Bosch innovates with Touchless wheel alignment technology
Bosch has set the standard for fast and accurate wheel alignment with the new FWA 9000, which provides contact-free wheel alignment.
Highly effective, safe and easy to use, the new Touchless technology allows workshops to measure wheel alignment within seconds, without the operator leaving the vehicle. Assessing all four wheels simultaneously, the FWA 9000 provides quick values for camber and tow, and eliminates setup time thanks to the absence of tyre clamps.
Already proving highly successful in UK field trials with Bosch Car Service, the Touchless system allows garages to tap into new business opportunities.
Using the latest technology, the new FWA 9000 is the fastest wheel aligner available, yet it remains easy to operate.
The FWA 9000 does not require the time consuming installation of wheel brackets or plates, which means there’s no damage to wheel rims, and so eliminates measurement errors due to poor set up. The system’s Smart Test function provides consistently accurate measurement within seconds – simply drive the vehicle into position and measure.
The Touchless system bases its assessment on the position of the tyre and the chassis of the vehicle. The FWA 9000 recognises the movement a vehicle as it approaches the unit’s turntable pads, and starts initial measurement automatically. Thousands of reference points, generated by laser, are projected on the side of the vehicle, while two stereo cameras per measurement head provide a highly accurate 3D reference model of each wheel. Providing measurements for camber, individual toe, total toe, setback, caster and geometric driving axis values in a few seconds, the system can be controlled remotely so the operator need not leave the vehicle.
Engineered to withstand the rigours of the workshop, the eight separate cameras are highly resistant to vibration to deliver accurate and consistent results.
The new software developed for the FWA 9000 is both powerful and easy to use, combining intuitive graphics and an easy to understand GUI (Graphical User Interface). The system’s Smart Align allows quick and easy alignment of the sensors if required, provides live images of each wheel.
The system’s database includes benchmark reference data for more than 30,000 vehicle types, from approximately 130 manufacturers in 16 languages, and allows a complete review and evaluation of the results.
The system’s Smart Link function allows the FWA 9000 to work seamlessly with the integrated Bosch four post lift, automatically adjusting to different wheelbases and track widths without the need to relocate lifting points.
Allowing garages to maximise their return on investment in alignment technology, the speed and flexibility of the new Bosch FWA 900 means that it can easily be incorporated in a garage’s workflow: for example assessing vehicles as they enter the workshop. This provides an ideal route to engaging with customer and increasing business opportunities.
Suitable for fast-fit operations, independent workshops and franchised dealers, the FWA 900 requires minimal space within the workshop and can be installed in an area equivalent to xxm2 – with no requirement for equipment to be positioned in front of the vehicle.
The FWA 9000 can be configured to suit a garage’s needs, and the flexibility of the integrated four post lift allows it to automatically adapt to different wheelbases, track widths and vehicle types.
Sold as a solution, the Bosch FWA 9000 effectively delivers a complete alignment bay package, including the Touchless wheel aligner, life adapter and four-post lift. Two levels of specification are available, with the higher of the two providing a larger monitor system, a remote control and upgraded turntables to allow a full steering lock test