Service partner takes advantage of ZF training

ZF Services UK is leading the market in the remanufacture and repair of transmissions and axles for bus and coach applications.

Supported by ZF Services UK’s Centre of Competence in Nottingham – which has recently boosted capacity to supply a wider stock of remanufactured transmissions and axles – service partners can attend bus operators within a 48-hour window and perform on-site diagnosis, repairs and component exchange to ensure vehicle downtime is minimised. All Service Partner staff are trained in line with the factory production standards, which form part of ZF’s core competencies.

Engineering support business, Paul Clark Services Ltd (PCS), is enjoying growth since becoming an official ZF Service Partner.

The company, based in Wiltshire, is fully invested in the ZF brand, having made investments in ZF TestMan diagnostic technology and specialist lifting equipment assigned to each engineer involved.

“We’re only scratching the service to what we can do together – I’m excited about the future,” adds Paul Clark, managing director of Paul Clark Services. “It’s huge for us, to be associated with the ZF brand. ZF is the future.”

Established in 1997, by Paul Clark, PCS has steadily expanded its workforce and customer base nationwide. Its range of services to customers is diverse and includes mechanical assistance, electrical assistance, coach building and, managerial support to customers.

As a ZF Service Partner, PCS is active across campaign work, diagnostics and repair & replace work. With 100 engineers throughout the UK, Paul is keen to ensure they represent the company and ZF brand to the best of their ability.

“ZF’s experience is few and far between in our industry, so it’s important we work closely with the company. We might not be in an operator’s facility for ZF work but it’s important that each technician is fully equipped and branded with PCS overalls and literature, promoting our role as a ZF Service Partner.”

PCS will also occupy a stand at this year’s EuroBus Show, promoting to operators and bus builders the expertise and experience available from the company, an issue close to Paul’s heart.

“There’s a big skills gap in our industry,” he says. “It started when we stopped the apprenticeships and we’re now playing catch up. The commercial vehicle industry is not as attractive as other industries, but with the electrification of vehicles, we are seeing more interest from young people.”

David Wakeling, ZF business manager, commercial vehicle, said: “It’s fantastic to see our service partners grow with the ZF brand. The passion and enthusiasm shown by PCS is considerable and promotes ZF at every available opportunity.”