Recently introduced legislation to encourage the use of remanufactured parts in federal vehicles is applauded by Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, which supports remanufactured parts for the cost, environmental, and performance advantages they offer.
S. 565, introduced in the U.S. Senate on February 25, and its companion legislation, H.R. 1613, introduced in the House on March 25, encourage federal agencies to use remanufactured automobile parts to maintain federally owned vehicles if doing so would reduce costs without delaying the return of vehicles to service, or reducing the quality of vehicle performance. A remanufactured part is defined as a part disassembled, inspected, and reassembled – with individual components repaired or replaced – in a factory to original specifications.
Both bipartisan pieces of legislation are titled “Federal Vehicle Repair Cost Savings Act of 2015.” S. 565 is sponsored by Senators Gary Peters (D-Michigan), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), while H.R. 1613 is sponsored by Representatives Bill Huizenga (R-Michigan) and Brad Ashford (D-Nebraska).
“We’re pleased to see our government leaders take these actions around remanufactured parts. Remanufactured components help reduce replacement costs and extend vehicle life – all while retaining the quality of original equipment parts and reducing environmental impact,” said Henry Foxx, Bendix director of remanufacturing. “In the commercial vehicle industry, increasing numbers of fleets, technicians, and drivers are turning to remanufactured parts as an alternative to new parts and to low-cost – and potentially unsafe – knockoffs. The government can reap the same benefits offered by remanufactured components.”
Bendix, the North American leader in the development and manufacture of leading-edge active safety and braking system technologies for commercial vehicles, has been a remanufacturing leader for nearly 40 years. Remanufactured components from Bendix include brake shoes, valves, air dryers, compressors, and electronics. In 2011, Bendix founded a business unit dedicated to remanufactured products. The company continues to grow its remanufacturing business and further develop its operations and offerings.
MERA, the Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association, also announced its support for the legislation. MERA is one of four market segment associations of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), a trade group that lobbies on behalf of motor vehicle parts suppliers. MERA and MEMA contributed to the development of the legislation. Andreea Raaber, Bendix vice president of business development, serves as a MERA board member.