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Maha UKNorthern Ireland MOT crisis cost DVA £3.9 million, Lifts were run up to 8-times longer than designed
When cracks were found in vehicle lifts belonging to Northern Ireland’s MOT body, Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), all of its 55 lifts and therefore the country’s centrally run MOT system came to a standstill. A little over a year later, the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee published its “Report on Driver and Vehicle Agency 2019-20”, which examined how vehicle testing came to be suspended due to problems with virtually all of the DVA’s vehicle lifts.
Hybrid Tune praises MAHA MSR 500 four-wheel drive performance dynamometer
MahaThe owner of engine management specialist, Hybrid Tune, has hailed MAHA’s MSR 500 as the “benchmark” following the installation of the four-wheel drive performance dynamometer in his new workshop in Suffolk.
Previously, Sam Weller and his team put cars through their paces on a two-wheel drive dynamometer; however, once he discovered the impact of MAHA’s four-wheel drive equivalent during a no-obligation demonstration in 2019, he was quickly persuaded to make the investment and upgrade.
MAHA UK MD on pandemic and Brexit: We prepared, adapted and business is strong as a result
MAHADespite some businesses being forced to lock their doors, garage equipment and testing equipment supplier MAHA remained open in-line with lockdown rules and while admitting the early stages of the pandemic caused uncertainty, the managing director of the UK subsidiary of the German-based company, Neil Ebbs, said trading figures had “exceeded expectations”.
Maha Group MD steps down
MahaMaha 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.
Winntec adds 5 products to its lifting equipment range
WinntecNetherlands based Winntec recently added five new products to their already extensive range – The Winntec 420333 Jack, 420222 Jack and 20T and 30T industrial presses along with the Winntec M411355 Motionline lightweight jack.
E-CUBE introduce a mobile tyre servicing unit for all budget levels
TMGThe maker of the E-CUBE mobile tyre fitting unit has introduced a new service tailoring the unit to various budgets. The Netherlands’ Technomarketing Group (TMG Group) has also launched a new commercial vehicle design and layout to increase safety and ergonomics for mobile tyre technicians. Ralph Dubbeldam, managing director of TMG Group says: “Our ultimate objective is to always make sure that there is a E-CUBE configuration for every customer type. It starts with the base model and depending on your activities you can simply add features related to communication, recording, data sharing, solar charging plus a lot more.
Machine Mart releases Clarke 1 tonne portable gantry crane
ClarkeThe Clarke CWGC1000 1 tonne gantry crane is portable and adjustable (working height 2520-3600mm) and quick to assemble/disassemble for easy transportation/storage. With a max load of 1000kg, it provides a heavy lifting solution for garages and workshops.
Nussbaum Custom Lifts GmbH takes over Otto Nußbaum GmbH & Co. KG
NussbaumFollowing the news that Nussbaum had got into financial difficulties due to the costs of restructuring process that had been going on since 2014, high repayment charges, a slump in demand and the effects of the COVID19 pandemic, its future has now apparently been secured. Our German sister publication Neue Reifenzeitung’s online portal reifepresse.de reports that after the bankruptcy of parent company Otto Nußbaum GmbH & Co. KG, the insolvency administrator Dr. Dirk Pehl of Schultze & Braun sold the business to the newly-founded Nussbaum Custom Lifts GmbH effective 1 July 2020, which is also connected to the Nussbaum family. As a result, around 220 employees will be transferred to the new company and the firm’s production sites in Kehl are to be retained.
How Pro Align is helping garages revive margins post-lockdown
Pro-AlignRoughly 18 months after Clive Seabrook joined Pro-Align, Tyres & Accessories caught up with the relatively new CEO in order to find out more about how the right equipment and services can add value to garage businesses, especially in the post-lockdown environment.
Challenging times need innovative solutions, so Pro Align responded to the pressures brought about by lockdown by seeing by choosing not to approach the circumstances as a commercial opportunity, but rather by responding to the customer instead:
MOT exemptions extended to a year in Northern Ireland
Drivers in Northern Ireland whose MOTs are due during the pandemic shutdown will enjoy a one-year exemption, a Stormont minister said. It would not be possible to accommodate the backlog as well as conduct normal business at testing centres, infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon said. Drivers will instead apply for MOTs as normal next year. The announcement caps a year of turmoil for MOT testers in the region. In January, all tests were suspended due to faults with vehicle lifts used in MOT centres. Anti-Coronavirus lockdown measures had already led to further extensions for the MOT exemption.
TMG’s E-CUBE enabling shift towards mobile tyre servicing
TMGThough its plans for the first quarter UK launch of the E-CUBE mobile tyre servicing system has been interrupted, Netherlands-based TechnoMarketing Group (TMG) is working to promote its latest product innovation. The compact mobile tyre servicing unit has already been adopted by firms in Europe, North America, and South East Asia.
NI MOT Crisis: Minister confirms installation of two new lifts
Two new MOT lifts are being installed in DVA test centres in a bid to increase MOT capacity in Northern Ireland. The MOT process ground to a halt on 27 January 2020 when more 85 per cent of DVA lifts were deemed unsafe. Nevertheless, replacing MOT lifts is still likely to take months.
Winntec to present ‘groundbreaking’ garage equipment trio
Dutch garage equipment manufacturer Winntec will showcase a series of new additions to its growing product portfolio from its booth (Hall 1, B19) at Reifen 2016. The Winntec Y412500 2.5 ton aluminium floor jack combines a futuristic design with Winntec’s Turbo Lifter pumping technology. Its latest jack, the Winntec Y420330, features a compact yet fully functional design, while an upgrade to Winntec’s Wheel Assist will increase the range’s functionality, the company states.
Hofmann Megaplan launches apprenticeship scheme
Cambridgeshire garage machinery firm Hofmann Megaplan has launched an apprenticeship scheme. The provider of wheel aligners, lifts and a broad range of other equipment and tools said that the initiative represented a longer term approach in training up inexperienced individuals receptive to Hofmann Megaplan’s “way of doing business.” The company added that “finding new recruits who can demonstrate the passion and commitment to our brand and philosophy has proven difficult, as those coming from competitors or other sectors within garage equipment often have their own set ways and opinions.”
