The message of ongoing support and training from the Bosch representatives to their supplier service dealer network was made loudly and clearly at their recent conference held in Hamilton on the 17th and 18th of October. The New Zealand network of Bosch suppliers and service dealers had gathered together for a morning of presentations and networking at the Turbo & Diesel premises in Hamilton, as part of their annual conference. Bosch national service network manager Robert Johnson said this conference had seen the largest turnout of suppliers and service dealers, which was pleasing as the idea of having a network conference was to encourage the “marriage of the minds.” Some 60 to 70 people from 114 of the 117 Bosch service dealer network in New Zealand attended the Saturday morning conference where a DVD outline of future Bosch technology was presented by Regional after sales service and diagnostics manager Stuart Howe, who is based in Melbourne. Thanks to the increasing use of electronics in modern cars to create brand image, and a unique selling point for the manufacturer, passenger vehicles can have up to 150 sensors and 70 ECU systems which look after engine management, transmission, comfort functions, safety and emissions functions. This presents a challenge to the industry but one that Bosch has welcomed. Their training centre in Melbourne operates 52 weeks of the year to cater for the ever growing need for specialist knowledge in the after market sector. Mr Howe commented that with the growth in passenger vehicles using common rail diesel engines and petrol electric hybrid systems, Bosch will focus on offering training on both locally in 2009. Mr Howe also announced that the warranty labour rate for New Zealand had been increased and the service dealer network would soon be able to use a new online warranty claims system which will speed up the payment process. This news was warmly welcomed by the conference attendees. Bosch Australasian Regional Director Phil Robinson thanked David Kite and his team at Turbo & Diesel Hamilton for hosting the morning event and he urged the gathering of Bosch service dealers to continue to invest in new equipment and training their employees. “As a service network we encourage you all to gear yourselves with knowledge and equipment, and to share information between each other,” says Mr Robinson “Bosch does not give away technology exclusively to OEMs, if we did that then no one would ever see it. We are here to keep the aftermarket supported, and we encourage you all to bring on trainees to learn new skills and retain them in your business.” As a future incentive for the service dealers to attend training events, Mr Robinson announced that Bosch would contribute $10,000 towards the dinner event of the next Service Dealer network training conference scheduled for August 2009 in Queenstown.