Remanufacturing used vehicle parts conserves resources and avoids CO2 emissions compared to the production of new parts, and is thus an important part of ZF’s sustainability strategy. With the new ZF REMAN label, ZF Aftermarket has increased the visibility of remanufactured products across all its premium brands. Since the return of used parts is a decisive cornerstone for remanufacturing, ZF Aftermarket has also optimized ‘CorExpedia’, a customer-friendly process for reverse logistics. ZF Aftermarket will be presenting both solutions at Automechanika Frankfurt 2024.
ZF’s sustainability goals are closely linked. For example, expanding circular business models is an integral part of achieving Group-wide climate goals and preventing resource consumption from growing. Circular economy refers to a systematic approach where fewer resources are used more and more. Increasing material efficiency and reducing waste leads to a reduction in raw material extraction and CO2 emissions. When a product can no longer be used after its life cycle, repairing, reusing, remanufacturing or recycling materials closes the loop. ZF has introduced two remanufacturing initiatives that significantly support this strategy.
ZF REMAN products: High quality guaranteed
The new ZF REMAN label reflects the increasing importance of sustainability for customers in the automotive aftermarket. This is driven by industrial remanufacturing processes carried out at ZF sites worldwide, which avoid the consumption of raw materials throughout the supply chain to guarantee the same quality and functionality of new parts.
Every remanufactured part is subjected to tests and checks to ensure that it meets the same requirements and has the functionality of a new part. The parts are not only cleaned and repaired, but also brought up to the current series standard. This process is an industrial production standard. Our ISO and IATF certified factories transfer the OE heritage and know-how to our overhaul facilities. In these facilities, worn individual elements are replaced and, if necessary, renewed with improved components to increase performance and service life. The warranty period for ZF REMAN parts is the same or even longer than that of new parts. For this reason, workshops and end users can rely on ZF REMAN parts as much as they do on new parts.
CorExpedia: internet-based returns platform for used parts
The basis of remanufacturing is the return of used parts (cores) from workshops to the manufacturer via wholesalers. This process, called reverse logistics, should be as simple, fast and efficient as possible so that repair shops and distributors can easily use it.
ZF Aftermarket’s global solution to overcome these challenges is CorExpedia, an intuitive and user-friendly online platform for returning core materials. Originally designed for the return of WABCO branded parts in Europe, CorExpedia has already proven to significantly increase returns efficiency. The portal is easy to use and processes for deposit refunds, etc. are fast. And now, ZF Aftermarket is gradually rolling out the concept across its entire portfolio. With the wider launch this year, selected SACHS branded used parts will be available for the first time via CorExpedia.
The portal can be used on any device with an internet connection and only requires a few clicks to arrange a return. The user can return selected SACHS branded materials from their own company or arrange for collection from a designated partner (e.g. a workshop).
Clear user instructions can be found on the CorExpedia portal. These include return instructions and specified details regarding the item return status. The portal’s practical analysis functions make it possible to track the status of returns and generate reports. There is also clear information on deposit refunds. In particular, the functionality known as the ‘core bank’ clearly shows the number of items purchased from returned items, allowing users to determine at a glance whether they have exhausted their return potential.
“With ZF REMAN and CorExpedia, we want to offer our customers even easier access to our remanufactured products,” says Tomasz Galazka, Head of Remanufacturing Strategy and Business Development at ZF Aftermarket. “Our aim is to continuously expand our remanufactured parts portfolio and contribute even more significantly to resource conservation and emissions reduction.”
