Üçel Kauçuk emphasizes testing standards amid rising automotive costs

According to the Automotive Aftermarket Products and Services Association (OSS) 2026 Second Quarter Sectoral Assessment Survey, 78.1% of participants identified extreme cost increases as a primary challenge for the sector. This economic pressure has shifted the focus toward evaluating spare parts based on total lifecycle costs, including durability, labor, and potential replacement expenses, rather than just the initial purchase price.

Üçel Kauçuk, a Bursa-based manufacturer of rubber-metal spare parts that exports to over 60 countries, emphasizes that product reliability must be verified through engineering and rigorous testing. Hüseyin Oruç, Vice Chairman and General Manager of Üçel Kauçuk, noted that while many parts may appear similar, critical differences exist in material composition, rubber geometry, connection security, vibration damping, and load resistance.

The company utilizes R&D and specialized laboratories to conduct tension, load-force, hardness, density, and thermal aging tests. Additionally, product durability is measured using fatigue tests on specialized machines supported by TÜBİTAK, utilizing road simulation data. The company manages over 4,000 product references matched to more than 20,000 vehicle applications to ensure precise compatibility.