Blast-Abrade was delighted to be featured in an issue of REMAN CONNECTION from APRA for our services to the Automotive Remanufacturing industry. Our expert rebuild and maintenance services for Goff shot blast machines and shot peening machines are helping automotive remanufacturers to stay in the game in these tight economic times. Read the article below!
BLAST ABRADE
Finding Silver Lining in Clouds Over Automotive Remanufacturing
by Niels V. Christiansen
The US automotive remanufacturing industry is reeling from ever growing challenges. Blast-Abrade of Grafton, Ohio, is joining a trend among industry suppliers by shifting some of its focus from selling to services as the industry and shot blasting transition to a future full of uncertainty.
From his vantage point in the industrial heartland in Ohio, Tyler Cotton, owner and CEO of Blast Abrade, has seen the dark clouds gathering over automotive remanufacturing.
“We just don’t have a lot of automotive reman left in our territory, and I don’t know how to put it gently, but they’ve been run out of business, man,” he said. “We see it all around us. ‘Annihilation’ is one word that comes to mind.” The ‘territory’ is the Ohio Valley, where his father, Wendell Cotton, left Wheelabrator Corporation in 1978 to set up an industrial sales agency in a spare bedroom in his Oberlin home, and later hired his son to lead the company into the next millennium.
Blast Abrade grew into a solid business selling GOFF shot blast and shot peening equipment as a master distributor for GOFF Corporation of eminole,
Oklahoma, to steel industry foundries and manufacturers in several industries. In the 1980s and 90s, automotive remanufacturers accounted for half of the business, according to Tyler Cotton.
The first sign of trouble in Blast Abrade’s territory followed the establishment of the North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, with much remanufacturing moving to Mexico.
More recently, cheap new replacement parts, flooding the markets from China, brought more pain. Most recently, the COVID disruption has caused further disruption.
And as if these changes aren’t enough, Cotton says, the most radical blow is yet to come as the world moves to electric vehicles.
Some small companies have given up in the face of the adversity, and even big players like Cardone have been affected. At the same time, companies have cut back and lost maintenance personnel, as well, another trend exacerbated during the COVID crisis.”
“It’s been hard to watch, and for us, the COVID situation has also been miserable,” he continued. “The projects dried up, automotive supply lines froze, trade-shows were cancelled and we died with attempted zoom meetings to nowhere. Nobody travelled anywhere and we waited it out. Fortunately, the government gave us PPP loans and helped us pull through.” And yet, today
Cotton sees better times ahead for his company, adding: “We are optimistic for the next phase of growth.”
Among the dark clouds, Cotton has found a silver lining for Blast Abrade. While the market for shot blast equipment has been shrinking, at least temporarily, the company has identified a new niche among the companies who continue to employ GOFF machines.
“Most of them no longer have the technicians to maintain or rebuild the machines as they wear themselves down,” Cotton explained. “Outside teams who know about this stuff are no longer available. So we decided to offer a fast turnaround rebuild service for GOFF blasting and shot peening equipment. Instead of throwing away a machine, you can send it to us in Grafton, Ohio, for a
complete rebuild and get it back in 12 to 15 days. We tear the machine down, build it back up with OEM parts and send the machine back with a one-year warranty.”
“We have found many companies receptive to the idea. It’s practically and economically feasible even over long distances, and it has become a good niche for us. We aim to expand the service to the entire US, Canadian and Mexican markets.”
To meet the growing and anticipated demand, Blast Abrade, which also buys, rebuilds and sells used GOFF machines, is looking to increase its current staff of six people in its 12,000 square foot facility in Grafton. But, as many in the reman industry already have experienced, this too can be tricky in the covid and post covid economy.
“We need industrial electricians, but we have a hard time finding people, so we have to offer six figure salaries to even attract applicants,” said Cotton. “But out of 30 applicants interviewed, only two were licensed electricians. None had experience fixing shot blast, and we realized that we have to train people coming in. So, we hired my son, Connor. We are still looking to hire more people.”
Cotton expects significant growth over the next three years as this program reaches the wider market. He is dreaming new dreams about passing his company on to new generations, as shot blasting and peening gain new footholds when the government finally gets around to rebuilding the US infrastructure.
“When Congress passes the large infrastructure bill that we have been waiting for,” Cotton added, “we’ll be rocking.” ■
Read the complete REMAN CONNECTION article on Blast-Abrade at the APRA website by following this link.
Like what you’ve read? Interested in learning more about our Rebuild/Repair/Maintenance services for Goff shot blasting & shot peening equipment as well as for other brands? Blast-Abrade can help your company extend the life and use of these vital automotive remanufacturing tools at a reasonable price. We’ve been a resource for auto remanufacturers and OEMs in multiple industries since 1978 and we’re ready to assist your business. Please reach us here and let’s have a conversation.