THE INDUSTRY'S largest trade show, Automechanika, has opened the doors this morning to thousands of industry visitors.

UNIPART is continuing efforts to expand its Express Factors franchise programme with the enrolment of its latest branch - Express Factors Scarborough.

KEVIN Kelly has been appointed diagnostic sales director at Bosch.

Auto-electrical firm Wood Auto will debut its range of air con compressors at the show along with Rita Millo, the company's recently-recruited European sales manager (although unlike the compressors, she won't be kept in a glass cabinet - we assume, Ed).

With what it describers as "important news" from both the OE and aftermarket sectors, NGK will have a strong presence at the Automechanika show.

One of the many tools that will be at Automechanika is a new 12V battery charger with constant output mode. It provides a constant 10A power source to maintain a battery charge during 'key on/engine off' diagnostics, when fault code reading and ECU re-programming for instance.

Filter systems and engine parts firm Hengst will unveil a choice of new parts for the Vauxhall Insignia in Frankfurt.

rong>Tools company Sealey will give customers a glimpse of its latest catalogue at Automechanika.

/>The Kestrel is one of five electric vehicles being developed by Project Eve, an automotive industry collaboration founded by Motive and Toronto Electric, an Ontario material handling and electric motor company, to boost the production of electric vehicles and electric vehicle components in Can

The Hunter brand of wheel alignment and garage equipment will be on display in Frankfurt this September, including its premium HawkEye Imaging Aligner range with featured sections of BMW, Mercedes, Porsche and VW group aligners.

A free Omiscan 2 diagnostic tool is just one of the special offers packed into the latest edition of Megawisebuys - Unipart's tools and equipment brochure.

The Snap-on Diagnostics stand will be dominated by the Sun KoolKare air con recycling centres. There are two models in the range - the Blizzard and Blizzard PRO - and the company hopes the latest versions will attract interest from the growing air con market.

According to parts company Denso's publicity machine, it will focus on OE strength, aftermarket excellence and what it calls "visionary technologies" at Automechanika (we're fairly sure this doesn't mean a range of workshop spectacles are on the cards, Ed).

Remanufacturing firm Remy will use the Automechanika exhibition to launch its 2011 European brake caliper catalogue.

A road safety organisation has joined the growing band of voices urging the government to leave the MOT frequency as it is

/>The company has formed a distribution agreement with MAC Tools’ mobile distribution serv

/>The company has prizes including LCD TVs, sat navs, Sony PS3s, Ipod Touches and Amazon vouchers up for gr

DELPHI has become one of the first training companies to offer fast-fit ATA assessments.

The days of the bulk oil storage tank are numbered, according to oils and lubes company Comma. The firm says the most profitable way ahead is to meet market requirements by holding a greater number of manufacturer - and engine-specific oils in smaller, more manageable containers.

Despite the factory closing down in 2005, the number of MG Rover cars on the road has only fallen by 3%, according to the latest figures.

Boston has launched its B461 4-post lift onto the market with the bold claim that it's Europe's most advanced. The company says the 6-tonne unit offers several unique features. It comes in 6.1 and 5.75 metre platforms of 630mm width.

Millers Oils account manager Dave Mott says many technicians may still be missing a trick when it comes to the latest lubricants. "It is unfortunately still the case that many in the trade don't yet fully appreciate the necessity for using very specific products when it comes to servicing later model vehicles," he said. "Most new cars produced from around 2002 now require full-synthetic low SAPS (Sulphated Ash, Phosphorous and Sulphur) oils to run efficiently, and the damage of using older, less sophisticated products can be costly."

A complete range of Cifam pre-mounted brake drum kits have been added to Global Braking Systems' hydraulics programme, with over 175 references in stock.

VALEO has launched a contest to reward mechanics who go the extra mile to help their customers.

BOSCH says it will not celebrate its Car Service network being ranked as the top-performing garage scheme in a Which? mystery shopping investigation until it has “eliminated all errors from it’s service delivery”.

EURO Car Parts has signed a deal with Bosch to run the AutoCrew workshop scheme in the UK, Aftermarket understands.

THE GOOD Garage Scheme (GGS) plans to introduce a mystery shopper check to its members following a damming verdict of garage standards in a Which? investigation.

CONSUMER organisation Which? has slammed workshop schemes for "failing to deliver in practice" following its investigation into garage standards.

A WHICH? report has found "shocking levels of incompetence" in garages across the country following a mystery shopping investigation.

Anything that involves chucking less stuff in the bin is all the rage these days. So the chance to refurbish brake discs rather than simply replacing them is very much in fashion.

rong>Filter company Reisse is urging mechanics not to neglect regular oil filter changes. The firm is stressing the importance of regular filter changes at the same time as standard oil changes.

Euro Car Parts says that it offers consistent availability of the best brands at the most competitive prices and to help its customers increase sales, it provides more than 1,500 free display stands and 1,000 battery booster packs against specified volume purchases. It distributes premium OE brands such as Exide and Bosch and also stocks the LION brand.

rong>Two new versions of Alba’s popular brake fluid tester, a lower priced unit that switches off at 200 deg C and the ALB1200 tester which includes a printer, are included in its new diagnostics brochure.

Aston Martin has appointed Standox as a preferred supplier of paint refinish materials and services to its body repair programme.

GARAGES can receive free point-of-sale material for October's tyre safety month from charity TyreSafe.

A TOTAL of 75% of cars tested at a Camberley Auto Factors (CAF) open day needed replacement shock absorbers.

MP MARK Prisk has assured the trade that clauses within Block Exemption Regulations (BER) protecting the aftermarket will be enforced.

GSF Car Parts has issued an official denial of rumours it has sold counterfeit braking products.

PHIL Nassau has been appointed national sales manager by Snap-on Tools.

TRW was just one of the companies celebrating the World Cup with a football-themed promotion running throughout the competition. Participating TRW distributors gave away flags, caps and novelty goodies as part of the promotion for its braking range.

rong>A new retail concept from Exide based on a good, better and best sales approach aims to empower consumers to select between Classic, Excell and Premium options and boost gross margins up to 70%.

The new 10.2 software download is now available for its group of hand-held diagnostic tools, containing 73% more information that the 8.2 version back in 2008.

Those of you who have replaced an oil seal on the crankshaft of a Volkswagen or Audi engine will know it can be a tad tricky as the flywheel-end oil seal is integral with the housing and engine speed sensor, so the whole assembly needs replacing.

Parts remanufacturer Remy has announced the addition of 288 new part references to its brake caliper range, increasing the overall range to 3,300 part numbers.

VOLKSWAGEN has issued a warning about dangerous counterfeit brake pads.

THE AA is now recruiting for roadside patrol and specialist technicians and has more than 200 vacancies across the UK. The positions have arisen from a new range of 'Assist' services provided by the organisation.

Euro Car Parts has officially opened its National Distribution Centre (NDC) with a family day out for garage customers.

THE IAAF trade association says it will monitor Vauxhall's promise of lifetime car warranties for possible infringements of Block Exemption Regulations (BER).

A EUROPEAN survey is giving testers the chance to oppose a reduction in the frequency of MOTs.

The latest Launch tool is available now from Stirling-based diagnostic firm RW Motortec. As explained in the last issue of Aftermarket, the Autobook tool is a slimmed-down, easy to use version of the standard Launch X431 unit.