Wheel servicing equipment manufacturer Hunter has launched the fourth generation of the Revolution tyre changer. The top of the range, fully automatic changer has been upgraded to suit the needs of high-volume tyre shops, according to the brand’s UK distributor Pro-Align.
Maha Group managing director Dr Thomas Aubel has resigned at his own request effective 10 November 2020. As managing director, Aubel has been responsible for the company’s sales Germany, sales international and Maha Service Center since October 2018. He has been a member of Maha Maschinenbau Haldenwang’s advisory board since December 2017.
Nexion SpA has agreed to acquire Kompunet Informatica, a leading software and data provider in the automotive sector. As a result, Kompunet will become part of the Nexion Group. Kompunet CEO Antonio Russo will remain in the group carrying out the Kompunet projects.
Absolute Alignment is preparing for the continued impacts of the pandemic and Brexit by increasing stock in order to ensure customers have an uninterrupted service despite the uncertainties ahead.
The Farnborough-based outfit has doubled again its amount of storage space for stock, employed further members of staff, and is preparing for Brexit by increasing the number of wheel aligners that will be readily available to customers in early 2021. Despite the pandemic, the demand for its wheel alignment equipment is higher than ever, making 2020 a record year for the company.
Garage equipment brand Cemb has launched the Argos Drivethru, which the company says “detects in a few seconds all the incoming vehicles that show anomalies and need adjustments”. Argos Drivethru features a complete wheel alignment check, including partial Toe and steering wheel angle.
It isn’t news to say that the tyre and autocentre sector is becoming an increasingly technological business. However, two recent trends confirm the need for garages to be properly equipped – increasing electric vehicle take-up and, in the short term, booming MOT demand.
In January 2019, we predicted a 5 per cent increase in MOTs during the course of the year. One calculation suggested this would work out as 2.6 million extra MOT tests during 2019, which equates to something like 50 extra MOTs per site per month. The latest DVSA numbers suggest that MOTs actually went up by an estimated 6.2 per cent last year, rising from 29.560 million in 2018 to 31.405 million last year. So far DVSA have only released data relating to the first nine months of 2019, so the final figure could go down, but in all likelihood it now looks like 5 per cent was a conservative estimate.
The Philips brand launched into the workshop lighting sector a decade ago, having extensively researched what workshop professionals needed by way of lighting. The range of Philips lights for the workshop has long included a headlamp – in addition to the Philips penlights, handhelds, multi-unit systems, under-bonnet and stand lights. Lumileds, who are responsible for developing, manufacturing and marketing all of Philips Automotive products, are constantly researching the market and developing new products – the latest of which is the new Philips HL22M motion-sensing, rechargeable headlamp.
Mahle and Daimler AG have settled an encoded OBD access deal for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. As a result, users of the MAHLE TechPRO or Brain Bee Connex diagnostic tools can now retrieve vehicle data via the Cyber Security feature. Security certificates are obtained by accessing the Daimler portal with an annual subscription from Mahle Or Brain Bee. As a special promotion, Mahle is offering holders of an active license free access until the end of the year.
With mobile tyre fitment take-up increasing since the pandemic, E-Cube equipment is aiming to become an “essential part of a tyre retailers services in the UK and Europe”. However, while things have been developing positively with the E-Cube in general, the coronavirus pandemic has is said to have “temporarily delayed” manufacturer TMG’s intention to fully launch E-Cube into the UK tyre market. Nevertheless, the final preparations regarding the distribution and servicing of the unit are being made now with a view to an early 2021 launch.
The development of modern car technology has accelerated as fast as ever before and manufacturers producing the systems that allow workshops to service these vehicles effectively have also developed at a fast rate. In some cases, the development has been a technological necessity needed to keep pace with vehicle development, but in other cases, the development is driven by the vision to provide a better, more efficient servicing solution.
Sice has launched a new website after analyzing visitor statistics from the last few years. In response, the new Sice.it site been rationalized allowing “more intuitive navigation between the various sections, giving priority to products”.
On 10 October Texa president Bruno Vianello inaugurated the company’s new German branch in Obersulm, north of Stuttgart. Covering more than 3,000 square metres, the new location triples the dimensions of the old premises in Langenbrettach, which had been operational since 2002.
It isn’t news to say that the tyre and autocentre sector is becoming an increasingly technological business. However, two recent trends confirm the need for garages to be properly equipped – increasing electric vehicle take-up and, in the short term, booming MOT demand.
This article, including a chart to support the analysis, appears in full in the November edition of Tyres & Accessories magazine. Not yet a subscriber? You can change that here.
The increasing use of smartphones in everyday life is reflected in the growing popularity of tablets in modern workshops. Sales of Android devices in particular are booming because they are considered to be fast, affordable, and – due to the multitude of apps available – versatile. As a result, Hella Gutmann Solutions (HGS) is launching mega macs ONE, a new system, which transforms a tablet with Android 6.0 or higher and minimum 7-inch screen, into a fully-fledged diagnostic tool.
Maha
Nexion
Absolute Alignment
Cemb
S. Hermann & F. Richter; Pixabay
Winntec
Mahle
TMG
Pro Align
Sice
Texa
Hella Gutmann Solutions