One of the best things about family businesses is when you get to introduce them to the next generation and watch as they put their stamp onto the company. This year Ben celebrates eighteen years since he joined Autoquip, and it’s been quite a journey. Ben joined the family firm at 19, fresh out of a short spell at university and travelling and with an excessive credit card bill that needed to be paid off. As a fresh-faced 19-year-old, he seemed the perfect person to start our eBay shop selling everything from toolboxes to wood-burning stoves (yes, that was something in our inventory back in 2004). He’s worked in every part of the business, assisting our engineers on their duties, getting involved in the sales side, and dealing with customer service. Seeing every aspect of the company is one of the things he credits for helping him get to the place he is today. Autoquip started operating in 1968; back then, humans hadn’t set foot on the moon, TV was still broadcast in black and white, and Jaguar were just launching the XJS, but over the last two decades, technology has become an increasingly important factor for the business. Despite being a self-confessed technophobe, Ben recognised that technology was vital in pushing the business forward. From introducing the TEXA multi-brand diagnostic tool to the company’s inventory to future-proofing Autoquip for the next generation of electric, hybrid, and even hydrogen vehicles , it’s important to look forwards. Ben’s time at Autoquip has seen many global upheavals, from a worldwide financial crisis all the way through to the recent pandemic, tough times for any business. However, Ben puts our continued success and growth (our staffing levels have increased 5-fold in the last 18 years) down to the team he works with, “I believe in people, I believe if you look after staff, they will, in turn, look after you and I truly believe we have got a fantastic team here at Autoquip from the office staff to the area sales managers to the engineers out on the road. We always need to be looking ahead to the next product, the next journey the motor trade is going in, and so I think always having your ear to the ground and not getting stuck in the past because “that’s the way we have always done it.” This belief has always been integral to our business. Ben remembers his father telling him to always give people the time of day when they come to visit and to “never turn anyone away as you never know what they can share with you that may change the direction of the business.” This probably explains why many of our customers are also friends outside work. And so, just like Ben’s favourite car, the Bentley Continental GT Convertible, a car that still gives a wow factor no matter its age, we look forward to moving forwards whilst still retaining the aspects of Autoquip that make us great. So here’s to the next eighteen years

The latest innovative 2 post lift from Ravaglioli promises to provide a versatile and futureproofed solution for upgrading your workshop. Designed to create a universal work bay, the baseless 2 post lift provides the flexibility to work on a huge variety of vehicles. The clever thing about the KPX357EV is the system it uses to lift vehicles. By using low profile rotating arms it reduces the amount of contact between the vehicle and the lift. Most 2 post car lifts incorporate arms that go underneath the chassis, however the latest offering from Ravaglioni has arms that reach vehicle pick up points, minimising the arm structure underneath the body. This cutting-edge technology makes it so much easier to work on vehicles of all types and the lift can raise anything from a Smart car all the way up to a long wheelbase VW T6 van. It also simplifies working on electric vehicles, making it easier for mechanics to access and work on battery packs without hinderance from the arms of the lift. It doesn’t just improve working on electric vehicles though. The minimised arm structure also makes perfect for working on low profile sports cars avoiding the potential of damage from contact between the vehicle and the lift. With the UK working hard towards Net Zero and plans to ban the sale of diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2030, it’s inevitable that workshops will being seeing more and more electric and hybrid vehicles in their bays. In 2021 11.6% of new car registrations were electric vehicles and 7% were plug-in hybrids. These numbers are only going to accelerate. With this in mind, now is the time to prepare workshops for the future of motoring; with a Ravaglioni KPX357EV 2 post lift. To find out more and to see a demonstration, get in touch with the team at Autoquip.

In recent years safety and roadworthiness standards within the haulage industry have come under increasing scrutiny from the DVSA with a combined focus of improving business and helping the environment. As a result, firms are required to brake test all their vehicles over 7.5 tonnes during their regular 6 weekly safety inspections. There is a normal expectation that HGVs will have at least 3 successful brake efficiency tests and an MOT throughout a calendar year. The DVSA also strongly advises that tests are completed on a calibrated roller brake tester and state that testing brakes on the road is insufficient. As a result, many fleets are finding themselves forced to use external brake testing equipment for their commercial brake testing. The use of external equipment has a knock-on effect of increasing downtime on an already busy fleet, thereby reducing productivity. However, there is a solution which would enable fleets to bring their brake safety testing in-house and that is to install your own commercial brake testing equipment. Autoquip supply and install a range of HGV brake testers that are the ideal addition to any onsite maintenance workshop . The VTEQ 7000 Series Brake Tester is HGV/ATF DVSA approved and offers all the features required for commercial brake testing as standard. Designed for vehicles weighing up to 18 tonnes, the in-ground tester includes a full PC package as standard and access to the full DVSA latest database. It also comes with a 3-year warranty, again reducing the likelihood of downtime within fleets. Installing brake testing equipment is not only an investment for the future, showing that you take the safety of road users seriously and are considerate of the environment, it will also aid in improving productivity. Reducing the amount of time that your vehicles are away from the depot using external equipment, means you can get them back out on the road in a much faster turnaround. The team at Autoquip are always happy to advise you on the best equipment to suit your space and offer a comprehensive service that includes CAD drawings, installation, and continued aftercare. We offer a free site survey and are always happy to provide demonstrations. Get in touch to start a conversation about your HGV brake testing.

In recent years it's become undeniable that the electronics in cars are becoming increasingly more complex, and that's before you even factor in electric vehicles and hybrids. With significant improvements in vehicle functionality, safety, comfort, and reliability, diagnostics tools are essential in any garage or workshop. However, each manufacturer has different diagnostic and connection modes. This means that switching between multiple vehicles in a busy garage can cause extra stress, which is why the TEXA TXT Multihub is the perfect addition for busy garages and workshops. The TEXA TXT Multihub is a clever bit of kit that quickly and intuitively adapts to maintenance activities across different vehicles from different manufacturers. It is also the only tool on the market that can simultaneously run diagnostics on multiple vehicle types, including cars, heavy-duty vehicles, motorcycles, boats, and agricultural and construction vehicles. Running on a Linux operating system, the TXT Multihub is futureproofed, meaning it can incorporate further functions and operations as manufacturers introduce them, and its intelligent connectivity function means that mechanics can quickly get to work on any vehicle that comes in without any fuss. In addition, because it regularly updates and evolves, it means you can avoid software or hardware issues in the middle of a job. The hub can communicate via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, network cable, and USB, and the CAN FD protocol in Wi-Fi mode enables it to transfer information five times faster. With integrated DoIP (Diagnostic over Internet Protocol), mechanics can quickly diagnose vehicle problems over Wi-Fi, reducing the need for cables. The TXT MULTIHUB complies with standards SAE J2534-1 and SAE J2534-2, enabling it to run Pass-Thru diagnostics, communicating directly with the manufacturers, making it perfect for performing vehicle software updates. Alongside this, it is also incredibly robust and is designed for busy workshop environments. Aside from being water and dust resistant, it also has a reinforced body with anti-shock corners. TEXA have put the device through the military standard MIL-STD 810G transit drop test to ensure that it can absorb impacts and falls. The easily readable, built-in backlit display gives superb usability, displaying important information such as vehicle battery voltage and providing the operator with 40 easily viewable diagnostic messages. Furthermore, the display works in real-time, showing the vehicle's battery voltage (essential for certain diagnostic procedures). We feel that the TXT Multihub is an essential piece of equipment for any future thinking garage. So, if you would like the diagnostics equipment in your garage or workshop to feel smoother and more manageable, it may be worth speaking to the team at Autoquip

Excuse us while we go through a moment of nostalgia and possibly show our age (well we have been around since 1968). Do you remember the Formula 1 World Championship in 1991? In case you don’t, it was the year that Nigel Mansell missed out on a World Championship because his tyre wasn’t fitted properly during a pitstop. The list of drivers who have lost out due to faulty equipment is endless. In fact, we’re sure that you could ask any driver at Brands Hatch and they would have a story of a pitlane problem that cost them points. The point is that a team is only as good as the sum of its parts. You can have a perfectly tuned car, a driver in their prime, a team of well-oiled mechanics, but if the maintenance and garage equipment you’re using isn’t up to scratch, your team won’t be either. Investing in the right garage equipment is as important as choosing the right tyres for a race. And that’s where Autoquip can help. With decades of experience in the garage equipment industry we are one of the best places companies to design, supply, install, and maintain the vital products that you need to keep a race team on track. The products we supply come from the top ranking manufacturers in the garage equipment industry including: Crypton Ravaglioli AC Hydraulic A/S V-Teq Prevost HPC Compressors And many more Alongside this, as members of the Garage Equipment Association , you can be sure that the maintenance and installation that our team performs is first rate. One less thing for you to worry about. If you’d like to have Autoquip by your team’s side why not get in touch for a chat or come and meet with us in our Brands Hatch hospitality suite on a race weekend.

For companies that specialise in haulage and transportation, the last thing that’s needed is a vehicle that is parked up because of a mechanical problem. Aside from the lost earnings of having one less vehicle on the road, there’s also the expense and hassle of having to call out a specialist mechanic to find a fix. Imagine how much easier it would be if you had your own onsite workshop. Installing a professional workshop on your premises enables you to work on and maintain your HGVs and trucks inhouse, keeping them in tiptop working order and reducing the costs associated with outsourcing your maintenance. After all, when your business is transportation, it makes sense to have a mechanic on your team. That’s where Autoquip can help. As a specialist garage equipment company, we can design and fit professional and efficient workshops that cater to vehicles of all sizes. As members of the Garage Equipment Association our team of engineers are required to be signed up to the GEA Engineer Accreditation Scheme and we are required to “supply the finest garage and MOT equipment”. Alongside ensuring that your garage equipment and workshop meets the needs and requirements of your bustling business, we also provide the professional aftercare needed to keep your business on the road. This means that you’ll be able to reap the rewards of your investment for many years to come. Not sure what product is best for you, or want to know what equipment will fit in the space you have? We offer a comprehensive service including designs with CAD drawings, Supply, Installation and a fantastic Aftercare service. Contact u s today for a FREE site survey and a no obligation to buy demonstration

The Autoquip team are very tightly knit and are all known to wear our hearts on our sleeves. You might remember that earlier this year we announced that we would be going dressing casually on Fridays and would be introducing a swear jar to raise money for charities that were close to the team’s hearts. Our fundraising has been really successful, and we have been proud to donate to a variety of causes that make a difference to people’s lives. One month we donated to Dementia UK, a wonderful charity that provides help and support to those living with dementia and the people who care for them. We also shared one month’s collections with Mind, a charity that provides help and support to those living with mental health problems. After the last 18 months of lockdowns, the mental health of many has suffered as they experienced isolation and separation from loved ones and friends. In the summer we donated to Fareshare, a national charity that hit the headlines when Marcus Rashford campaigned for free school meals for children during the school holidays. The charity takes surplice food from across the food industry and disperses it to families and people living in food poverty, ensuring that they receive nutritious meals whilst reducing landfill at the same time. More recently, with Christmas approaching, our fundraising has focussed on parents who have tragically lost babies during pregnancy or soon after birth. The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust works hard to inform, educate, and support those affected by ectopic pregnancies and complications and the professionals who look after them. In October the team at Autoquip chose two charities to support, Tommy’s and Sands. Both charities provide much needed support to parents who have lost their babies late in pregnancy or due to premature birth. They also undertake valuable research which can be used to save the lives of children in the future. In November the charity chosen by the team was Dementia UK. Our fantastic team raised £90 in November, Demential UK provides specialist dementia support for families through our Admiral Nurse service.. This is made up of donations, casual Fridays and the office swear jar. This month (December) we are raising money for the incredible Charity the Samaritans. Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. You call us for free any time on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org, you can also or you can write to them for free at: Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS. As a company that operates within motorsport, we also wanted to find a charity that was connected to racing. Mission Motorsport helps wounded, injured, and sick service personnel gain rehabilitation through motorsport and the automotive industry. The charity provides opportunities for them to retrain, recover, and sometimes race, and has helped over 2000 wounded veterans find work, creating a sustainable future for them and their families. We also continue our sponsorship of Ashford Hockey Club , a grassroots team that plays a big role in the lives of Ben and his wife. We’re proud that our support has enabled the team to go from strength to strength. We’ve loved raising money for such great causes this year (the swear jar has been an extra incentive) and are already compiling our list for charities to donate to in 2022. Watch this space.

As a garage equipment company, it’s hardly surprising that we’re also fully signed up petrolheads. We love to watch motor racing and to see our equipment in action in the Pits. So, our favourite place to watch the best motorsport events is in our very own hospitality suite , on the Pit Straight at legendary sporting venue, Brands Hatch. Perfectly positioned As one of the world's most iconic and instantly recognisable venues, Brands Hatch hosts many of motorsport’s most prestigious events, on both two and four wheels. Our dedicated corporate suite has stunning views of Pole Position and has views of the Pit Straight and entire Indie Circuit. When we’re not using it, our suite can be booked on both race days and non -race days, for events such as staff celebrations, client entertaining, sales meetings, team meetings or any other uses. Our suite also comes with a wide variety of food and drink package options, allowing you to soak up the historic ambience of the location in comfort. Upgrade your track day If you decide to treat someone to a Brands Hatch MSV Trackday experience , our suite is also a great place to watch and take memorable photos, as your lucky recipient speeds along the home straight. Find out more Get in touch for more details about packages and food options, and make our suite the venue for your next important occasion.