Autoparts Garage Equipment (AGE) has expanded its new website, GarageEquipmentUK.com, offering workshops a wide range of parts and equipment, as well as a full comprehensive service offering, overseeing the designing, planning and installation of vehicle workshops. The website features an Equipment section with various product categories, including vehicle lifts, wheel alignment, emissions testers and diagnostic machines.
GSF Car Parts reports sales so far in 2017 from the Garage Essentials workshop equipment tooling programme have reached record levels, citing several factors.
Snap-on has opened a new training school at its King’s Lynn headquarters for its Snap-on, Hofmann, Sun and John Bean brands. The new facility includes a dedicated classroom and a fully functioning workshop, giving attendees full access and the chance to get ‘hands on’ with the manufacturer’s latest diagnostic technology and garage equipment. Covering around 250 square metres, the workshop features a MOT Automated Test Lane (ATL) bay, high definition 3D wheel alignment, a number of tyre changers and wheel balancers, as well as air conditioning service units, and the full portfolio of Snap-on diagnostic tools.
Visitors to October’s Brityrex International exhibition will have the opportunity to catch up with the latest and most advanced garage and workshop equipment from a number of leading specialist suppliers. Among them will be Hofmann Megaplan, who will be unveiling and demonstrating a number of innovative new products at the Manchester show. These include the megaline Ssence 3D Wheel Aligner, the latest generation alignment system, which uses 3D ‘Camera and Target’ technology. The Ssence is fast and easy to operate, thanks to software designed to make life as easy for the operator as possible by minimising unnecessary procedures. The system is available in two versions, the economically-priced 400, or the ultra-advanced 600, with 32-inch display and automatic camera bar.
Hofmann Power Weight has released a new black coloured knock-on weight 161. The company says the weight is a tried and tested top-seller, but the new addition of black powder coating means the zinc weight appears almost invisible when fitted. It adds that the weight’s “premium coating” gives the weight “optimum corrosion resistance”.
Wegmann Automotive – the world market leader for wheel balancing weights – took the opportunity presented by Autopromotec to launch its Perfect Equipment brand into the European markets. Perfect Equipment brings with it over 75 years of experience and known in the North American market as the largest US brand manufacturer of wheel weights.
Although originally scheduled to conclude at the end of May, Hofmann says its Spring/Summer collection will, depending on stock availability, will be available until this autumn. The promotion features a number of special offers for workshops. First up is the Geolite V3D wheel aligner, which Hofmann says delivers fast and accurate real-time alignment measurements and a profitable revenue stream. Workshops can now purchase a Geolite V3D for just £8,099, saving £3,400 on the list price of £11,499. The 3D aligner is also available as a twin pack with a four post, four tonne electro-hydraulic lift, with front turn plates and in-fill paddles worth £645 included, for only £14,499, a saving of almost £6,000 on the list price of £20,494. With the UK’s pothole ridden roads causing misalignment on millions of vehicles, Hofmann says its many garages make over £3,000 per month through its 3D wheel alignment technology.
Renown German brand Hofmann has reintroduced a number of lifts into its line-up. The products, previously known under the Europa name, have been reintroduced to complement the current range of electro-mechanical products manufactured at Hofmann’s European factory. The lift range, which includes both electro-hydraulic and the EML 3000 two-post electro-mechanical lift, is available from all Hofmann distributors.
Garage equipment manufacturer Hofmann has introduced the next generation of its Geoliner wheel aligner series. Two new models have been introduced, the Geoliner 670 Gen 4 and Geoliner 680 Gen4; both aligners feature Hofmann’s icon-based Pro 42 software, a ‘one-touch’ programme that is designed to make the most effective use of the information required by the technician carrying out the alignment procedure.
Tyre equipment specialist Hofmann Megaplan recently introduced a new ‘lever-less’ tyre changer, which the company claims is the best priced, premium quality leverless tyre changer ever produced. The megamount 700 ‘evo’ utilises the hugely popular ‘evolution’ leverless device that is employed as an optional upgrade on other megamount models from Hofmann Megaplan. In addition, Hofmann Megaplan says a 24-inch turntable, the inclusion of ‘megafit 2’ assist arm and hands-free ‘Power Out’ bead breaker ensure the new model is equipped to cope in any environment. Utilising the chassis from the ubiquitous megamount 702XL, the 700 achieves an attractive price tag by removing some of the luxury features associated with its bigger brother.
Following the launch of Hofmann Power Weight’s type 380 adhesive weight fitted with the new Speedliner strip in June, the company has taken the decision that all HPW adhesive weights will now carry this patented adhesive strip.
Hofmann Power Weight has shared some details of its plans to exhibit at the Essen Motor Show from 1 – 9 December 2012. Amongst other things, automobile enthusiasts will be able to purchase the appropriate adhesive weight for their wheel rims from the Hofmann stand. Exhibiting at the 2012 show will be Hofmann’s first appearance at the event, which is seen as a key meeting point for the tuning fraternity.
Balancing weight specialist Hofmann Power Weight has unleashed its new website. The site, now up and running in both English and German language variants at www.hofmann-powerweight.de, is said to provide everything that the site visitor needs to know on the subject of wheel balancing and the Hofmann brand.
On 16 July, Ford presented Hofmann Power Weight with its Q1 Award in recognition of the quality of the balance weights supplied to Ford and the reliability of Hofmann’s delivery. The Q1 Award is the highest designation Ford gives its suppliers, and is awarded solely to suppliers who satisfy the car manufacturer’s strict requirements in terms of quality, on-time delivery and material management, whilst at the same time achieving a high technical standard.
Snap-on Equipment’s extensive Hofmann range of wheel alignment equipment could generate a net income of over £30,000 per year even given conservative throughput expectations, according to the company’s recent field research. Snap-on says its range accommodates any workshop and level of service volume, while the leading European manufacturer of garage equipment also offers wheel alignment service expertise and aftersales care. Its most recent machines feature the latest full 3D four wheel alignment technology.
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