Schrader & Bartec - An Unbeatable Combination In TPMS Service & Repair

Schrader & Bartec - An Unbeatable Combination In TPMS Service & Repair

“Bartec is a strong partner, and together, we have an established track record of successful collaboration,” said Hugh Charvat, President of Schrader. “This alliance is a win for customers of both organizations and a great example of Schrader’s continued commitment to innovation.”

Feeling the Pressure

With nearly 15 million new vehicles equipped with Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) entering the U.S. market each year and more than 50 million TPMS-enabled vehicles already on the road, the demand for a scalable and easy-to-use TPMS repair solution is at an all-time high. The significant growth in TPMS-equipped vehicles means that, for Aftermarket retailers and repair and service centers, the question is not if they should integrate TPMS-repair, but when and how.

According to the 2009-2010 Modern Tire Dealer Automotive Service Survey, the average ticket price per TPMS job is $90.73. With an average of 26 jobs per month in a repair center, this equates to approximately $28,308 in annual revenue or an average profit margin of 45 percent. Because TPMS has been required for all U.S. vehicles since 2007, and with over 256 million sensors in operation, it is inevitable that the demand for TPMS repair will only increase. Service centers risk losing significant profit to tire dealers, mass merchants and repair shops that have and will continue to service TPMS.

Rather than risk losing a profitable revenue stream, Aftermarket business professionals are faced with the burden of looking for comprehensive, hassle-free TPMS solutions that won’t fail under pressure.

Incorporating TPMS into your business

Once the decision to integrate TPMS repair into the business has been made, successful service centers will focus on the three key elements of TPMS service: replacement parts, service tools and technician training.

REPLACEMENT PARTS: Selecting high-quality sensors, service packs and accessories for today’s vehicles ensures that quality standards are met and that customers can drive away safely with their TPMS system fully operational.

SERVICE TOOLS: A properly stocked repair bay streamlines the repair process and ensures that the required repair elements are available on-demand. An essential piece for TPMS repair, hand-held scan/programming TPMS tools are needed for reading, activating, programming and relearning sensors to the vehicle. They enable technicians to “Test Before You Touch” – checking sensors for functionality, tire pressure, and sharing evidence of TPMS state with the customer prior to beginning the repair, and thus, limiting liability (repair centers won’t inherit other’s problems). Manual torque tools are also needed for torquing valve cores and nuts to the proper specifications.

TECHNICIAN TRAINING: Training technicians on proper TPMS procedures is critical. From standard repair protocol and correct use of service packs to customer education, well-trained technicians ensure that TPMS repair is done efficiently and correctly.

By creating a standard process for TPMS repair, the practice will become part of a typical vehicle inspection – and soon as simple and standardized as an oil-change.

An Unbeatable Combination

Recognizing the need for a TPMS solution that would be both scalable and easy-to-use, Schrader, the world leader in valve and sensing technology developed a strategic alliance with Bartec, a recognized leader in TPMS dealer tools, to design and develop a best-in-class TPMS replacement sensor solution. With decades of experience in developing and implementing cutting-edge tire monitoring technologies, the partnership between Schrader and Bartec produced a hand-held answer that addresses key Aftermarket pain points: inventory management, cost reduction and a simplified repair process.

“Bartec and Schrader have driven the development of TPMS technology for nearly two decades. The partnership between our two companies is a natural fit,” said Paul Wise, Director of Product Line Marketing and Management at Schrader. “As two of the industry’s most respected names in TPMS technology, we were excited to jointly develop a truly scalable and streamlined solution that supports our partners in the Aftermarket industry.”

Colin Webb, President of Bartec, said, “We’re pleased to continue to develop premier tools in cooperation with Schrader. In order to best service our customers, and ultimately, consumers, we needed a reliable partner who could deliver best-in-class technology. Schrader is the best in the industry and we’re pleased to continue our work together.”

The Industry Solution

EZ-sensor™, the joint solution from Bartec and Schrader, is a patented programmable tire pressure monitoring sensor – a first-of-its-kind sensor for Aftermarket retailers that dramatically accelerates the

TPMS-repair process and reduces inventory requirements from 150+ SKUs to a single programmable sensor. Designed with the tire technician in mind, EZ-sensor® operates exactly like the OE-equivalent sensor it is replacing in fit, form, and function and can be programmed to function across diverse car makes and models.

What differentiates EZ-sensor® from other replacement sensor offerings is the combination of Schrader and Bartec technologies. Bartec is the industry leader in TPMS hand-held tools – a must have to diagnose, repair, program, and relearn today’s TPMS equipped vehicles. Combined with the premier programmable sensor package from Schrader, EZ-sensor® offers a solution that repair technicians can rely on.

EZ-sensor® is a programmable sensor that exactly replicates Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) sensors in all aspects, operating exactly as the OEM sensor that initially goes into the vehicle. Because it can replicate OEM sensor technology, the handheld tool used to scan, program and activate the programmable sensors accurately displays pressure, sensor ID information and much more. This is critically important as no manual intervention, keystrokes, additional equipment or additional reference tasks by the technician are needed. Additionally, many vehicles require higher pressure range capabilities that exceed what pre-programmed sensors can currently support.

“In today’s automotive industry, TPMS service and repair is unavoidable. Handheld tools, like those provided by Bartec, are essential tools for properly servicing tire pressure monitoring systems,” said Scot Holloway, general manager at Bartec. “With EZ-sensor®, our focus was on developing a superior technology that would provide comprehensive support for Aftermarket technicians that answered their requests for ease of use, programmability, and lessening the inventory burden.”