Fram/Champion Labs Consolidation

[urchin]

I'm sick to death of this outsourcing!

It's clear that a properly managed company can make a decent profit manufacturing in the USA. This is turn helps to support the US economy!


The problem is GREED and unfair trade policies that favor China at the expense of the US.

 

[musicmanbass]

Originally Posted By: tig1
Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Originally Posted By: david_ES2
if the mobil1 filter's quality is reduced because of this, i doubt XM will keep their name on it and call it a top tier filter.
The big question is how would anyone know if the quality was reduced? Obviously WE would, but since we're a tiny fraction of the buying public, I doubt Mobil would give a darn. The rest of the sheep will just keep buying the OCOD. After all, it IS "America's #1 selling filter!"


M1 filters are Americas #1 filter? Is that what you are saying?


I think he was saying that the OCOD (Orange Can Of Death, a reference to Fram standard filters) is the #1 selling filter in America, and people/the publi in general will continue to buy them no matter if the quality goes down or not.

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: musicmanbass
Originally Posted By: tig1
Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Originally Posted By: david_ES2
if the mobil1 filter's quality is reduced because of this, i doubt XM will keep their name on it and call it a top tier filter.
The big question is how would anyone know if the quality was reduced? Obviously WE would, but since we're a tiny fraction of the buying public, I doubt Mobil would give a darn. The rest of the sheep will just keep buying the OCOD. After all, it IS "America's #1 selling filter!"


M1 filters are Americas #1 filter? Is that what you are saying?


I think he was saying that the OCOD (Orange Can Of Death, a reference to Fram standard filters) is the #1 selling filter in America, and people/the publi in general will continue to buy them no matter if the quality goes down or not.


Oh! Yes.

 

[SS1970chrysler]

Whether quality goes up or down, Fram sales will likely stay the same or climb. Unless you order filters online, your options in auto parts stores are diminishing, at least in my area. Personally, I haven't bought any Fram products in over a decade. I am, however, using up some cases of them that were given to me when a few local garage owners retired. I've recently looked around at all local auto parts stores within 10 miles of here and here's my findings.
A&A(2 locations): Fram- all 3 varieties, K&N
Advance Auto: Fram, Purolator, Motorcraft, Mopar, K&N, M1, Bosch, Generic
AutoZone: Fram, STP, Bosch, Motorcraft, M1, K&N, generic
Cee-Kay Auto(2 locations): Fram, Pronto

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: tig1
Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Originally Posted By: david_ES2
if the mobil1 filter's quality is reduced because of this, i doubt XM will keep their name on it and call it a top tier filter.
The big question is how would anyone know if the quality was reduced? Obviously WE would, but since we're a tiny fraction of the buying public, I doubt Mobil would give a darn. The rest of the sheep will just keep buying the OCOD. After all, it IS "America's #1 selling filter!"


M1 filters are Americas #1 filter? Is that what you are saying?


I doubt the M1 filter is the world's best selling oil filter....it simply costs too much.

 

[kemo]

I don't get how people are interpreting Overlord saying M1 is america's #1 selling filter.

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: kemo
I don't get how people are interpreting Overlord saying M1 is america's #1 selling filter.



That's because some us make mistakes from time to time.

 

[RF Overlord]

My reply wasn't written as clearly as it could have been...yes, I meant the OCOD is the #1 selling filter.

 

[crazyoildude]

we buy group 7 oil filters here in the shop they are made by purolator and cost around $2.00 each

 

[Junior96Stang]

Yes I was reading about that!

http://honeywell.com/News/Pages/Honeywell-to-Sell-Its-Consumer-Products-Group-Business-to-Rank-Group-Limited-for-$950-Million.aspx

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: chevrofreak
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Keep buying Purolator, at least for now. 100% made in USA for the oil filters I believe. Shoot, 100% made right here in North Carolina.


All of the pallets of Purolator filters we get come from Salt Lake City. Do they have manufacturing there also?


I didn't think so, but maybe. What is from Salt Lake City? Do the filter boxes themselves have SLC stamped on the boxes? Or is the pallet itself from SLC, perhaps just a stop on a distribution chain?

Edit: according to this website, spin-on filters are made in both Fayetteville, NC, and in SLC, UT.

http://www.purolator-facet.com/profile2.htm

 

[barfan]

Automotive Week's Greensheet confirms that Rank will consolidate manufacturing facilities between Honeywell and Champion. It was in last Friday's Greensheet. I can't post it becuase it is a protected document.

 

[Filter guy]

I received an email about this thread, so I thought I would chime in.

I haven't posted much in the last 3 years or so. I did come back for a post when Gary Allen passed away as he kept in touch after I stopped posting.

Hopefully in the archives there might still be some of my posts but a short refresher. I used to work for Champion Labs. Spent 18 years there. Was a technical committee rep on the Filter Council on behalf of Champ for a couple years. So i know a number of people in the Industry at all the manufacturers.

I've known about this for some time. And it is true it looks like some of my buddies in Champ Engineering won't be part of the new consolidation.

Starting here I wrote a bit about Champ quality because of a little misinformation earlier in this thread but I deleted it. I'd come across as someone who still works there..lol. And it probably wouldn't change someones misperception anyway as they'd be to entrenched in what they think they know. ( sounds condescending but I don't mean it that way)


So i'll stick to the topic of the consolidation. I'll just add that there is still a lot of grey area as the MBA's stick their noses into both companies trying to figure out where to consolidate and merge things. I do get some inside information but it is not for publication because quite frankly it won't matter to Joe Consumer. It only matters to those at Champ and Fram and there is going to be some very fine people out on the streets.

As I am now in the Hydraulic industry, to busy with that to post in here, and have seen this take place with a few manufacturers I could give the bean counting consoldation specialists some advice but they'll screw it up anyway.

Both Champ and Fram will survive. It will be painful for some. Some of the middle and upper management will recycle themselves with other filter manufacturers. Some of the people who do the real work will be looking locally for new jobs.

And as a parting gift...lol...Asian or European filters aren't a threat to US built ones. Try to work that out for yourselves. The only threat comes from a foreign filter manufacturer buying a US Company. But so far none of them want to tackle the US market from within for good reason. So they'll pick up scraps selling their own products for mainly their own engines.

 

[Jim Allen]

Good to see the Filter Guy handle again. Wish you came back for more than just bad news but I know well why you don't. Be well!

 

[tig1]

Filter Guy,
I have a friend that has done some work in the Champ filter plant in West Salem, Il. He worked for an outside burner tech company located in St. Louis. How is this plant going to do with all the cuts? Thanks

 

[Filter guy]

Originally Posted By: tig1
Filter Guy,
I have a friend that has done some work in the Champ filter plant in West Salem, Il. He worked for an outside burner tech company located in St. Louis. How is this plant going to do with all the cuts? Thanks


Don't think the decision has been made yet.

The drawback is that it is Champs oldest plant.

The positives are that it has been changed to accommodate shorter production runs. It also happens to be where the larger heavy duty type filters are built. ( Filters for Cat, Cummins, Detroit, etc).

 

[Filter guy]

Thanks.

Might pop in more, ya never know.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Filter guy
Originally Posted By: tig1
Filter Guy,
I have a friend that has done some work in the Champ filter plant in West Salem, Il. He worked for an outside burner tech company located in St. Louis. How is this plant going to do with all the cuts? Thanks


Don't think the decision has been made yet.

The drawback is that it is Champs oldest plant.

The positives are that it has been changed to accommodate shorter production runs. It also happens to be where the larger heavy duty type filters are built. ( Filters for Cat, Cummins, Detroit, etc).


Is this where the Mobil 1 filters are made?

I put my 2nd one on the Expedition the other day and was very impressed with the quality and thickness of the base plate.

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: Filter guy
Originally Posted By: tig1
Filter Guy,
I have a friend that has done some work in the Champ filter plant in West Salem, Il. He worked for an outside burner tech company located in St. Louis. How is this plant going to do with all the cuts? Thanks


Don't think the decision has been made yet.

The drawback is that it is Champs oldest plant.

The positives are that it has been changed to accommodate shorter production runs. It also happens to be where the larger heavy duty type filters are built. ( Filters for Cat, Cummins, Detroit, etc).


Thanks for the input. So. Illinois can use all the employers they can get.

 

[tenderloin]

"The only threat comes from a foreign filter manufacturer buying a US Company. But so far none of them want to tackle the US market from within for good reason. So they'll pick up scraps selling their own products for mainly their own engines".

What was Bosch MANN+HUMMEL taking over Purolator? Foreign filter manufacturers make engines?