Login | Forgotten Password?

News

Semiconductor crisis forces fleets to run vans longer - 09.07.2021

As reported widely across the fleet industry, the commercial light vehicle sector is being severely impacted by the global shortage in semiconductors, which is forcing fleets to run vans longer, due to lengthening lead times of new build vehicles.NEW-Transit-Angle.jpg


According to the UK’s leading remanufacturer of engines and gearboxes for light commercial vehicles, Ivor Searle, many fleet operators are reporting failures of major units, as van utilisation continues to increase due to the pandemic.  In the past 12 months, the company has seen a significant uplift in the demand for its superior-quality remanufactured engines and manual gearboxes, as a quicker, more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to sourcing new products.
 
Highlighted in news reports, car and van manufacturers across the world are struggling to cope with the global semiconductor crisis. In a cruel twist of fate, manufacturing companies had, collectively, cut orders for semiconductors, believing that the Covid-19 pandemic would negatively impact on demand. Consequently, this led the world’s major suppliers of the essential computer chips to reduce capacity. However, the opposite proved to be true, as global demand for semiconductors actually grew by 15% last year. Equally, as there are only a few facilities where these critical components are manufactured at scale, the supply problems were exacerbated further by a fire at a semiconductor plant in Japan, as well as major power outages in Texas due to storms in 2020.
 
As a result, many new vans for the UK market are not expected to be delivered until 2022 at the earliest, putting pressure on current models. FleetCheck says the situation means more light commercial vehicles (LCVs) are entering the fifth and sixth year of their operational life with mechanical breakdowns becoming more commonplace as a result of more vans going well beyond the 100,000-mile mark.
 
Ivor Searle offers an all makes programme of petrol and diesel engines, cylinder heads, gearboxes and turbochargers for LCVs.  Costing up to 40% less than OE, all Ivor Searle engines, cylinder heads, gearboxes are covered by a 12-month unlimited mileage parts and labour warranty, while a two-year warranty covers all turbochargers.
 
David Eszenyi, Commercial Director of Ivor Searle, commented:
 
“In the past year, our business has seen record numbers of remanufactured engines and gearboxes leave our factory and this trend is continuing. LCVs are working harder than ever due to the rise in home delivery, now with the added pressure of an extended operational life, so fleets require a fast and economical solution when major units fail. Ivor Searle can deliver new products from stock next day, if ordered by 3.30pm and our no quibble warranty policy gives our customers peace of mind. Remanufactured units also provide a more sustainable solution, as less energy and materials are used in the remanufacturing process.”
 
All remanufactured Ivor Searle engines are built to exceed the BS AU257:2002 Code of Practice which sets out the difference between a quality remanufactured engine and a reconditioned unit.  A remanufactured engine is one which has been returned to the vehicle manufacturer’s specification to ensure levels of performance and reliability equivalent to the original engine.  The standard fully details how petrol and diesel engines should be inspected and checked against OEM tolerances and dictates that key components, including piston assemblies, big and small end bearings, as well as bushes, gaskets, seals, timing chains and drive belts are completely renewed.
 
Only brand-new replacement parts sourced for their reliability and durability are used in Ivor Searle’s remanufacturing process, while operations, such as crack testing and machining of other components ensure the vehicle’s original performance is achieved with added reliability.
 

Filed under: gearbox for Transit, reman van engine, Sprinter reman engine, Transit reman engine