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nother popular event in Las Vegas besides SEMA is AAPEX, Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo. There were announcements form DENSO, BOLT ON, SIRUSXM and Taiwanese companies.
DENSO’s VehicleMRI
DENSO Products and Services Americas, Inc., an affiliate of leading global automotive supplier DENSO Corp., is showcasing its electronic inspection tool, VehicleMRI, at the 2019 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX). The compact vehicle interface device and mobile app are now compatible with Android smartphone and tablets, allowing technicians to quickly and accurately inspect vehicles and identify underperforming parts to prescribe their customers a predictive maintenance plan.
VehicleMRI is a powerful tool that combines advanced technology and high-tech software so technicians can streamline the inspection process of checking and tracking the health of their customers’ cars and light trucks. In an industry powered by increasingly sophisticated electronic systems, VehicleMRI allows technicians to see beyond the visual inspection and generate a complete report in minutes that shows which electronic systems are performing properly and which are not.
In addition to detecting the source of check-engine lights and other dashboard warning lights, tests include checking the vehicle’s battery cranking voltage, identifying out-of-date software, and displaying safety recalls. VehicleMRI incorporates predictive analytics to flag parts and sensors that may need to be serviced or replaced at future mileage junctures so customers can make informed decisions on how to proceed while the vehicle is still in the shop and when to address small problems before they become bigger and more costly.
VehicleMRI allows technicians to share reports with customers by email, printout and text, while saving each report for future comparison. The VehicleMRI mobile app comes with free updates ensuring technicians have the most current information on part numbers and applications when they plug into a vehicle. The affordable tool works with domestic and foreign cars and light trucks sold in the USA that are On-Board Diagnostics II (OBD2) compliant (1996 to present).
GEARWRENCH Tools, Work Station & Bluetooth
A pair of products from GEARWRENCH—a premium brand of mechanics hand tools within the Apex Tool Group—were recognized at the PTEN Innovation Awards (PTIA) during the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) Tuesday at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas. PTEN magazine recognizes the most innovative automotive aftermarket tools and equipment every year, as voted on by a panel of judges comprised of technicians and shop owners.
The GEARWRENCH Mobile Work Station (83169) received the PTEN Innovation Award in the Toolboxes and Carts category. The Mobile Work Station offers practical functionality and durability with customizable features that allow users to make this station work for them. The Mobile Work Station features industrial grade 6″ by 2″ wide polyurethane locking casters that support a max capacity of 2,000 lbs.
The GEARWRENCH Bluetooth Radio/Speaker (86997) received a PTEN People’s Choice Award in the Safety Equipment & Personal Gear category. The speaker offers rich sound and versatile features, like a built-in microphone for receiving calls when paired with a smartphone. A single device can pair up to two speakers at once for sound that fills the room. The compact designed and rubber casing make it tough enough for any shop and worksite conditions.
BOLT ON & SIRIUSXM
BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY, a leading supplier of technology solutions to auto repair shops, is rocking the convention hall at AAPEX 2019 (Booth #31001), promoting a new collaboration with SiriusXM, demoing powerful new workflow management software, and giving attendees the chance to live like a rock star from Nov. 5-7, 2019 at the Sands Expo Convention Center.
The featured performance is BOLT ON’s new relationship with SiriusXM, the world’s largest audio entertainment company and the premier programmer and platform for subscription- and advertising-supported audio products. Under the arrangement, BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY-enabled repair shops that enroll in the SiriusXM Service Lane for Shops program can delight their eligible customers with a complimentary 3-month SiriusXM subscription.
SIRIUSXM SERVICE LANE FOR SHOPS PROGRAM is a FREE program for shop owners designed to complement their customer service and loyalty programs. Eligible customers who bring in their factory- equipped vehicles for auto service or repair will receive a FREE 3-Month All Access Package with over 200 channels of commercial-free music, plus sports, news, talk and entertainment – in the car, on the app and online. Interested shop owners can visit https://boltontechnology.com/siriusxm for more information or to enroll in the new program.
BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY will kick-off the new collaboration by giving shop owners who are registered AAPEX attendees a chance to enter to win some cool prizes. Just visit the SiriusXM booth (#33008) and the BOLT ON Booth (#31001). No purchase necessary to enter or win.
The Setlist
Throughout the expo, BOLT ON will demo its greatest hits, including:
- Pro Pack, the award-winning bundle that includes Lube Sticker Pro, Message Manager, and Report Pro. Syncing with the existing shop management system, Pro Pack ensures owners and managers will have all the information they need in real-time, at their fingertips.
- Mobile Manager Pro, which changes the way shops communicate with vehicle owners, creates digital vehicle inspections customers love, and lets owners and managers track employee time and other vital metrics from connected tablets.
- Text to Pay, a recently announced feature that facilitates faster payments and improved convenience for customers picking up their cars. During the expo, BOLT ON is also announcing additional new payment processing partnerships with Gravity Payments, CardConnect, HotRod Processing, and BASYS Processing.
The Premiere
BOLT ON will also showcase an exciting new release. With Workflow Manager, shop owners and managers can command activities of the entire shop, accurately communicating and adjusting workload in real-time, keeping techs productive, customers informed, and revenue flowing. Within seconds, they can change the status of vehicles, move jobs to different techs, color-code each stage of workflow to gain maximum efficiency and more, including:
- Send pre-built and customized text messages straight to customers
- View inspection points and invoices of any repair order
- Print lube stickers for any repair order
Taiwan Excellence
– Taiwan Excellence, a leader in promoting and recognizing innovative Taiwanese brands and products, hosted a news conference in partnership with the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) at the 2019 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) to announce new products from Taiwanese companies that are advancing technology and innovations for the automotive aftermarket. The announcement featured introductions of new automotive-focused products from Noodoe Corporation, EverFocus Electronics Corp. and Techman Robot Inc.
EverFocus Electronics Corp.
For over 20 years, EverFocus has been a leader in sophisticated vehicle electronic monitoring and surveillance systems. The new AI Smart Surveillance Industrial Computer (eIVP5600) is the first fanless, mobile NVR product that was designed to serve as an in-vehicle network video recorder platform. This innovative product features an intelligent and resilient design, offering loitering detection to protect vehicles. The smart surveillance system can be installed in fleet vehicles to prevent freight or equipment theft and can be used in mass transit fleets to ensure the safety of passengers by providing real-time surveillance footage and access to traffic and road conditions. The product features a built-in 7th Gen. Intel® Core™ i5/i7 processor and Intel® Movidius™ AI core module to ensure optimal computing performance.
“EverFocus understands that maintaining the safety of passengers should be the number one priority of the automotive industry, whether it is in passenger cars, buses, trains or fleets,” said Henry Chen, product manager at EverFocus Electronics Corp. “The AI Smart Surveillance Industrial Computer delivers a powerful security solution for customers worldwide that will meet the needs of the vehicle aftermarket industry.”
EverFocus has been an Intel® ISA General member of the IoT Solutions Alliance since October 2019.
Techman Robot Inc.
Techman Robot is launching a new collaborative robot (TM5) that features smart and simple designs to optimize collaboration between robots and humans. The product is the only collaborative robot that features a vision system (TMvision) which offers greater precision in manufacturing settings. The robot is pre-programmed with TMflow function software that allows operators to handle the robot with significant ease. The product’s simplistic design includes a robotic arm (equipped with TMvision and TMflow), as well as task-compatible end effectors and peripherals that work together seamlessly. The TM5 can be easily integrated with an automated guided vehicle for applications that require mobility to switch between multiple workstations, and has applications for assembling, packaging, injection molding, quality inspection, soldering, tending, metal polishing, screwdriving for auto parts and conveyor tracking. The TM Robot has a wide range of uses for warehouse distributors that include picking products, placing selected boxes onto a conveyor rail and applying product labels to packages to expedite the distribution process.
“The Techman collaborative robots are designed to optimize the collaboration between robots and humans, particularly in environments, or with tasks, that are unsafe for human workers,” said Francis Huang, senior account manager at Techman Robot, Inc. “The TM5 robot represents the seamless integration of automation into automotive manufacturing sites to improve working conditions and streamline production.”
Noodoe Corporation
Noodoe provides service automation solutions that transform parking lots into hands-off revenue generators. The Noodoe EV S1000, a Level 2 commercial charging station, encapsulates what makes the company different. At the heart of the station is the Noodoe EV OS, one of the world’s most advanced cloud-based operating systems, serving as the “brain” that fully automates the 24/7 service delivery and universal payment processing. With Noodoe EV OS, any EV driver can charge their vehicle, and select their preferred payment method, without having to set up an account. As automotive centers and repair shops begin servicing the growing number of electric vehicles on the roads, shops can install EV charging stations at their locations to ensure that costumers leave in a fully charged vehicle after they come in for repairs. The Noodoe EV S1000 is fully autonomous and won’t require any additional staff training.