The new Touchless is the fastest and most accurate wheel aligner technology available. There is no doubt that Touchless will have a significant impact on the way the industry and consumer has traditionally viewed the process of wheel alignment.
The benefits are truly groundbreaking. Aside from pin point accuracy, there are enormous time saving benefits per vehicle on the current process, which will build both capacity and turnover in all busy workshops.
With so much to gain, why is the service and repair industry not heeding the wake up call?
This is the last chance saloon for those in the industry who are plainly not up to the job, and giving competent operators a bad name added Philip, If the industry cannot regulate itself then government will do it and the smaller firms will sink without trace under the weight of the subsequent red tape. This is the final wake up call.
Philip cites a litany of damning consumer research reports ignored by the industry, compounded by threats from the National Consumer Council (NCC) to make a super complaint about the service and repair sector to government ministers, which could result in an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading.
A recently published discussion paper by the NCC titled "At a Crossroads" which examines the breadth and cause of consumer dissatisfaction in the car service and repair sector, has recommended the introduction of a system to license technicians and repair outlets. Research reveals that "rip off" repairers are costing consumers around £4 bn a year.
In response to the NCC report, a consortium made up of motor manufacturers and repair garages is launching a new quality standard brand to counter the "cowboy" operators. It is hoped that Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) will become a byword for competence and quality of service. Once technicians have achieved ATA accreditation they will be reassessed every five years.
The initiative is backed by the Department of Trade and Industry, Which? and the Trading Standards Institute. Excellent idea, adds Philip, investing in human resources is a sound move. Skills deficits are a key factor in the industry's malaise but another symptom is chronic under investment in technology. This is a knowledge based economy characterised by cutting edge technology yet hundreds of operators are still in the dark ages. To those garages and workshops my advice is you’re operating on borrowed time. If you think the cost of investing in technology is expensive the bill for under investment has just arrived on the doormat.
A free interactive software programme revealing how wheel alignment impacts on safety and the cost of driving has proved such a hit it is to become even more accessible.
Since its launch just over 18 months ago, Beissbarth UK’s pioneering programme, Understanding Alignment, has always been free-of-charge to view through its easy-to-follow website www.beissbarth.co.uk The company’s website receives a monthly average of 60,000 hits.
Now colleges and training centres can apply for a copy of the aligner programme on a memory stick, so the portable educational tool is always to hand.
The programme will continue to be available to all Beissbarth’s website users who can click onto the Understanding Alignment’s software, and run through the step by step programme which tackles every aspect of wheel alignment, tyres and vehicle handling. Common faults can be diagnosed and clear information is provided through graphics, interactive features and diagrams.
Speaking about the Understanding Alignment programme, Beissbarth UK’s managing director, Philip Hodges said that the software programme had proved itself to be a vital tool for all tutors, technicians and students.
He added: “Such is the success of this programme that it is now generally accepted to be the industry ‘bible’ on wheel alignment, so it makes the best of sense for us to make this hugely popular programme as accessible as possible for training purposes.
“Aside from the obvious road safety message, in these testing times of ever-increasing fuel prices, everyone should remember that correct wheel alignment will deliver savings in terms of tyre life and fuel economy.”
Beissbarth are the automotive industry’s leading developers of wheel aligner technology and have pioneered development of that technology for more than 40 years.
Obtaining your memory stick directly from Beissbarth UK will mean that all of this invaluable information is never far from your grasp. Call Beissbarth UK Free phone 0800 1694660, fax 0115 981 8431 or email info@beissbarth.co.uk
Touchless® - a unique ‘non contact’ wheel aligner – took centre stage at this year’s Brityrex exhibition and a number of solid enquiries to the Beissbarth stand.World leaders in wheel alignment and wheel safety technology, Beissbarth UK, say that there is no doubt that Touchless® will be one of the industry’s biggest success stories.
Beissbarth UK’s managing director, Philip Hodges said: “Its impact will be nothing short of dramatic. This is the biggest advance in wheel aligner technology that I have ever witnessed in more than 30 years in the industry.
“Aside from pin point accuracy, there are enormous time savings per vehicle on the current process, which will build both capacity and turnover in all busy workshops.”
As test lanes are becoming increasingly popular in Ireland, the UK is just beginning to sit up and take notice. Beissbarth has only recently introduced its test lane into the UK market, and claims that the industry has responded well.
However, all eyes are on the next 12 months and the impact that VOSA will have on the future of the test lane.
Huff And Larini Win A Race Each In Marrakech And The Cruze Sets Fastest Lap Twice
Chevrolet wrote history today in Morocco, as the Cruze obtained the first two wins of its racing career, in the first-ever WTCC event held in Africa: Rob Huff took the maiden win, dominating race 1 from flag to flag, while Nicola Larini doubled the count when he clinched his first, long-awaited and well-deserved victory in a closely-fought race 2. The RML team say the Beissbarth ML Easy 8 wheel aligner is one of the most important pieces of technology they have available to them as a race team. They are used after every single piece of on-track activity and provide an incomparable method for tyre alignment that is hugely more advanced than previously existing methods.
Chevrolet Cruze scores first WTCC points of its career at Peuebla
The new Chevrolet Cruze scored the first point of its racing career in the WTCC, thanks to Nicola Larini’s brilliant 8th position in Race 1 of the Mexican round of the Championship, which represents a first reward for the hard work put together by the entire team.
The eighth position allowed Nicola to start Race 2 from the pole position, giving the Cruze its first appearance on the front row of a WTCC grid. With a consistent drive, Nicola managed another finish in the top ten. Alain Menu and Rob Huff, who had to retire from Race 1 following race incidents, finished Race 2 just out of the top ten, in 12th and 14th positions respectively, after racing their way through from the back of the grid.
RML have chosen Beissbarth’s ML Easy 8 Wheel Aligner as one of their most important pieces of technology to see them through a busy and demanding season.
The Chevrolet Cruze showed good pace and excellent potential throughout the opening round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship season opener, The Race of Brazil, at Curitiba. Nicola Larini finished an excellent fifth in Race 1.
In Race 2, on a rain soaked track, the three Cruzes showed excellent pace with Alain Menu winning fastest lap and despite two cars starting from the back of the grid they progressed well to finish a respectable 11th, 13th and 15th position.
Mark Busfield, project manager, Chevrolet WTCC said: “In the top level of motor sport ensuring the chassis set up is optimised for each track outing is essential, and this must be achievable quickly. Using the Beissbarth ML8R Easy ensures we can check and adjust the car with precision and a high level of accuracy very quickly before each session.”
Alain Menu and Rob Huff successfully closed the four-season Lacetti-chapter for Chevrolet in the World Touring Car Championship by scoring two wins in the streets of Macau, the jewel in the crown of the WTCC.
While Menu dominated race 1 from start to finish, Huff was lucky to steer clear of the last-lap mayhem in race 2 and move up from fourth to first in the matter of a few corners from the finish. By doing so, he also secured his third place in the final standings of the World Drivers Championship, the highest position a Chevrolet driver has ever finished.
Present at every race is Beissbarth’s ML Easy 8 Wheel Aligner, which Mark Busfield, RML Chevrolet Project Manager rates as an incomparable method for tyre alignment: “The Beissbarth ML Easy 8 wheel aligner is one of the most important pieces of technology we have available to us as a race team. We have three, one factory-based, the others travel with us to events. We would be literally lost without them, as they are used after every single piece of on-track activity that we do, and provide an incomparable method for tyre alignment that is hugely more advanced than previously existing methods.”
Over its four-year career, the Chevrolet Lacetti scored 14 wins, 37 podium finishes and a total of 652 points towards the Manufacturers’ Championship. Of these 14 wins, two were triple victories where Chevrolet wiped out the podium. Eight pole positions and nine fastest race laps complete the impressive statistics for Chevrolet in the FIA WTCC. Outside of the WTCC, the Chevrolet Lacetti also won the 2008 FIA European Touring Car Cup, the 2006 German Touring Car Championship, and the 2008 Danish Touring Car Championship in the Teams standings.
The scene has been set. Donington on the 12th October will be the stunning finale to the 2008 VW Cup.
With 2 rounds to go, championship leader Joe Fulbrook leads by just 66 points. However with a total of 92 points available, Force Ten Motorsport's number 1 driver, Jamie Perry is not going to finish the season without a great last-minute challenge for the title!
It has been a long wait from the last 2 rounds at Silverstone where Force Ten Motorsport played their, points doubling, joker on Jamie's car and jumped from 4th to 2nd in the championship. This means now Jamie is realistically the only driver who can challenge Fulbrook for the title. The pressure is also on as the 3rd and 4th place drivers are snapping at Jamie’s rear bumper for one of the top slots of the championship, so expect a spectacular effort from all.
After setting fastest laps in both races at Silverstone the team have been working hard to get the car even better. We now benefit from the skill and knowledge of an ex SEAT British Touring Car engineer who will help with more fine tuning of the car before Donington.
Force Ten's number 2 driver, Nick Dunn, has experienced many teething problems with his car this year but has been working very hard over the last couple of months to get the silver Beetle up to speed. He will be hoping to perform well as he has had great results at this circuit in the past and has yet to play his points doubling joker.
Force Ten also hope to finish the year 3rd in the team’s championship after being awarded ‘Best Hospitality’ for 4 events running.
The RML Chevrolet team accomplished a difficult mission at the last European WTCC round of the season at Monza, today. The goal was to move Rob Huff further up in the championship standings, a task which the team managed through careful team work in qualifying and solid racing on Sunday. In the first race though, both Menu and Huff fell victim to the traditional first corner melee, with Rob dropping to 12th and Alain to nearlast.
Larini was the one who benefited from the pile-up and put his car in fourth where he would stay until the last lap before finishing sixth. By that time, Huff had clawed his way back to seventh, and Alain to 12th.
In the second race, Huff again was the victim of another driver’s zeal in the first corner, something which eventually led to his retirement two laps from the finish. While Nicola
Larini secured a podium finish for Chevrolet, Alain Menu fought back to a very competitive fifth, setting fastest race lap and thus showing what could have been without the earlier incident.
Japanese newcomer, Max Orido, did what was expected of him in both races: staying out of trouble and learning as much as possible.
Top race team RML Chevrolet's preparations for the 2008 World Touring Car Championships (WTCC) are in full swing as they target more glory in 2008 and aim to add to their tally of 15 titles over the last ten years.
The team are gearing up for their challenge for WTCC glory following their best ever season last year. RML will also compete at Le Mans itself and in the Le Mans Series - the scene of their most recent success in 2007.
RML have chosen Beissbarth's ML Easy 8 Wheel Aligner as one of their most important pieces of technology according to Mark Busfield, RML Chevrolet Project Manager, who said: "The Beissbarth ML Easy 8 wheel aligner is one of the most important pieces of technology we have available to us as a race team, we have three, one factory-based, the others travel with us to events.
"We would be literally lost without them, as they are used after every single piece of on-track activity that we do, and provide an incomparable method for tyre alignment that is hugely more advanced than previously existing methods. They are easy to use, and most importantly, saves us a great deal of time."
ONE PODIUM FINISH AND 15 POINTS IN TOTAL FOR THE CRUZE IN PORTO
One podium finish and 15 points in total: the Chevrolet team can be satisfied with the overall result obtained by the Cruzes in the streets of Porto, in two races (the 99th and 100th of the WTCC) that were closely fought and packed with incidents. Rob Huff finished second in race 1 and sixth in race 2, while Nicola Larini finished fifth in race 1.
Beissbarth’s ML Easy 8 Wheel Aligner continues to be one of the team’s most important pieces of technology according to Mark Busfield, RML Chevrolet Project Manager: “We would be literally lost without our three Beissbarth Wheel Aligners, as they are used after every single piece of on-track activity that we do, and provide an incomparable method for tyre alignment that is hugely more advanced than previously existing methods. They are easy to use, and most importantly, saves us a great deal of time.”
Europe’s largest truck service centre has chosen Beissbarth’s MB8000 Brake Tester, because it can perform to the exacting standards required by VOSA.
Volvo Truck and Bus South, based in Milton Keynes have installed the brake tester into a purpose built pit, together with Beissbarth Play Detectors for steering and all the latest technology, to enable brakes and vehicles to be tested continually.
The Brake Tester and Play Detector are integrated into the pit assembly and are installed to ensure easy maintenance without expensive shut-down. The pit has been designed to fully comply with VOSA’s precise requirements and provides a safe and pleasant environment in which to work.
The large analogue display is complemented by a touch screen, giving both the vehicle examiner and driver an easy and sensible test to comply with the VOSA standards.
The Test Lane has a built in capacity for future product development which will be provided by Beissbarth, ensuring that operational performance will be maximised.
