German equity investment company Stargate Capital GmbH has entered into an agreement to purchase the Beissbarth GmbH and Sicam Srl subsidiaries from Robert Bosch GmbH. The purchase price has not been disclosed, and the deal’s finalisation is subject to approval from antitrust authorities.
Workshop tools supplier, Pichler Tools has launched a new software system which they believe will boost productivity, and support continued sales growth. OrderWise, from supplier Wise Software, offers support through a strong UK base, which includes a staff team of nearly 100 people, as well as a community of over 8,500 active users.
Wheel servicing specialist Pro-Align has been awarded a five-star rating by leading garage equipment manufacturer Hunter Engineering for the first time. Pro-Align said this reflected the significant progression and development of the Hunter brand in the UK. The company was also presented with Hunter’s “Platinum Partner” award for the ninth consecutive year, indicating the Towcester-based company as one of Hunter’s most successful and important global distributors.
UK Hunter equipment distributor, Pro-Align has identified the increased relevance of winter tyres as a key reason to ensure the efficiency of their tyre changing equipment. “Historically, there has been little appetite for winter tyres in the UK which meant that when workshops were removing tyres, they were normally being scrapped so it didn’t matter if the tyres were damaged in the process,” explains Paul Beaurain, managing director, Pro-Align. “However, now that there’s been quite a sizeable growth in the winter tyre market, workshops need to ensure that they do not cause any damage when removing and refitting tyres.”
While the financial context of the last five years has undoubtedly provided a challenging market environment for many players in the tyre industry, the premium garage equipment sector has seen opportunity. As tyre retailers have broadly seen margins squeezed further as consumers look to save on tyres, so has the importance of maximising ancillary services grown. On the occasion of the launch of another trail-blazing addition to its range with the Revolution tyre changer, Hunter garage machinery supplier to the UK Pro-Align took the opportunity to show Tyrepress the effects of providing innovative services to the sector.
The TerraClean network, providing the deep engine cleaning service to motorists throughout the UK, has now reached more than 300 workshops. The network, which comprises independent garages, mobile mechanics and franchised dealers, has surpassed expectations and is growing rapidly with the appointment of new TerraClean service centres daily.
The National Association of Bodyshops (NAB), has been nominated by some of the UK’s leading body repair specialists to represent them in a Creditors’ Committee looking into the conduct of directors of failed accident management company, Drive Assist. When Drive Assist, once one of Britain’s leading non-fault accident vehicle replacement companies, collapsed in December 2012 with debts of more than £82 million, 150 bodyshops were left with more than £7m in unpaid repair bills.
Independent workshops could be missing out on thousands of pounds worth of profit margin, according to a new report that reveals that the brakes on a quarter of all cars in the UK could fail at any time.
Continental aims to place workshop services centre state at the upcoming Automechanika show in Germany and demonstrate that, now more than ever, the company embodies the formula that “top-quality products + A to Z service = success for workshops.” Amongst the products Continental will present in Frankfurt am Main between 16 and 20 September are tyre pressure monitoring sensors, belt drive components, air springs and diagnostic devices. The company also promises a number of new additions to its product portfolio.