Schaeffler steps up with training

“I’m glad that I’m here,” said Barnhart, at a June training event hosted by Schaeffler Auto Group at K1 Speed in Torrance, Calif. “The dual mass flywheel (DMF) and that new style clutch set up – I didn’t know why they had gone to that. Having the clear explanation, I understand now why they went that way.”

Barnhart was one of close to 100 participants in the two-day training program. Schaeffler brought in trainers from Ohio and Mexico to highlight new technology from Luk, INA, FAG and Ruville. Participants also had a chance to have a little fun, as K1 Speed is an indoor go-karting facility where attendees got the chance to play a little in between training sessions. The Southern California event was the first of two REPXPERT LIVE programs for Schaeffler, which will host a similar event in Toronto June 27-28.

John McKenna, Schaeffler Manager, Engineering & Product Development, said the double clutch that captivated Barnhart is now standard on most Ford Fiesta and Focus models since 2012. “That transmission in there could theoretically replace an automatic transmission. That’s big if it were to go that route,” said McKenna.

Fast-moving technology is the very reason the company started events like this, and is planning to do more in the future. “Cars will be rolling into their shops and they’re going to say, ‘I’ve never seen one of these.’ They have to learn about it,” he said.

McKenna enjoyed the program because it connected the company with “natural learners” eager to gather information to improve themselves and their shops. “This is the guy who’s going to pull the product through the pipeline,” he said. “This is the guy we want to talk to. It’s hard to push it from above. Sometimes it’s easier to reach these guys and have them ask for it.”

Shop owner Nelson Vargues from Boulevard Auto Repair in Van Nuys, Calif., agrees with McKenna that staying educated is essential for any shop looking to succeed today. He attends training programs like Schaeffler’s REPXPERT LIVE whenever he gets the opportunity, but he has been disappointed in the lack of events in close proximity to his shop.

“This is the biggest car area in the nation,” said Vargues. “There are so many places to do automotive training, and we never have them in California anymore, and I don’t see why. We’re the biggest car culture in the nation.”

To learn more about Schaeffler’s training, visit http://repxpertlive2015.com.