NTN-SNR has become the latest company to join the campaign to promote the benefits of workshops fitting original equipment automotive parts. The manufacturer of automotive vehicle bearings becomes the fourteenth organisation to become a member of the Original Equipment Suppliers Aftermarket Association (OESAA).

OESAA,  whose slogan is ‘Our Quality. Your Reputation’, was formed to promote the benefits of fitting OE quality components and to ensure that workshops and distributors can make an informed choice when purchasing spare parts.

Keith Skinner, NTN-SNR Sales Manager, Automotive Aftermarket Division, UK and Ireland, said, “We have seen that the automotive aftermarket has become very price driven which has resulted in more low quality parts being promoted with tenuous OE quality claims. NTN -SNR is a major supplier of bearings for original fitment to vehicle manufacturers worldwide, and we offer the same product to our aftermarket customers in Ireland, all produced using the same materials, processes and quality standards.” He added, “By joining OESAA we are able to highlight the benefits of using an OE part compared to that of a lower quality item. We believe in healthy competition and everyone has the right to choose, but we think it has to an informed choice and that is the kind of message we wish to portray.”

OESAA Chairman Nigel Morgan, Managing Director of Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket, owners of the LuK clutch, INA tensioner & FAG wheel bearing OE brands, commented, “We are delighted that NTN-SNR has become the latest manufacturer to join OESAA. Its decision to become a member will only strengthen our campaign for workshops to recognise the risk of fitting inferior or sub-standard non-tested parts.”

With more than a century of experience, NTN-SNR has concentrated on the design, development and manufacture of bearings. The company has a strong presence in the OE market and the aftermarket with its VM customer base including Audi, Peugeot, Lotus, Land Rover, Jaguar, Toyota, Mini, Mercedes, Nissan, Honda, Renault, Citroen, Ford, Fiat, Kia, Opel, Porsche, Seat, Smart, Skoda, VW and Alfa Romeo.

NTN-SNR says that cars can be fitted with between 40 and 90 bearings, depending on the type of vehicle, and that it offers products for applications that include; wheels, gearboxes; suspension, drive shafts, clutches, steering columns, engines and accessories.

OESAA will be on hand at two major forthcoming trade events to promote its OE message, the Commercial Vehicle Show at Birmingham’s NEC from April 29th to May 1st and MechanEx at Event City, Manchester, on May 20th and 21st.