Hunter brings a Revolution to Reifen
Hunter Engineering Company has brought its latest tyre changer to the Reifen show in Germany, and the US-based firm says the new Revolution is “the industry’s most advanced fully-automatic tyre changer.”
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Rema Tip Top signs Corghi distribution agreement
Rema Tip Top Automotive UK has secured a new distribution agreement with Corghi SpA covering England, Wales and Scotland. According to the company, the deal pairs the international Corghi range of workshop equipment with Rema Tip Top’s portfolio of consumables and workshop tools for the first time.
Bosch announces US distribution partnership
Bosch Automotive Service Solutions has entered into a US market distribution partnership with Myers Tire Supply. Under the agreement, Myers Tire Supply will carry the Bosch Wheel Service equipment range, including a full line of wheel balancers, tyre changers and brake lathes, through its national distribution network.
Pro-Align a Hunter ‘Platinum Partner’
Pro-Align, UK distributor of the Hunter range, has been awarded ‘Platinum Partner’ status by the wheel servicing equipment manufacturer. This distinction was bestowed at a recent global distributor meeting and given to Pro-Align for its 2012 performance, which saw the UK distributor ranked third place globally, just behind Germany and India.
Corghi – tradition and innovation
Corghi’s Artiglio Master Code, released half a century after the company first introduced the automatic changer, remains the Italian manufacturer’s flagship light tyre changer. The Master Code utilises ‘leva la leva’, or leverless technology – which Corghi also pioneered a dozen years ago – and features automatic wheel dimension acquisition, enabling automatic tool positioning, and the Smart Corghi System demounting procedure; with these functions, opines the Nexion s.p.a company, the Master Code “rewrites the rule book for tyre changers.”
Hofmann Megaplan introduces new, low-priced leverless tyre changer
Tyre equipment specialist Hofmann Megaplan recently introduced a new ‘lever-less’ tyre changer, which the company claims is the best priced, premium quality leverless tyre changer ever produced. The megamount 700 ‘evo’ utilises the hugely popular ‘evolution’ leverless device that is employed as an optional upgrade on other megamount models from Hofmann Megaplan. In addition, Hofmann Megaplan says a 24-inch turntable, the inclusion of ‘megafit 2’ assist arm and hands-free ‘Power Out’ bead breaker ensure the new model is equipped to cope in any environment. Utilising the chassis from the ubiquitous megamount 702XL, the 700 achieves an attractive price tag by removing some of the luxury features associated with its bigger brother.
Reifen China, RubberTech visitors reach 12,000
The sixth Reifen China show took place at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre on 14-16 November, with two neighbouring halls housing RubberTech China 2012 simultaneously on an exhibition area of 11,500 square metres in total. Representing an increased number of nations, exhibitor stands included large displays near the entrance for leading Chinese manufacturers such as Double Coin, Shandong Linglong, Techking, Hangzhou Zhongce and Cooper Chengshan, while less familiar and almost brand new names mingled with visiting stands from India (Apollo) and Europe (Deldo, Interstate and Profil) in the rest of the hall. Joint organisers Messe Essen – responsible for Germany's market-leading Reifen show – and the China United Rubber Corporation welcomed visitors on the first day; the latter's general manager Ma Junhua said that Reifen China's "six years of previous success" was "inseparable" from the support of visitors and exhibitors. Overall, 112 exhibitors from 15 nations – newly including Poland and Russia – were present at Reifen China showing tyres, wheels and garage equipment.
Corghi wins Italian Mechatronic award
The sixth annual Club Meccatronica Award has been awarded to Italian company Corghi SpA for its R.E.M.O. (Robotic Equipment for Measuring by Optics) clampless wheel aligner, the first ever wheel alignment system to utilise artificial vision and 3D wheel scanning technology to measure toe-in. The prize-giving ceremony was held on 8 November at Valli Theatre in Reggio Emilia, Italy. The prize was accepted on behalf of Corghi by company president Giulio Corghi.
Lack of spare puts pressure on breakdown companies – Times
Writing in The Times on November 1st, Simon de Bruxelles says: "Nearly half of all new cars now come without a spare tyre, putting unprecedented pressure on breakdown companies called out to deal with punctures, according to a survey.
"MINI, Volvo and SKODA have abandoned the spare altogether, and other manufacturers, such as Audi, fit them only to certain models. Where a spare is fitted, it is likely to be a thin ‘space saver' that can get the vehicle to the nearest garage but is not suitable for normal driving."
Corghi: 'The revolution is now'
Corghi aimed to fuse form and substance when it launched the REMO clampless wheel aligner at the recent Automechanika exhibition in Germany. According to the company, the flagship product “sets a new technological benchmark for the entire segment.”
The automated capabilities of the Artiglio MasterCode also reportedly received acclaim, acknowledged as a decisive step towards automating the entire tyre mounting and demounting process.
‘Revolution’ – Corghi brings R.E.M.O. to Automechanika
In a recent press release, Italian machinery manufacturer Corghi declared that ‘revolution’ is occurring. This particular upheaval is taking place in the alignment business; on 21 January this year, after a six-year development period, Corghi released the R.E.M.O. – short for Robotic Equipment for Measuring by Optics. The R.E.M.O., whose name is also a nod to Corghi co-founder the late Remo Corghi, was conceived in response to the need to avoid all contact between a vehicle’s rim and an aligner’s clamps during measurement. Corghi says R.E.M.O. meets this goal completely, using artificial vision technology to measure toe-in, and complete 3D scanning of the wheel. This new product will be on display at Corghi’s Automechanika 2012 stand next week.
Hofmann Fusion 2 machines launch Spring Collection promo
Hofmann has added a second iteration of its popular Fusion tyre changer and wheel balancer machines to its line-up. The launch of the Monty Fusion 2 tyre changer, and the Geodyna Fusion 2 digital wheel balancer is heralded by a Spring Collection promotion, running until 31 May, which allows garages to buy both machines for £3,999 (excluding VAT). Hofmann general manager, Chris Behan says the company is “delighted to announce the launch of Fusion 2, which spearheads our Spring Collection promotion.”
Pro-Align makes DCM Tyres its first Alignment Centre of the Month
Wheel alignment equipment specialist, Pro-Align has made DCM Tyres in Shaftesbury its first ‘Alignment Centre of the Month’ winner for January 2012. The Hunter distributer says DCM has enjoyed a considerable month on month increase in turnover and profit generated from its HawkEye HD imaging aligner, installed five months ago when the Shaftesbury site opened. The retailer reports income of £4,000 from the machine in January alone.
Concert speeds up mounting process, reduces operator strain
A fully automatic version of Rema Tip Top’s Aikido tyre mounting machine has been released. Called the Concert, this new unit is said to enormously simplify everyday work compared to previous models. Rema Tip Top states the Concert’s advantages include a speeding-up of the fitting process and a reduction in the physical effort required from the operator.
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.
