Transmissions get vehicles back on the road

ZF Service Exchange units are not only available off the shelf, but can also cost up to 50% less than the list price for a brand new transmission.

JCB World Parts Centre has teamed up with ZF to offer next-day supply of ZF replacement transmissions for JCB wheeled loaders, dump trucks and wheeled excavators.

The Service Exchange units are not only available off the shelf, but can also cost up to 50% less than the list price for a brand new transmission.

The benefits to operators include maximum uptime, reduced operating costs and the added reassurance of OEM-guaranteed parts and repairs.

The overall goal for the JCB Service Exchange partnership is to deliver on the company's mission to reduce the cost of ownership of its machines and ensure operators enjoy maximum vehicle availability during their usage period.

When a transmission part is damaged or wears out and requires replacement, JCB dealers can now offer a Service Exchange unit off the shelf, ensuring that the vehicle is not out of action for long periods.

Large items such as transmissions and axles tend to be repaired regardless, but they are kept within the manufacturer loop and so retain the OEM's guarantee.

Many recent systems rely on complex electronic and hydraulic controls and nonapproved repairs can often cause more problems than they solve.

A JCB Service Exchange unit is guaranteed to have been re-manufactured by the original manufacturer and carries the same guarantee as a brand new unit.

It is also likely to be considerably cheaper than a brand new unit.

Because re-manufactured parts still carry a stigma in the industry, usually due to bad experiences with poor quality third-party repairs in the past, JCB is at pains to point out that the transmissions supplied from ZF and other major component suppliers are remanufactured by the companies that manufactured them in the first place.

Each part carries the reputation of the manufacturers brand - the same quality and longevity guarantee applying to an OEM remanufactured part as that of a new unit.

In the case of ZF equipment, any returned unit is stripped down completely and every component is checked, tested and replaced if necessary.

When ZF remanufactures a transmission it is subjected to the highest level of scrutiny by ZF factory trained engineers with extensive experience in the manufacturing and testing of ZF transmissions.

No component is ever re-used when there is a doubt about its integrity or fitness for service.

Many wear items, such as seals, gaskets and valve seats, are inspected for feedback purposes and then replaced regardless of their condition.

Mike Goatley - Sales Manager of ZF Great Britain's Off Highway Division said "Quality is a paramount consideration for us; each component we produce, whether it is a new part or a remanufactured one, carries our reputation with it, the Service Exchange scheme introduced by JCB is similar to other major vehicle manufacturers in that we take ultimate responsibility for the item".

"Beyond the quality issue, the benefits to the end user are massive, particularly in faster repairs and maximised uptime.

The understanding that goes into a ZF transmission used by JCB goes further than just the specific product knowledge; ZF engineers in the UK will have been involved in the design and specification of the machine, often from the outset".

"The ZF Engineer who checks the ZF transmissions on site and the teams that carry out the test and re-manufacture process will all have knowledge that goes far deeper than anyone else".

"This total understanding of the vehicle and transmission ensures that when the transmission is re-fitted and is accompanied by an installation check, the ZF engineer is fully qualified to ensure that every detail is correct and it is right first time".

ZF has complete traceability of the transmission, from the day it left the production line to the day it is reinstalled after remanufacture.

This ensures that any technical updates issued since the introduction of the transmission can be retrofitted to the remanufactured unit.

All ZF components fitted to JCB equipment including transmissions, transaxles and associated equipment are kept on-the-shelf either at the JCB World Parts Centre in Staffordshire, by JCB dealers, or at ZF Great Britain, the ZF UK headquarters in Nottingham.

The items are available as immediate replacements when worn or damaged units are sent in from operators or approved repairers.

Guy Robinson, Director and General Manager JCB Service said, "At JCB we understand the importance to our customers of maximising the productivity of our machines and that is why we carry over GBP1m worth of Service Exchange stock.

We routinely keep replacement parts for vehicles that went out of production over ten years ago, ensuring that JCB machines both old and new are supported".

"For owner-operators, hire companies, lease hire companies and large fleet operators, the cost of having a machine out of service can amount to hundreds and even thousands of pounds per day".

"Because a Service Exchange part is always available, JCB units can be restored to full working order in the minimum time possible".

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