CAP3500 WORKSHOP | Equipment of the Year

The judging panel for the 2018 Equipment of the Year Award, organised by the magazine DECISION ATELIER, has its work cut out with 52 products to assess.

A new generation of exhaust and combustion gas analysers for workshops, at a time of increasingly stringent vehicle inspection regulations and an expected surge in the number of re-tests :

Based in Montpellier for the past 25 years, the team of engineers at Capelec’s Design Office has just developed a brand-new generation of gas analysers: the CAP3500WORKSHOP series. Designed for workshops and garages, it is capable of checking, analysing and interpreting the combustion health of internal combustion engines (both petrol and diesel). In just a few minutes, it assesses the general condition and is also able to display any improvements following a repair or a change of parts.

Inspired by the gas analysers and smoke meters used in technical inspection centres, the CAP3500WORKSHOP series draws on the expertise of the manufacturer of pollution measurement equipment. It has benefited from over two years of development in collaboration with key players in the automotive engine and preventive maintenance sectors. Whilst based on tried-and-tested measurement modules, the CAP3500WORKSHOP offers numerous unique innovations.

Whether used as a portable or fixed unit, the CAP3500WORKSHOP measures the smoke opacity of diesel engines and the emissions of petrol, diesel and LPG engines. It operates according to a standard procedure that simultaneously utilises data from the engine control unit, collected via the OBD port. Easy to use, it can be set up and generate an analysis report in under 7 minutes. It assists with the diagnosis of faults in emission control systems and the general assessment of combustion.

In practice, any vehicle entering the workshop or having undergone a service, engine treatment or part replacement is connected to the CAP3500WORKSHOP. The software guides the user, processes and stores the data, and facilitates the generation of analysis reports. Changes and improvements are recorded in a detailed report: BEFORE-AFTER. Two copies are generated: a simplified version for the customer and a comprehensive version for the MRA professional.

The CAP3X00WORKSHOP offers repair professionals a powerful, simple and reliable tool to aid diagnosis, improve engine performance, restore customer information, reduce fuel consumption and combat pollution. With a view to stricter emissions testing during vehicle inspections, this expert solution detects the causes of pollution and provides support to mechanics.

Availability: 1 February 2017

Price: 8,500

Supplier: Capelec

What makes this equipment unique?:

§ Measurement report: Before/after measurements of exhaust emissions AND EOBD values
§ Detailed report: expert or simplified
§ Assistance with diagnosing faults in emission control systems and with the general assessment of combustion

Does it offer new possibilities
to garage mechanics? :

§ Assistance with fault diagnosis of emission control components and general assessment of combustion
§ Justification of remedial actions taken (cleaning) or corrective actions (replacement of parts)

To what extent does the equipment
enable workshops to be more productive? :

§ Traceability of measurements
§ Traceability of diagnostics
§ Traceability of corrective actions undertaken
§ Traceability of the results of corrective actions undertaken (before/after) and the progress and improvements made
§ portable device (tablet) that can be easily moved around the workshop or in a service vehicle

Case for the payback period of the equipment:

less than 2 years
The tightening of vehicle inspection regulations is expected to lead to a sharp rise in the rate of re-inspections :

Service conditions in the event of a breakdown (turnaround times, repairs, replacements, warranty, availability of spare parts, etc.), training, financing:

Less than 7 minutes for a detailed diagnosis.

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