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NACE | CARS Announces Detroit Destination & Technical Tours for July 22–25, 2015 NACE | CARS announced details for the destination tours in Detroit for 2015. These tours have been organized to provide attendees with the opportunity to visit some of Detroit’s historical venues, as well as gain firsthand insight into the original automotive plants through both docent guided and self-guided tours. The tours will take place throughout the week during NACE | CARS. Interested parties must pre-register through the NACE | CARS registration process. All are available, with limited capacity. Charter buses will be provided from the COBO Center to
take attendees to and from the tours.
NACE | CARS Destination Tours feature nine unique oppotunities in 2015: Ford Rogue Factory Tour (F-150): This tour will put you in the center of the manufacturing of the new military grade aluminum-alloy bodied Ford F150, including an opportunity to view the final assembly process from an elevated walkway. You will view the latest Ford technology, their “living roof,” and experience the Manufacturing Innovation Theater. The tour includes admission and guided tour See NACE CARS Tours, Page 16
NACE | CARS Preview in this issue... p. 21, 22, 27, 56, 60
U.S. District Judge in FL Recommends Dismissing Complaints Without Prejudice in Multi-District Lawsuit
Fry, the litigation director and designated plaintiffs’ liaison counsel, said that in certain instances a district court judge, the trial court judge in the federal system, is permitted to send certain motions to the magistrate judge for what is essentially a “first look.” After reviewing the motion, the judge will prepare a legal opinion on whether or not the motions have merit and whether they should be granted or denied. U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell asked Magistrate Judge Smith to prepare what is known as a “Report and See MDL Recommends, Page 44
Change Service Requested
P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
In the Multi-District Lawsuit involving more than 500 collision repair shops across the country, U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Smith recommended in June that the antirust complaints filed against the nation’s top insurers be dismissed without prejudice. Eaves Law Firm, the lead attorneys for the Plantiffs, is able to file amended complaints by June 30. Autobody News spoke to Allison Fry at Eaves Law Firm, based in Jackson, MS, to find out how this development will affect the case.
VOL. 4 ISSUE 10 JULY 2015
South Dakota Insurance Division Reaches Settlement with Insurance Companies, Full Report Due July 6 by Jenna Reed, glassBYTES.com
The South Dakota Division of Insurance has settled with Farmers Insurance Group and Foremost Insurance Group over allegations of industry “violations.” The deal includes a $750,000 penalty. While the specifics of the allegations are under wraps until the full report is released July 6, 2015, this could impact the AGRR industry. Ron Evans, owner of Ron’s Auto Glass in Yankton, SD, is particularly interested in learning more. “The insurance industry is a challenge,” he said. “I don’t know what’s in the report, but I would like to find out. At this point we’re making more on rock chip repairs than installations.” “A lot of our industry’s issues are with networks and insurance companies,” added Shawn Nielsen, owner of Fast Auto Glass in Vermillion, SD. “Like steering is an issue we deal with. I don’t know if this is a steering issue. … I’ve sent complaints into the state insurance division but I’ve never heard back.” When asked if the settlement has anything to do with automotive glass claims, a spokesperson for the state’s insurance division declined to answer. “The exam report will be available July 6,” said Dawn Dovre, a spokesperson for the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. “The examination report must remain confidential for 30 days,” according to an insurance division statement.
Five insurance companies within Farmers and Foremost were reviewed. The Farmer Insurance Group companies that came under analysis included Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange and Mid Century Insurance Co. The Foremost Insurance Group companies examined included Foremost Insurance Co. and Foremost Property and Casualty Insurance Co., according to a statement from the state’s insurance division. The insurance division reports it “found various deficiencies in the companies’ practices that needed to be corrected.” For its part, Farmers does not agree that it is doing anything wrong, but decided to resolve the issue through settlement, says a Farmers’ spokesperson. “Farmers has reached a settlement agreement with the South Dakota Division of Insurance to resolve a market conduct exam. While we do not agree with many of the Division’s findings of alleged violations, we have agreed to this settlement in order to resolve the matter,” said Luis Sahagun of Farmers. “We have concerns any time an insurance law is violated in our state,” said Larry Deiter, state insurance director. “The number of violations in this particular report was a significant reason for the monetary penalty.” Autobody News thanks glassBYTES.com for permission to reprint this article.
CARSTAR Jungerman in St. Peters, MO, Named Franchisee of the Year
Each year at its annual conference, CARSTAR recognizes the top owners and business groups throughout its network for their leadership and performance. In the categories for top operations, CARSTAR presented four awards to stores for their achievements. Franchisee of the Year Taking home the top honor as Franchisee of the Year was CARSTAR Jungerman in St. Peters, MO, owned by Kerry Woodson and Toni Donius. Franchisee of the Year is the highest award given in the CARSTAR system, and it represents the best of the best that is CARSTAR. Rookie of the Year The Rookie of the Year was CARSTAR
Friendly in Roselle, IL, which is run by Body Shop Director, Eric Schmit. This award is given in recognition to a new CARSTAR franchisee as it gets “up and running” with CARSTAR. Business Group of the Year The award for Business Group of the Year went to CARSTAR Puget Sound Business Group, which represents 22 stores throughout the region. Next Generation Award For 2015, the Next Generation Award was presented to husband and wife, Tony and Sharon Kempen, who run CARSTAR Pat’s Auto Body in Plover, WI, and CARSTAR Eau Claire South, in Eau Claire, WI.
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COLUMNISTS Attanasio - Get Old School Again with Time-Proven Business Networking . . . . 18 Attanasio - New System Helps Shops to Get Reimbursed for PLIOGRIP® Adhesive Usage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Attanasio - The Do’s and Don’t’s of Body Shop Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Chess - A Closer Look at New Generation of Pulsed Aluminum MIG Welders . . . . 52 Franklin - How To Hire The Best Bodyshop Marketing People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Luehr - A Better Way to Measure Cycle Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Yoswick - 1995 CIC Survey, CARA Files Chapter 11, 2005 Non-OEM Crash Parts, Select Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Yoswick - Insurers, PartsTrader and CAPA Share News and Views at Non-OEM Parts Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
NATIONAL 1 Collision Network Co-locates Conference at NACE | CARS . . . . . . . . 22 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division Partners With Ringbrothers Custom Car Builders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
ASA Congratulates AudaExplore on Feather, Prime, Block Estimating Solution . . . . . 58 ASA Survey Measures OEM Service Info Website Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 CARS Will Feature Mitchell National Training Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 CCC Information Services and CREF Announce Winners of Annual Scholarship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 East El Paso, TX, Body Shop Fire Causes $20K in Damages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Enterprise Rent-A-Car is Now CARSTAR’s Preferred Provider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Flooded Vehicles Fill Shops Following Historic El Nino-driven Rainfall in Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska . . . . . . . . . 47 GM Reaffirms Commitment to Launching MyPriceLink. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 IAR Pays Tribute to Founders at 2015 Summer Outing and Tradeshow . . . . . . 12 I-CAR Gold Class Shops and Platinum Techs Get 50% Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Industry Veteran Creates “Body Shop of the Future” Using Overseas Technology . . . 50 LaCIA July Meeting; “Steered” Shops Asked to Report Insurers . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Major Paint Companies Will Color-up NACE | CARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Mycrsmanager Management Software System Usable Over Smartphone Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 NACE | CARS Hosts U.S. Department of Commerce Program to Identify Global Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 New I-CAR Weld Demo Held at Marina Auto Body in CA With MIG Pulsed Aluminum Welders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 New Martin Senour’s PCC® 2.8 VOC Factory Packaged Colors . . . . . . . . . . . 60 OK Shop Employee Takes Car, Passes Out in Drive-Thru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 PPG Industries Foundation Awards Student Scholarships through CREF . . . . . . . . . 56 Redesigned Automotive Lift Institute Website Houses Certified Lift and Inspector Directories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Rick Leos of Toyota and Nathan Sellers of Mitchell — Some Startling Predictions for 2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Ron Perretta to Lead Innovative Coating Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 SCC Automotive Technology Students Receive NRCA Scholarships. . . . . . . . . . 9 Service King Announces 13th Florida Location, Partners With Tampa’s Creative Body Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Steck Releases Soft Strike General Purpose Dolly Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Takata Admits to Fault in Airbag Design, 34 Million Vehicles, Largest Recall in History Ensues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 The Carlyle Group Closes Acquisition of NARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 U.S. District Judge in FL Recommends Dismissing Complaints Without Prejudice in Multi-District Lawsuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 U.S. House Committee Addresses Auto Cybersecurity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 U.S. House Subcommittee Addresses Aging Postal Fleet and Efficiency of Government Repair Facilities . . . . . . . . 50 U.S. Senate Committee Examines EPA’s Proposed Air Quality Standards . . . . . . 48 Valspar Plans to Strengthen Quest’s Brands After Acquiring Their Performance Coatings Businesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Spanesi Americas, an Illinois-based company specializing in body shop technology, announced that it is expanding its team to better serve its customers and the collision industry. “We are extremely pleased to announce that Williams Collision Equipment, led by owner Tim Williams, has joined the Spanesi team. Williams Collision Equipment will be distributing the complete Spanesi product line in Northern and Central California and Northern Nevada,” said Timothy Morgan, Managing Director of Spanesi Americas. “I have previously worked with Tim for nearly 15 years and know that his experience in the collision repair industry will be extremely valuable as we continue to grow and provide exceptional products and service to our customers and the collision repair industry.” Williams brings more than 40 years of experience in the collision industry to Spanesi Americas. His experience includes all phases of collision repair beginning at the painter’s helper level and advancing over several years to a full structural repair technician. His experience then grew into equipment sales, where he also provided support, in-shop training and
technical services to his customers. Since 2002, Williams has been instructing courses on various topics including vehicle design, collision theory, computerized measuring and damage analysis, full frame repair and the use of secondary anchoring and fixturing systems in accordance with many of the OEM certified collision repair programs and approved by the I-CAR Industry Training Alliance. Williams has also worked with several major insurance companies, conducting classes and seminars to help appraisers in the field gain a better understanding of the collision repair process. “I’m very excited and pleased to be joining forces with the Spanesi organization,” said Williams. “Those of us in the equipment segment of our industry recognize Spanesi for their passion, quality and innovation, which truly makes them a major influence in the industry. Spanesi's emphasis on creating systems with the technician in mind is a compelling argument for any body shop looking to invest in their future.” Tim Williams and Williams Collision Equipment can be reached at: 1-530-906-0546 or tim@prettysmart tools.com.
Publisher & Editor: Jeremy Hayhurst General Manager: Barbara Davies Assistant Editor: Stacey Phillips Online Editor: Victoria Antonelli Contributing Writers: Tom Franklin, John Yoswick, Janet Chaney, Toby Chess, David Brown, Rich Evans, Ed Attanasio, Chasidy Sisk, David Luehr Advertising Sales: Joe Momber, Sean Hartman, Bill Doyle, Norman Morano (800) 699-8251 Sales Assistant: Louise Tedesco Art Director: Rodolfo Garcia
Serving Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,
Audi Milwaukee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . 58 Axalta Coating Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 BASF Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . 55 Bonding Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Car-Part.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 CarcoonAmerica Airflow Systems. . . . 40 Celette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Charles Gabus Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Collision Edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Courtesy Subaru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Dent Magic Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Diamond Standard Parts, Inc . . . . . . . 19 Eco Repair Systems of North America, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Equalizer Industries, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Erhard BMW of Bloomfield Hills . . . . . 41 Erhard BMW of Farmington Hills. . . . . 41 Eurovac, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Ganley Westside Subaru . . . . . . . . . . . 45 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . 57 Graham Auto Mall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 H & S Autoshot Mfg. Co. . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Hall Volkswagen-Mazda . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Hendrick Automotive Group . . . . . . . . 25 Herkules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-33 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 44
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and adjacent metro areas. Autobody News is a monthly publication for the autobody industry. Permission to reproduce in any form the material published in Autobody News must be obtained in writing from the publisher. ©2015 Adamantine Media LLC. Autobody News Box 1516, Carlsbad, CA 92018; (800) 699-8251 (760) 603-3229 Fax www.autobodynews.com Email: news@autobodynews.com
Midwest
REGIONAL ABRA Expands Operations in Minnesota. . . 9 Body Shops in Sioux Falls, SD, Still Working Out Kinks One Year After Hail Storm . . . . 6 CARSTAR Jungerman in St. Peters, MO, Named Franchisee of the Year . . . . . . . . 1 CARSTAR Liss in IN Honored with Chris Greicius Society of Hope Honor from Make-A-Wish®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 CARSTAR Puts Development in High Gear at Kansas Speedway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Chief to Sponsor SkillsUSA National Championship in KY for 29th Year . . . . . 8 CREF Prepares for 2nd Cars, Careers and Celebrities Event at Chicagoland Speedway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Equipment and Tool Institute Moves Headquarters to Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Fallen Soldier’s Mother to Receive Recycled Rides Donation from MN LaMettry’s Auto Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 GCIA Meeting Featured Speakers from GM and RAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 GM to Invest $1.2 Billion in Full-Size Truck Plant in Fort Wayne, IN . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 GM to Spend $439 Million for Paint Shop at Kentucky Plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Midwest Parts Group Delivers OEM Quality to 4,000 Shops in 3 States . . . . 30 NACE | CARS Announces Detroit Destination & Technical Tours for July 22–25, 2015. . 1 NACE | CARS Makes 2014 TSNN Top 250 Trade Show List . . . . . . . . . . . 56 NACE | CARS to Support Breast Cancer Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 New Midwestern Instructors for Urethane Supply Company’s I-CAR® Training Alliance Course® on Nitrogen Plastic . . . 4 R-M® Onyx HD from BASF Selected by CARSTAR North Aurora Collision Center in IL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 South Dakota Insurance Division Reaches Settlement with Insurance Companies . . 1 Spanesi Americas to Hold Touch Training in IL in June. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Waubonsee, IL, Auto Body Repair Professor Named Outstanding Faculty Member . . 15 Williams Collision Equipment Joins with Spanesi Americas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Williams Collision Equipment Joins with Spanesi Americas
Indexof Advertisers
Contents
Isringhausen Imports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Jake Sweeney Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Kelly BMW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Kia of Des Moines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Kia Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . 61 Laurel Auto Group of Westmont . . . . . 53 Luther Hopkins Honda . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Maplewood Toyota-Scion . . . . . . . . . . 47 Mazda Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . 50 Mirka Abrasives, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Mitsubishi Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 37 Morrison’s Auto Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 NACE/CARS Trade Show . . . . . . . . . . 63 Orio North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac . . . . . . . . . 4 Patrick BMW-MINI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 SATA Spray Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26, 27 Steamericas, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . 42 Symach Srl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Toyota of Des Moines . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Toyota of Grand Rapids. . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . 54 Urethane Supply Company. . . . . . . . . . 8 Valspar Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 VanDevere Kia-GM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 3
New Midwestern Instructors for Urethane Supply Company’s I-CAR® Training Alliance Course® on Nitrogen Plastic Urethane Supply Company announced two new instructors in the Midwestern area of the United States who are able
to deliver the company’s new I-CAR® Industry Training Alliance® course on plastic repair. “Introduction to Nitrogen Plastic Welding” is a three-hour course delivered in the customer’s shop for up to three technicians. Each technician gets hands-on training with five common bumper repair scenarios, including on thermoset polyurethane, a.k.a. the “yellow plastic.” Greg Borst is a territory sales representative for Urethane Supply Company covering a wide area of the upper Midwest, including Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, Min-
nesota and the Dakotas. Prior to coming to Urethane Supply, Borst worked as production manager and salesman for Fond du Lac Bumper Exchange for over 20 years. He recently received factory training on Urethane Supply’s ICAR Industry Training Alliance course and will be able to deliver training to shops all over his territory at their request. Steven Dike is the owner of Elite PDR in St Louis, MO. With nearly 20 years of experience in the automotive industry in auto glass repair, paint touch-up and detailing, Dike found his calling Greg Borst, territory in 1998 in paintsales representative less dent removal for Urethane Supply and continues to Company service the greater St. Louis area. With factory training received earlier this year at Urethane Supply Company’s two-day course in plastic welding and repair, he has added that skill to his repertoire. Dike received factory training on Urethane Supply’s I-CAR Industry Training Alliance
course in May 2015 and will be able to deliver training to shops in the greater St Louis at their request. In business since 1981, Urethane Supply Company has focused exclusively on plastic repair and refinishing products. Kurt Lammon, President of the Alabamabased company, Steven Dike, said their airless owner of Elite PDR and hot-nitrogen in St. Louis, MO welders are the industry standards for automotive plastic repair across North America. Lammon said technician training on the nitrogen plastic welding system has been a recent challenge for the company and this I-CAR Industry Training Alliance initiative is a big part of the company’s efforts to meet the demand. The company is actively seeking other instructors across the country to deliver this new course in shops. Contact Kurt Lammon at 800633-3047 with any questions or inquiries.
R-M® Onyx HD from BASF Selected by CARSTAR North Aurora Collision Center in IL
The R-M® Onyx HD paint system from BASF Automotive Refinish has been chosen as the paint of choice for CARSTAR North Aurora Collision Center, a new member of the CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts.
The center, owned by Brian Gore, who has more than 25 years of experience in the collision repair industry, is housed in a 19,800 square foot facility and has been serving the local community for more than 30 years. “We applaud CARSTAR North Aurora Collision Center on making the switch to the BASF R-M® Onyx HD paint system as it showcases their commitment to quality and customer service,” said David Byers, CEO of CARSTAR. “BASF and CARSTAR have a longstanding record of working together to com-
plete vehicle repairs with a superior refinish. It is this commitment to quality that yields some of the highest customer satisfaction scores in the collision repair industry.” “BASF and CARSTAR are known for their dedication to raising the standards of workmanship and customer satisfaction within the collision repair industry,” said Paul Whittleston, Vice President, Business Management, Automotive Refinish & Industrial Coatings Solutions North America for BASF. “With so much competition in today’s market, a business offering a combination of these two trusted industry names signifies CARSTAR North Aurora Collision Center offers its customers best-inclass service and quality.” CARSTAR locally owned and operated auto body repair centers must meet strict requirements concerning quality of work, training and customer satisfaction. All CARSTAR repairs are backed by a national warranty and service guarantee. There are more than 430 CARSTAR independently owned collision repair facilities across 30 states and 10 Canadian provinces.
4 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Equipment and Tool Institute Moves Headquarters to Detroit
The Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI) announced the relocation of its corporate office to its new headquarters in the Metropolitan Detroit, Michigan area.
The address is now: 37899 W.12 Mile Rd, Suite 220, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48331. ETI’s new corporate headquarters will be the base of operations for all corporate and administrative functions. In addition to the move, ETI has hired a new Office Administrator, Jean Peltier, to assist in the day-today operations of the institute. “As we finalize the transition of our corporate management, we will consolidate our operations in the Detroit area to help facilitate our growing business and to continue to support our members as we move into the next stages of the association,” stated Greg Potter, ETI’s Executive Manager. For details about ETI programs, contact Jessie Korosec, Marketing and Events Manager at 248-656-5085 or e-mail: jessiek@etools.org.
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www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 5
Body Shops in Sioux Falls, SD, Still Working Out Kinks One Year After Hail Storm by Rachel Skytta, KDLT News
It has been a busy year for Sioux Falls, South Dakota body shops, following a major hail storm that hit the city in June 2014. One year after the storm, body shops are still working out the kinks, and feeling the benefits.
Body Shops in Sioux Falls still busy repairing vehicles that were damaged during last year’s hail storm. Photo credit: KDLT News
“A lot of 70 hour weeks, weekends, late night Friday nights,” said Tyler Vanheerde of Pierre’s Body Shop. ‘Great’ isn’t a word most people would use to describe the scene that unfolded in Sioux Falls June 5, 2014. Unless you’re in the auto body business. “We knew that we were going to have work for a year, at least,” said Dean Vanheerde, Owner of Pierre’s Body Shop.
Tyler’s father, Dean says business has been good. “It added about $1.5 million worth of business here,” said Dean. That number is the result of repairing nearly 300 vehicles with hail damage in the past year. Each one has cost anywhere from $2,000 all the way to $20,000. “We all made a very good living and we’re very thankful for that,” said Dean. Depending on the level of damage, Pierre’s has had cars at the shop from two weeks up to a month. After a while, Dean says that can take a toll on customer satisfaction. “This is what we do. I don’t wish it on people but it is what we do,” said Dean. A pain for some, but a major profit for places like Pierre’s. “Are we tired? A little. But if it happens again, let’s go. We’ll make it happen,” said Dean. Dean expects they’ll be done with hail repairs from last year in about three weeks. He says they still have people coming into the shop who haven’t done anything about their damage just yet. Thanks to KDLT News for permission to reprint this article.
GM to Invest $1.2 Billion in Full-Size Truck Plant in Fort Wayne, IN
General Motors is investing $1.2 billion in its full-size pickup truck plant for upgrades and technology that will improve the plant’s competitiveness in assembling high-quality light- and heavy-duty models. Construction of the new pre-treat, electro-coat paint operation and sealing facility, expanded body shop, expanded and new material sequencing centers, and upgraded general assembly area is expected to begin in June and take several years to complete. Full-size truck production schedules will be unaffected by the construction. “This investment is more evidence that the customer is at the center of every decision we make,” said Cathy Clegg, GM North America Manufacturing Vice President. “Truck customers demand top quality. The upgrades at Fort Wayne Assembly will enable our team to continue delivering for them for years to come.” The investment includes many technological and environmental upgrades: ● New pre-treatment facility featuring thin-film paint pretreatment; ● E-coat paint customized to each vehicle style, resulting in superior coverage and curability;
● GM-patented radiant tube ovens for exceptional paint finish and lower energy use; ● New equipment that accommodates the many variations of the truck cab and box being placed on the chassis; and ● New skillet conveyance systems for instrument panel assembly intended to improve worker ergonomics, leading to better product quality. “These new technologies and equipment will help fulfill the mission of the men and women of Fort Wayne Assembly and UAW Local 2209 to build the best full-size trucks available,” said UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada. “The investment improves the plant’s competitiveness so we can continue contributing to the community as well.” Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said, “Around the world, Indiana is known as a proven leader in advanced manufacturing. Powered by a pro-growth business environment and a highlyskilled workforce, GM is leveraging Indiana’s strengths to help it remain competitive across the globe.” More information on Fort Wayne Assembly and its subsidiaries, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
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www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 7
Chief to Sponsor SkillsUSA National Championship in KY for 29th Year For the 29th consecutive year, Chief Automotive Technologies will sponsor the Collision Repair Technology
sources during their training.” Chief will supply an impulse®E/VHT frame rack, LaserLock™ Live Mapping™ system and damage simulators for the CRT competition. A collision-damaged vehicle will be loaded on the frame rack, and contestants will use the equipment to demonstrate their damage analysis skills. The competition will also include segments dedicated to metal straightening, welding and plastic repair. The students will be judged on the overall appearance of the finished repair, speed of work and adherence to safety practices.
(CRT) Championship at the SkillsUSA® National Leadership and Skills Conference from June 22-26 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, KY. The CRT Championship will be held over the course of two days: June 24-25. “SkillsUSA brings thousands of high school and college students from across the country together to demonstrate their knowledge and learn from each other,” said Richard Perry, OEM and strategic account sales manager for Chief. “Many of these students will begin their careers in Chief SkillsUSA our industry over the next Representatives from Chief are few years, so it is important that we provide them with the best possible re- part of the CRT committee, which
8 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
helped develop the written estimating and structural analysis tests that will be administered to contestants. The volunteer committee also sets up the testing area, oversees the competition and helps answer student questions. It includes Perry; Chief University instructor Ken Soupene; Mike Croker of Chief distributor Automotive Technology, Inc.; Tom Beachem and John Ressler of Nationwide Insurance; Marty Hettle, retired; Bob Keith of CARSTAR; and others from the collision repair industry. The CRT Championship’s winning college and high school students each will receive a free registration for any upcoming Chief University course of their choice. Chief University courses combine classroom training with hands-on demonstrations at training centers across the United States. Most are approved for I-CAR credit hours through the I-CAR Industry Training Alliance® program. Chief training also has been certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) for compliance with the Continuing Automotive Service Education (CASE) Standards. For more information, visit www. skillsusa.org.
Spanesi Americas to Hold Touch Training in IL in June
Spanesi Americas will be holding Touch measuring system training June 16 and 17 at the company’s showroom in Naperville, Illinois. The classroom and in-shop training course covers Touch setup and functionality, measuring underand upper-body locations on front, rear and side impacts. Also in-
cluded are suspension diagnostics, wheel alignment measurements using Touch Wheels, adding additional measuring locations and images, and much more. There are 10 spots available. The class will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and lunch will be served daily. Assistance with hotel accommodations and discounts are available on request. For more information and to reserve a space, contact customerservice@spanesi-americas.com or call 224.SPANESI (772.6374).
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ABRA Expands Operations in Mankato, MN ABRA Auto Body & Glass announced the opening of its newest franchise repair center in Mankato, MN. ABRA now operates 54 independently-owned franchises and 231 company-owned locations for a total of 285 in 22 states. The new ABRA repair center is located at 1671 Madison Avenue in Mankato, MN, about 90 minutes south of downtown Minneapolis. The franchise is owned and operated by Jerry and Geralynn Kottschade who are well recognized in the community as operators of Jerry’s Body Shop. Jerry purchased Ben’s Bee-Line Auto Collision Shop in 1971 and built a successful collision repair business from there. Over the past 44 years the couple have helped shape the collision repair industry, continue to serve on high-profile industry boards, with Geralynn co-founding the Women Industry Network (WIN). “With the ABRA partnership in place, we look forward to continuing our reputation as a leading collision repair provider in the community,” said Jerry. “Our ICAR Gold Class certification, aluminum repair capabilities, and Readers Choice Award recognition, combined with ABRA’s innovative service model and operational excellence philosophy set us apart as a pre-
ferred option for vehicle owners and insurance partners.” Mark Wahlin, ABRA’s Vice President of Franchise Development/Relations said, “We are extremely proud to welcome Jerry’s Body Shop to our group of ABRA franchisees. Their presence and reputation in the Mankato market fit perfectly with our mission to be the best auto body and glass company in America. We are thrilled with the exemplary leadership and values the pair hold.” Geralynn earned the Azko Nobel Most Influential Woman of the year award in 2000 and the couple donated six vehicles to Recycled Rides in recent years. “These values are well respected and well aligned with ABRA’s mission to serve the communities in which we operate,” said Wahlin.
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SCC Automotive Technology Students Receive NRCA Scholarships
Caleb Epp from Henderson and Kevin Phillips from Fremont, Automotive Technology students at the Milford Campus of Southeast Community College in Nebraska, each received $1,000 scholarships from the Nebraska Rod and Custom Association. Each year the NRCA awards $1,000 scholarships to students studying automotive technology or auto collision repair technology in Nebraska schools. This year the organization awarded seven scholarships. Qualifying applicants need to be either a second-year student or a 2015 high school graduating senior who will enroll in any of the state’s technical and and/or community colleges in an automotive curriculum. Other requirements include a minimum 2.5 grade-point average, demonstrate the responsibility and
willingness to work toward a vocational achievement and enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours. The selection committee then verifies that applicants meet the minimum requirements, conducts GPA comparisons, observes the neatness and completeness of the application,
SCC student Caleb Epp, right, is congratulated by NRCA representative Blake Stegman for receiving a $1,000scholarship
looks at the applicant’s involvement in community and school activities, their work history, accomplishments and awards, and the quality of a 250word personal statement.
www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 9
CARSTAR Liss in IN Honored with Chris Greicius Society of Hope Honor from Make-A-Wish®
For the past decade, CARSTAR Liss Auto Body Repair Experts has worked to help grant the wishes of children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions. Proceeds from their annual charity golf outing have benefitted the
“CARSTAR Liss is so honored to be inducted into the Chris Greicius Society of Hope,” said Marketing Manager Charlotte Liss. “It is rewarding to partner with other companies that not only care, but also are also willing to
(l to r) - Greg Dentino, Make-A-Wish Indiana Board Chair, Charlotte Liss, Corey Liss, Kathy Liss and Tom Liss
Make-A-Wish® Foundation of Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana – Indiana Region. After a record-setting donation of $22,232 in 2014, the CARSTAR Liss charity golf outing has now exceeded the $100,000 mark in total donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They were recently honored with an induction into the Foundation’s Chris Greicius Society of Hope at the Indianapolis Big Wish Gala®, held April 17.
help make a difference. We are fortunate to have such wonderful business relationships.” The charity golf outing, which was originally hosted by the CARSTAR Indiana Business Group, was taken over by CARSTAR Liss several years ago, and its success has been a major source of pride for the shop. Current owner Corey Liss and his father, former owner Tom Liss, have always put a large em-
phasis on giving back to their community. The number of participants and the total monetary donation has grown each year. The money has been raised through tournament entries, raffles, silent auctions and corporate sponsorships. The children whose wishes are granted are invited to the golf outing each year to share their stories of inspiration with the participants. Last year’s tournament raised enough money to grant the wishes of three children. They hope to raise even more money in 2015. “We’re pretty excited about it,” said Charlotte. “We hope to add more golfers and another corporate sponsor. My goal this year is $25,000.” “CARSTAR Liss would like to thank Kelsey Leichtnam and the staff at Make-A-Wish, the wish families, Tom and Corey Liss, and corporate sponsors 3M, Hertz, BASF, FinishMaster, Enterprise, CCC Information Services Inc., Alkon, United Services, Lear Corporation and FRSTeam for making this possible,” she added. The 11th annual CARSTAR Liss Golf Outing is scheduled for August 6 at White Hawk Country Club in Crown Point, IN. All proceeds will once again benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Interested participants may contact the shop at 219-663-0989.
Service King Announces 13th Florida Location, Partners With Tampa’s Creative Body Works
Service King Collision Repair Centers announced the expansion of its service in Tampa, FL with the acquisition of family-owned Creative Body Works. Service King and Creative Body Works together closed terms on the partnership, of which details were not disclosed, on May 29. Service King now offers collision repair services at three convenient locations in the immediate Tampa area. “We’re invested in the success of our Florida growth and the service to our customers in the Tampa area,” said Scott Ward, Service King Regional Vice President. “This is an important step in our mission to provide superior collision repair services to residents in the Tampa Bay area. In this particular process, we felt our values of excellent service and quality work were aligned with Creative Body Works from the beginning. We’re excited to welcome its teammates to the Service King family.” Service King now operates a total of 13 locations in the state of Florida and 240 in 21 states across the country. Each location backs
work with a written lifetime warranty valid at any Service King Collision Repair Center. “We are excited to join the Service King team,” said Dave Bailey, Creative Body Works Owner. “Our teammates are very important to us and now they will have so many new opportunities and benefits that they deserve. We are looking forward to watching the facility expand again in the near future and feel Service King has the support team and processes to take Creative Body Works to the next level.” Creative Body Works joins the Service King family after serving Tampa customers for more than 25 years with state-of-the-art equipment and a reputation for excellent customer service. The collision repair center is a long-time member of the Better Business Bureau with a coveted A+ rating. Creative Body Works operated within a 15,000-square-foot facility that can accommodate 125 vehicle repairs per month. For more information and to view a full list of Service King locations, visit www.serviceking.com.
10 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
CARSTAR Puts Development in High Gear at Kansas Speedway
CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts shifted its development program into high gear with an innovative industry event – at Kansas Speedway. CARSTAR partnered with BASF to host collision repair shop owners from around the country for an outing that included lots of horsepower – and an opportunity to see some highspeed collision repair. The day started with a tailgate hosted by BASF’s Rick Johnson. Afterward, the group was escorted to the infield of the speedway for a tour of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage and pit road, where they were able to get a behind-the-scenes view of the race teams as they prepared for the evening’s race. The group was then able to watch the SpongeBob SquarePants 400, which featured a great late-race gamble that put Jimmie Johnson in victory lane. “All of our guests and employees had a great time,” said Scott Robertson, VP of Development for CARSTAR. “This was a unique way to share the benefits of joining the CARSTAR network and our powerful BASF partnership. And, it was a great opportunity to build relationships with store owners as they evaluate their business options.”
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www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 11
IAR Pays Tribute to Founders at 2015 Summer Outing and Tradeshow by Chasidy Rae Sisk
On May 29 and 30, the Iowa Automotive Recyclers (IAR) held their Annual Summer Outing and Tradeshow at the Prairie Meadows Event Center in Altoona, IA. The association also used the opportunity to pay tribute to John Vander Haag and his wife Ruth, who founded IAR in 1957. Sue Schauls,
Seasoned and tired aftermarket industry professionals at IAR’s event reminisced about the past, sharing stories and photos from the industry’s beginning
Executive Director of IAR, noted, “The event went really well, and our founders were extremely happy with the tribute. Special guests from all over the country attended to honor the Vander Haags.” Mike Swift, Past President of
IAR and current First Vice President of the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA), added, “The association presented the Vander Haags with an oneof-a-kind trophy made of automotive parts. We also had some other pioneers of the industry in attendance who knew John in the beginning: Lloyd Van Horn and Bruce Chase both had some great stories about John and Ruth. It was a very good time and a great celebration!” The event was well-attended with more than 147 registered attendees (plus walk-ins) and 40 vendors managing 27 booths at the tradeshow. Schauls believes these numbers are great for a state affiliate. “Our members are very grateful to John, and I think that we showed him that he can be proud of our progress. As good as we’ve been, we’re still striving to be better through scholarships, charitable activities and our legislative agenda. We will also be launching our new website this month so our resources will be web-based in the future.” Some scholarship recipients attended the event, the event concluded on Saturday with IAR’s Scholarship Auction Fundraiser. On Saturday, IAR’s 2015 Summer Outing featured educational sessions on topics such as
GCIA Meeting Featured Speakers from GM and RAE
On Tuesday, May 19, the Georgia Collision Industry Association (GCIA) held a member meeting at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet in Duluth, GA. Featuring guest speakers from GM and Reliable Automotive Equipment, the meeting attracted over 30 attendees. GCIA’s Executive Director Howard Batchelor said, “It went quite well. Attendees took away a lot of information and wisdom. There were also quite a few parts people in attendance to learn about GM’s MyPriceLink program, and I think we reached our goal of providing useful information to educate our members.” The meeting began with GM representative Billy Evans discussing their new MyPriceLink program which is designed to help eliminated aftermarket parts manufacturers from using the OEM list price to determine their price. Estimating systems will interface with MyPriceLink to update prices. GM first announced the program last year at SEMA, but it was put on hold until they could fully develop the interfacing component; GM
plans to release MyPriceLink in the near future as a way to help them provide competitive pricing. Next, Dave Gruskos of Reliable Automotive Equipment talked about vehicles being manufactured with new metals. He explained how to rivet and use adhesives to achieve manufacturer-grade bonds in newer, higher-end vehicles. Gruskos also noted that being certified by one brand does not give a shop the knowledge and ability to repair all vehicles. Shops should earn certification from each OEM in order to work on their vehicles. Batchelor briefly discussed the association’s ongoing communication with the Attorney General before announcing that GCIA will begin conducting their 9th Annual Labor Rate Survey in the middle of June. GCIA will collaborate with NABR to gather survey information, but unlike past years when information was only collected for one month, this survey will be available all year. Contact GCIA at www .gcia.org. For more on MyPriceLink see p. 60 this issue.
12 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
hybrid Lithium batteries new shipping rules, recent legislation, lien checks, and how to save money on shipping. Special guest speakers included ARA Past Presidents Herb Lieberman and Don Cowell, as well as ARA’s current President, Ricky Young.
educational seminars, Schauls’ expectations were exceeded. “On a personal level, it was an incredible experience.
Herb Lieberman, Mike Swift and John Vander Haag
Schauls believes these types of local events are important to the industry because it provides an opportunity for members to meet with vendors and learn about new technology in this constantly changing industry, especially given the difficulty of attending national events in the current economy. She also notes that the automotive recycling industry has been in a slump due to fewer wrecked and end-of-life vehicles being available as new car sales get back on track. Between the great turnout and the
Trophy for John Vander Haag
Some ‘old-timers’ and retired industry professionals came out and shared their stories. It was as close as you can get to experience the history of the automotive recycling industry without actually living it!”
EUROVAC ALUMINUM REPAIR
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Eurovac is pleased to announce the introduction of the aluminum repair wet mix dust collector. This system is the safest method for collection of aluminum (explosive) dusts and will get your facility certified for aluminum repair. The unit works like a dry system but the difference is that dust is drawn into the unit through and forced down through a venturi, deep into the water. The water acts as a separator, and the majority of the dust particles fall to the bottom of the unit immediately. The unit will allow two technicians sanding at one time.
The system features include the following: • Powerful 13.8 amp motor with sealed bearings built to handle moist air from wet collector. 1560 watt pump produces 145” of water column; 140 free flow CFM. Has enough power for 2 technicians to sand with orbital sanders at the same time. • Quiet operation particularly for fine dust... motor housing is insulated and baffled for sound. • On/off feature...motor is turned on and off automatically by air switches when pneumatic tools are activated. This increases the life of the motor and reduces energy costs of running the motor. • Includes a plastic sight glass to determine when water should be added. • Stainless steel mist eliminator and final filter picks up 99.9% of dust to 10 microns. • 2” ball valve & hose at the bottom of the separator for removing sludge.
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Eurovac also has a central wet mix system for multiple bays. For additional information or pricing please contact a Eurovac representative today at 1-800-265-3878 or info@eurovac.com
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www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 13
GM to Spend $439 Million for Paint Shop at Kentucky Plant
General Motors is spending $439 million to build a new paint shop at the Bowling Green, KY plant where the Chevrolet Corvette is assembled. This investment is part of the $5.4 billion that GM will spend to upgrade its 40 U.S. manufacturing sites. Construction on the 450,000square-foot facility will start this summer and take about two years to finish, and will allow the plant to retain 150 current jobs. The investment will be used to buy dry scrubber booth technology with limestone handling system designed to eliminate sludge water, LED lighting to improve visual inspection, FANUC robots that can apply paint more efficiently and high-efficiency baking ovens for better paint finish while using less energy. The paint shop investment is more than triple the $135 million GM spent over the last four years. The plant’s investment is due in part to the current generation of the Corvette Stingray. Corvette sales reached an eight-year high in 2014 with almost 38,000 cars sold globally.
3M Automotive Partners With Ringbrothers Custom Car Builders
3M Automotive Aftermarket Division signed a partnership with custom car builders Ringbrothers. Based in the tiny town of Spring Green, WI, owners Jim and Mike Ring have been designing and building what 3M calls,
The Ringbrothers: Jim and Mike Ring
“some of the most sought-after, awardwinning street machines.” The Ringbrothers pride themselves in the art of of putting today’s technology inside yesterday’s classics. Their inspiration came when they became bored with simply restoring cars. In order to spice things up, Jim and Mike started modifying, then ultimately building their own parts.
14 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Now, Ringbrothers also offers a line of interior and exterior accessories, along with hardware and body kits. “We are excited to announce that 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division is partnering with the Ringbrothers, one
of the most innovative custom car builders in the world,” said Andrew Boyd, U.S. Marketing Supervisor, Paint Application Solutions for 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division. “At 3M, we are always looking at how to put our product solutions to work. We’re excited to expand our presence with the Ringbrothers in the dynamic markets for custom car building, automotive
DIYers and automotive enthusiasts. We’re proud to have the Ringbrothers as supporters of 3M automotive product solutions, and we look forward to working with them to share their unique skills, passion and vision for turning cars in masterpieces.” The brothers will be using all 3M product solutions, including abrasives, fillers, adhesives, coatings and sealants, masking solutions, paint application and paint finishing. They will star in a How-To series for 3M and will join 3M at industry events throughout the year. “Ever since Mike and I were kids, we used to sneak off to the hardware store to buy 3M tape and sandpaper to work on our first car build in a friend’s chicken coop. After decades of hard work we are still amazed at the reception every one of our builds gets, working hand-in-hand with 3M is a dream come true,” said Jim. “We have always been 3M customers and we look forward to working with them on new products and applications to help car guys around the world build cooler, better cars.”
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Waubonsee, IL Auto Body Repair Professor Named Outstanding Faculty Member
Assistant Professor of Auto Body Repair Andy MacDonald has been named Waubonsee’s Outstanding Faculty Member for 2015. For the past several years, Waubonsee Community College’s Auto Body Repair Program and its students have received a variety of awards and accolades, including the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) Makeover Grant and several first-place finishes in SkillsUSA competitions. The man behind the program, Assistant Professor of Auto Body Repair Andy MacDonald, of Plano, IL is receiving an honor of his own in the form of the college’s 2015 Outstanding Faculty Member Award. Assistant Professor MacDonald of Auto Body said he measures Repair Andy his success by the MacDonald has success of his stubeen named dents, which has Waubonsee’s been impressive Outstanding Faculty since he joined the Member for 2015 college on a fulltime basis in 2007. Over the years, MacDonald’s students have earned 17
top-three finishes in state-level SkillsUSA contests, along with five top 10 finishes at the national level, including two national champions. “Placing in these contests provides students an opportunity to build a portfolio for employers, increase their selfconfidence and receive another level of evaluation of their work,” MacDonald said. Waubonsee auto body student Jose Martinez-Joya, who was the 2014 SkillsUSA National Champion and who will graduate this year, is quick to credit MacDonald for his success. “[MacDonald] is a great, great person and very experienced,” Martinez-Joya said. “He really knows his stuff and can teach it to others.” What MacDonald strives to teach is all-encompassing. “My lesson plans and classroom instruction require students to become critical thinkers using logic to problem-solve, to work on projects alone and with a team, learn from their mistakes, and integrate soft skills with hard skills every day,” MacDonald said. Of course those hard skills in auto body repair are essential, and it’s essential that they’re up to date in a field that’s constantly changing. To that end, MacDonald dedicates himself, his stu-
dents and the entire program to continual professional development efforts. MacDonald routinely hosts Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) professional development courses in the Sugar Grove auto body shop, which offers him and his students a convenient way to keep up with the latest industry trends. Students graduate from Waubonsee’s program with several industry-recognized credentials, including an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certificate, and an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety and pollution certificate. They also have the opportunity to earn several Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications. In 2011, the program received accreditation from the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). As with many career and technical education programs, it isn’t just the culture of the program that drives success but also the quality of its equipment and facilities, and those have been a passion of MacDonald’s since he arrived at Waubonsee. He has spearheaded several improvements, including the introduction of a solvent recycler, the development of an inven-
tory system, and the addition of a computer lab since technology skills have become a requirement of the field. MacDonald was also instrumental in the college applying for and receiving a prestigious $50,000 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant from the Collision Repair Education Foundation in 2013. The grant dollars were used to install a new, modern automotive paint spray booth at the Sugar Grove shop. “The shop is so important to instruction because for one semester each academic year, it operates like a business,” MacDonald said. “We take in cars for minor repairs, and the students do the work, learning how to manage time, estimate and job cost. In this way, students graduate having done real work on cars with real problems.”
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www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 15
Continued from Cover
NACE CARS Tours
with a docent. ■ Wednesday, July 22: Board 12:45pm - Depart 1:15pm - Return 5:00pm ■ Thursday, July 23: Board 8:45am - Depart 9:15am - Return 12:30pm
The Ford Piquette Plant Museum: This is the oldest auto plant open to the public in the world and is the birthplace of the Model T. This tour provides you with a one-of-a-kind experience at a truly historical plant, almost unchanged since Henry Ford and his team developed the car that led to an automotive and social revolution. The tour includes admission to the museum as well as a guided tour. ■ Wednesday, July 22: Board 1:00pm - Depart 1:30pm - Return 4:00pm ■ Saturday, July 25: Board 11:00am - Depart 11:30am - Return 2:00pm
The Henry Ford Museum: This museum is a destination that showcases American ideas and inventions, past and present, bringing them to life across an expansive space. The display of classic cars, trains, planes, and
inventions sweeps across the museum’s nine acres. The tour includes admission to the museum for a selfguided tour. ■ Wednesday, July 22: Board 12:00pm - Depart 12:30pm - Return 5:30pm ■ Saturday, July 25: Board 8:30am - Depart 9:00am - Return 3:30pm
General Motors Heritage Center: The GM North American Heritage Collection is made up of approximately 600 cars and trucks, reflecting industry firsts, technological experiments, concept cars, and significant race cars, as well as milestone production vehicles. The Center also houses a massive collection of archived documents and auto artifacts. The tour includes admission and an introduction by staff. ■ Friday, July 24: Board 9:00am Depart 9:30am - Return 12:30pm
Walter P. Chrysler Museum: Sponsored in part by Mopar, this can’t miss tour is guided and includes a lunch at the Viper Cafe on site. The museum covers 55,000-square-feet, featuring three floors of over 65 antique, custom, and concept vehicles interspersed with interactive displays and historical ex-
hibits about Chrysler’s contributions to automotive design, technology and innovation, as well as their impact on American culture. ■ Wednesday, July 22: Board 11:30am - Depart 12:00pm - Return 4:00pm
General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck (Chevy Volt) Assembly Plant: This tour will begin with an introductory video and presentation, then guests will board motorized carts, which will transport everyone through the assembly area in a guided tour of the facility. The plant is home to every Chevrolet Volt ever manufactured, as well as many other models, including those from throughout the world, and the Cadillac ELR. ■ Friday, July 24: Board 7:30am Depart 8:00am - Return 11:00am
The Conner Avenue (Dodge Viper) Assembly Plant: This plant, originally opened to produce Champion spark plugs in 1966, has been used for smallscale specialty production since 1996, producing vehicles such as the Dodge Viper and Plymouth Prowler. The tour of this plant includes admission and a docent guide. ■ Wednesday, July 22: Board 12:00pm
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- Depart 12:30pm - Return 3:00pm ■ Friday, July 24: Board 7:00am - Depart 7:30am - Return 10:00am
The Yankee Air Museum: With admission and guided tour included, this museum allows you to experience military aviation history and view sky giants such as the B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-25 Mitchell, the C-47 Skytrain, and others. This aircraft manufacturing complex, which opened in 1941, was an innovation of its time—the first to use Ford’s automotive mass production technique. ■ Saturday, July 25: Board 8:45am - Depart 9:15pm - Return 1:00pm
Diamond Jack River Boat Cruise: This narrated cruise will allow you to see Detroit from a whole new perspective. This tour will allow you to learn about the city’s rich history from the Belle Isle on the Detroit River, the world’s busiest international waterway. ■ Saturday, July 25: Board 11:45am - Depart 12:15pm - Return 3:30pm
Name badges are required to participate in the tours. Transportation See NACE CARS Tours, Page 36
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888.954.5390 www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 17
Media and Publicity for Shops Get Old School Again with Time-Proven Business Networking with Ed Attanasio
There are two ways to promote your shop: 1.) Advertising and 2.) Marketing. Advertising is when you buy space or time or impressions and you pay a fee for the exposure. Marketing is an enormous category that includes product marketing, branding, rebranding and a whole list of other things that are used to hopefully bring you new business while strengthening your position in your market. I tell shop owners that advertising is Nancy Friedman the easy way out and (aka the Telephone marketing is the Doctor) said that workhorse and the business-to-business networking is elbow grease of the where the smaller promotional world. independent shops Advertising is like can shine and comBabe Ruth and marpete on a level field keting is like Pete with the bigger MSOs in their area Rose. If you’re not a baseball fan, let’s put it another way—advertising is ideal for large corporations and for big MSOs, primarily because they have larger budgets to do it. Marketing is for smaller, independent shops that do great work but have less money to tell people about it. So, I’m not trashing print media or broadcast media, I’m just saying for the average body shop out there with a limited budget, marketing is the smarter way to go. You can get a lot more mileage out of your marketing dollar by doing things as opposed to buying things–such as calling on dealerships for business, keeping in touch with the insurance agents in your area and maybe most importantly—doing some business-to-business networking. Many shop owners don’t like the idea of getting out there in the community, meeting people and shaking hands. They feel comfortable working in their shops and fixing cars; as soon as they’re outside of that environment, they feel like fish out of water. If they stick their heads out and see their shadows, they’re likely to retreat and wait for spring. But the shops that understand the value of networking know that it works and that is brings them a ton of business if they continually get out
there and meet other people in their community. This can be achieved in many ways, but the core concept is the same—meet as many folks as you can and become an integral part of your business community. Nancy Friedman is known as the Telephone Doctor and she speaks at SEMA and other automotive-related events year-round about customer service, best practices and yes—B2B networking. The doctor was in recently when we discussed networking and its value, especially for smaller shops. “Networking is where the smaller independent shops can shine,” Friedman explained. “They can be a big fish in a small pond in a chamber of commerce or with the Elks, Rotary or even through a networking group, such as the Business Networking Institute (BNI). No one really cares how big you are or how many locations you have, as long as the work is good and your rates are fair.” Be active and involved in any networking group and you’ll reap the benefits over time, Friedman said. “Become an integral part of the group, which means attend the meetings and other events and take on some responsibility. That’s the only way you’ll ever get anything from a networking group. I tell people sponsor events within the organization and be very proactive in getting out there. Most of these associations sponsor charity events and those are a great way to connect with the members of the group and the community as a whole. Great friendships—both personal and professional—start there and then build over time.” Some body shop owners say— hey, I work 10-12 hour days ... how do I find the time to get to these meetings and events? Well, the doctor has the answer. “Many businesses have 2-3 people who go to the meetings and share that responsibility,” she explained. “Maybe one of your techs or estimators is the social type and not afraid to meet new people? As the owner you should still get out there periodically and wave your flag, but delegate the rest to the right people and let them shine.” Collision repair shops all over the
18 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.
country are members of the Business Networking Institute (BNI) — the world’s largest referral organization with more than 150,000 members in 58 countries worldwide. BNI was founded in 1985 by Dr. Ivan Misner for the primary purpose of building powerful referral networks. BNI works by creating a group of people from various industries and encouraging the regular distribution of referrals. Each chapter allows one person per occupational classification, and prospective members must be approved via an application process. BNI’s philosophy is “Givers Gain” - members are expected to focus on giving referrals to other members to build relationships and receive referrals in return. Chapters have specific rules regarding required attendance in order to cultivate the relationships needed to create a comfort level in referring business. Chapters carefully track
the monetary amount of passed business in order to prove the value of the money and time commitment. By joining a BNI chapter and working it hard, body shops all over the country have made this organization a big part of their marketing plan. One owner has used it to foster a young, small shop by joining his local chapter and getting out there into the promising world of networking. Kendall Glines is the owner of Lone Peak Collision Repair in Midvale, Utah, a small shop with five employees that fixes 5-7 cars weekly. One year after opening the shop in late 2012, Glines joined his local chapter (the Boom Chapter in West Jordan, UT) by paying $420 in annual fees after a $150 one-time registration fee, but those have been paid back many times over, he explained. “I love the fact that I am the See Old School Again, Page 21
www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 19
Fallen Soldier’s Mother to Receive Recycled Rides Donation from MN LaMettry’s Auto Body Recycled Rides recipient Cheryl Zaun couldn’t stop smiling. “Oh gosh, I can’t believe it!” she said. “I have to
say, my son Mickey was a motorhead. I’m sure he’s smiling down from heaven. This is an unbelievable gift for me.” Cheryl lost her son, Sergeant First Class Mickey E. Zaun, 10 years ago due to injuries sustained during an armored vehicle collision near Mosul, Iraq. Prior to his death, Cheryl had been in two separate accidents resulting in severe injuries. As a result, she is unable to work and lives on disability. The sacrifice of Cheryl and her son was recognized at a LaMettry’s Collision CEO Joanne LaMettry shows Recycled Rides event in honor Cheryl Zaun features of her new car of Memorial Day. There, Cheryl received a repaired 2009 Nissan Altima donated by Farmers Insurance and repaired by LaMettry’s Collision with help from many local vendor partners. The keynote speaker was Senator David Hann from District 48 who is also a Vietnam Vet. He thanked the Zaun family for their sacrifice and spoke of the Recycled Ride as Cheryl Zaun received a repaired 2009 Nissan Altima “a symbol of respect and gratfrom LaMettry’s Collision and Farmers Insurance as itude that we have for what part of the NABC’s Recycled Rides Program
you and your son have given to our country.” Also speaking at the event was Rep. Jim Nash, District 47A. He thanked the military and reminded everyone, “It’s very important that we
“As an NCO, when you’re out there, you want information. What you always tell your troops is, ‘Hey, don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions.’ And that’s what you have done with this. You’ve made a solution to
The LaMettry’s Collision team with Recycled Rides recipient Cheryl Zaun (center). From l to r: Randy LaMettry (Vice President), Darrell Amberson (President of Operations), Laurie Kaiser (CMO), Recycled Rides recipient Cheryl Zaun, Ann Bruce (Sales), Stefany Lorang (Creative Director), Mike Elliott (Sales)
never forget the freedom we have was given to us by the men and women who stood up and said, ‘I will defend you.’” The last speaker was SSG Scott Adams who was the recipient of LaMettry’s Recycled Ride in November of 2013. He welcomed Cheryl to the family, and gave some perspective.
veteran’s and their family’s problems. And you’re fixing them.” To end the ceremony, LaMettry’s Collision CEO Joanne LaMettry handed over the keys to a very excited and grateful Cheryl Zaun. This is the 5th vehicle LaMettry’s has repaired and donated.
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Continued from Page 18
Old School Again
only collision repairer in the chapter, which means I don’t have to compete with other shops within the group for referrals,” Glines said. “We had to go through an interview process to qualify for membership and they checked out all of our references, because they want only top businesses that are honest and do quality work. Everyone knows 250 people in their community if they’ve lived there for any period of time, so the concept is to connect to those people and then indirectly connect to their group of 250 people.” (I did the math and if 250 people have 250 friends/associates/colleagues, that equals 62,500 people and if every one of them gets into an accident every nine years, that’s a grand total of almost 7,000 cars annually.)
Glines knows exactly down to the penny how much business he’s received through his BNI chapter and the numbers make him smile. “We’ve brought in $212,000 through BNI referrals and I also get work from a local car dealership who is a fellow member of our chapter. The referrals reach a point where they take off exponentially and as more members get to know you, it gets even get better. We’re going to do at least $1 million this year and BNI has been a big part of that. It has allowed us to avoid the DRPs and retain more control on all of our repairs.” But, don’t apply for membership his chapter, Glines said, because he’s already that little fish in a big pond and happy about it. “Revenues are getting better every month and BNI has become an integral part of our business model now. We’ve become a part of the BNI family and proud of it.”
NACE | CARS Hosts U.S. Department of Commerce Program to Identify Global Opportunities
NACE | CARS has announced the involvement of the U.S. Commercial Service (part of the U.S. Department of Commerce) in offering a complimentary program to identify international business opportunities. The U.S. Commercial Service will be working in cooperation with the Automotive Service Association for this all-new session, entitled Global Market Insights. The Global Market Insights session will be presented in a briefing format on Thursday, July 23 from 7:30am - 9:30am in room 359. This will provide participants with the opportunity to hear from U.S. Embassy Commercial Specialists on how they track the automotive products and service equipment market trends in their respective countries. U.S. Embassy industry experts from ten countries have committed to attend to date. These countries include Canada, El Salvador, The Netherlands, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa, China, Nigeria, Kuwait, Turkey and UAE. These industry professionals from around the world can help your company to expand its international reach. In addition to valuable insight offered on international business opportunities, companies that attend will receive three complimentary resources. These items are as follows: 1. A Country Commercial Guide
of choice: These U.S. Embassy-prepared reports present a comprehensive look at a single country’s commercial environment, using economic, political and market analysis. 2. The 3rd edition of the Global Automotive Resource Guide: A compilation of international market intelligence such as industry trends, main competitors, trade barriers, statistical data and resources in 51 countries to help small and mediumsized enterprises identify markets where U.S. automotive products or services are likely to succeed. 3. The highly anticipated Top Markets Report on automotive parts and service equipment. From discussing your company’s sales potential around the world to learning about how to take advantage of free trade agreements, opportunities in attending Global Market Insights are vast. Attendees will discover how the U.S. Commercial Service can help locate new business partners and learn about the best sales opportunities in overseas markets. In addition to receiving valuable knowledge, attendees will be able to take home materials, including the Country Commercial Guide, Global Automotive Resource Guide and Top Markets Report, all on a complimentary basis.
www.autobodynews.com CHECK IT OUT! www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 21
Rick Leos of Toyota and Nathan Sellers of Mitchell — Some Startling Predictions for 2025 by Tom Franklin
The California Autobody Association Glendale-Foothill Chapter met Thursday, May 28, 2015, at Gene’s Paint & Body in Montrose, CA. Chapter President Daniel Panduro opened the meeting and introduced the two speakers, Rick Leos, from Toyota, and Nathan Sellers from Mitchell. The topic for the evening was Toyota’s new Predictive Estimating software that is set to be released in the very near future, and the increased technology being built into today’s vehicles and what that means for us repairers trying to “fix cars correctly and safely.” Leos opened with a video on hydrogen-powered vehicles. He made the startling prediction that by 2025, all vehicles will be hydrogen-powered! The next video showed a massive manure pile and the steps needed to turn it into hydrogen. A combination of steam and heat turns this inexpensive crap into highly profitable energy — a process cheaper than oil, corn, solar, and electricity combined. Leos also said that these vehicles would be nearly unrepairable! Vehicle manufacturers will develop such complete collision avoidance technology, that the few accidents that do occur will require vehicles to be completely replaced, (effectively eliminating the collision repair industry)! Although 2025 is a long way off, in November this year, 60,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles will be put on the road. Shops hoping to repair any of these vehicles will have to have x-
ray equipment capable of finding cracks in the many carbon fiber panels and parts that will make up much of these vehicles. Leos also predicted the OEMs will seek to put the liability for faulty repairs and subsequent prob-
Rick Leos, from Toyota, and Nathan Sellers from Mitchell covered Toyota’s new Predictive Estimating software at the May 28 CAA Glendale/Foothill Chapter meeting
lems squarely onto the repairer, to protect the manufacturer’s brand name as the top priority. With this startling part of the presentation finished, Leos and Sellers turned to Toyota’s new Predictive Estimating software, already available on Mitchell’s Ultramate and being shipped on all user’s next update. The essence of the system is the reversal of current estimating systems where parts to be repaired or replaced must be added line-by-line. With this system all parts are displayed on the estimate and those not affected must be
1 Collision Network Co-locates Conference at NACE | CARS
The NACE | CARS 2015 conference and exposition announced that 1 Collision Network, a growing MSO located in the Midwest, will be colocating a conference early during the week of NACE | CARS. “We are thrilled to host so many co-located groups during the week of NACE | CARS. We have the venue to support the meetings, the hotel rooms and transportation to accommodate all the people attending these meetings, and the opportunity for everyone to participate in educational programs and the expo. Networking and industry collaboration will be at an all-time high this year.” Stated Dan Risley, President and Executive Director of ASA. Organizations currently sched-
uled to hold meetings, events, or are otherwise participating during NACE | CARS 2015 in addition to 1 Collision Network include ASE, CCIF, CIC, CIECA, CIIA, CREF, I-CAR, MERA, NABC, OE Roundtable, SCRS, State Farm Advisory Council, and WIN. Other organizations are also making plans to attend and updates will be forthcoming. No other event brings the industry together like NACE | CARS.
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deleted. In the demos presented by Leos and Sellers, most repairs that would run to 10 or 12 lines on a usual estimate would suddenly jump to 16 or 20 lines. Small parts often missed, like clips, are added automatically. Even usual add-ons like color sand and buff or seam sealer are displayed in detail. The estimator can still delete parts on the estimate with no visible asterisk or other mark, but the deletion, change or omission is time stamped in the computer. If an adjuster chooses to delete a line, the time stamp can indicate the deletion if a problem occurs later as a result of that deletion. Ultramate was chosen for the first test run because of insurer DRP relationships. Also the Ultramate could be converted to a CCC or ADP estimate by using Estify. Leos said he was surprised at a meeting with insurers where the new software was well received even though it could be more costly for insurers. The reason most said was the desirability of having a standard base rather than the arbitrary negotiated estimates common today. Perhaps the most stabilizing feature is
the instant availability of parts documents and technical and CRIB bulletins. A simple click of a black dot and all of the supporting information jumps up. Documentation to resolve a dispute with an adjuster is readily at hand. Also technicians can be saved from costly errors like one-time-use parts. A few of Leos’ examples showed how a tech might miss a onetime-use part if the documentation hadn’t been consulted. Leos showed how the system can quickly pay for itself and increase shop profitability. Most remarkable is the willingness of Toyota to make the templates for the system available to other vehicle manufacturers. All they have to do is plug in their own parts and related documents and the system is ready to go. Certification training is also now much simpler. It is no longer necessary to have a dealer recommendation. Leos also talked about the way scanners are getting better all the time at creating instant estimates. iPad and smartphone scans will soon create an accurate estimate. Like most other aspects of life now, technology is driving the future of collision repair
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www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 23
Mycrsmanager Management Software System Usable Over Smartphone Devices by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor
After investing four years creating and beta testing a management software system for the collision repair industry, Robert Williams recently launched MyCrsmanager (CRS). Williams, the owner of Foxwood
Collision Center in Fresno, CA, said his intent was to build a system that would offer administrative staff a user friendly program to improve communication with customers and vendors, as well as help shop owners better manage their businesses in order to save time and money. “CRS is intended to be used for more than just a management system. We have a manager and customer app for the iPhone and android devices so you can actually run your business from anywhere,” said Williams. “My ultimate goal is to get body shops to realize there is an alternative to what they’re used to.” First introduced in November 2014, MyCrsmanager software is a cloud-based program that imports estimates from CCC, ADP and Mitchell, allowing the user to price, order, receive and return parts and supplies directly online. Customers receive real time status updates automatically as technicians log in and out of the stages of production. Using the CRS apps, supplements and delays can be sent to customers for signatures or as customer updates from an administrative PC, tablet and/or smart phone. Each CRS customer has his or her own web page tracking the repair from start to finish, with the capability of storing photos and videos. Williams said there are many ways to use the program and allow a shop owner to save hours of time on the phone with vendors, car rental companies and customers. “The program is designed to send notifications via e-mail, text and/or phone messages to the customer prior to the scheduled appointment, throughout the repair, and after the repair is complete,” he said. Rental car companies receive a notification prior to the customer picking up a rental car and a
notification when the customer vehicle has been picked up, with complete timeline documentation within every customer RO. Parts and supply vendors receive pricing requests, electronic orders and returns, which Williams said virtually eliminates the need to call vendors. Williams said one of the key features of the software program is its own internal accounting module, eliminating the need for an additional accounting software system. The accounting module fully integrates with QuickBooks and has been adapted for MSO operators. “The program captures and financially evaluates every aspect of every repair,” he said.
in 2005 to nearly $500,000 by 2008. “When doing all of this volume, the software programs on the market couldn’t fulfill my needs as a body shop owner,” said Williams. “What I tried to
do is write a lot of this stuff out and put in on boards in the shop … to manage the business and make it operate more efficiently and have the customer more involved.” The business owner began to implement various methods to better communicate with his customers. He said that with the amount of cars they were working on at that time the emIt electronically sends initial and follow up insurance notifications to the customer as well as automatically reaching out to a potential customer at designated intervals by e-mail and text in an attempt to close a sale. The employee time clock not only tracks in and out times and production stage, but also allows the employee to schedule vacations, PTO and internally message administration. The shop calendar documents upcoming customer arrivals, estimator, technician and admin appointments. The program includes a department value summary with a breakdown of every department percentage of in process sales. A consignment paint cabinet module notifies the vendors directly of inventory count.
Bringing About Change Williams was running Foxwood Collision out of a 7,000 square foot location when he was presented with an opportunity to purchase an old theater for his business in 2003. After a year of remodeling the 24,000 square foot space, he relocated in 2004. After the move, Williams said his business grew from earning $100,000
24 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
ployees sometimes had to move vehicles to a different dealership to work on the repairs before bringing them back. An issue came up when Williams was driving a Camero to a muffler shop and happened to see the owner of the vehicle who wasn’t aware his car had been removed from the premises. After that experience, Williams set up a white board in his shop and asked employees to write down every time a vehicle leaves the shop. He wanted to improve the way he gave consumers a status report on their vehicles. Williams was finding that these challenges were slowing down his cycle time. With 40 bays and 60 employees running three shifts Williams said, “I had to find a better way.” Then in 2008 the industry implemented changes that affected his business. One of these was that insurance companies began conducting thirdparty surveys and enforcing them. “If you weren’t in the top tier, they would put you on hold so you wouldn’t get that work and other shops would,” said Williams, who was a DRP for several insurance companies during that time. See MyCrsmanager, Page 27
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www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 25
CREF Prepares for 2nd Cars, Careers and Celebrities Event at Chicagoland Speedway by Chasidy Rae Sisk
In 2014, the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) held their inaugural “Cars, Careers and Celebrities” event which raised over $200,000 for the organization. The 2015 event will take place on Friday, September 18th
at the Chicago Speedway in Joliet IL and will be held in conjunction with the weekend’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The main goal of the event is to introduce collision repair industry professionals to the students who will comprise the next generation of the industry. This year, CREF is also collaborating with Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) to invite military veterans interested in a collision repair career. Congresswoman Duckworth states, “The collision industry is a great place to build a career. Veterans are employees who guarantee the quality of their work with their lives – and their dedication to their craft cannot be matched. I’m happy to support this event that brings good, quality jobs to some of our nation’s finest potential employees.” Brandon Eckenrode, Director of Development for CREF, added his support, “As an Iraq War Veteran and former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs, we are honored to work with Congresswoman Duckworth and her office in providing information about this upcoming event and the opportunity it presents to connect veterans to collision industry employers. There are many different industry segments and career opportunities within the $30 billion collision industry and we look forward to help introduce both the attending students and veterans to our event participants.” CREF hopes that industry members and sponsors will help showcase various segments of the industry to students in attendance, and the event should also aid the organization in raising additional funds to assist collision repair training programs at the high school and college levels. Eckenrode invites any and all industry companies to participate as event sponsors, including those who are willing to demon-
strate tools, equipment and products, as well as those interested in employing students and veterans. Eckenrode said that they anticipate between 300-500 students from states in the Midwest and some who will travel a greater distance. In addition to Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan and Wisconsin, we have heard that schools from Pennsylvania and Tennessee are planning on sending students. During the event, scheduled to run roughly from 12-5PM, students will be distributing their resumes to exhibitors seeking employees, be initially interviewed on site,
Scott Paddock is also excited about the event, stating, “The Cars, Careers and Celebrities event is a terrific initiative from the CREF, and it is one we are extremely proud to support. Educational opportunities extending outside the classroom are often some of the most valuable, and the experience that our event weekend will provide in the development of students and young professionals from across the Midwest serves as the perfect precursor to one of the premiere weekends on the NASCAR schedule.” As of May 15, CREF has con-
and view product demonstrations. They will also have the opportunity to hear from and interact with industry guest speakers and NASCAR drivers and crew members, plus they’ll be able to tour the Chicagoland Speedway and more. CREF believes this will be a great event for tool companies and others as these students are their future customers within the collision repair industry.” While high school and college collision students, instructors and administrators can attend CREF’s 2015 “Cars, Careers and Celebrities” event at no charge, CREF is requesting that individual collision repair industry professionals donate $100 to attend the
firmed five sponsors for the 2015 “Cars, Careers and Celebrities” event. The organization is grateful to ABRA Auto Body & Glass for signing on as their first Diamond Level sponsor, and Gerber Collision and Glass has also joined the ranks. AllState Insurance Company has signed up as a Gold Level sponsor,
and current Bronze Level sponsors include Cintas and Collision Equipment Experts. “As this event will bring together hundreds of high school and college collision students, we ask that other industry companies looking to engage with the future professionals of the industry reach out to us and participate,” Eckenrode added. “We are excited to be working with Chicagoland Speedway on this event which is meant to raise the level of industry awareness to area collision school students and help connect them to industry employers.” Eckenrode continued, “We plan on having industry vendors, NASCAR guest speakers and much more. As there will be industry vendors and racing celebrities in attendance, we ask that industry members interested in attending save the date, and we look forward to seeing the inter-industry this September.” CREF 5125 Trillium Blvd Hoffman Estates, IL 60192 888-722-3787 www.collisioneducationfoundation.org
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26 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
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MyCrsmanager
In response, he began investigating several software programs available and found that they offered features that helped manage the body shop but didn’t give him the ability to communicate with customers. It was then he said he realized there was a need in the industry to address these issues.
Improving Business “At the end of 2008, I knew my white boards weren’t keeping up and I needed to find a better mousetrap,” said Williams. He talked to a company that builds software and asked them to
create something that would allow him to update customers on the status of their vehicles as things happen, in real time. When the project was complete, he said the software was cumbersome and wasn’t what he had envisioned. He and one of his friends who was a programmer worked for the next four years to create an alternative. Meanwhile, with the downturn of the economy, his business took a turn in 2009. “My shops went from doing $500,000 a month to $160,000 a month,” said Williams. “For me to survive this I had to completely change the way I did business.” This included consolidating all of his shops. “I knew at this point my salvation was to continue to work on this pro-
gram and to make it the best it could be so I could compete and do a better job at what I needed to do,” said Williams. After using the software in his body shop, he has found it has changed the way they do business. The biggest advantage, said Williams, is that there is instant communication. “Customer feedback regarding this feature has been overwhelming. When my customers come in they tell me they love the updates they receive about the vehicle repair and the ease of signing documents. Williams offers customers the option of paying $329 per month or signing a 12-month contract for $289. More information is available online: http://www.collisionrepairstatus .com/ or call 559-273-5259.
Major Paint Companies Will Color-up NACE | CARS
AkzoNobel, Axalta, BASF, Matrix, PPG Automotive Refinish, and Valspar-House of Kolor have committed to NACE | CARS 2015 with exhibit space and sponsorships. Companies closely related to the paint market actively participating, as well, including 3M, DeVilbiss, Pro-Spray Finishes, Painters Supply & Equipment Co., Anest Iwata, UniCure Spraybooths, DHI Equipment, ShopPro Equipment, Inc., and more. “Having the support of the paint companies is significant to the success of NACE,” stated Dan Risley, ASA President and Executive Director. “Historically, the paint companies have represented some of the biggest supporters of the show and the industry. Attendees routinely seek the paint manufacturers while walking the show floor, and this years lineup of demonstrations and displays will not disappoint.” In addition to exhibits and sponsorships, spray demonstrations will also take place on the show floor highlighting new paint technologies, colors, color matching, and more.
I-CAR Gold Class Shops and Platinum Techs Get 50% Off
NACE | CARS will offer a 50% discount for I-CAR Gold Class Shops & Platinum Designated individuals, as well as ASE Blue Seal Shops & Master Tech individuals, to attend the conference and exposition July 2125th in Detroit, MI. This program encourages the top performing shops and individuals to attend the trade show, cutting edge training, and conference sessions at the best price. Shops and individuals who have attained these designations from I-CAR and ASE are highly trained and are some of the most skilled in their respective industry.
CARS Will Feature Mitchell National Training Manager
Tim McDonnell, Mitchell 1 National Training Manager, in a “Shop Management Unleashed” session brought to you by Mitchell 1 on Wednesday, July 22 from 1pm - 2:30pm at the COBO Center. This session targets those involved with leadership management and mechanical technical tracks, will address the optimization of repair shop efficiency. This session is based on content from Mitchell 1’s popular two-day shop management workshop. www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 27
Takata Admits to Fault in Airbag Design, 34 Million Vehicles, Largest Recall in History Ensues by Victoria Antonelli, Online Editor
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced on May 19 that the air bag manufacturer Takata has acknowledged that a defect exists in its air bag inflators, leading to a national recall of nearly 34 million vehicles. The action, which was initially limited to states with high humidity, has increased the recall to more than 16 million defective passenger-side inflators and more than 17 million driverside inflators. “Vehicles are increasingly bought and sold across state lines and may move long distances across the country … it is in the best interest of consumers to expand this recall to all states,” AAA President Marshall Doney said in a company press release. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) press release, over time, moisture causes changes in the structure of the chemical propellant that ignites when the Takata air bag deploys. The degraded propellant, based on ammonia nitrate — commonly used in fertilizer — ignites too quickly, producing excess pressure that causes the inflator to rupture and sends metal shards into the passenger cabin that can lead to serious injury or death. There have been over 100 injuries linked to faulty Takata airbags. Secretary Foxx announced that the NHTSA issued a Consent Order to Takata. The Japanese manufacturer stated in a May 19 press release, “Under the Consent Order, Takata also has agreed
to continue to cooperate with all future regulatory actions and proceedings that are part of NHTSA’s ongoing investigation and oversight of the Takata airbag inflators and accompanying remedial actions, continue to respond to all NHTSA information requests in a complete and timely fashion, and continue to provide NHTSA with all test results and data related to Takata inflators, among other provisions. While the Consent Order does not release Takata from potential civil penalties, NHTSA will not seek any civil penalties demanded under its letter dated February 20, 2015, beyond those that may be applicable before May 18, 2015. Under the Consent Order, NHTSA will take into account Takata’s cooperation in seeking any civil penalties against Takata in the future. Takata will work with its automotive customers to develop plans for reaching out to vehicle owners in order to maximize recall completion rates.” In addition, NHTSA announced its intent to begin a formal legal process to prioritize the replacement of defective Takata inflators under the agency’s legal authority. “Today is a major step forward for public safety,” Secretary Foxx said. “The Department of Transportation is taking the proactive steps necessary to ensure that defective inflators are replaced with safe ones as quickly as possible, and that the highest risks are addressed first. We will not stop our work until every air bag is replaced.” According to a May 19 New York Times article, prior to recent investigations, the NHTSA had been criticized
OK Shop Employee Takes Car, Passes Out in Drive-Thru
Tahlequah, OK police officers said a man was jailed on May 16 after taking a Xanax, driving the car of a body shop customer to McDonald’s, and then passing out in the drivethru lane. Officer Thomas Donnell arrived just before 1 a.m. and saw the white Mercedes Benz with one door open, reported www.tahlequahdaily press.com. Sitting in the front seat was Lymon A. Vanwinkle, 27, who has a Richmond, IN address. He had left the motor running and the radio playing. Donnell told tahlequahdailypress.com he woke Vanwinkle after turning the car off. Vanwinkle told Donnell that he had not been drinking and had not taken any prescrip-
tion drugs, despite his slurred speech. Vanwinkle was confused and unable to find his identification for Donnell, who arrested him for driving under the influence, reported tahlequahdailypress.com. According to Donnell’s arrest report, the officer later found Vanwinkle to have Xanax bars in his possession. Vanwinkle then allegedly told the officer he had taken some of the medication, and got tired.
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by lawmakers and safety advocates as being “too lax” on the industry. Back in 2009, the agency opened an investigation on Takata airbags that lasted for only six months due to “insufficient evidence.” The New York Times article credited the NHTSA’s new found vigilance with the appointment of administrator Mark R. Rosekind. “The steps we’re taking today represent significant progress toward that goal. We all know that there is more work to do, for NHTSA, for the auto makers, for parts suppliers, and for consumers,” said Rosekind. “But we are determined to get to our goal as rapidly as possible.” It is expected that the service order of the vehicles will be based on which airbags hold the greatest risk of unsafe deployment, based on age and geographic location. In the New York Times article, Rosekind stated that consumers could still drive their cars in the meantime, considering it could take several years until all repairs are completed. “Although Takata has devoted tremendous resources to these efforts
with some of the leading researchers in this field worldwide, including Fraunhofer ICT, it is clear that this is a complex issue which takes time to fully evaluate,” Takata stated in a May 19 press release. “The analysis to date suggests that the potential for this long-term phenomenon to occur was not within the scope of the testing specifications prescribed by the vehicle manufacturers for the validation and production of the subject inflators as original equipment.” The Department has established a new website, www.SaferCar.gov /RecallsSpotlight, to provide regular updates on the status of this and other recalls and of NHTSA’s investigation. “With the summer season approaching, we are reminded that 33 million Americans will be hitting the roads in their vehicles for Memorial Day travel and as time passes more motorists remain at risk from the faulty air bags that have been linked to at least 6 deaths [worldwide],” stated Doney in a May 19 press release. “Motorists’ safety is a national issue that is not confined by regional boundaries and should take precedence over profits.”
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Midwest Parts Group Delivers OEM Quality to 4,000 Shops in 3 States by Ed Attanasio
By pooling their resources and working together in a team environment, 11 car dealerships formed the Midwest Parts Group; a cooperative that delivers mechanical and collision parts to portions of three states—Eastern Kansas, Northwest Missouri and Southwest Nebraska. The huge territory, with 4,000 shops, fleets and municipalities that the group serves, are often located far apart, but by devising a plan where every member plays a pivotal role and shares the load, the group excels while benefitting the members and ultimately their customers. Members of the Midwest Parts Group include Lewis Toyota, Laird Noller Ford, Noller Hyundai, Noller Mazda, Ed Bozarth Chevrolet, Noller Lincoln, Car City Chrysler/Dodge/ Jeep/Ram, Laird Noller Mitsubishi, Sharp Honda, Hendrick Lexus North, Jack Miller KIA, Jack Miller Isuzu, Fenton Nissan, Ed Bozarth Buick GMC, BMW of Topeka and Volkswagen of Topeka. To represent the Midwest Parts Group out in the field, all of the outside sales are skillfully handled by Tony Harris. He logs a lot of miles traveling to shops in three states and that’s why he knows what his customers’ parts and delivery needs are inside and out. Having drivers that know their routes like the back of their hands gives the group an additional level of customer service that really helps, Harris explained.“The group has nine trucks that are dedicated to the group, seven of which are from dealers in the program and two that we contract, and it works very well. Our drivers are a big part of the team, because they don’t just drop off parts. They make sure the orders are right and they constantly communicate with the shops. We have very low turnover with our drivers and that helps, because our customers don’t want a different driver every time, and that’s how we build strong relationships with the shop. After working with a shop for a period of time, the drivers become familiar with their routes, they get better at deliveries and it improves the entire process.” It’s pretty basic--parts delivered on-time and orders that are complete and accurate, according to Harris.
“That’s it. Getting the right parts in the right hands at the right time is the bread and butter of this industry. Shops are always focusing on cycle times and the wrong part can really
their part, that gives us an obvious advantage,” Branam said. “We’re out there competing with every other Toyota dealer in our delivery area, so how can we be different? The advantages
The backbone of the Midwest Parts Group is its highly-skilled and extremely friendly truck drivers, who know their routes and body shop customers inside and out
impact their production, so we focus on being accurate and accountable. Shops want a reliable source that they can count on again and again and with this group, that’s what we get. When I talk to a body shop owner, I can assure him that we will do exactly what we say, so that he can get that peace of mind. With so many different things going on in a body shop, they shouldn’t have to be worrying about their parts. We take all of that drama right out of the equation with the Midwest Parts Group.” Ryan Branam is the parts manager at Lewis Toyota in Topeka, KS and a member of the Midwest Parts Group. His dealership has been involved with the Midwest Parts Group since its inception in 2006, so he has seen the group as it has evolved. It saves his department by sharing routes and enables him to provide seamless service to all of his customers. “By sharing deliveries, we’re saving a ton,” Branam said. “Without the group, I would have eight other routes that I would have to do, which means I’d need more trucks and more drivers. The group is saving all of us money which means we’re able to pass some of those savings onto our customers. In the end, they’re getting better pricing as a result.” “If we can make the process as easy as it can be for the shops to get
30 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
we can get through our participation in the Midwest Parts Group set us apart in many ways.”
Ken Bruns is the parts manager at Laird Noller Ford in Topeka, KS and also one of the original members of the Midwest Parts Group. With 11 car dealerships working closely together, the group has been able to flourish, while similar delivery cooperatives in other parts of the country haven’t succeeded. “Yes, all of the manufacturers represented in the group are of course competitors, but we’ve figured out how to work well together because our ultimate goal is providing good service and getting the shops the parts they need when they need them. We’re equal partners and we know that we’re stronger as a unit, because we can cover more territory more effectively.” Together, the members of the Midwest Parts Group deliver more than $1 million in parts every month combined, so it’s a fairly large undertaking. “Logistically, it’s a big operation, but we’ve got it down to a science,” Bruns said. “We’ve established a reputation for being reliable and adding that personal touch to it as well and we’ve proven ourselves by coming through time and time again.”
KELLY BMW
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New I-CAR Weld Demo Held at Marina Auto Body in CA With MIG Pulsed Aluminum Welders by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor
Six weeks after opening a new 27,500square-foot facility in Inglewood, CA Marina Auto Body hosted I-CAR instructor Toby Chess and seven welding manufacturer representatives on June 3. The goal was to demonstrate the latest models of MIG Pulsed Aluminum Welders and test a new I-CAR weld. (see accompanying article on page 52) Participants first explained the highlights of the welders they brought and then Ara Guekguezian, a certified welder from Pride Auto Body in Van Nuys, CA welded a butte weld with backing on 1 mm with each one. “It’s a brand new I-CAR weld that is starting July 1 and the machine has to be able to do it,” said Chess. The aluminum MIG welding comparison was held in the aluminum prep area at Marina Auto Body’s new location. Tom Williamson, the owner of the shop, said they fix a high volume of Mercedes-Benz vehicles and the prep area is expected to be certified over the next couple of months. Williamson has operated a collision repair business in the Marina area of Los Angeles, CA for the past 16 years. He decided to expand and re-locate in 2012.
“I looked for a year and a half all over LAX proper area,” said Williamson. “You’re really limited in the City of Los Angeles today where you can build a body shop.” The business owner said it was very challenging in terms of permitting.
Ralph Bribibsca, Senior Body Tech at Marina Auto Body, with his sons Cesar (middle) who started in 2004 and Jesse (left) who has worked there since 2010
“Inglewood welcomed me,” said Williamson. “They said, ‘if you’re not in 50 feet of a residence, let’s do this.’ It was actually kind of exciting when we went to City Hall, when we brought them the plans and said this is what we want to do.” The shop’s long-time manager Jeff Lawson, who had recently retired, agreed to help open the shop, which
took six months to complete once the building was located. Williamson said Al Ortiz from Rely On Technologies, a Garmat spray booth distributor for Southern California, was instrumental in helping him find a location. As a general contractor, Ortiz would lay out plans for the shop at every building they visited. They eventually chose the Inglewood location because of the quality of the building. The two have worked together on various projects over the last 20 years. Currently, there are 11 body techs and a mechanic at the facility. Williamson brought over four body techs to open his new location, including Ralph Bribibsca and his two sons. Williamson said they already understand the culture of the business and will help get things running smoothly. He expects to eventually have 11 or 12 body techs plus a full-time mechanic. New equipment was purchased for the shop including a double downdraft heated prep station, the latest in Garmat spraybooth technologies, Hunter 4 wheel alignment and Car-O-Liner Bench Rack and EVO equipment. “It’s all about faster and better. You can’t expect people to deliver if you don’t give them a good environment, equipment and training,” said
Williamson. “A body shop is limited by the number of cars they can paint in an eight-hour day.” Marina Auto Body can paint 15 in an eight-hour shift. Plans are also in place to bring over equipment from the Marina del Rey location over the next several months. That shop will be demolished after it closes in February 2017 and apartment buildings are expected to be built. Williamson operates a second location in Huntington Beach, CA which is 10 minutes from his home. He said it is a small, efficient shop that has a dedicated staff of employees who have worked there many years. Williamson started working in body shops when he was 12 years old. He worked as a body technician for 10 years before running an independent shop in Huntington Beach. He bought his own shop there in 1995. Marina Auto Body has received multiple awards, including the Top Shop Award for Customer Service for the last three years in its market area from the Automobile Club of Southern California. “Our vision is to continue to deliver quality repairs, provide great customer service and create an environment where our team members want to deliver on the promise to the customer,” said Williamson.
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32 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Please contact these dealers for your Honda or Acura Genuine parts needs. HO NDA I LL INO IS
M ICHI GAN
MIS SOU RI
O HIO
Honda Superstore of Lisle
Victory Honda
Bommarito Honda
Ch i ca go /Su b urb s
P ly m out h
H a z e lwoo d
Ak ro n
866-874-6632
800-824-4646 734-453-3600
800-731-8270 314-731-8270
330-633-8197 330-633-6060
M 7:30-8; Tue-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-4 Karl_messer@victoryplymouth.com
M-Sat 7-6 Lrowe@bommarito.net
Tue, W, F 8-6; M, Thu 8-8; Sat 8-4 edally@mphonda.com
Zeigler Honda
Ed Napleton Honda
K al am az oo
S t . P e t er s
888-342-1678 269-585-5812
800-875-4190 636-928-4400
M-Thu 7-8; F 7-6; Sat 8-4 bobsmith@zagteam.com
M-Sat 7-6 gethondaparts@napleton.com
M-F 7-5 hondaparts@auto-plaza.com
Schaumburg Honda Automobiles S ch a umbu rg
847-884-8898 847-884-6632 M-F 6:30am-Midnight; Sat 8am-5pm k.kelley@rohrman.com
M INNE SO TA
I ND IA NA
Basney Honda
Brookdale Honda
Mi sh awak a
B roo kly n C en t e r
800-877-7477 574-255-2179 M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-2
Bob Rohrman Honda Lafa yette
800-488-3537 765-448-1000 M 7:30-8; Tue-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-3 Brho.partsmgr@rohrman.com
Bosak Honda Hig hla nd
800-542-6725 219-922-3102 M 8-5; Tue 8-8 W, Thu, F 8-5; Sat 8-4 davepropeck@bosakmail.com
Honda of Fishers F ish er s
800-806-6404 317-299-3723 M-F 8-6 honda-west@att.com KE NTU CKY
Frank Fletcher Honda C o lu mb i a
573-818-3650
Mike Pruitt Honda
W IS C O NSI N
Russ Darrow Honda M i lwa u ke e
888-318-1671 414-586-5401 M-F 7-6; Sat 7-4; Sun 8-4 hondaparts@russdarrow.com
Wilde Honda Wa u ke sh a
800-899-8900 763-331-6880
M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4 gropp@fletcherauto.com
800-526-3209 262-542-9300
M-Th 7-9; F 7-6; Sat 8-6 parts@lutherbrookdalehonda.com
Frank Leta Honda
M-F 7-9; Sat 8-4 wildehondaparts@gmail.com
Buerkle Honda
888-680-6025 636-336-5003
S t . P aul
S t . L ou is
800-592-9514 651-484-0975
M-F 7-6; Sat 7-5 hondaparts@frankleta.com
M-Thu 8-9; F 8-6; Sat 8-4:30 hondaparts@buerkle.com
Honda of Tiffany Springs
Luther Hopkins Honda
800-875-3911 816-452-3221
Ho pkin s
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800-328-6016 952-908-8585
M-Thu 7-7; F-Sat 7-6 parts@hondaoftiffanysprings.com
M-Thu 7-9; F 7-6; Sat 8-4 tim.lewis@hopkinshonda.com
Roper Honda
Richfield-Bloomington Honda
877-244-6632 417-625-0846
Jo p li n
M, W, Thu, F 7:30-6; Tu 7:30-7; Sat 9-1 dvice@roperauto.com
R ichf ie ld
800-328-2703 612-866-8197 M-Thu 6:30-9; F 6:30-6; Sat 6:30-5 parts@rbhonda.com
Gary Force Honda
OHIO
Jay Honda B e df o rd
B owl i ng Gre e n
800-509-9057 440-786-3363
800-533-6723 270-781-8230
M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-4 jayhondaparts@gmail.com
M-F 7-5; Sat 8-2 parts@garyforcehonda.com AC UR A O HI O
IL LIN OIS
ILLINOIS
Columbia Acura
Acura of Libertyville
Ci ncinn a ti
L ibe rt y v il le
800-654-3553 513-530-0698
847-680-7333
M-F 8-5:30; Sat 8-12 columbiaparts@mail.com
M-F 7:30-6; Sat 7:30-4 kmilz@acuralibertyville.com
Arlington Acura in Palatine P ala t ine
I ND IA NA
MIN NES OTA
McGrath Acura of Morton Grove M or t o n G r ove
847-470-2309 M-F 7-9; Sat 8-6 acparts@mcgrathag.com
800-991-8438 847-991-9005
Muller’s Woodfield Acura
888-812-1269 317-706-1933
M-W 7:30-7:30; Thu-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-3 aaip.partsmgr@rohrman.com
866-475-9280
M 8-8; Tue-F 8-6; Sat 8-5 testridge@edmartin.com
Continental Acura of Naperville
Ed Martin Acura Ind ia na pol i s
H o f f ma n E st a t e s M 7-5; Tue-F 7-6 Sat 8-3 mcavallini@woodfieldacura.com
Buerkle Acura M i nn e a p ol i s
800-717-3109 763-488-1122 M, F 7-5:30; Tu-Thu 7-7; Sat 7:30-4 acuraparts@buerkle.com W IS CO NS I N
Acura of Brookfield Br oo k fi e l d
800-383-3936 262-439-6029 M-Thu 7:30-6; F 7:30-5; Sat 8-4:30 patrick.murphy@zimbrick.com
C hi ca go/ S ubu r b s
888-711-1506 630-960-2175 M-F 7-5:30; Sat 8-4 bobw@conacura.com www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 33
Industry Insight
—John Yoswick is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, who has a body shop in the family and has been writing about the automotive industry since 1988. He is the editor of the weekly CRASH Network (for a free 4-week trial subscription, visit www.CrashNetwork.com). Contact him by email at jyoswick@SpiritOne.com.
Insurers, PartsTrader and CAPA Share News and Views at Non-OEM Parts Convention with John Yoswick
Although non-OEM parts were, not surprisingly, the focus at the recent Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) convention in Chicago, there were plenty of other topics of interest to collision repairers. PartsTrader, for example, announced that vendors can now designate in the system which parts a shop returned and why. A year earlier, parts distributors at the ABPA conference told a PartsTrader speaker that because the monthly fees they pay PartsTrader are based on their total sales through the system, they should be able to indicate in PartsTrader if a part was returned (and thus potentially lower their fees) even if the shop doesn’t indicate the return in the system. “I understand what you’re saying, but I think there’s a little bit of concern if you start returning [in the system] your own orders,” Ken Weiss of PartsTrader responded last spring.
Apparently those concerns have been addressed, because at this year’s ABPA conference, Weiss said suppliers now can do just that. Weiss showed how a shop can designate within PartsTrader that a part has been returned and cite a reason for the return; then he showed parts vendors how they can do that even if the shop hasn’t. “You can open up the order and select the part and select the explanation and hit return,” Weiss told parts vendors. “At that point, it’s a return from the shop on their side as well as on your side. It would be nice if [the shop] did it first, but you have the ability.” Another speaker whose comments may have raised some eyebrows among collision repairers was Allstate’s Randy Hanson who discussed his company’s belief in customer choice in terms of parts. “So if a customer says they want a particular part on their vehicle, ‘I want OEM parts,’ we allow that,” Hanson
34 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
said. “We absolutely accommodate the customer’s request associated with that. We do. We always will.” (Several shops that participate in Allstate’s direct repair program later confirmed this was the case, but a number of shops who aren’t part of Allstate’s DRP said this was the first they’d heard about Allstate’s willingness to honor a customer’s preference for OEM parts.) Hanson also discussed the company’s long-standing support (financial and otherwise) of the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA). “We believe that certification allows us to tell a very powerful story in terms of the consumer,” Hanson said. “We only use CAPA-certified crash parts on our estimates.” (Even a shop on the Allstate direct repair program subsequently questioned Hanson’s CAPA-only claim. “I believe the adjusters write the lowestpriced part available,” even if those are
non-certified aftermarket parts or lowquality used parts, he said. “They will allow us to change the estimate to the appropriate part,” but that’s not what is always on the initial estimate, he said.) Hanson also weighed in on the future of published list prices for OEM parts. General Motors is launching MyPriceLink in some market this summer. As described by GM last fall, the new system will mean that parts prices would no longer be available within the estimating systems. Instead, shops would need to upload all estimates requiring prices for GM parts to MyPriceLink, which would then return the estimate back with current, competitive prices. (GM has more recently said it has worked with the three estimating system providers to ensure that shops will be able to use the program “with minimal disruption to their existing workflow,” but has provided little in the way of detail.)
NACE heading to California
The complete details about when and where NACE will be held next year won’t be announced formally until the event takes place in Detroit this month. But at the recent Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) convention, Automotive Service Association Executive Director Dan Risley offered a few clues. He said moving forward at least in the short-term NACE will return to Detroit every other year, rotating the other years between a West Coast location and an East Coast location. Though he declined to name any other specific cities that will host NACE in the future, he did say NACE 2016 would be held in California, the first time in the event’s 33-year history it will have been held in that state. The system is expected to give the automaker more flexibility in parts pricing to compete with non-OEM parts. Allstate’s Hanson said he thinks other automakers will eventually follow General Motor’s lead and stop publishing list prices for crash parts. “All of the OEMs are probably going to go down that path,” he predicted. “I think most of them are watching GM to see how it goes.”
Hanson and several other speakers at the ABPA event made reference to the February 11 “Anderson Cooper 360” segment on CNN examining insurer involvement in the collision repair industry. Hanson told the non-OEM parts suppliers at the event that the message of the segment was damaging to their industry. “It rang pretty loud and clear to me. I heard ‘cheap’ and I heard ‘junk,’”
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Speaker Jack Gillis, executive director of CAPA, also said his organization has been working with Sen. Blumenthal and his staff. “I’m relatively optimistic that the Senator is going to be a strong supporter of quality aftermarket parts,” Gillis said. “He knows about the CAPA program. He believes in certification, and he also believes that competition for the car companies is very important. So I’m pretty confident that we can work closely with the Senator’s office and turn him around in terms of aftermarket parts.” Gillis also offered a brief update on his organization, noting that when CAPA was founded it was funded virtually entirely by the insurance industry. “When I started 26 years ago, almost 100 percent of our funding was from the insurers,” Gillis said. “Today we’re down to about 11 percent. We now have the ability as a much more independent organization to work solely in the best interests of consumers and the industry. And that’s our goal.” Gillis said CAPA also is in the process of developing standards to certify non-OEM radiators, condensers, fan assemblies and external mirrors.
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Hanson said. “And I know that’s not the case, but that was the message they wanted to send. Those things are damaging. They take time to recover from. That’s not the case, but how do you find the right outlet to continue to tell your story? I can tell you that I tell your story every day, and I will continue to do that.” Bob Passmore of the Property-Casualty Insurance Association of America (PCI) said his organization also is watching to see if Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) follows through on references he’s made in the CNN piece and elsewhere to “wanting to do something about direct repair programs” at a federal level. “We have no idea what that is but we continue to try to engage him to see what he’s up to,” Passmore said. Sen. Blumenthal has not made any public comments about any legislation he might introduce related to DRPs, but earlier this year he did urge the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether insurers are directing consumers to collision repair shops that have agreed “to charge below-market labor rates and to use cheaper, salvaged, used or even counterfeit parts of questionable quality and safety.”
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On Creative Marketing
Tom Franklin has been a sales and marketing consultant for fifty years. He has written numerous books and provides marketing solutions and services for many businesses. He can be reached at (323) 871-6862 or at tbfranklin@aol.com. See Tom’s columns at www.autobodynews.com under Columnists > Franklin
How To Hire The Best Bodyshop Marketing People with Thomas Franklin
Collision repair shops are mainly in the people business. The days of oneman shops are long gone. Every shop has employees, and most have technicians specialized in body, paint, structural and more. The typical shop owner came up through these ranks and is sufficiently knowledgeable about the details to hire competent workers. But marketing is different. Few shop owners come from a background in sales or marketing. And only fairly affluent shops can afford to hire personnel solely for marketing and sales. But that doesn’t mean the need isn’t there. To survive today every shop needs to bring in new customers and that means reaching out with sales and marketing. And it may mean that some employees have to do double duty. Generally that means estimators and front desk people, but it could include the parts guy and even some unusually communicative technicians. It could also mean hiring from a different point of view. For example, a shop may generally hire an attractive lady for the front desk who is friendly and can handle the paperwork. A recent article entitled “Build a Killer Team” in the June issue of Inc Magazine quoted a co-founder of a company that requires every employee to “work reception once a month.” Many businesses have found that rotating employees through public contact jobs on a regular basis keep them in touch with prospective customers’ real priorities. Ideally a shop owner or manager might want to simply rotate the estimators through the front desk po-
sition regularly, but if there aren’t enough estimators to do that, the front desk person should be treated as a key new business developer for the shop and paid accordingly. While hiring practices vary greatly by industry, methods of interviewing and evaluating prospective employees are relatively consistent. Some frequent suggestions include giving all your candidates the same interview with a standard set of questions that you ask all candidates. They say using the same questions in each interview gives you greater control of the situation by preventing a clever interviewee from hiding pertinent information. Questions should also test an applicant’s ability to think quickly. For example a good salesperson should be able to handle the unanticipated and to meet challenges with confidence. Although an applicant knows you will check references, you should ask, “When I call your references, what will he or she tell me about your past performance?” This emphasis on reference checks might help avoid prospect exaggeration. If you have a trusted employee already performing similar tasks, you might consider having him or her sit in on the interview to help you determine if the candidate truly has what it takes to mesh with the existing team. Dealerships hire new people much more frequently than body shops, and sales people are their most frequent new hires. DealerRefresh.com specifies how most dealerships look for new prospects and evaluate prospective
Continued from Page 16
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hires. They say 50% of the most successful companies have given up on job boards. Social media sites like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are cheaper and more effective. They also say people hired by referral are 47% more likely to stick around after three years, compared to 14% for job-board applicants. They say cash bonuses are the best way to get current employees to refer others. Start by notifying current employees. If the job pays well, employees will often brag about how much they love their work and attract others to your business. You could also offer a bonus to customers who refer others. Everybody knows somebody looking for a job. Suppliers are another possible source of prospects. There could be someone good they know of who’s burned out at their present job and needs a change. This is an especially wise method for finding good help because your suppliers won’t recommend a dud. Their reputation with
you would be ruined and they might lose your business. So what are the qualities and skills a collision shop applicant should possess? The Inc Magazine article again reported several bosses that watched for a job applicant’s tendency to mainly talk and self-promote, as opposed to asking questions and carefully listening with follow-up questions. Another tactic suggested is to have prospective employees do some “homework.” For a collision repair shop this could be having them write a list of the questions they think would most effectively get a prospective customer to reveal what they value most in a body shop. And would most likely get them to come back and refer the shop to a friend. Any position dealing with the public requires the ability to ask questions and get key answers. This can take time, but the cost of hiring another person to ask and listen may be far less than losing prospective customers.
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Lean Operations
A Better Way to Measure Cycle Time with David Luehr
For those of you that are using your management system to measure your cycle time, congratulations! Too often, collision repair shops don’t measure their shop’s cycle time performance, instead allowing our insurance partners to measure it for us with questionable reliability. Much of the cycle time information that insurers use to measure & judge you by, is derived from rental car length of rental “LOR.” While this outside information can be useful, you are much better off using detailed cycle time measurements that will contribute to your shop’s continuous improvement. Cycle time is usually measured in terms of days from vehicle drop off to vehicle pick-up. What has come to be
David Luehr is the owner of Elite Body Shop Solutions, LLC, a collision business consulting firm based in Nashville, Tennessee. He is a 30 year veteran of the collision repair industry. David is an expert in Body Shop Operations and specializes in Lean, and Theory of Constraints methods. Email him at dluehr@msn.com
keys cycle time performance.
• Vehicle In to Start ■ Use this segment to measure how long it takes to get a vehicle from drop-off to production ready. “Production ready” is your shop’s definition of when the vehicle is ready to flow seamlessly through the body work and refinish stages of production. For most shops that means blueprinting has been completed, full approval from the customer and insurance companies has been obtained and all critical parts are on hand. Once this criteria has been met and there is an available technician to work on it, enter the start date. For most shops this time segment averages 1 day (same day) for jobs under
can measure this segment in either days or in hours per day. Things that have the biggest effect on your suc-
this time segment, assuming you are diligent about your date management.
cess or failure while vehicles are in production are things like blueprint accuracy, parts correctness etc. Top shops will typically produce between 4.0 to 6.0 Hours per day while the vehicle is in the Started to Completed segment.
Take control of your cycle time performance by taking a deeper look into the individual areas that affect the overall cycle time performance. As you have heard, you cannot improve what you don’t measure. By viewing your computerized management system’s cycle time report, you can analyze this information, but you have to first be diligent with your date management. If you would like more information about how you can apply this date management strategy at your shop, please contact me at david.luehr@elite bodyshopsolutions.com
• Repairs Completed to Vehicle Out ■ This time segment is probably the most overlooked area of cycle time opportunity. How long does it take you to get rid of the cars when you get them finished? Your management system cycle time reports will also show you how you are performing in
TOYOTA OF GRAND RAPIDS Your Customers Deserve Genuine Toyota OEM Parts. • Dedicated Wholesale Staff • Competitive Wholesale Prices • Exceptional Customer Service known as “keys to keys.” As I said, knowing your keys to keys cycle time and comparing it against a known standard is helpful to know, but it doesn’t really help you identify specifically where in your system improvement opportunities lie. I offer a better way! In every computerized management system, there are three separate time segments that you should use in addition to looking at your keys to
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New Product Showcase
Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.
New System Helps Shops to Get Reimbursed for PLIOGRIP® Adhesive Usage with Ed Attanasio
For many years, body shops have not been able to precisely quantify how much adhesive they are using on each particular repair. By basically guessing and operating in the dark when it comes to figuring out the volume used to perform plastic repair and related procedures, shops have not been getting properly reimbursed from the insurance companies, in many cases. Well, according to the people at PLIOGRIP and Bonding Solutions, there is now an app that will allow body techs to report exact numbers when it comes to their adhesive usage on every repair. It’s called the PLIOGRIP Material Cost Recovery System —the brainchild of Jeff Miller, PLIOGRIP’s technical sales manager and developed by Shaun Worthen, a former body tech who now works as an independent insurance adjustor and moonlights as an app developer. Miller believes that this app is a breakthrough that will benefit both
This screen shot from the new PLIOGRIP Material Cost Recovery System shows that techs can easily create an invoice showing exactly how much adhesive they’re using on each repair, thereby increasing their chances of getting reimbursed by the insurance company
body shops and insurance companies. “We wanted to come up with a system that would be fair for the shops and the insurance companies and I am confident that we’ve achieved both,” Miller explained. ”In the past, collision repairers were using a method that wasn’t providing them with definitive numbers that everyone could really count on. They were relying on a visual inspection and getting close, but now they don’t have to settle for just a ballpark figure. With this app, we’re eliminating the guesswork and making the process for reimbursement easier for the shops by using the latest technology available.” It all comes down to documentation and an accurate way
to quantify the use of a product that has been traditionally hard to get a bead on, according to Shaun Worthen, the developer of the PLIOGRIP Material Cost Recovery System. “Most insurance companies don’t ask questions when it comes to reimbursement about paint and paint-related materials, but when it comes to adhesives, they will sometimes be a little reluctant. But, if they can get accurate numbers that are well-supported, we’re confident that the insurers will be comfortable with our system, which means that the shops will be compensated.” The system will allow users to measure how much adhesive they’re using on every repair by picking a bead size and then accurately measuring the amount used in linear feet. With dropdown boxes and intuitive navigation throughout, the PLIOGRIP Material Cost Recovery System also contains a calculator and an area where the user
Th The Carcoon A W Features: tttures: The T Th he C Carcoon Ca C arcoon America arco Amer Am A America eriiica ca Workstation Workstation W orkk ork ksttati kst ati tiion io i nF Fe F ea e eat atures: a tu ures
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can make notes about the repair. At the end of the process, they now have a concise invoice that can be submitted electronically to the insurance company. Developing the app wasn’t an easy process, but after eight months of hard work and after looking at 10 different interface designs, the system was ready to stick. “We knew it had to be easy-touse and we also wanted it to be simple for techs to accurately gauge how much adhesive they’re using. We made it as straightforward as it can be, with fewer steps, so that techs can use it and then move on to the next job without inputting a bunch of information that isn’t crucial.” Josh Lofrano from F. Lofrano & Son in San Francisco and Marin County, CA manages one of his family’s shops in San Rafael, CA and has had an opportunity to look at the recovery system prior to hitting the market. He definitely sees a need for the system and anticipates using it on a daily basis. “Finding a system that can help us to get compensated for the PLIOGRIP adhesives that we use is important” Lofrano said. “With four locations, we do a lot of plastic work and in many
ways, measuring the usage of any product is an iffy proposition. Now with this system, we’ll be able to capture more revenue on each plastic repair we do, which will help the bottom line and make us more effective overall.” For shops that are interested in incorporating the PLIOGRIP Material Cost Recovery System into their production, Miller explained how to get it. “It’s free to use, but you have to be either a jobber or a shop customer of PLIOGRIP,” he said. “All of our 75 reps nationwide will have the system on their iPads after June 1st and they can show you how to use it. They’ll set you up with a username and a password and then you can try it out.” Miller thinks it will quickly become the go-to system for body techs from the Big Apple all the way to the City by the Bay, he said. “The PLIOGRIP Material Cost Recovery System will enable shops to make a profit on every plastic repair they perform, which means more money stays in the shop. Every shop owner in the country will appreciate the accuracy, accountability and timesaving qualities of this system.”
LaCIA July Meeting; “Steered” Shops Asked to Report Insurers
The Louisiana Collision Industry Association (LaCIA) will hold their next meeting, which will include a repair class, on July 18 in Baton Rouge, LA. This event is open to all, including office staff and technicians. LaCIA also announced that Matt Parker of Parker Auto Body in West Monroe, who is running for Insurance Commissioner this year, is asking for support from locals in the industry. For information, visit www.mattparkerforlouisiana.com/ LaCIA received a request from the Attorney General’s office asking shops to contact them if they had issues with any insurers regarding short pays, procedure denials, steering, etc. ● File a complaint on their website https://www.ag.state.la.us/Insurance Complaints.aspx ● Contact Stacie Lambert deBlieux Assistant Attorney General Louisiana Department of Justice Public Protection, Antitrust PO Box 94005 Baton Rouge, LA 70804 225.326.6458/deblieuxs@ag.state.la.us ● Contact Randy Ishee at isheer@ag .state.la.us Include info such as audio files, photos, supplement refusals, customer and claims info, insurance details, estimates, vehicle information, etc.
East El Paso, TX, Body Shop Fire Causes $20K in Damages
The El Paso Fire Department responded to a condition three fire at a body shop on the eastside at 6140 Yaqui Way at 6 a.m. on May 27 in TX. According to fire officials, a condition three fire is when heavy smoke and flames can be seen. Heavy smoke was seen com-
Officials responded to a condition three fire at Casa Automotive on May 27. No one was injured
ing from the second floor of Casa Automotive. No one was inside the building at the time, fire spokesman Carlos A. Briano told kfoxtv.com. A total of 14 units and 36 firefighters responded and had the fire under control by 7:07 a.m., Briano told kfoxtv.com. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The structural damage to the property is estimated at $20,000, said Briano.
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Media and Publicity for Shops
Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Body Shop Advertising with Ed Attanasio
You’ve decided to do some advertising—in your local newspaper, radio station, TV or cable station, but are wondering what can you say in your ads without getting into trouble? If your ad is effective, consumers will hopefully see it and/or hear it, but also remember—your competitors will too! Even though you have the best of intentions, if your advertisement is deemed false and misleading, it could become your worst nightmare. Unlawful advertising is one of the most frequently ways why California auto repair shops get into trouble with the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR), leading to civil and criminal penalties, disciplinary action and revocation of your BAR license. The fact that you didn’t know the information in your advertisement was misleading or deceiving is irrelevant. Recently, we sat down with Jack Molodanof, an attorney and lobbyist who has been specializing in automotive legislative, administrative and regulatory law for the last 30 years. He’s considered an expert in California for the automotive repair industry Jack Molodanof is and represents sevan attorney and eral of the largest lobbyist who has been specializing in state-wide automoautomotive legislative repair associative, administrative tions, including the and regulatory law California Autofor the last 30 body Association years and represents body shops and the Automoin numerous cases tive Service Councils of California. Molodanof also serves on the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Advisory Group, which provides input on BAR programs. Below are some of Molodanof's Do’s and Don’ts with regard to automotive repair dealer advertising and how to comply and stay out of trouble. If you don’t dot your I’s and cross your T’s, the penalties for getting caught surely aren’t petty. In fact, the BAR disciplinary guidelines for getting busted for misleading advertising are a minimum penalty of 180 days suspension, two years probation and
the maximum penalty also means that your license is revoked.
Do’s Perform all Services as Advertised. “This seems so obvious but you would be surprised how often it is violated,” Molodanof explained. “You must perform/sell the services/parts in the advertisement as advertised. If you advertise a free service, without charge or at specified price you must perform the service as advertised, otherwise you can be accused of using “bait and switch” tactics. Be sure there are no unstated terms or conditions that qualify the offer. If there are limits, state them clearly and conspicuously. What is important is the overall impression created by the advertisement, not the technical truthfulness of the individual parts. Taken as a whole, the advertisement must fairly inform the ordinary consumer.” Clear and Conspicuous Disclosures. “All ads must accurately, clearly and conspicuously disclose all pertinent information about the services. This includes all conditions and disclaimer statements,” Molodanof said. “If you advertise specific credit terms, you must provide all relevant details, including down payment, terms of repayment, and the annual interest rate. See BAR regulations section 3372.1 (d).Disclosure Statements. “If you know or should have known that the advertised service cannot usually be performed in a good and workmanlike manner without additional parts, services or labor, you must disclose that additional labor, parts or services are often needed, to that extent.” According to BAR guidelines, any such disclosure statement shall indicate that many instances of performance of the service involve extra cost and, if the automotive dealer reasonably expects that the extra cost will be more than 25% of the advertised costs, that the extra cost may be substantial. The type size shall be at least ½ the type size used in the advertised price and the statement shall either be shown near the price or shall prominently footnoted through use of an asterisk or similar reference. See BAR regulations section 3372.1 (d)Include Name & Ad-
42 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
dress. The advertisement must include the auto repair dealer’s name and address as they appear on the BAR registration certificate. See BAR regulations section 3371 (a)Telephone Numbers. If a telephone number appears in an advertisement or on an advertising sign, this number shall be the same number as that listed for the dealer’s firm name and address in the telephone directory or in telephone company records. See BAR regulations section 3371 (b)
Don’ts False & Misleading Advertisements. “Failing to perform, as advertised will get you in trouble,” Molodanof said. “An advertisement that is false or misleading is illegal. An advertisement that fails to disclose information or is unclear may be unlawful if the public is likely to be deceived” Bus & Prof section 17500 Not intending to sell as Advertised: Bait and Switch. “Advertising
goods and services with the intent not to sell them as advertised and then switching them for other goods or services that are at a higher price or on terms more advantageous to the automotive repair shop is unlawful,” Molodanof said. Civil Code 1770 (a) (9). Examples include using a photo that misrepresents the advertised item; showing an item that is not suited for the purposes represented in the advertisement; advertising claims based on flawed research; disparagement of products or services of others; false testimonials or endorsements and false offers for free products, rebates or contests. Mislead the extent of anticipated services. According to BAR, It is unlawful if the advertisement has the capacity to mislead the public as to the extent that anticipated parts; labor or other services are included in the advertised price. See BAR regulations section 3372.1 (b)Mislead as to additional related repairs and services. It is
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also unlawful if the advertisement for service or repair has the capacity to mislead the public as to the need for additional related parts, labor or other services; See BAR regulations section 3372.1 (c). Offering services that cannot be performed at advertised price. It is considered false and misleading if you know or should have known that the advertised service cannot usually be performed in a good and workmanlike manner without additional parts, services or labor. See BAR regulations section 3372.1 (d)Many shops see other shops advertising the claim that they can pay their customers’ deductibles and the main question is— can they do that? “The law about advertising that a shop will cover the customer’s deductible is OK as long as the shop does not deviate from the insurance company accepted estiContinued from Cover
MDL Recommends
Recommendations.” Fry explained that the report and recommendations are not orders. Presnell will have the option to accept the recommendations in whole or in part or completely reject it. “In this instance, Magistrate Judge Smith did issue a number of reports and recommendations on the cases that have been gathered in the MDL,” she explained. In his report, Magistrate Judge Smith wrote, “After due consideration, I respectfully recommend that the motions be granted in part and denied in part, that the complaints in the Pending Cases be dismissed, that the dismissals be without prejudice and with leave to amend except as otherwise stated in this report and recommendations, and that Plaintiffs be afforded 21 days’ leave to file amended complaints.” The recommendations are twotiered and include the federal Sherman Anti-trust claims for price fixing and boycotting as well as the state law causes of action—tortious interference and unjust enrichment—which are unique to each individual state. She said that state law is mainly consistent on these types of claims, but it does vary in regards to the evidence you need to bring forward to succeed. In regards to the claim of quasi estoppel, the judge recommended dismissing it with prejudice, which means
mate,” according to Molodanof. California’s penal code is clear on this topic. A shop may not waive or discount a customer’s deductible if it means the shop will deviate from the insurer company accepted estimate. Except in cases in which the amount of repair has been determined by the insurer and the repair services are performed in accordance with that determination, it is unlawful for a shop to offer or give any discount intended to offset a deductible required by a policy of insurance covering repairs. The law does not prohibit an advertisement for repair at a discount as long as the amount of the repair has been determined by the insurer and the repair is performed in accordance with that determination. See Penal Code section 551 (b).
Be careful when making any promo-
it cannot be refiled. “The court has taken the position that quasi estoppel while it is a legal doctrine is not a cause of action in and of itself,” said Fry. “However, it does not preclude us from using this evidence.” According to the court report, “Defendants argue that the Court should dismiss all of the complaints because Plaintiffs engaged in impermissible group pleading by making collective allegations against ‘Defendants.’ In response, Plaintiffs argue that group pleading is perfectly acceptable, and that when they refer to ‘Defendants’ collectively, they are only alleging that all Defendants engaged in the same conduct.” In each of the cases, the defendants have filed motions to dismiss, the plaintiffs have filed a consolidated response, and the defendants have filed replies. Originally filed in 2014, the Multi District Lawsuit in Florida now involves 18 cases already filed by Eaves Law Firm. Fry said they anticipate filing approximately 17 more after the court has made a final determination regarding the factual detail it requires of a case. “The reports and recommendations that Judge Smith entered were not a surprise to us,” said Fry. “They are extremely consistent with the prior recommendations that were made to Judge Presnell in the six originally filed cases.” These include FL, IN, LA, MS, TN and UT. She said the court’s work with the report and recommendations was very thoughtful. “I actually find them rather encouraging because it gives us an idea
44 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
tional offer, Molodanof warns. “With any free give away, the old adage applies: If it's too good to be true, it usually is. Also the BAR regulators I speak with confirm that one way they investigate shops is to review their auto shop ads, websites, social media, etc. Remember the ads not only attract customers, but they also attract regulators too! The shop could become a target and have a big bull’s eye if the ad falls into one of the don’t categories. Also competitors turn in shops (forward ads to BAR) if they feel the ad is too effective and is taking business from them, so make sure if you offer something free or at a discount, you can back it up.”
false or misleading, it shall be considered in its entirety as it would be read or heard by persons to whom it is designed to appeal. An advertisement, statement, or representation shall be considered to be false or misleading if it tends to deceive the public or impose upon credulous or ignorant persons. See BAR regulations section 3372. If the answer is yes, or if you are in doubt, you better go back to the drawing board and make sure it’s compliant.
What is the Standard to test Advertising Compliance? In determining whether any advertisement, statement, or representation is
Bar regulations refers to California Code of Regulations If you ever have any questions regarding BAR compliance and California automotive repair laws, feel free to contact Jack Molodanof at: 2200 L Street Sacramento, CA 95816; Phone 916-447-0313; e-mail address: jack@ mgrco.org; website www.mgrco.org
of the path the court wants us to follow,” she said. Eaves Law Firm has until June 30 to enter an objection to any part of the report and recommendation and Fry said they plan to file several on specific points. They entered a num-
ber of objections to the previous report and recommendations as well. Fry said that shops should not lose heart about the case. “It is actually moving toward positive ends. There is pretty good movement here and we’re very optimistic.”
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25730 Lorain Rd., North Olmsted, OH 44070 www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 45
Historical Snapshot
—John Yoswick is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, who has a body shop in the family and has been writing about the automotive industry since 1988. He is the editor of the weekly CRASH Network (for a free 4-week trial subscription, visit www.CrashNetwork.com). Contact him by email at jyoswick@SpiritOne.com.
1995 CIC Survey, CARA Files Chapter 11, 2005 Non-OEM Crash Parts, Select Service with John Yoswick
20 years ago in the collision repair industry (July 1995) A [1995] Collision Industry Conference (CIC) survey… found that 70 percent of shop owners, and 83 percent of insurers, are dissatisfied with the way business is practiced between the two industries. The survey results are among the first steps taken by a CIC committee focusing on the “invoicing methods and practices” used within the industry. The committee’s long-range goal is to try to help the repair and insurance industries develop a new method of doing business. At the CIC meeting in San Antonio, committee chairman Scott Biggs described the results of some inter-industry brain-storming about various other methods by which collision repair shops could be compensated for their work by insurers. Biggs pointed out, however, that each of the methods described had potential pitfalls and that no one was proposing them as the “perfect solution.” Among the ideas discussed were: • A “cost-plus” method in which shops are paid for their actual costs in labor and materials plus an agreedupon “mark-up.” This would require the two sides to agree upon what true costs are and what is an appropriate “plus,” Biggs pointed out, and some insurers say this method offers no incentives to shops to keep costs down. • A “real time, real dollars” method, but again, this requires that “real time” be determined, and agreed-upon “real dollar rates” be established. • An “incentive method” in which shops that meet certain requirements (regarding training, equipment, customer satisfaction, etc.) would have their labor rate multiplied by an agreed-upon modifier. Establishing the requirements to receive the incentive could be tricky, CIC participants pointed out; should a shop, for example, receive extra compensation just because they purchased a certain piece of equipment? • A “matrix method” in which a set of flat-rate repair prices are determined and each damaged vehicle is assigned one of these rates based on the type of vehicle, the severity of the damage, the
quality of the repair work, etc. “This one actually got more raised eyebrows than any others because of its simplicity,” Biggs said. But, he said, it would require the industries to work closely to develop the categories, repair standards, etc. – As reported in Bodyshop Connection. Obviously, 20 years later, there’s been little long-term shift toward any of these alternative systems.
15 years ago in the collision repair industry (July 2000) CARA Collision & Glass’ lender…has frozen CARA’s bank accounts, leaving CARA with no cash to operate its business. CARA will be filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. – From a sign posted on the locked doors of 13 shops operated by Minnesota-based CARA Collision & Glass, prior to the liquidation of its assets by its bank, as reported in The Golden Eagle, July 2000. At its peak in the late 1990s, CARA had 26 locations in five states and $40 million in annual revenues. After losing $2 million in 1999, in mid-2000, it locked the doors on its remaining Scott Biggs in 1995 13 shops – leaving customers’ cars inside and 150 employees without their final paychecks – and filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy. CARA founder Randy McPherson (a founding partner of ABRA Auto Body & Glass prior to leaving that company in 1996) blamed the collapse on CARA’s rapid and far-flung growth. His goal, he readily admits, was to capitalize on the late-1990s Wall Street appetite for industry “roll-ups” or consolidators. “I’m not going to spend a nickel on TV (advertising for CARA),” McPherson had said in a 1997 interview. “I’m going to put all that money into valueadded services for insurance companies and their customers.” To that end, CARA offered free rental cars, free pick-up and delivery, and free towing. 10 years ago in the collision repair industry (July 2005) “Digging through my files one day re-
46 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
cently, I came across a fascinating, though discolored document. Right in the beginning of its 62-page report (in 1989), Canada’s Automobile Protection Association (APA) questions the insurance industry’s stated motive for supporting aftermarket crash parts. The idea was that once the OEMs had competition, the price of crash parts would come down, thereby lowering the cost of repairs and, hopefully, what car owners paid for insurance premiums. APA asked the insurance industry for data to support this notion, and got nothing. I asked Jack Gillis, executive director of the Certified Automotive Parts Associaiton, if any data had surfaced since. He concedes he knows of no numbers that make the connection between non-OEM crash parts and consumer savings… Gillis grants the market penetration by non-OEM parts remains so small, even after all of these years, as to have little or no effect on overall repair costs. APA cited data from the Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) that claimed that non-OEM crash parts comprised 10 percent of the market in Canada in 1989. APA’s own research indicated 14 percent. The figure commonly cited today for the United State is 15 percent. If that number sounds familiar, Gillis has been putting it out for years based on the best information he can collect. He admits that it is “accepted by the industry in large part because there is no better data.” – From a column by Tom Slear published in Autobody News, July 2005. The ABPA percentage for the market share of non-OEM parts was probably more correct than either the APA’s or Gillis’ number. The market share for non-OEM parts cited by Mitchell International for 2007 (two years after Slear’s column was written) was 10.5 percent. That has climbed slowly but steadily to 16.5 percent last year, according to Mitchell. The battle over whether this has resulted in lower insurance premiums for consumers continues. Doubters point to a statement by Neal Menefee, CEO of Rockingham Mutual Insurance, who acknowledged at a 2012 Congressional hearing
that he “would not expect premiums to go down as a result” of passage of legislation that would reduce the length of time automakers’ could patent the design of crash parts and stave off nonOEM competition for those parts. But backers of such patent change say Menefee went on to say that while not reducing costs, competition from nonOEM parts helps “avoid a significant increase in the cost of parts and insurance premiums.”
5 years ago in the collision repair industry (July 2010) State Farm “Select Service” shops will now receive a 3-digit number – similar to a credit score—from the insurer based on its measurement of the shop’s performance. The number, on a scale of 1 to 1,000, will be updated monthly and is established using a proprietary formula that takes into account the key performance indicators (KPIs) State Farm uses to track each shop’s performance. Specific KPI data will still also be shared with the shop, according to State Farm’s George Avery, but the new score offers a quick way for a shop to understand how it is doing in terms of State Farm’s measurements. The report also indicates how the shop’s number compares with other shops in the program (even taking into account, Avery said, such things as differences in the types of vehicles repaired), and lists three areas that the shop could focus on to improve its score. Avery said implementing the new score does not signal any new planned reduction in the number of Select Service shops, though the company continues to change the number of shops on the program in some markets based on its capacity needs. – As reported in CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com), July 26, 2010.
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Flooded Vehicles Fill Shops Following Historic El Nino-driven Rainfall in Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska
Flooding near Meyer Park, TX, on May 26. Photo credit: Julia Andrews, Houston Chronicle
The month of May is typically known for its severe weather season in the Plains states—tornadoes, damaging winds and large hailstorms. But this May will be remembered more for its prolific rain and flooding—a series of brief but destructive events spurred by an intensifying El Niño in the Pacific Ocean. The wettest May on record for Texas and Oklahoma is over but the states and their businesses continue to fight the floods. The torrential May rains caused at least 31 deaths since Memorial Day weekend and at least 10 people remain missing. Weather.com’s Jonathan Erdman calculated that the National Weather Service offices across Oklahoma and Texas issued a combined total of 594 flash flood warnings in
the month of May, which was 97 more than all of last year. The National Weather Service in Forth Worth calculated that Texas-wide May rains amounted to over 35 trillion gallons, an amount that would cover the entire state in water eight inches deep. Texas reservoirs alone received 8 million acre-feet of water, enough to meet New York City’s water needs for seven years. Other estimates of Texas rainfall said it was enough to supply the world’s population with drinking water for over 27 years. State Farm, which insures more than 3.5 million vehicles in the state of Texas, received hundreds of calls for damaged, mostly flooded, vehicles across the state. An estimated 90 percent of the claims are for vehicles so badly damaged that they can’t be driven.
Oklahoma also set a new statewide record for wettest month, topping the previous by an unbelievable 3.65 inches. “The rains began the first week of May and by the end of the month the state had seen the most rainfall on record for any month in its history,” writes Gary McManus, the Oklahoma state climatologist. The National Weather Service in Norman, was forced to issue a flash-flood emergency for the first time in the history of the office. Amy Milstead, President of the Spring, TX-based Milstead Group, said phone began ringing around midnight on May 26 when her fleet of 40 tow trucks moved hundreds of vehicles affected by the floods. Milstead Group tows, stores and repairs vehicles. The Auto Doc on Montrose Boulevard also received a lot of calls for tow trucks. The auto repair and maintenance shop had four flooded vehicles dropped off by early afternoon. Owner Dave Skorka said it requires a lot of space to take apart flooded cars and to hang their carpets to dry. He added that it’s important to act quickly, before the car begins to mildew.
Skorka also warned against starting a car that has been flooded. If the car is parked and water rises around it, starting the engine can do more damage. He recommends towing it to a shop and letting a mechanic check it out, reported chron.com. If water gets to the dashboard, that car is basically totaled. Meyerland resident Rachel Weber told chron.com that her vehicle, as well as her husband’s, was completely submerged. Their apartment complex has two levels: at and below street level. They parked in the lower one, which completely filled with water. Their insurance company arranged rental cars, though it was a struggle as most places were either out of cars or had been flooded. Allstate added claims adjusters and other resources to handle the increase in Texas claims for flooded cars and damaged properties, largely caused by wind. Allstate insures more than 300,000 vehicles in Harris County. Farmers was expecting people to file more claims. It sent insurance adSee Flooded Vehicles, Page 62
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www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 47
U.S. Senate Committee Examines EPA’s Proposed Air Quality Standards
On June 3, the Senate Environment and air quality standards (NAAQS) until at to be addressed, the EPA is required to Public Works Committee (EPW) held a least 85 percent of counties that are in review the standards every five years to hearing titled, “Challenges and Implica- nonattainment areas have attained the make sure they are up to date. Despite tions of EPA’s Proposed National Ambient standard. what some of my Republican colleagues Air Quality Standard for Ground-Level Although the committee as a whole may try to claim today, scientists overOzone and Legislative Hearing on S. 638, agreed on the importance of cleaner air, whelmingly agree that EPA needs to S. 751, and S. 640.” the members took a more partisan stance adopt a stricter standard to protect the Currently, the ozone standard rests when it came to the proposal of changing health of the American people, espeat 75 parts per billion (ppb). Under the the standard. cially our children and the elderly. We EPA’s proposed change, the standard Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), have known since 2008 that the current would be between 65 and 70 ozone standard does not proppb. The EPA is now taking vide the necessary health “EPA’s ozone proposal is the most expencomment on an even more agsafeguards.” sive regulation in history with projected gressive standard of 60 ppb. The EPA is expected to During the hearing, commake a final decision on the costs of $1.7 trillion and 1.4 million lost mittee members heard from proposal to update the air jobs,” said Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), quality standards for groundsponsor of S. 638, the Comlevel ozone by November monsense Legislative Exceptional Events committee chairman, said, “EPA’s ozone 2015. For more information, visit Reforms Act (CLEER), and S. 640, the proposal is the most expensive regula- https://www.federalregister.gov/artiOzone Regulatory Delay and Extension tion in history with projected costs of cles/2014/12/ 17/2014-28674/nationalof Assessment Length Act (ORDEAL). $1.7 trillion and 1.4 million lost jobs. Up ambient-air-quality-standards-for-ozone If implemented, the CLEER Act to 67 percent of counties fail to meet the ASA has held meetings with the would amend the Clean Air Act with re- proposed lower standards, which means U.S. EPA at its National Vehicle and spect to an Exceptional Events rule, if this rule goes forward, they will face a Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann while the ORDEAL Act would delay the legacy of EPA regulatory oversight, stiff Arbor, MI, and on Capitol Hill regardreview and revision of the national am- federal penalties, lost highway dollars, ing the proposed new standard. In adbient air quality standards for ozone. restrictions on infrastructure investment dition, ASA has discussed the proposal Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) also ad- and increased costs to businesses.” with state air quality representatives dressed the committee to defend his bill, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), concerning the impact these new stanS. 751, the Clean Air, Strong Economies ranking member, disagreed with the dards could have on state implementaAct (CASE). This bill would prohibit the chairman, and stated, “To ensure the tion plans and vehicle emissions and EPA from lowering its national ambient health impacts of air pollution continue inspection programs.
U.S. House Committee Addresses Auto Cybersecurity
On May 28, a bipartisan group from the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce sent letters to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and 17 automakers requesting information on automotive cybersecurity. The letters inquired about how the industry plans to address the challenges associated with expanding technologies such as in-vehicle Wi-Fi, infotainment systems and smartphone connectivity. They also asked how automakers are working with the federal government to identify and resolve cyber vulnerabilities. The letters expressed optimism about the benefits of emerging technologies, but were realistic about the potential risks. In an excerpt from the letter to NHTSA, committee members stated, “While threats to vehicle technology currently appear isolated and disparate, as the technology becomes more prevalent, so too will the risks associated with it. Threats and vulnerabilities in vehicle systems may be inevitable, but we cannot allow this to undermine the potential benefits of these technologies. The industry and NHTSA have an opportunity to prepare for challenges that advanced vehicle technologies present and to develop strategies to mitigate the risks.”
Ron Perretta to Lead Innovative Coating Training
Ron Perretta teamed up with icoat (Innovative Coatings), which has launched Street Smart, a new series of training modules designed to benefit collision repair professionals. The first training instructed by Perretta was held at icoat’s training facility in Windsor, Ontario, June 16-17. The objective of the two-day course was to provide a comprehensive knowledge of how to use KPIs to establish a culture of continuous improvement in a simple form. Perretta said, “I will show by keeping it simple and knowing what buttons to push, which will allow attendees to only have to watch certain KPIs that will affect the entire process. Keeping it simple causes it to stick.” “We believe our street smart approach of working interdependently with our customers is key to our mutual success,” said Wayne Brady, President of icoat. For more information, contact Wayne Brady at 519-791-6383 or via email to wayne@icoat.ca, or contact Charlie Bathurst at 519-330-2439. Perretta has been operating collision repair facilities for 35 years, and has been training and consulting for the last 16. In-store, classroom or phone coaching are available. To schedule, contact RonPerretta@aol.com.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car is Now CARSTAR’s Preferred Provider CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts, North America’s largest Multi-Shop Operator (MSO) network, selected Enterprise Rent-A-Car as its preferred car rental partner throughout the United States. The Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand is part of the world’s largest car rental
tioned to provide replacement rentals to consumers throughout the country. Through the partnership, CARSTAR is able to leverage Enterprise’s extensive network of neighborhood car rental locations, its low-mileage, well-maintained vehicles and Enterprise’s Automated Rental Management System (ARMS®) applications for customers in need of transportation while their vehicles are being repaired. “Enterprise has partnered with collision repair centers and insurance companies for more than 50 years to help customers whose cars have been damaged or stolen,” said Mary Mahoney, Vice President, Insurance Replacement for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. “Partnerships with organizations like CARSTAR are important to Enterprise’s (l to r) David Byers, CEO of CARSTAR Auto Body Repair success in the replacement rental Experts, Frank LaViola, AVP of Enterprise Holdings, segment and further compleInc., Dan Young, SVP of Insurance Relations, CARSTAR ment our collaborations with inAuto Body Repair Experts, David James, VP of Marketsurance companies. We look ing, CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts, Ernie Laky, forward to strengthening our role VP of Purchasing, CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts within the collision repair indusprovider, and with more than 5,500 try as the preferred car rental partner to the fully staffed airport and neighborhood CARSTAR network and its customers.” CARSTAR, which just celebrated offices located within 15 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population, the En- its 25th anniversary, has repaired more terprise Rent-A-Car network is posi- than 4,000,000 vehicles and delivers a
48 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
repaired vehicle every 30 seconds. With more than 430 independently owned and operated stores across the United States and Canada, it offers a nationwide warranty and 24/7 accident assistance. When an accident occurs, CARSTAR sends the tow truck, contacts the consumer’s insurance company, arranges their rental car and repairs their vehicle. “We are focused on providing the highest level of customer service, and one critical element of that is getting them back on the road to work and their families in a quality rental car,” said David Byers, CEO of CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts. “Partnering with Enterprise Rent-A-Car allows us to provide world-class rental car service to our customers and our store owners.” In addition, CARSTAR will have access to Enterprise’s ARMS® technology, a free online platform that allows collision repair centers to book rental reservations and send vehicle status updates to insurance partners and customers in real-time. ARMS data helps collision repair centers increase operating efficiencies, enhance customer service and streamline communications with insurance companies and customers. Through ARMS, repair centers also can track, measure and forecast labor needs, and generate monthly reports.
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4475 Merle Hay Road · Des Moines IA 50310 www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 49
Industry Veteran Creates “Body Shop of the Future” Using Overseas Technology
After spending 30 years in the industry, Patrick O’Neill, co-owner of BodyShop Revolution and Body Shop Express, was “trying to figure out what to do next, other than retire and play golf.” He had owned eight body shops in AZ and NV, managed others, and worked on running a market and a couple of acquisitions for Caliber Collision. That was when fellow industry veteran, John Parker, introduced him to a new technology that had been transforming body shops overseas, and was ready to make its way to the U.S. These gas catalytic infrared drying robots, created by Green Tech Italy, have made waves in Europe, Australia, and the Middle East for the past eight years. “Europe is like 15 years ahead of the U.S. when it comes to meeting the demands insurers can put on a company, not to mention competing with insurance-owned collision networks. Body shops were forced to be as efficient as they could be,” said O’Neill. “The average shop in England makes one percent net, and a number of the networks are owned by insurance companies.” He added that shops that operate with the technology and process
Bodyshop Revolution offers in the European market make 10 percent plus in comparison. A handful of shops in the U.S. have taken advantage of this new technology since O’Neill and Parker obtained equal shares of North America distribution rights one year ago. When paired with the duo’s “Theory of Constraints” process for body shops, it becomes BodyShop Revolution. “We were able to easily integrate the Green Tech curing technology into our process,” stated Dan Sjolseth of Superior Service Center in Apple Valley and Eagan, MN. “It has allowed us to work more continuously during the repair and priming process, and we can begin reassembling the vehicle for same day delivery immediately upon exit from the paint booth. The equipment has not only impacted our throughput, but has actually removed quality concerns commonly associated with high production processes.” “The Theory of Constraints process requires a lot of discipline to implement, but it works,” said Darrell Amberson, president of operations at LaMettry’s Collision, with eight locations in MN. “The trainers are competent and effective,
U.S. House Subcommittee Addresses Aging Postal Fleet and Efficiency of Government Repair Facilities The U.S. House Subcommittee on Government Operations under the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing May 21 on “Issues Facing Civilian and Postal Service Vehicle Fleet Procurement.” During the hearing, the subcommittee heard from representatives from the General Services Administration, U.S. Government Accountability Office, United States Postal Service (USPS) and NAFA Fleet Management Association. During the hearing, members addressed the issues of vehicle maintenance and repairs. U.S. Postal Service Chief Financial Officer Joseph Corbett responded to the subcommittee that of the $700 million vehicle repair costs per year at the USPS, $200 million is outsourced to private facilities and $500 million in repairs are made by the USPS. Corbett estimated that there are approximately 500 USPS vehicle maintenance facilities in the United States. Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) suggested that the USPS consider the potential cost savings of closing hundreds of federal government vehicle maintenance facili-
ties and outsourcing vehicle repairs to the private sector. Carter said, “I was a mayor at one time, and I had to manage fleets of vehicles similar to the postal fleet. We used best practices and found that sometimes it was more cost-efficient to go to the private sector to have maintenance and repairs done on our vehicles. The USPS, especially in their current fiscal situation, must also be responsible stewards of the dollar and ensure the repairs on their fleet are done in the most cost-efficient way.” The USPS was asked to report back to the committee with a response to concerns about federal government vehicle maintenance facilities. Donny Seyfer, ASA Chairman, said, “We appreciate Rep. Carter’s willingness to speak out on behalf of automotive repair shop owners across the country. Small businesses should not have to compete with the federal government. There are thousands of privately owned vehicle repair facilities across America that can make these repairs in a competitive, cost-efficient, professional environment.”
50 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
which helped make the transition easier.” O’Neill stressed that the technology itself is not enough to ensure profit. “It doesn’t make a difference if I can dry 100 cars super fast if I’m just throwing them into a chaotic environment,” he said. “I’m an advocate for the Theory of Constraints, which can be applied to any business. Essentially, it’s about taking a holistic approach to new technology— how can we process cars so we have no lines and we are able to work nonstop?” O’Neill said, “If there are eight technicians in the shop, then there are eight cars being worked on. When the technician’s vehicle is in the paint booth, we won’t give that technician a new car because it would disturb the process. While the car is being painted, the technician can take that time to check repair procedures, identify a welder, figure out what type of high-strength steal will be used, and check the estimate. If there is still time left after all that, they can help another technician get one more car out.” As O’Neill and Parker travelled throughout the country, making multiple trips to each shop to spread the word about BodyShop Revolution, they began to realize there had to be a
more effective way to really show the owners how the process works. That’s when O’Neill decided to build a model shop—Body Shop Express in San Diego, CA—so shop owners can see first-hand how BodyShop Revolution can enhance their business. A built-in camera system will allow O’Neill and Parker to access the facilities remotely while giving presentations. Body Shop Express, located in San Diego, CA, is scheduled to open the week of June 29. O’Neill said the shop will be on the road to I-CAR Gold certification when they open and will also be certified to work on the new Ford F-150. He is also working with a handful of OEMs toward certifications, as well as Assured Performance. O’Neill disclosed that Body Shop Express will have a couple DRPs to start, and several other are interested. “Bodyshop Revolution gives insurance partners metrics they have never seen before, and in the process, it not only gives employees their sanity back, but ultimately their lives back,” said O’Neill. “We give our team members the ability, once and for all, to make our insurance partners say, ‘we want more of this.’
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Redesigned Automotive Lift Institute Website Houses Certified Lift and Inspector Directories
The Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) launched a completely redesigned website on June 1 at www.autolift.org. The new site brings together information lift buyers, owners and users need, including: ● The official directory of every ALI certified car, truck and vehicle lift, including certified accessories. ● An exclusive directory of ALI Certified Lift Inspectors searchable by ZIP or postal code. ● A list of leading North American lift manufacturers with contact information and website links. ● Access to lift safety standards and materials, including online training. ● Information on purchasing a lift, including FAQs, explanations of lift types and facts about codes and regulations affecting the purchase and installation of vehicle lifts across North America. ● Buyer beware warnings about false or misleading lift claims.
“As the trade association for the North American vehicle lift industry, it is our mission to promote the safe design, construction, installation, service, inspection and use of automotive lifts,” said R.W. “Bob” O’Gorman, ALI President. “Our new website was built from scratch to further that mission. By
redesigning the site to be more modern and user-friendly, we have made it as easy as possible for anyone with an interest in vehicle lifts to find the information they need to make smart choices. The website features all-new copy, photographs and navigation.”
ANSI/ALI ALCTV (current edition) “Safety Requirements for the Construction, Testing and Validation of Automotive Lifts” standard. If a lift is not listed, it’s not certified. Because lift testing and certification is generally voluntary for manufacturers, lift customers
The Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) website, www.autolift.org, has been redesigned to serve as a user-friendly resource for all important vehicle lift information
As part of the redesign, ALI brought control of its Directory of Certified Lifts in-house and redeveloped it at the same time as the rest of the site. The Directory of Certified Lifts lists every automotive/truck/vehicle lift that is certified to meet the
must take charge of their own safety by tbuying only lifts that have been thirdparty tested and ALI certified. The new Directory of Certified Lifts can be browsed by lift type or searched by lift type, manufacturer, brand, model number and/or load rat-
ing. Each listing includes the lift’s specifications, certification date and manufacturer’s contact information. For lifts with certified accessories, the accessories are defined in the listing, including model number, description and rated capacity (if applicable). Listings may also include notes and a picture of the lift. One new feature of the ALI website is the ALI History section. Set up in a timeline format, the page takes readers from the Institute’s founding in 1945 through its near demise in the mid-1970s, its rejuvenation in the 1980s, and its lift-safety-focused activities in the 1990s through present. The timeline also calls out notable events in the Institute’s past, such as the extension of membership to Canadian manufacturers in 1983 and Aug. 5, 2012, when ALI was the primary partner on the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Ford Fusion driven by Aric Almirola in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pennsylvania 400. To learn more about ALI, visit www .autolift.org or call (607) 7567775. You can also connect with ALI on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LiftInstitute, on Twitter at www.twitter.com /LiftInstitute, and on YouTube at www .youtube.com/LiftInstitute.
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Hey Toby!
Toby Chess is an I-CAR program instructor, Training specialist, and former salvage yard operator. Toby is universally known in the collision industry for his work with first responders and advocacy for body shops and consumers. He can be reached at tcspeedster@gmail.com
A Closer Look at New Generation of Pulsed Aluminum MIG Welders with Toby Chess
The 2015 All Aluminum Ford F150 has brought a whole new interest in aluminum repair to the main stream of collision repair. One area of that has exploded in the welding process on aluminum. I-CAR has changed its WCA 03 test to reflect this change. There are a whole new generation of Aluminum MIG welders on the market today. What I would like to discuss is what is new about these welders and take a closer look at them, but first, I think we need to have a little better understanding of the aluminum and the welding process. Before moving to the welding process, lets look at some of the important properties of aluminum as compared with steel. The typical weld characteristics of steel or stainless don’t apply when mig welding aluminum. Aluminum has higher thermal conductivity and lower melting temperatures, both factors will influence weld solidification, weld burn through potential and warpage problems. Aluminum is three times lighter than steel and yet can offer 30 percent higher strength when alloyed. Aluminum can conduct electricity six times better than steel. Aluminum has a thermal conductivity rate five times higher than steel. The high thermal conductivity creates a great heat sink which can create insufficient weld fusion on parts over 4 mm and weld burn through issues on parts less than 3 mm. Aluminum has a low melting point 1,200 degrees F, this is more than half that of steel. Aluminum provides excellent corrosion resistance due to the formation of aluminum oxide. Bare aluminum will oxidize when oxygen and moisture are present and acts like a sponge can readily trap moisture, oil, grease and other materials. The aluminum oxide layer provides excellent corrosion resistance, however this is a layer that must be removed for optimum weld quality. Due to its higher melting point (3700 degrees F) the oxide layer if not removed can decrease the weld fusion. The oxide layer is removed during the weld with the fore hand (push) technique (See Fig. 1). During the forehand weld travel, the gas molecules in the arc plasma collide with the oxide surface
moving the oxides. The oxides are also disrupted through mechanical cleaning (80 grit DA at low speeds or finer), wire brushing (needs to be a stainless steel brush to prevent galvanic corrosion), solvents and chemical etching.
Fig. 1. Push MIG welding
It should be noted that the gun angle is 5-15 degrees from vertical (See Fig. 2).
minum. The aluminum is liquefied and poured into a mold and when it has cooled, it is machined. All OEM that use cast aluminum on their vehicles, state if damaged or cracked, that the part is replaced. In series 7 aluminum, the major alloying element is zinc and this material is used for bumper reinforcements. Aluminum bumper reinforcements, when damaged are replaced and not repaired. The aluminum that is found on vehicles that can be repaired and welded, will be either series 5 or series 6 aluminum. The next item that we need to look at is the welding wire.
(l to r) Fig. 4 and Fig. 5.
Fig. 2
Aluminum in its purest form is very soft. To add strength to the aluminum, elements are added to change the physical properties of the Aluminum. All aluminum is designated by a 4 digit number and the first digit (Series 1-9) will represent what series of aluminum that is being mentioned. In the automobile construction, 4 different series of aluminum can be used, which are Series 4,Series 5, Series 6 and Series 7. The major alloying element in series 4, is silicon, 5 is magnesium, 6 is a combination of silicon and magnesium and 7 is zinc. Series 4 aluminum is cast (See Fig. 3) Alu-
There are three major filler wires, 4043, 5356 and 5554 (recommended wire for the Ford F150 (See Figs. 4 & 5) used to weld aluminum. Some manufacturers, such Tesla, use a different 5 series wire that was mentioned earlier. Series 4 wire compared to Series 5 wire are as follows: Softer material, melts at a lower temperature, smoother weld surface, less shear strength, cleaner and prone to less cracking. Look at the next 2 pictures (Figs. 6 & 7).
Fig. 6
Fig. 3
52 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
(Fig. 6) looks like an excellent weld, but when I did a destructive test, you will notice that the upper coupon has no tear out or no penetration. In other words, no fusion between the wire
and base metal. A rule of thumb- ‘the welding wire needs the same the same major alloying element as the base metal’. In the above example series 5 aluminum (major alloying element in Magnesium) and 4043 wire (major alloying element is Silicon) do not mix. You will note the black soot around the weld which is a combination of aluminum and magnesium alloys. These alloys combine with oxygen to form aluminum oxide, which is black in color. Expect more soot from higher magnesium alloys. For example the common 5356 filler metal can provide more soot than E4043 filler metal and excess soot is usually an indication of weld porosity issues. One way to control the formation of aluminum oxide in the weld, is to increase the CFH (cubic feet per hour) of the gas. When welding aluminum, we will use 100 percent Argon with a purity factor of 4.6. This is the recommended shielding gas for the Ford F150. There are other shielding gases that can be used on aluminum such as a mixture of Argon and Helium or 100 percent Helium, but these shielding gases are for welding thicker aluminum that is not found on the Ford F150. The flow rate for welding aluminum is 25 CFH to 50 CFH. When pushing the puddle, the shielding gas acts like a snow plow to push out the oxides that are forming in the weld. A couple of other important items when welding aluminum are as follows: a longer stick out when compared to steel, slower travel speed and no weaving of the gun. There are a few other terms that need to be dis-
Fig. 7
cussed, which are Pulsed Welders, synergic, hot start and crater fill. Let’s look at pulsed welding. Miller Electric describes pulsed welding as follows”
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Testing Aluminum Welding Capabilities
I spoke with Kye Yeung from European Motor Car Works, Ken Boylan from Chief Automotive about the idea of bringing all the Pulsed MIG Welder together. Both agreed with the idea and I sent out invites to seven of the welder manufacturers. Tom Williamson, the owner of Marina Autobody furnished his aluminum bay for the demo, along with a great lunch. I contacted Steve Morris, Director of Operations for Pride Autobody about sending one of his certified aluminum technicians and he sent Ara Guekguezian. Casey Breeden, Southern California Region Manager for Miller Electric furnished all the welding gear. Craig Oliveira, Regional Manager of Kent Automotive, sponsored the rest of the event.
quired on the updated I-CAR Aluminum Certification Test, which is a butt weld with backer using 1MM coupons. Being a real this material, really put these welders to the test. I will mentioned that all the machines were able to perform the weld within the parameters for a successful pass.
Pulsed MIG works well with both thin and thick sections because it is a modified spray transfer process. The welder switches between a high peak current and a low background current 30 to 400 times per second (see Fig. 2).The peak current pinches off a spray transfer droplet and propels it toward the weldment. The background current maintains the arc, but the heat input is too low for metal transfer to occur.
The peak current pulse ensures good fusion, overcoming concerns related to cold lap, a common issue with short circuit MIG on aluminum. It also provides faster travel speeds, which improves productivity. The background current lowers overall heat input (See Fig. 3), addressing the burn-through and warping issues commonly associated with spray transfer MIG. To understand pulsed welding
Fig. 8. The welding circuit consists essentially of the following elements: Taken from www.mechanicalinfo.wordpress.com
Casey Breeden from Miller Electric
The welders from left to right are Car-OLiner, Elecktron, GYS, Fronius, Miller, Prospot International (3 models) and Wielander & Schill
Each manufacturer went through the set up, features and controls for the respective machines with Ara prior to him starting the welds.
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The welding test that Ara performed was the new weld that is re-
The backside of the weld with Prospot SP5 Welder. Pictured with Ara, Ashley Olsson and Bob Pluth
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look at (Fig. 8). When you are using a standard MIG welder, the process is known as short arc transfer. What happens is the electrode wire which is positive, touches the metal surface, which is negative, causing a shorting of the circuit which inturn produces heat that melts the electrode wire. In simple terms, pulsed MIG is a non-contact transfer method between the electrode and the weld puddle. This means that at no time does the electrode ever touch the puddle, which happened is short transfer welding. This is done through ahigh-speed manipulation of the electrical output of the welding machine. It is designed to be a spatterless process that will run at a lower heat input than spray or globular transfer methods. “The pulsed works by forming one droplet of molten metal at the end of the electrode per pulse. Then, just the right amount of current is added to push that one droplet across the arc and into the puddle. The transfer of these droplets occurs through the arc, one droplet per pulse” (Quote is from Lincoln Electrics web site). The next term you will hear and read about is “synergic” I started to do research on syneric pulsed welding, and I immediately re-
alized that I needed an advanced degree in engineering, which ain’t going to happen at my age. So here it goes. There are four parameters that need to be set to perform form a good weld. They are voltage, wire speed, pulse frequency and background current (The background current maintains the arc, but the heat input is too low for metal transfer to occur). Engineers were able to determine the optimum size of the droplet for a particular wire size. Furthermore, they could determine the peak current to dislodge the droplet from the wire. Next, add in a computer with a program that can change the fre-
Fig. 9
quency of the electricity, and you get a synergic pulsed welder. What does that
NACE | CARS Makes 2014 TSNN Top 250 Trade Show List The NACE | CARS conference and exposition made the Trade Show News Network (TSNN) Top 250 US Trade Show list of 2014. The list was released last month, compiled from show management and data supplied to TSNN. It represents the top 250 trade shows in the United States last year, ranked by net square footage. The 2014 show broke previous records with 180 exhibitors and 8,497 attendees with the event spanning over 61,190 net square feet. NACE | CARS, now in its 33rd year, is the largest, longest-running North American event serving the automotive service and repair industries. NACE | CARS 2015 will take place at the same location July 21 -25. The show is expected to expand even further this year, featuring an Expo double the size of 2014. Training and education opportunities have expanded, as well, with a level of OEM training that is unmatched by any other event. Additionally, Industry Week is back with over a dozen colocated events. No other event brings all facets of the automotive industry together like NACE | CARS. Targeting business owners, management and technicians, this conference & exposition
brings together all market segments for the latest and most comprehensive repair solutions, services, education, products and technology. NACE | CARS is the best source of industry education & training, networking and world-class exhibits for all segments of the automotive service and repair industry. The full Top 250 Trade Show list can be found on the TSNN website at http://www.tsnn.com/toplists-us.
More information about NACE | CARS 2015 can be found at www.NACE expo.com or www.CARSevent.com. For those interested in exhibiting, space is still available but moving fast. Contact Robert Martin at robertm @stonefortgroup.com, Jason Anawaty at jason@stonefortgroup .com, or Joe Warring at joew@stonefortgroup.com.
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mean? In layman terms, all you need is to set the metal thickness and tell the computer what wire size and diameter that is being used and welder will produce a steady and consistent droplet size that will be transferred to the base metal. In other words, the welding technician does not have to set any of the critical parameters to obtain a good weld. The next item that I want to discuss is a cold start when welding aluminum. Please look at (Fig. 9) before proceeding to on. When welding aluminum the base metal needs to be hot for the welding wire to fuse to it. If you look at the blow up of the beginning of the weld, you will notice that wire is sitting on top of the base metal. A cold start is a weak point in the weld. In the past to prevent a cold start, you could hold the gun a little longer at the start before proceeding on with you weld. Another way to prevent a cold start is known as tailing in. The weld in started off the joint (usually perpendicular to weld joint) and by the time is gets to the joint, there is sufficient heat to pro-
ceed up the joint with the weld. The welding machines that I will be looking at all have a hot start feature, In other words, the machines throw a higher amount of amperage at the beginning of the weld to heat up the aluminum quickly. Moving on, we will look at craters. (See Fig. 10).
Fig. 10
A characteristic of aluminum as I previously mentioned is its high expansion and contraction rate. When the weld is finished, the weld bead will shrink, which intun leads to a crater forming at the end of the weld. Furthermore, the crater being a weak spot can lead to crack formation in the crater. One method to eliminate the crater is backfill it before stopping the weld. Again all the new machines that I compared had a crater fill option (more on this later).
PPG Industries Foundation Awards Student Scholarships through CREF The PPG Industries Foundation, working with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), recently awarded scholarships to four students who have demonstrated a career interest in automotive repair and refinish. The scholarships, $5,000 each, are awarded annually to fulltime students attending a post-secondary school with a focus or degree program in collision repair. The funds may be used to assist the students with educational expenses such as tuition, books, tools and equipment. The winners of the 2015 PPG Foundation Scholarships are Chris Cranford (Pulaski Tech, Little Rock, AK.); Marly Luna (Lincoln College of Technology, Denver, CO.); Eric Piper (Highland Community College, Freeport, IL.); and Aaron Rollins (Universal Technical Institute, Houston, TX). In addition, money was raised for the PPG MVP Industry Student Scholarship Fund during PPG’s 2014 Fall MVP Business Solutions Conference in Nashville, TN. The fund was able to award a $990 scholarship to Jessica Hedgecock (Manhattan Area Tech College,
Manhattan, KS.). “Through PPG Automotive Refinish and the PPG Foundation, we continue to work closely with the Collision Repair Education Foundation to support future professionals and develop the educational facilities the collision industry requires,” said Domenic Brusco, PPG senior manager, industry relations and treasurer of CREF. “By taking an active role in the education of collision repair and refinish students across the country, we help grow a workforce to meet the demand for highly competent technicians amid ever-evolving technology. We congratulate our 2015 scholarship recipients.” Industry members interested in working with CREF to support secondary and post-secondary collision repair students, instructors and school programs should contact Brandon Eckenrode, director of development, at (847) 463-5244 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.
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ASA Congratulates AudaExplore on Feather, Prime, Block Estimating Solution The Automotive Service Association (ASA) applauded AudaExplore on its creation of the industry’s first estimating software solution for Feather, Prime and Block (FP&B). Whenever a panel is repaired and a user-judgment time is entered, the new feature will allow an estimator the option of allocating some of the repair
ing industry issue. They are truly pioneers and committed to helping repairers and insurers accurately document and estimate the necessary steps, as well as cost, to properly repair a vehicle,” said Dan Risley, ASA President/Executive Director. “We appreciate AudaExplore’s willingness to tackle this issue and provide tools to better assist every-
time to a new labor operation—Feather, Prime and Block—that will calculate as Refinish Labor (Rate Code 4). AudaExplore has also created a new material calculation to address Feather, Prime and Block. This will operate in much the same way as Paint and Materials, as it will be a user-entered dollar value that will act as a multiplier for all FP&B hours in the estimate. “AudaExplore has taken a significant step to help address a long-stand-
one who prepares or negotiates an estimate. An industry with less friction is a more efficient one. Today, there is a little less friction.” According to AudaExplore, all of this information will be clearly displayed on the estimate as line items, as well as in the summary at the bottom of the estimate. The use of the Feather, Prime and Block feature is configurable at the discretion of the user. The industry has recognized Feather, Prime and Block as a refin-
“We appreciate AudaExplore’s willingness to tackle this issue and provide tools to better assist everyone who prepares or negotiates an estimate. An industry with less friction is a more efficient one,” said Dan Risley
CCC Information Services and CREF Announce Winners of Annual Scholarship
The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) and CCC Information Services Inc., announced four student winners of the CCC Michael Salvatore Memorial Student Repair Technician Scholarship. The CCC scholarship program has been in place since 2006. The CCC Michael Salvatore Memorial Student Repair Technician
● Silky Wheeler (Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock, NC) “CCC congratulates these students on their academic achievements and we’re proud to support them in their collision repair education and training,” said Joseph Allen, GM of CCC’s Automotive Services Group. “As new technologies continue to drive vehicle design and repairability,
“CCC congratulates these students on their academic achievements and we’re proud to support them in their collision repair education and training,” said Joseph Allen
Scholarship awards scholarships to students currently enrolled in a repair program and who have demonstrated superior academic achievement.
The 2015 winners include:
Top Scholarship Recipient ● Sylvanah Wolff (Cerritos College, Norwalk, CA)
Additional Scholarship Recipients ● Chris Kelly (Hawaii Community College, Hilo, HI)
● Matthew Miller (Lake Technical College, Eustis, FL)
hands-on education has become even more critical. We wish these students well and look forward to having them in the industry in the years to come.” For additional information about CCC Information Services visit www .cccis.com. Industry members interested in working together with the Collision Repair Education Foundation in supporting secondary and post-secondary collision repair students, instructors, and their school programs should contact Director of Development, Brandon Eckenrode at 847.463.5244 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation .org.
58 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
ish operation necessary to perform quality repairs through the Collision Industry Conference. However, two collision repair summits and multiple shop-user focus groups held by AudaExplore within the past 14 months have clearly indicated that FP&B remains an industry concern. This feature will help repairers to properly allocate labor resources within their shops and the materials need to be clearly addressed. In some states, regulations stipulate that FP&B labor has to be delineated as a refinish operation. “We are very pleased that AudaExplore is the first provider to address this important issue and has created a software solution for the industry,” said Risley. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA’s legislative website at www.TakingThe Hill.com
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The Carlyle Group Closes Acquisition of NARS
Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group announced on June 4 that it has completed the acquisition of Nationwide Accident Repair Services PLC (NARS), a provider of automotive crash repair and accident administration services to the UK automotive insurance industry. Following approval by the High Court of Justice of England and Wales, NARS has made an application to the London Stock Exchange for the cancellation of the admission to trading on AIM of, and cessation of dealings in, NARS Shares. Equity for the investment will come from Carlyle Strategic Partners III, a global special situations and corporate opportunities fund. With accident repair centres located throughout the United Kingdom, NARS is the largest dedicated provider of accident repair services in the UK and has relationships with a number of motor insurers. It also provides its services to fleet operators. Ian Jackson, Managing Director and Co-Head of Carlyle Strategic Partners, said, “Our extensive experience in working with businesses in this sector, including the Service King repair business in the US, means we are well placed to support management.”
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Valspar Plans to Strengthen Quest’s Brands After Acquiring Their Performance Coatings Businesses by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor
Soon after The Valspar Corporation announced in May that it had reached an agreement to acquire the performance coatings businesses of Quest Specialty Chemicals, the company began discussing plans to integrate the auto-
motive product line within the Valspar automotive division. When Autobody News spoke to Florian Girthofer, Valspar’s VP of Channel Strategy, he had just participated in a global town hall meeting with employees about the recent announcement. He said the news has been received extremely well. “We are not planning on any immediate changes. Naturally, it’s a bit of an evolutionary process that we want to take here,” said Girthofer. “What will very clearly remain, however, are the quality brands that we have acquired. You can fully expect to see them more prominent in the future
than today in their form.” Quest’s performance coatings businesses include automotive refinish and industrial coatings. In 2014, com-
under three brands: Matrix, Prospray and USC. Quest Industrial Products serves the professional and consumer markets with
bined sales of the two were approximately $190 million. Quest Automotive Products formulates, manufactures and distributes advanced technology paints, coatings systems and accessories to refinishers, primarily in North America and Europe
aerosol spray products and highly-specified coatings for industrial applications under the Patriot, Raabe and Precision Color brands, mainly in North America. In the fall of 2014, Valspar learned that Quest was going to be sold. “It was a fantastic opportunity for us,” said
Girthofer, who has worked for Valspar since November 2013. “We’re at the point where we can bring both companies together and really look forward to being a much stronger market participant.” Girthofer said the organizations will work side by side until he and his team have had time to really understand Quest’s businesses and its products, and have developed a clear plan to communicate to customers. “I think we have everything that independent body shops and MSOs are requiring in today’s environment to be a top supplier of automotive refinish coatings.” “The acquisition strengthens Valspar’s value proposition in automotive refinish,” said Gary Hendrickson, Valspar’s Chairman and CEO, in a statement. “Our customers will benefit from expanded distribution of a portfolio of preferred brands they know and trust, a broader range of high-performance products and a stronger service network. We are pleased to welcome the Quest team to the Valspar family to help deliver these benefits to our customers.” Valspar’s brands include DeBeer Refinish, Octoral, Valspar Refinish and House of Kolor. The transaction closed on June 1. Financial terms were not disclosed.
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WISCONSIN Hall Volkswagen Brookfield
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www.autobodynews.com | JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS 59
GM Reaffirms Commitment to Launching MyPriceLink
GM announced on May 12 that the company is still committed to its collision parts initiative, MyPriceLink. MyPriceLink is a free automated “real time” pricing program devel-
oped by GM that provides Genuine GM collision parts to the market that are priced up-front during the initial repair estimate. In November 2014, GM announced the implementation of MyPriceLink. A week later, the company delayed the launch based on industry feedback and said it was going to work on enhancing and streamlining the workflow for all collision industry partners. Since then, the company has gained feedback from industry players including the GM Dealer Network, information providers, dealer management systems, independent
body shops, collision associations and insurance providers. In addition, GM has been working with industry estimating suppliers such as AudaExplore, CCC Information Services and Mitchell International to integrate with MyPriceLink. In the interim, GM has continued to publish list prices for collision parts. The company said the next step prior to launching the product is a market test planned at various locations this summer. “We are taking this step to ensure MyPriceLink, when launched, will be an integrated technology solution that the collision industry will be able to use with minimal disruption to their existing workflow,” GM said in a press release. “GM appreciates the industry interest and support MyPriceLink has received and looks forward to announcing the official industry launch of MyPriceLink in the near future,” the company added. “GM is committed to improving and streamlining processes that allow us to provide our customers with original parts, ensuring proper fit, function, safety and appearance, and returning their vehicle to pre-accident condition.”
NACE | CARS to Support Breast Cancer Programs
The NACE | CARS conference is proud to announce its involvement in fundraising to support local breast cancer programs in Detroit and national research. 100% of the proceeds will benefit the local and global breast cancer movement. Susan G. Komen Detroit Race for the Cure representatives will be in attendance in the afternoon on Friday, July 24th to provide breast health education and accept a donation on behalf of NACE | CARS and the automotive industry. The program will be addressed during the opening session, and special NACE | CARS commemorative pins are being produced for the show to help raise awareness. The Automotive Service Association (ASA), the owner and host organization of NACE | CARS, has committed to match up to $5,000 based upon the number of pins sold. Some companies are already planning to incorporate the color pink in the show attire for their booth staff, while others have committed to financial support through matching gift programs. As those companies come forth, ASA will issue press releases to acknowledge their support and contribution.
The cause hits close to home for many involved in NACE | CARS. With so many companies and people coming together for industry training, education, and networking, it creates an opportunity to raise awareness and support. Dan Risley, ASA president and executive director, explained, “Virtually everyone in the automotive industry has a friend or family member that has been negatively impacted by this disease. My family is no different, having lost one family member (JK) and another (KL) is courageously battling. Immediately preceding our decision to support local breast cancer awareness efforts, a friend of mine (TC) in the industry was diagnosed. It’s times like these that many of us don’t know how to help. This is one way I know that we can.” If you or your company is interested in making a large donation and/or in purchasing pins for your staff or customers, you can contact Dan Risley directly at danr@asashop .org. Pins will be sold throughout the show at the convention center.
www.autobodynews.com
60 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
CHECK IT OUT!
ASA Survey Measures OEM Service Info Website Usage
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is conducting a survey on the usage of OEM service information websites by independent automotive service and repair shops. “On behalf of NASTF, ASA is conducting this survey to help the industry understand better how the industry utilizes and finds service information,” said Donny Seyfer, ASA chairman and coowner of Seyfer Automotive in Wheat Ridge, Colo. “We hope that everyone who repairs cars will take two minutes and complete the survey.” The survey asks 11 simple questions and is available at https:// www.surveymonkey.com/s/JNZSGCV. Survey results will be shared at a later date in AutoInc. magazine, ASA’s official publication. ASA hopes to gather all results by July 1. To become a member of ASA, visit www.ASAshop.org or call (817) 514-2900. For additional information about ASA, including past media releases, go to www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA’s legislative website at www.TakingThe Hill.com.
New Martin Senour’s PCC® 2.8 VOC Factory Packaged Colors
The Martin Senour Company has launched its new PCC® Premium Commercial Coatings 2.8 VOC Factory Packaged Colors (FPC). The urethane single stage products are designed for overall refinishing on a variety of fleet, commercial equipment and industrial applications. Martin Senour representatives said that the PCC285 series delivers notable dry times and gloss content while meeting 2.8 VOC regulations. Available in 10 popular factory packaged colors, Martin Senour reps added that they are easy to apply, easy to mix, and feature a simple 4:1 reduction ratio. The PCC285 series can also be used for multiple types of industrial and commercial applications such as construction machinery, farm equipment and fleet vehicles. For more information regarding Martin Senour or its paint products, visit the new website at www.martin senour-autopaint.com or call 1-800526-6704.
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Continued from Page 47
Flooded Vehicles
justers from around the country to Texas to expedite the process, reported chron.com. To speed up the claims process, Farmers spokeswoman Carrie Bonney recommended filing a claim as soon as possible while Farmers has extra adjusters in Texas. According to the U.S. National Climate Assessment, days of heavy rainfall are becoming more frequent across the country, and the amount of rain that’s falling in the heaviest events is on the rise, as well. The connection between a warm-
ing world and an increase in extreme rainfall events — the kind you only see every 10 or more years — is rooted in rudimentary atmospheric science. As air temperature increases, it can “hold” more water vapor. This means that, even if global weather patterns and the driving force behind storms doesn’t change, it’s more likely we will see more heavy precipitation events, whether it be midlatitude cyclones in the spring, hurricanes in the summer or even snowy winter storms. “Nearly all studies to date published in the peer-reviewed literature agree that extreme precipitation event number and intensity have risen, when averaged over the United States,” the National Climate Assessment states.
Steck Releases Soft Strike General Purpose Dolly Cover Steck Manufacturing Company has released another tool kit. Installing aluminum door skins requires hammer and dolly for corners and body lines. Soft Strike General Purpose Dolly Cover is made from Buna rubber for a steel dolly to allow a transition from working body tools on steel to aluminum without the worry of cross contamination and galvanic corrosion. The company said it will reduce the investment in redundant body tools by applying the red rubber removable cover to the tool, enabling work on aluminum with no worry of galvanic corrosion. The Soft Strike General Purpose Dolly Cover can also be paired with their Soft Strike 4 Piece Aluminum Conversion Kit (Part # 35000) and Soft Strike Hard Cap Cover for Body Ham-
mer (Part # 35025) to allow you to repair the vehicle after you see the contour of the dam Soft Strike General Purpose Dolly Cover is made from Buna rubber for your steel dolly to allow you to easily transition from working body tools on steel to aluminum without the worry of cross contamination and galvanic corrosion. Reduce your investment in redundant body tools by applying our red rubber removable cover to the tool that you already own giving you the ability to work on aluminum with no worry of galvanic corrosion. The Soft Strike General Purpose Dolly Cover also eliminates the problem of a rubber dolly not being heavy enough to work effectively by allowing you to add the cover to an existing steel dolly. Visit www.steckmfg.com
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64 JULY 2015 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com