AutoForum January / February 2017

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January / February 2017

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I N N O V A T I V E

Autoforum Online

SCAN ME!

I N F O R M E D

Innovative, robust and long-life products:

Starters & Alternators from3Oth Anniversary Edition

& Advertiser Brand Focus

Consumer Protection Act : Best practices predictING fuel price?

The outlook for trucks in 2017

B ODYS HO P NE W S

Quality and innovation: Bosch starter and alternator technology ensures ultimate performance and durability supported by a high-quality brand.

Managing mixed materials and modern vehicles

AutoForum - January / February 2017

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January / February 2017

CONTENTS

12

Cover Stories 30th Year Anniversary - Its all thanks to you

14

Consumer Protection Act: Best practices applicable to the motor industry

34

Can we predict the fuel price based on a 2016 retrospective?

35

The outlook for trucks in 2017

49

Managing mixed materials and modern vehicles

58

14

Trade Talk Editorial Welcome to our first issue of 2017 and a very historic one for us at AutoForum as its represents the 30th anniversary of our magazine, which launched in 1987 as Auto Engineering and Spares.

Things have certainly changed a huge amount over the last 30 years but what has not changed is our dedication to providing an independent and thorough view of the issues faced by the SA automotive and aftermarket sector.

We look forward tot he next 30 years of publishing - in all its forms and technological updates.

Clare

EDITOR: CLARE RUTKIEWICZ 6813 Jan/June 2016

CONTRIBUTORS: AUSTRALIAN BODYSHOP NEWS ROBERT KAISER Warwick robinson Roy Cokayne grant west

EMAIL: INFO@AUTOFORUM.CO.ZA Fax: 086 627 1135 PUBLISHER: SWIFT PUBLICATIONS & OLYMPIC PARK TRADING POSTNET SUITE 174 PRIVATE BAG X11 HALFWAY HOUSE 1684

FOR ADVERTISING ENQUiRIES: GRANT WEST

Mobile: +27 (0) 76 727 8161 WARWICK ROBINSON Mobile: +27 (0) 82 855 7750

Bridgestone plant supports legal action against electricity shutdow in Brits

6

Snap-on extends competition

6

Cars.co.za winners announced

10

AutoMagneto wins honour from Pera

12

Industry News

35

30th Year Anniversary - Its all thanks to you

14

Brand Focus: Automechanika JHB expands with 3 shows

16

AA: Road death toll needs new thinking

18

Ford recall - What manufacturers can learn from the inferno fiasco

20

Brand Focus: Highveld Garage Equipment

22

Weathering the tough times ahead - A positive outlook on a tough year

24

A year of opportunity (If you stay positive)

30

Brits call on car and cell phone makers to find safety solution

32

New emissions tests reveal real-world performance and questions the status quo

33

Consumer Protection Act: Best practices applicable to the motor industry

34

Can we predict the fuel price based on a 2016 retrospective?

35

The future of cars is “emotional”?

36

Preparing your business to service electric vehicles

38

Brand Focus - AAAS

42

38

58

Commercial Vehicles New year, new back to basics fleet management policy

44

Isuzu Truck South Africa maintains top position

46

The outlook for trucks in 2017

47

UD focusses on Africa for 2017

49

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AutoForum - January / February 2017 I N F O R M E D

Showtime Messe Frankfurt’s new fairs and conferences for the automotive and transport & logistics sectors

www.AutoForum.co.za

50

Aftermarketplace

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I N N O V A T I V E

Advertisers Guide AAAS - Motopart AAAS - Arrow

5 23

AAAS - Pegasus

31

C-TEK battery chargers and Battery Sense

51

AAAS Brand Focus

42-43

New stolen vehicle website launched

52

Federal-Mogul launches new Champion spark plug range

52

Aerocure Alert Engine Parts Alfa Int

OBC 13 65

AMR

55

AUDI Parts

26-27

Auto Cosmos - Electrolog

41

Auto Magneto

41

Automechanika - JHB

11

Automechanika - JHB

16-17

Garage Trade Supplies

65 22-23

BodyShop News Motor vehicle salvage code

54

Auto colour of the year from Axalt

54

RMI wage schedule booklet 2017

56

Leading Australian brands and industry bodies prepare for Collision Repair Expo

56

Highveld Garage Equipment Highveld Garage Equipment

37

Managing mixed materials and modern vehicles

58

Ital Machinery

4 & 41

New plastic spreader sets that cut your sanding time

61

Leaderquip

7

Festool launches new sanders for professional painters

64

Snap-on extends their roll cab range

64

Mahle Robert Bosch - Diagnostics Robert Bosch - Parts Robert Bosch - WSC Snap-on Equipment Snap-on Equipment Silver Falcon Hurricane Silver Falcon Hurricane VW Parts

45 IBC 19 25 IFC 28-29 57 62-63 8-9

Don’t Know what this is?

Download a QR code reader for your Smart Phone or Tablet from the Apple or Android app stores, and you can use it to scan this code & go direct to our online edition at www.autoforum.co.za – it is free and updated DAILY! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: AutoForumZA While reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the advice and information given to readers, neither the editor, nor the publishers, can accept any responsibility for any damages, injury or loss which arise there from. The opinions expressed by contributors to this magazine are not necessarily shared by the editor or the publishers.

PAGE 4

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Trade Talk

AutoForum - January / February 2017 AutoForum - January / February 2017

www.AutoForum.co.za

Bridgestone plant supports legal action against electricity shutdown in Brits Tyre maker Bridgestone has announced its support of legal action by the Brits Industrialists Association (BIA) against the Madibeng Municipality. This follows the Brits-based tyre plant having its electricity unlawfully disconnected by the municipality in mid January, one of a number of businesses which suffered the same fate.

The tyre production facility employs more than 800 people and was shut down from midday on Friday, 13 January until early evening on January 16, when the municipality defied a court interdict preventing it from cutting the factory’s power. Bridgestone’s South African arm includes two tyre manufacturing plants, numerous satellite offices and a network of over 300 commercial and retail outlets.

“Bridgestone South Africa was one of the applicants in the BIA case in which an interim interdict was successfully obtained in 2014 challenging Madibeng’s electricity tariff increases pending

a court review,” said Bridgestone CEO, Gavin Young. “Until the review is heard, Bridgestone’s electricity tariff is the figure determined by the court in the interdict.”

“On January 16 2017, an urgent application for contempt of court was brought by the members of the BIA in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria,” he explained.“The judge in the matter found in favour of the BIA and issued an order directing the municipality to restore electricity by 18h00 that evening.”

Young added that Bridgestone had paid all amounts due for its electricity consumption at the tariff set by the court. He added that Madibeng Municipality should have been more sensitive to the impact of its actions on the broader community, with Bridgestone employees being the breadwinners for thousands of residents in the Madibeng area.

Snap-on extends competition Snap-on has extended the deadline for its latest online draw giving you another opportunity to get your ticket and stand a chance to win a Solus Ultra worth R50 000!

Tickets are available on the Snap-on website and cost only R100 each. With Only 500 tickets in the draw, your name could well be picked to win this fantastic unit.

PAGE 6

Make certain to visit www.snapon.co.za/online-draw and purchase yours before midnight 28 February 2017.

The draw takes place 10 March and we will be featuring the winner on our website and newsletter.

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Trade Talk

AutoForum - January / February AutoForum 2017 - January / February www.AutoForum.co.za 2017

Cars.co.za winners announced The Wesbank sponsored 2016/17 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards has announced its thirteen best-considered new purchases in their respective categories of the South African new vehicle market. The event also saw the crowning of the overall Brand of the Year.

Based on scoring from 13 judges and the awards’ programme’s Owner Satisfaction Survey (in association with Lightstone Consumer), the winners below were selected.

Premium Hatchback of the Year

Volkswagen Golf GTI DSG

First Class Car of the Year

BMW 750Li Design Pure Excellence

Leisure Double-cab of the Year

Ford Ranger 3.2 Wildtrak 4x4 Auto

Executive Sedan of the Year

Jaguar XF 25t Portfolio

Premium SUV of the Year

Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine Inscription

Business Class of the Year

Audi A4 2.0T FSI Sport S tronic

Compact Family Car of the Year

Suzuki Vitara 1.6 GL+

Fun Car of the Year Lifestyle SUV of the Year

Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport DSG

Compact Hatchback of the Year Budget Car of the Year

Land Rover Discovery Sport TD4 S

Opel Corsa 1.0T Enjoy

Suzuki Celerio 1.0 GL

BMW M2 M-DCT

Performance Car of the Year Family Car of the Year

Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSI Comfortline DSG

Brand of the Year

Suzuki

The prestigious Brand of the Year award was determined solely by brands’ ratings in the Cars.co.za’s Owner Satisfaction Survey, which was compiled from thousands of surveys completed between September 2015 and December 2016. Consumers rated the brands in terms of: after-sales service, overall ownership experience and sales processes of its dealerships. Changes in market share were also factored into the final standings.

PAGE 10

South Africa’s leading international trade fair for the automotive service industry targeting trade visitors from the Sub-Saharan Region

27 – 30. 9. 2017

Co-located:

3-in-1 Co-located events

27 - 30 September 2017

Contact Us: Show Manager: Robert Kaiser Tel: +27 10 599 6165 e-mail: robert.kaiser@southafrica.messefrankfurt.com Enquiries: Tracy Gounden Tel: +27 79 545 4103 e-mail: tracy.gounden@southafrica.messefrankfurt.com

www.automechanikasa.co.za

Trade Talk

AutoForum - January / February 2017 AutoForum - January / February 2017

www.AutoForum.co.za

Auto Magneto Wins Top Honours from Western Cape Government Late last year, the cream of Western Cape’s businesses were honoured at the annual Western Cape Premier’s Entrepreneurship Recognition Awards (PERA).

MIWA member Auto Magneto, a family owned business that specializes in the wholesale supply of quality auto electrical products and accessories, throughout Africa, scooped the awards for (Overall Winner) Business of the Year 2016 as well as the Best Established Business.

The company which was represented by the Operations Director, Lamees Ismail at the event, explained that the business’s wholesale division is supported by master technicians, in their accredited auto electrical workshop and fitment centre that is backed by a national support network.

PAGE 12

Pera was established in 2013 under the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and this latest competition saw 333 entries. Alan Winde, Minister of economic opportunities, commented at the event that the creation of opportunities for jobs and growth is the number one priority.

The competition sees ten judges score the entrants growth, job creation, innovation, industry relevance, sustainability, creativity and socio-economic impact and other criteria.

The awards were presented by Western Cape Premier, Helen Zille, who added that entrepreneurs are the engine room of the Economy, employing 500 000 people in the province.

30 Year Anniversary 2017

30th Anniversary

2016

2016

2015

2015

2014

2014

2013

2013

2012

2012

2011

2011

2010

BodyShop News

2009

AuoForum Rebrand

2008

2008

2007

20th Anniversary

2006

2006

2005

2005

2004

Clare as Editor

2003

AutoInsight Launch

2002

2002

2001

2001

2000

2000

1999

1999

1998

1998

1997

10th Anniversary

1996

1996

1995

1995

1994

1994

1993

1993

1992

1992

1991

1991

1990

1990

1989

1989

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1987

Auto Engineering

PAGE 14

AutoForum - January / February 2017

Its all thanks to you

- Warwick Robinson

2017 looks to be a highly challenging year, but as many – including two of our writers in this issue believe – it could be one filled with opportunity. It is also a very significant year for the Autoforum team, as it marks our 30th anniversary publishing to the automotive aftermarket.

After years of working in advertising sales and publishing to the aftermarket, in 1987 Greg Robinson decided to launch a fully independent publication to address the autobody and aftermarket audiences, and built up the largest database of named recipients in the industry.

Auto Engineering & Spares was published 6 times a year and distributed within South Africa and neighboring territories.

Back then magazine production was a whole lot more complicated - I have vivid memories of edited stories, printed out in columns and manually set out by trimming and laying them up physically on to the magazine’s template.

These layout drafts were then passed to a layout artist for compilation into typeset proofs at the repro house before finally going off to film. Our printers at the time were based in Petermaritzburg, so these had to be driven out to the airport for airfreight down to the printing factory.

I personally became involved in the production from early in 1993, while studying design, as the software and technology made many of these processes possible to execute in-house at Swift Publications. Remembering of course that the cutting edge computing we had available back then is roughly equivalent to that available on an entry level cellphone now.

Creating layouts was still fairly laborious compared to the many processes that are now automated by modern software and completed in a fraction of the time, due to the available processing power. Back then it took ages to export the pages for proofing and even longer for final output.

Run as a family–owned enterprise, Swift Publications produced the title successfully through the challenges of the 1990’s and into the new millennium, (remember how big a deal that was supposed to be?) ultimately continuing even after Greg’s sad passing in 2004.

There are so many of our contributors and advertisers who assisted us while Greg was hospitalised, and in the months after his death, who guided us through what was an incredibly tough time, in what was then a fairly unfamiliar industry.

The magazine had built such a base of loyal readers and advertisers that making the leap into the industry full time was made possible for Clare and myself. It is difficult to name and thank you all, but know that your assistance, your patience, guidance, advice and insight are truly appreciated. Many of those people are still involved with each issue to this day. Thank you, this achievement is due to you all.

I could never have imagined how such a diverse group of people could have been so supportive, to the point that even our competitors became colleagues.

It was through these relationships that in 2009, discussions with AutoInsight’s publisher Grant West began. Grant entered automotive business to business publishing in 1993, joining M & M Publications to work on the Motor Industries Federation (M.I.F.) magazine, which evolved into the current R.M.I. He resigned as Advertising Sales Director in 2003 to launch AutoInsight magazine in early 2004, with a 50% BEE ownership amongst the four partners. AutoInsight quickly built an impressive reputation and loyal advertiser base. Future Publishing purchased a major shareholding in Autoinsight from the three other partners in 2008 and remained a shareholder in the publication through the 2009 merger with Swift publishing into 2010.

It became clear to all that both the businesses and shareholders could work together well and so an amalgamation of the two successful titles under the new format and name emerged – AutoForum.

Our aim was to continue to provide valued content to our readers, an independent and non-advertorial editorial style and a shelf-life to our advertisers. We retained unrivaled penetration into sub-Saharan Africa realising that with a market valued at over R10 Billion per annum, our advertisers needed to get there.

In line with this thinking, and even while our market was not highly digitised, we insisted on developing a digital platform to run in parallel to our print publication. We are adamant that while print will always have relevance, readership in digital formats is only increasing, and the internet is “frontier-free”.

This offering has built up steadily over the last decade and our readership online has grown to a fair proportion of our overall readership with our daily online news. We have also found that our weekly newsletters, emailed to a verified email database, are very popular and measured in a direct marketing aspect, are delivering excellent penetration for our advertisers.

In time we aligned AutoForum with BodyShop News International, based in Australia. AutoForum soon started to carry our collision repair content under the BodyShop News “Africa” banner as part of the family of Australian, Gulf, South Korean and South East Asian counterpart titles.

BodyShop News is the most widely distributed collision repair title on earth and a section in our magazine that we hope to grow even stronger in content, advertiser support and localised context into the coming year.

The market is starting to realize that big changes are coming for the auto industry worldwide. With all the history that AutoForum has to build on, we are certain that we will evolve in line with the industry, with our our readers needs, and with our advertisers’ requirements. This will happen in terms of our format, our touch points in print and digital, and the evolution of our offering into the future.

I wonder what changes I will be able to write about on our 40th anniversary! Thank you once more for making this all possible,

Warwick Robinson Grant West Clare Rutkiewicz

PAGE 15

Happy Birthday AUTOFORUM

SHOWTIME BRAND FOCUS

1 PAGE PAGE 16

AutoForum - February 2017AutoForum - January / February 2017

Automechanika Johannesburg expands with 3 new co-locations Automechanika Johannesburg counts it a joy to join the automotive aftermarket in congratulating Autoforum at the occasion of its 30th birthday!

You have over the past 30 years made an admirable and positive contribution to the automotive aftermarket in Southern Africa and beyond and may your path of success continue into the future!

What’s new in 2017?  O ptimising synergies in exhibitor and visitor profiles  Redefined product groups to keep pace with the dynamics of the automotive aftermarket  Co-location of three business to business trade fairs with Automechanika Johannesburg

Autoforum, we appreciate the support we have received from you from Day 1 and value our on-going relationship.

The words of the song “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother” comes to mind as one considers the way in which the players in the automotive aftermarket in Southern Africa complement one another; even though many are competitors in the market, there is a silver thread of common interest in the passion we all feel for the industry we love.

 Futuroad Expo Johannesburg, serving the Truck & Bus and Commercial Vehicle Body Sectors  Scalex Expo Johannesburg, serving the Logistics/Materials Handling Sectors  REIFEN, (under licence from Messe Essen) complements Automechanika Johannesburg by providing a special focus on tyres, adding to the value proposition for exhibitors and visitors.

Three new shows to co-locate with Automechanika Johannesburg in 2017 The 2017 Automechanika trade fair for the automotive aftermarket, which takes place at the Johannesburg Expo Centre from September 27-30, will be co-located with three new, related shows.

All the shows will be organised by SA Shows Messe Frankfurt, a wholly owned subsidiary of Messe Frankfurt Exhibitions of Germany. The local subsidiary, based in Sandton, is headed up by CEO Konstantin von Vieregge.

“This is a huge boost for businesses operating in the automotive and transport environments not only in South Africa, but also in Sub Saharan Africa,” said CEO,Konstantin von Vieregge “We believe this will now be a particularly attractive offering for businesspeople north of our borders as we offer four specialised shows at one venue over a four-day period.

“We expect a significant jump in visitors from outside South Africa compared to the numbers that visited Automechanika Johannesburg when it was a standalone show.

The new arrangement enables us to optimise the synergies that exist between the industry sectors served by these related trade fairs,” The Futuroad Expo replaces the Johannesburg Truck and Bus Show, which was previously co-located at the Johannesburg International Motor Show. The big change is that it will now be part of a four-day business-to-business trade fair instead of being located at an 11-day consumer exhibition and this change in direction has been welcomed by the local truck and bus industry.

Konstantin von Vieregge, CEO, SA Shows Messe Frankfurt

Scalex Johannesburg 2017 is an innovative and pioneering trade fair for the logistics sector to provide a dynamic business platform for this vital cog in the global economy.

“The indispensable role of the logistic sector, with all the complexities it embraces, is a key contributor to business operations in the supply chain and a crucial element for economic growth. Logistics is very important in improving efficiencies and cost-effectiveness, particularly in the supply chain,” added Otto.

“Nowhere is this more apparent and necessary than in Sub Saharan Africa, with its large number of land-locked countries, where logistical services are very dependent on road transport and will remain so for decades to come,

The Futuroad Expo will also include commercial vehicle body builders, suppliers of tracking and navigational systems, home base refuelling systems, fleet management systems, cross border services, hoists and cranes as well as specialised utility vehicles such as ambulances, police vehicles, first and rescue vehicles and waste compactors.

“We at SA Shows Messe Frankfurt are delighted that we have been able to put together this combination of related shows which will be an important value add for both exhibitors and visitors when the gates open at the Johannesburg Expo Centre on September 27 next year” concluded Otto.

3-in-1 Co-located events

27 - 30 September 2017

Contact Us: Show Manager: Robert Kaiser Tel: +27 10 599 6165 e-mail: robert.kaiser@southafrica.messefrankfurt.com

Enquiries: Tracy Gounden Tel: +27 79 545 4103 e-mail: tracy.gounden@southafrica.messefrankfurt.com

www.automechanikasa.co.za PAGE PAGE 172

News

AutoForum - January / February 2017

AA: Road death toll needs new thinking In a release to the media, the AA expressed its concern over the increase in road deaths over the 2016/17 festive period, saying it pointed to the lack of a proper road safety strategy to deal with the carnage.

The figures were released on 10 January by Transport Minister Dipuo Peters who confirmed that 1714 people died on SA roads between 1 December 2016 and 9 January 2017. Over the same period last year, 1629 people died on the country’s roads, meaning this year’s figures show a four percent increase. This excludes deaths that may occur in the 30 days post the period, of related injuries.

The AA extended its condolences to the families and friends of those who died during this period, and said it was now more imperative than ever to address the problem. “On the surface, this increase may appear to be nominal, but the reality is that the number is neither stabilising nor, more importantly, coming down. More concerning is that the Department of Transport, and the Minister, are saying the same things this year as they did last year, and the situation is not getting any better.”

The Association also pointed to the various indaba’s and forums held throughout the year, significantly the Traffic Officers’ Indaba in Durban from 5 to 9 December 2016, which appear to have had no noticeable impact on the fatality statistics. “Hosting a road safety indaba so late in the year has proven to be fruitless; the results speak for themselves. Despite the many apparent road safety education and awareness campaigns throughout the year, that the minister referenced in her speech as a success, there has been no impact on the death toll at all. It is time that more drastic action is taken to address this situation,” the AA noted.

The also AA expressed concern that the preliminary figures announced may increase, as they did last year, further adding to the number of deaths. What is particularly dismaying about the 2017 numbers is the steep increase in the

PAGE 18

number of passengers who died. Passengers accounted for 40% of deaths this year, along with 34% pedestrians, and 24% drivers.

Another concern is that the number of cars stopped, and fines issued, during this period are as high as they are. According to the AA this should be standard procedure and not limited to special times of the year, such as festive holiday seasons. The Association noted that these cars could have been stopped and many removed from the roads months ago, and that a more impressive figure would have been if drivers had been stopped for moving violations such as reckless and negligent driving.

Statistics on the exact number of passengers fatally injured while being tranported for profit is unclear, but backed by the fact that the number of passengers is so high, we at AutoForum feel that it stands to reason that many vehicles transporting people are in clearly nonroathworthy condition. Simple observation of vehicles at practically any on ramp to a national highway countrywide demonstrates the problem - over crowded vehicles with twisted chassis and badly executed collision repair, or visibly unroadworthy conditions should be pulled off the road an immediately impounded. Better policing of these vehicles through out the year could prevent countless unnecessary deaths.

The AA concluded their statement by stating “The numbers are horrific. As we noted in December they are indicative of a lack of mutual respect amongst motorists for their own, and other drivers’ lives. While this situation needs to change, and change quickly, it is also incumbent upon the authorities to not only talk about saving lives, but put in place proper, implementable strategies to deal with this.”

Minister Peters are you even listening?

?

Safe on the road

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INDUSTRY NEWS

AutoForum - January / February 2017

Ford recall - What manufacturers can learn from the inferno fiasco - What In light of the recent Ford Kuga fires, Vishal Premlall, Director of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), believes now is an opportune time to readdress the issues surrounding vehicle recalls in South Africa.

“Now is a good time to look into recalls in South Africa and question why the number of vehicle owners bringing in their vehicles for the necessary repairs is nowhere near where it should. The result – potentially millions of dangerous vehicles on our roads.”

“We all want safer cars on South African roads. Keeping all vehicles roadworthy needs to be the collective responsibility of the consumer and all industry players. This can only be achieved if all players are given a fair and equal chance to service vehicles,” he says.

Premlall says there are several reasons why recall repairs are not conducted, some of which include dealerships not being able to track down drivers; parts in short supply; repairs restricted to dealers only and so on.

Premlall highlights the following warning signs and offers some safety tips that you can pass on to your customers:

“As it stands, customers out of warranty that don’t go back to dealerships, have no idea when a product recall takes place or why. While historically not taking a vehicle in for recall-related repairs has resulted in unsafe vehicles on our roads, we are now seeing people losing their lives,” says Premlall.

• Any fuel smell in the car can indicate a fuel line isssue • Be alert for any kind of burning smell • Monitor dashboard warning signs especially temperature gauge spikes • Be aware of any malfunctioning controls • Pay attention to smoke or excessive heat waves emanating from the bonnet

He points out however that the aftermarket workshop industry deals with many of these out of warranty vehicles and therefore could assist with reaching as many affected cars as possible.

“These are all danger signs. Even if you are unsure rather pull over, get out of the vehicle immediately and call your franchise dealer or aftermarket workshop at once,” he says.

“The reality of the situation is that the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) do not make recall information readily available to the aftermarket workshops. The fact that customers don’t go back to franchised dealers after warranty does not mean that the responsibility for the product recall is rendered ineffective,” he adds.

“Also don’t dismiss other road users that are trying to get your attention. They may see something external that you cannot see while driving.”

“Graded aftermarket workshops have the capabilities to service as wide a customer network as possible to ensure that affected cars are rectified to the exacting standard as envisaged in the product recall, should they have access to repair the vehicle and the appropriate information be made available.”

Referring to defective components and replacement parts, Premlall points out that a product recall is often triggered as a result of a defective component fitted by the OEM, often relating to compromised procurement practices. “This often means that a new component provider will need to be sourced which puts customers at a disadvantage as they have to wait for the part to be provided to the franchise dealer before it can be fitted.

Once again this decision compromises the safety of the vehicle and other drivers on our roads. It appears that in many of the recall cases in South Africa and globally cost of parts has won in the quality versus cost debate. Recalls show that even new cars can be fitted with defective components.” Premlall strongly believes that the answer to safer cars on South African roads and more effective recalls lies in opening up the access to information to the aftermarket.

PAGE 20

Ford’s handling of the entire debacle has been less than stellar. The fact that reports of unexplained fires emanate from 2015, including the death of a driver, should have seen the manufacturer reacting to the events far sooner.

The year long wait has led them from the comparably controlled “pan” into the proverbial fire of public judgment. This has been specifically visible in uncontrollable viral and social media online posts - which have spewed vitriol at Ford not only in terms of their poor reaction to the crisis, but now extending the criticism over free-falling Kuga values and even public scrutiny of all their products.

Manufacturers need to learn from this and ensure that they are prepared for similar events across their brands. Managing the problem early on should be the first concern, failure to do so will require wasted energy trying to manage the PR disaster that is sure to follow.

Whether or not this will have a real impact on Ford SA remains to be seen, but at the time of going to print a Kuga had burst into flames somewhere else in the world. So realistically this is a Ford problem, not just a “Ford SA” problem, and while this particular model’s issue has been tragically fatal, almost all manufacturers have had big recalls at one stage or another.

Perhaps their handling of the problem early on is what made the difference?

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Brand Focus

AutoForum - January / February 2017

2017 2016

2016

2015

30th Anniversary

2014

New Premises

2013

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Wayne and Mark join

2008

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Highveld Garage Equipment

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Established as a family business from the outset

2004 2003 2002

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Ronnie Maclean passes

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Rhyne Maclean joins

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1987 1985

Established

PAGE 22

Highveld Garage Equipment CC was initially established in 1985 by Ronnie and Roy Maclean as a family business run by father and youngest son. At that stage Ronnie Maclean had over 30 years experience in the automotive equipment industry.

With this wealth of knowledge it was decided that the business’ focus would be to specialise in quality garage equipment and tools. In the early years all the products were purchased from local manufacturers and distributors.

In 1987 Ronnie decided to attend a garage equipment exhibition in Bologna, Italy, and managed to secure a few exclusive agencies.

By importing quality products from Europe and being in a position to distribute the products at competitive prices, the course to success was set for Highveld Garage Equipment.

Tragedy strikes Sadly Roy was killed in a motor accident in 1988. The company had grown to such an extent that it was impossible for Ronnie to manage the company by himself. Rhyne Maclean (eldest son of Ronnie) joined the company in 1989.

Rhyne started his occupation in the aviation industry at Atlas Aircraft Corporation in 1979. He qualified as an instrument technician.

As Rhyne had experience in the instrument and electronic field, it was decided that he would manage the technical department and Ronnie would manage the sales department.

Another tragedy struck when Ronnie passed away in 1991 due to ill health. Elmari Maclean (Rhyne’s wife) joined the group in the accounts department soon after.

New blood leads to new growth Continuing the tradition, and keeping the business in the family, both of Rhyne and Elmari’s sons, Wayne and Mark Maclean, joined the company after obtaining their degrees in electronic engineering and B.Com marketing respectively. Wayne took over responsibilities in the technical department and Mark manages the sales department.

Since Wayne and Mark joined the company, Highveld Garage Equipment grew to such an extent that new premises was a priority.

A suitable industrial stand was purchased in Montana and a complete new building was designed and built.

The building project took 2.1/2 years to complete and has 1000m2 of office, showroom, workshop, training and warehouse space. Safe parking is always available.

Roy and Ronnie Maclean in a newspaper clipping taken the day before Roy was tragically killed in an accident. Opposite clockwise from top: The premises in 1992, AutoAfrica stand in the mid nineties; An Early nineties exhibition stand; Main pic: current premises

Distribution of all the products are handled throughout Southern Africa by a well established sales network.

The Highveld Garage Equipment team pride themselves on providing a friendly yet professional and personal service.

Training schools on automotive diagnostics and wheel alignment are held on a regular basis.

In house mechanical and electronic staff ensures that the equipment is professionally installed and serviced at all times.

Highveld’s range of tools The range of tools and equipment has always been related to the automotive workshop industry, but lately it has also expanded its range to cater for the aviation industry.

Highveld Garage Equipment have been exclusive distributors for European manufacturers since 1987 and also started importing professional products from Asian manufacturers since 2004.

Over the years in business Highveld Garage Equipment has acquired and still holds a number of exclusive agencies: • Acculiner 3 D Wheel alignment systems - since 2009 • Best Tyre changers and wheel balancers - since 2014 • Brain Bee S.p.A Diagnostic and aircon equipment - since 2007 • EAE Modular 2 Post lifts - since 2016 • Elettro CF S.r.l Battery chargers and welders - since 1987 • Eurolift (Zavagli Santi) 2 and 4 Post lifts - since 1987 • Italcom S.r.l Lubrication equipment - since 2010 • Teco S.r.l Wheel balancers and tyre changers

- since 1990 Amongst other tools and ranges the company also represents these well known brands: • Annovi Reverberi • Gedore • GIS • Jonnesway • King Tony • Major-Tech • Micro-Tec • Piusi

PAGE 23

INDUSTRY NEWS

AutoForum - January / February 2017

Weathering the tough times ahead - A positive outlook on a tough year According to National Treasury, the GDP growth rate is forecasted at an estimated 1.3% for 2017, an outlook that points to a tough year ahead for business. Despite this however, there are a few trends that promise a positive narrative for businesses during the year.

According to National Treasury, the GDP growth rate is forecasted at an estimated 1.3% for 2017, an outlook that points to a tough year ahead for business. Despite this however, there are a few trends that promise a positive narrative for businesses during the year.

“It isn’t all doom and gloom: Yes, the economy is slowing however businesses that want to gain any wins in the market place in 2017 will have to operate in a more astute manner” says Dr. Yudhvir Seetharam, Head of Analytics at First National Bank. Seetharam shared his outlook on a few trends in various industries that we can expect in 2017:

Increased use of eCommerce platforms With an increase in the number of people with accessibility to the internet and a population that is becoming more digitally savvy, we are bound to see more online solutions. Today’s digital age prefers to make their purchases and do their business online.

Growth in the pre-owned car market spurs on SME’s in related markets Most relevant to us in the sector, Seetharam expects the new car market will most likely continue to slow in 2017 as cash strapped consumers continue to opt to keep their cars.

Agricultural sector to stabilize The past year for most farmers was a challenging year due to the drought conditions our country experience. With a 75% likelihood of a La Niña weather phenomenon, the much needed rain will bring relief to the sector.

The saving grace for this sector will ultimately come from the pre-owned and spare parts market, and through it we are likely to see an increase in sales from businesses that sell tyres, spare parts and batteries as consumers look to stretch their Rand.

If the rain is consistent, we will see a normalisation in crop production. The meat market may still add to the food inflation but with good rains, we may see a general decrease in overall food inflation.

Fast-food uptake Fast –food franchises will likely experience growth as more consumers will opt to buy takeout over the traditional sit-down restaurant as the price tends to be more favourable.

Tourism to continue growing South Africa has remained a popular luxury destination for many international travellers; especially as it offers a world class experience from shopping to pristine beaches and unforgettable safari’s at a fraction of the price.

A weaker Rand makes for a favourable exchange rate for foreign tourists travelling to South African.

Locals who would have otherwise travelled abroad, will most likely travel within the country creating a greater income stream for tour operators, transport, hotels, bed and breakfasts.

PAGE 24

The latest Business Confidence and Consumer Confidence Indices indicate that South African consumers and businesses have similar expectations; consumer confidence has increased marginally, but it still below historic averages.

This implies that while consumers have a slightly more positive outlook on the economy, their spending patterns are likely to remain unchanged. In contrast, Business Confidence, in the motor and retailer sectors have dropped, indicating that these businesses expect dampened sales and profits over the short term.

“2017 will no doubt be a trying year for SME’s across all industries, but with a recovering world market, and a Rand that is finding strength, we should start to see an upward trend towards the end of 2017 – hopefully the worst is behind us” concludes Seetharam.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

AutoForum - January / February 2017

A Year of opportunity (If you stay positive) - Robert Kaiser

The beginning of a year usually brings with it a sense of turning a new page albeit with mixed feelings: you look forward to good things but also have negative “what if” thoughts. I for one am a firm believer that we are entering a great year for SA and the automotive sector, but undeniably there is both good and not-so-good stuff.

The Not-so-good Stuff • Over regulation. Some sectors in industry are being constricted by regulation and red tape. This increases the cost of business, sometimes unnecessarily so and at times with unintended consequences that are more often than not negative. Expect to have to continue to grapple with this ogre.

• Anarchy. An increasing phenomenon worldwide, just follow the news. It has become the done thing to burn and destroy. In SA, everything that some groupings don’t like becomes hashtag(#) whatever-must-fall. Imagine burning a school in protest because you want your local road tarred as happened in Vuwani in Limpopo in mid-January 2017.

How can any sane person understand this?

• Political influence on the national and international fronts.

It will take a book to fully describe what is happening all over the world, SA included. Political influence affects business, even at micro level. Be aware and plan your business strategy accordingly.

• Corruption. This monster isn’t going away anytime soon. It is international. Greed rules.

• Oil games and fuel taxes. OPEC cartel action has been influencing the oil price and contributing to higher inflation, cost of living and business cost. Coupled with a floating currency such as the ZAR in an uncertain world economy and Government appetite for revenue (fuel taxes are such a nice soft option for them, watch February’s Budget in Parliament) are ingredients for a challenging situation.

The Good Stuff (yes there is actually good stuff) • Good rains have relieved the worst drought in decades and the agricultural sector is jumping for joy, maize crops look promising and grazing looks great. An estimated maize crop in excess of domestic demand may even see SA exporting again. The drought cannot be considered as being over yet, but the resurgence in agriculture is sure to boost the economy and the automotive sector is going to benefit.

• Possible downward trend in inflation. Food inflation is expected to go down and push the overall CPI inflation rate south. A great positive.

• Improved business sentiment. There are already signs of improved business confidence; positivity creates positivity and the climate for business expansion and investment, with the prospect of job creation, is not a pipe dream for 2017!

• Vehicle sales down, but not out. Vehicle sales may be down over the past year, but think how many vehicles are still being sold every month. There are always opportunities and the challenge in down times is market retention. Businesses who prioritised customer care and great service to King Customer as a way of doing business

PAGE 30

•

•

•

•

•

•

reap the business benefits in times like this. The ones who didn’t are paying the price…

High age of the car parq. The average age of the vehicle parq, both passenger and commercial, continues to grow (12,7 years at last count) and this creates great opportunities for the spares and workshop sectors throughout the value chain.

The Stats SA Motor Trade Review, the latest of which was published in December 2016 and covers the period up to end October 2016, is an apt demonstration of just how relatively stable the automotive retail sector is, even in flat trading periods. ( insert table) Better labour relations. The employer and employee parties to the Motor Industry Bargaining Council concluded a wage agreement in late 2016 without strike action and we need to salute the Parties for coming to an agreement without industry disruption. This is welcomed by employers as well as employees and has set a positive tone for the way forward.

Stronger currency. The Rand has gained 20% in value over the past year and this is good news for our importers and for general business confidence. Overall a big positive factor.

Improvement in the commodities markets. Commodities are on the way up again and more mining activity means more business in the automotive sector.

Great business opportunities beckon. The fifth edition of Automechanika Johannesburg (incorporating a REIFEN Tyre Show) happens at Expo Centre Nasrec 27-30 September, with co-located Shows Futuroad Expo Johannesburg (Trucks/Buses/Commercial Vehicle Bodies) and Scalex Johannesburg (Logistics and Materials Handling). Covering the sub-Saharan African Region, the co-located Shows offer the largest business platform for the automotive and related sectors on the African Continent. Business opportunities will be plentiful and this business event is an imperative for the automotive, commercial vehicle, logistics and materials handling sectors.( see www.automechanikasa.co.za , www.futuroad. co.za and www.scalex.co.za).

There is so much more good stuff but that, too, needs a book! Suffice to say that it is very clear that the Good Stuff outweighs the Bad Stuff by a long shot and that 2017 promises to be a great business year (if you stay positive!)

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INDUSTRY NEWS

AutoForum - January / February 2017

Brits call on car and cell phone makers to find safety solution British road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has renewed its calls for car makers and smartphone manufacturers to work with the government in that country to develop a technological solution to distracted drivers.

The call comes as UK Department of Transport Ministers plans to meet mobile phone manufacturers this month to hammer out proposals to tackle the growing issue of people interacting with their smartphones at the wheel.

This is in addition to the British government announcing last November that anyone caught using a hand-held mobile phone while at the wheel of a car would be fined £200 and receive six points on their licence – a doubling of the existing penalty.

The issue was brought into sharp focus with the jailing of Tomasz Kroker for 10 years in October 2016. Kroker killed a mother and three children in the UK in August when he was distracted by changing music on his smartphone and ploughed into a line of stationary traffic in his truck.

A toughening of the punishments for such offences is welcomed by those surveyed by IAM RoadSmart. The charity found 94% of those asked felt that drivers checking or updating social media was a threat to their personal safety.

Neil Greig, director of policy and research at IAM RoadSmart, said the charity has been calling for a technological solution to a problem caused by technology itself for many years, and welcomed the government’s new industry initiative.

“It isn’t enough for the providers of this technology to simply say ‘it is up to the individual’. Every phone in use today already comes with a driving mode that can cut out calls, but they are very rarely used.

PAGE 32

This would suggest that ‘carrots or sticks’ may be needed to actually get people to use any new approach.

“Carrots could come in the form of incentives for companies to fit new apps or to ensure their employees switch off on the go.

For example, no government contracts unless you have a ‘no mobile phone use’ policy in place.

“Sticks could come in the form of new penalties, but also links to insurance so your level of cover is reduced if you don’t have the new app switched on when you have a crash.”

He added: “The actual detail of the new technology will have to be worked out. But with accurate GPS and more sensitive movement sensors in most phones, it should be possible to target the driver’s phone whilst still allowing the ever growing range of connected car services such as sat-nav and traffic/ tourist information. Passengers should still have the ability to use phones as well.”

Neil concluded: “IAM RoadSmart also wants to see the wider issue of distracted driving by technology being taken on board by the industry. The modern dashboard contains a wealth of new services that may assist drivers but can also distract. A star rating system for in-car complexity would be a useful tool to alert drivers to the different ways they now need to interact with their car.”

New emissions tests reveal real-world performance - and questions the status quo Preliminary results from Australia’s first on-road vehicle emissions test programme cast doubt over the relevance of laboratory testing and suggest consumers are commonly being misled. Commissioned by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), the test results also suggest forthcoming emissions reduction regulations may be based on flawed assumptions.

In the wake of the Volkswagen scandal, the AAA commissioned the study of 30 vehicles to clarify how real-world emissions differ from those observed in a laboratory setting. Engineering firm ABMARC is using portable, laboratory-standard equipment to analyse emissions produced by vehicles driving in and around Melbourne.

Results show emissions of noxious gasses up to four times the regulatory limits, while greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption was up to 35% higher than figures shown on the relevant Government-mandated Fuel Consumption Label, and 20% higher on average. Full results are due by mid-2017, however results from the first 10 vehicles are being released to help inform two important Government reviews; the work of the Ministerial Forum on Vehicle Emissions, and the ACCC’s market study into the new car retailing industry.

AAA Chief Executive Michael Bradley said: “These results suggest that as emissions regulations around the world become more stringent, auto manufacturers are producing vehicles that limit emissions in the laboratory, but not necessarily in the real world.

“Proponents of stricter regulations say higher vehicle and fuel costs passed on to motorists will over time be offset by fuel savings, but our results undermine such assurances as savings accrued only in a laboratory are of little use to consumers in the real world.

“With the Government actively considering stricter standards for Australia’s vehicle and fuel sectors, it’s critical that real-world testing is introduced to ensure motorists aren’t asked to pay more for regulation that fails to deliver environmental benefit.

“The AAA notes that the European Union is currently transitioning away from relying solely on laboratory testing to improve the effectiveness of its emissions regulatory model and we encourage the Australian Government to do likewise.”

Currently, to comply with the Government’s Australian Design Rules, vehicle manufacturers must only meet noxious emissions standards in a laboratory test, and have laboratory-based fuel consumption information displayed on the Fuel Consumption Label at point of sale.

There is no way for Government or consumers to know the degree to which these laboratory results translate in the real world. Therefore, a continued reliance upon laboratory testing will clearly limit the market’s ability to encourage the uptake of lower emissions vehicles.

“Only with accurate information can consumers encourage manufacturers to deliver cleaner vehicles into the Australian market,” Bradley said. “And only with accurate information can the Government develop and police regulations delivering the maximum benefit to the environment at the least cost to Australian motorists”. Indeed, the sentiment is true for motorists across the globe.

PAGE 33

INDUSTRY NEWS

AutoForum - January / February 2017

Consumer Protection Act: Best practices applicable to the motor industry - Justine Krige

During 2014 the Minister of Trade and Industry published the Motor Industry Code of Conduct, which serves as a framework for dispute resolution between consumers and participants in the motor industry. On 11 July 2016, the Commissioner of the National Consumer Commission published draft best practice guidelines for comment, pursuant to s93(2) of the Consumer Protection Act, No 68 of 2008 (CPA). This set of best practices is intended to provide procedural clarity in regard to alternative dispute resolution mechanisms for handling complaints involving the automotive industry.

South African Industry Codes In terms of s82(2) of the CPA, the Minister may prescribe an industry code regulating the interaction between or among persons conducting business within an industry, or between an industry and consumers. To date, only two industries have issued codes of conduct in terms of this provision. The first is the automotive industry (South African Automotive Industry Code of Conduct) and second is the goods and services industry (Goods and Services Industry Code of Conduct).

The automotive industry is the leading South African industry, in respect of establishing policies and procedures for the protection and enforcement of consumer rights. The Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa (MIOSA) was accredited by the Department of Trade and Industry on 3 October 2014 and provides a welcome forum for the resolution of disputes relating to the automotive industry.

Best Practices applicable to the Motor Industry The set of best practices sets out, among other things, the following: • the steps to be followed by a consumer in initiating and pursuing a complaint against a supplier (from the initial complaint at retail level, to escalation to MIOSA or the NCC); • the steps to be followed by suppliers in regard to preauthorisation of repairs; • the steps to be followed by suppliers in regard to the supply of grey and parallel parts to consumers;

PAGE 34

• the steps to be followed by suppliers in regard to subcontracting of work by suppliers; • the applicability of product warranties; and • the return of goods by consumers.

The value in the set of draft best practices is that it assists in further complementing the South African Automotive Industry Code of Conduct by providing practical steps to be followed in regard to the alternative dispute resolution mechanisms as set out in the CPA, an otherwise largely legal document.

It is drafted in a manner that is accessible to consumers and service providers, and sets out the parties’ various rights and obligations in scenarios that arise every day in the industry (for example, the pre-authorisation of repairs to a vehicle).

The draft best practices also address the practical measures to be taken by both consumers (for example, in respect of examining parts before taking delivery) and suppliers (for example, in respect of explaining product warranties) and, in doing so, will go some way to limiting unnecessary litigation.

Conclusion The best practices guideline is still in draft form and has not been formally adopted. When it is adopted it will be of assistance in resolving disputes in the automotive industry. The general public is invited to submit comments on the draft best practices to the Department of Trade and Industry.

Can we predict the fuel price based on a 2016 retrospective?

The AA has released an overview of highs and lows of the SA fuel price just a day after the petrol price shot up in early January.

According to the association, unleaded 95 petrol cost 45 cents a litre more at the end of 2016 than at the start, with 500ppm diesel up by 21 cents during the year. “Unleaded 95 started 2016 costing R12.40 a litre, with 500ppm diesel at R10.81,” the AA said.

“While the supply-and-demand equation will certainly be more important in 2017 with the OPEC production cuts coming on stream, events affecting the Rand’s strength will determine how hard any oil price hikes bite.”The Association said that the Rand was exposed to numerous unpredictable risks.

“The last price adjustment in December saw the year close out with petrol at R12.85 and diesel at R11.02. But the mere figures don’t tell the story of what a rollercoaster year it was for South African motorists.”At its peak, petrol spiked to R13.34 a litre during July. Diesel reached R11.70 in the same month, with all fuel types affected by negative sentiment following the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union. The biggest monthly increase for both petrol and diesel came in April, which yielded jumps of 88 cents and 95 cents respectively as increasing international oil prices gave South African consumers a battering despite a firmer Rand. The petrol price increased in five of the twelve monthly fuel price adjustments in 2016, while diesel increased in six of them.

“There is, for instance, a school of thought that a ratings downgrade was only staved off in December last year, rather than averted,” the AA commented.

On the upside, August saw the biggest single drop for petrol, as receding oil prices and a more favourable Rand / US dollar exchange rate knocked 99 cents off the price. Diesel saw a hefty price reduction of 74 cents a litre in the same month, but its biggest monthly drop was the 76-cent decline in January.

However, the AA cautioned against using 2016 data to predict fuel price trends in 2017.

“Internationally, the spotlight will be on a Trump presidency in the USA and the British procedure for exiting the EU. With South Africa having been named as one of the top global risks in 2017 by Time Magazine, the Rand remains vulnerable to riskaverse investors who move capital to perceived safe havens.”

The AA said it considered the major domestic risk to be the perceived abuse of institutions of state for personal gain by senior figures in government.

“South Africa’s faltering economic position means the country is ill-positioned to weather further political scandals. These would have a direct effect on investor confidence and drive the Rand weaker,” the Association said.

“A sharply lower currency in a strengthening oil price environment could make for eye-watering fuel prices,” the AA concluded.

PAGE 35

INDUSTRY NEWS

AutoForum - January / February 2017

The future of cars is “emotional”?

Most of us will say that we love our cars, but what if the feeling was mutual? By far one of the most exciting developments of 2017 has been the so-called emotional engine introduced by Honda at CES last month.

The NeuV (pronounced “new-v”) comes equipped with an artificial intelligence “emotion engine” and an automated personal assistant. Like the Geely Lynk (the self-professed smartphone on wheels) the NeuV is marketed at urban millennials, whose cars tend to sit idling in parking lots for 96% of the time.

The NeuV’s AI assistant, called HANA (Honda Automated Network Assistant) is programmed to learn from the driver by analyzing the emotions behind the driver’s behavior. The car can check in on the driver’s emotional well-being and play music accordingly. It also comes equipped with an electric skateboard for “last mile” transit.

And like the Lynk, the NeuV will be able to “rent” itself to prospective customers, picking them up and dropping them off whenever the car is not in use by the owner. The NeuV is electric and can sell energy back to the grid whenever it’s not being actively used, effectively monetizing its down time.

Honda also launched the “Safe Swarm” concept, which mimics the behavior of schools of fish to ensure a safe driving experience. “We already know that cars will “talk” to one another, if we look at the current antonymous automotive technology, to make the road safer and reduce congestion.

This system in particular will employ dedicated short range communication to navigate the road more safely,” says Osborne. “The belief is that we will see the first collision-free society in 2040.”

“These cars are incredibly exciting,” says Jeff Osborne, Head of Gumtree Automotive. “The desire for ownership, particularly among millennials, has steadily diminished over the last few years. 20% fewer Americans have drivers’ licenses than they did a decade ago.

Ridesharing and improved public transport networks have meant that cars ownership is seemingly no longer necessary.

Increased environmental awareness and urban congestion has further reduced the desire to own. By introducing features that can generate an income using technology, the motor industry has counterattacked these trends and not only made car ownership more attractive, but also profitable.”

PAGE 36

Unfortunately, we don’t yet know when the NeuV will launch in South Africa – or anywhere for that matter.

“It’s a sad reality that concept cars are often just that – concepts. We don’t know if the car will make it to market, but it is a strong indicator of where the company would like to go in the near future,” says Osborne. “The fact that the Lynk is going to market next year and planning a roll-out of half a million vehicles over the next five years might very well accelerate designs such as these.”

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INDUSTRY NEWS

AutoForum - January / February 2017

Preparing your business to service electric vehicles - Jeff Minter

Since 1999, hybrid electric vehicle sales (HEVs) in the United States have seen a fairly significant increase in volume.

From the initial 17 Honda Insights sold in 1999, sales of HEVs grew to a peak of nearly 500,000 vehicles in 2013. Since then, sales of HEVs have slumped slightly, but in total there have been more than 4 million HEVs sold in the US. Some shops in that country began adapting to the new technology seen in these vehicles early on, while others chose to simply ignore them all together. In some ways the transition to servicing HEVs was seen as easier because they had both traditional vehicle maintenance needs as well as some new service challenges and maintenance opportunities.

Many people don’t realize that “modern” electric vehicles (EVs) were actually introduced to the US in 1995, even before HEVs. EV model offerings peaked in 1999, right around the time HEVs were introduced, before dropping off fairly quickly. In fact, EVs virtually disappeared from the US market by 2005 before reemerging in 2008. Since then, EV sales have continued to grow rapidly.

the Model S and other manufacturers continued to introduce PHEVs and EVs. In 2016 there were 29 EV/PHEV models available in the US competing with/complimenting the 31 HEV models.

From 2011 to 2015, the sales volume of EVs increased by over 500 percent while HEV sales increased by less than 45 percent.

That increase, along with an aging population of the earlier EV models, is now placing shops in a position to seriously consider gearing up to service EVs. While the uptake in SA is slower – it is inevitably going to pick up quickly in years to come.

So why are we seeing this resurgence 10 years after EVs disappeared? It’s likely a combination of improved technology, increased regulations and changes to incentives. The most obvious change in technology is in the batteries. The increased energy capacity available in modern batteries has allowed more flexible vehicle design, improved vehicle range, and decreased charging time. Combining those battery improvements with more efficient electric motors and motor controls results in the much higher EV performance we are seeing today.

Number of EV Models Available in the US 1995 - 2016

Number of HEV Models Available in the US 2000 - 2016

The resurgence of EVs When looking at US national vehicle sales data by fuel type, both plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) and EVs are combined into the “EV” category. The resurgence in EV sales mentioned above began in late 2010 because of the introduction of the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt. In 2012, Tesla then introduced

The major regulation change that is pushing more PHEVs and EVs into the market globally is the change to the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) requirements. Light duty passenger vehicle CAFE requirements had remained at 27.5 mpg from 1990 – 2010. Beginning with the 2011 model year, however, new requirements went into effect.

PAGE 38

The current plan is to steadily increase that requirement to 54.5 mpg by 2025. While that number may seem unachievable, it’s actually not as high as it seems at first. The CAFE standard testing is conducted using a different drive cycle than the one that is used to calculate the fuel economy numbers published on new vehicle window stickers. That difference results in the CAFE requirement number being around 25 percent greater than the number published on vehicle stickers. Even taking that into consideration, the advertised fuel economy will need to average around 40 mpg to meet the 2025 requirements. Those increases are helping drive the technology changes as manufactures strive to produce the vehicles customers want while meeting the new standards.

To further complicate things, the available incentives for vehicle manufacturers and consumers are continually changing. Those incentives can help decrease the cost of certain technologies.

The lower cost tends to increase the number of vehicles with incentivized technology being produced and sold. HEVs are a perfect example of this, as they were fairly heavily incentivized in the earlier years or production. Many of those incentives have since expired, and there are now more incentives available for EVs and PHEVs. In other words, EVs and PHEVs are likely here to stay and will likely continue to climb in numbers at a staggering pace, similar to the early years of the HEVs. Is your shop ready?

CAFE Standards 1978 - 2025 (Measured in Miles / gallon)

Technology carry over If you’ve been preparing your shop to work on HEVs, then you’re already at least part way there. If you haven’t been preparing for HEVs, now would be a great time to start since it will give you a head start on the PHEVs and EVs. In fact, PHEVs have all of the same basic components HEVs have (along with some additional items). The same holds true with EVs with the exception of removing the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and the supporting components. Any electric drive system, regardless of the designation, will have some common components you should be familiar with. These components are the high-voltage battery, inverter, converter, electric drive motor(s) and controller.

The high-voltage batteries in current PHEVs and EVs are Lithium-based. Some HEVs have leveraged Lithium-based batteries as well in more recent years; however, some still rely on Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMh) batteries. NiMh batteries don’t have the energy density required for modern PHEVs and EVs to sustain the desired range, so it’s highly unlikely we’ll see that

technology transfer over. Either type of battery requires thermal management (cooling and/or heating) to attain maximum life and capacity. This can be done using air and/or liquid heat transfer mechanisms, depending on the design. While Lithiumbased batteries are much lighter and more compact than NiMH batteries, they can still be very large and heavy. For instance, the Nissan Leaf battery weighs around 600lbs (more than 270Kg) and the footprint is about as large as the floor of the entire passenger compartment. These large batteries typically require special equipment (fixtures, lift tables, etc.) to safely remove them from the vehicle without risking damage or injury.

(Image courtesy of BMW) DC Quick Charge – BMW i3 EV The inverter is the part of the system that allows a DC energy source (the high-voltage battery) to supply AC energy to the drive motors. It also allows the AC drive system to recharge the high-voltage DC battery. The operation and control of the inverter is probably one of the harder things for most technicians to grasp. Before attempting to dig too deeply into the operation and diagnosis of inverters, you’ll want to have a really good understanding of basic electrical concepts and diagnostic processes (ideally including the use of an oscilloscope for current ramping). I’d also recommend not overly complicating things by trying to fully understand the inverter. That depth of knowledge is great for engineers and instructors, but for technicians it typically isn’t necessary. In most instances, these units can be diagnosed like you would a typical controller on any vehicle; simply test the inputs and outputs. If the inputs test good and the outputs test bad then the unit is at fault. Of course if the inverter has failed, you need to be sure something else didn’t cause the failure before replacing it. As always, root cause analysis is critical to avoid repeat failure.

The converter in simple terms is a unit to either increase (boost) or decrease (buck) DC voltage. One common function of a converter in EVs, PHEVs and HEVs is to replace the alternator.

In that application the converter allows energy from the high-voltage DC system to be stepped down to charge the 12V battery and operate 12V lights, accessories, etc.

Lastly, there are the electric drive motors and the controller associated with the system. The basic concept of the electric motors is the same between EVs, PHEVs and HEVs; however, the design and applications vary widely. The good news is the testing of these motors is fairly similar regardless of the design, however some designs make access to perform the testing difficult (if not nearly impossible) at the shop level. Most shops will likely limit testing to insulation testing; however, there are more advanced techniques that can be used to gain additional insight into motor condition.

Service opportunities By now you’re probably thinking “So where are the service opportunities?” For PHEVs, it should be a win-win for proactive shops. These vehicles still have all of the ICE parts/systems and the associated required maintenance. Sure there are differences in service intervals, etc., but in reality the same service opportunities exist for PHEVs as they do for HEVs. EVs will obviously not have the ICE-related service needs, but everything else from HEVs should pretty much carry over. One

PAGE 39

INDUSTRY NEWS major drawback to the lack of ICE maintenance is that many shops use oil changes as a tool to bring the customer to the shop in hopes of selling additional work. Without the oil changes, you’ll need to find other legitimate service opportunities to bring the customer in. Some of these new opportunities may be fairly simple, such as inspecting and cleaning (as needed) the air supply system for an air-cooled HV battery.

Others may be more involved, such as replacing the liquid coolant for various electric drive components. You may even see brand new service items such as the Nissan Leaf’s “Review EV Battery Usage Report,” which is recommended every 15,000 miles (24,000km) or 12 months. I recommend leveraging your service information system to look up the recommended service interval for the most common PHEVs and EVs in your area to get more familiar with them. There’s really no reason why you can’t provide scheduled maintenance services for EVs, you’ll just have to think beyond the oil change.

You may already be thinking something like, “but these vehicles are under warranty for years,” or “those customers go back to the dealership,” issues we highlighted in our BMW i8 story last year.

Those are legitimate concerns to some extent; however, they shouldn’t become excuses. While the warranties can be pretty long, and some even include preventive maintenance during the warranty period, there are still opportunities to capture the customers.

Much like HEVs were leading-edge technology in the early 2000s, these vehicles are still somewhat at that stage. That means many of the owners purchasing these vehicles are “early adopters.” If the trends and demographics follow those of early HEV owners, EV owners will likely have a higher income level, a higher amount of education, be more tech savvy than average and be less price driven. It also means they’ll do a lot of research on their vehicles, including the needed maintenance/repairs, and they will likely be networked with other PHEV/EV owners who have similar interests.

To begin attracting these customers, you don’t have to re-invent your business, but you may need to somewhat tweak things you are already doing. Take a look at the services you already offer and ask yourself how you could change the marketing to focus on these customers. While the vehicles may be under warranty and might even have a maintenance package from the dealer, there are still items that won’t be covered because they are considered wear items or adjustments. For instance, if your shop performs alignments, you could offer customers an alignment to optimize fuel economy/range (while still staying within OEM specs).

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AutoForum - January / February 2017 Another area of opportunity could be brake services. Many of the maintenance schedules include a brake inspection with no mention of actually servicing the brakes. All vehicles with electric drive (HEVs, EVs and PHEVs) utilize regenerative braking, which reduces the use of the friction brakes. In some climates that can lead to brake components seizing due to accelerated rust accumulation.

Owners may want to consider an annual brake service (vs. just an inspection) to help ensure proper operation of the brakes.

Remember to stress the importance of proper brake operation, but not just from the safety side of things. A dragging brake will increase the force required to drive a vehicle, which will in turn decrease the efficiency/range. These are just a few examples of many services that could be catered to these vehicles/ customers. Check out some of the blogs and see what owners are complaining about and think about how your shop could help address their concerns.

(Image courtesy of Nissan) Nissan Leaf charge port Lastly, look at how your shop is perceived and how you are communicating with your customers. If you have a lifted 2500 diesel bakkie with the shop name on it parked out front, it won’t likely attract EV or PHEV customers. I’m not saying you need to go out and buy an EV, but a “green” image will be important to many of the EV and PHEV owners.

Consider things like using environmentally friendly products in customer areas, promoting recycling efforts you likely already have in place, and cut down on paper use where possible. The reduction in paper ties in with potential changes to how you communicate with your customers. Many of these customers will likely prefer emails or text messages vs. paper estimates or phone calls.

If you aren’t already leveraging email and text messaging with your customers, I’d recommend investigating the available software options. You may be surprised to find out that there is already an option available that will work with your existing service management software. As an added bonus, most shops see an increase in repair approvals through the use of these types of communication tools.

Obviously EVs won’t replace “traditional” vehicles any time soon, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore them either. In fact, while hybrid vehicles were considered “emerging” not that long ago, consumers today (especially the younger ones) would likely lump them into the “traditional” vehicle category.

Staying up to date on these types of technologies will be critical to avoid having your available market share shrink in years to come.

This story is reprinted with kind permission from Commitment to Training – part of the Automechanika Chicago information servce. See more at www.searchautoparts.com

Jeff is currently serving as the service director for a group of dealerships in the heavy duty vehicle industry. Previously he was the training director for a company specializing in hybrid/electric vehicles providing both training and technical support for technicians nationwide. Jeff also has approximately 8 years of experience as an automotive instructor at the technical college level and is still a technician at heart. He is an ASE certified Master/L1/L3/F1 technician with OEM training from numerous manufacturers.

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Aftermarket Solutions is 100% owned by Imperial Holdings Ltd. In the financial year ending 2014, the group generated turnover in excess of R 4 billion and employed more than 1 100 members of staff.

The Aftermarket Solutions group has a number of sustainability initiatives underway, to not only drive awareness around, but also reduce the impact of its activities on the environment. Additionally, the organisation is committed to a number of socio-economic development programmes across South Africa.

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“Put the spark back in your drive” Motolek is a unique workshop franchise for auto electrical specialists. There are over 25 Franchises country-wide, offering a network of professional technicians specialising in auto-electrical and related services ensuring guaranteed workmanship nationwide. The Motolek franchise of auto-electrical specialists continues to commit to the training and investment necessary to service the wide range of electronic fuel injection and engine management systems in the market.

The National footprint of over 30 franchisees ADCO is a unique workshop franchise for diesel fuel injection specialists. The national footprint over 38 franchisees, offers a network of professional technicians specialising in diesel fuel injection and related services, ensuring guaranteed workmanship nationwide. ADCO outlets specialise in diesel pump sales and service, turbocharger sales, injector sales and service and diagnostics applicable to relative pump repair.

“Heavy Duty: Sales, Service & Fitment” CBS has been servicing the clutch and brake industry for more than 50 years. With experience in both the heavy and light vehicle market there is nobody better positioned to take care of your brake and clutch needs? There are over 20 stores in key locations country-wide ready to offer you professional service expected from a highly specialised workshop like CBS.

“A New Generation of Service” Auto care & Diagnostics (ACD) is a national network of independently owned workshops specialising in vehicle service, maintenance and repairs plus providing the latest in automotive diagnostic solutions, thereby catering for the changing needs of vehicle owners. ACD facilities are conveniently located and differentiate from competitors by providing first class customer care. The Franchise has a nationwide network of over 70 franchises and the ACD workshop group is contracted to major fleet and aftermarket warranty companies, as a preferred service provider in the field of vehicle maintenance.

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“The battery Change Experts” The Independent Battery outlets control 50% of the ‘Do it for me” battery market.The Battery Hub Franchise is a specialist battery outlet that is equipped to take advantage of this opportunity in the DIFM battery market. The battery Hub Franchise offer’s batteries’ in the passenger vehicle, heavy duty, marine, motorcycle and utility areas.

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AutoForum - January / February 2017

New year, new back to basics fleet management policy Maintenance is easy to overlook in the day-to-day operation of a company fleet. It’s common practice to neglect oil and battery changes, brake system maintenance and a whole host of other checks. To ensure maximum vehicle reliability, longevity, and passenger safety, fleet managers should prioritise maintenance as an essential part of daily operations, or risk facing the penalities.

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At its core, preventative maintenance consists of scheduled services, vehicle inspections and repairs to help maximise vehicle productivity.

Used proactively, preventative maintenance has been proven to help reduce vehicle breakdowns.

PAGE 44

Incorporating regular truck maintenance into fleet operations removes unnecessary costs and loss of productivity. A lack of maintenance lowers the total cost of ownership, because assets such as trucks depreciate rapidly.

Every year, thousands of accidents occur due to fleets avoiding basic, regular vehicle maintenance. By adopting best safety practices, fleet managers can help reduce the occurrence of accidents - and save the stress and cost of a breakdown and repair.

Manual systems can be tedious and timeconsuming to manage, especially for large fleets, but there are an increasing number of tools to help manage everything from engine idle time to route optimisation to help extend the service life of vehicles, so there’s no excuse for neglecting upkeep.

One of these safety and time urgency dependant checks is a fleet’s batteries. First National Battery recently highlighted its corporate deals on heavy-duty Raylite truck batteries.

Their Raylight heavy duty batteries are made specifically for the challenging conditions of SA roads, and promise to avoid common problems experienced by customers who use standard batteries, such as acid spillage and broken straps.

The company offers fleets ease of replacement too, with a wide number of Battery Centres located across SA.

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AutoForum - January / February 2017

Isuzu Truck South Africa maintains top position For the last ten years since its inception, Isuzu Truck South Africa has been focused on attaining the top Japanese OEM in South Africa position.

This goal was achieved first in 2013, when for the first time in the company’s history, over 4 000 Isuzu trucks were been sold in the South African market.

“We remained focused once we achieved the Number 1 position, but we were aware that it was not going to be an easy task staying at the top” says Craig Uren, Isuzu Truck South Africa’s Director and Chief Operating Officer.

Isuzu Trucks had a solid performance at the end of 2014, exceeding the 4 000 units’ sales mark for the second year in a row and remained the leader in the cab-over-chassis and medium commercial vehicle (MCV) segment of the industry, with a market share of 12.8% of the total truck market.

The following year the company aligned strategies, expanded the business model and increased its market share by 2% to 14.9%. At the same time its share in the MCV market increased to 27%, while the share in the HCV market added four percentage points to a total share of 33%.

2016 was a trying year but despite certain challenges, Isuzu Truck South Africa held onto its position for a fourth consecutive year and ended with a 14.6% market share from the total park of 3 952 units.

PAGE 46

With 1 971 units sold across the 19 N-Series model derivatives totalling 50% of total ITSA volume for 2016, the company claimed 23.3% of the total MCV market (8 451 units including AMH).

However, in the HCV market of 5 460 units, 28.3% or 1 545 units were Isuzu’s. The EHCV segment take up the bulk of the volume (11 860 out of 27 047 units) and in this segment ITSA achieved a 3.5% share. ITSA’s share in the Bus segment was 1.8%.

“We wish to thank our dealers and Isuzu Trucks’ Partners for their contribution to our continued success” says Hiroaki Sugawara, CEO and Managing Director of Isuzu Truck South Africa. “Achieving the Number 1 position is no mean feat and to do so for four consecutive years is commendable”.

The heavy duty manufacturer will continue to expand its business into Africa and investment in the local Dealer Network in 2017 as it aligns long-term strategies while offering Customers and Fleets the best suited truck and aftersales service for their requirements.

The outlook for trucks in 2017

- Dave Scott

One discipline in forecasting the truck market is about minimising the element of hope. But it still remains an intuitive decision in the end. Peeping into a cloudy future – that is what it is at present – requires a cold assessment of the facts and trends and hope can introduce a tinge of optimism that should not be there.

Optimism is what happened to the NAAMSA truck and bus industry forecast at the beginning of 2016, and this despite the negative effects of the exchange rate debaclé flowing out of political interference in the Minister of Finance portfolio. The drought was biting severely and the world had become more uncertain and dangerous.

We were far too optimistic, expecting a flat-line market performance.

Only the heavy bus market showed any growth – this was up 27% but only represents 273 heavy buses, while volume segments such as medium and extra-heavy trucks took a plow.

Truck & Bus Market forecast vs reality ACTUAL 2015

NAAMSA

ACTUAL 2016

VARIANCE TO

Forecast 2016

RETAIL

FORECAST

BUS > 8,5t GVM

1 119

1 000

1 273

27,30%

MCV 3,5 - 8,5t GVM

10 488

10 200

8 447

-17,19%

HCV 8,5 - 16,5t GVM

5 599

5 500

5 462

-0,69%

ExHCV > 16,5t GVM

13 405

13 500

11 859

-12,16%

TOTAL

30 611

30 200

27 041

-10.46%

The final trend for 2016 is not a happy one. There are no substantial reasons for an uptick and to reverse the downward slide. For a start the price of oil was 32 USD/barrel in January 2016 and now hovers around 56 with forecast of hitting 60 USD/barrel in 2017. And we do not have a visible sign of exchange rate improvement.

2017 also saw us bid farewell to Renault and Freightliner.

While Renault has made a number of failed bids to enter the Southern Africa truck market, Freightliner has held a dominant position in the over 400hp long-haul segment for a long time.

That’s good-bye to USA trucks and all we are left with is the driveline in old Internationals and Freightliners that made these trucks carve a special niche in the market – so long CumminsEaton-Meritor! We luv’d ya and we’ll miss ya’ll.

Dave Scott is a second generation South African who has had a motor and road transport industry career that covers more than 48 years, starting in 1966 as a trainee truck salesman for Cargo Motors Mercedes-Benz Truck Division, in Johannesburg.

PAGE 47

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES And while Actros sales people ‘scramble’ to fill the gap left

by Freightliner, one plus one does not equal two – it’s not an automatic switch. It certainly makes for an interesting parts market.

At the medium end of the van market, Citroen have called it quits in 2017 for vans and cars – another parts pricing/ availability scenario is developing there that will impact resale values.

Quotable comments from the pen of Cees Bruggemans Rex Column – ‘Back to Work’ – who says that ‘we keep cruising at a very modest speed’ and adds the following: • ‘It has really rained in the interior, and provided the summer season can keep playing a more normal pattern, the maize harvest is seen in the 11-13mt range. That would be 2/3 up on last season’s 7.2mt. A real kicker.

• The good news, however, is that inflation is through its peak and we can expect a decline towards 5% in the course of the year. With the main benefit coming through food prices, we can expect a boost to real purchasing power. Which of these two forces will prove the strongest, inflation or energy, we will find out in the course of the year.

• The political infighting of last year seems set to continue this year. As such, it is difficult to see where the confidence will come from to sustain the economy.

• Mystically, there seems to be some institutional momentum that refuses to die, no matter how controversial policies or politics may be. Yet there doesn’t seem to be a large scale layoff of staff, average wage and salary increases have stayed ahead of inflation, and the economy appears to be willing to continue at minimal speed, rather than fall into recession.’

AutoForum - January / February 2017 ESKOM – has the threat to forecasting abated?

The threat of load-shedding and rolling blackouts was a very negative factor that seems to have abated at least for the time being.

And industrial plants are putting power back into the grid – the MAN plant in Pinetown has a photovoltaic roof with inverters and SASOL will be producing 800 MW of its own electric power at its Secunda facility of which 200 MW is set aside for ESKOM to purchase.

The SASOL plants are fueled by gas piped to Secunda from Mozambique. Then comes the new Kusile power station – the 4th largest coal fired power station in the world that will exceed R120 billion in investment and with a project life of 60 years.

Pheww – I will not be around for that forecast!

What are the OEMs thinking?

The truck original equipment manufacturers have to take forecasting very seriously. Understock and the missed opportunity means loss of market share while overstock turns into stock clearance sales also known as ‘distress marketing’ and loss of profit.

The problem is the long 5-month pipeline from overseas plants, the SA truck market seasonality and the great number of truck application segments. This is a complex-compound pudding of wheelbase, GVM, cab configuration, GCM, price-variablemarkup positioning, all pushed into freight carriers, tippers, compactors, truck tractors and other specialist applications.

And going rates are not necessarily an indication of future demand.

Market leader, Isuzu Truck South Africa, has held onto their position for four years now as the best-selling truck brand excluding heavy buses and vans. This is also the result of fine-tuning the forecast and reacting swiftly to changes in truck market forces.

Craig Uren, Chief Operating Officer of Isuzu Truck SA, holds the view that the 2017 South African truck and bus market will flat-line out around 27500 units – compare to 27041 for 2016.

Is this optimistic in view of political succession struggles and pandering to the people in 2017? We shall find out!

PAGE 48

UD focusses on Africa for 2017 UD Trucks recently held its first presentation to the media for 2017, kicking off the year in high spirits .

Gert Swanepoel started the press conference by introducing the full leadership team and also hinted at an exciting new product offering - but refused to be drawn on details, rather coyly answering that we should “watch this space”.

Shultz explained however that he found it encouraging after speaking to many customers that the feeling of paralysis that many have felt through the past year is subsiding, and that this strengthening of sentiment coincides with the reinvigoration of the UD brand.

“The Kenyan market is the next priority for 2017, as well as the greater South East African region, although it is undeniably difficult and somewhat unpredictable, it remains an enormously important market for UD”, he continued.

Swanepoel reiterated the group level decision to push what they call “the brand focus” for the organization. This message has been in the market with respect to UD since the first quarter of 2016, but Swanepoel insists that 2017 is going to show this commitment to the brand, and what this direction means to customers in terms of the support coming from UD. Martin Lundstedt, global CEO Volvo trucks visited SA recently specifically to see UD. This dedicated personal attention to the company clearly built confidence within the management and entire workforce within UD. Rory’s presentation looked at the global market and what UD refers to as SEA economic hubs. “South Africa sits ranked at 168th globally in terms of growth, and this year’s projected 1.5% growth makes it an oddity in the region, with an unstable track record more than likely linked to political shenanigans”.

“Considering the GDP, the figures for the truck market is not as dire as it could be - but the total market figure of 28144, is the worst for 5 years.” He continued, explaining that domestic and export sales were down 11.3% and 1.9% respectively.

While not featuring at all in light duty, UD remained 2nd in the medium duty segment, just behind Hino, with Shultz still satisfied that the performance is good, especially considering the age cycle of the product.

The brand is sitting at 5th position in the heavy duty segment and hopes are high that the “brand focus”, so often bandied about in their latest communications, is going to support growth in this segment. Even with this positive sentiment his view is that it will be another tough year, where sales will have to “fight for every sale”.

The persistent issue of downgrades and possible erosion of real buying power through inflationary pressure and possible tax changes, continues to put pressure on business confidence.

Getting the KB operation up and running in Kenya is directed towards catering to the huge growth the company sees in the country, along with opportunities in Uganda and Tanzania.

“SA seems to have lost its position as a leading economy in the region and while we stagnate in this way, our regional neighbors are steaming ahead with infrastructure and urbanization projects that are fueling their economies,” explained Shultz.

In his view, we as an industry and a country as a whole are not taking advantage of the opportunities around us, especially when compared with the role being played by China in Africa, and in comparison to countries such as Brazil’s role in South America.

He sees a transformation of transport services, such as those of some European countries including Spain and Belarus, as an opportunity in creating cost effective and quality transport systems as the key to modern logistics. It will be left up to the private sector, but the political will has to exist, as well as a balance between regulation and cost - especially because of new levies and duties.

He believes everyone in the industry are positive contributors in qualitative and quantitative terms for an re-ignition of the regional drive. Shultz sees the 5 dimensions of this reigniting as the market structure, the operators, driver and vehicles plus external factors.

Examples of these include the cost of transport and its cost impact on greater society. Environmental aspects additionally need to be considered as it becomes a responsibility for all players in the industry - and it presents opportunities for manufacturers who can provide an appropriate mix of these elements.

PAGE 49

AutoForum - January / February 2017

Showtime Messe Frankfurt’s new fairs and conferences for the automotive and transport & logistics sectors Messe Frankfurt has announced that its Mobility & Logistics business unit has continued its investment in an international portfolio of fairs, events and congresses. In addition to the expansion of the international Automechanika brand with new trade fairs in Birmingham, Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Messe Frankfurt has also made acquisitions in the automotive sector.

Showtime

The first Busworld Russia powered by Autotrans took place in October 2016 while, a month before, a new B2C event was launched here at home, the South African Festival of Motoring at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit. The company has also taken over Motobike Istanbul, which was held for the eighth time in February 2016, strengthening its position in Turkey.

PAGE 50

Messe Frankfurt has developed two new event concepts for the transport and logistics sectors. Scalex is a trade fair for supply chain and logistics, which made its successful debut in Kenya in March 2016 and which will also be held in South Africa in 2017.

With Hypermotion, Trade Fair and Integrated Conferences on Intelligent Systems and Solutions for Transport, Mobility, Logistics and Digital Infrastructure, the company believes it is closing a gap in the national and international market for mobility fairs, by launching the first platform with digital transformation as the superordinate theme. The first Hypermotion will be held in Frankfurt am Main from 20 to 22 November 2017.

The ‘Events driving Mobility 2017’ calendar illustrates the broad spectrum of subjects covered by events of the Mobility & Logistics business unit and has been published in a limited edition for the business partners of Messe Frankfurt.

The calendar has been produced in cooperation with photographer and artist Rafael Neff who has created fantastic and imaginative scenes using numerous assemblies and parts of renowned manufacturers. Comprising over 9,000 individual images, the scenes bring together a broad spectrum of different components. The mega cities are made up of transmission parts, valves, pistons, cylinder and spherical roller bearings, filters and camshafts.

Thus, the corrugated glass surface of a headlamp is transformed into planets, car-shine cotton becomes cloud formations, sintered parts morph into shoals of fish, servo controls into submarines and cleaning brushes into a palace garden.

The digital version of the calendar can be found at http://m-es.se/Ap4t. We will be giving our readers the chance to win a calendar inthe next few weeks - watch our website for details!

You can find more information at: mobilitylogistics.messefrankfurt.com, automotive. messefrankfurt.com, transport-logistics. messefrankfurt.com and in the blog www. driving-news.com.

Aftermarketplace

AutoForum - January / February 2017

C-TEK battery chargers and Battery Sense Every now and then usually for some arbitrary reason, or because little fingers have been playing with switches in my car, I have had to urgently seek a donor car to jump start my own. (Imagine the absolute humilation of jump starting a Fortuner with a little Ford Torneo Connect).

The aim is to prevent frustrating breakdowns by enabling constant monitoring of your battery’s health, and simultaneously maximising its performance. It sends a push notification if the battery’s state of charge falls to a critical level or if measurements have not been taken for seven days.

So when I received a press release on the new C-Tek “Battery Sense” system, it naturally caught my eye. According to Guido Brouwers, Marketing Manager for Charging Systems Africa, who are the official distributors of CTek in South Africa: ‘Many people, until stranded with a malfunctioning battery, don’t realise how critical the battery is not only to starting a vehicle but also the electronic system. We are actively trying to help drivers understand the importance and benefits of proper, proactive battery management and offer an innovative, safe and easy-to-use tool for the task.”

The product is very easy to install and data is delivered through a free to download iPhone or Android App. By allowing users to monitor multiple vehicle’s batteries simultaneously it is extremely useful, especially for infrequently used batteries such as motorbikes, jet skis, ski-boats and so on.

So far so good - and when I called them up I was presented very soon after with my own device to test out, together with a charger and very convenient power socket connector.

This new product is designed by Swedish-based CTek who speacialise in the care and maintenance of vehicle batteries.

It is really plug-and-play type charging but their system takes user-friendliness a huge step further. Their solution is Bluetooth-enabled battery monitor which connects directly to an app on your smartphone. Not only can you see how the charging is progressing but most importantly after charging the battery the app lets you track the health of a number of vehicle batteries - as long as the Battery Sense system and your phone are in close enough range.

‘When Battery Sense alerts you to charge then it makes sense to use an intelligent battery-charger/maintainer which will keep your battery in tip top shape as well as extend its life by up to 3 times and prevent those unwanted breakdowns.’ continues Brouwers. The unit we used was really useful - and actually having the Battery sense unit installed meant tracking if the battery was draining unnecessarily was made much easier.

It since turned out that the tracking device was actually the culprit, and I would never have known unless I was able to ascertain that the battery was being drained while the car was parked. CTek have kindly offered to give us a pro-version of the system for us to test in the workshop environment.

Watch this space.

PAGE 51

Aftermarketplace

AutoForum - January / February 2017 AutoForum - January / February 2017

New stolen vehicle website launched Karl Tomaschko has launched a new website, aimed at helping curb the stolen vehicle problem in South Africa.

The site, www.stolenvehicles.co.za, helps both victims of a vehicle theft, as well as used car buyers in pinpointing and avoiding stolen vehicles that are potentially circulating in the used car market.

As Tomaschko explains: “Currently, to find out whether a vehicle is stolen or not is a lengthy process and will most likely incur some costs. With this website we would like to create the biggest database of stolen vehicles in South Africa, making it completely free to add and search for information.”

It works by allowing an owner who’s vehicle has been stolen to add it to the database and allowing a person in the market for a second-hand vehicle to do a quick check if the car/motorcycle/ truck they are about to buy is stolen or not.

Federal-Mogul launches new Champion Spark Plug Range Feredal-Mogul Motorparts has launched a new Champion EON-Titan spark plug range, part of its consolidated range, providing leading car parc coverage of 90% with only 18 product references.

“By combining several technologies into our EON-Titan spark plug range, Champion is able to cover the vast majority of the car parc through a limited number of products. It is the perfect modern retail solution,” Federal Mogul MEA Aftermarket Marketing Director Siya Khuzwayo comments.

“Retailers are able to increase sales opportunities, while reducing the required investment in terms of stock costs and required shelf space.”

OE-quality EON-Titan spark plugs are suitable for naturallyaspirated or turbocharged applications, are pre-gapped for optimum performance, and benefit from a range of innovative technologies and the latest manufacturing techniques.

For naturally-aspirated applications, a machined thermal contour centre electrode provides for precious-metal performance features, while turbocharged applications benefit from a platinum fine-wire centre electrode.

PAGE 52

If a stolen vehicle is found via the website, the person can send a message to the owner notifying them of the location. In the future, it will also provide statistics on the number of vehicles stolen in South Africa by province, vehicle type etc.

While a novel idea with great potential, the site still lacks the kind of data to provide full value. If you know of stolen vehicles why not support the site and see if you can help them make a difference. We all benefit in the end.

Body repair insight in association with BodyShop News International January / February 2017

Managing mixed materials Contents Motor Vehicle Salvage Codes Auto colour of the Year from Axalta RMI wage Schedule Booklet 2017

BODYSHOP NEWS

AutoForum - January / February 2017

Motor vehicle salvage code SAMBRA recently highlighted the Motor Vehicle Code of Salvage, which is aimed at establishing a common approach from all stakeholders when dealing with motor salvage.

The code of 2014 is one that is agreed to by the South

In addition, it is aimed at “ensuring that consumers

African Insurance Association (“SAIA”); the Banking

are treated fairly with regard to the processes followed

Association South Africa (“BASA”); and the National

and decisions made related to accident damaged and/

Motor Financing Association (“NMFA”). It is supported by

or stolen recovered vehicles. Insurers and banks have

Business Against Crime SA (“BACSA”), the South African

a moral duty to the consumers to safeguard them from

Police Service (“SAPS”) and the South African Insurance

unscrupulous operators who are selling and or putting

Crime Bureau (“SAICB”).

back in use unfit and unsafe motor vehicles as code 2 motor vehicles, which should have been deregistered.

The purpose of the “Code” between the short term insurance and banking industries, and specifically the

Should these activities not be addressed, unsafe motor

SAIA and its members, the BASA and its members as well

vehicles may be put back onto our roads in this way

as the NMFA and its members, is to establish a common

contributing to the high accident figures on South African

approach when dealing with motor salvage. The end

roads, while at the same time indirectly contributing to

goal is to assist in combating motor vehicle crime and

motor vehicle crime.”

specifically the cloning of motor vehicles.

Auto colour of the year from Axalta Axalta announced in early January that its automotive color of the Year 2017 is Gallant Gray.

This “luxurious” colour is described as being enhanced

Axalta’s recently released 2016 Global Automotive Colour

by blue and silver flakes that produce a unique sparkle

Popularity Report, which documents vehicle colour trends

effect and dark undertones that enrich the finish, adding

by geography, showed a rise in the popularity of gray

sophistication. The colour will be celebrated throughout

shades around the world. Neutral colours have dominated

the year, beginning with a variety of events during the

the market over the last ten years.

2017 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS)

Although white and black maintained the top positions

Preview Days in Detroit in the US.

worldwide, gray is now tied with silver for third place at eleven percent. Gray leads silver in popularity in Europe

“At Axalta, we monitor automotive trends and forecast

(by six percent), North America (five percent), and South

how color tastes are changing in the automotive market,”

Korea (seven percent). Gray is most popular in Europe

said Nancy Lockhart – Axalta Global Colour Marketing

(17 percent), North America (16 percent), South Korea (19

Manager. “We are pleased to partner with automakers

percent), and India (12 percent).

by using our coatings to give their vehicles beauty and character, and we’re confident customers will appreciate Gallant Gray.”

PAGE 54

Axalta’s Global Automotive Colour Popularity report is in its 64th consecutive edition.

BODYSHOP NEWS

AutoForum - January / February 2017

RMI wage schedule booklet 2017 SAMBRA recently announced the release of its latest

To access the full booklet

Wage Schedule Booklet for February 2017.

online, visit http://

WAGE SCH EDULES 2016 / 2017

sambra.biz/wp-content/ The new wage schedule has been circulated to RMI

uploads/2017/01/WAGE-

members, and in the document the organisation warns

SCHEDULES-FEB-2017.

members “to treat attempts by third parties to over-

pdf.

UNDERSTAND ING THE AP OF WAGES IN THE MOTORPLICATION INDUSTRY

simplify the wage agreement with the utmost caution

DIVISIONS OF THE MOTOR INDUSTRY DIVISION A Division A of the Main Agreeme nt covers tions of Employm ent which are applicabl generic Condiindustry other e to the motor than those condition applicable to office, s which are specifical sales and clerical ly Division A also employees. contains definition s and grades of various employee the s.

DIVISION B Division B covers all which are applicabl wages and conditions of employm e to office, stores, ent employees. sales and clerical

MIBCO WAGE Effective impl

INCREASES

DIVISION C

Division C contains minimum wages ementatexcluding for all employee ion date office, stores, sales s will and beclerical employee advi seds.

DIVISION C Division C is divided

MAIN AGREE MENT – DIVISIO Clause 2 – Definitions NA Clause 3 – Terminatio ; n Clause 4 – Outwork; of Service; Clause 5 – Piece Work Clause 8 – Travelling and Commission Work; Allowance; Clause 11 – Sick Leave; Clause 13 – Retrenchm Clause 15 – Desertion ent Pay; Clause 16 – Damage ; Clause 17 – Public to Vehicle or loss of Property or Assets; Holiday; Clause 26 – Annual Leave and Accrued Clause 31 – Maternity Leave Pay; Clause 33 – Payment Leave; Clause 35 – Certificateof Earnings; of Service.

GRADES OF EMPLOYEES EXCLUDING EMPLOYEES DIVISION B Please see job categories on page 4 of this categorise your booklet in order employees into to various grades.

EXPLANATORY NOTES ABOUT The new wage schedule WAGE INCREA SES Members are cautioned has been circulated to RMI members. to treat attempts simplify the wage by third parties agreement with to overthe utmost caution omissions and some as very pertinent incorrect interpretat could confuse members ions may be conveyed and/or cost members. , which to obtain further Members wanting clarity of the wage or any regarding the application and interpretat other industry agreemen ion contact local RMI ts, are encourage regional offices, d to where highly skilled are deployed, offering legal teams application of these trade- specific advice and assistance wage regulatory in the measures. You contact details of will find the the RMI regional offices on the back booklet. Members page of the are of wage agreemen requested to note the following specific aspects ts that deserve careful attention: What is the differen ce between actual wage increase and guaranteed s?

Actual wage increase applies to Sector industry i.e. compone 1 (Chapter III only) of the nt manufacturers, increase on the wage that the employeeand implies a percentage that employee earns earns, irrespectiv e of whether the minimum wage on the other hand, or not. Guarantee is calculated by applying the percentag d increase to the old minimum e increase wage, converting that calculation to and applying those a cash value, cash values to the wage that a specific earns. These cash values, calculated employee for each grade of are the increases employment, applicable to the entire industry except and Chapter III and Sector can wage increase schedule. be obtained by looking at the guarantee 6 d The intention of not to penalise those guaranteed increases members who pay is the minimum wage, their employees more than which will happen if the percentages across the board. are applied

into five chapters:

Chapter 1

The entire motor industry, other than those specifically covered in Chapter 2 Vehicle body builders; Chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5; Chapter 3 Component manufac Chapter 4 Automotive engineer turers; Chapter 5 ing establishments; Reconditioning establishments.

DIVISION D Division D covers specific sectoral Please see definition issues: of the sectors below: DIVISION D - SECTOR Sector 1 Manufac S turing (Chapter III); Vehicle body (Chapter builders Sector 2 Remanuf II); Sector 3 Engine acturing; Sector 4 Workshoreconditioning establishments; ps, motorcycle dealers, body repairers dealers etc; , tyre Sector 5 Fuel dealers; Sector 6 Dealersh ips; Sector 7 Parts and equipment dealers.

THRESHOLD Only the following clauses in the Main Agreement shall employees whose apply weekly or monthly Vehicle remuneration, excludingto commission on sales, Testing is (R170 848 for theAssociationmore than the rate of R183 144.33 purpose of wage per annum increase in Sector 1/Chapter III) ADMINISTRAT IVE Clause 5 – Deduction AGREEMENT Clause 13 – Employeeof Earnings; Clause 14 – Prohibitions Representatives on the Council; of Cession Benefits.

TA

2

as very pertinent omissions and some incorrect interpretations may be conveyed, which could confuse members and/or cost members.”

Leading Australian brands and industry bodies prepare for Collision Repair Expo Australian and international brands will showcase the

A highlight of the 2017 Expo will be the free educational

latest products and world’s-best-practice technologies

Seminar Programme offered on 7 and 8 April. One of

at the Collision Repair Expo to be held at the Melbourne

the topics covered will be What’s Trending and New

Convention and Exhibition Centre in Australia from 6 to 8

Technology Insights.

April, 2017.

Presented by Bangkok-based CAR-O-LINER Managing Exhibitors are now completing arrangements for the

Director Per Madsen, this session is designed to help

region’s largest display of body finishing materials, crash

visitors decide which vehicles to focus on and whether or

repair equipment and tools. This will be complemented

not a workshop re-fit is needed.

by a range of educational seminars and networking opportunities where visitors can exchange ideas and

With a brief review of the past and an overview of the key

information with organisations representing all aspects of

influencers for the future, attendees will be able to better

the body repair industry supply chain.

decide how they want their business to operate.

Organised by the Australian Automotive Aftermarket

The key is to identify which choices will enable the most

Association (AAAA), the Collision Repair Expo also

profitable structure within each business model. Madsen

attracts the involvement of the sector’s leading industry

will cover issues from processes and electronic measuring

bodies. AAAA Executive Director Stuart Charity says the

to the impact of OEM Certification Programmes, plus the

Expo, which is held every two years, has become the

important impact of the endless introduction of exotic

major meeting place for key industry players in the Asia

materials and the challenges and opportunities they

Pacific region.

present.

The list of supporting industry associations grows with

Drawing on his vast experience from extensive travel

each Expo. This year arrangements are in place for a wide

across Asia and Oceania, Madsen will share the secrets

range of organisations to contribute their knowledge and

he has learned by working with innovative repairers

expertise to the programme.

across the region. He will also discuss training on OEM certification programmes, development audits and service

Amongst those professional bodies participating are

provider issues.

the Collision Repair Association of New Zealand, the Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers, I-CAR,

Entry to the Expo Seminar Programme is free and

Motor Traders Association of Queensland, Motor Traders

bookings are essential. Visit www.collisionrepair.com.au/

Association of Western Australia, Victorian Automobile

visiting/seminar to select and book the sessions desired.

Chamber of Commerce and the Society of Automotive Engineers – Australasia.

PAGE 56

BODYSHOP NEWS

AutoForum - January / February 2017

Managing mixed materials and modern vehicles - Jason Bartanen

We’ve seen more change in vehicle structures technologies over the past 10 years than we had ever seen before. The growth of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS), the number of aluminium-intensive vehicles and the expanded use of carbon fibre and other composites are significant factors in how we repair today’s vehicles.

Historically, we’ve been focusing on either a “steel vehicle” or an “aluminium-intensive vehicle” – that is going to change, significantly, over the next several years.

The landscape of collision repair will continue to change,

lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, active park assist,

rapidly, and we must keep pace to ensure complete, safe,

and many others, and the vehicle makers have a weight

quality repairs. Soon, we’ll be working on mixed-material

problem. All of these options, the computers electronics

vehicles that will require access to information, new tools,

to run many of them, and the wiring that powers them, all

equipment, techniques, proper training, and a new skill

add a significant amount of weight to the vehicle.

set.

At the same time, the vehicle makers also have to design There are at least a couple of factors that have gone into

stronger vehicles to protect vehicle occupants. The new

the extensive changes we’re seeing in today’s vehicles;

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 25 percent

most significantly weight reduction and safety. The vehicle

small overlap crash test has posed a significant challenge

makers are in a daily struggle against two opposing

to the vehicle makers.

forces. How do they add all of the safety and ‘creature comfort’ items that customers demand, while meeting

When the test was first released, many vehicles yielded

stringent (and getting more stringent) Corporate Average

dismal results. The vehicle makers quickly scrambled and

Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) requirements?

re-engineered their model line up to be more successful in the new crash test. Design changes, including additional

The array of options on today’s vehicles is vast: heated

reinforcements, again added some weight to the vehicle.

and cooled seats, rear-seat infotainment systems, center console coolers, and even vacuums are just a few of the

The Cadillac CT6 used a significant amount of aluminium

options available on an increasing number of vehicles.

and steel in the vehicle structure. All of the weight that is added to the vehicle, adversely affects the fuel economy,

Add to that the significant number of Advanced Driver

imposed by government regulations, the vehicle makers

Assist Systems (ADAS) such as adaptive cruise control,

must meet.

PAGE 58

Jason Bartanen is the Technical Director for I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, a not-for-profit training organization focused on education, knowledge and solutions for the collision repair industry. Image above: GM’s range topping 2017 Cadillac CT6 has used an advanced mixedmaterial approach of steel and aluminium intensive design primarily to save weight in the body structure.

Vehicle makers have a few options for reducing that

Today’s mixed-material vehicle

weight:

There are a few vehicles that are already employing, or

• Build smaller vehicles. While we’ve seen a significant

had previously employed, this approach to vehicle design

increase in the number of small cars on the market,

and construction. Several years ago, BMW introduced

trucks, SUVs, and crossovers continue to be some of

their GRAV structure on the 5- and 6-series vehicles and

the most popular vehicles on the roads of America.

Audi leveraged a similar approach on the TT. Today, we’re

The vehicle makers must produce a significant number

seeing BMW leverage steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber

of these smaller vehicles to offset the sales of larger

on the new, carbon-core, 7-series. Additionally, Cadillac

vehicles, to meet their CAFÉ requirements.

used both steel and aluminium throughout the structure of

• Decrease engine size. Smaller engines are more fuel-

their flagship, the CT6. For futures mixed-material vehicle

efficient, but many customers also want horsepower

applications, you may want to keep an eye on these

and towing capabilities, especially in the truck, SUV,

vehicle makers.

and crossover hungry U.S. market. This is one reason we’re seeing a lot more turbo-charged engines on

Material identification

many of todays’ vehicles. Prior to its release, Ford

One of the first steps in the development of any repair

estimated that 56 percent of 2015 F-150 sales would

plan should be to identify the material(s) used by the

include one of their tubocharged, Ecoboost engines,

vehicle maker. This will provide the foundation for a solid

while their 5.0 liter engine would only account for

repair plan. Fortunately, the number of vehicles that

roughly 28 percent of sales.

provide detailed information on material types continues

• R educe the weight of the vehicle structure. This is a

to increase.

key area and the reason why we see a lot more highand ultra-high strength steel, aluminum, magnesium,

Unfortunately, the information isn’t always located in the

and composites on today’s vehicles.

same area of the body repair manual and may be a bit challenging to find. However, with time and experience,

Reducing the weight of the structure is an area that

you’ll quickly become familiar with how different vehicle

today’s vehicle design engineers focus on, daily.

makers lay out their repair information, making it easier to

Historically, those engineers have looked to leverage a

find in subsequent visits to their repair websites.

variety of either high- and ultra-high-strength steels or aluminum for the vehicle structure. The cars and trucks that we repair on a daily basis are, more-often-thannot, either a “steel vehicle” or an “aluminium-intensive vehicle.” That is beginning to, and will continue to, change at a much more rapid pace over the next several years. Tomorrow’s (and some of today’s) design engineers are going to choose the material they believe is best suited for a particular application and won’t likely focus on one type of material. Tomorrow’s vehicle will be a mixed-material vehicle and we’re going to need to adapt our approach to repairing those vehicle.

Damage analysis Once you’ve identified the type(s) of materials that are going to be involved in the repair, the next step is to determine what is repairable and what will require replacement. Again, the best first step is to refer to the vehicle’s body repair manual. An increasing number of vehicle makers offer a wealth of repairability guidelines for their vehicles.

Inset: GM’s Cadillac CT6 display shows the extensive use of aluminum castings, stamping and extrusions, as well as ultra-high-strength steel (UHSS), in the side aperature of the Cadillac CT6. Backround: Vehicle maker information is required to select the correct rivet size.

PAGE 59

BODYSHOP NEWS

AutoForum - January / February 2017

The number of vehicle makers that allow for straightening

A part may not look like it is kinked, but it may not be

of high- and ultra-high strength steel and aluminium,

able to be straightened without cracking. The stronger

is decreasing, so part replacement will become quite

the steel, the less repairable it becomes. For example, a

common.

slight bend in a UHSS part may crack when straightened, if it is able to be straightened at all.

The amount of straightening allowed for mixed-material vehicles will likely be even less. More-often-than-not, if

As a best practice, do not straighten parts that are

the structure of a mixed-material vehicle is damaged, part

above 600 MPa unless specific documentation exists

replacement is going to be required.

from the vehicle maker. This is due to possible cracking and tearing of the part and possible damage to adjacent

If no repair guidelines exist, you’ll have to rely on your

panels. If straightening is allowed by the OEM, a dye

expertise and previous training to make an effective

penetrant should be used to ensure no micro-cracking

repair decision. If the vehicle has damage to mild steel

has occurred in the steel. Some vehicle makers do not

or aluminium stampings, some straightening may be

recommend straightening UHSS parts that are above 600

an option. If there is damage to aluminum extrusions,

MPa due to cracking and tearing of the part and damage

aluminum castings, high- or ultra-high-strength steel, or

to adjacent panels.

carbon fibre, replacement will likely be the only option.

If the part is bent, but the thickness or strength of the metal will not allow for straightening without leaving an area of permanent deformation, then replacement, either partial or complete, would be appropriate.

Tools, equipment and part replacement While many of the tools and equipment you work with today will be useful for mixed-material vehicles, you will need to invest in some new equipment, if you’re not already working on aluminum-intensive vehicles today, or doing MIG brazing.

While vehicle makers may be able to join dissimilar metals together using spot welding, friction-stir welding, or The I-CAR kink vs. bend rule was designed for steel, not

other ‘fusion’ methods, that type of equipment will not

aluminium, so it likely wouldn’t apply on a mixed-material

be available for repairs; at not least for the foreseeable

vehicle; but, if the part in question is steel, the rule may

future. When attaching dissimilar materials to one another,

be applicable. However, the kink vs. bend rule has also

most repair procedures are going to include mechanical

changed over the years, based on the types of steels

fasteners, in conjunction with adhesives. Blind rivets, and

found on today’s vehicles.

in some cases, self-piercing rivets (SPR) and adhesives are going to be common place in replacement attachment

The number of damaged parts that would qualify as bent

methods.

has dramatically decreased, while the number of damaged parts that would now be considered a kink has increased.

Why has the number increased?

The kink vs. bend rule is no longer as simple as it sounds. Part of the original definition of a kink is: a part is considered kinked if, after straightening, there is a permanent area of deformation which will not return to its original state and shape without the use of excessive heat. Kinked parts may also have visible cracks or tears in the metal.

PAGE 60

To avoid costly damage to SPR dies, always make sure the dies match the rivet application. Inset: Factory installed SPRs will often be replaced with blind rivets during repair.

Not only is rivet bonding an effective attachment method,

Both of these courses use your equipment to train you

it also provides a barrier between dissimilar materials,

and your team on how to properly use these advanced

especially aluminum and steel. While the likelihood of

joining techniques.

galvanic corrosion is minimal, rivet bonding provides additional protection. It also helps with noise, vibration,

I-CAR is also in the process of developing a new suite

and harshness (NVH) and general corrosion protection.

of courses on new vehicles and new technology to share important information on which vehicle makers are

Repairs may not always require joining dissimilar

leveraging which materials and repair methods. Many

materials and there will many cases where a dissimilar

of these new courses will be offered online and will be

material is sandwiched between two similar materials;

accessible 24/7.

for example, an aluminum or carbon fiber reinforcement between two pieces of steel. In those cases, squeeze-

So in conclusion

type resistance spot welding (STRSW) will likely be the

Working on vehicles with mixed materials can be

preferred attachment methods. However, not all areas

complicated, but with the proper information, training,

will be accessible for spot welding arms. In those cases,

tools, equipment, and techniques you can ensure

conventional GMA plug welding may be allowed, or MIG

complete, safe, quality repairs for our customers. Always

brazing may be required. Honda is one vehicle maker that

research the vehicle maker information before beginning

requires MIG brazing when attaching 1,500 MPa steel

repairs and ensure you’re following the vehicle maker’s

where spot welding arms won’t reach.

procedures for repair and replacement. The future growth of your business is going to be linked with these sort of

Again, to ensure you’re using the proper tools, equipment,

challenges as the technology used in the structural parts

and attachment methods, it is imperative that you refer to

progresses.

the vehicle maker procedures. Not doing so will create an inferior and, quite possibly, a failed repair.

Training All of the tools and equipment needed for repairing tomorrow’s vehicles won’t be as effective without proper training. Fortunately, I-CAR has a couple of new courses available to help. I-CAR now offers an in-shop, hands-on, Rivet Bonding (RVT01) course and an in-shop, hands-on, MIG Brazing Hands-On Skill Development (BRZ02) course.

New plastic spreader sets that cut your sanding time The new Tork Craft multi-purpose flexible plastic spreader

The Tork Craft Spreader

set is the perfect product for spreading and laying of all

Set is available from

sorts of materials - allowing the user to lay it on evenly,

all leading suppliers’

saving on sanding – ideal for the collision repair sector.

country wide.

The pack comes with 3 different size units, and boasts

To find out who your

an extremely durable and flexible product made from

nearest supplier is,

Thermoplastic rubber. These hardy units will not wear out,

call Vermont Sales on

are easy to clean and re-usable. Any quick drying material

011 314 7711 or visit

will come off the spreaders simply by bending the units.

the web site www. vermontsales.co.za.

PAGE 61

BODYSHOP NEWS

AutoForum - January / February 2017

Festool launches new sanders for professional painters Festool recently launched three new sanders for

Other highlights include the new Airstream SCA 8 rapid

professional painters. Ergonomically designed and

charger with integrated cooling function, which charges

weighing just 1.2 kg, the new generation of compact

the new Airstream battery packs significantly faster - up

sanders, the RTS 400, DTS 400 and ETS 125, can be

to 2.5 times higher than the previous TCL 3 generation -

used to perform sanding tasks significantly faster and

but also informs the user of the remaining charging time

more easily with minimal effort and with up to 25% higher

via the integrated indicator.

material removal capacity.

All Festool products are supported with a comprehensive The new connecting sleeve with integrated bayonet fitting

range of dust extractors.

can be attached to the extractor connector of the tool and tightened with ease, enabling a long-lasting, robust

For more information about the new products call Vermont

connection between the mobile dust extractor and the

Sales on 011 314 7711 for trade enquiries or visit their

power tool to be established in an instant.

web site www.vermontsales.co.za.

Snap-on extends their roll cab range With the new year comes new resolutions and a tidy and

Your purchase will see a generous R1000 donated to the

accessible workshop should be part of your businesses

“Save Our Rhino” effort. There are also Trade-In options,

goals for 2017. Great news for those looking to invest

so make sure you contact your Snap-on dealer or visit

in a quality tool storage unit, is that Snap-on Tools has

www.snapon.co.za before the deal ends.

expanded its “Save Our Rhino” Roll Cab range, with the 12 drawer cabinet now available in red, black, & white as well as the original bright yellow.

Even better, the units are available with finance options – an easily affordable R725 a month over 36 monthly installments, with the first payment only due in March 2017, and at the low interest rate of just 10%.

PAGE 64

Garage Trade Supplies QUALITY WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT

WHY A FITMENT CENTRE NEEDS DIAGNOSTICS • • • • • • •

Steering angle sensors (SAS) which may require recalibration after alignment.

Tyre Pressure Monitoring systems (TPMS) which may require coding.

Batteries which require service resets and system updates Electronic Parking Brakes which require releasing for brake replacement ABS for the bleeding of electronic braking systems Ride Height pre-set required on some Air suspension vehicles Engine Management light reset required after some exhaust replacements

Contact us for all your equipment advice

David Barendse 082 450 6109

Tel: 011 908 5199 011 908 4169

garagetradesupplies.co.za gts@telkomsa.net

Proud suppliers of the following top brands:

PAGE 65

DIRECTORY LISTING

AutoForum - January / February 2017 Aftermarketplace Directory

To advertise your listing in AutoForum Aftermarketplace Directory contact us on 0861 222 878 or email: info@AutoForum.co.za

AUTO ELECTRICAL Auto Cosmos - Electrolog

Electronic Parts (Electrical) Catalogue

012 327 6210

Bosch

Parts, Accessories & Batteries

011 651 9600

AAAS - Parts Incorporated Africa

Automotive Components & Accessories

011 879 6000

Highveld Garage Equipment

Air Conditioning Specialists

012 330 0540

Snap-on Equipment

Diagnostics Equipment

0861 762 766

Aer-O-Cure

Spray Booths,Chassis Aligners, Compressors & Welding Equipment

011 444 6454

Allied Paint Solutions - Sikkens

Automotive Paints

012 940 0381

BASF - Glasurit

Automotive Paints

012 681 9200

Hurricane

Chassis Aligners, Compressors & Spray Booths

083 628 2288

Aer-O-Cure

Pressure Washers & Vacuum Cleaners

011 444 6454

Highveld Garage Equipment

Pressure Washers & Vacuum Cleaners

012 330 0540

AAAS - NAPA

Tools & Garage Equipment

011 879 6000

Aer-O-Cure

Electronic Chassis Straighteners

011 444 6454

Beissbarth

Wheel Alignment Equipment

011 651 9600

Bosch

Diagnostic Equipment

011 651 9600

Garage Trade Supplies

Wheel Service Equipment and Diagnostics

011 908 5199

Highveld Garage Equipment

Engine Analyser & Diagnostic Scanners

012 330 0540

Leaderquip

Wheel Alignment Equipment

011 334 1680

AAAS - Midas

Diagnostic Tools & Garage Equipment

011 879 6000

Snap-on Diagnostics

Diagnostics Equipment

086 176 2766

Tenneco - Monroe

Shock Absorber testers

011 574 5602

Aer-O-Cure

Tools & Garage Equipment

011 444 6454

Beissbarth

Wheel Alignment Equipment

011 651 9600

Bosch

Diagnostic Equipment

011 651 9600

Garage Trade Supplies

Tyre & Lifting Equipment & Tools

011 908 5199

Highveld Garage Equipment

Tyre & Lifting Equipment & Tools

012 330 0540

Hurricane

Tools & Garage Equipment

083 628 2288

Ital Machinery

Brake & Clutch Machinery

011 483 3737

John Bean - Snap-on Equipment

Wheel Service Equipment

086 176 2766

Leaderquip

Tyre & Lifting Equipment & Tools

011 334 1680

AAAS - Midas

Tools & Garage Equipment

011 879 6000

PCL - AEI

Workshop equipment & Tools

011 474 7480

Snap-on Tools

Tools & Garage Equipment

086 176 2766

Alfa International

Brake Drums, Discs, Linings & Pads. Clutches & Flywheels

011 608 0801/3

AUDI Parts

Genuine OE Parts

086 043 4838

Auto Magneto

Alternators, Starter motors, electric & electronic parts

021 531 8144

Bosch

Parts, Accessories & Batteries

011 651 9600

AAAS - Midas

Aftermarket Parts & Accessories

011 879 6000

Mahle

Engine parts, Filters & Thermal management

041 408 3598

AAAS - NAPA

Aftermarket Parts & Accessories

011 879 6000

AAAS - Parts Incorporated Africa

Automotive Components & Accessories

011 879 6000

Tenneco

Shock Absorbers

011 574 5602

VW Parts

Genuine OE Parts

086 043 4737

ZF Lemforder

Genuine Replacement Parts

011 457 0000

Auto Cosmos - Electrolog

Electronic Parts (Electrical) Catalogue

012 327 6210

Bosch

Automotive Training Courses

011 651 9600

AIR CONDITIONING

BODY REPAIR EQUIPMENT

CLEANING EQUIPMENT

DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT

GARAGE EQUIPMENT & TOOLS

PARTS MANUFACTURERS & DISTRIBUTORS

SERVICES

PAGE 66

New Tyre Changer & Wheel Balancing Range From Bosch TCE 260 PN 0 986 AT0 790  

    

Automatic tyre changer Economical product for passenger cars / light commercial vehicles Bigger clamping size up 26” Rim width up to 4 - 13" (100 - 330mm) Round shape central plate Optional helper arm for UHP, RFT tyres 220V

WBE 260 PN 0 986 AT0 789 

     

Economical product for passenger cars / light commercial vehicles Ergonomic design Wheel diametre up to 41” (1050mm) Internal lighting for weight attachment Safety cover Large pedal design for foot brake 220V

www.bosch.co.za

For more information contact: Nhlanhla Maseko nhlanhla.maseko@za.bosch.com

re at r-o-cu e A t i s Vi

AutoForum - January / February 2017

‘17 Sepot.Centre h t 0 3 27- nesburg Exp Johan

Aer-o-cure provides an air-tight solution for refinishing professionals.

Aer-o-cure’s Combination Downdraught Spraybooths are designed for automotive refinishers that demand a reliable, high quality paint process with minimum running costs.

The powerful downdraft ventilation system guarantees a healthy working environment and optimal conditions for painting, removing all vehicle overspray immediately and ensuring a mirror-perfect finish after baking.

Minimising energy usage during both the painting and baking cycles is a high priority and is achieved through precisely controlling the motor’s speed via the Microprocessor control. Energy-saving neon lighting is utilised to provide uniform conditions allowing for correct colour tones to be achieved with absolute precision.

For a complete Aer-o-cure Spraybooth and Mixing Room solution, visit our website or call now for more information.

10 Reasons why you should choose an Aer-o-cure Combination Downdraught Spraybooth: • Microprocessor controlled, energy efficient • Manufactured in South Africa • OEM Approved • SABS Certified • Lower maintenance costs • Lower operational costs • Easily movable • Established in SA since 1980 • Proven after-sales service and support • Over 2000 spray booths produced since inception

STANDARD MIXING ROOMS MODELS: AM – 30 / 40 STANDARD SPRAYBOOTHS MODELS: AC60- 2800, AC75 – 2800 / 3400, AC90 – 2800 / 3400 OPTIONAL EXTRAS: Extraction • Waterborne Blowing System • Lights • Windows • Gas Burners

For the full range visit: www.aerocure.co.za

Automotive Bodyshop Equipment Aer-o-cure PTY (Ltd) • SADC Registered Manufacturer and Exporter 8 Lees Street, Wynberg, 2090, Johannesburg, South Africa. PO Box 137 Strathavon, 2031

PAGE 68

GraphicWerx • AOC_Ad5_AutoForum_3042

Tel: +27 11 444 6454 Fax: +27 11 444 5677 e-Mail: info@aerocure.co.za * Product / Colour may vary from image provided, subject to stock availability. (E&OE)