Garage Trader Vol 1 2019 by Greer publications

GARAGE IRELAND CTR 9 ®

Vol 1 2019

AUTOMATIC SPOT WELDER

Award Winning Collision Repair Equipment

CTR 9 ®

The CTR® 9 fully automatic welder comes with a new, revolutionary light-weight TELESCOPIC C-tong. transformer SUPPORT ARM

TELESCOPIC SUPPORT ARM FULLY AUTOMATIC SPOT WELDER LIQUID COOLED

With its 355o LIQUID COOLED

swivel handle featuring “Ergo-Grip” TRANSFORMER GUNperfect it enables SWIVELS 355O postions working for anyone, ERGO-GRIPfor any job.

EASY-TO-USE “Save time - Make CONTROL UNIT money” WELD LOGGER

Collision Repair is our business. Learn about all of our solutions and custom-made offers. GARAGETRADER info@car-o-liner.co.uk | Tel: +44 1788 574 157 | www.car-o-liner.com

Award Winning Collision Repair Equipment TRANSFORMER GUN

SWIVELS 355O The CTR® 9 fully automatic welder comes with a new, revolutionary light-weight transformer C-tong.

ERGO-GRIP

With its 355 EASY-TO-USE swivel handle featuring “Ergo-Grip” CONTROL UNIT

it enables perfect working postions for anyone, for any job.

WELD LOGGER

“Save time - Make money”

Fast Acting Degreaser

Quickly and easily removes grease, oil, grime and dirt.

Fast Release Penetrate

Fast-acting formula, penetrates and releases rust from seized locks, nuts and bolts etc.

Fast Drying Contact Cleaner

Fast, non-conductive cleaner with no residue. Ideal for automotive electrical components.

High Performance White Lithium Grease

Heat and water-resistant, non-run lubricant. Ideal for linkages, springs, gears, bearings, battery terminals.

Anti-Friction Dry PTFE Lubricant

Dust-resisting, superior lubrication for high temperature components requiring reduced friction.

High Performance Silicone Lubricant

Fast-dry, water resistant, non-stain and dust-free formula. Perfect for hinges and rubber mountings.

High Performance PTFE Lubricant

Long-lasting lubrication to reduce friction and is suitable for cables, axles and hydraulics.

Multi-Use Product

The workhorse in your toolkit. WD-40 Multi-Use Product is the No.1 toolbox essential for the automotive trade.

2- GARAGETRADER

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: www.garagetrader.co.uk

CONTENTS GT

TAKE A LOOK INSIDE... www.garagetrader.co.uk

CTR 9

GARAGE IRELAND CTR 9 GARAGE IRELAND CTR 9 CTR 9

Vol 1 2019

FULLY AUTOMATIC SPOT WELDER

Award Winning Collision Repair Equipment

TELESCOPIC SUPPORT ARM

CTR 9 ®

The CTR® 9 fully automatic welder TELESCOPIC comes with a new, SUPPORT light-weight ARM revolutionary TELESCOPIC C-tong. transformer SUPPORT ARM LIQUID COOLED

LIQUID COOLED TRANSFORMER GUN SWIVELS 355O

TELESCOPIC SUPPORT ARM FULLY AUTOMATIC SPOT WELDER LIQUID COOLEDAward Winning

Collision Repair Equipment

Award Winning Collision Repair Equipment TRANSFORMER GUN

With its 355o LIQUID COOLED

ERGO-GRIP

swivel handle

featuring “Ergo-Grip” TRANSFORMER GUN TRANSFORMER GUNperfect it enables O SWIVELS 355 SWIVELS 355O postions working

EASY-TO-USE CONTROL UNIT

Award Winning Collision Repair Equipment

LIQUID COOLED

With its 355o swivel handle Award Winning featuring “Ergo-Grip” Collision Repair Equipment TRANSFORMER GUN

it enables perfect

SWIVELS 355O postions working

EASY-TO-USE CONTROL UNIT

for anyone, for any job.

WELD LOGGER

EASY-TO-USE “Save time - Make CONTROL UNIT money”

working postions for anyone, ERGO-GRIPfor any job.

EASY-TO-USE WELD LOGGER CONTROL UNIT

The CTR 9 for anyone, for any fully automatic welder comes with a new, revolutionary light-weight transformer C-tong. ®

ERGO-GRIP

EASY-TO-USE swivel handle featuring “Ergo-Grip” CONTROL UNIT

it enables perfect working postions for anyone, for any job.

WELD LOGGER

EASY-TO-USE “Save time - Make CONTROL UNIT money” WELD LOGGER

job.

“Save time -With Make money” its 355

“Save time - Make money”

WELD LOGGER

FULLY AUTOMATIC SPOT WELDER

The CTR® 9 fully automatic welder TELESCOPIC comes with a new, SUPPORT light-weight ARM revolutionary FULLY AUTOMATIC SPOT WELDER transformer C-tong.

With its 355oLIQUID COOLED With its 355o swivel handle swivel handle featuring “Ergo-Grip” featuring “Ergo-Grip” it enables perfect TRANSFORMER GUNperfect working postions it enables for anyone, for any job. SWIVELS 355O

ERGO-GRIP ERGO-GRIP

WELD LOGGER

CTR 9

The CTR® 9 fully automatic welder The CTR® 9 fully automatic welder comes with a new, ERGO-GRIP comes with a new, revolutionary light-weight revolutionary light-weight TELESCOPIC transformer C-tong. transformer C-tong. SUPPORT ARM

SWIVELS 355O

Vol 1 2019

FULLY AUTOMATIC SPOT WELDER

“Save time - Make money”

Award Winning Collision Repair Equipment The CTR® 9 fully automatic welder comes with a new, revolutionary light-weight transformer C-tong. With its 355o swivel handle featuring “Ergo-Grip” it enables perfect working postions for anyone, for any job.

“Save time - Make money”

News

Collision Repair is our business. Learn about all of our solutions and custom-made offers. info@car-o-liner.co.uk | Tel: +44 1788 574 157 | www.car-o-liner.com

garageTRADER

Collision Repair is our business. Learn about all of our solutions and custom-made offers. info@car-o-liner.co.uk | Tel: +44 1788 574 157 | www.car-o-liner.com

Collision Repair is our business. Learn about all of our solutions Collision Repair is our business. Learn about all of our solutions and custom-made offers. and custom-made offers. garageTRADER | Tel: 157 +44 1788 574 157 | www.car-o-liner.com info@car-o-liner.co.uk info@car-o-liner.co.uk | Tel: +44 1788 574 | www.car-o-liner.com Collision Repair is our business. Learn about all of our solutions and custom-made offers. info@car-o-liner.co.uk | Tel: +44 1788 574 157 | www.car-o-liner.com

Collision Repair is our business. Learn about all of our solutions and custom-made offers. info@car-o-liner.co.uk | Tel: +44 1788 574 157 | www.car-o-liner.com

2019 Vol 1 ROI

subscriptions: (UK £18.00 Outside UK £27.50)

GARAGE IRELAND TO ADVERTISE IN THE MAGAZINE CALL: 028 9278 0108 REGARDING EDITORIAL CALL: 028 9278 0108 General Manager Gladys Greer gladysgreer@greerpublications.com

Editor

Pat Burns patburns@greerpublications.com Publishers James & Gladys Greer Designed by Shaun Byrne, Design Stics Unit 34 Crescent Business Park, Lisburn, BT28 2GN Tel: 028 9278 0108

Greer Publications © 2019. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission of Greer Publications.

4 VW expands its Battery Electric Vehicle network across Ireland. 7

Electric Vehicle sales are rising in a declining market according to the latest SIMI review.

51 The top trophies in the Irish Motor Industry are handed out at the annual awards night.

People 15 Northern Ireland’s largest family-owned new and used vehicle retailer has opened the doors of its new £6 million Jaguar Land Rover showroom. Located at the Donnelly Group’s flagship Moy Road Dungannon site, the new 50,000 sq. ft. showroom has added Jaguar to the dealer’s already extensive repertoire and is now home to the first and only premium brand outlet anywhere in MidUlster. 31 Women in the Motor Trade: We talk to some of the high flying women involved in the motor trade around Ireland. 34 Insurance News: Some timely advice from Willis Insurance.

Special Features 47 Theo English sets up a new all Ireland sales and training centre in Clonmel for Car-O-Liner. 48 Riverpark Training announces a new Scholarship scheme in association with Crash Services. 54 David Frizzell, Refinish Tutor, is in the Driver’s Seat.

COMMENT

Speaking at the annual awards night, SIMI President Gerard O’Farrell commented on the difficulties currently facing the motor trade in recruiting and keeping apprentices. Mr O’Farrell outlined how “the creation of Autonomous, Connected, Electric and shared technologies will offer potential for high calibre job creation and significant economic growth. Ireland is well positioned to play a leading role in developing the technology underpinning such vehicles and their operation.” The President called upon the Government to act now, to prepare the national infrastructure and reduce our exposure to risk as these vehicles become more mainstream. He called for the development of a cohesive policy, which will allow Ireland to be at the forefront of knowledge creation. While outlining the wide-range of potential career opportunities available, the President also addressed the immediate challenge of attracting and recruiting sufficient numbers of apprentices and other trainee professionals. He encouraged the Industry to focus on increasing the intake of apprentices and other trainees in order to safe-guard against potential skills shortages in the future. In closing the President welcomed the exciting developments and challenges that lie ahead that, if harnessed correctly, could be a real economic prize for Ireland. -Pat Burns, Editor

GARAGETRADER - 3

GT GT

NEWS

VW BEV NETWORK EXPANDS

olkswagen’s Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) retailer network is expanding significantly and following the addition of eleven new BEV enabled retailers to the Volkswagen network at the end of 2018, 50% of the Volkswagen network are now enabled to sell BEVs.

Volkswagen BEV dealers must meet exact standards when it comes to tooling, training, servicing standards and product knowledge before they can be certified to sell BEVs and with the brand’s increased focus on the future of e-mobility have appointed new BEV dealers across the breadth of the country. In Dublin, Frank Keane Deansgrange and Joe Duffy North join existing BEV retailers Joe Duffy Swords and Frank Keane

Liffey Valley to bring the number of BEV retailers in Dublin to four. In County Kildare, Sheehy Motors in Naas has been a BEV retailer since early 2018. In Louth, the BEVenabled retailer is Western Motors, Drogheda.

Newmarket Motors in Cork has been changed from a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid) to a BEV retailer, and Blackwater Motors Fermoy is added to Cork’s other current BEV retailer Blackwater Motors Cork City. In Cavan, Brady’s of Arva is now a Volkswagen BEV retailer. Western Motors in Galway and Kevin Connolly in Sligo will

serve the west of Ireland. Frank Hogan has been appointed in Limerick and in the Midlands, Michael Moore’s two retailers in Athlone and Portarlington serve

customers in Westmeath and Laois. Pierse Motors in Tipperary and Volkswagen Wexford have been changed from PHEV retailers to full BEV retailers.

FIRST ONLINE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES COURSE LAUNCHED BY MINISTER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

he first online course aimed at the Autonomous Vehicles industry has been officially launched by the Minister of Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD tomorrow at IT Sligo. This innovative new part-time Masters of Engineering programme brings together interdisciplinary concepts such as computer vision, artificial intelligence, vehicle dynamics and advanced sensor systems to provide engineers with the skills required to design the next generation of self-driving cars. Speaking before the official launch, Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor said: “Autonomous Vehicles is the future of the motor industry and IT Sligo is at the forefront of online education in Ireland. To have such a futuristic course delivered around the world to industry leaders, highlights how far third level education has come in Ireland. Institutes of Technology have always worked with regional industries in delivering relevant courses. But now, thanks to 4- GARAGETRADER

IT Sligo’s embracing of online learning, we can now deliver ground breaking courses to industries around the world.” IT Sligo’s new online Master of Engineering in Connected and Autonomous Vehicles programme has been closely developed with the motor industry on the west coast of Ireland as well as with input from German automotive manufacturers

and suppliers such as BMW and Continental AG through IT Sligo’s partner University of Applied Sciences, Kempten, Germany. IT Sligo is one of the largest suppliers of online courses in Ireland and is attracting many students from around the world with its innovative approach to online learning. Almost half of IT Sligo’s 6,000 students are now

studying online. Master of Engineering in Connected and Autonomous Vehicles programme is one of over 100 courses available online at IT Sligo and has proven very popular among engineers working in the automotive industry. The course has attracted students from around the world including; Russia, India and the United States.

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: www.garagetrader.co.uk

High quality guaranteed, Competitively priced, Remanufactured gearboxes

PLUS €50 OFF

any gearbox purchased before end December PRICING EXAMPLES Opel Vivaro, Movano, Nissan Primaster, Renault Master, Traffic PK6-021 €940

Ford Fiesta IB5 (1.25i & 1.4i 16v 4.25 Mk.7) €343

VW Transporter T5 2.5TDi 6-Speed (0A5 Series - HRU/JFS) €1,509

Opel Corsa, Astra, Meriva, Vectra, Zafira F17 1.6i1.8i F17 €534

Peugeot Bipper/ Citroen Nemo Hdi 5-sp €752

Ford Transit MK6 RWD 5 SPEED MT75 (3-bolt prop) €779

Ford Transit MK7 RWD 5 Speed MT75 €779

Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Relay 2.2HDi 6-Speed (GP02) €1,830

Opel Vivaro, Movano, Nissan Primaster, Renault Master, Traffic PF6 (PF6-010) €809

Fiat 500/Ford Ka 1.2i 5-Speed €515

VW Polo, Seat Ibiza/Cordoba, Skoda Fabia 1.4i 5-Speed 02T (JHS, LVE) €591

CALL YOUR LOCAL BRANCH TODAY! Phone +353 (0)1 862 0000 Contact your local branch for more details. Offer valid until end April 2019. Prices correct at the time of going to press. Prices exclude VAT. Errors & omissions excluded. Trade only. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

check out the website: www.garagetrader.co.uk

GARAGETRADER - 5

GT GT

NEWS RAC AND EURO CAR PARTS JOIN FORCES TO CREATE THE BIGGEST INDEPENDENT GARAGE NETWORK IN THE UK

he RAC has joined forces with Euro Car Parts in a partnership set to create the biggest independent garage network in the country. Formed from existing RAC Approved Garages and Autofirst Network members, along with new sign ups, the newly created ‘RAC Approved Garages powered by Autofirst Network’ already has 500 garages on board and is expected to exceed 650 by April this year. As part of the network, each garage will be jointly branded, carrying the prominent RAC and Autofirst Network branding. The partnership, which aims to ensure customers are only ever a few miles from an RAC Approved Garage, will offer consumers all the benefits of a local garage, combined with all the trust and confidence associated with the RAC brand. By subscribing, garages will also be offered repair work via the RAC Warranty scheme, as well as

repairs referred to them by RAC patrols from breakdowns through the company’s Accredited Repairer scheme. Garages can also benefit from access to a suite of Euro Car Parts products including its garage management system, technical training, technical hotline, technician recruitment and support from a dedicated account manager. They will be further supported by a listing on the WhoCanFixMyCar. com website, opening even more opportunities for repair work through its national database. To join, garages will need to offer servicing and repairs and employ qualified professional technicians. They must also be prepared to adhere to the RAC Customer Charter and Code of Conduct approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) and agree to a yearly inspection to ensure they meet the agreed standards.

RAC chief RAC Chief Executive Dave Hobday and ECP executive Dave Chief Executive Andy Hamilton Hobday said: “The RAC name is synonymous with complete peace of mind for motorists which explains why we have seen so many garages benefit from becoming part of the RAC Approved Garage Powered by already had an extremely strong Autofirst Network. We know from relationship with the RAC from market research that customers years of supplying its patrols with really value the friendly, local parts, so it was a natural next step and reliable service provided by to work together in the independent independent garages and have a garage network space. very high level of trust in the RAC “We believe the brands are an so this is the perfect recipe for excellent fit and have the potential garages looking to stand out from to become a first choice for the crowd in a busy marketplace.” consumers wanting the trust of big Andy Hamilton, Euro Car Parts brands but with local service and chief executive, added: “We convenience.”

EURO CAR PARTS TEAM P R REILLY ADDS CARBON CLEAN TO GROWING DIESEL RANGE

orkshops can now access a complete range of diesel particulate filter (DPF) specialist cleaning equipment through Euro Car Parts Team P R Reilly. Thanks to an agreement with leading manufacturer Carbon Clean, Euro

Car Parts Team P R Reilly is now providing effective cleaning solutions for any type of engine, through its Workshop Solutions brand.

Already experiencing high demand, the Carbon Clean DCS-16 DPF

cleaning system is designed to enable workshops to carry out DPF cleaning themselves, without sending the filter away for specialist maintenance. It allows garages to remove the DPF, perform an internal wash using a detergent-based cleaning agent and flush out harmful ash left over from passive regeneration. The system differs from injection fuel cleaning systems because it cleans and drains both soot and ash from the entire DPF system, bringing units back to their original performance specification. And while the Carbon Clean range offers the opportunity to instantly clean DPFs in the workshop, Euro Car Parts Team P R Reilly is keen to stress that the DPF filter itself is not always at fault, because it may have been blocked due to other components failing within the engine system.

6- GARAGETRADER

Helen Robinson, marketing director at Euro Car Parts, commented: “With all diesel vehicles manufactured after 2009 being required by law to have a DPF fitted, the independent aftermarket is increasingly faced with vehicles that either have a blocked filter, or an illuminated DPF warning light. While the traditional solution has been to send DPFs away for specialist cleaning, adding to customer waiting times, the Carbon Clean range lets repairers perform complete cleans from the workshop, passing on added value to customers.” Recent changes to how NCT checks are carried out also call for a visual inspection to ensure filters are functioning correctly and if any trace of smoke is emitted from an exhaust during a metered check, the vehicle will fail under a ‘major’ defect.

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: www.garagetrader.co.uk

NEWS GT

ELECTRIC VEHICLE SALES RISE IN DECLINING MARKET

in January this year which is an encouraging increase in the right direction.Diesel continues to be the market leader in 2019 with a 49% share despite an 8% decline on the previous January 2018. Petrol has grown to 40% and Hybrids currently account for 7% of the new car market. Jim Power, Economist and author of the SIMI Report said: “Based on what we know at the moment, the new car market could decline from around 125,422 to around 110,000, a decline of 12.3%. Used imports look set to reduce marginally to around 98,000. However, in the event of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit, sales would be weaker, and in the event of a deal and the removal of uncertainty, sales could match 2018. In overall terms, the coming months are likely to be characterised by deep uncertainty.” Brian Cooke, Director General Designate, SIMI commented:“New Vehicle Registrations in January are clearly disappointing but not surprising.

Jim Power

he Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) recently issued the official 191 new vehicle registration figures for January along with their final SIMI Quarterly Motor Industry Review of 2018. Car sales figures for the month of January show that 191 registrations are down 12.6% (32,374) when compared to January 2018 (37,023). It’s a similar story for Light Commercials which are down 16.3% (5,650) compared to January last year (6,753), and HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) registrations are also down 11.4% (356) in comparison to January 2018 (402).

The SIMI Report highlights Ireland’s strong economic performance last year but despite the steady levels of growth, the Motor Industry faced a significant and uncertain year with monthly declines in new car registrations figures, reflecting the substantial impact of Brexit. Used car imports in 2018 reached the highest level on record at 100,755 accounting for 44.5% of the total car market in 2018. Used car imports for January 2019 (9,006) have seen a very slight decrease 0.6% on January 2018 (9,061). Sterling weakness and Brexit related uncertainty were the key

check out the website: www.garagetrader.co.uk

drivers in 2018 and have continued to be a characteristic of January 2019. The dampening of new sales volumes has affected both the car and commercial sectors and until the 29th of March this deep uncertainty will continued. Electric vehicle registrations have increased significantly with 811 registrations in January 2019, which is more than for the whole of 2017 and over 60% of the total for the whole of last year. While Electric vehicle numbers are still relatively low, they are showing strong growth having increased from less than 1% of the market last year to 2.6% market share

Brexit With Brexit fast approaching adding to business uncertainty, the weakness of Sterling is continuing to drive down used car values which is increasing the cost to change. While we hope the EU and UK’s negotiations result in agreement that allows for free trade, the likelihood of no deal is increasing by the day. While the Industry is ramping up its preparations for a no deal Brexit, in the context of the potential impact on a sector whose activity will be in the region of €5billion between now and the end of the year, it is crucial that the State fully clarifies the trading conditions in the event of no agreement being reached. This is an immediate issue as we may be only 8 weeks away from a no deal outcome. More positively the increase in EV sales in the second half of last year has further accelerated into January, with the total EV registrations of 811 representing nearly two-thirds of EV sales for the whole of last year.” GARAGETRADER - 7

GT GT

NEWS

his April, Autoinform LIVE is coming to Ireland for the very first time, bringing one of the biggest and best automotive training events to garage owners and technicians. Taking place on the weekend of the 27th and 28th of April, Autoinform LIVE is once again powered by

OESAA and is being held at the J&S Automotive Depot in Little Island, Cork. The event features three distinct training programmes, including lots of new topics and sessions, allowing attendees to book the selection best suited to their

needs. The 2-day training event is a must-attend for any aspiring garage owner and technician who is looking to improve their brand and business. It is a combination of live demo training and classroom-based theory sessions. Attendees will return to their businesses, more confident in

repairing vehicles with advancing technology. The training modules and on-vehicle demonstrations will cover a wide range of subjects including: AirCon Systems, DPF Cleaning, Wheel Bearing fitting errors, Oscilloscopes, Vehicle communication networks & High voltage systems.

Hu g er a n g ea n ds t o c ko f T p mss e n s o r sa n de q u i p me n t n o wi ns t o c k . Wea r ea l s ol a u n c h i n gaT p mss e n s o r p r e p r o g r a mmi n gs e r v i c ef o r wo r k s h o p st h a t d o n ’ t h a v eo r d o n ’ t wi s ht op u r c h a s eT p mse q u i p me n t . T h es e n s o r i st h e ns e n t t o y o u r wo r k s h o pp r o g r a mme da n dr e a d yt ofi t . F o r mo r ei n f oa n df o r ad e s c r i p t i o no f h o wt h es e r v i c ewo r k sc o n t a c t u s . T PMSSt a r t e rKi t f r o mj u s t € 8 0 0 . I n c l u d e s • AT EQ VT 4 6T PMSPr o g r a mme ri n c l u d i n g5y e a r su p d a t e s . • 1 0XHu f I n t e l l i s e n sUn i v e r s a l Se n s o r s ( Co v e r so v e r9 0 %o f t h ema r k e t ) • T PMSSe n s o rAs s e mb l yT o o l Ki t • On l i n eT PMST r a i n i n gCo u r s e

e q u i p me n t . GARAGETRADER 8-T CHECK THE WEBSITE: www.garagetrader.co.uk h es e n s o r i st h e ns e n t t oy o u r wo r k s h o pp r o g r a mme da n dr e a d yt oOUT fi t .

F o r mo r ei n f oa n df o r ad e s c r i p t i o no f h o wt h es e r v i c ewo r k sc l i c kH ERE

48- GARAGETRADER

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: www.garagetrader.co.uk

Riverpark

VEHICLE DAMAGE ASSESSOR TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT

raining and assessment for the Vehicle Damage Assessor award starts at Riverpark Training in April and May 2019. Riverpark Training has now added VDA to their IMI assessment portfolio, saving the need for bodyshop estimators to travel to England for this essential requirement of BSI 10125. Les Minton of L.M. Automotive Services has teamed up with Riverpark to deliver this training and assessment requirement. Early booking is highly advised. I.A.E.A. exams are also planned from June 2019: these include the practical assessment and the new vehicle categorisation exam - now

applicants will be awarded up to £10,000 each throughout their apprenticeship, bringing investment in to the industry by Crash Services up to £60,000. This award is on top of the apprentices’ wage and will be paid in three parts over three years. This is a substantial investment being made by Crash Services to help support new talent. To be eligible, applicants must first gain an apprenticeship through Riverpark Training and then apply to Crash Services, detailing the reasons why they should be given this award. Applicants must also be completing their apprenticeships in a Crash Services affiliated bodyshop.

have seen a dramatic increase in applications compared to this time last year: up 300%! We have found that many young people (and teachers) are unaware of how apprenticeships work and unaware that they could receive paid employment from day one. Many post-16 applicants are showing us that they are enthusiastic in taking on an apprenticeship as a positive way to start a career in the industry, and career advisors are now supporting apprenticeship pathways for students who will excel in a more vocational approach to learning. In our opinion, this is key to attracting the right calibre of apprentice to join the Motor Industry.

since the New Year to get focused on taking on the world. If he is selected in March, he will become the 5th competitor from Riverpark Training to compete at “World Skills” level since 2013. Conor will now have the support of Jonathan Lloyd (World Skills Bonze Medallist), Rebecca Wilson (World Skills Bronze Medallist) and David Frizell (World Skills Local Hero 2018).

mandatory for Insurance Engineers. As we are limited to four delegates per practical assessment, and with demand high, early booking is advised to avoid disappointment. AXA and Liberty have already confirmed for June; however, if further demand is required, we will schedule time in early July. Booking for either of these Damage Appraisal routes can be obtained by contacting David Frizell at dave@ riverparktraining.com or calling 028 9034 2400.

World Skills up-date

Crash Services Scholarships Crash Services has teamed up with Riverpark Training to offer two scholarships per year over the next three years - available to six apprentices in total. Successful

Training now intensifies to ensure our competitor, Conor McKevitt, is ready for World Skills team selection in March 2019. Conor has now put in over six Saturdays and three Squad training sessions

49- GARAGETRADER

2019 Recruitment Riverpark Training has been busy visiting schools, participating in

careers conventions, and giving talks to Motor Vehicle students, all over Northern Ireland. Since engaging more schools as part of our recruitment strategy, we

Employers should note that providing a “job experience role” isn’t enough to attract keen young people. Providing them with a career path, employment, and showing them what they can achieve will be more productive to the future of the industry. It will promote progress and waste less time on unreliable students who have no loyalty to their work placement provider. In our opinion, much time is wasted in companies who have to change students constantly until they find the one with the right calibre. It is easier to have that filtering system at the start of engagement with young people to reduce costs to the company in the long run. This applies to small, medium and large companies and it takes a good training provider to follow up the selection process with the necessary support to provide an effective apprenticeship for both the apprentice and company. For details on how we, at Riverpark Training, tailor quality recruitment – or if you are keen to take on an apprentice in the future - contact Clare Murdock on (028) 9034 2400 or email clare@ riverparktraining.com.

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: www.garagetrader.co.uk

GT GT

LUMAG

LUMAG FEATURE: BRAKING TRENDS

eading global OE manufacturer and aftermarket supplier of brake friction products LUMAG, alongside its innovative BRECK brand, provides a brief lesson in the evolution of brake pad technology, and the benefits ceramic brake pads can bring.

and can last a long time before replacement is due. Although relatively inexpensive, their metallic composition is a hindrance as well as a help: it can assist in drawing heat away from the rotor and aid in more efficient brake cooling; however, it also means they are prone to more noise and dust.

Organic Brake Pads Organic brake pads (also known as NAO, or ‘non-asbestos organic’) are made from other non-metallic materials, such as glass, rubber, high-heat resins and Kevlar, and were developed as an alternative to asbestos pads. They have now evolved to offer ‘greener’ benefits than other brake pads as the materials they are made from are easy to dispose of and create less pollutants.

Ceramic Brake Pads The most recent development in friction material technology is the ceramic brake pad. Consisting of a dense ceramic material, it was developed as an alternative replacement for organic and semimetallic brake pads as at the time, these types produced excessive noise and dust. As they dissipate heat extremely well and are made of an incredibly lightweight material, they are an excellent choice for high-performance vehicles. This type of pad breaks down very slowly, and is also generally easier on rotors than semi-metallic pads. Lumag’s BRECK brand has

Semi-Metallic Materials The most common brake pad type are semi-metallic pads; as they are crafted of primarily metal they are considered to be extremely durable

developed newgeneration ceramic friction materials featuring high friction coefficient stability and to meet the highest safety standards, it put its high safety ceramic brake pads through stringent testing on a dynamometer, with surprising results. Friction material wear of breck high safety pads during motorway driving turned out to be 49% lower than that of an alternative OE material, while during city driving the difference reached an astounding 62%.

friction parameters, lack of vibration, limited dust generation, silent operation and efficient vehicle retardation, can offer a real differential in terms of safety and performance for both passenger vehicles and luxury sports cars.

While other material types are known to be cheaper, one of the advantages of ceramic brake pads is a longer lifespan which goes some way in counterbalancing the extra cost. Also, the other proven benefits, such as those offered by breck pads, including improved

Find out more For further details on Lumag’s ranges available to the aftermarket, including its own BRECK brand, please call 0121 520 1160 or email office@lumagltd.co.uk. Alternatively, visit www.lumagltd. co.uk to find the latest products.

They make pads I rely on Krzysztof Hołowczyc - Polish rally star, three-time Polish Champion, ERC – Champion, winner of Cross Country Classification, 3rd place winner of Dakar Rally

Lumag Ltd office@lumagltd.co.uk 0121 520 1160

www.breck.pl

50- GARAGETRADER

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: www.garagetrader.co.uk

NEWS GT

SIMI AWARDS T

he SIMI (Society of the Irish Motor Industry) held its 66th Annual Dinner at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin recently, where SIMI President Gerard O’Farrell welcomed over 700 senior Motor Industry figures and guests in attendance. A highlight of the event was the announcement of the SIMI Irish Motor Industry Awards in partnership with sponsor Bank of Ireland Finance and Oliver Callan as master of ceremonies. Prior to their announcement, SIMI President Gerard O’Farrell addressed the large attendance, remarking that rather than dwelling on the difficult trading environment that the Industry has been enduring, he would prefer to emphasise the exciting future ahead. Reinforcing the Motor Industry’s commitment towards zero emissions, Mr O’Farrell warned against short-term decisions, based on a simplistic view of the environmental and air quality challenges facing Ireland. He emphasised “the need for an agreed, realistic, roadmap with ambitious targets based on an understanding of what can be achieved”. This, he said, needs to be a multi-annual commitment, led by Government and involving all of the stakeholders.” Mr O’Farrell outlined how “the creation of Autonomous, Connected, Electric and shared technologies will offer potential for high calibre job creation and significant economic growth. Ireland is well positioned to play a leading role in developing the technology underpinning such vehicles and their operation.” The President called upon the Government to act now, to prepare the national infrastructure and reduce our exposure to risk as these vehicles become more mainstream. He called for the development of a cohesive policy, which will allow Ireland to be at the forefront of knowledge creation. Category Award Winners on the night were: Franchised Sales Operation of the Year - Tom Murphy Car Sales, Waterford

51- GARAGETRADER

Bodyshop of the Year- Pratt’s Auto Bodyshop, Carlow Franchised Aftersales Operation of the Year- Kevin Egan Cars, Sligo Commercial Vehicle Operation of the YearFitzgerald Commercial Ltd, Co Cork Independent Sales Operation of the Year- Auto Assure Ltd, Co. Louth Independent Aftersales Operation of the YearAutokey, Dublin 22

Innovation in Bodyshop Operation Accident Repair Centre, Dublin 24

Innovation in Fleet Management SolutionsProvision Vehicle Cameras Dublin 15 Vehicle Recovery Operator of the Year- Dysart Breakdown Recovery Repairs Ltd t/a Dysart Motors Co. Laois Bodyshop of the Year- Pratt’s Auto Bodyshop, Carlow Innovation in Bodyshop Operation - Accident Repair Centre, Dublin 24 Motor Factor of the YearParts for Cars, Dublin 6

Motor Factor of the Year- Parts for Cars, Dublin 6 CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: www.garagetrader.co.uk

NULIFE ENGINEERING

are now Bead Blasting and Cleaning Parts as we did from 1985 Derriaghy Industrial Park, The Cutts, Dunmurry T: 028 9062 3196

For Sale

2 Spraybake ovens – extra long 2 Blowtherm ( oil burning) ovens – extra long and high suitable for vans 1 Blackhawk Jig with a computer alignment system

Contact : Mark Wright, 077364 87694 Wrights Accident Repair Centre, Belfast, Tel: 028 90 817181 or Donald Wright 077 7636 6059 52- GARAGETRADER

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: www.garagetrader.co.uk