Hunter touchless alignment system arrives in UK

Distributor of the Hunter brand of wheel servicing equipment Pro-Align has introduced the US company’s new wheel alignment inspection system to the UK and Ireland markets. The Hunter Quick Check Drive is one of the industry’s first ‘drive-thru’ non-contact wheel alignment inspection systems, according to the distributor. It adds that the system’s operation without any need to attach sensors or targets, or for the vehicle to stop, means that labour costs are minimised and alignment opportunities can be identified in a matter of seconds.

“The Quick Check Drive is a genuine industry game changer that could revolutionise the way workshops all over the country operate,” says Greg Thompson, business development manager, Pro-Align. “With the system installed, there’s no reason why every vehicle entering a workshop can’t have a preliminary wheel alignment assessment carried out without any additional time or labour costs incurred. In doing so, workshops are likely to identify and convert so many work orders that they’ll wonder how they managed before Quick Check Drive!”

The Quick Check Drive system comprises of two slim profile units, which Pro-Align recommends are situated in the entrance to a workshop. Each of the units contains 16 lasers which are used to assess the vehicle’s total toe and individual camber measurements, and several cameras which are used to record 40-60 high-definition images of the car, helping to eradicate any fraudulent body damage claims.

In order to carry out the alignment assessment, the vehicle needs to be driven between the two measurement units at a speed of between 2-10 mph. Technicians or service advisors then simply need to input or confirm the vehicle make and model details, and the system cross-references Hunter’s extensive vehicle database to determine if the vehicle is within the manufacturer’s tolerances, or if a full 14-point alignment assessment is required. Such is the speed of the system that it can take new readings every 3-5 seconds.

Through its integration with HunterNet, alignment and bodywork image results can be viewed online, emailed to customers, or more likely, displayed on a live Flightboard in the service reception, providing an instant and totally transparent work opportunity for service advisors to discuss with customers.

“Quick Check Drive was launched in the United States late last year and the reception and results have already been incredibly impressive,” adds Thompson. “Some workshops, which were already busy alignment centres, have seen their alignment sales double since the introduction of the system. Not only does this benefit the customer by providing a more comprehensive and transparent service, but it clearly also offers workshops a fantastic return on their investment too.”