The board of directors of the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) has announced the appointment of Jessie Korosec of the Equipment & Tool Institute (ETI) and Valerie Sullivan of American Honda as 2015-‘16 co-chairs of the NASTF Communications Committee.  Read More.

Vinchattle, Larry S. "Mick" was born on July 31, 1943, on a farm in North Central Iowa to Roy and Gretchen Stephenson Vlnchattle. The family moved to a small town, Gowrie, when Mick was 1 year old. He grew up there and graduated from Gowrie High School. After graduation he work several years for a local company, Buskee Industries, before moving to Milwaukee where he lived and worked for Blackhawk Industries. Mick traveled extensively for Blackhawk throughout the United States and other countries. He was in charge of training and marketing programs for their company, as well as all trade show activities. Mick enjoyed many rounds of golf in his earlier years. He was active in bowling, belonging to two or three leagues at a time and trav­eling to tournaments. He had the bowling "Bug" like his dad. Mick enjoyed traveling with his good buddy Russ and meeting with the guys for coffee every day, and telling a good story, also another one of his favorite past-times. Mick was preceded in death by his wife Mary (nee Ollmann), his parents Roy and Gretchen, two brothers Harold and Ronney, three sisters Zelda, Sharon and Glee. He is survived by his sister Doris Martin of Ames, Iowa, brother Jerry of Texas, and many nieces and nephews. Mick looked forward to getting to travel home, and to once again be with Mary. Visitation at the Funeral Home, Friday, August 14th (TODAY) 4-7PM, additional visitation Saturday August 15th at ST. MATTHIAS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 9606 W. Beloit Rd., 9-9:45AM. Mass of Christian Burial lOAM. Interment Highland Memorial Park.

The Auto Care Association and the Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI) announced that applications are now being accepted for the 2015 Aftermarket Telematics Challenge. Now in its fourth year, the Challenge seeks to recognize the best examples of aftermarket technology in telematics. This is the first year the Challenge is being co-sponsored by ETI.  Read More. For submission information, click here.

The independent automotive aftermarket faces an imminent “communications conundrum.” Telematics have reached a tipping point that will impact service, repair and custom shops and technicians at many levels. Recently, the Automotive Aftermarket Telematics Force (TFF) provided an industry update to a broad spectrum of attendees at ToolTech 2015, hosted by the Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI).  Read More.

At the second annual Technology & Telematics Forum during NACE | CARS 2015 on June 22 in Detroit, several panels of industry experts talked about the impacts of that question. They also discussed many of the advancements and challenges presented by the impending revolution in wireless vehicle technology and how different parts of the market may be impacted.  Read More.

ETI’s Annual ToolTech conference remains the premiere event in the tool and equipment industry with more than 115 professionals from over 50 companies in attendance at this year’s ToolTech 2015 in Austin, Texas  

The Equipment and Tool Institute's ToolTech conference provided an unequalled opportunity to attend informative industry focused presentations and take away valuable information about the “Connected Vehicle:  Opportunities and Challenges”, this year’s theme.

ToolTech 2015 featured presentations and panel discussions with cellular network providers, telematics experts, shop owners, vehicle manufacturer representatives, and collision repair specialists covering a variety of topics surrounding telematics and trends, as well as discussion groups on the driverless vehicle, new technologies and trends in the industry, and proper collision repairs and OEM procedures. 

ToolTech 2015 Keynote Speaker and body language expert Eliot Hoppe introduced the crowd to the silent language of influence and how actions can motivate and persuade others to comply with ease through entertaining live demonstrations and video examples.   Attendees learned how what they see and hear can influence both positive and negative outcomes in their ability to be successful both professionally and personally.

The link to ToolTech 2015 Presentations is available on the homepage of ETI’s website, www.etools.org.

Twenty-four ETI member companies showcased their organizations during the Company Spotlight Happy Hour and others were given the opportunity to present new products to the media during press conference and to engage in private one-on-on-one meetings with individuals and companies of interest.

There was plenty of time for networking during the event’s opening reception and the closing dinner which were held at two restaurants with rooftop views of Austin's world famous 6th street district.

 “ToolTech 2015 was very well attended and continues to be one of the most informative events in the industry.  The speakers and panelists were very knowledgeable and the topics were pertinent and provided the latest developments and trends in the tool and equipment segment to the attendees,” said Jessie Korosec, ETI Marketing and Event Manager.  “The Discussion Groups continue to grow in popularity and participation and the newly revamped Company Spotlight Happy Hour provided an excellent stage for our member companies to highlight their products and services.  We would like to thank the attendees and presenters for their support and we look forward to seeing everyone at next year’s ToolTech in Monterey, California, April 25 -28, 2016”.

Founded in 1947, the Equipment and Tool Institute is a trade association of automotive tool and equipment manufacturers and technical information providers. ETI’s mission is to: Advance the vehicle service industry by providing technical data and open dialog between the manufacturers of transportation products, government regulators and the providers of tools, equipment and service information.

Cars and computers are converging, and the plugs prove it.  Across the auto industry, a transition is underway to Ethernet, the networking system widely used to connect PCs to the Internet and one another. It is the best way, most automakers and suppliers have decided, to handle the huge amounts of data that next-generation driver-assist and infotainment systems will need to transmit and process. Read More

The Equipment and Tool Institute’s (ETI) ToolTech 2014, held in Sonoma, CA, early last month, is one of those few events that affords a glimpse at the future of the automotive industry—from top to bottom.  Read More

The “Connected Shop” has been evolving for almost 2 decades, with North American and European standards defining how shop management systems, information systems and diagnostic tools can share information in a seamless environment. What do these “connected” strategies mean as the Connected Car becomes more pervasive in the car parc? ToolTech 2014 explores the connected shop, both Dealership and Aftermarket, and how they will interact with the Connected Vehicle, with a powerful lineup of panel discussions and speakers – from OE and Aftermarket companies participating in the “Connected” environments – so that the automotive service network is equipped to take advantage of these new technologies to provide the services our customers expect.
 
Keynote Speaker
Monday 3:30 - 5:00 PM
Integrating Digital and Social Media into your Mix
Suse Barnes - President and Digital Marketing Consultant - Susby Internet Solutions

OEM Panel - Question and Answer Session with the Automakers
Tuesday 9:00 - 10:30 AM
Panelists:
Bob Stewart, Aftermarket Service Support and Brand Protection, GM
Wes Arnold, Assistant Manager, Special Tools/Tool and Equipment Program, Honda
Tom Wall, Technical Information and Diagnostics Manager, Toyota
Jim VonEhr, Manager, Technical Information and Serviceability, Nissan
Nathan Knight, Regulatory Affairs Engineer, Porsche
Kurt Immekus, Service Publications Regulatory Specialist, Volkswagen
Dennis Blough, Director Marine and Auto Service - Division Head, Suzuki

Shop Owner/Technician Perspective Panel
Tuesday 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Panelists:
Richard Kahn, Owner, Earth In Upheaval
Harry Dhaliwal, Owner, Drive Rite Automotive
Scott Andrews, Owner, Pacific Rim Automotive
Ray Paoletti, Owner, Personalized Auto Care
Jason Smith, Technician, Dana Point Auto Service
Aaron Christaldi, Technician, Paul’s Japanese Auto Repair

Connected Vehicle Session - Data and Information Access
Wednesday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Vehicle Data Ownership
Presenters:
Stephen Finnegan - Manager, Government and Community Affairs, Automobile Club of Southern California
Greg Brannon- Director, Automotive Engineering and Industry Relations - AAA National Office

Safe and Secure Access to Vehicle Data (The Vehicle Station Gateway)
Presenter:
Greg Potter - Global Director - Business Development and Product Management - DG Technologies

Access to Vehicle Manufacturer Training Materials
Presenters:
Mark Warren - Trainer - WorldPac Technical Training Program
Rob Morrell - Director – WorldPac Training Institute

Question and Answer Session on Technology Integration and National Accounts
Thursday 9:00 - 10:30 AM
Panelists:
George Hoffman, Manager Automotive Assets, Sears Automotive
Martin Corbett, Director, Property Management Purchasing and Service Equipment, The PepBoys

Panel Discussion on Collision Service Procedures
Thursday 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Panelists:
Kelly Logan, Project Manager--Body Repair Program, Tesla Motors
Dan Risley, President, ASA
Steve Marks, Industry Technical Support Manager, I-CAR
 
For more information on the Speakers and Subjects that will be presented at ToolTech 2014, click here.

Quick Links
ToolTech Home Page
ToolTech Schedule
Registration
Booth Registration
Discussion Group Registration

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (Alliance), the Association of Global Automakers (Global), the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and the Coalition for Automotive Repair Equality (CARE) have announced their collective acceptance of a national agreement to ensure consumer choice in post-warranty auto repair, decisively ending the longstanding “Right to Repair” debate within the industry.  Read More