We look at the group behind febi and Blue Print and the wide range of products they supply.
Consisting of three brands, febi, SWAG and Blue Print, the bilstein group has been the umbrella group for these brands since 2012, but the original roots of the company go much further back. Steeped in manufacturing and motor vehicle parts history, it’s no surprise that bilstein group are a strong partner in the automotive aftermarket.
Ferdinand Bilstein was founded in 1844 in Ennepetal, Germany providing Europewide trade in metal manufactured goods, evolving into motor parts manufacture at the turn of the century. Throughout the more than 100 years that followed, subsidiaries have opened in strategic points of trade across Europe and further afield. With the procurement of the SWAG brand in 2000, Blue Print in 2011 and more recently the Motair turbocharger brand in 2021, the company is ever-growing and adapting to the changes within the automotive aftermarket.
‘One stop shop’
Fast forward to the current day, the still family owned and operated bilstein group consists of 22 subsidiaries and over 2,600 employees covering 170 countries with headquarters remaining firmly in Ennepetal, Germany. Bilstein group also has a 10,000 square metre, cutting edge manufacturing facility there that allows precision engineering from initial testing and samples to high volume production.
The company aims to provide a ‘one stop shop’ for customers seeking the correct components, from passenger vehicles to light commercial vehicle and HGVs, boasting a range of more than 74,000 parts with thousands of applications, it’s easy to find what you need. Since 2017, the bilstein group “partsfinder” lookup system and account holder web shop has been continually streamlined to improve usability. This lookup system allows anyone to have direct access to the entire catalogue of products available, using vehicle registration number, text and OE number search to pinpoint the exact product requirements. Motor factor and wholesale customers also have a web shop feature which allows them to order products directly. With customer services and technical helplines based in the UK, they provide customers with assistance finding parts and any other queries.
When looking at parts ranges provided by bilstein group in the UK it’s hard to avoid the huge ranges available from febi and Blue Print. With core ranges from febi consisting of steering and suspension, NVH and braking, and other ranges including engine components, electrical, fluids and drivetrain, febi also has a range of parts that were once considered a dealer-only option, this range is known as febiPLUS. This range hosts more than 2,000 more unusual parts including items like accelerator pedals, window regulators, tailgate locks, headlight washer nozzles and more. With 3,087 new to range articles added across all febi ranges in 2023, the offering to the customer in continually evolving and becoming more comprehensive by the month. Febi also provides a range for heavy goods and commercial vehicles. Of course. this range differs for the passenger car applications and includes ranges such as air suspension, hydraulic couplings and fuel and exhaust system items. With 675 articles added to the range in 2023 and an overall range consisting of more than 13,000 products, the range of parts is ever growing in this area.
Blue Print continues to host a strong offering on its filtration, braking and clutch core ranges, as well as product groups including body and interior, engine thermal management and drivetrain, launching 874 new to range articles last year alone. With technical videos via the YouTube channel tying in with product literature and ‘pro tips’ via email newsletters, the Blue Print brand aims to be continuallys supporting its customers with as much technical help as possible. Matched with its strong history within the UK market, Blue Print continues to be a customer choice backed with a three year manufacturer’s guarantee and strict quality control to ensure the OE matching quality the brand provides.
To look forward to…
A new mobile showroom for all things bilstein group will be on the road and visiting customers later this year. This is a vehicle aimed at visiting customers at their place of business, full of interactive technology and showcasing the vast product ranges available. This aims to give customers a chance to really get to know the brands, what they offer and how they can become more involved in what choices they make, how this affects not only their business but also their customers experience of them.
