Independent garages considering investment in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) can unlock significant new revenue streams, according to Carmaster Garage in Harrogate, where early adoption of Hella Gutmann’s CSC-Tool SE calibration equipment helped the business become a regional specialist.
Led by directors Rebecca and David Pullan, the North Yorkshire workshop has spent more than seven years building its technical capability with Hella Gutmann diagnostic and calibration equipment. The 6,000-square-foot site operates 12 ramps with a team of 14 staff behind a professional frontage and bold ADAS signage.
While now a core part of the business, Carmaster’s move into ADAS was not part of a long-term strategy, but a response to local demand.
“We work closely with a local bodyshop and realised very early-on that there was a big opportunity here,” explained Rebecca.
Body repairs frequently disturb radar sensors and cameras mounted around the vehicle, making recalibration essential before the car can safely return to the road.
“The original investment was significant at the time, and the equipment was more expensive back then,” said Rebecca. “But very few people were offering ADAS calibration locally. We actually recouped the cost very quickly, I think it was around nine months, and the equipment has been paid for many times over since.”
Hella Gutmann’s CSC-Tool SE enables the precise static calibration of front, rear and 360-degree camera systems, along with radar and lidar sensors, across an extensive range of European & Asian vehicle manufacturers.
ADAS calibration is now part of Carmaster’s everyday workflow. Any work involving bumper removal or changes to vehicle geometry, such as structural repairs or timing belt replacement, is assessed to determine whether recalibration is required before the vehicle is returned to the customer.
“Customers rarely ask for an ADAS calibration,” said Rebecca. “But they certainly notice if their lane assist or adaptive cruise control isn’t working properly.
“The radar has to be pointing in exactly the right direction for those systems to function correctly and for the vehicle to drive as it should. Our role is to explain why calibration is important and how it contributes to the overall safety of the vehicle.”
Developing the right expertise within the team has also been key. Carmaster has invested heavily in training, with four technicians now holding the AOM 230 accreditation, enabling safe repair of ADAS-equipped vehicles to meet insurance requirements.
“ADAS has been around for some time, but every new vehicle entering the market is equipped with more advanced systems,” Julian Goulding, Head of Garage Equipment at Hella Gutmann. “The opportunity for garages is increasing month by month,” he said.
Alongside its ADAS capability, Carmaster relies on Hella Gutmann’s mega macs X diagnostic platform. Designed to avoid the risk of premature obsolescence, the tool features a modular architecture that allows workshops to expand functionality through software modules as their needs grow. It supports advanced communication protocols including CAN FD and DoIP, while secure gateway access for 20+ vehicle manufacturers is provided at no extra cost through its integrated Cyber Security Management (CSM).
For the most complex coding procedures, Carmaster also uses macsRemote, Hella Gutmann’s remote diagnostic service, which provides access to specialist support for OE-level programming tasks.
“By combining the mega macs X for advanced diagnostics with the CSC-Tool SE for precision calibration, Carmaster can ensure critical safety systems are returned to the road in line with manufacturer standards,” said Julian. “Where specialist OE-level coding is required on the latest vehicles, macsRemote provides that essential link, ensuring workshops are never locked out of the repair process.”
To learn more about Hella Gutmann’s diagnostic platforms and ADAS calibration equipment, visit: https://www.hella.com/techworld/uk/workshop-equipment/.
