BOSCH EASY 3D WHEEL ALIGNER RECEIVES 2010 GERMAN NATIONAL AWARD

BROADVIEW, IL – Bosch’s Diagnostics business unit, Beissbarth GmbH, has received the “2010 German National Award for Outstanding and Innovative Achievement in the Field of Trade” from the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology for their development of the (FWA 4630) Easy 3D wheel alignment system. Beissbarth is part of the Diagnostics business unit of the Bosch Automotive Aftermarket division.

Silke Spitzer, head of technology for Beissbarth, accepted the award from the Parliamentary State Secretary for Federal Ministry of Economics and Federal Commissioner for Small Business and Tourism, Ernst Burgbacher, during the International Handwerksmesse (International Trade Fair) in Munich on March 7. The award recognizes Beissbarth’s outstanding design and engineering achievements in developing the innovative Easy 3D wheel alignment system, which provides efficient support for the cost-effective maintenance and repair of motor vehicles.

Bosch added the compact Easy 3D wheel alignment system to their wheel service equipment portfolio in 2009. The system uniquely utilizes portable camera pods that attach to the side of an alignment rack, eliminating the bulky front bay camera booms that have been traditionally utilized by competitors. Easy 3D also enables automotive technicians to achieve precise wheel alignment in less than seven minutes—representing a time savings of 50 percent compared to traditional wheel alignment methods.

The Easy 3D system is based on Stereoscopic Triangulation, a new method for determining wheel alignment measurements developed by Bosch’s Beissbarth unit. It eliminates the need for calibration during installation and also provides precise measurements that can be repeated, even if the camera pods are moved during the alignment process.

Easy 3D contains two portable camera pods that are mounted on an alignment rack with ‘electronics-free’ measurement boards attached to each wheel, operating at high speeds to enable a 27Hz update rate, or 27 updates per second.

Easy 3D dedicates two cameras to each measurement board for stereoscopic vision of each wheel and an additional two cameras focused under the vehicle, allowing the system to triangulate the position of the wheels in relation to the camera pods. The wheel alignment system provides precise measurements that can be repeated even if the camera pods are repositioned in the middle of the alignment process.

Users of Easy 3D will also appreciate the mobility and versatility offered by the system. The compact, lightweight (20 lbs) system can easily be moved around the automotive repair shop or service center, from one bay to another. Easy 3D’s unique architecture provides the flexibility to work with many different racks. Additionally, the Bosch wheel alignment system can even be used directly on the shop floor for quick alignment audits and alignment service merchandising.

“Easy 3D paves the way for many more work bays to fit wheel alignment equipment and less time required for service technicians to perform wheel alignments,” said David Scribner, Wheel Service Group Product Manager for Bosch. According to Scribner, “Bosch’s intuitive alignment system software reduces the need for specialized knowledge in wheel alignment, while offering novice and expert technicians the freedom to navigate as desired through the process.”