garages Archives - Page 15 of 33 - Tyrepress

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Loyalty trumps low cost in Kwik-Fit survey

A survey commissioned by the UK’s largest fast-fitter suggests the country’s motorists are more likely to return to a garage they trust than to shop around for a lower-priced deal. Kwik-Fit’s survey also suggests that only one in five views convenience as the most influential factor in selecting the garage they want to maintain their car. Over three quarters (78 per cent) of those asked will stay with one garage where possible, and one in three (30 per cent) said they wouldn’t switch at any price. The survey was conducted by ICM Research amongst a nationally representative sample of 2001 UK adults.

19th January 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Texa launches Axone 4 tablet

Seen the adverts where the surgeons, teachers and housewives seem to be able to do virtually any daily task with the aid of their ipad? Well with the launch of the Axone 4 diagnostics tablet, Italian garage technology manufacturer Texa aims to this mentality into garages.

The Axone 4 features a large 9.7" TFT touch screen, capable of high resolution graphics (1280 x 1024). All processes take place by keying directly onto the screen (where, when necessary, the software brings up a drop-down keypad), whilst the frame only features an on/off swithch and a multifunction button.

18th January 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Schrader appoint CES (UK) as TPMS distributor

CES (UK) has announced that TPMS specialist, Schrader has appointed it as one of its selected UK distributors. The parts distributor says the partnership will allow it to stock one of the most comprehensive ranges of TPMS sensors available in the UK. It also enables CES to supply the service kits, tools and diagnostics that garages will need to undertake TPMS servicing and repair.

12th January 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Happy New Year, Happy New MOT

Editorial/Comment

As of the 1 January 2012, the MOT test we all know and love will change. No I am not talking about the government consultation exercise mooting a possible change to 4-2-2 frequencies, that would be opening another can of worms entirely. What I am referring to is the technological evolution of the test that will see our belovedly idiosyncratic MOT stretch itself to incorporate an MIL survey. That’s a Malfunction Indicator Lamp check to you and me.

10th January 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

HiQ takes on first female mechanic

HiQ Openshaw has announced the recruitment of a new mechanic; while this may not be the day’s biggest news story, its relevance becomes clearer when we consider that the east-Manchester branch is the first of the network’s 150 centres to recruit a woman in that position. The centre took on Dominyka Kasponyte after she approached the garage looking to further her early career working as an apprentice mechanic. Kasponyte, from Gorton, joins a team of nine men at the centre bringing with her various training qualifications including an NVQ and a national diploma. HiQ says she joins “a growing group of women who have taken on roles from centre management to directorship across the network.”

5th January 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Happy new MOT? Test now includes warning light check

As of the 1 January 2012 the MoT Test will incorporate a malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) check. This will call for the examiner to visually check that warnings lights for ESP, SRS, ABS and TPMS are not permanently illuminated. This will come into effect from 1 January but will be highlighted as an advisory item only until 31 March. From 1 April onwards, vehicles will fail an MOT if these lights are illuminated. Warnings lights or MIL that are to be noted if illuminated include ESP; Electronic Stability Programme, SRS; Safety Restraint System, ABS; Anti-Locking Brake System, and TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System).

4th January 2012/by Tyrepress Editors

Parts Alliance members claim aftermarket awards

UK aftermarket business group The Parts Alliance has won three awards at the annual Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation Excellence Awards, held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel on 8 December. IAAF president Nick Best presented the evening’s awards, honouring excellence in the aftermarket. Parts Alliance member Mill Autoquip won Distributor of the Year; Matthew Warren of CES (UK) received the coveted Parts Person of the Year award, and Alliance Autocentre member D & D Autos won the Garage of the Year award.

14th December 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

SIP sees increased interest in heater range

Leicestershire-based industrial product specialist, SIP Limited is reporting a growing demand for its range of trade and professional propane, diesel and infrared heaters, as garages react to the dropping temperatures. The company singles out its professional diesel/kerosene stainless steel space heaters as a product that has generated the warmest interest.

12th December 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Parts Alliance “double digit growth” in 2011 market share

Steve Fulford, chairman of The Parts Alliance says the last year has been a successful one for the parts distributor, with a new, expanded head office opening and continued growth in market share. While 2011 hasn’t exactly provided the sustained growth that one could have hoped for, Fulford says the aftermarket’s continued buoyancy, particularly in the first half of the year, and the trend he reports of more motorists turning to the services of independent garages for cost savings, the prospects for next year are good.

12th December 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Motorists back current MOT regime

A poll of motorists by the Institute of Advanced Motorists reveals that 60 per cent think that a car's first MOT should continue to be carried out after three years. Only 29 per cent think we should move to a European system.

23rd November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Are you equipped for TPMS?

Although just five per cent of cars in the UK are fitted with TPMS, this figure is set to rise dramatically when EU regulations on its mandatory fitment in all new cars come into force in 2014. Anticipating this wider adoption of TPMS, next year updated MoT regulations also take effect – under these regulations, a malfunctioning TPMS will warrant a fail.

22nd November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Three more join Pro-MOTe

The Unite trade union, Drivers Edge UK and Autoglass are the latest organisations to join in support of the Pro-MOTe campaign launched last month to stop proposals to reduce MOT frequency. There are now 28 organisations supporting Pro-MOTe including the AA, RAC, Brake, British Cycling, the NTDA and the RMI, as well as Kwik Fit, Halfords and Aviva. Transport Ministers have said they want to review the existing frequency of MOT testing which sees cars over three years old tested annually.

18th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Nitto ‘makes friends’ with Facebook game

Toyo Tire & Rubber’s Nitto brand will appear in the popular automotive-based Facebook game Car Town thanks to a deal between Nitto Tire U.S.A. and Cie Games. The one-year part multiple phase integrated partnership gives Car Town players the chance to participate in Nitto-branded game missions featuring the company's new line of tyres, and will also offer new in-game activities, virtual items, community contests and giveaways.

18th November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

CES steams ahead with two automotive websites

CES (UK) Ltd recently launched Autosessive.com, a retail website which sells consumables, tools and gifts as well as ebeepbeep.com, a customer referral platform (designed in conjunction with The Parts Alliance) for garages to capture a share of the growing online market for car servicing and repairs. SecureTrading provided the online payment processing system.

2nd November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors

Independents gaining servicing business, says report

According to the Castrol Professional Car Service and Repair Trend Tracker, franchised workshops are losing servicing business to independent and fast-fit outlets. The independent sector now accounts for 45.7 per cent of servicing work, up from 42.1 per cent last year. A decade ago, the independents' share was just 30.2 per cent.

1st November 2011/by Tyrepress Editors