Replacement parts

Remanufacturing: turning old into new

Partnership between OMNIplus and propeller shaft specialist Welte Cardan-Service GmbH

Daimler Buses supports bus and coach operators in achieving their objective of more sustainability without losing sight of profitability – and this also applies to the after-sales sector. Genuine Remanufactured Parts are an ecological and economical alternative to buying new parts and offer many advantages for bus and coach companies.

Cost-effective and environmentally friendly
OMNIplus offers a solution for buses and touring coaches that have been in operation for a long time and therefore demonstrate an increased need for spare parts: the remanufacturing of Mercedes-Benz and Setra bus and touring coach components at a quality matching that of new parts. "Remanufacturing" (or “reman” for short) meets high quality standards and offers impressive performance in terms of cost-effectiveness and sustainability.

Genuine Remanufactured Parts available from OMNIplus primarily include drivetrain components such as engines, transmissions and propeller shafts. In addition, the range also features parts affected by high degrees of wear, such as air compressors or alternators. OMNIplus carefully evaluates which components are suitable for reuse during the remanufacturing process. All relevant parts are disassembled, cleaned, reconditioned, assembled and put through a function test. Particularly wear-prone components and accessories are always replaced with Genuine New Parts.

Remanufacturing saves raw materials and energy. In addition to ecological aspects, such as sustainability, the preservation of resources and environmental protection, the process also reduces costs for operators compared to purchasing new parts.

Thorough inspection of the prop shafts to enable top quality remanufacturing.
Remanufacturing begins with the disassembly of the prop shaft for subsequent remanufacturing in the desired new part quality.
Sandblasting individual parts cleans them of dirt and oil residue.
In a final step, the propeller shaft is installed as a Genuine Remanufactured Part, shipped to the Spare Parts Logistics Centre and, from there, to workshops for installation.

Close reman cooperation with Welte
Propeller shaft, often referred to as "prop shaft", remanufacturing plays an important role in the remanufacturing process. And this is precisely where Daimler Buses has relied on the tried-and-tested cooperation with a specialist in this field for many years: used propeller shafts are given a new lease of life at Welte Cardan-Service GmbH, based in the immediate vicinity of the Daimler Buses headquarters in Neu-Ulm. This proximity significantly reduces long haulage distances, time and costs.

Used prop shafts scheduled for replacement are sent to the Daimler Buses Spare Parts Logistics Centre in Neu-Ulm from service centres throughout Germany and Europe. The centre accepts delivery of used prop shafts, checks and assesses their quality and then sends them to Welte for remanufacturing. Welte returns remanufactured prop shafts to the Spare Parts Logistics Centre in Neu-Ulm, where they are stored and sent to the respective service centres from which the remanufactured shaft was ordered or commissioned.

 

"Working with a specialised propeller shaft remanufacturing company like Welte Cardan-Service GmbH offers many advantages that contribute to improving the efficiency, reliability and economy of our vehicles. That’s why we would always choose Welte again."

Julia Stolz, Senior Manager Product Management and Service Strategy at Daimler Buses

 

 

Overview of the reman process.

Around 70% less steel
Depending on the type of prop shaft, remanufacturing can save an average of around 70 percent of steel compared to new production. As a result, significant cost savings can be achieved in most cases. Welte ensures the identification and accurate pinpointing of possible damage patterns by thoroughly inspecting and removing dirt, oil residue and other contaminants prior to remanufacturing. Damaged or excessively worn components are replaced with new parts. Welte only uses components of genuine part quality. In an effort to protect against corrosion, prop shafts are then given a new paint finish before they are balanced, tested, labelled, packaged and shipped to the Spare Parts Logistics Centre in Neu-Ulm, ready for installation.

"The propeller shaft is one of many wear parts where, from a technical point of view, many components can be reused. By replacing a few, specific components, we achieve a virtually new part condition in this context," Ulf Kück explains as the Managing Director at Welte Cardan-Service GmbH. Just like new parts, remanufactured propeller shafts have a service life of around 500,000 kilometres.

 

“There have been no complaints about remanufactured propeller shafts since the start of the cooperation.”

Ulf Kück, Managing Director at Welte Cardan-Service GmbH

 

Welte Group
The history of today’s Welte Group dates back to 1921. Back then, brothers Alex and Augustin Welte established themselves as farriers and coach builders based in Ulm's Deutschhausgasse. Since then, the family-run group of companies has specialised in drivetrain technology and has continuously evolved in this segment. With 16 sites in 7 countries, Welte Group is one of today's leading providers in prop shafts as well as fluid and pipe bending technology in Germany and Europe. Daimler Buses has drawn on the expertise of the propeller shaft specialist for over 30 years – in prototype development and, since 2019, in close partnership in the remanufacturing of propeller shafts that meet high demands in terms of individuality, quality and delivery capability as Genuine Remanufactured Parts. Remanufacturing is carried out by Welte Cardan-Service GmbH in Neu-Ulm.

Daimler Buses GmbH OMNIplus