URG merges certification with ARA’s Gold Seal program

The Texas-based United Recyclers Group (URG) is collaborating with the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA), Manassas, Virginia, to merge the URG’s 9000 certification program with the Gold Seal certification system established by the ARA in 1997.

The combined Gold Seal Quality Assurance Certification for automotive recyclers was unveiled at the URG Annual Training Conference in St. Louis in early April, which was co-hosted with the Arizona-based Team PRP auto recycling network.

The merged Gold Seal Quality Assurance Certification program represents a "transformative moment in industry collaboration and excellence,” the ARA and URG say in a joint statement.

The two organizations say they have developed a unified framework that ensures consistent quality and reliability across automotive recycling operations nationwide.

“With a shared commitment to excellence, URG and ARA are working side by side to drive positive change within our industry,” says Kristi Werner, CEO of URG. “This joint effort marks the beginning of a new era in automotive recycling.”

“ARA and URG working closely together has been on my radar for years, and now in a cooperative effort it is going to happen," adds Shannon Nordstrom, chair of ARA’s Certification Committee and current ARA second vice president.

"This agreement starts the path, using the foundation of ARA’s long established certification program, combined with the great work in this arena that URG has done through the years to create this new combined quality assurance program. ARA and URG will promote the new program together as one.”

The joint effort has been designed to garner recognition across key sectors, including the insurance, collision and mechanical industries in an attempt to the Gold Seal reflect a collective dedication to advancing industry best practices and standardization.

“This partnership underscores the power of unity within our sector," Werner says. "By leveraging our combined expertise and resources, we can establish a new benchmark for quality assurance in automotive recycling.”