New Range DPF's
30th November 2011
New Klarius range of DPFs provides EU aftermarket with the quality and availability to take on OE networks
Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) are predicted to be one of the highest demand-growth products in the aftermarket during the coming years; Klarius has reacted quickly to the change in the market and introduced one of the most comprehensive ranges of type approved OE quality DPFs available.
With most countries now operating more diesel vehicles on the road than petrol, DPF technology, which was introduced as early as 2000, has matured and become commonplace; it became a legal requirement on all new Euro 5 compliant vehicles in 2009. Replacements are becoming more common and so a new Klarius range has been welcomed by customers across the EU.
‘The DPF is a more advanced emission control product than many aftermarket emissions control companies are used to dealing with,’ comments Doug Bentley, who is in charge of Research and Development at Klarius, ‘We developed the new Klarius DPF range at our European Technology Centre in the UK, but we chose to have it tested and certified by TÜV in Germany. It is essential that a high value product like this is sold with a quality assurance that is universally recognised and respected.
By developing our own product range we have been quick to market and are also able to introduce new models at the rate of one per week. We already manufacture over 2 million exhausts every year using lean manufacturing principles to produce small batches economically so this gives us the flexibility to choose what we develop based directly on up-to-date demand profiles sourced from different markets around the world.
Since we manage stock profiles for some of the largest automotive parts supply groups in Europe we have a unique perspective on overall market demand and can react accordingly. Ultimately the end users; the garages that are supplied by our customers, benefit because they are able to say ‘yes’ with confidence when asked if they can supply a more unusual part such as a DPF.’
What is the technology behind a DPF and why are DPFs more expensive than other emission control products?
Diesel engines produce 100 times more soot particles than petrol engines. The Diesel Particle Filter (DPF) is a proven and economical technology which, when applied to diesel engine vehicles, immediately improves the quality of the exhaust gases by removing more than 95% of harmful (PM10) particle matter. When used in combination with a catalytic converter stage, (some are supplied as one unit and some separately – depending on vehicle manufacturer) they also reduce undesirable carbon monoxide (CO) emissions.
DPF technology is also capable of reducing the regulated diesel emissions (CO2, HC, MP and NOx) to levels lower than those recommended by the Euro 5 standard. So, DPF technology can not only reduce pollutants but it also reduces the generation of greenhouse effect gases and improves the environmental impact of the vehicle.
Why do DPFs fail and require replacement?
Unlike a catalytic converter a DPF is not a flow-through device, it works by forcing the exhaust gasses to through the porous filter wall - made from either silicon carbide or cordierite material. In order to operate correctly the DPF uses a regeneration process to reprocess the soot that has been collected.
There are two kinds of regeneration:
Passive regeneration uses a high exhaust temperature (550°C - 650°C), to initiate the burn-off process. This happens for example on motorway runs. Cars that are used only for short journeys can suffer permanently blocked DPFs because the temperature required for the cleaning process is never reached. When the DPF is completely blocked it has to be replaced.
Active regeneration uses a catalyst (such as Eolys) to trigger a burn-off process when the DPF has reached its maximum capacity. This system usually fails due to the small catalyst reservoir becoming depleted and not replenished at proper service intervals. Again, the DPF becomes blocked and has to be replaced.
Mechanical failure of the filter brick can happen due to impacts but is less common.
The new Klarius DPF range is available immediately via the company’s on-line catalogue which can be found at www.qh.com and also via a new comprehensive paper catalogue, also available free to-and-from suppliers of Klarius products.
About the KLARIUS Group
Klarius Group is the largest European manufacturer of aftermarket car parts today. The Klarius Group operates five high-volume Manufacturing Plants, a Research & Development Centre, four European Technical Centres, eight International Logistics & Distribution Hubs, and eighteen national and regional Stock Warehouses based across Europe. Klarius Group Headquarters are located in Manchester (UK).
The Klarius Group employs 1,200 personnel across Europe, and has an annual turnover of 350 million Euros.
The two current major market brands within the Klarius Group are Klarius Emission Control Products and QH Automotive parts. Both the QH and Klarius product brands represent a range of OE quality replacement automotive products. Klarius Group companies now offer over 100,000 parts, covering the majority of the European Car Parc, supplying over 80,000 parts every day, to over 5,600 delivery points in more than 136 countries.
Editor Contact: DMA Europa Ltd
Roland Renshaw
Tel: +44 (0)1299 405454
Fax: +44 (0)1299 403092
Web: www.dmaeuropa.com
Email: roland@dmaeuropa.com
Company Contact: Klarius Group Ltd.
Véronique Auger
Tel: +44 (0) 161 489 3764
Fax: +44 (0) 161 489 6617
Web: www.klarius.eu
Email: Veronique.Auger@Klarius.EU