Aftermarket July/August 2022 Issue

A fter the last two years of upheaval, it’s time for garages to double-down and look to the future. With the 2030 EV deadline getting closer, this may be the time to invest in a host of new equipment. However, with costs across the board rising, you want to make sure your kit will open up every possible revenue opportunity. Changes in the car parc mean garages will need new equipment, as Clive Seabrook, CEO of Pro-Align, the exclusive UK distributor of Hunter wheel servicing equipment, observed: “Three quarters of a million electric vehicles were on the road in 2021, an increase of 71% according to data from the SMMT. As EV sales continue to grow, workshops need to be equipped and staff trained in order to address a host of new servicing challenges. “As part of the EV revolution, workshops will undoubtedly see more customers who have concerns about vibration issues. Replacing an internal combustion engine with an electronic drivetrain means that drivers will be much more aware of other vibrations, such as those from wheel and tyre assemblies, that would previously have been masked by those coming from the engine. Consequently, workshops need to prepare for this with equipment that can diagnose and solve these issues efficiently and effectively.” Force Clive continued: “The solution is the Hunter Road Force Elite (RFE) diagnostic wheel balancer as traditional wheel balancers are unable to solve the most challenging and subtle of wheel vibration issues other than by trial and error alone. Adopting a unique diagnostic approach, the RFE can provide a fast, first-time fix to any wheel-vibration problems, even doing so in less time than a standard wheel balancer. The RFE differs from standard balancers as it measures tyre forces known as Road Force Variation (RFV) and Lateral Force (LF) to conduct a full diagnostic of the wheel and tyre assembly. It does this by scanning the wheel rim and applying a load via a roller to take the wheel and tyre assembly on a simulated road test. “Once RFV is identified, the balancer provides a ‘ForceMatching’ recommendation which matches the stiff spot on the tyre with the low spot on the wheel rim, minimising any vibrations to give a smoother ride. Where LF is identified due to conicity of the tyres, the RFE even advises of the best position on the vehicle to counteract it for a straighter drive. Clive added: “Undoubtedly, motorists are going to become more demanding of workshops with regard to 46 AFTERMARKET JULY/AUGUST 2022 GARAGE EQUIPMENT www.aftermarketonline.net DOUBLE DOWN TO DOUBLE UP? Find out how the latest kit will provide new advantages for your business, and new avenues in an uncertain world wheel vibration issues. Of course, this isn’t exclusively an EV issue as ride quality continues to improve on all cars. Thankfully though, we’re delighted that once again, the insightful engineers at Hunter have been among the first to identify this future problem and develop a solution that will help workshops provide their customers with the very best levels of service.” For more information, visit: www.pro-align.co.uk Reliability, longevity and accuracy On the MOT equipment front, MAHA UK Sales Manager Nick Austin said that the company’s 2250 EUROSYSTEM is a good addition to any workshop looking to invest in DVSA approved equipment: “As it’s for class 4 and 7 vehicles, the MBT 2250 EUROSYSTEM is appropriate for cars and vans with an axle load up to 3.5t. Built for high volume and repeatability, MOT testers and technicians can be assured of a product that will give them consistent and clear results. Nick continued: “MAHA UK is acutely aware of the need and demands from existing or prospective customers for reliability, longevity and accuracy. For instance, the MBT 2250 EUROSYSTEM is fitted with a consistent speed motor. These motors/gearboxes are assembled in house and designed to withstand extreme torque and stress, giving a longer lifespan of the assembly.” On what EUROSYSTEM is, Nick observed: “EUROSYSTEM controls the brake tester, but where this intuitive software comes into its own is that it can access, test and report Above: EUROSYSTEM from MAHA UK