GARAGES will be asked to pay £10 per month to join the recently-formed Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF).

DESPITE frequently being responsible for maintaining and servicing family cars, the majority of female drivers would rather go to the doctor than their local garage, according to a survey by insurance firm Shelia's Wheels.

TOP TECHNICIAN 2010 sponsor Delphi has unveiled £2,600 worth of prizes for the winner of the national repair skills contest.

rong>These kits provide technicians with all routine service items necessary to replace every filter on a vehicle.

THE AUTOMOTIVE Distribution Federation (ADF) has re-launched and re-branded itself in a bid to represent both the distribution and workshop sectors of the independent aftermarket.

This will support the electrical system on cars, large commercial vehicles and buses during diagnostic work; it is also a battery charger and de-sulphation tool. It can be used on 6V, 12V and 24V systems on any voltage from 110V to 240V.

Jonas Zambakides has stepped down as chairman of the Independent Garage Association (IGA) - one of the many associations under the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) umbrella.

The picture shows Aftermarket business writer Neil Pattemore checking out one of the latest diagnostic tools that's fully compatible with Euro 5 legislation, thanks to a so-called 'pass-thru' connector.

A TOILET roll holder, door stop and TV controller are just some of the wacky things Aftermarket's excellent readers would do with a torque wrench, according to our latest competition.

If you want to get into the lucrative market of diesel diagnostics then this could be the piece of kit for you. This set enables you to carry out on-vehicle testing on all makes, it helps you find faulty components and confirm diagnostic fault codes.

THE IMI is attempting to win business for ATA-registered technicians thanks to owners of trendy iPhone mobiles.

The Hella/Gutmann Solutions partnership (HGS) is gearing up to boost the profile of its latest diagnostic tools in the UK.

A GARAGE owner from Aylesbury has picked up a new Ford Focus RS worth £27,344 after winning the RallyMatch competition run by Unipart and NGK.

rong>The company has introduced a 24-month parts and labour warranty on all wheel alignment and garage equipment kit under the Hofmann and John Bean brands.

rong>Millers Oils recently put its petrol and diesel fuel treatments to the test at the Millbrook proving ground in Bedfordshire and, unsurprisingly, it’s reported some impressive gains in both power and economy performance.

A universal oil sandwich plate kit for oil cooler systems can be used with most spin-on oil filter housings.

BOSCH is set to launch into the turbo market thanks to a joint venture with Mahle.

rong>Delphi’s manufacturing plants must have been very busy lately as the company has massively expanded its selection of steering products.

DELPHI is hoping to change the way technical training is delivered with the start of a series of 'webinar' courses in 2010.

rong>The 4-in-1 Aerotwin Multi-Clip adapter covers four important flat-blade wiper arms used by vehicle manufacturers.

A LEEDS man has been handed a 15-month jail term for dealing in pirated Autodata technical info.

From glass and ceramics to tough hardened steel, these files will help you give a smooth finish on almost any surface. The 140mm long files come in flat, round, half-round, square and triangular versions.

THE CLOSURE of large numbers of franchise dealers has created a series of dealer 'ghost towns' that independent garages can profit from, says motor industry consultancy Network Automotive.

When it comes to long and impressive-sounding quality standards, ISO 6789-1992-12-01 is definitely hard to beat.

THE GARAGE Equipment Association (GEA) has urged garages not to become victims of the rise in sometimes fatal 2-post lift accidents.

A budget version of the MT Pro unit, this handy device lets you measure everything from tyre temperatures (even while they're still rolling), alternators (while the drive belt is running), exhaust manifolds and more.

BATTERY manufacturer Exide attempted to put itself at the forefront of the greener motoring market with the launch of two aftermarket batteries for micro-hybrid vehicles yesterday (Thursday 11th December).

More than 47 new parts have been launched by the filter company across its Fram, Coopers Fiaam and Crosland brands. 15 of the parts are for the Fram brand, including 10 air filter, 3 oil filters and 2 cabin filters.

THE UK importer of the Socio range of diagnostic tools is on the look out for technicians seeking a new career challenge.

More than 215 steering part numbers have been added to the company's range, increasing the overall offer to 2,000 part numbers.

BELTS and hoses company Gates is streamlining its training programme to get more knowledge on preventing belt failure out to garages.

A selection of 48 extra radiator caps is part of Gates' latest expansion of its cooling systems range.

TECALEMIT Garage Equipment has become a distributor for the Cascos and Finkbeiner workshop lift brands.

This universal-fit ECU idle control system is aimed at DIY engine management fitters that are, apparently, becoming more popular with car enthusiasts.

MOTOR Codes boss Chris Mason has confirmed 2010 will see the start of a consumer publicity campaign.

Diesel injectors can be awkward buggers, so Sealey has introduced a selection of service tools to help you get replacement injectors fitted with a minimum of bother.

UNIPART's garage equipment division has shown its generosity by raising £9,300 for BEN, the charity that cares for anyone in the automotive industry that has fallen on hard times.

rong>The parts company has 400 new cooling radiator references on offer thanks to a major expansion of its cooling system parts.

Asian and American car parts specialist Blue Print has significantly expanded its choice of clutch kits, to help you get faster solutions to your servicing needs.

With 6-metre long cables, this gangly battery charger means be used anywhere around the workshop with ease.

SUBSCRIPTION to the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair should be mandatory for all MOT testing stations, parliament has been told.

Coolants are heading down the same application-specific route as lubricants according to Comma.

THE RATE of business insolvencies in the automotive industry dropped by 53% between October 2008 and October 2009, according to the latest figures from data provider Experian.

PARTS distributor Andrew Page plans to open branches in Leicester and Coventry during 2010, the company has confirmed.

TRAINING alliance Exponentia has a full line-up of courses ready for 2010, to give technicians around the country the latest knowledge.

This integrated lift and trailer does exactly what it says on the tin and could prove particularly useful for mobile mechanics and for garages offering breakdown and recovery services.

FREE tickets to the Workshop 2010 exhibition and Commercial Vehicle Operator Show are available now.

What's the betting James Bond has one of these in his garage?

A NATIONAL academy has launched to develop skills with the automotive glazing sector.

This resistance-welding machine claims to be capable of welding any on-board non-alloy metal.