Supply Direct Installs UK’s First Robotic Wheel Aligner

Supply Direct has recently installed the UK’s first robotic wheel aligner. The Nussbaum manufactured ‘WAB01’ is one of less than 30 worldwide and is located in Hodgsons-Toyota in Newcastle, which opens in early October.

According to Supply Direct, the installation of robotic equipment is not only a turning point for the company but also a turning point for the UK motor industry. It has revolutionised wheel alignment, saving time for workshop engineers therefore providing customers with a much faster and accurate service, the company says.

“Speaking from experience, wheel alignment can be a tricky and time consuming process requiring high concentration and technical know-how. The beauty of the WAB01 is the computer will do all the thinking for you and the only thing you need to do is make all the adjustments however it dictates. Its so quick and easy you can concentrate on making profit elsewhere!” says aales and marketing director Carl Allenson.

Robotic units are said to have “endless advantages” over manual aligners. In the case of the WAB01, the system carries out a full and complete measurement in just four minutes through the scissor lift and two robot sensors working in unison with each other.

In addition, the data for every make and model of car is stored in the database, allowing the aligner to give accurate readings and meaning minimal operator error to interfere with the job. As well as giving accurate measurements, the aligner will even automatically adjust its turn plates in line with the car specifications stored on the database.

The system also includes a 17 inch VDU, which displays a 3D diagram of the vehicle showing exactly what adjustments need to be made and where. It runs on a ‘red and green system’ where the mechanic simply adjusts the rear axle, track rod end or castor cambor angle until the value on the screen changes from red to green. Typical measurement values don’t need to be known by the mechanic ultimately eliminating operator error.

The WAB01 also has automatic run out compensation without lifting or moving the car, which makes it much safer than manually rolling the car backwards and forwards. The robotic system currently has a presence in 10 countries worldwide (11 including the UK) namely: Germany, USA, Italy, Thailand, Romania and Russia. Furthermore the system recently won the German Industry award Bundespreis 2005 for special innovative achievement. A garage owner in Thailand has recently bought his second WAB01 so he can align wheels on separate cars almost simultaneously at minimal effort.
Project manager in charge of the WAB01 UK installation, Paul Benstead says: “Supply Direct and Hodgsons-Toyota are leading the race in state of the art wheel alignment in the UK. The WAB01 is setting a new standard for the industry, the technical requirement of the operator is minimal and Toyota customers will surely benefit from this new precision service in Newcastle.”