April 2019

www.aftermarketonline.net APRIL 2019 AFTERMARKET 3 CONTENTS BUSINESS 8 Big issue: A tale of two garages 12 Neil Pattemore: Can we talk? 14 Adam Bernstein: You owe me: Part two 16 Klarius: Brexit – Looking good? TECHNICAL 18 John Batten: To scope or not to scope 20 Ring: Three is the magic number 22 Technical update 24 Frank Massey: Steering you right IN FOCUS 27 Snap-on: Snap to it 28 Andy Savva: Top Garage: Top opportunity 31 Top Technician/Top Garage 2019 32 Steering and suspension 36 Wheel alignment 40 ADAS 44 Rotating electrics PLUS... 44 NGK: Lambda sensors 46 General products 49 Competition: Absolute Alignment 50 CV Show preview 52 Garage visit: CAT Technical 54 Top Technician flashback: Anti-lock brakes 56 On the Road: Auto Windscreens conference 58 Training: The Garage Inspector 60 Training update 64 Recruitment: New appointments 66 Teabreak SPRING HAS SPRUNG Editor | Alex Wells alex@aftermarket.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 345 Sales Manager | Claire Hodder claire@aftermarket.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 349 Contributors John Batten | Adam Bernstein | Paul Hannah | Frank Massey | Neil Pattemore | Andy Savva Commercial Director | Ryan Fuller ryan.fuller@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Operations Manager | Ewa Hodden ewa.hodden@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Operations Administrator | Emma Floyd emma.floyd@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Finance Manager | Clare Jackson clare.jackson@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Publishing Director | Ian Atkinson ian.atkinson@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Published by | DFA Media Ltd 192 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1BE Alex Wells, Editor Average net circulation July 2017 to June 2018 21,503 aftermarketmagazine @aftermarket01 ISSN 2516-9149 Aftermarket is published 10 times a year and is sent free of charge to applicants meeting the publisher’s criteria. All others may subscribe at £60 per anum, £120 Europe and £150 rest of the world. While every care is taken to provide accurate information, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or ommisions, no matter how caused. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior consent of the publisher. The views of contributors do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Copyright: DFA MEDIA LTD 2018. W elcome to the latest issue of Aftermarket magazine. As a monthly magazine, we try to provide our readers with the latest information on all things aftermarket-related. As a rule, the further you get from the workshop, the less urgent things get as far as we are concerned. However, nothing exists in a vacuum, and the wider world obviously has an impact. Consumer trends, legislation and the broader economic environment always have a part to play. As a result, we have been covering Brexit as it has an impact on parts supply and the overall economy. We will continue to do so, but as we went to press, the situation was still unclear. Businesses need clarity, and however things go, we hope there will soon be a roadmap to follow, wherever it may lead. On a more upbeat theme, the live semi final of Top Technician 2019 is taking place at the end of this month, so the excitement is really building. As you can see, Top Technician and Top Garage are continuing their progress through 2019. On page 27, we hear from sponsors Snap-on, and how they are continuing to support training across the industry. Then, on pages 28-29 we have a special article from Andy Savva, explaining how Top Garage can help good businesses learn how to become even better. On page 31 we have a round-up of where we are for the competitions. Speaking of good businesses, if you turn to pages 8-11, in this month’s Big Issue you will get to read a tale of two garages. It’s not Dickens, but we think it makes a valuable point. Part of what make a good business is communication, and on pages 12-13 Neil Pattemore is covering why you really need to speak to your customers, and the approach you should take. You need to speak to your staff too, occasionally, particularly about money. With this in mind, Adam Bernstein concludes his two-parter on how to do employee deductions the right way on page 14. On the Brexit-theme, Klarius say it is not all doom and gloom on page 16. Running away from all of that, John Batten finds solace in the joy of the scope. Find out how to do it the right way on pages 18-19. Frank Massey meanwhile is taking us through the serious business of steering, as part of his look at autonomy that started last month. He’s a fan of human-controlled cars, so turn to pages 24-25 to find out why. If you like steering and suspension you have come to the right place, as we have a brilliant feature. Our other features cover rotating electrics, wheel alignment and ADAS. We also cover ADAS as part of our trip out to a recent Auto Windscreens conference. During the month we also sat in on one of Andy Savva’s training courses. It was educational, and we hope you find the April issue of Aftermarket educational too. Enjoy! Alex Wells Editor