Automobil July 2017 by Future Publishing

JULY 2017

GM EXODUS

Opel's new business strategy

INDUSTRY

Bosch plans new electro-mobility unit

POWER OF INVENTION Motorsport hero Basil van Rooyen's revolutionary two-stroke engine

SAMBRA: FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE RMI UPDATE: HELPING THE HEARING-IMPAIRED TO HELP THEMSELVES; GUD FACILITATES NEW LIBRARY FOR MAGIDIGIDIwww.automobil.co.za PRIMARY SCHOOL; DOT JOINS MICHELIN IN ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN; PORT ELIZABETH HOSTS PARTINFORM; AUTOBARN CANCELS PHOTO COMPETITION; RMI IMPLEMENTS THE NEW THINKING MODEL

JULY 2017

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22 -JULY NOVEMBER 2014 2017

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CONTENTS – JULY 2017 COLUMNS

P24

5 Driver’s Seat: Jakkie Olivier, CEO of the RMI 7 Editor’s Letter: Wynter Murdoch 9 Hot Stuff! New product showcase 58 Frequently Asked Questions: Answers from RMI experts 58 Dealing with AIDS/HIV 66 Tailpiece: Where to, now? UPDATES

Editor: Wynter Murdoch wynter@thefuture.co.za

12 News 30 SAMBRA in the Spotlight

Sub-editor: Peggy Lendrum peggy@thefuture.co.za Design and layout: Heinz Bawa heinz@thefuture.co.za

P36

Reporters: Ryan de Smidt ryan@thefuture.co.za

RMI Review

Helping the hearing-impaired to help themselves; GUD facilitates new library for Magidigidi Primary School; DoT joins Michelin in road safety campaign; Port Elizabeth hosts Partinform; AutObarn cancels photo competition; RMI implements The New Thinking Model

Reuben Van Niekerk reuben@thefuture.co.za Publisher: Richard Lendrum richard@thefuture.co.za Production: Mabel Ramafoko mabel@thefuture.co.za

P42

Advertising Sales Executives: Enver Lawangi, Greg Surgeon, enver@thefuture.co.za greg@thefuture.co.za Future Publishing (Pty) Ltd 247 Jan Smuts Avenue, Dunkeld West, Johannesburg PO Box 3355, Rivonia, 2128 Tel: +27 (11) 803-2040

Eddie Martin, National Director of SAMBRA, explains some of the association’s key objectives and activities

COVER STORY 24

Back with a Bang!

Former South African racing driver Basil van Rooyen believes he’s invented an engine that could revolutionise the future of two-stroke combustion

FEATURES

P48

RMI Automobil’s Editorial Sub-Committee: Chairman: John Ellmore; Gary McCraw, Gideon de Klerk, Denice Grobler, Shamika Singh, Danelle Van Der Merwe, Wynter Murdoch, Greg Surgeon, Jakkie Olivier, Jan Schoeman

Automobil is the official journal of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) which hosts 14 constituent associations: ACRA (component remanufacturers); ERA (engine re-builders and automotive engineers); MDA (motorcycle, scooter, quad and jet-ski/outboard engine dealers); MIMA (Motor Industry Manufacturers’ Association); MIWA (the full spectrum of workshop operators); MPEA (wholesale and retail part dealers); NADA (new and used car and truck dealers); NAZA (number plate association); VTA (vehicle testing); SADFIA (diesel pumproom operators); SAPRA (Fuel resellers, convenience store and car wash operators); SAMBRA (collision repairers and automotive refinishers); SAVABA (vehicle body builders) and TDAFA (tyre dealers and fitment centres).

Automobil is available to purchase from the publishers at R25 a copy. Automobil is produced and published monthly by Future Publishing (Pty) Ltd for the Retail Motor Industry Organisation. The views and opinions expressed in the publication are not necessarily those of the publishers or the Retail Motor Industry Organistion. While precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of advice and information contained in editorial and advertisements, neither the publishers nor the Retail Motor Industry Organisation can accept responsibility for errors, misrepresentations or omissions, or for any effect or consequence arising therefrom. Permission to republish any article or image or part thereof must be obtained in writing from the publishers.

Automechanika Johannesburg 2017 Innovation Awards

Time is running out to get your pioneering products showcased at Africa’s premier automotive aftermarket event

Putting Paid to the Implosion Theory

While General Motors’ decision to quit South Africa is a shame for the automotive industry, it is not the death sentence that some have suggested

The Silent Revolution

Jake Venter examines some of the reasons why today’s vehicles are getting quieter

Rules for Disciplinary Action

Why consistency in the application of disciplinary codes is an essential part of dealing with misconduct in the workplace

Combatting Money Laundering

Ensuring an efficient and effective risk-based approach to customer due diligence

Business Management

How to get the most from your business

www.automobil.co.za

JULY 2017 -

BENEFITS OF BELONGING A short summary of the benefits of RMI membership

The RMI has represented the retail motor industry and its members for more than 100 years. With more than 7 500 member businesses, our unity is our strength. RMI representation at often volatile and disruptive centralised wage negotiations. Professional industrial relations advice by expert specialists, ensuring procedural and substantive fairness when disciplining staff. Industry labour relations seminars focused on the rules, agreements and industry-specific topics that affect retail motor industry businesses. Chairing of disciplinary hearings and AUTOMATIC entry and representation at the CCMA, DRC and Labour Court. Representation at various MIBCO and Industry-related Boards and committee structures.

Affiliation to reputable organisations recognised by Government, big business, consumers and relevant stakeholders like Business Unity SA (BUSA). Protection against one-sided legislative changes or new laws and regulations. Exceptional CPA support and member assistance during defence cases at the National Consumer Commission (NCC) and the Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa (MIOSA). Facilitation of a business-to-business complaint where both parties are RMI members, with a complaint resolution rate in excess of 95%. Quality and Standards function â&#x20AC;&#x201C; representing the retail industry at various South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) committees and working groups. Representation at the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), defending our industry when compulsory specifications and standards are compromised.

The informative Automobil magazine and weekly web letters that facilitate two-way communication and create consumer and industry awareness. The RMI is regularly invited to comment on industry topics by both print and broadcast media, and participates in and hosts numerous conventions and shows. Associational accreditation ensures ongoing development and implementation of commercial value propositions specific to the association. Training needs and representation via merSETA and W&RSETA. We actively drive industry-wide training and apprenticeship issues through our position on the merSETA Board and our involvement with the Technica manuals. Representation at the Moto Health Care Fund, Industry Provident Funds and the Sick, Accident and Maternity Pay Fund. The RMI offers industry-specific products like RMI4BEE / RMI4LAW / RMI4OHS /RMI4SURE.

Need to get hold of the RMI? Turn to Page 8 of this issue for all the contact details

4 JULY 2017

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DRIVER’S SEAT

The road ahead In these times of change, Jakkie Olivier, CEO of the RMI, explains why it’s important for the Organisation to be recognised by consumers as the preferred “go to” authority in the automotive retail industry TA

n a recent Driver’s Seat article, I discussed newly identified RMI strategic objectives, but for now I would like to focus on one particular point – that of the RMI and its members building consumer focused brand awareness. It means that we are aiming to emphasise the benefits of doing business with RMI members to motorists who require, on a daily basis, critical automotive parts, services and maintenance.

consumers have undergone extensive change.

As part of its change and rejuvenation processes during the past couple of years, the RMI focussed heavily on labour relations, industry transformation, skills development, information sharing, educational programmes and facilitating value-added member benefits. All of these are focussed internally on member-to-member industry products and services.

This is why the RMI and its members are best positioned to drive brand awareness about the RMI member products and services with consumers. Brand awareness has, in fact, been identified as one of our top priorities during the next three to five years.

The RMI, as with any dynamic business organisation, has had to critically examine its purpose over the past few years due to rapid and unprecedented changes taking place in the motor industry. To mention a few – electric cars have become a reality, technological enhancements have required highly specialised skills and, most importantly, mobility aspirations and expectations of

The consumer is, without a doubt, the most important link for any business and will remain so forever. With all the changes that are taking place in the world and our industry, consumers need appropriate training and education regarding their vehicles and, what’s more, how to take proper care of their investments.

This strategic priority underlines the importance of the RMI being recognised by consumers as the preferred “go to” organisation in the automotive retail industry. It is all about having an influential and strong public image backed by a well-known and trusted brand that embodies professional excellence. Each one of our members is part of Team RMI, which means that, to motoring consumers, we represent “peace of mind.” We are excited about our plans and projects to inform and educate the

Vehicle Testing Association

motoring public about why it makes financial sense to do business with RMI members – businesses that offer best quality, high standards and professionalism at reasonable and affordable prices. We are ready to take the RMI member brand value to the consumer, and we are going to make sure that the motoring public asks for, searches for, or insists on RMI membership before appointing or doing business with outlets in the automotive retail industry. Our members are essential to making the brand awareness campaign a resounding success because it’s aimed at benefitting their businesses. Therefore, RMI members are encouraged to make membership identification of their businesses much more visible, making it easier for the consumer to spot. We ask that our members clearly display the RMI brand, logos and insignia on their business buildings, vehicles and stationery. Team RMI will be driving the brand awareness objective with passion and energy, resulting in better and more business for RMI members and a growing band of happy motorists.

For information on the RMI and its workings, visit www.rmi.org.za or call 011 886 6300

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JULY 2017 -

CONSTITUENT ASSOCIATIONS Who do they represent and what are their objectives?

he RMI is a proactive, relevant, retail and associated motor industry organisation recognised as the leading voice in South Africa’s automotive aftermarket, serving the daily needs of its members and playing a key role in enabling motor traders to deliver top class service to motoring consumers. Here are the associations which fall under its umbrella… ACRA (Automotive Component Remanufacturers’ Association) ACRA represents component remanufacturers involved in the remanufacture of safety-critical components and radiators, an ever-growing industry in which keeping abreast of change is crucial for business owners. ERA (Engine Remanufacturers’ Association) ERA represents motor engineers who re-machine, rebuild and remanufacture engines in South Africa. ERA members promote the reuse of engines, parts and components in a manner that is green and sustainable. ERA members create employment and skills development opportunities, directly in their own machine shops and indirectly through suppliers to the industry and component manufacturers. MDA (Motorcycle Dealers’ Association) MDA represents members who are motorcycle dealers – these members benefit from an extensive array of value-add services and products such as commercial insurance, labour legal assistance and representation, consumer dispute resolution, and a strong relationship with the Association of Motorcycle Importers and Distributors. MIMA (Motor Industry Manufacturers’ Association) MIMA members are Parts, Equipment and Component Manufacturers and suppliers to Original Equipment Manufacturers and the automotive aftermarket that exports into Africa and other countries in the world. MIWA (Motor Industry Workshop Association) MIWA, the largest association within the RMI, strives to keep its members informed about the ever-changing auto repair industry, thereby ensuring that vehicles are repaired to acceptable standards designed to make them perform better and safely on South African roads.

NAZA (Number Plate Association of South Africa) NAZA supports the imposition of a national standard for number plates, as well as for legislation to govern their manufacture, embossing practice and protocol. NAZA members adhere to a strict code of ethics in ensuring their part in eradicating corruption within the sector. TA

Vehicle Testing Association

VTA (Vehicle Testing Association) The VTA represents private vehicle testing stations that are committed to operating within the law in accordance with the Road Traffic Act and the relevant SANS standards. In this highly regulated environment, the association represents the interests of its members at government working groups and is committed to enhancing the reputation of the industry in all the spheres. SADFIA (South African Diesel Fuel Injection Association) SADFIA members operate fully equipped pump rooms aimed at providing cost-effective service solutions for owners of diesel powered vehicles seeking fuel injection system testing, repair or replacement. SAMBRA (South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association) SAMBRA is an active leader in the motor body repair industry and consolidates, communicates and regulates repair standards in the motor body repair industry. SAMBRA ensures the provision of technical and business skills training that meets the demands of the industry and instils confidence in consumers and industry stakeholders. SAPRA (South African Petroleum Retailers’ Association) SAPRA represents and promotes the interests of petroleum retailers in South Africa and fosters strong relationships with the Department of Energy, oil companies, banks, financial institutions and other stakeholders that have an impact on the sustainability of the service station industry.

MPEA (Motor Parts and Equipment Association) MPEA represents South Africa’s auto part traders, including wholesalers, retailers and independent operators in the replacement motor parts industry. Genuine replacement parts are available at accredited MPEA spares outlets at affordable prices, backed by the manufacturer’s warranty.

SAVABA (South African Vehicle and Bodybuilders’ Association) SAVABA members are professional, certified and regulated vehicle body builders in South Africa who manufacture commercial vehicle body applications (tanker, coal, refrigerated trucks and trailers) and bus bodies (commuter and tourist type). Members manufacture using the latest equipment and highly trained staff to ensure strict compliance with SABS standards and other legal specifications.

NADA (National Automobile Dealers’ Association) NADA represents the interests of business people who own or operate new vehicle franchise dealerships and qualifying used vehicle outlets. NADA is committed to the image enhancement of the retail motor business, facilitating the interface between dealers and OEMs/ distributors, building relationships between dealers and customers and bringing relevant industry issues to the attention of government.

TDAFA (Tyre Dealers' and Fitment Association) The TDAFA is the only representative body for tyre dealers nationally. The association works on all issues relevant to tyres and the fitment industry. Strategically, the TDAFA is positioned as an intermediary between government, the tyre industry and consumers and is recognised by government and industry leaders as the legitimate voice representing tyre dealers.

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Power of invention

ith Opel presenting its new business plan for South Africa, VT Holdings buying Peugeot-Citroën SA, the RMI outlining some of the changes it will undergo through its New Thinking Model, Bosch announcing details of its new electro-mobility unit and Ford opening the first in a series of local Quick Lane outlets, it’s been an active month for the retail motor industry. However, another significant development in the automotive sphere forms the cover story for this month’s edition. The report focuses on the work of former local motorsport hero Basil van Rooyen, who left these shores about three decades ago to settle in Australia. There he’s become something of an icon – not for his scintillating performances on the track, but for his powers of invention.

Being able to extract more power from internal combustion engines has always been one of Van Rooyen’s prime interests, his expertise and innovation in that department contributing as much to his success in racing as to his success in business. While pursuing his motorsport career he founded Superformance – regarded as a pioneer in vehicle accessories and tuning. Under his hand the company became one of the country’s most renowned outlets for muscled cars. Included in his customer base were a number of local vehicle manufacturers which used his services to transform ordinary models into something special. When the global oil crisis struck in 1973, Van Rooyen switched vocations, having been head-hunted to lead a company involved in the manufacture of packaging and display materials. About a decade later he emigrated to Australia, having been invited by a group there to set up a similar venture in Sydney.

EDITOR’S LETTER Since his retirement in 2006, Basil’s interests have tended to centre on inventions and patents. He’s responsible for the HeeBeeGeeBee head massager – a globally successful novelty toy – and well as the Twister, a pool cleaning accessory. Currently, he’s involved in the development of a unique two-stroke engine which relies on his patented CITS technology to run without the addition of oil to its fuel supply, lubrication taking place through a conventional sump system. Due to its light weight, compact dimensions, high power output and low emissions, the engine has sparked interest in global engineering circles, and Van Rooyen is looking for a financial backer with a view to putting the unit into commercial production. You can read about the engine’s development on P24. And, of course, please don’t miss the other stories in this month’s edition. I trust that you will enjoy the read. Wynter Murdoch Editor

Head Office: Tel: (011) 466 6619 Fax: (011) 466 1034 Address: 40 Monte Carlo Crescent, Kyalami Business Park Durban: Tel: (031) 569 4141 Fax: (031) 569 2506 Address: Unit 7 Constantia Park, Chris Hani Road, Redhill, 1415 Cape Town: Tel: (021) 552 5569 Fax: (021) 552 5584 Address: Unit 2, 14 Esso Road, Montague Gardens, Cape Town Web Site: www.eurospares.co.za E mail: accounts@eurospares.co.za

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JULY 2017

NEWS

SPEAK TO US RMI EXECUTIVES

hief Executive Officer: C Jakkie Olivier jakkie.olivier@rmi.org.za Chief Operations Officer & Human Resources Director: Jan Schoeman jan.schoeman@rmi.org.za Financial Director: Renee Coetsee renee.coetsee@rmi.org.za Company Secretary: Gary McCraw gary.mccraw@rmi.org.za

RMI BOARD MEMBERS

Jeánne Esterhuizen (President) Barry Canning (Vice-President) Ferose Oaten Jakkie Olivier Bruce Allen Lindsay Bouchier

RMI PARTNERS

TDAFA, ACRA Hedley Judd hedley.judd@rmi.org.za TRAINING, TRANSFORMATION & ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT Louis van Huyssteen louis.vanhuyssteen@rmi.org.za

Facebook.com/AutomobilSA

@AutomobilSA

SADFIA Louis van Huyssteen louis.vanhuyssteen@rmi.org.za ERA Pieter Niemand pieter.niemand@rmi.org.za NAZA Julian Pillay julian.pillay@rmi.org.za

www.rmi.org.za

MPEA, MIMA Erwin Stroebel erwin.stroebel@rmi.org.za MDA Jeff Molefe jeffrey.molefe@rmi.org.za

RMI4Sure 0860-104-202 RMI4Law 0861-668-677 RMI4BEE 0861-764-233 RMI4OHS 012-998-7139

RMI HEAD RMI HEADOFFICE OFFICE Danelle van der Merwe Brand and Communication Manager danelle.vandermerwe@rmi.org.za

DIRECTORS

Q&S, SAVABA Vacant

Neo Bokaba Transformation Manager neo.bokaba@rmi.org.za

MIWA Vishal Premlall vishal.premlall@rmi.org.za

011-789-2542 | www.rmi.org.za Surrey Square Office Park 330 Surrey Avenue Ferndale Randburg 2194

NADA Gary McCraw gary.mccraw@rmi.org.za VTA Joy Oldale joy.oldale@rmi.org.za

RMI REGIONAL OFFICES

SAMBRA Edwin Martin edwin.martin@rmi.org.za

Highveld: Jeff Molefe jeffrey.molefe@rmi.org.za Randburg: 011-886-6300

Northern: Pieter Niemand pieter.niemand@rmi.org.za Pretoria: 012-348-9311 KwaZulu-Natal: Julian Pillay julian.pillay@rmi.org.za Durban: 031-266-7031 Eastern Cape/Border: Erwin Stroebel erwin.stroebel@rmi.org.za Port Elizabeth: 041-364-0070 Western Cape: Joy Oldale joy.oldale@rmi.org.za Cape Town: 021-939-9440 Free State/Northern Cape: Louis van Huyssteen louis.vanhuyssteen@rmi.org.za Bloemfontein: 051-430-3294

SAPRA Viv Corinaldi viv.corinaldi@sapra.co.za

8 - MAY 2015

Vehicle Testing Association

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HOT STUFF

NEW PRODUCTS

The art of inspection The award-winning inspection lamp range from Ring has a new addition with the introduction of a Colour Rendering Index (CRI) inspection lamp, designed to make life easier for mechanics and body shop technicians.

New tyre from Conti Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA) has launched its new PremiumContact 6 tyre range in South Africa, aimed at combining safety, comfort, sportiness and sustainability in a single product. According to a statement released by the company, the PremiumContact 6 bridges the gap between comfortfocused and sporty tyre design attributes, uniting precise steering response, maximum safety and good environmental properties. The company claims the tyre offers a 15% improvement in mileage compared to its predecessor. At the same time, interior and exterior tyre and road noise has been reduced by as much as 10%. The tyre incorporates the shoulder design of the high tech, high performance SportContact 6 stablemate and combines it with asymmetrical tread rib geometry. Another innovation includes a new synthetic amorphous silica compound for short braking distances on wet roads. “The main requirement of the new tyre is to deliver uncompromising safety,” says Niel Langner, CTSA’s marketing manager. “Developing a tyre that is so balanced that it can meet this demanding requirement and at the same time deliver maximum comfort and precise, dynamic handling, as well as high mileage and low rolling resistance, was both a major challenge and a huge motivator." The product range spans 16- to 20-inch sizes designed for a variety of vehicles including hatchbacks, executive sedans and road orientated SUVs.

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CRI is a measure of a light source’s ability to show object colours realistically or naturally compared to daylight. The technology is suitable for colour-critical environments such as body shops, where technicians need to determine whether a paint job has been accurately matched to the existing colour. Further, the lamp is able to highlight scratches, marks and other undesirable blemishes. The RIL5500CRI/REIL5500CRI is constructed from aluminium, making it strong yet lightweight. Also joining the inspection lamp line-up is the RIL5500HP/ REIL5500HP Al5 LED (pictured), which uses state-of-the-art COB LED technology to provide super-bright output of 430 lumens. Concave design and an aluminium body helps to protect the lens from damage. An integral hanging hook and strong magnetic mount make the lamp suitable for hands-free use. For information log on to www.ringautomotive.com or contact 087 727 2206.

Nail polish range from Renault French manufacturer Renault has introduced a new nail polish range that can also touch up minor bodywork scratches. Called Twingo, the range offers a choice of colours coordinated to match four of the brand’s body shades. “In addition to its practical, vibrant and cheery nature, Twingo is the ideal choice for active lady drivers who need to get about town but who are also attentive to fashion and looks. With them in mind, Renault has taken inspiration from the Twingo spirit to produce an everyday accessory that combines the brand’s hallmark style with making life easier for vehicle owners,” says a statement. The nail polish has been developed in association with designer cosmetics specialist De Blangy and matches Renault’s Dragée Blue, Flamme Red, Etoilé Black and Eclair Yellow finishes. To purchase the polish, log on to the Renault eShop at http://shop.atelier.renault. com/en/.

JULY 2017 -

YOU DO LIFE.

WE CARE FOR IT.

10 - SEPTEMBER 2017

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WEEKENDS AWAY CAN NOW BE A REALITY With 7 benefits options to choose from, you can select the best option that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t blow your budget. Our benefit management system also makes it easier for you to save money while accessing the healthcare you really need.

Just another way we are taking care of our own! Call 0861 000 300 to arrange a face-to-face consultation to discuss the healthcare needs of you, your family and staff members; or visit www.motohealthcare.org.za.

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SEPTEMBER 2017 -

NEWS

Opel’s new business plan

n the wake of a decision by General Motors to quit the country and the acquisition of the company’s Opel brand by France’s PSA Group, a new business plan has been unveiled regarding the distribution and sales of the German nameplate’s products in South Africa. At a media briefing held last month in Johannesburg, spokesmen for Opel – which has been in the country for more than 80 years – said they believed the brand had foundations which were solid enough to support a new future. Bill Mott, director for international sales operations, said Opel had entered into a partnership with the Unitrans-owned Williams Hunt Group – the biggest dealer group in GM South Africa’s network, responsible for about 20% of the brand’s

VT Holdings buys Peugeot-Citroën SA

he French PSA Group has sold 51% of its shares in its wholly-owned subsidiary, Peugeot-Citroën South Africa, to Japanese vehicle distributor and retailer VT Holdings in a deal that aims to strengthen the local sales profile of the Peugeot brand. The transaction – initially due to have been concluded at the beginning of May – was subject to approval by South Africa’s Competition Commission. VT Holdings, which is listed on the Tokyo Stock exchange, has been in the automobile industry for about 34 years. It distributes vehicles in five countries and operates more than 200 retail outlets – a number of them in South Africa.

12 - JULY 2017

In the Japanese market the company focuses on Nissan and Honda brands while locally it indirectly owns, through its subsidiary the Trust Auto Group (TAG), the Hatfield Peugeot dealership in Pretoria as well as Fiat and Alfa dealerships in Helderberg in the Cape. Additionally, TAG has Suzuki dealerships in Bryanston and Northcliff in Johannesburg, and in Helderberg in the Cape. A spokesman for Peugeot-Citroën South Africa said the joint venture was aimed at “allowing the Peugeot brand to strengthen its position in South Africa through an upgrade of the entire value chain.” The local company will be headed by Francisco Gaie, the former

Francisco Gaie (centre, left), with his team at Peugeot-Citroën South Africa

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sales – to exclusively distribute its products locally. He said a dealer network numbering 35 outlets was in the process of being established and would be come into operation from January 1 next year. Roy Pepper, a divisional head at Unitrans, said the bulk of the dealerships would comprise current Williams Hunt outlets, with provision in place to establish up to 30 other outlets on a franchise basis if sales or service demand warranted the investment. He added that about 40 existing Williams Hunt dealers – which sell Opel, Chevrolet and Isuzu products – would close. Mott said that while Opel had been sold to the PSA Group – manufacturers of Peugeot and Citroën – he believed that, from a local perspective, the brands

would be independently administered from a marketing point of view. “There will be no direct relationship between us. PSA is a separate business,” he said. Parts distribution would be handled by Isuzu – which has bought GMSA’s assembly plant and distribution centre in Port Elizabeth – in association with Williams Hunt, which has been part of the network through its association with GM. “Opel customers can expect the same quality of aftersales support and no changes to existing warranties,” Mott added. In terms of new product launches, he said Opel would unveil in South Africa in the fourth quarter its Crossland X – a compact SUV co-developed with PSA using a Peugeot 2008 platform. It would be followed in the first quarter of 2018 by a sister derivative, the

Chief Operations Officer at TAG. He replaces Francis Harnie, who has returned to Europe after six years at the helm. “It is time to move forward in creating a new and exciting vision, one that produces even greater opportunities to our employees, dealers and most importantly to our customers,” Gaie said in a statement. “We have new developments planned around products, aftersales and parts which we are confident will result in greater efficiencies, increase our market share and strengthen our position in the South African market place.”

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larger Grandland X, which was based on a Peugeot 3008 platform. The vehicles were developed in terms of a cooperation agreement which the two companies signed in 2012. Mott said Opel had been one of South Africa’s favorite car brands for decades, with a presence in the market since the 1930s. “The brand has had great success here,” he said. “Many of our models have enjoyed great popularity among the buying public and have received rewards and acclaim from the motoring press. “In the past two years, our sales in South Africa have grown by 9,6%, compared with an overall market decline of 15,5%. And just this year, the Opel Astra was the winner of the South African Car of the Year competition – a great indication of the brand’s ongoing success in this market.”

Gaie, a South African, has extensive experience in the automotive industry, having spent time in Nagoya, Japan, where he was involved in various operational and financial positions. He joined TAG on his return to South Africa in 2013. In terms of product, Peugeot customers can look forward to the launch next month of the much-lauded 3008, an SUV that has earned it major international awards, including the 2017 European Car of The Year title. The newcomer will augment the brand’s smaller 2008 subcompact SUV, while a significant upgrade to the 308 hatchback is also anticipated for local launch.

JULY 2017

NEWS

Bosch plans electro-mobility unit The company has also indicated that it may compete with Asian manufacturers Panasonic, LG Chem and Samsung by industrialising the assembly of battery cells.

osch plans to leverage its dominant market position in combustion engine technology to become the leading supplier of zeroemissions solutions for electric vehicle manufacturers. According to a report in Automotive News Europe, the world’s largest supplier of auto parts has earmarked investments worth the equivalent of R5,7-billion a year for the development of electromobility.

“We are No 1 in the market for combustion engine systems and we are aiming for this spot as a supplier for electro-mobility,” Bosch’s CEO, Volkmar Denner, told reporters last month at the company’s Annual General Meeting in Stuttgart. Denner said though Bosch estimated that about 85-million cars built in 2025 would still run solely on fossil fuels, the company believed that nearly 20-million vehicles would be either hybrid-powered or electric vehicles by that year. To tap into that future demand, he said Bosch’s automotive arm planned

to form a separate business unit for electro-mobility within its newly created Powertrain Solutions Division. Development would begin next year. By then, Denner said he hoped to have decided on whether to invest in the mass production of battery cells. According to Automotive News Europe, Bosch’s new electro-mobility unit will follow a two-track strategy. The supplier wants to boost system efficiency through measures such as integrating the transmission, power electronics and electric motor directly within a vehicle’s axle. However, the company also aims to improve battery performance at the cell-chemistry level and is investing in both liquid and solid state cells with the ultimate goal of doubling the energy density of a battery by 2020.

Ford upgrades Silverton conveyor system

ord Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) recently invested more than R125-million in the upgrade of its 3 000-metre vehicle conveyor system at the Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria. The investment forms part of the company’s manufacturing expansion plans to increase the plant’s capacity of Ford Ranger and Everest models by 22% by January 2018. The new system, which began operating earlier this year, optimises the plant’s automated Electro Monorail Webb conveyor between the body shop and paint shop, thereby improving overall production efficiency. Andreas Bruditz, area manager for the Body Shop, said that the new system

14 - JULY 2017

significantly reduced or, in some cases, eliminated interruptions between the two production areas. “The conveyor is based on similar systems employed at Ford assembly plants in Europe, using proven technology to maximise production efficiency and capacity,” he said. An additional benefit of the new system

is that the conveyor decouples the Body Shop from the Paint Shop, which allows one area to continue to operate should the other have a stoppage. The new conveyor has also created a buffer zone between the two areas, which allows for last minute body-panel adjustments and repairs to be made before the vehicles enter the Paint Shop.

www.automobil.co.za

NOVEMBER 2017 -

NEWS

Quick Lane outlets open in SA

outh Africa’s first Quick Lane Tyre and Auto Centre has opened its doors in Silverton, Pretoria, the aim being to provide convenient access to quality automotive service for all vehicle makes and models – particularly those that have exceeded the manufacturer’s standard warranty period. Quick Lane Tyre & Auto Centres are an initiative of the Ford Motor Company, with facilities that provide motorists with expert maintenance for routine auto service in a short period of time. The new 164 square-metre centre is adjacent to the Aurinia Ford dealership and includes three service bays, one alignment rack and certified managers

MISA urges young worker focus

he Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) has called on employers in the retail motor industry to work together to find opportunities to employ young workers and develop their skills. “The quarterly labour force survey released by Stats SA at the beginning of June is concerning, not only because general unemployment rates – at 27,7% – are at a 13-year high, but also because of the especially high rate of unemployed young workers,” notes Martlé Keyter, MISA’s CEO for Operations. While the rate of youth unemployment decreased somewhat from the fourth quarter in 2016, it is still alarmingly high at 51%. “Also of concern is that more than 250 000 young workers joined the ranks of the unemployed during the first quarter of this year,” says Keyter.

Martlé Keyter, MISA’s CEO for Operations

16 JULY 2017

Young people aged 15 to 35 represent 42% of South Africa’s population, and

the age group makes up 38,6% of the total number of unemployed in South Africa. “People in this group should be economically active and working towards a better future for themselves and their families. As employers, we should all be working together to create opportunities for young workers,” says MISA Young Workers’ Forum Coordinator, Gabby van Zyl. While Government has committed to speed up efforts and prioritise the implementation of programmes on youth development to address the longstanding challenges that face young people, particularly economic emancipation, Van Zyl believes that the private sector can do much more. To this end, the MISA, a trade union that organises exclusively in the motor retail sector, each year runs a successful Child

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NEWS and technicians. “We’re thrilled to be in Silverton and look forward to serving its residents with our commitment to provide exceptional customer service, competitive value and a transparent experience,” said Shaun Potgieter, Quick Lane Silverton Manager. The range of vehicle services and repairs includes tyre fitment, rotation and wheel alignment; replacement of shock absorbers; brake services; oil and filter changes and maintenance; batteries; alternators, starters and electrical services. Additionally, the Quick Lane Tyre and Auto Centre handles servicing and light repairs for suspension and steering; transmission; wiper blades; air-conditioning; lamps and bulbs; belts and hoses; as well as cooling system maintenance.

at Work Day programme together with employers in the motor retail industry. “This is done to encourage the youth to consider the motor retail industry as a career option,” notes Anel Oosthuizen of the MISA Young Workers’ Forum. MISA also runs various programmes aimed at offering its member base of well over 43 000 opportunities to advance basic and tertiary education and has run a successful bursary scheme for children of members for many years.

Volkswagen and Mahindra honour top dealers

olkswagen recently honoured the winners of it 2016 Grand Prix Awards. The black-tie event, themed For the Love of Performance, saw Brad Kaftel of the Hatfield Group win the Dealer Micro Group of the Year award for the third year in a row. The award requires the winner to operate a minimum of two dealerships that contribute at least 2% towards the Volkswagen Dealer Sales result. Barloworld’s unrelenting spirit ensured that the company maintained its position as Dealer Macro Group of the Year. The requirements for this award are the group must contribute at least 8% towards the Volkswagen Dealer Sales result. Venerson Sinivasan of Barons Bruma walked away with Dealer of the Year award, presented to the dealership that delivers the best and most consistent overall results across the Volkswagen network, representing the values of the brand at the highest level. The coveted Diamond Pin award went

to Geo Nel of McCarthy Volkswagen Parow. Nel boasts an admirable 16 years of operational excellence dedicated to Volkswagen. Mahindra South Africa, too, recently honoured its top dealers. The event, held in Johannesburg, was attended by Arvind Mathew, chief of international operations, and Askok Thakur, head of Africa business. The Dealer of the Year award went to Mahindra Bloemfontein, represented by dealer principal Jaco Swart, which also took top honours in the large dealer category. Mahindra Nelspruit, under dealer principal Cas Kolbe, took the award in the medium category, with Mahindra Heidelberg, represented by sales manager Pierre Nel, winning the small category. The CEO of Mahindra South Africa, Sanjay Gupta, said the brand had 57 independently owned local dealerships and had witnessed growth in sales of 23% during 2016. He said the brand’s long term strategy included the possible development of a SKD plant in South Africa.

Oosthuizen says MISA is passionate about developing young workers in the motor retail industry and facilitating the creation of employment opportunities, but that meeting the goal requires a concerted effort from all employers and stakeholders. “Young workers are the future economic backbone of our country, and we all need to do everything in our power to create and sustain employment opportunities for them,” she concludes.

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Volkswagen’s Dealer of the Year, Venerson Sinivasan of Barons Bruma (centre), with Stefan Mecha, sales and marketing director of VWSA (left) and Thomas Schaefer, chairman of the Volkswagen Group South Africa JULY 2017

NEWS

Business awards for Continental

ontinental Tyre South Africa (CTSA) earned Top 50 Company Awards for the second year in a row from the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, signifying the key role it plays in the local industry. The presentation ceremony was held recently at the Boardwalk Convention Centre in Port Elizabeth, acknowledging and celebrating companies from all sectors that contributed to developing the economy, creating jobs and promoting investment. Continental earned two awards as a Top Employer as well as a Long-standing Investor from the municipality, which pays tribute to the company’s long and proud heritage in Nelson Mandela Bay. At the inaugural Top 50 Company event in 2016, Continental received a Top Achiever award.

Continental’s plant in Port Elizabeth… the company has been judged one of the city’s top employers

“The Top 50 Company awards recognise the important role that we play in the local economy, both as an employer and an investor,” said Shaun Uys, managing director of Continental Tyre SA. “It’s fitting that this coincides with our 70th anniversary celebrations this year, which is a proud achievement for the company after being originally founded in January 1947.

“We have grown significantly over the past seven decades, and introduced investments and upgrades worth almost R1-billion over the past five years at the Port Elizabeth plant. This fulfils the growing demand for Continental and General Tire-branded products in South Africa and the broader SubSaharan Africa region.”

Vehicle repair storm brewing According to a statement issued by the organisation, the average vehicle repair bill in the UK had risen by nearly 32% over the last three years and would continue to grow – challenging body shop business models – unless ways could be found to contain costs.

hatcham Research in Britain recently met with representatives of the vehicle industry to discuss ways of cutting the spiraling cost of vehicle repairs.

18 JULY 2017

In identifying repair challenges, Thatcham listed Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS); vehicle damage and engineering assessment related to use of new materials such as aluminium or carbon fibre; new paint technologies; new headlamp technologies and electrified powertrain systems. The organisation said the complexities involved in repairing damage to modern day vehicles created a further challenge

for body shops – attracting high calibre individuals who saw the repair industry as a career destination. “There is still much to be done to ensure that the right people choose a career in this industry,” said Dean Lander, head of repair sector services at Thatcham Research. “Repairers need a new set of skills to meet the demands of the Body Shop of the Future. “Technical expertise in diagnostics and calibration has become as vital as expertise in repairing and refinishing the physical hardware of a car. We must portray a fresh image to recruit the right people and help them to develop these new skills for body shops, as well as developing leadership skills to aid long term retention.”

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Driven by CONNECTIVITY

Volkswagenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dealer of the Year, Venerson Sinivasan of Barons Bruma (centre), with Stefan Mecha, sales and marketing director of VWSA (left) and Thomas Schaefer, chairman of the Volkswagen Group South Africa

Leading edge vehicle technology continues to grow at a rapid pace. In order to remain competitive South African workshops are finding it increasingly necessary to partner with Bosch Automotive, a technologically advanced company capable of offering a full workshop modular support package, known as the Diagnostic Concept, consisting of test equipment, technical training, electronic service information and a technical hotline. www.bosch.co.za What drives you, drives us.

NEWS

Automakers stick to clean air policies

S president Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris International Climate Treaty hasn’t shaken the resolve of US automakers to continue to develop clean, fuel-efficient vehicles. General Motors and Ford were among the manufacturers which voiced their support for environmentally friendly vehicles following Trump’s announcement. “GM will not waver from our commitment to the environment, and our position on climate change has not changed,” the company said in a statement. “International agreements aside, we remain committed to creating a better environment.” Ford affirmed its position that “climate change is real,” saying it remained “deeply committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our vehicles and our facilities.”

And a statement released by the US Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers – which represents 12 vehicle manufacturers including Toyota, BMW and Volkswagen – said: “Our job is to build and sell more fuel-efficient vehicles that produce less carbon and save consumers money at the pump. “When consumers go car-shopping today, they are seeing improved energy efficiency across all models. We will continue to provide our customers with these vehicles, here in the US and around the world.” One of the most outspoken reactions to Trump’s decision came from South African born Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, who said he would resign from two presidential advisory panels on which he serves. “Climate change is real,” said Musk, who has promoted his electric-vehicle and solar-energy businesses as direct

responses to the dangers of climate change. “Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world.” The Paris Agreement – signed in 2015 – contains a commitment from nearly all the world’s nations to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate the shift to renewable energy resources. Trump’s decision to withdraw is based on what he considers to be the negative impact of the treaty has on the US auto industry, among other sectors.

Donations pour in for Knysna

tandard Bank has donated R10million to communities devastated by last month’s fires in the Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Garden Route areas. The fires and storms claimed a number of lives and displaced thousands of people while completely gutting homes, schools, businesses, and vehicles. “It is with the deepest, and most heartfelt sympathy that our thoughts go out to those whom have lost loved ones in the Knysna fires and severe weather in Cape Town. Our thoughts too, are with those residents, especially the destitute and vulnerable, who have been displaced and left exposed in the affected areas,” said Ben Kruger, CEO of Standard Bank Group.

20 - JULY 2017

The donation is in addition to work being done on the ground by Standard Bank’s regional teams in the Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Mossel Bay and Greater Cape regions to rally drives for donations of food and blankets in conjunction with local radio stations. In addition, Standard Bank insurance teams in the area have set up dedicated insurance desks at branches to assist with claim requirements. Meanwhile, petroleum company Engen has donated R150 000 worth of diesel as well as water, energy snacks and drinks to fire fighters in the area. In addition, the company has arranged drop-off points for donations of clothing, blankets

and food at its service stations along the Garden Route. “This tragic event has touched the lives of so many people. We trust that our small contribution will play some part in helping to support the many fire fighters and volunteers as well as the community at large,” said Godfrey Vilakazi, Engen’s marketing manager.

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Martlé Keyter, MISA’s CEO for Operations

Volkswagen outlines productivity plans

V Herbert Diess

olkswagen last month outlined some of its productivity plans for the future at a Works Council meeting at Wolfsburg.

Addressing employees, Herbert Diess, the company’s CEO, said Volkswagen had done well so far this year in terms of meeting targets but, for the next stage, finances would need to be set on a sound foundation. In line with that objective, he said Volkswagen would look to improve productivity at all of its plants so that it could forge ahead with its mobility plans. “My objective is that we should do everything in our power to make Volkswagen top fit for the future,” he said. Explaining the company’s Transform 2025+ strategy, Diess said Volkswagen

had formulated development milestones, beginning with the largest product offensive in the history of the brand. Ten new models would be launched this year alone.

2017 is a productivity improvement of 7,5%. We have agreed on a total improvement of 25% by 2025,” he explained.

However, in positioning itself competitively, the company would need to maintain momentum and a sound financial footing would be essential for this purpose. “We need good financial results. Only then will we be able to shape our future, to invest and to develop innovation pressure.”

Diess said measures for more efficient production were being identified at all of the brand’s plants with implementation planned on a stepby-step basis. Another key element involved personnel transformation which aimed at safeguarding jobs, of which partial early retirement for workers born between 1955 and 1960 would play a role.

Diess said the company’s aim was to take the lead in e-mobility, digitalisation and autonomously driven vehicles. “We must become courageous, slim, fast and aggressive. We must be prepared to change fast – to develop new capabilities and to break away from old habits.”

Karlheinz Blessing, the company’s board member for human resources, said close to 9 300 employees had agreed to an early retirement plan, which would help the company to bring down costs.

Achievement of productivity targets would be essential to meeting the aim. “The key to financial recovery is the productivity of our plants. Our target for

“We are rapidly approaching our target of 9 300 contracts signed. Employees who wish to take partial early retirement must make their decision by July 31,” he told the meeting.

Technology to prevent motorcycle accidents

sraeli technology developer Autotalks is set to launch a bike-to-vehicle (B2V) accident prevention system which it claims will Hagai Zyss enable detection of bikes that are not visible to the human eye or to vehicle cameras. Based on a dedicated short range communication (DSRC) protocol, the system allows cars and motorcycles to exchange data such as speed, direction of travel, location and braking mode.

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Advantages of the solution are said to include simple integration of the product, low power consumption, small physical size, a wide operating temperature and resistance to strong vibration. Hagai Zyss, CEO of Autotalks, said the launch of B2V technology represented a significant milestone for motorcyclists. Quoting World Health Organisation figures, he said about 23% of 1,25-million traffic fatalities reported globally in 2015 involved a motorcycle rider, while a 2013 study conducted by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicated that motorcyclists had a 26-fold higher risk of death than drivers of other vehicles.

Zyss added: “A considerable proportion of the drivers involved in an accident with a motorcycle claimed that they did not even see the motorcycle approaching. Motorcycles are characterised by their relatively small size and high speed, which makes them difficult to identify. B2V will enhance motorcyclists’ safety.” According to Zyss, Bosch has launched a development B2V study that involves Autotalks’ B2V technology alongside that of products developed by Ducati motorcycles and Cohda Wireless. He said that Bosch’s accident research indicated that B2V technology could prevent nearly a third of all powered two-wheeler accidents in Germany.

JULY 2017

NEWS

Brand Pretorius for TruckX

rand Pretorius will deliver one of the keynote addresses at this year’s TruckX Expo to be held on July 12 and 13 at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit near Johannesburg. The business leader – who is a former managing director of Toyota SA Marketing, CEO of McCarthy Retail Limited and an executive director of Bidvest – will address the topic: The Value of Good Leadership. TruckX, which is supported by the RMI and sponsored by Ctrack by Inseego and Standard Bank, moves to the Kyalami venue to accommodate an expanded exhibition and conference programme that includes FleetX – a co-located event that is aimed at South Africa’s fleet industry.

It is at the FleetX conference – to be held in the morning of July 13 – that Pretorius will deliverAD his210x130 keynote.2/15/17 The TruckX conference CH COLLEGE 8:30 AM Page 3 – which takes place the previous day, July 12 – will see Tony Smallwood, executive head

22 JULY 2017

Truck 2017

Conference & Expo

of IoT Solutions at Vodacom South Africa, discuss the impact that the Internet of Things is having on the transport industry and South African society in general. “I’m looking forward to delivering my presentation,” said Brand, who has received numerous national marketing, motor industry and leadership awards in a career that spans more than four decades. His address will cover a variety of aspects, from the real value of good leadership to the current reality; from key lessons he learnt while climbing the corporate ladder to challenges faced. As one of the South African motor industry’s most respected representatives, Brand is well-qualified to speak on leadership. He holds honorary professorships at the University of Johannesburg, University of Pretoria, University of the Free State and an honorary doctorate in marketing from the C M Y CM MY CY Durban University of Technology.

Brand Pretorius

He is a Fellow in Leadership at the Gordon Institute of Business Science and the chairman of the Italtile Foundation. He also serves on the boards of the READ Educational Trust and the Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa, and he is a non-executive director of Agrinet, Tongaat-Hulett, Reunert, Italtile and Tata Africa Holdings. His book, In the Driving Seat – Lessons in Leadership, was published in 2013 and has become one of the most popular business biographies in South Africa. It has been reprinted six times. Members of the RMI who would like to attend either the FleetX or TruckX conferences can take advantage of a 35% discount on standard rates – you’ll pay only R650 per seat, which includes a complimentary lunch voucher. To book, contact Faith Matura on 011 803 2040 and quote your RMI membership number. To find out more about TruckX, log on to www.truckx. CMY K co.za.

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JUNE 2017 -

COVER STORY

Back with a bang! Former South African racing driver Basil van Rooyen believes he’s invented an engine that could revolutionise the future of two-stroke combustion. Mark Hinchcliffe reports

efore emigrating to Australia about 30 years ago, Basil van Rooyen had a distinguished career in South African motor racing, winning races and championships in a variety of cars. He is probably best known for his exploits in a Lotus Cortina, Chev CanAm and Ford Mustang, but he was also prominent during his time as an accomplished automotive engineer and founder of Superformance, a specialist car tuning company. Van Rooyen is also an inventor of several products, including the Twister, an accessory for pool cleaners, the HeeBeeGeeBee head massager and, latterly, two-stroke engine technology called CITS, for which he is looking for a financial backer. The technology is explained in this report by Australian journalist Mark Hinchcliffe – which was published recently on his online blog, Motor Bike Writer (https:// motorbikewriter.com) – and which is used with permission. An Australian engineering company has developed a new two-stroke engine that it believes could be used in motorcycles.

Van Rooyen says that compared with four-stroke engines, advantages of CITS units include a compact design, more power and less weight. Furthermore, CITS engines are cheaper to produce, more economical to run and more environmentally friendly than conventional counterparts.

It’s called Crankcase Independent TwoStroke (CITS) and was invented by former South African motorsport engineer Basil van Rooyen, Director of CITS Engineering, which is based in St Ives, Sydney.

Two-stroke motorcycles have been phased out in recent years by tough pollution laws and fuel economy targets. However, KTM has released a raft of new directinjection two-strokes and Honda recently

24 JULY 2017

registered patents for direct-injection twostroke engines, so they look like making a comeback. Van Rooyen’s CITS uses direct injection, with a pivoting inlet valve and a by-pass valve replacing the throttle, and progressive cylinder deactivation ensuring minimised pumping losses. The unit also uses a typical four-stroke’s oil sump and does not mix the oil with the fuel in the combustion chamber like normal two-stroke engines. CITS therefore eliminates total-loss lubrication of a typical two-stroke.

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Van Rooyen lists 15 attributes which he says represent incontestable advantages for the engine. 1 The elimination of total-loss lubrication, thereby reducing by about 98% the typical 1:40 oil-to-petrol ratio of a normal two-stroke to a 1: 2500 ratio as required for upper cylinder lubrication in a four-stroke. 2 The pressurised lubrication process in turn allows a CITS engine to utilise plain shell bearings instead of heavier, more expensive, roller bearings that require complex crankshaft fitment. 3 The oil in the CITS sump is not polluted by moisture, sulphur or particulates by combustion gases which by-pass the piston-ring – as happens in four-stroke engines – since the sump is isolated from the crankcase and its oil. Instead, the gases are recirculated into the combustion process through an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system – a method which has been shown to improve combustion. An advantage of using this system is that oil change intervals can be greatly extended – or even eliminated. 4. CITS’s 300% higher maximum possible primary compression ratio compared with that of a typical two-stroke allows much later exhaust port closure, without backflow down the transfer ports, due to the higher pressure within them. This increases the work on the crankshaft for several extra rotation degrees at very advantageous connecting-rod angles, from the same fuel-event, for greater power and improved fuel economy. 5. The 300% higher primary compression ratio under the descending CITS

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piston becomes a 300% greater decompression ratio during its ascent for induction – higher than possible in a normal two-stroke. A four-stroke inducts from the top of the piston where a typical compression ratio is 10:1 – thus the decompression ratio is the inverse, or 1:10 – eight times more than that of a typical twostroke’s at 1:1,2. 6. The normal two-stroke’s fresh charge flows through the transfer ports which open for about 130 crankshaft degrees, before being blocked for the remaining 230 degrees. Thus flow happens in stop-start fashion. By contrast, the charge in the CITS transfer ports is never blocked and flows continuously to above or below the CITS piston, thus saving significant kinetic energy losses and further improving induction during the time restraints involved. 7. By opening the exhaust port later with resulting gains in power and economy, the engine runs quieter due to increased blow-down thanks to reduced combustion pressure before release, and due to a more complete combustion time. Also, exhaust emissions are lower. 8. The CITS piston carries no lateral conrod loads as do all typical combustion pistons, with self-evident benefits in temperature, wear and friction reduction. This allows the piston’s ring-lands to contact the cylinder – instead of being undercut to prevent aluminium-smear seizing the rings – thus reducing HC traps and emissions of unburnt fuel. 9. Since lateral loads are carried by a slipper below the CITS piston – and the distance between the two is typically three times greater than the normal piston-skirt length below the piston rings – the piston alignment against the rocking action at TDC and BDC is commensurately increased, improving durability and ring seal. 10. The pivot inlet-valve has a freepivoting unitary dual-petal that controls both cylinders, self-driven by the alternating pressures under the opposing pistons. This eliminates

tension in the typical two-stroke’s reed valve petals, along with the flow-resistance and delivery delay to open them. (See https://youtu.be/hLjhk61GzA.) 11. The pivot valve – having a fraction of the bulk of a reed/throttle assembly – allows it to nestle within the CITS’s V, with perfect flow geometry for the incoming charge. 12. The by-pass valve is elegantly integrated within and below the pivot valve to replace the throttle. This valve deactivates both cylinders to any required degree – superior to the latest cylinder deactivation in fourstrokes which causes rougher running. Further, throttling pumping-losses are eliminated during cruise or idle, allowing instead a variable primary decompression ratio under the piston, mapped to be optimal with the combustion pressure above the piston for efficiency and lowest emissions. 13. In constant rpm applications the optional rising pivot-valve offers further unprecedented induction valve efficiency. (See https://youtu. be/9MSIBobuEQQ.) This proposes a fully open inlet valve during “sweetspot” power, harnessing ram-tuning as the one-way valve, yet maintaining a variable primary compression ratio. 14. Since the CITS cylinder-porting and fluid-dynamics are isolated from the crankcase, the feature allows, for the first time, a compact V-twin twostroke, (or multiples thereof) because each cylinder no longer needs its crankcase to be isolated from the opposing cylinders. Instead, they can now share a common crankcase which reduces by about 70% each of the following: a) The distance between twin twostroke’s cylinder axis; b) The rocking-moment imbalance forces; c) The crankshaft length between big-ends d) The size and mass of crankshaft counter-balances; e) The crankcase length to house the components. The CITS V-twin imbalance force

JULY 2017 -

Basil van Rooyen as he was in his motorsport days... with trophies (left), and at the track

reductions versus the four-stroke V-twin are even greater, as the fourstroke V-twin pistons must travel together, giving cumulative forces versus the compensatory forces at TDC with CITS’s opposing piston action ensuring the smoothestrunning twin-cylinder. 15. Also benefitting from CITS’s crankcase isolation, the inducted charge is no longer buffeted by turbulence in the crankcase, instead smoothly reaching the more tranquil and continually flowing transfer ports. Comments from a number of engineers regarding CITS technology include those from members of the Mechanical Engineering faculty at Brookes-Oxford University in Oxford, England. In a joint statement, Professor John Durodola, Dr Stephen Samuel and Federico Bengolea said they had reviewed the CITS engine’s design and agreed that the concept was good. “It takes the best out of two-stroke and four-stroke engines and combines them to achieve better indicated efficiency while reducing emissions. Definitely viable for production,” they wrote. Emeritus Professor B Milton said the

26 JULY 2017

engine represented a significant advance in the development of two-strokes which could well be competitive in the automotive market currently dominated by four-stroke engines. “Overall, the concept is one of the most promising that I have seen for a low cost, fuel efficient, lightweight and compact engine of high power output per unit weight.” For developing the CITS technology, Van Rooyen has been awarded a nomination by the Australian branch of the Society of Automotive Engineers for Excellence in Automotive Engineering. “CITS technology is applicable to any engine application from V-twins of 25kW to 125kW up to V12s of over 1 000kW for hospital generators,” he maintains.

firing cleanly and smoothly. Van Rooyen hopes to sell the royalties to his invention to engine manufacturers, rather than making any engines himself. He is currently seeking an investor or a motor manufacturer as a partner for the final stage to commercialisation. He can be contacted via Linked In or via e-mail at basilvr@bigpond.com. Basil believes the cost and weight per kilowatt using CITS engine technology will be less than half that of popular three- and four-cylinder four-stroke engines. He points out that the prototype produces 148hp (110kW) compared with the Suzuki Boulevard’s 66hp (50kW) with vibrations reduced by 70%. He envisages a production version that produces 90hp (67kW), which he believes would be suitable for most applications.

He built the prototype on an 800cc V-twin Suzuki Boulevard crankcase, to which were adapted Rotax 800 Etec parallel twin cylinder-jackets and heads, cut into two to make the adaption possible and to fast-forward the proof-of-concept stage, confirming five major predictions and securing patents.

“The CITS concept needs no changes in today’s production methods, but grasping the fluid dynamic advantages is complicated and mechanics and engineers are advised to check out the CITS website for further details,” he says.

In tests, the engine has run under load without thermal or lubrication issues,

Log on to www.citsengine.com. au to discover more.

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ASSOCIATION OF THE MONTH

Focusing on the Future There is no place for complacency in the fast-paced motor body repair industry, which is why the South Africa Motor Body Repair Association (SAMBRA) focuses on tomorrow, today

t has been a busy year for SAMBRA’s National Director Eddie Martin and his team. From industry negotiations to member management to playing an integral part in the national rollout of the National Grading Industry Standard, South Africa’s largest motor body repair association continues to go from strength to strength. “There is no place for complacency in this business,” says Martin. “Competition can be seen as an exciting opportunity to remain agile and open to change, while implementing policies and procedures that will reap sustainable benefits for all in the future.” In a world where the expectation is instant gratification, SAMBRA adopts a more prudent approach to business – valuing the time it takes to build and nurture relationships, and roll out sustainable and effective projects. “We interact with the industry on a number of levels, and play a key role in ensuring fair trading conditions with strategic business partners. We are not only in the motor body repair business; we are also in the people development business.” CURRENT PROJECTS & MILESTONES Annual Insurer, OEM & Supplier Survey SAMBRA’s National Insurer, OEM and Supplier Survey has become a respected measure of the relationship between South Africa’s insurers, OEMs and suppliers and the motor body repair industry. Originally introduced as an insurer survey, the exercise has since extended to include

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other service providers and has become a hotly contested industry award. The survey is independently managed and audited by Lightstone Consumer, and offers SAMBRA members nationwide the opportunity to rate insurers, OEMs and suppliers on several factors including relationship satisfaction, service delivery, customer service, green practices, quality of vehicle damage assessment and repairers’ interaction with claims staff. The results of the survey are embraced by insurers, OEMs and suppliers, and constructively applied in their respective industries. In understanding both the motor body repair industry and supplier environments, SAMBRA helps its members and partners to re-evaluate and streamline processes and procedures, improve skill levels and regulatory compliance while ultimately developing best practice models. Addressing mutual key performance areas grows businesses at both ends of the scale and ultimately benefits the consumer.

The 2017 survey is closing soon, and the results – and ultimate winners – will be revealed during the SAMBRA Conference on October 21. SAMBRA Conference The SAMBRA Conference is coming to Cape Town this year, and the association’s members and partners can look forward

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SAMBRA Website Growth: January - May (2014 - 2017) to a weekend of exciting pre-conference activities, a jam-packed conference programme with fantastic speakers, a tour of the Franschhoek Motor Museum and more. The theme Choose the Future aptly describes SAMBRA’s continued objective to remain a leader and change-maker in the industry. Visit conference.sambra.biz for information and updates. National Grading Industry Standard finalised The accepted, minimum Industry Standard for MBRs, as recognised by insurers as well as MBRs, has been finalised and will remove barriers to entry. Implementation of the standard is from July 1 and is applicable to ALL motor body repairers, irrespective of the associations to which they are affiliated, or whether or not they have OEM approval. This is an industry standard and not an associational standard and members will recollect that it is based on SAMBRA’s grading criteria. Bureau Veritas (South Africa) has been appointed as the auditor for the process. It is important to note that an audit will be conducted every two years – with the audit certificate valid for that period – as opposed to annual audits conducted up until now. SAMBRA’s independent grading will no longer be conducted. SAIA has sourced funds from the insurance industry to pay for the certification process for qualifying blackowned MBRs of all associations which take part in the Motor Transformation and Sustainability Forum (MTSF), subject to terms and conditions. The standard will be a requirement for all SAIA affiliated insurers and MBRs going forward. Audatex Technical Forum for SAMBRA members Audatex / Abuntex is a highly complex estimating system, based on supplied OEM technical data and vehicle model profile, to determine part pricing and fitment procedures. Labour and paint costs are determined by time and motion studies.

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In a nutshell, Audatex /Abuntex is a system that allows the interactive working between the insurer and the MBR from the creation of an estimate of costs to the final repair calculation, up until invoicing. To ensure an optimal and efficient claims assessment process, insurers have integrated their claims management systems and processes with Audatex / Abuntex. Integration aims to optimise: * Claims service delivery; * Effective moderation; * Improved expert involvement; * Availability of consistent and accurate claims and repair statistics. Though most insurer-approved MBR estimating and administration staff members receive insurer training and do the basic Abuntex course, there still appears to be a lack of proficiency in some advance Abuntex processes. SAMBRA therefore offers to assist members with: * Advanced repair and paint methods; * Additional repair and paint codes; * Repair modification codes; * Audamail; * Final costing; * Networking. SAMBRA forms part of the Audatex Technical Committee, where it tables any recurring issues or queries. The association also hosts an Audatex

technical blog inside its website’s member forum. Log in and participate at: http://sambra.biz/forums/forum/ technical-chat/ Mazda Recommended Repairer Programme A contractual agreement between SAMBRA and Mazda Southern Africa has been concluded. SAMBRA members already on the Mazda Recommended Repairer Programme – who have a Mazda certificate that expired on March 31 – have received new Letters of Recommendation. The letters replace the certificates and will be renewable annually. New Mazda Recommended Repairer applicants can find the qualifying criteria and online application forms on the SAMBRA website, under the member section. B-BBEE SAMBRA recognises the role the association plays in facilitating the communication of B-BBEE transformation credentials to members, and its contribution to the national agenda for development and growth. Since there are different interpretations of how to apply the B-BBEE Revised Codes of Good Practice, SAMBRA has engaged experts in the field of

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learning. To this end, members across the country have access to information and training sessions aimed at keeping them abreast of latest business requirements and developments, including: • Workflow Seminars (BASF); • Audatex; • Occupational Health and Safety; • Information Sessions (merSETA, MIBCO, RMA etc.) Members are encouraged to visit the Member Calendar on www.sambra.biz for upcoming training programmes. SAMBRA's Director Eddie Martin (left), and RMI President Jeanné Esterhuizen (above) addressing delagates (below) at last year's annual breakfast

Consumer Awareness SAMBRA has worked hard to become a trusted content resource to both existing and potential members, as well as to motor body repair consumers – both in the traditional and digital media conversation space. To achieve this, SAMBRA is developing a video series aimed at consumers. Visit www.sambra.biz to watch the first videos in this series: “What happens in a panel shop” and “3rd Party Insurance.”

Enterprise & Supplier Development in order to ensure that codes are interpreted correctly. The association also offers advice to members to ensure compliance over the longterm, thereby achieving a number of objectives, including: • Enhanced industry compliance and a transformation strategy for SAMBRA; • Building the capacity of each member to manage his or her own HR and transformation related performance as a function of BEE compliance; • The opportunity to improve the value proposition of SAMBRA to its members by facilitating industry programmes including, but not limited to: o Enterprise and supplier development;

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o Increased local content; o Socio-economic development; o Waste and energy management to reduce the risk of reliance on the grid; and o Capacity building programmes to provide certainty in the access to skills for the industry and the positive impact of job creation. • A commercial model that facilitates transformation in a way that adds to the profitability and operational excellence of SAMBRA members. SAMBRA has partnered with a B-BBEE expert, who will assist with the integration of the association’s B-BBEE strategy. Training SAMBRA believes that long-term success can only be achieved through constant

Industry News Curator Content curation in the MBR space is an important part of ensuring that SAMBRA members remain at the forefront of local and international trends, opinions and forecasts, while also playing a vital part in members’ personal and business growth. Value-added content is vital, not only from a consumer perspective but also to boost a website’s search engine positioning. SAMBRA’s website, www.sambra.biz, has grown from strength to strength in this regard, with a current average of 16 000+ page views per month from over 6 000 users. Supporting this, members, consumers and industry partners also receive a weekly newsletter with news snippets specifically tailored to their needs. STAY UP TO DATE WITH SAMBRA Facebook: www.facebook.com/officialsambra Twitter: www.twitter.com/SAMBRAnews LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/sambra Website: www.sambra.biz

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JULY 2017 -

RMI UPDATE

Helping the hearing-impaired to help themselves An automotive body repair skills programme aimed at empowering the hearing-impaired recently saw nine trainees receive certificates at a graduation ceremony in Pretoria

two skills programmes which met job description criteria regarding General Workers, Grade 2, for automotive body shops.

The ceremony, held at Menlyn Corporate Park, was hosted in association with training provider Industry Training and Consulting (ITC), insurance conglomerate Santam and the National Institute for the Deaf (NID).

The objective of the programme was to empower hearing-impaired learners by training them to perform skilled tasks focused on the automotive body repair industry, thereby creating opportunities for employment. In Botha’s words, the dream was to help the deaf to help themselves.

graduation ceremony to honour hearing-impaired learners who successfully completed an automotive body repair skills training programme took place recently in Pretoria.

The ITC’s Dr Frik Botha welcomed guests and thanked the merSETA’s Wayne Adams for the organisation’s involvement in the programme. He also thanked Santam’s Gerard Genis and Theo van Schalkwyk for the company’s big-hearted contributions to the project. Sketching the background to the training programme, Botha said it had been established in 2015 in a partnership between ITC, the NID and the merSETA. The ITC and merSETA had been responsible for compiling and registering

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He said that when the hearing-impaired were employed in the industry, careerdevelopment would naturally follow since they would be “exposed to the real world, working in a body shop amongst hearing people.” According to Botha, “Hearing-impaired learners do not have minimum requirements to enter into learnerships or apprenticeships in the automotive body repair industry. This is why ITC decided to design a skills programme which could assist them by creating job opportunities.

“Skills development training creates the possibility of not only a career path for the hearing-impaired, but also a sustainable future in which they can care for themselves and their families.” Because of their hearing impediments, learners are trained using special methodology that follows a learn-by-doing approach at the training centre as well as in the workplace. Their capabilities are then assessed by the merSETA in a final summative. “During Phase 1, introducing the learner to the world of work is done in a practical way and much time is spent on ensuring occupational knowledge and understanding. The programme includes health and safety, usage of tools and equipment, how to perform surface preparation on a panel and how to repair small dents, remove replace and align body panels, apply sealers and cavity filler and use lifting equipment,” says Botha. “In the body shop during Phase 2, the

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learner performs programme tasks under the supervision of a mentor, who is a qualified journeyman. A logbook is kept by the learner and signed off by the mentor. At the end of Phase 2 the learner returns to the training centre where a final assessment is conducted by merSETA, which issues a statement of results.” According to Botha, a follow-up skills programme has been introduced in a third phase which sees learners developing skills in disciplines such as panel polishing, headlight adjustment and basic welding. Additionally, ITC has decided to take the programme further and introduce two spray painting skills programmes.

Magidigidi Primary celebrates new library Magidigidi Primary School learners and their new library

earners from Magidigidi Primary School recently celebrated the opening of a new library, sponsored by GUD Holdings.

bold and brightly coloured red container stands out proudly against the rural landscape of rugged hills and valleys. “It has been a privilege to support the learners and educators of Magidigidi Primary. We believe that investing in the education of children provides the greatest resource to our country. We hope the learners will enjoy their new library.” said Ian Law, sales and marketing director of GUD Holdings.

“Two hearing-impaired learners from Brooklyn Motorlab have completed a fouryear training programme with ITC, and will soon be allowed to apply for a trade test, after completing a pre-trade test evaluation,” he says.

The school, which is situated in rural Ixopo, KwaZulu Natal, is over 20km away from the closest library. GUD Holdings responded to the learners’ thirst for knowledge by sponsoring a container library stocked with books and reading material valued at over R100 000. The

This year, nine hearing-impaired learners completed the skills development programme and, at the graduation ceremony, received certificates from ITC and statements of results from the merSETA.

DoT joins Michelin in road safety campaign

“They did their training not only in the panel beating section, but also in the spray painting section. We have received good feedback from their employers,” said Botha. So successful have the skills programmes outcomes been that ITC, the merSETA and the NID decided that this year 30 new hearing-impaired students would be put through their paces. The course began in February and, according to Botha, is progressing well. He thanked Dr Deon de Villiers, CEO of the NID, for the organisation’s support for the project. “All our kicking and screaming over the past 16 years to get a programme like this up and running is beginning to bear fruit,” he says. “Now the challenge is to create awareness amongst all South Africans that deaf people strive to be better, to be equal!”

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he Department of Transport (DoT) has joined forces with the Michelin Corporate Foundation to launch a multi-faceted road safety initiative aimed at South Africa’s youth. The three-year programme utilises behaviour change principles to empower knowledge, skills and training. Global statistics show that 59% of all road traffic deaths involve young adults. “It is essential for us to teach and build awareness among youth to help protect them and make them responsible drivers,” said Whitey Maphakela, the DoT’s chief director of road safety. The first phase of the programme has been designed to complement the DoT’s Road Safety Youth Ambassador Programme and will involve the training of 20 road safety ambassadors from

Limpopo Province. Phase two will involve Youth Road Safety Ambassadors in the Bela-Bela and Modimolle municipalities and will serve as a lead programme for ambassadors to follow in other provinces. “The Michelin Corporate Foundation perpetuates the Michelin Group’s societal engagement everywhere in the world through various programmes where sustainable mobility and road safety are key priorities,” said Philippe Verneuil, president for Michelin Africa. “We are pleased to partner with the DoT’s Road Safety Youth Ambassador project. We believe the programme will assist the communities to move towards a better tomorrow by tackling topics like basic vehicle control and the social and economic consequences of vehicle crashes, to name a few.”

JULY 2017 -

RMI UPDATE

Port Elizabeth hosts Partinform Owners of retail automotive businesses in Port Elizabeth turned out in force to attend Partinform’s trade show in the city

he windy city of Port Elizabeth hosted the recent Partinform automotive trade show. The event was held at the Pine Lodge Resort & Conference Centre in Summerstrand and was attended by nearly 80 automotive business owners and employees. Great interest was shown at the various stands with members answering questions about their brands and products. A quiz show was held in which participants were asked questions about the brands on display at various stands. Prizes were donated by the sponsors for the evening – ATE, Bosch, Exide and SKF – with the winner receiving an invitation to attend Partinform’s end of the year celebration that culminates in a go-kart race organised by MCP Rental Karts.

Partinform members put in a lot of effort in ensuring that their stands are well laid out and that visitors could see their products and branding clearly. It is always pleasing to see the response when the organisers and the chairman award the prize for the best stand of the evening and this time round it was the turn of Denso, a brand in the Smith’s stable. Moving around the country, Partinform shows – which promote the advantages of using of quality parts in vehicle maintenance and repair – are informative and remain popular with automotive business owners. As usual, the RMI display at the event attracted attention with visitors asking questions about the Organisation, and Erwin Stroebel and members of his team

were on hand to explain the benefits of belonging. “The RMI continues to support Partinform’s aim regarding the use of quality products,” said Erwin. “The event provided visitors with much needed information on new and improved automotive products, at the same time offering an opportunity for RMI representatives to promote the Organisation to potential members. “The RMI is proud to be associated with Partinform. The sponsors and the organisers have made this an exciting event to attend.” The next Partinform event takes place at the Hotel Savoy and Conference Centre in Umthatha.

AutObarn cancels its SuperHatch photo competition utOBarn’s SuperHatch photo competition has been cancelled following copyright concerns, according to organiser Digby Wesson.

competition was created to reward photographers for their hard work at race tracks and to publicise their best shots.

around the AutObarn SuperHatch race series. Unfortunately, objections regarding copyright of the pictures mean we have had to cancel the competition.”

“We apologise to all photographers who have entered already or who were planning to enter,” he said. “The

“The aim was to help photographers obtain coverage for their work while simultaneously building awareness

Wesson said photographers who had already entered the competition would be advised of the next step.

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RMI UPDATE

‘The only constant in life, is change’ Jakkie Olivier, the RMI’s Chief Executive Officer, outlines some of the changes the Organisation will undergo as its New Thinking Model is implemented from this month

embers will recall that, in the latter part of 2012, a process was initiated that culminated in what was called Project RMI Renewal – an organisational change intervention that was forced upon all of us as a result of the need for the RMI to adapt to its changing environment and the needs of members and their associations. Project RMI Renewal was implemented on July 1, 2013 and completed on June 30, 2014, as a result of which we have all

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witnessed significant membership growth, despite prevailing economic conditions, as well as a substantial improvement of our Organisation’s financial performance and reserves.

We have consequently decided to christen this The New Thinking Model – a term that you will encounter repeatedly in correspondence and meetings over the next 12 to 18 months.

The changes brought about as a result of Project RMI Renewal were allowed to settle down and nest-in from mid2014 to early in 2016, when Members of the Board and the RMI Management Team, during its annual “indaba,” conceptualised and developed a new model for our Organisation, in anticipation of further and on-going changes in our industry.

While members of staff remain committed to core values, norms and objectives of our Organisation, during this process they will adopt a fresh and innovative attitude towards change. Our ultimate success will depend on this!

This model was subsequently cultivated over a period of almost 12 months, with the input of the entire management team, the RMI Associations’ national executive committees, the RMI Board and the Council – and I am pleased to advise that we have now reached the point where we are ready to implement the changes necessary to give effect to the action plans developed to achieve the strategic objective associated with the new model. What will be required from all stakeholders – members, office bearers and staff – is a whole new way of thinking. The radical transformation, not only of the various structures and processes underpinning the RMI, but also the way in which we conduct our business of ensuring that belonging is better business for members of the Organisation, will require a fresh mind set.

The New Thinking Model, or NTM as it has affectionately become known, is predicated on a fundamental change in the way that we do business. Traditionally, the bulk of the core operational activities were driven through our various regional offices where most of our staff members were also employed. Though this made sense for many years, the demands of a changing environment necessitate the migration of many of those core operational activities from the regions to the associations, where they are capable of being adapted to address the very specific needs of the members of each association. Not all of the operational activities however, will migrate to the associations. Generic functions that span all associations and members such as IR service delivery, MIBCO activities and regional training initiatives, consumer complaint resolution and general member retention, will remain core activities located in the regions, as has been the case traditionally.

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Other traditional regional activities, such as membership growth and recruitment, specialised member retention, the development and growth of the RMI’s value proposition and the promotion of member activities, will migrate to the associations. In order to aid the associations in delivering on the new mandate, they will be bolstered by the re-allocation of a substantial portion of the RMI subscription fee. This will enable associations to create and staff their structures in order to drive the core business activities associated with the new operational role that they will have to fulfil. Ultimately, you will see a substantial number of new employees employed by the associations, and dedicated to the delivery of a highly-specialised service to associational members. The RMI will retain the larger portion of the RMI subscription fee in order to provide core regional and national services to all members, spanning associational specifics and peculiarities; services such as IR, consumer affairs and stakeholder engagement with the likes of MIBCO and MerSETA. At a national level, the RMI will continue to provide support for the associations in the form of a training department, transformation interventions, HR, financial administration, member database administration, regulatory compliance (previously known as the Quality and Standards Department), branding

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and communications, and executive management. The new modality of operation will necessitate a revised regional structure and, as a consequence, each region will no longer have a Regional / General Manager, but rather two Divisional Managers who will take charge of two new divisions, being the Northern and Southern Divisions. The former incorporates the previous Free State / Northern Cape, Highveld and Northern Regions and the latter, the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Border and KZN regions. These divisions will be managed from Randburg and Port Elizabeth respectively, with office administrators deployed in the regional offices that remain – Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Pretoria and Durban. Jeff Molefe and Erwin Stroebel, both regional managers under the present dispensation, will be appointed to these portfolios given their vast experience in the operations of the RMI. The other regional offices will be administered by Brent Barichievy in Cape Town, Jacques Viljoen in Bloemfontein, Euphemia Faro in Pretoria and Robin Naidoo in Durban, and they will report to their respective divisional managers.

Current Client Liaison Officers (CLOs) will continue to operate from their present offices and, in the interim, their tasks and responsibilities will not change. However, associations will, in the near future, be employing additional CLOs to aid membership growth and retention through the associations. A number of internal staff changes will also take place in order to best place colleagues with specialised skills in the most appropriate positions. Consequently, the following changes will take effect on July 1. i.

ii.

iii.

iv.

v. Their tasks and responsibilities will be extensively explained to them and they will primarily be responsible for the efficient running of these offices, in close liaison with the divisional managers.

Vehicle Testing Association

vi.

Joy Oldale will be appointed as transformation director. She will take over from Neo Bokaba. In the interim, she will retain responsibility for Vehicle Testing Association. Neo Bokaba will assume the vacant position of HR manager, including responsibility for internal transformation, and will report to the financial director. Julian Pillay will assume the position of Manager: Regulatory Compliance and will be deployed in the Durban office. Gary McCraw will retain his portfolios as National Automobile Dealers’ Association director and company secretary, but will take responsibility for the Motorcycle Dealers’ Association as well. Renee Coetsee will remain as financial director, but the responsibility for Human Resources and IT will be added to her portfolio. Louis van Huyssteen was appointed as training director with effect from

JULY 2017 -

RMI UPDATE May 1 and he will continue with this portfolio. vii. Attie Serfontein, currently the consumer affairs specialist in the Pretoria office, will be appointed as the cluster director for the Engine Remanufacturers’ Association, South African Diesel Fuel Injection Association and the Automotive Component Remanufacturers’ Association. viii. Hedley Judd will retain his portfolio for the Tyre Dealers’ and Fitment Centres’ Association, but with receive the added portfolios for the Motor Parts and Equipment Association and the Motor Industry Manufacturers’ Association. He will consequently be the cluster director for the TDAFA, MPEA and MIMA ix. Eddie Martin will retain his portfolio for the South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association, but will gain responsibility for the South African Vehicle and Bodybuilders’ Association, therefore becoming

the cluster director for the two associations. x. Vishal Premlall will take over the South African Petroleum Retailers’ Association portfolio, which is of strategic importance to the RMI and one of its key associations. xi. Pieter Niemand will be appointed as director of the Motor Industry Workshop Association. xii. As mentioned previously, Jeff Molefe and Erwin Stroebel will be appointed as Divisional Managers. xiii. Danelle van der Merwe will retain her portfolio for branding and communications, as in the past. I would ask that members congratulate the new appointees and provide them with your unfettered support, so as to ensure that we all remain successful in our endeavours. The entire management team is on-board as regards these changes and I must appeal to all of our valued members to

own these changes and think in a new way about the manner in which our Organisation will function. Even though the RMI will remain the only legal entity – with all policies and directives therefore remaining intact – you will all be confronted with new methodologies, processes and procedures. However, with an innovative approach I am convinced that we will not only thrive, but excel at what we do – that is making Belonging, Better Business! Our new and improved trade focus will no doubt, substantially improve the trading conditions for all of our members. Please feel free to direct any questions or concerns to either myself or Jan Schoeman, our COO. We will be most willing to assist with clarity where ever we can. Thank you for continued commitment and support. Let’s make the future bright!

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AFTERMARKET

Rewarding

INNOVATION

The countdown has begun. Entries for Automechanika Johannesburg’s Innovation Awards 2017 will close on Wednesday, July 26. Time is running out to get your pioneering products showcased at Africa’s premier automotive aftermarket event

roduct innovation is what helps to drive any Automechanika trade fair – and winning products receive winning treatment, highlighted and promoted in ways that set them apart from thousands of others on display. The intention is for Automechanika Johannesburg – which will be held from September 27 to 30 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre at Nasrec – to honour winning products in this year’s Innovation Awards competition by showcasing them in a special display at the event. Automobil, the official journal of South Africa’s Retail Motor Industry Organisation, has once again been tasked by the organisers to drive the Innovation Awards concept. The magazine’s aim is to find the best aftermarket products in South Africa from a selection of categories and utilise

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Automechanika Johannesburg as the platform to honour the pioneering prowess of each winning item. The entries will be judged by an independent jury of automotive experts who, in defined categories, will score products considered ground breaking from a variety of perspectives. The jury will look to uncover items that hold the promise of performing beyond expectation, that are innovative and promote efficiency, are perceived to represent good value for money, are of excellent quality and bring fresh perspectives to the OE or aftermarket segments in which they compete. Functionality, practicality, styling, benefits to users, environmental friendliness and other perceived pioneering qualities are among the specifics that jury members will be searching for.

The experts will come from the ranks of local aftermarket and automotive focused organisations, including the RMI, NAACAM, NAAMSA and the automotive media. For the 2017 competition, the jury will evaluate entries across a variety of automotive categories: Parts; Accessories; Automotive Systems; Diagnostics; Tuning; Repair and Maintenance; OE Products & Services; IT and Management; and Service Station & Car Wash. If you manufacture, distribute or supply cutting edge products in any of these categories, consider entering the Awards – the accolades are significant. HOW TO ENTER: Prospective entrants are invited to submit by noon on Wednesday, July 26, photographs and a detailed description of any automotive aftermarket or OE product they have developed, manufactured, imported or distributed

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in South Africa, which they deem worthy of entry into Automechanika Johannesburg’s Innovation Awards 2017. Based on the photographs and descriptions – which must include information relating to the technical characteristics and aftermarket relevance of each product – jury members will individually rank each item. From the returned scores, products determined on the basis of highest marks achieved on a collective basis will be deemed to be finalists. Representatives of the companies whose products have been selected will be asked to submit by Wednesday, August 30, two examples of the items for physical scrutiny by jury members. Following that evaluation, the winners again will be determined on the basis of highest marks scored on a collective basis.

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The organisers of Automechanika Johannesburg have arranged for exhibits of the winning products – along with those selected as runners up – to be highlighted in a separate display at the show under an Innovation Awards banner. Presentations will be made during the course of the exhibition to winners at an official prize-giving ceremony. If would like to enter Automobil’s Innovation Awards, submit by e-mail your product motivations, along with pictures of the items at least 1Mb in size, to wynter@thefuture.co.za. Please mark the subject line Innovation Award Entry. The description of each product must include its country of origin, when it

was introduced to the South African market, the category of the aftermarket at which it is aimed – Parts; Accessories; Automotive Systems; Diagnostics; Tuning; Repair and Maintenance; OE Products & Services; IT and Management; Service Station & Car Wash – as well as the following: • Perceived innovative quality; • The solution the product aims to provide; • Its functionality and user benefits; • Perceived economic efficiency; • Safety aspects it promotes; • Environmental aspects it promotes; • Its relevance to the aftermarket or OE; Don’t forget to include with your entry your name, e-mail address and telephone numbers, along with those of the company you represent.

The names of jury members and the organisations they represent will be made public once the panel has been finalised. If you have any queries or require more information regarding the initiative, please contact Automobil’s editor, Wynter Murdoch, at 011 803 2040 or via e-mail at wynter@thefuture.co.za.

ulian Pillay, newly appointed director of NAZA

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INSIDE LINE

Putting paid to the

IMPLOSION THEORY While General Motors’ decision to quit South Africa is a shame for the automotive industry, it is not the death sentence that some have suggested. In fact, it could have positive consequences. David Furlonger reports

ne down, six to go. Following General Motors’ (GM) decision to disinvest from South Africa, it’s only a matter of time before the next manufacturer follows. Then the next … The long-anticipated implosion of South Africa’s motor industry is finally about to happen! At least, that’s what the sceptics say… But hang on a moment – there’s a major flaw in that argument. We’re not down to six, we’re still at seven. And it might soon be eight. Surely that’s not how industries implode? The loss of GM is undoubtedly a shame for the industry but it’s not quite the death sentence some have suggested. Dave Coffey, president of the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM), even thinks it could make the industry stronger; that having a stronger, more focused, albeit smaller, motor company could actually be a good thing. He may be right. With no disrespect intended to successive GMSA managements, the local subsidiary of what used to be the world’s biggest motor company has seemed unsure of its role in recent years. With so many agonies of its own, including bankruptcy, it’s no surprise that the US-based parent has appeared to lack focus in other markets. It’s not as if it didn’t try to make a success of GMSA and its Struandale assembly

46 JULY 2017

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New era for Eastern Cape plant. The Port Elizabeth operation was one of only two around the world chosen to build the distinctive Hummer sports utility vehicle. But instead of six years of assembly – expected to net R18-billion worth of export earnings – the exercise lasted only three before GM stopped the entire Hummer venture.

AUTO INDUSTRY Vilakazi pointed out that the news that Isuzu was replacing General Motors as one of the original equipment manufacturers based in the Eastern Cape had tended to overshadow another positive development for South Africa’s motor industry – the introduction of new models for local and export markets by both Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz South Africa (MBSA).

In its place the company invested in three new products for the local market – all of which turned out to be small volume entities. The Chevrolet Spark entrylevel car was touted as the next export product – but its foreign markets all but dried up even before production began. The little Utility bakkie was popular locally but had almost no export potential, most markets, particularly in Africa, showing a preference for big pick-ups. Which left the Isuzu KB, a vehicle that precisely fitted the bill, but its monthly exports numbered in the hundreds, not the many thousands achieved by other companies.

Dr Ayanda Vilakazi

suzu’s decision to buy GM’s assembly plant and invest in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro was part of a trend in which companies from the East were increasing their presence in Africa, according to Dr Ayanda Vilakazi, Head of Marketing and Communications at the Coega Development Corporation (CDC).

Consequently, GMSA has been operating uneconomically for some years. In 2016, Struandale produced fewer than 34 000 vehicles. That meant combined production of three models was onethird or less of what rivals were doing with a single model.

In a statement, he said two of the biggest investors in value terms in Africa during 2016 were China at R531-billion and Japan at R45,6-billion, while investment by companies from the United States dropped by 5,2% over the same period.

Such a situation couldn’t carry on indefinitely – particularly when GM in the US was reassessing its whole global business model.

“In Nelson Mandela Bay we see a similar pattern – the biggest investor in the South African motor industry for over 40 years is Chinese company BAIC, which is building a new R11billion plant opposite another Chinese auto company FAW, which invested R1,1-billion.

Under CEO Mary Barra, the company these days is driven by return on investment. That means high-volume markets where GM production and sales are measured in millions. So it’s goodbye to South Africa, Australia and, through the sale of Opel, to Europe as well. The way things are going the company may eventually confine its activities to North America and China only. India is still of interest, albeit through a reduced

“Now we have Isuzu committing fully to South Africa and Nelson Mandela Bay rather than having to rely on a second party to represent the brand. We wait with bated breath to see what the re-energized Japanese company will do in South Africa and on the rest of the continent.”

He said Volkswagen had invested R4,5-billion to increase capacity of its plant from 120 000 vehicles a year to 180 000 as part of its preparation for the next generation of Polo, which was scheduled for launch in coming months. “We see the benefits of this investment being reflected in the Nelson Mandela Bay Logistics Park, which is managed by the CDC. Component suppliers for the new model have geared up and have also been investing in their plants to meet the demand,” he says. Another new range from the Eastern Cape comprises Mercedes-Benz AMG derivatives, which are scheduled to begin rolling off the company’s production line in East London. MBSA has invested R200-million in new equipment to produce the models. “As a province we can hold our heads up as we are home to three awardwinning motor companies,” says Vilakazi. “Such accomplishments do not happen in isolation. They are a tribute to the people who build the cars and those who produce the components that go into them, as well all those who provide other support services such as logistics. “We are confident that the Eastern Cape motor sector will continue to power forward, and make a lasting contribution to the continent’s motor industry as a whole,” he concludes.

Turn to P48

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JULY 2017

TECH TALK INSIDE LINE presence, but GM has given up on the idea of Africa becoming a significant market in the foreseeable future. After more than 90 years of GM vehicles being built here, you can’t say the company hasn’t tried to make a success of its venture – so what other reasons point to its failure? One of the reasons it hasn’t done better recently is that Isuzu has never been truly wedded to the idea of another company spearheading its drive into the continent. Ford and Toyota have invested heavily in turning their South African subsidiaries into global bakkie production centres. While Africa has always been the longterm export target, there have been other markets, too; just as well, when South Africa’s new-vehicle exports have fallen by nearly 75% in four years as African markets have collapsed in response to

tumbling oil and commodities prices. GM has long seen the KB bakkie as the logical export weapon but officials have privately expressed frustration at the Isuzu Group’s less than wholehearted support. Now Isuzu has bought out GM both here and in Kenya, and therefore controls its own destiny. Spokesmen for the brand are already talking of the nameplate becoming an African powerhouse since, besides bakkies, they also want to export heavier commercial trucks and buses across the continent. That’s why Coffey is not inconsolable at GMSA’s departure. While there will be immediate pain – including the loss of several hundred Struandale jobs and reduced business for suppliers – he hopes these will be outweighed by the long-term benefits

of a focused, pan-African product strategy. As for the lost jobs, trade and industry minister Rob Davies hopes many of those affected will find new employment up the road at Coega if and when Chinese company BAIC becomes the eighth mass producer of locally built vehicles. There must still be doubts about the intended pace of development but the Chinese and the South African governments have invested so much talk and energy into the project that it’s hard to believe it won’t go ahead in some form.

David Furlonger is the industrial editor of Business Day and Financial Mail

CHRIS AUTO ELECTRICAL

48 JULY 2017

212 Soutter Street, Pretoria West Tel : (012) 327 5404/6504 Fax : (012) 327 6211 Email www.automobil.co.za : info@caelex.co.za www.caelex.co.za

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Contact: Natalie Nelson Operations Manager: Gauteng Automotive Learning Centre Tel: (+27) 12 564 5076 JULY 2017 FEBRUARY 2017- 49 45 Email: NNelson@aidc.co.za

TECH TALK

The silent revolution Jakes Venter examines some of the reasons why todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vehicles are getting quieter

ome time ago I was given the chance to drive a four-cylinder 1931 Ford Model A. I could get along with the non-synchromesh gearbox but I was bothered by the heavy indirect steering and the level of noise and vibration. During idling and while driving slowly various parts of the body rattled noisily, but as soon as I opened the throttle most of the vibration died away so that cruising at 80km/h was quite pleasant. I found this sudden change in behaviour fascinating. It confirmed the theoretical calculation that the unbalanced inertial forces on the conrods and crankshaft are damped by the pressure arising from the combustion process; these forces act in opposite directions and at small throttle openings the combustion pressure is low. When you contrast this experience with the smooth near-silence that you can expect in a modern luxury car you begin to appreciate the progress that the motor industry has made in making cars as quiet as possible. While driving a modern car itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difficult to appreciate that both the engine and the road surface are major sources of vibration that somehow have to be modulated or damped. NVH control (noise, vibration, harshness) essentially comes down to either reducing the vibration at the source or damping its effects by curtailing the amount that gets transmitted. Noise is an unwanted or irritating sound whose vibration is of a high enough frequency to become audible, while harshness is vibration of a lower frequency that we cannot hear.

50 - JULY 2017

The sounds a sports car makes, and the lack of sound inside a luxury model, are important selling points for many motorists. Sound level meters can tell you how loud a sound is by calculating its intensity â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but not its irritation level.

forth about their rest position. This is why sound cannot be transmitted in a vacuum. The loudness of these disturbances is related to the sound pressure level, as measured in decibels (dB).

Different people respond in different ways to different sounds. For example, I love the duf-duf sound of a single cylinder diesel power generator or even the sound of dogs barking, but many people find these irritating.

The sound frequency (the number of wave peaks that pass any point in a second) is measured in Hertz (Hz) and determines the pitch. What we experience as "higher pitched" or "lower pitched" sounds are pressure vibrations having a higher or lower frequency. Young people can hear sounds at frequencies from about 20 to 20 000 Hz, but this upper limit degrades with age. At the lower level people can hear sounds that move the eardrum by as little as an incredible 0,00000001 mm but at the upper level the pressure fluctuation is a million

SOUND THEORY Sound reaches us from the source as an energy wave that results in a pressure fluctuation in the air, giving rise to a vibration of our eardrums. The particles that make up the intervening gas, liquid or solid substance do not travel very far, but vibrate back and

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times greater so that the eardrum moves back and forth by 0,01 mm. The speed at which sound travels depends on the transmitting medium. In the case of gas this changes noticeably with temperature and pressure. At zero degrees Celsius and mean sea level pressure (101,3 kPa) sound travels at 1 235 km/h but at 627 degrees Celsius it has speeded up to 2 124 km/h. Sound also speeds up when it travels through material that is less compressible than a gas. The speed of sound in fresh water is 5 330 km/h but in steel it travels at 21 960 km/h.

of exhaust valves while they’re under pressure. The level of noise is reduced considerably when a catalytic converter is fitted, and even more so when the exhaust manifold houses a turbo.

Any sound that we hear comes to us either directly from the source or indirectly from sympathetic vibrations produced by a nearby substance. Sometimes we hear a combination of sounds from various directions. In a car direct sound is produced by various parts of the engine, the gearbox and final drive, the flow of air around the car, or the rubbing of the tyres on the road surface. Indirect sound usually comes from some panel or bracket that is excited by engine or road vibration.

Tyre rumble is one of the major causes of noise within a vehicle’s cabin, most of it due to tread design, though internal construction of the casing and materials used also play a role. Treads are noisy because they distort as the tyre bites into the road, but manufacturers are spending a great deal of research and money in efforts to make them quieter.

SOURCES OF NOISE Engine noise is reduced by employing hydraulic tappets that don’t need adjustment and using a reinforced belt drive for the camshaft. Any noise that remains is then smothered under an insulated bonnet and a padded plastic cover. These measures are usually effective, and positive results are manifest in even cheaper cars. Exhaust noise is not caused by the combustion of fuel but by the opening

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Modern silencer designs are able to just about eliminate sound but latest noise control techniques are able to customise a car’s exhaust note to produce a tone and decibel level that the manufacturer thinks buyers will prefer.

Gear noise is no longer much of a problem. Some cars still make a lowpitched whining sound when pulling away in first or reverse due to the use of straight-cut cogs. In contrast, most modern gearbox and rear axle designs employ helical gears that mesh very quietly, resulting in very little drivetrain noise. SOURCES OF VIBRATION In a vehicle the largest source of vibration is obviously the engine. The amplitude can be considerably reduced by employing a balancer shaft to reduce imbalance that results from choosing four cylinders or less. Alternatively, six or more

cylinders can be specified, making the engine very smooth. Vibration can also be damped by mounting the engine/gearbox unit on sophisticated mountings that employ rubber or even a liquid filling to give the desired damping characteristics. SOURCES OF HARSHNESS The various forces acting on a crankshaft cause it to vibrate inaudibly along its length like a wet dog shaking itself. This so-called torsional vibration is at its worst in a long crankshaft at low engine speeds and large throttle openings. Many engines are fitted with a damper in combination with the bottom pulley to curb vibration. Diesel-fuelled engines are far more prone to torsional vibration than petrol-fuelled equivalents, with the result that many modern oil-burners – and some petrol engines – are fitted with dual-mass flywheels. These units consist of two flywheels mounted together in such a way that they are isolated from each other by a series of shock absorbing springs. The springs reduce the amplitude of the vibrations passed on from the crank to the gearbox and rest of the drivetrain. Unfortunately, when they fail the whole unit has to be replaced. MEASURING SOUND Sound is usually measured by using a hand-held sound level meter. This is

JULY 2017 -

TECH TALK essentially a microphone that contains a diaphragm that is sensitive to the pressure fluctuations caused by sound waves. I find it very interesting that both the meter and our ears employ a diaphragm to pick up the sound. The instrument contains a circuit that is able to change the basic pressure readings from pascal (Pa) to decibels (dB), which are the units used for measuring sound pressure levels. The definition of a decibel is too esoteric for nonmathematicians but it is, in effect, the ratio between the average sound pressure being experienced by the instrument and a reference sound pressure. The scale is chosen so that everyday sounds fall into the zero to 160 dB range. The human voice produces sound in the range from 30 to 70 dB. The scale is based on the logarithms to the base 10 of the values measured instead of the numbers themselves. This closely

approximates the way the human ear experiences sound, but it complicates adding sound readings from different sources. The following guidelines can be given for interpreting sound level readings from the same source: • A one dB change in the level is barely perceptible. • A three dB change is clearly perceptible. • A 10 dB increase appears to be a doubling of the loudness. Sound level meters can usually be adjusted for sensitivity levels labelled A, B and C. Without this adjustment the readings may be distorted to some extent at the upper and lower sound ranges. The A-range is usually used for outdoor and vehicle interior measurements. MEASURING SOUND IN PRACTICE Various journalists have tried to measure car interior and exterior sound levels but

it’s not easy to get reliable readings. In an enclosed space the sound is reflected from all the surfaces in a manner that depends on the shape as well as the materials employed, so that two car interiors that give the same readings on the meter may differ in the actual sound level reaching human ears. Readings from outside the car are affected by the actual sound power level, the direction of the source with respect to the instrument, the distance between the source and the instrument and the combined effect of scattering and absorption due to the surroundings.

Jake Venter has worked as a mechanic, as an engineer in an engine assembly plant and as a lecturer, but now prefers journalism.

“Abandoned Solutions offers a LEGAL, COST FREE solution TO ALL DEALERS/WORKSHOPS/PANELSHOPS” WHAT WE DO?

Abandoned Solutions (Pty) Ltd offers various Motor Vehicle Dealerships and Workshops the opportunity to sell their claims with regards to outstanding invoices and monies where the dealership has rendered services and invoiced for work already, quoted, finished or assessed, in their workshops and where the owner of the vehicle has simply: • Failed to pay, • Is uncontactable & uncooperative or willing to settle • Abandoned their respective Vehicles • Passing onerous risk on to the dealership forcing them to store various unwanted vehicles • Occupying valuable rented workshop space by leaving their unwanted vehicles on the Dealerships Premises. Abandoned Solutions simply buys the outstanding claim by negotiating an acceptable price from the dealership and removes the vehicle with immediate effect, whilst taking ownership of the outstanding claim or invoice.

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Both Parties, simply negotiate the price per claim that the dealership is willing to sell at (Willing buyer willing seller principal) Contract per claim is finalized and the monies are paid immediately (effecting the sale) The vehicles are collected immediately or by way of arrangement (Removed as promised) Abandoned Solutions is now rightfully the owner of the claim or outstanding invoice (Dealership is free of the liability and no longer the rightful Creditor of that particular claim rather that ownership has passed to Abandoned Solutions Pty ltd) Abandoned Solutions will trace the client at its own risk and have the claim settled in full (this is how we make money and bring value to the Dealership)

52 JULY 2017

SOLUTION OFFERED •

We at Abandoned Solutions offer a quick, cost free solution to these problems.

We will: • A court order will be obtained within 4 – 6 weeks We will: • As an additional service, Abandoned Solutions can offer FREE temporary storage for abandoned vehicle should this be required during the clearing / salvage process.

Abandoned Solutions….…. we simply take care of your hassles……. And turn them into solutions……… Contact Robert Henderson on 011 450 0550 or 073 016 8424 Fax: E Mail: Address:

086 662 1148 rob@abandonedsolutions.co.za 72 Concorde Road East, Bedfordview, A3 (Head Office) www.automobil.co.za

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Consistency in the application of disciplinary codes in the workplace is an essential part of dealing with misconduct, writes Douw Breed, a director at Barnard Incorporated Attorneys, Centurion

54 JULY 2017

aking disciplinary action against employees in the workplace is essential. Having implemented a disciplinary code is similarly important, as it provides the employer with the necessary guidance in dealing with misconduct. It further guides the employer regarding action to be taken in relation to misconduct, and the concomitant sanction. Schedule 8 of the Code of Good Practice: Dismissal, with specific reference to Section 3 which provides for disciplinary measures short of

dismissal, stipulates that the rules of employers should â&#x20AC;&#x153;create certainty and consistency in the application of discipline.â&#x20AC;? In the same section, Dismissals for Misconduct, subsection (6), it is stated that the employer should apply the penalty of dismissal consistently. This implies that if disciplinary action has been taken against employees in the past, similar penalties should be applied to current and future employees for similar types of misconduct.

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LABOUR It is crucial that the rules in the workplace are clear and that all employees understand them. Written rules help considerably in circumstances where employees contravene established rules, though it is not necessary for all rules to be in written format, as some are “…so well established and known that it is not necessary to communicate them,” according to the Code of Good Practice. The employer should, however, prove that the employee was aware of the rule, or could have reasonably been aware of it. The Code of Good Practice, item 7, deals with guidelines in cases of dismissal for misconduct. To determine whether a dismissal for misconduct would be unfair, the following needs to be considered: “(a) whether or not the employee contravened a rule or standard regulating conduct in, or of relevance to, the workplace; (b) if a rule or standard was contravened, whether or not: (i) the rule was valid or reasonable rule or standard; (ii) the employee was aware, or could reasonably be expected to have been aware, of the rule or standard; (iii) the rule or standard has been consistently applied by the employer; (iv) dismissal was an appropriate sanction for the contravention of the rule or standard.” There are two types of inconsistency, namely historical inconsistency and contemporaneous inconsistency, as determined by the courts (Southern Sun Hotels Interests (Pty) Ltd v Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration): • Historical Inconsistency – “… requires that an employer apply the penalty of dismissal consistently with the way in which the penalty has been applied to other employees in the past; and

• Contemporaneous Inconsistency – “…requires that the penalty be applied consistently as between two or more employees who commit the same misconduct. Consistency should without a doubt be one of the most important practices within the workplace. Consistency does not only address procedural aspects of disciplinary action, but also to the substantive fairness of the contravention. While each case should be dealt with on its own merits, consistency cannot be compromised. More specifically, in circumstances where an employee contravenes a rule in the workplace and is guilty of misconduct, the employee should be disciplined in accordance with the particular guidelines of the disciplinary code. If another employee – or any future employee – is guilty of the same form of misconduct, the specific employee cannot be punished more harshly than the previous employee. Naturally, there is an exception to every rule. However, if the chairperson finds the employee guilty of the charge(s) levelled against him or her and, after considering all relevant evidence presented, including mitigating and aggravating circumstances, arrives at a different outcome and/or sanction to previous matters relating to exactly the same form of misconduct, the chairperson should ensure that proper reasons are given for the finding to justify a deviation from the norm.

However, it is not unusual that there are employees in the workplace who work hard, are loyal and excellent in what they do, but who may occasionally make themselves guilty of misconduct. Business principles would dictate that employers might be eager to act against employees who are typically classified as “troublemakers,” but employers should always consider those circumstances in order not to attempt to avoid the complications that inconsistency will bring about. Cautionary action should be taken at all times – the employer should weigh all the risks involved in circumstances where the disciplinary action may be construed as inconsistent. Once the employer has associated himself or herself with the possible risk, the employer should take appropriate action. Of course, it is appreciated that dealing with employees and all aspects pursuant to an employment relationship, it is preeminent that the law is followed and the employer remains in a capable position to make an informed decision.

Should inconsistency not be properly justifiable, and a matter is referred to the specific forum, the employer faces the risk of an unsuccessful award. Not only can the employer expect to pay compensation for the manner in which the matter was handled but also reinstate the employee with full back pay, as the dismissal – in the event that a dismissal took place – will be considered unfair.

Douw Breed (BCom (NWU) LLB (NWU)) is a director at Barnard Incorporated Attorneys , Centurion www.automobil.co.za

JULY 2017

LEGAL

Why risk management and compliance programmes are essential to ensure an efficient and effective risk-based approach to customer due diligence. Natasha Truyens, an associate at Barnard Incorporated Attorneys in Centurion, reports

he principal objective of South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 38 of 2001 (FICA), is to help to identify the proceeds of unlawful activities, namely to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorist related activities.

Though the amendment was passed by Parliament, it was referred back following concerns about the constitutionality of certain provisions. Since then the Bill has been amended and has resubmitted to the president for his signature.

Since implementation, the Act has been supplemented by the Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment Bill of 2015, which has been designed to boost South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to fight financial crimes by proposing measures to address threats posed by money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

According to an article published in March by City Press, during the financial year 2015/2016, nearly 2 500 transactions valued at R58,94-billion constituted an illicit outflow of money from South Africa.

In addition, the improvements seek to create prospects for institutions to explore more inventive ways of offering financial services to a broader range of clients, and to bring previously excluded sectors of society into the formal economy.

Amendments to the current FICA seek to enable accountable institutions to

Further, the Bill aims to improve due diligence requirements, such as the

56 JULY 2017

satisfy client due diligence processes. The aim is to help institutions to reinforce their internal compliance regimes and focus resources more effectively to reduce the risk of their products and services being abused for illicit purposes.

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determination of the customer’s identity, the duty to keep records, identifying the beneficial owner, identifying the source of funds from the client and understanding the purpose and the intended nature of the business relationship. The Bill also provides for the application of a risk-based approach to customer due diligence, which entails that an accountable institution should identify, assess and understand its AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and CFT (Combating of Terrorist Financing) risks. The Bill places a responsibility on institutions to develop, document, maintain and implement AML and CFT risk management and compliance programmes. The responsibility for complying with FICA and the risk management and compliance programmes lies with the institution’s board of directors and senior management. The concept of “money laundering and terrorism financing risks” refers to the possibility that an accountable institution’s products or services may be abused by its clients to carry out money laundering or terrorism financing activities.

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These risks originate from a combination of factors, such as the type of clients, countries, products or delivery channels involved in a given scenario. An accountable institution should apply its knowledge and understanding of its money laundering and terrorism financing risks by developing control measures to prevent or mitigate the risks identified. Client due diligence refers to the information that an accountable institution has about its customers and its understanding of the businesses that its customers are conducting. A properly implemented client due diligence programme enables an institution to improve management of

its relationships with its customers and to better identify possible attempts by clients to abuse its products and services for illegal purposes. Accountable institutions also have an obligation to keep transaction records (Section 22A of the Bill). This ensures that adequate information will be available to help investigators pursue lines of inquiry. From the above it is clear that risk analysis is an essential function of accountable institutions. A risk management and compliance programme is essential to ensure an efficient and effective risk-based approach to customer due diligence.

RMI4law members enjoy the benefit of legal advice from an attorney 24 hours a day. If you would like to join RMI4law, contact 0861 668 677.

JULY 2017

RMI UPDATE

Managing HIV/AIDS in your workplace Wellness management is a key aspect of an HIV/AIDS management strategy as it highlights the need and importance to keep a person healthy and productive

ne key part of an HIV/AIDS management strategy is a wellness management programme – which raises an important question: “What can be done to keep employees as healthy as possible and therefore as productive as possible, for as long as possible?”

• Wellness management of an HIV positive employee and family; • Support of employees as caregivers to an HIV positive family member or friend; • STI management; • Occupational health issues.

Wellness management is a useful concept to use in relation to HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infection (STIs), as it clearly highlights the need and importance of keeping a person with HIV/AIDS healthy, and therefore more productive. It also highlights the need to keep a person with an STI healthy to prevent the spread of HIV.

The following options could be considered in terms of managing HIV positive employees from a wellness perspective: • Provide nutritional and psychological support together with lifestyle modification programmes – smoking cessation or exercise programmes; • Develop either in-house, or off-site, professional or telephonic counselling services, or a combination of these for dealing with the emotional and psychological issues relating to the

The wellness part of a HIV/AIDS prevention strategy should look at the following target areas:

HIV positive employee or his or her family; • Provide information on governmentaccredited anti-retroviral sites where employees are able to access antiretroviral treatment – for information please visit Redpeg’s Resources web page at http://www. redpeg.co.za • Provide hospice or terminal palliative (pain and suffering relief) support structures for employees in the final stages of AIDS.

Contact Redpeg for accredited HIV/AIDS workplace training, consulting and research. tim@redpeg.co.za | 0861 REDPEG or (011) 794 5173 | www.redpeg.co.za)

FAQs

The RMI’s experts answer your questions… Q. Why should I belong to the RMI and SAMBRA? A. The RMI is an employer’s organisation and is the umbrella body under which SAMBRA falls. SAMBRA stands for the South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association and it is the RMI’s constituent association which represents the industry’s Motor Body Repair sector. To join SAMBRA, membership of the RMI is required, which enables you to request a copy of SAMBRA’s grading criteria so that you can conduct a pre-grading check of your facility to establish whether or not it meets the association’s requirements.

58 JULY 2017

Once you have informed SAMBRA that your facility is ready to be graded, a representative will be sent to your premises to assess your operation. Grading is conducted on an annual basis and is a prerequisite to remaining an accredited member of SAMBRA. Q. What is it that is required if I want to be a SAMBRA member and how do I begin the process of improving my operation to meet the association’s standards? A. The best way to receive guidance relating to all aspects of owning a body shop is to join the RMI, then SAMBRA as an awaiting grading member. That way, you will have access to the

SAMBRA regional manager in your area, whose responsibility it is to assist you regarding a host of MBR related matters. Once we know where in South Africa it is that your company is located, SAMBRA will arrange for a RMI Client Liaison Officer to pay you a visit to explain the benefits of belonging to the RMI and SAMBRA. SAMBRA members are encouraged to build their business on a solid foundation -- to understand and subscribe to good business practices, attain SAMBRA grading status and be compliant in terms of all national and provincial legislation.

www.automobil.co.za

JULY 2017

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT If you want your advertising to yield dividends, make sure you follow these seven rules, says business coach Pieter Scholtz

dvertising is a significant investment for any company. If approached correctly, it can yield great results yet similarly, if it fails, it can be an expensive mistake. I’m sure you’ve heard the statement: “50% of advertising is effective, we just don’t know which 50%.” In this column, I’ve highlighted seven areas of advertising that will help give insight into getting it right. To ensure best results, consider these pointers carefully before embarking on any new campaign. Strategy The first step when considering an advertising campaign is to have a clear strategy. This can be defined as a plan that needs to be carefully thought through before any action is taken. Most simply put, you need to decide who you want to influence, what do you want them to do and how are you going to encourage them to take action. It is important to spend time carefully considering each of those points. Sell one thing at a time Keep your ads as simple as possible. If something looks too complex, people will shy away from it or get overwhelmed and confused by the detail. Though you may have many products and services to sell, it is best to cover one key product or aspect of your service in an ad and then to use your personal selling skills to educate the customer about your other products and services.

Local is lekker People are generally loyal when it comes to their local communities – just think of sports teams, schools and community organisations. Where appropriate, try to tap into these in your advertising with communication that is relevant to the community. Tell a good story People like a good story and this translates into advertising, too. There are very few people who are interested in straight facts, figures and statistics. If you think about it, when you overtly try to sell to people, it often pushes them away. Many people don’t like to be sold to, but they do like to buy things. The vision you create through your advertising should show the potential customer that the product or service solves a problem, adds value or fills a need that they may have. Offer great value Why should people buy from you and not your competitor if there is nothing to differentiate you from them? To be competitive, you need to offer value to the customer – and this doesn’t necessarily need to cost money. In fact, you may already be offering services that your competitors don’t and missing out on the opportunity to use this to your advantage. Some examples include expert

advice from your sales team, package deals or even special deals with different, but related businesses whose products and services compliment yours. Under promise and over deliver Placing an ad should be with the intention of making sales, not just for the sake of placing the ad. The first part of the challenge is to get customers into the business -- then you need to ensure that you not only deliver on the promise, but that you surprise and delight them. The impact of this on the customer will have them talking about your product or service to their family and friends, resulting in good referrals. Test and measure Don’t fall into the trap of assuming that your advertising is automatically guaranteed to have the desired results. You need to ensure that your strategy is sound, the mediums are carefully selected and that your idea is strong. Test your ads by running different examples until you find the one that works. If your ads are not working, don’t continue running them hoping for a different result. Similarly if they are working, rerun them.

Pieter Scholtz is the Co-Master Franchisor in Southern Africa for ActionCOACH, the fastest growing and largest business coaching company globally. Pieter and his partner Harry Welby-Cooke developed ActionCOACH across Southern Africa, which now boasts over 40 franchisees. He is also a certified, leading business and executive coach. He has successfully assisted countless business owners to significantly grow their profits and develop their entrepreneurial skills. www.actioncoach.co.za / 012 665 1015

60 JULY 2017

www.automobil.co.za

Head Office:

www.fishgate.co.za_CT_7570

Tel: (011) 466 6619 Fax: (011) 466 1034 Address: 40 Monte Carlo Crescent, Kyalami Business Park Durban: Tel: (031) 569 4141 Fax: (031) 569 2506 Address: Unit 7 Constantia Park, Chris Hani Road, Redhill, 1415 Cape Town: Tel: (021) 552 5569 Fax: (021) 552 5584 Address: Unit 2, 14 Esso Road, Montague Gardens, Cape Town Web Site: www.eurospares.co.za E mail: accounts@eurospares.co.za

Ctrack Fleet Tracking and Recovery offers everything you need to run a more productive fleet and save up to 20% on fuel and maintenance costs. 0860 333 444 • sales@ctrack.co.za • www.ctrack.co.za

www.automobil.co.za

JULY 2017

Superior Vehicle Tracking | Stolen Vehicle Response | Insurance Telematics | Fleet Management Solutions

MEMBERUPDATE

The RMI welcomes these new businesses into membership

A Alum Box Canopies Benoni Angel Bolton Motors Thohoyandou Auto Repair Centre Pinetown B Bosch Chebelopele Alrode Alberton C C3 Bodyline Johannesburg Carnificent lberton Carstage Motors Pretoria Cheap Mechanics Carolina Class Moniwa Group Pretoria D Dals Libertas Goodwood Despatch Body Worx Despatch Deutsche Auto Centre Sandton E

MR Autowrench Services Musina Auto Service Centre O Ofentse Diff & Gearboxes P Pad Panelbeaters Paramount Trailers Pereshepy Panel Beaters & Spray Painters Pretoria R Robertos Autobody S Shenge Auto Repairs South Coast Auto Electrical Sparkling Auto Centre – Menlyn Sparkling Auto Centre – Mafikeng Springbok Nissan

Witbank Musina

Empire Motor Holdings Port Shepstone H Honda Northcliff Randburg J Jabela Construction Bundu Village K Kosh Marine Klerksdorp Kynos Special Vehicles Pretoria L Lae Motor Repairs Benoni M Maduna Motor Repairs Polokwane Mahindra Pretoria North Pretoria Maxtrac Boksburg Mega Motors and Electrical Phalaborwa Mnisi Auto Truck Industrial Pretoria

SupaQuick – Isando Super Group Approved Menlyn Super Renewal Supercare Autobody Supertech Newcastle Supreme Autobody Supreme Bodyworks T T & M Izimoto Auto Tiger Wheel & Tyre Ermelo Tshanduko Auto Body and Accessories TVR Panelbeaters U Upper Highway Auto Repairs V Volt Pro SA

Kempton Park Pretoria Polokwane Pretoria Newcastle Groblersdal Trichardt

BENEFITS OF BELONGING

With a membership of 7 500, the RMI provides a very effective collective voice that gives members considerable clout in negotiating better trading conditions. As the lead voice in the motor industry, the RMI is a member-driven organisation that constantly seeks solutions to concerns raised by members in the day-to-day running of their businesses.

64 JULY 2017

Ga-Rankuwa Cape Town Midvaal

Johannesburg Johannesburg Marburg Pretoria Mafikeng Springbok

Johannesburg Ermelo Carolina Tzaneen Pinetown Pretoria

ADVERTISERS AUTOMOBIL – JULY 2017 EDITION CLIENTS

CONTACT

WEBSITE

Aer O Cure

011 444 6454

www.aerocure.co.za

OBC

Alert Engine Parts

011 870 0300

www.alertengineparts.com

Audi Parts

0860434838

www.audi.co.za

28 & 29

Autocosmos Biz (Electrolog)

012 327 6210

www.autocosmos.co.za

Automobil Association Technical College

011 799 1068

www.aa.co.za

Ctrack

012 450 2222

www.ctrack.co.za

Eurospares

011 466 6619

www.eurospares.co.za

7 & 61

Fram Filters

031 910 3111

www.fram.co.za

Highveld Garage Equipment

012 3300860

www.hge.co.za

Integrated Marketing

012 664 3556

www.integratedmarketing.co.za

Mahle Aftermarket

+4911 501-13204

www.mahle.com

Moto Health Care

0861 000 300

www.motohealthcare.co.za

10 & 11

Motor Industry Staff Association

011 476 3920

www.misa.org.za

Robert Bosch

011 651 9600

www.bosch.co.za

19 & 37

Silver Falcon Trading

083 628 2288

www.hurricaneauto.co.za

62 & 63

Snap On Africa

0861762 766

www.snapon.co.za

IFC

Truck X

011 803 2040

www.truckx.co.za

Trysome Auto Electrical

011 823 5650

www.trysome.co.za

Volkswagen Parts

0860434737

www.vw.co.za

44 & 45

Willard Batteries

011 706 7184

www.willard.co.za

ZF Services South Africa

011 457 0000

www.zf.com/za

www.automobil.co.za

PAGE

Truck 2017

Conference & Expo

Save the date

Con

July 12 & 13

Africa’s Premier Trucking & Logistics Conference and Expo

Truck Expo

2017

Co – Located with

Fleet Expo

2017

IMH Expo

2017

Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit TRUCKX 2017 HALL OF FAME

The search is on for South Africa’s safest truck drivers:

For details log on to www.masterdrive.co.za / www.futuretrucking.co.za / www.truckx.co.za www.automobil.co.za

www.truckx.co.za JULY 2017 65

TAIL PIECE

Where to, now? As the motoring world’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving solutions begin to take hold, car makers are discovering that there are no easy choices in terms of direction. TU-Automotive’s Eric Volkman reports

ssisted and automated driving categories, even in these relatively early days of development, are vast and broad. Parking assist is an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technology, as is adaptive cruise control, driver health monitoring, blind spot detection… and those are only a few of the many help-theoccupant features packed into contemporary vehicles. So it’s a challenge for any carmaker or solutions provider to determine which features the motoring public is going to want and need – and will happily pay good money to buy. Many involved in the ADAS and autonomous space have opinions on the matter and these can differ radically. Some believe that the demand for, and the popularity of, current solutions are far from universal. “We see a broad and differentiated offering of mobility in the future, in different business and usage models tailor-made in different countries and markets,” says BMW Group’s Dr Dirk Wisselmann. Exacerbating that challenge, it can be difficult to gauge what type of advanced driving solutions customers find appealing – those that promise safety, or those that supply comfort. “We clearly see a growing demand for more and more advanced driver assistance systems as people become aware of the life-saving potential they have,” says Daimler’s head of active safety, Christoph von Hugo. He adds: “At the same time, the attractiveness of more comfort clearly draws the customers’ attention.”

66 JULY 2017

Yet this ambiguity could mean opportunities for determined auto makers or solutions providers – Von Hugo says that Daimler has an eye on both safety and comfort features. He cites deep learning – a cutting-edge set of routines that allow a machine to adjust to and improve from its environment – as a hot trend that is being applied to the former. After all, a safer car, better able to adapt to changing situations, is more attractive to customers. It can theoretically command a higher price as well. As the industry drives towards full autonomy, humans will have less of a need to stay alert behind the wheel and Von Hugo sees this as a chance for the company to draw revenue. “Being stuck in traffic on your daily commute to work is just not enjoyable – even in the best car,” he says. “If the driver is allowed to make better use of the time he or she is spending on the road, this is something we believe a significant amount of people will be willing to open their wallets for.” Porsche is a luxury manufacturer, so it’s not particularly surprising that the brand also sees potential in the comfort sphere – at least in the mid to long term. “As more intelligent assistance systems become available, drivers will have more time available for additional tasks while driving,” says a spokesman. “Using technology, we can add value for our customers by offering business and entertainment related services.” Along the way, manufacturers and solutions providers can reap rewards by effectively taking care of more basic needs on the safety spectrum. Today,

believes Porsche, “ADAS development is undergoing a shift from electronic co-pilots to automated pilots in specific circumstances. “Everyday situations like parking and traffic jams are the first areas where automated driving and parking functions can solve pain points for the driver.” The carmaker’s InnoDrive adaptive cruise control system has been designed to ease several of these pain points. In addition to typical ACC functionality, InnoDrive takes control of the braking and acceleration when the car approaches a curve of at least some sharpness. The system also has a traffic jam assist feature that keeps the vehicle in its lane and regulates the distance between it and other automobiles, among other functionalities. Other developers in the ADAS or autonomous drive sphere believe that there’s money to be made in a car’s closer integration with the lives of its drivers and occupants. From this perspective, Hyundai has emphasised the machine-human connection. At this year’s CES fair in Las Vegas – held earlier this year – the company said in a statement relating to its display: “The Smart House concept shown at CES seamlessly integrates the car into the daily lives of users, blurring the line between mobility and customer’s living and working spaces.” The statement added that the concept “sees customers living, without interruption, while on the move as the comfort, convenience and connectivity features of the car and the home are combined into one space.”

www.automobil.co.za

Coming to the South African Whether heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playing in his jazz band or IAMa manual in September writing for a new brake pad, Guido wants every audience to enjoy the 2017! same thing: a great performance. Tests This is Guido Orth-Gauch, Technical Author at TRW.

recorded by Guido show that our new Visit the ZF stand at friction coating cuts stopping distances Automechanika JHB on new pads by up to 7 metres. For a truly great performance, rely on True Originals.

Watch Guidoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story at: www.trwaftermarket.com/brakepads

TRUE ORIGINALS

www.trwaftermarket.com/brakepads ZF Services SA +27 11 457 0000 - @ marketing.grm@zf.com As part of ZF Aftermarket, every TRW part is built to meet the challenge, just like the

www.automobil.co.za dedicated people around the world who bring them to you. Backed by a global network of aftermarket experts, TRW products set the standards for safety and quality.

JULY 2017

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

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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 GraphicWerx • AOC_Ad5_AutoMobil_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)