Chassis & Cab Specialists Limited, based in Leigh, Greater Manchester upgraded their chassis and wheel alignment equipment two years ago and say the investment has easily paid for itself, while many of their commercial vehicle customers are seeing improved tyre life.
On 2 July Cemb S.p.A., the leading balancing machines and vibration analysis systems manufacturer, announced that it had acquired M&B Engineering, an important player in garage equipment production. Cemb reports that it is beginning “the internal production of tyre changers” as a result of the purchase. None of the financial details associated with the transaction have yet been revealed.
Absolute Alignment supplies Bluetooth 3D technology in order to “future proof the four-wheel alignment industry”, according to the company. Indeed Absolute Alignment bills its offer as “the most competitively priced 3D wheel aligner on the market”, adding that it not only gives a full reading within two minutes but also saves time relating to wheel clamp fitment.
Garage equipment manufacturer Cemb has announced that is presenting some recently-develop upgrades to its Argos machine at Autopromtec. According to the company, the improvements have made it “even faster and more efficient”. Argos software now recognizes vehicle’s license plate, automatically selecting relevant specs and starting the measuring process. As a result, wheel alignment is even faster. Indeed, it reportedly takes just five seconds from the vehicle’s arrival to getting results.
Four wheel alignment technology provider Absolute Alignment has tripled stock levels over the last three months in preparation for Brexit. The Farnborough-based company states that it has ensured that all wheel alignment equipment featured on the Absolute Alignment website will still be available for next day delivery throughout the spring and not subject to any delays in reaching customers.
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.
Wheel alignment equipment supplier Absolute Alignment has announced its first Absolute Alignment Approved Motorsport Centres in the UK. More than 20 workshops are in the company’s new network, which it says is “dedicated to providing the best in race car servicing and set-up.”
For garages looking to increase the number of revenue-generating tasks they can complete, the increased efficiency of their equipment is of paramount importance. Most directly, changing a tyre more quickly and safely means more customers can be served – and of course billed. But the latest changer from Hunter, distributed in the UK by Pro-Align, offers the chance to increase the additional tasks its operator can complete through increased automation of the process.
Rema Tip Top has launched Corghi’s latest Artiglio 5000 automatic tyre changing machine. The Artiglio 5000 has third generation “Leva la leva” (lever-less) technology for vehicle, SUV and commercial vehicles wheels up to 28”. The new demounting tool with Lite Smart Corghi System movement reduces the stress on the tyre and never touches the rim.
Since it became part of the US garage equipment supplier Integrated Supply Network’s ISN Europe division in late September 2017, UK distributor Tyre Bay Direct has added its newly related company Atlas Equipment’s range of garage equipment to its portfolio. The UK company was identified by the US giant, which operates from 13 locations across the USA and Canada, and exports to Central and South America, as “the ideal partner” to help launch its equipment range into the UK, it states.
Technological tipping points are not always easy to identify, and the pace of change in the automotive industry can make it a challenge for garages not affiliated with new car dealerships to stay on top of new carfeatures as they begin to require repair. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are emblematic of this, and considering their centrality to the safe operation of many new cars, the stakes have also risen. Tyres & Accessories visited Hella Gutmann Solutions’ facilities in and around Ihringen, Germany to see how the supplier of diagnostic and camera and sensor recalibration solutions is responding to garages’ increasing need for new equipment, technician training, and data, to address the rise of ADAS.
Absolute Alignment has had a podium filled 2018 season in the MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) with Power Maxed TAG Racing, securing three race wins – while also partnering with highly-successful British GT, Porsche Carrera Cup and Caterham racing teams.
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.
