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91

Scorpion Exhausts Rebrands Range

Scorpion Exhausts has rebranded its range to herald its third decade of activity in the car and motorcycle tuning markets. The British firm based in Ripley, Derbyshire has moved to a new typeface and eye-catching ‘sting’ logo to reflect their increasing investment in the latest design and manufacturing methods. The new brand language has been designed by leading agency WDA, who can count iconic brands like Pirelli, Bentley and Total Oils amongst their eclectic list of automotive blue-chip clients.

92

New GEA President Champions Quality

Malcolm England, general manager of Unipart’s Garage Equipment Services division and recently appointed president of the Garage Equipment Association (GEA) has promoted quality, safety and service during his president’s speech at this year’s GEA dinner.

93

Wrexham Garage First to Use New Hoffmann Tyre Changer

Snap-on Equipment reports that its first UK customer for the Hofmann Quadriga 1000 automatic tyre changer has taken delivery of the machine. Wrexham-based Minera Tyres & Exhaust has been supplied with the new, state-of-the-art machine, which enables tyres to be automatically demounted and mounted from wheel rims with a diameter of up to 30”. The Quadriga 1000 was supplied by Unipart Garage Equipment Services.

94

Blackcircles Launches New Website

Peebles-based Blackcircles.com has launched a new version of its website. Blackcircles, which has been operating in the tyre market for nine years, says it has overhauled its website to make the buying process more straightforward and to complement the launch of its new online servicing business.

The company launched its servicing facility in December 2009, joining up with national car parts distributer Unipart, with the aim of saving motorists up to 60 per cent compared to manufacturers’ dealerships. This services is provided via a number plate recognition system that assists consumers in booking their service. According to the new website, a similar number plate/tyre database system is due to be added to the site in “early 2010.”

95

Will the Lift Market Rise in 2010?

With an estimated 6500 vehicle lifts sold last year, this essential part of a working garage’s life cannot be ignored. And as long as there are lifts, those using them need to be aware of how they can protect their safety and maximise the potential of their investments. In order to find our more Tyres & Accessories recently interviewed Garage Equipment Association (GEA) chief executive, Dave Garrat.

GEA members sold 5247 vehicle lifts, according to the last full-year figures in 2008. Add another 20 per cent for the remaining non-GEA members operating in the market and it is clear that at least 6500 vehicle lifts were sold in the UK last year. And what’s more, despite the global economic meltdown that began in the second part of 2008, this number represents an increase over the 2007 figure. This year’s figures are not expected to be so good as, in line with the rest of the business community, the lift sector has experienced its fair share of belt tightening this year, with garages and fast fits delaying purchase during the course of 2009. However, according to Dave Garratt, this doesn’t mean there has been a boom in sales of low-cost machinery. Rather, it is said to have brought equipment maintenance into sharper focus.

96

Blackcircles.com Adds Online Car Servicing

Blackcircles.com has gone the route of bricks and mortar retailers before it, by adding car servicing options to its online tyre portfolio. The move, made in conjunction with Unipart will allow motorists to book and pay for car servicing online to be carried out at its network of 1,200 independent garages. According to Blackcircles.com the service will be up to 60 per cent cheaper than franchised dealerships.

Mike Welch, founder and managing director of Blackcircles.com, said: “We are moving into the vehicle servicing sector with the same innovative business model that has allowed Blackcircles.com to capture around £13 million of the UK tyre market.”

97

Blackcircles.com Aims to Grow Network 30%

Blackcircles.com is aiming to increase its garage network by 30 per cent by the end of 2009, adding as many as 400 garages. Announcing the news the company vowed to help independent garages “fight back”, saying it offers “additional revenue, customer footfall and national marketing, helping [independents] compete with major high street brands.”

98

Blackcircles.com Adds to Management Team

Blackcircles.com has appointed two new senior managers as part of the company’s ongoing expansion plans. The Peebles-based business has recruited Alan Littlewood as head of network and supply and Peter Nowell as head of commercial operations. The appointments follow the announcement of a major partnership deal with the RAC, enabling Blackcircles.com to sell tyres directly to the motoring club’s seven million members through a new venture, RAC Tyres.

Peter Nowell will be responsible for developing mutually beneficial relationships with Blackcircles.com’s suppliers. He has previously held senior marketing roles at both Kwik-Fit and ATS Euromaster. Alan Littlewood joins Blackcircles.com from car dealership operator Pendragon Plc. His role will be to expand the company’s network of franchised garages and develop its servicing offer through its partnership with Unipart.

99

GEA Members Raise Over £6,000 for Charity

The Garage Equipment Association (GEA) recently ran its annual Golf Tournament, raising £4271.40 for the motor trade’s charity BEN. During the evening an extra £2,000 was donated to BEN by Bradbury Equipment Ltd, the money was pledged by Bradbury as a percentage of sales via Unipart’s Mega Wise Buys scheme.

The golfing event hosted 17 teams from the motor industry with Premier Diagnostics winning the GEA Rose Bowl, and Crypton the runners up. Capital Petroleum won the BEN Cup and VOSA were the runners up.

100

ATSE Appoints New Head of National Accounts

National tyre specialist ATS Euromaster has appointed Steve Bury, 45, to the new position of Head of National Accounts, reporting directly to Peter Fairlie, Group Sales Director. This new role sees Bury head up both the National Car and National Truck sales teams, which are responsible for growing ATS Euromaster’s market share amongst the major leasing companies in the UK and large national fleets with multi-site operations.

Steve Bury joins ATS Euromaster from Unipart Automotive, where he held the position of Sales and Operations Director for two and a half years, prior to which he was National Sales Manager at Autoglass for five years.

101

Maywood Appointed Exclusive Cascos Distributor

The Maywood Equipment Group, sole UK distributor of the Hofmann, Omer and Finkbeiner brand lifting equipment, has announced its appointment as sole distributor throughout the UK of the Cascos brand of lifting products, beginning in April 2008. Although new to Maywood, Cascos, headquartered in Spain, has been producing lifting equipment for more than four decades, and today sells its products around the world. Maywood reports the company’s philosophy is to build a reliable product with first class materials and a high level of quality control, and deliver this together with first class service. The Kent based distributor adds that spares are also available for every Cascos lift produced throughout the company’s entire history – and at reasonable prices.

Cascos is said to have selected Maywood because, in the words of company managing director Carlos Cascos, “we wanted a partner who would insist on the importance of quality and had their own top level after sales service. Maywood also had a prominent presence in the market already selling other top brands of lifts. We are delighted to have been able to secure this arrangement with Maywood, with whom I see a great future .”

102

Lex Uses Kwik-Fit ‘While U Wait’ Servicing

Britain’s largest contract hire and leasing company, Lex, has become the first company to sign up to use Kwik-Fit Fleet’s new ‘While U Wait’ manufacturers’ service initiative. With customers able to book a service at a minimum 48 hours notice it means Kwik-Fit Fleet is able to offer vehicle servicing more conveniently that most existing providers.

103

Maywood Adds to its Force Range

Following the successful launch of the Force 36 3.6 tonne electro-hydraulic 2-post lift, Maywood has announced it will be adding the Force 60 to its range. The Force 60 is an electro-hydraulic two-post lift with base frame. It compliments Maywood’s range of lifts for large and heavy cars as well as the light truck market. Within this range Maywood offers the Hofmann 5 tonne two-post lift, which has vehicle manufacturer approval from Ford, Volkswagen, Renault and many others. Maywood believes the Force 60 can now give a workshop even greater capacity at the same price, and offers convenience through removing the necessity for a vehicle owner to empty the vehicle before the lift is raised. Therefore this lift is ideal for “Transit” like vehicles, but is also capable of lifting the majority of vehicles available in the UK.

104

Maywood Releases New 2 Post Lift

The Maywood Equipment Group has announced the arrival of a brand new electro hydraulic 2 post lift, the KH32. This lift is produced exclusively for Maywood and its introduction comes subsequent to extensive market testing in France and more recently in The UK. The KH32 is available in either single or three phase and has a 3.2 tonne capacity. It features a baseframe, extending its suitability to almost any floor, subject to good concrete conditions. Maywood reports the KH32 is competitively priced and available from the company’s distributors, including Unipart Automotive.

Features of the KH32 lift include arms that swing inwards to fit in between wheels and has a double cable lifting mechanism. It is suitable for general workshop use but also for tyre bays or body repair shops. The lifting pad height is 110 mm, suitable for most cars, and the lifting height of 2074 mm is higher than many lifts. The KH32 comes equipped with many safety features including integrated emergency lowering feature.

105

Rich Heritage

Snap-on Equipment Ltd., the new name for the company that distributes two long-established names in the garage equipment industry – Hoffman and John Bean – is no newcomer to the business. Hofmann produced their first balancer way back in 1932, and at the same time across the Atlantic John Bean began marketing their first wheel alignment machine. These two Snap-on Equipment mainstays have focused upon manufacturing premium level equipment for the industry ever since. In the UK Snap-on Limited call the Thames Valley their home, and recently Tyres & Accessories travelled to the company’s Reading headquarters to meet with new general manager Chris Behan and UK sales manager, Chris Pleass.

By the time T&A met Chris Behan in mid-July he’d already spent four months in the hot seat at Snap-on Equipment, and was drawing on his considerable management experience – Behan has worked with A&M Electric, Atlas Copco and AEG and, most recently as general manager for Tornado Fixings – to head up the company’s ambitious short and medium term plans. “The wheel service market – balancers, changers, aligners, is worth £170 million in total,” he said. “So there’s plenty of room to grow.”

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