The VET Review – INCARES: 2017 Medalists Awarded!
ARI October/November 2017
1st Place
Northlake Auto Recyclers
PLATINUM – 102.0%
We would like to congratulate Marty, Deb, and the staff of Northlake Auto Recyclers on once again achieving a perfect score on their INCARES audit! They maintain their standing at 1st Place in the state and have earned an INCARES PLATINUM Medal for 2017! Northlake earned Indiana Clean Yard GOLD Certification through IDEM, adding an extra 2% to their score and making them one of four facilities this year to exceed 100%! Northlake was also the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) 2016 Certified Auto Recyclers (CAR) Member of the Year. Northlake provides great information every year on different on-site processes and the benefits of doing them right. Their yard and buildings are organized, spotless, and well-maintained on a regular basis. Northlake has plans in place to improve their wash bay area by installing a closed-loop system that utilizes bacteria to break down pollutants. Marty holds his people accountable for the quality of their work and is always on the lookout for ways to improve his business. As always, Deb does an excellent job of keeping on top of records and had everything ready to go when we arrived. Spectacular job, Northlake, and congrats on being nationally recognized as ARA’s #1 Auto Salvage Yard for 2016!
2nd Place
Ray’s Auto Parts
PLATINUM – 101.44%
We would like to congratulate Mike, Teresa, Kevin, and the staff of Ray’s Auto Parts on earning 2nd Place and an INCARES PLATINUM Medal for 2017! This represents a 3.16% increase from the score that earned them PLATINUM in 2016. Ray’s Auto Parts is Indiana Clean Yard GOLD Certified by IDEM, adding an extra 2% to their score and making them one of four facilities this year to exceed 100%! Ray’s is exceptionally efficient with their use of space. Carefully tagged and organized parts are placed on racks or hung by type on walls throughout the storage buildings. A portable spill clean-up station on a cart is centrally located in the engine and transmission storage area for quick and easy response. Cores are stored in an indoors roll-off nearby. The yard is organized (even when it’s below freezing), to the point that the sheared tires stored in truck beds are stacked piece-by-piece and face-down to prevent water accumulation until disposal. Teresa always does a great job managing Ray’s records and Mike has done an excellent job keeping up on their software. Well done, Ray’s Team!
3rd Place
Car Recyclers, Inc.
PLATINUM – 100.44%
**MOST VALUABLE**
We would like to congratulate Kelly, Trina, Jeff, Gary, and the other staff of Car Recyclers on earning 3rd Place and an INCARES PLATINUM Medal for 2017! This represents a 1.59% increase from the score that earned them PLATINUM in 2016. Car Recyclers is Indiana Clean Yard Certified, adding an additional 1% to their audit score and making them one of four facilities this year to exceed 100%! Car Recyclers runs a very organized operation and manages their business with an air that feels like family. Their folks are committed to doing things right and helping their customers find just what they’re looking for. Kelly built a roof over Car Recycler’s outdoor containment area this year, and Trina has continued her legacy of compliance – no points missed for inspections or training! In fact, Car Recyclers only missed one item on their entire audit!
In addition to this, Car Recyclers also earned the MOST VALUABLE award for 2017! Car Recyclers actively promotes the INCARES program by example and through productive use of social media. ARI and the INCARES program benefit from the positive light folks like these shed on our industry, and we hope to encourage new membership through their contributions. Thanks for what you’re doing for our industry, guys, and we look forward to being wowed again next year!
4th Place
Veldman’s Auto Parts, Inc.
PLATINUM – 100.33%
We would like to congratulate Ted, Roman, Wayne, Austin, and the entire Veldman’s team on earning 4th Place and an INCARES PLATINUM Medal for 2017! Veldman’s score represents a 2.00% increase from the score that earned them PLATINUM in 2016. Veldman’s is Indiana Clean Yard GOLD Certified, adding an additional 2% to their audit score and making them one of four facilities this year to exceed 100%! Veldman’s facility is welcoming and clean, and the staff are friendly and helpful. Veldman’s moves 1,700+ vehicles a year while still maintaining a smooth, quality operation. Because of the volume they handle, Veldman’s has come up with numerous ways to improve efficiency throughout the process. Individual bins near each dismantling bay for batteries and components reduce walking time by half or more. Energy-saving light sensors throughout their extensive warehouses help them decrease their monthly energy bill. Multiple first aid kits are available throughout the site, minimizing downtime to handle minor injuries. Austin continues to keep the environmental and safety software in top shape. Outstanding job this year, guys!
5th Place
Brothers Auto Parts
PLATINUM – 98.33%
We would like to congratulate Jeremiah and the staff of Brothers Auto Parts on earning 5th Place and an INCARES PLATINUM Medal for 2017! Brothers’ score represents a 6.38% increase from the score that earned them GOLD in 2016. Jeremiah is a proactive business owner and works hard to keep on top of dates and requirements. He put together an efficient setup that includes Brothers’ OSHA 300 log and SDS book in a neatly kept, labeled, accessible location. A similar station with all required management and tracking materials is maintained for mercury switch removal in the dismantling area. We admire how Brothers runs their process out of multiple buildings without missing a beat. The buildings and awning on the property allow Brothers’ employees to catch a break from the sun and work under cover when the weather is poor. An awning protects their core storage area from the elements, an effective and affordable solution to a common problem in the industry.
Terrific job, Brothers’ team! We look forward to working with you next year!
6th Place
U-Pull-&-Pay (Formerly Pic-A-Part, Indy)
PLATINUM – 97.00%
We would like to congratulate Carlos, Suzie, Brian and the team of U-Pull-&-Pay (formerly Pic-A-Part, Indy) on earning 6th Place and an INCARES PLATINUM Medal for 2017! U-Pull-&-Pay’s score represents a 1.60% increase from the score that earned Pic-A-Part, Indy PLATINUM in 2016. Carlos and his team are dedicated to their clients, employee safety, and business efficiency. This is a facility that is currently moving 1,100 vehicles a month – and making it look easy. U-Pull-&-Pay takes safety and safety training very seriously and ensures that their workers have all the personal protective equipment they need when doing their jobs. Safety signs and guidance are visible throughout the facility, and special areas are designated and marked for pallets, spill kits, cylinders, tools and other items inside the work areas. The new building over the core storage area is a nice addition. We’re excited to get to visit this facility again next year, and we hope the employees at U-Pull-&-Pay enjoy their INCARES shirts! You earned them, guys! Way to go!
7th Place (Tie)
Archie’s Auto Recycling
PLATINUM – 95.00%
We would like to congratulate Mark, Andrew, and the staff of Archie’s Auto Recycling on earning 7th Place in a tie with Glisson Auto Parts and an INCARES PLATINUM Medal for 2017! Archie’s score represents a 11.11% increase from the score that earned them SILVER in 2016. Archie’s has worked hard this year to make improvements and increase compliance at their facility. Andrew ensured unused barrels on site were cut apart and properly disposed. Body plugs, records, labels, SDS book – you name it, they’re on it! Not many facilities manage to skip a whole rank in the program on their way up, but Archie’s has earned it this year. We look forward to what this facility will have for us next year – keep up the great work!
7th Place (Tie)
Glisson Auto Parts
PLATINUM – 95.00%
We would like to congratulate Greg, Brent, and the staff of Glisson Auto Parts on earning 7th Place in a tie with Archie’s Auto Recycling and an INCARES PLATINUM Medal for 2017! Glisson’s score represents an 8.22% increase from the score that earned them GOLD in 2016. Greg is an innovative thinker who looks for ways to improve and implement new systems at his facility. They have built a new dismantling building with a concrete floor that slopes to the center to help contain fluids. A new concrete curb lines the inside of the building for additional fluids containment. Their outdoor racking and storage is impressive, and a beautiful new concrete crusher pad was added this year to improve the crushing area. Brent has worked hard to improve their INCARES score following their audit, and it shows in their ranking how far they’ve come. Great job, guys!
9th Place
Beard’s Midwest Auto Parts
GOLD – 93.33%
We would like to congratulate Bill, Matt, Jeremy, and the rest of the crew at Beard’s Midwest Auto Parts on earning 9th Place and an INCARES GOLD Medal for 2017! Beard’s score represents a 3.67% increase from the score that earned them GOLD in 2015. Beard’s was in the process of combining with their sister facility, Midwest Jeeps, when we visited them this year. It was freezing cold and gusting double digits when we walked the yard, but by golly they had their inventory in order! We have yet to see a more impressive collection of Jeeps and Jeep parts at any yard in Indiana. The new fence out front looks great and adds extra security to the yard. We look forward to working with Beard’s Midwest Auto Parts in the coming years – keep up the excellent work!
10th Place
Mike’s Auto Salvage & Towing
GOLD – 93.22%
We would like to congratulate Mike, Rick, Stoney, and the staff of Mike’s Auto Salvage & Towing on earning 10th Place and an INCARES GOLD Medal for 2017! Mike’s score represents a 1.27% increase from the score that earned them GOLD in 2016. Mike’s is Indiana Clean Yard Certified by IDEM, adding an extra 1% to their score. Mike’s hit it out of the park this year with their new tire racking system, an excellent spill kit, and the new load limit signs they installed on their indoor and outdoor racking! Mike’s racking has allowed them to efficiently use their space and improve their organization in a small area. Their vertical automobile storage racks lets them to store their cars three high on site. They have a large, well-marked, centrally-located spill kit station for quick response. Great job this year, guys! We’ll be watching for you in PLATINUM!
11th Place
Legal Chop Shop
GOLD – 89.22%
We would like to congratulate Stan, Scott, and the staff of Legal Chop Shop on earning 11th Place and an INCARES GOLD Medal for 2017! Legal Chop Shop is Indiana Clean Yard GOLD Certified by IDEM, adding an extra 2% to their score. This is a yard we always enjoy visiting for the character and welcoming atmosphere. Neat and amusing signs are present throughout the premises, a rock collection is maintained in the lobby with specimens from all over world, and the staff keep a basket of toys on the counter for customers who bring their kids! They have installed a number of racks in their new building for additional organization and storage. Stan and his crew keep the yard in excellent order despite having limited space. Fantastic job this year, Legal Chop Shop! Keep up the great work!
12th Place
Vander Haag’s, Winamac
GOLD – 88.33%
**MOST IMPROVED**
We would like to congratulate Nathan and the staff of Vander Haag’s, Winamac on earning 12th Place and an INCARES GOLD Medal for 2017! Vander Haag’s handles heavy duty trucks, trailers, equipment and parts at their facility. Vander Haag’s has one of the most interesting uses of space we’ve seen: they have literally built up their storage space inside their main building from one to three levels overlooking the dismantling bays. Load limit signs, lighting, and railings help ensure employee safety, especially on the top level. They also maintain an organized, wall-mounted, centrally-accessible safety station that includes everything from their SDS book to their first aid kit. Vander Haag’s uses a hot soak parts washer instead of a solvent sink – no chemicals involved.
Vander Haag’s is also our Most Improved INCARES Member for 2017! Vander Haag’s improved their score by a whopping 23.39%! We were very impressed with the improvements they’d made since our last visit, and they worked exceptionally hard this year to increase their score following their audit. It’s folks like this that make our program strong – way to go, Vander Haag’s team! Congratulations on your achievement!
13th Place (Tie)
Hundt’s Auto Salvage
GOLD – 85.56%
We would like to congratulate Chad and the entire team at Hundt’s Auto Salvage on earning 13th place in a tie with Liberty Auto Salvage and an INCARES GOLD medal for 2017! Hundt’s score represents a 6.82% increase from the score that earned them SILVER in 2015. One of the benefits Hundt’s provides for their clients is a sizeable parking lot that’s great for pulling in with trailers. Hundt’s has been working hard to improve their compliance and create a safe work environment for the team. Being one of the biggest yards in the INCARES program keeps Chad and the team on their toes. They are already making more improvements for their 2018 audit and we can’t wait to see what they have for us. Great job Hundt’s! You’ve been working hard and it shows.
15th Place
Dick’s Auto Parts
SILVER – 78.33%
We would like to congratulate Sean and the entire team at Dick’s Auto Parts on earning 15th Place and an INCARES SILVER Medal for 2017! Dick’s is a New Medalist in the program, and their score represents a 5.55% increase from 2016. Located in northern Indiana (literally, the Michigan sign is right past their parking lot!), Dick’s specializes in truck parts and truck accessories, though they also handle cars and other vehicles on occasion. Their showroom is clean, extensive and welcoming. Their yard is organized and consists mainly of truck beds, bodies, and parts, many of which are carefully racked. Dick’s overhauled their inventory this past year, made sure everything was clean and accounted for, then organized everything back into place. Sean has worked hard throughout the year to make improvements since Dick’s 2016 audit – we’re glad to have Dick’s in the program, and we can’t wait to see what Sean and his team come up with next year! Well done, guys!
13th Place (Tie)
Liberty Auto Salvage
GOLD – 85.56%
We would like to congratulate Mark, Chris, and the entire team at Liberty Auto Salvage on earning 13th Place in a tie with Hundt’s Auto Salvage and an INCARES GOLD Medal! We were impressed with the cleanliness of Liberty’s engine/transmission storage warehouse this year. Spill kits are at hand throughout the facility for quick response. They store all of their large cores indoors, and they’ve been working hard to make changes and improvements to their processes. They’ve added punching body plugs to their dismantling checklist, which they use to train their guys and keep their dismantling process streamlined. Congratulations on the achievement, guys, and great job this year! Keep up the hard work!
16th Place
Hanna’s Wrecker, Parts and Recycling
SILVER – 76.67%
We would like to congratulate Tony, Ben, and the entire team at Hanna’s Wrecker, Parts and Recycling on earning 16th place and an INCARES SILVER Medal for 2017! Hanna’s is a New Medalist in the program this year, and they have shown nothing but determination. Hanna’s does it all – towing, auto salvage, parts resale, scrap; they also run an impound lot and a regular auto auction on their property. Hanna’s joined the INCARES program exactly one month before the final certification date for 2017, and they pulled out all the stops to make improvements at their facility in order to certify their first year. They’ve been great to work with and are super motivated to continue improving. We have no doubt that Hanna’s will be a force to be reckoned with in coming years. Outstanding job, Hanna’s team! Keep up the terrific work!
17th Place
Bloomington Auto Parts
SILVER – 75.56%
We would like to congratulate Chuck, Jim, Homer, and the staff at Bloomington Auto Parts on earning 17th place and an INCARES SILVER Medal for 2017! Bloomington Auto Parts runs a hilly 25-acre salvage lot directly off SR 37 in Bloomington, Indiana. Even with the massive long-term construction going on to convert SR 37 to I-69 right outside the fence, Chuck has still managed to maintain compliance and run his business effectively. Bloomington Auto Parts stores all their engines, cores, and transmissions under cover in their buildings and trailers on the property. Chuck worked hard this year to make improvements to his yard and reach certification. We’re glad he’s in the program, and we can’t wait to see what Bloomington Auto Parts has for us next year – keep up the hard work, guys!
PENDING
Auto Heaven
PENDING
Paul’s Auto Yard, Merrillville
PENDING
Two Little Bees Auto Parts