanding portfolio of products and services.
According to Tracy Neil, corporate communications manager, the new logo features a yellow dot signifying a torch shining on the earth, while the green color, uniquely named, “Earth Green” is a depiction of what the earth looks like from space. “Together it conveys our message that we will continue to contribute to society and the environment in the future,” Neil explained.
While a new name and logo have been introduced in English, the Japanese language corporate name will not change, the company said. And, more importantly, the well-known NGK and NTK brand names and logos will still be utilized in the marketplace for spark plug- and ceramic-related products.
“It is an exciting time in the long and storied history of NGK Spark Plug, LTD.,” said Michael Schwab, president and CEO, in making the initial announcement. “We are becoming an increasingly progressive corporation as we strive to meet our vision for the future. A future where we expand our core ceramic technologies, explore capabilities beyond our traditional areas, and challenge ourselves to develop solutions and services that use technologies to resolve social issues while contributing to a sustainable society.”
That future includes quite a bit of change, explained Brian Norko, senior vice president – commercial business operations.
“What it boiled down to in the conversations that have been taking place for several years now, was what was going on with internal combustion engines,” said Norko. “At the time, Mr. Odo, Representative Director Chairman of the Board, made an announcement to all the NGK/NTK employees worldwide – which is around 16,000 employees – that NGK Spark Plugs will create and transform their business portfolio to deliver new value in the face of an ever-changing future. So, they worked on a name change. And, the name change was really [intended] for investors, as we have these meetings upstream in terms of mergers and acquisitions, and downstream in terms of platforms and technologies that get us closer to the customer.”
The name change also was intended to represent the numerous other opportunities the company is stepping into with the launch of the Niterra Group Venture Lab, which aims to nurture startups and develop competitive technologies in the mobility space as well as the medical and utilities segments – utilizing the company’s core competence in ceramic technologies as its foundation for growth.
“We want to do things with Niterra that meet large-scale global environmental changes, while addressing society’s issues and challenges through our products and technology to contribute to a sustainable society,” said Norko.
Four-Pillar Structure
To that end, Niterra will do business under what Norko described as a “Four-Pillar Structure,” that will focus investment and business opportunities in Mobility, Energy, Communications and Healthcare.
“Niterra is focusing on four strategies that when people think of NGK Spark Plugs, they have no idea that we’re into medical. People think of sensors as ADAS. But right now, we’re working with a company in Japan to use our sensing technology for shrimp farming. Our sensors can track the water temperature, the pollutants in the water, when it needs fresh water, and when food is needed for the shrimp. Again, our sensing technology is what we do at our core, but people would never realize that we’re doing that outside of automotive, as well.”
Norko added that today roughly 20-30 percent of Niterra employees are working on new business, and he’s seeing their customers transitioning their employees to do the same – particularly the automakers with their increasing focus on EVs.
“I think it’s important to note that this reflects a turn beyond mobility, beyond just the automotive, OE and aftermarket space,” said David Varady, Sr., marketing manager, brand & creative, Aftermarket Division, who worked closely on the rebranding initiative. “This is really going to broaden the space that we can play in and represents our vast technological capabilities.”
Norko added that given Niterra’s history, strong customer relationships, extensive engineering capabilities and strong financial foundation, the company is in an excellent position to help some of these young startups that have great products and great technologies but perhaps not the other assets to get their products out to the OE and aftermarket sectors.
“Niterra has the ability to do that with our customer-facing engineering expertise, our manufacturing expertise, and the overall health of our company,” said Norko. “We’re already through the door and all this equity can be used to help bring them to market.”
Planting New Seeds
Like the old Chinese proverb goes, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”
Niterra officially launched its new name and branding with a celebration aptly coinciding with Earth Month. At its Wixom, Michigan-based U.S. headquarters, the company hosted a celebration for employees that partnered with One Tree Planted, a nonprofit organization focused on global reforestation. As part of the festivities, each Niterra associate was given a tree kit to plant at home and a tree gifted in their name. An initial donation was also provided to a representative of One Tree Planted, contributing nearly 7,000 trees to the partnership. Additional fundraising and employee engagement activities will continue supporting One Tree Planted reforestation efforts throughout the year, including an associate tree planting event.
At the event, employees also were given Niterra-branded lunchboxes made entirely of recycled materials.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with One Tree Planted,” said Schwab. “Every organization needs to think about their effects on the planet and give back to the environment to ensure a sustainable future. Trees are vital to our environment, and this organization is making a tremendous environmental impact with their reforestation projects.”
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By Counterman
When you fix cars for a long time, you hear some crazy stuff – like putting cornmeal in the radiator to stop a leak. It’s true. That used to be one of the “backyard” remedies floating around. I hate to earn the “Captain Obvious” nickname, but I’m willing to take the chance. So just in case, before I go any further, let me be clear: Do NOT do that.
Another old falsity that used to float around was that if your thermostat was stuck, causing engine overheating, all you had to do was simply remove it. In an emergency, this would at least get you home, but again, not an acceptable repair. This one, however, is at least understandable as we get into the evolution of thermostats.
The majority of early automobiles utilized a cooling system known as a thermosyphon system. There was no thermostat or water pump. The hot coolant would rise upward through the engine, out through the upper radiator hose and into the upper radiator tank. Water becomes denser as it cools, and as it did, it would fall downward through the radiator, into the lower tank and then back into the engine.
This type of system worked fairly well for the time, but heavy use often caused overheating, and the use of a thermostat and water pump was a necessary advancement as cars got heavier and more powerful.
Bellows-Style Thermostats
Leaving out a few obscure short-lived designs, early thermostats utilized a bellows system (see Figure 1). Inside the bellows was a liquid that, when heated, would change into a gas. As the liquid boiled and changed to gas, the bellows would expand, opening the valve to allow coolant to flow. These were susceptible to failure, and they also were affected by pressure changes. This was not a problem early on, because early cooling systems were not pressurized. Once we began to utilize pressurized cooling systems, the pressure built in the system sometimes would force these shut and cause overheating.
link hidden, please login to viewFigure 1 The solution was the wax-style of thermostat (see Figure 2) in which the wax changed from a solid state to a liquid, eliminating the pressure effect on the previous liquid-to-gas style. A piston in the wax pushed a rod that opened the valve. A spring was utilized to force the valve shut as the wax cooled and returned to a solid. This style of thermostat became the standard thermostat of the time, and by the 1960s was the primary thermostat in use for new cars, as well as direct replacement for any that still had a bellows-style.
link hidden, please login to viewFigure 2 Double-Valve Thermostats
While this overall design stood the test of time, there was one evolutionary change to it with the double-valve thermostat (see Figure 3). The double-valve thermostat, in conjunction with cooling system design, allowed more precise temperature control. To understand this, you first have to understand thermostat bypass. It is beneficial for coolant to flow through the engine when the thermostat is closed – to eliminate hot spots, allow the engine to warm up evenly, improve fuel vaporization and allow sufficient warm coolant to flow past the thermostat so it opens when needed.
link hidden, please login to viewFigure 3 Although various different bypass designs were used on early thermostat-controlled systems, most American cars in the 1960s utilized an open bypass (a whole other article) along with the traditional wax thermostat in Figure 2.
Fuel injection, fuel economy and reduced emissions demanded more precise temperature control, and that’s where the double-valve thermostat came into place. When the thermostat is closed, it allows all the coolant to circulate back through the engine to provide an even warm up. As the thermostat begins to open, it allows some coolant to flow to the radiator, yet some to circulate back into the engine. When the temperature rises above a certain point, the thermostat opens fully, blocking the bypass and sending all coolant to the radiator. This overall operation allows the engine to remain at a very consistent operating temperature by preventing a drastic hot/cold change each time the thermostat opens.
A review of what a thermostat does is the best way to understand why they’re so important on today’s engines. By blocking coolant flow to the radiator, it allows the engine to warm up quickly, which is important for drivability, heater performance and emissions. The thermostat opens fully at a specified temperature to allow coolant to flow into the radiator. A thermostat rating is part of cooling-system design because they also must give the coolant enough time in the radiator to cool off. Installing a cooler thermostat doesn’t always mean the engine will run cooler. Even more critical as engine-management technology continues to advance, extremely precise control of engine temperature is necessary to maximize fuel economy and minimize emissions.
Electronically Controlled Thermostats
This need for this precision brought about the latest thermostat in the evolutionary chain: the electronically controlled thermostat (Figure 3). Fuel economy, power output and emissions all are affected by engine rpm, load and temperature, and to obtain the highest efficiency possible under all operating conditions, we must have infinite control over temperature. With the electronically controlled thermostat, the vehicle computer now has that control.
Their operation is almost exactly what we’re already used to. They’re still wax-operated but designed to open at a failsafe temperature to keep the engine from overheating. The electronic part is a heater that heats the wax to cause the thermostat to open or close exactly as needed. If the electronic circuit fails, the thermostat still will open in time to prevent overheating. An electronic thermostat requires a scan tool for circuit monitoring and control during diagnosis. Coupled with other cooling-system advancements such as electric fan control, variable-flow coolant pumps and active grille shutters, it’s safe to say modern cooling systems are dialed in. It’s a far cry from throwing the thermostat out and dumping in some cornmeal.
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By Counterman
CRP Automotive offers Rein Automotive TechSelect Turbo Kits (CRP P/N TRK0007) for some of the most popular BMW applications on the road today. These kits are a solution for turbocharger replacement service and include all of the hoses, gaskets, and hardware necessary to complete the job quickly and efficiently.
Developed with technicians in mind, Rein Automotive TechSelect Turbo Kits include the most recent turbo hose versions, and include all brackets, hardware, and necessary sealing components for installation. This allows shops to order all of the components needed to complete a turbocharger service by using one part number.
Rein Automotive TechSelect Turbo Kits are available for popular BMW applications that use the N54 and N55 engines, including the 335i, 335i xDrive, 335is and 335xi, from model years 2007-2018. Additional coverage is available for vehicles with N20 and N26 engines including the 320i and 328i from 2012-2018, among others.
“We developed these TechSelect kits to make turbocharger replacement easier,” noted David Hirschhorn, CRP Automotive brand director. “As these vehicles reach higher mileage, the turbocharger system begins to wear out and most of the system components can’t be reused. Our TechSelect Turbo Kits provide a one-stop solution, giving technicians confidence in knowing that they have all the necessary parts to complete the job and avoid comebacks.”
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By Counterman
Photo caption: Fletcher Lord Jr. (left) and Bill Schlatterer
Bill Schlatterer, president and CEO of Replacement Parts Inc. (parent company of Crow-Burlingame), walked out of a meeting on Monday expecting to take a small break before heading back into the conference room. Instead, he found more than 100 employees gathered right outside the door.
As they clapped and yelled, “Surprise!” and “Congratulations!”, he stood for a moment taking in the whole scene. Bouncing gold and black balloons, tables bursting with goodies – cheese and vegetable trays, party sandwiches, fruit arrangements, chocolate and vanilla cupcakes – all flanking a huge Italian cream cake with the words “Happy 50th Anniversary, Bill”written across the top in gold icing. He grinned and in his usual, low-key manner said, “Oh, guys, this is just terrific. Thank you.”
Schlatterer started his career with Crow-Burlingame in 1972 as a delivery driver at the flagship store on 7th and Arch in Little Rock, Arkansas. As he talked to the crowd, he shared his secret to success. “You don’t get lucky,” he said. “You raise your hand, do the work other people don’t want to do, and you make your good luck happen.” Then he turned serious. “You know, not to get all melancholy or anything, but I have always loved my job. Loved my work family. Those years went so fast. Where did those 50 years go?”
It was quiet for a moment, and then Fletcher Lord Jr., chairman of the board, stepped forward. He said, “In 1972, we had one district manager. One day he called me up and he said, ‘Fletcher. We have a problem. I’ve got this guy, and we either need to fire him, or move him up, because he is driving me crazy.’ Well, now this guy is getting his 50-year pin, and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner all of these years.”
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