Northeastern Edition New York Delaware New Jersey Pennsylvania
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Class Action Against Progressive Settled in MA Two Springfield, MA, law firms have settled a federal class-action lawsuit against Progressive Insurance that has the potential to see a payment of more than $8 million to 4,300 Massachusetts residents in an ongoing dispute over auto insurance coverage. The two firms, Alekman DiTusa LLC and Connor, Morneau and Olin LLC, filed suit against Progressive Direct Insurance Company, claiming that between 2008 and 2010, the insurance company deceptively had customers agree to an $8,000 deductible for injury claims resulting from car accidents. Ryan Alekman said the settlement, agreed to January 29, brings to
an end a four-year dispute affecting 4,311 people in Massachusetts. Each of the people listed in the suit, named “Wanda Estrada, et al v. Progressive Direct Insurance Company,” is eligible for a payment of $1,875 provided they filed by the end of last month. If all of the claims are filed, the payout by Progressive will be $8.08 million. In addition to the money for claims, Progressive also agreed to pay all legal fees. According to court documents, the company agreed to the settlement to bring an end to the court action but admitted to no wrongdoing. A spokesman
by Chasidy Rae Sisk
Mississippi,” said AASP/NJ President Jeff McDowell. “NORTHEAST is a show for repairers presented by repairers. The AASP/NJ Board works tirelessly to bring the best speakers and exhibitors to our region every year, and 2016 will surpass everything that has come before. We couldn’t be more excited.” Educational sessions at NORTHEAST 2016 will begin on Friday afternoon March 18 with “Building and Sustaining Standard Operating Procedures for Collision Repair,” presented by Keith Manich of Automotive Training Institute at 1 p.m. and again at 3 p.m. This seminar will demonstrate the importance of keeping staff adequately
See Class Action Settled, Page 40
MassCAR Training Helps Meet EPA Compliance by Chasidy Rae Sisk
In January and February 2016, the Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance and Technology (OTA) hosted six MA Clean Auto Repair
(MassCAR) guidance and training sessions across the state. According to Tiffany Skogstrom, Environmental Analyst for OTA, the goals of the
AASP/NJ Releases Seminar Agenda for 39th Annual NORTHEAST™ Trade Show
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P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018
With the approach of the 39th Annual NORTHEAST Trade Show scheduled to take place March 18-20 at the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus, NJ, AASP/NJ has released the agenda for the event, which includes 18 seminars and demos as well as over 130 exhibitors on the trade show floor. While every year features a variety of informative seminars, this year’s lineup features several industry favorites, including Mike Anderson, Larry Montanez, Tony Nethery and Judy Gatchell. “There isn’t a show that can match the NORTHEAST show this side of the
VOL. 6 ISSUE 12 MARCH 2016
informed of operational requirements, plus Manich will discuss the steps needed to create a structured production environment. From 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, “AASP/NJ Presents: Advanced Material Repair in 2016 and Beyond,” will be presented by Reliable Automotive Equipment’s Dave Gruskos, Larry Montanez III of P & L Consultants and Doug Richman from Kaiser Aluminum on behalf of the Aluminum Association. In covering everything repairers need to know when repairing advance materials, these three industry experts will discuss the properties of the materials, OEM-approved procedures, safety considerations, processes and equipment needed for these repairs, and more. “Maximize Your Estimates” is a fee-based course that will be taught by John Niechwiadowicz of QLC, Inc. and Jerry McNee of Ultimate Collision Repair on Friday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and again on Saturday at 3:305:30 p.m. In the second annual installment of this NORTHEAST estimating seminar, attendees will continue learning how to write complete and accurate estimates which capture all billable operations reasonably and realistically needed to repair a damaged vehicle.
training sessions were “to bring the MassCAR guidance document to the automotive industry across the state of MA. The purpose of the guidance is to give the shops the tools to not only stay in compliance with environmental, health and safety regulations, but also to introduce owners to safer alternative chemicals and practices that can be easily implemented in the shop.” The OTA is a state agency that provided free and confidential pollution prevention, toxics use reduction and resource conservation assistance to businesses in MA. In the 1990s, this agency created the Collision Repair See MassCar Training, Page 19
From 5:30-6:30 p.m., “Effective Training for Shops” will be presented by Tony Nethery of BlueCollar Collision Training who will define what type of body shop training is required and which optional training provides the best investment. Nethery will repeat this discussion on Sunday at 1 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., General Motors’ Jim Mickle will discuss three important areas to repairing and replacing structural components on a vehicle in “GM Structural Repair” which will be facilitated by Flemington Car & Truck Country. Mike Anderson of Collision Advice will present “Positioning Yourself in the Collision Repair Industry” from 7:30-9 p.m.; this seminar is sponsored by Axalta Coating Systems. Anderson will offer a unique look at how collision repair facilities can overcome challenges in today’s market by focusing on sales and marketing, production, accounting, finances and human resources. Attendees will learn how to increase sales, how to attract and retain employees, and how to develop and implement a successful apprenticeship and training program. Anderson will also cover which KPIs shops should monitor, and he will discuss the manSee NORTHEAST™, Page 38
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2 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Training Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
AASP/NJ Announces Seminar Agenda for
ASA Announces Partnership With eMarketing
Ambulance Pins Man to Wall in NJ Body Shop . 3
Assured Performance Launches OEM
39th Annual NORTHEAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Auto Parts Dealer in ME Faces More
Sherpas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Repair Procedure Compliance App . . . . . . 69
Scam Claims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
AudaExplore and ABRA Extend Strategic
Boxing Held at Buffalo River Works . . . . . . 8
Axalta Develops Speed Light Hand-Held
Carubba Collision NY State Golden Gloves
Class Action Against Progressive Settled in MA . 1
Colours Inc. Celebrates 30th Anniversary
and 30 Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
H&V Collision Centers in NY Hire New
Relationship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
BASF Presents Winner of 2016 Fight Club of Automotive Design at Middlecott
Sketchbattle in Detroit, MI. . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
District Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Bumpersmith 2.0 Combines Welder &
EPA Compliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
CAPA Elects 8 Leaders to Its Technical
Students in PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Collision Repair Students Learn Craft
MassCAR Training Helps Shops Maintain Mother Receives Car Refurbished by
PA’s 3D Auto Body & Collision Receives
Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Phillips - Female Shop Owner in NY Says Success is Due to Being Prepared &
Work Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
and Charity Through Recycled Rides™
for Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Darryl Hollenbeck Claims 2016 AMBR Award
With His PPG-Painted Roadster . . . . . . . . 72
Connecting With Customers . . . . . . . . . . . 64
eMarketing Sherpas is CASPER’s Preferred
Honored With ‘Small Business Person
Exhibit Space Selling Out for NACE | CARS
Phillips - PA Body Shop Owner Ron Perretta
of the Year’ Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Provider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Sisk - ABAC Hosts Rich Altieri for Flawless
Gas Monkey Garage Show Renewed for
Six-Alarm Philly Fire Hospitalizes a Firefighter . 24
Google’s Autonomous Tech is Considered
COLUMNISTS
Historic Meeting Planned to Discuss
Repair Planning Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Attanasio - Iowa Shop Owner is 100 Percent
All-in with Community Service . . . . . . . . . 48
Chess - Kool Tools from SEMA 2015 . . . . . . 76 Luehr - Why Winners Win (Deliberate
8th Season. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Driver Under Federal Law, NHTSA says. . . . 4
Proposed Senate Bill to Cap Labor
Rates in Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Iowa 'Roadside Birth' Couple Has Healthy
Baby Boy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Practice) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
New Name in Plastic Repair: Same Products,
the Steps They Can to Help Prevent
PARTS ACT Patent Controversy Continues
Yoswick - Attorney Presses Shops to Take
Workplace Violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Yoswick - Jeff Silver, GAO Report and NHTSA,
Avery v State Farm, EPA at CIC. . . . . . . . . 42
NATIONAL
3M Automotive Aftermarket Division
Redesigns Sales Force Network to
Same Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
in Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Polyvance’s 6203 Hot Spot Rechargeable
Plastic Stapler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes
Announces Annual Vendor Awards . . . . . . 46
Sisk - CREF Makeover Grant Receives
Its Own Makeover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Better Align with Customers . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Takata Air-Bag Recall Expanded as
System by National AutoBody Research . . 68
The Parable of the Crippled Mare: Loss-Of-Use
A New Hope for Labor Rates: The Variable Rate AkzoNobel Awards Sustainability Challenge
Grant, Reveals 2016 Distributors Council,
Receives Recognition for Sustainability
Excellence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
ALI Lowers Price of Online Lift Safety
10th Death Reported . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Now Recoverable in Texas Total Loss
Auto Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Vibac Aims for An Even More Productive 2016 with the Release of New
A man was injured February 17 when he was pinned by an ambulance during a mishap at the shop, Wall Township police said. Wall police were called to P.L. Custom Body, 2201 Atlantic Ave., shortly after 9 a.m. for a report of a vehicle falling off a lift and pinning a worker between an interior wall and a work bench, Detective Lt. Greg Carpino said in a news release. The man suffered non-life-threatening injuries, Carpino said. He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, for treatment. The investigation found the man was pinned when a co-worker’s foot
Automotive Tapes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
slipped off the brake and hit the accelerator as the co-worker was driving the 2015 F-450 ambulance onto the lift for repair, Carpino said. The ambulance hit one wall and then pinned the worker on the other side of the wall against a work bench. The pinned employee was extricated by his co-workers before police arrived, he said. Wall Community First Aid, South Wall Fire and Rescue, MONOC Paramedics and the Wall Township Building Department responded, Carpino said. The South Wall Fire Department and the Wall Township Building Department were on scene evaluating structural stability of the building, he said. Thanks to Patch.com for reprint permission.
Publisher & Editor: Jeremy Hayhurst General Manager: Barbara Davies Assistant Editor: Stacey Phillips Online Editor: Victoria Antonelli Contributing Writers: Tom Franklin, David Brown, John Yoswick, Janet Chaney, Toby Chess, Ed Attanasio, Chasidy Sisk, David Luehr Advertising Sales: Joe Momber, Sean Hartman, Bill Doyle, Norman Morano (800) 699-8251 Office Manager: Louise Tedesco Sales/Research Associate: Cass Heckel Art Director: Rodolfo Garcia
3M Automotive Aftermarket Division . 9 Abaris Training Resources, Inc. . . . 64 ABW Tracker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Acura of Westchester . . . . . . . . . . . 38 AkzoNobel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Amato Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Atlantic Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 83 Axalta Coating Systems . . . . . . . . . . 5 Bald Hill Chrysler-Jeep-DodgeRam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Baystate Chrysler-Jeep-DodgeRam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Bergey’s Wholesale Parts . . . . . . . . 13 BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . 58-59 Bonding Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Cadillac of Mahwah . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Car-Part.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 CarcoonAmerica Airflow Systems. . 54 Central Avenue Chrysler-JeepDodge-Ram. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA). . . . . . . . . . . 53 Cherry Hill Audi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Cherry Hill Porsche . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Cherry Hill Volkswagen. . . . . . . . . . 69 Chief Automotive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Clay Auto Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 CMA Refinishing Solutions, Inc. . . . 12 Colours, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Dent Fix Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Dent Magic Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Diamond Standard Parts . . . . . . . . 31 Ditschman/Flemington Auto Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 67 Eco Repair Systems of North America, LLC . . . . . . . . . . 36 EMM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Empire Auto Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Equalizer Industries, Inc . . . . . . . . . 62 Eurovac, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 FBS Distribution Co., Inc. . . . . . . . . 22 Fitzgerald’s Lakeforest HyundaiSubaru. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 70 Fred Beans Parts . . . . . . . . . . . 57, 88 Fuccillo Kia of Schenectady . . . . . . 63 Gary Rome Hyundai-Kia . . . . . . . . . 37 Global Finishing Solutions, LLC . . . 24 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . 85 Herkules Equipment Corporation. . 38 Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44-45 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 80 Indasa USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Infiniti of Norwood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Serving New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Northern Virginia, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts 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. ©2016 Adamantine Media LLC. Autobody News P.O. Box 1516, Carlsbad, CA 92018 (800) 699-8251 (760) 603-3229 Fax www.autobodynews.com Email: news@autobodynews.com
Northeast
REGIONAL
by Karen Wall, Patch.com
Indexof Advertisers
Contents
Ambulance Pins Man to Wall in NJ Auto Body Shop
Kia Motors America, Inc.. . . . . . . . . 43 Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Koeppel VW-Mazda . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Larson Electronics, LLC.. . . . . . . . . 30 Lexus Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 82 LKQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Long Automotive Group . . . . . . . . . 42 Lusid Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Maxon Hyundai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Maxon Mazda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Mazda Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 84 Mercedes-Benz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Mercedes-Benz of Atlantic City. . . . 74 Mercedes-Benz of Fort Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Mercedes-Benz of West Chester . . 74 Mercedes-Benz of Wilmington . . . . 66 Mercedes-Benz Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 56 Mirka USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Mobile Environmental Solutions, LLC. 27 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 47 Nissan/Infiniti Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 O’Reilly Auto Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Orio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Polyvance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Porsche Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 78 PPG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Providence Lacquer & Supply Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Reliable Automotive Equipment . . . 10 Rick Case Automotive Group. . . . . . 4 Safety Regulation Strategies . . . . . 56 SATA Spray Equipment . . . . . . . . . 51 Security Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep-Ram . 7 Subaru of Morristown . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 75 Tasca Automotive Group . . . . . . . . 73 Team PRP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Thompson Organization . . . . . . . . . 65 Toyota of Morristown . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 70 U-POL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Valspar Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Vibac Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 VIP Honda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Volvo Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 76 Wagner Auto Group . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Walcom-USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Wesch Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Westbury Jeep-Chrysler-DodgeRam-SRT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 3
Google’s Autonomous Tech is Considered Driver Under Federal Law, NHTSA says
U.S. vehicle safety regulators have said the artificial intelligence system piloting a self-driving Google car could be considered the driver under federal law, a major step toward ultimately winning approval for autonomous vehicles on the roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told Google of its decision in a previously unreported Feb. 4 letter to the company posted on the agency’s website this week. Google’s self-driving car unit on Nov. 12 submitted a proposed design for a self-driving car that has “no need for a human driver,” the letter to Google from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Chief Counsel Paul Hemmersbaugh said. “NHTSA will interpret ‘driver’ in the context of Google’s described motor vehicle design as referring to the [self-driving system], and not to any of the vehicle occupants,” NHTSA’s letter said. “We agree with Google its [selfdriving car] will not have a ‘driver’ in the traditional sense that vehicles have had drivers during the last more than one hundred years.” Major automakers and technology companies such as Google are racing to develop and sell vehicles that can drive themselves at least part of the time. All participants in the autonomous driving race complain that state and federal safety rules are impeding testing and eventual deployment of such vehicles. California has proposed draft rules requiring steering wheels and a licensed driver in all self-driving cars. If the car’s artificial intelligence is the driver for legal purposes, then it clears the way for Google or automakers to design vehicle systems that communicate directly with the vehicle’s artificial pilot. In its response to Google, the federal agency offered its most comprehensive map yet of the legal obstacles to putting fully autonomous vehicles on the road. It noted existing regulations requiring some auto safety equipment cannot be waived immediately, including requirements for braking systems activated by foot control. “The next question is whether and how Google could certify that the [self-driving system] meets a standard
Free
developed and designed to apply to a vehicle with a human driver,” NHTSA said. Google is “still evaluating” NHTSA’s lengthy response, a company spokesperson said on Tuesday. Google executives have said they would likely partner with established automakers to build self-driving cars. Google told NHTSA that the real danger is having auto safety features that could tempt humans to try to take control. Google “expresses concern that providing human occupants of the vehicle with mechanisms to control things like steering, acceleration, braking... could be detrimental to safety because the human occupants could attempt to override the (self-driving system’s) decisions,” the NHTSA letter stated. NHTSA’s Hemmersbaugh said federal regulations requiring equipment like steering wheels and brake pedals would have to be formally rewritten before Google could offer cars without those features. For example, current federal rules require alerts on dashboards if tire pressure runs low. NHTSA said a test would need to be created that shows the vehicle computer is informed of the problem. NHTSA raised the question of whether humans in the vehicles should also be made aware. In January, NHTSA said it may waive some vehicle safety rules to allow more driverless cars to operate on U.S. roads as part of a broader effort to speed up development of selfdriving vehicles. NHTSA said then it would write guidelines for self-driving cars within six months. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said the administration may seek new legal authority to allow deployment of autonomous vehicles “in large numbers,” when they are deemed safe, the department said. The process of rewriting federal regulations governing the design, placement and operation of vehicle controls could take months or years. The NHTSA counsel said Google could consider applying for exemptions for certain regulations, providing NHTSA with supporting documents. See additional autonomous vehicle coverage page 24 this issue.
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4 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
CELPHY Uploads a Selfie
WANTED Collision Center Director
South Florida
Rick Case Honda, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 15700 Rick Case Honda Way - Off I-75 & Griffin Road
Largest Collision Center in South Florida 9 Paint Booths and 20 Bays Serving 8 Rick Case Dealerships and Numerous Insurance Companies
Send resume to: careers@rickcase.com
www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 5
ABAC Hosts Rich Altieri for Flawless Repair Planning Workshop by Chasidy Rae Sisk
On January 23, the Auto Body Association of Connecticut (ABAC) held a Flawless Repair Planning Workshop presented by Rich Altieri, president of Autobody Management Solutions and author/instructor for “The Flawless Repair Planning System.”
Rich Altieri’s all-day workshop focused on areas needed to implement a flawless repair planning system.
According to Altieri, “If you’re in the auto body and collision repair business, your organization’s ability to create and deliver the best quality, speed and cost performance is critical to your success.” The all-day workshop focused on four key areas needed to develop and implement a Flawless Repair Planning
System: Critical to Success, Lean Collision, Flawless Repair Planning System, and Leading Change. Altieri began by explaining that improving quality, speed, cost and profitability is critical to a shop’s success. He stated, “Quality goes beyond workmanship to include quality of the customer experience, stakeholder relationships, processes and people. Speed goes beyond efficiency to include cycle time or speed of the system. Lower costs result from the elimination of system waste. In summary, this lesson delivers information and content needed to gain alignment around the compelling reasons for improving performance.” While the first topic explains why improving performance is crucial for successful shops, Lean Collision, the second concept, describes what needs to change in order to improve performance. Moving on to the Flawless Repair Planning System, Altieri described this as “a proven set of best practices enabling technicians to work more continuously on vehicles by eliminating the tremendous amount of waste in the traditional repair process.” The best practices include flawless check-in, flawless disassembly, flawless mapping, flawless discovery, flawless parts procurement, and flaw-
6 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
less quality verification. In Leading Change, the final topic of the workshop, Altieri explained, “Every improvement requires change. Research and experience suggests up
completed a feedback form, and in regard to the question “On a scale of 0-10 with 10 being the highest, how would you rate the overall value of today’s workshop,” the majority of participants rated the program with a 10 with a couple scores of 8 bringing the average to 9.5 overall. Attendees described the workshop as engaging, interactive and informative. Tony Ferraiolo, president of ABAC, was particularly impressed with “how effectively this could work in our shop.” ABAC plans to collaborate further with Autobody Rich Altieri said that improving quality, speed, cost and Management Solutions to profitability is critical to a shop’s success. deliver additional training to 70% of all change efforts fail - for programs in 2016. predictable reasons. The top five reaRich Altieri founded Autobody sons improvements fail is lack of Management Solutions in 2010 to help alignment, lack of training, failure to collision repair facilities improve engage the people being asked to processes and performance. Altieri dechange in planning the change, lack of livers training, consulting and coaching measurement and a lack of a pilot to services to collision repair businesses learn what it takes. The Flawless Re- across North America. Altieri can be pair Planning Workshop is designed as reached at 518-842-5344 or via email a playbook for getting beyond theory richaltieri@gmail.com. to successfully causing and sustaining the needed changes.” www.abaconn.org After the workshop, attendees www.autobodymanagement.com
www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 7
Carubba Collision NY State Golden Gloves Boxing Held at Buffalo River Works
The Carubba Collision New York State Golden Gloves Boxing held a news conference recently at Buffalo River Works in downtown Buffalo, NY to announce the 2016 kickoff of an amateur sporting event. Carubba Collision of Buffalo, New York has been the presenting sponsor of
champion. “This is going to be a very exciting year for amateur boxing in Buffalo,” stated Don Patterson, president of the New York State Golden Gloves. “We have a tremendous slate of boxing that we want to officially announce to all the many boxing fans in Western New York and across the state.” “Since the first Golden Gloves tournament in 1923, the Golden Gloves and its member franchises, like the one here in Buffalo, have provided an opportunity and environment for young athletes to develop lifetime skills,” said Joe Carubba. “I count it a privilege to be Carubba Collision Corp. President and CEO Joe Carubba involved with such an outand NYS Golden Gloves President Don Patterson (center) are joined by young boxing hopefuls who competed in the standing program that benefits our youth.” Carubba Collision New York State Golden Gloves Several of the competing the New York State Golden Gloves for boxers were also be on-hand at the the past 10 years. The Carubba Collision news conference. Over 30 Boxing New York State Golden Gloves was Clubs throughout the state (from the hosted in Buffalo at the Buffalo River Adirondack Region–Albany, SchenecWorks on Sunday, January 31. tady) to the Southtowns (Salamanca, Boxers from across New York Jamestown, Dunkirk) have entered. state (excluding New York metro) More than 150 people participated over competed to become a Golden Gloves the course of the tournament.
8 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
eMarketing Sherpas is CASPER’s Preferred Provider
On January 26, the Coalition of Automotive Service Providers (CASPER) and eMarketing Sherpas announced that eMarketing Sherpas has been selected as the association’s preferred consumer marketing solution provider. According to CASPER, the selection of the Demand Engine, Review Engine and the Digital Lobby solutions will assist CASPER members implement and benefit from the widest range of digital based sales, marketing and customer service tools available to the auto service and auto body repair industries. John Vanderschaaf, president of CASPER, said, “We are very excited to offer our members access to these powerful sales, marketing and customer service solutions. Our members are always looking for more and better ways to improve how they market their businesses, increase their sales and improve the way they service their customers. The Demand Engine, Review Engine and Digital Lobby systems from eMarketing Sherpas offers more options and solutions than any other company we have researched.”
Bumpersmith 2.0 Combines Welder & Work Station
Polyvance’s (formerly Urethane Supply Company), new 6071 Bumpersmith 2.0 offers a nitrogen plastic welding system combined with a foldout bumper workstation. Created by bumper repair guru David Smith, the Bumpersmith 2.0 improves on his original design with a more compact and versatile design, according to a company press release. Polyvance has merged with Bum-persmith to sell and support this new welder. The nitrogen welder features a switch in the handle to help conserve bottled nitrogen gas; only flowing nitrogen gas when needed. The analog control system features outlet pressure gauges and a flowmeter. As a workstation, the Bumpersmith 2.0 folds out to hold any size bumper, from Chevy Sonic to Chevy Tahoe. The bumper pads are notched, allowing both bumpers and headlights to be held down with the included bungee cords. When finished, the bumper pads and supports affix to the sides of the welder for compact storage. The Bumpersmith 2.0 is available for shipment from auto body jobbers or equipment distributors across North America. The suggested user price is $4,395. For information, call Kurt Lammon at 800-633-3047.
www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 9
AkzoNobel Awards Sustainability Challenge Grant, Reveals 2016 Distributors Council, Receives Recognition for Sustainability Excellence AkzoNobel announced on January 26 the six outstanding students in its 2015 Sustainability Challenge Grant program. In its second year, the program awarded $50,000 in grant funding to selected high schools and colleges with collision repair programs to advance continuous improvement and sustainable business principles. The students were nominated by their instructors for exemplifying exceptional leadership, initiative and commitment. They led teams of students at their respective schools in developing a grant proposal based on an idea that would improve the school’s collision repair shop and how it interacts with the surrounding school, community, or environment. The following students were honored: ● Hunter Brakefield, Applied Technology Center, Rock Hill, South Carolina ● Cesar Mercado, WallaWalla Community College, Walla Walla, Washington ● Angel Myers, Norwalk High School, Norwalk, California ● Cole Woods, Freedom High School, Freedom, Wisconsin ● Nicholas Shah, Thomas A. Edison High School, Jamaica, New York ● Evan Vail, Applied Technology Center, Rock Hill, South Carolina
“The goal of the Sustainability Challenge Grant is to inspire and challenge those who are preparing for a career in collision repair to seek out ways to improve the way our industry interacts with its community and environment,” said Doug Holmberg, business director for AkzoNobel’s Vehicle Refinishes business in North America. “These outstanding students represent the future of our industry and we are proud of their initiative to help find ways to improve processes, increase social capital and advance environmentally-friendly practices. We are pleased to recognize their achievement and leadership.” Mark Dellinger, instructor at Applied Technology Center added, “As an educator, the Sustainability Challenge Grant has provided me with an opportunity to talk with my students about how to improve practices in our collision repair shop and how that knowledge can be applied in the real world.” He continued, “By creating teams to develop an idea for a grant proposal and implement that idea, the students have had an opportunity to hone their leadership, planning, and presentation skills.” The grant is sponsored by AkzoNobel and administered by the Collision
Repair Education Foundation (CREF). AkzoNobel’s Vehicle Refinishes also announced the members of its 2016 Distributor Council. The Distributor Council is a legacy activity of Vehicle Refinishes that spans its 30-year history in North America. Over this period of time, Vehicle Refinishes has looked to advisory bodies drawn from its distribution network to assist AkzoNobel in establishing frameworks for their business practices as well as provide inspiration for new polices, products and programs. Those advisory bodies have gone under various names; however, the purpose of the group remains to provide counsel. Council Members are: ● Paul Fus – PF# Paint Supply: Wixom, Michigan ● Robbie Brinkley – C&D Auto Paint & Body: Thomasville, Georgia ● Doug Richau – Auto Color and Industrial Supply: St. Joseph, Minnesota ● Peter Kilkenny – Providence Lacquer & Supply Centre: Cranston, Rhode Island ● Layla Maus – Gladwyn Paint: Austin, Texas ● Kim Snyder – Body Parts Store, Inc.: Des Moines, Iowa ● Peter DeLuca – Industrial Finishes
& Systems, Inc.: Salt Lake City, Utah ● Don Treschak – Treschak Enterprises, Ltd.: Welland, Ontario “The council, comprised of eight representatives throughout North America, is a visible and proactive sign that AkzoNobel’s Vehicle Refinishes business in North America is dedicated to distribution as our primary method of going to market,” said Dave Recknagel, North America cstomer services manager. “As a result, we are constantly striving to innovate. This includes Go-To-Market business models which ensure that we are engaging, evolving and advancing practices and processes that enhance current relationships as well enable growth and expansion to create new.” AkzoNobel's number one ranking on the 2015 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) has resulted in the award of an Industry Leader, Gold Class distinction for excellent sustainability performance. The recognition also includes a listing in the 2016 Sustainability Yearbook, which features the world’s most sustainable companies, as determined by their score in RobecoSAM’s annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). To learn more about AkzoNobel, visit www.akzonobel.com
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Mother Receives Car Refurbished by PA Students
like to own my own car. It’s not even sinking in,” Marasco said. A single mother and her two sons The 2011 Toyota Corolla had now have a way to get around after been damaged in an accident and students at Forbes Road Career and was headed for a scrapyard until the Technology Center refurbished a students fixed it up with the intent car. of giving it away. “These kids are here for three years, some in the final year. Some of them didn’t think it was going to happen and I said I’m going to make it happen,” teacher Josh Krentz said. All of the parts, more than $6,000 worth, were given to the school by local companies. The car was donated by Allstate Insurance. “Literally, the blood, sweat and tears that they Recipient Julie Marasco and her children Luke and Rudy put into this vehicle, and with collision students (l to r) Ashley Shoben, Tim Shoben, all the people, the places, and Dale Williams. Credit: Janel Lavorini, Forbes Road Cathat donated parts, and reer & Technology Center Josh and everybody at Julie Marasco received the car, the school – I can’t thank them enough which students spent hours working because it’s really like a dream come on. She’s gone without a car for the true, winning the lottery,” Marasco last five years. said. “It’s so surreal. I can’t even deThanks to WPXI for permission scribe it. I have no clue what it feels to reprint this article. by WPXI
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Auto Parts Dealer in ME Faces More Scam Claims
by Tammy Wells, journaltribune.com
A Waterboro, ME, auto parts dealer arrested in January on charges that he scammed a buyer from Illinois on Craigslist may soon face more charges, as several people have since come forward to claim he scammed them as well. Scott Depeter, 43, owner of Airport Auto Body on Main Street, was arrested January 22 and charged with theft by deception, according to York County Sheriff Bill King. When the news broke, King asked that anyone who felt they’d been scammed by Depeter contact the sheriff ’s office. On Monday, January 25, King reported that eight people had contacted Sanford Regional Communications, which provides dispatch services for the sheriff ’s office. “All report they were defrauded in some way by Scott, also known as Thomas, Depeter,” said Deputy Shawn Sanborn, who is investigating the Illinois case. “Complaints were distributed (for investigation) between the York County Sheriff ’s Office and Sanford Police Department, depending on where the offense was alleged to have taken place.” Sanborn said additional complaints
were anticipated over the next few days. The initial investigation began when an Illinois man contacted the sheriff ’s office and reported that he wired $300 to Depeter after answering an ad on Craigslist, but never received the auto parts he ordered. The sheriff ’s office collected numerous text messages from the victim and confirmed that a wire transfer was made, King said. “Depeter came up with excuse after excuse after excuse,” and “finally stopped responding to calls or emails from the Illinois man,” he said. Depeter is free on $350 bail, and is scheduled to appear in court April 26 on the initial charge of theft by deception, a Class E misdemeanor. King cautions that folks should be wary about paying for merchandise by wiring money, as it is untraceable. As well, Craigslist advises users not to pay for items with money-wiring services, and to refrain from revealing bank account numbers and other financial information. The website states that “99 percent of scam attempts” can be avoided by dealing locally through face-to-face transactions. Thanks to The Journal Tribune for permission to reprint this article.
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National Associations
Chasidy Rae Sisk is a freelance technical writer from Wilmington, Delaware, who writes on a variety of fields and subjects, and grew up in a family of NASCAR fans. She can be contacted at crsisk@chasidyraesisk.com.
CREF Makeover Grant Receives Its Own Makeover with Chasidy Rae Sisk
In 2009, the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) founded its Ultimate Collision Education Makeover Grant. Since then, over $3 million in cash and in-kind donations have been awarded to collision repair training programs to help supply them with the tools, equipment and training necessary for their students’ education. Although the Makeover Grant had yielded much success for CREF and the collision repair industry as a whole, the organization’s Board of Trustees decided to adjust their focus to bridging the employee gap in June 2015 after hearing of the industry’s immediate need for entry-level staff. According to Melissa Marscin, director of Grant Programs of CREF, “The new focus will be on getting the right grants/donations into each school to better prepare the students for entering the collision industry.” Marscin explained, “Instead of just asking schools to provide us with their $50,000 wish list of needed tools, equip-
ment and supplies, the new makeover program asks for a profile on the school’s capabilities that help it graduate qualified and productive collision students for the industry’s employment. Based upon the capabilities detailed in the application, they will be assigned to tiers that will designate them based on those capabilities. The tiers will help us get the right resources to the schools that can use them.” Beginning this year, each school that submits an application for the makeover program will be given a Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark designation, based on how certain questions are answered on the application. Tier 1 will indicate an advanced designation, with Tier 2 being proficient and Tier 3 indicating a developing educational program. The criteria for each designation, listed on CREF’s website, consists of objective data to allow the school to identify which designation they fall into, and it
14 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
includes items such as contact hours, existing tools/equipment, curriculum, outside activities and more. With approximately 1,150 collision schools in the US, each possessing different resources, requirements, standards and testing, it is nearly impossible to determine what resources each school has without reaching out to them individually. The new designations will help CREF’s Selection Committee determine each school’s needs when reviewing the makeover applications and alert potential donors to a school’s specific needs. It will also provide employees, future students, parents and counselors with information about any collision program they are interested in while showing administration that collision training is worth supporting and simultaneously demonstrating how funding can be improved to bring the program to a Tier 1 designation. Now, the makeover application will serve three purposes; in addition to
designating the schools by tiers, it will allow schools to be eligible for cash prizes as well as in-kind donations that CREF receives from donors and distributes to schools in need. In regards to whether CREF will still offer the $50,000 makeover grants, Marscin stated, “It will all depend on the applications. The Selection Committee, when reviewing, will have the option to award $50,000 grants or to split it amongst smaller grant awards to help more schools. The goal will be to award amounts that will help a school reach the next tier.” Marscin assures applicants, “There will still be a place on the application to request items you need a grant for; however, your designation will help guide you on what items to request. For example, if you do not have curriculum due to the lack of computers in your program, the application will guide you to request curriculum and computers. See CREF Makeover, Page 26
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Vibac Aims for An Even More Productive 2016 with the Release of New Automotive Tapes Vibac Canada Inc., a global adhesive tape manufacturer, has all the backing necessary from both their products and the shops, to keep a strong hold on success for 2016. After proving the potential of Vibac’s masking tape 313 yellow in
& Product showcase, to see if the walk matched the talk. “Everyone says their product is the best. I like to see for myself,” said co-owner John Sr. “As a shop owner I have to make sure everything works as perfectly as possible without redos, so it was a simple test to take a strip of tape along with the competitors and mask a van or trailer and just leave it outside in the summer weather. At 90 plus degrees, direct sunlight, rain, moisture, constant heating and cooling are going to destroy all but the very best tapes. The weak ones break, they sliver, and the glue transfers and creates The Vibac masking tape 313 yellow aiding in the collision a mess that no shop wants to repair process deal with.” 2015, the Montreal-based company After the “torture test,” he conintroduced two new masking tapes- cluded that there was no glue or adhe204 orange and 314 blue - at the No- sive transfer, and because of the lack vember 2015 SEMA Show in Las of issues, the shop’s production “stays Vegas. Both will hit the market at the high.” John Sr. added that he was imend of the first quarter of 2016. pressed with the way the masking tape Autobody News reached out to 313 yellow stood up to the wet and Black Horse Body Shop in Plymouth dry cycles in the paint booth, and that Meeting, PA for the October 2015 Shop he was able to remove it without any
16 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
problems. Rewind to the pre-NACE Shop & Product Showcase, published in June 2015. Autobody News reached out to Beyer Collision Center in Alexandra, VA, to ask about their experience with
Vibac products, and experienced a similar reaction. Allen Andre, 53, body shop manager, said he gets a lot of high-end cars in his shop as he is located near WashSee Vibac Aims, Page 26
www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 17
18 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Continued from Cover
MassCAR Training
Auto Shop Help (CRASH) program, which was the state’s first attempt to produce a clear, easy-to-follow summary of environmental, health and safety rules and best practices for collision repair facilities. Intended to help shops maintain compliance with laws, find ways to improve operations, and reduce unnecessary costs, liabilities, exposures and releases, the CRASH course was well-received and widelyutilized. The MassCAR guidance and training program began as an update of the CRASH course to include auto repair shops with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The MassCAR program was developed to help auto body and repair shops maintain compliance with environmental, health and safety requirements, and to learn about and implement pollution prevention and other best management practices. Skogstrom stated, “EHS requirements are designed to help protect our land, water, and air quality, as well as the health and safety of everyone in and around your shop. By complying with these requirements, you can help protect your shop from severe penalties, legal liabilities, and lost labor hours associated with worker injuries. If you take the additional steps to prevent pollution and operate your shop according to the best management practices, as described in this manual, you can help reduce your operating costs by cutting
H&V Collision Centers in NY Hire New District Manager
Matthew Robilotta has been hired as the new district mananger of H&V Collision Centers, the NY MSO announced on February 1. Robilotta will be responsible for overseeing the daily Matthew Robilotta operations of is the new district all seven H&V manager of H&V lo-cations. PreCollision Centers viously, he was the area manager for GEICO, directing auto damage adjusters and supervisors in Eastern Upstate New York. For more on H&V Co-llision Centers, visit http: //handvcollision.com/
down on the use of hazardous materials and the generation of waste.” The MassCAR manual is divided into three parts. The first is a checklist that summarizes the actions a shop can take to ensure regulations are followed and to demonstrate the shop’s good faith efforts to maintain compliance while protecting its workers and the environment. The MassCAR fact sheets include detailed information about key auto body and repair topics identified by the project partners, and these are designed to provide more information, benefits, possible obstacles and steps forward for implementing each topic outlined within the fact sheet. The final part is an Environmental Achievement Statement, which is a downloadable self-certification document the shop can use to advertise and celebrate its environmental practices. Skogstrom explained, “Companies following the practices in the CRASH Course were often considered as operating with good faith, and the intent of this guidance is similar. The MassCAR Guidance includes a checklist that you can use not only to ensure that important actions are identified and carried out, but also constitutes documentation of your efforts to do the right thing.” Through OTA’s six training sessions earlier this year, they were able to provide training to around 100 automotive industry professionals, and they were held at voc-tech schools around the state. Skogstrom stated, “The voSee MassCar Training, Page 30
PA’s 3D Auto Body & Collision Wins ‘Small Business of Year’
3D Auto Body & Collision Center’s President, Dave Niestroy, announced winning the 2016 Small Business of the Year Award presented by the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry in PA. Each year the chamber honors a member business with the Small Business of the Year Award. It is a company that took significant risk, yet achieved substantial commercial success while remaining active in community service. “I want to thank my parents for allowing me to use their garage starting in 1977 to paint everything from bicycles to lawn mowers to eventually cars,” said Niestroy during his speech to over 300 at the chamber’s awards dinner on January 20. Niestroy, who is a Chester County native, started the business in 1981 by first renting a bay at his now largest production shop located in West Chester, PA. www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 19
Historic Meeting Planned to Discuss Proposed Senate Bill That Would Cap Labor Rates in Mississippi ernmental affairs and lobbying. “He [Carmichael] has agreed to work out a compromise with us. We think this is really positive.” When Autobody News went to print, the meeting was expected to take place in late February/early March. The ASA, which opposes House Bill 2187, also encouraged Mississippi shops to contact their state legislators
cluding glass repairs or replacements, must be made by a particular contracFor the first time in history, Mississippi tor or motor vehicle repair shop; probody shops will sit down with reprevided, however, the most an insurer sentatives from the insurance coalition shall be required to pay for the repair of in that state to discuss the issues surthe vehicle or repair or replacement of rounding labor rates. This is in rethe glass is the lowest amount that such sponse to Mississippi State Senator vehicle or glass could be properly and Videt Carmichael’s recent introducfairly repaired or replaced by a contraction of Senate Bill 2187. tor or repair shop within a reasonable If passed, the bill would geographical or trade area prohibit collision repair shops of the insured.” “When you get these calls to action, it’s so from charging labor rates The Senate bill would important for the local shops to particihigher than the national averadd the following: “In no pate and contact their local legislators,” age. It also stipulates that event shall a motor vehicle shops that seek to charge arepair shop charge labor — said John Morgan Hughes bove the average must have rates above the average nathe approval of the Commissioner of through the ASA’s website www.Tak- tional rate charged for like-kind work, Insurance. ingTheHill.com and voice their oppo- without the express approval of the John Morgan Hughes, the exec- sition to the bill. Commissioner of Insurance.” utive director of the Mississippi Colli“This bill is an obvious attempt by Hughes told Autobody News that sion Repair Association (MCRA), the insurance industry to suppress labor six representatives from the MCRA reached out to association members in rates and reduce their average severity,” and six representatives from the insurearly February requesting they contact said Dan Risley, ASA president and ex- ance coalition will attend the meeting. their legislators in opposition to the ecutive director. “Attempting to classify Each side will come to the table with bill. Within 72 hours of that call to ac- all collision shops as equal demon- eight or 10 issues and share their pertion, the MCRA met with Carmichael strates a lack of understanding of the spective on such issues as labor rates, who proposed setting up a meeting to collision repair industry and the cost of regionalism, emerging technologies discuss the issues and work out an eq- running an actual business.” and the cost of capital investment to uitable solution for both sides. Mississippi Code 83-11-501 cur- repair new vehicles. “This is the first time in Missis- rently states: “No insurer may require “It’s a very different industry than sippi that has ever happened,” said as a condition of payment of a claim it was 10 years ago or even 20-30 years Hughes, who has a background in gov- that repairs to a damaged vehicle, in- ago, said Hughes. “We just want them by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor
20 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
to see what the financials look like from our side of the table. We also want to be good faith initiators and look at what they are facing. We think this is going to be a super productive meeting and we are really excited about it.” Hughes said the problem with the national labor rate is who defines it. “Not all shops are created equal,” he said. “My cost of operation could be very different than your cost of operation because of the cost of employment, and the capital investments on type of vehicles that we work on. That’s very concerning for our members. From top to bottom it’s concerning for our small local guy and for some of our bigger metropolitan shops.” Hughes said he often hears from shops that the forces they go up against are much larger than they are and they don’t feel like they can make a difference. He commended Mississippi shops for taking the time to contact 100 legislators in such a short time period, which resulted in a meeting that will benefit the entire industry. “When you get these calls to action, it’s so important for the local shops to participate and contact their local legislators,” he said. For more information, contact John Morgan Hughes at jmhughes44@ gmail.com.
www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 21
Collision Repair Students Learn Craft and Charity Through Recycled Rides™ for Schools The National Auto Body Council (NABC) announced that a total of 13 technical schools across the country are now enrolled in its Recycled Rides for Schools program, enabling a new generation of collision repair professionals to learn their craft as well as the impor-
“Through Recycled Rides for Schools, students realize that their chosen profession, collision repair, is one that is admired and needed by the local community,” said Bob Medved, chair of the Recycled Rides for Schools program. “This fosters pride in those students when they can see the positive effect their work has on people in need.” Students participating in Recycled Rides for Schools are involved in all phases of the project. Vehicles are initially donated by insurance, rental car, salvage or auction companies. In addition to repairing the vehicle, students collaborate with businesses to solicit contributions of parts, materials and services and help review canStudents at Forbes CTC Collision Repair presented didates for the vehicles. their Recycled Rides vehicle recently to a local The program has provided family at Pittsburgh World of Wheels students with confidence and tance and impact of giving back to their also valuable experience working with communities. industry professionals. In 2015, students repaired and do“Being a part of Recycled Rides is nated eight vehicles with an additional a life changing experience not only for 14 vehicles already in the works for the recipients but for those of us working 2016. Since the inception of the overall on the vehicles. It is great to see all of Recycled Rides program in 2007, the talent from the various parts of our members of the National Auto Body industry come together for such a great Council have donated over 1,000 vehi- cause,” said Nickey King, a student cles. from Washburn Institute of Technology,
22 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
one of the early adopters of the Recycled Rides for Schools program. “I have learned from working on the Recycled Rides project that hard work and determination really pays off in the end. As the vehicle was being presented to the recipient I was instantly over joyed and proud to see my work make a difference in someone's life,” added Tim Shoben from Forbes Road Center and Technology College. The 13 schools currently enrolled in Recycled Rides for Schools include: ● Central Nine Career Center – Greenwood, Indiana ● Cerritos College – Norwalk, California
● Chesterfield Career and Technical Center – Chesterfield, Virginia ● Des Moines Area Community College – Ankeny, Iowa
● Forbes Road Career and Technical College – Monroeville, Pennsylvania ● Greenville Technical College – Greenville, South Carolina
● Holmes High School – San Antonio, Texas
● Kishwaukee College – Malta, Illinois
● Manhattan Area Technical School – Manhattan, Kansas
● Oxford Hills Technical School – Oxford, Maine
● Ranken Technical College – St. Louis, Missouri
● Washburn Institute of Technology – Topeka, Kansas
● Western Nevada College – Carson City, Nevada
“It is gratifying to see so many more schools and instructors who recognize the value of teaching career skills as well as social responsibility,” said Chuck Sulkala, executive director of the NABC. “We encourage more schools to join their efforts to help ensure a future generation that exemplifies the professionalism and integrity of collision repair professionals.” For more information about Recycled Rides for Schools, email: Program Manager@NationalAutoBodyCouncil .org.
www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 23
Six-Alarm Philly Fire Hospitalizes a Firefighter
A wind-whipped six-alarm fire in an auto body shop in PA sent one firefighter to the hospital for undisclosed injuries.
There was no immediate cause of the fire released
According to local television station CBS3 Philly, the fire was in northeast Philadelphia and broke out in Joe’s Auto Body and Transmission in the Frankford section of the city. Firefighters, hampered by the winds and extreme cold, battled the blaze for most of Saturday before declaring the fire under control at about 3 p.m. A witness on the scene said there was a MAYDAY issued because a firefighter became disorientated, but all firefighters were accounted for. The witness said the building in which the fire started collapsed during the fire. The newspaper The Philadelphia Inquiry said the fire, fought by 150 firefighters, spread to six other
businesses. A mother and her infant child were taken to the hospital for precautionary measures, the television station reported. The Red Cross was at the scene helping at least four families displaced by the fire. Those displaced, or evacuated because of the fire were sheltered in a nearby school. The fire also disrupted public transportation in the area because of the smoke. Media reports said there was no immediate cause of the fire released.
The six-alarm fire in Philadelphia broke out in Joe’s Auto Body and Transmission
This article was based on information from CBS3 Philly and The Philadelphia Inquiry. Thank to you FIREHOUSE.COM for reprint permission.
24 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Exhibit Space Selling Out for NACE | CARS 2016
The automotive collision and service repair industry is heading to Anaheim, CA this summer for NACE | CARS 2016, from August 9-13. More than 8,000 attended last year’s event and related industry week events in Detroit, MI. Decision-makers and shop owners came from throughout the U.S. and 39 additional countries to find the latest tools and technology for their shops. A great deal of excitement has surrounded this year’s move to Anaheim, and exhibit space is booking even more quickly than in years past. Two-thirds of the NACE | CARS 2016 show floor was already booked as of February. Exhibitors have contracted for more than 40,000 square feet of exhibit space for the 2016 Expo. This more than 30 percent ahead of last year’s early space draw. OEs such as Audi, BMW, Ford, GM, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan, and Toyota have committed to record sponsorships, training, and large exhibit spaces. Much of the OE training and demonstrations will be held on the show floor at no additional cost to attendees. With the return of major suppliers including CCC, AutoZone,
PPG, Garmat, Celette, Enterprise, Car-O-Liner, NAPA, Akzo Nobel, Chief, AudaExplore, Global Finishing Solutions, LKQ, UniCure, ProSpot, and more, the vendor and supplier community is committing to the mission of ASA and its partners to grow an event for the industry, by the industry. For information on booking exhibit space or sponsorships, contact Robert Martin at robertm@stonefortgroup.com or 832-646-0176. Targeting business owners, management, and technicians, this conference and exposition brings together all market segments for the latest and repair solutions, services, education, products, and technology. NACE | CARS is a source of industry education, training, networking, and world-class exhibits for the automotive collision and service repair industry. More information about NACE | CARS 2016 can be found at www .NACEexpo.com or www.CARS event.com. Please note, hotels are booking fast; make your plans soon!
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Polyvance’s 6203 Hot Spot Rechargeable Plastic Stapler
Polyvance’s (formerly Urethane Supply Company) new 6203 “Hot Spot” cordless rechargeable plastic stapler can be used to hold broken headlight tabs and bumper tears in position while making plastic weld repairs. The Hot Spot stapler includes a wide variety of specialty staples, allowing the user to strengthen virtually any type of thermoplastic repair, from inside and outside corners to narrow mounting tabs, according to a company press release. The DC rechargeable battery allows use of up to 700 staples on a single charge. Staples can be inserted in the tip in three positions (straight, 90, and 45) and it has a bright LED light for illumination of the work area. One-button operation (push twice in sequence until indicator glows red) allows user to heat the staples. The 6203 Hot Spot stapler includes 20 each of six different types of staples, battery charger, and storage case with a one-year limited warranty. Suggested User price is US$399.95. Questions? Contact Kurt Lammon at 800-633-3047
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The items requested will need to help advance your program to the higher designation. Our goal is to get EVERY school to become a Tier 1: Advanced school!” Schools that rank in Tier 1 are still eligible for grants and donations. The top designation indicates that the school has all the basic tools and supplies needed, but the school can seek to further advance its program by requesting replacements for outdated tools and equipment, aluminum tools, training and I-CAR curriculum fees for students. In order to support this new designation program, adjustments will be made to the makeover grant itself. While the application will remain similar to previous years, a few questions will be added to determine the school’s designation. CREF began accepting applications on January 4, and the deadline for applicants is June 3, 2016. Schools’ designations will be announced in July with the announcement of makeover winners taking place in November. For more information about CREF, visit www.collisioneducationfoundation .org.
ington, D.C. Andre and his painter, Donnie Stemetski, adhere to the theory that masking tape is something you should be able to rely on and then forget about. “If it works, it works and that’s the best review I can give you,” Andre said. “The masking tape 313 yellow holds the paper down. We haven’t had one single comeback or re-paint with this tape. Switching to this product about 18 months ago has definitely been a smart move.” With at least two prominent shops singing their praise of the masking tape 313 yellow, it’s safe to say the industry should be excited about the latest Vibac creations. Vibac Marketing Manager, Lion Sedov, characterizes the three masking tapes as “good, better, and best” in the following order: masking tape 207 orange, masking tape 313 yellow, and masking tape 314 blue. “Our yellow tape 313 is considered the best all-around tape for many different applications that the market demands” said Sedov. “The
CREF Makeover
26 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Vibac Aims
industry has a need for a variety of performance levels in masking tapes and Vibac is looking to fill the need by providing three different levels of product offerings with an extra punch in creating value to customers on all levels.” The VIBAC Group has been making a wide variety of pressure sensitive tapes since the 1970s, specifically catering to most all automotive applications. In summer 2015, Vibac opened yet another new production facility for high performance masking tapes in Europe with the latest technological advancements. For more information on Vibac products, visit www.vibacgroup.com or contact Marketing Manager Lion Sedov at (514) 640-0250, lion.sedov @vibac.com.
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Colours Inc. Celebrates 30th Anniversary and 30 Locations Back in 1986, Colours Inc. was a single location paint distributor with three employees, one delivery vehicle and just 28 customers. Over the 30 years since Tim Evans, president of Colours, purchased the business, he has expanded its operations to include 240 employees, 118 delivery vehicles and 8,750 customers with 30 locations in
five Mid-Atlantic states. Evans attributes his company’s success to their commitment to quality products and superior customer service, but employees at Colours also gratefully credit the organization’s growth to Evans’ innovative vision. On Sunday, January 24, over 140 Colours employees and friends planned a surprise party for Evans at the Kalahari Resort in Pocono, PA to celebrate the company’s 30th anniversary. A reception hour preceded dinner, and guests were treated to a heartfelt speech from Evans’ daughter, Ali. His son,
Tom, also contributed a congratulatory video from San Diego. Dessert and a toast by Evans concluded the celebration. Evans was very pleased and grateful for the celebration, and said, “It was a total shock to see all my wonderful friends and employees who have supported Colours throughout the years. The next day, someone said that they have never seen Tim Evans speechless, but that is exactly what I was! I could not have had a better surprise and night than to celebrate with all those who were able to attend. It was a great way to celebrate our success over the last 30 years and to kick off another great 30 years together.” A car enthusiast from childhood, Evans began his automotive career as a professional Indy car racer, allowing him to meet a variety of industry professionals. When Evans decided to retire from racing in 1986, some of the PPG representatives he’d met informed him that one of their paint distributors, located in Evans’ hometown of Wilkes-Barre, was interested in selling his business. Evans recalled, “I got in contact with him and purchased his
one location. In 1986, we had one store and three employees, including myself; today, there are 30 locations and over 200 employees.” Over the past 30 years, Colours has grown by opening new locations in
up computers, phones and all software before the first day of opening so that, on Day One, the employees can flip a switch and be ready to go,” Evans shared. “With an acquisition, we have kept all previous employees on board. We love the insight and fresh ideas that those employees bring to us. It’s almost an acquihire situation where we are acquiring people and the inventory is incidental.” According to Evans, many former owners are relieved to make plans that ensure the future of the company they’ve worked so hard to build and the futures of their dedicated employees. He stated, “We are Tim Evans & his daughter Ali with a gift presented to him very flexible with their particby some employees of the first mallet used at the Wilkes barre Store for the past 30 years to hammer the lids on ipation after the acquisition. cans of paint that were mixed We have owners who stayed strong potential markets and through on to work with us for years, and othacquisitions of single location distribers have collected a check on the closutors and larger companies with as ing date and moved to Hawaii.” many as eight locations. “With each The current focus of Colours is store opening, either in a green market providing more than just a great peror through acquisition, our team has forming product; Evans believes their many planning meetings, scheduled business solutions staff and technical weeks of management training, and set See Colours Celebrates, Page 30
MARCH SPECIALS
A Special Thanks to Tim Evans for his success and vision.
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MassCAR Training
cational schools were extremely helpful in providing training space and helping get the word out about the MassCAR events. They also provided valuable feedback on which topics and information should be included in the guide. In addition, shops were able to come visit the schools, see the facilities, and learn about resources provided at the hosting schools. “In publishing the MassCAR guidance, OTA hopes to stimulate ongoing discussion so that the guidance and material will be a living document that prompts continuing engagement that will evolve and improve over time,” Skogstrom said. “To that end, OTA has formed the Massachusetts Clean Auto Repair (MassCAR) Partnership and we invite all interested parties to join. There is no fee or formal process to join. MassCAR Partnership solely requires participating in the effort to improve the guidance and / or adopt greener practices in your shop. Any shop that provides feedback to MassCAR material will be acknowledged in the MassCAR guide.”
The MassCAR guidance and training sessions were taught by Skogstrom as well as Marina Gayl, Environmental Engineer for OTA. Skogstrom joined the OTA in 2013, and before that, she created the Boston Public Health Commission’s Safe Shops Project, an environmental health and safety training program for Boston body and repair shops. Over the past 20 years, Gayl has visited many MA shops to help them maintain compliance with spray booth air regulations and other topics aimed at preventing pollution. Although OTA held six MassCAR training sessions in the first two months of the year, they do not have any additional sessions scheduled, and they’ll be unable to offer this training on a regular basis; however, in the near future, the MassCAR curriculum will be available for download, either as an entire guide or in individual fact sheets, at www.mass .gov/eea/ota/masscar. OTA also offers free and confidential site visits and technical assistance to all MA auto shops and other businesses. For information, email: Tiffany.Skogstrom@state.ma.us or Marina.Gayl@state.ma.us, or call OTA at 617-626-1060.
30 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
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Colours Celebrates
representatives set them apart from the competition. By finding and retaining sales, their Business Solutions team helps Colours’ customers be more productive and profitable. In addition to helping vendors test new products before Colours markets them, the company’s technical team provides customers with new product demonstrations and are available to assist with conversions from our products. Evans said, “We pride ourselves on our technical team’s abilities. Each of our technical reps is PPG certified, and some members of our technical team are certified in the industrial side of the market as well. Most importantly, they are a phone call or scheduled appointment away from answering any of our customers’ questions, whether it be a refinish or industrial question.”
He noted that some of the most impactful changes he has seen over the years are paint and environmental regulations. Evans recognizes the importance of staying abreast of the regulations in each of the five states where Colours is located. “We need to keep up-to-date with what legislation will look like in each of those states in the next year, two years and five years. It is important for us to keep adapting with this industry.” Although Colours boasts 30 locations, Evans hopes to continue expanding his company: “We vet several store openings and acquisitions annually to find the right fit for us. We are always open to listen to a proposal from a fellow distributor who is looking to sell their company or to begin the discussion of an exit strategy for the coming years. We are always looking into possible areas of growth.” www.gocolours.com
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New Name in Plastic Repair: Same Products, Same Company
There’s a new name in plastic repair – however, the company and the products have remained the same. Urethane Supply Company, a pioneer in the field of automotive plastic repair since 1981, announced that it has changed the name of its business to “Polyvance.” “The change in name reflects the progression that has occurred in automotive plastics since the company’s inception,” said Kurt Lammon, president of Polyvance. The Alabama-based company will continue to produce its complete line of plastic repair and refinishing products including the following most popular ones: ■ the 6059-C Nitro Fuzer nitrogen plastic welding system;
■ the 3601 and 3611 Bumper & Cladding Coat Adhesion Primer; and
■ the 5700HT Mini Weld Model 7 airless plastic welder. Established by Jim Sparks in 1981, the company was sold to Kurt and
Keith Lammon in 1995. After purchasing the company, the Lammons considered changing the name but soon realized the tremendous amount of work that it would require. “Back in 1981, most of the bumper covers were actually made from urethane plastic,” said Kurt, the company’s
president. “Sparks came up with the original name because he supplied products required to repair urethane bumper covers.” Since most bumper covers are now made from blends of polypropylene, Kurt said they decided to move forward with a name change. “Urethane Supply Company was never a very fitting name for the company,” said Kurt “After all, we don’t supply urethane – we advance polymer repair.” Almost daily people would call in asking to buy urethane foam, ure-
thane sheet stock or urethane to make skateboard wheels. “A name change was long overdue so we made the change to Polyvance because it really speaks to what we do.” They have spent the past six months working on logistics. This included hiring a branding consultant who reviewed what the company focuses on and the direction they plan to take in the future. The company’s official tagline is “Advancing Polymer Repair.” Kurt said Polyvance will still be devoted entirely to helping body shops profit from plastic repair and refinishing through its innovative products, which are all thoroughly tested, as well as training courses. Currently, Polyvance offers an I-CAR® Industry Training Alliance® course on nitrogen plastic welding and Kurt said there are plans to more courses in 2016. Polyvance products are available through paint, body and equipment distributors across North America. For more information, contact Kurt Lammon at 800-633-3047 or visit: www.polyvance.com.
AudaExplore and ABRA Extend Strategic Relationship
AudaExplore announced Feb. 2 it signed an agreement to extend its strategic relationship with ABRA Auto Body & Glass. Since 2010, ABRA has integrated AudaExplore’s Estimating, Central Review, and Consolidator Dispatch services into their operations. The company said it has experienced increased efficiency, decreased cycle times, and an overall improvement in customer satisfaction. The latest renewal comes more than a year before the current agreement’s expiration. “Repairing vehicles correctly and on-time is central to our mission of providing superior service to each of our clients,” said Ed Litman, ABRA’s vice president of procurement. “Securing our relationship with AudaExplore insures that our repair centers will have access to state-ofthe-art technology that supports that mission.” Gordon Henderson, vice president of Collision Repair Solutions, AudaExplore, said, “By providing a system that’s highly accurate and connected, we can greatly reduce waste in claims processing activities and help increase overall profitability for customers like ABRA.”
www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 33
PARTS ACT Patent Controversy Continues in Congress by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor
During a legislative hearing on February 2, industry leaders testified on the PARTS Act, a controversial bill that would amend Title 35 of the U.S. Code to provide an exception from patent infringement for certain component parts of automobiles, including collision parts. Currently, a vehicle design patent lasts for 14 years. The PARTS Act would reduce that time to 30 months for repair parts. The hearing addressed the costs and benefits of the current time restrictions on design patents for collision car parts. Those in support of the act contend that the current law gives automakers a monopoly on the sale of repair parts and drives up prices for consumer. Opponents of the PARTS Act say it would stifle innovation and lead to lower quality repairs, which could lead to unsafe repairs for consumers. Subcommittee members listened to testimony from two witnesses in support of the PARTS Act: Pat Felder, owner of Felder’s Collision Parts in Baton Rouge, LA; and Jack Gillis, director of public affairs for the Consumer Federation of America. Other witnesses testifying against
the passing of the act, included Kelly Burris, intellectual property attorney, Burris Law PLLC; and Dan Risley, the Automotive Service Association’s president and executive director. Aaron Schulenburg, executive Director of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS), said the PARTS Act has been a recurring piece of legislation attempting to carve out exemptions in existing patent law and provide greater opportunity for offshore manufacturers to copy the design of manufacturer replacement parts. “This isn’t about fostering innovation or competition, and it isn’t about consumer options; Consumers simply want what they had prior to a loss,” said Schulenburg. “This bill is about protecting insurer and aftermarket corporate profits. The savings that are experienced from requiring consumers to accept alternative replacement parts do not represent significant savings to the consumer today, nor is there any assurance that further savings would be passed along by the insurers paying for the parts in at least 70 percent of repairs.” He reasoned that advocates rely on data released by supporters to highlight the overall savings the use of af-
34 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
termarket parts represent, but fail to mention that by the same studies’ calculations, the impact on the individual consumer is merely $19–$24 per policy, per year. “Furthermore, while the exemption would result in more nonoriginal parts being made available sooner in the life cycle of the vehicle, the individual parts costs savings being touted by supporters may not factor in other potentially increased costs,” said Schulenburg. “These include additional labor manipulating the part to fit like the original or reordering delays should the particular copy prove inadequate.” No decision was made during the hearing, which was held in Washington D.C. by the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. “It is our hope that the House Judiciary Committee will continue to recognize the negative impacts such special interest exemptions would have,” said Schulenburg. PARTS stands for Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade, and Sales, and has been debated since 2012. It was re-introduced by Republicans Darrell Issa (R-CA), chairman of the subcommittee, and Zoe Lofgren (DCA) in February 2015. US. Senators
Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the act in the Senate. “The consumer has a reasonable expectation that there will be a competitive market for repair parts for their automobile. There certainly is for brake pads. Why wouldn’t there be for a bent fender?” Issa commented during the hearing. “A healthy aftermarket means more affordable parts for everyone.” Ed Salamy, executive director of the Quality Parts Coalition, said the hearing was an important step to spark consideration in Congress. “The Quality Parts Coalition’s sole mission is to get this pro-consumer legislation passed in Congress to protect consumers’ access to competitive replacement parts when repairing their cars after an accident,” according to a press release by the QPC. Following the hearing, Risley said, “A free and open marketplace does not entail enacting a law that states an aftermarket part is equal to an OEM part. This should be decided by the party making the purchase.”
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Industry Insight with John Yoswick
—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.
Attorney Presses Shops to Take the Steps They Can to Help Prevent Workplace Violence The mass shooting in San Bernardino, CA, in December in which a health department employee (along with his wife) shot and killed 14 of his co-workers at a holiday party occurred just 80 miles from business attorney Cory King’s law firm. So a month later when he was scheduled to discuss human resource issues at the quarterly Collision Industry Conference (CIC), King knew workplace violence was a logical if unpleasant topic Cory King on which to focus. “It’s a new topic for CIC, but it’s an unfortunate reality of our society today,” King said. He offered a number of steps employers can take in order to help avoid violence in the workplace. The first, he said, is a good written policy that prohibits fighting, verbal threats, threatening conduct, horseplay (arm-wrestling,
strength contests, etc.) or the possession of any weapon or ammunition on company property. “That has been a strict policy we have espoused even though I am a cardcarrying lifetime member of the NRA,” King said. “Typically, at least in the past, the best way to stay safe in a workplace has been to prohibit weapons in the workplace.” Even horseplay, he said – “slapfights” or someone pretending to drive toward another employee with a car to scare them – can start out as fun but can escalate quickly.
Written Policy Is Not Enough The next step is consistent strict enforcement of that policy, he said. Make it clear both in the policy and in your interactions with employees that anyone found to have been engaged in any of those activities is subject to discipline, up to and including termination. Such consistency includes not ex-
36 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
cusing the employee with a gun in his vehicle because you know he’s leaving for a hunting trip after work, King cited as an example. “Or don’t just think: ‘Oh, that’s Johnny; he has to blow off steam every once in a while. We’re just going to let that go,’” King said. “If you’re being inconsistent in these policies, you’re not going to have credibility.” Does that mean a no-weapons policy applies to company owners as well? King said it does, but some companies have shifted to a policy that allows employees who are legally-authorized concealed-carry permit holders to carry firearms at work. The policy just needs to be consistent for owners and employees, and consistently-enforced. But as he does each time he speaks at CIC, King cautioned that his presentations are not legal advice and that it’s always important to understand your particular state’s laws. In terms of this topic, for instance, he said some states
that allow concealed or even open-carry of firearms now have laws prohibiting employers from having no-weapon policies at the workplace.
Take Every Threat Seriously Another key step to working to prevent workplace violence, King said, is treating every threat seriously. “It’s like being at the airport. You don’t joke about bombs when you’re going through the [security] line,” King said. “Same thing in your workplace. You take it seriously. You would rather make the mistake of embarrassing somebody than having someone end up dead on your watch.” He said businesses also should work to establish a good relationship with local law enforcement to help ensure they respond if you make a “keepthe-peace” request. “If you have a volatile employee, and you know that when you fire or discipline them, that they are going to have
a problem with it, that they may get angry or violent, don’t wait for that to happen,” King counseled. “Call the police and say, ‘Look, we are terminating Johnny at 2 p.m. today. Johnny has a violent temper. We will take our appropriate precautions on our end to make sure we keep the situation calm, and we’re going to escort him from the premises, but just in case, can you have an officer onsite in case Johnny has a problem and it escalates?’ I’ve yet to hear of a local law enforcement agency that would not say, ‘Of course we will have someone there. Thank you for letting us know.’ They would rather deal with that than have to deal with a really bad situation.” If warranted, King said, a restraining order also can be obtained against a potential violent employee. Certain conditions have to be met in order to get a court to do this, however, he said. There has to be an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or harm to an individual, and the person must have immediate access to a weapon of some kind. “You need to be willing to put that in a sworn declaration,” King said. “But if it’s bad enough that you are truly fearing for your life or the life of someone else, and that person has made threats directly or indirectly and has the ability to immi-
nently carry out that threat, you can and should talk to a lawyer about your options for getting a restraining order.” Such restraining orders will be served on the person by the local sheriff, he said, and usual involve confiscation of firearms by law enforcement until a hearing can held 21 days later.
Remain Vigilant Lastly, King said, the other step shop owners can take to help prevent workplace violence is what he called “situational awareness” or “constant vigilance.” He said shop owners should think about, for example, how well they control access to the building or property. “Do you have 15 doors to the shop all of which are open all the time and anyone can just walk in from the back alley without you even knowing they are there,” King asked shop owners to consider. “Always be aware of what’s going on in your shop,” he said. “Know how your employees are getting along. Find out if someone is being a bully or threatening people. Don’t let the first time this type of situation comes up be the first time you’ve given some serious thought about what it is you are going to do. You have an obligation to do so in order to protect your employees.”
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NORTHEAST™
Continued from Cover
agement tools available to collision repair facility owners and managers. The last educational opportunity on Friday will be “Square One Systems,” presented by Sam and Richard Valenzuela of National AutoBody Research (NABR) at 8-9 p.m. with an encore performance on Saturday at 4 p.m. Through their demonstrations of the Variance Rate System (VRS), NABR will teach attendees how the VRS can help them make more informed labor rate decisions, collect on more not-included procedures, and to actively and confidently respond to insurer tactics designed to keep prices low and avoid paying for not-included procedures. On Saturday morning, March 19 at 8:30 a.m., NORTHEAST 2016 offers two fee-based I-CAR training classes: “2015 Ford F-150 Structural Repair Training Course” (FOR06) will be taught by Peter Fryzel, and Mike Bonsanto will present “Vehicle Technology and Trends 2016” (NEW16). Both ICAR courses will be held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Secaucus, located across the street from the Mead-
owlands Expo Center. Saturday morning will also begin with Larry Montanez’s “Increase Profits, Lower Cycle Time/Supplements with Triage Estimating” from 8:30-10 a.m. This seminar will be facilitated by Metropolitan Car-o-Liner who will aid Montanez in explaining how triage blueprinting can increase estimate accuracy and lower cycle time. Montanez will also demonstrate proper repair procedures on a 2016 Honda, focusing particularly in Honda metallurgy and MIG brazing. At 10A a.m.-1:30 p.m., Aaron Clark of Assured Performance Network will moderate “Body Shop Certification and You: An OEM Panel Discussion.” During this two-session seminar, OEM representatives will be available to discuss getting started on an OEM certification program and what to do after being certified. Additional topics include equipment investments, training require- ments, difference in aluminum and steel certifications, determining the right OEM program for your shop, and post-certification marketing. On the trade show floor, Collision Hub’s Kristen Felder will moderate “Photo Estimating Comes to the
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38 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Northeast” to explore the consequences of photo-only damage appraisals and how the insurance and collision repair industries feel about it. Also beginning at 10:30 a.m., “Competing with the Talking Car - Virtual Steering” will be presented by Steve Feltovich, manager of Business Consulting Services for Sherwin-Williams. Feltovich will explain the various emerging technologies and vehicle changes that will directly impact repairers and consumers, plus he will offer suggestions for using these technologies to maintain competitiveness within the collision repair industry. Gerry Bonanni of Ford Motor Company will present examples of the new 2015 F-150’s improved repair elements in “2015 Ford F-150 Aluminum Repair Information” at 11:45 a.m. with a repeat presentation at 10 a.m. on Sunday. In “OEM Collision Repair Procedures v. Industry Standards: A 2016 Update” at 1 p.m., Larry Montanez will lead a discussion on what has and hasn’t changed in OEM repair standards and procedures since he last discussed this topic at NORTHEAST 2012. From 2-3:30 p.m., Axalta Coating Systems will sponsor Mike An-
derson’s “Who Pays for What? Survey Results.” Using quarterly surveys conducted by Collision Advice and the CRASH Network, Anderson will discuss how often shops are reimbursed for not-included operations from the top 10 insurance companies. Attendees will receive an introduction to the four negotiation questions, learn about raising awareness of not-included labor operations and materials, and discover how to use these results to negotiate with insurers and much more in this seminar by one of the industry’s favorite speakers. At 2:30-3:30 p.m., Tony Nethery’s “Estimating Following OEM Guidelines” will explore the difference between “normal” repair processes and what is involved to follow OEMs’ methods for a “correct” repair. At 4 p.m., the final seminar at NORTHEAST 2016 will be “The Customer Encounter,” presented by Jody Gatchell of A & J Collision Repair. Gatchell will discuss the importance of being prepared for customer encounters in order to create a memorable beginning to the customer/business relationship. NORTHEAST 2016 will also feature its renowned trade show with over 130 vendors registered to exhibit
www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 39
on the 60,000 square feet of floor space. Some of this year’s exhibitors include: 3M, Access Commercial Capital, Accudraft Paint Booth, AkzoNobel, Albert Kemperle, ASE, Assured Performance Network, Auto Body Distributing, Axalta Coating Systems, BASF, CCC Information Services, Chief Automotive, Enterprise Rent-ACar, FinishMaster, I-CAR, Indasa Abrasives, LKQ Corporation, Lusid Technologies, Mitchell International, PPG Automotive Refinish, Refinish Distributors Alliance, Sherwin-Williams, Spanesi Americas, Val-spar Automotive, VeriFacts Automotive and the Women’s Industry Network (WIN) who will be making its debut appearance at NORTHEAST. “This is, by far, the best NORTHEAST show ever: more education, more equipment and technology, more of everything an automotive repairer needs to succeed in the 21st century,” says AASP/NJ Secretary Thomas Greco, whose company, Greco Publishing, manages the show. “If you’re an automotive repairer, you need to be here.” For the full NORTHEAST Educational Program schedule and to register, go to aaspnjnortheast.com.
Continued from Cover
Class Action Settled
for Progressive Direct Insurance could not be reached for comment. The 4,311 class action members were all people who purchased Progressive Insurance between 2008 and 2010 and who submitted an injury claim as a result of an accident but had it denied. Each has already received written notification they are eligible for a share of the payment, but each needs to file a claim by Feb. 28 through the website https://masspipclaims.com. The suit involved a dispute over a portion of car insurance policies known as personal injury protection, or PIP, coverage. Under Massachusetts law, all auto insurance policies are required to provide PIP coverage to the licensed driver of the car and all occupants. It covers the driver and all occupants for medical costs, lost wages and even funeral expenses related to injuries suffered in a car accident. The suit contended that Progressive had affixed an $8,000 deductible to many policies for many PIP claims.
40 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
That is, if someone filed a claim for a medical expense related to an auto accident, Progressive would make payment only after the claimant paid the first $8,000. “When ... the average consumer online (buys) this fairly complex product, you are going to run into problems.” Alekman said anyone in Massachusetts purchasing auto insurance online from Progressive between 2008 and 2010 would be asked if they had separate health insurance. Since Massachusetts had had already begun requiring health insurance for residents, most people would click yes. But doing so would automatically change the policy to include the $8,000 deductible. “It was then up to the applicants to know this and change it back,” Alekman said. Someone clicking “no” would be getting a policy with no deductible for PIP claims. “I’ve never seen an insurance policy with an $8,000 PIP deductible until Progressive started doing business in Massachusetts,” DiTusa said. The deductible was included only between 2008 and 2010. Policies
since then have not had it included, he said. According to court documents, the lead plaintiffs, Wanda and Walter Estrada, of Holyoke, purchased insurance online through Progressive on Aug. 3, 2009. They were in an accident four days later, and both Estradas and their two children were injured. Each incurred medical bills of between $3,000 and $7,400, but when they filed claims with Progressive, they were denied because of the $8,000 deductible. DiTusa said that at the heart of the issue is purchasing insurance online instead of through a face-to-face discussion with an insurance agent. “Insurance is a fairly complicated product. When you start getting the average consumer online buying this fairly complex product, you are going to run into problems,” DiTusa said. “It totally created a problem for a lot of people because a lot of people bought their policies online,” Alekman said.
www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 41
Historical Snapshot with John Yoswick
—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.
Jeff Silver, GAO Report and NHTSA, Avery v State Farm, EPA at CIC 20 years ago in the collision repair industry (March 1996) The name Jeff Silver is synonymous with I-CAR. As executive vice president, Jeff has spent the last 11 years of his life helping to build I-CAR into the premier technical training organization in the collision repair industry. On his watch, Jeff has guided I-CAR into the international arena, forming coalitions with groups in Canada and New Zealand and opening talks with groups in the Far East. He recently decided to leave I-CAR and start his own collision repair business, but will remain with I-CAR for six months to help make his successor’s transition as smooth as possible. Jeff leaves big shoes to fill. He has done much to improve the collision repair industry, and we wish him well. – From a March 1996 editorial in Auto Body Repair News (ABRN) by Tony Molla, at that time the editor-inchief of the magazine. Molla later spent 15 years with ASE, and last year be-
came vice president on the Automotive Service Association national staff. Silver continues to operate his collision repair business, now a CARSTAR franchise in Mundelein, IL, with his
Jeff Silver (center), co-owner of CARSTAR Mundelein in Mundelein, IL, was honored last November by I-CAR for his ongoing support for that organization, which he helped create and then led from 1985-1996. Presenting the award were current I-CAR CEO John Van Alstyne (left) and I-CAR board chairman Joe Laurentino
wife Jeanne. This past November, he received the I-CAR Chairman’s Award, recognizing his decades of support for that organization.
INSIST ON GENUINE GM PARTS
15 years ago in the collision repair industry (March 2001) A report published by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) was a mixed bag for those hoping for more government oversight of non-OEM crash parts. While the report indicates that some non-OEM parts are “clearly different from their OEM counterparts,” it also said limited testing leaves it unclear whether such parts pose significant safety concerns. “Although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has the authority to regulate aftermarket crash parts, it has not determined that these parts pose a significant safety concern and therefore has not developed safety standards for them,” the report states. The report also says that NHTSA should have an oversight program to detect defects in non-OEM parts, but that “NHTSA’s ability to identify and recall unsafe aftermarket parts is limited” by its “database [which] hampers
it from identifying trends in defects.” The report clearly states, however, that the GAO “saw aftermarket crash parts that were clearly different from their OEM counterparts.” “Obviously there is a need for NHTSA to gather significantly more information in order to look at the safety implications of these crash parts,” Congressman John Tierney (D.-Mass.), said of the study. —As reported in The Golden Eagle. It’s unclear if NHTSA took further actions on the non-OEM parts issue, but the manufacturers, distributors and certifiers of non-OEM crash parts has subsequently stepped up tracking and other systems to assist in the recall of a non-OEM part, should one be deemed necessary. 10 years ago in the collision repair industry (March 2006) The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected the plaintiffs’ request to hear Avery v. See Historical Snapshot, Page 52
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H OND A C ONN ECT I CUT
Lia Honda of Enfield E nf ield
800-221-3131 860-741-3401 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-4 jdoucette@liacars.com
Schaller Honda New Britain
800-382-4525 860-826-2080 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5; Sat 8-1 jkiniry@schallerauto.com M ARY L AND
Criswell Honda Ger m an t ow n
866-738-2886 Dept. Hours: M-Thu 7-9; Fri 7-7:30; Sat 8-6 hondaparts@criswellauto.com
O’Donnell Honda E llicot t City
410-461-5000 410-461-9654 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5 bshortt@odonnellhonda.com
Ourisman Honda of Laurel Lau rel
800-288-6985 301-498-6050 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-7; Sat 7-4 ron.malitz@ourismanautomotive.com
AC URA M ARY L AND
Tischer Acura Lau rel
800-288-6983 301-498-3322 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-4 wholesaleparts@tischerauto.com M ASSA CHU SETT S
Acura of Boston Brig ht on
800-254-1169 617-254-5400 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5:30; Sat 8-5 bruce.fisher@acuraofboston.com N EW J ERS EY
Acura Turnersville Tu r ners v ille
888-883-2884 856-516-6060 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4 kristen.powell@penskeautomotive.com 44 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Please contact these dealers for your Honda or Acura Genuine parts needs. MA S SAC H U S ET TS
NE W J ERSE Y
N EW YOR K
P EN N SY LVA NI A
LIA Honda Northampton
Rossi Honda
Dick Ide Honda
Apple Honda
N or th am p t on
V i ne l a nd
Ro che s te r
York
800-369-7889 413-586-6043
800-893-3030 856-692-4449
800-462-0056 (N.Y.) 585-586-4919
800-960-9041 717-848-2600
Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-4 dstanisewski@liacars.com
Dept. Hours: M-F 6:30-5; Sat 7:30-3 dave@rossihonda.com
Dept. Hours: M-Thur 8-8; Fri 8-5:30; Sat 8-5 parts@dickide.com
Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7-4; Sun 10-4 applehondaparts@appleauto1.com
NE W J E R S E Y
Clinton Honda An n a n d ale
Route 22 Honda H i l l si de
Lamacchia Honda
973-705-9100
S yra c use
315-471-7278
908-735-0900
Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7:30; Sat 8-5 rt22hondaparts@route22honda.com
Dept. Hours: M,Tue, F 7-6; W, Thu 7-7; Sat 7-4 chrish@clintonhonda.com
N o rt h P l a i n fi e ld
Lia Honda of Albany
908-753-1680
A lba n y
Honda of Turnersville Tu r n er sv ill e
800-883-0002 856-649-1584
VIP Honda Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-3 kevinh@viphonda.com NE W YO RK
Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 9-1 parts@lamacchiahonda.com
800-468-2090 412-390-2908
Wes t B a by lo n
Lia Honda of Williamsville W il l ia msv il le / Buffa l o
We st N e w Yor k
Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7:30-3:30 babylonparts@aol.com
877-659-2672 716-632-3800
Brewster Honda
Dept. Hours: M-Thu 7:30-8; Fri 7:30-5; Sat 8-5:30 liaparts@liacars.com
Ma d iso n
845-278-4177 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4 kbennett@liacars.com
We s t Se ne c a
Pit ts b urgh
Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5 shadysidehondaparts@hotmail.com
Sussman Honda Ros ly n
800-682-2914 215-657-3301 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-1 rendrick@sussmanauto.com
Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-8; Sat 7:30-5:30 ekuznicki@raylaks.com
Dept. Hours: M-Thu 7-8; Fri 7-6; Sat 8-6; mschumer@madisonhonda.com
NE W J E R S E Y
Ray Laks Honda 716-824-7852
800-648-0293 973-822-1710
Mont g omer yv ille
215-855-3587
Shadyside Honda
631-669-5800
Madison Honda
J.L. Freed Honda
Dept. Hours: M, T, W, F 7:30-5:30; Thur 7:30-8; Sat 8-5 apersaud@liacars.com
Hudson Honda
B re w s t e r
724-940-2006 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4 johnryan@baierl.com
Dept. Hours: M-Thur 8-6; Fri 8-5; Sat 8-4 joseph.sciacca@jlfreed.com
Babylon Honda
Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7:30-5; Sun 8-3 anthony.perrone@hudsonhonda.com
Wex f ord
800-272-6741 518-482-2598
Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-4 sbaptist@penskeautomotive.com
866-483-6917 201-868-9500
Baierl Honda
NE W YO RK
PEN NS YLVANIA
PEN NSY LVAN IA
Elite Acura
Curry Acura
Apple Acura
Ma p le Sh ad e
S c ar s da l e
Yo r k
E mm aus
856-722-9600
800-725-2877 914-472-7406
877-5APPLE5 717-849-6639
877-860-3954 610-967-6500
Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5 parts@curryacura.com
Dept. Hours: M-F 7-5:30; Sat 7-3 parts@appleacura.com
Dept. Hours: M-F 7-5; Sat 8-5 mustafa@vinart.com
Paragon Acura
Baierl Acura
Sussman Acura
Woo d s i d e
Wexfo rd
Jen kint own
718-507-3990
800-246-7457 724-935-0800
800-826-4078 215-884-6285
Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-1 johnsabella@baierl.com
Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-1 rendrick@sussmanauto.com
Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4 bmartinsen@group1auto.com
Park Ave Acura Ma ywoo d
888-690-7621 201-587-0028 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-3 jon.tangen@parkaveacura.com NE W Y O R K
Acura of Westchester We st ch est er
914-834-8887 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-8; Sat 8-4; Sun 9-4 acura.parts@yahoo.com
Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5; Sun 9-4 johnp@paragonacura.com
Smithtown Acura S t . J a m es
888-832-8220 631-366-4114 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-4 parts@smithtownacura.com
Lehigh Valley Acura
Davis Acura L a ngho r ne
866-50-ACURA 215-943-7000 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-4 markh@davisacura.com
www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 45
Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Announces Annual Vendor Awards
Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes announced on February 3 its annual Associated Products Vendor Awards.
The announcement was made at a special reception for more than 300 suppliers, employees and V.I.P. guests at its national sales meeting held at the Caribe Royale Hotel in Orlando, FL. Associated Products suppliers honored at this year’s Vendor Awards included: ● DeVilbiss Automotive Refinishing – Sherwin-Williams Brand-of-the-Year ● Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Inc. – Sherwin-Williams Sales Excellence: U.S.
● SAS Safety Corp. – Sherwin-Williams Sales Excellence: Canada
● PPC, Inc. (Powers Paper Company) – Sherwin-Williams Operational Excellence “Our vendor partners are an intricate part in helping us demonstrate the
service excellence that our customers expect,” said Steve Spirko, director of Associated Products Marketing for Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes. “The goal at our almost 200 branches is to meet the needs of our collision repair customer base around the country and bring them greater value. “Our company-trained employees manage the entire supply chain from product development to delivery. A
Spirko noted how the SherwinWilliams controlled distribution strategy provides a real difference as it directly supplies its collision repair customers. “No matter how many locations a customer may have, our direct distribution provides important standardized services—innovative products, training, delivery, consulting and centralized billing—and this drives consistency and cost-effective results. We want to be the one-stop-shop for the automotive repair and refinish industry and our stores make it easy for customers to come in and find, or have immediately delivered, the exact products and services they need to be profitable and productive. “Our vendor partners are important to the ongoTop Row from left: Tim Schmidt - Adam Chafe - Scott ing service and attention to Minor - Rob Lynch - Steve Spirko - Jake Mussay. detail we provide all our Bottom Row: Andrea Perry – Dave Smith – Stephanie collision repair customers Drew – Jeff Bell – Roger Henry – Barry Holt whether they come straight Sherwin-Williams professional directly to the counter in one of our branches manages the collision repair shop and/or or through delivery to their shops.” MSO account, facilitates application For information, visit www.shertraining, and provides on-site consulta- win-automotive.com or call 1-800tive services as necessary.” SWULTRA (1-800-798-5872).
ALI Lowers Price of Online Lift Safety Training Course
The Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) has lowered the price of its Lifting It Right online lift safety training course from $29 to $24 per person. The interactive course, hosted by NASCAR legends Richard and Kyle Petty, teaches vehicle lift operators how to properly use car and truck lifts in dealerships, independent shops, fleet maintenance garages, vocational schools and other facilities. ALI, the trade association focused on vehicle lift safety, introduced the online course in 2014 in cooperation with dealer services provider KPA. It is the latest evolution of Lifting It Right training ALI has offered in various formats for more than 25 years. “We have been very happy with the success of the Lifting It Right online course over the last two years,” says R.W. “Bob” O’Gorman, ALI president. “This course has helped us train nearly 12,000 lift operators on proper lift use and maintenance procedures for safer workplaces. We noticed a spike in sales when we ran promotions to lower the course price by $5, so in the interests of making the program as affordable as possible for everyone, we have decided to lower the price to $24 in 2016.” For information, visit www.auto lift.org or call (607) 756-7775.
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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 47
Day Job/Night Job Iowa Shop Owner is 100 Percent All-in with Community Service with Ed Attanasio
by Ed Attanasio
Many body shop owners all over the country don’t hesitate to play important roles in their respective communities. Some are content to sponsor
Steve Copeland (with wife Holly) isn’t afraid to play an integral role as a public servant and fill several capacities in his hometown of Hedrick, IA
Little League teams and the local high schools, while others are willing to get even more involved. Steve Copeland, the owner of Copeland Auto Body in Hedrick, IA is one of the latter. They say that in any volunteer-
based organization, 10 percent of the members do 80 percent of the work, whether it’s the Kiwanis or any form of local government. Many years ago, Steve Copeland decided to be that 10 percent. Today, he is Hedrick’s Fire Chief, the President of the District’s school board and also the former President of Hedrick’s flourishing Little League baseball program. Copeland had absolutely no training or experience when he started on this journey into public service, but he now realizes that it is in his DNA and something he was driven to do. “My wife Holly says I’m a good decision maker and that’s why people pick me to play these roles, Copeland said. “I never started doing this in order to help or promote my business, but in some ways it has helped. By being involved in the community, I am visible and accessible, which I believe the people of Hedrick appreciate.” 1.53 square miles in size, Hedrick has a population of approximately 800,
Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.
As the town’s Fire Chief, Copeland is on 24/7 call, even in the snow as he directs Hedrick’s volunteer crew
so if you don’t know Steve Cope-land, you probably just moved there. Copeland owns and operates two businesses— Copeland Auto Body and Copeland Towing & Recovery in nearby Sigourney, IA that also performs mechanical work, but it all started in a roundabout way. “I learned how to fix things on my grandfather’s farm,” he said. “We grew corn and soybeans and had some cattle.
When it comes to farm equipment, you can’t replace stuff, so you have to fix it. Later, I got into race cars and when I was 15, I restored an old Impala. So, cars were always a big interest of mine, but I never figured that I would own a shop.” Auto body repair wasn’t initially on Copeland’s radar. “I had a full-time job as a shift manager at at a large Iowabased grocery store,” he explained. “My need to become an independent business owner finally got the best of me along with my love to fix things. I had been working on peoples’ cars on my days off, along with rebuilding some wrecked vehicles to sell. In 1994, I hired a painter and began my education at the school of Hard Knocks. We have now grown from a two-man body shop to a full service eight employee collision repair shop.” Being a community leader can be either a plus or a minus when it comes to also being a business owner. “It can be good, but it can also cause conflicts with other people who may not agree
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with one of my decisions. There are folks in every community where they get into office because they have an agenda or an axe to grind over some issue. I don’t do it for those reasons; I truly want to help the community and make it a better place to live and work.” By serving his town in several capacities, Copeland has learned some invaluable lessons. “I tell people that we’re not going to agree on everything, because I will never be a yes man. Can’t we agree to disagree and then make decisions that will help us all? If you want to make a difference, you need to jump in and get things
Chase (left) and Tyler Copeland are football and track stars in Hedrick and outstanding students as well
done, because otherwise they won’t.” Copeland’s competition in Hedrick isn’t exactly fierce, to say the
least. “We’re the only body shop in town, but we get cars here from as far as 40 miles away, because we’re in a rural part of the state. With 800 people living here, we often see the same vehicles coming through the door twice, even three times.” Being Hedrick’s fire chief can occasionally impact Copeland’s cycle times, but most of his DRPs and customers don’t seem to mind. “We have 17 people on our 100 percent volunteer fire crew and when our pagers go off, we all need to respond. One of my employees is also a member, so sometimes we will end up being shorthanded at the shop. One day, a fire kept us out of the shop all day long, starting at around 10 am and we were busy at the time. I won’t lie to you—fighting some of these fires can take a toll on your body, but our attitude is whatever it takes, we’ll do it.” Copeland’s involvement in Hedrick’s school board has paid off in an indirect way, because both of his sons, Chase and Tyler have turned out pretty well, according to their proud father. “They both play football for the Pekin High School Panthers and they run track as well,” Copeland said. See Community Service, Page 66
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Lean Operations
Why Winners Win (Deliberate Practice) with David Luehr
There are two traits that I most commonly witness amongst the most successful collision business leaders I work with. First they tend to work with a coach or mentor and secondly they engage in what is called deliberate practice. I was first introduced to the concept of deliberate practice not on the shop floor as you might expect, but instead on the tennis court. When I began playing tennis regularly just a few years ago I was completely hooked and would play and practice a lot, but felt my progress was slower than I would have liked. I was introduced to a coach that was unlike many of the other tennis professionals I had previously met. I thought this guy hated me! There were times I hated him, but in just a few months got me out of my rut and soon I was beating players that had been playing tennis for twenty years or more! What was it that made me improve to
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
the point that I was beating far more experienced players? It was the not the amount of practice that mattered, it was how I practiced that mattered! This may come as good news to many of you that scientific research has proven that your natural born talent has much less to do with your success in life than many think. The real secret to success at any endeavor whether sport, business, music, or whatever lies in a person’s dedication to practicing the specific skills they have not yet mastered in a deliberate manner. This was great news to me as a tennis player, because trust me, I have very little natural athletic talent! The bad news is that deliberate practice can be tough! I’ll come back to that in a minute. I am sure many of my readers can relate to what I am about to say. In past years I have been amazed how I would hire a person to work in my shop that says they have been in
the business for twenty years or more and they have absolutely no more skill than the guy working next to them that has only been working in the trade for five years! What is up with that? For the most part, it is because in many trades it takes about 5 years to become proficient at your job, and then people take their foot off the gas and coast. It is like learning to drive. A person first goes through a cognitive phase where they have to think about everything before they do it. “Okay now I have to press the gas pedal, and then turn on my turn signal etc.” You have to think about everything until it becomes a habit. Then a few years later you learn enough skills that you can drive the car all over town and without thinking about anything. The problem then is that people become complacent and quit learning new advanced driving skills. This same driver that has now become comfort-
ably proficient at driving is still a very long ways away from the skills that would be required to professionally drive a race car. So back to the bad news. While my more experienced tennis opponents were still practicing the old skills they had already mastered because it’s fun, I was over on the next court over looking like an idiot and not having much fun trying to learn new skills that I was horrible at! But like the great Zig Ziglar famously said, “Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly until you learn to do it well.” Well I was quickly becoming the master of sucking at tennis! At least that is how it felt. For anyone to become truly great at anything, I am convinced that we have to learn to be okay at sucking at the things we have yet to master. The lessons I have learned from the tennis coach has translated into my business and my life in many enriching ways and it
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will yours too if you are willing to challenge yourself. The journey to truly superior performance is neither for the faint of heart nor for the impatient. The development of genuine expertise requires struggle, sacrifice, and honest, often painful self-assessment. There are no shortcuts. In Malcolm Gladwell’s book titled, Outliers, he indicates that it takes as much as 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to be considered an expert in a particular field. So how does one engage in deliberate practice and how does it translate to the automotive repair business? It is easier to know how to engage in deliberate practice when we are talking about sports and music, but it is a little bit different when advancing your business skills. I believe a great deal of the skills that I am considered an expert in was simply due to my own curiosity and drive to be the best. For example many of my clients consider me an expert in the use of CCC One’s estimating and management software. What many of my clients don’t know is that I have spent many late nights discovering how to adapt this and
other management systems to many different shop environments. I have made every mistake there is to make, tested various methods to perform many tasks in CCC One and I believe I still have more to learn! While some shop managers perform their daily duties and tasks exactly the same way every day, I perform every task with the intention of trying to do it better than the last time. Even if I am just doing the dishes! When it comes to some skills, deliberate practice is simply performing the duties you already have, but changing your mental approach to always want to perform it better. I have often said that the curious will rule the world, perhaps this is why. Here are a few business related skills that coaching combined with deliberate practice can greatly improve your chances of becoming the best in your field, or at least in your shop. ■ Holding crucial conversations and holding people accountable ■ How to sell a repair job to a stubborn client ■ How to sell an idea to a stubborn boss ■ How to speak with charisma in
52 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
front of your staff or in front of crowd ■ Getting your people to buy into change initiatives ■ Analyzing financial statements and running a business by the numbers ■ Continuous improvement and the skills necessary to make people want to help you improve ■ How to get rich!
By developing new skills and working on those things that are sometimes uncomfortable, you can actually change your mental mapping for how you approach things in life. You could quickly find a new lease on life and begin to live a more fulfilling life or at least you may find yourself in a similar situation as me with my tennis game. Beating a lot of opponents, but still feeling like I suck! Perhaps I should change my mental approach and look at it in a more positive light?
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Continued from Page 42
Historical Snapshot
State Farm. Michael Avery and the other plaintiffs filed a petition for the court to hear the case on the basis that Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier should not have participated in the decision since State Farm contributed to his election campaign. The U.S. Supreme Court said nothing about why it decided not to review the case. —As reported in CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com), March 12, 2006. In 1999, a court ruled in favor of Avery and other consumers in a class action lawsuit against State Farm over its use of non-OEM parts, awarding them more than $1 billion. In 2005, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned that verdict. Though a decade has past since that Illinois Supreme Court ruling, the decision is still making headlines. In 2011, Avery's lawyers petitioned the court to reconsider its Avery ruling given what they said was new evidence of the degree to which State Farm was involved in the 2004 election of Justice Karmeier to Illinois’ top See Historical Snapshot, Page 66
www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 53
CAPA Elects 8 Leaders to Its Technical Committee The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) announced on February 1 the election of Alan Bush – ALD and Associates; Jim Fisher – PBSI-DS; Bob Guzdziol – K.S.I. Trading; Don Hill – State Farm; Jim Horner – USAA; Jim Miras – Micro Rim Corporation; Mark Sanders – Caliber Collision Centers; and Chad Sulkala – Allstate to CAPA’s Technical Committee. “CAPA is absolutely privileged to have such a broad range of industry expertise represented on our Technical Committee,” said Debbie Klouser, director of operations for the non-profit association. “Their understanding of the issues facing the aftermarket parts industry and guidance with the program are extremely important to CAPA and those who depend on CAPA certification.” “CAPA’s Technical Committee is one of a number of unique program features that make the CAPA standards unique,” said Jack Gillis, executive director of the association. These new additions to the Technical Committee represent some of the most respected and important members of the collision industry and will enable CAPA to continue its position as the ‘gold standard’ when it comes
to high-quality, safe and fairly-priced certified aftermarket parts.
CAPA’s Technical Committee: ● Randall Bollander – Empire Auto Parts ● Alan Bush –ALD and Associates, LLC - (Vice-Chair) ● Jeff Chen – T.Y.G. Products, L.P. ● Bill Dornon – LKQ-Keystone ● Rod Enlow – RENLOW Auto Technical Consulting, Inc. (Chairman) ● Don Feeley – City Body & Frame ● Jim Fisher – PBSI-DS ● Bob Guzdziol – K.S.I. Trading ● Don Hill – State Farm Mutual Insurance Co. ● Jim Horner – USAA Insurance ● Jared Humphrey – Service King Collision Repair Centers ● Bob Keith – CARSTAR ● Jim Miras – Micro Rim Corporation ● Dan Risley – Automotive Services Association (ASA) ● Mark Sanders – Caliber Collision Centers ● Nick Scheid, LNS & Associates ● Michael Smith – GEICO Insurance ● Chad Sulkala – Allstate Insurance ● Richard Wang – Gordon Auto Body Parts Co., Ltd.
3M Automotive Aftermarket Division Redesigns Sales Force Network to Better Align with Customers
3M Automotive Aftermarket Division announced in February that it is redesigning its sales force network to more closely align with collision industry customers. The company said the 3M AAD sales team prides itself on being close to the customer. As the automotive aftermarket has shifted from being comprised of thousands of independent collision shops and independent distributors to many national and regional MSOs and distributor partners with national footprints, 3M said it saw the need to adapt to the changing landscape. These structural market changes are driving a focus on upgrading their “Customer First” key account management initiative in the 3M AAD sales organization. “We have created specialist roles focused on both national and regional MSOs. We have also expanded our specialists focused on national and regional channel partners,” said Jim Falteisek, sales and marketing director, 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division. “These AAD specialists are implementing new customer first approaches to build joint business plans and develop
flexible service models for these accounts.” This change allows the 3M AAD collision repair specialists to focus more time on training and demonstrating productivity enhancing solutions to end-user technicians and collision shop managers at both independent collision shops and regional shop organizations. “The 3M AAD collision shop specialists will continue to focus on the independent collision repair shops where we have built our business. This focus is an expansion of our reach and customer touches on a daily basis” said Falteisek. “The 3M AAD sales organization is changing to adapt to our marketplace, all with the customer front and center. We are looking forward to a great year in 2016!” For more information, contact 1877-MMM-CARS, contact your local 3M Distributor or 3M Sales Representative or visit the website at www .3Mcollision.com. Follow 3M AAD on Facebook at www.facebook.com /3MCollision and on twitter @3M Collision and Instagram @3MCollision.
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Shop Strategies with Stacey Phillips - ASSISTANT EDITOR
PA Body Shop Owner Ron Perretta Honored With ‘Small Business Person of the Year’ Award Ron Perretta, owner of Professionals Auto Body in PA, was named Small Business Person of the Year by the Blair County Chamber of Commerce. He was honored during the chamber’s annual meeting and awards presentation on January 29. Autobody News reached out to Perretta, an active industry player in the collision repair industry, who started Professionals Auto Body in 1979 and now has two locations in Duncanville and Altoona.
Congratulations on receiving Q: this great honor. What was your reaction when you received the award?
I was very surprised, emotional A: and happy—it was a mix of feelings. When you’re at a function like
that, you’re there to see others being presented with their awards. Then you hear your own name being mentioned for the highest award given. Instantly,
dozens of things went through my mind as I was on my way to the podium to accept the award and give a short speech.
Can you share with other body Q: shop owners what you think it takes to run a successful business?
When I started my business at the age of 19, I was adamant that A: I would only do business with all the
traits instilled in me from a very young age— values, ethics and morals—the things missing in the way many companies do business. These are the things that I’ve built my business on. Another trait that I think is very important in a successful business is not being self-serving. I believe in God and care about my family, customers, my staff and my community before myself and because I’ve done that, the things I need to operate my businesses and personal life have come back to
and financial health. They run from day-to-day hoping to get to the finish line and never getting close. They rely on the wrong people; they have become reliant on people that don’t care about them. Most importantly, and the advantage I have starting my business at the age of 19, I have the wisdom to understand how to build a great culture, I don’t just talk about it and teach it, I From left, Nick Gates from the Blair County Chamber live it every day and have for of Commerce pictured with Ron Perretta, owner of all of my career. Continuing to Professionals Auto Body, after being named Small work on the culture to me is Business Person of the Year what will bring my businesses me threefold. Being hypocritical will to heights others can only wish for. cost you at some point! Most businesses, including body What changes have you seen shops, only think about sailing or proover the years? ducing their product on a daily basis. One of the most important items that’s The negative changes I’ve seen, overlooked until it’s too late is underand maybe I’m getting older and standing and knowing their numbers See Ron Perretta, Page 62
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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 59
The Parable of the Crippled Mare: Loss-Of-Use Now Recoverable in Texas Total Loss Auto Cases by Gary Wickert, Attorney-at-Law
Many years ago, a lawyer argued that the long-standing Texas rule prohibiting recovery of damages for loss of use of personal property, unless the property was a total loss or destroyed, was unfair. City of Canadian v. Guthrie, 87 S.W.2d 316 (Tex. Civ. App. 1932). His client’s one-eyed, underfed mare lived a simple life. One night, however, she was caught roaming the city streets in search of food and was placed in the city pound. Her owner failed to pay her board bill. Thus, she was put out of Gary Wickert her misery. As the Court of Appeals then put it, “when Panhandle Pete’s pistol popped, she petered, for which the pound-keeper paid Pete a pair of pesos.” Her owner protested her death and sued for damages, including $350 for the loss of her services in his occupation of hauling. The Court rejected that claim, holding that although “damages occasioned by the loss of the use and hire of an animal are recover-
able where the animal is injured, no such damages are recoverable for the total loss or death of an animal.” Rather, “the measure of damages in the case of a wrongful killing of an animal is its market value, if it has one, and if not, then its actual or intrinsic value, with interest.” That rule, the owner’s attorney argued, made it “cheaper to kill a mare in Texas than to cripple her.” On January 8, 2016, the Texas Supreme Court in J & D Towing, LLC v. American Alternative Insurance Corporation, 2016 WL 91201 (Tex. 2016), changed nearly a century of law and ruled for the first time that the owners of automobiles and other damaged personal property which are a total loss may recover loss-of-use damages. J & D Towing, LLC (J & D) owned only one tow truck, a 2002 Dodge 3500 purchased in April 2011 for $18,500. On December 29, 2011, the tow truck was rendered a total loss as a result of the negligence of the defendant. The defendant’s carrier offered to settle J & D’s property damage claim for $10,299.12 if J & D retained the truck or $16,715.61 if the carrier retained the truck. Believing the truck was worth between $19,
000 and $20,000 at the time of the accident, J & D refused to accept the settlement offer. On February 29, 2012, the defendant’s liability carrier settled with J & D for $25,000, the policy limits for property damage. Around March 8, 2012, J & D used that money to purchase another truck and resumed its business. J & D then filed an underinsured motorist (UIM) claim with its own carrier, American Alternative Insurance Corporation (AAIC), requesting compensation for the loss-of-use of the truck. It claimed that the funds from the settlement with the defendant were insufficient to compensate for these damages, rendering the defendant an “underinsured” motorist. AAIC denied the claim and cancelled the policy. J & D thereafter sued AAIC to recover “any and all loss-of-use damages to which [it] may be entitled.” J & D presented to a jury various calculations of the loss-of-use damages J & D claimed it incurred between December 29, 2011 and March 8, 2012. Aggregating the totals of those calculations, J & D asked the jury to award loss-of-use damages in the sum of either $27,866.25 or
$29,416.25, with the difference being whether the jury awarded damages for a nine-week period or a ten-week period. AAIC challenged the availability of loss-of-use damages in its motion for summary judgment arguing that the UIM policy only covers damages that J & D is “legally entitled” to recover from the defendant. Because Texas law did not permit recovery of loss-ofuse damages in total-loss cases, and because J & D’s vehicle was a total loss, J & D was not legally entitled to recover loss-of-use damages. The Trial Court denied both motions. At trial, the only question submitted to the jury concerned the proper amount of lossof-use damages. The jury awarded J & D $28,000. After the jury returned its verdict, the Trial Court held a brief hearing to determine the amount of the credit to which AAIC was entitled in light of the settlement with the defendant’s liability carrier. The Court concluded that J & D’s truck was worth $19,500 at the time of the accident and thus AAIC was entitled to a credit of $5,500 – the amount of the settlement that did not cover the value of the truck
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but instead partially compensated J & D for its loss-of-use damages. The Trial Court entered judgment for J & D in the amount of $22,500 plus interest and court costs. AAIC appealed with the issue being whether Texas law in total loss cases allowed recovery of loss-of-use damages. AAIC’s position was that Texas law has never allowed recovery of loss-of-use damages in total-loss cases. The Court of Appeals agreed, reversing the decision. The Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals, holding for the first time, that “the owner of personal property that has been totally destroyed may recover loss-of-use damages in addition to the fair market value of the property immediately before the injury.” Until this decision, a person whose vehicle was totally destroyed could only recover the market value of the lost vehicle, while a person whose vehicle was repaired could also recover the loss-of-use of the vehicle. Hanna v. Lott, 888 S.W.2d 132 (Tex. App. ? Tyler 1994, no writ); Pasadena State Bank v. Isaac, 228 S.W.2d 127 (Tex. 1950); Mondragon v. Austin, 954 S.W.2d 191 (Tex. Civ. App. ? Austin 1997). One argument against
recovering for loss-of-use when the vehicle is a total loss is if the owner rents a vehicle for two weeks before buying a replacement vehicle, the insured is not really out anything that would justify his recovery of the reasonable rental value for the time it took to buy a new vehicle. The insured can buy a car that has two weeks fewer miles on it, and potentially is two weeks newer and would have a higher resale value. Rental prices generally exceed the depreciation value, but once you’ve crossed that line, it blurs a bright line test. A defendant would argue that he would be paying more than actual damages if liable for loss-of-use, because the plaintiff is getting the free use of a vehicle for two weeks. The law didn’t even make an exception when the owner could not secure financing and was therefore unable to replace the property. Hanna v. Lott, supra. The Supreme Court in J & D Towing, LLC noted that a majority of jurisdictions within the United States permit loss-of-use damages in partial-destruction cases, but prohibit them in totalloss cases. However, the Court noted that case law and treatises have shifted away from the distinction, because the
owner of total-loss personal property may suffer loss-of-use damages to the same extent that the owner of repairable personal property, and that the distinction was “illogical.” The Supreme Court didn’t specify whether the change in the law was prospective or retroactive in nature. However, in Texas, the general rule is that you must read an opinion to see whether there is language in it that limits the applicability of the holding to subsequent cases. If you don’t see that sort of limitation, it is generally assumed that the case applies retroactively. For example, in Guillot v. Hix, a case involving when a cause of action for workers’ compensation subrogation accrues argued by Gary L. Wickert, the Supreme Court specifically stated: Our holding today may bar actions which have not been filed in reliance upon the rules established by our prior decisions. We therefore make our holding applicable only to injuries which occur today and hereafter. Injuries which occurred before today remain subject to the rules in Fidelity, Brandon, and Campbell. Guillot v. Hix, 838 S.W.2d 230 (Tex. 1992). The J & D Towing, LLC decision should apply retroactively to all pend-
ing losses or cases, not just prospectively, because this is not a change in prior law as declared by the Texas Supreme Court. Until now, only appellate courts have weighed in. This was the first time the Texas Supreme Court has ruled on the issue. Thank you to the Claims Journal for permission to reprint this article.
Gary Wickert is an insurance trial lawyer and a partner with Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C., and is regarded as one of the world’s leading experts on insurance subrogation. He is the author of several subrogation books and legal treatises and is a national and international speaker and lecturer on subrogation and motivational topics. He can be reached at gwickert@mwl-law.com.
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Continued from Page 56
Ron Perretta
noticing it more, but I see corruption all over from the lowest to the highest levels. I see the self-serving people, companies and people I do business with daily, people I’ve known for years go down the wrong path. It’s frustrating and I wonder how people sleep at night. It’s getting more difficult to run a business and repair todays vehicles. People are going to have to be more focused than in the past, along with the products they produce and the level of service they provide. Very few can and will be able to do it. I’m so ready for the next chapter in my career; it’s so exciting. The other great change I’ve seen is the techie stuff being put in today’s cars. I love it and I have the equipment and people that can diagnose and repair these new, fun products drivers are experiencing.
In addition to running your two body shop locations, what other Q: businesses do you own?
A:
I’ve run a consulting and coaching business since (2000) I work
with only the people who want to understand how to operate their business at a higher level and I coach them to grow and be independent. I help shops be reliant on themselves, consumers and their staff — you don’t need much more. I often say I wish I would have had someone with my knowledge, passion and wisdom to guide me when I was learning the business. Today, I provide that to businesses all over the country and into Canada. We have five people working on that side of things. We also have incorporated a spin-off business within the consulting business, a production company. We built a studio for production, radio, TV, print ads and pod casts. In most cases, we can produce an ad at a fraction of the cost as most and at a much higher level than most. I must admit there are production companies doing it much better at five or six times the cost. We tailor to most anyone, not just the businesses with the bigger advertising budgets. I also operate a full mechanical facility and just finished a $500,000 expansion. We have to take care of our customers and subletting to outside entities aren’t an option. They don’t care about our customers. I must say the fa-
62 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
cility is beautiful! In addition, we opened a glass company. It’s young but growing fast. I see many opportunities ahead and we’ve just started tapping into them. I started a towing company (1995), which is another area of great opportunity. However, it’s more difficult than running most businesses. Some would see that as a bad thing. I see it as a challenge. Towing is only part of what we do. We grew this business 33% last year over the previous year thinking outside the box.
Can you tell us about your inQ: volvement with other industry initiatives?
Other initiatives would involve A: helping to change the industry. Recently I’ve brought it back to my
state, Pennsylvania. Dealing with legislators locally and around the country has been challenging. This is an area I will be focused on more this year. Being involved with those who sit in the seats that are making decisions needs to be done and I want to help in this area more. We will be challenging the laws of Pennsylvania very soon!
Is there anything else you Q: would like to share with readers?
I have seen the confidence peoA: ple have in themselves in this industry take a terrible nose dive; it’s
self-inflicted. No one is going to change that for you. As an industry, if you want things to change, it’s up to you only. If you want it to get better, start doing things differently. Trying to be like the shop down the street is a bad thing. Be influenced by great businesses not your paint company, the insurance company the good talkers, or anyone else that’s possibly using you rather than helping you. Be your own! Ron Perretta at Professionals Auto Body can be reached at ronperretta @aol.com or 814-931-7669.
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Shop Strategies with Stacey Phillips - ASSISTANT EDITOR
Female Shop Owner in NY Says Success is Due to Being Prepared & Connecting With Customers Autobody News spoke to Audra Fordin, owner of Great Bear Auto Repair in Flushing, New York about the body shop she has run since 1997. Fordin began working with her father at Great Bear at a young age and ultimately fell in love with the industry. She prides
Audra Fordin, owner/operator of Great Bear Auto Repair and Auto Body Shop in Flushing, NY
herself on running her shop differently than most, and said that a successful business requires being prepared and establishing a relationship with customers and the community.
some time to develop that skill. I found other ways to help in the meanwhile. Service writing and telemarketing come to mind. I’m a big extrovert and love to meet new people. Talking to drivers is my favorite thing about this job. Chatting with customers has taught me more about the auto industry than market research ever could. Leading workshops is another favorite. It’s fun and fulfilling to help women understand how cars work.
changes have you seen in Q: theWhatindustry?
A: The auto industry changes fast. I remember working on carburetors and fuel injection. Now, engines are controlled by a computer. Auto bodies used to be made of steel and iron. Now it’s fiberglass and plastic. All of this happened within decades and bigger changes are coming. Today, we’ve got hybrid and electric cars, not to mention the upcoming rise of self-driving cars.
you please share the history Q: ofCanGreat Bear? Great Bear was established by A: my great grandfather in 1933. This presents several problems. A: First and foremost, it’s hard for He ran the business with his four sons. Once upon a time, there was another mechanics to keep up with technology.
business called “Great Bear” that sold brake pads. My family loved the name and asked if we could use it. They said yes, so we did. There used to be 72 Great Bear auto shops in the family franchise. Today, there are about 10 left. They’re all individually owned, so I can’t speak for those businesses. Eight employees work at my shop. I’m the last of the Mohicans. No other Fordins own or operate an auto shop anymore. My dad ran my shop until I took over in 1997. Now he’s a snow bird, living in Florida. I was jealous during the recent blizzard!
How did you get started in the Q: business and what do you enjoy most?
I got started when I was super A: young. At age eight, I could help file papers. As soon as I learned to
count, I could keep track of inventory. When I developed enough strength and dexterity, I started to use power tools. I was excited to repair cars, but it took
Within months of graduating trade school, significant changes could occur. Second, this gives an unfair advantage to mechanics who work with big car dealers. Automakers tend to monopolize information. Thank goodness for the Right to Repair Act. There are also organizations like I-CAR and ASA that offer training programs for mechanics. I do my best to stay on top of the latest trends. In the mid ‘80s, check engine lights became a feature. My dad and I didn’t know what to do at first. I remember him shrugging and giving the cliche advice of, “Just put some black tape over it.” At this point, I decided to enroll in automotive trade school. I’ve also been certified with ASE, I-CAR, the NYS DMV, and other organizations. I expect the same from my staff. All of my mechanics have a minimum of two certifications, plus we hold mandatory training twice a year.
What is it like running the busiQ: ness as a woman business owner in this industry and what advice do you
64 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
have for others in a similar situation?
First, let me give newbies a pep A: talk. This is an awesome industry. Don’t let your friends or family dis-
courage you. People might be surprised you want to go into an industry known to be a boys’ club. That’s okay. I feel empowered when I help a driver get back on the road. Know the feeling? Make no mistake. You will be judged and stereotyped. Men have doubted my expertise many times. Once, a male driver didn’t trust my diagnosis, and asked to speak with a “real mechanic.” I found my janitor (a man) and told him exactly what to say. The customer trusted him without question. You’ll also have to deal with defensive customers. Often, cars break down or malfunction due to neglect. No one wants to believe they’re at fault. In reality, it’s hard to blame drivers. Marketing hasn’t done a great job of educating the public about what it takes to
keep a vehicle in good shape. Here’s my advice: Brace yourself for negative situations. I’m not implying you should worry or stress out. Instead, consider the common objections you might hear from drivers. If you’re a female mechanic or business owner like me, there might be questions about your credentials. How will you handle them? Write down a response and say it out loud until you feel confident. Do the same for buyer objections. You’ll close more sales when you’re prepared to manage the situation.
What sets your collision repair Q: facility apart from others? My shop is an extension of my A: home. The setting is quite cozy. It invites people to relax and stay
awhile. I want people to feel comfortable. It comes down to remembering names, greeting people with a smile, and addressing their concerns compas-
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sionately. We offer snacks and drinks (not alcoholic ones); plus, there are bar stools lined up at the counter, like in the sitcom Cheers. “Everybody knows your name. And they’re always glad you came.” We also prioritize driver’s education. For example, we’ve got a tire pressure gauge in the waiting room. Customers are welcome to read the instructions, take it outside, and check their pressure while they wait.
jobs, but took a bus or taxi to save money. Business wasn’t good. This is what inspired me to host auto awareness workshops for women. We taught them how to do basic repairs like polishing headlights, checking auto fluids, and changing bulbs and wiper blades. We collected donations from participants and local businesses. The proceeds covered the cost of repairs for single working moms. I’m sharing this story because it illustrates the power of community. People want to feel connected to the businesses they work with. Providing workshops (or any kind of educational event) is a great way to do that. If you can find a way to serve your community in a way that people notice, you’ll make a difference and drum up new business.
Is there anything else you would Q: like to share with our readers in the collision repair industry?
In the Great Recession of 2008, A: my shop hit a sales slump. Lots of folks lost their jobs and didn’t have a
reason to drive. Others held onto their
“I don’t know, because it’s not an easy business to be in,” he explained. “My father tried to talk me out of getting into this industry, so I don’t want them to feel like they have to do this. One of them is into fixing the cars and the other one is good at the computer-side of things, so I think they will do a great job if they decide to take over.”
Continued from Page 49
Community Service
“They were part of a 4x2 relay team and they won the state title. They’re good students and they are getting great educations, so that is very satisfying.” Will Steve’s sons enter the collision repair world when the time comes?
Continued from Page 52
Historical Snapshot
court. Within a year of his election, Karmeier was among the Justices on the Court that voted to overturn the $1 billion judgment against State Farm. A lawsuit over that issue continues.
5 years ago in the collision repair industry (March 2011) An Environmental Protection Agency official, speaking at this month’s Collision Industry Conference (CIC), said that even though the deadline has passed for shops to comply with new federal refinish and paint stripping regulations (sometimes referred to as 6-H or NESHAP), any business that has not complied should not avoid doing so. “Some folks think if they hang back and don’t submit the paperwork that somehow EPA isn’t going to know about them,” Deborah Craig, an EPA compliance officer said. “They don’t want to shine a light on themselves by submitting something late. Our recommendation is that you just move forward as quickly as possibly to come into compliance. Give the regional
EPA folks a call. Ask for help in filling out the forms. Talk to folks in your trade group for assistance. A lot of the paint suppliers have really been offering such excellent customer service by helping you comply.” – As reported in CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com), March 28, 2011. The federal air quality regulation imposed a number of requirements on body shops, including mandatory training related to the regulation for painters every five years at a minimum. So painters that underwent that training five years ago as the regulation went into effect—but who haven’t gone through the training again since that time—are due to take it again this year. More information is available on the EPA website (http:// www3.epa.gov/collisionrepair/).
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A New Hope for Labor Rates: The Variable Rate System by National AutoBody Research Autobody News interviewed Sam Valenzuela, president of National AutoBody Research, about the importance of conducting labor rate surveys and the company’s Variable Rate System technology.
Can you tell us about National Q: AutoBody Research and the Variable Rate System?
about not-included procedures that insurance companies pay for. By enabling repairers to keep up with the increasing training, certifications, and equipment demands of the new technologies and materials associated with modern vehicles, the VRS supports the growth of the collision repairer and helps ensure the proper care and safety of the consumer.
National AutoBody Research What is the process NABR uses A: Q: (NABR) is an independent, to collect data and how does it third-party research, technology and ensure accuracy?
consulting company serving the collision repair industry. It is not owned by insurance companies, body shops or outside investors. NABR is working to restore the free market to labor rate pricing and to level the playing field for payment of non-included procedures. NABR believes people should be paid what they are worth and be paid for the work they do. In response, NABR developed the Variable Rate System (VRS), an innovative and proven technology, to help collision repairers understand market-based labor rates and assist them to learn more
All VRS Labor Rate Surveys are A: conducted online, free and easily accessible and available 24/7 on the
National AutoBody Research website (www.nationalautobodyresearch.com/). The VRS survey is an accurate source available for market-based labor rates for several reasons, including the survey’s validity, measurement of market labor rates, data integrity, continuous measurement, and reporting of a range of rates. Among other criteria, a key component to a valid survey is that it is easily and equally accessible to all po-
tential survey respondents. This is true for the VRS survey but may not be true for other surveys. The VRS survey asks for collision repairers’ posted labor rates (sometimes called door rates, or walkin rates). The VRS survey measures the true, market-based range of labor rate prices, and then reports those rates through the Variable Rate System. Furthermore, as the industry’s only independent survey of labor rates nationwide, the VRS has no special interest in the survey resulting in a certain number. The survey is only interested in accurately representing the market prices for collision repair labor in any market. Therefore, the VRS uses a high standard for data integrity and does not leave out data, does not change data, and does not manipulate the survey results. The VRS produces a solid market report on labor rates that both repairers and insurers can agree on. In addition, the VRS measures market prices continuously, not just once a year or even once every three to five years. Any time a shop changes
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their rates for any reason, they can immediately report their new rates to the VRS, as many times as they want, whenever they want, to ensure the VRS always has the most current market rates available. Lastly, the VRS reports a range of market labor rates in any geographic area, not just one rate. Just like different cars have different prices, and different insurance companies have different prices to insure those cars, shops are different too, and shops have different prices. In reality, in any market for products or services, there is an acceptable range of prices that make up the market, not one singular price for all products. The VRS reports this range, which is a truer, more accurate picture of market labor rate prices.
What is the importance of conQ: ducting labor rate surveys and how can my shop learn about market rates in our area of the country?
Revenue from labor can often A: represent about half of a shop’s total revenue; therefore, the labor rate
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is critically important to the financial success and health of a collision repairer. Repairers have struggled to get paid what they’re worth, and current labor rates are often below true market prices, even lagging behind standard inflation rates. In the Variable Rate System, finally the collision repair industry has a real solution to the problem of inaccurate labor rate surveys, which have plagued the industry for years. To help both your shop and the industry, take five minutes to visit the NABR website and fill out the free VRS Labor Rate Survey for your state. Even though the survey is an important starting point, it is only one small piece of the entire Variable Rate System, which comprises a full suite of online tools to help you understand market prices in your area, understand your cost of doing business, calculate the rates for your individual shop, and receive more not-included procedures and operations. For more information on the VRS, visit the NABR website at: www.NationalAutoBodyResearch.com or contact Sam Valenzuela at sam@ nationalautobodyresearch.com.
Assured Performance Launches OEM Repair Procedure Compliance App Assured Performance Network announced on January 20 they are launching an application program to document the use of OEM repair procedures for their network of certified shops. The Assured Performance OEM Repair Procedure Compliance App automatically transforms the shop’s estimate repair line information onto an interactive checklist and delivers it onto the technician’s hands via a smart phone, tablet or desktop. Then, the technician can use the simple touch screen functionality and commands to take photos and provide other documentation as they follow OEM repair procedures in the proper repair of a vehicle. According to a company press release, the program only takes technicians seconds to properly document the process followed for every repair. The application also allows management to review and approve the technician’s documentation and see alerts when no documentation is provided. All of the compliance documentation is linked to the original estimate and maintained electronically online in the shop’s dataSAFE as a permanent record. Documenting every repair
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Axalta Coating Systems has harnessed the power of light by developing a light source that the company said may forever change the way body shops achieve refinish perfection. Known as Speed Light, this hand-held device allows even the finest imperfections to be seen, according to a company press release. The right lighting conditions are essential to every stage of the paint repair process. Speed Light’s diode bulbs, more commonly known as LEDs, save energy, last up to 60,000 hours and are cool to the touch. This technology offers clean, pure white light that is ideal for viewing and matching colors and helps body shop professionals detect imperfections, according to a company press release. Speed Light can be used throughout the refinish process to help identify pre-paint defects like pinholes and sand scratches, compare color samples, check color matches and identify flake coarseness. It can also help refinishers spot post-repair issues like coverage and hiding. To learn more about Axalta, visit www.axaltacoatingsystems.com
with visual proof of compliance provides critical documentation to limit liability exposure. Aaron Clark, former MSO shop owner and Assured Performance vice president of technical compliance said, “This technology-driven solution provides a shop with exactly what they need to manage quality and compliance efficiently. Third-party spot checks may be performed by an untested, untrained, or uncertified individual and can leave huge holes in the documentation, lead to questionable liability coverage, and can be very expensive.” Michael Quinn, executive VP of Assured Performance and also a former MSO shop owner, added, “Experts all agree that effective quality assurance and OEM procedure compliance must be built into the repair process. Now, our Certified shops have a cost effective tool to manage that.” The application will be provided exclusively to Assured Performance certified shops. Assured Performance will contact all of their certified shops and begin rolling out the program and providing instructions.
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Takata Air-Bag Recall Expanded as 10th Death Reported Millions more vehicles are being recalled to replace defective Takata Corp. air bags as another death was linked to the devices that have been found to spray metal pieces into vehicles, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. Reports in Automotive News and the Detroit Free Press have detailed the two most recent recalls cover 5 million air bag inflators in cars made by Ford, Volkswagen AG, Honda Motor Co., Daimler AG, Audi AG, Mazda Motor Corp., Saab AB and BMW AG. NHTSA has been coordinating the largest-ever U.S. automotive action, which previously covered 23 million inflators in 19 million vehicles with Takata air bags. The agency couldn’t immediately say how many additional vehicles would be recalled because some vehicles have multiple inflators and some may have been previously recalled. Owners can check on their vehicles at safercar.gov. The driver of a 2006 Ford Motor Co. Ranger pickup died in December after the truck swerved off a road in South Carolina and hit an obstruction, the agency said in a call with reporters Friday. Agency investigators said that the Takata air-bag exploded, and the coroner had previously determined the
rupture contributed to the death, NHTSA spokesman Gordon Trowbridge said. In addition to the 10 fatalities, nine of them in the U.S., about 100 people have been injured by Takata air bags. Safety ‘Crisis’ “This is a massive safety crisis,” Trowbridge said. Ford said it has “very limited information” about the latest incident and is working with NHTSA to review the circumstances of the South Carolina death. “We are saddened to hear about the driver’s death and offer our sincere condolences to the family of the driver,” Ford spokesman John Cavangany said in an e-mail. “We are working with the agency to review the available information, but we have very limited information at this point. If we find an issue with our vehicles, we take prompt action to address customer safety.” Takata said it’s continuing to conduct tests and ramp up replacement kit production, and trying to raise consumer awareness of recalled vehicles. The Japanese company also is in talks with rival air-bag maker Daicel Corp. on what a Daicel spokesman, Masahiko Hirokawa, described as “ways to ensure stable supply” of inflators. No decision has been made
about whether they will invest in a production joint venture, Hirokawa said. The proposed tie-up was earlier reported by the Nikkei newspaper. The Nikkei also reported that Takata will separately seek aid from carmakers as recall costs mount, including getting them to cover some costs and easing pressure for discounts on parts. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to the driver’s family,” said Robert Rendine, a U.S. spokesman for the Tokyo-based parts supplier. “We are cooperating fully with regulators and our automotive customers and continue to support all actions that advance vehicle safety.” One of the two recalls NHTSA is ordering — to replace driver’s side air bags with similar inflators to the one involved in the latest fatal crash — involves vehicles made by Ford, Mazda, Audi, VW, Daimler and Saab, the agency said. Approximately 1 million inflators are included in the action. The inflator had been involved in previous testing without experiencing a rupture, Trowbridge said. The agency isn’t sure why the pickup’s air bag exploded. The fatality means there’s a higher risk, meaning the agency “believes it’s appropriate to take aggressive
action,” he said.
Second Recall The second recall announced Friday, involving approximately 4 million inflators, involves vehicles made by Volkswagen, BMW, Honda and Mercedes-Benz, NHTSA said. This recall comes after testing on some similar inflators in already-recalled Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles showed additional ruptures. The agency has said it will take years to complete all of the recalls, and it is prioritizing repairs in areas with high humidity levels, like the states around the Gulf of Mexico and Puerto Rico. Older vehicles and those needing new drivers-side air bags are also higher risk, Trowbridge said. “The agency is using all the tools available to clean this mess up as quickly as possible,” Trowbridge said. In November, Takata was fined a record $200 million over its missteps in handling the air-bag crisis. NHTSA found that Takata had been slow to report the defect and hid critical information from regulators and its automaker partners. Takata agreed to appoint an independent monitor to oversee its recalls and operate under the terms of a fiveyear consent decree.
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Darryl Hollenbeck Claims 2016 AMBR Award With His PPG-Painted Roadster
Acclaimed custom car builder and painter Darryl Hollenbeck won the 2016 America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) award at the Grand National Roadster Show (GNRS) held at the Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, CA January 29–31. It was the third time Hollenbeck has painted an AMBR winner, and the first time he captured the prize with his own car—a PPG-painted 1932 Ford highboy roadster.
Darryl Hollenbeck’s AMBR-winning ‘32 Ford Roadster
The GNRS started in 1950 and is the longest running indoor car show in the world, and the AMBR, a towering eight-foot-tall trophy, is considered the ultimate recognition for a roadster-style hot rod. This year a field of thirteen outstanding cars—built by the elites of the custom car world—competed for the prestigious award. In the end, the judges
named Darryl and Terri Hollenbeck’s classically-styled roadster the winner, giving Darryl another honor to add to his long list of accomplishments including AMBR wins in 2013 and 2005. Hollenbeck and his colleagues Dan Webb and Cory Taulbert built the car at Vintage Color Studio, the custom shop Hollenbeck owns and operates in Concord, CA, and where he has been using PPG products exclusively for more than 25 years. Hollenbeck then painted the car himself. He came up with the roadster’s unique color, dubbed “Rotten Avocado Green,” applying a custom mix created with the PPG ENVIROBASE® High Performance waterborne paint system along with Single-Stage DCC9300 from the DELTRON® refinish system. “Winning an AMBR is a dream; to win it with my own car, wow, I’m over the moon about that,” said Hollenbeck. “As for the color, it is different. My wife wanted brown, I wanted green. Depending on the light, you see one color or the other—or both. The great thing was that the PPG paint was easy to work with. It gave us the chance to experiment, to really stretch our imaginations and come up with something cool.” For information, visit www.ppg refinish.com or call (800) 647-6050.
INFINITI OF NORWOOD
Iowa ‘Roadside Birth’ Couple Has Healthy Baby Boy
by Olivia Mancino, KWWL
As the sun came up over Highway 20 on the morning of Feb. 11, a new life was born...also on the highway. An Iowa Falls couple was on their way to the hospital, but their little guy just couldn’t wait.
A baby was born outside of Iowa Auto Rebuilders. Credit: KWWL
Taryn Naill delivered her own baby while her boyfriend drove, and eventually pulled over to Iowa Auto Rebuilders to wait for paramedics. Twenty-four hours later, Tyler Hall and Taryn Naill returned to the same shop, this time to express their gratitude to the crew for letting them use their parking lot, and to introduce them to the shops youngest-ever visitor, baby Tylyn Clay. “You know, I never expected this to ever happen in our parking lot, and I don't think it will again, but who
knows, we’re always here to help!” said Dick Merron with Iowa Auto Rebuilders. “I was thinking, please don’t let us be that person to have a baby in the car, but sure enough, we did,” said Tyler Hall, laughing. Of course the fast and furious delivery wasn’t planned; the couple had everything set up with a midwife at the hospital. But Taryn and Tylyn are healthy, and that’s what's important. “We’re going to go home and rest I suppose, and introduce Tylyn to the cats,” said Taryn Naill. Naill says riding in the car will always be different now, and that's not such a bad thing. Thank you KWWL for reprint permission.
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BASF Presents Winner of 2016 Fight Club of Automotive Design at Middlecott Sketchbattle in Detroit, MI
Omar Gonzalez won the 2016 Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment, pre-
sented by BASF. Introduced in 2012, the experiment is Detroit’s first-ever “Fight Club of Design,” an underground automotive industry event developed to identify emerging design talent. The event coincides with the Detroit Auto Show, and is an automotive sketching competition where contestants battle for the championship. Fourteen contestants competed under pressure, in front of an audience in a timed, three-round boxing themed setting.
Omar Gonzalez’s first round sketch featuring BASF Nightfall Blue a 150th anniversary color from South America
2016 Sketchbattle winner, Omar Gonzalez, with his championship belt
“Sketchbattle is an amazing event that enables emerging industry talent to shine. These artists and designers are the future of the automotive industry,” said Paul Czornij, technical
manager for the BASF Color Excel- each round of the competition. lence Group and Sketchbattle judge. “The use of BASF colors in this Other judges included: Ralph year’s competition presented the conGilles, head of design, FCA - Global; testants with a unique design opportuBregt Ectors, global strategic design nity to convey their dreams in color in manager, Buick; and Kemal Curic, 30 minutes or less,” said Frank design manager, Ford Mustang. Schwartz, co-owner and partner, Mid“It was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had, and I was extremely impressed by the audience and judges. It was a pleasure to sketch live for all of them. Middlecott Sketchbattle is a great platform for young designers to make connections inside the automotive industry,” said Gonzalez, a native of Mexico who recently graduated from Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon The 14 design competitors sketch at a table surrounded (UANL) in Monterrey, Mex- by hundreds of onlookers during the 2016 Middlecott ico in the Industrial Design Sketchbattle presented by BASF program. Sketchers incorporated colors de- dlecott Sketchbattle. “The anniversary veloped by the BASF automotive color colors brought the designer’s passions excellence group to celebrate the com- to the forefront, and the judges had a pany’s 150 anniversary in 2015. Four very difficult time choosing a winner, colors were developed–—one for each although Omar’s consistency throughof BASF’s global regions–—Arjean out the evening helped bring him the Silver for North America, Nightfall award.” Blue for South America, Solaric Green More information about the divifor Europe and Fresh Mint for Asia- sion is available at www.basf-coatings Pacific. A different color was used for .com
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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
Hey Toby! Kool Tools from SEMA 2015 with Toby Chess
Three years ago, Kye Yeung and I walked the floors of the 2012 SEMA show looking for new products that most of us never get a chance to see. When we made a presentation at the Collision Industry Conference, the presentation became an instant hit among the audience. So, for the third year in a row, we walked the floor at SEMA 2015 looking for things that were unique and would make life in the body shop a little easier. The products we chose to test were made by Dent Fix, GL Enterprises, and Spray Max, Infratech, WRD Glass Tools, Steck, Reliable Automotive Engineering, Collision Edge, Whistler, Time Shaver Tools and Kent Automotive. It should be noted that we are not endorsing these products and there other manufactures that make similar items and you should take some time to search them out. We purchased all but two of the items and we checked them out before we presented at the
SCRS open board meeting and the Collision Industry Conference this January. There is also a video presentation which can be accessed at SCRS.com. Let’s look at our first item—Shunt Pliers from Dent Fix. See Fig 1.
freely through the copper/aluminum electrodes. When two or more pieces of steel are placed in the path of the electrons, the path is interrupted, resistance and pressure builds up and are released in the form of heat—a spot weld is formed. See Fig 2.
does not allow the electrons to pass through the metal. So, to create an electrical path, we use shunt pliers for the first weld. In the past, we used locking pliers to create the path but locking pliers were not designed to carry the current (amperage) that is being used today and it is possible to blow the pliers apart. I know this because it happened to both me and March Taylor. The shunt pliers have a large copper base and huge wire to handle the amps. The pliers allow the path of electricity and once the path is established, resistance forms at the
Fig 1
Over the years I have been looking for a set of shunt pliers, but these are the first ones that I found that I wanted to purchase. These pliers are a must for the weld-bonding process on today’s vehicles. During the spot welding process, the electrons flow
Fig 2
The problem occurs when a barrier is placed between the pieces of metal such as E-coat or adhesive that
Fig 3
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electrodes and produces a weld. When the second weld is performed the path travels through the first weld and resistance forms at the electrodes and the weld is created. See Fig 3.
be punched out. The smaller size allows for greater access in tight spaces.
8mm x 20mm Slot
Fig 4
Moving on to the next item, a finger sander from Dent Fix. Dent Fix has this small and easy to use finger sander. See Fig 4. This compact sander is ideal for removing squeeze type resistance spot welds and removing the heads of rivets, in order that they may Fig 5
8 mm Plug Hole
Fig 6
Fig 5. With MIG weld brazing, you need surface area and this punch creates an 8mm by 20mm slot. See Fig 6. Another tool from Dent Fix is a LED work light. Fig 6a.
Fig 7
Fig 6a
Another tool is a slot punch from Dent Fix for MIG weld brazing. See
Fig 8
It has a magnet on the bottom, it is rechargeable, it has variable intensity and the most amazing thing is its brightness. See it in action on the SCRS web site. The last item from Dent Fix is a safety product. Question— How many of your
techs use two air fitting for a blower? See Fig 7. This is a huge OSHA violation. Dent Fix has an OSHA compliant blower that will fit into a pocket and it works extremely well. See Fig 8.
Fig 9
The next item is from GL Enterprises and it is called the GOOP Scoop. See Fig 9.
Fig 10
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They come in two sizes and allow the tech and painter to get all of that expensive material out of the bottom of the container, reducing waste. See Fig 10. They can also be used to mix the plastic filler. Another item from GL Enterprises is the Shinners. See Fig 11.
One step instead of two. The closest primer that approaches the characteristics of OEM applied E-
30 minutes. The primer has a pot life about 12 hours. We found an epoxy primer in a spray can. It is made by Spray Max and it is extremely easy to use. See Fig 13. It is a 2K system, in other words the spray can has the hardener in the bottom and through an internal mechanical device the hardener is mixed into the primer when sprayed.
When the can is shaken up it is ready to spray. It has a shelf life of 4 to 6 days depending on the weather. See Fig 14. INFRATECH The next item is great tool to speed up the painting process, a short-wave infrared heater from Infratech. See Fig 15.
Fig 12
Fig 11
The kit comes with 50 pieces of plastic and there are two holes in the plastic that line up with pegs on the paddle. You apply the paint to the plastic and when the holes and black are covered, you take the sheet off the paddle and turn it over and now you have a clear coat/base coat panel that can be used to check for the correct color. Now you don’t need to add clear or wetting agent to the panel.
coat is epoxy primer. It is a two component system, the primer and the hardener. See Fig 12. I tell shops to put the gallon can on the mixing machine and each day have the pain-ter add the hardener and make a small amount. I apply the epoxy primer with a small foam paint brush ($.60 from Home Depot) to areas that need seam sealer. Fig 13 It is dry in about
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Fig 14
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Fig 15
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light goes through the paint and heats up the metal and now the paint cures from the bottom to the top. Short wave can heat so quickly that it’s possible cure primer in 15 minutes. This unit is portable and the heating unit is 18 inches long. It’s priced at less than $300. The head can be moved up or down and rotated 360 degrees. It also has a timer. The next product that can be used in conjunction with Fig 16 the heat lamp is a high-build primer in a spray can from Kent Automotive. See Fig 16. Kye uses this system in his shop for small body repairs. The body tech will spray the primer on (just for small areas) and heat it up with the short wave light. By the time the vehicle gets to the paint department, the primer is fully cured and ready for prep. Moving on to our next item, a glass removal system from WRD Glass Tools. See Fig. 17. This glass removal tool is unique
paint. See Fig 18. Kye purchased the unit and has removed 3 rear glasses with the same rope. I put a video clip of the tool being used and this can be accessed from SCRS.com (see—Kool Tools
Fig 21
Fig 19
Fig 17
from SEMA 2015). Next, we have a door skin tool for aluminum from Steck. See Fig 19. The new all aluminum Ford 150
Fig 18
Fig 20
in that it uses a special nylon rope and small battery-powered electric drill. The rope is reusable and it does not chew up the rubber or damage the
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855-417-4511 Fax: 240-499-2488 M-F 8am-5:30pm Sat 8am-5pm rockvilleparts@ourismanautomotive.com www.rockvillevolkswagen.com
508-695-7131 Fax: 508-695-0321 M-F 8am-5pm Sat 8am-2pm
kenr@driveavw.com www.driveavw.com
NEW JERSEY Atlantic Volkswagen Egg Harbor Township
609-641-1788 Fax: 609-646-2331 M-Sat 7:30am-5pm Tue 7:30am-9pm
vcornwall@atlanticautogroup.com www.atlanticautogroup.com East Coast Volkswagen Englewood Cliffs
866-641-1410 Fax: 201-541-1384 M-Fri 7:30am-6pm Sat 8am-2pm
Cherry Hill Volkswagen Cherry Hill
856-665-5660 Fax: 856-665-4645 M-F 7:30am-5pm
parts@cherryhillimports.com www.cherryhillimports.com
Open Road Volkswagen of Bridgewater Bridgewater
NEW YORK Koeppel Volkswagen Woodside
718-728-8111 Fax: 718-278-0319
www.koeppelvw.com
PENNSYLVANIA Thompson Volkswagen Warrington
908-685-1068
215-343-4810
Fax: 908-685-1547 M-F 7:30am-5pm Sat 8am-3pm Matthew.schlossberg@openroad.com www.openroadvwparts.com
Fax: 215-343-5352
Shrewsbury Volkswagen Shrewsbury
800-662-3140 Fax: 732-576-1894 M-F 8am-5pm
aammiano@shrewsburyvw.com www.shrewsburyvw.com
jaragona@eastcoast4u.com www.eastcoastvw.com
www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 81
die check to a piece and the result was a crack along the entire radius. The “Skinner” which is attached to an air tool, is a two-step process. First you
sion Edge. The Dent Viewer shows the amount of damage via a photograph. See Fig 23. It works in conjunction with the flash on the camera. Note the distortion on grid on the top picture. There
are two sides, one for light colored vehicles and the other side for dark colored vehicles. The company also has magnetic measuring tapes for showing the extent of damage and panel blending tape. The next estimating tool is from Whistler. See Fig 24. This tool can be used in tear down stage of repairs to
Fig 22
come in straight and then repeat the operation at a 45 degree angle and you will have a perfect rope hem flange. Follow the enclosed directions and you will not have a problem. In repairing today’s vehicles, panel gaps are extremely important factor for looks and safety. Reliable Automotive Equipment has a simple solution. See Fig 21. The feeler gauges measure up to 6mm. Knowing the correct gap, the suction cup feeler gauges are set and mounted on steel or aluminum. See Fig 22. The next two companies have items that are used for estimating and quality control. The first product is from Colli-
Fig 25
Fig 24
Fig 23
determine the amount of damage in an enclosed rail or a backside of a panel that cannot be seen such as rocker panel reinforcement. In the quality control department, welds, repair and corrosion protection items can be inspected. This unit has a 4-foot extension, cables to hook it up to a computer, internal video and single picture capabilities. I used it recently to prove to an insurance adjuster that the body shop had glued the quarter
Fig 26
panel as per BMW instructions instead of welding it. The next item that both Kye and See Kool Tools, Page 84
Finish it like a Masterpiece All The Genuine Lexus Parts You Need For That Trouble Free Repair, And Lexus Finish!
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302-995-5030 Parts Direct 302-995-5033 Fax M-F 7:30am - 5:00pm; Sat 8am - 2pm parts@mbofwilmington.com www.mbofwilmington.com
82 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
631-265-8146 Fax M-F 8:00am - 5:00pm; Sat 8am - 4pm mlevantino@mbofsmithtown.com www.mbofsmithtown.com
Audi Genuine Parts
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Flemington 877.NJPARTS 908.782.1795 Fax
Nyack 845.689.9976 845.358.5959 Fax
ssaudiws@mileone.com www.audisilverspringparts.com
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djoyce@wagnermotors.com www.wagnermotors.com
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Norwell 888.744.8810 781.878.1063 Fax M-F 7am-6pm Sat 8am-1pm
Bridgewater 908.800.9000 908.595.0237 Fax M-F 7am-7pm
parts@audinorwell.com www.audinorwell.com
parts@bernardsvilleaudi.com www.audibridgewater.com
Cherry Hill Audi Cherry Hill 856.665.5660 856.665.4645 Fax M-F 7:30am - 5pm
Parsippany 800.356.4553 973.575.7793 973.575.5911 Fax M-F 8am-6pm; Sat 8am-5pm www.paulmilleraudi.com Audiparts@paulmiller.com
Audi Warrington Warrington 215.343.4810 215.343.5352 Fax www.1800THOMPSON.com
New York Audi Brooklyn of Bram Wholesale Parts Network 866.770.5999 718.392.6570 Fax 7:30am-5:30pm parts@lexusofqueens.com
parts@cherryhillimports.com www.cherryhillimports.com
www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 83
Gas Monkey Garage Show Renewed for 8th Season Valspar Automotive, a provider of auto refinishing products that offer color matching and performance, is pleased to announce the popular cable show featuring Gas Monkey Garage has been renewed for its eighth season. Star Richard Rawlings and his crew are using Valspar Automotive’s DeBeer Refinish products to help them turn run-down hot rods to fully restored, unique show pieces. Rawlings, the Richard Rawlings, owner of Gas owner of Gas Monkey Garage Monkey Garage and visionary behind the creations, said he is thrilled to continue using DeBeer Refinish products in the show’s work. “Valspar has always taken care of my shop and our paint needs, and they continue to do so as we roll into our eighth season,” Rawlings said. “It’s critical that any paint we choose is easy to use, particularly in the fast-paced environment of our show. That’s what we get from DeBeer.” Rawlings and the crew of Gas
Monkey Garage are using De Beer BeroBase 500, a high-quality basecoat system. “From Ferraris to Trans Ams, the team at Gas Monkey Garage uses Valspar’s DeBeer 500 System and coatings to bring these beauties to life,” said Gina Mahan, brand manager for House of Kolor, Valspar's custom refinish brand. “Although DeBeer is an OEM-approved refinish brand, Gas Monkey Garage showcases its versatility with the incredible builds they produce. We are proud to continue to support such talent and look forward to seeing where Season 8 takes Richard Rawlings and Gas Monkey.” For more information on Valspar, visit www.valsparauto.com and follow @ValsparCo on Twitter.
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Autobody News
ASA Announces Partnership With eMarketing Sherpas
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) and eMarketing Sherpas announced on Feb. 3 that the Demand Engine, Review Engine and Digital Lobby systems are now available to all ASA members. eMarketing Sherpas provides digital-based sales, marketing and customer-service solutions to automotive businesses. The company offers a suite of software products and services for body shops. Dan Risley, ASA’s president and executive director, said, “We are excited to offer our members access to these powerful solutions.” The Demand Engine is a system that automates all aspects of a shop’s digital activity. Review Engine will manage shop’s online reputation, capture more online reviews, improve search-engine performance and increase online sales leads and referrals. The Digital Lobby is a system that includes digital signage, menu board, kiosks and mobile apps. For information, contact the ASA membership department at (817) 893-1109 or visit the ASA Marketplace at ASA.bizunite.com. The eMarketing Sherpas’ ASA member page is http://www.emarketingsherpas .com/ - !asa-members/obuez.
The Right Parts.
Continued from Page 82
Kool Tools
I thought really cool was from Time Shaver Tools. See Figs 25 & 26. The Worktop Kit has a table with an aluminum channel upright that attaches to a tool box (the one in the picture was purchased from Sears.) You can add custom hooks, trays, dispensers, can holders, etc. to meet your needs. The unit will organize your various departments and you will have a better control of your materials. Well there you have it. Our selection of Kool Tools from SEMA 2015. Kye and I would like to thank everyone that gave us the technical support we needed on the products and a special thanks to Aaron Schulenberg, the Executive Director of SCRS and Kristen Felder of Collision Hub.
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Order Genuine Mazda Parts from these Parts Specialists in your area www.autobodynews.com DELAWARE
Nucar Mazda Wholesale Parts Distributors New Castle
800-633-6606 www.nucarparts.com
MARYLAND
Ourisman Mazda Of Rockville Rockville
855-417-4511 Fax 240-499-2488 M-F 8-5:30; Sat 8-5
rockvilleparts@ourismanautomotive.com
www.rockvillemazda.com
NEW JERSEY
Action Mazda Flemington
908-782-8250
Fax 908-237-0036 M-F 8-5 fmondello@actionautogroup.com www.actionmazdanj.com
Maxon Mazda Union
800-964-7281 Fax 908-851-5631 M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5
84 MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
NEW YORK
Koeppel Mazda Woodside
718-626-7200
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INSIST ON GENUINE
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301-645-9656 301-870-6583 Fax
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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2016 AUTOBODY NEWS 85
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