July/August 2019

52 AFTERMARKET JULY/AUGUST 2019 AUTOMECHANIKA BIRMINGHAM 2019 www.aftermarketonline.net content is delivered in video format and courses feature downloadable support material. Jon Pritchard, General Sales and Marketing Manager at GS Yuasa Battery Sales UK, said: “The reaction to GS Yuasa Academy has been fantastic. Our customers have been impressed with the wide range of courses on offer, how these battery related topics are broken down into easy-to-follow, bite sized modules, and how upon completion of each course a downloadable certificate is achieved." MAHLE Aftermarket ADAS was the focus for MAHLE Aftermarket at the show. Sharing the stage this year with MAHLE Brain Bee, MAHLE exhibited the TechPRO ADAS machine, alongside the ATX180 Fluid Pro. Launched at Automechanika Frankfurt in 2018, the TechPRO ADAS solution allows workshops to adjust and calibrate driver assistance systems using just a digital calibration panel. Jonathan Walker, General Manager Aftermarket UK & Ireland, MAHLE, said: “Automechanika Birmingham presents the ideal opportunity to communicate with the aftermarket and listen to customer requirements, enabling us to develop our broad range of aftermarket solutions." Launch UK Among the Launch UK kit making its first appearance at Automechanika was the EuroTab II, the SmartBox 3.0, and, X-431 ADAS, the company’s latest ADAS camera and radar calibration equipment. Also on show was the BST-860 battery tester system, the Pilot TPMS, and the TIT- 201 Thermal imaging camera. Dave Richards, Launch UK Managing Director, said: “Automechanika is the ideal platform to reveal our newest range of diagnostics solutions, and the perfect opportunity to show customers the extensive level of support they receive." NGK Visitors were racing over to the NGK stand on the second day of the show, where they hoped to meet racing driver Nicolas Hamilton. The 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) competitor was the VIP guest of NGK, meeting visitors, signing autographs and showing off his skills on a virtual reality racing simulator. Visitors also had the opportunity to try the simulator, with Rich Haines recording the fastest lap time over the three days of the show and winning the BoxClever Cup and a Amazon Echo Plus. The stand featured the company’s new range of NTK camshaft and crankshaft sensors and the first 200 garage visitors each day received a free LED Pocketstar torch. The new sensors, comprising more than 200 UK-specific part numbers, were displayed alongside the company’s full product range which includes new NTK ‘5-wire’ Lambda sensors, Mass Air Flow (MAF) and Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensors and OE spark plugs and glow plugs, plus ignition coils. MAM Software MAM Software was showing off its new automotive accessories catalogue, which provides support for tools, equipment, car care, consumables and accessories. The company also demonstrated Autocat v9.1, the latest version of Autocat. In addition, the company was highlighting updates to its Autowork Online garage software, including a new on-demand MOT history feature. Visitors could also preview MAM's forthcoming TeamView technicians' efficiency and management module. Schaeffler More than 600 garages took up the invitation from Schaeffler to send at least one technician to Automechanika Birmingham to visit their enormous, all-encompassing stand. Schaeffler was encouraging visitors to get hands-on with a series of mixed and augmented reality exhibits. In case you had trouble finding the stand, it featured a Schaeffler BMW M4 DTM on a ramp. That made it easier to spot. 300 Schaeffler VIPs were treated to an presentation and audio tour, followed by lunch on the stand, before taking away an exclusive REPXPERT technician’s messenger bag. Another 300 REPXPERT VIPs also had lunch and a goody bag, before entering the INA Torque Challenge competition. Schaeffler gave away eight torque wrenches every day to technicians that performed the best after learning about the importance of using correct torque settings. Edd China also popped up again, visiting the stand on Wednesday and Thursday to sign copies of his new book, Grease Junkie. The company also used the show to unveil the REPXPERT app. This will enable users to source product details for repair solutions and installation instructions, as well as gain access to TecDoc and product details from across the aftermarket. Registered users can log-in using their existing details, while new members can sign- up, via the REPXPERT app, free-of- charge. HELLA HELLA had a big stand at this year's event, as always. There were two particular areas of interest from the company, ADAS, and the company's CSC-Tool Mobile, a portable version of the CSC-Tool. As well as new product launches, HELLA provided training sessions and talks. Helen Goldingay, Senior Head of Marketing and Communications for HELLA UK, commented: “Automechanika Birmingham is a great opportunity for us to speak with our current and meet with potential new customers. Our focus was to continue to educate the aftermarket regarding the importance of ADAS technologies and the impact they are having on the industry. This year however, visitors were far more aware of ADAS and the investment they need to make in their businesses in order to keep pace with, and benefit from, the ongoing developments. “The show as a whole seemed to have more of an emphasis on how workshops need to future proof their business and I’m glad to see this change because as new technology becomes commonplace, independent workshops need to know how to undertake its service and repair with confidence.” Below: Aftermarket contributer Andy Savva shares his knowledge on the OESAA stand