Sales of the Veco brand, available from automotive parts distributor Universal Automotive, are reportedly “growing steadily”, with year-on-year sales predicted to increase by 10 per cent in 2010. According to the distributor, this growth is to come from garages looking to their suppliers to provide “reliable products with matching OE quality, but at competitive prices” – the company says that the Veco range “ticks all of these boxes”.
MAM Software Ltd has reported a marked increase in the use of its Autonet Online business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce solutions, with over 1500 end-user connections now active nationwide. Autonet Online is an off-the-shelf parts ordering portal that enables distributors and wholesalers to sell products online to their trade customers. It includes an electronic catalogue with VRM for easy parts identification, real-time pricing and availability, and a comprehensive account enquiry facility.
Regarding braking as one part of the triumvirate of chassis safety, car parts, garage equipment and training provider, CES UK has launched a series of events at educational facilities located close to its branch network across the UK. CES has a “Safety Triangle” logo illustrating this point, with the three ‘s’-es of stopping steering and stability emblazoned on each of the shapes sides. The events, in the words of CES, “will be looking at the safety critical systems within the chassis systems and exploring the results of component failure, duty of care, changes in technology and garages profit opportunities.”
The latest developments in Halford’s complex car servicing history (see Halfords Buys Nationwide Autocentres for £73.2 million – 18/02/10), bring with them a distinct sense of déjà-vous and highlight the cyclic nature of ownership in this industry. From Halfords point of view the latest venture represents a new beginning for a business that is radically different to when it last tried car servicing.
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.”
Hammond Group’s tyre department manager Keith Manders is taking his wife on a shopping spree after winning a £500 Red Letter Day experience in the national promotion organised by Grouptyre, the UK’s leading independent tyre wholesaler and exclusive UK distributor Federal. Having signed up to take part in the promotion and purchased Federal tyres during the second phase, Hammond Tyres automatically received entries into the prize draw based on the tyres purchased.
It is a sad fact that many motorists automatically distrust the garage trade and there are frequent stories in the press of rip-offs and shoddy service. The fact that the vast majority of garages do a good and efficient job time after time is frequently overlooked. But no longer, as Motor Codes is working in association with the Daily Telegraph and honestjohn.co.uk to seek out Britain's Golden Garage.
According to the findings of a study commissioned by Motor Codes, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders subsidiary established to act as the self regulatory body for the automotive sector, more than an estimated 14 million motorists feel short changed by their local service and repair garages. A sample survey of 1,194 UK motorists shows some 45 per cent of drivers have experienced this ripped off feeling, Motor Codes reports. Those living in the East of England have saw most cause for complaint, with a third claiming to be short changed, compared with just 17 per cent of Northern Ireland motorists. A quarter of motorists considered themselves between £51 and £150 out of pocket, and five per cent felt their wallets to be at least ₤300 lighter following an encounter with their local garage. In total, Motor Codes estimates that some ₤2.4 billion in motorists’ money is being lost in this way.
Several First Stop tyre centres have been rewarded with everything from free laptops to a trip to the Ferrari F1 factory as part of group’s business development programme (BDP). First Stop, Bridgestone’s tyre service network, worked with its centres throughout 2009 to monitor standards of service and identify how each one could improve: “We’ve looked at everything from general helpfulness to efficiency in dealing with enquiries to ensure every First Stop member is up to standard and support is offered where required,” company representatives told T&A.
Parts distribution company FPS has opened a new warehouse branch at the Blochairn Industrial Estate in Glasgow to serve Scotland. The new FPS facility officially opened its doors on the 28 September, although the full stocking process took another month to complete. This included the addition of Klarius type-approved exhaust and CAT systems, including over 2,500 exhaust references and 600 CAT references. The additional warehousing has allowed FPS to add these popular, but typically bulky products to the same-day delivery service offered throughout the UK.
On 1 January 2010 producers of industrial and automotive batteries will be required to arrange the collection, treatment and recycling of such batteries, free of charge, if requested by business end-users and final holders. Key elements of the new regulations include: Requiring any persons placing batteries on the market to register as a producer of batteries, and report on waste batteries collected and sent for recycling
The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 complement the existing Batteries and Accumulators (Placing on the Market) regulations 2008, which set out the requirements for introducing new batteries onto the market from 26 September last year. These regulations also introduce a ban on the landfill disposal or incineration of waste industrial and automotive batteries.
Singapore-based online tyre retailer Tyrepac announced the official launch of Tyrepac China (www.tyrepac.com.cn) on 8 December. Like the many similar services operating across European and World markets, upon purchase and payment online, consumers can select from a list of appointed retailers to have their tyres changed, or have them delivered to a location of their choice. The difference is that this service is based in the key production and emerging replacement market of China.
Tecalemit Garage Equipment has secured the UK distribution rights for two well-known European brands of lifting equipment. The Devon based firm is now the sole UK distributor of the range of high specification, heavy duty hydraulic, commercial vehicle lifts produced by Germany’s Walter Finkbeiner GmbH. The Finkbeiner range of hydraulic lifts covers three main product groups; the FHB 3000, a mobile wheel-free vehicle lift suitable for cars and vans up to 3000kg; the HDS bus, coach and truck lifting system, incorporating a patented space saving platform design (capable of lifting vehicles up to 18m long and 50t gross weight) and the EHB mobile column lifts, which now incorporate the EHB /DC cable–free system.
PCL has sold its MK3 tyre inflator to tyre outlets, garages and petrol forecourts around the world. The company has now further developed this popular product and released the MK4, a high-pressure model for truck tyre inflation. Visually, the MK4 bears more than a passing resemblance to its smaller-numbered brother, yet in situations that call for pressure to be applied, the new inflator comes into its own – according to PCL, the MK4 can deliver up to 174 psi (12 bar) as opposed to the 138 psi (9.6 bar) the MK3 has at its disposal.
The competition to find the UK’s best mechanics, Top Technician 2010 has opened for entries and nominations at the website www.toptechnician.co.uk. The winner will be announced after three competitive assessment stages at Workshop 2010, the industry’s own parts and equipment exhibition, at the NEC Birmingham on 15 April, 2010. S/He will be awarded £2,500 tax-free, alongside thousands of pounds’ worth of prizes and – a press release for the competition states – “priceless publicity for you and your business.” Entrants must complete the initial online test by 8 January, 2010. The prize is sponsored by Blueprint, Comma Oil & Chemicals, Delphi, Euro Car Parts, Lemforder and Motor Codes.
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