Hofmann Megaplan Blog

​We love returning to our customers year after year to help maintain and service their equipment. We believe it helps reinforces a great relationship between supplier and consumer. Our latest lift service at Ariel Motors in Somerset demonstrates this concept in action!

Ariel Motors, famously known for the modern classic Atom model, are a British car manufacturer that pride themselves on exceptional quality. Tucked away in Somerset, they have help prestige in British motoring by only allowing a single technician to work on a vehicle from start to finish, there by offering a personable service. In their own words it's "just good old fashioned, British skill and handbuilt craftsmanship".

To follow up the Atom range of cars, Ariel started the production of their motorcycle range, the Ace. At the time of starting production they needed several lifts to cope with the demand for this new range. Hofmann Megaplan was a dream match and we were over the moon to work with such a British institution.

Four years on, our engineers have completed the fourth annual lift service of 3 MCL750 Cascos motorcycle lifts. Having originally purchased these durable lifts to for production back in March of 2015, they continue to provide excellent efficiency without a hitch!

At Hofmann Megaplan, we make sure our lift servicing and lift maintenance is just as good as the products we supply - if we didn't, our customers would not continue to use our excellent after sales service!

​The latest premium garage equipment install from our expert engineers was at the Abingdon branch of ProTyre where they received a welcome upgrade to their tyre fitting equipment.

This ProTyre shop prides itself on exceptional levels of customer service and so premium garage equipment to help offer this is a must. Specialising in mechanical repair such as vehicle servicing and MoTs sees the tyre machinery in regular use. That's before you consider the fitting part of the business which covers cars, vans, 4x4s and agricultural vehicles.

With premium brand wheels on offer including Michelin, Pirelli, Bridgestone and Continental, a top of the range equipment line up was a must.

Enter the megaspin 820P Wheel Balancer. With the ability to provide live recommended actions on screen using a colour TFT display for further visual representation, this machine takes balancing to a new level.

Whilst ensuring their new megaspin 820P Wheel Balancer was installed efficiently and with no hitches, our engineers were also able to introduce the One Weight Balance technology. This enables our tyre changes to balance a wheel using just one weight (not just a static balance either).

The branch also had a megamount 713XL Tyre Changer to compliment this advanced new balancer.

Not only are Hofmann Megaplan installing tyre changers and wheel balancers up and down the country, we also carry out numerous installs of high quality vehicle lifts every week.

Ensuring new vehicle lifts are safe to use takes detailed preparation and analysis of your workshops footprint. Combine this with knowledge and technical know how, each install can be effortless. Our engineers also appreciate that no two installs are the same. They are always happy to help answer any questions you have whilst on site.

Take a look at our latest car lift installs below, taken from locations all across the UK. No matter where you are or the challenges that are presented, we will provide premium quality vehicle lifts, excellent customer service and efficient engineers with knowledge to share, all for an incredible price.

Do you need to upgrade your vehicle lift? Why not do so and receive excellent install and after sales service as standard? Contact us online now or call us today on 01480 8-9-10-11 to discuss how we can help!

Back problems are no joke! Neither is failure to take care of yourself or your fitters. Lifting tyres takes its toll on the body. So why do it when there is a simple, safe and affordable solution?

Not only can it reduce the risk of injury but it can also boost the productivity of your garage.

Many fitters often overlook this forgotten about piece of garage equipment. However, wheel lifters could be one of the greatest investments you make in 2019! We've customers that have repeat purchased after seeing the difference purchasing one has made.

Stop slowing your service down. Here are the five reasons you need an electric wheel lifter!

1. Wheel Lifting Safety

2. Ease of Use at any Speed

What's incredible about this electric wheel lift is how feature rich it is, yet easy to use. The simple control panel offers quick access to lifting at one of three speeds. Using this simple bit of kit becomes second nature whilst eliminating a lifting job that no one need complete. What's more it takes up hardly any footprint in your garage (the reason many customers order one for each work bay). Increase the height you could lift a wheel manually with ease. Let a machine do the work!

3. Efficiency through Portability and Maneuverability

Our electric wheel lifter is battery powered making it completely portable and easy to transport around your workshop. Moving and fitting tyres becomes effortless and fast. At a fundamental level this wheel lifter makes you more productive and thus more profitable!

4. This Quality Device will change how you work without breaking the bank

We have not tried to reinvent the wheel. As with all products that wear the famous "H" logo, you receive the highest quality machine designed to last. This is a solution to issues many fitters just get on with and regret at some stage.

5. You can get a top spec Wheel Lifter at an incredible price!

This is a device we believe should be in every garage and tyre fitting shop. As such we are offering our highly rated WC300 Portable Electric Wheel Lifter for ONLY £995 +VAT!

Contact us online now or call us today on 01480 8-9-10-11 to order your electric wheel lifter now or for more info.

​Although we haven't really had a severely cold winter this year, the weather is definitely becoming milder; which makes for happy riding if your one of the UK's 1.23 million registered motorbike owners (2017; Statista).

This makes for big business. It may be time to ask what it will take for you to capitalise on fitting wheels for motorcycles. 

Motorbike Tyre Fitting: What do Hofmann Megaplan offer?

​As with all our product ranges, Hofmann Megaplan only supply high quality premium garage equipment teamed with our now renowned impeccable service - our Motorcycle Equipment range is no acception!

Having been a leading supplier of garage equipment since 1931, our products and technology within them often sets the far future others to intimidate. It follows suit that we wouldn't offer a range of motorcycle tyre changing equipment and motorcycle lifting equipment with the famous 'H' logo on it, if we didn't feel it was up to scratch.

Our motorcycle tyre fitting equipment range consists of everything from lifting equipment like the MCL700 Motorcycle Lift through to motocycle wheel balancers including the Moto 200 Wheel Balancer. We also offer two motorcycle specific tyre changers:

• Moto 11 Tyre Changer
• Moto 22/Evo Tyre Changer

While some class 4 tyre fitting machines will already be compatible with class 1 & 2 vehicles, we believe that there are many reasons investing in motorcycle specific equipment is the way to go in building the ultimate garage. 

Why invest in Motorcycle specific equipment?

​By purchasing specific garage equipment for your motorcycle tyre fitting services, you will be able to save time. This equipment is designed to do a specific job and while other changers will get the tyre on and off if you're looking to offer motorcycle fitting seamlessly this is a no brains investment.

What's more, when it comes to changing each tyre your equipment is already set up. This saves time and hassle for fitting all wheels as each machine is correctly set up with the right adaptors and its own purpose.

Of course, this can make your garage more profitable, your fitters lives easier and your business busy as you are able to fit in more jobs throughout the day. Your motorcycle tyre changing equipment can pay for itself quicker than you think and you seamlessly increase the number of specialised services you offer.

Visit our Hofmann Megaplan Motorcycle Equipment range now for more information!

Contact us online or call us today on 01480 891011 to discuss your garages requirements in more detail. 

​While Hofmann Megaplan's ATL & MoT equipment division continues to provide high quality equipment and service for a varying range of garage owners. However many are unaware of what equipment goes into an MOT, even though they know the profit it can bring them.

By providing a comprehensive range of products Hofmann Megaplan are able to fit out and upgrade bays with new MOT Equipment to suit more classes. This means better serving opportunities for your garage and not turning customers away. This includes:

• Headlamp Testers
• Brake Testers
• Emissions Testers
• Lifts

What is our Most Popular MOT Bay Equipment?

​Whilst no single piece is more important than another, their is always one piece of equipment that starts the search. Emission Testers are often this thing and are available for Class 1 & 2 MOT Testing, Class 4 MOT Testing & Class 7 MOT Testing. These vehicle gas analysers deliver the highest standard in petrol and diesel testing for your customer's peace of mind. Our MOT equipment range includes:

• OPA 100
• AGS 200
• MGT 300
• i-Gas

With technologically advanced components included as standard, UK MOT requirements are met with high quality performance products. Our emissions tester units also offer greater ease of use for your engineers and outstanding reliability, so you know that your equipment will not let you down!

What are you waiting for? Visit Hofmann Megaplan ATL MOT now!

How do you know which wheel alignment machine is the best? Is it the technology? The durability of the machine? Or maybe it is a combination of everything? Not only do we have the answer but we worked out how to make the best better!

The megaline Ssence ULTRA combines a 3D/HD alignment system with integrated handheld tread depth scanner. By marrying these two devices we are able to provide the ultimate in wheel alignment services. Continuously providing high quality garage equipment is standard for Hofmann Megaplan. It is shown brilliantly in the robust and ergonomically designed unit which enhances productivity and your ability to deliver alignment and tyre services.

What is so different about the megaline Ssence ULTRA?​

The ULTRA sets a totally new standard in wheel alignment, by introducing the revolutionary new TreadReader technology!

This device is taking the tyre and alignment industry by storm with its ability to inform customers in a clear and concise manner. It only requires a few seconds per tyre to run over and provides an instant 3D rendering of the tyre on the megaTab handheld display. Because it is instantly uploaded to a smartphone or tablet via the TreadReader App, customers are able to see instantly any dangers there tyres are posing from misalign issues to increase stopping distance.

The added bonus? A boost in business for garages that might otherwise have been missed out on.

Where to see the TreadReader in 2019..

Option 1 and the easiest is to get one on one with the TreadReader. You can Contact us online or call us today on 01480 891011 to book an appointment, visit our showroom and see the megaline Ssence ULTRA in action! 

We'll also be at several show across the UK in 2019 including the Point S members trade show, the CV Show and Automechanika Birmingham 2019 in the brand new Big UK Garage Event. We'll have TreadReader units at each ready to show you.

We appreciate the importance of trying before you buy. Especially when it comes to investing in tyre fitting equipment your business will use day in, day out.

It could be how it works, the appearance or performance you want to understand. Having the knowledge that the product can perform as expected with the ability to improve your current process is a must!

That's why we have always kept a fully stocked and demonstration ready showroom open for all to visit. Our products ranges are constantly expanding and equipment being updated to meet the newest industry-leading standards, and there is no better place to see this than our statement showroom based in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, easily accessible from the A1 and A14.

What to expect...

​We have just completed a full estock of all our latest garage equipment for 2019, making this the most diverse and full our showroom has ever been. New technologically advanced systems including ADAS Diagnostics join the classic line up of Premium tyre changing equipment.Our fully extensive showroom now covers:

• Premium Wheel Balancers
• Premium Tyre Changers
• Wheel Aligners
• ADAS Diagnostics
• Wheel Lifts
• Vehicle Lifts
• A/C Servicing Equipment
• And much, much more…

One of our Equipment Specialists is always on hand to take you through our equipment range, providing quick demonstrations of our efficient and easy to use products.

Want to take a look at our garage equipment in action? Contact us online now or call us today on 01480 891011 to speak to one of our dedicated team, to book an appointment to visit our showroom.

You can also see all the latest equipment in our garage equipment video library. 

Hofmann Megaplan will often reference our above and beyond levels customer service. When we say you can be sure we are able to install our equipment on time in whatever weather or location we mean it and today was no exception!

Pro Tyre Bell Silencers in Swindon may have woke up this morning to snow, unsure as to whether their new aligner would be delivered or not. Not ones to disappointed, our engineers were on site first thing to replace an old Hunter aligner with our 3D megaline Ssence. Despite the downpour of snow, the aligner was successfully installed without any compromise on the usual high standard. 

​There are a number of different pieces of equipment that make up an MOT Bay and understanding what is needed for classification can be a bit of a head spinner!

Here at Hofmann Megaplan, we pride ourselves on our MoT Bay knowledge and experience, having been a leading supplier of garage and MOT equipment since 1931.

Our specialist division for handling automotive testing equipment within the workshop, works to ensure you have the right equipment in your garage and to make sure your ATL MOT workshop operations run efficiently with little interruptions. They have put together the below quick beginners guide to understanding the different Class bay's when it comes to ATL/MOT.

Read more on our service lead MOT Bay installations here!

Class 1 & 2 ATL MOT Bays

​Many garages are unaware that their existing ATL MOT bay can be modified to cater for Class 1 & 2 vehicles, however having a specific Class 1 & 2 ATL MOT Bay can be highly beneficial to the efficiency of testing certain vehicles including:

• Motorbikes
• Scooters
• Mopeds
• Motorcycle Combinations (e.g. sidecar)

More often than not getting a Class 1 & 2 bay is a no brainer. By contacting our knowledgeable team we can provide specialist insight into achieving this.

Class 4 ATL MOT Bays

​As your standard passenger car is the most popular form of transportation, it is of no surprise that Class 4 ATL MOT Bays are the go to when investing in MOT testing equipment. Due to the workload these bays see there is a need for them to be more robust and durable than ever.

Equipping your garage with the right Class 4 MOT bay can be a struggle though, as they can come in all shapes and sizes. By delivering our comprehensive analysis and design bespoke to your workshop, we can offer and advise on the best solution for your space and services. This peace of mind approach is imperative and ensures your bay is right and ready to start making you money ASAP!

Class 7 ATL MOT Bays

​With heavy duty vehicles comes larger MOT testing equipment! Where the opportunity to get business from light commercial and heavy commercial machinery testing presents itself, you are going to need specialised Class 7 ATL MOT Bays and equipment to deal with the enormity of each task.

For dealing with the sheer weight and size of the vehicles, you will need a lot of space and very robust equipment. The need to plan well and get thing right first time is key, else a simple project could end up costing you more than needed. 

​If you need to draw on ​our expertise and advice for your MOT equipment, contact us online now or call us today on 01480 8-9-10-11 to speak with one of our MOT Station specialists.

​New for 2019, Cascos have introduced a stunning new colour scheme in their ever popular range of vehicle lifts!

Here at Hofmann Megaplan we partner with Cascos Lifts to provide the ultimate ATL MOT range, and are proud to present the launch of the new graphite colour scheme for the 'Elite' brand line.

As always, Cascos continue to supply in the Platinum colour scheme or indeed any other corporate colour schemes upon request.

Continuing Innovation

​Cascos have recently carried out an audit of all their materials and component suppliers in order to ensure full traceability of their origin and quality. As a result, the company can have absolute faith in the product they supply and this has resulted in the ability to support a class-leading 5 year warranty.

James Boon, EVP of Garage Equipment commenting on Cascos Lifts:​

​"It's a well recognised fact that, although you may pay more for the Cascos brand vs. a cheap vehicle lift from the Far East, the Cascos will be by far the cheaper buy in the long term, simply because of the length of life and cost of ownership along the way."

"We still get calls to service Cascos lifts that are 30 years old, which is testament to the build quality and justifies completely the initial outlay."

As the Chinese garage equipment market grows increasingly stronger and popular, Cascos continue to develop high quality and durable products that are able to withstand the test of time. The focus is on customers who place quality and longevity as the most important assets, leading to long term cost savings and efficiencies.

Interested in our Cascos range?

​Learn more about our Cascos ATL Lifts on our website today. Contact us online now or call us today on 01480 891011 to speak to one of our dedicated team for more information.

​With every garage trying to find new ways to increase the productivity of their workshops, our automotive program developers have found a solution to improving the efficiency of our most popular wheel balancers.

The One Weight Balance is a revolutionary new piece of software designed to increase speed and productivity in balancing, by allowing tyre fitters to use just a single solitary weight. In 2018, Hofmann Megaplan displayed this technology for the first time at Automechanika Frankfurt; however if you missed the chance to see it action, we explain the benefits in our OWB system blog.

​OWB Wheel Balancers

​By applying the OWB software to our existing wheel balancer models, we have updated and upgraded the technology available to you. The OWB range currently includes:

• Megaspin 420
• Megaspin 820

More models are constantly being upgraded and added to the range so call now for the latest or browse our wheel balancers pages.

OWB means these balancing machines are simple, fast to use and with the introduction of OWB remain precise with balancing values. 

​Want to find out more about One Weight Balance technology? Contact us online now or call us today on 01480 891011 to speak to one of our dedicated team for more information.

​With us now into the New Year, this is the ideal time for you to be thinking about the services you offer your customers and how you can do things differently in 2019. 

With new opportunities such ADAS calibration servicing equipment, the need for garages to be providing wheel alignment has never been more prominent.. that includes you!

Why should you offer wheel alignment?​ 

​Wheel alignment mean so many benefits to the customer, but you as a garage owner can also benefit immensely from providing this service. 

If you already offer tyre changing services then you really should be supplying wheel alignment as well. The two services run hand in hand to ensure that your customer's vehicle is performing as it should. Therefore, it won't surprise you to know that offering this as a service can not only increase your service offering, but can also increase your overall income. We have broken down the profit from alignment machine on our previous blog.

It's not just about Wheel Alignment​

​Your Wheel Alignment Machine is good for more than just alignment! As well as charging your customers for this service the checks involved will help identify and fix any further issues e.g. worn, bent or damaged components/ This all equates to more profit for your business and happier customers!

Best Wheel Aligners Around​

​Being one of the industry-leading suppliers of tyre fitting equipment, we have a vast range of wheel aligners for every garage need and budget.

By now we're hoping that if you don't already offer the service, you're seeing the great value that can be gained by offering alignment. You can work this out for yourself by using our online revenue calculator now!

Need to purchase a industry-leading wheel alignment system? Check out our range of Wheel Aligners and ADAS Calibration Equipment today.

​Everything in today's world is becoming more technologically advanced including vehicles. The standard inbuilt systems are becoming more intelligent meaning maintenance and servicing requires new knowledge and kit.

Here at Hofmann Megaplan, we are making sure the garage equipment we offer is up to date with the latest capabilities. This also means up to our industry-leading standards. The latest of these advancements that is becoming more common on the road is ADAS Systems. You could be dealing with vehicles already that have ADAS as standard but are you ready for ADAS calibration? 

Types of ADAS 

​ADAS means vehicles are now more intelligent then ever before. They collect and use data in new ways to keep drivers safe. These uses include but are not limited to:

• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Adaptive High Beams
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Collision Warning/ Detection System
• Driver Monitoring (Drowsiness Detection)
• Lane Departure Warning
• Night Vision
• Pedestrian Detection
• Parking Assist (Rear View Cameras)
• Traffic Sign Recognition

​ADAS Calibration Systems

Vehicles fitted with ADAS technology will have cameras mounted centrally on the windscreen. This means when a windscreen is replaced, the ADAS will require re-calibration to ensure all systems are working correctly. Advanced ADAS systems can also include cameras and sensors in the front and rear bumpers and wing mirrors for full 360 degree applications. the number of scenarios where work is completed that requires recalibration of these systems is endless and failing to do so can result in customers leaving your garage in danger.

Keeping up to date with ADAS

The team at Hofmann Megaplan regularly undergo training on the latest systems including most recently an ADAS training day at our showroom. Technology is constantly changing our industry and we place an extremely high value on investing in our people to ensure they continue providing above and beyond service backed up by their knowledge.

We make sure all of our engineers and sales team have the exact understanding needed to deal with your garages specific requirements, from picking out the right equipment to training you up on its use.

Need to upgrade your alignment system to feature ADAS calibration? Check out ADAS calibration systems on our website today and contact us online now or call us today on 01480 891011 to find out if your system is compatible with ADAS Diagnostic and calibration systems.

Look no further than the Hofmann Megaplan TreadReader, capable of diagnosing misalignment and tyre wear condition in a way that informs customers and increases service sales.

This hand-held alignment technology provides an instant visual health check and promises to boost the sales of your alignment services.

James Boon, EVP of Garage Equipment on the TreadReader

​Introducing from Hofmann Megaplan the newly renowned megamount Smart X tyre changer, the 'Ultimate Offering' in tyre removal machinery.

The megamount Smart X tyre changer combines advanced technology with safety intelligence, that allows this fully automated process to complete handling of any class 4 vehicle tyre with ease and proficiency.

What is different about the Smart X?

​As any new piece of garage equipment should do, the Smart X has introduced many new features that the industry hasn't seen before including:

​Fail Safe Dead Man System

​3D Mass Calculation via Twin Lasers

​World Wide BMW Approval

Alongside these revolutionary capabilities, the Smart X also demonstrates the quality that has come to be synonymous with Hofmann Megaplan; the simplicity of the design, space efficiency and the intelligence of the technology to increase productivity within your garage.

Contact us online or call us today on 01480 891011 to book an appointment to our showroom to see the megamount Smart X in action!​

​Due to our increasing work load in Scotland, we have now employed a new engineer to help keep on top of the game and to keep your garage services running as smooth as possible.

We are thrilled to have Ewan on board, who takes charge of our new fleet vehicle servicing and installing our high quality equipment.

​Allerton tyres have their new Ecoline 88 installed.

The ecoline 88 includes some luxury additional features such as 3-point 'GrabClamps', heavy duty mechanical turnplates and advanced measuring heads making full 4 wheel alignment even easier and faster.

The 'GrabClamps' mean that the measuring head is mounted to the wheel using sprung-loaded 'arms' that grab the tyre, and 3 nylon locators on the rim, ensuring there is no metal to metal contact.

Computerised alignment enables you to charge a premium for your alignment service, simply because you are able to provide the customer with a printout showing 'before and after'. The ecoline 88 will give the same results as competitors' systems that are literally 5 times the price, and is perfect for those business that want the benefit of built-in vehicle database, live readings & technical prompts, and a customer printout, without the heavy investment traditionally required.

​James Wilson takes delivery of his truck tyre changer.

The megamount 752 is a heavy duty tyre changer for truck and plant applications. Boasting a rim diameter capability of 14" to 56", O.D of 2300mm (90.5"), and rim width up to 1065mm (42"), this model is a great 'all-rounder' for anything from buses to heavy plant machinery. Again, a 2 speed chuck and portable control unit complete the luxury specification. Available in 3ph.

 SJB Autotech in Basingstoke have their new tyre fitting equipment installed! 

The megamount 303 packed with assist arms for those runflat tyres and the megaspin 200-2V, look at ease in their new home and are ready for action.