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Using Cat® Reman in Rebuilds
Cat® Reman products can add a lot of value to a component, engine or complete machine rebuild. They can save time and often reduce costs. Cat Rebuilds Program Consultant Erik Tautkus explains when Cat Reman components work best in a rebuild and when other options might be a better fit.
Estimated read time: 5 minutes
Equipment downtime can be a major obstacle for productivity. But customers who are less concerned with machine downtime may opt to have their local Cat® dealer rebuild their major components. Customers who need to be up and running faster may consider incorporating Cat Reman products, which are a great option that can speed up the repair.
Tautkus says this second option is “just a matter of using a Cat Reman component versus taking the old component out, tearing it down, rebuilding it and putting it back in.” The result: Your equipment is back to work sooner.
FIVE TYPES OF REPAIR OPTIONS
- Basic repair
- Basic repair plus components
- Dealer rebuild/exchange
- Cat Reman
- New Cat components
Levi Lawson, shop foreman at Mississippi-based Eutaw Construction, adds that reduced work production during a rebuild could be a more significant factor than the price of any part or component. “The longer we're down,” he says, “the less production we get and the more it costs us in the long run.”
And though the Cat Reman component repair is faster, you won’t be compromising on quality, says Jeff Aberle, a service technician at Butler Machinery in West Minot, North Dakota.
Tautkus explains that Cat Reman pumps and motors bring machines back to like new quality. “Cat Reman pumps and motors are remanufactured, calibrated and fully tested to meet new machine performance specifications. They are covered by the same-as-new Caterpillar Limited Warranty1, and they are available off the shelf.” And all of this leads to shorter rebuild times and less downtime.
CHANGING THE EQUATION ACROSS INDUSTRIES
Tautkus notes that the cost vs. time equation can change depending on the customer’s industry. In Construction Industries, for instance, contract timing plays a role. “If they have a machine that goes down during their prime season and they have no backup, they could turn it around faster when using Cat Reman components versus rebuilding.”
But in Resource Industries, he says, “It's all about turnaround time and quickness because most mining operations are 24/7. Any amount of downtime costs them significantly.”
Operations with fewer machines, he says, may want a lower cost alternative. “So we offer self-service options, like a starter or alternator, to help those customers save money and reduce the cost of a repair.”
In the Energy and Transportation segments, Tautkus says, a Cat Reman repair usually makes the most sense. “If you have a prime power unit that goes down, they're going to want something in as soon as possible. So they're going to run a complete Cat Reman component in there to get back up and going. Then, they will return the used part for their core refund, saving them both time and money.”
REBUILDING WITH CAT REMAN SUBCOMPONENTS
While a Cat Reman product can be a time-saver, incorporating Cat Reman subcomponents — such as injectors, turbochargers, water pumps, cylinder heads, cylinder packs and camshafts — in a dealer rebuild has its own advantages. The Cat dealer tears down the component and either repairs or replaces specified subcomponents.
Cat Certified Rebuild program provides dealers with a list of parts that must be replaced or reconditioned following Caterpillar's reuse and salvage guidelines. Replacement parts can be new, Cat Reman parts or used — utilizing reused and salvage guidelines.
Within those guidelines, Tautkus says, “we do have subcomponents that can help lower the cost of a component rebuild.” For example, Cat Reman components like piston packs, turbos and injectors could help lower the cost for bigger engine rebuilds.
These subcomponents help cut costs in two ways: Cat Reman components cost a fraction of a comparable new part (with an acceptable core return) and, because they offer a drop-in solution, you can save on the labor costs of rebuilding the old part.
Though Cat Reman offers complete transmissions, Tautkus adds, "We do offer Cat Reman subcomponents, like clutch plates, differentials, final drives, etc., for various machine models."
We offer a variety of Cat Reman options for engine, drivetrain, hydraulic, electronic, and, in some cases, undercarriage. If you are not sure what we have, reach out to your local dealer or check Parts.Cat.Com.
LIKE NEW PERFORMANCE MEANS CONFIDENCE
Of course, the arguments for using Cat Reman products for component, engine or complete machine rebuilds carry a lot of weight. The parts are designed to perform like new, which is why the Butler Machinery team has complete confidence in them.
For Parts Manager Dale Nordman, Cat Reman products are another tool in their toolbox for helping customers. “Customers know to ask if there's a Cat Reman product available because they know they're going to get similar quality and performance out of the part as they would a new part for less cost,” he says.
As a long-time Butler Machinery and Cat Reman customer, Eutaw Construction’s Lawson says simply, “Cat Reman will always be a part of [our] future. We're never going to get away from Cat equipment. With that being said, we're going to need parts to fix it and Cat Reman parts is the route that we will take.”
Check out the range and variety of available Cat Reman parts.
1Warranty can vary by model and application, limitations may apply. For complete details about the applicable Caterpillar Limited Warranty, contact an authorized Cat dealer.
