Pro-Align supports Kwik Fit wheel alignment upgrade

UK Hunter tyre servicing equipment distributor Pro-Align is helping to upgrade wheel aligners throughout Kwik Fit’s 600-plus site network. The company is supporting the software upgrade to WinAlign 17 on Hunter Elite TD aligners used by the chain. The new version increases accuracy and efficiency, and therefore revenue opportunities, Hunter says. Kwik Fit has been using the Elite TD since 2014. In addition to the network wide software upgrade, Pro-Align is also installing the Hunter Elite TD system across 14 Kwik Fit and Tyre Pros centres, with one site investing in a new Hunter DSP706 aligner for its workshop.

Clive Seabrook, CEO, Pro-Align said: “We’re delighted to be deepening our eight-year relationship with Kwik Fit. The advances that are made possible by the latest WinAlign 17 software will make a significant and tangible difference to the service Kwik Fit can provide to its customers.”

The latest WinAlign 17 software speeds up alignment readings and offers comprehensive graphic printouts pre- and post-alignment. The rollout will also provide Kwik Fit with access to the HunterNet portal and Hunter database upgrade for new-vehicle specifications and step-by-step vehicle-specific instructions for the next five years. The new upgrades will futureproof Kwik Fit’s fleet of aligners, offering security updates until 2029.

Pro-Align’s upgrades will enhance vehicle compatibility with the Hunter Mercedes-Benz Inclinometer, which is the only aftermarket tool capable of gauge ride height by measuring the angle of the lower control arm on Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

Additionally, the new Hunter Live Ride Height Targets, which are critical for ride-height dependent BMWs, can reduce the time taken to align a BMW by four minutes per car. Once rolled out across the network, Kwik Fit estimates 81,250 technician hours – more than 56 days – per month could be saved on servicing BMW models alone.

Andy Lane, marketing director, Kwik Fit said: “Pro-Align is already firmly integrated into our business, so we’re excited to see the latest updates rolled out across our UK network. The package will ensure we can continue to provide our customers with a market-leading offering. We’re especially looking forward to further enhancing our comprehensive service to drivers of Mercedes-Benz and BMW models.”

Such features not only means that Kwik Fit is able to improve its offering to drivers of those vehicles, but also opportunities to increase its service revenue and reduce customer waiting times.

Pro-Align will also support the new software rollout via a training strategy for 2000 Kwik Fit technicians on the use of the equipment, including features specific to BMW and Mercedes-Benz models. The upgrade rollout began in August 2022 and is scheduled for completion by January 2023.