An award winning, dual-certified W/MBE diverse supplier

Our execution is straightforward: we bring the right expertise (primary, middle or executive backed by the full AMBE team) - most of the time onsite. We integrate with client stakeholders and then execute, validate results, impart all lessons learned and exit - quickly, effectively and cost-efficiently.

Our history

  1. Jan 2001

    AMBE US Formation and Development

    Sanjiv, Director of Worldwide Supplier Quality and Purchasing for Textron Automotive Company / Collins and Aikman supporting 62 plants and more than 4,000 suppliers in 4 Continents.

    Due to bankruptcy of Collins and Aikman, Sanjiv had an opportunity to start AMBE Engineering.

    First project was to support OEM/Tier I Company with “Crisis Management” which was well recognized.

  2. 2002-2003

    First Project in Mexico

    Tier I Automotive Supplier was “New Business Hold” with OEM requested “turn around specialist” to handle engineering, manufacturing, quality and logistics challenges.

    AMBE started to take more than 800 challenges and able to turn around to the point that supplier was recognized by OEM as “Major Improved Supplier”. Also received special award from the State of San Luis Potosi Governor for one of highly impressive company.

    Helped to achieve additional new business.

    Improved “morale” of the company significantly.

    Provided “hands on training” to Mexico members to make them self reliant.

  3. 2004-2005

    AMBE Mexico Start Up

    Started to hire Mexico members in 2005.
    Conducted training of Mexico members to meet US Automotive Standards.
    Established pool of experts who are able to support Engineering, Quality and Manufacturing challenges.

    First Off Shore Project in Asia

    For machined transmission parts, Tier I Automotive Supplier was looking to off-shore site to reduce cost and reduce investment for new projects.
    AMBE identified sources in India and China and performed due-diligence to identify strengths and weakness along with cost structure, project plan, quality of product, transportation plan and human resources plan.
    AMBE was able to reduce piece price cost by 40% by launching on-time, right quality products in China and India.
    Freed up capacity at Tier I Supplier in US for other complex products.
    Met OEM’s Run@Rate and PPAP and other quality and product requirements on the first submission.
    Approved as Minority Supplier by MMBDC (2004) and WBE (2005) which is the highest level of Minority Certifications.

  4. 2007

    First Project in Europe

    German OEM and Tier I Automotive had major issues with the launch of their components in Slovakia. OEM requested AMBE’s support.

    Conducted full assessment of 22 different type of noises and other manufacturing and quality and delivery challenges. Developed countermeasure for each challenge and helped to implement the items.

    Recognized by German OEM for outstanding support.

    Conducted multiple Statistical Problem Solving projects to identify root cause and corrective actions.

    OEM requested similar support for Statistical Problem Solving techniques in Germany based on the successful track record.

    Approved ISO 9001.2008 Company (2007).

  5. 2008

    AMBE India

    Opened up office in India to support Off-Shore activities for various suppliers.

    Train them in to US Quality Standards and communication requirements.

    Hired members who had worked in US for automotive tier I Companies and relocated to India.

    Established ties with various US OEMs and US Tier I’s for support in India, Thailand, China and other Asian Countries using India resources.

  6. 2008-2010

    First Project for OEM

    OEM hired AMBE Engineering to provide support in : 16 High Impact Suppliers Management On-Site for:
    Last minute design changes
    Launch quality management
    Tooling management
    Human Resources management
    PPAP and any issues resolution identified from OEM Assembly Plant.
    Containment for any issues identified from OEM Assembly Plant.
    Corporate Office Support for “critical commodity management” with team of 4 members.
    Multiple members at OEM’s assembly plants to perform problem identification along with “fast response”.

  7. 2010

    AMBE Europe

    Established Office in Germany to support European OEMs and Tier I Suppliers.

    Conducted project for Tier I Supplier in Romania with German resources.

    Hired members in Europe and identified major challenges with many different languages and culture.

    Identified product warranty improvement road map projects and implemented corrective actions on “high warranty failures”.

    Provided training in VDA 6.3 Standards (European OEM) to AMBE members.

  8. 2012

    AMBE South America

    Opened office in Curitiba, Brazil to support South America.

    Hired members to support in South America regions.

    Worked with OEM to get recognition for specialized projects.

    Implemented multiple Lean Enterprise projects in South America and with substantial Return on Investment (ROI) identified for these projects.

    Performed on-site crisis management support for OEMs and Tier I Companies.

    Received special recognition from OEM as Expert Problem Solving Company (CSL-3).

    Met all Brazilian Tac requirements and also meet local banking requirements.

    Received ISO 9001.2008 Certificate in 2014.

  9. 2016

    Expansion of AMBE

    Hired Vice President of Sales and Marketing for North America Region.

    Hired Managing Director for US Office.

    Hired Managing Director for Mexico Office.

    Hired Project Director for AMBE Worldwide locations to meet standardized work standards.

    Received approvals for more than 80 of Tier I Companies for Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Lean Enterprise Implementation

  10. 2018-2019

    Rapid Growth of AMBE

    Strong Sales growth especially in Mexico and USA vs. previous years

    Won initial contracts with important Tier 1 and OEM customers including 2 out of 3 German premium OEMs and a second Japanese OEM

    First successful HR Retention, Staffing Solutions, Interim Management and Headhunting projects Mexico backoffice team doubled

    Strong investment into US backoffice team including a Sales and a Talent Acquisition Director

    Strong investments into standardization of our consulting approach and training

  11. 2021

    We continue to grow to give you the best of ourselves.

  1. 2001
  2. 2002
  3. 2004
  4. 2007
  5. 2008
  6. 2009
  7. 2010
  8. 2012
  9. 2016
  10. 2018
  11. 2021

Our team

  • All
  • Brazil
  • India
  • Mexico
  • United States

Sanjiv Shah /

Founder and CEO

Education / University

B.E. (Eng.), MS Univ, India
M.S. (Eng), Uni. Of Akron, Ohio
M.B.A. RPI, New York
Licensed P. E.

Language Skills

English, Hindi, Gujrati

Career

Director of Supplier Quality Assurance, Collins & Aikman
Senior APQP Manager, Textron
Supervisory / APQ / Quality Experience, Arvin Industries,
Technical Specialist / Product Design and Development, Ford Motor
Product Design / Manufacturing Experience, Allied-Signa
Environmental Engineering Experience, EPA – KY

Specific Industry Experience

Professionally Certified Engineer and creative quality professional with over 22 years experience in management, procurement, global sourcing, quality systems, project management, engineering, process improvement, , OEM customer interaction, supplier management, and personnel development.
Introduced several business initiatives, reliability indicators, creative cost savings, and, productivity improvement alternatives. Assertive, inquisitive, results oriented, innovative & highly motivated self starter.
Trained in Six Sigma with demonstrated strengths in quality management, planning, written & oral communications, and presentation skills. Proven working skills with both executive management and union employees.

Core Competencies

Quality System Development, Supplier Development, Program Manager, Team Leader, Complex Problem Solving
Six Sigma, Result Oriented, Self Starter, Chassis, Suspension, Driveline
Budget Management, Expert in Asian Supplires, Process Improvement, Customer Relationship, New Business Initiatives Initiate Cost Reduction Ideas Flexible, Excellent Communicator Experience From Us, Asia, Europe and South America

Rashmi Zaveri Shah /

Owner and Chairman

Education / University

Professionally Certified Office Manager
Undergraduate Uni. Of Illinois Associate Sociology

Language Skills

English, Hindi, Gujrati

Specific Industry Experience

Creative quality professional with over 7 years experience in management, procurement, manpower management, and personnel development.

Introduced several business initiatives, reliability indicators, creative cost savings, and, productivity improvement alternatives.

Assertive, inquisitive, results oriented, innovative & highly motivated self-starter.

Trained to demonstrated strengths in management, planning, written & oral communications, and presentation skills. Proven working skills with both executive management and union employees.

Core Competencies

  • Responsible for all hiring of contract and permanent personnel.
  • Responsible for all account payable and receivable.
  • Manage all taxation aspects of AMBE Engineering, LLC
  • Hire and fire responsibility for all AMBE Engineering personnel.
  • Represent AMBE Engineering to clients as required.
  • Arrange and manage employee travel arrangements, time cards and all other expenses.
  • Provided hands on training to engineers in the travel, time cards and all other aspects.
  • Handle all procurement aspects.

Gary Schkade /

President

Education / University

MBA in International Management
BS in Mechanical Engineering

Language Skills

English

Career

  • SAE International, General Manager, Asia-Pacific, Shanghai/China
  • General Motors, Truck Engineering Resident Manager, Mesa, Arizona

Specific Industry Experience

Mr. Schkade has extensive technology-based product development and international experience in the automotive industry. At General Motors for 19 years, he started in product research and progressed through management of product development operations. A cornerstone of his assignments has been the strategic use of objective, systems-based approaches to achieve real world positive business impact.

At SAE International for 12 years, he founded their first international subsidiary in China and was responsible for their Asia-Pacific operations. He worked with numerous OEMs and suppliers for consulting and training projects and technical standards development.

Core Competencies

  • Developing strategic insights using voice of the customer, scanning and analysis.
  • Product and business development using systems-based approaches.
  • Results-based multi-cultural relationship building.
  • Technology scouting and strategic roadmapping.
  • Team member coaching and development.

Martin Stadelmeyer /

Managing Director and Partner

Education / University

Bachelor in International Business Administration, Technical University Nuremberg, Germany

Language Skills

English, Spanish, German, Mandarin

Career

  • Daimler AG, Head of Procurement Daimler Trucks & Busses Mexico, Monterrey, Mexico
  • Daimler AG, Head of Procurement and Supplier Quality Mercedes-Benz Cars Mexico, Monterrey, Mexico
  • Daimler AG, Strategic Project Manager “Sprinter” China, Fuzhou, China
  • MBtech Consulting, Senior Associate Procurement and Supply Chain, Stuttgart, Germany

Specific Industry Experience

Mr. Stadelmeyer was born and educated in Germany. He started his career in Volkswagen Procurement in Germany and China. For the past 12 years he worked for Daimler AG in different functions.

Starting at Mbtech Consulting as a Senior Associate on projects in Beijing, Detroit and Stuttgart mainly focused on Localization projects in China. Followed by four years in contributing to the greenfield plant set-up for MB Vans in Fuzhou China. Functions during that time included Localization Director, Strategic project lead for the “Sprinter” in China as well as Turnaround Management.

Next he took an assignment in Monterrey, Mexico to increase the Supplier Quality, Logistics and Procurement operations of Mercedes-Benz Cars in Mexico from 5 to 25 employees and establishing a new business model with clear supply chain responsibility for the local staff. His last assignment before joining AMBE Engineering as Managing Director Mexico was to lead Procurement of Daimler Trucks and Bus Mexico.

Core Competencies

  • Project Management (planning, budgeting, risk analysis, multi- site project communication, task tracking).
  • Procurement (Setting up und running a world class team, establishing powerful commodity strategies, reducing overall cost to the company).
  • Supplier Quality (Setting up und running a world class team, achieving measurable quality improvements).

Horacio E. Saldivar /

Managing Director

Education / University

Business Diploma at Vanderbilt University USA, TN
Business Diploma at IPADE, Mexico
Bachelor in Industrial Engineering, IPN Mexico

Language Skills

Fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese, Japanese (Basic).

Career

  • Horacio counts with over 20 years of working experience at Nissan in the Alliance Purchasing Organization, he performed important Global leadership roles along with 3 overseas assignments in USA, Japan, Brazil; leading cost reduction activities for Vehicle Parts and Services, as well as New Models Sourcing and compliance on QCDDM of all vehicles, Commodity Strategy and optimizing value in the Supply Chain.
  • His last role before joining AMBE was Local Purchasing Head and Purchasing Program Management Director, Nissan Mexico.
  • Regional Supplier Account Manager, Interiors and Cockpit, Nissan Mexico, USA
  • Subdirector Purchasing Program Management, Nissan Mexico
  • Manager Purchasing Program Management, Nissan do Brazil
  • Regional Supplier Manager, Nissan Motor, Japan
  • Regional Supplier Manager, Nissan North America, MI-USA
  • Manager Interiors/Exterior Trim, Nissan Mexico

Specific Industry Experience

Horacio is native from Mexico City and educated as Industrial Engineer at Instituto Politecnico Nacional. Started his early career as Junior Buyer at a Tier 1 supplier in San Luis Potosi Mexico; followed by a Purchasing career at Nissan.

Horacio counts with over 20 years of working experience at Nissan in the Alliance Purchasing Organization, he performed important Global leadership roles along with 3 overseas assignments in USA, Japan, Brazil; leading cost reduction activities for Vehicle Parts and Services, as well as New Models Sourcing and compliance on QCDDM of all vehicles, Commodity Strategy and optimizing value in the Supply Chain. His last role before joining AMBE was Local Purchasing Head and Purchasing Program Management Director, Nissan Mexico.

Among his major contributions to Nissan are several Purchasing Strategies, i.e. Joint Venture Daimler-Nissan at COMPAS Common manufacturing plant, Depth Localization Tier1/N Midd Term Plan for Mexico operations and his last project related to New Free Trade Agreement (USMCA).

Core Competencies

  • Program Management (New Model Launch, Commodity strategy).
  • Negotiation, Cost Analysis, Benchmarking, Talent retention.
  • Supplier Capacity /Crisis Management, Supplier Performance QCDDM.
  • Experienced Purchasing Program Management skills with proven success on several platforms launched in USA, Mexico, Brazil and Japan.
  • Financial risk and Supplier Crisis Management.

Edgardo Manriquez /

Managing Director

Education / University

Mechanical Engineering USU Brazil
MSc. Materials Science Engineering IME Brazil
MBA Business Management FGV Brazil

Language Skills

German and English, Fluent; Spanish and Portuguese, Native

Career

Quality Engineer Mercedes Benz Brazil
Quality Supervisor Mercedes Benz Brazil
Quality Manager Mercedes Benz Brazil
Quality Senior Manager Mercedes Benz Brazil
Quality Senior Manager Daimler Hyundai Korea
Quality Senior Manager DaimlerChrysler China
Quality Senior Manager Mitsubishi Fuso Japan
Quality Senior Manager Mercedes Benz Brazil
LATAM Quality Director CNHI Brazil

Specific Industry Experience

Edgardo developed his professional career working for Mercedes Benz in Brazil for more than 30 years and worked in almost all quality related functions within the company. For 9 years he was a Quality General Manager in overseas assignments around Asia in projects with: Hyundai in Korea, Then moved to Beijing, China, working on the JV set up with FOTON Motor Corp. Finally, spent 5 years at Mitsubishi FUSO in Kawasaki Japan, supporting the quality turn around, and preparation of the quality organization, for the use of Daimler Powertrain components.

His last assignment at Mercedes Benz was as Head of Quality for the Trucks´s Business. During this period aimed to improve the product quality in line with the launch of the Euro 5 product renovation, and enhance the Brand Quality back to the leadership in the Brazilian Market: LIMES Project.

After that, became Quality Director at CNHI responsible for the LATAM region. Involved in the quality turn around and preparation for the launch of a new product portfolio of agricultural and construction machines. On the Iveco brand the product quality improvements and launch of Bus platforms and  Heavy-Duty Truck.

He has been part of AMBE Engineering for the last three years working in supplier crisis management, supporting Mercedes Benz with suppliers in Mexico and USA.
In 2021 took on the responsibilities of AMBE Operations in all South America.

Core Competencies

  • Customer Satisfaction improvements
  • Quality and Operations turn around, crisis management
  • Project Management and Business development
  • Supplier business and operation development
  • Warranty process and cost recovery

Sunderraman Natarajan /

Managing Director India

Education / University

B.E. (Eng.), Bnagalore Univ, India
M.S. (Manufacturing Management(, BITS Pilani, India

Language Skills

English, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, German

Career

  • Vice President, Autoone Engineering Services, Pune, India
  • General Manager , Alten India
  • General Manager, RLE India
  • Resource Manager, Faurecia India
  • Onsite Coordinator / Liaison, TATA Consultancy Services UK & USA
  • Design Leader, HAL India

Specific Industry Experience

An Engineering professional with 23 years of experience in Operations and Project Management;
Familiar with cross-cultural practices and international business protocols by living in highly challenging markets of UK and USA.

  • Responsible for automotive client base in India, Germany and USA – Auto OEM and Tier-1
  • Closely associated with Engineering & captive centers
  • Developed healthy supplier network to have right personnel ON TIME
  • Responsible for developing domestic business – Daimler, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, Renault Nissan, Faurecia, Lear
  • Automotive Product Design – Trims, Steering & Suspension, Latch, Lighting, Seating
  • Aerospace Product Design – Flight Controls, Structures, Landing Gear

Core Competencies

  • Sales & Business Development
  • Project, Program Management & Operations Management (PMO)
  • PMO – weekly metrics, global reporting, forecasting, budget activity as well as mid-term planning to Product Group and higher management.
  • Vendor Sourcing, Evaluation and Negotiations
  • Workforce Planning, Human Resource Management, Talent Acquisition

Tim Lamantia /

Project Director

Education / University

B.S. Welding Engineering at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio

Certificate of Achievement – Dale Carnegie Leadership Program

Language Skills

English

Career

  • Nissan – 30 years in varying roles from engineering, manufacturing, maintenance, and purchasing
  • Senior Manager Purchasing Vendor Tooling
  • Senior Manager Purchasing Strategy & Business Continuity Planning (BCP)
  • Senior Manager Purchasing Raw Materials
  • Manager Raw Materials Purchasing
  • Manager Line Parts Purchasing
  • Senior Buyer Purchasing
  • Operations Manager Stamping Tool & Die and Maintenance
  • Operations Manager Body Assembly
  • Manager Body Assembly Maintenance Engineering

Specific Industry Experience

  • Sourcing of 3 Major, 1 Major/Minor & 4 Minor projects within 1 FY year in Tooling
  • BCP supporting natural and manmade disasters including project management
  • Lead on Supplier Restructuring group managing financially distressed suppliers
  • Raw Materials cost reduction savings of $82M for a 14% CR
  • Stamping plant P&L management, global planning, benchmarking, and supply chain/vendor support Stamping facility maintenance department and Tool & Die maintenance
  • Body plant – Implement NPW (Nissan Production Way) to optimize operator and machine efficiencies with kaizen, poka-yoke, Gemba Kanri, QC story, as well as other management methods

Core Competencies

  • Industries: Automotive; Consumer Products; Nuclear Equipment
  • Certifications: Nissan V-Pilot Certified (Six Sigma Program comparable)
  • Skills: Sourcing and contingency strategies for parts and tooling; Cost drivers; Benchmarking; Lean manufacturing; Problem solving; Ability to work under pressure; Analytical thinking; Data driven

Karla E. Beltran /

Project Director

Education / University

Bachelor in Mechanical & Administration Engineering, UANL, Mexico

Language Skills

Spanish (native), English (fluent).

Career

  • Karla counts with over 18 years of working experience as a high level executive specialized in Global Quality, Quality Management Systems, Supplier Development, Cost Reduction, Operational Excellence and Innovation in business models between corporations.
  • She has been leading Global Improvement Projects, Quality Management Systems, Supplier Development and creation of Strategic alliances with suppliers in automotive and home appliances market (LATAM, Europe, Asia, Middle East)
  • Objective oriented, leadership, change management and multicultural and innovation focus.
  • Her last role before joining AMBE was Global Supplier Development Manager at Metalsa (HQ offices).
  • Corporate Supplier Development Chief at Grupo Gonher
  • Supply Chain and Foreign Trade Coordinator at Cluster Automotriz de Nuevo Leon
  • Quality Assurance Manager at LEGO Operaciones Mexico
  • Plant Quality Manager & Continuous Improvement Manager at Jones Plastic & Engineering
  • Plant Quality Manager at New Process Steel (before Bay-Mex)

Specific Industry Experience

  • Karla is native from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon and educated as Mechanical & Administrator Engineer at Uversidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon. Started his early career as Integrated QMS at a Tier2 supplier in Monterrey, Mexico to continue with Quality specialization
  • Experienced Global Quality skills to develop quality procedures & policies in Mexico & US
  • Experienced Global Sourcing and design business model to Supplier Development on Mexico, US, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, China, Thailand & India based on Risk Management Protocols

Core Competencies

  • IATF 16949 Lead Auditor (QMS & Supply Chain Management Guidelines such as MMOG/LE).
  • Effective Negotiation, TCO analysis,
  • Certified Supply Chain Professional

Alejandro Veraza /

Sales Director

Education / University

Postgraduate Diploma in Automotive Engineering, FH Ulm, Germany.

Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering, UDLA, Puebla, Mexico

CAPM from PMI 2009

Language Skills

Fluent in Spanish, English and German

Career

  • Alejandro has over 30 years experience in the Automotive Industry with management leadership roles in USA and Mexico.
  • Director of the Automotive Cluster in SLP, Mexico.
  • His role before joining AMBE was Country Managing Director for TI Automotive in Mexico.
  • Car Assembly Manager at Volkswagen de Mexico.
  • Full Car process Industrial Manager at Volkswagen de Mexico
  • Production Manager ,at Continental Mexico
  • Quality Director at ZF Sachs, Mexico
  • Purchasing Manager, LuK Inc. USA
  • Manufactururing and Iind Engineering Manager, ITT Automotive , MI-USA

Specific Industry Experience

  • Alejandro is native from Puebla, Mex; has developed an extensive career with German and American companies, living in USA and Germany for long periods during his industrial experience, he has had exposure to all three business cultures.
  • During the assignments in Germany, Alejandro developed the product and process planning knowledge, while in USA and Mexico he got extensive experience in the start and transfer of different international projects, as well as the launching of greenfield facilities.
  • In current activities Alejandro has the exposure to the industrial development of the Automotive Industry under the USMCA business environment.

Core Competencies

  • Program Management (Facilities and new projects starts).
  • Strategic Planning, Benchmarking, Lean Manufacting and 6Sigma approaches.
  • Manufactiruing planning and execution.

Felix Schaar /

Sales Director

Education / University

Bachelor in Marketing, Universidad de las Américas Puebla UDLAP

Language Skills

Fluent in Spanish, English and German

Career

  • His last role before joining AMBE was General Manager at SELB Consulting de México
  • Team Coordinator in Launch Control, SELB Consulting de México
  • Group Leader Assembly line, Audi México
  • International Human Resources Business Partner, Audi México
  • International Human Resources Business Partner, Volkswagen de México

Specific Industry Experience

  • Felix was born in Germany and came to Puebla at a young age with his family, after studying at the UDLAP he started his career at Volkswagen de México as a Sales Trainer for the local car delearships.
  • After that he continued at Volkswagen in Human Resources supporting the international HR department with the Impat/Expat program, followed by 3 years at Audi México contributing to the the greenfield plant ramp-up in San Jose Chiapa, Puebla.
  • Then he took a new challenge as a Group leader in the assembly line for the model Q5, were he started to get involved with the production.
  • Starting at SELB Consulting as the Team Coordinator he focused on project control and support for OEM’s and their supplier development, his last role at SELB was as the General Manager, were he had to oversee the daily operations of the business, customer acquisition and create new business strategies.

Core Competencies

  • Human Resources strategies (Intercultural communication, Talent retention, Hiring strategies)
  • Project Management (ramp-up, building up a leading team to support Quality, Logistic, Planning and Mechanical related projects)
  • Sales and Business Development (Customer Service, Client Acquisition, Negotiation)

Certifications

All AMBE team members have an average of 25 years of relevant industry experience. Their expertise and experience is diverse and complementary, yielding an uncommon overall team strength.

Master Black Belts
VSM
Red X Masters
Project Management Professionals
Lean Manufacturing Masters
ISO 9001 Internal Auditors
IATF /16949 Internal Auditors

VDA 6.3 Internal Audit Experience.
CSL3 (“FCA”) Certified
Q1 (“Ford”) Certified Experience.
BIQS (“GM”) Certified
Toyota Production Manufacturing System (TPMS) Certified
Other OEM Quality Standards

AMBE Engineering is a privately owned, ISO 9001-2008 registered company, specialist in providing a complete spectrum of Quality solutions to manufacturing companies in the automotive, aerospace and chemical industries. We are also certified as a minority owned business by the Michigan Minority Business Development Council and as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.
Ambe Engineering has been certified for professional Engineering with ISO 9001 (US Office), ISO 9001 (Brazil Office) and we target to achieve the ISO 9001 (Mexico) at the end of 2017.

With more than 100 team members in the US and response teams available globally, we are an award winning ISO 9001:2015, dual-certified W/MBE diverse supplier that brings expertise you can count on and outcomes you can measure.
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