Tyre service products from Bosch, collectively labelled the “Around the Wheel” range, have been updated with the addition of its new FWA 4630. Bosch’s latest generation of wheel alignment equipment acknowledges the importance of time and accuracy to tyre service providers. It says the development of the latest machine was also influenced by the continuing evolution of chassis and suspension technology.
Wheel alignment equipment distributor Pro-Align has continued to transmit a message of alignment services’ increased revenue potential, while seeking to raise professional alignment standards by launching a two-day assessed course teaching workshop technicians advanced wheel alignment practice. The company says that it championed the idea of a “speculative wheel alignment check” as a service most recently to highlight the speed of the new Hunter Elite TD. The company says that the check using this equipment lasts 90 seconds, showing the possibility of rapidly measuring all 14 primary alignment angles, identifying cars that were out of alignment quickly and accurately. Measurements using the machinery are carried out to the same high standards that motor manufacturers themselves would measure to and would uncover any important chargeable adjustment work.
A woman wearing a brightly coloured outfit that may or may not be “Her Majesty the Queen” has issued motorists with a Bank Holiday safety message on a recent visit to HiQ Tamworth. With the jubilee weekend celebrations coming this weekend, “Elizabeth” visited HiQ – minus Philip and her corgis – to urge drivers to get free safety checks ahead of their Bank Holiday journeys. The royal appointment was organised in an attempt to educate motorists about the importance of regular vehicle health checks, and the HiQ-ueen recorded a video for her subjects on the matter: http://youtu.be/MvrCjer-88A.
Australian tyre dealer network Tyreplus has named its Windsor branch Dealer of the Year at an awards ceremony during the gala dinner at the annual Tyreplus conference in Fremantle, Perth last weekend. The annual Tyreplus Dealer of the Year Awards recognises outstanding customer service, presentation and performance. The store is run and owned by husband and wife team of Rod and Sue Carroll, who have over 22 years in the business. Rod Carroll said he was proud to receive recognition for the hard work his team has put in over the last 12 months. “Our whole team has contributed to us receiving this award.”
Fastlane Ltd in Malta has been awarded Pro-Align’s Alignment Centre of the Month for April – the first time the accolade has been awarded outside of the UK. Paul Beaurain, managing director, Pro-Align, said: “Fastlane is resolute about being the alignment specialist in Malta and continues to work hard to expand its business. They are incredibly enthusiastic in everything they do and are a worthy winner of our April award.”
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.”
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.
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.
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.
The Nexion Group’s Corghi brand has introduced its new tyre changer line, named Master Code. Corghi explains the name was chosen “to recall that Corghi has the tyre changer evolution in its DNA”. Master Code was presented in Bologna at Autompromotec 2011, as a worldwide preview, and the company was encouraged by the interest shown by attendees. It will next be exhibited in Paris at Equip’auto and in Las Vegas’s SEMA show, the latter being its North American debut .
Relative newcomer to international tyre and automotive servicing machinery Sivik has a comprehensive range of quality products that has seen exports increase, first from its Siberian home and now from its Slovakian sales office, as export manager Nikolay Valov told Tyres & Accessories in Bologna: “It was around six years ago that our marketing strategy was broadened, initially to develop sales in traditional Eastern bloc countries, but gradually this evolved to include several countries in Western Europe and beyond.
Chris Behan, Hofmann’s general manager, argues that investing in the right garage equipment can help tyre shops make the most of the high performance market: “There’s no doubt that the high performance market presents an excellent business opportunity, providing workshops are properly equipped and technicians are effectively trained to handle high performance tyre safely and confidently. After all, we’ve all heard horror stories about damage caused to expensive large diameter wheel rims or tyre pressure sensors when changing high performance tyres, which have cost businesses money and harmed their reputations, let alone the confidence of tyre fitters.”
At Autopromotec Corghi officially announced the opening of the firm’s new school for lifting equipment at the company's plant in Prato di Correggio. The school occupies an area of 2000 square metres where the complete new lift range is on display.
"The school is just one of the steps we have taken as a group to meet the target we set ourselves; to become a leading player in the lifting equipment sector," Cinzia Corghi told Tyres & Accessories. She went on to say that; "To achieve this goal, in the last two years we have taken several opportunities that have presented themselves, which have provided the highly skilled professionals at Corghi with the opportunity to innovate and develop exciting technologies and production methods in order to expand our range of lifting equipment."
During last month’s 55th China International Trade Fair for Auto-Aftermarket (Automaintech), in Beijing, Corghi’s Artiglio 50 was awarded the best tyre changer exhibited at the show. Automaintech is the most important exhibition in China for Automotive Service Equipment and Corghi participated with its own stand, showing its most technologically advanced machines.
Garage equipment specialist The Trade Group, who are a main distributor for leading wheelcare company Hofmann Megaplan, successfully launched their new, high specification Trademaster T2520 Fully Automatic Tyre Changer, at the recent Harrogate MechanEx equipment exhibition. They are confident their range of wheelcare products is now suitable not only for the smallest garage but right up to the largest tyre shop, fast fit or even CV workshop.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
