National Windscreens is heading to the Commercial Vehicle Show at Birmingham’s NEC next week for the third consecutive year. The show will be used to showcase the company’s world-leading ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) camera calibration programme that forms part of a UK-wide specialist fleet service.
The UK’s largest independently owned windscreen repair and replacement specialist and the vehicle glazing supplier of choice for 95 of the UK’s top 100 HGV fleet can be found on stand 4D50, where there will be advice for fleet operators on what ADAS means for them.
Pete Marsden, managing director, says: “Fleet operators are the main buyers of new vehicles and this means that increasing numbers are aware of ADAS and the safety benefits they offer. However we have found that many fleet operators are not so aware of the need for ADAS camera calibration, particularly after a windscreen is replaced.
“Many ADAS features such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keeping assist use camera sensors located behind a vehicle’s windscreen so, if a replacement is needed, calibration work must also be carried out so these safety features will continue to work as intended.
“At the CV Show we have taken a larger stand this year to enable us to simulate calibrations and show exactly how different types of calibration work are carried out using the latest equipment.
“Technical manager, Alistair Carlton, will also be available on all three days of the show to explain how he is working closely with vehicle manufacturers to ensure National Windscreens are always up to date with the calibration requirements of the latest models,” he added.
Vehicle safety consultancy Thatcham Research says windscreen-mounted ADAS technology is currently fitted to approximately 6% of vehicles on UK roads with this proportion likely to rise to 40% by 2020.
Pete adds: “These figures are likely to be even higher for fleets as the age of their vehicles will be much less than the overall UK car parc. This means a massively growing need for fleet operators to be aware of the safety implications of ensuring the cameras are properly calibrated following windscreen replacement.
“We have already carried out more than 6,000 calibrations so the message is that the demand for ADAS calibration is very much upon us and fleet operators must be aware of what it means for them when choosing their automotive glazing provider.
“Fleet business development managers, Nick Broughall and James Cook, will also be on the stand and there’s a chance to win some fabulous prizes by playing our buzz wire game,” he added.
“I am delighted that, over the past 18 months, our company has played an integral role in raising awareness of ADAS which is the most significant technological advance to have affected the automotive glazing industry for many years.
“National Windscreens prides itself on being able to fully anticipate customer’s future needs and our work around ADAS clearly demonstrates this approach. Not only have we worked with Thatcham Research to develop an ADAS Code of Practice but we have also supported GQA Qualifications in ensuring recognised qualifications are available so fleet customers can be assured of competence in calibration.
“Manufacturers state calibration is best carried out in workshop conditions and that is why, unlike so many of our competitors, we remain fully committed to our network of 108 centres and have invested £2m in equipment and training to ensure they can all complete calibration work.
“This network puts us in a market-leading position to service fleet customers who will, on average, never be more than 20 minutes or 11 miles away, from an ADAS centre. As time means money, this one-stop service for replacement and calibration offers a significant competitive advantage to fleet operators,” he added.
The free-to-attend Commercial Vehicle Show takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from 25-27 April, and has already confirmed more than 450 exhibitors.