In a central hotel in Athens, with the presence of over 100 repairers from all over Greece, the well-known parts company Nikitas Kothros, in collaboration with the Norwegian company Kongsberg, held a technical seminar with the main topic being the hydraulic gear selector system and the advantages of Kongsberg parts. The new products of the company were also presented.
During the seminar, the attending repairers listened to and followed technical analyses by the two presenters, Mr. Porat Arik and Mr. Kapper Itai, experts in Kongsberg’s hydraulic gear selector system. Notably, the excellent knowledge and translation of English technical terminology into Greek by mechanical engineer and journalist Giorgos Fonssos greatly contributed to the understanding of the technical terms of the seminar, who flawlessly translated the difficult presentation.
Correct Replacement and Use of Fluids
The presenters discussed Kongsberg’s products and answered many questions from the repairers. Additionally, useful advice was given on minor issues that may occur in workshops, such as using the same container for brake fluid and mineral oils (Pentosin), which can be disastrous for some components of a hydraulic lever system, as even a few drops can alter the seals inside it in a very short time.
Special emphasis was placed on the fact that all Kongsberg products have specific markings on their packaging and the product itself (blue for brake fluid, green for oil). The Kongsberg representatives repeatedly stressed that the manufacturer’s instructions should be strictly followed to ensure the maximum lifespan of each spare part.
The seminar continued with a demonstration of how to properly bleed the hydraulic gear shifting system through a highly explanatory video. Earlier, the new products from the Norwegian manufacturers were highlighted: a triangle for Scania trucks, a servo clutch for DAF/MAN/Renault/Volvo buses, and gear shift cables for Renault/Volvo/MAN/DAF/Mercedes-Benz/Setra, all available from Nikitas Kothros A.E.E.
Genuine-OEM or Aftermarket?
At the end of the presentation, there were many pertinent questions from the attending engineers to the Kongsberg representatives, which were answered in detail. One question came from the magazine’s representative covering the event, who asked if there were differences between the genuine-OEM Kongsberg parts used by car manufacturers and authorized workshops, and the Kongsberg parts sold by independent dealers—like Nikitas Kothros—and installed by independent workshops, i.e., the aftermarket. The response from both Kongsberg representatives was categorical and clear: essentially, there are no differences because they are the same. The only difference is the packaging, which bears the colors and logo of the car manufacturer, and the embossed “print” of the same logo on the part, certifying its authenticity. Other than that, they are the same! In fact, Kongsberg, to avoid any mistakes, places the part number corresponding to the “genuine” part on the aftermarket part.
At this point, the magazine representative asked again: “Is the price between the ‘genuine’ and aftermarket Kongsberg parts the same, or is there a difference, and how much?” The answer was that generally—except in cases where manufacturers make special offers for their own reasons—the aftermarket prices are about 20% cheaper! At this point, our questioning associate was heard to say softly, “Say it again… I like hearing it!”
Subsequently, there were a few more questions from the attendees, and at the end, Yiannis Kothros, smiling, vaguely referred to an upcoming new collaboration of Nikitas Kothros, thanked the attendees for their participation, and closed the event.
Finally, a meal followed in the hotel’s restaurant, after which the guests took their leave, having gained another rich experience.
ΦΩΤΟΓΡΑΦΙΚΟ ΥΛΙΚΟ
