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The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation

Don’t cut corners on emissions, warned BM Catalysts this Clean Air Day

Date: Friday 24 June 2022

With Clean Air Day taking place on 16th June, BM Catalysts once again stressed the need for the automotive aftermarket to clean up its act and clampdown on the use of poor-quality emissions control devices.

BM Catalysts, Europe’s leading manufacturer of high-quality aftermarket catalytic converters, DPFs and front pipes, argues that this is a necessity to bring about a serious reduction of harmful vehicle emissions.

Toby Massey, managing director at BM Catalysts, said:

“Low-quality emissions control products are entering the market as a result of a number of ongoing supply-chain issues, including the unpredictability in the cost and supply of a number of raw materials, as well as labour costs. These significant cost increases are resulting in more corners being cut and lower quality products entering the market.”

Catalytic converters are required to pass strict emissions testing procedures as part of the type approval process before they can be sold. These tests ensure that the relevant emission standard is met, thereby reducing the vehicle’s impact on air quality and health.

During the type approval process a replacement catalytic converter is tested on a representative vehicle that the type of catalytic converter is intended to be installed on.

The tailpipe emissions are measured and are compared to that of an original catalytic converter. The replacement must also meet any relevant durability, noise and vehicle performance requirements in order to gain approval.

Massey added:

“It’s imperative that the automotive aftermarket comes together and plays its part to ensure emissions control devices being supplied and fitted are legal.
“BM Catalysts is working with distributors and workshops to ensure the industry is better informed over type approval legislation and the important role they can play in its enforcement, for the benefit of the entire sector.”

As part of this proactive approach, BM Catalysts has recently expanded its product offering by adding Selective Catalyst Reduction (SCR) references to its range.

SCRs work with diesel exhaust fluids (DEF), such as AdBlue, and can reduce a vehicle’s NOx emissions by up to 90 percent, while also reducing hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter emissions.

The technology has become commonplace to treat emissions from diesel engines over 1.6L following the introduction of Euro 6 emissions standards in 2015, which cut permitted NOx emissions by more than 50 percent.