Eaton to market diagnostic tools; Snap-on buys Nexiq assets

Eaton Corp. has signed a five-year agreement with AutoXray, maker of EZ-Link scanners, to create a new line of diagnostic tools and service products for commercial vehicles.
Debuting later this year, the new tools will be the first entry in a line of products Eaton will market to shop technicians under the Eaton MD (“mobile diagnostics”) brand. AutoXray, known for its low-cost diagnostic tools for the automotive aftermarket, will supply the hardware.

Eaton says the MD Tool will support any component that communicates over the diagnostic link on the truck.

“This agreement is a significant first step toward supporting our customers throughout the entire life cycle of their trucks,” said Jeff Romig, general manager for Eaton’s Truck Aftermarket division. “The experience we’ve gained in our development of electronic diagnostic tools for Eaton’s product lines has allowed us a natural transition into providing diagnostic equipment for the entire commercial vehicle market — not only for Eaton products but for any electronic vehicle components on the diagnostic link.”

Eaton is not alone entering the diagnostics market this year. In December, Snap-on announced plans to buy the vehicle scanner and wireless diagnostic assets of Nexiq Technologies, which filed for bankruptcy protection in October.

The deal centers around Nexiq’s Pro-Link Plus handheld scan tool (below, left) and a telematics product called eTechnician, launched by Nexiq last year. The products give Snap-on “immediate increased access to the heavy-duty truck and off-road vehicle diagnostics marketplace,” says Al Biland, president of Snap-on’s diagnostics and information group.

Nexiq, based in Sterling Heights, Mich., is formerly known as MPSI (Micro Processor Systems Inc.).