South African-made automotive products take top awards at Automechanika Johannesburg

21st June 2013

By: Ilan Solomons

Creamer Media Staff Writer

  

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Five South African-manufactured products reached the final round of this year’s Automechanika Johannesburg’s 2013 Innovation Awards, highlighting the ingenuity of South African automotive manufacturers.

These products reached the top ten out of 25 products and included Durban-based designer and manufacturer of aftermarket electronic vehicle systems PFK Electronics’ Autowatch Alcolock 740 WAB wireless vehicle breathalyser immobiliser system, auto- motive component manufacturer Supreme Spring’s Cobra Coil-Over kit, automotive battery manufacturer and supplier Willard Batteries’ IQ battery, Centurion-based software developer Qualitone Software Solutions’ fuel protection and tracking system, Fuel Cop, as well as local vehicle tracking company Tracker’s SkyTrax connected car system.

“Out of the dozens of entries received, the products assessed as finalists contributed to advancing automotive progress, either by pioneering aspects of safety, environmental friendliness or ease of use, or by making sig- nificant breakthroughs in terms of development or in setting benchmarking standards,” says Automechanika Johannesburg 2013 Innovation Awards convener Wynter Murdoch.

Engineering News reported last month that PFK Electronics’ wireless vehicle breathalyser immobiliser system was awarded the Automechanika 2013 Innovation Awards gold medal.

This year’s jury deemed PFK Electronics’ breathalyser immobiliser as “a significant step forward in the fight against drunk driving”.

US automotive service equipment manufacturer Hunter Engineering Company’s HawkEye Elite wheel-alignment system received a silver medal, as the jury said it was an excellent combination of technology and functionality, designed to improve overall service efficiency in the alignment workshop environment.

“The product is capable of reducing set-up times from minutes to seconds and incorporates many high-tech, cleverly designed and useful features aimed at helping to increase productivity,” said the jury, adding that the HawkEye Elite’s quick-fit adaptors, three-dimensional targets, high-resolution cameras and powerful alignment software were among the system’s key facets.

Murdoch tells Engineering News that Supreme Spring’s Cobra Coil-Over suspension kit received a bronze medal, as the jury believed this product assisted in safely lowering a vehicle’s ride height and, from a stylistic perspective, promoted aesthetic appeal.

“Willard Batteries’ IQ battery, which is manufactured in Port Elizabeth, also received a bronze medal, as the jury believed that its premium-quality, roll-over battery offered a range of useful high-tech features, especially those aimed at facilitating better management of customer relations,” Murdoch points out.

The jury also awarded certificates of commendation to six automotive products for their pioneering qualities.

Qualitone Software Solutions’ fuel protection and tracking service, Fuel Cop, was, in the jury’s opinion, “going to make an important contribution to the fight against fuel theft”.

“Fuel Cop will assist transport operators to better monitor the when, where and how of fuelling procedures,” stated the jury.
Uitenhage-based automotive headlights manufacturer Hella’s Power Beam 1000 work light was regarded as a powerful, energy efficient work light, suitable for various applications, while

Hunter Engineering Company’s Quick-Check alignment system was commended by the jury, as they believed it could prove to be a significant time-saver. The product can quickly capture toe and camber measurements and compare them with original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications.

Additionally, the company’s Road Force Touch GSP9700 diag- nostic balancer received a certificate of commendation, as it was described as “. . . easy to use and appears capable of performing a diagnostic test faster than a traditional wheel balancer [and], in the process, uncovering hidden causes of vibrations and pulls,” says Murdoch.

KTR Kupplungstechnik’s JBT-1 Universal Tester was also commended, as the jury said the product offered a quick and effective method of accurately testing the performance of an alternator or a starter motor, which had been removed from a vehicle.

Tracker’s SkyTrax connected car system received a commendation too. The jury said it was a sophisticated, easy-to-use system that enabled and facilitated the delivery of value-added safety, security and convenient services for motorists, whether installed as an OEM or aftermarket product.

The winners were determined by an independent jury, which included United Nations Industrial Development Organisation chief technical adviser Richard Beän, independent automotive technician Chris Crookes, Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) editorial subcommittee chairperson John Ellmore, Financial Mail automotive editor David Furlonger, National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa executive manager Norman Lamprecht, RMI CEO Jeff Osborne and National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers executive director Roger Pitot.

Automechanika Johannesburg, which ran from May 8 to 11 this year, is South Africa’s leading international trade fair for the automotive industry and targets trade visitors from the sub-Saharan Africa region.

Automechanika Johannesburg show director Philip Otto, tells Engineering News that 176 of the 643 exhibitors were South African. Twenty-three countries were represented at the trade fair, which was attended by 10 643 registered trade visitors and 1 759 conference delegates.

Edited by Tracy Hancock
Creamer Media Contributing Editor

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