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www.aftermarketonline.net NOVEMBER 2021 AFTERMARKET 3 CONTENTS BUSINESS 8 Big issue: E10 continues 12 Adam Bernstein: Unfortunate events 12 Rebecca Pullan: Will you fit this? 16 MEWA: Cleanliness in the workshop 18 Holograms drive parts identification TECHNICAL 20 Frank Massey: Current measurement 22 Snap-on: A zero and one sum game 26 Neil Currie: Common people TOP TECHNICIAN/TOP GARAGE 28 VARTA: Supporting the trade 31 Top Technician and Top Garage special IN FOCUS 40 Shaftec: Flex to the future 42 Steering and suspension 44 Remanufactured components 48 Clutch and transmission 50 Filters PLUS... 52 General products/Competition 54 Automechanika Frankfurt Digital Plus 56 LKQ Euro Car Parts Innovation Centre 58 Garage visit: Longton Test Centre 60 EVs and hybrids 62 Training update 64 Recruitment 66 Teabreak AND FINALLY… Editor | Alex Wells alex@aftermarket.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 345 Contributors Damien Coleman | Neil Currie | Dr. Paul Dunn | Rebecca Pullan Frank Massey | Joe Toakley | Günes Yenen Sales Manager | Daniella Gavin Daniella@aftermarket.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 349 Managing 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 Project Liaison Manager | Emma Floyd emma.floyd@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Finance Manager | Caren Brown caren.brown@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Chief Executive | 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 2019 to June 2020 23,616 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 2021. O n Saturday 9 October, Top Technician and Top Garage 2021 came to their exciting conclusions. The finals for both competitions were held at In Town Automotive in Northampton, the home of sponsors TechMan. Following the finals, the winners were announced at the Top Technician and Top Garage Awards Evening, which was held at the Jurys Inn Milton Keynes that evening. You can read all about the finals, and the event, as well as find out who won in our pull-out special, on pages 31-38. It was a fascinating day. Apart from getting to see how the best mechanics and businesses in the sector operate, I got to spend some quality time with the readers, en masse. You might be used to seeing your customers every day, but for a magazine editor it’s a bit different. I received quite a complement from one star-struck reader: “Meeting the Editor of Aftermarket is a big deal, it’s like meeting a celebrity.” I blushed as my chest swelled with pride. “Oh really?” I replied. “Yes” he countered, “it’s like meeting Jonathan Ross!” The chest deflated a little as I asked: “Would you like me to lisp?” He meant well at least… So, what else do we have on the slate? Following September’s fuel supply issues, we continue to look at the potential impact of E10 fuel on vehicles, and the sector as a whole. That is in Big Issue on pages 8-11. This issue also sees the return of Adam Bernstein, who is taking us through how to plan for the unexpected (bet you didn’t see that coming) in a new two-parter beginning this month. That’s on page 12. Then, Rebecca Pullan from Carmaster in Harrogate is back as this issue’s Garage Inspector Graduate. If you turn to page 14, you can find out her thoughts on fitting customer-supplied parts. Also on the business front, we have a piece from MEWA on cleanliness in the workshop. That is on page 16, while on page 18, there is a look at the importance of authentication holograms on parts packaging. You mean they’re not just there to rub so you can find out if the part is for an Autobot or a Decepticon? It’s just me doing that? Moving on... On the technical front, Frank Massey is looking at current measurement on pages 20-21, while Snap-on’s Damien Coleman is considering the role of Binary within the automotive sphere. That is on pages 22-25. Then, Neil Currie brings us another tale from north of the border, one that reminds us about the importance of process for even the most common faults. That is on pages 26-27. If that’s not enough, we visit a garage that just opened in June and is already looking to expand, check out LKQ Euro Car Parts’ new innovation centre in Poland, and whiz around Automechanika Frankfurt Digital Plus. We also have features on steering and suspension, remanufactured components, clutch and transmission and filters. There also is a special piece from Shaftec. We even hear from VARTA about how they have been backing garages as they emerge from the pandemic. Oh, there’s that word. One thing you won’t find in this issue is the Coronavirus round-up. For the first time since the May 2020 issue, we don’t have it. Furlough finally ended on 30 September, so we have decided to rest it, for now. Enjoy!