Looking at Brazil
| by Austin Gamble
Tecfil – a success story
During my recent visit to Brazil as the guest of Sindipeças and
ApexBrasil, I had the opportunity to visit Tecfil, an automotive filter factory
located in the city of Guarulhos, in São Paul. I visited on 3 April 2014, and
what an illuminating visit it was!
I
lluminating because it was is if I
production. But Tecfil does not rely purely
This centre, known as TecStop, offers free
was having a déjà vu experience,
on this enormous OEM footprint. In actual
of charge courses of up to six hours on the
having visited the G.U.D. Holdings
fact, 65% of the company’s turnover
fitment of filters on all the vehicle models in
manufacturing facilities in Durban and
comes from aftermarket sales, with the
Bra zil. Customer service is also a priority for
Pietermaritzburg in South Africa on 27
balance coming from export, private
Tecfil, with a toll free line for its customers.
April 2014.I am not an expert on filter
brands and original equipment.
As with G.U.D., Tecfil
production, but it is clear
is the market leader in
that there is an international
Brazil, and to keep this
template that is followed
market leadership it has
around the world, because
invested in a new plant, a
the similarities between
high-level industrial park,
G.U.D. and Tecfil are
solely for the production
uncanny. Maybe this is
of the air line (metal free).
not surprising, because
Logistics expertise is also
both manufacturing
a strong feature of Tecfil,
facilities manufacture to OE
as efficient distribution
specifications, and both
across the vast expanse
facilities boast world class
of Brazil requires expertise
laboratories and extensive
and efficiency.
testing equipment for both
Naturally, top quality is a
production and product
non-negotiable at Tecfil,
development. And not
and to achieve the highest
surprisingly, both companies
level of quality, Tecfil has
produce for OEMs and their
invested considerably
own aftermarket brands,
in new equipment for
plus other well-known
production, automated
international brands, whilst
lines, fault detection
also having extensive export ➲ Carlos Moreira and Silvania Chaves from Sindipeças flank José Ricardo de Almeida,
Tecfil’s export manager, as they stand proudly in front of Tecfil product
equipment, and new
programmes. For more on
production lines such
the G.U.D. article, please
as filter elements for air conditioning. Tecfil
see pages 80 and 81 of the April 2014
And the similarities continue, with both
has all the quality certifications required by
issue of aBr
companies investing heavily in aftermarket
manufacturers, and it has teams of engineers
education and technical training. Tecfil
Another uncanny comparison is that both
who are in direct contact with the product
has a highly qualified technical team that
companies have been manufacturing
development departments of the OEMs.
travels throughout Brazil taking information,
and distributing original equipment and
promotional material and technical
aftermarket automotive filters for over 60
knowledge to the aftermarket. The team
All in all, Tecfil, now one of the
years. G.U.D. began their journey in South
promotes training for Tecfil’s customers’
Africa in 1946, and Tecfil began operations
most recognised automotive
salesmen and technicians, whilst Mobile
in Brazil in 1953. And the catalyst for
brands in Brazil, is a success story,
Lab Units travel the country performing
the growth of both companies was the
and one of the most admired
tests on products, basically being an
various government incentive programmes
aftermarket companies in the
extension of the factory laboratories.
introduced to stimulate local production
Accurate diagnostics and intensive testing
country.
of motor vehicles. Of course, the Brazilian
make these mobile labs a unique facility in
automotive industry is now much bigger
the Brazilian filter market.
than its South African equivalent, with
For more information, contact
Brazil now occupying the seventh spot
José Ricardo de Almeida at
In addition, the company has a training
on the global ranking of world automotive
[email protected]
centre at its headquarters.
| words in action
32
june 2014