Salvage Wire

Salvage Wire
Helping Automotive recyclers become leaders in their industry

Monday 23 April 2018

Safe Handling of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles training course - 1 May 2018 in Redcar

Introducing the Salvage Wire, Safe Handling of Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Training course - this one-day training will be held in Redcar on Tuesday 1 May

This WAMITAB accredited training is specifically designed for the vehicle recycling industry, it is a mix of classroom and practical training, teaches the delegates about the vehicles, how they work, the risks and how to manage the level of risk, and highlights best practice for these vehicles - from first notification of collection to final dismantling.
In short, it gives all recyclers the knowledge and confidence to handle these vehicles.

Cost of £125 per delegate - for more detail or to book the course please contact Salvage Wire at www.salvagewire.com

Salvage Wire - Helping Automotive Recyclers Become Leaders in their Industry

Free Dismantling Information for Vehicle Recyclers

Covering 70 vehicle manufacturers with region specific data for 40 countries and translated into 31 languages the International Dismantling Information System (IDIS) is an advanced and comprehensive information system for pre treatment and dismantling information for end of life vehicles.


The system contains safe handling information on High Voltage batteries, LPG vehicles and airbag technologies as well as oils, fuels, air conditioning and much more for legitimate vehicle recyclers across the world.

IDIS provides a user friendly navigation to an extensive database with practical information on pre-treatment, safety related issues like airbag deployment and handling of HV batteries, on potentially recyclable parts and other safety related elements mentioned in the EU ELV directive (e.g. lead in batteries or mercury and lead in electronic devices). The objective is to provide dismantling information for treatment operators and promote the environmentally sound treatment of ELV’s, safely and economically. 


Access to IDIS is free of charge for all vehicle recyclers, and once registered recyclers gain access to dismantling information and safety information for vehicles from 1974 right through to the latest models, systems and technologies available.


To access IDIS check out www.idis2.com and become one of the over 6,000 users of the system that is helping vehicle recyclers across the world to safely dismantle vehicles and promote environmentally effective practices.

Salvage Wire - Helping Automotive Recyclers Become Leaders in Their Industry

Tuesday 17 April 2018

The Benefits of Recycled Parts

All vehicles have to be repaired from time to time, using recycled parts for these repairs makes economic sense with the added benefit of saving the planet.
Repair costs can range from a few hundred to thousands of pounds and a little research can go a long way towards saving a lot of money because recycled parts cost significantly less than brand new parts.

When cars reach their end of life many parts are still in great working condition, this is even true with cars involved in collisions. After a traffic accident the vehicle may not be economical to repair and this means that all the unaffected, perfectly working parts can be re-used on another vehicle.

The cost factor is by far the number one reason to buy recycled parts. The difference in price between new and used parts can be amazing.

As an example, the brand new price for many headlamps is now into four figures, whilst purchasing a recycled part could be as little as 35 to 40% of the brand new price. There are many factors that drive the cost of used parts, including availability, condition, and scarcity. In general, you can easily save over 50% for the average car when you buy recycled.

Consumers can find their own parts if they want to save even more money. A visit to the local vehicle recycling yard if they are mechanically inclined, can increase their savings by removing needed parts themselves.
Vehicle recycling has operated alongside vehicle manufacturing for over a century, and vehicle technicians have always had access to, and utilised recycled parts.
Today, of course, the internet provides a vast resource for finding the exact parts required, and the internet can search the whole world to locate parts that may not be available locally.

Recycled parts are Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) units, the same brand that was original to the manufacture of the car, meaning correct fit and operation.
After-market parts are also available. For vehicles, after-market simply means that the part comes from a different brand than the one the original manufacturer used.

95% of the materials in current automobiles are recyclable in some way or another, and using recycled parts in any vehicle reduces the amount of oil and other resources that would otherwise be needed to produce new parts, supports local businesses, keeps vehicles on the road, saves the planet and reduces ownership costs.


To find out more about recycled parts, how to save money and improve the environment have a look at the Vehicle Recyclers Association pages https://www.vrauk.org where you can also find member details and start searching for your recycled parts.

Wednesday 11 April 2018

UK Vehicle recyclers could be selling potentially dangerous vehicle parts

UK Vehicle recyclers could unknowingly be selling potentially dangerous vehicle parts that should have been repaired or replaced by the vehicle manufacturer under a vehicle recall programme

Over the last few years there have been more vehicles recalled globally than in the entire history of the motor vehicle.
In the UK, vehicle recalls are for safety related issues, owners are contacted by the vehicle manufacturer to tell them why the vehicle is being recalled, what they need to do and who they should contact about the recall; the vast majority of recalls have been completed satisfactorily, but there are some vehicles that have not been captured by the recall notice and are therefore un-repaired and potentially unsafe.

In a few cases these vehicles may have arrived at an auto recycler’s premises and may well be stripped for parts, and any parts that are subject to a recall should be removed from use and destroyed - in some cases there may be a case for the vehicle manufacturers to pay the vehicle recyclers for the recalled parts they remove from these vehicles.

All automotive recyclers need to be clear and unequivocal about this situation - IF there is any possibility that the part they are selling could be subject to a recall notice then there are two options.
  • Make certain the vehicle in question has been checked under the recall notice and confirm that the part being sold is of merchantable standard
  • If the part is still subject to a recall then DO NOT sell the part, but return it to the local franchised dealer along with details of the vehicle it came from.
Vehicle manufacturers need to make all vehicle recall data, including relevant part numbers available to the vehicle recycling community, in a format that can be easily used by yard management systems; vehicle recyclers will then be made aware of the recall information and can physically check each part against the manufacturers data, confirm if the part is saleable, and if not, can remove the part and return it to the vehicle manufacturers via the local franchised dealer. 

There can be no other alternative to this, the consequences of selling a defective part could be enormous for any business, especially if the defect results in a fatal accident.

Vehicle manufacturers also need to recognise that professional automotive recyclers are an important part of this process, and reflect that by refunding them for the time and effort they have taken to check and remove the part subject to a recall, and to cover for their loss of revenue because they are unable to sell that part onwards.
Current situation
After speaking to providers of Yard Management Systems and automotive recyclers there are very few checks in place to determine if any parts sold are subject top a recall notice.
One recycler did advise that if they receive notification of a recall from a vehicle manufacturer for any vehicle they have in their possession the relevant parts are removed from sale.
Yard Management System providers have no process built in to check for recalls on any vehicle or part.

So how should the ideal process work in a vehicle recycling yard?

Upon Receipt of the vehicle
  • Vehicle details entered into yard management system:
  • The YMS links directly with the recalls database, cross references the vehicle registration and VIN number  and advises on any active recalls and the parts involved, including the appropriate part numbers.
  • In reality, yard staff will have to manually check recall databases
  • The yard can then place an embargo on any recalled parts, and either scrap them, or remove that part(s) and check them to confirm if the part is safe or not.
  • If the part is safe, then it can be sold as an approved green recycled part
  • If the part is found to be unsafe, then it should either be scrapped, or removed, quarantined,  and transferred to the local franchised dealer. The vehicle manufacturer should then be informed so they can update their own records.
  • The vehicle recycler should receive a refund from the vehicle manufacturer for all recalled parts returned to the franchised dealer.
Every time the vehicle moves into another area (for example, moved from storage to dismantling, or storage to auction) another recall database check would be completed to cover for any changes in recall data - including new recalls (this would be automatic or manual as dictated by the system in place).

As every part is sold a further recall check is completed to make certain that no parts being sold are under a recall notice. (this would be automatic or manual as dictated by the system in place).
Examples of potential recalled parts found for sale
The Driver & Vehicles Standards Agency (DVSA) operate a full database of all vehicle recalls, data includes the vehicle manufacturer, model, build year, VIN’s and description of the issue. Through this two safety related parts were highlighted and potential examples of these parts were found to be on sale at high profile recyclers or recycled parts sales platforms.

Example 1 
Passenger airbag for a 2002-2004 Honda Jazz.
DVSA data shows an active recall for Passenger airbags on Honda Accord, Accord Tourer, CR-V, Civic, Jazz and Stream covering vehicles built between Jan 2003 and Dec 2003. This airbag COULD be one of these defective units!























Example 2
Steering rack for a 2014-2018 Mercedes C-Class 
Build dates and build code that correspond to a recall from Mercedes for a defect on the steering rack motor - the motor can be clearly seen in the image - Again, this part COULD be subject to a recall notice.






















Tuesday 10 April 2018

Safe Handling of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

When I first started driving I had to constantly maintain my car, checking oil levels, tyre pressures, water levels, tuning and more. A week never went past without me having to open the bonnet and get my hands dirty. Nowadays, all the systems are monitored electronically, and I get a warning on the dashboard when I need to top something up or have the car serviced; the bonnet of my car is opened occasionally, if at all, between services!
Future vehicle design may even dispense with the vehicle bonnet as full electric vehicles do not need such a large area to fit a power unit in so getting ‘under the hood’ may well become a think of the past.

This was brought home in very graphic detail as I walked past a Tesla showroom last week, a display there had a cut away floor plan of the Tesla Model S showing both the electric motors and the large floor area where the 600kg battery would sit.


The two compact electric motors can power the model S from 0-60mph in less than 3 seconds and to a top speed in excess of 150mph. 

Rapid changes in vehicle design and technology are impacting vehicle technicians and vehicle recyclers, and many do not understand the severe dangers that these vehicles pose, especially after they have been involved in an accident or incident.
Every member of staff in a vehicle recycler needs to be aware of the potential dangers and how they can minimise the risks these vehicles pose; the best way to learn about these risks is to attend the Salvage Wire, WAMITAB accredited, Safe Handling of Electric and Hybrid Training. This training can take place at your premises, or you can join Salvage Wire at one of their regular training days around the UK - the next one is Thursday 19 April in Southampton and there are a very small number of spaces still available.

To find out when Salvage Wire will be in your area, or book one of our trainers for a full day training at your business then contact Salvage Wire via our website www.salvagewire.com


Salvage Wire - Helping automotive recyclers become leaders in their industry