mechanics plus sell wholesale to other yards. It was a difficult period for Bionic through the early 1980s. Catalano recalls, “Chop shops were stealing every late model vehicle on the streets.” As that era gradually faded out, the Catalano’s were able to start building a recycling business based on later model vehicles.

Setting a Path for the Future Theturning pointcameinthe late 1980swhena vis-

itor to the yard through a national trade show (Catalanonolonger recalls whether it wasanARAcon- vention) advised the family to shift their focus toward body shops to increase profitability. “By that point all the innovations had really changed the (automotive) industry and what a guy could do on his own car,” Catalano says. “He pointed out that the homeowner no longer was our best cus- tomer.” Instead of taking offense to being told they were heading in the wrong direction, the Catalano’s took that advice and trans-

trucks and new car and light truck dealers with busy service departments. Along with the transition in the business strategy, they were able to purchase additional land contigu- ous to the yard, expanding from the original two-and- a-half acres. Today, Bionic Auto Parts is a thriving recycling business on 15 acres, selling late model car and light truck parts to collision repair shops, auto body shops and car dealers. The yard also maintains a small walk-in retail operation that serves the local community.

Bionic stocks more than 1 million parts and adds

The Catalano’s were among the first recyclers to realize the potential impact of computers on the industry, making it possible to accurately track inventory and more.

formed their business. With the goal of reaching an entirely different type of customer, the Catalano’s searched out the collision repair shops in metro Chicago that were repairing newer cars and light

new inventory daily. Despite the plethora of online auctions available, Catalano still prefers to buy at live auctions to get the best quality for Bionic’s cus- tomers.

Technology is King … The yard underwent a

second makeover in 1987 as computers were trans- forming the entire auto- motive recycling industry. The Catalano’s were

among the first recyclers to realize the potential impact of computers on the industry. For the first time, computers would make it possible to accurate- ly track inventory, parts’ locations, sales by part num-

November-December 2016 | Automotive Recycling 53