In the United Kingdom, an MOT generally must be performed annually on all vehicles aged as a legal requirement once that vehicle reaches three years of age. But what exactly is an MOT and why do you need it?
MOT is an acronym for the ‘Ministry of Transport’ test as this was the government department responsible for vehicle roadworthiness standards in 1960 when the inspection mandate was first introduced. You need to ensure that your vehicle is up to date with its MOT and holds a valid MOT pass certificate to comply with UK law. An MOT is a test to inspect the vehicle to ensure it complies with UK road safety and environmental standards. As part of the routine inspection, a range of your vehicle’s parts will be checked and tested including the lights, steering, suspension, brakes, wipers, horn, fuel system, doors, mirrors, external bodywork, seat belts, wheels and tyres. It will also check the presence and clarity of your vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and its exhaust emission levels. Vehicle parts that the MOT does not inspect the condition of include the clutch, engine and gearbox (transmission).
But are there any exceptions to the 3-year rule? In short, yes. In the United Kingdom, most cars generally need their first MOT when they reach three years of age, but in Northern Ireland, it isn’t required until a vehicle is four years old. There are also certain vehicles that need to have their first MOT when they are just one year old; a list of these vehicles can be found here. Some vehicles, such as tractors and electric goods vehicles that were registered before 1st March 2015, are exempt from the MOT requirement. Once your car, van, or motorcycle reaches 40 years of age, they too will be exempt from the MOT requirement, on the condition that they have not been substantially modified in the last 30 years. If your vehicle qualifies for one of these exemptions, you must declare this when applying for your vehicle tax. It is important to remember that regular checks and services should be undertaken on your vehicle to ensure that it remains roadworthy, as a valid MOT certificate or an MOT exemption doesn’t automatically ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive. Driving without a valid MOT test certificate, where required, may result in you being fined, receiving penalty points on your driving licence and/or a driving ban.
At this point, you may be wondering where to take your vehicle to get an MOT test done. The good news is that MOT-authorised test centres are situated all around the country, and test centres will display official blue signage featuring three white triangles to make it clear that MOT tests are conducted there. The MOT test is usually inexpensive and usually costs between £29.65 and £54.65 depending on the type of vehicle (prices correct as of May 2023), so long as the vehicle passes and no additional work needs doing.
Here are six common, and very avoidable, reasons vehicles fail their first MOT test:
If the vehicle fails the test the first time, it is important to note that you will usually have to pay an additional fee to repeat the test once the issues have been resolved, so it is wise to check and resolve any common and avoidable issues before taking your vehicle for its initial test.
Your vehicle’s tyres are the only contact point your car has with the road below, and being able to identify early warning signs with your tyres will help to keep you, your passengers, and other road users safe. Keeping your tyres well-maintained will also ensure the ongoing performance and efficiency of your vehicle. Here is a list of the most common tyre issues and how to identify them:
Unless the vehicle you own is a classic or a collector’s item, it will be subject to inevitable depreciation. Depreciation is the rate at which your car or truck loses value over time. Did you know that some vehicles can lose 50% of their original value after around five years of ownership? However, some makes and models retain their value better than others. 10 factors that can affect a vehicle’s depreciation rate include:
In short, the simplest way to preserve the value of your vehicle and minimise its depreciation rate is to ensure that it is well taken care of and maintained, in terms of its interior, its exterior, and what is under its hood, along with making a smart vehicle purchase choice in the first place.
British Winters often bring adverse road weather conditions such as sleet, snow, heavy rain and ice, and driving in these conditions can be dangerous, so here are our top tips for keeping yourself safe whilst travelling on the roads this Winter:
Ultimately, the best way to keep yourself safe during dangerous road conditions is to keep off the road. If the journey isn’t urgent or necessary, delay your travel plans until a time the roads are safer.
Whilst driving slowly and sensibly may seem like obvious advice, if you are in a rush to get somewhere it can be more difficult to adhere to, so always ensure you leave early to allow plenty of time for your journey and take it steady. If ever you do find yourself running late during adverse weather conditions, always remember that it’s always better to arrive late than never at all.
Allowing enough time to get your car de-iced before travelling is essential for your safety and the safety of other road users and pedestrians. Not having enough time to defrost your windows thoroughly will leave behind ice which will impair your vision and as a result, will increase your chances of a collision.
Under-inflated tyres increase your risk of losing traction on the roads, something which can be extremely dangerous, particularly in slippery conditions. Always ensure that all your tyres are inflated to the recommended PSI and check these levels regularly.
This is important advice no matter what the road conditions, but in a situation where extra attention to the road conditions are required, it really is essential. Remove anything that could distract you unnecessarily, such as an air freshener hanging from your windscreen mirror, and don’t attempt to eat, drink, smoke or use electronic devices whilst driving.
Along with driving slowly, allowing plenty of room to come to a stop is also very important to help reduce your chances of losing control of your vehicle. Sudden sharp braking could cause your car or van to lose traction and slide, which can end up causing a collision.
In slippery conditions, it’s always best to avoid using cruise control, as you always need to be completely alert and in full control of your vehicle’s acceleration and speed when enduring wet, snowy or icy road conditions.
Hopefully you won’t be involved in any collisions or have your vehicle breakdown this Winter but being prepared for these unfortunate eventualities is essential for your wellbeing. Always make sure that you and your passengers are wearing your seatbelts correctly, that you have adequate breakdown and recovery protection in place and that you have everything you need to keep yourself warm and something to draw attention to your vehicle if required.
Modern vehicles come with one of two types of transmission: automatic or manual. There is often an assumption that automatic vehicles are superior to manual ones, but is this really the case? Below we have listed some of the pros and cons of each type of transmission, or gearbox, to help you make up your mind:
Manual transmissions:
Manual cars have manual, or traditional, transmissions. This means that the vehicle has a stick shift and three pedals (the brake, clutch, and accelerator) which are used to manually shift between gears whilst driving.
Pros:
Cons:
Automatic transmissions:
While the drivers of manual vehicles play an active role in operating them, vehicles with automatic transmissions do a lot of the work for you. Automatic vehicles only have two pedals, the brake and the accelerator, and they also have a much simpler version of a shift stick than manual vehicles. In an automatic vehicle, you simply put the shift stick into drive mode and push the accelerator and the car will automatically shift the gears accordingly.
Pros:
Cons:
October is Tyre Safety Month, which is part of UK road safety charity TyreSafe’s annual campaign to help increase awareness of the risks caused by driving around with unsafe tyres, in a bid to encourage British motorists to check their tyres more regularly for signs of wear and damage.
Driving around on poorly maintained or damaged tyres can cause numerous issues from simply increasing your vehicle’s fuel consumption, to causing a potentially fatal traffic collision, if your defective tyre ends up “blowing out” whilst driving.
TyreSafe recommends that all motorists should be thoroughly checking their vehicle’s tyres at least once a month, and after any tyre “knocks”, such as when you hit a pothole or curb whilst driving.
Here are our top 3 simple tyre checks you can do yourself:
You may have heard the term “Green Car Parts” being used to describe the environmentally friendly source of used parts from original manufacturers (OEMs), but what exactly are green car parts?
Firstly, there not actually green in colour! The term refers to the recycling process and environmental benefits associated with the use of these parts. Green car parts are undamaged or reusable automotive parts that are taken from written-off or end-of-life vehicles and recycled/reused.
Because green parts were originally fitted in the factory or production line during the car’s creation, they are classified as “Original Equipment” (OE). In most cases however the car manufacturer does not design the parts themselves, but instead these parts are provided by dedicated parts manufacturers such as Bosch, Hella or Valeo, often called Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM).
Due to being designed and manufactured to a vehicle’s exact specifications, OE parts are often considered to be the best available in terms of quality and reliability.
What are the benefits of using green car parts?
The most obvious benefit of buying green car parts is reduced cost. Prices can be up to 90% cheaper than buying brand new parts direct from the manufacturer(!) but with rigorous testing and warranties available, there’s no need to worry about quality or reliability.
Despite being much cheaper than new parts, there are still huge numbers of green parts available for practically every car brand in the UK. This is because cars are typically manufactured in bulk meaning huge amounts of parts are floating about at any one time, and with nearly 2.5million new cars purchased per year in the United Kingdom alone, older vehicles are being quickly replaced.
In many cases, buying a second-hand part is often easier than sourcing new parts, as spare parts are not as frequently manufactured as whole vehicles are.
Using recycled car parts is immensely better for the environment, hence the “green” term. Buying a green part prevents the need for a new part to be manufactured, making huge energy and resource savings worldwide. It is estimated that recycled parts save 80 billion barrels of oil each year in manufacturing and transport processes, while also increasing the lifespan of countless existing vehicles.
Premier Components UK Ltd stocks and supplies hundreds of thousands of genuine used car parts reclaimed during the recycling process. We collect and sell these parts to specialist remanufacturers who repair and test these units ready for resale. As one of the largest core brokers in Europe, we can use our large network of breakers yards, dismantlers & vehicle manufacturers to collect a vast array of parts in bulk ready to supply the ever-growing demand for used automotive core.
Premier Components has long been known as a used core market leader, not only within the UK but throughout Europe and Internationally as well. Our strong reputation across Europe has been developed and achieved due to our unrivalled levels of stock and continuous activity and investment throughout many EU countries. For many years we have had buyers on the road over in Europe, visiting customers and personally sorting through core vehicle parts to ensure only the best quality stock ends up in our warehouses. Many of these buyers are multilingual and some travel from the UK whilst others are based out across Europe, meaning that someone is always on hand to arrange a visit to your site.
More recently, we have also grown our multilingual team back at our main headquarters in England, meaning that we now have staff members fluent in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, German and Romanian (to name a few). This allows us to overcome any language barriers we face, meaning that communication with us is always clear and any queries can be answered at the required level of detail. These members of staff also regularly visit European automotive trade shows, not only to exhibit but also to network and connect face-to-face with both new and existing Premier customers and suppliers. Back in 2013 we also invested in another core branch in Poland which now has many members of full-time staff, allowing us to trade at a higher level throughout Europe than ever before.
This combined effort of increased Premier staff presence throughout Europe and our excellent multilingual team members have meant that Premier has been able to grow and become a trusted stockist of core parts throughout Europe and beyond! If you have surplus used car parts to sell or are involved in the remanufacturing industry and are looking for a reputable new supplier, then please get in touch with us today via our website contact form . We look forward to hearing from you and offering you the best solutions for your needs.
In early 2020, life in the United Kingdom changed for us all with the introduction of the first lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic, affecting the usual operations of many businesses and causing the operations of others to come to an abrupt halt. Amongst these businesses were many of those both directly and indirectly linked to the automotive industry which included car dealerships, car manufacturers, and vehicle parts manufacturers amongst many others.
The sudden closure of car dealerships across the UK and Europe had a knock-on effect with the car manufacturing industry, as the number of new car sales plummeted, the demand to produce new vehicles inevitably also dropped off significantly. In addition to this, many new vehicle manufacturers rely on car parts which are often supplied from countries overseas such as China or the Far East. With the sudden introduction of new travel, import and export restrictions across the globe, new OEM vehicle parts became much harder to source and obtain which also affected vehicle manufacturer’s abilities to produce new vehicles. Whilst this kink in the supply chain may have negatively affected new vehicle production, it revealed a new heightened demand for remanufactured parts, which were not only a cheaper and much more environmentally friendly option, but now they were now a much simpler option to source and obtain as well.
As we begin to get back to life as normal (or as close to it as we are likely to get), we are confident that the increased demand for recycled green aftermarket parts will remain high, especially now that many companies and direct consumers have been exposed to the many benefits of purchasing and utilising remanufactured vehicle parts, and here at Premier Components we look forward to continuing to be a global leader and preferred supplier for this exciting and ever-expanding industry.
There comes a time when your trusty fleet vehicle reaches the end of its economic life: the mileage is high, and the expense of the ongoing repairs is beginning to cost your business more than what the van or truck is worth. Once a vehicle reaches this point, often it is sent for scrappage or sold on for a next to nothing price, and you are then faced with the cost of buying a replacement. What if we told you there was a way to avoid this costly scenario? Well, there is! Rather than scrapping your old commercial vehicles, why not consider remanufacturing them instead?
The Benefits of Remanufacturing a Fleet Vehicle:
When you decide to remanufacture a company vehicle, the salvage value and ongoing repair costs are no longer part of the financial equation. By remanufacturing, you can retain the value of the vehicle and extend its time with your business, even if the engine is failing or has multiple major issues.
Instead of paying for repairs as they arise, choosing to remanufacture the vehicle completely will make everything virtually new again under the hood! This option is often 30-50% less expensive than the alternative of having to replace the vehicle entirely (particularly if you opt for all remanufactured parts over new ones) and it will save the vehicle from a premature visit to the scrap pile!
Remanufacturing will give your old fleet vehicle a new lease of life, and even give it the potential to double its mileage! Since the financial depreciation is very minimal in the later years of a vehicle’s life, you’ll always retain the end salvage value too.
When is the Right Time to Remanufacture a Fleet Vehicle?
There are multiple scenarios where remanufacturing your fleet vehicle may be the best option, these include:
When it comes to scenic road trips the United Kingdom is often forgotten, but did you know that it has some hidden gems you may not know about? If you enjoy driving and scenery, read on to avoid missing out as we’ve put together a great list of our Top 5 best road trips in the UK:
According to The Times Magazine, Cheddar Gorge is Britain’s “loveliest scenic route” and with its twisting roads and a stunning background of limestone cliffs its easy to see why! This route is located right in the heart of the West Country and only takes around 30 minutes to drive, making it one unmissable drive!
If you are looking for a longer route with a real wow factor and have 3 to 5 days spare to drive it, then look no further than the Coastal Route which stretches for around 195km from Belfast to Londonderry. Along the way you’ll get to see a host of incredible sights including the iconic Giants Causeway and Gobbins Cliff Path. This road trip will have particular appeal to Game of Thrones fans, as you’ll be travelling past two of the filming locations along the way: Dark Hedges and Ballintoy Harbour.
If you are brave enough to drive the 42-mile tangled route of Snake Pass, crossing the Pennines between Glossop and Ladybower Reservoir, you’ll be rewarded with some truly stunning scenery, including an incredible view of National Trust’s High Peak Estate.
Scotland’s North Coast 500 is a 4 to 7 day long circular road trip which boasts quiet winding roads and beautiful scenery. This is the ideal trip for anyone searching for a few days of peace, seclusion and natural beauty.
This short 11 mile route is not for the faint of heart, and will require a confident driver, but if you take the plunge Abergwesyn Pass will reward you with breath-taking views of stunning mountains, forests and picturesque Welsh villages – along with putting your driving skills to the test!
How we price each individual unit that we purchase is a frequent question that we are asked here at Premier Components UK Ltd. We understand that customers are always looking to get the very best prices for their surplus material, and this is something that is always at the forefront of our mind when purchasing aftermarket vehicle parts. To continually obtain good quality material, we need to make sure that everyone feels that they are getting a fair deal with the prices that we are offering, and in taking this approach we have remained the main purchaser for automotive core parts for many years across a vast selection of diverse companies.
How we grade our core isn’t a massive industry secret, prices are generally set by the market with units that are the hardest to get hold of (or are least commonly found) often fetching more than common units that are easier to obtain. On top of this, like anything the better condition a unit is (and therefore the easier to remanufacture), the more money it will be worth. As a full line automotive supplier, we work closely with a variety of remanufactures meaning that there is always demand for a vast array of different material. Working so closely in this space allows us to be confident with purchases knowing that we will be able to find a suitable buyer, which means instant decisions and payment for customers looking to sell any used material.
With Premier Components’ size and industry recognition, we can sell your core material relatively quickly after purchase. However, one thing that we do not do is make you wait for your payment until the goods have sold; we offer immediate payment terms so even if your surplus stock isn’t immediately in demand, you will still receive full immediate payment and can sit back and relax - or start building up your next batch for our buyers! Premier Components currently has over 60 members of staff with a select knowledgeable team dedicated just to being out on the road buying! In having such a large team of skilled buyers, we can work around your busy schedules to arranging a visit to go through your surplus material and discuss prices.
So, now that you know that our prices are fair, our payment terms are immediate, and our buyers can visit at any time to fit in around your schedule, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with us today to find out why we are Europe’s leading automotive broker!Eventually, the time will come that you make the decision to sell your trusty steed, but sadly, selling a vehicle privately often isn’t the hassle-free process you’d hoped it would be! Here are five important things to consider when selling a car to help you keep the process as smooth as possible:
By taking these considerations into account, you will help to ensure a smooth vehicle sale transaction and that all parties involved will be satisfied with the end deal.
If you are a dismantler or own/work at a breakers yard, you will likely know to what extent a vehicle can be recycled. On average it is estimated anywhere from 75–85%, however one thing you might not know is just how much these spare car and van parts could be worth when split up properly and sold to the right people (us!).
Over the years, we have visited tens of thousands of dismantlers, breakers and scrap yards, and one of our least favourite things to hear is: “sorry, we don’t actually strip the parts off the vehicles here”. This is something we always hope to hear less of, because each aftermarket part that has been removed from each vehicle (and therefore easily accessible) means more money in your pocket and more stock for our shelves!
With Premier Components being one of the largest global full line core brokers, we are able to purchase a vast selection of aftermarket passenger car and commercial parts from a large variety of different makes and models of vehicle, and are able to purchase almost all of the following core parts:
Due to our continuous demand for new stock, worrying about it being worth your time to strip parts should not be a major concern for you.
Further good news is that it shouldn’t matter too much whether you have many of the same vehicles, or numerous different types, as we are able to purchase in bulk, and often require hundreds of the same make/model parts for our customers. We pride ourselves on professionalism, quality service, quick turnarounds and competitive price points, meaning we are very different to deal with from your typical walk-in customer who will only want to purchase one or two units for a rock bottom (scrap) price.
But let’s get down to the real point of interest here, just how much could this be worth to your business? The answer to this question depends on a number of factors, such as the amount of core material that you have readily available, the year/make/model of the vehicle(s) that the parts come from, and the quality and range of the material available. The quickest and easiest way to find out is to strip it all down, put it carefully to one side and give us a call so that we can arrange for a member of our dedicated purchase team to visit your premises and tell you exactly how much it is all worth!
If you would like to know more about selling your surplus parts to us, please get in touch with one of our friendly team members today via +44 (0) 1789 720061 or sales@premiercore.com
When it comes to buying a new car, cost is often a significant deciding factor. However, in terms of both upfront and long-term costs, which type of car gives you the most for your money, one with a petrol, diesel or hybrid engine?
Since they came into prominence in the early 2000s, we’ve seen many popular makes of hybrid cars becoming more and more affordable. Despite this however, they are still significantly more expensive than their petrol or diesel equivalents due to the extra electrical components required within the vehicle to enable it to run on both electric energy and petrol/diesel. On the other hand, petrol cars have always been known to be the cheapest to buy upfront, but over recent years diesel cars have also become much more affordable making them much more of a contender when a purchaser is looking for less of an upfront spend. However, if your main priority is to keep your upfront spend to a minimum, a petrol-powered car is still the way to go.
When it comes to long-term fuel efficiency and economy, a hybrid car is generally the first to spring to mind – which at low-speeds and in stop-start traffic it is more efficient, as it’s electric engine does most of the work, but when it comes to faster roads and higher speeds, it becomes predominantly petrol-powered, making it no less economical than a petrol car. This is something to consider when factoring in long-term costs of fuel, if you are predominantly a village or city driver, you probably will save money on fuel with a hybrid – however if you tend to use faster roads, you may not end up saving yourself as much as you’d hoped! Diesels, however, require fewer revs to maintain a constant speed, which makes them particularly economical when it comes to motorway driving – so it may be worth considering a diesel car for fuel-efficiency is your driving is predominantly motorway-based. Once you’ve decided on a model, it’s always best to enquire about the different engine variations available, as many popular models now have more economical versions which could help reduce your spending on both fuel and road tax in the long run!
Hybrid cars can also cost a lot to maintain, with lots of electrical components, there are a lot of things which can prove expensive to fix if anything goes wrong. From an on-going maintenance point of view, like the up-front costs, petrol cars tend to be the cheapest to maintain, followed by diesel cars, then hybrids. In conclusion, whilst hybrid cars tend to be the most economical option, based on both upfront cost and ongoing spend, we believe a petrol-powered car still offers you the best value for money.
Potholes are formed when water seeps through small cracks in the tarmac, and due to the water freezing and expanding (in cold Winter weather) or due to soil erosion (in warmer Summer conditions), unsupported pockets are created below the road’s surface, and eventually, the continued pressure from passing vehicles causes these weak patches to collapse – thus forming a pothole!
When driving, it’s common knowledge that we should avoid hitting potholes wherever possible, however every now and then it’s inevitable that we’re going to clip one. When this does happen, your car will need to be checked for signs of pothole damage! After hitting a pothole, as soon as it is safe to do so, pull over and check the following parts of your car…
Tyres:
When you hit a pothole, the tyres are the most common place damage occurs – this could range from a small chip in the outer rubber, to a complete blowout. For the latter, you’ll most likely be aware of this immediately, as blowouts tend to be accompanied by a loud bang and cause significant driving difficulties. However, even if you don’t experience a blowout, this doesn’t mean that you’re in the clear! Ideally, the best way to check your tyres thoroughly will involve lifting each wheel up from the ground with a jack, so that you can check all sides of each tyre. You should be checking carefully for any signs of bulging, tread separation, tears and flats – and if you notice anything out of the ordinary, keep your car off the road until the tyre has been professionally patched or replaced.
Wheels:
Another common damage point is with the wheel itself, whether you have alloys or not, the wheels need checking visually. Look out for any cracks or signs that the wheel has been bent or dented, particularly in the areas where the rim meets the tyre. Wheel damage can cause a break in the airtight seal, which can lead to complete tyre failure or a blowout. If any damage is present, your wheel may need repairing or replacing completely, so keep your vehicle off the road until you’ve had it cleared as safe by a professional.
Exhaust:
Hitting a pothole can also cause damage to your exhaust, especially if you are driving a lowered vehicle – if you suspect any faults, stay safe and have it inspected. If a hole forms in your exhaust it can not only cause a loss of power, but can also make your car emit more harmful gasses than usual, which is unsafe for you and passing pedestrians to breathe in.
Suspension and Steering:
If you notice your vehicle handling differently whilst driving, such as loose steering or pulling to either the left or right, some of your suspension or steering components may have been bent or damaged by the pothole, or the alignment of one or more components may have been compromised. Leaving a suspension or steering issue unresolved can lead to uneven and increased tyre wear in the future, and a potentially dangerous weakness in your suspension or steering components. If these parts are damaged and need replacing, it is always worth considering the benefits of using a re-manufactured part.
If in any doubt about the toll a pothole has taken on your car, take it to a professional to be checked over thoroughly – missing damage could lead to a future serious road traffic collision with a potentially fatal outcome.
When it comes to hitting potholes, it may sound like a bit of a cliché, but prevention is always better than cure, so always take extra care to check the road ahead of you and avoid driving into potholes whenever it is safe to do so. It is also worth considering an alternate route if any roads you need to travel along are particularly prone to surface damage.
As a vehicle owner, it is inevitable that at some point, one of your vehicle parts will malfunction or fail. When this occurs it’s often a first thought to buy a brand-new part to replace it, but this can prove to be a very costly option, particularly if the new part is purchased directly through your dealership. This is the reason many people now turn to re-manufactured parts when something goes wrong, as not only are these a cheaper option, they are also a reliable option, with parts often carrying the same warranties that you would receive with the brand-new alternative.
One thing that gets many car owners confused, is the difference between second-hand and re-manufactured car parts. A second-hand car part is a previously used part, which has been stripped from a car no longer needing it, often due to accident write offs or older cars which have been sent off to be scrapped. These types of parts are usually the cheapest to purchase, however they often won’t have been properly tested, don’t come with any warranties and often there is no way of telling how old the part is, how many miles the part has covered or how well the previous owner maintained it – this means that buying a cheap second-hand part comes with some risks.
A re-manufactured part, on the other hand, is an original manufacturer official used part, which has been carefully cleaned, stripped down, and had any worn components replaced. Most people can’t tell the difference between a brand-new and a re-manufactured part, and they are finished to such a high-quality standard that they are just as reliable too. Like brand new parts, these parts usually come with a warranty and are expected to have the same lifespan, but with a cheaper price tag! Re-manufactured parts are also seen to be a more environmentally friendly option by keeping parts out of the re-smelting process for longer and by massively reducing the amount of raw materials and energy required to produce them, in comparison to the amounts required when building brand new parts. This makes re-manufactured parts a very appealing option to anyone looking for a reliable part at a good price, or anyone who is looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
October is here and so is the iconic Autumn British rainfall! Before getting into your vehicle, ensuring that the rubber on your wipers is in good condition and that you have plenty of tread left on your tyres are essential basic safety checks to make in any kind of wet weather, but here is some further advice relating to some of the more dangerous rainy conditions you may encounter on the road:
Heavy Rain:
Even if your windscreen wipers are set to maximum speed, severe rain is going to affect your visibility, so the most important thing you need to do is to slow down. Reducing your speed in heavy rain will give you more time to assess and react to any situations unfolding ahead of you, and don’t forget, Rule 126 of the Highway Code states that you need to leave at least a four second gap for breaking distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you in wet road conditions. Another thing to remember is to manually turn on your headlights if the weather conditions are causing poor or low-light visibility.
Flooded Roads:
The first rule of a flooded road is: if there is another route you can take to avoid the flood – take it. Driving through flood water runs a real risk of your engine taking on water, and if this should happen, it will hydro lock and your engine will stop working immediately! As a rule of thumb, if the standing water is 6 inches deep or deeper, do not attempt to drive through it (please note: certain vehicles won’t be able to drive through less water than this. Assess the situation, the height of your vehicle and make a sensible choice when deciding whether to drive through). To help you make a judgement call, you can see if other vehicles similar to yours are passing through the flood water without issue, and if you do decide to follow, make sure to travel through the water slowly whilst keeping your engine revs higher than usual – this will help to prevent water from entering your exhaust. Once you have passed the flood water, always check that your brakes are dry and working properly before continuing your journey. If you are in any doubt about whether you can safely cross the flood, turn around and try to find an alternate route.
Vehicle Aquaplaning:
Aquaplaning can be a very scary experience and usually occurs when it is raining heavily and/or there is light flooding or puddled water on the roads. Making sure you have deep tread on your tyres and lowering your speed can help to reduce the chances of this happening, however it’s important to remember that if your vehicle does begin to aquaplane, try not to panic and do not slam on the brakes – instead, ease off the accelerator slowly, don’t make any sudden steering actions and keep a firm grip of your steering wheel. Following these steps will help your car to regain its grip on the road surface and stop aquaplaning.
The sad reality of car ownership is, that one day it will no longer be cost-effective to keep replacing parts and repairing it, and whilst it can be difficult to come to terms with having to say goodbye to your beloved automobile, your wallet will assure you it is the right decision to make. This decision begs the question, how do you make sure you are getting a good deal when it comes to recycling your vehicle?
Here are four ways you can ensure you always get the best scrappage price:
So long as you aren’t in a rush to get rid of your car, using the web to keep an eye on the scrap market can be a great way to time when is best to deliver your vehicle to the junkyard heap. Scrapping your vehicle when the scrap value is higher, will mean you get more cash for your car! A quick Google search will bring up several sites that will allow you to easily compare, track and find the best scrap prices.
Unless there is a real urgency to get rid of your car, don’t just go rushing off to the first scrapyard you find. We would recommend getting at least three different quotes from separate scrap dealers, and don’t be afraid to haggle for a better pay-out! Getting multiple quotes will give you a good idea of what a fair scrap value is for your vehicle and will alert you to any dealers who are trying to get their hands on your car for less than it’s worth!
Did you know that you can dismantle your car and strip it of its valuable parts before sending it off to become scrap metal? If you know what you’re doing and have enough free time, you can make additional money by selling off a car’s components as spares. Sometimes you can find just one or two good parts can end up being worth more than the original scrap value of your vehicle – so if you have the capabilities, it’s an avenue worth exploring!
This one may seem a little odd, considering your car is destined for the crusher, but the look and presentation of your car could end up fetching you a better price from a scrap dealer. Don’t waste time and money on fixing any major bodywork issues, but if you can buff out a few of the more minor blemishes (such as scratches, minor dents and rust spots) you may just get rewarded!
Ultimately, if you do your research, understand the current market value and are prepared to haggle on price – making yourself a few extra scrappage bucks can be a fairly simple achievement.
Over the past couple of years, we’ve become no strangers to anxious comments circulating within automotive aftermarket industry such as “I love this industry, but I’m not so sure how much longer there will be such a need for aftermarket core”. It is true that times are changing, and ultimately technology is always going to keep advancing, but our view on the future of the automotive aftermarket is still as positive as ever!
At Premier Components, we believe that the key to success in an ever-changing industry is with innovation and adaptation, and this is a belief that’s strongly cemented into all our core business strategies. Fear about change is often a natural human reaction, we are biologically programmed to react in this way, but we believe that being proactive with new solutions and approaches is the healthiest way to tackle any uncertainties, whether in business or in everyday life.
As the future slowly begins to unfold and automotive technology advances we are likely to start seeing a new generation of features within our vehicles, these will most likely include more economical engines reliant on electrical power, safety enhancements and more convenient driving systems with a focus on entertainment and making driving more effortless. Whilst this may be bad news if you are a car enthusiast who is eager to continue driving cars in the more traditional manner, we believe that this is actually great news for the automotive aftermarket industry – as an easier, more enjoyable driving experience will ultimately lead to more availability of vehicle usage to those who may have not been able to drive traditional cars, and more miles being driven, and anyone in the re-manufacturing sector will be able to tell you, that more miles being driven is always good for business!
The bottom line is, any changes in the automotive aftermarket industry aren’t going to appear overnight, the change will be slow and there will be plenty of time for the industry to adjust and adapt, and we have absolutely no doubt that in the future, that both Premier Components and the automotive aftermarket sector as a whole will continue to thrive!
Did you know that, according to The Energy Saving Trust, “by driving smarter” the average UK driver could save between £300 and £350 each year? To drive smarter essentially means to drive more economically, which not only helps save you money, but it helps to protect our environment too by reducing your vehicle emissions. An obvious way to keep your emissions low would be to purchase an economically friendly car, which not only reduces the impact on the environment but also comes with the added benefits of low or zero road tax. However, we realise that it isn’t always realistic to simply “go and buy a new car” as not everyone is in the position to do so, so here are six ways you can be more environmentally responsible, in any vehicle you drive:
By building up your speed gradually, shifting gears smoothly and braking steadily when required, you can make a real difference to your rate of fuel consumption, reducing the frequency of filling up your tank and the ultimately, your carbon footprint, by reducing the amount of burnt fuel fumes entering the atmosphere.
The slower you drive, the less fuel your vehicle burns, so try not to exceed the speed limits – a car speeding at 80mph on a motorway or dual carriageway has been shown to use approximately 10% more fuel than one driving at the 70mph speed limit.
An unnecessary load means that your vehicle will be using extra fuel, so make sure to remove any items you can from your boot if they aren’t required for your journey, particularly if they are heavy!
Air conditioning, car lights, radios, windscreen heaters and plugged-in satnavs that are turned on all contribute to extra fuel consumption, so make sure that these are turned off and unplugged when they are no longer required to ensure you are always driving as “green” as possible.
Roof boxes, roof racks, flags and chunky body kits all contribute to an increase in drag, making your car less aerodynamic and therefore less environmentally-friendly, so remove these if they are no longer required. Keeping car windows and sunroofs closed, particularly at higher speeds, will also help to reduce vehicle wind resistance and therefore fuel consumption.
By checking and servicing your car or van regularly, you can help to ensure that your engine is running efficiently and that your tyres are always properly inflated, as driving with under-inflated tyres is not only dangerous but has also been shown to increase vehicle fuel consumption by up to 15% as well.
The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry which encompasses several important roles, including the supply of aftermarket vehicle parts to the remanufacturing industry. When a car or truck is sent to the scrapyard, or when a damaged element is removed, many people do not realise that the leftover parts can essentially be recycled through remanufacturing. Not only does the automotive remanufacturing industry help to lessen the impact that vehicles have on the environment, but it also provides motorists with a cost-efficient alternative to buying brand new vehicle parts when replacing defective ones.
But how do the parts at the scrapyards get to the remanufacturing plants? That is where Premier Components comes in! We have an elite team of knowledgeable core purchasers who travel worldwide to find the right yards with the right core, which then gets shipped to either our base in the United Kingdom or our base in Poland, where each unit is thoroughly checked and graded for quality several times before being carefully stored ready for sale. This is where our expert sales team comes in, liaising with some of the largest automotive remanufacturing plants in the industry, to ensure that the right parts find the right remanufacturing partner.
We have over 25 years of experience in sourcing and supplying aftermarket parts and our global reach continues to expand year after year. Our friendly team undergo regular rigorous training sessions to ensure that their knowledge of parts is always up to date to improve the quality of our purchases and the efficacy of our service. For these reasons, plus many more, Premier Components should be your preferred partner for the supply and purchase of quality aftermarket core. To find out more about our range of stock and our pricing structures, please reach out to us today via +44 (0) 1789 720061 or sales@premiercore.com.
Most of the time, you would not anticipate that your car could break down, but an estimated 7,000 breakdowns occur in the UK every single day! If you found yourself at the mercy of an unforeseen breakdown, would you know what to do? Here are our top tips for what you should do in the event of your vehicle coming to an unexpected halt:
BREAKING DOWN ON A MOTORWAY OR DUAL CARRIAGEWAY:
If you can access the hard shoulder, pull over as soon as you can and turn on your hazard lights and side lights. It is also wise to turn your wheels to point away from the road.
Reflective high visibility vests are generally inexpensive to buy and do not take up much room in your vehicle, but they will help to alert other drivers to your presence, especially when it is dark.
Do not exit the car from the roadside door unless it is unavoidable. Once you are out, move to a safe distance away from your vehicle as soon as possible. If there is an embankment, take yourself up it and if there is a barrier, get behind it if possible. Only place a red warning triangle if it is safe to do so, on a fast busy road, it is not worth risking your life to place it.
Do not put yourself in danger trying to fix the car yourself, instead call a breakdown service provider to come to your assistance.
Use a roadside SOS phone, or your mobile if there is not one close by, to inform the local authorities about your broken-down vehicle, as it could be hazardous to other road users.
BREAKING DOWN ON A SINGLE CARRIAGEWAY ROAD:
If you can, find a safe place to pull over your vehicle keeping it as far away from the road traffic as possible. Once you have stopped, turn on your hazard lights, and your side lights too if visibility could be impaired.
Exit your car so long as it is safe to do so and get to a safe distance away from the vehicle to assess the situation. If you cannot safely exit your vehicle, remain seated and alert with your seat belt securely fastened.
Make use of your reflective high visibility vest and, if it is safe to do so, place a reflective warning triangle around 50 meters behind your vehicle to alert other drivers of the hazard ahead.
Unlike the advice for motorways and dual carriageways, on a single carriageway road the RSA advise that the safest place for you to wait for assistance is inside your vehicle, just makes sure you have your seatbelt securely fastened and remain alert.
Once you are safely strapped into your vehicle, call the local authorities to inform them of the hazard and then call your breakdown service provider so that they can assist you.
Your carbon footprint is based on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere, which are directly attributed to the actions you take in your everyday life. These emissions have a negative impact on the environment and contribute to global warming. As the core foundation of our business is built on recycling, we would like to share with you five simple ways how you can reduce your carbon footprint and lessen your impact on our planet.
Recent research has found that approximately 26% of our carbon emissions comes from our home energy. There are many things you can do to reduce the amount of energy wasted around your home such as ensuring your home is well insulated, servicing your boiler regularly, installing a smart meter and keeping lights and appliances switched off around the home when they are not needed. You can also go one step further by switching to a green energy supplier to ensure that clean renewable energy is being used to power your home!
This one is something we should all be aware of; many types of packaging are now recyclable, and you can check which ones are by looking at the recycling information found on the packet. It is also important to remember to rinse out and dry any products which are dirty before putting them in your recycling bin, as items that still have food on them can contaminate recyclable material, rendering them useless. Soiled items are regularly taken out of the recycling chain and sent to landfill.
You can help to protect our environment by supporting sustainable farming practices and making small everyday changes to your diet. These changes could include, shopping organic, cutting down on meat consumption and by shopping local, as the shorter the distance your food must travel, the less greenhouse gas emissions! Planning your meals in advance can also help to reduce your carbon footprint as you will know exactly what food you need to buy and less will go to waste!
Today there is an abundance of different brands at our fingertips, quite literally, as most shopping is now done online with a few taps of your finger. Use this as a force for good and opt for brands that support sustainable eco-friendly manufacturing processes and that use packaging which can be recycled.
One thing that you may not have considered when it comes to purchasing recycled goods, is the replacement parts you use in your vehicle when something goes wrong. Did you know that by using a remanufactured car part, you are purchasing a recycled unit which has been saved from the resmelting process? Plus, most remanufactured parts will be cheaper than a new alternative and come with the same length of warranty!
If ever you find yourself with some time to spare, you can also consider volunteering in your local community to help clean up your green spaces. Litter is a huge problem worldwide, and by giving up an hour or so of your free time, you can help to undo some of the damage done to our planet, and it will benefit your local community, keeping it clean and tidy for everyone to enjoy!
We hope that you have found these tips useful; if we all work together and make more environmentally friendly choices, we can help to protect our incredible planet.
Everyone is aware that the UK exited the EU on the 1st January and thankfully at the very last moment a trade deal was agreed and it is now in operation and Premier Components, like many importers and exporters, have experienced some delays due to the new rules, regulations and documents that now apply.
Premier Components have been working extremely diligently with their customers, suppliers and third parties such as logistics and IT suppliers to ensure that we are fully compliant and that any delays are minimised. We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding as we all adapt to this new way of working.
By way of a small update we have laid out the main areas that have changed and where new documentation and procedures are applicable:
Customs Declarations
Customs declarations will now be required at both export and import, both here in the UK and in the EU. In addition to this, import Vat will apply and will be payable based on the rules of the member state in the EU. The agreement does not affect arrangements on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which are covered under a separate protocol.
Tariffs and Quotas
There will be no tariffs on goods exported or imported between the UK and EU 27. Supplier declaration will be required from the exporter’s suppliers confirming origin of goods. If the import goods do not originate in the UK/EU add no value (or undertake minimal processes and then export to the EU) then these products will be subject to the MFN standard tariffs and duties may apply. The same goes for goods coming from the EU to the UK.
Conformity
Agreement avoids unnecessary technical barriers to trade with the EU on low-risk products, more specifically information is provided on automotive products, wine, organics, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.
In summary:
Whilst some of this information may seem a little overwhelming, we can assure you that we have all aspects of import and export compliance under control here at Premier Components, and we are more than happy to offer any assistance, advice, or reassurance to any of our current (or prospective) trade partners.
We are so pleased that our transition out of the EU has been successful, and that we have an exciting prosperous future ahead with the European automotive aftermarket and remanufacturing industry!
Car insurance is a legal requirement for all motorists in the United Kingdom, and in most other countries Worldwide, but did you know that in the UK alone, around 43,000 claims are denied by motor insurers each year? Here we have listed 10 of the most common mistakes made when taking out an insurance policy to help you avoid invalidating your insurance:
The postcode of your main address can impact your motor insurance quote, but as tempting as it may be to use a relative’s postcode to bring down your premium, please avoid doing so as it may render your insurance invalid, particularly if your car gets broken into at your actual address and you try to make a claim! It is also important to remember to report any main address changes to your insurer as soon as possible for the same reason.
Motor insurance companies have their own investigative departments dedicated to making sure the information provided by policy holders is correct, so the likelihood is that an incorrect address will be flagged if you try to make a claim further down the line.
Car modifications can affect the cost of your car insurance for two main reasons: if they are deemed to increase the likelihood of a motor collision, or if they will make your car more desirable to car thieves. Not disclosing even minor modifications can leave you at risk of losing out if you end up needing to make a claim.
Your annual mileage is an important factor insurance companies use to quote your premium and as expected, the higher your annual mileage, the higher the cost of the premium. Whilst it can be tempting to disclose a slightly lower mileage to keep the price down, it could end up costing you a lot more in the long run as a claim can be rejected if your vehicle has exceeded the mileage stated on your policy.
Motor insurance covers three types of car usage, these are social only, business only, and social and commuting. If you select the wrong category, you risk not being covered in the event of an accident. For example, if your policy states that your vehicle is only insured for social purposes, and you then try to make a claim resulting from a collision you were involved in whilst commuting for work, there is a good chance that your insurance company may reject your claim!
If you are deemed a “higher risk” policy holder, for example if you are a newly passed driver or have made claims in the past, it can often be tempting to put a “low risk” driver (such as a parent or partner) as the main driver on your policy, and to list yourself as an additional driver instead. Declaring the main driver as a named driver on your policy is a form of insurance fraud and is often referred to as “fronting”. If your insurance company discovers this, your policy will be cancelled immediately with any claims denied. It can also result in the insurer taking legal action against you and, if found guilty, you could face fines of up to £5,000 and six points on your driving licence.
With more than 40% of UK households reporting to own at least one pet, it isn’t unusual to be transporting them in your cars – but did you know that if you have a collision and it is reported you had an unsecured pet in the vehicle your insurance company could refuse to pay out? Having your pets properly secured in your vehicle is now a legal requirement as unsecured pets can cause you to be more at risk of having an accident, as they can distract the driver or physically get in the way preventing you from being able to drive safely.
The occupation you select when searching for a car insurance quote is another essential element motor insurance companies will consider when determining your risk profile. If you try to make a claim, and your current occupation does not match what is stated on your insurance paperwork, you may find your claim is denied. Therefore, it is also equally as important to inform your insurance company of any new job changes to ensure that you are always fully protected.
Whilst most fully comprehensive policies will cover drivers using other people’s vehicles, most of these will only cover them on a third-party basis. This means that if someone else is involved in an accident whilst driving your car or if your vehicle is damaged or stolen whilst in their care, your insurer may not pay out for the damages!
Often if people have a small bump or scrape while driving, only cosmetic damage occurs and when this happens it is common for motorists to fail to report this damage to their insurance providers, as they aren’t planning to make a claim. However, by not informing them of this damage you are likely in breach of your policy, and if you try to claim for any other damages further down the line, if additional damage is found which is inconsistent with the nature of your claim, your entire claim may be refused.
Did you know that by charging friends or colleagues for lifts your car insurance company could technically classify you as a “taxi hire service” which could render your insurance invalid? In fact, some policies will specifically exclude cover for car sharing altogether, whether you are profiting from it or not, so it is always worth reading through the small print of your insurance policy paperwork to check beforehand!
In fact, it is important to read the terms and conditions of your policy thoroughly regardless, to ensure that you are always going to be covered in your current circumstances and that you are not going to make any mistakes which could accidentally result in voiding your policy. If you are unsure about any of the terms stated within your agreement, give your insurer’s helpline a call to gain clarification and always make sure to report any changes which could affect your policy, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem.
Back in March 2017 the UK government officially gave notice for leaving the European Union by filing a notification under Article 50 of the EU Treaty, but what exactly does that mean for freight transport operations when the Brexit transition period ends on 1st January 2021?
Currently, with just over a month to go, this is still not clear as trade deal negotiations between the UK and the EU remain ongoing, with a no-deal Brexit now looking increasingly possible. Despite the uncertainty around exactly what terms the United Kingdom and the EU will be trading on in the new year, Premier Components are working proactively in the background to ensure that we prepared and ready to continue trading with our EU suppliers and customers once this transition period comes to an end.
To help us prepare, we have established an in-house Brexit taskforce who meet together on a weekly basis, at a minimum, to focus on ensuring that the company will be ready to trade seamlessly with our EU counterparts once the transition is finalised. As part of this work, our IT department have developed an automated system which links to our accounting software to create commercial invoices for both sales and purchase transactions. By systemising customs declaration requirements, and other relevant administration processes, we will help to eliminate the possibility of delays relating to shipping documentation preparation.
In addition to streamlining our administration procedures to improve efficiency, we are also currently in the process of contacting our current customer base to discuss each individual’s desired trade needs going forward, to determine what plans and new measures need to be put in place within our logistics department in particular. Part of these talks include whether customers want to arrange their own goods collections or use Premier’s own transport solutions post-Brexit. Gathering this vital information, in addition to our own preparations, will enable us to source a frictionless customs solution to offer our customers, and to develop a staff training programme which will ensure our workforce are knowledgeable on all new processes and procedures relating to Brexit.
Once the Brexit negotiations are concluded, we will keep our customers and suppliers informed of any internal or external changes which may affect their future shipments, but you can be assured that Premier Components’ priority is to keep our logistics processes and supply chain both efficient and competitive, whatever deal is agreed.
Billions of people all over the World have had their lives and livelihoods affected by the novel coronavirus. As employers, it is our responsibility to put measures in place at our premises to help protect our staff and to play our part in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.
As a company, we have been fortunate in a sense, as our facilities already had many of the foundations in place making our transition into a post-coronavirus working environment relatively straight-forward. Most of our on-site workforce spend the majority of their time in one of our large open warehouses, which are so spacious and open that social distancing measures were easy to implement, as there is plenty of room to move around without having to come too close to other employees. Our main warehouse doors are also kept open during working hours, due to the volume of activity we have moving stock in and out of the buildings, which also ensures a fresh flow of air is always present. In addition to this, we have also always actively encouraged our warehouse team to wear face masks, to protect them from inhaling dust particles, something which has now become an important part of all our lives to help protect us from inhaling germs.
Around all our buildings we have introduced extra measures, which include social distancing and hygiene importance signage throughout, installing hand sanitising stations and allowing our staff to work from home if appropriate, and in their own private office spaces wherever this has been possible to do so. We have also arranged for all on-site staff to have staggered break and lunch times with a one-in one-out procedure in place in certain communal areas such as kitchen and toilet facilities.
As a business we have also limited the number of visitors we have on site and are opting to host meetings with clients over Skype or phone conferences instead wherever possible. We also regularly reiterate to our workforce that strict hygiene rules and government advised self-isolation rules and health advice must always be followed stringently.
We hope that this short update has allowed for some peace of mind about our pandemic compliancy, and we look forward to welcoming future business opportunities with safety at the forefront of our company values.
In our July blog, we put a spotlight on ELVPP as the Premier Components smart tool to be use by our partners - vehicle dismantlers. Of course, there is more positive of facets of having the ELVPP but the important one is that the system quickly identifies the vehicle and displays a list of parts with a value to sell to us
Our database cover over a million products and recently has been added transitions and engine section.
The database is growing and also, Premier Components is keep on moving. We are happy to inform you that we are moving turbo and commercial section from unit 22 to 21 as number of our stock is constantly increasing.
This is a time to use Premier Components web purchasing tool ELVPP. When you are searching to sell your selected core units. This tool gives you the satisfaction of having both a guaranteed sale and revenue stream.
In the heartbeat you can become our partner. You just need to contact with our ELVPP team via the purchase link on the website or by phone 01789722908 and email at support”elvpp.com you can of course visit website www.elvpp.com
During this time we want to take opportunity to update you on how we are approaching the new uncertainties associated with changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Firstly, we want to thank you, our valued customers and suppliers for being with us during these unusual times. We are truly inspired by your commitment to making a difference in these unprecedented and challenging times.
The Premier Components UK Ltd team have been working hard to come up with practical tools and techniques to make things work better for our colleagues and most importantly for our customers and suppliers who use our services.
The determination and dedication that has always characterised the Premier Components UK Ltd spirt is fully displayd in a single action that has been taken across the UK and the Europe.
We are proud to announce that we have successfully moved forward our ELVPP launch data from October 2020 to July 2020.
ELVPP is our web purchasing tool which is ready to be used by our Partner Vehicle Dismantlers from July 2020. This innovating and simple dismantling tool has a database of over 50 000 vehicles and a wide range covering a multitude of unique parts.The database covers over a milion products.
Do not wait to become our partner. You can apply by contacting our ELVPP team via the purchase link on the website or by phone 01789722908 and email at support@elvpp.com you can of course visit our website www.elvpp.com
In those difficult times, Premier Components UK Ltd. is committed to health and safety of our families, colleagues, customers and, business partners who make up Premier Component’s alive and well kicking worldwide company. It is our highest priority to maintain business continuity needed to provide support and service to all our customers around the world.
As we all experience uncertainty of COVID-19, you can rely on Premier Components for continuity of the service. We are here to support your business and enable you to meet the needs of your company.
Over the last few weeks, we have taken all necessary precautions and steps to deal with COVID-19 outbreak, as well as the measures we have taken to prevent the spread of the virus and minimize the risk to our employees, customers and society in general.
Introduction of new tools of keeping teams connected enable our service to stay up and running at all the times.
If you have enquiries or needs, please do not hesitate to use links below to contact our Purchase team or Sale team, and we will respond as soon as possible.
Email: sales@premiercore.com
Email: purchase@premiercore.com
Since 2001 ReMaTec has been well-known throughout Europe for being one of the leading remanufacturing trade shows for industry professionals. The exhibition is hosted bi-yearly at RAI Amsterdam in the Netherlands and at each event attracts an impressive array of automotive aftermarket and remanufacturing leaders from across Europe, but is ReMaTec worth a visit? Last month, some of Premier Components’ team travelled to Amsterdam to exhibit at the show and have kindly provided their honest feedback on the event.
"As always, ReMaTec was very good for us this year as a company. The attendance levels were high on all three days and there was a great positive energy circulating throughout the show. We felt that by exhibiting at ReMaTec we were provided with a great opportunity to create new business deals for the company and to reconnect with some of our current customers and build on already positive intercompany relationships.” – Alex Holland.
“Premier Components are one of the leading aftermarket core brokers, not just in the United Kingdom, but throughout Europe as well, and the bi-yearly ReMaTec exhibitions are a fantastic base for us to meet with current customers to discuss ongoing business arrangements, and to meet new prospective customers to discuss how we can provide them with a mutually beneficial solution for their aftermarket requirements. From our perspective, the show was very enjoyable and overall a great success for the business. By exhibiting at ReMaTec 2019 we also found that we were offered a fresh insight into how the European market is developing and changing as a whole, and we are now able to utilise this information to ensure that Premier Components remains at the top as a preferred supplier across the European continent. Premier’s leading presence in the European marketplace is something that we are very proud of as a company and we are always excited to be able demonstrate our expertise at ReMaTec. We are already looking forward to attending again in 2021.” – Keiron Pope.
As you can see, the feedback we have regarding the ReMaTec event has been very positive overall; this show in particular is one that the Premier Components team never misses – so if your business operations fall within the European automotive aftermarket sector, we would confident to say that it is definitely worth a visit.
For those who may not know, Autopromotec is a highly anticipated European aftermarket exhibition with a 50-year history, which is held bi-annually in beautiful Bologna, Italy. With almost 3,600 exhibitors at the 2017 event, this show hosts an array of companies within the automotive service sector, including aftermarket part dealers, remanufacturers, workshop equipment and tyre specialists to name but a few. This year, the show was expected to be even bigger, but is Autopromotec worth a visit? Last month some of Premier Components’ team travelled to Bologna to attend the show and have kindly provided their honest feedback on the event…
“From my perspective, the show was very interesting, and we were extremely busy there covering more than 30 meetings each day with the objective of meeting and securing new potential customers and suppliers in the Italian market. We have lots of follow-ups to do now which will soon show the full value that attending Autopromotec has delivered for us. From a market perspective, I believe that this exhibition has offered us valuable insight into Italy’s aftermarket part market structure, conditions, trends and developments. All of this new information can now be used to help us increase our European presence and to offer a more tailored service to Italy’s rebuilding industry and our customers there.” – Tomasz Kowalski.
“The Italian automotive market is one that Premier Components are very much active in, and from our perspective, the show was a real success and offered an insight into how the Italian market is changing, and with this where we fit in as a preferred supplier in this region. As with all trade shows, the follow up is the most crucial element and since returning from the show I have tasked my team, who are experts in the field, with following up each customer relevant to their specialist product knowledge and this is something that they have been doing a tremendous job of so far. Our presence in the European marketplace will always be extremely important to us as a company, and though we continue to take a good market share over this part of the world, I am always excited to see both current customers who have grown over the years, and new companies that we do not currently have the pleasure of dealing with as this show how far we have come as a company, and also how far we can go with all of the opportunities around us.” – Keiron Pope.
Overall, the feedback from Autopromotec has been extremely positive for us as a company – so if your business is within the automotive aftermarket sector, we believe that it’s a show that is definitely worth attending.
Environmental impact is becoming a growing concern for most people in Britain and across the globe, and we are always thinking of any small ways we can help to make a difference. One thing you may have considered is whether to switch to an electric vehicle. But how realistic is this option, and do electric cars really live up to their “green” expectations? Read on to find out about what Britons are concerned about and the truth behind their worries:
Can I afford to buy an electric car?
The truth is electric cars don’t come particularly cheap. In fact, the cheapest on the current UK market is a Renault Zoe, which can be picked up for around £22,000 when purchased using a Government Grant. You may be able to get an older model a bit cheaper but beware that previous versions will most likely feature older tech, which can mean decreased battery sizes, a shorter driving range and motors of a poorer quality. The good news here, is that as electric cars become more popular and widespread, new models will emerge and these will no doubt include vehicles that are more affordable to purchase.
Do they take a long time to charge?
The answer to this question really lies with which electric vehicle you are charging, what charging point you are using and what you consider to be a “long time”. Currently in the UK we are a bit behind when it comes to car charging speed, typically the average electric car has a 60kWh battery, which would take approximately 8 hours to charge from empty to full using a standard 7kW charging point. However, if you were to use a 50kW rapid charger, you would be able to top up 100 miles of electric driving power in around 30 minutes.
For those of you who need a faster charging speed, you may be in luck in the future, as a new generation of electric cars is rolling out across Europe which can be charged using a super-fast 350kW charging point, which could mean fully charging your electric vehicle in as little as 10 to 15 minutes! The bad news is, it may be a while before the UK catches up, as currently there is only one vehicle on the UK market which can accept even a 150kW charge (The Audi E-tron) so there are currently no charging stations here capable of charging anything even close to 350kW.
Are they really “greener” than regular cars?
Electric cars are certainly more environmentally friendly to drive than a petrol or diesel alternative, but are they really as green as they are marketed to be? The uncomfortable truth is this may not be the case! Whilst they are undoubtably better for the planet than non-electric cars, ultimately their carbon footprint is determined by the nature of the electricity generation that is feeding the battery pack. Currently only around 27.9% of electric energy produced in the UK is generated by renewable production, meaning that almost three quarters of all electricity produced here is from non-renewable sources, this means that charging your vehicle may be more environmentally damaging than you have been led to believe by marketing campaigns!
Are they actually cheaper to run?
Currently yes! Due to high costs of petrol, diesel and the higher rates of road tax for regular fuel powered vehicles, electric cars are currently much cheaper to run. However, this may not always be the case in the future! As the electric revolution unfolds, the government is inevitably going to lose billions currently raised from fuel taxation. This deficit will need replacing, and they will have to find another way to raise the funds, which in inevitably lead to having to tax electricity in the same way. So, you may find in the future that charging your electric car won’t come quite so cheaply after all!
