Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/118157
toolkit:Parts and Purpose Auto scrap yards have gone green and high tech R ecycled auto parts can save car owners a lot of money, help protect the environment, breathe new life into a vehicle and they're surprisingly reliable due to the strict protocols in place for Canadian automotive recyclers. In fact, contrary to popular belief, recycled auto parts in Canada are not only removed from a vehicle and sold, they're inspected and graded according to standards and guidelines first established by the U.S. Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA). In B.C., this means certified automotive recyclers are members of the Automotive Recyclers of Canada (ARC), which began using the States' ARA rating system in 2005. The result: every part purchased through an ARC member is inspected and tested according to ARA protocols, but also assigned an industry-wide number that identifies which vehicle, model and type it fits. Parts are also tagged with a bar code or inventory number and entered into a computerized inventory management system, with ARC members having access to a parts-locator network connecting the inventory data of hundreds of auto recyclers across the country. And, ARC parts are guaranteed to be in working condition or they will be exchanged – with some recycling outfits offering longer warranties or optional extended warranties. So how does the ARC grading system work? Auto body parts such as bumpers and doors are assessed based on the repair time needed to make the part "clean and undamaged." For example, a grade "A" part could be a front door with a small ding. A roof with moderate hail damage would likely get a "B" grade; a bent tailgate would be considered a "C" grade (a part that, "though usable, exceeds a moderate amount of damage"). By comparison, mechanical parts such as engines and transmissions are graded based on mileage per year. For instance, a four-yearold engine with 50,000 km is considered a Paul Sinkewicz p56-57_Toolkit.indd 57 grade "A" part, a seven-year-old transmission with 145,000 km gets a "B" grade and a 10-year-old engine with 250,000 km is a "C" grade part. Grades are also reflected in the cost of recycled parts. So when purchasing recycled components for a vehicle that's headed for the scrap heap in a year or two, for example, grade "C" parts may be the best solution (with average savings of 50 per cent of the original equipment manufacturer's price), while a higher-grade part is a better option for vehicles expected to be on the road for another 10 to 20 years. Either way, purchasing recycled parts can represent significant savings. Currrently, more than 80 auto recyclers are listed with Automotive Recyclers of Canada, which means all are also mandated to abide by the National Code of Practice created by ARC for Environment Canada and the federal government's Retire Your Ride program in March 2010 – including ensuring the proper handling of hazardous materials. Salvage vehicles present specific environmental challenges because they contain not only fuel and lubricants, but hazards such as antifreeze and other fluids, refrigerants, tires, batteries and even mercury from electronic sensors and switches. And it's environmental challenges such as these that require modern-day auto parts dealers to be exceptionally diligent about how they do business. Wreckers 2.0 Today's environmental challenges are definitely on the radar for modern-day auto parts dealers, who need to be proactive about improving their practices, says Neil James, president of Ralph's Recycled Auto Parts and chair of the B.C. Auto Recyclers (B-CAR). With this in mind, B-CAR members voluntarily agree to adhere to a stringent code of ethics and standard of conduct. The first automotive recycler in western Canada, Ralph's Recycled Auto Parts was founded in 1915 by James's grandfather to sell salvaged Model T parts in Vancouver. Today, like most auto recycling companies in the province, Ralph's buys its vehicles predominantly from ICBC, trade-in programs and Crown corporations. The industry's nationwide computer systems also make handling the millions of parts it harvests from hundreds of makes and models each year easier than ever, notes James. Translation: Ralph's is now a high-tech version of the old auto graveyard. With just the click of a mouse, the company can track how many people are looking for a certain type of part and how often, while offering on an even bigger scale what they've always been about: ensuring that folks "get value from inexpensive parts to maintain their vehicles." i autorecyclers.ca; ara.bc.ca; ralphsauto.com WESTWORLD >> S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 57 4/19/12 7:29:09 AM