The European Garage Equipment Market: A New Study by Frost & Sullivan
Equipment Suppliers Gazing at the Garage of the Future Technical change has taken a strong hold on the vehicle business in recent years. Apart from increasing engine complexity and the associated use of on-board computers, many other operational systems are being added aboard vehicles to improve performance and add to user comforts. Technology has also moved at a pace into the garage workshop in order to meet the increased sophistication of the modern vehicle and to improve the productivity of servicing and repair operations. Latest research from automotive analysts Frost & Sullivan ( http://transportation.frost.com) shows these changes are having a positive affect on the revenue generated in the European Garage Equipment Market. The market was valued at $631.9 million in 2000, with Frost & Sullivan estimating it will reach $788.3 in 2007 as manufacturers keep abreast with the needs of the vehicle testing, servicing and repair trade. The study says much of the expansion and re-equipping seen in various parts of the automotive workshops sector in recent years should be seen as a peak in the traditional development of the market. The further marriage of electronic, computer technology and automation to mechanical equipment will continue. New approaches to workshop ergonomics, safety considerations and throughput efficiency will influence the preference for particular designs and layouts. "Vehicle evolution is also adding to the requirement for more sophisticated workshop machinery. More complex suspension systems and steering geometry are necessitating more comprehensive wheel alignment processes and wheel balancing techniques whilst developments in wheel and tyre technologies may affect some of the requirements for tyre changing machines," the study says. The market is split into two sections: mechanical testing and handling equipment, and diagnostic instrumentation. Markets for garage mechanical handling and testing equipment embraces brake testers, wheel aligners, vehicle lifts and mechanically assisted tyre changers. This group of products generated revenues of $459.6 million in 2000. The study found that whilst functions such as wheel balancing and alignment have remained the same in terms of basic principles, the actual performance of the machines have been enhanced through the use of the latest computer and electronic techniques. Further, 'all wheel alignment' and 'on car wheel balancing' are techniques, which are of increasing interest where attention to vehicle performance, road-holding and passenger comfort are prime considerations. Tyre changers are offered which provide enhanced mechanical handling features; some models are close to fully automatic operation. Options for vehicle lifts are increasing; a wide range of configurations to suit different types of workshops is on offer to the market. Markets for garage diagnostic instrumentation include engine analysers, electronic system testers and exhaust gas analysers. This market was worth $172.2 million in 2000. Frost & Sullivan forecasts a decline in the sales of engine analysers over the forecast period (2000-2007), although this is expected to be compensated as a result of increasing sales of electronic system testers. With the introduction of the electronic system tester many of the functions carried out by the engine analyser are falling into the province of the electronic system testers, the study says. In western Europe, the introduction of the electronic system tester has been held back in the wider garage trade as manufacturers have sought to retain the exclusiveness of their data codes for the franchised trade only. This is now breaking down and the release into the second-hand vehicle trade of models with on-board computers is creating a growing trend for electronic system testers. The trend is now set for vehicles to incorporate sensors for monitoring a wide range of parameters in and about the engine and other areas of the vehicle. Thus, traditional methods of engine monitoring and tuning are being replaced by a digital revolution for which more capable and user-friendly electronic system testers are the vital link for diagnosis, servicing and repair. With all these changes to consider, the garage of the future may appear to be very different from what is seen today, the study concludes. Frost & Sullivan is an international marketing consulting company that monitors a comprehensive spectrum of industrial markets for trends, market measurements and strategies. This ongoing research is utilised to complement a series of research publications such as the European Automotive Telematics Market for Hardware and Services to support industry participants with customised consulting needs. Free Executive Summaries of all Frost & Sullivan reports are available to the press. Report Code: 3950, Publication Date: July 2001, Price: 6950 Euros For more information contact: Nikki Cole nikki.cole@fs-europe.com Tel. +44 (0) 20 7343 8325 http://transportation.frost.com http://pressroom.frost.com (See attached file: Revenues.jpg)