Four Bosch centres join EDT network
Kent-based EDT Automotive offers independent garages an additional revenue stream, providing hand-built machines to clean petrol or diesel engines with an environmentally-friendly solution.
Kent-based EDT Automotive offers independent garages an additional revenue stream, providing hand-built machines to clean petrol or diesel engines with an environmentally-friendly solution.
Bosch has launched a diagnostic tool, which the company says its “flagship” model. The DCU 220 is designed to be a “future-proof diagnostic solution, giving businesses the ability to tackle the increasing number of complex vehicles on the road”, according to Bosch. Indeed, the company reports that the DCU220 combines the features of a traditional notebook with those of a tablet.
A project is bringing Bosch, the BMW Group and Vattenfall together sees the companies reuse old electric vehicle batteries to form a large-scale energy storage system in Hamburg. Bosch, BMW, and Vattenfall believe in the concept to the extent they have launched the Second Life Batteries alliance. BMW is supplying batteries from its ActiveE and i3 electric vehicles, while Vattenfall has agreed to operate the massive storage system at its site for a period of 10 years. Bosch is in charge of integrating the batteries and managing the system. The storage solution will become part of an already existing Vattenfall virtual power plant. This allows the partners to combine various small, decentralized power generating systems to market them as a shared power plant.
Bosch says its latest diagnostic control unit aimed at small to mid-sized aftermarket businesses and franchised dealers, the DCU 100, offers a cost-efficient mobile solution for diagnosis, service and repair work, and is an “easy route” for garages wishing to take their first step into Bosch diagnostics.
The first 15 garages to strike it lucky with Bosch UK’s ESI[tronic] anniversary competition have been awarded their prizes. Celebrating 25 years of innovation in vehicle diagnostics, special anniversary offers all inspired by the number 25 have been available to all new and existing customers. These offers includes 25 per cent off an annual subscription to ESI[tronic], […]
Starting 1 October, Dominic Moran will assume top level responsibility for the supply of automotive parts, workshop equipment, software and services for Bosch Automotive Aftermarket in the role of divisional director for the UK and Ireland. He replaces Robin Shaw who has recently been named as new Bridgestone Northern zone MD.
First-time registered passenger cars and vans up to 2.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight are required to be equipped with tyre pressure monitoring systems from November 2014 onwards. In most cases, vehicles will be fitted with direct TPMS in which sensors monitor both the tyre pressure and its temperature. For the diagnosis of these direct systems, Bosch has developed the TPA 200 mobile tester, a unit that can be used when working directly on a vehicle or in a tyre warehouse.
A new “heavyweight” in the automotive components sector has been created today with the acquisition of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. by ZF Friedrichshafen AG. TRW announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with ZF Friedrichshafen, which will see all outstanding TRW shares acquired for US$105.60 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $13.5 billion. The announcement that TRW is changing hands followed a separate statement from ZF Friedrichshafen announcing the sale of its 50 per cent share in the ZF Lenksysteme GmbH joint venture to partner Robert Bosch GmbH for an undisclosed sum; this transaction is said to have been made to satisfy antitrust requirements prior to the acquisition of TRW.
Solving the puzzle often associated with battery selection from a range that covers everything from ATVs to agricultural vehicles, Bosch has restructured its battery range in order to make selecting the right battery quicker and easier than before. The company has redesigned its colour-coding system to move the EFB and AGM batteries into its three main ranges, making battery identification more straightforward and efficient. A range of pictograms – signifying key specifications and uses – also helps garages and customers ensure they are fitting the right battery every time, resulting in optimum vehicle performance.
It appears Germany’s ZF Friedrichshafen may be looking to acquire US-based automotive parts supplier TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. A statement issued by TRW Automotive yesterday confirms that it “received a preliminary, non-binding proposal to acquire the company,” however the statement didn’t go beyond saying it was evaluating the proposal. TRW Automotive did not give any details about the interested party; Bloomberg named ZF Friedrichshafen based upon information it says comes from people with knowledge of the matter.
Bosch has introduced two new tyre changing machines. According to the company, the new TCE 4430 and the TCE 4435 cover 95 per cent of all passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and motorcycles meaning these new machines can make workshops a one-stop-shop for their customers, potentially increasing client retention and bolstering revenue.
Vintage and classic car purists have long been able to buy suitable tyres for their pride and joy from a select range of manufacturers, and as of this year they can also purchase a Bosch battery in a style that matches the battery originally fitted; the manufacturer is once again supplying the classic Bosch starter battery.
On 1 July 2014, Klaus Deller will take over from Klaus Rosenfeld as chief executive officer of major Continental shareholder Schaeffler AG; Rosenfeld has held this office on an interim basis since the departure of Jürgen M. Geißinger last year. Deller will also become a member of the Board of Directors of INA-Holding. The appointment was confirmed by Schaeffler’s Supervisory Board yesterday.
Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems (BMTS) has founded a wholly owned subsidiary in the People’s Republic of China. The company will be called Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. and the HQ is currently being built on the Mahle premises at the Shanghai location. In a first stage it will mainly produce turbochargers for petrol engines destined for the Chinese market in a new building covering 5,000 square metres.
Roughly 18 months ago as part of our 2012 TPMS feature, Tyres & Accessories asked if there was a long-term future for indirect TPMS. In conversation with one of the two biggest suppliers of this technology, Swedish firm NIRA Dynamics, we examined the case for so-called iTPMS. This year we flip things around and ahead of his forthcoming speaking engagement at Tire Technology Expo, in Cologne on 11 February, Bernd Schuchhardt, general director at Dunlop Tech GmbH (the other large indirect TPMS producer) presents the case for this technology.
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