Last year MAHLE centralized its North American headquarters in Farmington Hills, Mich., including its aftermarket division. MAHLE purchased RTI Technologies at the beginning of January 2013 and in October recruited Max Dull as general manager to lead MAHLE RTI as part of its new tool and equipment division.
Dull, who has held several senior-level sales and marketing positions within the international aftermarket, recently discussed the company’s plans for the new division:
Q: It has been a year since MAHLE purchased RTI Technologies. How has the integration gone thus far? What future plans are in the works for the new tool and equipment division?
A: The acquisition presented MAHLE with the opportunity to expand its business into the repair shop equipment sector of the automotive aftermarket. We are excited to own this business and our plan is to continue to develop and distribute automotive maintenance equipment including air conditioning service, fluid exchange and nitrogen tire inflation systems. We will be introducing several new products this year and making enhancements to our current products.
As a leading global development partner for the automotive and engine industry, MAHLE offers unique systems competence in the internal engine and engine peripherals. MAHLE RTI is excited to tap into the resources of a world-class company that is among the top 30 automotive suppliers worldwide.
MAHLE RTI is continuing to run the operations from York, Pa. and to supply shop equipment under the MAHLE RTI brand. This extends both to the aftermarket and to major OE manufacturers in the U.S.
At a news conference we held at AAPEX 2013 in Las Vegas, we announced that the division will have a new name. (Editor’s Note: The company announced Jan. 10 that MAHLE Clevite Inc. changed its name to MAHLE Aftermarket Inc. effective Jan. 1, 2014).
At AAPEX 2014 we are planning to release a new product that will certainly shake up the market. We believe this is an exciting development that will get people in the industry talking.
Q: Will you still be located in York, Pa.?
A: MAHLE RTI is a company that designs and builds all our products in York and that will continue to be our headquarters going forward. Our engineering staff is onsite there and is always available to help answer customer questions. We can also customize any products that customers need, in a timely manner. The exciting part about the combination of MAHLE and RTI is the global resources that are now available to strengthen the outstanding products that MAHLE RTI produces. Supported by the strength of MAHLE, a $13-billion global leader in the automotive industry, we have the opportunity to take our product line to a new and exciting level. MAHLE RTI has the strongest support network in the industry to provide onsite training and setup for technicians.
With the strength and added global resources of MAHLE, the RTI division will continue to lead the industry with equipment for air conditioning service, automatic transmission fluid exchange, brake system flushing, coolant exchange, differential fluid exchange, engine oil system cleaning, EVAP leak finding, exhaust ventilation, nitrogen tire filling and power steering fluid exchange.
Q: What are RTI’s strengths that MAHLE is building upon?
A: As we are putting together a new strategic plan for MAHLE RTI, there are many strengths that we can build upon, primarily our quality reputation, our strong warranty program and our reputation in the industry. We are relentlessly focused on being customer-centric. MAHLE RTI is considered the luxury brand of the equipment industry. Think Cadillac or Lexus. The quality of our products is unrivalled in the industry. And we recognize that technicians will pay for quality. They want a product that works right the first time.
For example, MAHLE RTI’s components are heavy and durable. We currently offer a much higher capacity vacuum pump versus the competition. A stronger and deeper vacuum enables the technician to tackle larger A/C systems, which allows them to do the job quicker, and in turn, make more money.
One of MAHLE RTI’s greatest strengths is the reputation that the company has earned. We have a phrase that is not just talk, but really drives what we do as a company: “Equipment for the most productive technicians in the world.” When MAHLE RTI designs its machines, we are thinking of the service dealer’s bottom line. Because of the built-in automation, our machines require less technician input so they are free to work on other jobs while our machine operates by itself.
Consumers want their vehicles repaired and serviced in the quickest time possible. With the quality built into our machines, there is less of a chance for a comeback because the job was done right the first time.
Q: What new products and product enhancements will MAHLE RTI offer?
A: We are continuing to solidify our strategic plans and look forward to announcing new releases in the first half of 2014. I can tell you that we will launch a new model R1234YF A/C machine to meet the U.S. market requirements. And as newly adopted refrigerants are released globally, MAHLE RTI will continue to be poised to meet the stringent OEM and aftermarket needs.
We are proud of our OEM relationships, and those service responsibilities help drive us to make the highest quality products that perform right the first time. We are excited to tap into MAHLE’s vast network of OE and aftermarket customers and the additional engineering resources the company has available.
Q: One of the areas that you supply equipment is to the air conditioning segment. Can you tell us what’s new in the A/C market worldwide?
As I mentioned before, the R1234YF A/C refrigerant is the new standard for the future. The machine we have brought to the U.S. was originally designed for the European market where this new standard originated. We’ve already supplied this machine to many OE customers here in the U.S. and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
ArcticPRO is the MAHLE RTI brand name in the marketplace for A/C equipment, and we are able to offer a full range of choices for technicians and service dealers. We stay on top of what’s new in the A/C market and will be providing full updates to our customers.
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