collision repair 10#6

CollisionRepaiREvolvEdIan and Ken McIntosh of Kirmac Collision have helped the industry grow.

collisionrepairmag.com

Refinish OvervIewThe results of our

first annualcoatings survey!

ParTs impactMitchell’s Greg Horn

on the Canadianparts situation.

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January 2012 collision RepaiR 03

YOUR ONLINE SOURCECanada’s collision repair information resource. new articles and top news stories daily. Visit www.collisionrepairmag.com.

On The cOver

feaTures

deparTmenTs

HAVE YOUR SAY We welcome your comments on anything you see in Collision Repair magazine. Send your feedback to [email protected].

22

on the coveR: The McIntosh brothers take the long view towards expansion.

CollisionRepaiREvolvEdIan and Ken McIntosh of Kirmac Collision have helped the industry grow.

collisionrepairmag.com

Refinish OvervIewThe results of our

first annualcoatings survey!

ParTs impactMitchell’s Greg Horn

on the Canadianparts situation.

ReaDY, a im, f iRe! 2011 spRaY GUns showcase .

>> PLUS Full coverage ofNaCe and seMa, Desrosiers newnational report, and much more!!!

27 top Guns The latest and greatest in spray guns.

33 Refinish oveRviewa look back at the year’s most innovative offerings in coatings tech.

22 the KiRmac wayIan and Ken McIntosh have built an empire by focusing on process and people.

04 publisheR’s paGe by Darryl Simmons

Style and substance.

44 point blanK by Sam Piercey

Butchers!

45 who’s dRivinG? by Jay Perry

Viewpoint shift.

46 pRaiRie view by Tom Bissonnette

Let’s talk.

56 RecyclinG by David Gold

Our legacy.

58 last woRd by Mike Davey

DI-WHy?

36 next GeneRation at least one school is doing things right, with a little help from their friends.

38 paRts impactTrends in Canadian parts use.

19 nace in ReviewFrom seminars to the trade show floor, we bring you right to the action.

COnTEnTS

Volume 10 Issue 6, January 2012

19

16 extReme maKeoveRHeffner’s Collision Centre is revamped and ready for business.

40 sema show 2011year after year, SEMa brings the cool.

42 lifelonG cRushEllen Paquette fell in love with collision repair at an early age.

40

04 collision RepaiR COLLISIOnrEPaIrMag.COM

TraDESHOWDOWnIt’s better to be a big fish in a small pond.

Since we’re magazine people, we tend to go to every big event, and as many of the smaller ones as we can. People know this, so they often ask me, “Which do

you like better, NACE or SEMA?” They’re both great shows, but this year NACE really pulled out all the stops to make sure the event works for the collision repair community.

I’m not talking about stuff like booking hotels, social events and making sure transport is available. Don’t get me wrong, those were great, but they always were. Where NACE really shone this year was in the seminars. The people that attended

NACE found real value in the education provided. Each and every session was fo-cused on collision repair.

That’s not to say that SEMA didn’t have a wonderful array of seminars. It did. But if you’ve ever been to SEMA, you know that it’s H-U-G-E. The seminars are all over the place in regards to topics, and you simply cannot see all of the trade show floor. From the parts you can see, you’ll notice one thing right away. The belle of the ball at SEMA is still the hot car. Collision re-pair is the ugly sister or the proverbial red-headed stepchild. Not exactly left out, but there’s absolutely no chance that it will ever be the centre of attention.

NACE isn’t like that. It’s not just that the collision repair business takes centre stage. It’s literally the only game in town. Every-thing is focused on us.

In my opinion, the shining star of the NACE conference was the MSO sympo-sium. It brought together a lot of people who are seriously interested and invested in improving the collision repair industry. There was some really great stuff, but one thing in particular stuck in my mind. The luncheon speaker was Rex Green,

By Darryl Simmons

Managing Director of BB&T Capital Markets. He pointed out that the repair sector of the automotive aftermarket has become sexy for investors.

Green noted that there are billions of dollars that have been parked in recent years, because people are afraid to invest.

However, investors are starting to no-tice that, when it comes to MSOs, the return has been fairly good, year over year, even through the recession. You and I both know that when people need to get their cars fixed, they need to get their cars fixed. It was nice to hear that someone in the financial community gets it too.

He wasn’t talking about the automo-tive aftermarket as a whole. He wasn’t talking about restyling or the latest in electronics. Rex Green was talking about collision repair, and only about collision repair. It probably wouldn’t get the same marquee status at SEMA.

Don’t get me wrong. NACE has had its challenges. However, this year showed me that it’s rebuilding, and the founda-tion used is stronger than ever before. We can only hope that the next event in New Orleans gets the support it deserves.

SEMA is what it is. To a certain extent, it’s always going to be about flash. That’s fine, but collision repair is about people fixing cars and trying to make a profit. At SEMA, even if something to do with collision repair is temporarily in the spot-light, it’s really still in the shadows of a lot of other things. At NACE, that simply doesn’t happen. CrM

PuBLISHEr’S PagE

Someone in the financial community gets it too.

PUBLISHERDARRYL SIMMONS (905) [email protected]

EDITORMIKE [email protected]

ART DIRECTORDANIELA [email protected]

InTERnSW. MIKE DINEEN, NAhAD IMANIRAD, YVETTE BOchAR

COLUMnISTSDAVID GOLD, JAY PERRY, SAM PIERcEY,TOM BISSONNETTE

VP InDUSTRY RELATIOnSGLORIA MANN (647) [email protected]

VP DIgITAL MEDIAJOE PLATI (647) 669-2625 [email protected]

CIRCULATIOn DEPARTMEnTPAT cAPPELLI (905) 370-0101 [email protected]

PUBLISHER’S ASSISTAnTRYAN [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIOnOne-year $29.95 / Two-year $55.95Collision Repair™ magazine is published bi-monthly, and is dedicated to serving the business interests of the collision repair industry. It is published by Media Matters Inc. Material in Collision Repair magazine may not be reproduced in any form with out written consent from the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statements made by its advertisers or independent columnists. All facts, opinions, statements appearing in this publication are those of the writers and editors themselves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions or endorsements by the publisher.

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Trainingmatters.caTHE TRAINING PORTAL FOR COLLISION REPAIR

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THE FrOnT EnD

PPg Canada automotive refinish is pleased to announce the appoint-

ment of Thane Higgs to the position of Ontario regional Sales Manager.

Higgs will be responsible for the leadership and sales growth of the On-

tario region and an integral part of the Canadian automotive refinish

management team. Higgs brings with him in-depth business knowledge

along with strong collaborative leadership and sales experience. He re-

cently held the position of Director, Sales and Marketing, Canada with

ITW Welding north america. Prior to that, he spent 12 years with air

Liquide where his last position was Director, Welding Products and applications. Higgs earned a

Diploma in Welding Engineering Technology and an MBa from athabasca university, alberta.

Fix auto Ontario, alberta and atlantic Canada

has announced that Lance Knight has been

named Fix auto atlantic Canada’s gM. Knight

has over 35 years of extensive background and

professional experience within the auto industry

including working within the paint industry, in-

dustry sales, managing dealership shops and

owning his own collision repair facility for 13

years. Knight also posses many accreditations,

including paint, body repair and technology.

“We are very pleased to have Lance Knight

join the Fix auto team as general Manager

for atlantic Canada. His reputation and expe-

rience are well respected and I feel Lance’s

strengths will allow Fix auto to further ex-

pand the network and also provide support

to our existing franchisees,” said athena

Hilts, Managing Director of Fix auto Ontario,

alberta and atlantic Canada.

Knight will focus on the development and

growth of Fix auto at-

lantic Canada through

vendor relations, ac-

count acquisition,

new territory devel-

opment, contract

negotiation and op-

erations support.

Knight can be reached via emai l at

[email protected] or 902-440-6250.

PeoPle on the move

Responsible? Sort of.a man in the Detroit area apparently decided

that he had too much to drink to drive safely.

That’s good news, unless you know what he

did about it: had his 9-year-old daughter drive

instead. The dad has been arrested and faces

several charges. according to at least one ob-

server, the girl was “driving pretty good.”

Better? not much. a mom in Delaware let her 9-year-old son drive

himself to school. She wasn’t drunk. She was

just sick of him pestering her for the keys.

Stick to the PointBy the time it rolls off the assembly line, the

average production automobile contains over

40 lbs. of glue.

Remodelling via collisiona woman’s home in St. Catharines was sud-

denly remodeled against her will in early

november when a van crashed through

the front of the house, drove through the

hallway, kitchen and living room, before fi-

nally smashing through the patio doors and

winding up in the backyard.

rose Watts, the home’s owner, was up-

stairs when the van invaded her house.

Firefighters were called in to assist her in get-

ting back to the ground.

Silent SolutionThere are roughly 120 professional mimes vol-

untarily patrolling the traffic-congested Sucre

district of Caracas, Venezuela, at the request

of the city’s mayor. The mimes wag their fin-

gers at misbehaving motorists to curb bad

behaviour, and apparently it’s working. We’d

be better drivers, too, if it meant mimes would

leave us alone.

strange but trueaLLan DaVIS aPPOInTED CHaIrMan OF THE BOarDOF TruSTEES OF THE BOyD grOuP InCOME FunDBoyd group Income Fund has announced that effective november 8, 2011, allan Davis has been

appointed to the role of Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Fund. Davis is President and Di-

rector of aFD Investments, a Winnipeg-based management consulting firm. In addition to serving

on the Boyd group Income Fund Board of Trustees since 2005, he is also a member of the Manu-

facturing advisory Board of Exchange Income Corporation. Davis is a Chartered accountant and

holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the university of Manitoba.

PPg appoints Thane higgs as new ontario regional manager

lance Knight named general manager of Fix auto atlantic Canada

Lance Knight.

thane higgs.

Fix auto announces operations franchisee developer for albertaathena Hilts, man-

aging director of Fix

auto Ontario, alberta

and atlantic Canada

is pleased to an-

nounce the addition

of Tom Parnell as Fix

auto’s alberta new

franchisee developer.

Parnell’s experience within the automo-

tive industry includes working in the image

department at a well respected insurance

company, where he was also involved in the

Insurance Institutes ambassador Program.

He is in the process of obtaining his Char-

tered Insurance Professional designation.

Parnell also owned and operated his

own successful independent appraisal

firm and possesses auto, heavy duty and

recreational vehicle appraisal expertise. ad-

ditionally, Parnell has recently accepted an

offer to instruct I-Car courses. He says he

will begin instructing classes within the next

few months.

“We are very pleased to have Tom on our

team,” says Peter Polito, general Manager

for Fix auto alberta. “His keen enthusiasm

for the industry and a passion to provide

operations support to our growing network

of Fix auto franchisees in alberta has made

Tom a great fit within the company.”

In this role, Parnell says he will focus on

the development and operations support

for Fix auto alberta franchisees. He can be

reached via email at [email protected]

or by phone at 403-471-7984.

tom Parnell.

© 2011 The Sherwin-Williams Company

Visit a store, give us a call, learn more or share ideas: 800-798-5872 | sherwin-automotive.com |

Everything

you need,

just around

the corner.

Think of us as an extension of your body shop. From automotive coatings to all of the repair materials and supplies you need to get the job done right. Low to high volume shops. Waterborne to solvent. We’ll match a refinish system to your shop to improve productivity and your competitive edge. Plus management tools like our Lean Stock™ Inventory System keep you doing what you do best. Paint – it’s what you do. It’s all we do.


nEWS

Carstar automotive Canada

has launched the unhappen

My accident iPhone appli-

cation. It works by storing

critical driver and accident

information. a press of a

button displays the necessary steps to take fol-

lowing a collision, including recording accident

details and taking photos. The app also locates

the nearest Carstar location for repairs, and pro-

vides 24-7 access to a live experienced operator

who can guide drivers through the process and

answer questions.

The app also includes location services to pin-

point where the accident occurred. The iPhone

camera is used to capture a high-resolution photo

of collision damage.

For each download of the application, Carstar

has committed to donate $1 (up to $10,000) to

Cystic Fibrosis Canada, a long time charitable

partner for the past 10 years. To date, Carstar

has raised over $1.9 million to help find a cure for

cystic fibrosis.

Carstar launches “unhappen my accident” app

nOMInaTIOnS OPEn FOr aKzOnOBEL’S FIT SuSTaInaBILITy aWarD

akzonobel automotive & aerospace Coatings americas is now accepting nominations for the FIT Sustainability award, the first recog-

nition of its type in the collision repair industry; FIT brings visibility to businesses, organizations and other entities that are delivering

sustainable and environmentally-focused solutions to the collision industry.

“FIT” is an acronym for the three key measurement criteria of the award: Focus, Innovation and Talent. Introduced in 2009, the award

was launched to complement the advancement of waterborne technology and promote the many contributions that the collision repair

industry is making to generate a sustainable future.

“Whether a business or organization is large or small, it’s so important to

consider how today’s practices and processes will impact the future of our in-

dustry and our environment,” said Mark Milacic, Mark’s auto Body, Ltd. a FIT

winner in 2011. The family-owned business has two locations in Burnaby and

Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. “Each of us has a responsibility to incorpo-

rate sustainable practices; by working together we have the ability to make a

positive impact on the world we leave for generations yet to come.”

Honourees for the 2012 program will be announced on July 19, 2012

in San antonio, Texas in conjunction with the Most Influential Women in

the Collision repair Industry. This year’s award recipients will also partici-

pate in akzonobel’s second Sustainability Leadership Symposium on July

20, 2012. These symposiums are being established in an effort to bring

greater industry focus, understanding, and action regarding the subject of

sustainability.

nominations can be placed at sikkens.net. They will be accepted through

February 28, 2012.

Mark’s auto Body was a winner of the FIT Sustainability award in 2011, and the first Canadian shop to receive the honour. Mark’s auto Body is two facilities owned and operated by the Milacic family. From left: Bobby Milacic, Mark Milacic (the facilty’s founder), Vicky Milacic and Dino Milacic.

nEWS


CanaDa’S FLEET agIng, SayS DESrOSIErS “naTIOnaL PICTurE” rEPOrT

autoQuip wins garmat award 2nd year runningautoQuip Canada has won the 2011 garmat award of distinction for Outstanding

Sales achievement for the second year in a row. autoQuip Canada has been ser-

vicing and managing the garmat brand in Canada since 2002.

“I am very proud of our team’s accomplishment,” says roger Turmel, President

of autoQuip. “Our mission has been to provide the highest quality equipment at the

best possible price with honesty and integrity as our first priority. Our staff has over

74 years combined experience in spray booth service and sales, and we look for-

ward to serving the collision industry for many years to come.”

Desrosiers automotive Consultants has re-

leased its annual “national Picture” report,

detailing Canada’s varied and nuanced

vehicle market. The past five years have

witnessed growth of approximately 20 per-

cent in the number of vehicles 16 years old

or older, and 29 percent growth in 5-10 year

old products in our vehicle fleet. an aging

vehicle fleet bodes well for businesses tied

to the sale or service of older vehicles.

Desrosiers’ annual vehicle longevity

studies have long shown that light trucks

– most popular in the Prairie provinces

with 56 percent of total vehicle registra-

tions – edge passenger cars in long-term

durability. It’s no surprise, then, that truck-

rich Saskatchewan residents are presently

driving the oldest light vehicles in Canada

with an average vehicle age of 10.2 years.

While Saskatchewan lays claim to the

oldest slice of the vehicle fleet, Canada’s

newest province owns the youngest. The

average age of a light vehicle in newfound-

land tallies at just 7.7 years.

Economic growth in alberta has fuelled

vehicle sales in that province. Canada’s top

oil producer has seen 37 percent growth in

total vehicle registrations over the past five

years. Ontario remains the country’s most

populous province in terms of both vehi-

cles and drivers, but its vehicle registration

growth rate ranks last. registrations in On-

tario have increased just 8 percent since

2006. Light trucks, popular in the Prairies,

have grown from 41 to 45 percent of the

fleet in five years. While growth in light

truck numbers has been a country-wide

event, Quebec lags the majority of regions

with truck penetration of just 34 percent.

Quebecers may not care for trucks, but

they lead the country in import-nameplate

vehicle registrations. a full 56 percent of

cars and light trucks registered in Quebec

are import branded, well above the national

average. The Prairie provinces rank lowest

in import penetration, with just 28 percent.

The full report is available from Lisa

Marchese at Desrosiers automotive Con-

sultants. She can be contacted at lisa@

desrosiers.ca.


nEWS

CSn aDDS nEW LOCaTIOnS In OnTarIO anD aLBErTa

CSn Collision & glass has added several new members in Ontario

recently, and one in alberta.

Frank & guy auto Body (Ottawa East) and Frank & guy auto Body

(Orleans) have joined the growing list of members in the Ottawa re-

gion. guy Cousineau, owner of both Frank & guy auto Body ~ CSn

locations, says that an organization’s strength can truly be found in

numbers. after having served the Ottawa area for nearly 35 years,

he says the decision to join CSn was an easy one. guy is proud to

take his fully bilingual facilities to the next level and join a network

that consists of strong business people within the collision repair

industry and across Canada.

Outlaw Collision ~ CSn of Medicine Hat, alberta.

D’s Collision ~ CSn of Winchester, Ontario.

Frank & guy auto Body (Orleans) ~ CSn of Orleans, Ontario.

CSn Collision & glass also welcomes D’s Collision of Winchester,

Ontario to the network. For nearly 25 years, D’s Collision ~ CSn has

been providing auto service and repairs for the Winchester area.

Dennis Carkner, owner of D’s Collision ~ CSn, says that he aspires

to leave his customers feeling confident that their vehicle has been re-

paired right the first time. Carkner and his staff consider themselves

dedicated to providing superior service with the hopes that the initial

feelings of misfortune for those customers who have been in an acci-

dent are turned into a positive experience and memory.

Carkner’s pursuits extend beyond the collision repair industry into

his community. The Carkner family are proud sponsors of local minor

hockey associations as well as the Winchester Hawks Junior B hockey

team and would like to extend a “go Hawks go!” to their team.

CSn also continues to expand throughout Western Canada with

the addition of Outlaw Collision ~ CSn in Medicine Hat, alberta. The

facility opened in 2010.

Ken Pierce is the facility’s co-owner. His daughter, Stacey, is the

general Manager. The two felt strongly about joining a network that fo-

cused on creating and maintaining healthy business relationships.

Outlaw Collision ~ CSn’s true foundation is built on the desire to

provide the ultimate customer experience. The Pierces believe that one

of the biggest challenges within this industry is to fully understand and

meet the various insurance requirements requested by each individual

organization, and the partnership created with CSn helps make this

task more achievable and a win-win-win for all parties.

“Each day presents opportunities to make customers’ lives a

little easier, which is meaningful and fulfilling,” says Pierce.

For more information on CSn Collision & glass, visit csninc.ca.

nEWS


Concours ~ Csn ( Crowfoot ) receives designation as toyota Certified Collision Centre

“FrIEnDS OF WIn“ LaunCHEDThe Women’s Industry network (WIn) has created a “Friends of WIn” donation category enabling individuals and organizations

to support WIn even if they cannot make the level of contribution required to be a corporate or event sponsor.

Victoria Jankowski, Claims Consultant for State Farm Insurance and WIn’s chair, explained, “Individual people and businesses

... wanted to support WIn and our mission to engage women in collision repair. We created an avenue for them to do so outside of

corporate and event sponsorships. any person or business can now support WIn through our Friends of WIn donation category and

they will be recognized on our website as a supporter of WIn. ” Donations may be made on the WIn website under “Donations.”

WIn is now able to accept online membership registration through its website, womensindustrynetwork.com. The fee for 2012

membership is $75.00 for Professionals and $25.00 for Students.

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Concours Collision Centres ~ CSn (Crowfoot) is

pleased to announce that they have been desig-

nated as the Toyota Certified Collision Centre for

Charlesglen Toyota, Calgary, alberta.

Ken Friesen, President and CEO of Con-

cours Collision Centres ~ CSn said “We are

very proud of our relationship with Charlesglen

Toyota and even more proud to be selected as

a Certified Toyota Collision Centre for Charles-

glen customers. Through the selection process,

Concours had to demonstrate the highest

standard of excellence through a commitment

to professionalism, quality repair and customer

satisfaction. all of our staff are humbled by the

confidence that has been placed in them by

Toyota Canada, and recognize the responsi-

bilities that come with the designation. This

designation is the first in Canada by Toyota to

an independent collision repair facility, and as

much as we are proud of this appointment, we

are equally proud of our staff for the pride they

take in their work.”

Concours Collision Centres ~ CSn has been

providing collision repair services in Calgary for

over 30 years. Currently there are two locations,

and a third is under construction in the royal

Oak area of northwest Calgary. Concours has

successfully developed an operating model

that implements “lean manufacturing prac-

tices” into its collision repair process. These

practices have allowed Concours to consis-

tently produce quality repairs in a time frame

that is dependable and predictable, and that,

combined with exceptional customer service,

has been their formula for success.

“Our logo says it best,” said Friesen. “‘We Take

Out The Wrinkles,’ but to us that means that as

well as returning their vehicle to its pre-accident

condition, our customers can expect their entire

Concours experience to be wrinkle free.”

Concours Collision Centres is a member of

Collision Solutions network ~ CSn.


nEWS

The Boyd group has acquired a collision re-

pair centre in British Columbia and opened

new stores in alberta and the united States.

The Boyd group now owns and operates

12 repair centers in alberta and 11 in British

Columbia, or 19 including licensed partner

locations. The company operates 128 loca-

tions in the u.S.

“The new facilities are both located in stra-

tegically important areas and are equipped to

deliver outstanding service to their individual

markets,” said Eric Danberg, President of the

Boyd group’s Canadian Operations. “The ac-

quisition in richmond, a repair centre that has

enjoyed a positive reputation for outstanding

quality over the last two decades, provides for

great exposure and accessibility. replacing

our existing facility in Edmonton with a new

repair centre that has a bright, open concept

better lends itself to the continual adoption of

lean principles as we continually improve pro-

cesses and gain better efficiencies.”

The Boyd group is continuously looking to

add new collision repair locations to its net-

work. Interested owners are asked to contact

Kim allen, Business Development Manager for

gerber Collision & glass, for more information.

Carstar automotive Canada’s new corpo-

rate headquarters, Carstar Vision Park, is

officially open for business. The official

grand Opening took place on november

18, coinciding with the network’s annual

gala fundraiser in support of research into

Cystic Fibrosis. This year’s gala event,

held at Carmen’s banquet hall in Ham-

ilton, featured a Monte Carlo theme. The

evening featured food, drinks and enter-

tainment, and the event’s special guest,

actor James Woods.

Carstar says the new Carstar Vision Park

is dedicated to all of its franchise, vendor

and insurance partners who have the sup-

port the Carstar Vision.

Part of the 16,000 square foot office

space was built to house Carstar university,

the company’s learning and research centre.

This facility includes a training centre with

production bays and the latest repair equip-

ment, allowing the corporate field team to

test new processes. It will also be a cen-

tral point for franchise partners to bring in

their management and repair technicians to

receive up-to-date, hands-on training in ad-

dition to classroom learning.

For more information, please visit carstar.ca.

boyd expands in Canada, u.s.granD OPEnIng OF CarSTar VISIOn ParK

Kirmac Collision has developed a system

to get damaged cars fixed and back on

the road in a matter of days, not weeks,

after a motor vehicle accident.

The process, called the Instant access

Program, takes in, assesses and repairs

vehicles immediately. under Kirmac’s

Collision’s Instant access Program, no ap-

pointment or scheduling is required.

“We developed the Instant access Pro-

gram to make our customers’ experience

as positive as possible surrounding a col-

lision,” said Kirmac Collision founder and

CEO, Ian McIntosh. The Instant access car

repair model is very different from the norm,

he explained. “We streamlined the repair

process so that it’s fast and hassle-free, re-

configuring our entire production model to

better serve our customers and insurance

partners,” said McIntosh. “We now repair

vehicles both faster and better so that cus-

tomers can get back on the road sooner.”

For more information on Kirmac Colli-

sion, please visit kirmac.com.

Kirmac launches Instant access Program

From left to right: Bing Wong, Director of Insurance; actor James Woods, Lisa Mercanti-Ladd, aVP Marketing & Client Services; Sam Mercanti, President & CEO; Bob Bratina, Mayor of Hamilton; Michael Macaluso, Quality Systems Manager; and Larry Jefferies, Executive Vice President.

nOMInaTIOnS OPEn FOr aKzOnOBEL MIW aWarDS

nominations for the 2012 Most Influential

Women (MIW) in the Collision repair In-

dustry awards are now being accepted by

akzonobel.

akzonobel’s Most Influential Women

awards program honours the contributions

of exceptional leaders. now in its thir-

teenth year, the MIW program recognizes

achievement while contributing to the sus-

tainability of success. The 2012 honourees

will be named on July 19 in San antonio.

“Through the Most Influential Women in the

Collision repair Industry award, akzonobel

and the Collision repair Education Founda-

tion recognize the leaders who are making

essential contributions to our industry today,

while helping to

prepare students

to achieve their

career dreams in

the future,” said

Scott Kruger, Ex-

ecutive Director.

nominat ions

can be made at

sikkens.net and

will be accepted

until February 28,

2012.

For Spraybake OEM parts

service and technical support,

Call 1-866-325-2886

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EXTrEME MaKEOVEr

By W. Mike Dineen

Stepping into the most recent ad-dition to Heffner Motors, it is difficult to fathom the small spark of an idea that started it all. From the Heffner family’s humble begin-

nings with the Breithaupt Street Garage in 1960, to the current mega-facility, Heffner Motors is one of Waterloo Region’s largest, greenest and most state-of-the-art facilities. In spite of its exceptional design, highest quality equipment, and enormous inte-rior, the business continues to pay homage to its roots—to the familial ties that orig-inally bound it together. As president and vice-president respectively, John and Willy Heffner have been with their father’s busi-ness since finishing school.

Upon entering Heffner Motors, one feels like “Part of the Family.” Perhaps it is due to the warm greeting at the entrance, or the café tucked in between the sales and service department, or even the wireless internet connection folks can tap into. But more ev-ident is something inherent in the structure and philosophy of the business itself: the care and passion given to the successful ex-ecution of a business that makes customer service a top priority.

For their latest project, John and Willy Heffner utilized a two-acre, landlocked section behind their Toyota dealership to build their collision repair centre. Addi-tionally, they negotiated a half-acre parcel owned by Hydro One to be used as the compound for vehicle storage. The fa-cility was designed and constructed with space in mind; there are no tight corners, overhanging wires or neighbouring build-ings to negotiate. The idea for the interior began with the Heffners’ simple question in response to a growing demand: “What do we want the facility to accomplish?”

“It didn’t look that big on paper,” admits John with regard to the size of the facility. In spite of his modesty, it is evident that John feels proud of his accomplishment. The facility itself is indeed grand; however,

Definitive Details

the space is used wisely with function, speed and customer service in mind.

Upon entering the next room of the facility, the vehicle has ample space to ma-noeuvre into one of twelve separate service bays. The room is complete with a modular wall system of toolboxes and workbenches provided for technicians, supplied by Nelson Industries. The walls are designed so all cables and wiring are stowed behind removable panels. The twelve metal repair bays are separated into sets of three, which will allow technicians to conveniently rotate vehicles and prevent vehicle congestion—or, as John aptly puts it, “when all the bays are full of cars, cars on top of cars, one car is finished so you have to move four out of the way.” The addition of two Sonic frame straightening machines and a Hunter align-ment rack means more will be handled within the facility itself.

Designed and installed by AutoQuip are three prep stations and two high-production automotive spray booths, one of which is de-signed to accommodate larger vehicles. Each booth is equipped with a Hercules Maddoc Lift for ergonomic efficiency, enabling the painters to spray from a more upright posi-tion. Providing the spray guns and other tools with compressed air are two 15 horsepower Devair air compressors (provided by Auto-Quip), which—in keeping with green energy usage—spark to life only when required.

The next phase of repair is the Heffner’s final touch: detailing. The Heffner’s facility provides full detailing of every vehicle being serviced to bring a positive touch to the customer’s experience. An AutoQuip provided industrial-sized Eurovac vacuum system ensures the safe removal of haz-ardous materials.

The facility’s heated basement is re-served for storage of off season tires, while the soon-to-be installed solar panels on the roof will produce and sell more en-ergy back to the grid than the business uses. Now almost three times the size of the original, the new facility is poised to handle demand for the upcoming winter season. The long wait times during the snowy winter months will soon be a thing of the past. CrM

The Heffners built a foundation from the ground up.

the exterior of the facility is designed to be professional and appealing to customers.

From left, roger Turmel of autoQuip with John and Willy Heffner.

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1 2 3


InDuSTry EVEnTS

This year’s NACE in Orlando, Florida is matching the changing needs in the collision repair business by offering relevant topics to attendees in a myriad of seminars and forums. In addition to its extensive coverage of the commercial side of collision repair, NACE is bringing awareness and education about the human side of the business—with important topics like healthcare in the

industry and a full day seminar for MSOs.

30For great education and the latest gear, NACE is still the place.

By Darryl Simmons

Years strong


InDuSTry EVEnTS

NACE 2011 kicked off on October 5 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Highlights from the first day included presentations on future industry trends and the changing climate of insurance agreements. The opening day forums were immediately followed by a networking recep-tion sponsored by Toyota Wholesale Parts.

Valuable and relevant forums with outstanding panelists complemented a large trade show. Chris Brogan—best-selling, social media author—opened the show with some keen observations of the mar-ketplace. Ron Pyle, President of the Automotive Service Association (ASA), encouraged those in the collision repair business to embrace the future of their trade, to seize opportunities for growth, and—perhaps most importantly—to network.

Every year, NACE provides hundreds of hours of continuing education on a diverse array of

topics. Management sessions were the most sought-after education for collision repair pro-fessionals this year. Session highlights included “Building a Team That Works Without You”, “Why Lean Implementations Fail in the Collision In-dustry”, “Increasing Technician Efficiency - It’s a Team Effort,” “Communicating with People Who Drive Us Crazy,” “Reality Repair Shop - What Would You Do?” and “Leadership Best Practices - How to Inspire, Delegate and Coach Your Team to Success.”

multi-store operatorsOne of the most interesting highlights from the ed-ucational sessions was also the most recent. This is the first year that NACE has featured a track dedi-cated solely to one of the fastest growing segments of the industry: multi-store operators.

Don and cathy strong of concordia carstar, and Rafael Hinojos of PPg canada.

Doug Kirk of Dataclarity corporation, David smith of Akzo nobel and Rick tuuri of Audatex.

steve Leal of Fix Auto and Darryl o’Keefe of sherwin-Williams.

Debbie teter of garmat usA, and Roger turmel of AutoQuip canada.

Dave Friars of supreme collision centre, terrence Bradimore and terry Bradimore of cK collision, and marty and chris Reddick of supreme collision centre.

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JANUARY 2012 COLLISION REPAIR 21

INDUSTRY EVENTS

� e MSO symposium attracted 130 MSOs. Show management says it has exceeded all expectations and attendance goals. The high level of interest speaks to the changing state of the market.

Strong Foundation“While many of NACE’s show features focus on the independent shop owner, we wanted to also address the specialized needs of MSOs,” said Ron Nagy, 2011 NACE chairman. “Our experience with this year’s event gives us a great foundation for the 2nd annual symposium, and we’re already dis-cussing how we can leverage its success to create an even better event in 2012.”

The MSO Symposium was sponsored by CCC Information Services, Toyota Wholesale Parts, Du-Pont Performance Coatings, UniCure Spraybooths, I-CAR, � e Romans Group LLC, Summit So� ware,

Enterprise Rent-A-Car and 1-800-Radiator & A/C. The event was produced cooperatively by ASA, Symphony Advisors and NACE.

Several groups honored industry professionals Thursday during the ASRW Award Ceremonies. The annual awards event provides a platform in which a number of industry groups acknowledged the achievements of some of their outstanding members, customers and industr y partners throughout 2011. Ron Pyle hosted the program, which opened with the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) graduation ceremony recognizing those who have earned the Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation. � e awards presen-tation also included numerous scholarships.

NACE 2012 will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana from October 11 -13 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. CRM

Marcus Sarnovsky of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Jay Hayward of CSN Collision & Glass, and Kevin Kemp and Michael Thibault of Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Larry Jefferies of Carstar Automotive Canada, Rollie Benjamin, ABRA Collision and Glass and Sam Mercanti of Carstar Automotive Canada.

Martin Monteith of Zenetec Collision and Harry Dhanjal of BASF.

Keith Bell and Nancy Ng of Akzo Nobel.

Enzo Aniana, Enzo Aniana Jr., and Tony Canade of Assured Automotive.

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PrOFILES OF SuCCESS

ian and Ken mcintosh have built Kirmac into one of the largest msos in canada.


PrOFILES OF SuCCESS

Youthful

A desire to improve the process brought Ian McIntosh of Kirmac Collision back to his first love.

By Mike Davey

Life is like driving around an unfa-miliar neighbourhood. Every once in a while you’re going to find yourself in a situation where you just have to make a sudden turn.

That was the case with Ian McIntosh. McIntosh is the founder of Kirmac Col-lision, which operates 22 collision repair facilities in Canada and the U.S. On an ini-tial trajectory for a career in corporate law, McIntosh’s life took a turn to the collision repair industry.

In a way, it was like coming home. His first experience in the automotive world was fixing cars in his backyard when he was just 13 years old.

“It all started out as a way to make money….first I had a paper route, and then later worked at a food store stocking shelves before I was even legally able to be employed. In either case I couldn’t make much money at it,” says McIntosh.

“About the same time an opportunity pre-sented itself to buy an old ‘47 Pontiac for 50 bucks. Since I wasn’t old enough to drive, my Dad, a handy home mechanic in his own right, had intentionally created a ‘dead short’ in the distributor to keep it from starting. After much studying of mechanics manuals, and some help from an older school mate, I

eventually found the ‘induced’ problem, got it running, sold it for $100 which doubled my investment and that was the beginning! During my high school years I did a number of similar projects including working on the first car I could actually drive when I turned 16. It was a 1954 Morris Minor which needed bodywork and that was the real beginning of a path I would follow for the rest of my life.”

It’s not surprising that McIntosh didn’t forget that car. Aside from the obvious thrill of it being the very first car that was really his, it was also his entry to the world of bodywork.

“It needed some body repair, which I didn’t know how to do at the time,” says McIntosh. “I took it to a shop, and they wanted over $250 to fix it up and repaint it. I thought that was nuts, so I got a book on body repair and did the work myself.”

McIntosh continued working on many of his own and his friends’ cars as a hobby throughout his high school years. After graduating, he left it all behind when he en-rolled at the University of British Columbia. The world of collision repair and loving cars has its own strange magnetism, though, and after a couple of years at UBC he was still wondering what it was he really wanted to do with his life. Since his most enjoyable work experiences had centered around working

on cars, it wasn’t long before Ian McIntosh found work in a succession of three collision repair facilites during the time he was still contemplating what to do with his life.

“One of the first things I noticed was how unprofessional they all were,” says McIntosh. “With the exception of one which clearly stood out from the rest, what I saw was

A clean, orderly shop has long been one of Kirmac’s strengths.

Passion

PrOFILES OF SuCCESS


shops that were dirty and disorganized, em-ployees were not treated well and customers were treated even worse. At one point, I just said ‘That’s enough. I don’t want anything to do with this industry. I better make enough money to go back to university and set my sights on doing something else.’”

That “something else” turned out to be working in a Kenworth manufacturing plant, building trucks for the early 70s oil boom in the Middle East. Working there had a serious and lasting effect.

“The guy who hired me asked if I had ever seen a manufacturing plant before. He took me out on an elevated catwalk over the floor,” says McIntosh. “It changed my life. From the left hand side to the right hand side of the production floor you could see entire trucks coming to life in stages. Everything was well organized and clean. It was my first exposure to processes, systems and the power of com-puters. I worked there for the next two years, but I already knew what I was going to do within the first week. I was going to take what they were doing, and apply it to the collision repair business.”

McIntosh opened his first shop in 1973, not too far from where the Kirmac cor-porate headquarters is today. Even before it opened, the facility was unusual. In the early days they did a lot of work on trucks, necessitating the use of a 110 ft. long spray booth and bake oven.

“My brother Ken came to work with me about six months after I started Kirmac. He’s really built the business we have today with me,” says McIntosh.

For the first five years, the operation con-centrated on trucks. However, the McIntosh brothers started to realize something in those early years, that not only does one truck take up the space of three cars, people who can work on them are few and far be-tween. The shop soon started to transition to passenger cars and light trucks.

“In our sixth year in business in 1979, we moved out of our original leased fa-cilities built the Coquitlam shop that’s

still part of the operation today. By 1985, my brother and I had it doing $350,000 a month, an amazing accomplishment in those days and we wondered just how far we could take it,” says McIntosh.

That was the beginning of Kirmac’s ex-pansion, but it was by no means the end. More shops followed, including the first shop in the United States in 1999 and then the purchase of the Thoroughbred Collision Centers chain in 2005. Since then the

addition of a number of facilities bearing the Kirmac name has continued in Wash-ington State with the 14th US location slated to open later this year.

“We had 13 stores by 1999,” says McIn-tosh. “In the late 90s and early 2000s, things were economically rough in B.C., and at the same time we had increasing costs. We decided to close a couple of low performing locations, but at the same time, we bought our first store in Washington State. In B.C., we see very significant highs and lows in our economy from time to time, kind of a boom and bust situation. I wanted to hedge our bets and diversify risk for the future.”

The events of 9/11 squashed any real growth for the next few years, but things started to pick up with the purchase of the Thoroughbred group, which McIntosh says is a signal of the beginning of the operation’s real growth. The company has certainly come along since then. Today, the largest of Seattle’s three multi-store operators by volume is Kirmac, a Canadian company.

It’s fair to say that computers have played a large role in Kirmac’s develop-ment. Kirmac first became computerized in 1981, a time when computers were often absent even from general business offices, much less collision repair facilities. In fact, Kirmac was the seventh shop in all of North America to sign on with 3M’s ARMS system, one of the very first colli-sion shop management platforms.

In 1985, Ian McIntosh was invited to be a seminar instructor for the 3M/ARMS management software. For three

the laRGest of seattle’s

thRee multi-stoRe opeRatoRs is KiRmac.

staff are a very important part of the Kirmac philosophy. From left: Jack carbonara, marcello Lo giacco, Dylan tsuji, Ken mcintosh, Robert King, Andre Leclerc.

Peter Price paints a vehicle.


PrOFILES OF SuCCESS

straight years, he spent a lot of his week-ends flying all over North America to give seminars on the ARMS system. All of that traveling and interacting with other colli-sion repair owners showed McIntosh how much the collision repair industry was lacking in proper systems and processes at the time. He soon saw that there was an opportunity for multiple-store opera-tions with solid processes in place, and he foresaw a day that insurers would want to have a situation where they’re dealing with fewer people to increase efficiency. It wouldn’t be out of line to say that it was software that kicked off Kirmac’s serious expansion drive. Oddly enough, expan-sion also meant the company had to look for a new system.

“We opened the second shop in Burnaby in 1988,” says McIntosh. “That led to us needing more comprehensive systems that we were getting with ARMS.”

By 1995, they had built a prototype that was Windows based and could work over the Internet. At one time, Kirmac em-ployed as many as 40 people working in software development and that software platform was eventually sold to CCC. Kirmac does still build systems, but these days they are for internal use only.

“There came a time when I had to pick one or the other, either software or collision repair,” says McIntosh. “I chose collision, it’s where I came from and the side I love the most.”

There’s no question that the number of MSOs has been increasing in recent years. For Ian McIntosh, he’s only surprised that it’s taken this long.

“It’s taken longer than I thought, but the MSO model has been fully legitimized now,” says McIntosh. “I’ve seen it coming for a long time. When insurers give us more au-tonomy, we’re able to take significant costs out of the equation for our insurance part-ners and add quality and speed of repair for the customer. According to recent US industry data, MSOs with $20M or more in annual sales currently generate only 11% percent of the total revenue.”

McIntosh predicts further growth for MSOs, both nationally and on a more local level.

“In urban areas, you’re going to see a lot more of the national chains, but that’s been happening for awhile now,” says McIntosh.

“But insurers are starting to look at the regional chains, and providing support. You’re going to see a lot more regional chains making inroads over the next few years, profitable companies being run by professional managers. We’re building a healthier industry.”

A healthy, professional industry is im-portant to Ian McIntosh, and not just because it’s important financially.

“I’m really happy to be where I am right now, and see the change to profession-alism that has overtaken the industry,” says McIntosh. “At the end of the day, I’m an in-dustry guy. I wouldn’t have spent 38 years in the business if I didn’t love it.” CrM

andre Leclerc marks some dents for repair. Process is one area where Kirmac has been ahead of the curve for years.

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RONDEX_ADVT_SEPT11 9/14/11 4:41 PM Page 1

PrODuCTS


Pathways to Paint

Choosing the perfect new spray gun for your colli-sion repair facility involves “looking both ways” at the intersection of function-

ality, durability, performance and—of course—cost. Collision Repair maga-zine has compiled a list of the latest new and improved spray guns to help guide you through the process of de-ciding which direction to take in your next important investment.

The latest spray guns have been de-signed to accommodate current needs and trends in the collision repair in-dustry. For example, as ergonomics —the study of the relationship between

workers and the equipment they use—continues to emphasize the profitability of a happy and healthy worker, most of the latest spray guns have incorporated an element of ergonomics into the spray gun design.

The parallel relationship between time management and cost effectiveness cannot be overlooked. Will investing in a higher profile spray gun translate into money earned in the long run? Is quality of application more important than saving materials on paint application? These are important questions, but really only you can answer them. You are the most qualified person to determine your customers’ needs and choose the equip-

ment that best suits them. What about the spray gun’s durability,

maintenance requirements and repair costs? Certain spray guns have been de-signed to be easier to clean and longer lasting than others. Before deciding on a spray gun, remember to consider the availability of replacement parts and added accessories.

All information presented over the following pages comes from the manu-facturers in question. The appearance of products here does not constitute an endorsement from Collision Repair mag-azine or its staff. As with any purchase, please research your options thoroughly before making any final decisions.

WHERE TO BUY3m canada300 Tartan DriveLondon, Ontario1-800-364-35773mcollision.com

anest iwata5325 Muhlhauser road West Chester, Ohio513-755-3100anestiwata.com

devilbiss195 Internationale Blvd.glendale Heights, Illinois 630-237-5000devilbiss.com

lemmer spray systems4624 12th Street nECalgary, alberta(403) 250-7735lemmer.com

sata canada3636 Burnsland rd SECalgary, alberta(403) 287-3678sata.com

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New directions in spray gun design. By W. Mike Dineen

Is there a kind of equipment you would like to see showcased? Let us know via email to [email protected] or call 905-370-0101.

PrODuCTS


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3m

accUspRaY sYsTEmanest iwata

sUpERnOvaDesigned to minimize overspray, eliminate high maintenance costs

and reduce gun cleaning time, 3M has introduced a replaceable at-

omizing head for the accuspray line which is intended to conserve

materials, boost productivity and improve profitability.

By delivering a large usable pattern with low overspray and

improved atomization, 3M says its replaceable atomizing head

boasts the benefits of a brand new HVLP spray gun, such as re-

duced coating consumption and a premium finish, at a fraction of

the cost. To use, connect the air flow control valve and attach the

atomizing head to the gun by holding the trigger. a double click in-

dicates that the head is fully engaged and ready for use. For the first

stage, air pressure should be set at 30 psi, followed by 20 psi for

the second. attach a 3M Paint Preparation System cup filled with

coating and the air compressor hose. Finally, adjust the fan and fluid

for the required size and wetness of the pattern.

3M emphasizes that all of the ben-

efits available from its PPS have

been maximized, including re-

ductions in spraying, sanding

and cleaning time. additional

advantages include conserving

solvent and lowering costs.

> www.3mcollision.com

anest Iwata’s Supernova spray

gun—designed in cooperation

with Pininfarina—comes in two

versions: the LS400 for clear coat

and the LS400 for basecoat. Both

guns are available with either a 1.3

mm or a 1.4 mm nozzle size depending

on the paint brand being used. according to

the manufacturer, the Supernova delivers a

consistent droplet size when atomizing, which,

when combined with the spray gun’s flat, even pattern, reduces

application errors. The spray gun’s grip is designed with ergo-

nomics in mind for reduced risk of repetitive motion injury. Its

cup angle design is intended to help balance the spray gun, re-

gardless of cup size. anest Iwata designed the spray gun to be

easy to maintain and robust—its air cap’s larger thread pattern

should be easier to remove and refit after cleaning. The LS400

is also available in a hybrid version (LS400H Hybrid) that, ac-

cording to anest Iwata, still maintains the overall superiority of

the original LS400. It is available in two configurations – the gold

air cap for coarse atomization and the platinum air cap for fine

atomization. The LS400 is designed to work with the 3M PPS.

> www.anestiwata.com

devilbiss

TEkna pROliTEThe Tekna Prolite spray gun is manufactured by DeVilbiss. ac-

cording to the company, this spray gun is designed for use in

varying climate conditions—from hot and humid to cold and dry.

It comes equipped with three air caps developed by the manufac-

turer using advanced fluid dynamics technology. The manufacturer

describes the new design as optimal for performance with wa-

terborne coatings and great for solvent-based coatings with a

high transfer efficiency for material savings. according to DeVil-

biss, the spray gun’s free airflow technology uses less air pressure

to achieve superior atomization. The spray gun is ergonomically

designed with a lightweight aluminum body and an easy

wrap around finger grip to reduce painter fa-

tigue. For convenient cleanup and corrosion

resistance, DeVilbiss has coated the Tekna

Prolite with a product they call Quickclean

which has non-stick properties that the com-

pany says results in incredibly fast cleanup and

high levels of corrosion resistance. The Tekna

Prolite is available in both cupped and uncupped

versions. The cupped version uses a 900 cc alu-

minum cup. a DeKups adapter is included with the

uncupped version of the gun.

> www.itwar.com

PrODuCTS

nOVEMBEr 2011 collision RepaiR 29January 2012 collision RepaiR 29

Now that’s sales growth.When you become a CARSTAR Franchise Partner, you join over 400 locations in North America, 150+ across Canada alone, all which benefit from the support and expertise of our network. It is this support and expertise that has led to an 8.67% average store sales growth rate over the last three years. And, sales growth is only one of our offerings; we also offer marketing support, operational systems and training, human resource expertise and so much more—all to help you enhance your existing business. To inquire and learn more, call 1-800-701-9452 Ext. 289 or email [email protected]. Over 150 locations in 10 provinces.

PrODuCTS


JR’s Auto BodyChicago, IL

JR’s Auto Body Realizes Dramatic Savings with Matrix System

Conversion Proves to be a SuccessJRJR’s Auto Body has been in business for over 50 years in the Chicago-land area. A little over 8 years ago, the decision to convert to Matrix System products was made by owner, John Strauss. He was approached by his local supplier KC Body Shop Supply, who introduced Strauss to MaMatrix System. “The consistent and dependable service, mixed with great reliable products and lower prices made the decision easy for us,” stated Strauss.

Finding ValueJRJR’s Auto Body sampled the comparable products that Matrix System had to offer and found them to be of greater value. As Strauss said, “We’ve tried other paint brands in the past, but could find none that would compare to the quality, color match, and cost of Matrix System. We wewere delivering great looking vehicles with lower repair costs. Who wouldn’t find the value in that?”

Satisfaction GuaranteedJRJR’s Auto Body is a first-class shop that has remained profitable and competitive by using Matrix System products in today’s challenging market. They have realized many advantages from the relationship such as immediate attention, a wide range of products, outstanding finishes, and considerable savings. According to Strauss, “We are completely satisfied with the full line of products that Matrix System has to offer. We have been able to deliver an outstanding finish on every vehicle that has passed through our shop and thanks to Matrix System we are able to remain profitable and competitive without making any major sacrifices.”

A Perfect Match is a Beautiful ThingThe The relationship between JR’s Auto Body and Matrix System is one that makes perfect sense. JR’s Auto Body has been able to capitalize on accurate color match, outstanding service, and significant savings from Matrix SySystem products. “It’s like the good ole’ days. We get to see our local distributor and the Matrix System sales rep from time to time. You just don’t get that kind of service from any other paint manufacturer today.”

For more information on how you can experience the same benefits by using Matrix System, call 800.735.0303 or visit us online at www.matrixsystem.com.

lemmer spray systems

a-910ssLemmer Spray Systems describes the a-910SS as lightweight,

easy to clean, straightforward to use and appropriately valued.

The spray gun’s stainless steel construction incorporates stainless

steel internal fluid passages, fluid fittings, needle and nozzle. The

suction version of Lemmer’s a-910SS uses 3M’s Paint Preparation

System, which the compays says will allow the painter to spray at

any angle without fan flutter and uses disposable liners

for convenient cleanup. The a-910SS is also available

in a pressure feed version without the 3M PPS. The

spray gun has separate controls for fan width,

material flow, horizontal pattern and ver-

tical pattern. The company says they are

ideally for use with waterborne lacquers,

varnishes and automotive paints, but the

a-910SS also accommodates enamel,

stain and oil-based materials for use in ap-

plications where they are allowed. For latex

and glue applications, however, Lemmer recommends using

a larger nozzle and/or appropriate thinning when spraying these

substances. The a-910SS spray gun comes with a 1.4 mm all-

purpose nozzle, and separate nozzles are available through Lemmer

ranging from 1.1 mm to 2.5 mm.

> www.lemmer.com

sata canada

saTajET 4000 B HvlpSata describes the ergonomic design of its Satajet4000 B

HVLP as lightweight, with improved handling and higher pre-

cision. according to the company, the weight of the Satajet

4000 B HVLP spray gun has been reduced by 15 percent in

comparison to the previous model, with a lowered centre of

gravity designed for greater painter control. Incorporated into

the spray gun handle is a digital pressure display intended to

allow for a greater accuracy in the reproduction of a required

colour tone. according to the company, the Satajet4000 B

HVLP spray gun’s round/flat spray control allows the painter to

adjust the spray fan to the shape of the object being painted.

Sata says it has designed the Satajet 4000

B with a new nozzle concept, intended

to provide a uniformly shaped spray fan

that applies material softly and evenly.

according to the company, due to its low-

pressure technology, the Satajet 4000 B

HVLP spray gun is designed to achieve high

transfer efficiency rates—not to mention the

spray gun’s noise level has been reduced

by up to 50 percent. Sata describes its spray

gun as completely solvent-proof.

> www.sata.com

Meet Navigator™, the industry’s newest color matching tool. It’s the culmination of putting ourselves in your shoes and asking, “How can my job be made easier and

more accurate?” What we came up with is a new generation of tool that is setting the standard for confidently selecting and matching color in any situation.

Combine the Navigator™ with over 282,000 formulas in the included Pro-Spray PaintXpert™ software and you’ve got a powerful set of tools to work with.

Features more than 5100 popular domestic and

import colors.

Sprayed in actual Pro-Spray paint and arranged

in chromatic order.

Matched in Pro-Spray H2O Waterborne and Solventborne colors.

For more information: NavigatorColor.com

Navigator™ by

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PaInT CEnTrE

BASF has launched its R-M Carizzma Water-borne colours this year. According to BASF, the idea behind the Carizzma system was to give cus-tom painters a brand new range of custom prod-ucts, colours and effects within the R-M brand. The line includes Candys, Cand-e-z, Carizzmatics (pearls), crystals and various effect powders.

The company has also premiered a 12 new colours in the Foose Signature Collection, for a total of 24 colours. All of these colours have been personally formulated by Chip Foose, star of television shows such as Overhaulin’. Colli-sion repair facilities already using either Gla-surit 90-Line or R-M Onyx HD systems can mix these colours by adding the special mixing clear. The colours can also be purchased from BASF jobbers. The company says that all BASF jobbers will be able to mix Foose Signature Col-ors in the amount you need when you need it.

Refinish Tools By Mike Davey

The history of automotive painting is one of innovation and ad-vancement. Long gone are the days when a customer could get a Model T in any colour, so

long as it was black. Candies, pearls, metals … the choices of finish (or refinish) are al-most endless, and paint companies continue to introduce new formulations.

New clears, new basecoats and new colours continue to premiere on a yearly basis. Indeed, several paint companies have launched entirely new lines in 2011.

Going beyond the paint itself, some of the most prominent innovations have been in the realm of computerized colour matching and software integration. The range of solutions to the age-old problem

of obtaining a perfect colour match is truly staggering.

Over the next pages, we’ll present in-formation on the latest and greatest innovations in the world of coatings. We also have exclusive results from our reader survey on coatings and refinish. Information from various companies are presented in alphabetical order.

AkzoNobel has premiered two new colour tools this year – iMatchColor and the 2nd edition of Col-orScala Pro – but it’s the company’s Wanda refinish brand that has grabbed the most headlines. Although it is not brand new to Canada, Wanda has only re-cently seen a formal release in the United States.

Mark Rapson is AkzoNobel’s Business Manager of Trade Brands for North America. He says that the Wanda Waterbase system helps collision repair facilities reduce the complexity of “going green,” and that the brand’s simplicity, colour and value proposi-tion delivers significant time and cost savings, while boosting ease-of-use and colour match accuracy.

The company’s smart phone app, iMatchColor, exceeded 10,000 downloads in early November of 2011. The app provides access to the Sikkens Mixit Online colour retrieval system.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the success of iMatchColor and Sikkens Mixit Online over the last twelve months,” says Color Marketing Director

Ben Zweers. “Giving our customers 24-hour access to our colour database via their mo-bile phones means our customers can do their job better wherever in the world they may be and whenever they wish to do so.”

AkzoNobel has also released Sikkens Col-orScala Pro, 2nd Ed-tion, an upgrade on its variant colour docu-mentation system. ColorScala Pro 2nd Edition gives repair profes-sionals higher gloss paint swatches, which Ak-zoNobel says provide more accurate and reliable colour representation.

aKzOnOBEL

BaSF

Our look back at the new offerings in coatings technology throughout 2011.

Ken Lingenfelter, owner of Lingenfelter Perfor-mance engineering and “Wanda” at the 2011 semA show.

Chip Foose unveils the WD-40/SEMa Cares project vehicle at SEMa 2011. BaSF launched the new line of colours in the Foose Signature Collection at SEMa.

0

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50

6053.6

23.8

13.9

9.9

How long have you been with your current coatings supplier?

Less than 2 years

2 to 5 years

5 to 10 years

10 years or more

Percentage of facilities

47% offacilities

5% of facilities6% of facilities

11% offacilities

31% of facilities

Average number of cars painted per month

0-50 cars

51-100 cars

110-150 cars

151-200 cars

200 cars


PaInT CEnTrE

Matrix officially revealed its new Matrix System’s MPB-LV Premium Low V.O.C. Basecoat System at NACE 2011. The company says the Matrix Premi-um Low V.O.C. line offers customers exceptional hiding, with ease of application and use, and there is no need to upgrade shop equipment.

Matrix System’s Director of Sales, Ken Papich, says, “The time is now to upgrade to our Premi-um Low V.O.C. products, as benefits like faster coverage and higher quality help to reduce cycle time and increase throughput. Matrix System de-livers the best of both technologies, with our Low V.O.C. solvent paint system as well as Aqualution our waterborne system.”

Matrix System Automotive Finishes has also launched its new QR code technology. A QR code is a two-dimensional barcode that can be decoded by scanning with a smart phone such as an iPhone, Droid, or Blackberry. Unlike standard barcodes, QR codes contain much more information. The Matrix System QR code is now being displayed on materials such as new products and catalogs to help increase company awareness while also pro-

viding product infor-mation and discounts.

In addition, Matrix System Automotive Fin-ishes has announced its new iPhone application to complement its Ac-cuShade colour retrieval system. The company says AccuShade Mo-bile makes it easier for customers to search for codes and formulas using Wi-Fi or 3g/4g enabled de-vices. Matrix System says the app will allow customers to have access to the latest formulas and updates.

David Brunori, Executive Vice President/GM at Matrix System, stated: “Matrix System is com-mitted to providing our customers information using state of the art technology. With the intro-duction of AccuShade Mobile, our customers will have access to colour formula information 24/7 in ‘real time’. This will translate to saving time and increasing their productivity.”

PPG Automotive Refinish has introduced a new Vibrance Collection midcoat. The new product, VWM5556 Waterborne Midcoat, is specifically designed for use with PPG’s wa-terborne basecoat systems, Envirobase High Performance and Nexa Autocolor Aquabase Plus. VWM5556 is a true waterborne solution for painters wanting to take full advan-tage of the array of custom colours, special-effect colorants, and pigments available in the PPG Vibrance Collection of coatings.

“The new midcoat is one more component in a complete waterborne system,” said Deb Nucciarone, Product & Marketing Manager, PPG Canada. “VWM5556 is a major advancement for custom car builders as it allows for the development and use of exotic pigments that were previously available only in solvent form.”

PPG Industries has also given its PaintManager software and Paint Shop Interface Program, also known as Repair Order Costing (ROCO), greater capability by integrat-ing with more facility management systems. Most collision centres will now be able to integrate thier system with PPG’s PaintManager software.

When PPG looked at how to help collision facilities track paint costs more easily, it de-cided to build an open interface that would work with any system. This allows shops to use

the management system they prefer, while still getting the advantages of integrating repair order data from the system into PPG PaintManager and actual mix costs from PaintManager to the management system.

PaintManager software manages the colour formulation and mixing operation. It also monitors and manages the costs and productivity of the paint operation and provides instant access to the information required to make informed decisions on job costs, material usage, mixing efficiency, inventory, and much more. PPG has also launched its new Deltron DC2000 Ultra Velocity Clear with superfast air-dry capabil-ity along with other powder coating and Transitions lens technologies.

The Collision Repair magazine refinish and Coatings Survey queried respondents from across Canada to determine how professionals view and use coatings. nearly 200 responses were received from across the country.

as can be seen in the graph labeled “average number of Cars Painted Per Month,” nearly half of all the responding facilities paint fewer than 50 cars per month. unsurprisingly, the

DuPont Refinish has introduced three new, standard setting 2.1 VOC clearcoats designed for use with DuPont Cromax Pro basecoat. Du-Pont says it is excited to have these new clears which align with the needs of highly productive collision repair facilities.

According to the company, DuPont Chroma-Clear LE 5400S Snap Dry Clearcoat has very low overspray and very fast dust free attributes. DuPont says it is ideal for panel and multi-panel repairs in air dry conditions or low bake conditions with good gloss and excellent assembly time.

DuPont PremierClear LE 8300S Productive Clearcoat was developed for high-volume shops that need “premium” appearance with optimal productivity on panel and multi-panel repairs. DuPont PremierClear LE 8700S Premium Ap-pearance Clearcoat is for shops that need “pre-mium” appearance on large area repairs. LE 8700S produces a glamour clearcoat finish.

“These three new clearcoats join our popu-lar LE 5100S Multi-Panel Clearcoat to form a complete line of 2.1 VOC products,” said David Warburton, DuPont Refinish Brand Manager.

DuPont has also introduced the DuPont Ac-quire Plus EFX “camera” for use with DuPont Cromax Pro, Standox Standoblue and Spies Hecker Permahyd Hi-TEC waterborne systems.

According to DuPont, Acquire Plus EFX is an ad-vanced, hand-held spectrophotometer that will help users achieve the most accurate colour match, even for complicated metallic, pearl and effect colours.

“Our goal is to help customers improve pro-ductivity. Using advanced optic technology, Ac-quire Plus EFX looks deep into the paint film to acquire the flake and colour characteristics that are the keys to determining the best colour match. This proprietary technology, which is significantly ahead of others in the market, sets Acquire Plus EFX apart from any existing spec-trophotometer in the business,” said Dan Ben-ton, DPC colour manager.

the matrix sys-tem’s mPB-LV Premium Low V.o.c. Basecoat system.

the new clearcoats from DuPont join with Le 5100s multi-Panel to form a complete line of 2.1 Voc products.

MaTrIX

PPg

DuPOnT

the new water-borne midcoat is designed to work with PPg’s waterborne basecoat systems.

3.4

4.8 4.5 4.7 4.9

ColourMatching

ApplicationTraining Items

CustomerService

Value adds

Rel

ativ

e Im

po

rtan

ce

How Important Is It?

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SURVEY SAYS...


PaInT CEnTrE

36 Armstrong Ave.,Georgetown, ON L7G 4R9

www.servairfilters.com

Keith Hayward “The Filter Guy”Cell: 416-801-5218

Call Toll Free: (866) 402-1221

We stock filters for 100s of makes and models of spray booths!

Pit Filters• Ceiling Filters• Door Filters• Intake Filters•

“Our Focus is Spray Booth Filters!”

Call For your FilTer quoTe!

Pro-Spray Automotive Finishes has introduced an alternative for meeting low basecoat/clearcoat VOC requirements; the new Pro-Spray 3.5 VOC Solvent Basecoat System.

“This system is a viable option to waterborne basecoat in VOC-compliant markets, and is an affordable choice for walk-in and non-waterborne collision repair shops,” said Tom Gardner, Director – Business Development. “It utilizes existing Pro-Spray products, so it doesn’t require a major investment.”

For example, the system uses Pro-Spray solvent toners and new low-VOC binders, activators and thinners. The compliant basecoats can be used over Pro-Spray 2.1 VOC sealers and 2.1 VOC primers, and topcoated with any Pro-Spray 2.1 VOC clearcoats.

Pro-Spray says these compliant basecoats also offer an improved formula featuring a new binder-to-colour ratio for optimized coverage, sprayability and colour quality.

Also new from Pro-Spray is the Navigator precision colour selection system, providing more than 5,100 of the most popular domestic and import colours, organized by family. According to Pro-Spray, one of the advantages of the Navigator system is that what you see is what you get.

“Combine the Navigator with the 282,000 formulas in the Pro-Spray PaintXpert software and you’ve got an easy-to-use, powerful set of tools that delivers satisfaction to customers all over the world,” said Laura Yerkey, Marketing Manager for Pro-Spray Automotive Finishes.”

Navigator uses large chips sprayed with actual Pro-Spray paint to ensure a perfect colour match to both waterborne and solventborne systems. All formulas are available on Pro-Spray PaintXPert colour software, and a retractable mesh cover helps protect the chips.

Some of the biggest news from Sherwin-Williams this year is the new integration of Mitchell’s Re-pairCenter with Sherwin-Williams’ Formula Ex-press Formula Retrieval System. The upshot is that Formula Express automatically transfers costs back into RepairCenter. This provides more accurate overall costs, and allows you to invoice for the true costs of the paint used.

This simple fact removes “rule-of-thumb” cost-ing from the equation when it comes to paint ma-terials. No more estimating, no more averaging the year’s cost. The integration of these programs allows the true, accurate cost of paint materials to be passed on to the customer.

Dan Duic is the president of MPX Data Sys-tems, Mitchell’s distributor for Ontario. He notes that the integration may offer cost savings in ad-dition to true materials invoicing.

“It means no more fudging of numbers. For the first time, you have real data,” said Duic. “Howev-er, it also makes it impossible for a painter to mix paint that isn’t needed. The painter simply cannot mix unless its costed to a repair order. The painter

mixes what’s called for and records it.”Daryll O’Keefe is the Ontario Region Manager

for Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes. He says that this is something customers have want-ed for a considerable period.

“We always look for opportunities to add val-ue,” said O’Keefe. “We’ve been hearing about this idea for a long time. Now it’s finally happened. It was very fortuitous that these programs were similar enough so that the interface could be pro-grammed without too many hurdles.”

Also in 2011, Sherwin-Williams held its first Vision Group meeting. More than 20 collision professionals from across the country attended the two-day session at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Ho-tel in Vancouver. Topics included discussions on lean culture, performance appraisals and collision repair trends from an insurance segment perspec-tive, as well as open forums on “what keeps shop owners up at night.” Guest speakers included Ken Boulton of Dominion Insurance Company and the group was moderated by Elainna and Mike Sa-chire from Square One Systems.

number of facilities decrease fairly steadily as the number of cars are increased.

More than half of all respondents have been with the same paint company for at least a decade. However, this does not mean Canada’s repairers are unwilling to switch paint companies. Of those surveyed, 66.7 percent have switched paint companies at some point in their history. The most common reasons given for making the switch were poor quality products and poor

service, either at the manufacturer level or the jobber level.

Finally, we come to how important repairers feel certain items actually are. respondents were asked to rate the relative importance of the following items on a scale from one to five, with five being the most important. The numbers shown are an aggregate of all responses. In other words, if one person answered “5” and another answered “1,” then the total would be 3.5.

SHErWIn-WILLIaMS

PrO-SPray

the new navigator system from Pro-spray.


TraInIng

Next GenerationNew equipment and a revitalized curriculum are ready to go at Father Lacombe high school.By Yvette Bochar

Over two years ago, the teachers in the Auto Body and Fabrication program at Father Lacombe High School in Calgary found

themselves facing a difficult decision: In-vest in new equipment, or shut down. Rejecting the latter, they had to ask them-selves some serious questions: How can we encourage the younger generation to pursue a career in the auto body field? Achieving this, how can we better equip them with the tools they will need to suc-ceed in today’s industry?

The answer was a brand new painting booth, paint system and mixing room with safer, higher quality materials, such as waterborne paints and new masks. It also includes a revitalized and up-to-date curriculum that is even more comprehen-sive than the already in-depth program in place, and a reinvigorated staff that is eager to bring more students on board.

The priority of Fr. Lacombe’s depart-ment is to give students the preparation and the confidence they need for “getting in the door and moving ahead early,” says Ryan McLennan, a teacher in the depart-ment. Experience is key, and with the right technology and training, students can gain the experience they need to get a head start in the industry.

A major investment on the part of the Calgary Catholic District School Board (CCSD), McLennan is confident that they will see their money’s worth once the department is open for business by mid-October. McLennan insists that “with the new booths, we’ve definitely seen some eyes open.”

It’s even sparked an interest in the ren-ovations themselves. As students watch

the department being transformed be-fore their eyes, they’re not only gaining a greater appreciation for the new equipment they’ll soon be using, but also for the other skill-sets that are involved in making this transformation happen. McLennan, along with the workers in the facility, are excited to see the students gathering around to watch and ask questions about the work in-volved in the renovations and installations.

And they’re not the only ones who are excited. These improvements have other heads turning in the industry as well.

“The school has made a commitment to bringing up that side of their program,” says Ryan Bellows from the Calgary branch of CanadaCarColor. Sharing the view with McLennan that it is important to en-courage youth to enter the field, Bellows wanted to recognize this commitment and “show them that the industry supports the effort they’ve made.”

At the end of the month, Bellows him-self will be talking to the students about his own career in the field, his experience and how the industry itself has changed over the years. Like the staff at Fr. Lacombe and the CCSD, Bellows is committed to encour-aging more students and providing them with better support. Ideally, he would like to see more students recognized for their hard work and commitment by receiving greater financial support to fund their studies and, more importantly, their first sets of tools. For students and apprentices, “this recogni-tion gives them more to strive for.”

Bellows explains that it was with this goal in mind that CanadaCarColour and PPG teamed up to establish the Canada Car Colour/PPG Refinish Award for students at NAIT. In its second year, this $500 bursary is presented to one student at the end of each of the three courses within the Auto Body Refinisher Apprenticeship Program.

The

Ryan mcLennan, a teacher in Fr. Lacombe High school’s auto body department, in front of the school’s new paint booth.


TraInIng

Bellows is excited to be a part of the ac-tion at Fr. Lacombe, and plans to continue to contribute his experience, expertise and time “as long as they are new faces” to talk to.

McLennan is already working on ensuring this. While he rarely found himself actively promoting the field in the past, he is now “pushing it and selling it” by making stu-dents more aware of the opportunities that lie ahead. When speaking with his students, he emphasizes that there is good money to be made with the right skills and the right attitude. The cost for a custom paint job can easily cost $40,000 minimum. The income for a skilled painter can reach $100,000 to $150,000 per year. With painting being one of the more popular areas in the industry, students stand to enjoy some serious ben-efits from their skills.

This message isn’t lost on McLennan’s students. Current and former students alike are enthusiastic about the changes being made and the opportunities that are becoming clearer. Many of former stu-dents return to help out in the shop and meet the new batches of students joining

the program, and they themselves “notice the difference,” McLennan explains.

Whereas the program “would be lucky” to perform a complete restoration within two years, McLennan now expects faster turn-round times with the new equip-ment. In the old booth, only two people were able to work together at a single time. The new booth can accommodate up to seven people. “We’ve come miles,” McLennan says.

The department has always had a great program, and McLennan explains that during the three years that students are studying and working, they generally “put in a lot more [time] than a first year ap-prentice.” The restoration process is taught in great depth, beginning with a complete stripping of all panels, moving into metal work, welding and body fill and prep, and finishing with painting. “You have to teach it right…baby step by baby step,” McLennan explains. With such extensive instruction and experience, it’s no surprise that there is talk of a first year apprentice-ship program at Fr. Lacombe.

With the waiting game almost over for the unveiling of the new facility, McLennan is happy to be a part of the department. Having taught at the school for five years, and worked in the department two years prior as an assistant, McLennan admits, “It’s a great job.” With the support of the school board, the students and the industry be-hind them, Fr. Lacombe’s Auto Body and Fabrication program is certain to enjoy a worthwhile return on its investment. CrM

A new mixing roomis part of the upgrade at the school.

DISTRIBUTORSAtlantic Provinces, Ontario & Quebec:Call Jerry Snyder at 1-800-838-6111

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InDuSTry TrEnDS

Both the Canadian collision re-pair and insurance industries have traditionally looked at the percentage of parts dollars spent by part type to assess

optimal parts dollar savings, using it as the de facto way to measure parts use per-formance. However, if you use this metric, you can come up with some false conclu-sions looking at the percentages only.

Take the following scenario of a typical estimate for example. You spend $1,000 on all parts for an estimate, $200 of which is for a used door. This would put your per-centage of parts by part type at 20 percent used parts use ($200 divided by $1,000). However, let’s say you find a used door for $100, which would bring your percentage of parts of parts dollars for used parts down to 11 percent ($100 divided by $900) even though you still only have one used part on this estimate. When you consider that many OEMs are expanding price matching programs, the problem with the percentage of dollars metric is magnified.

With this in mind, I introduced a second scorecard metric in the Mitchell Industry Trends Report to help better understand the impact of parts choices. When we look at the number of parts by part type for collision claims an interesting pattern develops. While the number of OEM parts

3,500.00

3,000.00

2,500.00

2,000.00

1,500.00

1,000.00

500.00

0.00

Qtr 1 Qtr 3 Qtr 1 Qtr 3 Qtr 1 Qtr 32009 2009 2010 2010 2011 2011

Figure 1: Collision estimate cost breakdown

Avg Gross $ Avg Part $ Avg Labor $

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0Qtr 1 Qtr 3 Qtr 1 Qtr 3 Qtr 1 Qtr 32009 2009 2010 2010 2011 2011

Figure 2: Collision estimate parts use

Parts - Aftermarket

Parts - LKQ

Parts - Non-New

Parts - New

Parts Choice ImpactLooking beyond the percentage of part types.

By Greg Horn

copyright © 2011 mitchell inc. All Rights Reserved. copyright © 2011 mitchell inc. All Rights Reserved.

decreased in Q3-2011, the performance of other parts did not increase to offset that decrease in OEM parts use. This occur-rence is in contrast to the percentages of parts dollar by part type data, which sug-gests parts substitution is occurring. When in fact what we are actually seeing is a

decrease in overall parts use from Q1-2011 to Q3-2011. Figure 1 tracks the average gross repairable severity for Canadian collision losses, as well as labor and parts that make up that severity, illustrating that overall spending on parts decreased—driven by a reduction in the number of OEM parts.


InDuSTry TrEnDS

4,500.00

4,000.00

3,500.00

3,000.00

2,500.00

2,000.00

1,500.00

1,000.00

500.00

0.00

Qtr 1 Qtr 3 Qtr 1 Qtr 3 Qtr 1 Qtr 32009 2009 2010 2010 2011 2011

Figure 3: Comprehensive estimate cost breakdown

Avg Gross $ Avg Part $ Avg Labor $

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0Qtr 1 Qtr 3 Qtr 1 Qtr 3 Qtr 1 Qtr 32009 2009 2010 2010 2011 2011

Figure 4: Comprehensive estimate parts use

Parts - Aftermarket

Parts - LKQ

Parts - Non-New

Parts - New

copyright © 2011 mitchell inc. All Rights Reserved.

copyright © 2011 mitchell inc. All Rights Reserved.

This phenomenon of overall spending decrease in turn led to the decrease in av-erage collision repair severity in Q3-2011, although it did not affect the severity of the third quarter results for 2010 or 2009.

Comprehensive claims, which are more susceptible to hail claim volume driving periodic performance, exhibit the same phenomenon of a reduced number of parts purchased in the third quarter of each year, during the heaviest hail claim activity. In-terestingly enough, purchases of all part types are reduced when looking just at comprehensive claims, but only when new OEM parts were reduced when looking solely at collision claims.

Key takeawaysThis data re-affirms that comprehensive claims—both traditional and paintless dent repair—are labor driven and therefore more profitable. In the case of collision claims, how-ever, some unique characteristics seem to be driving the reduction of OEM parts only in the third quarter of this year. Once we get beyond the cosmetic parts of a vehicle, alternate part types—with the exception of used parts—be-come less of an option in parts replacement.

Additionally, in collisions with reduced im-pact speeds, more sheet metal parts become repairable at a lower hourly repair need. For ex-ample, at higher impact, a door may need to be replaced, with the repair incurring the cost of the door part plus labor to change out the door and hardware. At lower impact, the labour to repair may be all that is needed and could be similar to the labour time needed to replace a door. In that scenario, you would likely see a reduction in parts cost but no reduction in labor. Therefore, a reduced speed of impact can drive a reduction in the number of OEM parts required to repair the damage. CrM

greg Horn is VP of industry Relations for mitchell, and the editor-in-chief of the mitchell industry trends Report. He can be reached at [email protected].


InDuSTry EVEnTS

CustomSEMA brings the heat in Las Vegas.By Yvette Bochar

Four days, 35,000 square feet of new products, dozens of custom cars and tens of thousands of do-mestic and international buyers. Held at the Las Vegas Con-

vention Center, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show is one of the most exciting trade events of the year in the world of automotive specialty parts.

Since hosting a modest 100 booths at the first event in the late 1960s, the SEMA Show has been accommodating an impressive av-erage of 2,000 exhibitors in recent years. An opportunity to check out the latest innova-tions, stay up to date on industry trends and do some actual networking in the industry, the SEMA Show is top priority for many.

In 2010, the SEMA Show attracted over 60,000 domestic and international buyers, introduced 1,500 new products, and held over 50 free educational seminars and product demonstrations.

Attendees at this year’s show had access to numerous free conferences and seminars that discussed a broad range of topics re-lating to online and traditional marketing strategies, business development, sales so-lutions, and customer service. Several other “pay-to-attend” sessions were also offered.

above and bottom left: The show floor at SEMa offers more than just new products. In many ways, it’s a combination show-and-shine and custom car event.

Bob Leibel and Serge Le Blancof Sherwin-Williams.

Celebrity designer and host of Overhaulin’ Chip Foose signs autographs at the BaSF glasurity 90 Line booth.

Tom gafford of guidepoint Systems.

Cool


InDuSTry EVEnTS

Why Convert?Maaco Canada average store volume = $1 Million PLUS

Half of Maaco’s Canadian locations average to 12% net profit and $1.4 million in sales

Maaco has a Canada-wide CSIof 97.4% (CSI Complete)

Maaco services 500,000 customers per year in North America

Existing Maaco banner program participants include: John Gibbons Kia and Brock Ford Sales & Automotive.

Now It’s Your Turn.CALL

UH OH...BETTER GETMaaco!

Maaco Markham

These shops already made the move!

Maaco Mississauga East

Billy roche of Col-Met Spray Booths.

Darryl Simmons of Collision Repair magazine and Don Jensen of Mo-Clamp.

gloria Mann of Colllision Repair magazine and Mark Hebbeler of anest Iwata.

Jonathan Barrick and ronnie guindon of global Finishing Solutions at the gFS booth.

In an interview with Society of Colli-sion Repair Specialists (SCRS) Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg during this year’s show, Rich Evans of Rich Evans Designs and Huntington Beach Body-works spoke about the future of the collision repair industry, emphasizing the importance of technical training and professional mentoring for both individual and company-wide success. Evans also noted the need for businesses to implement efficient processes to im-prove time management and maintain

consistency in the work produced.The award for best new Collision Re-

pair and Refinish Product was brought home by Eagle Abrasives Inc. in recogni-tion of its Super Assilex sanding system. Runners up included the Like90 Turbo Pad for Bumpers, part of Valvoline’s Plio Grip repair and bonding system and OP-tiFlex 2 by Gema.

SEMA 2012 will take place October 30 - November 2, 2012 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more informa-tion, please visit semashow.com. CrM

PPg’s booth—designed as retro body shop Johnny O’s Collision & Customs—drew crowds with new paint products, show cars, motorcycles and custom-painted hoods.


WOMEn OF THE InDuSTry

Women’s Industry Network (WIN)

is a not-for-profit

organization dedicated to

encouraging, develop-

ing and cultivating

opportunities to attract

women to collision

repair while recognizing

excellence,promoting

leadership, and fostering

a network among the

women who are shaping

the industry.

Collision Repair magazine is pleased

to announce that Ellen

Paquette and every

woman profiled in our

Women of the Industry

section will receive a

membership to WIN.

For Ellen Paquette drive, passion and education are the tools of success.

By W. Mike Dineen

To speak with Ellen Paquette—Man-ager of Carrosseri Demers ~ CSN of Gatineau Quebec—is to meet a genuine enthusiast for the industry. As the first female manager of a collision repair fa-

cility in the Gatineau area, when asked what attracted her to the collision repair business, Paquette’s an-swer echoes the enthusiasm of a childhood passion: “I like to work on cars!” Paquette, a fully licensed paint and body mechanic, confesses to enjoying the challenges of getting to know new models—Honda, Toyota, GM are among her favourites.

As a child, Paquette found herself with five babysit-ters: her brothers. They placed the tools in her hands, and like one of the boys, Paquette found her hands getting dirty with the rest of them. So often in child-hood, before the template of gendered expectations predetermines many of our pursuits, Paquette found herself genuinely enjoying cars—and that interest stuck with her through to adulthood.

Upon completing her first stage of auto mechanics at Algonquin College in 1993, Paquette set about in search of a place to begin her apprenticeship. How-ever, the search quickly proved to be more difficult than expected. It came down not only to locating a facility accepting apprentices, but finding a mentor who, as Paquette aptly describes it, “believed in me.” Through determination Paquette found Gerry Loi-selle, of Hawksbury Belanger Chevrolet Oldsmobile, where she apprenticed for the next seven years.

In 2000 Paquette was the first woman to compete in the annual GM Grand Master Technician Competi-tion in auto body repair, held in Ottawa each year. The one-week competition—discontinued in 2006—pro-vided technicians with an opportunity to showcase their skills in a positive, competitive environment.

Ellen Paquette withmanager Joe Frangione.

“you meet the

nicest people

by accident.”

Paquette has worked with Capital Collision ~ CSN for the past two years, being promoted from Assistant Manager to Manager of the company’s Quebec branch for the past six months. Joe Fran-gione, general manager of Capital Collision ~ CSN, speaks with high regard of his employee: “Ellen is great at what she does! She holds the highest level of certification with I-car.”

On a typical day, Paquette is responsible for eleven employees. She takes great pride in her ability to perform exceptional customer service, providing her own personal touch to the way she meets and greets customers. “Ellen is phenomenal with the customers,” Frangione says enthusiastically. Pa-quette endeavours to allay much of the intimidation some customers experience upon entering a colli-sion repair facility. “You meet the nicest people by accident,” she confesses—pun intended.

Paquette’s energetic personality is ripe with con-fidence and trust: “I walk customers through every step of repairs to gain trust and confidence.” Indeed, Paquette’s trustful personality and abilities have made her a sought-after commodity by employers and created a small fan-base of customers. When moving from her previous position to the current one, Paquette describes: “One customer even sought me out on Facebook to find out where I’d gone.”

Paquette would like to encourage more women to explore non-traditional trades. CrM


BuTCHErSHOPSSeriously, what is wrong with you guys?

in the past few years I have been asked to look at and repair a number of comebacks. Lately, I am seeing sev-eral a month that just blow my mind. These cars are coming from “shoe-

maker” shops that either don’t care about doing things right, or simply don’t know how. They just don’t get it.

Well, they will get it when someone dies or gets injured. But why don’t they get it now? It’s because they are looking at how much they can save (steal, really) on the

repair, and short change the insurance com-pany and screw over the owner of the car.

There may be some shop owners reading this that run their shops this way, and I’d like to address them directly. Do you get a rush from a butcher job that your techs call a safe repair? Shame on you.

Have you invested in the new equipment you need? No, of course you haven’t. You

By Sam Piercey

just want to make a buck, and it doesn’t matter to you if you cheap out and en-danger the customer.

Why not just get out of the business while you still can? Do us all a favour and sell out, or at least close your doors. You don’t belong on this planet, butcher.

Why do you do this? If it’s because you don’t care, then just go home, take an over-dose and do the industry a favour. You and your butchers make me sick.

Believe me, I tell everyone I can just who

you are, and how you and your staff did a piss poor repair. You need to spend some green and get some training, moron.

I shouldn’t blame your techs, because really you’re the one who is responsible. If you’re paid for new parts, then use new parts and do everything else needed to make the car safe. Take a long, hard look at what your people are doing, and correct the improper repairs and parts.

If you don’t, you will eventually hurt or kill someone. When the Grim Reaper comes for one of your customers, the fact that you saved a couple of bucks isn’t going to be much consolation to their family.

Stop saving deductibles so you can shortchange the insurers and load the car up with junk instead of replacing the parts with the right parts. Shame on you and your operation. Hear me now and take heed. If you don’t, eventually the Grim Reaper will get you! CrM

sam Piercey is the co-owner of Budds' collision services in oakville, on. sam is a long-time coyote member and sits on many boards and committees. He can be reached at [email protected].

POInT BLanK WITH PIErCEy

they will get it eventually, WHen someone Dies oR gets inJuReD.

this is a BmW we got in recently that was originally hit in July. this is having to be redone, a new aluminum inner structure now needs to be replaced, and the car was still twisted and damaged. At this point, the customer has been without a car for 18 straight weeks. it’s costly to the insurance company and the customer. oh, and we have none of the parts that were removed. it came from the first shop that way.

january 2012 collision RepaiR 45

corebeliefsDo they match up between employers and staff?

A recent study titled ”National Gov-ernance, Culture and Leadership Assessment” dealing with continuity of beliefs throughout companies found a huge difference between

what bosses believed and what their underlings believed. This had to do with the values of the companies and how those companies were struc-tured, top-down versus self-governance. This is important to us as we develop businesses that are modeled on lean principles which are self-gov-erning. The study found that how we do business matters as much as what we do.

The study showed a large disconnect between what upper management thinks of how things are inside the company and the reality the workers

hold. An example was given of how inspirational the company is to the people there. More than a quarter of the bosses (27 percent) felt the company was inspirational. To me that was surprisingly low, but the reality of the employees was that only 4 percent of them were inspired by their company.

Difference of OpinionAnother aspect measured was how rewards were viewed. 41 percent of bosses felt they rewarded performance based on values – as opposed to just financial results – whereas only 14 percent of the workers felt that way. What a tremendous difference of opinion on the same subject!

As mentioned above, the adaptation of lean prin-ciples in business today succeeds on the premise of self-governing or empowered workers. This is easy to see when shops operate fully on the team-con-cept, job-share, diagnose and solve problems at the field level. If there is a disconnect like the study shows within an organization that strives toward the lean model, it is going to have a very difficult time in reaping the rewards of efficiency that lean processes can provide.

That is why it is important that a greater em-phasis be placed upon internal communication. As mentioned in other articles I have contributed, the picture inside your head needs to be explained, fully so other people will understand it, espe-cially in matters of values for the company. Great amounts of constant energy have to be expended in helping underlings “see” the vision.

Teach ValuesI have a client that highly values having fun at work. They ran into the challenge of teaching people the balance of having fun while being productive, you know, work hard – play hard. That attitude is not something that many workers show up at the door fully comprehending.

Your workers came from a different place than where you are today. Whether they physically came from another business or you have grown and thus changed, the company you are in is not the same as what they are used to.

This means that the vision must be shared and repeated at every opportunity. Our staff cannot hear often enough where we are going and why it is so important to go there. So do you hold quar-terly all-company meetings where that vision is shared? Do you look for people doing things right inside the company and acknowledge them for their support of the values of the company? Do you hold daily meetings with a portion of the time dedicated to what we can do better today? These are the communications that can keep you the one who’s driving. crM

By Jay Perry

Jay Perry is the founder and owner of Automotive Business Consultants (ABC), a performance coaching company spe- cializing in the automotive service in-dustry. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].

who’s driving?

Vision must be shAred And repeAted AT eVery OPPOrTuniTy.


If we don’t start to talk, we can’t meet our challenges.

it’s pretty simple. When people stop talking, re-lationships fail. One of the amazing things that the Canadian collision industry has going for it is the Canadian Collision Industry Forum (CCIF), a place where stakeholders can meet

three times a year and – talk! I cannot imagine how we would deal with the challenges ahead without CCIF.

Is it perfect? Hardly, but where else does every stakeholder have an equal voice on issues of con-cern to the collision industry? It amazes me that a lot of key shop owners and insurers decide, for rea-sons unknown to me, not to participate.

stay on topThis past year I have met so many young new faces at CCIF and the response I get from these folks is encouraging, to say the least.

Many of them have made a commitment to start attending these meetings on a regular basis because

they understand that they can have some input on the future of the collision industry and have their voice heard at these meetings.

The next big challenge for our industry will be one of sustainability for shops that are ill prepared to deal with the increasing complex technology that manufacturers are building into their new cars.

What collisions? I talked about this in my last article, where I provided a simple five point checklist of key issues that shops need to address – and that is just for starters!

Did you know that General Motors expects to have “Self Driving” vehicles on the road by 2020? Don’t laugh. Did you know that farmers in Sas-katchewan don’t even have to drive their air seeders and combines anymore? Today, in our province, machinery with sophisticated GPS systems track the field far better than any human could do. They don’t get tired, and they don’t get lazy or sloppy. I

By Tom Bissonnette

TRAINED EQUIPPED

Assured Automotiveenough to be properly

& NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO, BUT BECAUSE WE WANT TO.

At Assured we believe that our staff is the key to our success. Assured recently hosted a Staff Appreciation Event to recognize various Assured Facilities and their staff who met or exceeded their strategic business goals. Assured maintains that we are in a Performance Based Environment and we must perform. To this end, Assured honours our staff for their commitment to the collision repair industry and for their dedication and contribution to Assured Automotive.

Staff Appreciation

“ ” t r a i n i n g i s e s s e n t i a l i n t o d a y ’s i n d u s t r y

Cares

assuredauto.ca

KEyCOMMunICaTIOn

PraIrIE VIEW


know guys that set the equipment on auto and go to sleep as the machine glides through their fields!

Building BlocksA lot of cars already have GPS, sensors, cameras and wireless technology, and manufacturers are already using them in applications like lane-departure, crash-avoidance and navigation systems.

They make the car a bit safer, for sure, but they could also serve as the jumping off point to building vehicles that operate entirely on autopilot. That’s not as far off as we might like to think.

What does that mean for collision shops in the future? Will increased use of these “accident avoid-ance systems” start to eliminate most collisions? If they don’t, will you and your techs be able to get the information that you need to properly repair these vehicles? Will you have a staff that is trained to un-derstand this technology? If you are an insurer, do

you want your customer’s vehicles going to just any old body shop? If you are an OEM manufacturer, who will you let fix your high tech products?

These are some of the questions we will be talking about at CCIF in the coming year. We have already identified a number of key speakers for our next meeting in Toronto on January 28, 2012 and this meeting is looking to be one of the best ever. If you

plan on being around in the next five to 10 years, I would recommend you join us as we look for solutions and communicate with our fellow stakeholders.

Come on out to the next meeting. Let’s talk and be a part of the solution. CrM

Over 300,000 technicians are more productive every day with ALLDATA. Call or visit us online and

join the information revolution.

www.ALLDATAcanada.ca800.697.2533

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ALLDATA® CollisionSM S3500 is the only single-source of OE repair information for the collision repair industry. And information drives success in today’s fast-changing world.

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©2011 ALLDATA LLC. All rights reserved. ALLDATA is a registered trademark and ALLDATA Collision S3500 is a mark of ALLDATA LLC. All other marks are property of their respective owners. Free trial may not exceed 10 days and must be activated no later than December 31, 2011. AD-12-00787

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tom Bissonnette is the owner/operator of Parr Auto Body, a collision repair facility located in saskatoon, sK. He can be reached at [email protected].

PraIrIE VIEW

will incReaSed uSe of accident avoidance systems stAR to eLiminAte most coLLisions?

PRODUCTIVITY ANALYSISA precise analyze of your body shop productivity by

comparing it to some benchmarks of the industry.

Square footage, average hourly rate billed, actual

business volume and number of technicians are

taken in consideration.

After NACe/SeMA 2011Advertisement

First of all I would like to thank all those people who visited us at the SEMA Show, it was much very appreciated.

Interesting questions were brought up by visitors on topics such as energy efficiency, shop production revenues and costs, European booths, certification

and future innovations to come.

Oh, by the way! Let me begin by saying that “There is such a thing as a CSA-International listing.” The Termomeccanica products, both in Canada and

the United States, are one of them. I should know, it cost me a bundle! Just visit the CSA-International site for confirmation. It’s public information.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s talk about serious stuff!

BODY SHOP PLANNINGA good shop lay-out is crucial to maximise productivity.

A good production flow will reduce cycle time and

optimize business volume.

EXISTING SPRAY BOOTHInvesting in a spray booth that is over 20 years old is questionable. Reduced electricity and gas consumption

should be taken in consideration in acquiring a new booth. Increased production is another factor that should be

considered against the purchase of a new booth.

FUTURE...

In the next issue, we will talk about a new system that will increase

production time, reduce emissions, and decrease energy costs.

Stay tuned ...

For further info, please contact us at Filco Inc Termomeccanica North America:

1-888-837-6452 www.Filcoinc.com

By Vince Filice, [email protected]

EUROPEAN BOOTHSThere are lot’s good booths in the world, and we all agree that when it comes to the auto industry, we in North

America have a long way to go to catch up to the Europeans. The quality and technology is indisputable when it

comes to spray booths. Without taking anything away from the NACE or SEMA Shows, those who have gotten out

of North America, and seen what’s out there beside pretty girls and hot rods, definitely knows what I’m talking

about. Waterborne is just an example. Europe has been using these products for over fifteen years now. Quality

control is like none other, and changes go through Europe first. Spray booths and the way we do things will change

dramatically in a few years. I will talk about this in the near future.

AIR LINESAnother important issue is the air line. This can be the cause of many problems you have been experiencing. We suggest

a proper air dryer installation as well as a complete air line flush to exterminate any contaminants in the air line. We also

suggest replacing the entry line leading to the spray booth with a quick, “do-it-yourself” assembly all in aluminum.

WATERBORNE ACCESSORIESThere are many accessories out there, but few do the

job well, from air conic diffusers to fixed fans. We’ve

done tests on all of them, and we think that if you

choose a movable, versatile air movement system, this

would probably be your best bet in production costs,

and they usually cost less than $5000.

ERSThis stands for Energy Recovery System. It’s a system which can reduce your heating and electrical costs by up to

50 percent. This system works sort of like a car radiator, which “inter crosses” the air coming in with air going out,

without the two air streams actually making contact with each other. This reduces the inlet air temperature, thus

minimizing the amount of air to be heated. For example, -20°C air inlet without ERS, you need to heat -20°C air.

With ERS, -20°C becomes roughly -10°C and this is the air you need to heat. Maintenance is very minimal and the

price is worth the investment over a few years, depending on the shop’s volume.

Distributing throughout CanaDa anD the uniteD states!

WWW.FILCOINC.COM1-888-837-6452

SOLutION COMpaNy!

th

e

aLL IN StOCK! Ready tO ShIp!

SpRay BOOth, MOdeL SpRINteK

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pORtaIR pORtaBLe SySteM, MOdeL p1

pORtaIR CeILLING RaIL SySteM, MOdeL CR4

january 2012 collision RepaiR 51

Having sported his moustache for 42 years,

Ed MacDonald’s participation in Movember

2011 was inevitably going to be very dif-

ferent from that of other “Mo-Bros.” rather

than shave his well-maintained ‘stache on

november 1 and grow a new one in support

of researching cures for prostate cancer,

the owner of Maritime auto Parts in nova

Scotia is holding out for a goal of raising

$25,000 before he picks up a razor.

MacDonald is not only the captain of the

automotive recyclers of Canada’s (arC)

Movember Challenge, but he is also being

heralded as the event hero. Brigitte Pesant,

Director of Business Development for the

automotive recyclers of Canada, is very ex-

cited about MacDonald’s participation. “He is

our driving force and motivation,” she says.

Pesant is anticipating that MacDonald’s

unique take on the annual prostate cancer

awareness campaign will help to build Mo-

vember-momentum across the country,

inspiring other arC members to either join

the team and sport their own moustaches,

or donate to the team to help it reach its

$25,000 target.

“Most people have never seen me

without a ‘stache, so that’s cool,” says

MacDonald. “I really don’t even remember

myself without a moustache.”

a founding member of arC, MacDonald

has a close relationship with the organi-

zation. While speaking with Pesant earlier

in the year, they mused about MacDonald

raising money by promising to shave his fa-

cial hair rather than grow it.

“It started off as Brigitte and I speaking

one day about Movember, and we were

thinking, ‘What if I shave it off?’” he ex-

plains. MacDonald’s own son, andrew, has

been a long-time participant in the Mo-

vember campaign, a fact that he is proud

of and a new experience that he is eager to

share with his son.

“It really is quite unique,” MacDonald

says of the challenge. “and I’m hoping at

this point to do a father-son shave-off.”

Friendly and humorous to speak with,

MacDonald is sincere about his partici-

pation and serious about the cause he is

promoting. He emphasizes that it is our re-

sponsibility as survivors to help find a cure

for cancer, whether it be prostate or ovarian

or breast cancer.

“I really do have a lot of friends who have

dodged the bullet, and a lot who didn’t,” he

explains. “It’s a tragic reality.”

However, he is hopeful and – like Pesant

– very positive about arC’s ability to reach

its $25,000 goal. “We’re pretty excited

about trying to get as much information out

as possible,” he says. “We’re really trying,

we’re really reaching to get $25,000 for

arC, and to do so, we’ve put this creative

Standard auto Wreckers recently

hosted a large group of students from

Pickering High School at its Toronto

facility. The students themselves were

drawn from transportation classes

and photography classes.

It’s obvious why a transportation

class would want to visit an auto-

motive recycler. They’re there to

learn more about how auto recycling

works, and to examine more of the

options that are available when it

comes to sourcing parts. The pho-

tography class, on the other hand,

was there seeking a different atmo-

sphere and a different venue in which

to learn their craft.

Students were treated to a full

tour of the operation. They wanted

to see everything, and that’s just

what was provided. They went from

Auto recyclers support “Movember”pickering High students tour standard auto Wreckers

magazine

Continued on page 52.

Photography and transportation students came together recently for a tour of Standard Auto Wrecker’s Toronto location.

Ed MacDonald and his son Andrew. This picture is a good indicator of just how long it’s been since Ed MacDonald has had his bare face hanging out. That baby is now a mechanical engineer with Toyota.

Contents

News.............................................51-55ARA Awards, Movember, Mitchell’s new salvage solution, Standard Auto tour and more. Recycling column.........................56-57Our Legacy by David Gold

By Yvette Bochar

Continued on page 52.

n e w s r e s o u r c erECyCLIng nEWS I


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David gold of standard Auto Wreckers explains some of the ins-and-outs of automotive recycling to students from Pickering High.

Continued from “Ed MacDonald to shave ...” on page 51.

twist on it because, as I’ve said, most people have never seen me

without a ‘stache.”

Pesant is working hard to get the message out nationally and en-

courage other arC members to participate. “at this point, it’s not

about starting on november 1st, it’s just about joining the team, volun-

teering your time, and participating in the fundraising,” she explains.

If the $25,000 mark is hit by the month’s end, arC’s Movember

Challenge will culminate with a visit to the barbershop on november

30 where MacDonald’s 42-year-old moustache will meet its end. With

cameramen, friends and family in tow, this momentous event will be

documented and posted on youtube for MacDonald’s fellow arC

members across Canada.

Pesant is confident in arC’s ability to reach its goal, drawing on

this September’s extremely successful Big Bike Event as an excellent

example. aiming to raise a modest $5,000 for the Heart & Stroke Foun-

dation, Oara shattered this goal by bringing in an impressive $17,450.

Pesant’s confidence also comes from her observation of a major,

though less obvious, driving force for Movember fundraising: Mo-

Sistas. Mo-Bros are the face of Movember, using their visible and

often humorous moustaches to raise awareness, but Mo-Sistas are

the women in their lives who dedicate the month to raising funds.

MacDonald himself is excited and confident about the aware-

ness and support that he and other arC members can generate.

Still, he expects that it will take some adjusting to get used to a

clean-shaven look, and even finds himself wondering: “What have

I talked myself into?”

fluid evacuation, learned how parts come in and how they’re evalu-

ated, how vehicles are brought in and exactly how those vehicles

are dealt with.

It was a golden opportunity for the students, but Standard auto

Wreckers perceives a benefit to the industry as well.

“It’s an opportunity not only to show people what we do, but to

educate students about the realities of modern, legitimate auto re-

cycling,” says yasmin Towheed-Whittle of Standard auto Wreckers.

“They got a chance to see the actual economic value of used parts,

and we got to show them how we protect the environment.”

For more information on Standard auto Wreckers, please visit the

company’s website at standardautowreckers.com.

Continued from “Pickering High students...” on page 51.

n e w s r e s o u r c eI rECyCLIng nEWS


Mitchell has announced the release of WorkCenter Salvage 2.0,

an innovative salvage management solution that helps carriers

minimize the cycle time of salvage vehicles while maximizing their

recovery value. The solution is fully integrated within WorkCenter,

Mitchell’s end-to-end physical damage claims settlement solution

that powers an insurer’s physical damage claims processing needs.

Mitchell says that WorkCenter Salvage 2.0 integrates workflows and

enables users to process assignments more quickly and monitor

“on-the-ground” salvage inventory for direct cycle time savings.

“Our mission is to deliver the best possible outcome, and to do

so we put a great deal of passion into always improving insurance

claims processing for our clients, every step of the way,” said Paul

rosenstein, Vice President, Product Management for Mitchell. “To

achieve positive recovery on low-value salvage vehicles and over-

come inefficient salvage workflows that can cost extra cycle time

days and higher disposition costs, insurers need consistent, real-

time and accurate information delivered to them from an unbiased

solution provider as part of their primary workflow. Salvage 2.0 pro-

vides this directly within WorkCenter.”

WorkCenter Salvage 2.0 enables users to monitor, manage and

track all salvage-related activities from one location. Data is trans-

ferred within WorkCenter automatically, enabling insurers to avoid

manual rekeying. users can select pools that best meet their needs

by connecting to a network of more than 350 salvage yards. They

can also request bids directly from a small group of buyers for low-

value salvage vehicles for maximum efficiency gains.

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ARA honours Canadian recyclersThe Ontario automotive recyclers association and Lecavalier auto

Parts have received Star awards from the automotive recyclers as-

sociation. The awards were presented during a gala event held during

the recent ara Convention in Charlotte, north Carolina.

Oara was named affiliate Chapter of the year by the ara. Lecava-

lier auto Parts was honoured as recycler of the year.

“Wherever we went in Charlotte, the Canadians were lauded for the

progress that we have made on promoting, defending,

and enhancing the industry and its members,” says

Steve Fletcher, Executive Director of Oara. “I am

pleased to represent the association and all of our

members should be proud of the role they play in

making this association great.”

For more information on ara, please visit a-r-a.org.

oARA’s ARA star Award for Affiliate chapter of the year.

n e w s r e s o u r c erECyCLIng nEWS I


Japan’s Ministry of Environment has announced that it will launch

the “auto recycling Innovation Support Program” using its fiscal

2011 budget. This is designed to help build innovative auto re-

cycling by making partnerships among various business areas,

including carmakers, dismantlers and shredder operators.

There are two target areas for the program. The first target area

requires the auto recycling Innovation Partnership Program to

involve multiple companies joining efforts to develop models for

effective use of used parts and rare earths taken from end-of-life

vehicles. In the second target area, participants in the advanced

Metal recycling Technology Development Program will conduct

research on technologies to take selected materials.

The planned aid is expected to be between 10 million yen

and 30 million yen per program title. This works out to between

$130,000 and $390,000 CaD for each program title. The total

budget is expected to increase to between 50 million yen and

80 million yen, or between $652,000 and $1,043,000 CaD, for

the advanced Metal recycling Technology Development Pro-

gram. applicants to participate in the program are expected to

come from Japan’s numerous automotive manufacturers and

other private firms, universities, and administrative agencies.

Parkway Auto Recyclers wins early bird prize in 2011 Switch Out contest

Switch Out has announced that Parkway auto recyclers have won

the early bird prize for its 2011 collection contest. an article about

the Kitchener, Ontario based company will appear in the 2012 print

edition of Canadian auto recyclers Magazine. Looking at Parkway

auto recyclers’ exceptional record in recovering automotive mercury

switches, it is no surprise that they are the winner of the early-bird

prize for the 2011 Switch Out contest. Parkway auto recyclers is now

operated by Vic generoux and his two sons Trevor and Troy.

The grand prize draw for the Switch Out contest will be held in

January 2012, so automotive recyclers still have time to qualify. Par-

ticipants who send in their automotive mercury switches at least twice

in 2011 will be eligible to win great prizes. If you have any questions

about the Switch Out program or the 2011 contest, please contact

Caroline Sturk at 416-922-2448 ext. 286.

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n e w s r e s o u r c eI rECyCLIng nEWS


Carcone’s auto recycling has

received the Environmental

Sustainability award from the

aurora Chamber of Commerce.

The award was presented and

sponsored by Power Stream,

the second largest municipally-

owned electricity distribution

company in Ontario.

The award was presented

for excel lence and innova-

tion in proactively protecting

the environment while meeting

business demands. The au-

rora Chamber of Commerce

says that Carcone’s auto re-

cycl ing was proven to meet

the award’s criteria by having

superb leadership qualities in

energy conservation, environmental stewardship and pollution prevention, as well as ful-

filling the “green” organizational policy statement.

Carcone’s auto recycling has been in operation since May of 1978.

For more information on Carcone’s auto recycling, please visit carcone.com.

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Serving the Automotive Industry for Over 45 Years

TOO BuSy to type?

give us a call at 905-370-0101

and we’ll subscribe you

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Canadian Auto

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michael carcone, President of carcone’s Auto Recycling, receives the award from ted Wojcinki, VP of engineering Planning at Power stream.

carcone’s auto Recycling receives business achievement award


n e w s r e s o u r c erECyCLIng I

Recyclers must change with the times to survive.

a fellow auto parts supplier inspired me to write this article after I received a call from him the other day. He acknowledged to me that his business “lost money last month” because of the fierce competitive

climate “we are all in these days.” His solutions to sus-tain the business longevity were many. He also advised me that he recently met with lawyers to package his businesses up for sale pending the outcome of these new tough business survival enhancements.

Recyclers and repairers are in similar positions when it comes to the economic environment we work in. Ev-eryone is demanding more for less. For many recyclers and parts providers’ part of our economic woes stem from bad debts incurred by customers who have gone under or are simply not current on their payments. It may also mean competition from cheap parts priced with no margin left for anyone to make any money

Since it costs money to stay in business and be on the cutting edge of the latest in technology and equipment

it stands to reason that recyclers and collision repairers are going to need to charge the appropriate amount of money for their products and services to ultimately stay in business.

Most of us have deep roots in the community and we love what we do, but times are changing and that means we cannot continue to operate in the same fashion we always have and expect future success.

This may mean that recyclers won’t be able to search for low dollar parts as they often have a high return rate, and indeed are losing deals for us at best. In the case of my friend at the auto parts store, he has had to ban the practice of price matching. Operational costs such as local deliveries, shipping and handling, and packaging costs are more significant than ever before.

To be the best at what we do, there will be costs as-sociated and core, transportation and environmental charges that will need to be linked with each invoice for us to conduct business in the manner all stake-holders expect from us. Environmental fees used to

By David Gold

OurLEgaCy

IBIS is the global forum for collision repair. More than 300 senior managers and executives annually attend from over 30 different countries to discuss issues, exchange ideas and share information. Be a part of this unique event and bring the industry together.

For more details or to book your place, contact the IBIS Team on: +44 (0)1296 642826 or email: [email protected]

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ibis 12 half h world.indd 1 16/11/2011 10:37:58


n e w s r e s o u r c eI rECyCLIng

be more about offsetting the costs of legally handling and disposing the fluids from the vehicles, but now it’s much more than that. Fundamental to our busi-ness survival is the acquisition of elaborate equipment, such as the environmental fluid de-pollution machine we just purchased for our operation. These machines cost in the hundreds of thousands.

We all need to embrace these changes and appre-

ciate each other’s position and work together even closer to provide the most economically feasible re-pair. To be in business and just turn dollars does not do anyone any good and it is very important to not leave any money on the table anymore as costs are always being passed onto us. For example, the gov-ernments don’t feel ashamed of their obligations to introduce more fees and we can’t just be the recipient of all of these charges.

Governments need to understand how strong the underground economy is and how it affects the legit-imate auto recycler. We are in a highly competitive

industry and it doesn’t help that we are not officially recognized and licensed. We’ll keep pushing for it.

A well-run, profitable and long-standing business is one of the most important ways we can give back to our communities. We all have a legacy to carry on and we love what we do. We need to remember that it can’t all be about the price of our parts, but also about ser-vice, quality, guarantees and community spirit.

I applaud each and every one of you that have withstood the pressure and stress of small and me-dium-sized businesses and have come to work every day to make it happen. Our families and employee’s families need and count on our businesses to be suc-cessful and profitable. CrM

David gold is the co-owner of standard Auto Wreckers, an auto recycling facility with locations in toronto, ontario and niagara Falls, new york. He can be reached by telephone at 416-286-8686 or via e-mail at [email protected].

it doeSn’t helP that we aRe notoFFiciALLy RecogniZeD AnD LicenseD.


there are times when, although it’s definitely possible to do things for yourself, it might still be better to leave things to the professionals. I’m now firmly convinced that

autobody is one of those areas. One of my legion of uncles needed to

do some body work recently on a used truck that he needed to get safetied. Several members of my family immediately tagged me as a likely helper. On the surface, that makes a lot of sense. I’m not a licensed body tech, but I’ve sure got a lot of experience in taking photos of people fixing cars and then talking to them about it. You may be sur-

prised to learn that this experience doesn’t translate to actually being able to do the work. My uncle sure as heck was.

The long and the short of this is that I agreed to help my uncle with his repairs. Just in case you’re having a heart attack from sheer terror at the thought of two un-trained people trying to bring a car back to pre-accident using commonly available tools in someone’s driveway, then let me as-suage your fears. We weren’t straightening a frame, there was no cutting and sectioning involved, no pillars were touched and no panels were removed.

The problem was rusting front wheel wells. I figured we would be okay, because both of us have actually done this particular job before and nobody died. All it needs is a bit of grinding and a bit of rebuilding. After that, apply some fiberglass and epoxy, and it’s ready for painting. I figured we would be done in less than two hours, not counting drying times for the epoxy. Four hours later, I was forced to revise that estimate.

Things went pretty well at first. We cleaned the whole area, picked off the loose bits of paint and metal, and then went after

the rust with wire brushes. Going in, we knew that wouldn’t cut it, but we figured we would see how much we could take off without firing up the grinder. Looking back, I’m not sure why we thought that was a good idea.

In any case, we eventually ground off all the rusted portions of the wheel wells, then attacked with the wire brushes again, fol-lowed by another wipe down. Those of you who experience it every day have probably gotten used to seeing fresh, shiny metal where only rust could be seen before. It’s a deeply satisfying experience for those of us who don’t get to see it on a daily basis. It’s

the part that comes next that I’m not very fond of. There weren’t any holes in the ac-tual inside of the wheel wells, so we got out of cutting templates and sheet metal to patch them. It was an exterior problem, so we figured we could just build up the wheel well a bit, and fiberglass over it.

Fiberglass matting and epoxy hardener really is fantastic stuff. You can make just about anything out of it. Note that I said “you” because apparently the only thing I can make out of it is a massive mess.

We did eventually get the job done. It looks ... well, it looks like two amateurs de-cided to do some body work in a driveway on a Saturday afternoon. The lesson here is that, while it’s possible to do some things yourself, it’s probably quicker and easier to let the experts do it. This applies to things like social media and web building just as much as it does to body work. CrM

DI-WHy?You know what’s easier? Letting the experts do it.

By Mike Davey

one of my legion of uncleS needed to Do some BoDy WoRK on A useD tRucK.

LaST WOrD

mike Davey is the editor of Collision Repair magazine. He can be reached at 905-370-0101 or v ia emai l at [email protected].

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DP1559_BrCar_CoR_A_E_.indd 1 02/08/11 4:49 PM

collision repair 10#6

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