The website “Online Parts International” – parts-ring.com is based in Cape Town, South Africa and has been active since 2010.
Originally a blog with an eye on the market and seeing which direction technology was going it was decided in 2025 to recoup our hosting costs by offering a service which encompassed the sale of used and new parts, as well as (more importantly we feel) an opportunity to look for parts to complete a project.
We will attempt to get catalogues from companies that may be wanting to clear aged stock, individuals with old or antique parts for restoration purposes as well as offer an online portal. Much of our business transactions will be between manufacturers, distributors, resellers and the end user.
The Online Parts International Catalogue system (Opic)
Courtesy AhmadArdity
The OPIC system idea emerged about 20 years ago when we ran a website for South African motorcycle enthusiasts. Around 2000, we received numerous requests from Chinese suppliers (mainland China, not Taiwan) to distribute their brands. After spending six weeks in Taiwan and seeing the vast industry, I approached three distributors in South Africa, but they all said there was no market for them.
There is a large market in South Africa for Chinese scooters and motorcycles, the training of new riders, and workshops for scooter repairs. In Taipei suburbs, there are thousands of repair shops; this could be an affordable transportation solution for everyone in South Africa.
A dedicated reader from Windhoek followed Motorcross in Namibia closely and sent me numerous event photos. The photos had to be uploaded promptly, but without a content management system and while managing my job, it became too much to handle. Motorcross has a significant following in Namibia, but the site was unsustainable as I was funding it with no income.
The OPIC system was created to meet the growing demand for a central hub where people worldwide can communicate, buy, sell, and exchange rare parts.
Used car part dealers often communicate with each other, allowing them to source parts from various contacts and have them shipped to a buyer’s doorstep in Cape Town, sometimes with notable markups.
We will communicate to suppliers, including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, requesting inventory lists of used or new parts. Additionally, we will maintain a contact list where potential customers can directly reach out to sales or technical contacts. Furthermore, we will establish an online portal that lists aged products needing to be sold to offset losses. We will also include a section for technical papers, such as schematics and workshop manuals.
It is expected that by the end of April, productivity will increase for the Parts-Ring website as well as and OPIC system.
The catalogue system – OPIC – please click here.