Automotive aftermarket supplier First Line Ltd has introduced 40 new-to-range products across its Steering and Suspension, Cooling, Cables, and Braking categories. The company said the new additions represent the company’s commitment to update its key product ranges regularly, increasing the speed with which it brings new parts to the aftermarket.
UK automotive parts distributor, Partbusters, has made a generous donation to the Great Ormond Street Hospital, raising approximately £1,500 for the charity. The figure included £600 from takings from the company’s coffee machine, which was then doubled by Ricky Bassi, director and founder of Partbusters, before other members of the Partbusters team rallied round to raise a fantastic £1500 for the charity.
Recognising the need to invest in the next generation of technicians, Dayco is expanding its training programme to reach out to students still in technical college, with a series of events starting at Engineering Innovation Centre, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire on 26 April. It is also encouraging other colleges to make contact if they too would like to take advantage of this free educational opportunity.
Braking specialist Juratek Ltd has acquired Bradford-based independent distributor Bettaparts Ltd. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Bettaparts will remain at its Bradford site, serving its existing customer base and Juratek has said that there are no plans to distribute its own branded products through the new site as the companies will operate separately.
Excel Automotive Group (EAG) has implemented MAM’s Warehouse Management System (WMS) to improve efficiency and accuracy in its warehouse logistics. The WMS optimises the flow of products through the EAG warehouse in Leeds, managing all activities from goods receiving and putaway to picking, packing and shipment. It also includes a hand-held PDA and scanner that handles all data input and communicates wirelessly with the main software application, where a dashboard provides an instant snapshot of current activities.
ATR International AG, one of the world’s largest international trade cooperations for automotive spare parts, has won a new shareholder in the United Kingdom. The German-based company reports that Nottinghamshire-based Digraph Transport Supplies Ltd. Joined the network at the start of this year.
Excel Automotive Group (EAG) has been appointed as exclusive distributor of the Celect range of brake pads and discs within the UK. With an extensive range of brake pads and brake discs in their Leeds-based distribution centre, EAG says it is able to offer “a braking range that has been developed to provide the marketplace with an affordable, full specification offering”.
The continuing popularity of Denso Aftermarket’s webinar programme has once again been proved, as the original equipment (OE) component and system supplier has added yet more modules and dates to its free technical training platform.
Hella and the Minth Group have announced a joint venture, which will be funded equally. The company, Hella Minth Jiaxing Automotive Parts Co. Ltd., will promote the development, production and marketing of radomes (absorbent covers for radar systems) and illuminated logos. It has a production facility in Jiaxing and will have an international scope, with an initial focus on the Chinese market. Subject to the approval of the relevant antitrust authorities, the joint venture is scheduled to start operations in Autumn 2020.
Introduced in response to the coronavirus crisis to provide technicians with ongoing training during the restrictions imposed by the country’s lockdown measures, Denso Aftermarket’s webinar programme has proved immensely popular. As a result, alongside the original air conditioning and thermal management modules, which will remain, new product categories will join them as the company shares its wealth of technical knowledge derived from decades of original equipment design and production experience.
SMP Europe has appointed Wayne Hodgkisson as its new sales director. Hodgkisson has previously overseen the company’s tier one sales strategy, where he was successful in bringing further growth into the business, the company states. In his new position he will oversee the entire sales department with a key focus on supporting growth with customers and buying groups, as well as tapping into new opportunities.
Following the successful launch of its LuK clutch step-by-step replacement guides on the Repxpert online technical portal in March, Schaeffler UK is now adding more detailed installation guides – this time covering INA belt systems.
FIGIEFA recently conducted a survey open to independent automotive spare parts distributors to assess the impact of COVID-19 on their operations and what was needed to help them recover.
Hoppecke Industrial Batteries has appointed Stuart Browne as general manager. Having joined Hoppecke UK in 2015 as service director, Browne was promoted to operations director-sales and service in January last year. This specially created role was a significant move tied into the company’s decision to forge closer links between its sales and service divisions to enhance customer support.
Denso Aftermarket has released a comprehensive new-to-range update, covering thermal system, spark plug, wiper blade and fuel pump component categories. More than 70 new references are spread among the product groups, which increases the choice available to distributors and technicians, and expands Denso’s UK and Ireland vehicle parc coverage.
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Denso
Denso
SMP Europe
Schaeffler
Hoppecke
Denso