Aftermarket December/January 2023

www.aftermarketonline.net DECEMBER/JANUARY 2023 AFTERMARKET 3 CONTENTS BUSINESS 8 Big issue: Hopes and fears for 2023 14 Adam Bernstein: Disarming an angry customer part 2 16 Q&A: eBay Green Parts TOP TECHNICIAN/TOP GARAGE 18 Top Technician and Top Garage 2023 launch TECHNICAL 22 Aftermarket of the future 24 Frank Massey: Rocker on Tommy? 26 Ryan Colley: Is it there or not? 28 Snap-on: Wheel alignment 30 Snap-on: Triton-D10 32 Schaeffler REPXPERT: VW Polo 34 Repairify: Calibrations 36 Kalimex: And the winner is… IN FOCUS 38 Fuel systems and cleaners 42 Wheel and body alignment 44 ADAS 46 Training and apprenticeships 50 Diagnostic tools 54 Winter checks PLUS... 56 Competition/General products 58 Garage visit: VRT 60 EVs and hybrids 62 Training update 67 Buyers Guide CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA Editor | Alex Wells alex@aftermarket.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 345 Managing Director | Ryan Fuller ryan.fuller@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Media Sales Executive | Hayley Sibley Hayley@aftermarket.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 349 Contributors Adam Bernstein | Ryan Colley | Neil Kennett | Frank Massey | Martin Pinnell-Brown Operations Manager | Emma Floyd emma.floyd@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Marketing Executive | Hope Jepson hope.jepson@dfamedia.co.uk | +44 (0) 1732 371081 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 Aftermarket Media Ltd 192 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1BE Alex Wells, Editor Average net circulation July 2021 to June 2022 19,073 @aftermarketmagazine @aftermarket01 @aftermarketmagazine 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 2022. A s I write this, myself and the team are mere hours away from completing the December/January double issue of Aftermarket. The Editor’s Welcome is usually one of the last things written before I sign the whole thing off, and then go on what I refer to as Christmas Walkabout, where I spend the next few weeks in a Champagne supernova haze of end-of-year awards, sector conferences and grand industry dinners. I go so you don’t have to, honestly. It’s my gift to you all. Seriously, there is at least one major event a week from now until Christmas, and there is often more than that. Somehow, the work on the next issue takes place all the same. I’m not sure how sometimes. As we round it all up for the year, there is always something you wish made it into the issue you just finished. For example, I’m slightly miffed that we can’t fit in coverage of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, A.K.A Budget 2023 The Re-Boot, which is also happening in a few hours. Unfortunately, we need to get this one out the door, as time waits for no one, and printers certainly don’t. This is one of the problems with monthly magazines. By the time an issue is out, the news has become history. That being said, in this very column last issue I mused on whether Jeremy Hunt would still be Chancellor of the Exchequer in a month’s time. Four weeks later, he is still there so perhaps we can look forward to some stability for the time being. Whatever the outcome will be, and however the industry reacts, we will cover it in the February issue, having talked about it to death online in the meantime. Fortunately, we are already looking ahead to 2023. If you turn to pages 8-13, you will see what many of the significant figures and representative organisations from our sector consider to be the likely hot topics and swerve points for the coming year. It could be a bumpy ride, so we may need something to look forward to through the year. With this in mind, Top Technician and Top Garage are already coming back for 2023. To find out more, and to find out how to enter, turn to pages 18-19. The final and the Top Technician and Top Garage Awards Evening are already on the calendar for Saturday 14 October 2023, so keep your schedules clear. As much as I hate to admit it though, October is a long way ahead still, and over the next few months, it will be more crucial than ever to know what services and support the many companies supplying the industry can offer to garages. With this in mind, you may have noticed that this issue is a little heavier than last month. That’s because it is much longer, as at the back we have included our Annual Buyers Guide; The whole sector in just a few handy pages. Turn to page 67 and beyond, to find out more. That’s about it from me for this issue, and for 2022. Wow, that went fast. The next issue will be with you in early February, but you will find us online at www.aftermarketonline.net and on Facebook, Twitter and even LinkedIn if you swing that way. All that is left to say is Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, thanks for reading in 2022 and see you in 2023. Enjoy!