Fram+Champion Labs = ?

[blknblu]

Fram+Champion Labs = ?

I don't know if this has been discussed before, but Fram and Champion Labs are under the same umbrella now.

Has anybody noticed a difference in the Fram or Champ Labs filters since it seems they are finally starting to mesh together?

This all happened a couple of years ago.

I was curious at that time to see what was going to happen with both lines. I usually buy WIX or Purolator filters, but like to know what is happening with the other filter companies.

I recently happened upon an article from July 2012 that is an interview with Bob Larson, president of FRAM filtration where he explains the new company's strategy. An excerpt "We also have developed and we are now executing a market growth strategy that leverages the combined product offering and brand strength of both companies. In the midst of all of this, we have competed a major consolidation of our North American manufacturing footprint. So, a lot has changed but the best parts of both companies remain."

The new company is Fram Filtration. The parent company is now called UCIFram Group who also owns Autolite and Prestone among others. The UCIFram group in turn is owned by the New Zealnd company Rank Group.

http://fram-filtration.com/

The old Champion Labs website:
http://www.champlabs.com/

UCI-Fram Group
http://www.ucinc.com/

Here is the article I found:
http://www.aftermarketnews.com/Item/1031...filtration.aspx

 

[spasm3]

Your first post is SPAM

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
Your first post is SPAM


I don't see any spam above???

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: blknblu
Fram+Champion Labs = ?

I don't know if this has been discussed before, but Fram and Champion Labs are under the same umbrella now.

Has anybody noticed a difference in the Fram or Champ Labs filters since it seems they are finally starting to mesh together?

This all happened a couple of years ago.

I was curious at that time to see what was going to happen with both lines. I usually buy WIX or Purolator filters, but like to know what is happening with the other filter companies.

I recently happened upon an article from July 2012 that is an interview with Bob Larson, president of FRAM filtration where he explains the new company's strategy. An excerpt "We also have developed and we are now executing a market growth strategy that leverages the combined product offering and brand strength of both companies. In the midst of all of this, we have competed a major consolidation of our North American manufacturing footprint. So, a lot has changed but the best parts of both companies remain."

The new company is Fram Filtration. The parent company is now called UCIFram Group who also owns Autolite and Prestone among others. The UCIFram group in turn is owned by the New Zealnd company Rank Group.

http://fram-filtration.com/

The old Champion Labs website:
http://www.champlabs.com/

UCI-Fram Group
http://www.ucinc.com/

Here is the article I found:
http://www.aftermarketnews.com/Item/1031...filtration.aspx


I would think the only filters to be impacted by a Fram/Champion Lab's merger( I know it has happened )would be Champions' own in house line. The filters they make for others like RP, K&N, M1, the OEM ones, etc... are made to the customer's spec's so it "shouldn't" matter who makes them. I would assume if the new FRAMPION LABS starts cutting corners on customer spec filters they will be out of business pretty soon as those customers will go elsewhere.

 

[bullwinkle]

If the new Wal-Mart TLE and O'Reilly Microguard filters are any indication-they're leading the race to the bottom!

 

[blknblu]

definitely not spam. I have been reading the posts for a while and was just curious about the merger, since it has been a few years now. I wonder where the filters are made now, and whose plants they closed down. I always thought the Champion filters were a little better than Fram.

 

[Stelth]

Originally Posted By: blknblu
(snip) I always thought the Champion filters were a little better than Fram.


Same here, until the Ecore design came out. The Champ line, STP, AC-Delco, and many private labels made by Champion use the Ecore. Now I would prefer Fram over many of these lines, because I don't trust the Ecore.

OTOH, some of the premium filters that Champion makes, such as the Mobil 1 and Royal Purple, are held in very high regard here, and are apparently excellent products.

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: Stelth
Originally Posted By: blknblu
(snip) I always thought the Champion filters were a little better than Fram.


Same here, until the Ecore design came out. The Champ line, STP, AC-Delco, and many private labels made by Champion use the Ecore. Now I would prefer Fram over many of these lines, because I don't trust the Ecore.

OTOH, some of the premium filters that Champion makes, such as the Mobil 1 and Royal Purple, are held in very high regard here, and are apparently excellent products.



Champion builds to spec, so if the end brand wants a low-cost/mimimal performing filter they'll build it (eg. the E-core types mentioned above). But they'll also build very high-end filters like the RP and M1, among others. Looking at an RP next to an STP, you really wouldn't think they'd be built by the same company. Of course, I could say the same for a Fram ExtrGuard (orange can) and a Fram Ultra. They seem to have no genetics in common.

 

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: blknblu
I always thought the Champion filters were a little better than Fram.


I've got a few pre-Ecore SuperTech filters in my basement. Although some of them were built in Mexico, these were good entry-level filters with plenty of media. I can remember them selling for $1.49, and as the price went up, still a good value for $2. Then I guess the accountants had to have their say and the E-Core was invented. The design looked good on paper, but they obviously didn't figure in the center cage with large enough openings for the media to blow through. The old design did it's job and you had nothing to worry about, but they had to mess with success.

 

[KCJeep]

About the only thing that I've really noticed is the O'Reilly's house brand MicroGards went from black Frams to Champ E-cores.

So O'Reilly's OCI specials are now useless as I won't use an e-core at all. Frams are fine with me as long as they are picked up on the cheap.

I don't know the specifics on the merger but "consolidation" usually means some people lost their jobs over the deal.

 

[blknblu]

I just noticed today the Champion Labs oil filters are showing up in the RockAuto wholesale closeout sections for my vehicles. (Chrysler, Dodge, Mazda, and Hyundai.)