Fram Buys Champion Labs

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I don't think this is really news, but anyway, Champion Labs doesn't impress me. I honestly hope that Fram makes their products better. Their consumer products might be fine but there are a few of their lube shop lines that I don't like one bit. I'd take an OCOD over some of Champs other products any day.

Here's a Champ filter cut open. My Fox Lake location is now open and I assure you I stocked it fully with Security Global. We simply had too many issues with the Champ filters.
 
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Thanks for the post. This is the first I have heard of it.

My money is that either the oil filters will be manufactured to XOM and K&N's specifications or both companies will find another manufacturer. But Fram buying up the competition is not good IMO.
 
The only thing wrong with Fram is that the extra guard is a bit expensive compared to Purolator/Motorcraft and that abomination of a coating they have on them. Tough Guards and Ultras are very good filters save for the "sure grip" garbage...

They do have a new lube shop line that is intriguing.

http://framproseries.com

And isn't it more that RANK Group bought both Fram/Honeywell and Champion labs and combined them into Fram Filtration?
 
I found the high-end Fram ultra to be quite good. They should be able to source any sorts of materials as necessary, and build to spec. I don't know that this really concerns me at all given that we still have a lot of vendors out there. Besides Purolator and wix, there are also product lines that seem to be unique from other vendors such as Amsoil (built under contract), and of course Baldwin and Donaldson for certain applications too.
 
Originally Posted By: JohnnyO
Sorry if this has been posted elsewhere but if it was I didn't see it.

http://www.champlabs.com/

Sooooo....will Frams get better or will M1 and K&N's become cheaped out?
My money is on the good filters getting cheaped out.


It happened about 2 years ago, actually. So far looks like the businesses will be kinda separate. Parent company "Fram Filtration" with Fram holding steady with their lineup that ranges from bargain-basement (Orange can) to excellent (Fram Ultra), and Champion Labs continuing to build-to-spec for many, many brands such as Mobil 1, Royal Purple, Amsoil, K&N, etc. etc.

The nice thing about buying one of the re-brands (M1, RP, etc) is that if the supplier doesn't actually meet spec, they can always get a new supplier that will. Those companies have little incentive to downgrade the product, since they're already targeting a demographic willing to pay more than a bottom-end ProLine or Orange Can buyer will.
 
Originally Posted By: bmod305
Honeywell owned Fram until 2011. They were sold to the Rank Group from New Zealand. They already owned Champ Labs....

http://www.rankgroup.co.nz/

Dave

Correct. And now Rank Grp. has wrapped Champ under the larger and more recognizable Fram banner. Fram did not buy Champ.

Also Fram no longer makes K&N oil filters, they have a new manufacturer. M1 still made by Champ, but now under the Fram banner. To this point, Champ filter construction still recognizable as different from Fram.
 
Originally Posted By: Voltmaster
Is there any other company other than FRAM now?



Several, including Purolator and Wix.
 
Except the K&N oil filters are now Korean made and they have mid 80s efficiency instead of the mid 90s efficiency of the made in USA filters. They did not lower the price either when they lowered the quality so they lost me as a customer.
 
Parts Plus changed over to Premium Guard (International Distributors) from Champ years back.Shortly after the E-Core changeover.
 
It's simple the filters for M1 & k&n are made to spec. If they don't make them to spec those respective companies I am sure will look elsewhere to have their filters made.

Jeff
 
That does explain some of the changes lately in the parts store's house brand filters.

O'Reilly's move to Wix was probably influenced by this purchase.
 
As noted by others above, FRAM did not buy Champ Labs.

Short version:
Fram did not buy Champ. Rank bought them both separately and then combined them into a new company called Fram Filtration.


Long version:
This all starts with a New Zealand organization called The Rank Group:
http://www.rankgroup.co.nz/

Rank formed an agreement to buy UCI International (the parent of Champ Labs) in 2010:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20101129005683/en/Rank-Group-Acquires-UCI-International

Rank buys Fram and some other stuff from Honeywell in 2011:
http://www.aftermarketnews.com/Item/8374...50_million.aspx

Rank then combines these automotive holdings into UCI-Fram Group:
http://www.ucinc.com/

Rank combined both Champ Labs and Fram into a new filter company that is part of the UCI-Fram Goup. The name of this new company is Fram Filtration, presumably because Fram is a more recognizable name:
http://fram-filtration.com/
 
Thanks for all the info. I had seen this on another board but I figured it was best to check in here and get the real scoop.
 
Originally Posted By: SilverC6
That does explain some of the changes lately in the parts store's house brand filters...

Really the only auto parts store house brand that changed as a result of the Rank's purchase of Fram was O'Reilly's MicroGard. After the acquiring Fram, the MicoGard went from Fram sourced to briefly Champ sourced. It made the MG similar to Firestone Tire Lube filters. Also similar to Wally Tire Lube Express filters after they too went from Fram sourced to Champ.
 
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