The article about our company was issued in the Magasin „Ciezarowki nr 8/2000 (august 2000). The article in its' original form is here in PDF.

The translation of the article (this article is not sponsored): Cezary Bednarczyk, Technologia mlotka i przecinaka [w:] Ciezarowki, nr 8, 2000, s. 40-41.

Where is the care for security?

Technology of hammer and chisel

- Why should we need the authorization of producers, expensive diagnostic and repair equipment, original spare parts, when the owners of transport companies don't care - say the presidents of Hydrosystem Company from Toruñ (Poland) which deals in remanufacturing of steering boxes. They say, that the technology of hammer and chisel is still very popular in Poland and nobody worries about that.

The company Hydrosystem in Toruñ has been working in overhaul and remanufacture of power steering boxes for trucks and buses for 10 years now, and never ever been doing anything else. Chiefs and the employees know everything there is to know in this matter. After some time they have obtained an authorization of producers of steering boxes - Polmo from Szczecin, Hungarian company Csepel Auto and Jugoslavian Prva Petoletka. They haven't obtained the certificate from German concern ZF, not because of Hydrosystem's bad will or lack of professionalism, but rather reluctance of Germans to create a system of new service stations.

This way or the other, one can say, that experts from Hydrosystem can professionally remanufacture each steering box from a vehicle, that has a total weight of over 3,5 tons and rides on polish roads. They also can remanufacture steering boxes from old Stars', Jelczs' and Autosans' as good as from new Volvos', Scanias', DAFs' and Mercedes. Besides that as a general representative of Csepel Auto in Poland they sell complete chassis and buses of this Hungarian producer.

Expansive show off

The way to authorization hasn't been made of roses. First off all one needed to buy expansive, but professional equipment. One has bought a diagnostic stand CBKO-2, which allows you to conduct a full simulation of steering gear's work in real conditions, and in the same time exclude any possible repair fault. The device is a guarantee that the client receives his steering gear in a condition that is equal to a new product. Afterwards he can be happy with fault free usage, if only he will regularly exchange oil, oil filter and make a regular mile inspection.

The second device, that has been bought for the needs of the authorization was a metallographic defectoscope made by Karl Deutsch. This stand enables to examine the structure of metal and to detect micro fractures in parts used for repair. In addition there are also tools, used for disassembly and assembly.

Cash put in the purchase of these devices wasn't everything. It was also needed to train the employees, and then submit to an audit conducted by producer of steering boxes. His experts were in Toruñ for several times and supervised the works of Hydrosystem's mechanics. The tests results were positive. The last issue was the obtainment of authorization certificates, which - framed - hung on the wall in the office of Hydrosystem's president.

The history of disease

- Each steering box remanufactured at Hydrosystem has its' own identity number and technical documentation - emphasizes the president of Hydrosystem Company Wies³aw Walecki. - thanks to data storage on the hard disc and on paper, in any moment we can replay the process of repair - beginning with the condition of the steering box in the moment of delivery, through the detailed verification of exchanged parts, description of parameters obtained on a diagnostic stand, and ending on the name of the employee and the date.

Each client receives, after the process of remanufacture is completed, with his remanufactured steering box a certificate of quality and a one year guarantee. At the same time the workshop assumes the lawful responsibility for a road accident, which will occur because of inefficiency of steering system. In case this happens you can always replay steering gear's history of disease and find out where the mistake had been made. Fortunately, none of such things ever happened to drivers of vehicles overhauled in Hydrosystem.

Enjoy yourself to the full

- We have always imagined that the matter of safety comes first in the motor industry. Seeing the unconcern and carelessness of transport companies' chiefs, which in search for savings still use the services of unauthorized services, we lose faith in anything - adds Zoltan Karolyi, vice-president of Hydrosystem. - An informing action would come in use for the drivers and their chiefs, about how much damage can cause a ride with an inefficient steering system. Let us imagine, for example, that in a truck that is turning, there is a sudden lack of power in steering system...

- Maybe one should initiate law limitations for overhaul services of all units and elements of the vehicles that have a big influence on safety? - wonder the chiefs of company from Toruñ. Because today, a hammer, chisel and the power of will are enough, to repair a steering box. The secret of Punchinello is, that companies with no authorization of a producer use used parts in the process of repair, which were dismounted from accident vehicles or wracks. Sometimes all you need to do to make a steering box look good is to wash it through with oil. - the steering boxes that we dump are purposely damaged in the way, that excludes any use - says president Walecki.

Precaution is never enough

Modern steering boxes can stand even a 1,5 million km mileage. The vitality of older units isn't as long. No matter what kind of steering box we have, you need to examine it regularly. The best is to examine it every 100 000 km. A specially equipped workshop will check whether the oil pressure in steering system is correct, and if the steering pump has a proper expense. They will also check the mechanical and hydraulic play in steering system. This all cannot be examined without special equipment.

Accidents do happen. It is a thing that everyone knows. And every year, the police notice car accidents, caused by steering system's failure.