DECEMBER/JANUARY 2024 AFTERMARKET 45 www.aftermarketonline.net garages with an additional revenue stream and justify any investment made into ADAS equipment. “All automated systems share the need to be functioning correctly and for this to be possible, they need to be calibrated correctly throughout the service life of the vehicle. During its lifetime, it is likely that the vehicle will need replacement parts, mechanical adjustments, perhaps a replacement windscreen, or will have sustained accidental damage. Any one of these is likely to create the need for re-calibration of an ADAS opening up new opportunities to deliver a full service offering to customers.” Nick continued: “There are two kinds of ADAS calibration, static and dynamic. In all cases, the vehicle manufacturer’s specified procedures and instructions must be precisely followed. Some repair procedures may require or recommend a four-wheel alignment to be performed prior to ADAS sensor calibration, to ensure that the vehicle thrust line and the steering system are aligned according to the vehicle manufacturer’s specification. ADAS sensors are then calibrated referring properly to this thrust line. “Products like Beissbarth’s newly launched Q.DAS rig, as well as the ML3D+ and MLCCD+ wheel aligners, deliver a modular solution for the calibration of forward-facing, safety-relevant radar, camera and LIDAR systems, which can be configured depending on the volume, budget and available space. Using the wheel aligners to determine the accurate thrust axis of the vehicle, as per many vehicle manufacturers requirements, before going through the process of the ADAS calibration ensures the most accurate way to calibrate these on vehicle systems. The Q.DAS is a diagnostic platform which has the capability to work with most tablets that the workshop already possess.” For more information, visit: www.straightset.co.uk Partnership There is more than one way to exploit the ADAS opportunity according to Iain Molloy, Managing Director of A1 ADAS Solutions, said: “There are two routes to successfully managing ADAS work. One is to invest in the equipment and training to carry out the work in-house, and the other is to forge a working partnership with an ADAS diagnostic and calibration specialist. “There’s no right or wrong; it’s what’s best for your garage. Some want to invest and become specialists, others want to focus on something else. What’s important, is deciding how you’re going to provide the ADAS service to your customers. Both routes will generate an extra revenue stream and make a garage more profitable. Whether that’s by selling ADAS as a service provided by your own technicians, or by putting a mark-up on the service you’ve bought in from a mobile van, or remotely dialled-in ADAS specialist. Both strategies will reduce keyto-key times and prevent a backlog of work. It all contributes to a healthier bottom line. “A1 ADAS Solutions is supplying ADAS and diagnostic equipment to workshops who want to specialise inhouse. For those who don’t want to invest or have the liability of carrying out the work themselves, it provides ADAS either as a mobile service, or by remotely dialling into the vehicle via an interface.” Iain continued: “There’s a lot to consider when deciding how to manage ADAS work. Garages have a duty of care to ensure a vehicle’s ADAS system is going to behave as the manufacturer intended, but many are unaware that even removing a bumper can have implications on its calibration. Iain added: “Getting the right advice is essential, especially for those investing in equipment. Most ADAS distributors have experienced salesmen, but no ‘hands on’ experience. ADAS isn’t a simple one-off purchase; it requires ongoing training and technical support. With that in place, garages can maximise the return on investment in as little as two to three months.” For more information, visit: https://a1adassolutions.co.uk Skills gap The expansion of ADAS in recent years has not been a surprise, and the additional income stream it has opened up has been welcomed and is well-supported in terms of kit. Even so, the sector has struggled to keep up with training to make the most of the opportunity. LKQ Euro Car Parts Workshop Solutions Director Bob Wiffen observed: “At least one in 10 cars on UK roads already feature level 2 autonomy – a figure that will continue to grow in the coming years, 44% of the UK car parc expected to include the technology by 2030. However, there is already a shortfall of 14,500 technicians qualified to deal with ADAS technologies, and the IMI estimates that if current training trends continue, this shortfall will increase to 56,000 by 2030. It is essential then that we move to address this gap and equip technicians with the skills to service vehicles with ADAS technologies, ensuring drivers stay safe on the roads and helping to create a new major income stream for garages.” He continued: “At LKQ Euro Car Parts we are supporting ADAS knowledge with our IMI ADAS Technology and Theory course, where attendees will learn about the impact of ADAS on the vehicle, the workshop and the end user. Ultimately, this will help workshops spot vehicles with ADAS systems and know what they can do to avoid impacting how they function and identify if there is an issue that needs resolving with a calibration. “We also offer a range of ADAS courses through the LKQ Academy that give technicians the chance to gain their AOM230 accreditation for ADAS calibration.” Bob added: “With the right training, guidance and technology, independent workshops can position themselves to win new customers from competitors who don't embrace change as quickly. By completing ADAS recalibrations as standard on every job, garage owners can make sure that customers leave satisfied and likely to come back next time.” Below: A1 ADAS Solutions
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