Turbocharger specialist, Melett is warning the UK automotive industry to maintain quality as soaring raw material prices are seeing the cost of components rise.

The office for national statistics said that half of UK businesses reported a rise in the cost of materials, goods or services in March and with authorities, such as the DVSA, carrying out market surveillance on braking and emissions products in the past year, Melett is urging the sector to invest and continue down the path of high quality.

Nickel is the main element of the Inconel material used in the manufacture of turbocharger turbine wheels, as it can withstand the tough operating conditions and extreme temperatures of a modern turbocharger.

As shown in the below graph, during the month of March the cost of nickel increased by 100 percent overnight – from $24k / tonne to $48k / tonne – which caused the LME (London Metal Exchange) to halt trading of this commodity.

Following this historical record high, and although at the end of April the price had fallen back to $32k / tonne, this still represents an increase of 60 percent since the start of the year, where the price in January was $20k / tonne.

The biggest supplier of nickel is Russia and with the current conflict with Ukraine, coupled with the volatility in the raw materials market, as well as rising costs of labour, energy and transportation, prices of automotive components are increasing globally.

Andrew Frodsham, Melett Group Supply Chain Director, says: “Our investment over the years means we are able to operate a lean and effective supply chain, and in recent months we have increased and

enhanced our availability and manufacturing capabilities. With a dedicated team, we are best placed to work with customers as we navigate through the volatility within the market.”

Melett’s “What’s in Your Turbo?” initiative encourages the market to question part quality even more and look beyond price and appearance. The company says it is very risky to assume that parts are identical, even if they look the same.

It is important that the correct material grade is used in the manufacture of turbocharger parts. Premature turbocharger failure is a common problem associated with the use of lower quality repair parts, which can be as a result of using lower grade raw materials.

Melett understands the importance of using the correct materials and is committed to supporting the turbocharger repair market with the highest quality parts and service.

Turbocharger specialist, Melett, has announced Mario Morbelli as its new country manager for Spain, supporting its network of Authorised Service Centres (ASCs), as they work together to offer the market a quality turbocharger repair.

Melett’s ASC network provides independent garages with a ‘confidence in repair’ and guarantee that any enquiries are handled quickly and efficiently by repairers who have the technical expertise to provide a complete solution.

Melett is committed to offering its full support to its ASCs in Spain, as its network – a team of trusted experts who firmly believe in providing the highest quality products, technical support and customer service – is continuing to grow and now consists of 10 ASCs carefully located throughout the region.

These include Turbo Premium, TurboParts, Turbos Y Equipos Diesel, Turbotècnic Automoció, Casty-Romer, Turbo ALCALÁ, TurboGas 2, Turbos PCK, Turbos ITR Zaragoza and Turbos Córdoba S.L.

Morbelli, who joined the company seven years ago, initially working closely with ASCs based in Italy before venturing into various regions across Europe, brings a wealth of experience to the role, and is now looking forward to bringing his expertise to the Spanish market.

On his new role as country manager for Spain, Morbelli said: “This is a fantastic opportunity and one that I’m really excited to be a part of, as the market in Spain is continuing to grow at a rapid pace. We recognise that Spain is one of the most important industries for Melett, and our network of turbocharger repair specialists continue to be integral to our mission to provide the market with quality turbocharger repairs.

“Looking ahead, I’m thoroughly looking forward to engaging one-to-one and working more closely with them to offer support and share knowledge where possible.”

In his new role, Morbelli will also support with the implementation of the new Melett Inside quality tag concept, which is available exclusively through the ASC network.

The scheme has been designed to help workshops easily identify high-quality turbocharger repairs carried out by the ASCs, using genuine Melett spare parts.

Darren Johnson, Melett group sales director, said: “Mario is an important and experienced member of our team, and is also responsible for Portugal and Italy, including the Italian ASC network. I believe that having consistency across the networks, as well as accountability and understanding of the Southern European region, will add considerable benefit and value for all involved.”

To find your local Melett authorised service centre please visit www.melett.es/centros

 

We enjoyed a successful Motortec Madrid 2022, bringing together our Spanish Authorised Service Centre (ASC) network and showcasing the new Melett Inside quality tag concept.

With more than 60,000 visitors in attendance, the crucial part that our ASCs plays in creating a quality turbocharger repair and communicating and engaging with independent garage customers was showcased at the event.

Support from our ASC network – a team of trusted experts who firmly believe in providing the highest quality products, technical support and customer service – was available on the Melett stand and included Turbo Premium, TurboParts, Turbos Y Equipos Diesel, Turbotècnic Automoció, Casty-Romer, Turbo ALCALÁ, TurboGas 2, Turbos PCK and Turbos ITR Zaragoza.

The event was also attended by two other members of the ASC network with their own stands: Turbos Córdoba S.L, at stand 3B23 and Manuel Gambín S.L., at stand 7A19.

A key highlight and talking point was the unveiling of our new “Melett Inside” quality tag concept, which is available exclusively through the ASC network.

The scheme has been designed to help workshops easily identify high-quality turbocharger repairs carried out by the ASCs, using genuine Melett spare parts.

Victoria MacMillan, our International Marketing Manager said: “We were very proud to showcase our ASC partners and the benefits the network brings to the region. Engagement and communication are key and from talking to visitors it is evident that our ASCs are trusted and well-respected turbocharger repair specialists in the industry.”

As the global market leader in precision engineered turbochargers and parts, Melett uses the latest machinery and technology, including casting tooling, welding machines and the latest Japanese CNC controlled equipment with onboard CMM to produce the highest quality turbocharger parts.

With a wealth of experience in component production, quality control, and a thorough understanding of the full manufacturing process – accredited to ISO9001:2015 Quality Management System – the Melett approach is based on trust, reliability and availability.

We will be presenting our highly qualified network of Authorised Service Centres (ASC) alongside our latest product innovations at Autopromotec Bologna on 25^th – 28^th May.

Melett ASCs are a network of trusted turbocharger repair experts who firmly believe in quality workmanship as well as providing the highest quality products, technical support and customer service.

We will be showcasing the ASC network  at our stand (stand B94, hall 21) where the new Melett Inside quality tag programme will also be on show. Melett Inside stands for the quality partnership between Melett and the ASCs.