Background
CAPA created standards for the objective evaluation and certification of sheet metal, bumper, and other automotive collision replacement parts.
Because exterior lighting products represent about one-quarter of the total cost of replacement parts used in collision repair, CAPA has developed a quality certification program for lighting products. In September, 2005, TYC, through extensive collaboration with CAPA, became the first manufacturer to achieve CAPA certification of lighting parts.
CAPA certified TYC lighting products are of OE-comparable form (appearance), fit (installation), and function (performance), are highly regarded as a viable alternative quality part, and are quickly gaining awareness and enthusiastic acceptance by collision repairers.
CAPA Lamps
Approximately 7 out of 10 national auto insurance companies prescribe CAPA parts, many of whomare prescribing CAPA certified lamps. TYC's CAPA certified lamps create repair opportunities that previously did not exist by driving more business to repairers and substantially reducing the percentage of vehicles declared total-loss in a collision repair estimate.
TYC offers the broadest CAPA certified lighting products in the market and is consistently developingpopular applications, with internal testing labs that accelerate release timing of new items. Our aggressive production inventory planning ensures the highest fill rate and ability to meet growing demand via our five strategically located distribution centers throughout the U.S.
Brief overview of the stringent CAPA procedures for certifying lighting products:
1) VDI - Vehicle Dimensional Inspection with precise dimensions is collected from a sampling of three vehicles to ensure accurate in-vehicle lamp positioning. The data is then used to create lighting fixtures utilizing computer generated 3-D CAD data.
2) FMVSS-108 - in addition to comprehensive photometry testing, metallurgical and material compositions are analyzed and validated via infrared spectroscopy. Impact tests for lens and housing are conducted at room temperature and after 4-hour exposure at -30 degrees Celsius.
Other durability testing includes abrasion, humidity, rain, salt spray, vibration, mounting studs strength, and thickness measurements of vacuum metalizing ('chroming') of housing.
3) VTF - vehicle test fits to ensure precise fitment of lighting assemblies onto the vehicle.
4) Certification - random selection of production batches for photometry testing, with final approval via official CAPA certification.
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