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By Counterman
We all experience supply chain issues now and then. Back-ordered parts, delayed shipments and even material shortages can affect our ability to provide the parts and services our customers have come to expect from us. Our collective experience during COVID highlights just how interconnected we are with each link in our supply chain. As wholesalers/retailers, we maintain a particular stocking inventory of parts, supplies and accessories based on the needs of our customer base.
As manufacturers, our vendors also maintain inventories of the raw materials, components and subassemblies that go into creating the products that we sell each day in finished form. Any hiccup in their production process can snowball into a shortage or delay if an alternate solution cannot be found in time. The semiconductor “chip shortage” of 2021-’22 effectively crippled the auto industry, preventing some 12 million vehicles from being completed on schedule. In this example, there were no alternative parts available to fill the demand for specialized semiconductors.
In the manufacturing world, alternative parts are a way for a supplier to meet production schedules and keep an assembly line moving along uninterrupted. If a previously sourced component becomes obsolete or otherwise unavailable, another vendor or supplier might be contracted to fill the order. If a raw material is out of stock, another material with similar properties might be substituted in its place. For those of us behind the counter, sourcing alternative parts is what we do best. Our parts and supplies are already an alternative to the OEM components they are designed to replace, so what happens when our own alternative parts are backordered, delayed or otherwise unavailable?
Our first instinct, in most cases, is to outsource the part from another supplier, or even a competitor. We are lucky to have a great diversity of options in most aftermarket categories, so if our preferred solution isn’t available, there’s a good chance that an alternative is out there… somewhere.
For obsolete, discontinued or otherwise hard-to-find parts, the search often leads us to specialists in NOS (new old stock) or reproduction parts, or even the used market. Just as we have come to know which of our vendors offers a particular product, it is also in our best interest to know where to obtain those things that we don’t have ready access to. When it comes to finding needles in haystacks, your networking skills can be just as important as your catalog proficiency. Over the years, I’ve built up a mental index of industry contacts, former coworkers and clients, and general “know-it-alls” whom I can turn to for help when I’ve hit a dead end. Sometimes another set of eyes on a problem is all it takes to see the answer!
We can’t possibly fulfill every customer request, but even when an elusive part isn’t available to us, we are still uniquely positioned to suggest alternatives. As customers, we all hate to be told “no,” but we can better accept that moment of disappointment if the person across the counter from us cares enough about our needs to point us in the right direction. Be that person.
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By Counterman
Dayco, a supplier of engine products and drive systems for the automotive, industrial and aftermarket industries, is expanding its timing chain kit line with 41 part numbers to cover another 49 million vehicles in operation (VIO). Additionally, the company is introducing the next generation of its AutoPartIQ inventory assessment tool—with new features for a more productive customer experience.
New Parts Bring Timing Chain Kit Coverage to 120+ Million
Dayco’s aftermarket team launched the line in 2022 due to the car parc shift from timing belts to timing chains at the OE level. The
link hidden, please login to view, which feature OE-quality components, cover high-volume light-duty engine applications. They include all the necessary components for a thorough and complete repair, building on Dayco’s mission of recommending system replacement as a best practice. Dayco says the kits include: Timing and secondary chains that prevent stretch for the life of the kit – and address the no. 1 replacement issue; Precision-machined cam and crank sprockets for quiet, noise-free performance; Direct fit OE-quality, high-grade plastic guides, as well as VVT solenoids and cam phasers when the application calls for it; and Packaging that features a QR code that links directly to detailed installation instructions. Dayco backs its entire timing chain kit line with an industry-leading two year or 60,000 mile (96,000 kilometer) link hidden, please login to view, whichever occurs first, giving technicians confidence in what they’re installing. Three of the new part numbers are already available, and the remaining 38 are scheduled for Q1 or Q2 2025.
“We entered the timing chain kit market to meet the needs of our customers. The line continues to grow with sales increasing year over year and we are supporting our high-quality product line with important investments in warranty and training material,” said Tom Tecklenburg, Vice President, Aftermarket, Dayco North America. “We encourage our customers as well as shop owners to reach out to our tech team to schedule virtual training and to learn more about this line if they aren’t already stocking it.”
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By Counterman
NexaMotion Group (NMG) announced the acquisition of
link hidden, please login to view, NexaMotion’s third acquisition of the year. The company has a total of three wholesale distributor locations: two in San Francisco, CA, and one in Honolulu, HI. City Auto Supply was represented by Schwartz Advisors, and the terms were not disclosed. City Auto Supply is a U.S. veteran-owned corporation founded in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1986. The company carries over 100,000 individual parts and is a leading distributor of automotive parts and supplies to the auto repair industry, the company said.
“An organization like
link hidden, please login to view is a great partner for City Auto Supply customers and team members. Our business is strategically aligned with NexaMotion Group and its leaders, and most importantly, we share the same values,” City Auto Supply Owner Larry Chew said. “NexaMotion Group and its subsidiaries are known for providing top-quality parts and exceptional service in the aftermarket industry.” “This marks our fifth acquisition in the general repair space over the past 18 months, and we’re just getting started,” Neil Sethi, president and CEO of
link hidden, please login to view, said. “Our mission has always been to simplify complex vehicle repair, and with each acquisition, we strengthen our ability to serve customers more effectively. We’re eager for what the future holds as we continue to expand and innovate.” The post
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view announced the completion of the previously announced acquisition of AX V Nissens III APS ( link hidden, please login to view), European manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket engine cooling and air conditioning products with a growing array of vehicle control technologies. Under the terms of the agreement, SMP has acquired all the issued and outstanding shares of Nissens for approximately $390 million (€360 million), net of cash and assumed debt and subject to post-closing adjustments, from Nordic private equity firm Axcel and the Nissen family, according to a news release announcing the acquisition.
“We are very pleased to announce the closing of the Nissens acquisition. With this combination, we create an aftermarket leader in North America and Europe across our key product categories. The strength of Nissens’ leadership team and overall cultural fit will allow for immediate collaboration on opportunities for growth through cross-selling as well as bi-directional synergies with significant savings potential. We welcome Nissens and its employees to the SMP family,” said Eric Sills,
link hidden, please login to view‘ chairman and CEO. The post
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view announced the company has expanded product coverage for its starter and alternator, brake caliper, brake pad, brake shoe, power brake booster and brake rotor programs, with 505 new part numbers covering 302 million vehicles in operation. The new part numbers are offered through QB, Quality-Built, Quality-Built Black Series and Pure Energy brands powered by
link hidden, please login to view, which serve the professional installer market. A select list of late-model part number introductions can be found link hidden, please login to view. A complete list is available by contacting a Motorcar Parts of America sales representative. “In addition to our private label offerings, our Quality-Built and Pure Energy products are steadily gaining momentum in the professional market, and the introduction of new part numbers underscores our proactive approach to developing, cataloging, and distributing products to meet evolving demand,” said Jamie Cook, senior vice president of sales and marketing.
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