ATS EUROMASTER’S ‘HIGHLY PROGRESSIVE APPROACH’ SECURES INNOVATION AWARD

16 May 2012

Staff at Birmingham-based ATS Euromaster are celebrating after winning the prestigious Innovation Award at the Van Fleet World Honours 2012, for the second year in succession.  The trophy was presented today at a special ceremony held at the Royal Automobile Club in London on Wednesday 16 May.

ATS Euromaster scooped the award following a two year period which has seen it invest more than £10 million in expanding its service offering.  This significant investment has helped transform the company’s nationwide centre network, with new technology and training being supported by the roll-out of a comprehensive centre refurbishment programme.

Speaking at the event, Van Fleet World Editor, John Kendall, said: “The landscape for vehicle servicing, repair and maintenance is constantly changing, both as a result of the pull from fleets wanting services to be provided in a different way, and from service providers looking for new areas into which they can expand.

“Over the last two years ATS Euromaster has demonstrated a highly progressive approach to the provision of fleet services, expanding well beyond the traditional fast-fit arena into areas such as air conditioning recharging, engine diagnostics, scheduled maintenance servicing, cold weather tyres and nitrogen tyre inflation. The company has capitalised on its excellent distribution network to reach fleets with the widest possible range of services,” he adds.

Accepting the award on behalf of ATS Euromaster’s 2,680-strong UK-based team, Peter Fairlie, Group Sales Director, said: “As the demands of the market have changed, so has our service offering.  It’s important for any successful business to keep innovating, particularly in a tough economic environment.

“As a result we’re driving a 20 per cent growth in key van fleet accounts taking advantage of our non-tyre capabilities.  The plan is to continue introducing these new services to more locations within our network.”

ATS Euromaster already has 136 centres offering a range of menu driven servicing for cars and vans – with 50 more locations planned during 2012.  The company is also continuing to extend its MOT capability.  Currently, 98 centres offer Class IV MOTs and 27 centres Class VII MOTs – with plans to introduce a further 14 Class IV and Class VII MOT stations this year.

Commenting on this year’s awards, Fleet World Managing Editor, Ross Durkin, said: “We are delighted to recognise the excellent quality of some of the industry’s key fleet service providers in this year’s awards.”

The Van Fleet World Honours are presented annually to those motor manufacturers, service companies and individuals who have, in the opinion of the judges, achieved the highest possible level of excellence in their sector.  The judging panel is chaired by John Kendall, Editor of Van Fleet World, and includes Steve Moody, Alex Grant and Ross Durkin from the Fleet World editorial team.

Twelve months ago ATS Euromaster won the Van Fleet World Innovation Award for the first time, after becoming the first national fast-fit provider to launch a fully managed cold weather tyre service for UK fleets.  In December 2011 it was also named Fleet News Van Equipment Supplier of the Year – in recognition of the company’s impressive van-based expertise, and success in growing its service offering beyond the traditional fast-fit market.

ATS Euromaster stands out in the light commercial vehicle market for operating a national network which can accommodate even high-roof, long-wheelbase van and minibus models in 95 per cent of its 370 centres.  In comparison, many fast-fit chains operate centres built predominantly with the car market in mind.

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About ATS Euromaster

ATS Euromaster is part of the Euromaster Group, which operates in fifteen European countries with 10,700 employees in more than 1,800 service centres. Established in the UK since 1961, ATS Euromaster has 370 service centres (comprising a mixture of retail, comprehensive and truck sites), approximately 1,000 mobile service vans and employs over 2,700 people, providing national coverage of the UK.  It is the largest comprehensive tyre distributor supplying tyres for everything from cars and vans to trucks, coaches, forklifts, agricultural tractors and even construction plant.  In 2010 ATS Euromaster became the first national tyre expert to be accredited by both SAFEContractor and the Contractors Health and Safety Scheme (CHAS).  The company’s technicians are amongst the most highly trained in the fast-fit industry, offering a comprehensive range of products and services including tyres, fleet inspections, nitrogen inflation, brakes, batteries, shock absorbers, oil, exhausts, fault diagnostics, air-conditioning servicing and MOT testing.  Further information is available from www.atseuromaster.co.uk

Note to editor: For press information please contactJames Keeler on 020 8647 4467.

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