Dunkley's has been in business for 25 years

Dunkley’s of Deal is celebrating being awarded the Kitemark certification for garages.

The garage, which was founded 25 years ago, is hoping the accolade will help it beat the recession and grow business by 15-20% per year.

Paul Bone, office manager, said: “We felt it would be a powerful advertising tool as the Kitemark logo is nationally known and would give customers confidence to bring their vehicle into our garage.

“It has improved us into a better working business and it will also play an important role in generating more customers and revenue.

“We wanted to show our customers that we take quality seriously and to hopefully set ourselves apart from other garages in the area.”

Unichip says its device can boost power by 20 bhp

Unichip Europe has unveiled a new plug and play ‘U-connect’ Unichip piggy back ECU for the Nissan 350Z.

The Nissan coupe is a popular choice for tuning enthusiasts but cannot be remapped using OBD flash programming.

Supplied for installation by a Unichip dealer, the device, called Uni-Q, works by intercepting the signals from the Nissan 350Z’s factory sensors.

The company said that rolling road testing has proven that it can increase power on a standard Nissan 350Z by 20 bhp, raising peak output from a measured 264 to a mighty 284 bhp.

Similarly, torque increases by an impressive 26 lb.ft, bringing the total from 236 lb.ft to 262 lb.ft.

Windscreen replacement costs are up 68%

Auto Windscreens has released figures detailing a dramatic increase in the cost of windscreen replacement over the last 10 years.

The windscreen of a Citroen C4 Picasso is 20% larger than older models, while new Ford Mondeo windscreens cost 59% more and VW Golf windscreens are a staggering 68% pricier.

Nigel Davis, Auto Windscreens sales and marketing director, said: “Windscreens of standard production cars are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

“As designers seek to improve aerodynamics efficiency, driving comfort and safety, [it] is hitting the pocket of the modern motorist.”

To help manage glass costs, Auto Windscreens is proposing people get chips repaired immediately and replace blades every 6 months.

A High Court judge today dismissed “key parts” of a claim made against The British Standards Institution by SEL-Imperial Ltd, according to a statement released by BSI.

SEL is claiming that BSI has acted anti-competitively against SEL in respect of BSI’s Kitemark scheme based on the car body repair standard, PAS 125.

This was an interim application to decide whether or not the allegations should be allowed to go to a full trial.

Describing a number of allegations made in SEL’s legal pleadings variously as “opaque” and “wholly unsustainable as a matter of law”, Mr Justice Roth ruled to strike them out of the pleadings.

SEL must now back its remaining claims with clear and accurate evidence. BSI said it will continue to defend them vigorously.

BSI said it believes the remaining claims are without merit and will ultimately fail once the facts are tested and the law is applied at a full trial.

David Ford, executive director of BSI, said: “SEL has been trying a scatter-gun approach to this litigation in the hope of making something stick.

“With this judgement, we have succeeded in narrowing the issues, and BSI is confident that, when the evidence is examined at a full trial, the court will dismiss the remaining claims.”

Tetrosyl products returned £6m profits in 2008

Privately owned car-care supplier Tetrosyl has taken home two awards given by supermarket giants ASDA and Wilkinsons.

The Bury-based company won a supplier of the year title from ASDA and the Wilkinson’s Star award for its products and service.

National accounts marketing manager Tracey Wardle said: “It’s always a great achievement to receive an award and Tetrosyl have received many accolades over the years.

“Working with our business partners to satisfy their requirements is something we strive to do on a daily basis. It’s not always easy so when they recognise your contribution it’s especially rewarding.”

Tetrosyl is present in 75 countries around the world with an annual turnover of over £80m, boasting pre-tax profits of £6m in 2008.

Its products include T-Cut, CarPlan, Triplewax and Wonder Wheels.

In an attempt to revolutionise the way it delivers its fast fit service, HiQ has secured two business partnerships with main car dealerships.

David Harrison Ltd of Peebles, Scotland and Allams of Dorking have both become HiQ franchises.

HiQ’s franchise development manager, Peter Tye, said: “These are important partnerships for HiQ and ones that we are delighted with.

“They could set the precedent for the way that our fast fit network operates and a great deal of time and effort has gone into securing both agreements.”

The agreement means the dealerships can open themselves up to a multitude of car brands, which allows them to expand customer base and turnover.

David Harrison operations manager Martin Cutbush said: “We wanted to look at a brand that could offer outstanding marketing and internet provisions and HiQ was ideal.”

Jeff Allam, former BTCC star and owner of Allams of Dorking, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be associated with HiQ. Our partnership will allow us to create additional work and increase turnover.”

Steve Coles

The Retail Motor Industry Federation has joined CITA, the European body for vehicle inspection, in what RMI head of MOT Technical Operations Steve Coles has called: “a full and active role”.

The Federation has been asked to nominate technical experts to join this year’s working groups, which will examine various vehicle inspection topics.

“It is vital that MOT test stations across Britain recognise the importance of these working groups and the effect it could have on vehicle inspection in the future,” Coles said.

Steve Coles and John Ball, The Federation’s MOT chairman will both sit on the CITA working groups to ensure that the interests of their members are taken into account.

The groups will look at safety systems, electronically controlled systems, training, quality and potential harmonisation of standards.

Petrol accounted for 83% of sales under scrappage schemes

The new car scrappage scheme has notched up 378,978 sales, since its introduction in May 2009.

The scheme represented 12.2% of all new car registrations in March and 3.2% of the total van market in the same month.

SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said: “Final scrappage orders had to be placed by the end of March and already almost 380,000 vehicles have been registered out of the 400,000 available.”

Since starting, the scheme has accounted for 18.7% of total new car sales, with average CO2 emissions standing at 132.9g/km, 27.1% below a scrapped car’s figure.

Supermini models were favoured, 58.5% of all cars bought through scrappage fitting this category.

Everitt continued: “The scheme has provided a hugely important stimulus to the market and leaves the industry in far better health than we saw in pre-scrappage 2009.”

Stirling Wood has run his own consultancy business for the last three years

The Institute of the Motor Industry has announced Stirling Wood as its new head of Skills Development.

Steve Scofield leaves the position to move internally and head the newly created Accreditation Academy.

Chief operating officer Linda Stansfield said: “I am delighted that Stirling will be joining us.

“Placing skills development and the recognition of ethical competence at the heart of the retail motor industry remains a key objective for the IMI.”

The change comes as IMI strengthens its senior management to develop and implement strategy for the ATA and AMA qualifications.

The new Accreditation Academy will offer training and accreditation of assessors and up-skill teachers, trainers and assessors.

“I’m confident that the changes we have now made to the management team will help us to achieve this aim,” confirmed Stansfield.

Denso’s Colin Davies with Martyn Escritt from Essex Motor Factors

Denso Aftermarket Sales UK is celebrating after winning two new supply contracts.

UAN buying group members Autoworld and Essex Motor Factors have both signed deals with the parts maker.

Denso will supply lambda sensors and spark plugs to the two distributors, who between them operate five branches.

Essex Motor Factors has three branches – in Braintree, Maldon and Witham – while Autoworld has operations in Northampton and Daventry.

Neil Kemp, proprietor of Autoworld, said: “We have been impressed by Denso’s extensive overall product range portfolio… and will be investigating taking on other Denso product ranges in the near future.”

Denso now counts 32 UAN member sites as customers.