This month in Sykes-Pickavant, SPARchive Spotlight, looking back at the career of Jack Webster, whose technical expertise, commercial insight and leadership helped shape Sykes-Pickavant during a period of significant growth. Originally from Liverpool, Jack trained as an engineer, though he often said he would have preferred to study architecture—something he saw as combining creativity with […]

Back in April, Chris Jones, better known as Jonah, joined Giuliano Automotive UK to lead our growing wheel alignment division. Several months on, he’s already become an integral part of the business, helping garages across the UK invest in the latest wheel alignment technology while providing the demonstrations, installations, training and technical support that customers […]

Challenges Facing Modern Tyre Shops and Tyre Changers Anybody who has ever used a tyre changer will appreciate the difficulties surrounding breaking the bead using a traditional ‘blade’ or ‘shovel’ type design. The nature of the design, which uses a pneumatic cylinder to operate a piston that brings the blade in and out, is becoming more […]

Mistake 1: Buying Based on Price Alone Lower cost lifts often compromise on build quality, hydraulic components or long-term reliability. While the purchase price may look attractive, frequent breakdowns, replacement parts and lost workshop time quickly outweigh any initial savings. A quality 2 post lift should be viewed as a long term investment that supports […]

Please join us in welcoming our newest member to the Association Workshop Equipment Solutions Ltd Mark and his team sell a range of Garage Equipment and they cover the whole of the UK. For more information, please visit their website: Workshop Equipment Solutions Ltd Views: 135

We know that operating a mobile tyre-fitting van across the UK can be a logistical nightmare! As alloy wheels grow larger and tyres get tougher, providing a “we come to you” service shouldn’t mean compromising on workshop-level capability. Mobile operators face a constant battle: handling delicate, premium rims in a restricted space without sacrificing speed, […]

Recently, members of our team returned from an intensive three-day training programme at VAMAG in Italy, focused on the VAMAG AM 3000 Wheel Alignment machine. This visit marked a significant step forward in strengthening in-house expertise, ensuring our engineers are fully equipped to install, configure, test, and support this wheel aligner. Intensive Hands-On Training at VAMAG Our […]

Straightset recently launched their Supertracker vehicle lift range, a straightforward range of lifts developed with simplicity, reliability, and value at its core. We’re proud to share just one of the many successful installations of several brand new Supertracker Lifts at a workshop in Droitwich. This project with five 4.5-tonne capacity 2-post lifts fitted on site, replaced older, condemned […]

Do Electric EV Cars Need an MOT Test in 2026? Yes, electric cars do need an annual MOT test once they are over 3 years old, but the test for EV cars is slightly faster as there is no need for an exhaust system or emissions tests to be carried out. What are Electric Vehicles […]

For many MOT stations and vehicle workshops, roller brake tester calibration is viewed as a routine compliance requirement. However, recent discussions between the DVSA and industry bodies have highlighted an important aspect of brake tester calibration that deserves greater attention, which is the condition of the rollers themselves. Why Roller Brake Tester Surface Condition Is Important […]

During a routine six-month brake tester calibration at a long-established MOT station, our engineer identified an issue that prevented the equipment from passing calibration. Although the roller brake tester was still producing accurate brake force readings when checked against our calibrated test equipment, the condition of the rollers themselves did not meet DVSA requirements. The grit coating […]