Overhaul and cleaning saves money, prevents downtime and is sustainable

Recently, Topcats performed its 3,750th overhaul and it did so for Zijderlaan Transport & Logistics, a well-known carrier from the Netherlands. Topcats is the only company in Western Europe to offer exhaust system overhaul and cleaning on a professional scale that provides transporters with cost savings of up to eighty percent. “Topcats started in 2002 but started to focus on market of trucks, construction machinery and other heavy craft and vehicles in 2007. We specialize in the overhaul and cleaning of DAF exhaust aftertreatment systems, but are also able to do this for the Iveco, MAN and Mercedes brands,” says technical sales manager Reinier Pen.

Cleaning or overhauling prevents unnecessary downtime as well as saving significantly on costs. Pen explains: “A truck exhaust system costs between ten and fifteen thousand euros. We take the system apart, clean it and replace only the non-functioning parts. This way you save at least fifty percent and in some cases up to eighty percent of the new price. It is also sustainable. After all, you use the existing system and avoid unnecessary waste.”

Popularity

More and more companies are seeing the benefits of Topcats“ services. The company now has customers throughout Western Europe, ranging from brand dealers to transporters. ”For LCW Groningen, we have been servicing soot filters and catalytic converters on the DAF XF and Scania since October 2024. Transport company RET in Rotterdam and Stadsbeheer Stad Antwerpen are also among our customers. As well as the renowned company BusPartners. We see that the cooperation is certainly not only based on cost savings, but is part of a sustainable business operation."

Preventing downtime

Topcats can clean catalytic converters, particulate filters, the EGR valve and EGR cooler. Overhaul of DOC, SCR catalysts and particulate filters is possible for all truck brands, such as DAF, MAN, Iveco and Mercedes. AdBlue blockages are also fixed by the team. “Timely cleaning of the particulate filter prevents serious damage. If you wait, the back pressure increases and the filter can shift or even be pushed out of the exhaust system. That can lead to enormous damage. So with overhaul or cleaning, you not only save money, you also prevent damage and expensive downtime,” Pen clarified.

To relieve customers as much as possible, Topcats operates an exchange pool system. “If a part is defective, we see if we have a reconditioned one in stock. We send that right away. The customer returns the broken part and we overhaul that again. This keeps the logistics running.” Topcats also offers a two-year or one hundred thousand kilometer warranty on all remanufactured parts.

DOC revision

Of particular note is the overhaul of the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) of the DAF Euro 6 EAS systems. What makes this system different from other EAS systems is its unique design. “As a result, the DOC cannot be overhauled using standard processes and for this reason many garages come to us. Thanks to the expertise of our technical team, we can provide this service in just one day.”

Recognized specialist

Since 2020, Topcats has been an official Approved Diesel Filter Reconditioning Specialist, a certification from the Sustainable Repair Foundation. This recognition is part of the sustainability program for the automotive sector. “A nice confirmation of our knowledge, expertise and sustainable working method,” Pen concludes with justifiable pride.