Stewart's sterile room for sensitive repairs

Chad Bryan, Gleaner Writer

In February, the Stewart's Automotive Group opened a new facility dedicated to providing repair services for Suzuki, Mitsubishi, BMW and MINI vehicle engines and transmissions.

The Unit Repair Department at their South Camp Road, St Andrew, headquarters is a factory-grade workshop, fully equipped to diagnose and repair damage to vehicles under the group's brands.

The left side of the room is dedicated to repairing automatic and manual transmissions, while the right side is reserved for engines. The tools used are also a testament to the precision and factory-grade work that goes into repairing a damaged engine or transmission. Four staff members work on the vehicles at the time of their arrival.

The repairs have to be done in a sterile environment and the room is designed to ensure this, group technical trainer Paul Alvaranga pointed out.

"Since we want to ensure the best quality of work to our customers, we have a sterile environment operating from. Our engine room is fully air-conditioned, which is critical when operating on an engine transmission. Dust build-up over time affects the engine, so we want to avoid this. The room is also designed with sealed doors," he said.

Provisions

He emphasised that "a sterile room will lengthen the life of your unit by keeping it free of dust and foreign matter, but many repair facilities do not offer this amenity".

Alvaranga said the department caters to company or fleet vehicles, as well as individual customer's vehicles under the Stewart's brands. He pointed out that a number of vehicles pass through the department, sometimes between four to five engines and transmissions per month.

The cost will depend on the magnitude of the repairs needed. For example, repairs to a Suzuki motor vehicle engine would range between $200,000 and $500,000. Repairs to a transmission could range between $30,000 and $200,000.