The PRocess
How Do Professional Automotive Recyclers Process End-Of-Life Vehicles?
The reuse of ROE – Recycled Original Equipment® Auto Parts has a long and safe 77 year history of success in the repair of all types of vehicles.
End-of-Life Vehicle
Vehicle is totaled by insurance. It is then usually purchased at auction or from a private seller by an automotive recycler. Professional auto recyclers are licensed and highly regulated by many agencies. Some are even Certified Auto Recyclers.
Vehicle is Inspected
Vehicle is tested and inventoried by a dismantler for all sell-able parts. Based on business model, some auto recyclers leave sell-able parts on the car until their sale, and others remove some or all parts and store them on racks. Either solution is acceptable.
Fluids are Safely Drained
Vehicle is sent for de-pollution, where all fluids harmful to the environment are properly drained. These fluids are often reused by the auto recycler to power their facility or sent to a certified fluid recovery specialist for safe disposal.
Vehicle is Dismantled
Vehicle is then dismantled based on its inventorying. Automotive dismantlers are highly paid positions in an automotive recycling facility due to their highest levels of expertise removing vehicle parts carefully and safely so as not to diminish the part’s value or damage them.
Usable Parts are Inventoried
Vehicle parts are then tagged and scanned into Inventory Management System software used by professional automotive recyclers. At any given time, a particular part can be located for quick sale and delivery to the repairer.
Parts are Listed for Sale
Vehicle replacement auto parts are requested as part of an insurance estimate or directly from collision and mechanical repairers, or private buyers, to repair a similar make, model and/or year. Interchange allows parts to be used on multiple makes, models and years.
Sold Parts are Delivered or Shipped
Vehicle parts that are secured by a buyer from the facility’s sales team are processed by parts pullers and shipping, who pull, quality inspect, and prepare the part for fast delivery. Many auto recyclers sell warranties for increased customer assurance of quality.
Hull of Vehicle is sent to Scrap Recycler
Vehicles that are fully inventoried are further stripped of miscellaneous “fluff” materials and the vehicle is crushed and sold for the vehicle’s weight as scrap metal. Up to 95% of a car can be recycled and the sold scrap metal is used to make new products.