Nominate your top apprentice

Century Yuasa opens purpose-built New Plymouth branch

DUE TO CONTINUED GROWTH IN TARANAKI, CENTURY YUASA HAS MOVED INTO NEW PREMISES AT 14 MUSTANG DRIVE, BELL BLOCK, NEW PLYMOUTH

Century Yuasa has invested in custom building the new facility to cater to higher distribution demands from the region. The new, larger facility features custom racking to hold more stock, improved loading facilities for faster stock flow, and easier access. It has more parking for large vehicles and it is located close to major arterial routes.

“The new purpose-built branch will allow us to provide our customers with an even higher level of service. We can now store more stock and react faster to local needs,” says Stu Stanners, Century Yuasa’s general manager of automotive.

“Safety is one of our core values and has been at the forefront of every consideration in the two-year project. The branch has been designed to incorporate Century Yuasa’s 6S safety standard model, ensuring all areas of the business comply.

“This includes a purpose-built loading area to ensure safe loading and unloading of product undercover, and it accommodates large vehicles. It has improved ease of access and parking for large trucks, and better amenities for staff.

“In addition, the warehouse complies with Century Yuasa’s philosophy of managing inventory from cradle to grave — an environmentally aware and responsible business approach.”

For more information on the new branch or Century Yuasa’s range of products and services, please contact a Century Yuasa representative on 0800 93 93 93.

Got a promising apprentice? Nominate them!

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR CAPRICORN’S RISING STARS APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR COMPETITION

Nominations have officially opened for Capricorn members to nominate their high-performing apprentices as Capricorn Rising Stars.

This is an opportunity for automotive workshops and repair centres to acknowledge and encourage good apprentices for their ongoing effort and hard work. A nomination for Capricorn Rising Stars will not only benefit the individual and increase their confidence and motivation, but also the whole team. It promotes and embeds a positive workshop culture, signalling this is a workplace that recognises and rewards commitment and passion.

As Australasia’s largest automotive cooperative, Capricorn supports businesses to thrive and be sustainable in the automotive repair sector. Capricorn Group CEO David Fraser said that the Capricorn Rising Stars programme also helps to address the shortage of qualified technicians.

“Encouraging and acknowledging future leaders is an important part of growing and supporting the automotive industry,” he says. “At Capricorn we wish to help members strengthen their teams. We believe recognition and reward will help businesses attract and retain the best talent.”

Both the nominations and the award identifies apprentices with a passion for automotive, a positive can-do attitude, and a strong commitment to forging a long career as a repairer.

Capricorn members are encouraged to nominate promising apprentices as they continue to develop their technical proficiency, focusing on their initiative, eagerness to learn, and commitment to the auto repair industry. Recognising apprentices’ commitment will keep them engaged and excited about the promising careers ahead of them. Every apprentice nominated will benefit by receiving a certificate which is sent to their workshop.

The competition is open to all types of workshops and disciplines, from panel and fabrication, to auto electrical, general mechanical, heavy diesel, and more.

More than $20,000 in cash and prizes is up for grabs. The winning apprentice will score $5000 to help support them in their apprenticeship. The top five finalists, including the overall winner, will receive $1000 cash, a $1000 Repco voucher, and tickets to two Repco Masterclasses.

The nominating workshop of the overall winner will receive The Workshop Whisperer Service Advisor Pro online training, valued at $3000, plus GST.

Capricorn thanks long-term programme sponsors Castrol, Repco, and the Workshop Whisperer who have donated these fantastic prizes.

Capricorn members should nominate their star apprentices at cap.coop/stars. Entries close 30 April 2022.

To join Capricorn and benefit from membership in Australasia’s largest cooperative, visit capricorn. coop/join, or call 0800 401 444.

R E C OGNISE EFFORT | REWARD HARD WORK | RETAIN FUTURE LEA D E R S

CAPRICORN

NOMINATE YOUR APPRENTICE AT CAP.COOP/STARS $20,000 IN CASH AND PRIZES UP FOR GRABS! ENTRIES CLOSE 30 APRIL 2022

Stars

Which diagnostic scan tool should I buy?

DIAGNOSTIC SCAN TOOLS ARE AS IMPORTANT AS A SPANNER, IF NOT MORE SO THESE DAYS — BUT WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE?

Choosing a spanner is easy but which of the bewildering array of scanners available, all claiming to be the answer to your prayers, is really the best for you? You need to do some diagnosis on yourself first.

Victor Li, of Launch Tech Australia, suggests you ask yourself, “What are my expectations? What am I going to use the diagnostic tool for? What is my budget?”

“It’s a good idea to find out how many vehicle manufacturers are standard and how many years of free updates and downloads there are. More importantly, how often do they update the tool? It’s best to stick to a big brand name that will give you local support and a warranty with technical support.

“Then you’ll want to know how quickly the machine processes the vehicle information. Does it come with all the pre-OBD connectors, or are they optional? Can it diagnose 12v and 24v, and work on cars and trucks too?

“Service reset functionality is extremely important. When you have diagnostic lights illuminated on the dash, the customer expects the mechanic to have the ability to reset them: Oil, Service, DPF, ABS, SRS, TCM, TPMS, etcetera. Customers will go to workshops that offer these services.”

Victor also has some feedback from the frontline: “We have noticed a massive uptake in the X431 AUSCAN series and, to our surprise, it looks as if it is the best-performing scan tool on the market, bar none. Feedback from local workshops has all been positive.

“It has standard 75 car manufacturers, with the ability to add more than 40 truck manufacturers 12/24v. The standard car package has two years’ free software downloads and there are updates nearly every week. The pre-OBD plugs are also included, along with local support and warranty with technical support too.

“The new AUSCAN 3 has even more service reset functionality and a stand to use the tool upright. Some online programming has been added as standard, and an optional pass-through box is available. The OBD extension cable is splash-proof IP-rated.

“The new AUSCAN 3 creates a professional report that can be emailed, Bluetoothed, or printed for the customer. It will have vehicle and workshop details for a professional look.”

Launch is the market leader in this market, selling more than 170,000 diagnostic units worldwide last year.

Ask your retailer for a demonstration. Please call the official Launch dealer, AECS, on 06 874 9077 for more information.