Shaftec’s New EPS Lab Set to Triple Electronic Capacity
Shaftec has introduced a new laboratory dedicated to the detailed repair of electronic components at its Midlands based remanufacturing facility. In operation now, this is set to triple Shaftec’s electronic capacity. Comprising bespoke new machinery, the new lab from the Drive. Steer. Stop expert employs experienced EPS and electrical repair technicians and will provide an invaluable opportunity for apprentices looking to break into the industry.
Marketing Manager, Adrian Kitchen explains, “EPS continues to be a growth area for Shaftec – and it’s time to take things in remanufacturing to the next level. As EPS has become the norm on vehicles coming off the production line, the aftermarket demands have increased, and our customers require growing support in this area. As an experienced voice in this field, Shaftec is well placed to provide that support both in the UK and across Europe.”
“The lab has been in the planning stages for a couple of years,” continues Adrian. “In addition to the continuous EPS outlay over the past decade, the business has invested heavily in new industry standard machinery, and in bespoke testing and measurement tools which have been designed and built in-house. It’s exciting to see these plans finally become reality.”
The EPS lab is positioned in the factory’s 8000 sq ft mezzanine area and will allow Shaftec to significantly increase what it can do, and its capacity by offering a wider breadth of applications. The lab will allow for the diagnosis of EPS units at the booking in stage (core receipt), during the production process, and during end-of-line testing by simulating vehicles under load, and at different speeds. The business will also be able to ‘recover’ more units, saving them from being scrapped.
In addition, Shaftec will be able to offer a more efficient ‘Reman & Return’ service. This is where the business remanufactures the exact part returned by the customer – an essential service for older and more unusual vehicles where the part needed is not remanufactured as standard. In terms of skilled labour, Shaftec has employed experts including a software engineer with experience in communication between the Electronic Control Units (ECUs) and a trained Printed Circuit Board (PCB) repair technician to support with research & development and the in-house remanufacturing of boards.
A printed circuit board is made of insulating material that has conductive pathways etched onto it. The pathways are used to connect different electronic components such as resistors, capacitors, and transistors – all of which are mounted on the board. In the context of Electric Power Steering, PCBs are used to connect various electronic components such as sensors, control units, and gate drivers. They help in building a reliable, high-performance, and safe EPS system based on advanced power management.
The formation of the new lab will see Shaftec offer apprenticeships for those wanting to break into the automotive industry.
Mitesh Thanki, Shaftec’s CEO adds: “We all need to play our part in helping to solve this skills crisis to futureproof the aftermarket. We are working with local universities and manufacturing organisations as we aim to offer electrical engineering students and any of our current workforce looking at obtaining new skills the opportunity to learn a skill, follow their passion and earn a wage at the same time. The formation of our new lab and the recruitment of experienced EPS technicians provides the perfect environment for these students to begin their automotive careers.”