If PGI is going to fire up and start cranking out Frams and Champion Labs branded filters with the leaf spring design, I hope they know about the ruffled leaky leaf spring issue and get it fixed. PGI .. you read this forum?
First Brands news?
- Thread starter NewKid
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I think all the legacy FRAM USA manufacturing operations were Unionized. Champion Labs in Albion was not and part of the reason many of the FRAM SKU's were transferred to the Albion plant after First Brands acquired both companies because it was cheaper to operate due to labor costs in Albion and not having to deal with Union pushback if they were to automate more operations.
While PGI would not legally be required to recognize a Union in a prior ownership FRAM operating plant if they were to resume operations, but history has shown the Union local or International would likely do harassing methods to be recognize outright or push for immediate NLRB monitored vote, especially if PGI was to rehire many of the former FRAM workers that were prior Union members.
I do not think PGI wants to deal with that dynamic.
Read the "Premium Guard Phase 2" post regarding the latest info in General Automotive Topics.
I would think any engineer worth one's salt, can see that design is an epic failure, and should be scrubbed from being manufactured.
It's more of a manufacturing quality issue. Before First Brands took Fram sideways they were making nice smooth and flat leaf springs. Lots of older C&P threads show that evidence.
Yes, I know that, and did it not also have some form of seal/gasket there too they took away in the lower quality/reduced cost to them (not to the customer) redesign? That accordion was designed in for some reason, because it was there as part of the stamping die set design, not just a causation of an inadequate full cycle of the stamping die, IE "quality issue".
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- Feb 14, 2021
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That would be cool if they brought back the Fram orange can with PGI internals.
The leaf spring having ruffles ("accordion") was never a design aspect. Like mentioned above, the leaf springs use to be nice and smooth and flat. Then something went amiss in the manufacturing of them, and they were made with ruffles that can leave a big gap for oil to bypass the media. The OG Ultra and the Fram racing filer were the only Frams that had a gasket on the end cap, because they were the only Fram models that had metal end caps. The EG and TG had fiber end caps which was a natural leaf spring seal.
Here's the leaf spring from an OG Ultra. Smooth as glass ... no ruffles. So Fram/Champ Labs use to know how to stamp them smooth.
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I'd like to see the LEE 2 STAGE filters again. I used them back in the 1980's and they kept my engines clean.
So Centric and Raybestos are back under new ownership:
https://www.aftermarketnews.com/friction-one-acquires-raybestos/
https://www.aftermarketnews.com/mot...unces-purchase-of-centric-parts-brake-brands/
FrictionOne is a Chinese firm with a factory in Mexico. MPA has been supplying the reman brake caliper and hub bearing program for Advance and maybe AZ/O’Reilly. They do reman alternators and starters in Malaysia and Indonesia.
https://www.aftermarketnews.com/friction-one-acquires-raybestos/
https://www.aftermarketnews.com/mot...unces-purchase-of-centric-parts-brake-brands/
FrictionOne is a Chinese firm with a factory in Mexico. MPA has been supplying the reman brake caliper and hub bearing program for Advance and maybe AZ/O’Reilly. They do reman alternators and starters in Malaysia and Indonesia.
After analization they figured out they couldn't get $50 a filter?
Analization sounds painful
Considering most of those brands were offshored manufactured before the FB bankruptcy, it is just a clerical name change for ownership where the brands go vs. any real change to the product in my opinion.
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