Tag: garages
Top Technician 2020 round 1 opens
Top Technician has returned for 2020, and round one is now open online. The garage sector competition has been running since 2002, with thousands of people testing their skills in a fun, competitive environment. For the winners, the competition has life-changing potential, according to the organiser, as it puts them on a national stage. Opportunities often follow.
Aftermarket of tomorrow — what does the electric motor mean for independent workshops?
The advent of e-mobility is often accompanied by uncertainty for workshops. How much maintenance does an electric motor need? What sort of repair volume can be expected? Which are the common models and voltage levels? And how can workshops obtain the information needed to ensure safe, efficient, and fast maintenance and repairs? This is where Mahle Aftermarket comes in, as a 360° solutions provider with OEM expertise.
Bosch acquiring Unipart’s Autoparts Garage Programmes
Bosch is set to acquire Unipart Group’s (UG) Automotive Aftermarket workshop programmes in the UK. These programmes include the Unipart Car Care Centres (UCCC), a network of independently run garages, the KiS online garage management software, which helps to organise all daily workshop activities, and the Unipartner Consumer App. It is planned for all existing customer contracts to be transferred to Bosch. According to Bosch, “It has been agreed that the purchase price will not be disclosed”.
Survey: Mechanics intimidate UK motorists
Recent research has found that 58 per cent of motorists found it daunting to engage with garages and mechanics. Conventionally seen as inconvenient and commonly suspected of being overpriced, automotive repair garages and mechanics grew a reputation of inconsistency in the industry, the ClickMechanic research found. Furthermore, the majority of motorists said they would put off work until the last minute. Looking closely at its customer database, 54 per cent of drivers state that they would either wait until issues reoccurred, or until the vehicle was no longer functioning.
Cheltenham trade show debut ‘a major success,’ says The Parts Alliance
The Parts Alliance has heralded its third trade show of 2019 as “a major success.” Held on 5 September, it was the first time the trade show had been to Cheltenham Racecourse, following the format of previous events. Attended by representatives from nearby branches and suppliers, The Parts Alliance’s trade show aimed to provide lively and informative seminars and technical content. MANN Filters, Yuasa and Comma all made such presentations in Cheltenham. The show also presented the opportunity to enter competitions and mingle with special guests Fuzz Townshend, Matt Neal and Daniel Rowbottom.
Automechanika Garage of the Year open for entries
Automechanika Birmingham’s Garage of the Year competition is now open for entries. Sponsored by the Independent Garage Association (IGA) and run in partnership with Garage Wire, the competition is open to garages from across the UK and Ireland. Entries can be made online at Garage Wire, but must be submitted before the deadline of 26 April 2019.
Automechanika Birmingham 2019 to launch ‘The Big UK Garage Event’
Automechanika Birmingham 2019 is giving independent garages a boost by announcing the launch of its new Big UK Garage Event at this summer’s show, providing more benefits to thousands of garages planning to visit.
Euro Car Parts providing FiberFix for repairers
Euro Car Parts has added the US FiberFix brand to its consumables portfolio. The product, which claims to be ten times stronger than duct tape, is now available to repairers and bodyshops through ECP’s 300-plus branches nationwide.
Bridgestone, German workshop chain pitstop strengthen collaboration
Bridgestone has increased its strategic cooperation with the German workshop chain pitstop. As part of a minority stake in Kulas Holding GmbH, which holds 100 per cent in pitstop.de GmbH, Bridgestone and pitstop plan to cooperate closely in sectors of mobility solutions, tyre and workshop services to open new markets. The targeted investment is subject to German antitrust approval.
TecAlliance checklists designed to help workshops optimise tyre changing process
Despite the fact that here in the UK and Ireland there is not a culture of changing from summer to winter tyres at the end of the season, tyre related problems do increase during the colder, wetter months. In order to help workshops to be ready to tackle these potential issues, TecAlliance has developed a tyre change checklist that provides optimal support and offers customers maximum transparency. Another important issue is the installation and configuration of tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), for which it now offers even more comprehensive information.
Electric vehicles cost 23 per cent less to maintain than petrols, says Cap HPI
Electric vehicles cost an average 23 per cent less to service and maintain over three years/60,000 miles than petrol models, research from Cap HPI has found.
Repxpert team supports long-standing Schaeffler customer
Repxpert Alistair Mason recently piloted one of Schaeffler's technical support vehicles to Oldfields Garage in Leominster, a workshop that has been fitting Schaeffler products successfully for a number of years, in order to provide some training to its dedicated team of technicians.
Tyre businesses need to keep pace with megatrends – GiPA UK
Quentin Le Hetet, general manager of GiPA UK, presented a whistle-stop tour of current global automotive megatrends at the Tyre Industry Conference 2018, focusing on why tyre businesses need to keep on top of developments, despite the challenge posed by the pace of change.
Schaeffler presents ‘garage of the future’ at Automechanika Frankfurt
Schaeffler has presented a variety of innovative mixed and augmented reality exhibits at Automechanika Frankfurt 2018, all designed to complement the show’s theme of ‘Tomorrow’s Service and Mobility’.
UK’s largest online car repair marketplace secures £4m investment
The UK’s largest online car repair marketplace has secured £4 million from investors including Shell Ventures, Sir Trevor Chinn, Active Partners and Venrex Investment Management.