• Simply great trade shows from Hickleys
• Do I need Motor Trade Insurance?
• CV Show 2014 set for success
• Zend UK launches a new automated self-service booking system
• Diagnostic testing for electric and hybrid vehicles
• The DPF dilemma: no DPF, no MOT!
Simply great trade shows from Hickleys
Hickleys the independent diagnostic and garage equipment specialists have announced the dates of their dedicated trade shows for 2014. Last year saw the launch of “Simply Diagnostics” a new and exciting trade show purely for diagnostic equipment which both impressed and delighted customers. Simply Diagnostics was a new show based on our established annual key programming show called Simply keys, a show geared to key programming and Auto Locksmithing. This year there is a new show called Simply Garage Equipment and as the name suggests is a new and exciting show dedicated to Garage Equipment products.
Put these dates in your diary now:
Simply Garage Equipment March 23rd Taunton, Somerset
Simply Keys May 31st & June 1st Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Simply Diagnostics July 12th & 13th Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Robin Huish Managing Director of Hickleys said “We have good experience of running trade shows as we have organised the largest Key Programming show in the UK for many years and believe we know what the customers want in an interactive trade show. With all of our shows you will find a huge range of equipment, a great mixture of live demonstration, technical information talks and jaw dropping deals, meaning there is something for everyone and always something different going on throughout the day.”
The first show of the year called Simply Garage Equipment is being held on Sunday 23rd March at Hickleys’ head office in Taunton, Somerset and will have many of the leading manufacturers supporting them including Bosch, Stenhoj, Dunlop, Thermobile, Samoa, HPC, Sealey, Draper, Brain Bee, Texa and many more.
Included in many of the live demonstrations will be a fully operational Class V11 ATL MOT bay with a Stenhoj 6m platform lift with pneumatic shaker plate, RAV roller brake tester with large 40” display screen, Tyre changing and balancing on the latest lever-less equipment and computerised wheel alignment from Bosch, together with air conditioning on the latest 1234YF systems and computerised emission analysers and much more.
Throughout the day there will also be short ‘Info Bites’, technical presentations from many industry specialists on subjects such as wheel alignment, MOT Testing, the new air conditioning systems and much more.
Finally as with all Hickley trade shows the ‘on the day deals’ on offer will match the slogan ‘Jaw dropping deals’.
We look forward to meeting you!
To register visit www.hickleys.com
and click on the Simply Garage Equipment registration page now.
MOT Workshop Magazine
Do I need Motor Trade Insurance?
I
f you’re a mechanic, car salesman or valeter you’re obviously going to be spending a lot of time in and around a number of cars each day and probably spending a certain amount of time behind the wheel testing the work you have just done, or even driving the vehicle to an MOT station.
If this is the case then Motor Trade Insurance is a must for you. As well as cover for driving your customers / stock vehicles you may want to also consider getting a Service Liability Policy in place to protect yourself against the work you have undertaken, e.g. you fit some new brakes but for some reason they failed on your customer as they drove home, causing a costly accident. Without the adequate cover in place you could find yourself personally liable for the resulting costs.
So if you find yourself working within the motor trade it’s always worthwhile making sure you are adequately covered for any potential risks you may encounter on a daily basis. If you want to find out more or want a quotation for a motor trade policy why not call One Sure Insurance on 0800 2940215 or go online at www.onesureinsurance.co.uk
MOT Workshop Magazine
CV Show 2014 set for success
With less than three months to go until the doors of Birmingham’s NEC open for the 2014 Commercial Vehicle Show, the level of stand bookings already received clearly indicates that for the UK road freight industry and its myriad ancillary providers and suppliers, business is definitely on the up.
Among the 290 exhibitors already booked, the CV Show organisers are pleased to welcome the return of bodywork and trailer builders including Al-Ko Kober, Cartwright, GM Coachwork, Lawrence David, Montracon, Magyar, Maisonneuve, Maxi-Low, Road Tankers Northern, SDC Trailers, SOMI Trailers, Strongs Plastic Products and Whale Tankers.
The Cool Pavilion in particular is getting a warm reception from companies such as Gray & Adams, Paneltex, Quinn and Solomon Commercials, plus specialist refrigeration equipment suppliers Frigoblock and Thermo King. With 60% of the Cool Pavilion already booked, it looks set to provide visitors with a variety of exhibits not seen since 2008.
The light commercial sector will also be well-represented. Steve Bryant, Vauxhall’s Commercial Vehicle Brand Manager said, “As Britain’s biggest van manufacturer, Vauxhall is delighted to be back at the UK’s largest Commercial Vehicle Show. Vauxhall has always been a big supporter of the CV Show and is very much looking forward to returning to Birmingham in 2014”.
It is particularly interesting to note that, while exhibitor numbers are currently up 26% on 2013, actual space occupied is 17% greater, reflecting the return of many SMEs to the Show for the first time since business declined in late 2008. A positive indication that next year’s Show really will have something for everyone. More information from www.cvshow.com.
The 2014 Commercial Vehicle Show will run from 29 April – 1 May 2014 at the NEC in Birmingham.
For further information visit:
www.cvshow.com
e-mail:
enquiries@cvshow.com
or call +44 (0)1634 261262
MOT Workshop Magazine
Zend UK launches a new automated self-service booking system
Jane Zhou, CEO of Zend UK says “This is all about saving the service manager time and making it quick, easy and convenient for customers to book an appointment using their phone or laptop.
We already have over 400 users of our Zend SMS reminder service that is driving up to 40% of bookings to garages, we see Zend AutoBook as a great way of garages getting even more business with less admin time. Who has time to chase up customers in today’s environment?”
Both Zend SMS and Zend AutoBook are really simple to set-up and they are easy to use for both the service manager and the customer. The combination of automatically sending reminders and then allowing customers to choose the time and date of their appointment is a breakthrough. New bookings are checked against the garage diary and notified to the service staff.
Ron Mitchell of St Johns Wood Autos has been a user of Zend SMS for two years and has just started using Zend AutoBook. Ron says “Zend SMS has been brilliant; most of my bookings come through the system. The new Zend AutoBook system has really got my customers interested; I’m getting 25% of my bookings without having to talk to customers until they arrive with their car. This gives me the chance to focus on customers more than admin – it’s great.”
To find out more, visit the ZEND UK LTD website www.zend-group.com or call them on 020 812 31936
MOT Workshop Magazine
Diagnostic testing for electric and hybrid vehicles
Facom adds a high voltage multimeter with insulation testing capability to its range.
Designed to test high voltage automotive systems and safety rated to IEC61010 (CAT III), the new 715PB multimeter from Facom is the ideal choice when it comes to fast and efficient diagnostic testing of electric and hybrid vehicles.
In addition to offering an array of multimeter functions, the 715PB incorporates an insulation testing utility. This useful feature enables workshop technicians to carry out insulation testing of the electric motor coil winding, where leaking current can lead to poor performance and breakdown.
Features include:
• Insulation tester 0.1 to 4.000MΩ at 250V, 500V and 1000V
• AC/DC voltmeter: 0 to 600V
• AC/DC ammeter: 0 to 400mA
• Ohmmeter: 1Hz to 100Khz
• Diode tester
• Continuity tester
The 715PB multimeter is supplied in a soft protective case and list price is £399 plus VAT
Alison Howard, UK Marketing Manager for Facom, says, “The new 715PB multimeter offers our customers the convenience of owning one tool that performs every key test required when checking electric and hybrid vehicles. This means big savings for them, in both time and money.”
For further information on Facom or to find your local stockist visit: www.facom.com
MOT Workshop Magazine
The DPF dilemma: no DPF, no MOT!
In February 2014 the MOT Test for diesel cars is set to be tightened with focus being placed on vehicles fitted with a diesel particulate filter as standard.
Roads Minister Robert Goodwill announced in December 2013; “Garages and Testing Stations will be required to check for a diesel particulate filter (DPF) in the inspection of the exhaust system as part of the MOT Test (or annual test for heavy vehicles).”
This means that removing and re-mapping the vehicle’s ECU is no longer a legal route, leaving two fast turn-around options if your DPF is over blocked and will not regenerate.
1) Replace the filter at a cost of between £600.00 to £3000.00 depending on the model.
Or;
2) Call the expert DPF team at Sol-X and clean the filter in situ, using the Sol-X professional DPF Cleaning Kit, whilst the vehicle is in the workshop. The process is fast and efficient and leads to a reduction of soot and ash to allow regeneration to take place.
Richard Mason, Managing Director of Sol-X, the Yorkshire based British brand of trade-only treatments and chemicals says, “In the current economic climate, many vehicle owners are looking more closely at the cost of repairs. For several years now Sol-X have worked closely with independent and franchised main dealer workshops experiencing problems with DPFs. We have developed a robust system which is a credible alternative to fitting a new DPF, whilst keeping costs to a minimum. In turn it also allows for an excellent workshop profit opportunity.”
The Sol-X Professional DPF Cleaning Kit starts from as little as £300.
For further information please 01302 708895 or email info@solxsolutions.com
MOT Workshop Magazine