Elring Garage FM – Episode 0: Facts, myths and why we're here!

00:00:00: Welcome to the Elring Garage Podcast.

00:00:03: We're very happy to launch this first episode, and we want to start right away by giving you the facts about this podcast:

00:00:12: what it stands for,

00:00:14: and what we're going to talk about.

00:00:16: This is Elring Garage FM. Facts and myths for everyone who lives and breathes engines.

00:00:20: We take what the workshop believes, and we take it apart.

00:00:25: No fluff, no marketing.

00:00:28: And why are we doing this podcast?

00:00:30: Our target group should decide what kind of content

00:00:37: they want to consume.

00:00:39: Some of them like to watch videos.

00:00:42: Others want to listen to something.

00:00:44: And listening was still an open gap that we couldn't fill yet. But now we're ready to go.

00:00:52: That's true.

00:00:52: So currently we have videos, as you said, short-form content, things like that.

00:00:55: Something to listen to

00:00:59: like a podcast. And I also think that in a format like a podcast you can talk about one specific topic or one specific question in more depth than in a video or a short, because we need more time.

00:01:16: And you need to follow what is being talked about to say: OK,

00:01:20: I know that problem.

00:01:22: OK, that's because of this and that. I think that's the better format for a podcast, from my point of view.

00:01:28: And on the other side, I'm not speaking alone, because I have you with me.

00:01:32: Of course, that's a very good point.

00:01:36: Talking about things with each other – you have different views.

00:01:41: You from the technical trainer side, me from the product side.

00:01:44: I think that's a good combination.

00:01:47: You know the market and I know the product.

00:01:49: Yes, I think that's a good combination.

00:01:52: Because over the years, when I was travelling around the world, I often got the same questions. Can I use copper spray with a cylinder head gasket?

00:02:02: And what kind of copper spray would you recommend?

00:02:05: Do I need to apply any oil

00:02:07: when I install my PTFE seal?

00:02:11: Good question.

00:02:12: All of these things came up.

00:02:14: And clarifying this in a conversation, with the point of view you have as a product manager and the outside view –

00:02:25: what happens in the real world, in the workshops – can sometimes be a little different, especially if we look beyond our own region.

00:02:34: There are specific topics all around the world, and sometimes there are real challenges.

00:02:44: Of course. And from my side, I'm more the product guy. I spend most of my time in the office, also talking to customers on our hotline.

00:02:54: In the last ten years we got a lot of phone calls from people asking which gasket is the right one for their engine,

00:03:01: which product should be used,

00:03:03: what's the difference between the colours,

00:03:04: do you need the grey or the black one. So both worlds together: your outside view, my inside view.

00:03:13: That's a good combination – the whole picture.

00:03:18: And to see what the question is, and what the right answer to that question is.

00:03:23: Exactly.

00:03:24: As you said, one of our most asked questions about our sealing compounds is why we have all these colours – everybody is confused.

00:03:34: Can we use this for that kind of application? Is it really the right product?

00:03:40: So that's what we want:

00:03:42: more knowledge in the market, more clarification, education.

00:03:47: Exactly, you named it.

00:03:51: That was one of the intentions – we thought that would be genuinely helpful. And sharing stories is part of it.

00:04:00: What have we learned in more than ten years in this business?

00:04:07: What can we share? Sometimes also funny stories, to be honest.

00:04:14: That makes it easier

00:04:15: to remember.

00:04:15: And I think education and knowledge is something you have in your toolbox.

00:04:20: You have a wrench, you have a spanner in the toolbox.

00:04:21: But if you have the right education, and you know how things work and why

00:04:25: things are the way they are,

00:04:27: you can answer your questions yourself sometimes, so you don't need to call the hotline.

00:04:32: Of course you're free to call any time.

00:04:34: We're happy to talk to our customers.

00:04:36: But if you know about Dirko or RTV, for example – why it is the way it is,

00:04:41: what the colour means,

00:04:43: if you know that, you don't need to ask anybody. You can do your job faster and be sure you're doing it the right way.

00:04:50: And also topics you never thought about.

00:04:53: Why is more and more plastic used on engines nowadays?

00:04:58: Why did the designs change, why did gasket design change?

00:05:02: What's the benefit of it?

00:05:04: Why do we have to take care of surface preparation, all these things.

00:05:09: We want to give you deep insights, because we have a background in the OE business.

00:05:18: Those are our roots,

00:05:20: where we come from, and it's still in our mindset. I think it's also quite interesting to hear what's going on in the business from the other side.

00:05:33: How we think, how we design, how we work on processes and products.

00:05:40: How do you launch something into a market?

00:05:42: Because people often ask why it takes so long if you already have something ready to sell.

00:05:48: We always want to deliver the best possible quality that can be found in our markets,

00:05:56: and that's why it's worth having a look behind the scenes to see what's going on.

00:06:00: It's not just having a product and selling it.

00:06:02: That's not the case.

00:06:05: And I think you're all dealing with the same thing: old technology or new technology.

00:06:12: We have a lot of experience with both.

00:06:17: We can see both worlds:

00:06:19: the old technology in the aftermarket, the new technology in our OE business. So we combine them where it's necessary.

00:06:26: And I think that's a good topic to talk about in general, and a podcast is the bigger format for it.

00:06:35: That's true.

00:06:36: And in terms of education, some mechanics are trained by older mechanics, because they learned it back in the day

00:06:46: and

00:06:48: pass that knowledge on to the younger generation. And people do things without thinking about why they're doing them, because they were taught that way.

00:06:58: "We always did it that way."

00:07:01: Exactly, and never ask whether it's right

00:07:02: or not.

00:07:04: That's also what we want: to share more knowledge,

00:07:09: to clarify some open points and myths, as we said, and to give you the facts.

00:07:16: And next time you can decide whether to do it differently when you work on that kind of job.

00:07:24: If you remember our story.

00:07:25: Yes!

00:07:26: Then you'll say: OK, I know about that.

00:07:29: And one thing is very important to remember – I learned it from Elring Garage, from Florian.

00:07:35: Or from Florian.

00:07:37: And that's the point:

00:07:39: this is Florian.

00:07:43: So listen to Florian and trust Florian.

00:07:46: Always right.

00:07:47: Always right!

00:07:49: That's the idea behind our podcast.

00:07:53: Of course, everything starts with the first episode, and that's exactly what we're doing here.

00:07:58: That's why this episode has no technical content –

00:08:01: but we'll get to that.

00:08:04: We'd be very happy if you listen to our podcast.

00:08:09: The best thing for us would be if you leave a comment, maybe with a specific question:

00:08:15: what do you want to know?

00:08:16: Which myth should we talk about?

00:08:18: That's more than welcome, because your input is exactly why we're doing this. It's not about us, it's about you.

00:08:28: You're listening, you want to understand, you take the time to listen.

00:08:33: That's the reason, and we want to give you the deepest insights into the technology that we can.

00:08:40: And sometimes that's far away from a gasket – we're quite open.

00:08:46: So that's also our challenge: we focus on the complete engine.

00:08:50: The complete engine, of course, but also gearboxes, transmissions, everything.

00:08:57: We're open to everything, and I think a podcast lives and grows with the community, by working together: your questions, our answers.

00:09:07: Feel free to let us know what you're interested in, what we could talk about.

00:09:13: And in the end,

00:09:13: that's how we grow.

00:09:15: So if you feed us with questions and comments, that's more than welcome.

00:09:20: That's exactly what we want to achieve, and what we want to deliver to you.

00:09:24: That's our task.

00:09:28: And we'd be very happy if you like it and let us know.

00:09:33: That's one thing.

00:09:35: On the other hand, we try to have a good mix: engines, transmissions, gaskets, technologies, RTVs, whatever.

00:09:41: So there should be something for everybody.

00:09:44: Of course there will be an episode that isn't about what you do in your daily business.

00:09:49: But then there'll be another episode where you say: that's exactly the question I have every day.

00:09:53: I've been discussing this for years with my older or younger colleagues, and maybe you end up with the answer that both are right.

00:10:01: It depends.

00:10:03: Exactly!

00:10:05: We're happy to start our podcast and to look ahead

00:10:11: to the next episodes.

00:10:12: We can also talk about

00:10:15: EV cars, for example.

00:10:19: How do they perform?

00:10:22: What's the technology inside?

00:10:23: What's important?

00:10:24: So we have a lot of possibilities, but our main focus, of course,

00:10:28: is on the engines that are still running in the market.

00:10:34: That's what we want to deliver in the future.

00:10:41: Correct. All right.

00:10:44: Thank you for listening.

00:10:45: Thank you for listening.

00:10:47: And we're happy to see you in our next episodes.

00:10:50: Yes, see you there!

00:10:51: Bye.

00:11:05: Bye.