Freudenberg-NOK… A truly global supplier - ATRA

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TransTec ® Kits: Support Before and After the Sale These days, it’s become almost a requirement for companies to identify themselves as “your business partner,” letting you know “we’re in this together.” But too often, the partnership dissolves because of lack of support and you realize your business partner was only interested in a quick sale. The folks at Corteco who bring you TransTec® brand transmission kits have adopted a long-term philosophy where they support their kits before and after the sale. There’s no hard sell or pressure to buy their kits; only support in the way of a feature-rich web site with technical references that simplify rebuilding; literature available online, in packaging and at seminars; on-site engineering to improve kit performance, and a whole lot more. When you visit the company’s web site (www.TransTec.com) you’ll find virtually every kilobyte is used to provide the visitor with technical support. A Transmission Guide makes it easy to identify transmissions in domestic and import vehicles; New Product Announcements, Technical Inserts and Bulletins clear up confusion and simplify rebuilding complex transmissions; and a new Online Transmission Catalog includes the latest kits and components available. You get all this because Corteco believes support comes before the sale… that it’s the more important part of what they have to offer the end user: the transmission rebuilder and production remanufacturer. This radical departure from the classic sales approach highlights Corteco’s philosophy that “Transtec® kits aren’t sold until they’re installed.” As a result, Corteco is putting more resources into making sure that the transmission shop has everything it needs to provide a quality repair. by Steve Bodofsky Original equipment quality and design for the aftermarket Search Home About Us Site Map Contact Us Transmission Kits New Online Catalog Transmission by Vehicle Tech Info By Transmission New Products - complete listings New Honda Civic 2006-Up New Overhaul Kit With FARPAK Gaskets TransTec Bulletins - complete listings New GM 4T65E - EPC O-rings New Aisin Warner AW55-50SN Distributors Associations Power Steering Kits New Heavy-Duty Kits New Products/Coverage Ordering Informtion Power Steering Catalog New Products ORIGINAL TransTec ® brand automotive replacement parts offer the highest quality available in the aftermarket. TransTec ® products contain the same quality, design, and materials supplied to Original Equipment Manufacturers globally. When it comes to automotive sealing components, TransTec ® is a name you can trust for World Class automotive parts and dependability. The Aftermarket Business of Freudenberg-NOK ©2008 Freudenberg-NOK It’s this long-term, end-to-end philosophy that permeates every part of their business; from initial development through the final delivery of the vehicle to your customer. And it’s a big part of why they build quality into every kit they sell. A Solution Provider Some rebuilders might mistake Corteco, the company that brings you TransTec® transmission kits, for a Brad Norton - President Craig Stark - Director John Galloway - Sales Manager 20 GEARS January/February 2008
packaging company - but they don’t know the whole story. Corteco is the aftermarket business of global automotive-parts giant Freudenberg-NOK, the world’s largest producer of elastomeric seals and custom molded products with 160 facilities throughout the world. So the majority of parts installed in TransTec® transmission kits are actually made by Freudenberg-NOK. That’s a far cry from simply being a kit packager. Now granted, some components in TransTec® kits are made by other companies, but this provides rebuilders with the quality assurance that comes from O.E. parts. Labeling Corteco a parts packager is about as accurate as calling NASA an airline. After all, NASA doesn’t build their own Space Shuttles; they buy every piece, and then just have their guys fly them around, just like a commercial airline… right? Of course that’s an absurd assessment… no one would think of comparing NASA to an airline. Sure, they buy their space vehicles; but they buy them based on exacting specifications that they develop and submit for each and every component that goes into them. And every one of those elements has to go through rigorous testing and certification before it’s accepted for its first flight to the stars. That’s also a terrific description of how Corteco develops its transmission seal kits. OEM standards are only a starting point for Corteco. And, just like the Space Shuttle, every piece that goes into a TransTec® seal kit has to meet their exacting specifications. “That sounds great,” you say, “but I’d be happy with OEM quality. Why do I need more than that?” Because OEM quality is adequate — maybe even ample — for a new transmission, right off the assembly line, when every Jeff Rayburn - Sales Manager bore is pristine and every surface in perfect alignment with the rest. But over time, those cases and hard parts wear. And many of the seals that were sufficient for use in a shiny, new transmission case fall short when asked to perform in a transmission that’s been around the block a few times. No amount of planning beforehand can predict just how those units are likely to wear in the real world. This is why Corteco’s Research and Development (R&D) team finds it critical to work hand-in-hand with transmission shops, production remanufacturers and distributors: To provide real-world data on transmissions that are no longer pristine. And it’s why TransTec® kits are far superior to OEM and other brands when used in higher mileage transmissions. Customer-Driven Development Corteco’s business model of better serving its customers begins in your shop. Corteco has increased its sales force to provide more direct contact with transmission shops and production remanufacturers. This allows them to discover exactly what shop owners and rebuilders deal with in today’s transmissions. And it allows them to take a more active role in correcting the problems that those shops face. The sales force brings that information back to Corteco’s R&D team to be analyzed and addressed. The R&D team includes degreed engineers, who are uniquely qualified to analyze raw failure data from the shops, and develop newer, better ways to compensate for the sealing problems caused by wear in aging components. And it’s why Corteco equips its development team with the latest mea- Bill D’Agostino - Sales Manager suring and diagnostic equipment; equipment such as the Surveyor® WS 3040 by Laser Design Inc., a highly sophisticated device that measures components with patented laser technology. This enables Corteco’s engineers to evaluate component sealing demands, and provide high-quality solutions that will meet and exceed those demands. “We’re sealing experts,” explains Craig Stark, Director. “It’s our job to examine sealing components, and create newer, more advanced solutions for the sealing challenges our customers face.” Addressing Problems in the Field So how does Corteco’s R&D team deal with a technical issue from the field? “Our first priority is to help the shop get the car out the door,” explains John Wozniak, Product Development Manager. “That may mean sending an alternative component or a prototype out overnight, just to address the immediate situation. Once that’s handled, we need to study the facts and determine a course of action.” From there, they add the details of the condition to their comprehensive research database. This database allows Corteco engineers and technicians to look for failure trends that need to be addressed through design changes or additions to their kits. “Once we’ve identified a failure trend, we know it’s time to begin looking for the root cause, and to develop a solution,” explains Wozniak. “In other words, significant failure trends are a call to action for us.” Most of the data that enters their evaluation process comes from transmission repair shops, just like yours. And they receive additional information through their relationships with a John Wozniak - Product Development Manager GEARS January/February 2008 21
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Freudenberg-NOK… A truly global supplier - ATRA

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