12.06.2006 - ATE is making increasing inroads on the Swiss market. Among other things, the ATE BrakeCenter concept has now been successfully introduced in Switzerland in conjunction with hostettler autotechnik ag. Since 2005, more than 35 independent workshops have been trained and equipped.

With nine branches and a workforce of 220, hostettler autotechnik ag (Sursee) is one of the leading suppliers to the Swiss workshop sector. In more than 30 years, the company has established a worldwide network of OEM suppliers.´Its range now includes some 70,000 original spare parts, as well as workshop equipment, diagnostic systems, chemicals, accessories, oil and professional training services. Since 2005, autotechnik ag has been cooperating with ATE not only in the field of replacement and wear parts but also in the service and training segment.

The Swiss company presented the ATE TrainingCenter concept at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, where it immediately attracted considerable interest. This was the first time that Swiss workshops had been offered a concept that allows them to specialize in brake systems, a segment with an excellent image that offers outstanding sales prospects. Working closely with ATE, the Swiss company also optimized the concept, which has been successful throughout Europe, for the Swiss market. hostettler has also advertised the BrakeCenter concept consistently in its customer magazine, which is published several times per year, and on its homepage. For a workshop to qualify as an ATE BrakeCenter, three days' training are required. According to Bert Lembens and Anton De Coster, responsible for BrakeCenter training at ATE, all the Swiss trainees they met this year were highly motivated and competent.

hostettler autotechnik ag also cooperates with ATE for other types of training, on topics such as brake troubleshooting or ABS. And workshop tips drawn up by ATE are published in the Hostettler customer magazine. "Of course, we would be pleased to provide this type of support for other customers, too," says Regional Sales Manager Peter Kamp.  

ATE has also given hostettler's partners an inside view of brake production. Together with 120 partners of its Autofit specialist workshop system, hostettler autotechnik AG visited the Continental Automotive Systems brake plant at Gifhorn near Hanover. The company had chartered an Airbus especially for the twoday trip. Following a tour of this “highly advanced, extremely interesting plant” (hostettler), tthere was time to make and firm up contacts before moving on to nearby Wolfsburg the following day to visit the Volkswagen autostadt.