MORE than 15,000 car aftermarket businesses across Europe will be forced to close by 2013, according to business analysis service Datamonitor.

MIKE Stringer has been appointed commercial director of Unipart Automotive.

It looks like a calorie counter or pedometer but the Auto Current Tester from Frost is actually the latest gadget for making electrical checks on cars in your workshop.

Aftermarket couldn't resist the unusualness of the latest news from welding and battery charging company GYS. The company's online website game Master of Welding has been awarded the 2010 Prix Coup de Coeur marketing trophy. The award was presented at the French e-marketing awards for the best innovations in the field of digital marketing.

THE TYRE Recovery Association (TRA) has issued a warning to garages and tyre dealers following the prosecution of nine people who were fined nearly £75,000 for the illegal dumping of tyres.

IMPROVED access to technical information needed for repairs is one way the European Commission hopes the new Block Exemption rules will increase competition in the independent aftermarket.

THE MASSIVE German aftermarket exhibition turns 21 this year and to celebrate, it has brought body repair and paintwork segments together in a brand new hall.

rong>Tuning firm Unichip Europe has unveiled a U-connect Unichip ECU for the Nissan 350Z. The plug-and-play device aims to boost power by 20 bhp and raise peak output from 264 to 284 bhp.

With an eye on engine management, Bosch is reminding garages about the good margins to be made on lambda sensor replacement.

AUTOMOTIVE business expert Neil Pattemore says the latest EU legislation will change the way garages access technical information. Here, he takes a look at the impact of Euro 5:

Triplewax Car Shampoo has been revised and improved with a new formula. The company claims the result is a richer cleansing agent that offers "outstanding results" against modern day pollutants.

A survey released recently showed that independent garages have an increasingly important role to play in servicing feet cars.

The Unique seen here, is the latest addition to the Italian-made MAK Wheels range, distributed in the UK by Yokohama HPT.

Parts firm XPart is launching a range of front and rear bumpers and bonnet bars for the classic Mini with what it claims is a more superior finish than ever.

rong>The 2010 cooling catalogue from Gates includes everything from hoses to cooling accessories and provides for passengers cars to light commercials.

Electronic tuning firm Superchips has released a so-called 'plug-and-go' remap for the popular 2.7 litre Land Rover Discovery TDV6.

STEERING and suspension firm TRW is lobbying the EU to reclassify shock absorbers as safety critical parts.

EURO Car Parts is offering special deals on old air con units and the chance of free F-gas training.

Dave Garratt, chief executive of the Garage Equipment Association (GEA), has spoken out with potentially life-saving advice on the correct operation of lifts in the workshop.

NGK SPARK Plugs has won the Supplier of the Year award in the single product category from the United Aftermarket Network (UAN) buying group.

WINDSCREEN fitter Andy Fountain has won the first round of a competition to find the UK's best automotive glazing fitter.

The full range of body shop and refinish information available on the Standox.co.uk website can now be accessed via mobile smart phone.

A micro cordless impact wrench is the latest product to join the Snap-on Tools range of tools, tool storage and diagnostic kit. The 3/8" wrench provides 600in.lbs of torque, with 95lbs bolt breakaway torque, great for getting into restricted access areas. This makes it ideal for working under the dash or when removing interior components.

Pro-Align are very proud to introduce what they call the 'King of all premium wheel alignment lifts'. The Hunter RX40 scissor lift promises increased productivity, saved labour costs and greater throughput due to a slick and streamlined wheel alignment process.

As mentioned in the news section of last month's Aftermarket, diagnostic firm Launch UK is stocking the Auto Book tool in a bid to attract business from workshops that want to venture into diagnostics without getting bogged down in the most advanced and complicated fault-finding techniques.

If you are after fast diagnostics coupled with an easy to use programme, consider the Global Pro Tool-100 from Tapley Instrumentation that can be used on both petrol and diesel engines.

UNIPART has raised more than £6,200 for the automotive industry charity BEN at its annual awards ceremony, the Unipart Way Awards.

TEXA is the latest company to join the rush on air con training ahead of the start of F-gas regulations.

CATALYTIC converter manufacturer BM Catalysts has joined the TecDoc CATALOG electronic parts system.

THE GARAGE Equipment Association (GEA) is preparing to publish a guide to lifting equipment as part of its on-going crack down on workshop safety.

PICO Technology has announced more training dates to help repairers get the latest knowledge of scope-based fault-finding.

The hose clip company has created a workshop pack which, as the name makes fairly obvious, is a collection of hose clips designed specially for workshops.

Three new CarPlan packet wipes join the existing range of car care products, designed for 'on-the-go, no fuss cleaning'.

Distributor FAI Automotive has attempted to revitalise its image with new packaging for its timing belt kits, sold under the FAI Auto Parts brand.

The latest 2010 brake caliper catalogue is out now from Brake Engineering and, according to the company, it contains the widest range of calipers in the UK aftermarket.

Motorbike spark plugs are increasingly replicating their high-temperature cousins fitted to passenger cars, says NGK. The company says there is an on-going trend towards "hotter, automotive-style plugs" as the drive to reduce emissions hits motorbikes too. Hotter plugs can also enhance idle stability.

The RMI is offering a series of open evenings, specifically designed to help tackle the business development, and technical requirements, of independent garages.

ACCESSORIES company Mountney has signed a distribution deal for the Auto Freeze system - an air con device that gets round F-gas regulations.

EURO Car Parts has become an official distributor of Snap-on Equipment's John Bean range of garage equipment.

INJECTOR diagnostics firm ASNU has begun a three-year campaign aimed at getting VMs to include checks on injector efficiency in their standard service schedules.

EURO Car Parts has denied a story that it is for sale at a price of £250 million.

A next generation, low viscosity synthetic engine oil for use in both petrol and diesel passenger cars joins ACDelco's existing range of synthetic, mineral and transmission gear oils.

This wiper arm puller has been designed to make your life that bit easier when faced with a wiper arm that won't budge.

This poster, available to workshops and factors, has been designed to remind technicians of the need to replace the steering rack and pump together. It can also be used to demonstrate to customers how to avoid unnecessary costs in the future.

Deals on over 300 products can be found in the SIP Spring Promotion that runs until June 30th.

The parts identification system has been updated to make it easier and quicker to find the right replacement part.

S&B AUTOMOTIVE Academy has launched an apprentice agency scheme to help garages hire staff at limited cost.

MOTOR Codes is targeting motorists with a checklist it claims will help them decide if their garage is a quality outfit or a "rusty rip-off".

ANDY Morgan has been appointed national sales manager for Varta batteries, the UK subsidiary of Johnson Controls.

THE BOSS of the Automechanika aftermarket exhibition expects the show to match 2008 visitor and exhibitor figures despite the global financial crisis.