Australian Car Mechanic

76 Pages·2017·22.742 MB·English

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2 AUSTRALIAN CAR MECHANIC
WELCOME
aring for the environment is a But today when someone mentions ‘The ‘environazis’ – but sensible, responsible
C
modern-day phenomenon. Environment’, they’re talking about the world disposal of these kinds of items and
As a young man ‘the around us, and, more importantly, our effect chemicals is essential, and it’s not always
environment’ meant the area around where on that world, especially in the future. easy. Even if you believe it’s all a huge
you were standing. It might’ve been a It’s a real concern. Leaving aside the overreaction, simple economics demands
supermarket, a chilly mountaintop or even extremists and alarmists, practitioners in the disposal of automotive wastes be dealt
a workshop filled with carbon monoxide automotive industries need to be very aware with in a sensitive and accountable fashion.
from idling vehicles and the acrid bite of of the long-term effects of our actions, Any business hoping to generate customer
paint fumes. especially disposal of some of our waste loyalty will find itself shunned and reviled
products. Most of the by-products if it becomes common knowledge that
of maintaining a vehicle are petro- business as being careless in disposal of
chemical based and can potentially be its waste.
seriously damaging to any food chains Like it or not, it’s a fact of operating
and ecosystems they enter. a commercial enterprise in today’s
I can remember days as a younger environmentally sensitive world.
man where I’d dump a container of This train of thought came to mind when
sump oil on the ground behind the I saw page 54 of this issue. Flip over there
shed or flick a jar of used brake fluid and see what I mean.
onto a nearby shrub or tree. These As always, there’s plenty else to ponder
days I’m lucky enough to have a and enjoy in ACM. In a kind of neat
timber post-and-rail fence that’s symmetry we have a look at what’s new
always crying out for a coat of sump in the world of oils and lubricants, then
oil, so I have that disposal ethically check out some new tools, get up close
covered. But what about used coolants and personal with another superb classic
and hydraulic fluids? What about car and meet some people making a big
rubber and nylon items past their use- impact in the automotive world.
by date? Even the clean-up rags used As a final thought, when you’ve finished
by the truckload in most workshops reading the mag, dispose of it thoughtfully,
need consideration when it comes okay? Put it up on the bookshelf with the
time to dispose of them. They’re others so you can refer back to it later.
usually covered in grease or oil. Well done.
I don’t believe myself to be a
conservation or environmental Tom Foster
Tom Foster
extremist – what some call Editor
On the COVER
U nveiled last April at
the 2017 Australian
Automotive Aftermarket
Expo in Melbourne, the Penrite
Enviro BoxTM by Penrite Oil
Company is a new bag-in-
a-box oil packaging and
dispensing system that is kind Magazine Deadlines
to our environment, decreases Nov/Dec 2017 Deadline Sep 15, 2017
packaging wastage, saves
Jan/Feb 2018 Deadline Nov 13, 2017
money, increases workplace
Mar/Apr 2018 Deadline Jan 15, 2018
safety and increases bulk
lubMriocraen ta nstdo rmagoree c wapoarkcsithyo.ps are FIND RISLONE 12-PAGE PRODUCT CATALOGUE INSIDE!SUBSCRIBE TO AUSTRALIAN CAR MECHANIC MAGAZINE! SEE PAGE 74SUBSCRIBE TO AUSTRALIAN CAR MECHANIC MAGAZINE! SEE PAGE 71
tita’sk itnhge itf uotnu rbeo oafr da uatso mthoetyiv bee lieve GERMAN INGENUITY.
lubricant packaging in Australia. TMT1E6D5FI_AT PTOA_PRA9TCRNTESUR7_72:11S80Px3J2r7U 1icLF0e_/: AC$UEo79v.G79e 512rA_ 00iAn10cC79T GMS_T0FU4L7.iRndd E 1S✛✛✛ B UT MRILONATATKIOKMEOERA LOSE SI QLT&HU EL OCIUPCSLB KAUTR CAITSC BC2A S0HNO0ET0R SWBFl,aoE slfShgRlaunTbSge E KInluvEeennRtnoerrING & SUSMPEF9DEIAO NP77A1CR8ST3N37U0EI/PR5SO/rE:1iScP79e /N :7O 2$1 C:705FT.309 2 95p0 m1iEn7c GAS0T5TURES: WORKSHOP✛✛✛ T WHITONOBOTOT DE LDIROG9ESEIVTLQ7 I7A✛U1L 8LD3 TI7 T PFTROOE OOCI9RI7RVAS1LCC0Q0EMRP9HSUArTUYiL c/e BJ S:&EU I$S&NA7N . 29ATS05F1 E i7nNTOL0Ec3 GELG&SUATRDLT YBUEEU RANRWRINNDRIEACGEESL NARYIRSC NOTEHNHRT EK S ICTAR, EN✛✛✛G ✛ P RI HRNSI OSOIETDTLJ OEO MCDCHNEATOREVAN O IF LLTAIMUN G TEETTREH LE1AEM LC0SDL.SYEEE8IS-NV HTMST TCT EASA WOMP&OR R TTTDFUR LUI REIECEABNSLTOSM E ITRNNEOANJR!TETCCICHHNTEITOGN
AUSTRALIAN CAR MECHANIC 3
CLASSIC CARS WORDS AND IMAGES BY IAIN CURRY 1967 Shelby GT500SE in right-hand drive.
Publisher
Kurt M. Quambusch
SNAKE T ehvee mr. oYests ,e oxfp ethnes imvei llFioonrds Mofu Psotannyg fwaenrse snpuomrtienrgo uitsc hwye bll-idhdeienlge dfi nmguesrcsl.e car suYcohu a c roeuplldic bau iisld h yaordulry o twhen roefa cl oduerasle. ,T bhuet
Editor Cars produced since the icon’s The result? US$1.3 million, plus a 7 per closest you’ll get to the true ’67 Shelby
birth in 1964, one must top the price cent seller’s commission, to shatter the record GT500 Super Snake – unless you win lotto
charts. And, as you’d expect, it’s a rare one. for the highest price paid at auction for a and convince the owner to sell his one-off
Tom Foster Ludicrously rare in fact. Just a single 1967 Mustang. So the seller got shed loads of cash original – is with a continuation special.
Shelby GT500 Super Snake was ever made, and the new owner had a nailed-on blue chip The late Carroll Shelby was no mug
so when it came up for auction at Mecum’s investment rather more fun than stocks and when it came to making money out of
[email protected] CHARMER Spring Classic in Indianapolis in 2013 there shares, but what about the rest of us? tthuern d oefs tirhaeb militiyll eonfn hiuism p rSohdeulbctyss, wanedre a itn t he
high demand. The remake of Gone in 60
Seconds hit cinema screens in 2000, and
its star (sorry Nicolas Cage, not you) was
a 1967 Ford Mustang fastback depicted
Production Manager as a Shelby GT500 and memorably
called “Eleanor”. The people, quite
understandably, wanted one.
Arianna Lucini Shelby made just one Mustang-based GT500 Super Snake in 1967 and it TexSaos i nc o2m0p0a1n Cya crarolllel dS hUenlibqyu ete Paemrefodr mwaitnhc ae ,
sold at auction for $1.3 million. Continuation specials like this Queensland- granting it licence to build continuation
[email protected] built example have been the only way to experience the real thing. Kthipep oefnfi’csi aSl hweolbryld iws iodnee r eogf itshtery 4 f3o rt oa lbl eS hreeglbisyt evreehdic ilne s. TShuep eorn Sen aankde osnollyd oforirg $in1a.l3 Smhilelilobny iGnT 2 500103 . G’6T75 o0r0ig Sinuaple arn Sdn laokoeksin ign vtheery s styimlei loafr tthoe t he 
12 AUSTRALIAN CAR MECHANIC AUSTRALIAN CAR MECHANIC 13
Group Sales Manager
Scott Crowley
[email protected]
FEATURES 12
Accounts
Jeewan Gnawali 12. CLASSIC CARS
[email protected]
1967 Shelby GT500
Super Snake
Subscriptions
[phone] By Iain Curry
[email protected]
16. WORKSHOP TOOLS
Design
Peter Cartledge 26. OILS & LUBRICANTS
[email protected]
38. MOTORSPORT FEATURE
ISSN 1837-9710 By Jess Bell
Australian Car Mechanic 40. WORKSHOP PROFILE
is Published Bi-Monthly by
Tweed City Autos Mechanical
Mayne Media Group Pty Ltd
By Jon Gibson
44. COMPANY PROFILE
Hot Devil
Talk to the Devil
By Jamie Gray
ACN 130 678 812
62. MECHANIC PROFILE
ABN 27 130 678 812
Mario Pancione
Postal Autotechnique Melbourne
PO Box 489 Step into the Future
DEE WHY NSW 2099 Australia By Jamie Gray
Ph: 1300 76 4688
Int Ph: + 612 9452 4517 66. COLONEL’S CROSS8 PROJECT
Int Fax: + 612 9452 5319
Just Breathe!
www.mechanics-mag.com.au
By Jamie Gray
Copyright 2017.
Mayne Media Group Pty Ltd. 72. COMPANY PROFILE
Material may not be reproduced or Terrain Tamer 4WD Parts
photocopied in any form without the Pioneers of the Outback
written permission of the publisher. Mayne
Media Group Pty Ltd believes that all
material is correct at the time of printing
and will not be held liable for any incorrect
information supplied within.
4 AUSTRALIAN CAR MECHANIC
EYE ON THE INDUSTRY
Autocare 2018
Tinhdeu Astursyt rrealsipaonn Adust osmtroontigvley Atoft Aerumtoacrakreet 2018. sAaunucdsct rreaeslpsiaa nair n aidnu dtgourmostworytt.ih vT eoh fpe tasheret s im$, 1spe4or rvbtiaicllneiot n
events target the aftermarket parts and
T hAeft eArumsatrrakleiatn i nAduutsotmryo htiaves amceccehsasnoircieasl asnudp pcloyl lcishiaoinn raesp awire lwl aosrk shop
responded strongly to the recent owners addressing the theme disruption,
launch of Autocare 2018, the national two innovation, rejuvenation.
day, Sydney based convention designed A number of additional inclusions are
specifically for automotive aftermarket being organised to attract thousands of
parts, service and repair professionals to be automotive aftermarket professionals to
held on May 4 and 5, 2018. Autocare 2018. These include a special
Autocare 2018 will take place at the feature car display, along with appearances
new International Convention Centre at from key motorsport identities and
Sydney’s Darling Harbour. This major international VIP guest speakers.
national industry convention is hosted The trade display opportunities represent
by the Australian Automotive Aftermarket excellent value for this inaugural national
Association (AAAA) and has been structured automotive aftermarket convention. As
primarily as an education led event, Autocare 2018 is an education led event,
addressing the latest developments and trade display areas present highly visible
trends across the constantly evolving as some of the country’s largest automotive opportunities to launch and showcase
automotive parts, service and repair sectors aftermarket brands, support for Autocare products and to conduct personalised
of the industry. 2018 has got off to a flying start. customer training throughout the event.
The industry has committed to a Autocare 2018 will feature plenary Limited affordable opportunities remain
broad and highly beneficial range of sessions and seminars across three key to secure a well-recognised presence at
sponsorships for Autocare 2018 following streams that are integral to the continued Autocare 2018.
the recent release of the event prospectus.
From Australia’s largest parts, tools and To ensure that your company is a part of this major two day national convention
equipment supplier Repco, the collision contact Autocare 2018 Exhibition Manager, Nina Roberts by calling [phone]
repair industry’s pre-eminent provider of or by email - [email protected] or download a copy of the event prospectus at
technical training programs – ICAR, as well www.aaaa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Autocare-2018-electronic-prospectus.pdf
70
Terehdpeua cSiary tpidornnoe flyee sdIsn ittoewnrona aldsta itoyon cabole nC hvoeennldvte ioonnnti oMdnea sCyig e4nn etardne d s- p 5De, ac2ri0flii1nc8ag.l lHy afrobro auur,t ovmenouteiv efo ar fAteurtmocaarrkee t2 p0a1r8t,s a, sneartviiocnea al nd
70 AUSTRALIAN CAR MECHANIC
44
COMPANY P PROFILE WORDS AND IMAGES BY JAMIE GRAY
REGULARS
03. WELCOME LETTER
field representatives around the country “AS A FAMILY innovative Australian first product. 06. CONTRIBUTORS
pTrhoev icdoinmgp laonyya lh aansd g eroffwicnie tnot nsoewrv ihcaev. e BUSINESS WITH theA sc oam fapmanilyy ibs uasbinlee stos pwriothd ufacem nilye wva lues
wsDueaQcvrceuileh aPsolirsutoyfsud ealu snbc diutns s r iPeanelteitraestbhnsi .dl aiT tnayhd sea Nmrteeea awknme yZy eta rtatoa l Hdaaneo d t . FTAHMEI LCYO VMAPLAUNEYS tptfooreor rocmiothh,de eo sror ffcrr etooilmmmy peot,ehn twe ipt hogairrrcsoeh unw ntis hdc oa ou mhbpae pivnaneen afitie otvs cep. oruTymrh csipshha aohrsreateds 08. AUTODATA TECH FEATURE
shows as possible, to listen to the “end IS ABLE TO led to a 70 per cent stake in the gas torch
Talk of the Devil utdtrhseaeesd rinegsesn”,e.i ndw“gsWh pioecrf ho gt dehautes c sgmtirssea taa rttnkh ediedt psecelaoarsmcv efipcr.oa”emns y t toihn em eet TPORROCDHUECSE F NREOWM maernaeMsr uakorlevestiosnp glqaa uscfosaeerl.i wmtMya baraldnen yddt h oirenfe lHcAiaooubmts itlDpirtaeayl.vniaiyl ’ sws ephericosh ds uocmtse 10. MILESTONES
coTnhseis trsa nogf eb uotfa Hnoet gDaesv tilo rpcrhoedsu catnsd THE GROUND UP gofr enaetw o ppproodrtuucntisti easn din s tehrev idceevse ilto opfmfeersn t
soldering irons, Propane and Trade map IN A VERY SHORT to the marketplace. Leo also stated that
Better the Devil you know when things get hot! ganasd teovrecnh ecso,o gkainsg h teoartc hgeusn.s/weed killers PERIOD OF TIME.” “aTreim ceo nisc emrnoende,y t haesr feafro raes woue ra crue sctoumrreenrstl y 34. TOOL TESTS
The newly developed HD030 turbo gas developing in conjunction with our Hot Devil
Atso a r ohlol mhies hslaenedvyems aunp wanhdo gloevt es pFiunsahlleyd, tthher ocuogmhp tahneys ew iansit iaabl lsep teoe dra bisuem thpes . twohrcichh i sis t hae d hiroetctet sret stourltc ho fi nc uthsteo mmearr’kse t, ssoidoen ocfa tlhleed b Wusailnlteescsh wisi lal bwea llal umnocuhnintged sptroocdkuicsttss tnoe wou mr ceuthstoodms eorfs d, einli vae sripnege oduy ra nd
Nech co-foinutnod seorm LeN gMoaordk eptrionjge c(ttsra, dLienog funTdhse aanimd cwoams mtoe pnrcoev itdhee ap rroacnegses o.f quality fbeeeadsbt aocfk a o tfo wrchha itn w aacsti onne eydoeud c. aTno jsueme pth oisn to msooludtuiolanr, gwahriacghe c/wano rbkes hinopst asltloerda gine 60 sec, efficient manner.” 42. MOTORSPORT NEWS
under the brands of Hot Devil and Naleon cordless gas products at an affordable price. www.hotdevil.com.au. has a 200kg maximum loading rating and For more information visit
Products) with his wife Josephine saw a Over the years, the company has grown Another cool product that the Naleon comes with a lifetime warranty. Another www.hotdevil.com.au
unique opportunity when he realised that via constant development of new and
there was a need for quality blow torches innovative products.
and soldering irons in the marketplace. “Our staff are the key to our success,” 46. INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS
There was a very limited range of products Leo mentioned. “Many of our employees
offered and all were very expensive. have been with us since the beginning, our
After further research and discussion accounts lady of 78 years young and one
with various trade and retail outlets, the of our guys in the warehouse who recently
ddeecveislioopnm weanst omf aad rea tnog ec oomf mqueanlcitey tahned tau trhnreede -7d8a ys tiwll eweokr. kW we iathr eu jsu, satl boeniet wbiogr king 64. BUSINESS AND FINANCE
affordable gas torches. It was at this time happy family,” Leo shared. A staff of 13
the family owned Australian business which includes warehouse and admin staff,
operating in Carrum Downs, Victoria was plus some casuals makes up the Hot Devil
balol rbne. eBru at nlidk es kmitatlneys griogohdt ftrhoimng sth iet wstaasrtn.’t team. The company also has a number of 68. EYE ON THE INDUSTRY
to Absri nag f athmisil yv ebnutsuirnee sinst,o g ae trtienagli ttyh ew fains aan ce “WE GET GREAT IDEAS FROM THE
difficult hurdle to overcome. Banks did TRADES, WHICH ASSIST THE COMPANY IN
nanotd mhiagkhe inthteer ejosut rrnaetye se acsrey,a wtinitgh fdinealanycsia l DESIGNING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO 74. SUBSCRIBE NOW
dbieflfiiecfu litnie tsh.e Biru vt iswioitnh, tLheeo d arnivde ,J aomsebpithioinne and MEET THE NEEDS OF THE MARKETPLACE.”
44 AUSTRALIAN CAR MECHANIC AUSTRALIAN CAR MECHANIC 45
AUSTRALIAN CAR MECHANIC 5
CONTRIBUTORS
SUBSCRIBE TO AUSTRALIAN CAR MECHANIC MAGAZINE! SEE PAGE 74
JESS BELL has been in the
motorsport world her whole
life. She grew up around racing
and BMW E30’s and now has an

E30 race car of her own. If she’s
not racing or in the pits with the
team, she’s trackside taking photos
for Imajess Photography. Jess
MEDIA PARTNER:
is also on the BMW Car Club of
Victoria and Women of Australian
FOCUS FEATURES: WORKSHOP TOOLS ✛ OILS & LUBRICANTS
Motorsport committees.
PSEriPce/O: $C7T. 9250 1in7c GST TOOL TESTS
05 ✛ WB DIGITAL TORQUE ANGLE WRENCH
✛ HOT DEVIL TORCH & SOLDERING IRON KIT
✛ INTEREQUIP CAR BATTERY ANALYSER
9 771837 971009
IAIN CURRY has been a specialist JON GIBSON is a qualified motor JAMIE GRAY is a professional
motoring writer and photographer mechanic. Having completed his photographer who after 20 years
for 15 years, working for a variety of apprenticeship in NSW in the '90s, in the field started a carpentry
magazines in Australia, United Kingdom, Jon has built on his experience in the apprenticeship! With a recently
USA, Germany and Sweden. He is former trade and has expanded into media and found love for purring V8s, Jamie
editor of Performance BMW magazine advertising as well as corporate roles is documenting the transformation
and features writer for GT Porsche in commercial dealership management. of his stock Crewman. When
magazine, and has been fortunate enough Jon has been writing for various trade he’s not writing, taking photos or
to photograph Formula 1, the Le Mans 24 publications for more than 10 years practicing his wood work skills,
Hours, World Touring Cars, V8 Supercars covering topics including maintenance you can catch him surfing at
and a range of adventure sports. ‘best practices’ and product reviews. Turrimetta Beach.
COLIN MOLLOY has been a motor GREG SPINDA is a Partner at Carew ADAM WATKINS is a full-time
mechanic since 1972. Becoming a Lawyers and specialises in representing teacher of automotive technology
Master Technician (now long expired) everyday people in superannuation at The Northern Sydney Institute
for Land Rover and winning various matters and people injured at work, in Northern Beaches campus.
awards (last century!) inspired him motor vehicle accidents and in general Adam works on marques such
to gain a teaching qualification, and accidents. Greg’s aim is making sure as Mercedes Benz and BMW and
he has taught at what is now called clients understand not only the process, spends time at the racetrack.
TAFE Queensland East Coast in but also guiding them through tough Adam brought this knowledge into
Nambour since 2000. He keeps his times. He also sits on the Queensland the classroom to train modern
skills current by doing RACQ road Law Society Practice Management and automotive apprentices.
patrols on the weekends. Development committee.
6 AUSTRALIAN CAR MECHANIC

TECHNICAL FEATURE WORDS BY AUTODATA AUSTRALIA
VVT, past & future
First patented by Fiat in the ‘60s, variable valve timing has been taken on
by most car manufacturers and today is available in an array of versions.
V ariable valve operating methods Later versions of cam phasing are The future
can be traced as far back as the electronically controlled and hydraulically Fiat introduced their game changing
steam age. As for conventional operated. They are known as ‘continuous’ ‘Twin Air’ system in 2010. Since its
automotive internal combustion engines, and use single or twin variators depending launch, the ‘Twin Air’ has been a mystery
variable valve timing (VVT) was first on the manufacturers’ application. Oil to many people. It uses a turbocharged
patented by Fiat in the late 1960s. However, pressure, controlled by an ECU-operated four stroke petrol engine with four
Alfa Romeo was the first manufacturer to solenoid/camshaft position (CMP) actuator, valves per cylinder that is reasonably
introduce VVT into a production vehicle in changes the angle of the camshafts by conventional. The name ‘Twin Air’ is a
their 1980 Spider 2000. Since then, many delivering oil into the galleries of the inner reference to its twin cylinders and inlet
manufacturers have incorporated the rotor which force against the vanes. valve operation – a small capacity engine
principles of VVT into their designs. The that provides at least as much power as
array of VVT variations from manufacturers Cam changing many bigger engines available.
has generated many different VVT system Some manufacturers – Honda’s Variable The ‘Twin Air’ system uses a hydraulic
names/acronyms, such as VTEC and VVT-i. Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control valve system to operate rams which
Variable valve timing is used to aid (VTEC) for example, have a separate hydraulically open both inlet valves
performance, fuel economy, and lower camshaft lobe for each valve on the inlet simultaneously.
emissions by enabling the optimisation of and exhaust camshafts (although early SOHC Manufacturers are now researching
engine performance under different loads engines only used this on the inlet valves). and developing new camshaft-less
and operations. Oil pressure is used to engage a pin which internal combustion engines, which
locks the high lift, high duration rocker arm would see the demise of the valve train
TYPES OF VARIABLE VALVE TIMING to the adjacent low lift, low duration rocker system and variable valve timing as we
Cam phasing arms. Although the adjustment is ‘discrete’ know it.
There are various types of VVTs on the rather than ‘continuous’, this type has For workshops, this would mean less
market but the most common are known always been a favourite with the modified serviceable items such as timing belt
as ‘cam phasing’. A cam phasing VVT has car scene because of the big power gains. replacement. It could also mean that
a camshaft variator or adjuster which is more training is necessary, as the new
located on the camshaft sprocket or gear. Cam phasing and cam changing engines will be far more complicated, and
Early designs were simple – they only More recent systems have become of course workshops would need new
worked on the inlet camshaft, with just two increasingly complicated and expensive – equipment and special tools.
settings (off or on) – they are known as combining cam phasing and cam changing Workshops that subscribe to Autodata
‘discrete’ and the valve timing can only be can lead to improved efficiencies, more can access VVT technical information,
changed at a set engine speed (e.g. BMW’s power and cleaner emissions. precautions, and procedures by simply
single VANOS). One such system is Porsche’s Variocam logging in. Autodata’s automotive technical
Plus. A variator is fitted on the inlet information is the most trusted, up-to-
camshafts which also have two different date and accurate in the aftermarket.
cam profiles and variable hydraulic tappets Autodata’s rapid technical information
which have inner and outer lifters. release and updates structure ensures
The inner lifter contacts the centre that subscribers have access to reliable
camshaft lobe (smaller lift and duration). and standardised data.
When higher lift is required, the inner and With Autodata’s innovative data
outer lifters are locked together with a pin; architecture, technicians can always be
actuated by an electronically controlled confident that they have the technical
hydraulic valve. Once locked, the outer information they need to service and
camshaft lobes can then come into play maintain vehicle technology, sometimes
providing larger valve lift and duration. even before it appears in workshops.
The cam phasing and cam changing
systems are individually controlled by Visit autodata-group.com/au for more
the engine control module (ECM). information or to try Autodata today.
8 AUSTRALIAN CAR MECHANIC
trust your equipment!
PH 1300 BURSON (1300 28 77 66)
MILESTONES
Bright future
In September this year, Managing Director Anthony Kittel, along with
his wife Michele Kittel will be marking their 20th year anniversary
since purchasing South Australian-based advanced manufacturer
REDARC Electronics in 1997.
EDARC Electronics was founded
R
in 1979 by electronics engineer,
Robin (Bob) William Mackie. In
1997, Anthony and Michele Kittel decided
to purchase the business following the
premature death of its founder. This was
a big financial risk, considering the Kittel’s
had to mortgage their house, sell their
vehicle, take on a big pay cut all whilst
raising a young family, just so they could
come up with their share.
From humble beginnings to now being
an award-winning leading manufacturer in
South Australia, REDARC Electronics has
enjoyed many milestones under Mr Kittel’s
helm in the last 20 years.
Going through the Global Financial Australia’s harsh conditions. the AAAA, and named one of Westpac’s
Crisis of 2008 and turbulent economic and In late 2016 and early 2017 REDARC Top 20 “Businesses of Tomorrow”, which
political times of today, the REDARC ‘story’ released the next-generation In-vehicle allows REDARC to participate in a mentor-
is an exemplary case of how it has been Battery Charger range, the BCDC1225D matching program with one of Australia’s
able to continue to buck the trend against and the BCDC1240D which feature top business leaders. In addition, REDARC
manufacturing slowdown in Australia. simultaneous solar and DC charging. With received three awards at the 14th
REDARC’S motto ‘The Customer is King’ built-in ‘Green Power Priority’ it will select Manufacturers Monthly Endeavour Awards,
is underpinned by instilling three key solar charging first, meaning less load on including Manufacturer of the Year, Most
values throughout the business; having the alternator. It’s also compatible with Innovative Manufacturing Company and
an unrelenting focus on innovation, an 12 and 24 Volt vehicle systems, variable Global Supply Chain Integration.
unrelenting passion for learning and voltage and smart alternators and includes Of these recent awards and Industry
building a team based culture, that has a Lithium (LiFePO4) charging profile. recognition, Mr Kittel said: “Being a
created an iconic brand in REDARC. In 2016, REDARC announced it will technology focused manufacturer,
Improvement and innovation are at the expand its Lonsdale facility, which will REDARC’s entire business model is
core of REDARC which has seen many of see them almost double their workforce based upon innovation. We choose to put
their products recognised as real game- over the next four years. The upgrade will technological development into everything
changers in the aftermarket industry and see REDARC able to capitalise on new we do and invest 15 per cent of annual
even allowed new markets both nationally market opportunities and house new state- revenue into R&D.”
and internationally to emerge. of-the-art equipment to enhance their With almost 40 years’ experience in
The range of award-winning BCDC manufacturing capabilities. the research, design, development and
In-vehicle battery chargers for example REDARC has been recognised for a manufacture of aftermarket accessories,
practically opened a new market for number of awards, most notably were REDARC and its director have shown
auxiliary Battery Charging when the first named the Telstra Business of the Year there is still a place for manufacturing
model was released in 2009. The BCDC award in 2014, and awarded some recent in Australia.
range has attracted a reputation for accolades as well. This includes the 2015
charging batteries to a proven 100 per and 2017 Excellence in Manufacturing – For more information
cent as well as being built tough to handle Gold Award, over $10 million turn over from visit www.redarc.com.au
10 AUSTRALIAN CAR MECHANIC