Just in !!! The new Heshbon HA-710 Wheel Alignment System. If you're looking for an extremely well priced computerised aligner then this could be the one for you. For those that don't know, Heshbon are a Korean company who are in operation since 1991. Their main focus over the years has been on lifts but recently they have expanded their range and now offer a wide range of products from spray booths to wheel balancers. We unpacked the first HA-710 wheel aligner a week ago, set it up and gave it a good going over. One thing with Heshbon equipment is that the attention to detail is fantastic, from the packaging to the paintwork you just can't fault it. Everything is very well presented and this aligner is a very slick looking piece of kit.
This model communicates from the console to the measuring heads using Bluetooth Technology and is equipped with 7.2V Lithium-Ion batteries so there is no need for cables. However, if you should have a Bluetooth problem, the machine comes with cables so you won't suffer any down-time. I can only assume that Heshbon are confident with their battery life because you only get 1 set. There is a discharge cycle built into the charger so each battery is discharged before recharging. As these aligners are new on the market, time will only tell how these batteries perform but it looks positive. Heshbon claim an average 6 hour burn time and 6 hours charge time. The connecting mechanism for these batteries to the measuring heads is quite good too, just slide and click in place.
The unit comprises of all the standard parts that you will see in any aligner. The main console is loaded with a high spec Dell PC running Windows Vista, a nice set of speakers and a decent quality inkjet printer. On top you have the keyboard, 17" lcd display and if you grab the top right side of the cabinet and pull out the small drawer you get the mouse. There are 2 hangers on each side of the cabinet that facilitate the clamps with heads attached. All in all a very tidy setup.
The software seems to be extremely simple to follow. There are only a few clicks to take you through a complete alignemt and the procedure looks painless enough. Some of the screens look like what you would see in a Ravaglioli machine so I wonder how that came about :-) It also uses a spoiler program so if the line of sight is blocked across the front or back, you are prompted to tilt the heads down so they can pick up the signal again. The usual features of any machine like this are included like a colour printout, ability to save and retrieve customer data and saved alignments and the facility to add new cars to the database. Upgrades for the database are downloaded from their website so there's less of a time delay getting the new data when you need it.
All-round, this is a very nicely designed and manufactured machine and should do well here in Ireland. The price is extremely competitive and probably comes in lower than all other machines on the market with similar capabilities. The only thing left to see will be how they perform in the field, how long the batteries last and finally, how good the database is.
Maurice Dunne Motors Ltd. of Mayfield, Lismore, Co. Waterford are now the proud owners of the Heshbon HA-710 Wheel Aligner.
Click here for more information or a brochure from our website.
Some pictures below take from the brochure.
