Schaeffler bets on repair kits

By Décio Costa | 4/25/23 | Translated by Jorge Meditsch

Motivated by the estimated 100 million vehicles in use in South America, Schaeffler is strengthening the offer of repair kits to the replacement market. The sets are the company’s highlight at Automec 2023, which happens until April 29 at the São Paulo Expo center.

Each company’s brand is shown on the distributor’s shelves with a specific kit. LuK’s Repset includes components for clutch systems maintenance. Under the brand INA, the kits carry parts for distribution belt change service. The FAG brand offers a wheel bearing set.

According to Thiago Martins, Schaeffler’s product and automotive aftermarket R&D manager, the kits are a consolidated strategy with a 60% to 70% sales share in the replacement market. “Kits enable repairing in a single time. They avoid remaking. Frequently, changing a single part of a system leads to the change of another part in a short time.”

Besides the product, the company uses the business fair to provide technical capacitation to end customers. Part of the manufacturer’s stand is used as a classroom with training provided by Schaeffler’s specialists. The company has at least 30 training sessions scheduled during Automec.

Last year, Schaeffler registered a 16 billion euro revenue worldwide, 18% of it from the repair business. To supply South America’s aftermarket and OEM (original equipment manufacturing), the company has two plants in Sorocaba, SP. Schaeffler does not reveal the regional revenue but says that the aftermarket share is much larger than in the global market.