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Gabriel Announces Winners…

Save the Rhino Annual Golf day 2013…

Gabriel, the premier shock absorber brand of Control Instruments-Automotive,

has announced the winners of the joint Parts Incorporated Africa (PIA)

competition of  win 13 double tickets for an all-expenses-paid cruise

this month to the Portuguese Islands, Maputo on the MSC Opera

cruise ship.

The promotion was based on sales targets set for  PIA’s branches and customers

on  achieving the highest sales of Gabriel shock absobers. The winners are from

various branches nationwide including Gauteng, Cape Town, Mpumalanga and

the Eastern Cape. Prizes also included Gabriel mechandise.

Sean Staley, Control Instruments-Automotive divisional head – Ride Control,

said working with Gabriel’s wholesale partners in promotions of this nature

emphasises the importance of shock absorbers as a safety feature and

brings top-of-mind awareness at retail level. “It is a foundation

of Gabriel’s SafeZone 2.6 programme,” he said.

“In 2007, Gabriel shock absorbers joined an elite club of iconic brands in

celebrating its 100th anniversary. Gabriel shocks are locally designed

and manufactured to meet South Africa’s harsh road conditions,

” he said.

The Safe Zone 2.6 project is a safety programme aimed at educating consumers

and fitment centres about vehicle and passenger safety.

Safe Zone 2.6 is based on road tests performed on an average passenger vehicle travelling at 80km per hour with good shock

absorbers and comparing it to a vehicle with worn shocks.

“Good shocks will stop a vehicle on average 2,6 meters sooner than a similar vehicle with worn shocks,” he said.

Last year, Gabriel achieved top position in the shock absorber category of research conducted by Target Group Index (TGI).

TGI’s ICON Brand Survey is the largest of its kind in South Africa. More than 15 000 consumers were surveyed,

representing over 19,8-million adult South Africans.

Gabriel Releases Suspension Tester for Bakkies, 4x4’s MPVs and SUVs…  

Gabriel, the premier shock absorber brand of JSE-listed Control

Instruments-Automotive, has upgraded its successful passenger

vehicle suspension tester range. It now includes vehicles with

a maximum axle weight of 2,5 tons, which includes cars, bakkies,

MPVs and SUVs.

The Gabriel tester differentiates itself from similar competitive products

in that the software is fully adapted to the SA market and incorporates

the entire SA car park.The tester covers a total of 17 000 vehicles in

the South African car park and warns operators to check the vehicle’s

tyre pressure as part of the test, a first for SA. The system also provides

comprehensive reports of the vehicle’s shock absorber status as well

as recommendations on the required part number needed.

Sean Staley, Control Instruments-Automotive divisional head – Drive Control,

said that Gabriel began investigating the suspension testing market over

three years ago but was unable to find a solution that exactly fitted the

South African environment.

“In 2011 we narrowed our search down to two international companies and solutions. After an extensive evaluation we selected one of the world’s most advanced systems and have, over the past 12 months, worked with local retail stores and overseas engineers to deliver an effective retail solution, including customised software and reporting capabilities,” he said.

“As part of the next phase of the programme, the suspension tester upgrade is now available for 4x4 vehicles and SUVs,” he said.

“Gabriel’s aim is to make shock and suspension testing easy for its workshop and fitment centre clients. It will provide a comprehensive and accurate alternative to the current equipment on the market, that utilises the traditional ‘bounce’ test or testers, which are not suited to the local market,” he said.

The customer and fitment centre reports have also been upgraded. There are now separate colour-coded reports that provide a graphic representation of the results.

“In addition, in what is believed to be a first, Gabriel has included its entire parts list for the South African car park into the system’s database, recommending the vehicle’s part number as well as alternate Gabriel part numbers. This, coupled with the quotation format, enables retail staff to easily quote on the correct part and help conclude the sale quicker,” said Mr Staley.

The programme is linked to a national safety and education campaign for consumers to identify worn shock absorbers, known as SafeZone 2.6.

Gabriel’s Safe Zone 2.6 project is a safety programme aimed at educating people about vehicle and passenger safety and responsible driving. The name Safe Zone 2.6 is based on road tests performed on an average passenger vehicle travelling at 80km per hour, with good shock absorbers, as compared to a vehicle with worn shocks. Good shocks will stop a vehicle, on average, 2,6 meters sooner than a similar vehicle with worn shocks, said Mr Staley.

“The Gabriel Safe Zone 2.6 programme objectives at retail level are to create a simple, unified two-way value proposition for each retail outlet and educate the consumer and retail outlets on the importance of regularly checking their shocks,” he said.