servicing Archives - Page 27 of 29 - Tyrepress

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Mr Clutch Expands

UK garage services chain, Mr Clutch Autocentres, is set to undergo expansion after trials of its new franchise model have been heralded a “great success.”

Changes in the motor maintenance and repair sector led company directors to re-examine its positioning in the market and completely overhaul its franchise model.

Financial director Trevor Steel explains the decision: “Over the past few years, VOSA has tightened up on regulations governing MOT test centres and appears to be clamping down hard on those rogue back street garages it sees as flouting the rules.

26th August 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Warranties Continue to Confuse Motorists

A national survey has found that many motorists wrongly believe they have to take their car to a manufacturer’s franchised dealership for servicing. Hi-Q conducted a nation-wide survey of over 400 motorists to question just what people understand about their warranty.

Only 30 per cent of people believed their warranty would be valid if they took their car to a garage other than the manufacturer’s dealer. 38 per cent believed their warranty would be broken if they took the car to an alternative independent garage and 32 per cent didn’t know either way.

6th July 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Make Money from Fresh Air

Automotive air conditioning specialists Autoclimate claim that garages are missing out on valuable profit opportunities by not offering an in-house air conditioning service and repair facility.

This is partly due to a misconception that air conditioning is both tricky and hazardous to repair, with mechanics facing a potential risk of frostbite. This view is both outdated and erroneous, says Autoclimate, with better equipment design and new and impending legislation having eliminated any such risks.

22nd June 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Formula One Autocentres Opts for MAM Software

MAM Software has announced that it has completed the successful installation and commissioning of a new Autopart business management system at independent tyre retail chain Formula One Autocentres. The new system is now fully operational and is being productively used in all 37 Formula One stores across the South, South East and the Midlands.

The installation of this new Autopart software has given Formula One Autocentres a fully integrated system capable of supporting their fast-fit, servicing and MoT business. The system links over 100 users with a central database at the company’s head office in Stevenage. Using dedicated communication technology developed by MAM, it enables Formula One to maintain data centrally and pool statistics from each of its 37 branches. It also provides the ability to transfer stock between branches whenever required.

21st June 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Assessing the Industry

A scheme to raise standards of car servicing and repair by testing the competence of technicians currently working in the retail motor industry has been launched.

Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) is a voluntary assessment system designed to appraise technical competence and in turn raise the professional status and credibility of skilled individuals whilst providing a benchmark for technician recruitment and career development. It is hoped that the initiative will improve consumer confidence in the retail motor sector.

The NTDA’s spring conference, held last month, highlighted the tyre industry’s desire to initiate a similar scheme and the Institute of the Motor Industry, IMI, offered its support in moving forward with the idea. The assessments would be based upon National Occupational Standards, and formed in cooperation with industry representatives to ensure that they are updated with changing technologies. The NTDA is currently looking to organise a seminar in July, which will be hosted by the IMI, and invites all interested parties to join the discussion.

16th June 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Opens New Education Centre

At the end of May Bridgestone inaugurated its new 3,000 square metre European Education Centre (EUEC) situated within the tyre manufacturer’s European Proving ground at Aprilia near Rome.

16th June 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Reality TV Comes to the Garage

British garage technicians are being offered the chance to star in a television series being made in Spain. ‘The Garage’ will follow the progress of an independent garage set in the expatriate community on the south coast of Spain. Endemol UK, the production company involved, was responsible for the highly successful ‘fly-on-the-wall’ series about a hairdressing and beauty operation, ‘The Salon’.

19th May 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

ICA to Distribute SmarTire in France

ICA Security Systems is to distribute the SmarTire for Motorcycles product in France. ICA Systems is the largest manufacturer and distributor of motorcycle alarms and anti-theft systems in the French market with over 1000 dealers across the country.

“We welcome the opportunity to distribute SmarTire’s innovative tyre monitoring system for motorcycles in France,” says, Philippe Aubeges, CEO of ICA Systems. “SmarTire for Motorcycles fits very well into our overall strategy to expand into safety related products in addition to our security and anti-theft products. ICA’s established dealer base can also provide the necessary installation and servicing required to support the introduction of this product into the French market.”

3rd May 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

ATD Supplies GM Dealers

(Akron/Tire Review) According to its most recent Securities and Exchange Commission 10-K filings, American Tire Distributors (ATD) has entered into a contract to supply tyres directly to some 3,700 General Motors brand auto dealers in the US.

30th March 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Equipment Appoints North-West Sales Manager

UK Equipment Ltd has appointed Warren McKay as its area sales manager for the North-West. He has over twenty years experience in the automotive industry, primarily in the wheel service and parts industry.

4th February 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Crypton Relaunch Wheelforce

Crypton Technology Group has relaunched the Wheelforce brand with the introduction of a range of high performance wheel balancers and tyre changers. The new range is to be sold exclusively through Unipart Automotive, which includes Partco, Brown Brothers, Serck Intertruck, Plunketts and Express Factors.

11th January 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Autopromotec ‘Closes the Circle’

According to the organisers of the 21st Autopromotec, the 2005 show will “close the circle, offering the entire gamut of products and services to the transportation industry.” The exhibition centre where the show is due to be held will undergo renovations and expansion, including the addition of two brand new halls. At the last Autopromotec in 2003, 936 exhibitors presented their products in an area measuring 100,000 square metres, with 83,000 visitors.

At the forthcoming event, the traditional sectors of equipment and tyres will be represented alongside the new categories of spare parts and car services. From the organisers’ point of view, adding the new product categories to the fair is a welcome benefit to Italy’s industry of vehicle spare parts, a sector that recorded revenues of 7.7 billion euros, 68 per cent of which was designated for export. As a result of the new block exemption rules, this industry will be forced to re-examine traditional distribution channels by adapting them to the market. According to those in charge of Autopromotec, this is a good reason to make the most of every opportunity to have contact with professional mechanics, adding that the show also provides the chance for manufacturers to “step up marketing manoeuvres and new product launches.”

By the time Autopromotec opens its gates, the BER, or Block Exemption Regulation, will have gone into effect. That will be followed by the “freedom of establishment” provisions on 1 October 2005, which will allow sales and auto servicing operators carrying out selective distribution to open branches in all EU countries.

3rd December 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

SmarTire Gains New Patent

SmarTire Systems has announced that it has been granted a US patent protecting its multi-mount TPMS installation technology. For SmarTire, the system is of major strategic importance. The company sees the patent as a solid way of securing its competitive position.

“The multi-mount technology enables a common sensor to be used to satisfy a variety of vehicle platforms using different mounting methods such as strap, valve or bonded,” says Kian Sheikh-Bahaie, senior mechanical designer at SmarTire. “This technology offers a number of benefits including a single solution regardless of wheel design and the ability to use aftermarket wheels without disabling the original TPMS. Smaller automakers can also take advantage of the economies of scale and speed to market by enabling them to use a common sensor.”

“This patent represents a significant milestone as it expands SmarTire’s intellectual property portfolio at a critical time in the development of the TPMS industry,” says Robert Rudman, president and CEO of SmarTire. “Now that the Tread Act has been finalised in the US and the automakers are now required to install tyre monitoring in their vehicles, one crucial issue that has not been adequately addressed by the industry is the installation and servicing of TPMS. SmarTire has developed and now patented a unique sensor mounting technology that satisfies the diverse implications that arise during installation and servicing of the system over the life of the vehicle.”

30th November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

MAM Aids MPD’s Expansion

MAM Software has signed a deal to supply its Autowork software to Motor Parts Direct Limited (MPD) for use in their garage programme.

1st November 2004/by Tyrepress Editors

Mobile Tyre Fitters Meet Royalty

Prince Charles recently visited Darren Williams Tyre and Auto Care Services in Scotland as part of the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT).

Mr Williams set up his own mobile tyre-fitting firm in 2001 with the help of PSYBT, and has since grown from a one man tyre fitting operation to servicing the domestic, haulage and agricultural sectors. The dealership, which is part of the RH Claydon network, won the regional final of the PSYBT Business Awards in 2003 and later went on to win the runner-up prize in the national finals.

13th September 2004/by Tyrepress Editors