special feature - Australian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine

REGULAR DEPARTMENTSAAAA Report..............................4Calendar & New Members ...........5News.........................................6Products..................................18SPECIAL FEATUREHR Matters ..............................324WD .......................................90PRTC ......................................92Retail......................................9428Show Preview ..................................................................................36If it’s important in the automotive aftermarket industryyou’ll find it at the 2009 Australian Auto Aftermarket Expoat Darling Harbour Sydney, from April 2-4FEATURES30From pushbikes to pistons ................................................................28Austral: a story of success in aftermarket partsSuperCharge me! .............................................................................30Maintenence free batteries at the industry forefrontCatalogue heaven.............................................................................33Still the most important sales toolSpark up!........................................................................................80Auto electrical and lighting sector featured36ABOUT THE COVERThe premier brand of automotive power transmission and coolingsystem components in the Australian and New Zealand Aftermarket,Dayco, celebrates a major milestone this year.The year 2009 marks Dayco's 30th anniversary of highly successfuloperations in Australia.80All material appearing in Australian Automotive Aftermarket magazine is copyright. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly forbidden without prior written consent.Contribution: Freelance contribution and submissions are welcomed by this magazine. No responsibility is accepted for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs andtransparencies. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the AAAA. All statements made, although based on information believed to bereliable and accurate, cannot be guaranteed and no fault or liability can be accepted for error or omission. The publisher reserves the right to omit or alter anyadvertisement and the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publisher for all damages or liabilities arising from the published material.

AAAA REPORTIt's Show time!Welcome to the Expo Preview edition of theAustralian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine.MARCH 2009Peter HeinPresidentStuart CharityExecutive DirectorThe Australian Auto AftermarketExpo, the most comprehensiveautomotive aftermarket trade eventever held in Australia is rapidlyapproaching. The Expo, which willbe held at the Sydney ExhibitionCentre for the first time since2005, will run from April 2-4,2009.Over 350 industry leaders willbe exhibiting over five acres ofexhibition space, which is almostdouble the number of exhibitors at our last Sydneyshow – highlighting the significant growth in thisevent. The Expo will showcase the very latestautomotive parts and accessories, workshop toolsand equipment and business services. If you want tokeep your business ahead of the competition, this isthe place to learn all about the latest products andtechnology our industry has to offer.The Expo will feature all the big brands in theauto aftermarket under one roof including Bendix,Hella, Repco, Ryco, Shell, NGK, Tenneco, Burson,Robert Bosch, Armor All, and Meguiars (just to namea few). Further information on many of the keyexhibitors and products you will see showcased atthe Expo is contained in the show preview section ofthis magazine.Major industry events held in conjunction withthe Expo include the AAAA Awards to IndustryBreakfast hosted by Neil Crompton and the Awardsto Industry Banquet hosted by Nicole Livingstone.Both events will be held at the Sydney ConventionCentre on the April 2 and will provide a terrificnetworking opportunity while recognising the verybest companies and individuals in our industry.Further information and registration formsare available from the AAAA National OfficeTel 03 9561 7044.The Auto Expo will once againbe held concurrently with the2009 Collision Repair Expofeaturing a further 50 industryleaders in the collision repairsector including PPG, Akzo Nobel,Dupont, Car-O-Liner, 3M, BASF,Lowbake, GPI, Globaljig andSydney Automotive Paint &Equipment.In addition to free entry to theExpo, all visitors will be able totake advantage of the free Monroe Park'n'Rideservice from nearby Harold Park Paceway.Complimentary shuttle buses between Harold Parkand the Exhibition Centre will depart every fiveminutes over the three days of the event.To assist visitors from regional NSW to attend theExpo, a free bus service will operate from Canberra(picking up at Goulburn), Wollongong, Bathurst andNewcastle to the Expo on Saturday April 4. Buseswill be timed to arrive at the Exhibition Centrearound 10.30am Saturday morning and will departthe venue for the return journey from 3pm.Departure times and registration details are availableon the Expo website. Pre-registration for this serviceis essential and numbers are limited.We are confident that the unprecedentedresponse from exhibitors combined with ourextensive marketing campaign will result in a recordnumber of people visiting the Expo this year.Therefore I would strongly recommend registeringfor the event now to avoid any delays when enteringthe venue.To register for the Expo simply log on to ourwebsite www.aftermarketexpo.com.au to completethe online registration form and you will be sent yourentry pass and a voucher to access the free parkingservice in late March.AAAASuite 5 622 Ferntree Gully RoadMulgrave Vic 3170Ph: 03 9561 7044 Fax: 03 9561 7066email: info@aaaa.com.auwww.aaaa.com.auNSW OfficeBox 693 Penrith BCPenrith NSW 2751Ph: 0407 866 671 Fax: 02 4731 5671Email: grahame@aaaa.com.auStuart CharityExecutive Directorexecdir@aaaa.com.auPRESIDENT Mr Peter Hein (VIC) – NGK Spark Plug (Australia) Pty LtdPh: 03 9730 4900 Fax: 03 9730 4990VICE PRESIDENT Mr David Fraser (WA) – Capricorn SocietyPh: 08 6250 9500 Fax: 08 6250 9576SECRETARY Mr Greg Barker (VIC) – RSP Australia Pty LtdPh: 03 9305 4000 Fax: 03 9305 3520TREASURER Mr Peter Martin (VIC) – Hella Australia Pty LtdPh: 03 9581 9333 Fax: 03 9584 1741DIRECTORSMr Andrew Schram (VIC) – Burson Automotive P/LPh: 03 9914 5555 Fax: 03 9914 5544Mr Bob Pattison (VIC) – GUD Automotive Pty LtdPh: 03 9243 3333 Fax: 03 9243 3366COMMITTEEMr Peter Armstrong (NSW) – IBS Auto Solutions Pty LtdPh: 02 9892 4004 Fax: 02 9892 2897Mr David Duncan (VIC) – Dayco Australia Pty LtdPh: 03 9796 4044 Fax: 03 9796 4731Mr Roger Lassen (SA) – TennecoPh: 08 8374 5212 Fax: 08 8276 1653Mr Mark Pedder (VIC) – Pedders SuspensionPh: 03 9706 3500 Fax: 03 9706 3355Mr Geoff Rosenbaum (NSW) – Motospecs – DrivetechPh: 02 9847 5724 Fax: 02 9847 5757Mr Graham Scudamore-Smith (QLD) – Fulcrum SuspensionsPh: 07 3892 9000 Fax: 07 3892 15264 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

AAAAAftersoft Group IncRegus House, Herons Way,Chester Business ParkCHESTER CH40QRUnited Kingdom4.41245E+11CAP Corporation800, Oi-dap Dong, Sangjoo CityKYUNGBUK 742-320 South KoreaPh: 82 54 533 8822 Fax: 82 54 531 9788D.R. Rovacraft Pty Ltd42, 2 Fonts PlaceBAYSWATER WA 6053Ph: 08 9377 0080 Fax: 08 9377 0399Australian AutomotiveAftermarket Magazineis a member of theCirculations Audit Board.PUBLISHER –Stuart Charity,Executive DirectorAustralian AutomotiveAftermarket AssociationNEW MEMBERS CALENDAR 2009The Australian Automotive Aftermarket magazine is the official publication ofthe Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA).Published byThe Australian Automotive Aftermarket AssociationABN 23 002 271 454Suite 5 622 Ferntree Gully Road Mulgrave Vic 3170Ph: 03 9561 7044 Fax 03 9561 7066 email: info@aaaa.com.auNSW OfficeBox 693 Penrith BC Penrith NSW 2751Ph: 0407 866 671 Fax: 02 4731 5671 Email: info@aaaa.com.auEDITORIAL –Allan Edwards,Pole Position ProductionsTel 61 3 9331 2608JSG Equipment Supplies P/L8 Sheridan Close MILPERRA NSW 2214Ph: 02 9914 8717 Fax: 02 9774 2321MED (Aust) P/L118 Christina Road VILLAWOOD NSW 2163Ph: 02 9726 3000 Fax: 02 9724 6049Strike Group Australia4-6 Masters Street NEWSTEAD QLD 4006Ph: 1300 792 044 Fax: 1300 792 054Venture Tape Australasia11B Production DriveCAMPBELLFIELD VIC 3061Ph: 03 9357 6025 Fax 03 9357 6045ADVERTISING MANAGER –Janene Champion,Champion AdsTel 61 3 5862 3090PRODUCTION & DESIGN –Brigid Fraser,PossprintTel 61 3 9505 0121Automechanika ShanghaiShanghai New International Expo Center,Pudong, Shanghai, China10 – 12 December 2008www.automechanika.messefrankfurt.comAustralian Auto Aftermarket ExpoSydney Convention & Exhibition CentreSydney, Australia2-4 April 2009www.aftermartketexpo.com.auCollision Repair ExpoSydney Convention & Exhibition CentreSydney, Australia2-4 April 2009www.collisionrepair.com.auTaipei AMPA14-17 April, 2009www.taipeiampa.com.tw2009 AutoTronics Taipei14-17 April, 2009www.autotronics.com.twAutomechanika Middle East 2009Dubai International Convention& Exhibition Centre, Dubai, UAE31 May - 2 June 2009www.automechanika.messefrankfurt.comSEMA ShowLas Vegas Convention Centre,Las Vegas, Nevada USA3 - 6 November 6, 2009www.semashow.comAAPEX ShowAutomotive Aftermarket Products ExpoSands Expo Center, Las Vegas, Nevada3-5 November, 2009www.aapexshow.comAU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 5

NEWSSUPPLIERS TURN TO PREMIER AUTO TRADEPremier Auto Trade has announced a new distribution agreement with Denso International Australia, distributing its rangeof fuel pumps, oxygen sensors and injectors.Denso is reputedly the world’s largest automotive originalequipment supplier, manufacturing components for all the major carcompanies.Its Australian sales and manufacturing plant is located in Croydon,Melbourne with a 600-strong employee base including research anddevelopment facilities.Denso Aftermarket Sales and Marketing Product Manager, EdwardHardiyanto, said it was great to be working with Premier Auto Trade.“We look forward to a strong partnership, developing the markettogether for our range of quality products,” he said.“Premier Auto Trade has the OE quality focus and expertise, as wellas the reseller network, to allow us to distribute our productsthroughout Australia.”Denso fuel pumps are specified by almost all the major vehiclemanufacturers including Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Lexus,Mitsubishi, Mazda, Subaru, Suzuki, Hyundai and Daimler Chrysler.Denso has also been producing diesel engine management systemssince 1957 and is among the top three producers of diesel fuelinjection systems in the world.Premier Auto Trade Managing Director, Jim Cots, said other leadingbrands have also joined Premier Auto Trade recently including Valeo,Hitachi and Walker Products (USA).“We continue to focus on OE quality products and leading brandsand we welcome Valeo, Hitachi and Walker Products to our portfolio,”he said.Premier Auto Trade will also continue to distribute the Bougicordrange of products following the closure of Electricfil Australia’soperations.Premier Auto Trade is a leading importer and wholesaler of qualityEFI and Engine Management components and is a major supplier tothe Australian automotive aftermarket.SUPERCHARGE ANNOUNCES AWARDSTen successful participants in the SuperCharge 'Win Your Own Piece of Gold' promotion were presented withmatching 'His and Hers' TAG Heuer Gold Racer Watches valued at more than $3,500 in the final draw of theDrawn under independentsupervision from a vast number ofentries, the winners of the final drawof the promotion were evenly spreadthroughout all five states of Australiawith three in NSW, two each inVictoria and Queensland, one inWestern Australia and two fromSouth Australia.In announcing the prizes,SuperCharge Managing Director JoeAbela congratulated the winners andthanked them for their loyal andcontinuing support for thecompany's full program, inparticular the SuperCharge GoldBattery range.SuperCharge 'Gold' Battery promotion.The following winners wereannounced:Peak Performance NSWOut Law Batteries QLDCentral West Tyres NSWAlbury Batteries VICGrafton City Batteries NSWBattery Barn QLDGood Deal Tyres VICIn & Outboard Marine SABatteries Direct SABattery Wizards WAThe prizes were presented priorto the Christmas break endinganother successful year forSuperCharge Batteries in Australia.(Left) Edward Hardiyanto, (Product Manager – Aftermarket Salesand Marketing – Denso Australia) and (Right) Jim Cots(Managing Director – Premier Auto Trade).Established in 1982, Premier Auto Trade is now a national supplierspecialising in genuine and original equipment (OE) products from theworld’s leading manufacturers.Premier Auto Trade distributes throughout Australia via a networkof specialised resellers.6 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

NEWSINTERNATIONALNEWSAUTOMECHANIKA MALAYSIAGEARS UPFollowing the success of the previousevent, the sixth edition of AutomechanikaMalaysia, (previously known asAutomechanika Asia) will return to Malaysiaat the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre fromMarch 25–28 2009.Organisers claim Automechanika Malaysiais the leading automotive parts andaftermarket trade event in the area. Exhibitorsfrom 14 countries and regions includingAustralia, China, France, Germany, HongKong, India, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, SaudiArabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and theUnited Kingdom have confirmed theirattendance.A total of 150 exhibitors and over 5000trade visitors are expected to take part in thisimportant biennial event.Exhibitors will be showcasing acomprehensive range of automotive productcategories in 5000 sqm of exhibition space.As the region’s major automotive parts andaftermarket trade platform, AutomechanikaMalaysia has attracted many leading brandnames.Running alongside the trade fair will be aseries of value-added fringe programmes forattendees to explore the latest trends andindustry developments and to network andexchange information with industry expertsand peers. These include:• Automechanika Academy – an in-depthdiscussion and exploration of topics onautomotive original equipment andaftermarket by industry professionals;• CATER Workshop on Mass Customisationof Vehicles – aimed at mass customisationof vehicles, this workshop will share stateof-the-artknowledge, results and theoutcome of the CATER project which issupported by the European Commission;• Federation of Automobile WorkshopOwners’ Association of Malaysia(FAWOAM) Annual Convention – an annualconvention including seminars andtraining sessions, organised by FAWOAMfor its 3,000 members nationwide;• Product Presentation – a platform forexhibitors to make a more detailedpresentation of their products and servicesto a specialised audience.DENSO IS SUPPLIEROF THE YEARFor the second consecutive year, DENSO Australia Group has successfullywon the prestigious Supplier of the Year award from the Federal Chamberof Automotive Industries (FCAI) in recognition of its excellence as a firsttier automotive component supplier to the Australian automotive industry.The award, based on selectionby the local car industry, wasassessed on product development,quality, timely delivery, competitivepricing, project management andcustomer service, aspects whichDENSO believes are vital to thesuccess of its operations.The DENSO Australia Group,comprising of DENSO InternationalAustralia (DIAU) and AustralianAutomotive Air (AAA), has a 600-strong workforce whichmanufactures engine coolingsystems, air conditioning, air intakesystems, fuel pump modules andinstrument clusters as well as thesales of imported, and aftermarketproducts.DIAU Managing Director, NeilKitamiya, said there were manyareas where the company couldbecome innovative, especially in theenvironmental area.“This is particularly important asAustralia embraces the global carbonemission reduction challenge,” he said.“The group has a sound history of beingenvironmentally focused; evident in itsindustry leading IS014001 EnvironmentalManagement System accreditation, and bybeing the first manufacturer to release CFCfreecar air-conditioners.”AAA Managing Director, Russell Pettis,said the current economic downturn hasadversely affected the Australian automotivemarket.“Consequently the industry must improvein all areas of business to survive,” he said.“The qualities which have helped DENSOAustralia Group to achieve this award willneed to be further enhanced to assist us toget through these turbulent times.“The award is reinforcement for us thatour improvement journey is heading in theright direction.”DENSO is proud of continuing its localmanufacturing in supporting the automotiveindustry and local economy.DENSO Australia Group’s parentcompany, DENSO Corporation, has recentlyDENSO Corporation has developed anair conditioning unit for cars, which isabout 20 percent smaller in volumethan the conventional product.developed a new air conditioning unit, whichis about 20 percent smaller in volume thanthe conventional product.The new system will be installed onToyota’s new compact car, the iQ.With improvements including new resinmolding technologies, DENSO reduced thesize of the blower fan for the new airconditioning unit.This allows the blower unit containing theblower fan to be reduced by almost half thesize of the conventional unit, contributing tothe size reduction of the air conditioningunit.The new air-conditioning unit also can bemounted in the centre of the instrumentpanel to create more legroom for the frontpassenger.DENSO achieved this by integrating theblower unit – which generally is separatedfrom the main unit and located above thefront passenger’s leg space - into theuppermost side of the main unit.8 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

NEWSKMART TYRE & AUTO LAUNCHESAPPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMKmart Tyre & Auto Service (KTAS) has invested in the future of the automotive industry with theappointment of 55 new first-year apprentices.National Training Coordinator, Greg Flood, conducted inductionsessions in all states to welcome aboard the new apprentices toAustralia's largest service, automotive repair and tyre retailer. KeithRichardson, National Merchandise Manager, also arranged visits fromsome of KTAS’s valued suppliers such as Repco and South PacificTyres.With a comprehensive introduction to the industry and KTAS’sprocedures, the induction program will greatly assist stores in theongoing facilitation of these brand new KTAS team members into thebusiness.During the induction new apprentices were not only trained in thekey areas of the automotive industry but were also provided withtraining on staying safe in a workshop environment. The companyplans to further develop their new apprentices with a range of in-housecourses on customer service, company cultures and leadership tocompliment their formal certificate III training at TAFE. KTAS believesthat the continued support for a widespread apprenticeship programis a valuable investment as it will provide KTAS stores with excellentmechanics in the future, and these young people opportunities for arewarding career in the industry.Apprentices learning some basics about the trade, during theirinduction program: Perth WA.GOVERNMENT BOOST TO SUPPLYOPPORTUNITIES IN AUTO INDUSTRYThe Rudd Government will further assist Australian automotive companies to enter North American supply chainsthrough one of five projects announced recently as part of $1.4 million in funding through the Supplier Accessto Major Projects (SAMP) Program.Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation,Industry, Science and Research, said the$468,038 grant was awarded to TeamAustralia Automotive (TAA) – a consortiumof government and industry co-ordinated bythe Industry Capability Network."This project is about linking Australia'sworld class automotive componentmanufacturers with automotive supplychains in the US," Senator Carr said."By linking these global opportunities toour local capabilities we create crucial linksthat boost Australian productivity, exportcapacity and most importantly, jobs."With the challenges being faced by theglobal automotive industry, tapping intothese markets is no easy task. But with thesupport offered by this project, Australiancomponent manufacturers can continue toface this challenge head on." Other SAMPprojects will assist Australian suppliers in theresources and mining sector, particularly inthe fields of coal, oil and gas, with fourSenator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation,Industry, Science and Research,grants being awarded to link capable andcompetitive Australian companies withsupply opportunities in Australia, Asia andthe Pacific."Small to medium sized companies canoften be overlooked for the supply of majorprojects in a competitive global market,"Senator Carr said."The SAMP program employs acoordinated and strategic approach toconnect these companies to major projects,building prosperity and growingemployment."SAMP represents an investment in thehealth and future of Australian industry. Ithas already helped Australian companies wincontracts worth an estimated $2 billion forwork, which may otherwise have goneoverseas."I strongly encourage Australian suppliersto register with their local Industry CapabilityNetwork office to increase their opportunitiesto bid for work in these major projects."For further information on SAMP and theIndustry Capability Network visitwww.icn.org.au10 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

NEWSKT GETS UPGRADEKT Cable Accessories has thanked customers for theirpatience and understanding during a computer softwaresystem upgrade in December.General Manager Lee Haywood said the preparation for thechanges had been ongoing for some time beforehand to ensureminimal disruption to general business.“Other then a new look invoice there should be no changesnoticed by our customers especially in pricing.“However all the best laid plans can overlook the odd glitch.“Should you notice any change that is incorrect then pleaseadvise us at your earliest convenience so that we can investigateand if needed, correct it.“We thank you for your patience and understanding.”KT Cable Accessories can be contacted on 07 5540 7877 orsales@ktcables.com.auPRO QUIPPROTECTS CANSThe world’s largest maker of jerry cans, Melbourne-basedPro Quip, is finding success can have its problems.While on the one hand the locally developed range has become a topseller to retail and military outlets globally, the company is having toprotect its patented designs against recently arrived cheap Asiancopies.“The evolution of this jerry can range is a 100 percent local successstory,” Pro Quip’s Martin Haines said.“We’ve been developing every aspect for over 20 years and havepatents in all major markets.“Their unique design boasts many advantages such as the toughthick steel construction with recessed welding, pin closure system andeasy-pour breather.”Mr Haines said thesefeatures have becomeestablished as setting thestandards in the industry.“Our design has evenbecome known as the‘can with the pin’ inmany countries,” hesaid.“Now we’re findingAsian-made thin fragileversions with the exactly thesame layout turning up on the retail shelves invarious locations which is forcing us to act.“We’ve been successfully down this road before and while the legalaction is not cheap, we have to protect what amounts to considerablelocal R&D costs.“Pro Quip is justifiably proud of what we’ve achieved in buildingour jerry can range into a successful world product and that gives us theposition to ensure our patents are protected.”AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 11

NEWSTRADESHOW SUCCESS CHARGES CTEK SALESFollowing a successful launch at the 2007 Australia Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) trade show, Australia isnow the second largest export market (out of 42 territories) for CTEK battery chargers globally.Rob Cameron, who is the GeneralManager of Ashdown Ingram which is theAustralian distributor of CTEK chargers, saidthe company had seen a real appetite forbattery maintenance in Australia.“The weather conditions in Australiamake it particularly important for regularbattery maintenance,” he said.“The CTEK charger is easy to use, saferthan other chargers and completelyautomated, making it a popular choiceamongst both mechanics and consumers.The launch at the AAAA show in 2007provided CTEK with a platform to raiseawareness of the importance of batterymaintenance and how it affects vehicleperformance.It also highlights the increased demandson car batteries as a result of sophisticatedelectronic and computer systems that havebecome a part of cars.Battery technology must evolve with cartechnology and CTEK’s unique switch modetechnology, in which a rectifier and anelectronic switch replace the lineartransformer, is what sets CTEK apart fromthe competition.The transformer is more efficient andproduces less heat, while an electronicNEW TAX BREAKS TO HELPSMALL BUSINESSThe Federal Government has announced further action designed to boost economic activity and support jobs with a10 percent temporary investment allowance – in the form of an additional tax deduction – which will encourageFederal Treasurer, Wayne Swan, said theannouncement would give businessesconfidence to continue to plan positively andinvest for the future, providing crucial supportto growth and jobs during these difficulteconomic times.“By boosting business confidence andencouraging business investment, this measurewill provide an important short term stimulus tothe Australian economy in the face of the globalfinancial crisis,” he said.The investment allowance is in addition tothe Rudd Government's $10.4 billion EconomicSecurity Strategy designed to bolsterhouseholds and businesses, strengthen theeconomy and support jobs during the globalswitch controlled by a regulator providesexactly the right current and voltage to thebattery.CTEK can handle fluctuations in mainsvoltage, providing the exact charge voltage(a steady 14.4v) avoiding issues withundercharging or gassing.In a workshop environment, it serves as a‘memory saver’, allowing a damaged batteryto be removed without losing any importantsettings and codes in most electronicequipment.CTEK fits virtually all lead-acid batterytypes including flooded, maintenance-free,gel and AGM batteries.It is spark-free, short circuit-proof,reverse polarity protected and eliminates theneed to “guess” the required voltage of abattery.Bengt Wahlqvist, the creator of CTEK, isdelighted at the success CTEK has enjoyedin Australia.“We are very happy that Australians enjoythe product and have made the CTEKcharger a part of their battery maintenanceroutine,” he said.“We are in the process of developing newproducts and hope to launch them inAustralia in the next few months.”important capital investment by Australian businesses.financial crisis.“It will also complement the majorinvestments in infrastructure that theGovernment is undertaking,” Mr Swan said.The allowance will be in the form of anadditional tax deduction equal to 10 percent ofthe cost of an eligible asset.The allowance will be applicable to mostnew tangible depreciating assets - whichincludes most items of plant and equipment -over $10,000 which are acquired or ordered bythe end of the current financial year.“This means a business can receive anadditional 10 percent tax deduction - availableimmediately - for investment brought forwardand in place by 30 June 2010. In practicalThere are six chargers in the CTEK range,designed to suit a range of battery sizes andcharging needs.CTEK is available exclusively throughRepco stores nationally www.repco.com.auFor more information visit www.ctek.comterms, this is an added incentive for businessesto proceed with their investment plans in thisdifficult environment,” Mr Swan said.The measure is estimated to cost $1.6billion over the forward estimates period.The investment allowance will be availablefor businesses that start to hold or start toconstruct the asset after 12.01am AEDT 13December 2008 and before the end of June2009. Assets must be ready for use by the endof June 2010.Detailed information for taxpayers on theinvestment allowance is available from theATO on 132 866.14 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

NEWSMIDAS IN VOLUNTARY ADMINISTRATIONCar care company Midas placed itself in voluntary administration on December 23 but administrator Ferrier Hodgson says it isbusiness as usual for the company.The Midas network comprises of more than35 company-owned stores and 43 franchisestores, but as of January 6, only the companyownedstores were affected by theadministration.The company, which employs 125 staff,opened its first Australian franchise inLaunceston in 1976.Early in January, Ferrier Hodgson PartnerGeorge Georges said he was confident of findinga buyer for the iconic car parts retailer.Mr Georges said he had already received adozen unsolicited offers for the business, andwas reviewing the financial viability of each store.“Midas is a company Australian motoristshave come to know and trust over more than 30years and we are hopeful that a sale orrestructure plan will enable the company to getback on track,” he said.SAFER CAR ADS MAKE A MARKTo help inform car buyers,the Australasian New CarAssessment Program(ANCAP) crash tests new carsand awards them a star ratingfor safety based oninternationally recognisedprotocols.In Victoria, ANCAPmember VicRoads hasdeveloped a press, outdoorand online advertisingcampaign targeting potentialcar buyers andrecommending that theyconsider safety and only buycars rated four or five stars.ANCAP Council Chair,Ross McArthur, saidindependent marketresearch, commissioned byVicRoads, showed that theads were helping car buyersto make safer car purchases."Eighty percent of drivers saw the ads asbeing effective in prompting people to look intocrash test results, while almost 50 percent ofdrivers who previously 'never' looked into crashtest results when buying a car said they weremore likely to do so upon seeing the ads," hesaid.“With the support of regular patrons, wehope Midas will continue to provide service forAustralian motorists for years to come.”He commented that the auto industry andthe retail sector in general have been doing itparticularly tough over the past eight months.“The recent fall in petrol prices has nothelped Midas’s efforts to push into the LPGconversion market,” Mr Georges said.“People are reticent to pay $4000 for anLPG conversion when there is not a clear pricedifferential between petrol and gas.”The Midas auto repair business started inGeorgia, in the US, in 1956 and in 2000 MidasUSA sold its Australian operations to PhilipBonney, who remains the largest shareholderand Chief Executive Officer.Fairfax newspaper WA Today reported inDecember that it believes at least one franchisee"Drivers reported that theads were informative andagreed that they would helpconsumers make a saferchoice when buying theirnext car."The independentresearch also shows thatmore than any other agegroup, 23 to 34 year-olddrivers showed an increase incorrectly identifying fourstars as the minimum safetyrating for a vehiclerecommended by ANCAP."This age group is oftendifficult to successfully reachwith safety messages so thisis a great result."The campaign has alsobeen a hit with theadvertising industry, with thecampaign being repeatedlyvoted number one by AdNewsonline readers as part of the publication'sfortnightly survey.AdNews is one of the advertising industry'spremier publications.Recognising the significant role that safevehicle choice plays in preventing death andserious injury on the roads, VicRoadswas forced to close after he owed money to thecompany.WA Today also reported that franchisees hadcomplained to various authorities about thecompany and that “several” franchisees hadtaken Midas to the Federal and Supreme Courts.The first meeting of creditors took place onJanuary 7 in Melbourne, where a committee ofcreditors was also formed.A second meeting of creditors was due to beheld on or before February 11 unless the Courtextends this date.It is at this meeting that creditors willconsider the Administrators’ report and considerresolutions regarding the company’s future.It is expected that the convening period willbe extended for a period of up to 60 days inorder to allow a sale of the Midas business tooccur.ANCAP claims a recent advertising campaign encouraging drivers to buy safer vehicles is hitting the mark.An ANCAP advertisement urgingcar buyers to make sure theirnew vehicle has a safety ratingof at least four stars.engaged advertising agency MarmaladeCommunications to develop theadvertisements.The ads use humour to show crash testdummies resisting laboratory technicians sothat they can avoid being used to test carswhich are rated fewer than four stars."Australian research shows that if everymotorist changed from their current vehicle tothe safest vehicle in its class, road traumawould drop by one-third overnight," MrMcArthur said."Five people die every day on Australianroads, so this research should be heeded byconsumers, governments and the industry (to)try to lower the national road trauma andfatality rate."ANCAP crash tests new vehicles, awardsthem a star rating for safety and publicises theresults to the motoring public.ANCAP is supported by all Australian andNew Zealand motoring clubs, Australian stategovernments, the New Zealand government,the Victorian Transport Accident Commission,the Insurance Australia Group and the FIAFoundation.A full list of ANCAP's vehicle safety ratings andother vehicle safety information is available atwww.ancap.com.auAU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 15

NEWSTOYOTA MAINTAINS PACEToyota says it plans to launch an urban commuter battery electric vehicle by 2012 after taking the wraps off its FutureToyota Electric Vehicle (FT-EV) concept car at the recent North American International Auto Show.The decision to show the Toyota FT-EV in Detroit signals Toyota'sintention to broaden the scope of its advanced alternative-fuel vehicledevelopment."Now, more than ever, while we are so focused on the pressing issues ofthe moment, we cannot lose sight of our future," Toyota Motor Sales groupVice President (Environmental and Public Affairs), Irv Miller, said."Nowhere is this more important than with our industry's duty andcommitment to provide true sustainable mobility with vehicles thatsignificantly reduce fuel consumption, our carbon footprint and overallgreenhouse gases."The FT-EV concept shares its platform with the revolutionary-new iQurban commuter vehicle.Already a huge hit in Japan, the iQ is lightweight and seats fourpassengers in comfort and security, while delivering exceptional fueleconomy, sporty performance, unique refinements and a fun, youthfulimage.Toyota's FT-EV concept imagines an urban dweller, driving up to 80kilometres between home, work and other forms of public transportation,such as high-speed rail.Although, for now, the FT-EV remains a pure concept, it represents anatural pairing of product strategies.Mr Miller said last year's spike in the price of petrol was no anomaly."It was a brief glimpse of our future," he warned."We must address the inevitability of peak oil bydeveloping vehicles powered by alternatives to liquidoilfuel, as well as new concepts, like the iQ, that arelighter in weight and smaller in size."This kind of vehicle, electrified or not, is where ourindustry must focus its creativity."Although battery electric vehicles and new smallervehicles like the iQ will be a key component of Toyota'ssustainable mobility strategy, the conventional petrolelectrichybrid, like the all-new third-generation Prius,is considered Toyota's long-term core powertraintechnology.Last year, Toyota announced it planned to sell onemillion petrol-electric hybrids per year during the early2010s.To accomplish this, Toyota will launch as many as10 new hybrid models in various global markets.Also, last year, Toyota announced it would roll-out alarge number of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) to globalfleet-lease customers in 2010; that schedule has beenmoved up.Beginning in late 2009, Toyota will start globaldelivery of 500 Prius PHVs powered by lithium-ionbatteries.The lithium-ion batteries powering these PHVs willbe built at Toyota's PEVE (Panasonic EV EnergyCompany, LTD) battery plant, a joint-venture productionfacility in which Toyota has 60 percent equity."Future customers will have high expectations forthese emerging technologies," Mr Miller said."This Prius PHV fleet program is a key first step inconfirming how and when we might bring largenumbers of plug-in hybrids to global markets."Our business is no longer about simply buildingand selling cars and trucks."It is about finding solutions to mobility challengestoday and being prepared for more daunting challengesin our very near future."16 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

NEWSAAAA GETS INVOLVED IN EXPORTSThe Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) will play a massive role in a new Federal Governmentinitiative to take advantages of export opportunities.The AAAA has successfully securedfunding under the Government’s GlobalOpportunities Program to facilitate asignificant and sustained export program tothe USA.The AAAA project will form a cluster ofcompanies seeking to develop or grow exportsof automotive parts to North America.From the 2008-09 financial year,$75,000 has been approved each year for thenext three years from the Government.The AAAA and participants will match thismoney in financial and in-kind contributionsand can be used to offset the cost of all exportrelated activities except airfares andaccommodation.This may include business plan andstrategy development, production of capabilitydirectories and marketing collateral, inwardbuyer missions, market research, trade showstands(at events such as SEMA and PRI),overcoming logistical and regulatory barriers.The program will also include free accessto Austrade project management resources inAustralia and North America.These resources will assist in the planningand execution of the strategy as well asassisting cluster members with marketresearch, identification of customers, adviceon regulatory issues and other in-marketsupport.Trade Minister, Simon Crean, theautomotive aftermarket was one of eightindustries to receive funding.He said that many Australian businesses,particularly small and medium-sizedenterprises, lacked the scale, expertise andaccess to information that is necessary toidentify and successfully bid for contracts inglobal supply chains or major projectsinternationally.“By encouraging individual enterpriseswithin a sector to form clusters we can betterhelp these industries, as well as individualbusinesses, to become internationallycompetitive and, consequently, to promotetheir long-term sustainability and help protectemployment opportunities,” Mr Crean said.“It is particularly important in the currentdifficult business environment that wemaximise the ability of Australian businessesto combine their efforts in taking their worldclassproducts and services to globalmarkets.“By working together within an industrycluster, individual enterprises can present amuch stronger value proposition in a highlycompetitive international marketplace thanthey may be able to achieve individually.”The AAAA has experience in facilitatingexport activities and events and the exportcluster infrastructure is now well developed.It has been granted approved body statusand many members of the export cluster haveor are currently participating in this programin their own right.The key areas of opportunity for Australianaftermarket manufacturers includereplacement parts for Australian builtvehicles, such as the Holden VE Commodorewhich is badged as a Pontiac G8 in the USalong with high quality niche volumespecialty products for 4X4 and highperformance vehicles.The AAAA has identified 30 companieswho have expressed interest in participationin the cluster.Many of these companies attended aninformation session in January and the AAAAwill now seek formal expressions of interest toconfirm 15 participants.G TECHNIQ HITS THE AUSTRALIAN MARKETBURG DESIGN CLAIMS G TECHNIQ IS THE NEW WORLD LEADER IN FINISHINGSYSTEMS FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING AND DETAILING TRADEThe G Techniq refinishing system is now available in Australia, and promises to revolutionize the industry with both itsease of application, time saving benefits and most importantly global track record of outstanding results. Developed inthe harsh world of aircraft and marine maintenance, this technology can now benefit your automotive workplace.This is a product line up developed fromthe ground up as a system for trade use tosave both time and money, with ease ofapplication and industry leading finish resultsas the two main criteria. What has beendeveloped after extensive research is a twopartsystem based on the ‘Perfect, thenProtect’ principle.One of the significant advantages to tradeusers is that the G Techniq refinishing systemproducts require very low speed and pressurewhen using orbital buffers to achieve asuperior result. The speed required is between600-900 RPM while the pressure required isvery light, even to remove the worstoxidisation and contaminants as the productdoes the work for you, not the other wayaround. This leads to several advantages ofpads lasting longer, less splatter, precisecontrol of the buffer and less fatigue for staff,as well as much faster turn around times inthe shop.This system is comprised of two separatecomponents, working together to form a bond.The P1 nano polish is the first productapplied, and will remove between 85-95percent of contaminants with the wool pad.For the final finish, users swap to the blackpad for 100 percent removal of any hologrameffect on even the most difficult of blackpaint finishes. The surface is now ready tohave the C3 Smart Carnauba applied to lockin the finish and this is simply a wipe on, wipeoff process. It gives the effect of a full, labourintensive pro-valet with the ease of use of adetail spray.These products are used andrecommended by such reputable companiesas Aston Martin, Sunseeker Powerboats,Oceano Yachts, Subaru World Rally Team andmany independent high-end vehicle retailers.For more information call 03 9555 9277 orvisit www.burgdesign.com.auAU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 17

PRODUCTSZylux has your battery andtyre needs coveredZylux has launched a new range ofchargers and maintainers suitable forsix-volt, 12-volt and 24-volt batteryapplications.Specifically designed forAustralian conditions, and sold underthe brand of Ozcharge, these small,smart portable or wall mountable chargersrange in size from 900ma trickle chargers up to a switchable 21-ampoutput in the 12-volt range, and the 24-volt charger is a modest 1/2/4-amp switchable charger. All of the chargers are totally automatic andmaintainable meaning you can leave them on as long as you like withoutover or undercharging the battery. They will work on lead-acid, calciumand gel batteries. Keep your batteries at optimum performance levelswith Australia’s newest and fairest priced chargers.The Tyredog Tyre Pressure Monitoring System is also available fromZylux. Since releasing the ever-popular TD-1000 system, whichmonitors up to four tyres, the manufacturers have added a six-wheel(TD-2200) and eight-wheel kit (TD-2000) to the range. The totally DIYexternal systems now cater for a wide range of uses including all typesof towing and passenger vehicle use. The team at Tyredog is alsoworking on a truck and trailer system, which will be available soon.For more information visit www.ozcharge.com.au orwww.tyredog.zylux.com.auNew bar for Grand VitaraEast Coast Bullbars(ECB) now has a rangeof frontal protectionequipment for theSuzuki Grand Vitara.These stylishbumper-over bars aremanufactured fromhigh tensile structuralgrade alloys andfeature fully gussetedshoulder pipes.The tapered 6mmthick one-piece centre channel and full width, braced lower protection skirtprovide class leading frontal protection for the Grand Vitara, while aspecifically designed steel mounting system ensures the bar is solidlymounted to the front of the vehicle.Indicator/park light combinations, driving light mounting provisions,extra-large air vents and an aerial bracket are all standard features.Additionally, ECB now offers a Big Tube Bar with integrated driving lightsthat is suitable for all Grand Vitara model variants (extra wiring loom may berequired to connect driving lights on non-foglight equipped vehicles).These bars come in a range of superior, low maintenance powdercoatedfinishes, as well as the ever-popular mirror polished alloy finish.ECB also makes a Big Tube Bar for the Toyota Coaster.For more information on ECB’s range of frontal protection equipment, visit thewebsite www.ecb.com.au or free call 1800 069 145.Dayco scooter beltsAs the Australian summer sets in, the increase in motorists using motorised scooters on roads is significant.Aside from the warmer weather, scooters arealso the fastest growing mode of transport onmany of the major city roads for a number ofreasons.The soaring cost of fuel is one of the mainfactors driving this significant transportationsector growth, while scooters are also a muchmore environmentally friendly alternative toowning a car, particularly for inner citydwellers.Modern low to high powered scooters,whether subjected to day-to-day stop-and-gotraffic conditions, or if only used during thesummer months, require frequent maintenanceto ensure safe, reliable and economicaloperation.As a leading global Original Equipmentsupplier of scooter belts for all European andAsian makes and models, Dayco now offers theAustralian aftermarket the company’s full rangeof premium quality replacement scooter belts,known as Dayco Power Plus.The Dayco Power Plus aftermarket scooterbelt range initially consists of 30 part numbers,Dayco’s aftermarket range of Scooter belts bring thesame Original Equipment technology to motorcycle andgeneral repairers with the initial Australian rangecovering 30 part numbers which can be crossreferenced from OE part numbers.which can be easily cross referenced from OEpart numbers to locate the premium qualityreplacement belt for most scooters used onAustralian roads.The Dayco range of Power Plus scooter beltsfeature aramid fibre inserts to ensure highthermostability and reduced elongation,particularly under engine starting conditions.Dayco says its Power Plus scooter belts aretwice as resistant to wear compared to polyestermade products.The indentation at the rear of each DaycoPower Plus scooter belt provides maximumflexibility, a larger mating surface and improvedcooling during operation.The same technological advances in engineand drive belt design and manufacturing thathas made Dayco a world leader in both OriginalEquipment supply and in the Aftermarket, havebeen applied to Dayco’s new aftermarket PowerPlus scooter belt range.To access the entire Dayco Power Plus scooterbelt catalogue, along with all Dayco aftermarketdrive belt and associated products, visitwww.dayco.com.au18 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

PRODUCTSBoost your customer base... and your bottom line!As almost every workshop owner will tell you, thevehicle repair industry is highly competitive. Thecurrent economic climate has made things eventougher for automotive workshops across thenation. In such an environment, attracting newcustomers and retaining your existing client base ismore important than ever.Using quality products is one strategymechanics and workshop owners can adopt togrow and protect their business – and theirbottom line. Bendix Heavy Duty brake pads are aprime example. Widely recognised as theautomatic choice for working vehicles, utes, vansand taxis, Bendix Heavy Duty are a high qualityproduct made from a specifically developedcompound, formulated to deliver real heavy dutyperformance.Most customers desire and value a qualityvehicle service, and providing quality service cangenerate invaluable repeat business, referrals anda strong local reputation for your workshop.This has certainly been the experience ofColin Wood, owner of Apex Auto Service Centrenear Fremantle in WA. According to Mr Wood,fitting Bendix Heavy Duty pads has increasedlevels of customer satisfaction at his workshop, inturn improving his bottom line."By choosing to fit Bendix Heavy Duty I amimmediately providing a better service to mycustomers," Mr Wood, who has owned andmanaged his own workshop for 30 years, said."When I fit a set of Bendix Heavy Duty pads,I'm confident the car is going out with the bestpossible pad for the best possible price. If you fitBendix Heavy Duty, there is virtually no chancethe customer will come back with a brake padcomplaint, so they're good for my customers, andalso good for my business."Colin says he has found that BendixHeavy Duty suit a range of conditions as wellas many vehicle types such as taxis."They are absolutely ideal for taxis andcommercial vehicles. I've been fitting themto taxis with great success. I had one taxicustomer who was going through a set ofbrake pads every 15,000kms. OnceI fitted Bendix Heavy Duty, heonly needed to replace hispads every 45,000kms.That's three times theperformance of acheaper, inferior pad,which is real value formoney as far as I'm concerned. The customerhas been thrilled, as am I, as he previously wentelsewhere for his servicing, and he has now comeover to Apex Auto."I've also been using Bendix Heavy Duty onutes and working vehicles with absolutely noproblem at all, in fact I've had a lot of positivecustomer feedback."Colin's experience with Bendix Heavy Dutyalso highlights the suitability of the pads to othersituations, such as frequent hard-braking."They're good for younger, more heavy-footeddrivers who want a high performing brake padwithout the high price tag," Mr Wood said."I find with younger drivers, who ownCommodores and EL Falcons in particular, theBendix Heavy Duty work better and provide longerlasting performance."Bendix Heavy Duty do sell for more thangeneral-purpose pads such as Bendix General CT.Yet Mr Wood believes the small additional outlayquickly pays for itself due to the longer lifespanof the pads on commercial and working vehicles."I give customers the HeavyDuty option when I am fittingtheir vehicle with new brakepads. I explain that the extradollars spent are well worth itdue to the dramatic increase inlifespan you get from BendixHeavy Duty,” he said.In addition, he claims henever experiences noiseproblems with Bendix Heavy Duty."There are competitor brandson the market that produce a decentpad, but the big problem with these isbraking efficiency and noise. Whenyou have a new or new-ish car comein, you want to have it go out braking justas well as it did when it came in. Cheaper padscan't achieve this and you end up with customercomplaints,” he explained.Apex Auto Service Centre carries out allmechanical repairs and servicing. Mr Wood hasbuilt his thriving business through the provisionof a quality service combined with valuablecustomer loyalty. Bendix Heavy Duty help him tocontinue achieving customer satisfaction and theresulting business success.Bendix Heavy Duty brake pads are ideal forall sorts of load carrying situations. Whether it'sthe challenges of city driving, the hard grind ofconstruction sites, braking under load or thedemands of constant hard-braking, BendixHeavy Duty pads deliver cool braking and a longlifespan.For more information visit www.bendix.com.au,call 1800 819 666 or e-mailbrakeadvicecentre@bendix.com.auAU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 19

PRODUCTSOptimum Engine ProtectionBosch, with more than 75 years experience in filtration and as a major designer and supplier of engine systems globally, utilises the latest technologyand the best material, to produce its quality oil filters.There are plenty of oil filters available on the market. The temptation,especially in today's financial climate, is to help the customer save moneyand go for the cheaper filter option. The sentiment might be right but youcould end up costing your customer a lot more than they bargained for,and possibly lose yourself a customer. Poor quality filters may be cheapbut they can sometimes lead to exorbitant repair costs.Oil filters from Bosch guarantee optimum protection of vehicle enginecomponents. The filter element in Bosch oil filters is made of specialmicro-fibre paper, impregnated with synthetic resin. In order to maximisethe filter surface area, this filter paper is specifically folded with evenpleats, providing superior filtration, and separating up to 99 percent of allimpurities, giving maximum protection to engine components. Cheaperquality oil filters use less paper, containing wide gaps with uneven pleatsand often-excess glue, all of which leads to reduced filter efficiency andthe risk of serious engine damage.Premium rubber seals, designed to resist aggressive engine oils, areused in all Bosch oil filters, preventing leakage and ensuring 100 percentrigidity over the entire service life of the filter.Bosch oil filters are manufactured using special pressure, rust andcorrosion resistant steel housing, providing the highest-pressure resistanceand protecting the filter from damage. Thinner housing and low gradesteel parts found in other oil filters have a lower resistance to pressure andcan lead to rust contamination and possible engine damage.Drivers often underestimate the importance of oil filters. Ensure youdon't get caught up with expensive engine damage caused by poor qualityoil filters. Educate your customers about the damage that can be done totheir engine if oil filters are not changed and earn yourself a potentialcustomer for life.For safer and cleaner driving, trust Bosch, the worldwide filter specialist.For further details on Bosch oil filters, or any other replacement parts,please contact the Bosch Customer Service Centre on 1300 307 040 orvisit us at www.bosch.com.auStopping cars since the beginning of the industryMintex claims that it has been recognised as a leading friction brand for almost 100 years. Now, Mintex is part of the TMD Friction Group – one of the world'sleading automotive friction manufacturers, supplying OE friction to the world's vehicle manufacturers as well as quality aftermarket friction products.Together with the vehicle and brakemanufacturers TMD Friction engineersdevelop and test brake friction products,which fulfils highest requirementsregarding comfort, performance and wearexpectancy. The objective is not only tosell disc brake pads and drum brakelinings - but also to develop the perfecttechnical solution for each respectiveapplication. Our OE experience is suchthat we have been chosen to supplyfriction for the smallest cars, such as theFiat 500, through to the world's fastestand most powerful supercars, such as theBugatti Veyron.Mintex friction is engineered at state-of-theartfacilities in the UK using the latestautomated technology, including computercontrolledgrinding and E.S.P.I. (Extra-Short inlinePressing), to ensure consistently highstandards of quality and finish. As part of itscommitment to improvement and to meet themarketneed for O.E. quality andperformance at aftermarket prices, Mintex brakepads are regularly evaluated at different periodsin the vehicle life cycle. This process hasrecently resulted in a large-scale program tobring Mintex brake pads closer to O.E.specifications by adding slots or chamfers, anda range of anti-vibration shims, toreferences where these features arealready specified to the O.E. equivalentpart.The Mintex brand has alwaysdemonstrated a commitment to ongoingproduct development - a philosophy thatexists to this day and which helpsMintex to stay ahead of the competition.With world-class resources, and TMDFriction's vast original equipmentexpertise now supporting the MintexResearch and Development program,Mintex friction continues to evolve and setnew standards in aftermarket quality andperformance across its product range. If yourlocal brake and clutch distributor is not sellingMintex, then he is simply not selling the best.Mintex is now available through your localauthorised brake and clutch distributor orcontact 03 9417 567720 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

PRODUCTSSmart struts givereseller advantagesGabriel’s smart strut design to reducereseller stock levels has proven a bigwinner with the Australian aftermarket.The policy is unique to this NorthAmerican shock and strut maker and addsanother advantage to selling Gabriel.One of the big winners in recent yearsis the front struts for Holden Commodores(part number G55674). Like so many ofits struts, Gabriel designed its struts forthis vehicle to be the same left and rightby smart arrangement of the brackets andfittings.Get on ya soap box for 'eco' choicesHow would you deal with a price increase of over 70percent in 12 months? That's what's happen to thepackaging of Lightning's number one-selling handcleaner, Scrubber. This will too have an effect onthe price to workshops.Lighting Products, renowned for its range ofworkshop hand cleaners and environmentallyfriendly cleaners, degreasers and laundry powderswants to give a smarter 'eco' option to customers ofScrubber – that's 'eco' for economy and ecology!For over 30 years Lightning Scrubber has beenLightning's number one-selling workshop handcleaner for performance and value.Scrubber is packaged in the iconic red yellowand orange steel drum, which is common to findaround most workshops and once emptied of handcleaner is often used as a handy drum, rubbish bin,parts bin, or for odds and ends. The iconic drumhas a long life span, so why throw them away?Simply buy a Scrubber bag in box and put the bag into your old steel drum. This will not only haveenvironmental benefits but will also save you on average $25 compared to buying Scrubber in a steeldrum.Lightning also has a new hand clear called Fresh, which contains no harsh petroleum solvents. Ituses 100 percent eucalyptus oil to dissolve grease, oil, paint, and adhesives.Lightning products are available from Burson Automotive, Repco, Coventry and all good auto andindustrial outlets.For more information or a free sample call 1300 722 172.When the variations of the one vehicleare taken into account (sedan, wagon,country pack) some other makers have tooffer multiple variations to cover thatvehicle, the Gabriel system of ensuringjust one strut fits all means a massiveinventory reduction for resellers. It alsoillustrates another way the G-Forcedamper valve technology works well in awide range of applications.“This aspect of our smart design hasproven to be a massive advantage forGabriel resellers,” Brandlines’ MauriceLuksich said.“Its success is because of the hugereduction in inventory levels.“When added to the way we’ve alwayshad a firm policy of selling as little as theone shock or strut at a time and not aminimum of a pair, this means resellersare trading at an big advantage bystocking Gabriel.“And when our price advantages areadded to the gains from a reduction instock levels, it all adds up to Gabriel beingmuch better business,” Mr Luksich said.For more information call 02 9457 9488.Smooth ridewith creeperA new Deluxe Garage Creeper designedwith the professional mechanic in mindhas been released by leading tool supplier,Kincrome.This new creeper is the deluxe model in anexpanding range by Kincrome.Designed for comfort and ease of use, thiscreeper makes light work under any type of vehicle.One of the main advantages of this creeper is its 44-inch frame and large castors.The smooth action inline castors offer smooth glide and rolling performance and turningwith the greatest of ease, enabling effortless movement in any direction.The garage creeper is constructed from strong and durable aluminium, fully welded andfinished with an anodised coating, making it light weight and easy to carry around the workshop.The recessed frame allows for ease of movement for arms and shoulders.Kincrome says the creeper is extremely comfortable with its thick padding to support thebody while under a vehicle and the independently adjustable headrest and shoulder support areideal for positioning the head and shoulders at a raised or lowered angle.The padded heavy-duty vinyl also offers durable protection against unwanted garage spills.The new Kincrome Garage Creeper is now available from leading automotive stores acrossAustralia.For more information and details of your nearest stockist visit the Kincrome websitewww.kincromegroup.com22 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

PRODUCTSMr Funnel separates good from badMr Funnel is the brand of a new range of USA-made funnels which boast thedefinite advantage of being able to separate water out of any fuel.They work with petrol, two stroke, diesel andkerosene.Called the Fuel Filter Funnel, the procedure isachieved by the use of special filterslocated above a sump so thatwhen the liquid is poured intothe funnel the water goes intothe bottom and the filteredfuel goes into the tank.After each use, thefunnel is simply turnedupside down so the water anddirt can be shaken into a wastecontainer.A tough plastic body is availablewhich has a coated stainless steel filterfor long-term durability.The range is available in four sizes withthe biggest having dual filters for increased flow speed and a deeper sump toensure the dirtiest fuel can be handled.The range of Fuel Filter Funnels is available from Pro Quip on 03 9761 1110.Versatile bright lightsLeading tool supplier Kincrome has released two new and extremelyversatile handheld worklights.Using the latestlight emitting diode(LED) technology,the new worklightsinclude a roundutility worklight anda handheldworklight.The worklightsinclude 24individual LEDswhich provide a fullspectrum of ultra intensity white light.One benefit of LED lights is they require low power enabling anextended battery life.Supplied with batteries, the Kincrome worklights are able to bepowered continuously for up to 12 hours.These clever lights include a powerful magnet and convenient swivelhook able to be turned 360 degrees providing the convenience of handsfree work.The blue ABS body protects the worklight from breaking if accidentlydropped and the rubber coating provides a firm and comfortable grip.The Kincrome worklights are now available from leading tool outletswith a recommended retail price of $11.95 and $32.95.Put a time machine in your toolboxFor more than 35 years Vulkan Lokring has been a reliable businesspartner to many major customers in therefrigeration and air-conditioningindustry and now the auto airconditioningindustry.Vulkan Lokring’s core product remainsLokring, a proven method ofconnecting aluminium, copper, steel,titanium and rubber hose (metals canbe different sizes and types and bejoined reliably) 40 percent faster thantraditional methods with no brazing,soldering or welding. It's simpler,cleaner and more reliable than anyexisting pipe connection systems on themarket. Lokring claims it can supply hose/pipe repairsolutions at a fraction of the price of OEM items in theautomotive air-conditioning industry. Its latest product is Lokclip.This is a revolutionary connection for reduced barriers hose. Lokclipis designed to offer 74 percent less leakage potential than thestandard bead lock system. No expensive tooling is required to useLokclip.For more information call 02 4322 8533 or visit www.vulkan.com.auFor more information and details of your nearest stockist visit the Kincromewebsite www.kincromegroup.comAU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 23

PRODUCTSWarn introduces PullzAllA whole new category of tool a whole newlevel of efficiency.Have you ever wanted a tool that can pull and liftup to 454 kilos, has an automated force, weighs inat just eight kilos and all at the flick of a switch?Have you dreamed of your backbreaking daysto be over?Have you ever been in a remote area whereyou could really do with a tool that was cordlessbut had grunt?The new Warn PullzAll is your answer. ThePullzAll is a powerful, lightweight, portable easyto-usehand-held electric pulling tool designed topull lift and drag anything that needs shifting.This tool replaces manual winches and chainblocks – the modern day electrical block andtackle.New Falcon carbon clutch kitsXtreme clutch from Australia hasrecently expanded its multi-platecarbon clutch range.With products available to suitapplications in the 900 horsepowerto over 1400 horsepower range thecompany claims that Xtreme carbonclutch products brings driveabilityand performance to high performancevehicle owners that has until now,never been available, let alone atsuch a competitive price point.Once thought of as an exoticproduct, Xtreme now brings carbonclutch into the mainstream and subsequently has kits to suit humdreds of applications.Xtreme claims its carbon clutches will give positive drive without slippage under the mostextreme duty of drift, drag or race situations.Utilising up-to-the-minute carbon technology and incorporating a non-mesh, random wavecarbon lining, the carbon material offers strength exceeding that of steel whilst reducingrotating inertia to a fraction of conventional multi-plate clutches.This translates into faster operation, less horsepower loss through inertia and less overallweight. The advanced CAD design of the clutch kit also gives an increased contact area andphenomenal holding power when compared to conventional single and multi-plate clutches.The inherent heat resistant properties of the carbon lining offer superior operation underrace conditions, elimination of "clutch welding' encountered by metallic clutches and thecarbon product is flywheel friendly and offers superior product life compared to other clutches.The Xtreme Carbon range is also surprisingly well priced for something that until now wasso exotic in fact pricing could be confused with that of normal multi plate clutches.The Xtreme Carbon range now includes ‘just released’ vehicles such as the FG Ford.For more information visit www.xtremeclutch.com.auThe PullzAll is an innovative new tool and theonly tool of its type on the market. It is designedwith features such as a strong motor and variableforward and reverse speed control. It comes with4.5 metres of wire rope and a rear swivellinganchor hook, allowing you to move heavy itemsinto place smoothly and precisely. Which equatesto getting the job done faster, with more controland less manual labour.For convenience it comes in cordless... or witha 230-volt cord. It retails at $520 for the 230-voltcord or $865 for the cordless.Let the PullzAll help you tackle those labourintensivechores. Move heavy machinery. Hoist anengine block. Pull a pipe. Stretch a wire fence.Lift a load precisely into place, then nail it, weldit, whatever it. You think up the task, and PullzAllis an amazingly adaptable, one man workforcethat does all the hard yakka.The new lightweight PullzAll has real pullingpower. The only thing you have to weigh up is howmany jobs it can tackle.PullzAll is available at Mitre 10,CSS, TotalTools and Leading Tool and Hardware Specialist.For more information call 1300 669 951 or visitwww.pullzall.com.auHolden alloy head relaunchedBack by popular demand is Yella Terra's legendary alloy 12-port head to suit the Holdenstraight six.Yella Terra claims therevised port designs flow 30percent better than OEM 12-port heads as cast, withpotential for much higher flowfigures when professionallyported.Ultra lightweight alloycasting has re-designed waterjackets for much improvedhead cooling.It is available with a choiceof high compression 56cccombustion chambers or CNCprofiled 70cc low compression chambers for forced induction.Heads can be ordered bare with inserts fitted or assembled with quality 21-4N stainless valves, double valve springs and chrome moly retainers.It is available now at Yella Terra stockists throughout Australia and NewZealand.For more information call 03 9555 5522.24 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

PRODUCTSMotul replaces Dexron IIIwith superior ATF-1AMotul claims ATF-1A is the most recentadvancement in automatic transmission fluidfor four and five-speed automatic vehicles. Itsays ATF-1A provides superior frictioncharacteristics, high-torque capacity, goodanti-shudder performance, smooth shift feeland minimal shift drag time.Motul believes ATF-1A is at the pinnacleof automatic transmission fluid technology. Itsays it meets or surpasses the requirements ofDexron III, Mercon and Allison C-4 and isspecially formulated for Japanese automatic and tiptronic styletransmissions with slip lockup clutches.Motul says ATF-1A meets a number of the manufacturer standardsthat the likes of Dexron III do not satisfy. These include: MitsubishiSP3, Ford LE 95, Nissan Matic fluid D and fluid J, Toyota T fluid andSubaru ATF.So if you’re looking for a lubricant that will satisfy any automatictransmission requirement, look no further that ATF-1A. (ATF-1A is notsuitable for CVT transmissions).For more information call 07 3382 5000 or visit www.linkauto.com.auTool that fits like a glovecomes to AustraliaMechanix Wear is a range of technicallyadvanced work gloves that have been carefullydesigned to minimise the chance of injury andmaximise the user's ability to get the job done.Mechanix Wear Gloves were launched ontothe US market 24 years ago and were originallylimited to a range of gloves for the Motor CrossMotorcycle market.In 1992 Mechanix Wear supplied a new styleglove to the Richard Childress #3 GMGoodwrench Nascar Team. It wasn't long beforeall 41 teams from Nascar were clamouring to getMechanix Wear Gloves.Soon after, every other high profile motorsport team in every type of racing was asking for Mechanix Wear.As a result of the exposure, everyday mechanics, technicians, constructionworkers, do-it-yourselfers, industrial safety, emergency services and militaryprofessionals soon lined up to buy Mechanix Wear gloves.Advanced materials have been combined with clever design to produce aglove that feels like a second skin, yet is tough enough to protect the user fromall kinds of physical challenges.There is a specifically designed Mechanix Wear glove that will protect thewearer in a wide variety of physically demanding environments includingextremes of heat and cold, as well as the physical abuse that can occur undera car or on a building site.ET Performance is now importing Mechanix Wear Gloves into Australia.For more information visit www.etperformance.com.auAU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 25

PRODUCTSHot price, cool dealWith a weight of just 15 kilograms, theWAECO CoolFreeze CDF-35 is the idealportable fridge/freezer for travelling.Practical to fit just about anywherein the car, truck, motorhome or boat, itwill keep your drinks and food cold orfrozen on the road, even in highambient temperatures.Environmentally friendly, CDF-35features premium quality ozonefriendly insulation and due to itsextremely low power consumption, it isideal for solar power operation.Rely on Rola to secure your loadWhen securing your possessions to trailers, utes, and roof racks,you want to have piece of mind that you have top quality andsafe tie downs that will hold your possessions securely.The new Rola Cargo Management range offers youjust that.With a complete offering of ratchets, cambuckles,and stretch straps, Rola Cargo Management has optionsfor standard to super duty, 2250kg, loads. And for youradded piece of mind, you can be assured of the qualityand safety as it complies with the voluntary safetystandards AS/NZS4380.Further, the rubber coated levers and hooks providemore comfort and minimise wear on surfaces, whichcoupled with the soft loop on the cambuckle makesthem ideal for valuable cargo such as motorcycles, andother recreational craft.The stretch straps feature a reflective, extra wide, flat contour to prevent the strapdigging into your cargo and coated steel hooks that are stronger than conventional hooks.Whatever your cargo securing needs, Rola has them covered with its new CargoManagement range.Rola Cargo Management is available from Rola distributors nationwide.For more information call 03 9797 3214 or visit www.rola.com.auMore Oxygen for Premier Auto TradeMade out of tough polypropyleneand featuring a German made DanfossBD35F kompressor, this fridge/freezeris built to last.The CDF-35 runs off 12 or 24 voltsDC, however included in this newpackage deal is an adapter for 240Voperation for even more versatility.Also included in the package is aninsulated protective cover, whichprotects the fridge/freezer andimproves the cooling performance.The new CDF-35 Pack offers highquality cooling performance and a twoyear warranty at a price of $699.To find your nearest WAECO retaileror to find out more about the extensiverange of WAECO products to suit youron board and outdoor needs, includingportable refrigeration, mobile powerand kitchen solutions and automotiveaccessories.Visit www.waeco.com.au or ring1800 21 21 21.Premier Auto Trade has added the Walker Products Oxygen Sensorto its EFI and engine management range. With over 480 partnumbers it will be Australia's largest range of Oxygen Sensors tocover all of the Australian carpark.Walker Products, Inc. is a QS-9000/TS16949/ISO-9001certified company and has served the needs of the worldwideautomotive aftermarket since 1946. Walker Products is one ofthe largest privately owned manufacturers of fuel systemcomponents and engine management devices."Walker Products is delighted to be associated with PremierAuto Trade to promote our range of Oxygen Sensors throughoutAustralia,” Ron Aparicio, National Sales Manager WalkerProducts, said."Walker Products is committed to supplying productsmanufactured to meet or exceed OEM specifications andengineered for the right fit, the right look, and the rightperformance in each and every oxygen sensor we produce. Ourquality is the result of years of experience, listening and learningfrom our customers, backed by in-house product management,quality assurance and engineering capabilities.”To detail the new range, Premier Auto Trade will soon be releasing to their specialistresellers their latest catalogue of Oxygen Sensors, including all the Walker Products parts,illustrated buyers guide, and detailed application data, for hundreds of vehicles."We are excited to be working with Walker Products to offer the Australian market a leadingOxygen Sensor program, with a complete range of quality components," Jim Cots, ManagingDirector Premier Auto Trade, said."We believe we will be able to offer a complete package unmatched in the Australianmarket."For more information call 03 9585 799326 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

PRODUCTSAcetate handle screwdriversA new range of acetate handle screwdriver sets has been released by leading tool supplier, Kincrome,offering quality, user comfort and value for money.The new Kincrome Acetatescrewdrivers are available in a range ofpopular sizes and sets and come inboth blade and Phillips tips featuringthe iconic Kincrome blue to representPhillips and yellow for the traditionalBlade screwdriver.Manufactured from virtuallyshatterproof acetate, the handlesoffer superior strength and durabilityand bring exceptional comfort inthe grip, all at exceptionallycompetitive pricing.Torsion strength and stiffnessis covered with the shafts madeof chrome vanadium complete withmagnetised tips to keep screws in placewhilst working.Perfect for the tradesman looking forhigh quality yet affordable screwdrivers,these sets are ideal for the ute, tool kit orto take directly tothe job.The new Kincrome Acetate screwdriversets are available in six, eight, 10 and 14piece sets and come packed neatly inprotective heavy duty blow moulded cases.The exclusive Kincrome LifetimeGuarantee supports the new Acetatescrewdriver range and the rangecomplements the existing high endKincrome TorqueMaster range.Tradesmen’s Acetate screwdriversare now available from leadingHardware, Industrial and Automotivestores throughout Australia.For more information or details of yournearest Kincrome stockist, visitwww.kincromegroup.comAU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 27

AUSTRAL FEATUREFROM PUSHBIKES TO PISTONSAUSTRAL IS NOW A LEADING ENGINE AND SUSPENSION PARTSSPECIALIST THANKS TO GOOD OLD FASHIONED CUSTOMER SERVICE.What started as a hobby in retirement for Hugh Joy in the mid-‘70s has led to a company with25,000 part numbers servicing 3000 vehicles.Mr Joy originally started up acompany with his son Don, importing‘dragster’ pushbikes.But he later found a factory inTaiwan from where he could exportHolden pistons to Australia, whichformed the beginnings of the AustralDistributing Company.“We got Holden pistons in and somegaskets and the whole thing just grewand grew with the engine parts as thebasis that drove the growth,” AustralMarketing Manager John McMenaminexplained.“In those days it was fairly easybecause everyone had six cylinderHoldens, V8s, six cylinder Fords, fourcylinder Lasers so it was a pretty easything to put a package together.“Whereas you look at the industrytoday and you’ve got multiple numbersof engines and models and variables…so the whole thing has gone beyondanyone’s belief.”Austral now stocks five brands ofpistons and piston rings including theMahle brand, engine bearings, gasketsand gasket sets along with cylinderhead bolts, lifters, oil and water pumpsand timing chains and belts.The company only distributes toengine reconditioners and spare partsshops including Repco and some Bursonstores.Mr McMenamin said quality was oneprerequisite before Austral stocked abrand.He said 95 percent of suppliers fellunder the QS9000 American qualitystandard, and many were starting toget accredited under the European TUVstandard.“We have QS on gaskets and timingbelts and we use all good qualitycomponents like brand names GMB,NSK and Koyo,” he explained.“These are all OEM suppliers so all ofour componentry is all pretty goodstuff.”Austral General Manager, WarwickLee, said those quality brands helpedset Austral apart from its opposition.“In some ways I guess we may evenhave a bit of a monopoly becausewe’ve got a lot of product that’s onlyavailable into the aftermarket throughMarketing Manager John McMenamin (left) and General Manager, Warwick Lee.us or through an OEM parts supplier, soit gives us a little bit of an edge againstour competitors in a lot of respects,” hesaid.Mr Lee said it was also important forAustral to keep up with the market bystocking parts for later model vehicles.“But it’s a very difficult thing to doand a lot of other people we’ve noticedin the past have fallen by the waysidetrying to keep up with it,” heexplained.Mr McMenamin added that Australhas so far been able to keep up withdemand.Mr McMenamin said qualitywas one prerequisite beforeAustral stocked a brand.“The vehicles that we get inAustralia generally have been inanother part of the world 12 months totwo years and all the aftermarket partsare developed,” he said.“So we organise the parts; theimportant things like gaskets and beltsand all that sort of stuff, we can havethem here while the vehicle’s still underwarranty and as soon as it comes out ofwarranty, the parts are immediatelyavailable.“We’re right on top of late modelstuff which helps our growth, so wereally push hard on that.”Mr Lee said another strength of thebusiness was its staff and theircustomer relations.“Our staff bend over backwards totry and help customers out as much asthey can and that makes a bigdifference at the end of the day,” hesaid.“We don’t make demands on ourcustomers; we try and be flexible andsupply as they need it and hey, at the28 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

AUSTRAL FEATUREend of the day they’re our customersand we’re here to service them thebest we can.”Mr Lee said the future was lookingbright for Austral.“We’ve had to adapt ourselves overtime to different demands for alldifferent engine components; thebottom end of the motor’s a bit lessthan it used to be, the top end’s a lotmore, timing parts have growndramatically over recent years and wetend to evolve ourselves as the marketdemands,” he said.“But they (car manufacturers) stillsell an awful lot of cars, they makerecord sales.“People talk about petrol prices as amajor influential factor and itprobably will come into play at somestage in the future but at this point intime the future looks quitepromising.”Mr McMenamin said Austral hasalso overcome the challenge ofshoring up its identity, but there wereother obstacles to overcome.“We’ve got to be doing things thatother people in the industry are notdoing,” he said.“We just made a Wasp steeringcatalogue, hard copy.“Our opposition came out with 60new numbers; we came out with 500new numbers.“But we were a little bit behind sowe played catch up and then jumpedwell ahead.“So we’ve just got to keep doingwhat we’re doing because we’ve got aformula for success but it’s a lot oflittle things that make the big thingshappen.”Mr McMenamin said Austral’sposition in the market was now a farcry from when the company started.“I’d be in my little booth at theAAAA tradeshow and we’d have a littlethree by three and people would walkpast it and keep going,” he recalled.“We’re there, we’re big, andwe’ve improved our imageand that’s been a big factorin people knowing and enquiringwhat have you got.“Now, we’ve got a six metre one thisyear.“We’re there, we’re big, and we’veimproved our image and that’s been abig factor in people knowing andenquiring what have you got.”Austral Distributing Company isnow in its third generation; Hugh Joy’sgrandson Peter is now a ProductManager for the company.And Hugh, who is now in his late80s, still works at Austral.Mr McMenamin, who has workedfor the company for 16 years, enjoysAustral’s working environment.“It’s my 57th year in spare parts thisyear,” he said.“I’ve had some pretty exciting jobsin my time… but this has been a greatjob, I love it.”AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 29

SUPERCHARGE FEATURECHARGING AHEAD OF THE TIMESMAINTENANCE-FREE BATTERIES AND A THREE-YEAR WARRANTY HAVECERTAINLY GIVEN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY A SUPERCHARGE.A range of initiatives from an overseas company has overcome the stigma of not buying local andproved the nay-sayers wrong.SuperCharge Senior OperationsManager Russell Marquez explainedthat 2009 marks the 25th year thatSuperCharge Batteries has existed inAustralia.The company is part of the RamcarGroup of Companies from thePhilippines, which started in 1919 andnow has a production capacity of600,000 battery units each month.SuperCharge is now ingrained inAustralia’s automotive industry,boasting six major warehouses aroundthe country and 28 branches.While the company serves bothtradies and major chain stores, about80 percent of SuperCharge’s sales aremade up of trade accounts.“We have around 100 employeesand nearly 3000 customers across thecountry. “From a very modest start,we’re basically doing well here inAustralia,” Mr Marquez said.He worked for Ramcar for 10 yearsand has now worked for SuperChargefor more than eight, managing theMarketing, National AccountDevelopment and Logistics side of thebusiness, so he knows the ins and outsof SuperCharge’s products.Besides the standard starting,lighting and ignition automotivebattery, SuperCharge also sells theSeamaster marine starting battery, andAmp-Tech deep cycle battery. Thecompany launched the Allrounderbattery two years ago, a battery that isbuilt for starting and deep cyclerequirements, particularly for the 4WD,motor home/camping, marine andleisure markets.But SuperCharge’s piece deresistance is the introduction of amaintenance-free battery in Australiaeight years ago. Named theSuperCharge GOLD, it is a fully sealedexpanded calcium-calcium battery witha higher resistance to heat andovercharging and has minimal gassingand water usage along with lowdischarge rates.Mr Marquez said the maintenancefreebattery had been launched inAustralia about a decade beforeSuperCharge launched its example, buthe claimed it had mixed results.SuperCharge has been successfuland instrumental in convincing themarket to move from accessible tomaintenance free batteries. The factthat the majority of OE vehicles comewith MF batteries also helped.The maintenance-freebattery had beenlaunched in Australiaabout a decade beforeSuperCharge launched itsexample, but he claimed ithad mixed results.“There are still some people whowant to look into their battery and seewhat’s in there, but we have to admitthat it’s very, very seldom that people30 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

SUPERCHARGE FEATURE“If you look inside an Alfa Romeocar there’s a big chance that you’ll seeSupercharge/Alfa Romeo battery,” MrMarquez explained.“It means that our battery has beentested by them and that they arewilling to put their name together withour battery, which shows that theyMr Marquez saidSuperCharge is a memberof the Australian AutomotiveAftermarket Association(AAAA) because it isthe voice of theindustry.SuperCharge Senior Operations Manager Russell Marquezactually open their hood to checkwhat’s inside, so why do you wantan accessible batteryanyway?” he said.To show its belief in itsbatteries, SuperChargeintroduced a conditionalthree-year warranty for itsGOLD product. This was duringthe time when 12 and 24-month warranties were thenorm in the industry.“We started with the longerwarranty early 2005 and havecelebrated our third year on thethree-year warranty last year.People were saying to us beforethat ‘you know you are crazy, nobattery will last that much’ but we haveproven them all wrong,” he said.Such was the impact of SuperChargein the industry that major suppliers ofbattery in Australia have also started tooffer three-year warranties on theirPremium products, but Mr Marquezbelieves that the warranty is not theonly reason his customers prefer to buySuperCharge batteries.“I am always harping to our teamthat we are not selling batteries; we areselling good value, quality product tothe end user,” Mr Marquez saidHe added that if you really look intoit, only rich people can really affordcheap batteries, because the amount oftrouble and the amount of heartachethat you will have if you get a batteryfailure on the road is not really enoughto compensate for the price.“So that’s what we are alwayspreaching – quality, quality, and service.“SuperCharge also has co-brandingalliance with car manufacturersincluding Alfa Romeo, Renault, Citroenand Fiat.believe on the quality of ourproduct.”SuperCharge also sponsoredAlfa 159 for the Bathurst 12Hour event two years in a row.“The Alfa 159 that we aresponsoring for Bathurst is adiesel car so we know that theload on the battery is higher andthe kind of driving they do onBathurst 12 hour event is nothingto be sneered at. It’s one of theways, we get to prove theendurance and power ofSuperCharge battery,” heelaborated.Mr Marquez said SuperCharge is amember of the Australian AutomotiveAftermarket Association (AAAA)because it is the voice of the industry.“We do appreciate being part of theAAAA because we know that it createsan impact to the industry, that theseguys are serious,” he said.Mr Marquez was proud thatSuperCharge has received a trophy fora stand it hosted at an AAAA expo inMelbourne, and said the AAAAmagazine is important too.“It’s an industry specific magazinethat not only helps us, but informsother people about us as well,” he said.AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 31

HR MATTERSDEALING WITHOFFICE ROMANCESIt is not surprising that romance springs up at the office. We spend athird or more of our lives in the office or other places of work.It is a non-threatening environmentwhere we have an opportunity to meetpotential dating partners and learn moreabout them than just what they look like.Yet romantic involvement betweenemployees is loaded with dangers for boththe employees and for their employer.In the past, many companies tried toban dating among their employees. Mosthave since abandoned that plan, becauseof legal restrictions and recognition of theinevitable. Instead, most now try to restrictsuch activities that are harmful to thebusiness.Risk of harassmentcomplaints/legal claimsIf you are going to allow employees‘coming on’ to other employees, you haveto first make very clear the company policyon harassment. If an employee is notinterested in, or receptive to, an advancefrom another employee, it should endthere. Failing to do so may constitutesexual harassment. Playing around, verbalsparring, etc. are appropriate preludes todating, but only if the receiving party iscomfortable with them.In most cases, mutually-agreeablerelationships between employees pose nodanger to the company. However, there areinstances where they are inappropriate andmay be harmful to the company and itsinterests. For instance, it is never a goodidea for a manager to be romanticallyinvolved with a subordinate in their ownorganisation. Situations such as thisshould be clearly spelled out in thecompany policy as inappropriate andsubject to corrective action.Effect on IndividualsOffice romances do not generally havepositive outcomes for an employee's careeraspirations. People who are truly seriousabout their career normally wish to be seento be thinking about business first,especially whilst at work. By having aromantic relationship in the office, itclearly demonstrates that the person wasnot 100 percent focused on their job.Types of office romanceThe two types of office romance thatshould be of a concern for employers are:• On site relationships – Office romancescan become a problem when they areconducted overtly on site. Interludes inthe office can distract and disturb otheremployees. If this is occurring withinyour workplace the best way to deal withit is by quashing any kind of behaviourearly and implementing a clear stafffraternisation policy;• Supervisor/Subordinate – This kind ofDO YOU HAVE A QUESTION YOU REALLY WANT TO ASK?For more information and assistance phone: AAAA HR Hotline on 02 8448 3211 or e-mail hr@aaaa.com.auThe material contained in this publication is general comment and is not intended as advice on any particular matter. No reader should act or fail to act on the basisof any material contained herein. The material contained in this publication should not be relied on as a substitute for legal or professional advice on any particularmatter. Wentworth Human Resources Pty Limited (the publishers), the editor and the authors expressly disclaim all and any liability to any persons whatsoever inrespect of anything done or omitted to be done by any such person in reliance whether in whole or in part upon any of the contents of this publication. Without limitingthe generality of this disclaimer, no author or editor shall have any responsibility for any other author or editor. © Wentworth Human Resources Pty Ltd 2009David WilkinsonAAAA Industrial, Relations ManagerPhone 02 8448 3211 Fax 02 9993 9709Email hr@aaaa.com.auromance is potentially the mostdamaging for a business. When thesekinds of romances finish, complex legalissues can arise as the subordinate mayclaim that they were forced into therelationship. In addition relationships ofthis nature are the most likely to lead toresentment amongst co-workers inregards to favouritism.If you are going to allowemployees ‘coming on’ toother employees, you haveto first make very clear thecompany policy onharassment.What you need to doYou need to develop a fraternisationpolicy, publicise it, and then enforce it.The policy should outline what is and isn'tconsidered acceptable behaviour amongststaff and propose action that will be takenwhen a breach occurs.Finally, once you publish the policy, youmust enforce it. Be careful to be evenhandedin your enforcement of the policyso that you don't get accused of genderbias. Look at each situation on its ownmerits. Don't arbitrarily assume that themore senior individual is more valuable tothe company.A well written, publicised and enforcedpolicy will not prevent office romancesfrom occurring. It will make life a lot easierand less litigious for the company when ithas to be dealt with.Before acting on any of the information in theabove article, please contact David, Jill,Amanda or any of the friendly team at theAAAA HR Advisory Service on:phone: 1300 232 462, fax: 02 9993 9709,or email: hrhotline@ada.org.auThe ADA HR Advisory Service is available from8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday. Theanswer could be just a phone call away!32 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

DAYCO FEATUREDAYCO CELEBRATES30 YEARS IN AUSTRALIAThe premier brand of automotive power transmission andcooling system components in the Australian and New ZealandAftermarket, Dayco, celebrates a major milestone this year.The year 2009 marks Dayco's 30thanniversary of highly successful operationsin Australia.Dayco Drive Belts are now the numberone choice in the Australian automotiveaftermarket, due to the uncompromisingquality of this vast and easily accessibledrive belt, timing kit and engine coolingbelt product ranges which have beenmanufactured in the company's own stateof the art facilities located all over theworld.Dayco is also Australia's number onechoice for automotive repairers and resellersfor premium quality replacementthermostats and fan clutches. This proactivecompany also leads the field withits technologically advanced no-slack belttensioners, Dayco offering the largestproduct range in Australia of theseproducts.Several outstanding Australianautomotive aftermarket milestones havebeen achieved by this global companyduring the past three decades, with oneconstant factor that has remained true tothe Dayco automotive aftermarketproduct range throughout the past 30years. This is the fact that qualitytranscends all other factors in determiningsuccess for aftermarket products in thismarketplace.This fact is also clearly evident withDayco Drive Belts also becoming andWhile reaching the company's30th anniversary in Australiathis year, Dayco's parentcompany has just achieved100 years of operation, so thisis an aftermarket successstory that is set to continuehere for many years to come.remaining the engine and cooling systembelt of OEM choice for Ford Australiaduring these 30 years.Dayco has also been a pioneer in theAustralian automotive aftermarket overthe past three decades, releasing the firsttiming kits with oil seals in 2001 and sincebecoming the number one supplier ofthese important engine maintenance andreplacement products in the country.Dayco has also become the first drivebelt manufacturer and marketer inAustralia to make its entire product rangeavailable on line, with a constantlyupdated and simple to use on linecataloguing system in place since 2005 atwww.dayco.com.auAs modern motor vehicle enginetechnology has advanced, so has Dayco'sproduct range, the company introducingits patented Teflon (PFTE) timing beltrange to suit the exacting demands ofmodern highly fuel efficient engines.Innovation is a big part of Dayco'ssuccess all over the world and thiscontinues in the Australian aftermarketwith Dayco's introduction of Scooter belts.This range caters for the regular drive beltreplacement requirements of the highestgrowing mode of transportation inAustralia.Dayco has also promoted its productsusing the premier sports marketingplatform of V8 Supercar racing, with along term personal sponsorship strategywith highly talented racer Jason Richards,who finished second at last year's Bathurst1000.By promptly responding to changes inthe Australian car parc, Dayco has ensuredthat Australian automotive repairers haveaccess to world leading drive belt, timingbelt and engine cooling system products.This has given the global company anunrivalled reputation for product qualityand dedicated local customer service.While reaching the company's 30thanniversary in Australia this year, Dayco'sparent company has just achieved 100years of operation, so this is anaftermarket success story that is set tocontinue here for many years to come.Dayco cordially invites its aftermarketcustomers to visit the company's stand(K32) at the 2009 Australian AutomotiveAftermarket Expo from Thursday April 2to Saturday April 4 at the SydneyExhibition Centre to view and learn moreabout a number of innovative newproducts to join the extensive DaycoAustralian aftermarket range.For further information 03 9796 4044AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 33

PRODUCT CATALOGUENew HellacatalogueHella Australia has produced the company'smost detailed and user-friendly Australianautomotive aftermarket product catalogue.The newly structured design and wording of thenew 2009/2010 Hella Australia aftermarketcatalogue is the result of detailed feedback fromHella's customers and sales teams.This feedback has enabled Hella to deliver itsmost practical, detailed and informativeindependent aftermarket catalogue to date.Covering 440 pages, the new Hella AftermarketCatalogue offers an essential resource toautomotive distributors, workshops and customers.A completely revised layout enables users toquickly reference Hella's premium quality lightingproducts in the catalogue.All of the Hella Australia aftermarket cataloguelistings have been technically updated, withphotography provided for all product groups, alongwith frontal and side view technical drawings thatalso include accurate dimensions. The globesection has been completely re-structured toeliminate clutter, enabling Hella customers toquickly locate the exact replacement Hella globefrom the company's vast range.A new interior lighting section has also beenincluded in the new Hella Australia aftermarketcatalogue, which features 62 new lamps to suitmany varied applications.Once a product has been selected in the newcatalogue, all of the existing Hella accessories forthat lamp are listed on the same page. New isoluxcharts that demonstrate exact measurements anddimensions of beam type and reach have also beenincluded. This new format has the doubleadvantage of offering the customer the bestproduct solution, while providing Hella'sdistributors with the opportunity of add-on salesthrough the quality Hella accessory range.For Hella lamps, which are available in severallens colours, the new Hella Australia aftermarketcatalogue includes thumbnail images of all coloursand configurations.The ever growing Hella range of signal lampsnow have their own index section arranged by lampstyle, to facilitate easy location and selection of aspecific signal lamp in the catalogue. Hella's rangeof durable worklamps is featured with newly addedAMP and DT plug pin configurations for animproved product selection.Hella's industry leading range of LED passengercar and commercial vehicle lamps are also a majorpart of the new catalogue.To order your new Hella Australia aftermarket catalogue,contact your local Hella State Office or visitwww.hella.com.auNew Bosch 2009 electric fuelpump catalogueThe 2009 Bosch Electric Fuel Pump Catalogue is now available.The new, easy to readdesign features acomprehensive range ofpump modules, dieselapplications and modulerepair kits. The new Boschmodule repair kits are alow-cost option for fueldelivery module repairsand contain all wearingparts and fittinginstructions. For ease ofordering, the modulerepair kits listing has beenrevised to specify theexact parts required forthe repair.The new Bosch Electric Fuel PumpCatalogue includes a simplified productreference guide with allocated short ordernumbers, accompanying images for allof its new Battery Selection Guide.More than just acatalogue, the newCentury SelectionGuide is the ultimatebattery referencedocument and amust have for batteryresellers andstockists. Designedto be functional,informative and userfriendly the catalogue contains a wealthof information and data concerningCentury’s extensive product range,including performance specifications,product features and benefits togetherwith information and advice regardingbattery care, maintenance, charging andtesting.The catalogue also features one of themost comprehensive vehicle listings andbattery recommendations available,covering Passenger Vehicle, 4WD, Truckand Light Commercial, Heavy Equipmentpart numbers, flow ratesand operating pressuremeasurements.Bosch Electric FuelPumps are manufacturedto Original Equipmentspecifications, usingpremium qualitymaterials. Tests confirmBosch Electric FuelPumps are compatiblewith fuel containing 10percent ethanol,ensuring less pumpcorrosion and therefore alonger life span.For a copy of the new catalogue please contactyour local Bosch representative or call theBosch Customer Service Centre on1300 307 040 or visit www.bosch.com.auCentury launches new BatterySelection GuideCentury batteries, Australia’s oldest and most recognised batterymanufacturer, has set new standards for product catalogues with the launchand Lawn and Garden Equipmentapplications. The easy to follow layoutmakes battery selection quick and easywith the various sections dedicated tospecific product categories, providingpractical advice, useful hints andanswers to many frequently askedquestions.To obtain your copy of the new Century BatterySelection and learn more about the completeCentury product range, contact your CenturyBatteries representative on 1300 362 287 orvisit www.centurybatteries.com.au34 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

PRODUCT CATALOGUENew Ryco FiltersCatalogue to makeits debutRyco Filters will be launching its muchanticipated2009/10 catalogue at theAustralian Auto Aftermarket Expo in Sydney,April 2-4. Hot off the press the new RycoFilters Catalogue is a super easy referenceguide for all filter requirements for theautomotive industry.The new268-pagecatalogue is averitable 'bible'for all your filterneeds and hasbeen undergoing a revamp."We've beenlistening tocustomerfeedback, whichis why we tookthe time tocarefully createa highlyefficient and user friendly catalogue. Containingthe most up to date and concise information,we've included many new and improved featuressuch as greater vehicle data application layoutand integrated a live-to-web data support systemto enhance our catalogue information on and offline,” Melissa Simpson, MarketingCommunications Manager, said.The new catalogues will be available at the AAAA ExpoStand No. G2.New Tridon wiper programTridon Australia has released its new wiper program and new full-colourWiper Catalogue. This program has been carefully researched anddeveloped to ensure maximum market coverage with only thehighest quality wiper products.Tridon's wiper range now includes thenew 'Tridon FlexBlade' (TFB Series) andthe new 'Tridon Wiper Rubber Refill' (MRJSeries), to compliment the existing rangeof Complete Metal Wiper Blades andPlastic and Metal Wiper Refills. Tridonnow provides the most comprehensiverange wiper blades and refills in theAustralian aftermarket.The new 'Tridon FlexBlade' (TFBSeries) has been designed using the latestin wiper blade technology, deliveringsuperior wiping performance andincreased driver visibility.The Tridon Flexblade range offersvarious Direct Fit connections for O.E.replacement and Hook Upgradeapplications for conventional bladereplacement, suitable for vehicles 2000and after, with a hook-arm connectionstyle.The new 'Tridon Wiper Rubber Refills'(MRJ Series) have been designed to suitlate model O.E. Japanese Spoiler Blades.Vehicle applications include: Toyota,Lexus, Mazda and Subaru models. Tridon'MRJ' refills must be used in conjunctionwith original curved metal rails.The new Tridon wiper program isbacked by:• The release of the new Tridon WiperCatalogue.• A welcome update to the previousedition, the new 84-page full colourcatalogue contains the most up to datevehicle information with over 1100vehicles lines and almost 10,000 partnumber applications.• A new colour Wiper Blade and RefillIdentification guide poster.• The colour poster provides technicalinformation for wiper blade/refill types,and arm connection styles to ensurethe correct Tridon product selectionand installation.• New full colour packaging. The Tridonwiper range is conveniently packagedin new attractive full colour boxes orblistered packs, each containing anabbreviated application list andinstallation instructions.• A full merchandising program. A fullwiper merchandising program isavailable for both the retail or tradeoperation.For further information and a catalogue on thenew Tridon Wiper range contact your localTridon stockist or Tridon Australia on1300 362 263, or go to www.tridon.com.auAU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 35

EXPO PREVIEWBiggest ever automotive aftermarket show in Harbour CityThe Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo, which will be held in Sydney for the first time since 2005, will bethe most comprehensive automotive aftermarket trade event ever held in Australia.Over 400 industry leaders will presenttheir products and services across nearly fiveacres of space from April 2-4. This is almostdouble the number of exhibitors at the 2005Trade show and highlights the significantgrowth of this trade only event.Stuart Charity, Executive Director of theAustralian Automotive AftermarketAssociation, said the Expo is organised bythe industry body for the industry members."This huge Expo is held for the benefit ofthe industry and will showcase the latestautomotive parts and accessories, workshoptools and equipment and business services.If you want to keep your business ahead ofthe competition, this is the place to learn allabout the latest products and technology ourindustry has to offer," he said."Attendance at the Expo provides busyworkshop owners and managers with theopportunity to see all the big brands in oneplace. Among the aftermarket specialistsdisplaying ground breaking new products areBendix, Hella, Meguiars, Repco, Ryco,Shell, NGK, Tenneco, Burson, RobertBosch, and major Expo sponsor Armor All."Workshops searching for newtechnicians could also find them at the Expoin the Sachs Masters Skills Competition.Visitors will experience the excitement ofthis team based automotive technician skillscompetition, as some of Australia's mosttalented professionals go head to head onthe Expo floor," Mr Charity said."It could not be easier or cheaper toattend a trade show. In addition to free entryto the Expo, all visitors will be able to usethe free Monroe Park'n'Ride service fromEnthusiastic Expo exhibitor Pedders returns in 2009with its full range of quality shock absorbers,steering and suspension components.nearby Harold Park Paceway.Complimentary shuttle buses betweenHarold Park and the Exhibition Centre willdepart every five minutes over the three daysof the event."To assist visitors from regional NSW toattend the Expo, free bus services willoperate from Canberra (also picking up atGoulburn), Wollongong, Bathurst andNewcastle to the Expo on Saturday April 4.Buses will arrive at the Exhibition Centrearound 10:30am Saturday morning and willdepart the venue for the return journey from3pm," Mr Charity said.Product showcaseStrong interest in the Expo fromexhibitors resulted in a virtual sell out ofdisplay space many months ago and allaspects of the automotive aftermarket willbe represented.Australian Truck and Auto PartsMarketing Manager Anthony Goerke said thefull Protex range of brake and suspensionparts will feature on the company's stand,together with products from other leadingbrands."Protex has expanded to offer three levelsof disc pads, a variety of performance discrotors for popular applications, as well asshockers and an impressive line up ofcooling products. We look forward to ourExpo presentation and welcoming lots ofvisitors to the stand," he said.Australian family owned internationalcompany Pedders Suspension is againparticipating in the Australian AutomotiveAftermarket Expo to present its range ofquality shock absorbers, steeringand suspension components. GroupMarketing Director Adam Gillicksaid the company is pleased to be apart of the 2009 Expo and looksforward to welcoming visitors tostand U10 to promote thecompany's selling propositions -design, manufacture, research,development, training, wholesale,retail, export and advice.From outside to inside thevehicle, the Expo exhibitors offersolutions for every workshop.Valvoline Australia will highlight itsnew Eagle One Nano ProtectantDetailer for 2009. "Cleverlypackaged in a wipe on packdesigned to avoid windscreen overspray, itdelivers a natural smooth satin finish anddries quickly leaving no oily residue so itminimises duct accumulation," SeniorProduct Manager Tony McDermott said.Caravan and 4X4 businesses will see arange of specialist products for theirmarkets. Manager Michael Kehrer saidKangaroo Creek Imports will showcase itsnew KCI 12 volt Hi-Jacker 2000kg jack andthe KCI 12 volt Ezy Wrench impact wrenchon its Expo stand."These products have strong appealacross a range of market segments becausethey can be operated from standardcigarette lighter style fitting, or the vehiclebattery. The KCI Hi-Jacker has been testedto AS/NZS2693:2003 and the Ezy Wrenchhas been tested and used by the NSWNRMA and sold by RACV and ARB," MichaelKerher said.Valvoline Australia will highlight its new,cleverly packaged Eagle One NanoProtectant Detailer on its 2009 Expo Stand.36 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

EXPO PREVIEWPopular Protex brand performance disc rotors will feature on theAustralian Truck and Auto Parts exhibit.Two Shows in one place at the same timeVisitors to the Auto Aftermarket Expo can also attend theCollision Repair Expo, to be held in the adjacent exhibition hall,featuring a further 50 leading suppliers to the collision repairindustry."We are confident that the unprecedented response fromexhibitors, combined with our extensive marketing campaign, willresult in a record number of people visiting the Expo this year," MrCharity said.GS1 Australia has been activelyworking with the Australian AutomotiveAftermarket Association and the industryon autoEtrade, an initiative to combat dataerrors that can cost the sector millions ofdollars each year. This website has a set ofguidelines covering the GS1 System ofNumbering and Bar Coding, eMessagingand Data Synchronisation and explainshow the sector can use this system tomake their businesses more efficient.GS1 Australia is a not-for-profitorganisation, which was set up byAustralian business for Australianbusiness. It administers GS1 Bar Codes inAustralia so there can be no duplication ofGS1 Bar Code numbers. The GS1 Systemuses standards in supply chainidentification and communication so alltrading partners speak the same globallanguage even if they have different ITsystems. For example, a manufacturer oftwo sizes of spark plug would apply adifferent bar code to each size so theretailers' systems would know immediatelywhich size plug had been scanned.Moving beyond the retailers' checkouts,the bar code numbers on these spark plugscan also be used for accurate ordering,invoicing and product tracking by themanufacturer, the wholesaler and theretailer.EVENT SPONSORSAUSTRALIAN AUTO AFTERMARKET EXPO SPONSORSMajor Corporate Sponsor – Armor AllPark 'N' Ride Sponsor - MonroeExhibition Show Bag Sponsor – Australian Timken Pty LtdVisitor Lanyard – Exedy Australia Pty LtdVIP Lounge – OAMPS Insurance Brokers LtdInternational Lounge – AustradeAisle Sponsor – Speciality Automotive Products Pty LtdShow Bag Insert – Exedy Australia Pty LtdShow Bag Insert - Klippan Safety ProductsBEST NEW AFTERMARKET PRODUCTS BREAKFAST SPONSORGS1 AustraliaAWARDS TO INDUSTRY BANQUET SPONSORSPlatinum Sponsor – Repco AustraliaGold Sponsor – DAYCO Australia Pty LtdSilver Sponsor – Robert Bosch AustraliaBronze Sponsor – PBR Australia Pty LtdPre Dinner Cocktail Sponsor – Gates Australia P/LAdvertising & Media Awards – NGK Spark Plug (Australia) Pty LtdMarketing Award - DBC Management Pty LtdManufacturing Award – Supercheap AutoExport Award – AustradeTrade Show Stand Awards – AAAA MagazineAwards to Industry Banquet Support SponsorsBrown & Watson International (Narva)Honeywell - HoltsIlana AccessoriesMackay ConsolidatedRSP Automotive & IndustrialSpeciality Automotive ProductsGS1 System delivers for automotive aftermarketLike every other industry sector in Australia, in the automotive aftermarket industry the bottom line countsand accurate ordering, delivery, invoicing and product tracking can make a big impact on profitability.The GS1 system can make your inventorysystem, and therefore your profit centre,run like clock work.GS1 Australia's data synchronisationservice, GS1net allows trading suppliersand retailers to exchange productinformation and orders securely over theInternet.Several suppliers in the AutomotiveAftermarket sector are currently usingGS1net for data synchronisation withmajor grocery retailers and have seendirect benefits to their businesses.For more information on the work GS1Australia is doing with the automotiveaftermarket contact John Szabo on1300 366 033 or email himat john.szabo@gs1au.orgFor more information visit www.gs1au.orgAU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 37

STANDPREVIEWWith just weeks left until the Australian AutoAftermarket Expo, and with more than 350 exhibitors onthe floor, it’s time to get out the pen and paper to makea list of all the ‘must see’ stands and their locations.38 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

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EXPO PREVIEWRepco range continues to growAustralia’s leading supplier of automotive parts, tools and solutions, Repco, will showcase equipment,tools and technology at the 2009 Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo, and meet with several thousand repairworkshop and reseller customers.This important bi-annual showcase of the Australian automotiveaftermarket provides the opportunity for Repco to assist its tradecustomers in the process of modernising its businesses in line withthe technological advancement of modern motor vehicles.Repco will be occupying two large stands, P26 and P34, toshowcase the latest updates in diagnostic and general workshopequipment designed to cater for the largest workshops or thesmallest independent repair business specific requirements.While boasting one of the country’s most diverse range of stateof the art workshop equipment, Repco will also be demonstratingRepco Navigator, which is by far the easiest way to order andpurchase parts on line. This on line service provides every Repcotrade account customer with direct access to Repco’s massiveinventory of replacement parts. Visit the Repco stand to see foryourself how user friendly the Repco Navigator online resource reallyis, along with how much time and money it will save your businessat AAAE 2009.Auto-Tech, Australia’s leading provider of automotive technicalinformation and training, will also be on display at the Repcostands, demonstrating their Auto Service Quote and Encyclopediasoftware. For over 20 years, Auto-Tech’s expert staff have supportedthe automotive industry with accurate information, professionaladvice, automotive software and locally delivered training clinics.Tuning of modern engines can be complex without the rightequipment and technical advice to achieve the highest levels ofproductivity and profitability. AAAE 2009 provides the perfectopportunity for Repco’s valued trade customers from all over thecountry to learn about the latest developments, range extensionsand also grab a copy of the newly released Mega Tool & Equipment2009 Catalogue.From market leading and user friendly diagnostic tuningequipment to state of the art wheel service and braking equipment,everything that the automotive aftermarket trade business owner oroperator needs will be on show with Repco at AAAE 2009.Visitors will also be able to get their hands on a copy of the brandnew Repco Mega Tools & Equipment Catalogue, which has grownonce again in 2009, representing Repco’s most detailed tools andequipment ranges ever offered.Repco can be found on Stands P26 and P34.40 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

EXPO PREVIEWSee the future of Dayco at ExpoDayco Australia Pty Limited is the premier supplier of automotive cooling system components to the Australianautomotive aftermarket for drive belts, hoses and other related engine cooling system components.The quality, strength and performance of all Dayco brandedproducts combined with the global company’s expert logisticscapabilities, makes Dayco one of Australia’s top aftermarketsuppliers.Dayco has also been a pioneer in the Australian automotiveaftermarket over the past three decades, releasing the first timingkits with oil seals in 2001 and since becoming the number onesupplier of these important engine maintenance and replacementproducts in the country.Dayco Drive Belts are now the number one choice in theAustralian automotive aftermarket, due to the uncompromisingquality of this vast and easily accessible drive belt, timing kit andengine cooling belt product ranges which have been manufacturedin the company’s own state of the art facilities located all over theworld.At AAAE 2009, Dayco will proudly present the company’s rangeof V–Belts, Poly- Rib Belts, Drive Belt Kits, Timing Belts, TimingBelt Kits, Hydraulic Timing Tensioners, Heavy Duty and PassengerCar Tensioners, Pulleys, Automotive Coolant and Service Hose,Thermostats and Gaskets, Heater Valves, Fan Clutches and HoseClamps.Dayco Australia’s highly experienced management personnelwill be available throughout AAAE 2009 to service the company’simportant workshop based customers.Increase profits with BoschAre you happy with the amount of profit yourbusiness is making? In these uncertain financialtimes keeping your business profitable issomething on everyone’s minds.This year’s AAAE Show will provide the best opportunity for you tosee how Bosch can help your business make money.In its diagnostics display area Bosch will have live equipmentdemonstrations, featuring both Bosch and Beissbarth products.It will also launch three brand new products in the enginemanagement, fuel systems and diagnostics fields.The full Bosch product range will be on display. Everything fromthe Good, Better, Best range of wiper blades and spark plugs, throughto filters, fuel pumps, belts, starters, alternators, diesel and gasolinesystems will be exhibited.Continual workshop sessions will run throughout the show, givingworkshops an advantage with access to practical information andvaluable training. Get updated on ESP, see the ease of servicing ABS,learn the latest on the Bosch Car Service network, and take a glimpseat the Workshops of the Future.Great prizes will be up for grabs for all training sessionparticipants. Check at the stand on the day for an updated sessiontimetable.Bosch performance will also be featured at the show, with aspecial guest appearance by Stone Brother’s racing driver Shane VanGisbergen. Come and meet Shane and have a chat to find out howSBR uses Bosch to improve its performance.Bosch can be found on stand W26.Dayco made its presence felt at Automechanika 2008 with animpressive stand that made impressive use of light and space. Youwill be able to inspect the entire Dayco product range and speak tothe experts of engine belt innovation at AAAE 2009.The year 2009 marks Dayco’s 30th anniversary of highlysuccessful operations in Australia and you can take a glimpse atwhat the present and the future hold from Dayco AAAE 2009.Dayco can be found at Stand K32.PBR at the Show!Over the past year PBR has been hard at workcreating the most extensive brake offering that thecompany has ever assembled since opening itsdoors back in 1927.Through its relationship with Bosch, PBR can now provide acomprehensive range of disc pads, brake shoes and ABSreplacement parts. At the 2009 AAAE show PBR will also be ableto demonstrate how easy it is to doyour own ABS servicing. PBR nowoffers an extended rangeof disc rotors throughits new StreetP e r f o r m a n c eslotted range, anda range of brakedrums. PBR alsohas an increasedrange of standard discrotors can be found in PBR’s DR09 catalogue.PBR also has an extended range of repair kits and bulk brakerubber supported by a new range of repair consumables such ascaliper guide pin grease and brake assembly fluid.The brake hydraulics range has also grown with the new H09brake parts catalogue boasting a comprehensive European rangeand expanded Asian range of cylinders.PBR can be found on stand W20.42 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

EXPO PREVIEWSee clearly with TricoThe Trico Products stand at the Auto Aftermarket Expowill display a host of new products including theexciting new EnduroShield Rain Repellent.Using the latest nanotechnology developed in Australian researchlaboratories this rain repellent lasts up to 12 months or up to 10 timeslonger than other coatings. EnduroShield water and oil repellent issimple to apply and just beads the water off. With one 50mL bottletreating up to three car windscreens it is competitively priced andenhances driving safety.The new Trico Website will be featured on the stand where you canfind out more about its customer friendly features such as the quick andeasy vehicle application listings for cars and commercial vehicles,information about the various world renowned Trico products plushelpful trouble shooting and installation tips.Three super new Trico merchandisers will be on display. These are'must see' items as they are designed to enhance any automotiveshowroom display as well as reducing valuable display space. There isone with a comprehensive stock of 126 wiper blades on 42 hooks forthe larger retailer or a compact merchandiser containing limited stocksof the popular Trico blades and refills for workshops or the smaller retailstores where space is a problem.Complementing the two new Trico merchandisers is the all-new Nu-Vision stand of economy blade assemblies and refills designed in awaterfall style.One of the industry's most reliable and economical WindscreenWasher Additive is on display with popular packs from the consumerbottle to the large commercial or workshop pack.Trico can be found on Stand M14.Pump fuel with VDOVDO's 2009 Expo stand will display the very latest ina range of fuel pumps for the aftermarket along withsupporting catalogues with application listings.Also on display will be the ever-popular VDO gauges in a varietyof styles suited to today's modern cars and commercial vehicles.The recently announced two and three terminal adjustablepressure switches designed to operate in Australia's harshenvironment will be available for viewing. These preset switchescater for a wide range of applications such as engine protection andmonitoring systems in automotive, transport, mining and marineapplications. Each has a given set-point range from 1psi to 100 psiwith an adjustment screw to facilitate fine tuning. Special rubberboots are also offered where they are required for extremeconditions. The new adjustable pressure switch range is suitable fora variety of gases, air, oils, jet fuels and similar hydrocarbon media.Speak to the VDO team about the new performance fuel injectorsmarketed under the VDO Deka series. These electronic fuel injectorsare designed to produce accurate flow rates with maximumreliability in high performance racing engines.VDO – an important stand to visit for the latest in quality andperformance parts.Continental VDO can be found at Stand M38.AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 43

EXPO PREVIEWAll Gabriel 4WD steering dampers nowboast a 30mm bore piston, which is thesame as most car shockers. This largediameter is 20 percent more than is usedin OE and other aftermarket units, whichmakes Gabriel an improved replacementGabriel 4WD steering dampers nowthe biggest in AustraliaGabriel’s range of 4WD steering dampers has been upgraded and the line-upexpanded to become the biggest in Australia.Gabriel’s price competitive range ofupgraded 4WD Steering Dampers arenow available in the widest range ofapplications.for what is the forgotten fifth shockabsorber.The new Gabriel steering dampersincorporate steel dust shields for protectionfrom dust, dirt and rocks. And this designadvantage gives a durability improvementover other dampers that useonly rubber boots that aresold at an extra cost.Additionally, the upgradedunits have a bulged body thatcontains more oil for cooleroperation and longer life.“The standard steeringdampers fitted to just aboutevery 4WD simply doesn’t lastvery long when taken off-roadin Australian conditions anddistances,” Brandlines’Maurice Luksich said.“And that means thevehicle can too quickly become nearlyundriveable as well as suffering increasedfront-end and tyre wear.“Being more heavy duty, theseupgraded Gabriel dampers also have asmoother action which allows a sweeterand easier feel to the steering with lessshimmy which all drivers appreciate.“Our new catalogue lists our stock of 21of these 14,000 series steering damperswhich means they are available for allpopular 4WDs,” Luksich said.Gabriel steering dampers are availableat very competitive pricing with a 1 year or20,000kms warranty.Contact Brandlines on 1800 645 609 andGabriel is available from Australian Truckand Auto Parts 03 8369 1300.Brandlines can be found at Stand H02.44 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

EXPO PREVIEWTwo features set it apart from competitors: a returnless system(suitable for engines under 500 HP) which means you do not haveto install a return line to the tank on vehicles originally equippedwith a carburettor, and it is self learning. It adjusts itself tooptimum performance geared to your particular vehicle and drivinghabits. No laptop programming required. Each system includesport-style injectors sized for that particular system.Features include:• Easy to install – can be completed in just a few hours;• Great looks plus outstanding performance;• Self learning EMS. Install it, drive it, and it tunes itself. Forthose with special applications, the EMS is laptopprogrammable;• No fuel return line to the tank required. This eliminates one ofthe biggest jobs in installing an EFI on an older car without areturn line;• Easily installed oxygen sensor. No welding required. Just drill ahole in one exhaust pipe and clamp it on with our supplied clamp;• If you are switching from a carb to EFI you can use your stockmechanical pump to draw fuel from the tank and then locatethe supplied EFI pump between the stock pump and the EFIsystem to jack up the pressure. This eliminates trying to locatethe electric pump at the rear of the car and running a highpressure fuel line all the way to the engine;No hassle fuel injectionThis new throttle body style EFI system is a breakthrough in engineering and technology.• Your engine compartment will retain that clean look of vintagemuscle with just enough style to let everybody know that you havesomething special.For more information call 03 9845 0800, visitwww.australianauto.com.au or email australianauto@a1.com.auAustralian Auto Accessories can be found on Stand G10.AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 45

EXPO PREVIEWATAP investing in youth today for thefuture of the industryNational independent broad-range parts wholesaler, AustralianTruck & Auto Parts (ATAP), has implemented a cadet program.Luke Jolly – ATAP’s first training cadet.The scheme ensures its intakes arewell versed in all key aspects of thecompany’s operations: remanufacturing,bonding, product development, technicalBlue Components, thenewest force in power steeringreplacements for theAustralian automotiveaftermarket with its range ofnew replacement steeringpumps, now has the widestrange of supportingaccessories.Developed by BlueComponents specifically forAustralian road conditionsutilising more than 20 yearsexperience in the steeringindustry, this new program is the resultof extensive research and qualityanalysis.Accessories in the extended rangeinclude high pressure hoses for a widerange of Australian vehicles; universallow pressure hoses; filters; pressureswitches; plus more than 20 rack andAPS turns bluesales, sales, marketing, IT,purchasing and distribution.ATAP says the inception of thisprogram is to fill a void in theautomotive aftermarket industry asit is not enticing young recruits.This program is laying thegroundwork for long-termsustainable growth of the company.Looking ahead, this will not onlybenefit ATAP, but provide cadetswith invaluable experience, whichin turn will provide the automotiveaftermarket industry with capablepersonnel.Any potential cadets who areinterested in a future in theautomotive aftermarket shouldcontact Anthony Goerke on03 8369 1300 or emailagoerke@atap.com.auATAP can be found on Stand U14.Blue will be a feature of this year’s Australian Power Steeringstand at the AAAA Sydney Expo.pinion boot kits covering multiplevehicle applications.Pick up the latest Blue Componentcatalogue from the Australian PowerSteering stand for full details on thisexciting range.Australian Power Steering can be foundon Stand O50.More uses thanyou can spraysome WD-40 at!WD-40 – Australia's mostloved multi-purpose lubricant –has been the trusted solutionfor tradies and DIYersalike for over 50 years.The solution that's in more homes andused by more people than any other multipurposelubricant, it is the can withthousands of uses from hardware toautomotive and beyond.If you know and love WD-40, there's nowa range of specialised solutions for the morechallenging problems. The ‘three in one’Professional brand has been created withhardworking, high performance formulations.The range includes:• Cleaner and Degreaserfor cleaning of grease,dirt and grime;• Garage Door Lube forsmoothly running garagedoor systems;• Silicone Spray for corrosion protection – aquick-drying, no-mess formula;• White Lithium Grease: a lubricant, whichreduces friction, protecting against rust;• Tool Cleaner: to clean and protect tools;• Plus more specialised solutions to come!The ‘three in one’ Professional productsalso feature the award-winning Smart Strawdeveloped by the WD-40 Company whichallows you to spray two ways - and never losethe straw again.For more information visit wd40.com.auFind out more and see the full range all at theWD-40 Company stand at the AAA Expo(Stand M28).AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 47

EXPO PREVIEWSafer braking for Australian roadsAs a pioneer in the design, development and manufacture of complete braking systems for originalequipment, TRW can use its extensive knowledge when designing and testing brake pads for itsaftermarket business.TRW is one of the world's top 10 automotive safety suppliers,and is constantly striving for safer braking in all conditions.One feature that it strives for is a stable friction co-efficientacross a wide range of temperatures. TRW disc pads show excellentfade resistance from cold and continue to perform at very hightemperatures, with a stable friction co-efficient from 100ºC to650ºC.Great pedal feel means confident braking. TRW'stechnologically advanced friction material has a compressibility oftwo percent when cold and four percent when hot (500ºC).With the increase in comfort of modern vehicles, noise-freebraking components are a must. TRW fits all passenger car brakepads with shims – a vital feature for noise reduction. A furtherdevelopment is the ever-increasing use of metallic shims onoriginal equipment brake pads; this specification is mirrored inTRW's aftermarket pad range.Complex fitting accessories are also becoming standard featuresto disc brake systems. TRW's proactive approach in supplying thesecomponents, either with the brake pads or in its separate range offitting kits, ensures full servicing down to the last detail.There are now over 1100 references in this market leadingrange of brake pads in Australia. From Holden Commodore andFord Falcon, to all European, Japanese and Asian makes, TRW hasit covered. And with access to the full range of over 1600references available from Europe, new model introductions areavailable when needed.For more information call 03 8369 1300.TRW can be found on Stand U14.50 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

EXPO PREVIEWGetting a grip!There seems to be no end to the stories of people finding wheel nuts onvehicles impossible to loosen.This is especially so if the wheel nuts have been tightened witha pneumatic garage wrench or have not been undone for a long time,in which case they may be rusted or just incredibly tight. You get thelong piece of pipe onto your wheel brace or socket bar and jump upand down on it and all that happens is you bend the bar or slip andhurt yourself. This procedure alone may require a lot of strengthwhich some people may not have and may strain the back, arms orwrists.Wheel nuts should be tightened to manufacturers’ torquesettings, but this rarely happens. Most garage 'rattle-guns' exceedthese torque settings and over-tighten the wheel nuts, and they onlyget tighter or rusted on with time. If you are in a remote area or haveto wait a long time for road service you could find yourself in ahazardous situation, or just waiting a long time for assistance. TheKCI EzyWrench solves these problems. It produces a maximumtorque of 340Nm (250ft/lbs) which is equivalent to an averagegarage rattle gun, but delivers it in a true impacting action and canloosen and tighten the most stubborn, over-tightened or rusted wheelnuts in seconds with its unique operation. Many people are amazedat how effective and simple it is to use this labour and back savingtool!Using 100watts (8.3A), simply plug into your cigarette lighter. Thecomplete kit includes four sockets, an adaptor for connecting direct tothe battery, spare fuse, threeinchextension bar and only threekilograms in a tough lightweightplastic case. Included is a bonusfour-metre extension cable thatdoubles the reach of theEzyWrench to eight metres. Thisallows you to reach caravan andtrailer wheels and is also a usefulcable for other applications, havingstandard cigarette lighter connections at each end with an in-built fuse.EzyWrench also comes with a two-year warranty!The original and best KCI EzyWrench has been rigorously testedby 4X4 Monthly/NSW NRMA Road Service and is used in its roadservice vehicles and sold by RACV. It has also been seen on 4WD TV.The KCI EzyWrench is a simple, robust tool designed for practicaland long-term use at an affordable price. Be back on the roadquickly and easily with a KCI EzyWrench!For more information call 02 6649 3638 or visitwww.kcimports.com.auKangaroo Creek Imports can be found on Stand P08.AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 51

EXPO PREVIEWEasy on/offformulaWe all know that waxing yourvehicle is necessary to keep itlooking great and to protect itfrom the elements.Unfortunately though, this can be adifficult and tedious task. Some waxesrequire a lot of elbow grease and can leavechalky residue that is hard to remove.That's why ARMOR ALL has launchednew Armor All Butter Wax, with easy on/offformula.Armor All Butter Wax has been speciallyformulated to deliver maximum results withminimal effort. It hides fine swirl marks andrestores paintwork to a high gloss finishwith amazing depth of colour, surfacereflection and shine.The best part is that Armor All ButterWax is incredibly easy to use. It spreadseasily over the car surface and is extremelyeasy to buff off, without leaving powderresidue or smears.It is also safe for all car finishes.Armor All Butter Wax is available in a500ml bottle for $17.99.For more information call 1800 813 661 orvisit www.armorall.com.auArmor All (Clorox) can be found atStand I14.Henkel accompanies Dakar RallyOver the last four years, Henkel's power brands have supplied proofof their capability to win - and keep – the Dakar Rally competitors'At the Dakar Rally held in January, thecompany was again the official supplier ofLoctite and Pattex products for fast andefficient repairs.Selected products from the Loctite andPattex brands proved their ability towithstand the most extreme conditions atthe rally.Know-how from Henkel ensured thatmore than 500 competitors from about 50nations were not delayed by a loose bolt,worn bearing, leaking seal, brokenwindshield or any other unexpectedincident when traveling the plains ofPatagonia, crossing the Atacama Desertand passing the Andes Mountains.In the 2009 Dakar Rally, Henkel'sofficial supplier status reflected itscompetencies as a leading supplier ofindustrial adhesives and sealants, pushingthe limits further in pursuit of reliability,performance and innovation."As an ideal testing arena also for newproduct developments, the rally hasconfirmed the superior quality of ourproducts even under the most extremeracing conditions," Isabelle Feix fromLoctite's marketing communicationsdepartment said."Many products have earned their'Dakar-proven' stamp of approval in thefour previous events."A true service to the competitorsOver the years, the Henkel servicespecialists accompanying the rally haveestablished a strong relation of mutualtrust and understanding with thecompetitors, built on the competentassistance and the high-quality productsoffered for fast and efficient repairs whichhave helped many drivers make it to thefinish line.They are known as the Henkel-Charliesto most of the drivers and their mechanics.This year a team of four headed toSouth America to support the competitorswith hands-on expertise for emergencyrepairs and overnight maintenance work inthe bivouacs, travelling with the rally allthe way from start to finish.Expect the unexpected in alandscape of extremesIn a loop of about 9000 kilometres, theconfidence.route started and finished in Buenos Aires.It took competitors through Argentinaand Chile with breathtaking landscapes ofincredible diversity, with extremes of heatand dryness, cold and altitude that imposehuge demands on man and material.The plains of Patagonia, the AtacamaDesert and the passage through the Andesmountains in the midst of the SouthAmerican summer, will constitute an idealfield to witness the endurance qualities ofthe teams.Technicians and engineers, too, wereput to the test in terms of vehicle set-upand maintenance.Rising up to the challenge, Henkelmade a vital contribution to help driverscope with the enormous stresses placed onthe cars, bikes and trucks during the event.The event captures a huge publicfollowing across the world."Many of them are motor sportenthusiasts and technology freaks,precisely the key group of Loctite andTeroson product users," Ms Feix said.Ideal partners for rally competitorsWhere things get really tough and youmust prove your capability to deliverperformance, products from the Henkelportfolio have proved to be ideal partnersfor rally competitors.Loctite anaerobic threadlockers are agood example for those small yet veryimportant items that can make thedifference between victory and defeat, asthey perform reliably where mechanicaldevices fail.Broken windscreens occur frequentlywhile cars and trucks race through ruggedterrain, so drivers have come to rely onTeroson direct glazing sealants whichachieve extremely fast drive-away times -a must for a quick replacement allowingthem to continue the race in good time.Plastic parts, often badly cracked,punched and broken during the race, canbe restored quickly and reliably usingTeroson Plastic Repair products.The Pattex Power Tape repairs, secures,holds and seals, making it anindispensable ally, versatile, waterproofand invaluable to have along.Henkel can be found on Stand F26.52 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

EXPO PREVIEWSuperCharge it!Visit the SuperCharge Battery stand where the celebration begins marking 25 great yearsin the Australian market.From small beginnings in 1984, SuperCharge hasestablished a strong market position as a major supplierto the automotive and transport markets throughoutAustralia. Today, with a fleet of more than 60 servicevehicles covering all states, the SuperCharge namestands for the highest levels of quality and service.Talk to the team about the high performingmaintenance free SuperCharge Gold with Australia'sfirst three year warranty and its application with someof the leading European marques in Australia such asAlfa Romeo, Fiat, Citroen and Renault. Find out moreabout the advanced EXG technology that producesexpanded calcium grids, a technology proven in themost extreme climates and road conditions.See and hear more about the latest successes of theSuperCharge sponsored Alfa Romeo racing team andthe 159JTD and 147JTD, winners of the large andsmall diesel categories in this year’s 12 Hour Bathurstrace using SuperCharge Gold MF77H batteries.Join in the 25-year celebration at the SuperChargestand.SuperCharge Batteries can be found on Stand P12.54 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

EXPO PREVIEWMr Lamb has spent most of his careerbuilding high-level concept and show carsand believes quality is essential for everyproject. The sanding blocks are CNC milledfor precision and made from durable andhigh density EVA foam; designed to blockcontours or flats, inside and outside curvesand can be used for both wet and dryrubbing.“These quality blocks are proving to bea highly sought after tool for the evergrowingculture ofcustom car builders,fabricators and thoseseeking pureexcellence in theirprojects,” Mr Lambsaid.The hardness andflexibility of the blocksallows for a smooth flatNew ‘block’ on the block...When it comes to body work “we all need the perfect tools to achieve that perfect finish”says Peter Lamb, Director of Melomotive. Dura-Block’s range of high-end professional sandingblocks and spray guns are new to the Australian market.finish. The line up ranges from the moretraditional sized blocks to the long 30”block. Comprising a variety of shapes –from the original mixing stick block to therounds and teardrop – making it the idealsolution for that classic car, custom orrestoration project requiringabsolute perfection. Dura-Blocks can also be used onboats, planes and trucks.Also available in the Dura-Block rangeis the Waterborne ready 007 Spray Gunsystem. This has been designed for currentpaint systems and is an environmentallyfriendly solution for the future of spraypainting.“It’s the only gun onthe market that has alifetime warranty. That’show confident we are in it,”Cliff Turnbull, VicePresident of Dura-Block,said.These products areavailable for the first time inAustralia from Melomotive(www.melomotive.com).Please visit Stand F2 at theAustralian Auto AftermarketExpo, April 2-4, 2009.AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 55

EXPO PREVIEWBainbridge Technologies launches new Baintech rangeBainbridge Technologies is set to supercharge the product offering at this year's Australian AutoAftermarket Expo showcasing a range of new and improved products under its exclusive Baintech brand.A relative newcomer to the autoaftermarket scene, Bainbridge TechnologiesGeneral Manager Andrew Smith said therange featured a combination of parts andaccessories suitable for a wide variety ofvehicles."As the AAA Expo is one of the majorevents in the automotive industrywe thought it would be a greatopportunity to showcase ournew range of Baintechproducts, including our Volt& Amp Digital LCD Meters,Fuse Blocks and SinergexNiTRO Battery Chargers," hesaid."While our range of productsis available in Battery Worldnationally, and wehave dealers inVictoria, Tasmania,New South Wales, ACTand Queensland, we arehoping the expo willintroduce our range of powersolutions to a wider market includingthe auto manufacturers."Mr Smith said the new Baintech Volt &Amp Digital LCD Meters would be astandout product at the show."Our Volt & Amp Meters are compact,easy-to-read and come in three differentconfigurations – dual voltage, dual amp andsingle voltage/amps. They are easy to installJust like all of Septone’s products, the ProFinish range is made locally and priced locally– that means there are no fluctuating dollaradjustments and no global demand issues!Septone prides itself on producing productsmade with good old Aussie capability at pricesto save you money with quality you can rely on.When you buy Septone products you aresupporting your local industry for tomorrow'sfuture.Visit Septone at the Collision Repair Expoand ask for free sample from this Pro Finishrange.Septone can be found on Stand E41.and use a sophisticated 'hall sensor' thatdisplays real time DC current in ampswithout any DC loss via a common shuntsystem."The operating voltage on all meters isbetween 9V-30V DC and the DC AmpMeters can read up to 50Amps DC and useas little as 25mA when the back-lit lamp ison."The Baintech Volt & AmpDigital LCD Meters are theperfect and affordable solutionfor those with single ormultiple battery banks."Mr Smith said the BaintechDC Fuse Block would also bedisplayed at the show."Baintech DC Fuse Blocksare necessary in an electrical systemto prevent fire, electrical shock and ongoingincurred costs, and are suitable to allATO/ATC automotive blade fuseswhich are commonly used inRV and automotive."The main features andbenefits of the FuseBlocks are the ease ofinstallation, reducedwiring time, safe connectivity, easieraccessibility and a more professional look."It is rated up to 30V DC and is capableof 30Amps DC per circuit with a 100AmpDC rating per fuse block – now that'spowerful!"A finish like a pro!Mr Smith said alongside the Baintechproducts he would be showcasing theSinergex NiTRO Battery Charger at the Autoshow."The Sinergex NiTRO Battery Charger isa simple intelligent charger which is slick indesign, light weight, compact, weatherproof,quiet and capable of charging either 12voltor 6volt batteries by one simple push of abutton and can be used as a permanentmaintenance charger. Plus the clear LEDfunction display status panel is anotherplus."Safety is also a key feature with antisparkingconnectors, overheating tempsensors, fuse-less short circuit protection,reverse polarity protection and audiblewarning alert buzzer included."Manufactured in two convenient sizesthe 1000 (1Amp) and 3500 (3.5Amp) arebacked with a two year replacementwarranty and are the perfect solution forcars, 4X4's and vintage cars."Bainbridge Technologies deliver a widerange of quality DC to AC and AC to DCpower systems and solutions for applicationssuch as recreational vehicles, 4X4s andutility/emergency vehicles.For more information call 1300 224 683,or visit www.baintech.com.auBainbridge can be found on Stand E38.Pro Finish is a range of Australian made compounds and polishes that have been developed to suit thelatest two-pack paint systems.56 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

EXPO PREVIEWThey range in diversity from pneumatictools to automotive air-conditioning partsmanufacturers.The Taiwan Trade Centre display islocated at Stand G40. Following is a smallsample of the companies and productsexhibiting:RytoolsRytools specialises in making industrialand professional pneumatic tools. Itspneumatic tools are suitable for automobileworkshops. Rytools’ tools are processed byCNC lathe and CNC milling machines.Many of its tools are made from alloy steel,so therefore they will last the distance. Thewarranty period of Rytools’ products undernormal use is six months.TycairTycair is a professional manufacturer oflaminated evaporators for automobile airconditioners. Tycair produces more thanTaiwan companies all set for ExpoA number of Taiwanese companies will exhibit at the Australian Auto Aftermarket Expoat Darling Harbour from April 2-4.500 models of coils and markets itself asa one-stop shop.YihpornYihporn is an expert in manufacturingand exporting advanced auto airconditioning parts.The company has more than 15 yearsof experience in the automotive airconditioning industry and is one of theworld’s leading manufacturers andexporters of auto air conditioning systemparts and tools.Touch RelaysTouch Relays is a leading producer ofauto electrical parts, truck spare parts,relays, flasher relays, and wiper timercontrols.Alex rimsAlex rims is a manufacturer of forgedaluminium wheels.Taiwan companies exhibitingat Australian AutAftermarket ExpoCob-Web Industrial Corp.Aza Manufacturing Co. Ltd.Johnica Auto Co. Ltd.Roeng Yie Industrial Ltd.Yihporn Enterprise Co. Ltd.Tai Yih Machinery Corp.Pneutrend Industrial Co. Ltd.Alex Global AerospaceTechnology Inc.Touch Automotive Products Co. Ltd.Chwan Terng Industrial Co. Ltd.A-Progi Parts Co. Ltd.Hu Shan Transportation Co. Ltd.Action Tools Corp.Reliant Motor Industrial Co. Ltd.58 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

EXPO PREVIEWPump and brake specialiststeps up a gearPartco, a leading supplier to the reseller and water pump,brake and suspension specialist market, has gone throughsome major expansion over the past few years.Having started businessfrom Sydney in 1990, thecompany has slowly grownto be a major wholesaler tothe Australian aftermarket.The company, havingstarted with mainly GMBwater pumps and universaljoints, has grown to stockover 55 product groups,and now stocks most of themajor brands in theindustry. It specialises inwater pumps, steering andsuspension componentsand shock absorbers, however distributes most of the leading hard partsbrands. It has built its successful business on a simple model of "rangeand service", which forms part of its new logo. Its website (www.partco.org)has been updated with all new information and the ranges it carries. Partcoalso has one of the most comprehensive and user-friendly online catalogueand ordering systems on the market.This year Partco has opened a branch at Rocklea in Brisbane, and looksforward to servicing its customers better in Queensland. It sees some strongopportunities to grow further in the Queensland market, and is veryoptimistic about the future of the industry, even in these globallychallenging times.It looks forward to meeting all of its customers at the upcoming AprilAAAE in Sydney.Partco can be found on Stand N14.Electricians’ dreamat ExpoThe Narva stand at the Australian AutoAftermarket Expo will be a must for all autoelectricians, trade visitors and retailers.Narva's new developments are such that you will needto allocate some special time to catch up with all that'snew and innovative in the electrical and lighting field.On display for the first time will be the full range ofblister pack LED Narva trade lamps developed in neweye-popping packaging for modern showroom displays.Narva's comprehensive range of performanceheadlamp globes will also be on display for the first timein their all-new ultra attractive blister packs.Creating high levels of interest will be one of theworld's most innovative Performance GlobeDemonstrator units on show for the first time. Here youwill see Narva's Plus 50, Blue Power, Arctic Blue;Platinum; Ultra Blue all in one amazingly simpledemonstration unit.Whilst at the Narva stand pick up the latestautomotive bulb application listing.Driving lamp merchandising takes a quantum leapforward when Narva reveals for the very first time thesensational new Narva Driving Lamp Display Stand. Thisnew merchandiser, supporting Australia's top sellingdriving lamps includes the Ultima 225 now taking theworld market by storm. Check out the world leadingUltima 225 lamps and talk to the Narva team about thevarious options and performance in Halogen, HalogenBlue and HID.For more information call 1800 113 443Brown & Watson can be found at Stand O8.AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 59

EXPO PREVIEWTake a deep breathAlcoLimit Breathalysers says it is committed to providing quality products with high profit margins towholesalers. It claims that after sales service is its strength.In 2003 AlcoLimit introduced anaffordable and reliable breathalyserfor consumers that sold out withinweeks.The AlcoLimit Original was, andstill is, a huge seller. For around $100consumers can purchase abreathalyser to suit their needs thatthey can rely on. In the Australianmarket before this you would have tospend up to $1000 for a similarquality model.Over the years AlcoLimit has addedAustralian Standard AS3547 certifiedbreathalysers to suit workplace needs.Since early 2007 the AlcoLimitEnforcer 2 has been its bestseller.This handheld device has twomodes making it useful for bothindividuals and workplaceenvironment. Price-wise it's attractiveto general consumers and quality-wiseit's ideal for workplaces.AlcoLimit has a wide range ofbreathalysers to suit many needsincluding a wall-mount, a car ignitioninterlocking system, personal andprofessional units.Our latest models have printer andcomputer connectivity for workplacesrequired to record results.For more informationcall 1300 667 661,visit www.alcolimit.com.auor email sales@alcolimit.com.auAlcoLimit Breathalysers can befound at Stand R22State-of-the-art Dyno gets the big jobs done!Townsville heavy machinery service and repair workshop, Twine Machinery, has taken deliveryof a state-of-the-art chassis dynamometer.Produced by Australia's largestdynamometer manufacturer, DynoDynamics, the Quadra4 truck and busdynamometer, one of only five in thecountry at present, enables single andtandem drive heavy vehicles to be testedunder load in the workshop."We did a lot of soul searching beforetaking the plunge and investing in such anexpensive piece of equipment, but at theend of the day, if you want to provide thebest possible service, you have to have thebest equipment available,” Companyfounder and Managing Director, JohnTwine, said.“This is the third dynamometer we'vecommissioned Dyno Dynamics to supply –the training and after sales back up hasbeen outstanding every time and we'vebeen up and running on the equipmentvery quickly.“As a case in point, before we'd evenfinished commissioning the machine wesolved a problem that had been plaguingone operator for four months in only onehour! The near new prime mover, poweredby a twin turbo Cat C15, was purchased totow three road-train trailers (120,000 KG).“It had spent most of its time at thedealers since delivery because it wouldlose all power on the road immediatelyupon reaching 1500 RPM.“We were able to simulate the load ofthe trailers with the truck on the dyno andthe CAT diagnostic computer connected.At the exact point that the dyno showedthe power drop (accompanied by animmediate 'lean out' in fuel delivery), thecomputer reported low oil pressure to thenumber four inlet valve actuator. It turnedout that an oil gallery plug was missing –and oil was leaking from the gallery port. Anew plug was installed in the oil galleryand the problem was immediatelyresolved. The on-board computer wasshutting off the fuel to protect the engineagainst damage from the oil pressure drop.Both the owner and the dealer wereecstatic at having the problem diagnosedand fixed so quickly.“North Queensland has had adesperate need for a heavy vehicle chassisdyno for years, the nearest being situatedin Brisbane. I have no doubt that thisstate-of-the-art facility will fill that voidand will benefit all truck operators, dealersand repairers throughout the region byreducing diagnostic times and quicklyverifying power, fuel delivery and speed."In addition to road load simulation, thedynamometer is accredited by the relevantregulatory bodies to conduct the federalgovernment approved DT80 fuel test(compliant vehicles qualify for the fuelrebate scheme). At present, the test canonly normally be conducted in Brisbane,Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide – butsufficient demand in North Queenslandwill ensure that Twine Machinerypurchases the remainder of the(emissions) equipment necessary toconduct the full test.Twine machinery has been servicingTownsville and the greater NorthQueensland market since 1979. As wellas workshop based engine rebuilding,service and general repairs – mobile fieldservice is available for onsite service,repairs and maintenance.For more information call 07 4774 6477or visit www.twinemachinery.com.auDyno Dynamics can be found at Stand R52.AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 61

EXPO PREVIEWInnovative ratchet for rapid turning workWera has recently developed the Zyklop based on what was previously seen asa perfected tool – the ratchet."A good ratchet not only belongs in thestandard tools for a mechanic, but ispractically the heart of every tool box,"Marketing Manager for Wera, DetlefSeyfarth, said.With the Zyklop, users can performscrewdriver operations considerably fasterthan other products available to date.According to Wera, the Zyklop screws threetimes as fast as conventional ratchets. Inaddition, the Zyklop is almost universallyapplicable and can thus replace severaltypes of ratchet in a single tool.The Zyklop offers a combination of sixdifferent tools altogether, with a fine-toothratchet, flex head ratchet, angle ratchet,nut fix ratchet, power ratchet and ascrewdriver. This means that many fieldsof work involving screwdriving operationscan be covered optimally with one tool.Often screws and bolts can be difficultto access and normal spanners cannot beused. The transmission of force andleverage of a ratchet is indispensable forperforming all these screwing jobsefficiently. This means not only screws andbolts of different sizes and types can beloosened or tightened, but parts of thevehicle that are difficult to access can bereached without any problem.For instance, with its swivelling head,the Zyklop also assumes the function of aflex head ratchet. The predefined lockpositions at 0°, 90°, and 15° (from the 90°position) ensure reliable work withoutslipping.As a reversible ratchet with fine-pitchedteeth it has a backlash angle of only 5-6°.This facilitates precise work with smallstrokes and screwdrving operations inhighly confined situations withoutadequate room for leverage.With the ratchet head at 0° the Zyklopcan take a bit and be used as a screwdriveras well. Here too, the rotating mass designprovides considerable acceleration of thescrewdriving process.All important sockets,extensions, bits, and otheradditions are availableindividually or in sets in thesizes 1/4", 1/2" & 3/8". Thesockets themselves havebeen designed for use inboth manual and machineoperations. The provision oftwo different sets of socketsis therefore no longernecessary.Wera is exclusivelydistributed in Australia byTridon.For more information call1300 362 263 or visitwww.tridon.com.auTridon Australia can befound on Stand H34.62 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

EXPO PREVIEWClick, tune, and play!The Pedders Sports Ryder eXtreme XA adjustable coil over features a30 position adjustable bump and rebound damping setting at the clickof a button, which enables you to fine tune your suspension forwhenever you want to play.Meanwhile, Pedders Suspension has alsoreleased a range of brand new replacementfront lower control arms to suit the HoldenCommodore VB – VP model range.The 435005L/R front lower control armsare supplied brand new and are fitted withThe Pedders Sports Ryder ‘click, tuneand play’ system.Taking it to the zMax!Rocom Wholesale has recently added two new products to its range,zMax and Avblend. The ability of zMax to soak into metal more thanany other product, while helping to dissolve and prevent harmfuldeposits, is only the beginning of the story.Improving fuel economy, reducing wearand emissions, increasing horsepower andhelping vehicles to last longer and runsmoother are where zMax reallydemonstrates its capabilities.This is where car, truck and fleet ownerswill truly recognise and measure the valueof this unique product.Over the last few years, zMaxdeveloper, US-based Oil-Chem ResearchCorporation, has spent $4.5 million andcountless man-hours proving its claims tothe satisfaction of the US FederalGovernment.More importantly, it was the retailerand end user, that needed to see thesetest results in order to make an educateddecision regarding a quality product thatreally does what it states.Oil-Chem Research Corporation takesthis responsibility very seriously and usesonly the strictest interpretations of SAE(Society of Automotive Engineers) andASTM (American Society for Testing andMaterials) protocols to substantiate itsperformance benefits. Test results areavailable upon request.zMax is the product that pays you backfor every kilometre you drive!The new front lower control arm for theCommodore VB – VP.Pedders heavy-duty rubber bushes. Includedin the control arms is a Pedders nongreasableencapsulated heavy-duty ball joint.For more information visit www.pedders.com.auPedders Suspension can be found atStand U10.For more information call 1800 199 055or visit www.zmax.com.auRocom Wholesale can be found onStand X16.AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 63

EXPO PREVIEWPerformance for dummiesA modern marketing insightWhat would you think if I asked you to Twitter, look at my Facebook, have a gander at my YouTube channelor link to my RSS feed via your MySpace? Would this give you a Flickr of interest? Can you Digg it?If this sounds like gobbledygook or alanguage from another world then youmight be concerned to learn that this issomething you might need to betterunderstand yet you should be happy toknow that there are people than can help.These words or names relate to commonelements of the modern electronicmarketing world and are key componentsin the new area of ‘social media’. Somealso call it Web 2.0 and a number of othertags but in simple terms it's theterminology used to broadly describemodern marketing, advertising andpromotion stuff that can help yourbusiness.The automotive performance marketsector is driven by this technology morethan any other in our industry’s history andto understand this is to understand theopportunity available for workshops,retailers and other potential ‘value-adders’in this market space. And the truth is thatit's not that difficult. The basics of humaninteraction and communication reallyhaven't changed, it's just the methods thatare now different.According to Levine, Locke, Searls &Weinberger (1999) this is called theCluetrain Manifesto: “Markets areconversations. A powerful globalconversation has begun. Through theInternet, people are discovering andinventing new ways to share relevantknowledge with blinding speed. As a directresult, markets are getting smarter-andgetting smarter faster than mostcompanies.”Jim Gurieff of Enform Networks is tryingto help the automotive aftermarket industrybetter understand both the performanceaftermarket and the new communicationsenvironment and its effect on this market.Enform Networks helps build customernetworks and the tools and methodsEnform Networks uses are adapted to thenew world. They are designed to work bestin the electronic or virtual environment andits aim is to help all levels of the industrybuild their own networks to benefit boththemselves and the customer.Enform Networks’ aim is to run aregular column with some help specific toyour needs, but in the meantime thecompany invites you to join a group ofleading brands in an IAME-sponsoredseminar to be held during the AustralianAuto Aftermarket Expo this year.Apart from learning what a Twitter is,you’ll also be introduced to a new friendcalled ‘Usomer’ while also gaining aninsight into what performance products areavailable now and in the future.Brands like Clutch Industries, Ecutek,Ferodo, GFB, Nolathane, Whiteline andeEMOTIV.com will show you what theyTimetableSession 1Date: Friday April 3, 2009Time: 4:00pm to approx 5:00pmVenue: Conference Room, Mezzanine Level,Darling Harbour Exhibition CentreSession 2Date: Saturday April 4, 2009Time: 11:30am to approx 12:30pmVenue: Hospitality Suite 4, Mezzanine Level,Darling Harbour Exhibition CentreCost: $25-00 (Inc GST) for IAME, ESPA andAAAA Members, $35-00 (Inc GST) for NonMembers – entry to venue via AAAE entrance.For bookings, please contact Sharonat IAME on 02 9648 1412.have now and how you can get involved inthis sector. They will also give you aglimpse of the near future witheEMOTIV.com showcasing its new‘Blackbox’ product that's designed to tuneOEM electronic stability control systemslike DSC, ESP and VDC. Learn about thetechnology behind the systems and theopportunities they present, all in simpleEnglish.Xtreme Clutch produces Electric Drive ClutchXtreme Clutch has the know how, the experience,the machinery and the product on hand to createcustom clutch kits that deliver on performanceand drivability regardless of the application.Pictured is an electric converted car, which Xtreme developeda high clamp load, high torque clutch to suit a prototype electricdrive.The picture shows the vehicle receiving a re-charge aftersuccessful clutch fitment.For more information call 1300 258824 or visitwww.xtremeclutch.com.auAustralian Clutch Service can be found on Stand N48.AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 65

EXPO PREVIEWThere are a number of ways that manyunscrupulous operators attempt to sell rustprotection, but there is only one way that isabsolutely guaranteed to work andendorsed by Government departments atall levels, Australia's leading miningcompanies (where vehicles are subjectedto diverse, highly corrosive elements fromvarious minerals) as well as many ofAustralia's leading Surf Life Saving Clubswhere vehicles are subjected to the mostcorrosive environment – the beach.The rust proofing system trusted bythese and so many more is CouplerTec.This proud Australian company and itsmanufactured piece of ingenuity is the onlyelectronic rust protection system that isguaranteed to work and there isunequivocal evidence of it successfullydoing its job.CouplerTec are the world leaders inElectronic Rust Proofing Technology withTo rust proof or not to proof?For many people, investing in rust proofing is a wise move to ensure a motor vehicle's life and itsappearance is maintained and presenting at its optimum.over 10 years of Research andDevelopment refinements helping toensure that the CouplerTec guarantee ispeace of mind for every single one of the500,000 purchasers of the CouplerTecSystems throughout the world.Rust is an electrochemical reaction thatoccurs when moisture and oxygen comesinto contact with bare metal. Creases ordepressions in the metal can trap moisture,increasing contact time and the amount ofrust. The rate of rusting can also increasewith temperature. High humidity canaccelerate rust as can saltwater spray,which can also accelerate corrosion whentrapped in metal vehicle folds and creases.Salt can also draw moisture from the air,so it can accumulate and can continue tocause corrosion. Rust proofing of vehiclesbecame big business in the 1970s, whenbody panels and floors began rustingthrough after only a few years. Since then,manufacturers have learned how to bettertreat and coat the sheet metal used tomanufacture their vehicles, and they havereplaced steel with materials that are moreresistant to rust, and manufacturers havealso prevented water accumulation byeliminating vulnerable creases anddepressions and adding numerous drainholes. As a result, many vehicles now lastlonger before rust can start, even withoutadditional rust proofing. 4WD vehicles arethe most vulnerable to rust in Australia asthese vehicles are more commonlyregularly exposed to the elements, beachesand salt water, and salt spray. As thesevehicles are on the road longer, other parts,such as brake and fuel lines, cooling andpower steering tubes and electricalconnectors, are also more likely to rust andcorrode during the life of the vehicle. Theseparts can cost hundreds of dollars toreplace and many knowledgeable66 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

EXPO PREVIEWmechanics believe that a CouplerTec electronic rust proofing systemcan greatly prolong the life of components and significantly reducemaintenance costs.Corrosion is an electrochemical reaction and a CouplerTecelectronic rust proofing system can be used to stop the reaction.Corrosion protection in various forms, has been around since firstbeing used on ships in 1824 and continues to be a proven methodof protecting metal in such applications as pipelines and storagetanks as well as motor vehicles and almost every form imaginable.There are many differences between CouplerTec andconventional rustproofing methods.All Electronic Rust Proofing Systems are not the same. Spraysand coatings are only as good as where they can reach. Unless yourvehicle is totally stripped internally, it is impossible to protect anymore than 50 or 60 percent of the vehicle's surface. CouplerTecreaches 100 percent of the surface, inside and out, helps preventstone chips from rust migration and the system can also be takenout and reinstalled in another vehicle if you wish to do so.CouplerTec uses a process known as Capacitive Coupling. Thistechnology has a proven record of performance since 1986. Bytoday's standards the 1986 systems were basic, however, are stillproven to be an effective method of stopping rust. In Australia thereare a number of different types of "so called" Electronic Rustproofing devices. The majority of these "devices" do absolutelynothing except turn on a light. CouplerTec released the latestadvancement in capacitive coupling technology in February 2005.This upgraded computerised technology has separated CouplerTec'selectronic rust proofing systems from the rest. CouplerTec uses arange of systems to suit all applications; for example, the averagefamily sedan would need a one coupler system, a 4WD vehiclewould need the stronger two coupler system and a Heavy Duty Fourcoupler 4WD system would suit vehicles that are exposed to severeconditions on a regular basic such as surf life saving vehicles andmining vehicles. If your vehicle already has some rust CouplerTeccan even help slow the corrosion rate noticeably – in most cases.It is recommended that CouplerTec be installed prior to having yourvehicles rust repaired, as this will allow time for the CouplerTecTechnology to stabilise any existing corrosion. The CouplerTecsystem's life is indefinite, as the electronics are solid state, with nomoving parts, and the electronic board is totally encapsulated in anepoxy resin that is completely sealed and are air tight andwaterproof. CouplerTec systems use technology known as CapacitiveCoupling, so the couplers are fixed to the vehicles’painted surface.CouplerTec reversed the design trends of costversus technology by recognising the importance ofResearch and Development and evaluating andtesting the best in current component technologyplacing particular emphasis on consistent reliableresults and are manufactured to strict qualityassurance (ISO) standards.Rust is the result of the loss of electrons fromwithin the metal. Oxygen combines with the metalatom and forms FE2o3 – also known as FerricOxide, more commonly known as rust.CouplerTec electronic rust proofing systemsinterfere with the oxidization cycle, and in effect,trick nature. This is achieved by feeding a smallflow of electrons into the vehicle so the supply ofelectrons exceeds the demand, or loss of electrons.In creating a capacitor, the pad that is affixed tothe paint acts as the positive plate in the capacitor,the paint becomes the dielectric which in turn holds the chargestatic (keeps the electrons from flowing away) and the body of thevehicle or structure then acts as the negative plate in the capacitor.The end result is a large capacitor; the pad is the positive plate,paint is the dielectric, and the motor vehicle's body is the negativeplate. Electrons are built between the positive plate and thecontinued page 69AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 67

EXPO PREVIEWTo rust proof or not to proof? continuednegative plate and the paint keeps themthere. Even if a vehicle endures a stonechip, the CouplerTec system ensures norust will take hold.There are two essential components forthis CouplerTec technology. A power supplyor unit which is approximately the size of adeck of playing cards and runs off thevehicle battery, drawing less than 30milliamps. This electronic circuit board istotally encapsulated in an epoxy resin,which makes it completely airtight andwaterproof. The second component is theCapacitive Coupler, or pad, which is affixedto a painted metal surface on the vehiclewith an aircraft grade adhesive. The powersupply charges this pad with a small DCvoltage strong enough to be read on avolt/multi meter. There are three thingsthat need to be supplied to the pad inorder to induce the charge through thenon-conductive painted surface, volts,frequency and capacitance. CouplerTectechnology is proven to work in a corrosiveenvironment. The energy applied to thepads is energy that is digitally monitoredin a continuous feedback loop. The energydrawn from the battery is converted, andpassed with very high efficiency throughthe coupling pad/s to the vehicle's body.The CouplerTec systems do not voidmanufacturers’ new car warranties, andwill not interfere with on-board computers,electronics or radio equipment, nor will itdrain excessively on a vehicle's battery,because it uses less than 30 milliamps ofpower, which is less than required to powera digital clock.CouplerTec Rust Proofing Systems areenvironmentally safe, use no toxicchemicals or sprays, are the only systemthat self diagnoses for any possible faultsand resets after a fault is rectified, andprotect parts that other rust proofingmethods cannot get to.For more information call 1800 068088or 07 5522 0200, or visitwww.CouplerTec.com.auCouplerTec Electronic Rust Proofingcan be found on Stand G35AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 69

EXPO PREVIEWMobileye releases Advanced Warning SystemIt only takes a second and it can happen to any driver. Often while driving your eyes are distracted fromthe road ahead, checking the rear view mirror, changing the radio station, talking, checking the kids oranswering a phone call. During those crucial seconds your vehicle can travel many metres without thedriver being fully aware of what's happening.Mobileye AWS has the ability to alert drivers to these potentiallydangerous situations. It only takes a second – bang!The Command Auto Group has been appointed as exclusivedistributor of Mobileye products and has launched the AWS 4000into the Australian Market.Recognised globally for its state-of-the-art worldwide patentedtechnology, Mobileye has the capabilities of preventing many roadaccidents caused by drivers who become distracted. Driverinattention is the major cause of vehicle accidents.Command Auto Group, with over 25 years extensive experiencein vehicle safety development and distributing Command cruisecontrols throughout Australia, has built a sound reputation inproviding key technical support, service and quality products.This experience is why Mobileye has chosen to exclusivelyappoint Command Auto group as the Australian distributor forpassenger vehicles and light trucks.What does it do?There are three features of the Mobileye, which correspond withthe leading causes of road accidents:• Forward Collision Warning (FCW) - alerting the driver of animpending vision ahead (up to 2.7 seconds before collisionoccurs);• Lane Departure Warning (LDW) - LDW provides a rumble soundup to 0.5 seconds before unintentional departing from the laneor road;• Headway Monitoring And Warning (HMW) - monitors the drivingdistance (headway) from the vehicle ahead, and warns the driverwhen headway decreases to a dangerous level.How does it work?Mobileye AWS is a driver assistance system for accidentmitigation. Mobileye includes a smart camera located on the frontwindshield and utilises worldwide patented software to track allvehicles pedestrians and objects, moving or fixed, providing thedriver with timely audio- visual alerts.Mobileye is the only system combining forward collision warning,lane departure and headway monitoring in the one system.With accident prevention and the costs to society of such eventsnow being more understood each year, the cost of the system issimply one of the best investments in increasing safety whilstdriving.Command Auto Group can be found at Stand P42.70 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

EXPO PREVIEWEasy to choose, easy to use!Prestone Extended Life Coolant was introduced tothe market two years ago.In that time the product hasquickly established a niche positiondue to its universal application andease to use.Prestone Coolant remains theonly coolant in the market that canbe safely used in all makes ormodels of cars and light duty trucks,and is compatible with any coolant.The true benefit to the retailer isthat making a Prestone sale can bedone with confidence. Manycustomers do not know the colouror specification of their coolant.They must also be warned that othercoolants cannot be mixed aschemical reactions and acceleratedcorrosion can occur. Prestoneovercomes this problem due to itsadvanced formulation, plus the‘yellow’ colour is compatible with allother coolant colours – orange, pink,green, etc.For the trade user the largerdrum sizes are particularly useful asonly Prestone is needed to suit allmakes. Furthermore when a coolingsystem in flushed a good quantity ofcoolant remains in the block,Prestone is of course compatiblewith this residue.As a top specification productPrestone will remain effective for250,000 kms or five years. Inaddition to concentrates in retailand trade sizes, Prestone is alsoavailable in a premixed 50/50 readyto use five-litre bottle. This dilutionmeans it is safe to use in any car orlight truck. The Prestone productwill continue to gain exposure withregular advertising, and POSMaterial is available.So Prestone is ‘easy to choose’and ‘easy to use’.For more information call02 9772 0226 or emailholts-enquiry@honeywell.comHolts Honeywell can be foundon Stand W08.Australian arm set for action!TecDoc will be launching its Australian subsidiaryat the AAAE in April.TecDoc is a global provider andinformation source for the vehiclerepair market and partsmanufacturers.The TecDoc InformationsSystem GmbH was founded in1994. A total of 31 shareholdersfrom the automotive aftermarketindustry and the parts trade,represented by the GVA (GermanAssociation of Spare Parts), supportTecDoc.The primary aim of the companyis to ensure competition in thespare parts trade.TecDoc offers an electronicinformation system for the PC andCV segment to the intermediaries ofthe free market. The availability ofthe technical catalogue informationensures the multi-brand service inall vehicle service companies.Currently, over 328 brands of thespare parts industry are membersof the TecDoc system.The electronic parts catalogueon DVD and on the Internetbundles over 2.43 million articlesin 23 languages. Users can accessmore than 1.1 million illustrations.This covers over 40,000 PC typesand more than 30,000 CV types.Per quarter, TecDoc reaches410,000 national and internationalusers, 60 percent of which inTecDoc owns catalogues or in theWebShop through trade solutionsimplemented by TecDoc and over40 percent via trade catalogues.For more information call03 9534 7802, visitwww.tecdoc.net or emailandrew@tecdoc.com.auTecDoc can be found at Stand X36.AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 73

EXPO PREVIEWIn the largest dedicated collision repairtrade show seen in Sydney, leading globalsurface finish and equipment suppliers willintroduce state of the art products to helpExpo visitors make their businesses betterable to emerge from the economicdownturn in a strong position.To be held in Sydney for the first time,the Collision Repair Expo is an initiative ofthe Australian Automotive AftermarketAssociation. Executive Director StuartCharity said this Expo provides body shopswith a unique opportunity to learn aboutthe very latest industry developments fromAustralia and around the world."Busy workshop owners and managerswill see all the big brands in one place.Industry leaders, including major Exposponsor PPG, Akzo Nobel, DuPont, Car-O-Liner, 3M, BASF, Lowbake, GPI, Globaljig,Sydney Automotive Paint and Equipment,International product launchesLeading international suppliers to Australia's collision repair industry will be launching new products andtechnologies on their stands and in seminars at the 2009 Collision Repair Expo, to be held at the SydneyExhibition Centre in Darling Harbour from April 2-4.and many others will beshowcasing ground breaking newproducts at the Expo," Mr Charitysaid."Even if you pick up one goodidea that helps you keep yourbusiness one step ahead of yourcompetition, it is worth a visit to Expo. AndCollision Repair Expo visitors will also beable to attend the Australian AutoAftermarket Expo next door at no charge,"he said.International Seminar SeriesAnother Collision Repair Expo highlightis the Lowbake spray booth, with its inbuiltauditorium. This exhibit will enablethe major refinish companies exhibiting atthe Expo, including PPG, DuPont, De Beer,3M, BASF and Akzo Nobel, to demonstratenew products and processes live in regularsessions running for the duration of theevent.An important product education eventat the Expo will be the InternationalSeminar Series of specially preparedpresentations. Each seminar focuses on adifferent aspect of running a collisionrepair business, and topics includebenchmarking, certified training, leanbusiness philosophy, high strength steels,and global vehicle manufacturing trends.The five seminars will be run over the threedays of the Expo and entry will be free ofcharge with registrations on a first in basis.(See separate Seminar Program).74 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

EXPO PREVIEWCollision Repair Expo International Seminar SeriesThis informative business event brings together collision repair workshop owners, specialists and apprenticesover five seminars with keynote speakers addressing the latest technologies, trends and developments.Each seminar will run for approximatelyone hour and entry is free of charge to allregistered Collision Repair Expo visitors.Seminar 1: The Benchmarking ProcessTime: 2.00pm to 3.00pm, Thursday April 2, 2009Speaker: Darryle Browne, National MVP Manager,Akzo NobelOverviewEver wondered what benchmarking is orwhy it is used? In this revealing seminar,PPG National MVP Manager, Darryle Browne,analyses the benchmarking process and howit can be used to drive ongoing improvementin a body shop business. He explains thefundamentals of benchmarking including thevaluable feedback gained from measuringand understanding Key PerformanceIndicators (KPIs), what to do with theresults, setting your own benchmarkinggoals, and benchmarking against industrystandards.Seminar 2: New Trends and Technologies NeedCertified TrainingTime: 11.00am to 12.00pm, Friday April 3, 2009Speaker: Per Madsen, Area Sales Director Asia andPacific, Car-O-LinerOverviewThis presentation focuses on theimportance of certified training when workingwith new materials and technologies. Itshows the results of correct and incorrectwelding and also covers the breakup of steelin cars today.About the speakerPer Madsen trained as Ford mechanicduring the late 1970s and was then aSergeant in the Danish Army. Following a roleas body shop manager for 10 years from1985, he joined Car-O-Liner in Denmark in1995 as sales technician supporting Danishbody shops and technical schools. He thentook on the role of area sales managerresponsible for India and Sri Lanka, as wellas all OEM and approvals in 2001. Per wasthen assigned to run the Car-O-Liner AsiaAcademy in 2006 for the Asia Pacificmarkets.Seminar 3: Lean Body Shop PhilosophiesTime: 4:30pm to 5:30pm, Friday April 3, 2009Speaker: Paul Wake, PCE Manager ASIA, Akzo NobelOverviewWith increasing pressure on cost, timeand resources, making the most of everythingis critical. By using Lean Body ShopPhilosophies in your business, you can createa process centred environment characterisedby customer focus, interactive andinterconnected processes, and waste-free,value-adding activities. Learn about 10fundamental principles to maximise theoutput of your business.continued page 78AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 77

EXPO PREVIEWCollision Repair Expo International Seminar SeriesAbout the speaker:Throughout the UK and Europe, PaulWake managed repairer networks and bodyshop programs for various insurancecompanies. He joined Akzo Nobel in 2001as the National Services Manager, and wasresponsible for the launch and developmentof the Acoat selected program for Australiaand New Zealand. Now he manages theANCR Process Centred Environment (PCE)program, which improves body shops'performance and increases efficienciesthrough the elimination of waste.Seminar 4: Usibor is Dead, Long Live UsiborTime: 6:30pm to 7:30pm, Friday April, 3 2009Speaker: Martin Strasser, Managing Director,Wielander and SchillOverviewMany of the "new" high strength steelsdiscussed in the past are already beingreplaced by newer and more exotic steels,materials and combinations of materials.Martin Strasser will share his knowledge onwhat we should expect from car makers inthe future, and how the collision repairer willbe affected.About the speaker:Martin Strasser has headed Wielander andSchill for many years. This German companyhas long been recognised as one, whichprovides innovative and practical tools andequipment for the repair of modern motorvehicles. Martin has made many visits toAustralia presenting seminars on thedevelopment of new steels and composites.His exposure to the European car makersprovides a wealth of knowledge, which he iskeen to share.Seminar 5: Global Manufacturing - Trends andDesignsTime: 11.00am to 12.00pm, Saturday April 3, 2009Speaker: Richard Pratt, Chief Executive Officer, I-CAR Australia.OverviewThe large number of changes being madeto manufacturing processes, combined withrapidly changing technologies, means it isdifficult for the collision repair industry toremain up to date. This presentation in aneasy to understand format by theinternationally recognised training andeducation group I-CAR covers the globalperspective and the most up to date scientificinformation.About the speaker:Richard Pratt is Chief Executive Officer ofI-CAR Australia and has over 30 yearsexperience in various sectors of theautomotive industry. Launched in 2006, I-CAR Australia delivers post qualification,skills enhancement education and training,and technical information to the entirecollision industry.78 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

AUTO ELEC & LIGHTINGTALKING TECHNICAL WITH RAY BROWNWell, to my surprise, after doing someresearch and talking to the experts, automotivelighting and electrical has probably movedahead more in the last 15 years than theprevious 70 or so.AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTINGAuto electrical and lightingwith Ray BrownAutomotive Electrical and Lighting is very important to the safetyand comfort of the vehicle, but what is really new?HalogenPrior to the latest innovations in lighting, theHalogen headlamp (also known as quartz-iodineor quartz-halogen) was latest universallyadopted innovation adopted during the sixties.These bulbs used a tungsten filament in ahalogen atmosphere, which provided more lightand lasted longer than their predecessors.Fig 1 – Halogen HeadlampHIDThe 1990s sees the introduction of Xenonor HID (high intensity discharge) headlamps.The light is produced by an electric arc (thinkarc welding), which comes from the vaporisationof metallic salts in a chamber. These lamps aresimilar to those used in streetlamps and inindustrial applications, but the automotive lampcontains Xenon gas rather than argon, whichallows the lamp to produce light immediately onstart-up and accelerates the lamps run-up time.HID can be used in low and high beamapplications and use projection or reflectionsystems. An electromagnetic actuator moves ashield to switch between low and high beam(known as Bi-Xenon) in projection system,whereas the small re-positioning of the gasdischargelamp in the reflector itself produceshigh beam in a reflection system.Advantages of HID• Increased Safety – HID offers substantiallymore light than halogen bulbs;• Efficiency – HID systems provide 200percent more light but needs one third lesspower;• Life – the average service life of a HID lampis 2000 hours compared to up to 1000 hrsfor a halogen bulb.Disadvantages of HID• Glare – A study of lamp glare has shown thatHID lamps are 40 percent more glaring thana halogen lamp and, in many countries,vehicles fitted with HID lamps are requiredto be equipped with headlamp lens cleanersand automatic beam levelling control;• Compatibility – HID bulbs cannot effectivelyor safely be installed into optics designed forfilament globes and is therefore illegal inalmost all countries;• Cost – HID lamps cost more to manufacturethan halogen lamps.Fig 2 – Bi-Xenon Headlamp(courtesy Mercedes Benz)LEDIn rear lamps, applications with red andyellow LEDs are already state of the art inlighting technology. The world premiere for afull LED headlamp application was the 2008Audi R8 developed and manufactured by'Automotive Lighting' in Europe. For the firsttime, all light functions of the headlamp havebeen realised in LED technology, these beingthe low and high beam, daytime running lights,turn indicator and position light.LEDs are based on semiconductortechnology. The light is emitted directly out ofthe semiconductor substrate when a voltage isapplied, and the colour (ie red, amber, white)depends on the materials forming thesubstrate.To achieve the required light patterns forLED headlamps the two conventional meansapplied by filament and gas discharge lamps ofredirecting light through a reflector or byprojecting the light through a lens are available.However, due to their small sizes, LEDs offer theopportunity to combine both light systems forthe first time.Advantages of LEDs• Light quality – nearly achieve daylightquality;• Life – long life typically beyond vehicle life;• Packaging – efficient use of space;• Styling – freedom to include stylingcharacteristics within lamps (eg Audi R8daytime running lamp).Disadvantages of LEDs• Cost – Contrary to popular belief, LEDsproduce significant heat per unit of lightoutput and thermal management measuressuch as heatsinks and fans are needed forhigh output lights which are typicallyexpensive;• Temperature Dependency – LEDs are quitetemperature sensitive with many typesproducing only 60 percent of rated outputat 30 °C than they produce at 16 °C;• LEDs will increasingly be adopted for basicsignalling functions (ie brake, turn signal,parking lamps etc) as these applicationsoffer significant advantages over filamentbulbs with fewer technical challenges thanheadlamps pose.Quite apart from light technology and thestandard Low and High beam headlamps, therehave been a number of exciting innovations inAdaptive Front-lighting Systems (AFS) thatadjust automatically to changing conditions.Dynamic Curve LightingTo provide better visibility on curved roadsmany middle and upper class cars are nowoffering this technology. An electronic controlunit continuously evaluates different drivingparameters such as steering angle, velocity orthe yaw rate. Based on this information and thecurve radius, the low beam light is swivelledhorizontally during the curve enabling optimalillumination of the road. The increase in80 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

AUTO ELEC & LIGHTINGFig 3- BMW 7 Series LED Tail Lamp (courtesyAutomotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH)visibility of this system can be up to 70 percentcompared to conventional lighting systems.Automotive Lighting launched the firstDynamic Curve Light in the BMW 3-series in2003.Cornering LightingThe cornering lights are either incorporatedinto the headlamp or separately in the bumperon the outside of the headlamp. A corneringlight is activated automatically at a low speedwhen turning into a curve, a bend or withactivation of the turn signal indicator. With theactivation of the cornering light, the road vergeFig 4 – Benefit of Dynamic Curve Lighting (courtesyAutomotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH)is illuminated from 30 to 60 degrees. Lowercost versions of this technology use the foglamps as the cornering light, which is activatedby the turn signal indicator.Adverse Weather lightingIn rainy or foggy weather conditions, adverseweather lighting is used to support the driver.With low beam ON and a driving speed below70Kmh, the left headlamp (for RHD) is inclinedby eight degrees to the outside and by onedegree downwards. This reduces the self-glare(light reflection) in foggy conditions andincreases the illumination of the left road verge.Fig 5 – Benefit of Cornering Lighting (courtesyAutomotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH)Auto ElectricalHaving reviewed one of the most importantelectrical features of modern vehicles (ielamps), I will now review a number ofinnovative electrical systems which are nowpopular specifications with consumers. Thenumber of electrical systems applied to thechassis of the modern vehicle is increasingsignificantly, but these will be reviewed in moredetail in future editions of the magazine.Rain Sensing WipersAs the name implies rain-sensing wipersautomatically regulate the intermittent wipeAU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 81

AUTO ELEC & LIGHTINGAuto electrical and lighting with Ray Brown continuedintervals of the windscreen wiper according tothe intensity of the rain. The sensor is mountedin contact with the inside of the windscreen,near the rear view mirror.The sensor projects infrared light into thewindscreen at a 45-degree angle. If the glass isdry, almost all of the light is reflected back intothe sensor by the front of the windscreen. Ifwater droplets are on the glass, they reflect thelight in different directions – the wetter theglass, the less light making it back to the sensor.The information from the sensor is passedonto an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECUwill turn ON the wipers when the amount of lightreflected onto the sensor decreases to a presetlevel. The software sets the speed of the wipersin accordance with how fast the moisture buildsupbetween wipes. The system adjusts thespeed as often as necessary to match the rate ofmoisture accumulation.The sensitivity of the sensor can be adjustedby way of a selector switch to suit the driver. Therain sensor is designed such that minorabnormalities, such as dirt and aging of thewindscreen, do not impair its functionality.The benefits of the rain sensor are comfortand safety. The driver is able to concentrate fullyon the road without having to worry aboutadjusting wipe interval. This is a major boost tosafety, particularly when visibility is suddenlyimpaired while overtaking trucks on a wet roadfor example.Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)It is now mandatory in the USA for all newcars to have a tyre pressure monitoring systeminstalled. This regulation has been driven bysafety concerns, related to under inflated tyres,but also affects fuel efficiency and tyre lifeexpectancy.The tyre pressure monitoring system informsthe driver of current tyre pressures before andduring a journey. Sensors are integrated into eachwheel, including the spare, and transmit radiosignals via an antenna located on the underbodyto a control unit. These signals provideinformation about tyre pressure and temperature.Each sensor communicates its own code so thatit is possible to locate which tyre is affected. If thetyre pressure is too low or if there is a sudden lossof tyre pressure, the driver is warned by a warninglight and /or an audible signal.The fact that tyres are permanentlymonitored guarantees a high level of safety.Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)The ACC is integrated with the standardcruise control and this system is able toautomatically keep you at a safe distance fromthe vehicle ahead when driving in stop-starttraffic or heavy highway traffic. In stop-starttraffic, the ACC gently brakes the vehicle, rightdown to a stop, if necessary, and acceleratesagain as soon as the traffic situation permits.ACC uses radar to detect the distancebetween the vehicles in front, in some casesbeginning at 20 centimetres to an operatingrange of 150 metres. This allows the ACC tooperate reliably at lower speeds and provideeffective assistance when pulling away andbraking again repeatedly.Apart from its function in intelligent cruisecontrol, the radar system also detects situationswhere the distance to the vehicle in front iscritical and helps to reduce the vehicle'sstopping distance where required. If the systemdeems the drivers braking response to beinadequate, it springs into action by boostingthe braking power depending on the distance tothe vehicle ahead. Full braking power will notnecessarily be applied straight away, to reducethe risk of vehicles behind running into the rearof the car.Park Assist SystemThe parking assistance system is a parkingaid that warns of the distance to obstacles infront of and behind the vehicle. An intermittentwarning tone indicates to the driver how far thevehicle is from an obstacle. As the distancedecreases, the repeating frequency of thewarning tone rises. It first sounds when thevehicle is around 1.6 metres from the obstacle.When the driver has just 20 centimetres ofspace left a continuous tone sounds. Somevehicles also have visual displays on the dashas well as audible tones.This system is based on the echo-sounderprinciple with sensors located in the bumperbar. These send out ultrasonic signals, whichare reflected by other vehicles or obstacles. Amicroprocessor calculates the actual distanceand informs the driver by means of visual and/oraudible tones.Lane Change AssistLane change assist helps to preventaccidents during lane change manoeuvres. Thesystem monitors both sides of the vehicle andup to 50 metres behind it and warns the driverof a potentially hazardous situation.Lane change assist uses the short-rangeradar sensors (also used for park assist system)to monitor the area on both sides immediatelyadjacent to and behind the car. In doing so,they cover the "blind spots" which the drivercannot see with the aid of the exterior mirror.If the system detects another vehicle in thewarning area, a red warning symbol appears inthe glass of the exterior mirror. It informs thedriver that it may be dangerous to change lanes.If the driver overlooks the warning and activatesthe turn signal indicator, the red signal in themirror starts to flash and a warning tone sounds.Overtaking vehicles are shown immediatelyon entering the monitoring zone. Vehicles,which have just been overtaken, are shownapprox. 1.5 sec. after entering the zone. Assuch, constant flashing is avoided whenovertaking a convoy of vehicles.Footnote: Acknowledgement for assistance inpreparing this article to Automotive LightingReutlingen GmbH, Mercedes-Benz andVolkswagen.Fig 6 – Rain Sensor(courtesy Mercedes Benz)Fig 7 – Park Assist Monitor(courtesy Mercedes Benz)Fig 8 – Lane Change Assist Monitor(courtesy Mercedes Benz)82 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

AUTO ELEC & LIGHTINGLED launches MaXilampLED Autolamps has released its new MaXilamp series of rear combination lights.The MaXilamp 5XR model is the same sizeas the commonly used Jumbo triple lamp andretrofits with the same bolt pattern.The first thing you notice about theMaXilamp 5XR is its unique and modern designincorporating five circles of 16 LEDs in a redchrome housing, the five circles light up similarto the impressive Commodore R8.Between the reflector and the circle are 14LEDs, the top section are indicators and thebottom section are for the reverse function, thisis a total number of 150 LEDs compared tothe Jumbo’s triple lamp of 108 LEDs.Another feature of this lamp is the highimpactacrylic cover, the benefits of high impactacrylics over polycarbonate is its ability toresist chemicals found in cleaning fluids and itsenhanced UV protection against fading.The MaXilamp range is water, dust andvibration proof and have a seven-year warranty,this warranty period exceeds all other lamp inits class.The MaXilamp products comes standard inmultivolt with a range of 10-32 volts, MaXilampis a registered trade name and all its productsare ADR approved and are protected byregistered design with I.P Australia.For more information visitwww.ledautolamps.comNew Bosch KTS 340 – Simple Diagnosis at your fingertipsWith the number of electronics systems in today’s vehicles increasing so rapidly, workshops now need a multifunctional tester,not just an ECU diagnostics unit, to avoid having to refer work to a third party.If we consider that the most important tool inyour workshop is information, then the key toprofitability is being able to access it easier,faster and in more detail. That’s where the newBosch KTS 340 diagnostic tool becomes the toolyou can’t live without.Compact, comprehensive and mobile, theBosch KTS 340 is the latest addition to the KTSseries of diagnostic testers, designed specificallyfor mobile use. The KTS 340 enables theworkshop to have everything needed fordiagnosis, troubleshooting, maintenance andservice simply at the touch of a button.With the Bosch KTS 340 frequently usedinformation such as, vehicle data, diagnostic pluginstallation, or maintenance information can beaccessed with one touch. The 8.4” touch screenmakes it simpler to switch between theapplications. For example, direct access to thediagnosis function can be gained from the faultlocation instructions or the maintenanceschedule, with consistent screen displaythroughout.Equipped with WLAN, the KTS 340 makes itpossible to print test results, allowing access toolder vehicle information that may be saved on aworkshop PC. The totally mobile unit operateswithout a mains connection, using integrated AAbatteries and can be charged in the cigarettelighter, the car's diagnostic socket, or via themains supply.In developing the KTS 340 Bosch have alsomodified the ESI[tronic] software, making itmuch easier to use. All the information softwarerequired for troubleshooting, maintenance andservice work is incorporated in the device,making it instantly available. An integrated twochannelmultimeter enables comprehensiveresistance, diode, voltage and currentmeasurements. CAS[plus], included in theESI[tronic] software, links the fault-findinginstructions to the diagnostics, guiding themechanic through test steps and providing all thefault information and diagnostics functionsneeded for repair.A new Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) is alsoincluded in the KTS 340 package, to supplementthe SIS-Instructions (Service InformationSystems). This provides rapid access to commonvehicle faults, symptoms classified by systemsgroups (such as ABS, airbag, enginemanagement, etc.), a clear description of thecause of the problem and validated repair tipsand/or solutions. All these steps are supported bydiagrams, making every step even simpler tofollow. The KTS 340 with these clear, intuitiveoperation elements and integrated measuringtechnology is therefore better able to support thedemands of today’s workshops.Diagnostics is the key to the workshop of thefuture. As vehicle systems become more complexthe demands placed on qualified diagnosis in theworkshop are increasing rapidly. For professionalservice on modern vehicles, Bosch provideseverything at one stop; test technology,continuously updated software, technical trainingand a product support hotline.To find out more about the Bosch KTS 340, or anyother diagnostic test equipment in the Boschrange, please call Bosch Diagnostics CustomerService on 1300 783 031.84 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

AUTO ELEC & LIGHTINGWith almost 70 part numbersavailable, it confirms the importance ofthis ever-evolving program for thisspecialist lighting company.Of the total number, about 15 percentare new as Narva caters for every seriousapplication from farming to mining.Today, work lamps in the Narva rangecome in all shapes and sizes with oval,square and rectangular lamps offered ina variety of styles.A similar range of mounting options isalso offered from surface mount, upright,side or pendant mount.There are mountings with multiplepointbrackets, single bolt, anti-vibrationand magnetic with suction rubber pads.These combined with stainless or platedhardware allow options such as fixed position or360-degree sweep with variable tilt.Handles and switches are also offered onmany models for ease of handling.From heavy-duty round rubber bodyworklamps using conventional sealed beam units in12 and 24-volt in various sizes and differingbeam patterns, new and stylish rubber lampshave been added.These now include rugged impact resistantrubber body rectangular halogen lamps in floodand spot beams.A relatively new development of halogendouble beam optics using free form reflectorsThe Hemitech 4 LED light – part of a newseries of Hemitech work lights and cord reels– features a unique hemispherical lens todeliver a powerful beam equivalent to a 100Watt incandescent bulb, but with no hot spotsor halos in its brilliantly clear white light.Designed to provide 10 years or more ofoptimum clarity and safety in maintenancetasks, the light is one of the world's mostadvanced designs from the internationallyrespected Cliplight Manufacturing, which isknown globally for its "See Better, Work Better"market signature.Cliplight products – including itsrechargeable Hemipro high power lights – arealready in widespread use throughout Australiaand GO Distribution Managing Director GaryOborne says the new Hemitech additionsexpand the range's safety and versatility.Narva Work lampsA glance at the emergency section in the comprehensive Narva catalogue detailing work lamps and one is leftin no doubt this is by far the most extensive range available in Australia.and producing the light output equivalent tothree conventional lamps, now allows smallstylish lamps to be fitted in confined spaces withmaximum light performance.As a result of major advancements in LEDtechnology Narva has developed new 12 and 24-volt LED work lamps with all the advantages thistechnology brings.The new lamps produce an amazing 500lumen output, have virtually unbreakablepolycarbonate lenses, low current draw of 1.2amp, long operational life, no heat build-up andare resistant to impact.Taking advantage of world leading edgetechnology Narva has not only advanced LEDwork lamps but has also developed newHemitech worklights bring double safety to workshopsA rugged mains-fed vehicle servicing worklight that combines the safety of nine volt power with the clarity of a super-wide70-degree LED beam has been released in Australia by GO Distribution."An outstanding safety feature is that theHemitech unit plugs into mains power with aswitch mode converter that takes the powerdown to nine volts so there are no electricalsafety issues with cables lying across workshopbenches or floors. This gives great safety andgreat economy of operation."Hemitech features include:• Availability with either 7.6 metre cord orwith 12-metre retractable cord reel, qualityconstructed in stainless steel for ongoingdurability;• Sliding hooks and optional magnetattachments, to allow highly flexiblepositioning in engine compartment or workarea;• Easy-to-replace lens shield, which protectslenses and LEDs, and replaces in minutes.generation HID work lamps in a variety offorms with each one meeting new anddemanding applications.New series of HID lamps from Narvafeature new generation D1 ballasts,internally mounted for safety in all workingenvironments.These produce fast start-ups and a lightoutput closer to daylight than has not beenpossible with earlier technology.The construction of each series of HIDwork lamps in the Narva range is designedwith the end user uppermost in mind andincludes features such as shock absorbermechanisms, heavy-duty mountingbrackets, aluminium alloy or fibrereinforced nylon housings with internal seals tokeep out dust and water in extreme workingconditions.Narva names such as Senator, Titan, Gammaand Gamma Micro are setting new standards inapplications where machines used inearthmoving, contracting, forestry, transport, portmachines and mining; demand the ultimate inperformance and reliability.Narva is Australian owned and is a leader inthe development, manufacture and supply ofautomotive lighting and electrical componentsfor the automotive, marine and transportindustries.For more information call 1800 113 443• Tough, quality construction throughout towithstand daily service in busy workshopsand harsh maintenance environments;• Non-slip grip and recessed on/off switch.Hemitech and Hemipro worklightscomplement an innovative range of automotiveand HVAC products from the internationalCliplight Manufacturing Company, which isnow in its fourth decade of producing topquality worklights and automotive productsavailable from GO Distribution. These includeSuper Seal sealants that help remove the needfor expensive fault chasing and repairs tocommercial, industrial and automotive airconditioning and refrigeration systems.For more information call 02 6026 4886or visit www.cliplight.comAU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 87

AUTO ELEC & LIGHTINGEnhance road safety with daytime driving lamps from HellaHella, the world’s leading automotive lighting design, manufacturing and marketing company, supports the recent EuropeanUnion (EU) decision to make daytime running lights compulsory on all new motor vehicles manufactured from 2011.Under this requirement, all vehiclesproduced in Europe from 2011 must featurerunning lights that illuminate once the car hasbeen started and are de-activated once thenormal vehicle lighting is activated at night. Thisroad safety directive guarantees immediate highvisibility of vehicles in road traffic at all times.“It is a matter of time before this road safetydirective reaches Australia and other Pacificregion countries as it makes perfect sense toincrease the visibility, and therefore the safety, ofall road users in all traffic conditions duringdaytime driving,” Hella Australia’s IndependentAftermarket Director, Terry Fitzgerald, said.“It is such an obvious safety enhancementthat we currently see many motorists onAustralian roads already using their lights in theday on longer trips to enhance visibility. Webelieve that all vehicles can be made morevisible to on coming traffic, pedestrians andcyclists through the use of purpose designed andlow power consuming daytime running lights,”Mr Fitzgerald added.Hella has a comprensive range of universalretro-fit daytime running lights, which can beeasily fitted to any vehicle with extremely lowpower consumption. The reason for this is thatthese Hella daytime running lights have beendesigned to be seen, rather than to illuminatethe roadway.Hella Australia currently offers the followingdaytime running lamp products to the Australianautomotive aftermarket:• Hella Low Profile LED Daytime running light– sturdy and compact cast aluminiumhousing, plastic cover lens, high-sheenvapour-plated reflector with three LEDsproviding the light and using just 5 watts ofpower per lamp;• Hella Round LED daytime running light – castaluminium housing, high-sheen vapour-platedreflector, three LEDs, plastic cover lens, lightoutput 90 millimetres in diameter. Availablefor universal retrofitting on 12 and 24 Voltsystems, with 5 Watt per lamp powerconsumption;• Hella Oval universal daytime running light –only 25 square centimetres of illuminatingsurface. A small design to suit restrictedspace on front spoilers and aprons withparticularly cramped space (P21W globe aslight source);• Hella Round daytime running light – highsheenreflectors behind a crystal-clear lensfeaturing high-performance bulbs (more than2,000 operating hours);• Hella Extra-flat universal daytime runninglight – for attachment on the front apron (6Whalogen globe as light source).It should take no longer than one to two hours(on average) to fit any of the above listed rangeof Hella daytime driving lights to passenger carsor commercial vehicles. The safety advantageswill be clearly obvious to all road users, as therecan be no substitute for responsible drivingthrough greatly improved visibility.Hella Australia’s customer service team canadvise on which daytime running lights best suitpopular Australian, Asian and European vehiclesbeing driven on Australia’s roads. The new HellaAftermarket catalogue also features Hella’s rangeof daytime running lights.Contact Hella Customer Service for furtherinformation on 1800 061 729.88 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

4WDNEW TERRAIN TAMER 'SERIES 3' COMPRESSOR4WD product range Terrain Tamer has just released a new Series 3 Air Compressor tocomplement its range that includes the Series 1 and 2. The Series 1 is a basic emergencycompressor that will get you out of trouble.The Series 2 is much more robust anddesigned to be a very dependable unit for theholiday four wheel drive owner. Now the Series3 will be for those four-wheel drivers who areconstantly deflating and inflating their tyresdepending on the terrain they are crossing."Sand driving has specific requirements andtyre pressures that need to be adjusted. Withthis in mind our customers were constantlyenquiring when we would be releasing a 'heavyduty' product. It is obviously priced accordingly,compared to the smaller units but will now saveprecious time," General Manager,ARB LAUNCHES ACCESSORIES FOR COLORADOWith tapered and upswept wings to provideultimate functionality and approach angles,along with a split pan design for increasedstrength and maximum airflow to the vehicle'sengine, the deluxe bull bar has beenengineered to withstand the extremesassociated with four wheel driving.ARB developed a mounting system specificto the Colorado, designed to spread impactand winch loads evenly over the vehicle'schassis. This design also takes into accountthe vehicle's air bag system, ensuring that it'snot affected when the bull bar is fitted.Suitable for winch and non-winchapplications, the bull bar incorporatesprovision for IPF driving lights, and two CBaerials for reliable communication. Hi-Liftjacking points and reinforced tow points alsofeature in this design to increase the vehicle'sversatility in off-road situations. Finished in ahard-wearing black powder coat, vehicleowners can further tailor the bar to theirspecific requirements, with the option ofcolour coding.In addition, ARB has also developed anaffordable alternative for frontal protection inthe form of a commercial bull bar. Featuringmany of the same strength applications as thedeluxe bar, it has been built to provide longlasting performance but forgoes some of theaesthetic features including fog light provisionand urethane buffers.Specifically designed for the Colorado,Jim Dean, said.The new TTAC3 boasts a large 120 Maxworking pressure, 26-foot coil hose and a HeavyDuty eight foot power cord.In response to its customer's needs, TerrainTamer has grown its range in recent times thatmeet with their proven Australian Outbackquality. The Terrain Tamer range coversRecovery Gear, Suspension and a vast quantityof four wheel drive hard parts.For more information call 1300 888 444 or visitwww.terraintamer.comOwners of the Holden Colorado can enjoy the benefits of a range of quality products fortheir vehicle following extensive research and engineering from the team at ARB.ARB has also released a canopy to increasethe versatility of this vehicle.Available in either a smooth or grainedexterior, the canopy is optioned in a standardor high roof version, with the high roof allowingextra headroom and carrying capacity. TheColorado canopy comes standard with a slidingfront window and owners can choose to fit liftupside windoors to allow easier access to theirgear.Other available accessories for the HoldenColorado include OME suspension, snorkels,rear step tow bars, Air Locker lockingdifferentials and side rails and steps. Forfurther information and a full product list,please contact your nearest ARB stockist.For more information visit www.arb.com.auLIMITED SITESAVAILABLE FORNATIONAL 4X4SHOW ANDOUTDOORS EXPOThe National 4x4 Show andOutdoors Expo is getting ready toset up camp in Brisbane with thethree-day exhibition providing fourwheel-driveaccessories retailersthe opportunity to display theirproducts to a captive andappreciative audience.As Queensland’s leading camping,touring, towing and four wheel driveexhibition the National 4x4 Show andOutdoors Expo will be at Brisbane’sRNA Showgrounds from March 20-22, 2009.Chris Hill from the National 4x4Show and Outdoors Expo said thisyear’s event is shaping up to be oneof the biggest ever with a limitednumber of sites still available.Exhibitor enquires can be directed toChris Hill at Exhibition and Trade Fairsby calling 03 9321 6757 or by visitingwww.4x4show.com.au90 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

4WDARB UNVEILS NEW FRIDGE FREEZERFollowing one of the most exhaustive development programs in its history, ARB4x4 Accessories has released a new Fridge Freezer.The ARB fridge freezer, which hasbeen specifically designed with theneeds of the 4WDer in mind,incorporates the world-renownedDanfoss compressor. Proven reliablethroughout the world, the Danfosscompressor is coupled with a smartelectronic control system which ensuresmaximum cooling efficiency down tominus 18°C and a controlled, lowamp draw.The use of the Danfosscompressor has the added benefitof requiring only a small amountof space for mechanicalcomponents, which allowsgreater storage capacity inthe fridge interior.Together with anevaporator integrateddirectly into thecabinet walls, thisextra spacetranslates to ausable capacityof 47 litres – ora huge 72 x375ml cans.Incorporatinga separatecompartment forfruit and dairy, theinterior cabinet also featuresa reversible basket, which offers theoption of separating the fridge contentsor alternatively allowing longer itemssuch as fish to be positioned along theentire length. For night use, an internalLED light features a concealed magneticswitch that automatically turns off thelight when the lid is closed, eliminatingpower wastage. And a drain plug hasbeen integrated into the base foreffortless cleaning.Externally a similar physical size toARB's previous 40L freezer/fridgemodel, the ARB fridge freezer featurespowder coated, robust zinc steel cabinetsides to withstand extreme Outbackconditions. The tough injection mouldedlid and base were chosen specifically toaddress the issue of scratches, dentsand corrosion commonly found in theseareas as a result of off road use.Considerable research and designhas been dedicated to tackling the poorlid hinge and catch designs found incurrent portable fridges. While manyfridges incorporate small hinge pins thatare often difficult to reposition once thelid has been removed, the ARB fridgefreezer utilises a unique stainless steeldetent hinge that allows the lid to beeasily and securely slid into position.The hinge alsoenables it to beopened past 90°,ensuring ownersdon't need tohold the lid upwhile removingcontents.The simple touse, large camlock latch islocated on adedicated fronttogether with thefront carry handleand control panel, andprovides a positive sealbetween the lid andcabinet for optimumcooling efficiency. The useof a dedicated front is also animportant element of theoverall off road design, as itensures that the lid, temperaturecontrol panel and handle are allwithin easy reach.Incorporating a weather resistanttouch pad and easy to read digitaldisplay, the control panel features bothcurrent and target temperature readings,and is recessed to protect it fromdamage and accidental bumps. Thepanel is also run directly from the fridgepower supply rather than its ownindependent battery, eliminating theneed to replace the panel battery.It can be operated on 12/24DC and100~240V AC power, and includes anintegrated battery protection system.Right angle power plugs and recessedpower lead clips protect the power cordand prevent accidental disconnection.The ARB fridge freezer comes with acomprehensive three year Australia widewarranty.For more information visitwww.arb.com.auSOS BATTERYBOOSTERSThe Belgian-made SOS portable batteryboosters are proving a winner inAustralia’s 4WD market.Distributor Pro Quip in Melbourne has foundthe range popular for standard up to very highenergy applications.From the hand-carried smaller units to theultra-powerful wheeled model, the boostershave carved out a definite market in the shorttime they have been available in Australia.“The big difference the SOS range offers isreal professional-level power,” Pro Quip’sMartin Haines said.“They start with the basic 12 volt versionthat still boasts 660 cranking amps and go allthe way up to 12/24 volt units with 6400/3200cranking amps.“This is all real dependable power andbacked with the right type of heavy duty cablesand clamps.”Mr Haines said in the short time they havebeen available, the range has impressed usersin transport, 4WDs, agricultural and marine.He said the units can be depended on to doa professional level of job every time.“Five SOS units have achieved NATOapprovals for use worldwide with defencevehicles of all types,” he said.The range of SOS battery boosters is available fromPro Quip on 03 9761 1110.AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 91

PRTCV8 TEAM PUTS BRAKES ON EMISSIONSV8 Supercar team Rod Nash Racing has saved more than five tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions byrunning its team truck on biodiesel.Focused on improving its carbon footprint,the team used BioMax’s B20 biodiesel to runthe team truck where logistically possibleduring the 2008 season.Team driver Tony D’Alberto said thatconverting to biodiesel is a simple yeteffective way to reduce carbon emissions.“There is a growing impetus in the motorracing industry to reduce carbon emissions,”he said.“We’re focused on doing our bit for theenvironment and switching to biodiesel toreduce CO2 emissions and other particulateswas a no-brainer.“By using BioMax’s B20 biodiesel in ourteam truck we’ve prevented more than fivetonnes of CO2 emissions from polluting theatmosphere.”Biodiesel is a clean burning alternativefuel manufactured to Australian standardsfrom domestic, renewable resources.Pure B100 biodiesel can be mixed withpetroleum diesel in varying proportions toproduce environmentally-friendly biodieselblends.Mile Soda, Managing Director of SmorgonFuels which trades as BioMax, said thatBioMax’s biodiesel offers consumers a meansto improve their environmental position.“Research by the CSIRO shows that a B20and B100 fuel can save a company between15 and 75 per cent of CO” fuel-basedemissions respectively,” he said.“Tony D’Alberto and Rod Nash Racing useour B20 biodiesel – a blend of 20 percentbiodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel –so they’re reducing their CO2 emissions byaround 15 percent.“Our biodiesel is made from approximately80 percent used cooking oil and 20 percentanimal tallow (fats) and canola oil, and allfuels are produced to Australian Diesel andBiodiesel Standards.”BioMax was established in 2006 andMRT AND ECUTEK SPONSOR RACE CARSV8 Supercar driver Tony D’Alberto with the Rod NashRacing truck which is powered by BioMax.produces several clean burning biodieselproducts, which can be blended with mineraldiesel, at its 100 million litre capacity plantin Laverton North, Victoria.For more information visit:www.biomaxfuels.com.auIn line with MRT's strong links with motor sport, a partnership was extended with Wilson Brothers’ Racing for the recent Bathurst 12 Hour productioncar race and the remainder of the season.The team runs three Subaru Impreza WRX Sti's, that are based on “The team is very professional and has a strong finish record,the production model, with improvements to suit racing.this proves what we (and Mercury Motorsport) do is reliable, so it’sThe cars are based in Queensland and tuned locally at Mercury win-win for us and the team, and it shows our clients what can beMotorsport, in Brisbane. Using the factory ECU, EcuTeK software is achieved.”utilised to allow full control and adjustment of the cars key performance “The EcuTeK software allows features to be used to assist theparts, such as Ignition timing, Fuel control, boost and much more. driver in ensuring the car is fast and reliable, which is important atMRT has been involved with the team in the past and two of the events such as Bathurst, where the huge climb up the mountaincars (with the previous owners), won the Australian GTP and then the fast straight back down puts enormous loads on theChampionships with MRT as the head tuners.cars engine."This is the first time we have sponsored the team for a full season “The ECU also controls critical safety back systems, that ensureand starting with the WPS Bathurst 12hr its a great way to kick of the that the engine is not over revved, or over boosted, this is often ayear," MRT Managing Director Brett Middleton said.problem in race cars that have poorly tuned aftermarket systems.“Using the factory system and making small detailedadjustments, the EcuTeK software allows the best of both worlds ofreliability and performance... “MRT is an Australian leading Subaru specialist and is based inthe Sydney Subaru of Rhodes. It has prepared championshipwinningrace and rally cars over the last 20 years."Motorsport proves what can be done and then we offer that forroad car clients, our passion for road can race use is part of ourdaily culture at MRT,” Mr Middleton said.In partnership with MRT, Mercury Motorsport utilises its 4WDDyno to test and tune all the cars, whilst MRT provides valuable Rand D back up from its long history in motor sport.For more information visit www.MRTperformance.com.au92 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au

PRTCBULLET INTRODUCES AFTERMARKET DIVISIONFor over 10 years, Bullet Cars has been renowned with high quality, extreme performance sportscars. Achieving an 'Australian first' of low volume ADRcompliancy for a locally made hand-built sportscar, Bullet is firmly cemented in the automotive history.Utilising the research and developmentfrom supercharging the engines found in theBullet Roadsters, Bullet has introduced anaftermarket performance division to itscompany structure – Bullet PerformanceProducts. This division specifically designsand develops positive displacementsupercharger systems to suit a wide varietyof vehicles including Toyota, Chrysler,Holden and Ford, as well as concentratingon the Toyota 1UZ and 2UZ V8 engines.With an unwavering view to becomingAustralia's leading Supercharger specialist,Bullet Performance has recently addedRotrex Superchargers to the list of productson offer to the Australian aftermarketindustry and has secured the Australian andNew Zealand exclusive distributorship forwhat is renowned to be the world's mostefficient and smallest supercharger.The Danish made supercharger was firstdesigned back in the 1970s, but it wasn'tuntil 1996 that the first patent was issued.Since then, the Rotrex Supercharger hastaken the world by storm, having beenAwarded Most Innovative product of the yearat SEMA and used as OEM equipment onsome of the world's fastest production carsincluding the Koenigsegg CCX and FerrariF430 Evoluzione.The value of forced induction systems forboth OEM and aftermarket applications isthat they effectively improve the volumetricefficiency of a given engine. Specifically,much of the improvement happens for asingle reason: The design of a four-strokeengine is based on that of a piston pump,which does the jobs of air intake,compression and exhaust relatively, but notparticularly, well. Considering the inductionstroke, by applying a very efficient aircompressor, such as the Rotrex (70 percentplusadiabatic efficiency), the work neededto induce the necessary air is performed atmuch higher efficiency than the engine(piston pump, approx. 50 percent adiabaticefficiency) could have done on its own.The job of inducing the air is thus shiftedfrom the piston pump to the very efficientair compressor, and as such the overallengine pumping loss is dramaticallyreduced.This is why a vehicle equipped with aRotrex supercharger will be able to cruise atsignificantly better average fuel economythan possible with the stock naturallyaspirated engine prior to the installation ofthe Rotrex supercharger kit.The patent protected Rotrex tractiondrive offers unique advantages overturbochargers, including the ability to run ahigher compression ratio due to low thermalstress (no thermal diffusion from hot to coldside as on a turbo), linear boost, and theabsence of an exhaust restriction that in thecase of the turbo charger necessitateselevated boost pressures to be overcome.These advantages over turbo chargers makethe Rotrex especially suitable for motorracing due to its exceptional trackperformance through superior throttleresponse (higher compression ratio, zeroturbo lag) and better engine durability.The main difference of the RotrexSupercharger over other centrifugalsuperchargers is its patented traction drivesystem, which allows increased impellerspeeds in an extremely small housing. It isgenerally very advantageous to be able todownsize the impellers and spin them asfast as permissible without sufferingpenalties in adiabatic efficiency – low-endtorque is vastly improved due to the smaller,faster spinning impellers' ability to operateunder higher pressure ratios without havingflow-back (surge). Rotational speeds of over200,000rpm can be achieved as comparedto traditional gear driven or belt drivencentrifugal superchargers which are limitedto around 40,000rpm, thus having to havelower impeller speeds and larger housings.Only the Rotrex traction drive can operate atsufficiently high rpm levels to take fulladvantage of the above-mentioned effect,and furthermore be compatible with modernturbo impeller designs.Therefore, Rotrex traction drivesuperchargers because of their design arecapable of better low-end boost than othercentrifugal superchargers.One other distinct advantage is thequietness of the planetary drive system ascompared to a typical gear drive or belt drivesystem. In most cases, a spinning Rotrexcannot be distinguished from normal enginenoise.Rotrex product range consists of theC15, C30 and C38 families. The uniquesmall size of the C15 makes it the mostcompact supercharger on the market. TheC30 and C38 cover the market for largerdisplacement engines.The Rotrex Supercharger has its own oilsupply, internal oil pump and external oilcooler, which means that is separate fromthe engine oil and any other contaminants.When purchased as a single head unit,pricing includes the Rotrex oiling kit, whichhas Oil Filter, Oil reservoir, banjo fittings and1 litre of Rotrex traction oil. Pulley sizesrange from 70mm up to 110 in an eight-ribstyle pulley. They are also easilyinterchangeable for quick boost changes.Bullet Performance has kits available fora number of Australian vehicles and isalways interested in designing custominstallations. They are currently doingspecial deals on individual superchargerunits for trade and DIY customers wanting todesign their own supercharger applications.For more information call 07 3382 0018,visit www.bulletcars.com.au, or emailsupercharge@bulletcars.comAU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 93

RETAILHe heads up a cast that featuresother famous characters includingHabib, Rocky, Bobo the chef and thedonut munching chick Toula.New TV ads were launched prior toChristmas and heavily promote theAutobarn brand alongside a wide rangeof supplier products in an immenselyenjoyable, and what’s certain to be ahighly memorable series.Additional material including radio,catalogues, store point of sale and webwork is also being rolled-out with FatPizza ambassadors raving aboutAutobarn being ‘number one for all yourcar stuff’.The entire campaign sends a clearmessage that Autobarn is very much intunewith its customers and what theywant from an automotive accessoriesstore.“When the idea was proposed, Imust admit we were a little stunned,”Autobarn General Manager ofAdvertising, Vince Montagnese, said.“We knew we were on to somethingreally good.“It’s a campaign that has everything.“It’s on the money with our targetmarket and presents our brand in afresh and exciting way.”FAT PIZZA AUTOBARN GOES TO NUMBER ONECharacters of the SBS hit show Pizza, who are well known along with their ‘tricked-up rides’ feature in Autobarn’s new marketing campaign.Central to the campaign is the lead character of the cheeky series, Pauly, who is played by Paul Fenech.Mr Montagnese labelled the campaignas “unashamedly retail” which he saidwas critical in the current market for allAutobarn franchisees.“We’re in no doubt it will drive a lotmore business in to all our stores,” hesaid.Autobarn’s advertising committee,which is represented by franchisees fromall states, was instrumental in making theunanimous decision to adopt thecampaign.“This is the one campaign that hascaptured the imagination of everymember of our advertising andpromotions team, as well as everyAutobarn franchisee,” Mr Montagnesesaid.“Having viewed the new materialthere’s no doubt that this is a campaignthat will add a lot of weight to Autobarn’smarketing efforts.”The ad featuring the Pizza characterscan be viewed online atwww.autobarn.com.auAutobarn is always seekingenthusiastic people to join its team offranchisees.For more information visit the website orcall Steven Woodward on 1300 550 155.EVERYONE'S A WINNER IN THE RYCO GOLDEN TICKET PROMOTIONThe concept may have been borrowed from the famed children's movie Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, but it is sure to be a winner forRepco trade account customers during March and April 2009.Repco has joined forces with theundisputed leader in automotive oil, airand fuel filtration products, Ryco Filters,to present the Ryco Golden Ticketpromotion.This promotion provides Repco tradeaccount customers with the chance towin one of the five major prizes thatinclude a new Honda Jazz (with anoption to have it sign written with yourbusiness name), a Honda trail bike, aHonda quad bike, a two post hoist or aRepco mega tool kit amongst many otherexciting prizes.During the months of March and April2009, Repco will exclusively offer itstrade customers a Ryco Golden TicketPack for $199. The pack consists of a mixof the most popular 24 oil, air and fuelfilters.Only 2000 Ryco Golden Ticket packswill be available during this promotion andeach one will contain an envelope. Insideeach envelope is a ticket, of which onlyfive are golden! Each golden ticketequates to one of the five major prizes.Every Repco trade account customerwho takes part will be a winner though, aseach and every one of the 2000 RycoGolden Ticket pack tickets that are notgolden will earn a prize from an amazinglist on offer for this exclusive Repcopromotion.$115,000 worth of prizes will beshared by Repco trade account customerswho purchase each of the 2000 RycoGolden Ticket packs. Aside from the fivemajor prizes, there are 20 trolley jacks,five Nintendo Wii consoles, 172 1GB iPodShuffles, 197 11-litre travel cooler/warmers, 89 digital photo frames, 30Narva LED lights, 250 Ryco pockettorches and hundreds of Ryco Filtersmerchandise items including caps,beanies, mechanics gloves and stubbieholders to be won.There is no doubt that this excitingRepco trade customer promotion willinject some excitement into theautomotive aftermarket during March andApril 2009. This promotion is anotherexample of the importance that Repcoplaces in the constant development of itshighly valued trade business.94 AU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 www.aaaa.com.au