The Motor Trade Professionals - Autoscene | Scots Auto Scene

The Motor Trade Professionals’ Magazine 

£3.40 ISSUE 61 2010 

VIEW THIS MAGAZINE ONLINE AT www.autosceneuk.co.uk

SAS ISSUE 61 2010 

www.autosceneuk.co.uk 

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BELL JOHNSTONE COMMUNICATIONS, 34 BERNARD STREET 

EDINBURGH EH6 6PR, Tel 0131 554 1129 • Fax 0131 555 1622 

e-mail: sas@belljohnstone.co.uk www.autosceneuk.co.uk 

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Production: Sarah Crawford 

Tel: 0131 554 1129 Fax: 0131 555 1622 

email: sarah@belljohnstone.co.uk 

proud to be associated with: 

CONTENTS5 

More positives for the trade 

Over the past month there have been many 

indicators suggesting that we as a nation are rising 

out of recession, backing up the Government’s 

announcement that we had come out of recession 

by 0.01% during the last three months of 2009. 

Nissan’s Sunderland plant is to launch a third shift 

to meet demand of their award-winning Qashqai 

and in doing so will create 400 temporary jobs 

in the area. Also Dutch based Spyker is set to 

acquire Saab Automobile from General Motors 

and in doing so plan to be back into profit by 2012 

The Government Scrappage Scheme has been 

extended by a month until the end of March 

following calls from both manufacturers and 

dealers alike. By the end of January, over 330,000 

orders had been taken since the sceme was 

announced in the April 2009 budget. Could the 

scheme top 400,000 orders by the end of March? 

New car sales in Scotland rose by just under 

Sales Manager: John Boyle 

Tel: 0131 554 1129 Fax: 0131 555 1622 

email: johnboyle@belljohnstone.co.uk 

Features 

30% in January compared to the same period 

last year with 11,135 units sold. This is the eigth 

consecutive month that car sales north of the 

border have risen. 

All positives. If new vehicles are being sold then 

independents and the aftermarket gets its fair 

share of business as well A win-win situation for 

all concerned. Keep up-to-date with daily news 

updates by visiting our website 


email: tony@belljohnstone.co.uk 

NEWS 6 

Ferrari do their bit for charity 

NEWS 7 

New car registrations up in Scotland 

NEWS 9 

Sandy Burgess on the value of membership 

NEWS 13 

A look at Livingston Autoparts 

NEWS 16 

F1 comes to Lochgelly 

UNDER THE BONNET 18 

Packing a punch 

WHEELS & TYRES 30 

RIM-arkable 

WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT 34 

The right tools for the job 

BODYSHOP 46 

Crash repairs 

CATS & EXHAUSTS 59 

Exhausting news 

SSS 63 

Road holding latest

6NEWS 

Local winner of Baco competition wins Chevrolet Captiva 

When he was told that he had 

won a new 7-seater Chevrolet 

Captiva from Baco’s online 

Family Sundays promotion, local 

man Mike Galloway thought it 

was a wind up, until he popped 

into his local Belmont Chevrolet 

showroom on Seafield Road, 

Edinburgh and spoke to Sales 

Manager Andrew Oag. 

After a couple of phonecalls, it was 

confirmed that he had in fact won 

the £21,000 Chevrolet Captiva 2.0 

VCDi in LT spec and unsurprisingly 

Galloway was delighted. “I’ve 

always been a fan of Bacofoil and 

we insist on using it to wrap the 

Christmas turkey, not least because 

it’s strong and reliable - just how we 

like our car. We have two kids and 

like all families we do a lot of driving 

so to win the Baco-Chevrolet 

promotion is a dream come true for 

us. Thanks to Baco it’s been a 

fantastic start to the New Year.” 

In line with Baco’s Family Sundays 

promotion, the Chevrolet Captiva is 

an ideal family runabout, providing 

the versatility of an SUV and the 

Graypaul Ferrari Dealer in Edinburgh and the 

Scotland Ferrari Owners’ Club presented CHAS 

and Macmillan Cancer Support with £5001 on 

Wednesday January 27 at the Ferrari Dealers in 

Fort Kinnaird Edinburgh. 

The money was raised by Scotland Ferrari 

Owners’ Club member, Peter Crichton, in 

conjunction with Graypaul. Crichton organised 

the Charity Auction after asking his good friend 

Nicholas Watts, famous motorsport artist, to 

donate an original painting of a Ferrari 250GTO 

style and practicality of a family car 

- It is designed to meet the needs 

of a demanding modern family. It 

has versatile seating and storage 

solutions coming in 5 and 7 seat 

variants, plus a roomy cabin which 

is stacked with standard features. 

Belmont Chevrolet also had 

another reason to celebrate as it 

The Galloway family celebrate 

was the launch of their newly 

refurbished Seafield Road 

showroom. 

Belmont Chevrolet is part of the 

John Martin Group which was 

founded in the 1960’s and has since 

grown to 20 car dealerships across 

Scotland offering many different 

franchises at six different locations. 

Ferrari gets revved up for Charity 

at Le Mans which included original signatures 

of Enzo Ferrari and the winning drivers. 

The auction was open to all members of the 

Scotland Ferrari Owners’ Club as well as 

customers from Graypaul and Maranello Ferrari 

Dealerships across the UK. Peter and Chris 

Sainsbury, the Graypaul Edinburgh Dealership 

Manager, presented two cheques of £3001 

for CHAS and £2000 for Macmillan. Crichton 

said: “I came up with the idea of organising the 

Charity Auction towards the end of last year and 

Pictured left to right: Peter Crichton (Scottish Ferrari Owners’ Club), Anna Jackson 

(CHAS), Roslyn Neely (CHAS), Chris Sainsbury (Ferrari) and Peter Hastie (Macmillan 

Cancer Support). 

www.autosceneuk.co.uk ISSUE 61 2010 SAS 

Visitors to the Belmont Chevrolet 

site will find a team of highly-trained, 

friendly and helpful sales staff on 

hand to assist in new car sales, 

used car sales, and specialists to 

discuss all. 

For more information: 

www.jmgroup.co.uk 

discussed this with Chris Sainsbury of Graypaul 

Edinburgh and my good friend David Jackson, 

Area Group Organiser at our Scotland Ferrari 

Owners’ Club as I wanted to raise some money 

for these two charities which are both close to 

my heart.” 

Chris Sainsbury added: “This is the second 

fundraising auction we have carried out 

recently and it is great to support these two 

very worthwhile charities. Ferrari owners do not 

just drive around in their nice supercars, they 

participate in a lot of charities in many ways 

and we at Graypaul, as Scotland’s only Ferrari 

and Maserati main dealer, use our presence 

and position in the community as much as we 

can with events we hold throughout the year. 

It’s fantastic that we can give our support in 

conjunction with our customer base even when 

trying times have been upon us as they have 

been in 2009 with the economy.” 

Roslyn Neely, Director of Fundraising and 

Communications at CHAS said, “The Scottish 

Ferrari Owners’ Club have been incredibly 

supportive of CHAS over the years, including 

visiting Rachel House Children’s Hospice and 

meeting many of the children staying there. This 

impressive amount raised through the painting 

auction will help CHAS to continue providing 

vital hospice services for children and young 

people throughout Scotland.” 

For more information: www.chas.org.uk 



Bright start to 2010 for Scottish new car registrations 

New car registrations in Scotland in January totalled 

11135 units. This shows an increase of 29.88% in 

comparison with January 2009 when 8573 new cars 

were registered. The overall UK figure shows a similar 

increase of 29.79% with 145479 units registered as 

against 112087 for January last year. 

Douglas Robertson, Chief Executive of the SMTA, 

commenting on the figures said: “Despite the poor 

weather at the start of the month, these figures must 

be viewed once again as very encouraging and a 

sign that perhaps the country is starting to edge out of 

the recession. The fact that the government backed 

Scrappage Scheme is ending at the end of February, 

however, must also be a factor” 

He continued: “Lord Mandelson’s announcement that 

the Scrappage Scheme would be extended to the end 

of March was very welcome but we do not believe 

it is enough. With 650,000 UK workers employed in 

the retail motor industry and its ancillary trades we 

firmly believe that there is a real necessity to secure 

the future for such a vast number until the recession 

Following an extensive review of 

Mazda’s car delivery network in the 

UK Mazda have moved delivery of 

cars for Scotland out of Grimsby 

into Rosyth, resulting in a reduction 

of 493 tonnes of CO2 per annum 

and 280,000 delivery miles. 

The deliveries into Rosyth started 

with Norfolkline on the January 

4, reducing the delivery time to 

customers by 24 hours. With 

a forecast of over 6000 cars 

transiting through the port in 2010 

Mazda have become the biggest 

car importer to Scotland. 

The introduction of the new service 

means that deliveries from port 

to dealer are now less than three 

hours journey time to 80% of the 

Scottish mainland dealers who 

between them account for over 

90% of Scottish registrations. 

“Scotland is our single most 

successful market in the UK,” 

commented David Rodriguez, Head 

of Sales Planning and Distribution 

for Mazda UK. “On average we 

sell more cars per dealer than 

anywhere else in the UK, but 

delivery time to the dealers was 

the highest for any UK dealer. With 

an increasing volume of Mazdas 

in Scotland we were faced with 

having to increase the number of 

lorry journeys which in turn would 

have led to a greater CO2 footprint, 

and it was these three factors that 

were the catalyst for change. 

“Norfolkline had just started a 

regular service into Rosyth and 

seemed the perfect solution: Our 

customers get their cars a day 

earlier, we reduce our CO2 footprint 

by 493 tonnes of CO2 per year 

and with 280,000 fewer miles 

travelled by lorry we have done a 

small amount for reduced traffic 

congestion.” 

Year over year Mazda’s market 

share and dealer representation in 

Scotland has increased and Mazda 

currently has 18 sales points with 

some of the best dealer facilities in 

the UK. 

With sales of 6642 in 2009, 

Mazda’s market share in Scotland 

was 3.64%, up fractionally on 

2008’s share of 3.63%. Scotland is 

Mazda’s most successful region 

is truly over by ensuring that there is a continuation 

of what has been a successful scheme for retailers, 

manufacturers and consumers.” 

For more information 

0131 331 5510 or www.smta.co.uk 

The Vauxhall Corsa was Scotland’s top selling 

car with 13,150 units sold in 2009 

Deliveries of Mazda cars direct to Rosyth 

and with the number one retail 

dealer - Machargs in Glasgow - at 

the forefront of this performance, 

it made a key contribution towards 

Mazda’s 2.4% share of the UK 

market as a whole. The Scottish 

market accounted for nearly 14% 

of total Mazda registrations in 2009 

and Mazda notably took more than 

five percent of the Scottish market 

in December with sales of 664 

units. 

This sort of performance is reflected 

in Mazda’s sales to private buyers 

where volume for the year was up 

more than seven percent over 2008 

and Mazda’s share of the retail 

market was a very healthy 5.2%. 

NEWS7 

Scrappage 

scheme will run 

to end of March 

An extra month has been 

added to the deadline 

for the Government 

Scrappage Scheme, allowing 

manufacturers and dealers 

more time to prepare for and 

operate the exit phase of the 

Scheme. 

This change was announced 

by Government following 

requests from car 

manufacturers for more time 

to prepare dealers and inform 

consumers. Previously due 

to complete in this month, 

the Scheme, which is jointly 

run by the Government and 

car manufacturers, will now 

run until the end of March 

or until the money runs out, 

whichever is the sooner. 

Business Secretary Lord 

Mandelson said: “Against the 

background of the economic 

downturn the Scrappage 

Scheme has proved a great 

success, driving UK car 

sales, protecting jobs and 

supporting the supply chain 

for car manufacture at a time 

when this sector needed it 

most. 

“If you’re considering 

buying a new car, you 

should place your order as 

soon as possible to avoid 

disappointment, because the 

budget is strictly limited.” 

In the final stages of 

the Scrappage Scheme 

manufacturers will be 

apportioned order quotas to 

aid an orderly close down. 

The Government will write to 

all manufacturers formally to 

agree these changes so the 

Scheme can run up until the 

end of March. 

By January 24 330,722 new 

vehicle orders were taken 

under the Scrappage Scheme 

since it was announced in the 

Budget in April 2009.



Sandy Burgess, IMI National Manager for Scotland and President of the SMTA 

What value is there in membership? 

Most of us will have a membership 

of some sort, be it the local gym, 

golf club, dining club, satellite or 

cable television, DVD library or 

roadside recovery club. Most of 

these are straight forward regular 

subscription type arrangements 

whereby you pay a fee and receive 

a service or use of premises as 

and when you need them. We also 

have the loyalty club arrangements 

popular on the high street, with 

most of the leading supermarkets 

leading the way with points or 

discount vouchers provided based 

on your purchases within the store 

or fuel stations. The decision to 

purchase or join these providers 

of service is often based on either 

impulse or recommendation, in 

some cases it is just a good old 

fashioned ‘hard sell’. 

So if we as consumers enjoy 

the benefits of membership to 

various clubs and bodies, what 

membership options do we have 

as employers and business 

professionals within the motor 

industry and what values can we 

attach to those subscriptions to 

ensure that we are receiving the 

maximum “bang for our buck” in 

today’s tough market place? 

For the business operator in 

Scotland we have the specific 

trade association for our industry, 

the Scottish Motor Trade 

Association and for the individual 

within our industry the professional 

body in the Institute of the Motor 

Industry? In last month’s article 

I questioned how dealers might 

seek to financially justify their 

membership subscription of the 

Scottish Motor Trade Association 

and highlighted that most usually 

trade associations try putting a 

value on membership benefits 

and services. I made the point 

that what is often forgotten is the 

wider role of a trade association 

the role to which I was referring is 

that of recognition; recognition by 

government at local, national and 

international level - in our case in 

Scotland at Holyrood, Whitehall 

and in Brussels. Come the day our 

industry faces a real threat, every 

professional business regardless 

of size will want the “insurance” of 

being effectively represented. The 

Scottish Motor Trade Association 

is the only body dedicated to our 

sector in Scotland that can and 

does achieve this. To my mind 

this representation deserves the 

support of the every professional 

business organisation operating 

in the retail motor trade sector. 

Governments, statutory bodies, 

and authorities listen to respected 

and broad based opinion; the 

SMTA provides that voice and 

opinion for our industry. Recently 

we have secured a workable 

extension to the current sector 

specific block exemption regulation 

which will take us through to 2013, 

we have witnessed the u-turn by 

the UK government regarding the 

proposed but ill thought out 4-2-2 

MOT programme, all successes, 

real tangible proof of the efforts 

being made by trade associations 

on behalf of their members on a 

daily basis. 

Company membership within the 

SMTA is growing, but we want 

more we are ready and able to 

offer substantial support to your 

business be it an independent 

repairer businesses or a 

franchised site. We find increasing 

numbers of our members deciding 

to take advantage of the many 

membership support products 

offered by the team at Palmerston 

House, Scotsure, Trading 

Partners, MOT Quality Control and 

Health and Safety to name but 

a few, please feel free to contact 

them to discuss any interest on 

0131 331 5510 or check out the 

web site at www.smta.co.uk 

So what of the individual? 

The Institute of the Motor 

Industry is proud to offer a 

range of membership entry 

options covering every level of 

involvement within our industry, 

we offer progression and support 

for all, as Sector Skills Council 

for the Automotive Industry within 

the UK we are uniquely placed to 

interpret information and align this 

with our membership intelligence 

to ensure that we provide the 

very best levels of service and 

support for the individual seeking 

recognition and access to the 

routes for progression within this 

most dynamic of industries. 

Today’s job market is without 

doubt the most demanding 

experienced in recent times and 

any individual seeking to secure 

employment should be maximising 

their potential to ensure that they 

are recognised as being able 

to ‘add value’ to any employer, 

be they current or future. The 

Institute of the Motor Industry can 

provide the support required and 

is internationally recognised as 

having done so for many years. 

Can you value your membership? 

Maybe not when measured 

against the local gym, after all 

you may never actually visit the 

head office building or meet any 

member of our staff in your daily 

routine. However, what value can 

be placed on your experiences 

within the industry, an employer 

may be able to recognise these 

and reward you for them in the 

daily process of running the 

business, but what about the 

consumer, what about your peers 

in the industry? IMI membership 

displays your level of achievement 

in the industry, it highlights your 

on-going commitment to being a 

professional and confirms your 

acceptance of the IMI Code of 

Conduct. 

Sandy Burgess 

NEWS9 

If you want to find out more about 

the code of conduct or indeed the 

benefits of membership check out 

our web site at www.motor.org.uk 

What value is there in 

membership? 

As with the local gym or 

supermarket, it really is up to you, 

everyone will have different answer, 

a different value and even a different 

idea of what value looks like, maybe 

the next time you consider taking out 

one of the high street memberships, 

ask yourself what benefit this may 

have on the future of your business 

our how it could impact on your 

employability prospects or does it 

offer real development opportunities 

in years to come, and then consider 

checking out www.smta.co.uk and 

www.motor.org.uk 


07827 857 460 or email 

sandyb@motor.org.uk

10NEWS 

2010 looking good 

2009 was a very good year indeed for Bailcast 

with the final quarter of the year producing the 

company’s best ever sales figures. Bailcast’s 

Sales and Marketing Manager Mick Hollyoake 

says: “Although I do not have a crystal ball, 

I do expect sales in 2010 to continue in the 

same vein as 2009. Sales of the Duragun air 

tool, our innovative time saving device made 

for stretching CV boots over CV joints without 

dismantling the joint, rose by over 40% last 

year in comparison to 2008 and although the 

country has been in the depths of recession, 

Bailcast has come through stronger than ever. 

“Our Duraboot starter packs have also proved 

to very popular with the trade. Coming in 

starter packs containing eight or 16 CV boot 

kits, each kit contains one boot, two stainless 

steel ties / clamps, 60g grease sachet and an 

instruction leaflet. ” 

Workshop to deliver 

Organisers of the Commercial 

Vehicle Operator Show and 

Workshop 2010 say more than 

200 exhibitors have already signed 

up for the event this April at the 

NEC. The three-day show covers 

the maintenance, workshop and 

garage sector. 

It includes bodyshops, motor 

factors, fast fit and parts and 

accessory retailers and should 

deliver business worth millions 

of pounds to a wide and growing 

range of firms. 

Many will use it to launch new 

products and services. Visitor 

registration rates are already at over 

50% up on previous CV Shows, so 

there should be a good audience. 

Diagnostics take the lead for many 

exhibitors, with technology to cut 

workshop costs on every make and 

model of car, van and truck, trailer, 

bus and coach. 

Firms like Somers Totalkare and 

Stertil will show their latest kit 

alongside a many other suppliers. 

Autologic Diagnostics and Omitec 

will be there too, while Texa plans 

to build on its success at the 2008 

CV Show. 


Bailcast’s products are distributed throughout 

the UK by all major distributors as well as 

independent motor factors to the independent 

and franchised trade. 

Comments Hollyoake: “The Government led 

Scrappage Scheme has also helped boost 

Bailcast’s sales as most vehicles involved in 

the scheme have been smaller vehicles being 

exchanged like for like. Larger vehicles are 

being kept for longer and therefore owners 

are taking them to their local garages to have 

servicing and repair work carried out.” 

With over 20 years experience in design and 

manufacture of rubber vehicle components, 

supplying distributors worldwide with CV 

joint boots and steering rack boots, Bailcast 

guarantees quality, time saving, easier fitting 

and profit for customers large and small all 

over the world. 


01257 266060 or www.bailcast.com 

V-Tech and Launch X431 have 

booked big stands, promising 

visitors special Show offers and 

technical advice. Bradbury, Gemco, 

Maha and Tecalemit and other ‘bluechip’ 

firms exhibiting in 2010, have 

been attracted by past successes at 

the Show. 

“In simple terms, the people that 

keep the UK’s vehicle fleet running 

will find the CV Operator Show and 

Workshop 2010, a must-see event. 

Its unique nature means visitors 

can see a huge range of those vital 

support services under one roof,” 

said Bob Sockl, for organisers 

Crystal Communications. 

“In simple terms, for key aftermarket 

people the Show is a ‘must attend’ 

event. If your business sells to this 

£9bn industry then you should be 

there. If you are not, you can be 

sure your competitors will be.” 

The Commercial Vehicle Operator 

Show at the National Exhibition 

Centre will be open from 08:30 to 

17:30 on Tuesday 13 to Thursday 

15 April inclusive. 


www.cvoperatorshow.com



From spark plugs to vehicle ramps 

For over 30 years Livingston 

Autoparts have been a beacon 

for the motor trade in the West 

Lothian area supplying both 

trade and retail customers with a 

fast and friendly service backed 

up with an in-depth knowledge of 

the parts business. 

The current Lindsay Square 

location in the Deans Industrial 

Estate area of the town is 

the company’s fourth home 

in their history. They started 

in the Mall back in 1979, 

moving to Almondvale in 1982, 

Knightsridge in 1997 and finally 

to the 9000 sq ft. Lindsay Square 

premises in 2008. 

Livingston Autoparts, run by 

Managing Director Bill Burnside 

and Sales Manager Chris 

Burnside, cover an area in West 

Lothian with a fleet of 10 delivery 

vans from their Livingston base 

that takes in Falkirk, Newbridge, 

West Calder, Wishaw and the 

surrounding areas. The company 

services a mix of franchised and 

non-franchised dealers as well 

as independent garages on a 

daily basis. 

Comments Bill: “Our company 

has changed its focus over 

the years - originally we were 

geared more to the retail sector 

but since the move to our first 

industrial unit in Knightsridge 

in 1997 - trade customers now 

generate the lions share of our 

business as we can supply them 

everything from a spark plug to 

a vehicle ramp and everything in 

between.” 

Livingston Autoparts stock 

and supply a vast array of 

replacement parts from leading 

suppliers such as Denso, Mintex, 

Dayco, Firstline and Quinton 

Hazell. 

Over the past couple of years 

the company has forged strong 

links with Denso due to their 

excellent service, new product 

launches and pricing structure. 

This is evidenced by Denso’s 

recent expansion of its starter 

and alternator programme that 

not only makes more than 400 

new part numbers available 

to aftermarket customers, 

but will also cover 95% of 

Toyota applications - one of 

the highest, OE specification 

Toyota coverage of any rotating 

machines brand in the market. 

Being part of the GAU since 

2005 has helped Livingston 

Autoparts enormously. 

Comments Bill: “We are still very 

much an independent motor 

factor but have a nationally 

recognised name behind us. 

Not only do we benefit from the 

greater purchasing power, which 

we pass on to our customers, 

but the GAU also keeps us up to 

speed on current issues such as 

HR and H&S legislation.” 

In 2009 the company held 

various training evenings 

at a local hotel where trade 

customers were invited to attend. 

These were run in conjunction 

with suppliers and in 2010 

there are already six evenings 

planned. 

Livingston Autoparts held a very 

successful track day at Knockhill 

Racing Circuit in September 

which was attended by over 100 

clients. Comments Chris: “To this 

end we decided to hold the track 

day as many within the trade 

have an interest in motorsport or 

indeed have a vehicle suitable 

for the track. 

“In 2010 we will be repeating 

the exercise in April, July and 

September. The events will be 

supported by Denso, Mintex, 

Dayco, Gulf Oils and Delphi and 

I am sure they will once again 

prove extremely popular with our 

customers.” 

Sales Representative Tony 

Purves spends a great deal of 

his time servicing current and 

potential clients, informing them 

of the latest offers services from 

Livingston Autoparts. 

Tony said: “I am only too 

delighted to visit with any current 

or potential customer to discuss 

their needs and how we can meet 

these and work together.” 

2010 is set to be a big year for 

Livingston Autoparts as they will 

be launching separate new 

NEWS13 

websites for both retail and trade 

customers in the first quarter. 

Comments Chris: “Many of our 

customers have requested a 

facility that allows them to order 

parts online as well as check their 

account balance and statements. 

However customers who prefer 

to deal with someone on the a 

phone instead of a computer can 

still contact our call centre.” 


01506 402390

14NEWS 


Scots Auto Scene tracks an order with NGK 

Behind the scenes expertise keeps NGK popular with motor factors and garages 

One of the most infuriating 

problems for the motor trade is 

downtime on jobs that eats into 

valuable ramp time or workshop 

space. When undertaking 

service work or general repairs 

to vehicles, being unable to 

source the correct replacement 

part costs the garage money 

in lost time and aggravates the 

vehicle owner when it is not 

returned to them when expected. 

Motor factors across the country 

hold impressive levels of stock 

for fast-moving items but can 

it is unrealistic for them to be 

expected to hold stock levels 

for specialist items, as this is 

just not practical. Therefore, it 

is necessary for motor factors 

to deal with manufacturers and 

suppliers of replacement parts 

that can provide a next day 

service on non-standard items, 

ensuring factors do not have 

excess stock. 

Hemel Hempstead based 

NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd 

are a leading manufacturer of 

spark plugs, glow plugs and 

Lambda sensors. As a world 

leading OE supplier to the 

major car manufacturers they 

are committed to providing 

components designed to meet 

their specific requirements. 

As a result NGK are often 

consulted at the initial stages 

of the engine design process, 

with their designers and 

engineers working alongside the 

manufacturers own development 

teams. 

Each and every product 

manufactured by NGK is 

designed to meet the most 

rigorous standards, thereby 

delivering reliability and 

consistent performance under 

all conditions. They each play a 

major role in ensuring optimum 

efficiency, and therefore make 

a significant contribution in the 

reduction of emissions. 

This commitment is evident 

throughout the company from 

R&D through to the timeous 

despatch and delivery of orders 

to its customers. 

Scots Auto Scene were intrigued 

to see for ourselves how the 

NGK process worked, from the 

Bobby Johnstone at Edmondstone Garage places his order 

with Eskside Motor Factors 

Dave Highlands with Steve King 

initial call by the garage to the 

motor factor to the despatch 

from NGK’s warehouse in Hemel 

Hempstead. 

Edmonstone Garage in 

Danderhall, near Edinburgh, is 

a small independent operation 

carrying out MoT’s, servicing 

and general repairs to their 

customer base in the local area. 

One such vehicle that recently 

had a service undertaken was a 

Japanese imported 2000 plate 

Nissan Silvia and as a matter of 

course the spark plugs were to 

be changed. 

On inspection by mechanic 

Bobby Johnstone, the spark 

plugs being replaced were not 

from NGK, but a quick phone 

call to their local motor factor, 

Eskside Motor Factors in 

Dalkeith, matched the plugs with 

NGK’s BKR8EIX. 

Scott Miller of Eskside Motor Factors phones through to NGK at 

Hemel Hempstead 

The order being processed by one of NGK’s sales team Some of the extensive stock holding at NGK’s warehouse in 

Hemel Hempstead 


Scott Miller of Eskside Motor 

Factors let Bobby know that 

these plugs were not in stock but 

would be with the next day. Scott 

called NGK’s sales department 

in Hemel Hempstead and placed 

the order for four plugs to be 

despatched to them next day. 

This hand written order, one 

of hundreds taken on a daily 

basis by Sales Office Manager 

Vanessa A’Hern and her team, 

was then processed into NGK’s 

computerised ordering system 

to start the ball rolling and pass 

the order through to the logistics 

team. 

The order was picked up in the 

warehouse as a special order 

as it had to be despatched that 

afternoon and was pushed to the 

head of the list for immediate 

pick. The logistics operation is 

remarkable with on average six 

months supply of spark plugs, 

Lambda sensors and glow plugs 

for their vehicle manufacturer 

partners as well as aftermarket 

distributors in the UK in stock. 

Logistics Manager Steve King 

and Assistant Logistics Manager 

Dave Highlands run a very 

slick operation, overseeing 

the constant stream of goods 

inward and outward to ensure 

stock levels are maintained at 

optimum levels. 

The 16 strong team efficiently 

process all orders - whether 

it is for a small order of four 

spark plugs going to Dalkeith 

overnight or four pallets destined 

for Exeter - using the very 


latest stock control and order 

processing technology available 

which not only guarantees 

the correct part is picked and 

despatched, but also carries 

out ‘continuous stock taking’, 

negating the requirement for 

lengthy manual stock taking at 

night or over weekends. 

Keith Shepherd, one of the 

NGK’s pickers, collects the 

order for Eskside Motor Factors 

from the printer and scans the 

barcode, letting him know that 

he has to pick four BKR8EIX 

spark plugs for next day delivery. 

At the parts pick location Keith 

scans the barcode on the box 

to tell the system that these 

spark plugs have been picked 

and takes them to the packaging 

table where he prints off the 

address label and boxes the 

spark plugs up. 

The order is then placed in 

the goods outward area and is 

collected by DHL at 4.55pm for 

next day delivery. 

The next day Eskside Motor 

Factors receive the spark plugs 

via DHL at 9.30am and they 

are despatched immediately to 

Edmonstone Garage in one of 

their delivery vans. At 10.30am 

the next day Bobby Johnstone 

fits the spark plugs to the Nissan 

Silvia to complete the service 

and the vehicle is collected by 

yet another satisfied customer. 


www.ngkntk.co.uk 

NEWS15 

Keith Shepherd collects the order in the warehouse prior to 

picking Eskside Motor Factors’ order 

Keith scanning the BKR8EIX bin barcode in the warehouse 

before despatch 

Eskside Motor Factors’ DHL delivery consignment details ready 

for shipping 

Bobby Johnstone completing the service by fitting the specially 

ordered NGK spark plugs at Edmonstone Garage

16NEWS 

F1 in Lochgelly 

A team of students from Lochgelly 

High School celebrated winning a 

place at the F1 in Schools World 

Championships after the UK Final 

of the Formula One in Schools 

Technology Challenge held at the 

recent Autosport International Show 

in Birmingham. 

‘Exceleration’, comprising Karla 

McQueen (14), Lauren Hughes 

(13), Jay Tullis (15), Calum 

Fairgrieve (15), and Stacey 

Haldane (17) were delighted with 

the news that they were the best 

performing Scottish team and were 

invited to represent Scotland at 

the World Championships. This 

prestigious event will be held 

later this year at an international 

2010 got off to a good start for Tyre and 

Autocare Services of Keith, who won a 

superb prize in the second phase of the 

national Red Letter Day promotion organised 

by Grouptyre, the UK’s leading independent 

tyre wholesaler. 

Tyre and Autocare Services of Keith, supplied 

by Kenway Tyres, won a Red Letter Day 

experience to the value of £250. 

F1 Grand Prix with the team now 

preparing for the prospect of racing 

for the unique Bernie Ecclestone 

trophy and coveted scholarships to 

City University, London. 

Chairman and Founder of F1 in 

Schools, Andrew Denford said 

of this year’s National Finals: 

“Each time we hold the UK Finals 

the judges are blown away by 

the standard of the entrants, 

particularly the engineering 

expertise which we are seeing, 

some of which is exceeding GCSE 

level. The bar is being raised each 

year too, with teams introducing 

new innovations, top quality 

presentations and portfolios, and 

producing very close racing.” 

The Lochgelly High School team 

F1 in Schools aims to help change 

perceptions of engineering, science 

and technology by creating a fun 

and exciting learning environment 

for young people to develop an 

informed view about careers in 

Mathematics, Engineering, Science 

and Technology. Students are 

All retailers who registered to take part in the 

initiative and purchased Federal tyres 

between November 1 and December 31 

2009 were automatically entered into the 

prize draw. Entries were allocated on the 

basis of one for each tyre bought during the 

promotional period and the winners were 

selected at random. 

Now all they have to do is choose their 


given a brief to design a model 

compressed powered F1 Car of 

the future using CAD/CAM. Cars 

are then manufactured on a CNC 

machine. 


www.f1inschools.co.uk 

More retailers win in Grouptyre / Federal promotion 

‘experience’. The host of Red Letter packages 

covers a wide range of activities and interests, 

from action and adventure experiences such 

as driving competitions, white water rafting 

and scuba diving, to the relaxation of a luxury 

hotel break, spa experience or theatre trip. 


01928 706166 or www.grouptyre.co.uk

18UNDERTHEBONNET 

Manbat committed to customers 

The harsh winter has really boosted battery 

sales, but it also can strain the relationship 

between the customer and supplier. Having a 

reliable battery partner during periods of low 

demand is very different to having a reliable 

partner when demand is high and product is 

scarce. 

Manbat - the UK’s largest battery distributor - 

have almost 60 years experience of the battery 

market and have a wealth of experience to help 

thei customers make the most of their battery 

sales opportunities. They also have plenty 

of useful advice to offer the garage trade to 

enable them to deliver a good service to their 

customers, while still maximising their profits. 

Servicing is the life-blood of the independent 

garage workshop, but far too often the condition 

of the battery is overlooked during the annual 

service process. Battery testing should be 

standard practice in every workshop and 

second nature to the technician because it is a 

procedure that will pay dividends. 

Workshops that carry out battery testing are in a 

win-win situation. If the customer is told that the 

battery has been found to be in good condition, 

the garage is able to demonstrate that it is a 

trustworthy outlet that the customer can have 

confidence in. However, if the test reveals a 

potentially faulty battery, the positive benefit to 

the customer is that the garage has very likely 

prevented them from experiencing a future 

breakdown, with all the misery that entails. 

Battery testing can reveal a great deal about 

potential underlying causes that can result in 

battery failure, which can provide more useful 

work for the garage and provide a proper repair 

for the customer. However, many garages will 

simply replace a failed battery without any form 

of diagnosis. 

Working in conjunction with its distribution 

partners, Manbat will train technicians 

to address these matters with sound 

battery testing procedures because they 

know that good diagnosis both saves 

garages money and helps them to build a 

reputation for customer service. 

To make the most of battery sales, 

businesses need to provide customers 

with the most suitable battery for the 

purpose. It is risky to just assume that a 

direct like for like replacement is the correct 

application. In many cases the incorrect 

battery could have been fitted previously 

and so the correct procedure is to refer to an 

application guide for each particular vehicle. 

However, there is an opportunity to upgrade the 

battery when a unit of a higher specification is 

more suitable to the vehicle if it has been 

modified or because of how it is being 

used. Manbat training helps their customers 

match the most appropriate battery to each 

particular application and enables them 

to explain to the public why cheaper is not 

necessarily better. 

Manbat distribute an impressive spectrum of 

high quality battery brands from the premier 

VARTA range, through the iconic Lucas 

brand and to Numax, the UK’s fastest growing 

battery brand. Each brand is supported with a 

market leading application guide to aid battery 

identification and suitability. 

The Lucas brand is going through a particular 

renaissance since Manbat became the exclusive 

distributor in April 2009. Manbat’s policy has 

been to re-establish the brands traditional 

reputation for quality, reliability and a wide range 

of reference applications. 


The Lucas automotive range consists of Classic, 

Premium, Supreme and Fusion. The Classic range 

features a two year warranty, the Premium range 

is an OE specification range that utilises calcium 

technology and comes with a three year warranty, 

the Supreme is a sealed battery which exceeds OE 

specification and has a four year warranty and the 

top-of-the-range Fusion is an AGM battery which 

has a deep cyclic capacity and a four year warranty. 

In reapplying these core values to the brand, Manbat 

are able to report not only dramatic sales growth, 

but also an increase in battery specialists taking 

up the opportunity to become Lucas stockists. This 

success has spawned further growth in the brand, 

which has meant that in addition to the automotive 

batteries, the range now includes standard and wide 

type commercial vehicle batteries, Traction XC for 

the industrial and golfing sectors, leisure and marine 

batteries and a comprehensive range of motorcycle 

and mobility batteries. 

This depth of range combined with Manbat’s 

commitment to help their customers to develop 

into other sectors, provides forward thinking 

businesses with a genuine opportunity to specialise 

in power storage and become expert suppliers in 

the complimentary non-automotive sectors such 

as golf, leisure, marine, motorcycle, mobility or 

industrial, where profit margins are higher. 

For more information: www.manbat.co.uk



Enhancing technical knowledge 

In order to offer their customers 

the best service mechanics must 

always be up to date with the 

latest technology. Workshops 

can enhance their skills by 

taking advantage of the training 

programs offered by the 

ContiTech Power Transmission 

Group. In the technical training 

course lasting several hours, 

experts will provide you with 

knowledge relating to timing belts 

in motor vehicles. In the technical 

practical training, the participants 

will not only be provided with 

theoretical knowledge, but also 

spend one day practicing actual 

timing belt changes on various 

engines. 

ContiTech offers technical 

training that is free of charge and 

experts provide the participants 

with technical knowledge about 

drive belts. 

Participants learn how to handle 

timing belts correctly, what the 

distinguishing properties of a 

timing belt are and what can lead 

to timing belt damage in motor 

vehicles. They also learn about 

special topics such as timing 

belt profiles and materials and 

the use of belt tension testers. 

Kai-Uwe Suppé, a Technical 

Trainer at ContiTech, says: 

“For anyone who services cars 

and processes complaints, 

this technical knowledge is 

indispensible.” Main focus points 

can be selected from the content 

of the program. Up to 25 people 

can take part per technical training 

course. 

ContiTech organizes both training 

programs together with dealerships. 

Workshops can register for the 

courses at their dealers. 


www.contitech.de 

New global technology centre opens 

EXIDE Technologies new Global 

Technology Centre at the Milton, 

Georgia world headquarters 

opened for the first time on 

February 4. 

The 20,000 sq.ft. building 

provides an important part 

of the company’s global 

research, development and 

engineering organisation and is 

one of three new or upgraded 

engineering centres dedicated to 

development of various forms of 

stored energy. 

Analytical, electronics and 

prototype battery laboratories, 

world-class instrument rooms 

as well as a garage for hybrid 

electric vehicle (HEV) product 

development provide an 

environment that enables 

advanced R&D on emerging 

applications for stored electrical 

energy. In addition, the facility 

is designed with a number of 

environmentally-advanced 

technologies that enhance the 

Company’s green profile. These 

include energy-efficient lighting, 

solar panels on the roof and a 

wastewater recycling system. 


www.exide-intelligent-power.com 



UNDERTHEBONNET21


Spark plugs for LPG and E85 fueled engines 

Federal-Mogul’s leading ignition 

brand Champion have now made 

their Iridium spark plugs available 

for a broad range of engines 

operated with liquid petroleum 

gas (LPG) or E85 bio-ethanol. 

Champion’s iridium spark 

plugs feature several exclusive 

features to ensure superior 

performance and durability. 

Federal-Mogul’s Champion 

brand pioneered the use of 

iridium in spark plugs during the 

1970s, with initial applications 

serving the aviation and 

industrial markets. 

Federal-Mogul engineers 

have extended the 

fundamental advantages 

of iridium technology 

- including increased 

resistance to electrode 

erosion - to LPG- and E85fueled 

engines because they 

can more aggressively erode 

the electrodes of conventional 

spark plugs. 

“Champion Iridium plugs 

provide the precise ignition 

characteristics, broad 

heat range capabilities and 

increased strength needed for engines 

operated with these popular alternative 

fuels,” said Mark Whitehead, Federal-Mogul 

Marketing Director Engine & Sealing Products, 

Europe, Middle East and Africa. 

Each Champion Iridium plug is equipped 

with an extremely fine-wire iridium center 

electrode and platinum V-trimmed ground 

electrode to ensure the longest life 

and greatest erosion resistance in a 

full range of challenging automotive 

applications. In contrast, iridium plug 

competitors feature ground electrodes 

manufactured from a less robust 

precious metal, which can compromise 

overall performance and longevity. 

Champion Iridium plugs also feature 

Federal-Mogul’s award-winning 

SureFire ceramic material and 

Heat-Active alloy, which help maintain 

optimal operating temperatures under 

varying engine loads. (This same 

technology was proven in the popular 

Champion EON plug range.) 

In addition to Champion Iridium plugs, 

Federal-Mogul offers an array of 

Champion Double Platinum spark plugs for 

engines operated with LPG and E85. 


www.fmecat.eu 


Axeon power for electric trucks 

Britain’s leading lithium ion 

battery designer and producer - 

Dundee-based Axeon - is a major 

beneficiary of the breakthrough 

order for Modec electric vehicles 

from their joint venture with 

Navistar, a leading American truck 

maker. 

Four hundred Modec vehicles 

powered by Axeon batteries 

will initially be sold by Navistar 

though their extensive distribution 

network across North and South 

America. The tie up follows the 

US Government’s $2.4 billion 

investment in the sector. Modec, 

who have installed Axeon batteries 

in their vehicles for several 

years, has said that their joint 

venture with Navistar could lead 

to the production of thousands 

of zero-emission vehicles every 

year across North, South and 

Central America. Navistar has 

received $39 million in grants 

from President Barack Obama’s 

economic stimulus package. 

The deal will see the 

Navistar-Modec Joint Venture 

produce and sell electric Class 

2c-3 commercial vehicles. The 

zero emission all-electric delivery 

vehicles will primarily be used 

for urban-suburban pickup and 

deliveries, which is the ideal 

application for this commercial 

electric van. 

Modec vehicles, manufactured 

at the Coventry-based plant, are 

heralded as the future of urban 

transport and are designed 

from the ground up as electric 

commercial vehicles. Modec 

vehicles are operated by high 

profile companies such as global 

couriers, including FedEx and 

UPS, as well as Tesco, the UK’s 

largest supermarket chain. 

The Joint Venture is a world first 

and symbolizes evolution in the 

automotive industry toward a zero 

emission future. Lawrence Berns, 

Axeon Chief Executive, said that 

the deal would secure jobs for 

Axeon’s 400 employees “and gives 

us a great platform to drive and 

develop and wave the flag in the 

United States“. 


www.axeon.com or 

www.modeczev.com 



So isn’t it time for an oil change? 

The new range of fully synthetic 

Longlife 5w30 Premium Oils, 

from award winning specialist 

lubricants and fuel treatment 

manufacturer, Millers Oils, is now 

available to the aftermarket and 

in workshops throughout the UK. 

Five new oils have been added to 

the highly recommended Millers 

Oils Premium Oil range, to meet 

the increasingly strict and diverse 

engine oil specifications from 

many of the worlds leading car 

manufacturers. 

As ever more technologically 

advanced engines enter the 

market, and worldwide emissions 

targets become more stringent, 

a more sophisticated selection 

of engine oils is needed by trade 

and workshop professionals to 

prevent long-term problems and 

possible damage to components 

like catalysts and particulate 

filters. The launch of these 

additional Premium Oils is the 

latest in a long line of recent 

product developments from 

Millers Oils, as the company 

aims to provide the aftermarket 

with the widest possible range 

of OEM-specific oils, as market 

demand continues to diversify. 

The high quality of the oils 

means that engine wear is 

minimised while the viscosity of 

the oil is maintained. Users will 

also benefit from the ‘extended 

drain’ capabilities of the oils that 

can enhance the performance 

of the oil beyond specified 

maintenance intervals helping 

to maintain the longevity and 

performance of vehicle engines. 

All of the following new oil grades 

are available through Millers Oils 

sales representatives and many 

local automotive stockists: 

• XF Longlife C1 5w30 - 

Manufactured to meet ACEA C1 

and JASO DL-1 certification, this 

oil has been designed to cover 

the latest requirements for 

Mazda and Mitsubishi diesels 

fitted with diesel particulate 

filters. The latest Mazda 5 and 

6, as well as newer Mitsubishi 

Shoguns currently require this 

grade of oil. 

• XF Longlife C2 5w30 - This oil 

grade is primarily designed 

to meet the latest requirement 

UNDERTHEBONNET23 

for many French cars, including 

Renault RN 0700 specification 

(for petrol engines without a 

turbocharger), and many 

Peugeot and Citroen models. 

There is also a growing need 

to satisfy specific ACEA C2 

requirements from 

manufacturers as diverse as Alfa 

Romeo, Chevrolet, Dodge, Fiat, 

Jeep, Lexus and Toyota as well 

as for the new Subaru diesels. 

• XF Longlife C3 5w30 - This 

oil is produced to meet and 

exceed the requirements of the 

broadest range of new cars 

being manufactured by 

companies such as BMW, 

Mercedes Benz, GM (Vauxhall / 

Opel). It is formulated to 

meet the very latest GM Dexos 

2 specification, which is 

scheduled to come into force as 

a requirement during 2010. 

• XF Longlife C4 5w30 - 

Manufactured to comply with the 

Renault RN0720 specification for 

very latest diesel engines with 

diesel particulate filters being 

fitted to the latest Laguna and 

Koleos models. 

• XF Longlife ECO 5w30 - This 

final oil has been designed to 

meet the very latest ACEA 

A5/B5-08 requirements and 

to meet and exceed the latest 

Ford M2C913C specification. 

The manufacturer has introduced 

this primarily to improve engine 

fuel economy and robustness 

against the use of biodiesel. 

The ECO 5w30 is also 

backwards compatible to 

the existing Ford M2C913B 

specification, so the benefits of 

using this product are not just 

limited to new Fords. 

As with all Millers Oils products, 

technical advice and expertise is 

freely available, with a dedicated 

team offering information on 

the best use of the products. 

And with the recent addition to 

the Millers Oils website of the 

Which Oil Online Advisor finding 

the correct oil grades for many 

vehicles is now quicker and 

easier than ever. 


1484 713201 or 

www.millersoils.co.uk


New references 

Dayco are a world leader in power transmission 

systems for OEM and Aftermarket and via their 

distribution partner Universal Automotive, they 

continue to expand its product range. 

Recent timing belt kit additions include Ford 

Ranger 2.5TD, Puma 1.7, Volvo 2.4TD, 

Peugeot/Citroën 1.4 16v, Toyota 2.0TD D4D 

and Hyundai Coupe in both 2.0 and 2.7 

variants. The popular Subaru Impreza, Forester 

and Legacy 2.0 litre variants have also been 

introduced and these additions will increase the 

kit range to more than 400 references. 

Dayco also have a range of single timing 

belt tensioners and pulleys; additions to this 

range include auxiliary tensioners for the Audi 

and VW 1.9 TDi and damper pulleys for Ford 

Transit 2.2 & 2.4 TDCi, Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0 

and Mazda 6 2.0 TDi. 

Part of the Dayco technical support 

programme includes adding a specific 

Join the Millionaires Club! 

Leading aftermarket parts provider 

DENSO Aftermarket Sales UK 

have announced the launch of 

their biggest ever sales promotion 

for motor factors and distributors 

You could experience the thrill 

of the Monaco Grand Prix 

technical advice sheet with each timing belt 

kit. New bulletins include: KTB404 Audi / 

Volkswagen 1.8 20v Turbo, KTB432 Chevrolet 

Matiz 0.8 KTB471 Chevrolet Matiz 1.0, 

KTB393 Daewoo Lanos 1.6 16v, KTB400 

Hyundai/Mitsubishi, KTB406 Land Rover 

Freelander 1.8 16v, KTB414 Opal/Vauxhall 

1.7D and KTB377 Suzuki 1.6 16v. 

Finally three new Dayco training course 

videos are available to view online at 

www.universalautomotive.com The subjects 

are: ‘The control and replacement of auxiliary 

control belts’, ‘The control and replacement 

of timing belt and automatic tensioner’ and 

‘The control and replacement of distribution 

belts and fixed tensioner’. 


www.universalautomotive.com or 

01562 512512 

across the UK, offering an exciting 

range of millionaire-style prize 

opportunities. 

From January 1 to March 31 2010, 

all orders for DENSO’s OE quality 

parts - including starters and 

alternators, lambda sensors, a/c 

compressors and condensers, 

radiators, spark plugs, glow 

plugs and cabin air filters - will be 

counted towards individually set 

customer targets. 

Each month distributors reaching 

their interim targets will receive 

branded goodies from DENSO for 

themselves or their customers, 

plus they will have the chance to 

win a range of luxury prizes - from 

a limousine night out to a case 

of bubbly. And at the end of the 

promotion there are dozens of 

places to be won on a range of 

once-in-a-lifetime trips to Grand 

Prix events in the UK and Europe. 

DENSO Aftermarket Sales UK 

National distributors appointed 

Remy Automotive UK Ltd, one of the UK’s 

leading automotive parts remanufacturers, have 

announced the appointment of two national 

distributors for their Delco Remy range of 

starters and alternators for commercial vehicles. 

These are Ferraris Piston Service Ltd (FPS) and 

PSV Transport Systems Ltd (PSV). 

“This new supply concept in the UK has been 

designed to match the Remy worldwide success 

in commercial vehicle starters and alternators,” 

says Michael Flensborg, UK Sales and 

Marketing Director of Remy Automotive. “Remy’s 

core business is our Heavy Duty programme 

where we are number one in the market globally 

and a major player in continental Europe. 

“The appointment of these two very different 

UK distributors is key. PSV is one of the UK’s 

most recognised specialists in the commercial 

vehicle supply sector and FPS supplies a same 

day delivery service to all of the UK motor and 

commercial factors. 

“Both have invested in improved stock holdings 

of our range, with FPS holding stock at all 20 

of its branches nationwide plus an extended 

range at its Sheffield warehouse. PSV also hold 

the full UK range at their central warehouse 

in Hoddesdon from which they can deliver the 

same or next day across the whole of the UK. 

“This enables us to now offer national visibility 

and availability of the Delco Remy HD product to 

the entire UK marketplace. Both distributors will 

play a vital role in the success of the programme 

and have been chosen for their unique business 

models which we believe will maximise the 

strength of this new supply concept from Remy. 

“Delco Remy is a global OE and OES rotating 

electrics manufacturer and is No1 in the world 

in rotating electrics. All units are built to OE 

standard as a minimum and re-engineered to 

improve on OE design where necessary. We 


Manager Paul Payne confirmed: 

“The Millionaires Club is the 

largest and most exciting sales 

promotion DENSO has ever run 

in the UK. The top prizes range 

from attending a F1 Test Day in 

Jerez in Spain, to the chance 

of experiencing the thrill of the 

Monaco Grand Prix. It’s a fantastic 

incentive for distributors and 

factors to order in more DENSO 

stock, take on additional DENSO 

programmes or maybe even try 

out DENSO’s outstanding quality 

for the first time. Every distributor 

taking part can win a prize, so we 

hope everyone will get involved.” 


www.denso-delivers.com 

also offer a 24-month or 60,000 mile no quibble 

warranty. 

“There are 6,000 part numbers in our HD range 

covering 98% of the truck parc, including 100% 

of these manufacturers - Man, Daf, Mercedes, 

Volvo, Iveco, Scania and Cummins.” 


www.remyinc.eu. 



A range of motorsport engine bearings is the 

latest extension to the UK product portfolio of 

MAHLE Aftermarket Ltd. 

These high quality products come from a 

manufacturer with a racing pedigree that includes 

F1, MotoGP, Le Mans and NASCAR. This is the 

first time the MAHLE Motorsport brand has been 

used on a European aftermarket product. 

Manufactured in a specialist UK facility using 

materials developed for top level motorsport, 

the initial range covers 14 applications from 

Ford to Subaru. The company’s UK aftermarket 

subsidiary plans to expand the range as wider 

demand is identified. 

As well as having tighter tolerances than any 

other bearings available, MAHLE Motorsport 

bearings feature several unique technical 

specifications. 

UNDERTHEBONNET25 

Get set for spring filter servicing 

Many motor factors and garages 

reported a slump in December 

and January servicing demand 

as motorists stayed off the roads 

during the freezing weather. Now 

that driving conditions are back 

to normal, expect to see drivers 

flocking to catch up on missed 

services as well as getting the car 

ship-shape for the driving year 

ahead. And as a key service item, 

one of the main items in hot demand 

will be filters of every kind - including 

oil, air, fuel and cabin air. 

SOGEFI Filtration, the UK’s biggest 

OE filter manufacturer and home 

to the FRAM, CoopersFiaam and 

Crosland brands, recommends 

that every post-winter vehicle 

maintenance check should include a 

detailed review of cabin air and diesel 

fuel filter efficiency at the very least. 

Marko Wowcyzna, Sales and 

NGK Spark Plugs’ impressive 

performance in terms of OE 

supply to Europe’s leading vehicle 

manufacturers has continued with 

the announcement of exclusive 

glow plug fitment to Fiat Group’s 

new SDE 1.3L Multijet Euro 5 

engine. 

The Fiat Group’s new Multijet 

engine will power the Group’s best 

selling models including the Fiat 

500, Grande Punto and Doblo 

as well as the Alfa Romeo MiTo. 

This is the first time that Fiat has 

developed an entirely new glow 

plug in partnership with NGK. The 

exclusive OE contract also includes 

glow controllers. 

Marketing Director at SOGEFI 

Filtration commented: “During this 

exceptionally cold start to 2010 

diesel fuel can turn to ‘wax’, or is 

more likely to suffer from water 

ingress. If the filter is not checked 

this may cause problems with the 

running of the engine and possible 

long term damage to the fuel 

pump. Changing the filter in early 

spring for an OE quality, highly 

efficient replacement will prevent 

such problems and potentially an 

expensive fuel pump replacement.” 

Spring motoring also makes efficient 

cabin air filters even more of a 

priority. On still-chilly mornings or 

evenings a poor quality or blocked 

cabin air filter may cause the inside 

of the car windscreen to steam up; 

and is also likely to be less effective 

at ensuring clean, properly filtered 

air reaches the occupants of the car. 

Motorsport aftermarket parts 

Glow plugs selected as OE 

All shells are laser marked rather than stamped to 

prevent distortion of the steel backing, since any 

distortion inhibits the thermal efficiency with which 

the heat is transferred from the bearing into the 

housing. 

Where possible big end bearings are machined 

with a “racing notch” to eliminate any disruption to 

the joint faces and bore surface in order to protect 

the bearing fit and oil film. 

All MAHLE Motorsport bearings have a lead 

indium overlay for optimum conformability and 

fatigue resistance. They also have a cast bronze 

substrate which offers greater strength than a 

sintered substrate, while flash plating - used solely 

to improve the cosmetic appearance of bearing 

shells - is simply not required. 

The proprietary bearing alloys developed by the 

company over many years of racing experience 

For the four cylinder SDE 

1.3L Multijet engine, NGK has 

developed an exclusive sheathed 

type glow plug - the Y9001AS - and 

glow controller, RG41GJ. Together 

they enable the engine to comply 

with Euro 5 regulations. 

To achieve the required glowing 

characteristics - such as rapid 

heat up and long post glow 

operation - the Y9001AS features 

NGK’s AQGS (Advanced Quick 

Glow System) technology. Its 

glow tube has a diameter of only 

3.5mm - considerably thinner 

than conventional glow plugs. It is 

therefore able to reach 1,000°C 

in only two seconds, providing an 

“Cabin air filters present a strong 

spring sales and profit opportunity 

for factors and garages,” continues 

Marko. “Increasingly fitted in new 

cars as standard there’s a fast 

growing replacement market, and 

they are a standard, year-round 

service item too. But make sure you 

choose a reliable brand that offers 

advanced materials and design 

- it’s the only way to ensure that 

exceptionally reliable ignition of 

the diesel mixture even at very low 

ambient temperatures. 

Together with the R41GJ glow 

controller, NGK’s Y9001AS also 

supplies long post-heating - at 

precisely the required temperature 

- for up to three minutes. Emissions 

during the warm-up period of the 

engine are therefore reduced 

significantly. Even though this 

means tougher working conditions 

for the glow plug, NGK has been 

able to keep the lifetime of the glow 

plug high guaranteeing perfect 

ignition throughout the lifecycle of 

the engine. 

“Since the early 90s Fiat has been 

passengers have pure, clean air to 

breathe, and that the windscreen 

stays crystal clear! It’s important to 

take the initiative and recommend 

to customers that their filters are 

regularly replaced for optimum 

efficiency.” 


01443 223000 or 

www.sogefifilterdivision.com 

are unique to the brand and proven at the highest 

level. MAHLE bearings are used extensively in F1 

and most other forms of motorsport. 

For more information: 0845 6885007 

installing NGK’s spark plugs and 

Lambda sensors as OE,” says 

Brian Childs, NGK UK’s Deputy 

Managing Director. “We are now 

pleased to add the Fiat Group to 

the list of OEMs who install our 

glow plugs. Just a few months after 

Mercedes-Benz made the decision 

to use NGK glow plugs exclusively 

in its most important diesel engines 

over the coming years, this new 

success with Fiat confirms that 

NGK ranks among the top suppliers 

of glow plugs to the leading 

European vehicle manufacturers.” 


www.ngkntk.co.uk


As car battery prices continue to rise due to 

the spiralling cost of lead, Europe’s leading 

battery manufacturer is encouraging the 

trade to adopt exchange pricing to cope with 

inconvenient and rapid battery price changes. 

Exchange pricing, which is already widely 

practised in the automotive aftermarket, can 

also provide a cost effective marketing tool for 

battery wholesalers, retailers and garages. 

As the lead in an old battery can be reclaimed 

and reused by Johnson Controls in its 

European factories for VARTA-branded 

battery production, retailers and service 

centres can offset any lead price increases by 

ensuring that old batteries are returned on a 

one for one basis. 

“By doing this, the end customer can be 

offered a unique commercial proposition, 

giving the seller a real advantage,” says Paul 

Matarewicz, Managing Director of Johnson 

Controls Batteries Ltd, UK. “Assuming an 

old battery is always returned after the 

new one has been sold or fitted, the trade 

is permanently shielded from lead price 

increases.” 

Currently the value of a scrap car battery can 

be as high as £6, with an average truck type 

worth up to £18. 

“These values offset all lead related price 

increases that have taken place since 

lead fell to its lowest price a year ago,” he 

explains, “so anyone sending back batteries 

on a one for one basis since then would 

effectively have had no 

price increases 

for a year.” 

In many 

cases the 

trade currently 

allows scrap 

batteries to be 

taken away by 

third parties for a 

fraction of these 

values, and by 

doing so misses 

out on the chance 

of improving 

battery sales and 

margins. 

Johnson Controls 

Batteries Ltd runs a 

fully licensed nationwide 

scrap scheme, and in 

conjunction with major 

distributors is keen to promote 

the reclamation of lead. 

“In addition to our Johnson Controls aim 

of improving lead recycling rates for the 

sustainability of world lead resources, there is 

also a clear commercial benefit for everyone,” 

he adds. “We believe that exchange pricing 


Exploiting high scrap value is key to successful battery selling in 2010 

Contract secured 

John Goodland 

Expand timing belts kits 

Euro Car Parts (ECP) have recently 

expanded their Timing Belt Kits range - 

covering Japanese and Korean 

applications. 

With ECP offering OE quality, excellent 

pricing, top availability with an ever expanding 

range that covers over 300 applications. 

ECP are offering customers the best quality 

and range at a fraction of the price of its 

competitors. 

The components found in the kits are from OE 

Quality Manufacturers such as Mitsuboshi, 

Contitech, GMB, Koyo, NTN and INA. 

UFI Filters are delighted to be 

able to announce that they have 

won a supply contract with the 

UK’s largest motor factor trading 

group the GAU. 

The contract comes into effect 

immediately and includes UFI’s 

complete range of air, cabin, fuel 

and oil filters. 

UFI’s Matthew Say said: 

“Winning this supply agreement 

with the GAU is a great milestone 

for UFI Filters in the UK. Over 

the last couple of years we 

have done a good job in raising 

the profile of the business and 


0845 602 2570 or 

www.eurocarparts.com 

establishing the brand as a 

quality OE product, but a contract 

with a major player like GAU will 

help us reach the next level.” 

The GAU’s UFI orders will 

be processed and distributed 

through national distributor 

Universal Automotive from its 

Kidderminster-based warehouse 

and dispatch centre, ensuing a 

next day delivery on stock items 

ordered by 6pm. 

Universal Automotive’s Sales 

Director, John Goodland said: 

“UFI Filters is one of the world’s 

biggest OE filter manufacturers, 

is the key to a long term sustainable battery 

business, and would welcome new customers 

who wish to participate.” 


www.varta-automotive.com 

supplying 42 vehicle 

manufacturers with filtration 

products that include many 

specific patented applications. 

“GAU members should have 

great confidence in the excellent 

UFI Filter range and we believe 

that we can help the members 

grow their filter business with 

these top quality and superbly 

priced products,” he concluded. 


01562 512512 or 

www.universalautomotive.com


A roaring success in the automotive battery market 

As the largest independent supplier of 

aftermarket products in the UK, ECP are well 

positioned to take pole position in this cold 

snap with almost 75,000 batteries in stock 

in their central warehouse. It is reported that 

ECP recorded an increase of 95% sales in 

the first week of January this year over the 

corresponding period in the previous year, 

while many other distributors struggled to 

supply even the popular part numbers. 

ECP are the largest distributors for Premium 

OE battery brands such as EXIDE and 

BOSCH. ECP also stocks their exclusive 

LION brand which is produced in mainland 

Europe in accordance to latest European 

battery manufacturing standards. Unlike 

many of their competitors, ECP offers a 

minimum warranty period of three years 

against manufacturing defects for all 

passenger car batteries sold through their 

72 branch nationwide network, increasing to 

four or five years, depending on the product. 

It is estimated that ECP recorded a growth 

of 60% in battery sales in 2009 over the 

previous year. This was achieved by a 

strong customer focussed marketing 

program, offering the best brands at the 

most competitive prices and consistent 

availability. In order to assist their customers 

to increase sales, ECP offered more than 

1500 free display stands and 1000 battery 

booster packs against specified volume 

purchases. Furthermore ECP launched 

their buy now, pay later scheme as early as 

August, 2009 helping customers to stock 

more batteries without adversely affecting 

their cash flow in this time of recession. 

Exide Marketing and Sales Director, Andrew 

Bevington adds: “ECP is possibly the fastest 

emerging player in independent automotive 

battery market with ever increasing 

distribution strength, stocking power and 

relevant marketing programs. We are really 

pleased to be associated with ECP.” 

ECP will now be the first in to launch 

Exide Micro-Hybrid batteries in the 

UK independent aftermarket. With the 

emergence of hybrid batteries, the 

independent aftermarket can rely on ECP to 

bring them the latest hi-technology products 

available. These advanced technology 

batteries will be required by entry level 

micro-hybrid cars such as Toyota, Alfa 

Romeo and Fiat. 

ECP are also stocking Deep Cycle Batteries 

like EXIDE MAXIMA 900 and MAXIMA 

900DC which can cater for vehicles 

equipped with hi consumption accessories 

such as TV. These batteries have Spiral 

wound AGM grids, tightly packed in sealed 

cells. This results in a sealed, maintenance 

free battery which is easy to charge, and 

capable of coping with deep discharge 

cycles. 

For ease of fitment these batteries feature 

mounting holes near the centre of the casing 

that run top to bottom through the entire 

case. The MAX900DC also features an extra 

set of wing nut terminals on the top of the 

battery. 

ECP are considering entering into 

Motorcycle battery distribution network 

with great brands like EXIDE and BOSCH. 

They are currently evaluating the market to 

ascertain if it can be serviced by their future 

branch network. 

In short, for the best brands, the biggest 

range, immediate availability and 

competitive prices you cannot beat the ECP 

offer, the company say. 


0845 602 2570 or 



For the latest news 

from inside the 

automotive market 

visit 


The First Choice of the 

Motor Trade in the UK 

What’s going on under 

your customers bonnet 

this winter? 

You have a vehicle in your workshop for a 

routine service, you check the brakes, oil, 

tyres and exhaust. So why not the battery? 

In many workshops the battery, somehow 

always gets overlooked, yet its one of the 

single most important components of the 

vehicle, sound familiar? 

Did you know? 

• Battery failure remains the number one 

cause of roadside breakdown 

• one in every five vehicles that enters a 

workshop has a faulty battery 

• over 5 million batteries are sold in the UK 

every year 

• consumers are more likely to replace their 

battery following an accurate battery test, 

if they can see the results for themselves. 

• the more vehicle batteries you test, the 

more batteries you will sell? 

Many vehicle batteries in use today, will be in 

a discharged or semi-discharged state. The 

vehicles alternator is not able to cope with 

the high demands of the modern consumer 

requirements, especially when the vehicle is 

driven on numerous short start/stop journeys. 

A battery voltage should always be above 

12.4v to prevent sulphating of the cells (a 

build up of crystals on the plates, reducing 

the performance and serviceable life of the 

battery). 

Using Rozone’s Industry leading 

Midtronic’s Battery Power Management 

Programme may enhance customer service 

and increase sales opportunities. 


0121 526 8185 or 

www.rozone.co.uk

30WHEELS&TYRES 

Brits with wheel prospects 

The UK’s largest alloy wheel 

manufacturer is looking forward to 

an exciting year ahead after being 

given the financial backing to help 

support its diversification into new 

and innovative markets. 

Midlands firm Rimstock plc 

employs 160 people at its West 

Bromwich-based plant and has 

strengthened its position in the 

manufacture of alloy wheels in 

niche markets, having decided 

to become a new customer of 

Yorkshire Bank. 

The professional advice regarding 

the transfer of banking services 

has been provided by Friend LLP. 

Rimstock has been a leading 

supplier to the world’s major 

vehicle manufacturers through 

their world class alloy wheel 

brands Team Dynamics and 100+ 

for over 25 years, and felt now 

was the right time to expand this 

product range and diversify into 

other markets. 

To fully develop the programme 

of diversification and innovation, 

Rimstock felt it was necessary to 

improve the level of understanding 

between the company and its 

funders, and in seeking to achieve 

this, approached Friend LLP. 

Through working closely with 

Rimstock, it became clear to 

Friend’s advising team of Denise 

Friend, Amanda Allen and 

Georgina Clark, that this level of 

understanding was not available 

from the company’s previous 

bank, with whom they had been 

To avoid any additional vehicle damage and 

expense caused as a result of driving over 

potholes, TyreSafe, the UK’s leading tyre safety 

organisation, is advising motorists to ensure 

their wheels are properly aligned. Driving over 

potholes can alter the vehicle’s steering and 

suspension geometries or damage critical 

components which can reduce vehicle safety 

or generate extra running costs. By ensuring 

wheels are correctly aligned, drivers can 

customers for more than 25 years. 

Rimstock plc Chief Executive 

Stephen Lane said the transfer 

to Yorkshire Bank has enabled 

the company to launch a new 

technology division which is 

developing a number of innovative 

products. 

They include wheels for the 

specialist security and defence 

market, and as a further extension 

of their motorsport heritage, 

supplying products to top teams 

around the globe including a 

new contract with the prestigious 

Australia V8 Supercars series. 

Lane said: “To have found a 

bank which shares our vision and 

demonstrated support, not only for 

our ambitious plans, but for British 

manufacturing and its people, is 

refreshing, and we look forward to 

a winning partnership. 

“The result of this new partnership 

has allowed us to reposition 

Rimstock and to drive growth into 

new technology sectors, enabling 

us to now enter the next chapter 

in the company’s history, with 

renewed confidence and a partner 

with real foresight for the future. 

“Our research and development 

team is pushing the envelope in 

design, and at the forefront of 

some exciting new concepts, and 

this strengthens our position to win 

prestigious and much sought after 

new opportunities, fundamental to 

continued growth. 

“We already have operations in 

Europe and North America and 

with our focus on expanding into 

new security and defence sectors, 

we are poised to continue our 

growth over the next few years.” 

Heather Griffin, a Business Banking 

Partner at Yorkshire Bank’s 

Birmingham Financial Solutions 

Centre, said the deal with Rimstock 

was further evidence of Yorkshire 

Bank supporting the automotive 

manufacturing industry in the 

region. 

“Rimstock had been eager to 

expand into new areas for some 

time and we are delighted to have 

been able to offer our support and 

make this possible,” she said. 

“In today’s economic climate 

it is great to see a Midlands 

manufacturer, renowned on the 

international stage, going from 

strength to strength and we look 

forward to working closely with 

minimise the effects of any pothole damage 

and ensure they remain as safe as possible. 

“The recent bad weather will inevitably increase 

the number of potholes we see on our roads 

which can cause a number of serious safety 

issues for drivers,” explains Stuart Jackson, 

Chairman, TyreSafe. “If a car’s wheels are 

not correctly aligned it may pull to one side or 

cause vibrations in the steering wheel which 

can be distracting and make the vehicle difficult 

to control. By visiting your local garage or tyre 

dealer they will be able to perform some simple 

checks to make sure the wheels are correctly 

aligned, helping you to stay safe.” 

According to the AA, last February’s heavy 

snow increased insurance claims for pothole 

damage by more than 250%. With the 

recent prolonged spell of snow and freezing 

conditions, road damage is expected to be even 

worse this year. 

As well as the safety benefits offered by correct 


(Back left to front right) Amanda Allen from Friend LLP, 

Yorkshire Bank’s Heather Griffin with Rimstock Chief Executive 

Stephen Lane and Director of Marketing Matt Neal. 

Check wheel alignment after pothole damage 

Rimstock to help them meet their 

expansion goals.” 

Denise Friend, corporate finance 

partner at Friend LLP, added: 

“Given the recent economic issues 

in the automotive sector, the 

approach by the team at Yorkshire 

Bank was refreshing. They saw 

past the ‘automotive’ badge and 

saw Rimstock for what it was - a 

business with a great history, 

niche market position and fantastic 

innovation and diversification 

potential. 

“We are delighted that with our 

help, Rimstock has managed to 

transfer its banking to Yorkshire 

Bank who clearly share Rimstock’s 

excitement for the prospects that 

2010 hold.” 


www.rimstock.co.uk 

wheel alignment, motorists can also reduce 

their running costs. When a vehicle’s wheels 

are properly aligned, it is less likely to suffer 

from premature tyre wear as the tyres point in 

the correct direction, reducing any ‘scrubbing’ 

action on the road surface. This also helps 

to reduce the rolling resistance of the tyres 

meaning that fuel costs are also reduced. 

“When a driver has their wheel alignment 

checked, the garage will also be able to 

give the tyres a proper inspection to ensure 

they have not suffered any damage from the 

pothole,” continues Jackson. “Cuts or bulges 

in a tyre mean that it is likely to have suffered 

some serious internal damage making it unsafe 

and illegal. The garage will also be able to 

check that the tyres have adequate tread depth 

and the correct pressure, both essential for safe 

driving.” 

For more information: www.tyresafe.org 



The right tools for the job 

Every HiQ fast fit centre in the UK has been 

given a hat-trick of new business tools in a bid 

to win more customers and stay ahead of the 

competition. 

The fast fit network, which is celebrating an upturn 

in turnover and retail footfall, announced at their 

recent third National Franchise Conference in 

2009, the launch of new investment to support the 

business growth of its franchisees. 

Each HiQ centre now has access to three 

exclusive HiQ business tools designed specifically 

to improve capability, business planning and 

profitability across the network. 

Peter Tye, HiQ Network Development Manager 

introduced HiQ PACT (Planning and Composite 

Tool) , a new business development and planning 

Lightweight alloy wheel 

AEZ are major sponsors of 

the AEZ RC44 team, which 

participates in the legendary RC 

44 cup - a type of formula 1 on 

the waves - so it’s only fitting that 

the latest wheel from the AEZ 

‘boatyard’ has a distinct nautical 

theme. 

The AEZ Yacht features a spoke 

design inspired by the drag anchor 

used on sports boats. The use 

Great news for Mini owners... AC Schnitzer have 

a superb wheel / tyre set offer available at the 

moment and you stand to save a massive £553 on 

a complete wheel and tyre set. 

The Mi1 package is suitable for all R50 and R56 

MINIs whether hatchback, convertible or Clubman. 

Wheels sizes are 7.5J x 17” all round and 

215/40R 17 tyres are included in the package. The 

lightweight alloy wheels come with tyres already 

mounted and balanced and the packages includes 

theft protection and an emergency tyre inflator kit, 

where applicable. 

The package is currently on offer at just £1369 and 

available directly from AC Schnitzer UK. 


01485 542000 or www.ac-schnitzer.co.uk 

tool geared to driving profitability in the network 

through benchmarking and the use of composite 

planning. 

And in a further boost for franchisees, HiQ PIT 

(Pricing Intelligence Tool) a new pricing intelligence 

tool has also been developed to allow each HiQ 

centre to deliver both competitive local pricing and 

optimization of margins by moving pricing away 

from a “gut feeling” approach to a real market 

knowledge driven approach. 

In addition, the HiQ Academy, the network’s 

bespoke automotive training academy announced 

an extensively expanded prospectus with a new 

focus on business development training. 

Geraldine McGovern, HiQ Marketing Manager 

also announced the continued development of 

of a thin rim edge enhances this 

look and makes the five pronged 

‘anchor’ stand out. 

The AEZ Yacht is not just for 

fair-weather sailors, the robust 

clear coating provides superb 

protection from road salt and 

makes it suitable for all year use in 

all conditions. 

The AEZ Yacht would be an 

attractive choice for hatchbacks 

WHEELS&TYRES31 

Profits in potholes 

There is no better time, than the 

present, to consider making the most 

of four wheel alignment servicing. 

Firstly, the recession has been a 

catalyst, to change the servicing 

sectors perception and recognise 

wheel alignment as an ‘essential 

service’. Add to this the harshest 

winter for decades and the 

proliferation of potholes - every car 

on the road is a prime candidate for a 

full four wheel alignment check and a 

profit opportunity for the taking. 

such as the Astra or Golf, 

larger models such as the 

Audi A4 or Mercedes C 

Class, or sports cars 

such as the BMW Z4 

or just for a stylish boat 

trailer. 


0700 943359 or 

www.alcar.co.uk 

Wheel and tyre package special 

HiQ’s e-commerce and brand site, 

www.hiqonline.co.uk to deliver new revenue 

streams for franchisees. 

Geraldine added: “It isn’t just HiQ Centres that 

are being being refurbished. As part of our 

ongoing strategy to set the benchmark for “fast 

fit”providers, we’ve given our hiqonline website a 

makeover. Not only is it smarter to look at, it will 

now provide an enhanced user experience, new 

MOT and service booking facilities, a new HiQ 

online blog and over 135 new local HiQ Centre 

microsite pages showcasing the centres offers and 

promotions” 


www.hiqonline.co.uk 

How much? It will be down to 

measurement capability and 

throughput, but with the ease, 

speed and accuracy of digital 

imaging alignment, such as Hunter 

HawkEye from Pro-Align and a 

suitable alignment ramp, some 

businesses have seen takings 

increase by £1000’s. 


01327 323007 or 

www.pro-align.co.uk

32WHEELS&TYRES 

Pirelli grips visitors 

Pirelli’s P Zero Trofeo proved 

the toast of this year’s Autosport 

International show, held at the NEC 

in Birmingham between January 

14-17 2010. 

The exciting new ‘road legal track 

tyre’ attracted thousands of visitors 

to the manufacturer’s stand over 

the course of the four day event, 

and the impressive range of 

performance tyres; full-size in-car 

rally experience; GT Cup Ferrari 

430; Pirelli Star Driver Subaru N15; 

a high performance Ducatti, and 

the Pirelli girls, meant there was 

no shortage of entertainment once 

they were there. 

Martin Pallot, Motorsport and 

Events Manager of Pirelli UK, said 

the show was a great success 

for the company, with many 

customers, dealers and consumers 

Event organiser ECI International 

have confirmed that Brityrex 

International 2010 is already 70% 

sold in terms of stand space at 

Manchester Central. 

Confirming the positive take-up from 

exhibitors, ECI Managing Director 

Paul Farrant says: “We continue to 

make very good progress with the 

exhibition and I can put everyone’s 

mind to rest by confirming that 

Brityrex will definitely be taking 

place as planned in Manchester in 

October. 

“Reaching the 70% milestone at this 

relatively early stage means we go 

forward with confidence and in the 

knowledge that the industry is firmly 

behind the exhibition.” 

getting very excited about the new 

tyre’s capabilities, and Pirelli’s 

presence in general. 

Martin commented: “Autosport 

International is a great show, 

and I think the Pirelli stand was 

once again one of the highlights 

for visitors. The new products, 

interactive experience and all of 

the other components really came 

together to deliver a great Pirelli 

experience.” 

Although the iconic tyre maker had 

plenty of things to shout about, 

there was little doubt the P Zero 

Trofeo was the star of the Pirelli 

show. Based on the manufacturer’s 

championship winning World Rally 

tyre for tarmac, it is the closest 

drivers can get to a Pirelli motorsport 

tyre while remaining the right side of 

the law on European roads. 

Since the turn of the year ECI 

has continued to register a wide 

variety of international exhibitors for 

the UK’s only dedicated tyre and 

equipment show of the year. They 

include companies from the UK, 

Europe, south Asia, China and New 

Zealand. 

ECI is compiling a list of show 

incentives planned by exhibitors 

which will be promoted to potential 

visitors through a variety of 

marketing, advertising and PR 

activities in the run-up to the 

exhibition. One such company is 

Hofmann Megaplan, who have 

announced dramatic plans to give 

away a tyre changer worth almost 

£14,000 to one lucky visitor at this 

Maintaining the motorsport theme, 

Pirelli also took the opportunity 

to announce its continued 

sponsorship of the GT CUP, GT 

Trophy and British Rally 

year’s exhibition. 

The astonishing incentive is all part 

of Hofmann’s plans to create a buzz 

of interest and excitement around its 

presence at the show in October. 

Managing Director James Boon 

says: “Brityrex will be the highlight 

of our sales and marketing effort 

this year so we’ve decided to give 

it everything we’ve got in terms of 

attracting customers to our stand. 

“We will be giving away one of our 

top of the range ‘lever-less’ tyre 

changers, the megamount Magic, 

which is a revolutionary changer with 

built in wheel lifter and automatic 

fitting and removal carried out by 

keypad,” he confirmed. 

Further details on how visitors 


Championship series for 2010 at 

the event. 


www.pirelli.co.uk 

Cold weather tyres - a must in icy weather 

Given the current icy weather conditions across 

the UK, Continental Tyre Group believe it’s of 

vital importance that van drivers and fleets are 

aware of the many safety benefits in fitting cold 

weather tyres to work vehicles. Intensive testing 

undertaken by Continental has shown that a vans 

braking distance when travelling at 30mph in icy 

conditions dramatically increases by up to 31%. 

The average extra distance a van will travel when 

braking on standard tyres versus cold weather 

tyres is 13 metres while a passenger car or car - 

derived van will travel a further 8m - an increase 

of 23%. Scott Benbow, Product Manager at 

Continental, said; “Every winter, we have problems 

on the road because drivers are poorly equipped 

to cope. Drivers in most European countries fit 

cold weather tyres from October to March. This 

allows them to have greater tyre performance 

when temperatures drop to below 7ºC - a common 

occurrence in winter months.” With a unique 

compound which stays supple in cold weather, the 

advanced Continental VancoWinter 2 aids drivers 

with sipes - the small slits in the tread blocks of 

the tyre - that spread when braking. This creates 

an ice scraper effect on the road surface allowing 

shorter braking distances on winter roads. Open 

shoulders on the tyre with wide lateral grooves 

give excellent water drainage leading to a high 

level of protection against aquaplaning on wet 

roads. As well as ensuring the occupants safety, 

the VancoWinter 2 has an optimum tyre footprint 

to give even wear. This coupled with the cold 

weather compound gives the VancoWinter 2 as 

much as 30% extra mileage potential in the winter 

months compared to a conventional van tyre. 


www.conti-online.com 

Brityrex reaches 70% of floor space sales with 9 months still to go! 

can secure a chance of winning 

this flagship prize will be released 

closer to the show, but it is likely to 

be based on a visit to the Hofmann 

Megaplan stand and answering a 

simple questionnaire. 

Other show-stopping incentives will 

be announced in the coming months. 

Brityrex International 2010 will again 

be sponsored by the NTDA, which 

will hold its popular annual dinner 

and TAFF Industry Awards alongside 

the event. 

The exhibition will take place on 

October 5, 6 and 7 at Manchester 

Central, formerly known as G-Mex. 


www.eci-international.com

34WORKSHOPEQUIPMENT 

Continued links with VW Group 

Support services company VT Group (VT) 

have expanded their links with manufacturer 

VW Group (VWG) by taking responsibility for 

VWG’s leading specialist technicians 

The technicians are based at the Technical 

Service Centre (TSC) at VWG’s National 

Learning Centre (Training Academy) at Milton 

Keynes where VT already delivers training for 

apprentices and other adult technicians for all 

brands under the Volkswagen Group marques, 

namely VW passenger car, VW Commercial 

Vehicle, Audi, Skoda and SEAT. 

The TSC carries out complex repairs, 

preparation of special vehicles and support 

for high specification vehicles being used for 

driver experience. VT now employs the five 

specialist technician’s that staff the TSC and 

is responsible for training them to ensure 

that they remain at the leading edge of VWG 

technology. 

Their on-going training will form part of VT’s 

Extend distributor network 

Now well into their third year of 

trading, diagnostics specialist 

Autoboss UK are showing no signs 

of stopping in 2010. The Wirral 

based nationwide supplier have 

just taken on new distributors in 

Scotland and South Wales. 

Scottish distributor Autoparts 

Garage Equipment will be marketing 

the Autoboss V30 from their outlets 

throughout the region. With over 20 

years experience in the industry, 

South Wales based GMF Motor 

Factors have happily taken on 

the Autoboss UK range. Both 

distributors were more than happy 

to sign up with Autoboss UK, based 

on their comprehensive scan tool 

capabilities and the global level 

branding support from parent 

company SPX. 

“One of the primary factors that 

drove the new distributors to 

Autoboss UK (besides its global 

brand image and already fully 

comprehensive output) was the 

The new EOBDII memory 

saver from Gunson holds the 

data codes from the vehicles 

ECU when the car battery is 

disconnected. 

Simply plug straight into the 

16pin EOBD socket and attach 

the battery clips to a slave 9v or 

12v battery using the 200cm of 

battery lead supplied. 

much wider responsibility for training VWG 

apprentices and adult technicians in areas 

including parts, vehicle body repair and paint, 

and servicing. 

VT designs and delivers all technical training 

programmes for each of the brands. 

In total, VT delivered some 16,000 technical 

man days of training at the Centre during 2009 

and, on average, over 200 visitors a day from 

VWG’s national franchised network attend 

the Centre. Some 30 VT trainers deliver the 

courses, using state-of-the-art classrooms and 

replica workshop environments. 

VT Group’s Paul Rowlett, General Manager 

Technical Training, explained: “This extension 

of our successful partnership with VWG further 

underlines our role as one of the UK’s leading 

providers of automotive training and related 

services.” 

For more information: www.vtplc.com 

Memory saver EOBDII 

level of intensive development 

that the Autoboss V30 scan tool 

has undergone over the last six 

months. The Autoboss range is 

more than just a set of diagnostic 

tools available for sale. To us, our 

range of tools are a passion. We 

will always work to improve and 

innovate until we are the market 

leader. We feel that this business 

philosophy is what helped us gain 

our new distributors,” commented 

Managing Director Andrew Dimond. 

Autoboss V30 Tool Coverage 

Continues To Grow 

The already comprehensive 

Autoboss V30 scan tool has 

just undergone a new set of 

updates to stay in line with the 

latest automotive developments. 

Following an intensive software 

development program by 

technicians in the UK and Japan, 

the latest updates include model 

year updates for Ford, Vauxhall 

/ Opel, Mercedes, Smart, Mini, 

Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda, 

Landrover and Range Rover and 


This socket is found beneath the 

steering wheel on most vehicles 

manufactured after 2001 

The Memory Saver EOBDII (Part 

No: 77065) is expected to retail 

for around £36.70. 


www.gunson.co.uk 

the first release of Subaru software. 

All these updates are available 

to current subscribers as a free 

download. 

Other improvements include 

global testing for Vauxhall / Opel 

vehicles enabling scanning of 

every ECU on the vehicle with 

just one click, extended key and 

remote programming coverage 

for Vauxhall / Opel vehicles, diesel 

particulate filter regeneration for 

Vauxhall / Opel vehicles, more 

service light reset procedures 

added to Mercedes software for the 

C203u,C203a,Clk209u,CLK209A 

models and extended diesel 

coverage for Mercedes, BMW, Ford, 

Vauxhall / Opel and Land Rover. 

And if all this isn’t enough, 

development plans are in place for 

early 2010 focusing on French and 

Italian marques. SAAB software 

is also under testing and due for 

release very soon. 


0845 643 2764 or 

www.gegdiagnostics.co.uk


Lifting spirits with the option of seeing Red! 

With the ‘optimism’ of a recovering market 

workshops are now focusing on future revenue 

and business development with four wheel 

alignment taking centre stage as the ‘new’ 

essential service. 

As important as the aligner is, the type of lift for 

the ‘alignment bay’ is critical and workshops are 

beginning to recognise this. “There has been 

a marked increase in workshops requesting 

wheel aligner and lift packages, whereas before, 

businesses would consider buying an aligner 

to run on an often unsuitable conventional 

flat platform ramp, confirmed Pro-Aligns Paul 

Beaurain. “We are also finding some workshops 

are planning for the future, by installing an 

alignment ramp, when their existing lift is failing, 

even if they do not currently have the budget for 

the aligner”. 

The success last year of Pro-Align’s Provac 

FS40LT Alignment Lift, which was launched in 

Spring 2009, and on going popularity of their 

Scissor Wheel Alignment lift is a reflection of this. 

The FS40LT is a genuine value for money four 

post alignment ramp. Its heavy-duty construction 

means it will withstand the rigours of the busiest 

of alignment bays, and with the column width of 

2900mm it optimises the field of vision for imaging 

alignment. The design of the platforms mean 

they provide an ‘effective alignment’ length - up 

to 4280mm. however the overall ramp length has 

been kept to 4500mm to save valuable workshop 

space. Coming as standard, it also has an integral 

lift table. These have mechanical locking and the 

lift table edges that go right to the inner edges of 

the lift - a real bonus for jacking narrow or small 

cars. The rear slip plates lock via an air lock 

switch and the turnplate recesses offers moveable 

in fills allow the turnplates to be positioned for 

extreme short or long vehicle wheel bases. 

The popular Pro-Align Scissor alignment lift range 

(surface mount or in-ground) is often selected 

over the four post FS40LT, when a modern look is 

required or where the bay area is limited in width. 

For 2010, Pro-Align are also pleased to announce 


customers now have the option to select this lift 

in either the standard Grey or the ‘new’ Hunter 

red, to match their complete Hunter range of 

equipment. 

All lifts are installed and maintained, 

including the statutory ‘thorough examination’ 

requirement by Pro-Align’s own fully trained 

team of lift engineers and supported by the 

company’s renowned high standard of customer 

service. 


01327 323007 or www.pro-align.co.uk


Exclusively offer 

Euro Car Parts (ECP) now 

exclusively offer the new F-BOX 

from Brain Bee. 

The F-BOX is a state-of-the art 

technology hardware interface for 

serial diagnostics on all electronic 

systems (CAN network included) 

installed in cars, commercial 

vehicles and heavy goods vehicles 

without the use of cables. F-BOX 

can be used with an ordinary PC, 

by connecting a BT-100 module to 

the serial port. 

F-BOX transmits the data via 

wireless technology to the central 

unit, thus enabling the operator to 

work in complete autonomy from 

cables. 

F-BOX is a handy, simple system 

offering exhaustive technical 

information and wiring diagrams that 

guide the operator in the detection 

of errors in the various vehicle 

systems. Thanks to the FAST.NET 

software, F-BOX is a complete, 

modern, flexible and above all a 

user-friendly tool. 

Chris Allen, National Sales Manager 

for Euro Garage Solutions, said: 

“I look forward to using my 

background and experience to help 

further develop the EGS product 

and service package, which ranges 

from diagnostic tools, lifting 

equipment, tyre bay equipment, 

air conditioning machines, training 

and support, through our Euro Car 

Parts branch network. F-Box offers 

our customers a strong wireless 

solution to automotive diagnostics.” 

Systems that can be tested include: 

Injection-engine, warning lights, 

ABS, immobilizer, air bag, 

Electronic workshop manual goes on sale to MG TF owners 

MG TF owners can now access valuable service 

and maintenance information for their cars with 

an electronic workshop manual, available from 

all XPart AutoServices centres and wholesalers. 

The first disc of its kind to go on sale to motorists, 

it offers extensive technical advice for owners of 

MG TFs manufactured by MG Rover between 

2002 and 2005. It contains a greater depth 

of technical detail than can be found in paper 

manuals, together with comprehensive search 

and cross-referencing functions, and the option to 

enlarge diagrams and print pages of interest. 

“Modern cars have a great deal more complex 

mechanical and electronic features than cars 

Securing an acid spill 

Every company knows that when 

dealing with substances hazardous 

to health, it is essential to have 

control measures in place to deal 

with every eventuality. This is no 

more essential than in the case of 

companies’ dealing with battery 

acid, and as such, many companies 

have traditionally held a stock pile of 

Soda Ash in case of a spill. However, 

Soda Crystals, also know as 

washing soda, are fast becoming a 

favoured choice of neutralizing acid 

for companies dealing with small 

amounts of acid, as they are readily 

available, cost effective and safe to 

store. 

Soda Crystals, produced in the UK 

by Dri-Pak Ltd, have long been 

utilised for their cleaning and laundry 

purposes, but are now considered 

as extremely useful as an acid 

neutralizer due to their PH. 

“Soda Crystals have an alkaline PH, 

and as such are ideal for neutralizing 

acid. Smaller companies are reaping 

the benefits of replacing Soda Ash 

built even 10 years ago,” explains Barry Smith, 

UK sales manager, XPart. “While this enhances 

the capabilities of the car, it also means a more 

complex service and maintenance regime is 

required to keep the car performing at its best. 

The MG TF electronic workshop manual offers 

owners a convenient and flexible way to access 

the detailed information they need, which would 

otherwise extend to over 1,200 A4 pages.” 

The MG TF took over from the MGF as the UK’s 

top selling convertible sports car from its launch 

in 2002 until the collapse of the manufacturer 

in 2005. With four different models, the 115, 

120, 135 and 160, the car remains popular 

with Soda Crystals. As well as being 

readily available from hardware 

stores and wholesalers, they are 

extremely cost effective and easy to 

use,” says Bruce Maxwell, Managing 

Director of Dri-Pak. “Unlike Soda 

Ash, Soda Crystals are soluble in 

cold water, meaning they are easy 

to clear away after a spill without 

leaving a residue.” 

In the case of a spill involving battery 

acid, generously cover the infected 

area with Soda Crystals and allow 

to absorb. Once the acid has been 

neutralized, safely dispose of the 

waste and rinse the area with cold 

water. 

For larger spills, it is recommended 

by the Health and Safety Executive 

that acid be contained using a 

non-combustible, absorbent material 

such as sand or earth to prevent the 

hazardous acid spreading to other 

areas before treating. 


0115 9325165 or www.dripak.co.uk 


automatic transmission, 

comfort-safety cruise-control, 

EOBD, Can-Body C. 


0845 602 2570 or 


today both in the UK and throughout the world. 

Powered by a Rover K-Series engine, the TF 

model exhibits several key differences to its 

predecessor, including a redesigned front-end 

with projector headlamps for both main and 

dip beam, sidelamps and indicators contained 

within the headlight assemblies, extended side 

sills, revised side air intakes and a revised 

boot lid design with an in-built raised rear 

edge. Additionally, conventional steel springs 

and dampers replace the MGF’s Hydragas 

suspension system. 

For more information: www.xpart.com


A bumper year in 2009 

It has been one year this month since Autologic 

Diagnostics Ltd underwent new management 

and Managing Director Peter Toland reports 

that despite the economic conditions 2009 was 

financially the best year ever for Autologic and 

many of their distributors. 

Since Toland took over the reins, the business 

has grown considerably. Partnerships with new 

distributors have been forged and additional staff 

employed - including eight software engineers 

and three Master Tech support staff. Plus, French 

vehicle software, VAG Flash Programming and 

Performance Tunes for Porsche have been 

brought to market. 

Autologic have also been busy on other fronts too 

- attending exhibitions worldwide, running multiple 

Tools do a Legend job 

An impressive array of 

professional and essential tools 

to suit all jobs and budgets, 

spearheaded by a seven-drawer 

tool chest, is being unveiled by 

Unipart Automotive. Designed 

to enable independent garages 

to undertake tasks quickly and 

efficiently, the products range from 

just under £1000 to less than £10 

per item. 

Leading the product offering is 

UK training sessions, presenting at overseas 

training events and giving talks at independent 

UK seminars. Furthermore the company look has 

undergone a complete rebranding, including a 

name change. 

However, Toland says now is not the time to 

rest, nor become complacent. “This year we will 

continue to invest in the technology required for 

product development and to increase our software 

engineering and Master Tech support teams. 

“We remain committed to excellence of software 

functionality and market leading technical support, 

which customers around the world have come to 

expect from Autologic.” 

For more information: www.diagnos.co.uk 

the Jet Legend tool chest. This 

seven-drawer roller cabinet, with 

a centralised locking system, is 

manufactured from high grade 

steel with a stainless steel worktop 

and leather trimmed handle. Four 

of the seven drawers are lined 

with bespoke foam and contain 

professional tools, including 

ratchets, socketry, wrenches, keys, 

pliers, grips and screwdrivers, all 

covered by the Facom (tools for 

life) warranty. The total drawer 

capacity is 30kg and comes with 

ball bearing slides, and the static 

load capacity is 900kg. 

For the more budget conscious, 

a range of essential 399-piece 

electrical tool sets as well as a 

100-piece drill and bit set are also 

available at heavily discounted 

prices. 

Wendy Williamson, Marketing 

Director at Unipart Automotive, 


says: “Unipart Automotive 

is committed to providing a 

wide choice of essential and 

professional tools to suit all 

size of garage and budget. The 

underlying factor is that the tools 

are fit for the job in hand, and help 

mechanics to perform their tasks 

efficiently and easily.” 


www.unipart.co.uk 

Peter Toland


The next step 

Diagnostic equipment, historically expensive 

and limited in coverage, has now become a 

requirement when carrying out even the simplest 

task such as changing oil and brake pads on 

the latest vehicles. This has resulted in all 

workshops having a need for equipment that 

covers as many makes and models as possible, 

and is affordable in terms of purchase price and 

future costs. 

LAUNCH X-431 are keen to introduce a 

complete diagnostic package for technicians, 

offering training courses suited to all skill levels 

and experience, and support with both online 

and telephone help to assist them with repairs. 

The purchase of a diagnostic tool is seen as just 

the first step, modern vehicles can now carry up 

to 100 on board computers giving a technician 

access to an enormous amount of data, being 

able to understand and interpret this data will 

enable the user to quickly and accurately identify 

faults in the relevant system. 

Launch X-431 has released their new diagnostic 

product call the Launch x-431 Master and this 

is available now. It has all the same functions of 

the original x-431 but with faster processers, this 

will enable faster communication and having the 

super 16 incorporated into the smartbox. Thus 

eliminating all the different 16 pin connectors in 

the kit and having one generic 16 pin connector 

called smart-obdII 16E. 

The system can read and clear DTC’s (data 

trouble codes) on different systems, it reads live 

data, carries out actuation tests, resets service 

lights, codes keys, adjusts electronic and air 

suspension systems. ABS and SRS are also 

standard features. It also codes control units and 

Electrical fault finding training 

Imagine you are faced with a vehicle 

where the power seat doesn’t 

function, or perhaps the instrument 

cluster isn’t working. How confident 

are you in your capabilities to repair 

electrics? Will you make a quick 

and accurate diagnosis / repair? Are 

you sure that you won’t spend too 

long, or that you won’t fit parts which 

aren’t entirely necessary? Next, you 

have to find, read and understand 

the wiring diagram - what do all 

those numbers and symbols 

mean? Time to decide what and 

where to measure; which tool, what 

setting, where to connect? Do you 

know what reading you should get 

before you touch the probe on the 

connector or component? Or are 

you in the dark ‘feeling your way’ 

with the multimeter? 

If you can’t answer these questions 

confidentially, or find yourself 

taking longer than you should to 

fix electrical problems, get yourself 

onto the Electrical Fault Finding 

course from Technical Topics. 

This course will demystify circuits, 

multimeters and wiring diagrams. 

You will leave the course full of 


many, many more operations. This is why the 

Launch X-431 is now the clear market leader in 

diagnostics. More X-431’s are sold than all the 

other diagnostic scanners put together. 

Launch X431 Master is able to carry out 

advanced functions such as key programming, 

ECU coding and programming and adaption 

resets, as well as vehicle specific functions 

including tyre valve programming and service light 

resets. 

Launch X431 Master comes complete with all 

necessary cables and adaptors, online downloads 

mean the user always has the latest vehicle 

software available. With two years warranty and 

three years unlimited downloads as standard. 


01709 591834 or www.x431ltd.co.uk 

confidence and equipped with the 

knowledge and understanding to 

quickly and accurately diagnose the 

next electrical fault which comes 

into your workshop. Courses run in 

Bristol and Doncaster. 


01278 671919 or 

www.techtopics.co.uk 



Tecalemit growing and updating in 2010 

Tecalemit Garage Equipment’s 

range of lifting equipment is 

second to none. The UK’s longest 

established garage equipment 

supplier has a heritage of lifts and 

can supply numerous products 

from the scissor, two post, four 

post and mobile column lift 

families. Lifting from three tonnes 

right up to 30 tonnes. 

The first lift was produced in 1927 

and in the intervening 83 years 

the company has supplied lifts 

directly to a wide variety of market 

sectors which include commercial 

fleet operators and Government 

bodies such as the emergency 

services or local authorities. 

Tecalemit also supplies 

hauliers, car and truck dealers, 

independent garages and fast 

fit groups, usually via your local 

distributor. When it comes to new 

build projects, they also supply 

the construction industry. 

A spokesman said: “Whether 

it’s for MoT testing or purely 

servicing or even fast fit tyre 

shops Tecalemit will have a 

lift to suit you. With the UK’s 

largest service force Tecalemit 

WORKSHOPEQUIPMENT43 

will help you through the buying 

and installation process from 

start to finish including ongoing 

calibration and servicing of your 

lift. From the initial call Tecalemit 

will support your decision making 

with a site visit from one of 

our highly experienced Sales 

Engineers. We will guide you with 

any plans and will produce and 

submit drawings as necessary for 

planning and approval.” 

A few Tecalemit products have 

been updated for 2010. The new 

extra wide 2 post lift (SF9204) has 

a 4.0t lifting capacity meaning it is 

suitable for both cars and LGVs. 

It includes a very low lifting pad 

height of only 100mm, making it 

perfect for low or lowered cars. 

The upgraded specification 4.0t 

4 post lift (SF9084) is a Class VII 

MoT spec lift which is suitable 

for retro-fitting into most existing 

Class VII MoT bays and features 

a smooth, fast descent, managed 

by a descent control valve. For 

general servicing and MoT testing 

of longer wheelbase vehicles the 

5.0t 4 post lift (SF9250) has a 

5010mm platform making it 

suitable for testing most LGVs. 

Tecalemit offers a complete 

range of short platform scissor 

lifts which cover all applications 

from general servicing through to 

bodyshop use. The SF 8970 3.2t 

capacity lift suits the broadest 

range of applications. As a 

surface mounted lift it requires no 

floor excavation and benefits from 

a very low profile of just 100mm 

allowing the majority of vehicles 

easy access. The dual circuit 

hydraulic lifting and safety 

system gives a rapid lifting 

time and low maintenance 

requirement. 

With the recent addition of the 

Cascos and Finkbeiner brands 

into the Tecalemit stable the 

range is even further increased. 

For more details: 

www.tecalemit.co.uk


Come and see us at the show 

TEXA are a leader in the field of manufacturing 

diagnostic products in the automotive 

industry and are recognised as a prominent 

supplier of truck diagnostic equipment. 

The latest diagnostic tools and the Konfort 

09 Evolution Air-conditioning machine will be 

on display at The CV Operators Show from 

April 13-15 on stand 4321 in Hall 4, including 

the dedicated unit for service of agricultural, 

coach and bus systems. 

TEXA provides gas analysis and oscilloscope 

testing equipment which further enhances 

the capability of the products. This is also 

backed by technical training, support and 

information. 

For more information, 

01282 606787 or www.texa.co.uk 

Essential servicing tools 

A simple task - if you have 

the right tools. Laser has 

introduced three new tools which 

should make this job easier. 

First off, a set of Oil Filter 

Wrenches for many of today’s 

vehicles. Whether you have a 

BMW Mini, Mercedes A Class, 

Vauxhall, Volkswagen or Ford 

this five piece set, packed in a 

blow mould case for storage, 

in 3/8”D should cover most 

applications. 

Laser’s professional oil gun, with 

300cc has detachable spouts, 

one angled, one straight with 

spray nozzle and brass pump. It 

is capable of spraying in vertical 

or horizontal position and the non 

slip coating gives better grip. 

Finally, Laser’s 15 litre oil drain 

pan with large carrying handles 

and integral spout allows the 

waste oil to be poured away 

successfully into a recycling 

container. Anti-splash lip 

prevents spillage. 


www.lasertools.co.uk 



Full ATL package 


Garages looking for a fully integrated automatic 

test lane (ATL) should consider the new package 

from Codi International. 

The HH Intertech ATL package from Codi 

comprises some state-of-the-art quality equipment 

all approved by VOSA under one certificate. 

This is of huge benefit to garage owners as the 

required six monthly maintenance and testing of 

the whole system components can be carried out 

by just one person rather than a series of people 

where different manufacturer’s equipment make 

up the system. 

As long time specialists in the garage equipment 

field, Codi International have the expertise to 

advise on the right selection of ATL equipment to 

help garage owners through this complex area. 

The HH Intertech ATL package comprises 

computer controlled brake tester, vehicle lift with 

play detector (a cross pit play detector is also 

available), headlamp aligner, choice of jacking 

beam, brake pedal depressor and light inspection 

mirrors. There is a full range of equipment to meet 

both Class IV and Class VII standards. The brake 

testers are PC controlled, store individual tests for 

a minimum of a year and provide print-outs. 

The brake tester automatically calculates 

brake efficiency of service and parking brakes, 

incorporates axle weighing and has a manual 

facility, operated by an infra red remote control, for 

testing four wheel drive vehicles. The roller 

Seeing the light! 

MoT and ATL experts The Trade 

Group know what to look for in 

headlamp testing machines and 

they are ‘preaching the word’ to 

convert the masses, spokesman 

Terry Bullworthy defined the 

reasoning. “The essence of any 

good headlamp tester is to have 

high quality optics that produce a 

clearly defined image, combined 

with an effective system for 

ensuring accurate alignment to 

a headlamp and the ability to 

maintain this to a high standard of 

performance. Any headlamp tester 

destined for use within an MoT 

and ATL installation must conform 

to VOSA’s ‘2005 Specification’. 

This means that it must be able 

to assess the performance of all 

current types of vehicle headlamp 

and possess a current Certificate of 

Conformity.” 

The Trade Group claim that their 

new Trademaster T4600 series 

of headlamp testers not only 

exceeds the standards for this 

type of equipment but offers new 

patented technology that predicts 

future trends. They maintain the 

ergonomic design is durable, 

reliable, stable and extremely 

WORKSHOPEQUIPMENT45 

bed of the brake tester is of robust quality 

construction with hot dip galvanised chassis. 

A variety of lifts are available with the ATL 

package. There is a Class IV electro-hydraulic 

4-post lift with a 4.56 metre platform, and a similar 

Class VII lift with a 5.2 metre platform. Both lifts 

are 4 tonne capacity with a number of impressive 

safety features, including mechanical safety lock 

device in case of rope breaking, 24V ‘dead man’ 

controls, overload safety devices, automatic 

easy to use and combined with a 

superb build quality and optional 

printing, will provide garages with 

unparalleled performance when 

assessing or setting both car and 

CV headlamps. 

Bullworthy explained: “Key to the 

T4600 performance is the Fresnel 

lens, which collects maximum light 

and provides a high quality image 

on the screen, it also permits a wide 

focusing range of 200mm to 800mm 

and is lighter and less prone to 

damage than a traditional glass 

lens. Aligning the headlamp tester 

optical head to the vehicle drive line, 

is a vital requirement for accurate 

headlamp assessment and setting. 

By using a new generation ‘linear 

laser’, the T4600 laser projects 

a bright red light beam line onto 

the vehicle, which can be easily 

inspected for positioning. An internal 

counterweight allows the optical 

head to be moved on the column 

with ease making adjustments 

simple.” 

Continuing Bullworthy disclosed 

that: “The advanced Electronic 

models have a sensing system 

surrounding the lens that optimises 

the position of the optical head 

in front of the vehicle headlamp. 

Guidance on movement of the 

tester head is displayed on an LCD 

read-out. A unique and patented 

sensor array on the measurement 

screen provides information 

to the LCD display illustrating 

headlamp beam angle as an actual 

percentage to two decimal places. 

The sensors are extremely accurate 

and very sensitive, although 

regulations do ‘not yet’ allow this 

type of technique to be used for 

assessment during an MoT test, it 

can be employed very effectively 

when setting a headlamp, since it 

helps remove operator ‘guesswork’. 

The sensors also provide graphical 

information about beam brightness 

and glare and main beam and fog 

lamps can also be checked and 

set. Finally, the T4610 and T4610C 

can download data to a computer 

to allow printing, or be supplied with 

Bluetooth connectivity to a suitable 

separate printer.” 


0845 644 4054, 

enquiries@thetradegroup.uk.com 

or www.thetradegroup.uk.com 

descent control, and safety valves for sudden loss 

of pressure. The lifts have recessed platforms 

for play detectors and turning plates. Scissor lifts 

in 4.5 and 5 tonne capacities are also available 

where workshop space is at a premium. 


01291 689427, info@codi-international.com 

or www.codi-international.com

46BODYSHOP 

Money making opportunity 

Battery testing and charging is a money 

generating opportunity, often overlooked by many 

garage workshops. 

Batteries are a major factor in vehicle 

breakdowns. Research has revealed that 

batteries and general electrical faults can be 

responsible for up to 35% of breakdowns. Battery 

faults include discharge or tired batteries. 

With the amount of batteries failing every year 

due to lack of care, our simple test and charge 

programme can help your business save money, 

and increase sales revenue opportunities with 

every vehicle that enters your workshop. 

As a general rule, the bodyshop industry is no 

different to other automotive providers, whereby 

batteries are often neglected as part of the service 

inspection. From Rozone’s experience, as many 

as four out of five vehicles entering a workshop 

premises has a flat or faulty battery. 

With this in mind, a unique opportunity to upsell a 

new service to your customers is presenting itself 

to you almost every time a vehicle enters your 

workshop. 

The ‘’Test & Charge’’ service 

Rozone is recommending that workshops start to 

offer a simple ‘’ test and charge’’ service for every 

vehicle that requires repair work. You may not be 

selling batteries at the moment but fear not the 

procedure works in just a few simple steps: 

• test every vehicle’s battery that enters 

your workshop for repair, as part of your 

pre-acceptance inspection. 

• notify the customer / owner of the outcome, 

e.g the battery is: 

A Good - fully charged (no action required) 

B Faulty - needs replacement (offer a 

replacement) 

C Good - recharge (offer to charge the 

battery for £10) 

• test the vehicle prior to signing / delivering 

the vehicle over to the customer, 

demonstrating and supporting what you 

have done. 

Rozone has made several visits to workshops 

throughout the UK, with the purpose of 


determining the conditions of batteries of vehicles 

being repaired and the opportunities that exist. 

A total of 21 vehicles were tested within the 

workshop area. Sixteen (76%) of which revealed 

an opportunity in generating revenue. 

What additional profit can be made? 

Bodyshops have an ideal ‘window of opportunity’ 

as vehicles spend a week on average on their 

premises, unlike an automotive workshop that 

only keeps a vehicle for an hour or so. Offering 

this service presents you with a potential new 

revenue stream by giving you the chance to 

sell a replacement battery. You can also charge 

£10+ for charging a flat battery that will ensure 

your customer’s vehicle wont experience a ‘’non 

starting’’ or ‘’flat battery’’ problem when it leaves 

you workshop. 

Return on investment 

By introducing the Rozone service pack which 

consists of Midtronics MDX645P battery tester 

and CTEK25000 charger) into the workshop you 

will increase customer satisfaction by removing 

all battery associated complaints while boosting 

your overall profits. The equipment used is safe, 

simple and easy to use with very little training of 

staff required. 


0121 5268185 or www.rozone.co.uk

48BODYSHOP 

Accident repairers turning to Watermans 

In the last year the amount of motor accident 

cases that Watermans Solicitors has dealt with 

has risen by more than double and they are 

confident that this will continue to rise given 

the great deals and service they can offer 

customers, accident brokers and insurance 

companies alike. 

The Edinburgh-based company itself began 10 

years ago, but it has only been in the last few 

that they have begun to focus on the accident 

repair sector. 

Neil Waterman, Personal Injury Solicitor at 

Watermans, said: “Bodyshops and repairers tend 

to have used claims management companies 

in the past. Where we differ from them is that 

we are actually a firm of solicitors and as such it 

gives us more clout when dealing with insurance 

companies. 

“We cover the whole of Scotland and we tend 

to find that bodyshops and repairers prefer 

dealing with a Scottish company rather than 

going through an English call centre because the 

process and communication is slicker as a result. 

“Being a Scottish company we can also deal 

with situations that arise quicker, have good 

local knowledge and are able to take claims from 

Shetland to Stranraer.” 

As mentioned Watermans has focused 

specifically on accident repair work over the 

last three years and have really stepped up that 

operation in the last 12 to 18 months. 

At the start of the period they were in contact 

with many bodyshops to gauge exactly the kinds 

of services they wanted from the company when 

dealing with non-fault accidents. 

One thing was the speed of the process and 

Waterman explained: “We are very proactive 

in dealing with claims, almost immediately and 

certainly within an hour the process has been 

put into action. With a lot of these cases it is 

important for the garage or repairer to retain 

the customer and capture the business and the 

speed of our operation can help them do this.” 

Watermans also offer full payment on invoices, 

not taking up to 20% off like other accident 

management companies, and this can make 

a huge difference. The average repair costs 

around £2000 and commercial repairs can cost 

over £10,000 so for a repairer to lose 10 or 20% 

of that can have a huge impact on business. The 

invoice payments are also guaranteed to be paid 

within 30 days. 

The company offers like-for-like vehicles 

delivered to the repairer or the client and 

Waterman explained why this is such a benefit. 

“Repairers are very keen on this as most 

customers will expect a vehicle while their one is 

being repaired. People are often reliant 

RMI launches Bodyshop Executive 

The Retail Motor Industry 

Federation (RMI) have launched 

the Bodyshop Executive. 

The executive is made up of 

a cross-section of bodyshop 

owners from single independent 

sites to larger group repairers. 

At quarterly meetings the critical 

issues affecting body repairers 

and the action required by the 

Spraytherm Limited specialises in service, 

maintenance and repairs to the automotive 

and CV market and are suppliers of input and 

extract filters for all makes of spraybooths. 

Established in 1991, their reputation has grown 

founded on quality of service backed up by 

friendly and efficient staff. 

With the experience and knowledge that their 

engineers have gained over the years working 

in this sector, Spraytherm offer solutions on 

customising ovens to optimise the performance 

to meet today’s demands. 

Spraytherm quickly developed into a well 

organised and professional service company 

with the objective of keeping in touch with 

the bodyshop industry’s needs. Based in 

Stockton-on-Tees, they are ideally placed to 

cover the UK. 

Spraytherm provides a full and comprehensive 

service and maintenance schedule for all 

makes of Spraybooths. All their vehicles carry 

RMI to progress solutions will be 

identified. 

Commenting on the launch, RMI 

Chief Executive Rob Foulston 

said: “Since the acquisition of 

the MVRA, the RMI’s bodyshop 

division has been strengthened 

considerably and the formation 

of the executive is the next 

logical step in its growth and 

development. The executive 

will play an important role in 

identifying key policy issues for 

all body repair members and will 

cover Kitemark, PAS125, access 

to technical information and the 

consumer’s right to choose their 

bodyshops.” 

Mike Monaghan, who will head 

up the executive, commented: “I 

an extensive range of spare parts to cover the 

most common problems, as well as back up 

stock within their warehouse. 

Scots Auto Scene asked Keith Melton, 

Sparytherm’s Managing Director, a couple of 

questions regarding spraybooths: 

What are the recommended service intervals 

for a spraybooth? 

“The recommended service interval for a 

spraybooth is approximatley 700-1000hrs or 

annually whichever sooner. Busy bodyshops 

tend to have their spraybooths serviced every six 

months, and those who operate 12hr shifts three 

to four times a year. Every customer has there 

own service requirements and this is a service 

that we can tailor to fit in with their needs.” 

How easy is it to relocate an existing 

spraybooth to new premises? 

“When relocating an existing spraybooth to 


on their car or van for work and they simply 

cannot be without transport for any length of 

time. 

We can supply the client with any type of car 

and a wide range of commercial vehicles and 

motorbikes. That is a bonus for the customer 

and of course the repairers because they don’t 

want to be using up their whole fleet of courtesy 

cars for matters such as that and it helps them 

free up vehicles for other jobs.” 

Among the benefits Watermans offer includes 

full labour rates for repairs to clients vehicles 

ranging from £35 to £50 per hour and the 

payment of competitive referral fees directly to 

the repairer. 

Waterman concluded: “Since we have focused 

in on motor accident claims we have seen a 

real demand for it and have augmented our 

team accordingly to deal with the demand. We 

pride ourselves on our long-term relationships 

with repairers and bodyshops and we would be 

delighted to hear from others within the industry 

who would like to hear more about our services.” 


0800 988 2118 or www.watermans.ws 

Sales, service, maintenance and repairs to the bodyshop industry 

new premises it is always worth considering 

relocation costs verses new booth costs. If 

for instance you were looking at moving a 

spraybooth of approximately 10 years of age, 

you may have the additional cost of upgrading 

it to meet current EPA legislation on top of your 

purchase price. 

Today there are some excellent spraybooths 

on offer to suite everybody’s budget and 

specifications. Buying new gives you the 

advantage of a booth being tailored to the exact 

requirements and designed to fit into an exisitng 

bodyshop. Relocating can be straight forward 

if moving into an empty building, however you 

may come across obstacles when trying to fit 

a booth into an existing bodyshop with limited 

space and access.” 


01642 355555 or 

www.spraytherm.com 

am pleased to be a part of this 

Bodyshop Executive as it will 

enable repairers to express their 

views in a new way, and for the 

RMI to carry these through to 

fruition.” 


www.rmif.co.uk

50BODYSHOP 

On top of the weld 

Confused about which welder to 

buy to cover current and eventual 

needs? Here Stanners advise 

on the critical points to consider 

when investing in a new welding 

machine. 

High strength steel and boron 

is no longer the preserve of 

luxury vehicles but are used in 

the production of high volume 

cars too. They are stronger and 

lighter so more fuel efficient than 

traditional steels and occupants 

are kept safer thanks to the use 

of the materials in areas of the car 

designed to improve protection 

and dissipate the crash energy. 

But when it comes to welding in 

the bodyshop, repairers need to 

be confident that the equipment 

they are using is capable of 

joining panels effectively in order 

to safely re-instate a vehicle to its 

pre-accident condition. 

There are many types of inverter 

welders on the market, but it 

is essential to choose one that 

has a high amperage, a high 

squeeze pressure and, ideally 

water-cooled. Ease of use is also 

important and the ability to record 

every weld an operator performs 

should not be overlooked. Vehicle 

manufacturer repair processes 

vary so it is vital that parameters 

are set correctly too. 

“If the parameters are not set 

correctly, and the amperage is 

too low, or if the weld squeeze 

pressure and time is incorrect, 

the weld may fail which means 

that the metals will not be joined 

together,” said John Stanners, 

Managing Director, Stanners 

Equipment. “Manufacturers 

nowadays often use several types 

of steels together, so it is even 

more important that the welding 

machine is capable to deal with 

the new materials.” 

Currently, many vehicle 

manufacturers including 

German-makes require a welding 

amperage of around 12,000, but 

this is increasing. “The French 

manufactured vehicles exceed 

this, and I believe that other 

manufacturers will follow,” said 

John. “It’s one of the reasons 

why we chose to import the GYS 

Spot range because they meet 

current and future requirements 

and have traceability.” 

The equipment is intuitive and 

easy to use and can be set on 

manual or automatic mode. 

There is a digital display to guide 

the technician and the equipment 

will analyse and record every 

weld and will instantly show 

whether the weld is good or has 

failed. 

The GYS BPL Inverter Range 

has three options, GYS BPLC 

(C Type Gun), BPLX (X-Type 

Gun) and the BP LCX which has 

both a C and X gun. “Having two 

guns on the machine is a big 

advantage because what you will 

find is that the panel technician 

welding the car together can’t 

get into every joint with the C 

gun so he ends up MIG plugging 

the car,” added Tony Mottram, 

National Sales Manager, 

Stanners Equipment Ltd. “But if 

he has an X gun as well he can 

achieve 99% of the welding on 

the vehicle. 

“Both guns are water cooled 

which is very important for 

PAS125 and both guns produce 

13000amps,” added Tony. “Some 

of our competitors have one 

water cooled gun and one air 

cool gun and the problem is 

that the air cool gun is probably 

only rated 8000amps. So if he is 

using one of those on UHSS he 

is repairing the car incorrectly.” 

For the last three years or so, 

there has been talk of health and 

safety legislation surrounding 

the issue of electro-magnetic 

fields. The effect on the industry 

was that many manufacturers 

went down the route of putting 

the transformer in the gun to 

protect workers from any sideeffects. 

However, this added 

considerable weight to the gun 

(weighing around 20-25 kilos, 

instead of 10-12 kilos), which 


makes the gun awkward to use. 

As well as offering a transformer 

gun option (GYS Evolution) GYS 

developed BODYPROTECT, a 

patented technology used on the 

BPL Inverter Units. Basically, 

it resolves the risk of exposure 

by fitting a special filter system 

to regulate the magnetic fields, 

reducing the magnetic field away 

from the weld gun and cables. 

As a result, the BPL Range 

is a far more popular choice. 

The transformer gun option 

(GYS Evolution) still has its 

advantages of extra amperage at 

the tips, and is a solution to poor 

power supply in the bodyshop. 

GYSpot welders carry many 

manufacturer approvals including 

Peugeot, Renault and Citroen, 

as well as prestige brands 

such as Mercedes Benz. The 

GYS Range also reaches and 

exceeds most other vehicle 

manufacturer specifications. 

Another acknowledgement 

of the GYSpot is that they 

are the only welders on the 

market to currently achieve 

and maintain Thatcham Quality 

Accreditation (TQA). Thatcham 

accreditation for Elektron, now 

under new ownership, has not 

been renewed, although John 

can confirm that machines 

bought from Stanners, before 

the changeover, will continue to 

be recognised by Thatcham as 

accredited. 

“Thatcham’s accreditation of 

repair equipment is developed 

to support the collision repair 

industry by providing robust 

product certification with a 

transparent and recognisable 

mark of independent qualification 

of manufacturing quality and 

product performance,” explained 

Dean Lander, Accreditation 

Manager, Thatcham. “The 

GYSpot BPL is one of few 

premier repair tools to 

have achieved this robust 

certification.” 

Stanners offers on site training, 

ongoing support and also run 

IMI approved training courses on 

boron and high strength steels. 

For further information: 

01670 514133 or 

www.stanners-equipment.co.uk

52BODYSHOP 

Partners in Success 

PPG’s long-term development 

programme with Audi was amply 

showcased at the recent Frankfurt 

Motor Show where two new 

colours made their international 

debut; Inuit weiss Perlmut and 

Ipanema braun. 

The introduction of these two new 

colours is a vindication of the time 

and effort the PPG colour teams 

put into their relationships with 

major OEM’s like Audi. 

Reiner Mueller-Koerber, PPG’s 

Colour Styling Manager takes up 

the story “Every year we produce 

a PPG Global Colour Exhibition 

Colour correction in minutes 

It’s every refinisher’s nightmare. The car is 

de-masked, only to reveal that the newly 

sprayed colour doesn’t match the existing 

paintwork. When the colour doesn’t match, 

there’s nothing you can do but to start again, 

and that is time-consuming and expensive. 

Well, that was the traditional answer, but thanks 

to an amazing new product called Colour 

Corrector brought to you by Smart Express, 

you can solve those difficult colour matching 

problems, every time. 

“Bumpers in particular pose a common problem 

for bodyshops,” said Kevin Dillon, Director, 

Smart Express. “Quite often they are sprayed 

with another job in a booth and when fitted to 

the vehicle after being painted, the paintwork 

Joining forces 

Forward thinking accident 

management company Call Zebra 

has signed a three-year deal with 

international hire car provider 

Enterprise Rent-A-Car. 

The new partnership, which 

went live on February 1, will see 

Enterprise provide replacement 

vehicles for Call Zebra customers 

across the UK mainland. 

Newcomers Call Zebra burst on 

to the scene in April 2008 offering 

a fresh, transparent approach to 

accident management, with the 

emphasis on quick turnarounds, 

high-quality repairs and customer 

satisfaction. 

Enterprise shares Call Zebra’s 

commitment to providing rapid 

replacement vehicles, driving 

down repair times and putting the 

customer first. While its 330 rental 

centres are ideally positioned to 

service Call Zebra’s fast-growing 

customer base. 

Darren Gilling, Managing 

Director of Call Zebra, said: “The 

ethos of Call Zebra is to keep 

motorists moving and disruption 

for Audi where we showcase 

a range of colours that we’ve 

developed based on our research 

into the latest fashion and lifestyle 

trends combined with the latest in 

pigment technology. We then work 

closely with the Audi design teams 

to bring the colours to market. It’s 

a true partnership arrangement.” 

And the focus on creating a 

partnership seems to be paying 

off. PPG already has an exclusive 

development agreement with Audi 

for microtint special pigments. The 

majority of Audi’s launch colours 

are from PPG. 

to a minimum and we hope the 

partnership with Enterprise will 

enable us to reach our customers 

even quicker. Enterprise is a well 

established company with an 

excellent reputation and we look 

forward to working with them as 

our customer base continues to 

grow. We are constantly looking to 

raise the bar and will be launching 

a number of new customerfriendly 

initiatives in 2010.” 

Gary Palmer, Managing Director 

of Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s 

northwest division, added: “Call 

Zebra is a young company 

with big plans and Enterprise 

Rent-A-Car is delighted to be 

working in partnership to provide 

replacement vehicles to their 

customers. Our centres are 

within 10 miles of 91% of the 

UK population making us ideally 

equipped to take care of all of Call 

Zebra’s customers’ rental needs.” 


08000 932 727 or 

www.calluandi.com 


www.ppg.com 

does not match the existing wing or quarter 

panel. Our unique, Smart Express Colour 

Corrector system (patent pending) helps to 

rectify colour mistakes and ensure you achieve 

a perfect colour match.” 

The system comprises Colour Corrector shade 

cards to identify the correct hue, a special Colour 

Corrector Panel Cleaner and a range of Colour 

Corrector aerosols that correspond to the shade 

cards. It takes just minutes to correct imperfect 

blends using the unique Smart Express Colour 

Corrector system. Although designed for easy 

application in an aerosol, the product can also be 

used in a spraygun if preferred. 

“Our calculations show that even minor rework 

to colour correct a job by traditional re-painting 


methods can cost around £100 in both materials 

and time,” said Steve Barrett, Managing 

Director, Smart Express. “But now there is no 

need to despair when a colour you thought was 

spot-on ended up looking terrible. For around 

£3 per job, using Colour Corrector, you can 

solve mis-matched colours in minutes.” 

The finish you get with Smart Express Colour 

Corrector is perfect in colour match, durable for 

years and extremely cost effective. Why waste 

expensive paint when Colour Corrector can 

solve all your ill-matched colour problems for 

just a few pounds? 


www.smartexpress.co.uk 

Gary Palmer with Darren Gilling

54BODYSHOP 

The spot welder that can weld all types of steel 

Think of the problem - you are about to do 

a welding repair to one of the latest hi-tech 

modern car. The steels being used are a 

great deal harder to weld than the mild steel 

used on cars 10 years ago. You are faced 

with a real problem. 

• Do you know what type of steel you are 

welding? - This is very unlikely. 

• Do you know the type of galvanised coating 

is on it? - No, nearly impossible. 

• Do you know where to get the correct 

information to help you set the welder up 

properly? - Getting information is not easy 

either - No one want to give it to you. 

When welding the new steels on modern cars 

it is very important to have this information. 

Without it, how can you be sure the welding has 

been carried out correctly? 

The InvertaSpot GT has the ‘Material Test’ 

program. This is the simplest way of checking 

the different steels. It not only checks the 

steels (either Galvanised, HSS or Boron) 

but it also sets the weld parameters exactly 

for you to enable the perfect job to be done. 

What could be simpler? 

A spokesman for manufacturers Wielander 

and Schill said: “No other spotwelder on the 

market has this material test program available. 

The GT is so advanced compared with other 

welding machines. If you are in the market for 

a new spot welder, think of the future. Think of 

how much time is going to be saved using the 

InvertaSpot GT. 

“The GT has up to 14,000amps at 600daN. The 

constant current control ensures the correct 

pulsing for the different steels, whether they 

be Boron to HSS or HSS to galvanised. 

Without doubt the InvertaSpot GT is in a class 

of it own. It may not be the cheapest on the 

market, but it certainly can be relied on to 

give the best results.” 

Made in Germany, The GT stands for 

German Technology. It is tough, robust and 

simple to use. 

The InvertaPuls IP6/2 is two machines in 

one. Capable of MIG welding, MIG Brazing or 

Aluminium welding, the operator only has to 

press the trigger to select the choice of wire he 

needs. No need to keep changing spools or 

bottle of gas, the IP6/2 is setup ready to go. 

VDAs to benefit from Vision’s extended functionality 

Inter-est has launched a new, 

enhanced version of Vision, the 

online methods based estimating 

system, to further improve 

the efficiency when compiling 

vehicle damage assessments. 

The new features include a 

Windows-look interface, improved 

communications resilience, and a 

greater number of vehicles in the 

DVLA look up facility. In addition, 

there are a number of shortcut 

keys to accomplish all the most 

common functions quickly and 

easily and the new image viewer 

allows unbeatable management of 

photos. For example, colours can 

be inverted to help identify small 

scratches and dents and areas 

can be zoomed in on to allow a 

closer inspection of damage. 

The new look interface with 

its Windows look and feel now 

displays all vehicle details on a 

single page, making assessments 

much easier to compile. Images 

can be viewed or attached without 

having to leave the page, and 

allows a vehicle damage assessor 

or engineer to quickly navigate to 

where vehicle photographs are 

located. The new image viewer 

allows greater management 

of photographs. For example, 

colours can be inverted to help 

identify small scratches and 

dents, and areas can be zoomed 

in on to allow a closer inspection 

of the vehicle damage. In addition 

users can attach more than one 

image at a time simply by using 

the ctrl or shift key. 

Another benefit is the new DVLA 

look up facility which has been 

simplified and provides matches 

to more vehicles than ever before. 

The system has also upgraded 

its communications resilience to 

help address problems a small 

number of users experience due 

to the quality of their broadband. 

The new communications strategy 

will allow Vision to automatically 

recover from a temporary blip in 

broadband connectivity and in 

the case of a more permanent 

outage save any work locally so 

that it can be recovered when 

broadband is regained. 

“Vision is an extremely intuitive 

The fast way to the right colour 

With flexible search options and authentic 

colour visualisation on the screen, refinishers 

save even more time during online colour 

searches. 

So that bodyshops can find the right colour 

with even greater ease, Spies Hecker 

has transformed their web-based colour 

search, making it more advanced and 

easier. The web pages are now much more 

visual,” explains Dietmar Wegener, Colour 

Coordinator at Spies Hecker. “Refinishers 

can now see the colour they’re looking for 

during their search.” 

With this new online service, users see true 

to original illustrations of colour chips on the 

computer monitor. Just like with the proven 

CRplus colour software, they can see at a 

glance the formulas available for a particular 

colour. Along with the visual display of a 

colour, details of all variants can also be 

called up. 

The web-supported Colour Finder enables 

searches for specific keywords such as 

car maker, colour name and colour code 

as well as the house colours of well-known 

companies. A selection based on application 

areas such as the chassis, bumper or wing 

is now possible as well as a choice between 


The spokesman added: “It is so simple to use, but 

gives brilliant results every time. Used by many 

of the teaching colleges in the UK the IP6/2 is 

one of the best additions you could make for your 

bodyshop.” 


01722 422270 or www.wielanderschill.co.uk 

estimating system designed 

for today’s Vehicle Damage 

Assessor who has to deal with 

multiple clients with individual 

SLAs as well as prepare methods 

packs for the workshop,” said 

Michael Nixon, Managing 

Director, Inter-est. “The extended 

functionality will help to streamline 

the entire assessment process 

and offer a speedier estimating 

solution. We went for the 

Windows-look because it is such 

a familiar software package to 

most people, so that users will 

feel comfortable with it.” 


01625 616020 or 

www.inter-est.net 

solid and effect colours. Narrowing the choice 

like this brings even faster results. 

If desired, refinishers can choose to have 

the formula as ready-for-use mixed paint for 

faster overall mixing. All selected formulas 

(colour-only or ready-for-use) can be 

imported at the click of a mouse into the 

CRplus colour software and stored in the 

bodyshop’s own formula database. The 

formula can be sent straight to the PC scales 

for easier and more accurate mixing. 


www.spieshecker.co.uk

56BODYSHOP 

Today, Mirka are recognised 

as a world leader in abrasive 

technology innovation. Within 

the space of just over 70 years 

worldwide the company has 

evolved from a modest trading 

enterprise to become one of 

the world’s largest abrasive 

manufacturers. 

Here in the UK, Mirka celebrated 

their 30th birthday in 2009 and 

are looking forward to another 

30 years of success through 

innovation. Having grown from 

being a sole trader in 1979 

Mirka Abrasives Limited are 

now a multi-million pound 

company, specialising in surface 

preparation systems. Mirka 

aims to continue focusing on the 

additional benefits they provide 

to bodyshops which include: 

• net sanding technical training 

support 

• unique dust free net sanding 

range 

• technical sales team which 

cover the length of the UK 

• revolutionary Abrasives 

technology 

• cost effective products 

Simon Bloxham, Vice President 

of Mirka Europe, Middle East and 

Africa commented on Mirka’s 

30th in the UK. “From humble 

beginnings selling through 

import agents in the 1960’s to 

being the first manufacturer to 

offer foam backed, cloth faced 

abrasives, and first to offer a net 

based abrasive offering virtually 

dust free sanding Mirka in the 

UK have grown into a market 

leading abrasives manufacturer 

with a reputation for quality and 

innovation. I am proud to have 

been part of that development 

and look forward to the 

immediate and long term future.” 

Mirka’s current range of 

Abrasives includes several 

patented and exclusive 

abrasive products that cannot 

be reproduced by any other 

manufacturer. For example, 

with its NETsanding concept, 

Mirka became the first abrasives 

manufacturer in the world to 

develop a dust-free sanding 

solution that actually achieved 

what it set out to do - sand 

without dust! This patented 

sanding material consists of a 

dense ‘net’ structure containing 

literally thousands of tiny holes 


Celebrating 30 years of innovation 

Simon Bloxham 

that allow dust and other 

particles to be efficiently 

vacuumed away to prevent them 

clogging the disc surface. Two 

products use the NETsanding 

technology, Abranet and Autonet, 

and their dust-free surface 

finishing performance has proven 

so superior to traditional systems 

they have already changed 

many bodyshops’ perceptions of 

sanding. 

These products include: 

• Abralon 1997 

• Abranet 2000 

• Polarshine 2006 

• Polarstar 2007 

• Autonet 2008 

• Abranet HD 2009 

• CEROS Sander 2009 

As well as producing unique 

abrasive products, Mirka also 

offers unique complementary 

products, such as sanding 

machines, backing pads and 

hand sanding blocks. Importantly, 

they have all been specially 

designed and developed for use 

with Mirka abrasive products 

and to achieve maximum 

performance in every sanding 

operation. For professionals, 

it’s vital to select a machine 

that’s comfortable and easy to 

use in everyday work which is 

why Mirka concentrated on user 

friendliness and ergonomics, 

as well as performance and 

efficiency, when developing its 

machines. 


www.mirka.com

58BODYSHOP 

The world’s most popular car colours announced 

The 57th annual DuPont Global Automotive 

Colour Popularity Report has just been released. 

It highlights the fact that silver, black and white are 

still the top ranked colours worldwide in 2009. 

Even though regional differences remain, the 

report’s results suggest an ongoing convergence 

of colour choice globally with colour preferences 

becoming more homogeneous across regions. 

While the top three colours - black, white and 

silver - continue to dominate around the globe, 

in Europe, black represents 27% of the market 

and continues to gain popularity over silver, which 

covers 19.9%. White keeps growing, becoming 

third favourite colour choice with 10.2% of the 

market. 

Linda Van Calster, Marketing and Communications 

manager for DuPont Refinish EMEA, comments: 

“One of the reasons why DuPont puts this report 

together is to keep a close eye on new vehicle 

colours and technology advancements for the 

Jig conversions on the increase 

Tri-Sphere is making conversion 

to Globaljig Systems easier 

by supplying an increasing 

amount of refurbished equipment 

to bodyshop managers. 

“The recent downturn has left 

bodyshop managers looking for 

New sanding range 

3M have extended their Multihole technology 

to a new bodyshop range of highly efficient 

abrasive sheets and ergonomically designed 

handblocks. 

Designed to offer the best solution for efficient 

filler sanding, the 3M Hookit Purple+ Multihole 

system comprises five new dust-extraction 

handblocks with abrasive sheets in grades 

P80 to P500. 

3M Multihole abrasive technology, which 

has delivered outstanding improvements in 

abrasive disc performance, has been applied 

to this new hand-sanding range. To achieve 

Refinishing “Hot Magenta“ 

“Hot Magenta“ is the name of an 

extraordinary and popular colour 

developed especially for the new 

Ford Fiesta. This shimmering 

purple-blue shade features a 

particular freshness and brilliance, 

helped by a tinted clearcoat which 

enhances the richness of the colour. 

To give perfect colour accuracy for 

repairs, a clearcoat containing a 

special additive is sprayed after the 

application of the basecoat. To help 

Standox offers precise refinishing 

instructions for this sophisticated 

finish. Apart from providing the 

required mixing formulations, the 

instructions also explain the entire 

refinishing process step by step. 

industry as a whole and to help develop colour 

palettes for the future. Thanks to its strong link with 

DuPont OEM paint division, DuPont Refinish is 

able to develop new refinish paint colours quickly 

to match the latest OEM colours.” 

The report highlights the fact that cultural, societal 

and demographic influences can shift regional 

trends over time with colour preferences changing 

from year to year because of a variety of factors 

including the types of vehicles introduced, reduced 

vehicle size, consumer tastes and even the 

economy. 

The DuPont Global Automotive Colour Popularity 

Report is the industry’s only report to 

include detailed information on the automotive 

markets in a variety of countries and regions 

worldwide. 


www.dupont.com 

low cost investment alternatives 

that will generate good long term 

returns. Globaljig Conversion 

kits use a clever mix of new and 

used parts to generate such 

solutions. It’s an answer that 

means less expenditure on new 

the extraction of sanding debris, tiny holes are 

arranged in a chevron pattern on the sanding 

sheet. These holes align with slits in the 

handblock and the directional movement when 

sanding results in a direct air-flow from the 

handblock to the extraction system. 

The 396mm sanding sheets have also been 

produced with a patented kiss-cut design 

which enables them to be easily and cleanly 

split in half to produce sheets for the popular 

198mm handblock. 

Dave Nimmey of 3M’s Automotive Aftermarket 

Division says: “3M’s Multihole technology 

Standox is one of Europe’s leading 

manufacturers of automotive 

refinishing paints. With their 

headquarters in Wuppertal, 

Germany, the company offers 

innovative and environmentally 

compatible product systems 

worldwide. Standox seeks to build 

long-term relationships with its 

customers based on premium 

product quality, and high levels of 

practical support. 

Approvals from all major 

manufacturers reflect the 

company’s position as a leading 

partner to the automotive industry. 

As such, the Standox brand gives 

professional refinishers the 

equipment, on bracket hire and 

complete access to the Globaljig 

mono-cube all makes chassis 

straightening system,” says 

Tri-Sphere Director Jim 

Masterson. 

All refurbished parts are supplied 

reassurance of perfect results 

every time. 


and installed by Tri-Sphere, 

complete with a warranty and an 

initial user-training package. 


01785 282864 or 

www.tri-sphere.co.uk 

proved to be a massive leap forward in 

abrasive disc performance and we are now 

able to offer the same advantages in our 

hand-sanding range. As well as the operational 

efficiency of the system, the versatility of the 

abrasive sheets offers benefits to stores, 

purchasing departments and bodyshop 

management by reducing stockholding, time 

and wastage and adding the potential for 

increased profitability.” 


www.3Mbodyshop.co.uk 


www.standox.co.uk/magenta 



Klarius wins award for green innovation 

The 2010 Car and Accessory 

Trader (CAT) Industry Award 

for ‘Green Innovation’, voted for 

by the independent automotive 

aftermarket, has been won by 

Klarius. The Klarius campaign 

to turn ‘British racing green’ was 

spearheaded by a combination 

of the UK R&D centre and the 

extremely pro-active UK sales 

team developing a racing catalytic 

converter for road car based race 

series. 

Eight awards were up for grabs, 

CAT readers - and motorists 

- voted for the people and 

companies who made the biggest 

contribution to the industry and / 

or helped business to flourish. 

The recent Autosport International Show at 

the NEC in Birmingham turned out to be an 

event of both exhilaration and frustration for 

performance experts Janspeed. 

The Salisbury-based specialist had a full team 

of engineers and consultants on their stand in 

the trade section of the show and orders are 

now coming in as a result. 

“It’s really frustrating doing what we do 

because much of it is secret and we can 

never talk about it,” said Janspeed Managing 

Director Mark Vaughan. 

Paul Hannah and Doug Bentley 

of Klarius flank Paul Payne of Denso 

Some 100 people attended the 

lunch ceremony, along with guest 

speakers and industry personalities 

on Friday, January 22 at the 

Lensbury Hotel in Teddington, 

where the winners were 

announced. 

Doug Bentley, the Head of the 

Klarius UK R&D Centre, received 

the award on behalf of Klarius. “I’d 

like to thank everyone who voted 

for us, we are really pleased to 

gain the industry recognition for our 

green initiatives. The design for the 

race series catalytic converter was 

based on our road car technology, 

but improving the efficiency and the 

gas flow through the catalyst matrix 

in order to keep emissions low, but 

CATS&EXHAUSTS59 

the power high.” 

Paul Hannah, Business 

Development Director for the 

Klarius Group, added: “Winning 

the award is a great boost to all the 

people at Klarius who are working 

towards improved efficiency and 

better product performance. I 

hope it also adds weight to the 

still ongoing issue of the huge 

reductions in pollution that would 

be possible if the UK aftermarket 

only used fuel efficient, fully typeapproved 

exhausts, as they do in 

the rest of Europe.” 

Klarius, manufacturers over 2 

million replacement exhausts 

and catalytic converters per 

year in its UK factories, and also 

sponsors motorsport events such 

the Ma5da Racing, Mazda MX5 

Championship, and the BTRDA 

UK rally series. Klarius also 

manufactures exhaust systems 

and CATs for road car based race 

series, so the link between the 

commercial world and the racing 

world is a very real one for the 

company. 

The Klarius racing CAT which is 

available to all road car based race 

series dramatically reduces harmful 

emissions without adversely 

affecting the performance of a race 

car. Unlike road cars, racing cars 

are not required by law to have a 

Business booms for exhaust experts 

“There were cars and performance mods at 

the show which everyone marvelled at and 

I had to do my ‘divorced Dad’ bit and stand 

at the back looking proud while being really 

pleased at what our creations are achieving for 

our clients. 

“One of the problems facing the tuning and 

aftermarket industry, and manufacturers who 

offer things like modified exhausts for their 

cars to increase performance, is that tighter 

German regulations make it very difficult to 

take non-standard cars to places like the 

Nurburgring to put them through their paces. 

“The German authorities are now being quite 

strict, I’m told, which is causing owners to 

think twice about taking their cars to the 

circuit. As a result, we are working hard to gain 

TUV approval for our parts and this will allow 

owners to once more take full pleasure from 

their cars.” 

Janspeed’s engineering and commercial team 

had lengthy discussions during Autosport 

International regarding OEM, sports and aftermarket 

exhaust systems from manifolds and 

after-treatment right through to silencer design, 

development, validation and manufacture. 

catalytic converter fitted; Most CATs 

will reduce a cars power which is 

unsuitable for racing. With the new 

racing CATs Klarius is hoping to 

prove that Britain can lead the way 

in green gracing. 

The racing catalytic converter 

for the Mazda MX5 has been 

developed to work with a 

customised exhaust system that 

Klarius has also designed for 

use by the Mazda MX5 racing 

championship. The CATs and 

exhausts draw on the design 

and manufacture expertise of the 

mass produced products from 

Klarius aftermarket replacement 

products that are designed to 

match or exceed the quality 

and performance of the original 

equipment (OE) manufacturer’s 

parts. 

Both the commercial road car 

and the ‘racing green’ CATs 

and exhausts from Klarius are 

constructed using light weight 

and highly corrosion resistant 

materials and could be used for a 

host of other road car based racing 

vehicles. Anyone interested in 

talking to Klarius about developing 

a unit for another model or car can 

contact the UK sales team directly. 


www.klarius.eu 

Since the show, the discussions have been 

taking shape as orders for development work 

on existing and new models. 

“We displayed a number of recent projects, 

cementing our ability to offer a full service 

supplier approach to exhaust system projects 

with an engineering-led approach that delivers 

projects to manufacture from initial concept,” 

added Vaughan. 

“Cost and lead-time in the manufacture of 

prototype parts can be dramatically reduced 

as we are able to carry out design and 

development using CAD and CAE tools for 

exhausts and engine modifications such as 

cylinder head development. 

“While much of what we create is secret, 

people visiting our stand somehow were able 

to tell us what we had been doing. It’s fair to 

say they could hear some of it in the live arena 

too. 

“The result is that our business is now getting 

a great performance boost of its own to 

accelerate us away from the recession.” 


www.janspeed.com

60CATS&EXHAUSTS 

New Business Development Executive 

Fuel Parts UK, a leading supplier 

of premium fuel and emissions 

components, have made a new 

addition to its field sales team after 

appointing David McKinnon as their 

representative for the Scottish and 

Northern England regions. 

David has worked over 30 years in 

the motor trade. His experience has 

included seven years as a mechanic 

and 23 years in the aftermarket, 

covering a wide range of products, 

everything from steering and 

suspension, performance parts, paint 

to engine management components 

and catalytic converters. 

As the Fuel Parts representative 

for the North - an area including 

all counties from Cumbria to 

Inverness-shire - McKinnon will 

be responsible for dealing with the 

company’s entire portfolio. 

Fuel Parts Sales Director, John Lord, 

said: “David’s knowledge of the 

automotive aftermarket is second 

to none. I’m sure his expertise 

will enhance the confidence our 

customers have in us and our 

products.” 

McKinnon is relishing the 

challenge that his new role at 

FPUK will bring and he cited the 

strong relationship that he already 

has with a number of Fuel Parts 

customers as the foundations he is 

planning to build on. 

David commented “As the Scottish 

and northern representative, my 

targets are to increase business and 

to enhance the service that I can give 

to the customers. I’m planning to be 

as flexible as I can to make 

Increased Cat and DPF Ranges 

2010 looks set be another exciting year for all 

involved with BM Catalysts. There have already 

been additions to the range of diesel particulate 

filters (DPF), now covering over 35 different 

fitments. 

Demand for DPF continues to grow, and it’s 

important to note that BM are encouraging 

sure they get the best out of Fuel 

Parts as a company and the 

products that we offer.” 

their distributors to keep stock of the items to 

ensure the product is readily available, and 

not something that is only on offer from a main 

dealer. The next couple of months will also 

see the introduction of over 150 new approved 

parts. BM Catalysts continue to invest heavily 

in the approval to ensure they maintain the 

Piper Exhausts have just released 

a full three inch (76.2mm) turbo 

back performance exhaust system 

for the Vauxhall Corsa VXR and 

Opel Corsa OPC. 

The system has been designed 

in conjunction with specialist 

Vauxhall tuners, Courtenay Sport 

and developed at Piper’s state of 

the art research and design centre 

at Folkestone, using their new 

flow testing equipment. Fitted with 

a sports cat this system produced 

a whopping 18 bhp improvement 

when tested on Courtenay’s 

rolling road All the components 

are made from T304 aircraft 

quality stainless steel throughout 

and feature a large 3” bore and 

mandrel bent curves to maximise 

gas flow. 



01527 835555 or 

www.fpuk.co.uk 

market’s demand for the product. To keep up 

to date with all product releases, developments 

and news, you can now follow BM Catalysts on 

Twitter, or keep an eye on the website blog. 


www.bmcatalysts.co.uk 

Performance exhaust for Corsa 

Dave McKinnon 

The system is ideal for owners 

wishing to further enhance the 

car’s performance both for fast 

road and trackday use. 

It can be supplied with or without 

a central silencer. 


01692 404060 or 01303 245300



Strut your stuff 

Many workshops today perhaps 

believe that gas springs are still a 

dealer-only product. 

This is not the case, however, as 

Lesjöfors produce a comprehensive 

range of OE matching quality gas 

springs and their current catalogue 

features over 1000 part numbers, 

complete with end fittings and 

covering almost every European and 

Asian vehicle. The aftermarket for 

replacement gas springs is growing 

year on year and because Lesjofors 

are a full range manufacturer 

they claim you will find the pricing 

competitive when compared with the 

main dealers. 

A gas spring is made up of a tube 

filled with pressurised nitrogen gas, 

a little oil, a piston, piston rod, seal 

and end fittings. The function of an 

automotive gas spring is to support 

the opening and closing of the 

vehicle’s boot or bonnet. This aides 

the elevation, holds the weight once 

open and allows for a controlled 

close. 

When the piston is pushed in 

to the tube, the nitrogen gas is 

compressed towards the bottom 

of the chamber creating resistant 

pressure. As soon as the energy 

forcing the piston inside the tube 

is released, for example when a 

boot latch is opened, the nitrogen 

expands, forcing the piston back 

out of the chamber. This process 

is reliant on the gas being able to 

pass through small channels in the 

piston during the stroke to allow it to 

continue moving down the chamber 

without a continual increase in force. 

Gas springs are of course 

manufactured with different forces 

to accommodate the range of loads 

depending, for example, on the 

weight of the vehicle’s tailgate. 

Lesjofors gas springs also use 

‘hydraulic damping’ involving a 

small amount of oil, slowing down 

the speed of the stroke immediately 

before reaching full extension. This 

gives the movement a braking 

character towards full extension. 

Due to the high amount of constant 

pressure within the chamber, gas 

springs have a maximum life span, 

shortened by the regular movement 

of the piston and exposure to the 

elements. Lesjofors springs are 

designed to have a maximum 

pressure degradation of just 10% 

after a massive 40,000 cycles in 

ideal conditions. 

However, there are several external 

factors which can cause a gas 

spring to fail. Dirt and other 

outside particles can build up on 

the piston rod while extended, which 

are then mixed with 

the nitrogen 

and lubricating 

oil once 

compressed, 

leading to slight 

defects in the 

chamber seal. 

Once the seal has 

become worn or 

damaged, nitrogen 

and oil are allowed to 

escape, reducing the 

force of the spring and 

resulting eventually in 

complete failure. 

Additionally, it should 

be remembered that 

since the end seals are 

made from rubber, they will 

naturally age and degrade 

over time. Lesjofors therefore 

recommends that stockists 

operate a ‘first in, first out’ 

policy. 

The gas spring aftermarket is 

growing steadily, as more and 

more new vehicles are fitted 

with bonnet struts as standard, 

in addition to boot struts. Like coil 

springs, gas springs should always 

be replaced in pairs, as degradation 

occurs at the same rate across 

both. Replacing just one spring 

can significantly reduce the life 

expectancy of the other, and cause 

a possible safety risk as the boot 

or bonnet may not be supported 

securely. 

All Lesjofors gas springs are 

supplied from stock, with availability 

consistently over 98% and a 

nationwide distribution network 

ensuring the shortest possible 

delivery times. The company say 

that it is no surprise that many of 

Europe’s most respected spare 

parts distributors choose Lesjofors 

as their complete spring supplier. 


www.lesjoforsab.com 

SSS63

64SSS 

Quality issue 

Due to the design complexities of this ball joint, 

and the unique way in which it locates into the 

swivel hub, First Line insists on supplying only 

an original equipment sourced component for 

this application. 

The ‘fingers’ on a First Line / OE joint (A) 

incorporate a locating mechanism into the 

design, so that when the component is fitted 

correctly, it ‘clicks’ into place for an exact fit 

and to ensure true alignment. This joint also 

Smooth operator 

Universal Automotive are the 

primary distributor for Monroe 

throughout the UK and Eire. The 

Monroe range includes; coil springs, 

hydro-pneumatic spheres, mounting 

KYB Europe have launched a comprehensive 

extension to their existing range of suspension 

mounting kits, more than doubling the number 

of vehicles covered. 

contains an OE bearing and seal. 

A non-OE type joint (B) does not have the 

locating mechanism and therefore it is possible 

that it can be fitted incorrectly which could lead 

to premature failure. 

The bearing and seal on this type of joint are 

also not of OES manufacture. 


01869 248484 or www.firstline.co.uk 

kits, protection kits - incorporating 

dust cover and bump-stops - and a 

plethora of shock absorbers. 

Callum Goodland, Operations 

Director for Universal Automotive 

Expanded suspension mounting kit range 

said: “The ability to provide our 

factor customers with a top of the 

range suspension brand, that is also 

a trusted OEM/S supplier, allows 

them to compete strongly in a 

The range has grown from 152 to 334 part 

numbers and importantly now includes rear 

applications as well as those for the front of 

the vehicle. These additional part numbers 

cover over 450 vehicle applications. 

Suspension mounting kits improve the link 

between the shock absorber and the chassis. 

They improve handling and control and 

increase the life of the shock absorber and 


tough market. When considering 

the automotive suspension sector, 

the reputation of the Monroe name 

among the trade is second-to-none 

and public awareness of the brand 

is high.” 

In early 2010, Universal 

Automotive is running a special 

promotion on Monroe shocks 

and springs. Factors purchasing 

these products will earn points 

that can be redeemed against a 

choice of replica model cars. The 

options include: Aston Martin, 

Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini and 

Mercedes. 

Supplementing Monroe is the 

VECO range of matching OE 

quality steering and suspension 

products. The comprehensive 

range of suspension arms, ball 

joints and track-rod ends totals 

more than 4500 references and 

covers 98% of the UK car parc. 


01562 512512 or 

www.universalautomotive.com 

other suspension components. Manufacturers 

recommend they should be replaced at the 

same time as shock absorbers. 

Mike Howarth, Managing Director of 

KYB Western Europe, commented: 

“This investment in extending our range 

demonstrates our continuing commitment to 

strengthen the complete suspension package 

that we offer to our customers.” 

Better known as a global leader in OE and 

aftermarket shock absorber manufacturing, 

KYB also supplies other suspension 

components including coil springs, 

suspension mounting kits and protection kits. 

KYB is the world’s largest supplier of shock 

absorbers to vehicle manufacturers, with 

more than one in four cars leaving production 

lines worldwide fitted with KYB as standard. 


www.kyb-europe.com 



Major developments in steering and suspension 

Steering and suspension have 

been a major growth area for FAI 

Automotive PLC in recent years and 

2010 is set to be an important year 

for further product development. 

The company is in the middle 

of publishing a new selection 

of catalogues, which reflect the 

expanding ranges across its FAI 

Auto Parts offer and nowhere is this 

more relevant than in steering and 

suspension. 

At the beginning of the year, FAI Auto 

Parts’ new Coil Spring Catalogue 

was launched containing the latest 

additions to its range of popular 

spring references, as the FAI Coil 

Spring offer continues to expand. 

Also, from April 2010, FAI’s entire coil 

spring range will also be available on 

the TecDoc system. 

In March, the company will publish a 

major supplement to FAI Auto Parts’ 

existing steering and suspension 

catalogue. The new publication 

details more than 250 new steering 

and suspension parts which cover 

more than 1000 applications, 

bringing the total number of parts in 

FAI’s range to more than 3750. 

Included in the additions to the 

range are a number of parts from 

particularly recent models that FAI 

proudly believes are not available 

through any other quality aftermarket 

brand. Of these FAI has identified 

five key part numbers that will make 

a particular impact. 

These are the left hand and right 

hand side wishbones for the ’07 

Peugeot 308, ’06 Fiat Ducato and 

the ’08 Ford Fiesta, as well as tie 

rods ends for the same model Fiesta 

and link rods for the 2006 Mercedes 

Sprinter. 

FAI have also recruited Gary 

Hammond from First Line, as 

Product Development Manager for 

their steering and suspension range. 

Gary has been examining trends in 

the steering and suspension sector 

and has identified various factors that 

have had an effect on the market, in 

recent times. 

Sales of wishbones and track control 

arms have remained steady but 

notably, over the last year, there 

has been an increase in demand 

for tie rod ends and stabiliser links. 

Some common examples are the 

1999-2005 Rover 25; the Renault 

Laguna from 2000 onwards; the 

1993-1996 GM Corsa; 1998-2004 

Ford Focus; 1998 -2004 GM Astra 

and 1993-2002 Peugeot 306. 

There has also been a higher 

demand for link rods for the 

1997- 2002 Toyota Hi-Lux and 

Hi-Ace, as well as for ball joints for 

the (1998-onwards) Nissan D22. 

The ball joints for the LTI TX1 taxi 

(‘92 onwards) have also become 

significant sellers in the UK market. 

The cold snap experienced in the last 

two years has also had a noticeable 

impact on steering and suspension 

sales because: 

• rubber in wishbones and 

bushes has deteriorated due 

to the salt and chemical 

solutions used to clear roads 

of ice and snow. This 

deterioration has been causing 

a notable increase in 

component failure - particularly 

with bushes. 

• cars have been kerbed more 

frequently due to icy, slippery 

roads. This has caused a 

notable increase in damaged 

steering parts - tie rod ends 

and steering rack ends, as well 

as in suspension parts such 

as ball joints, link rods and 

wishbones. 

• there has been a general 

Increase in the level of crash 

repairs being carried out, due 

to the higher levels of accidents 

in the poor driving conditions 

caused by the bad weather. 


08708391800 or www.faiauto.com 

SSS65

66SSS 

One-millionth ball screw drive 

Precision bearings and automotive 

components supplier the 

Schaeffler Group have reached 

an important milestone after 

the Company produced its 

one-millionth ball screw drive 

for electromechanical steering 

systems. 

Manufactured at the 

Herzogenaurach plant in Germany 

since 2007, Schaeffler’s energy 

efficient ball screw drive is being 

utilised on the electromechanical 

steering system for the Volkswagen 

Tiguan. Schaeffler supplies the ball 

screw drive to Volkswagen, as well 

as a toothed rack, which is partly 

designed as a spindle on which the 

drive is located. Ball screw drives 

are used to transform rotary motion 

into linear motion through a direct 

coupling between the drive element 

and the output element. In the 

Professional lowering spring kits 

Essex Racing have added the 

Ford Focus MK1/2 1998-2004 

(excl Estate) to their Professional 

Lowering Springs range. 

The springs are designed for 

fast road and track day use, with 

a slightly higher compression 

rate to allow faster cornering 

while maintaining stability. The 

Professional range of suspension 

springs are made from Silicone 

Chrome Steel and give a slightly 

harder ride than Essex Racing 

standard lowering springs. 

The kit will lower the ride height 

by approximately 40mm on most 

Focus models. 

Essex Racing Professional 

Suspension Springs carry full 

German TüV standard certification. 

Essex Racing springs are forged 

using the ‘cold-drawn’ method 

to maintain the springs’ tensile 

strength. Following the forging 

Tiguan, the ball nut is driven by a 

servomotor, which is linked to the 

ball screw drive via a belt. 

These low friction, low noise ball 

screw drives play an important role 

in helping to improve a vehicle’s 

fuel consumption and reduce CO2 

emissions. As well as offering the 

driver optimised handling, the latest 

electromechanical steering systems 

can also reduce fuel consumption 

by as much as 3% compared to 

conventional hydraulic steering 

systems. 

A key advantage of an 

electromechanical steering system 

over a hydraulic one is that the 

servomotors require energy only 

when specific steering manoeuvres 

are carried out, whilst hydraulic 

pumps need to maintain hydraulic 

pressure at all times, therefore 

demanding more energy. This 

means that pumps and feeds 

are no longer required on an 

electromechanical system, which 

reduces the space required for 

operating the steering system. 

Other customers of Schaeffler’s 

first one million ball screw drives 

include automotive supplier TRW. 

The ball screw drives are not only 

used in Europe, but also on 


vehicles manufactured in the US by 

Volkswagen, Ford and BMW. The 

aerospace sector is another major 

user of high precision ball screw 

drives, which are often found in an 

aircraft’s tail steering system. 


www.schaeffler.co.uk 

Increased parts offering 

2010 sees the introduction of the long awaited 

Conversion Kit (QKT5020AF) for Mercedes 

Sprinters now available from Quinton Hazell, 

with a variety of other products for the 

European and Japanese vehicle parc now 

available. 

Steering products on offer now include ball 

joints for Hyundai i30, Iveco Daily, Jaguar 

XJ8 and Kia Cee’d. Rack ends for Volvo 850 

and C70, stabiliser links for Chrysler Voyager, 

Kia Picanto and Mercedes 216 and 221, a 

suspension arm for Volvo C70, front suspension 

process, a temperature controlled 

oil based treatment is applied 

to the spring to ensure that the 

required hardness and tension is 

reached, thus giving full operational 

effectiveness throughout the 

springs’ entire lifecycle. 

The SiCr steel is initially treated 

with Zinc-Phosphate, and finished 

in a red Epoxy Resin to provide 

effective protection of the spring. 

The production process is fully 

automated to enable a high degree 

of consistency in the end product. 

The ride will feel firmer and more 

responsive, especially through 

corners - giving the more feedback 

through the steering. Existing 

factory shock absorbers can be 

used with these springs. 


0870 8508016 or 

www.essexracing.co.uk 

Arms for Audi A6, A8, Range Rover Sport, VW 

Phaeton and a variety of Mercedes LCV’s. 

Outer Tie Rod Ends for Hyundai i30, Kai Cee’d, 

Peugeot 407 and Boxers complete the steering 

updates. 

One Water Pump this month is new into the 

range, which fits Land Rover Discovery and 

Range Rover, while the VW Passat and Tiguan 

can benefit from a suspension arm bush. 


www.qha.com

The Motor Trade Professionals - Autoscene | Scots Auto Scene

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