September 2017 Northeastern Edition

Northeastern Norrtheastern Edition E d i t i on Connecticut Delaware Maine Maryland Massachusetts New Hampshire

New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont

36

YEARS

NY and CA Off the List of Most Active States for New Dealerships, TX Adds Most Since 2016 Urban Science released statistics and insights from its 2017 mid-year Automotive Franchise Activity Report (FAR), indicating continued stability in the number of automotive dealerships in the United States.

For the first time in about 10 years, New York state did not appear on Urban Science's most active list, or a ranking of states which have the most dealerships added each year.

California routinely ranks high on the most active list, but also did not land a top spot for the second straight year.

“An interesting observation is

California and New York, both typically on the most active list, are no longer included on the most active list, demonstrating a period of stability,” said Mitch Phillips, global director of data for Urban Science.

States that experienced the highest net decrease in dealerships were Illinois and Washington, with a loss of five dealerships each last year.

Texas added the most dealerships, gaining nine since 2016. Florida came in second with seven additional dealerships, followed by Pennsylvania at six and Missouri with five.

See NY and CA Off the List, Page 5

State Farm is Dropped from Suit Alleging Coerced Repair Temporarily, 3M Will Be Included When Refiled

See State Farm Lawsuit, Page 36

P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018

John Eagle Collision Center in Dallas, TX, and State Farm were sued in two separate cases for $1 million for allegedly using only adhesive to attach a new roof panel to a Honda Fit rather than welding it, as required by Honda OEM procedures.

Matthew and Marcia Seebachan have dismissed their cases against State Farm Mutual Automobile Company, which alleged the insurer influenced an auto repair that didn’t meet OEM specifications in order to increase its bottom line. The lawsuit against State Farm was dismissed only 13 days after being filed.

According to the plaintiffs’ attorney the couple dismissed their lawsuit without prejudice, meaning refiling is likely.

The plaintiffs’ law firm has confirmed to Autobody News that the action is procedural because including State Farm in the suit would delay the action against John Eagle Collision Center, which is scheduled to go to trial in early September. The plaintiffs also state that 3M, the manufacturer of the adhesive, will become part of the suit when refiled.

The original lawsuits allege that the faulty repair caused the car to crush 33-year-old Matthew Seebachan and his

Change Service Requested

by Ed Attanasio

VOL. 8 ISSUE 6 SEPTEMBER 2017

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CIC Panel Focuses on Legislative Requirements Related to Use of Non-OEM Parts

Manufacturers. “Some insurers will suggest that the consumer consented to their State legislation on disclosure and consumer consent policy when they signed it involving the use of nonoriginally, and they should OEM parts has been proknow what’s in there. We don’t posed – or challenged – in a think insurers do a very good job of explaining to consumers number of states this year.

Wayne Weikel of the Alliance of what’s in there. So we think Panelists on both sides of the Automobile Manu[consent to the use of the parts issue squared off at the Colfacturers said lision Industry Conference consumers deserve at the time of the claim] is very important.”

(CIC) held in Chicago this disclosure and the At its best, Weikel said, the summer. opportunity to give “Consent is very impor- consent for parts at consent process lays out in tant,” said Wayne Weikel, the time of the claim writing a good explanation to the consumer of what his or her options senior director of state government afSee CIC Panel, Page 22 fairs for the Alliance of Automobile

by John Yoswick

Autobody News welcomes readers in Alaska where we are distributing our publication for the first time.

If you’re reading this issue in another person’s shop contact us for a free subscription.

Monmouth County Brothers Sentenced to Prison for Running an Insurance Fraud Ring that that Illegally Recruited Motor Vehicle Accident Victims as Patients On July 3 of this year NJ Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (OIFP) announced that two brothers from Colts Neck, NJ, each have been sentenced to six-and-a-half-year prison terms for masterminding a multi-level insurance fraud ring in which they paid illegal “runners” to recruit car crash victims as patients for chiropractic facilities they controlled, and also collected kickbacks for referring those victims for medical and legal services provided by others involved in the scheme.

Anhuar Bandy, 54, and his brother Karim Bandy, 55, must each pay a $100,000 fine and $50,000 reimbursement to insurance companies that

paid thousands of fraudulent claims over a four-year period. Karim Bandy was sentenced before Superior Court Judge Thomas M. Brown in Mercer County on Friday. Anhuar Bandy was sentenced before Judge Brown on June 2.

Thirteen others members of the fraud ring—including a doctor, a lawyer, three licensed chiropractors, a paralegal and a licensed acupuncturist—have also been sentenced by Judge Brown in the scheme.

“Anhuar and Karim Bandy were the ringleaders of a morally bankrupt band of criminals. They lured unsuspecting accident victims into their See Insurance Fraud Ring, Page 3

Presorted Standard US Postage PAID San Bernardino, CA Permit #2244

2 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

COLUMNISTS Attanasio - First Impressions: The Appearance of Your Facility Might Be a Liability . . . . . . 34 Attanasio - Industry Veteran Invents Useful Tools at Collision Edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Attanasio - Shop Owner David Ludwig Uses His Art to Give Back. . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Attanasio - Vehicles Abandoned at Body Shops Are Unwelcome Guests . . . . . . . . . 50 Phillips - Alaska Shop Owner Focuses on Company Culture and Customers . . . . . . . 21 Phillips - Best Practices for Photo Documentation: 10 Tips on How to Capture Useful and Relevant Images. . . . . 52 Phillips - Effective Estimating Can Help with Scheduling, Reduce Supplements, and Improve Bottom Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Sisk - ALLDATA and Google Partner for Free Marketing Webinar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Yoswick - Insurers Discuss Scanning, OEM Position Statements, Automaker Influence of Shop Choice . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 NATIONAL PPG Launches NEXA AUTOCOLOR® Advanced Clearcoat P190-6920 . . . . . . . . 66 18 Million Fewer Domestic Nameplates. . . . . 80 A Flip of a Coin Leads to Successful Business Partnership at Flawless Auto Body . . . . . . 45 ASA-CO to Host Extreme Communication on August 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Chief® Heavy-Duty Rivet Gun Makes Easier Work of Truck Cab Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Auto Care Association Applauds Joint Statement on Tax Reform . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 BASF Accepting Submissions for Glasurit® Best Paint competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 BASF Refinish Coatings Receives GM Global Refinish Approval. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Car Guys Collision Repair in Agreement To Acquire Gunder’s Auto Repair In Lakeland, FL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 HCar-O-Liner® Supports Caliber Collision’s

Changing Lanes Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 CARSTAR Premier Collision Yelm Opens In Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Celphy Gets Schooled on Driving Etiquette . . . 4 Chief Introduces New Universal Uni-Clamp Anchoring System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 CIC Panel Focuses on Legislative Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Last NASCAR Cup Series Car Revealed by Axalta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Ford On Target - 2017 Volume 2 . . . . . . . . . . 54 GM to Launch Collision Certification Program in Early 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Host of Hit TV Show “Bitchin’ Rides” to Debut New Custom Color Line of Akzonobel Automotive Paints at SEMA . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Kia Selects OEC for Collision Parts Ordering and Fulfillment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Latin Auto Parts Expo in Panama Hosts 350 Exhibitors, 3,000 Attendees at 2017 Show . 14 Lear Corporation to Build Auto Seat Manufacturing Factory in Flint, Michigan . . 78 Long-Running Federal Circuit Results in Victory for Mitchell in IP Dispute with Audatex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Metal Mentors: Industry Organizations Collaborate to Support Students and Careers in Metal Working . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Mitchell Launches Mitchell Diagnostics™ System and Mitchell Estimating Cloud . . . 68 Motor Vehicle Deaths Modestly Lower than Last Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 NABC Recycled Rides Program Changing Lives During NACE Automechanika. . . . . . 30 National Auto Body Council Opens Nominations for 2018 Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . 60 National Organization Promotes Independent Jobbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 New Chief® M30 Pro Alu Stud Welder Is Faster and Easier to Use . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 New Labor Rate Survey Website from NABR . . 16 New WD-40 Degreaser Powerfully & Safely Gets the Job Done . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Nissan Agrees to $98 Million Settlement on Takata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Other States Add More MSO Locations, but Alaska Tops in Percentage Growth . . . . . . . 8 Progressive Powder Coating on the No. 9 Axalta at Watkins Glen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Self-Driving Cars Must Learn Social Rules, Which are Key To Road Safety, Researcher Says . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Service King Expands to 30 Shops in Southern California. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 State Farm is Dropped from Suit Alleging Coerced Repair Temporarily, 3M Will Be Included When Refiled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Three Decades of Dent Repair: Autocraft Commemorates 30 years on Marco Island . 74 U.S. House Panel Approves Broad Proposal On Self-Driving Cars, Mindful of Road Deaths Increasing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Updated OEM Scan Chart Now includes SUBARU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 WIA Summer Conference Receives Positive Responses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Women in Auto Care Announce 2018 Winter Leadership Conference . . . . . . . . . 83

scheme and then steered them toward corrupt medical and legal professionals in exchange for cash,” said Attorney General Porrino. “After years of illegally making money off the misfortune of others, the Bandy brothers are now paying the price for their criminal greed.”

“Our office has worked diligently to unravel the defendants’ web of lies and deceit and put a stop to a criminal enterprise that compromised the care of

vulnerable accident victims and undermined the integrity of New Jersey’s legal, medical, and insurance industries, said Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Christopher Iu. “As the masterminds behind this fraud ring, Anhuar and Karim Bandy have more than earned these significant prison sentences.”

In July 2015 both Bandy brothers pleaded guilty to second-degree insurance fraud in connection with charges brought against them and 10 other codefendants in an April 2014 indictment by a state grand jury. Four others were also charged in the scheme.

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See Insurance Fraud Ring, Page 26

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Acura of Westchester . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Amato Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Atlantic Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Audi Fairfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 70 Axalta Coating Systems . . . . . . . . . . 2 Bergey’s Wholesale Parts . . . . . . . . 15 BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . 64-65 Cadillac of Mahwah . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 CarcoonAmerica Airflow Systems. . 44 Central Avenue Chrysler-JeepDodge-Ram. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA). . . . . . . . . . . 19 ChemSpec USA, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Chief Automotive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Collision Equipment Consulting, Inc. 14 Colonial Automotive Group . . . . . . 49 Crashmax Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Dent Magic Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Diamond Standard Parts, LLC.. . . . 41 Ditschman/Flemington Auto Group . 61 Dominion Sure Seal . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 ECS Automotive Concepts . . . . . . . 38 Empire Auto Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Equalizer Industries, Inc . . . . . . . . . 37 Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 68 Fred Beans Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Fuccillo Kia of Schenectady . . . . . . 59 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . 75 GYS Welding USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Heritage Chrysler-Jeep-DodgeRAM Owings Mills . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Herkules Equipment Corporation. . 34 Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42-43 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 83 Infiniti of Norwood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Insta Finish Car Care . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Kenny Ross Wholesale Parts . . . . . 51 Kia Motors America, Inc.. . . . . . . . . 25 Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Killer Tools & Equipment. . . . . . . . . 39 Koeppel Mazda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Lancer Insurance Company . . . . . . 10 Long Automotive Group . . . . . . . . . 62

Northeast

REGIONAL Auto Body Shop Owner Indicted on Charges He Stole Porsche . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 FADRA, Honda Pull Recalled Takata Airbags from Local Salvage Yards . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 LIABRA Members Enjoy Competition Automotive Group’s Annual Car Show & BBQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Man Charged with Stealing Tires, Rims from Watertown Auto Body Shop . . . . . . . 14 Monmouth County, NJ, Brothers Sentenced to Prison for Running an Insurance Fraud Ring . 1 NY and CA Off the List of Most Active States for New Dealerships, TX Adds Most Since 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 NYSACTA Outlines Position on Photo Appraisals and Initial Inspections . . . . . . . 12 Service King Adds 17th PA Location . . . . . . . 16 Sisk - Executive Director of Newest ASA Affiliate, ASA-MA/RI, Brings Experience to the Job. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Why Are Recalled Takata Airbags being Recycled? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 World’s Painters to Display Unique Automotive Artwork at 3M Showcase in Royal Oak, MI . 58

Insurance Fraud Ring

Index of Advertisers

Contents

Continued from Cover

P.O. Box 1516, Carlsbad, CA 92018

www.autobodynews.com /editor@autobodynews.com

Lusid Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Lynnes Auto Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Malco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Malouf Chevrolet-Cadillac. . . . . . . . 56 Mazda Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 60 McGovern Chrysler-Jeep-DodgeRam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Mercedes-Benz of Atlantic City. . . . 57 Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield . . . . . . . 67 Mercedes-Benz of Fort Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Mercedes-Benz of West Chester . . 57 Mercedes-Benz of Wilmington . . . . 63 Mercedes-Benz Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 66 Mitsubishi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers. 46-47 Nissan/Infiniti Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Nucar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Ourisman Chrysler-Jeep-DodgeRam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Porsche of Fairfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Porsche Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 77 Providence Lacquer & Supply Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Robaina Industries, Inc . . . . . . . . . . 31 SATA Dan-Am Company . . . . . . . . 23 Saw Mill Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Schultz Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Security Dodge-Chrysler-JeepRam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 SEMA Trade Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Sorbothane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Spanesi Americas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 76 Tasca Automotive Group . . . . . . . . 69 Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 74 Valspar Refinish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 VIP Honda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Westbury Jeep-Chrysler-DodgeRam-SRT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Wizards Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Yonkers Kia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 3

Self-Driving Cars Must Learn Social Rules, Which are Key To Road Safety, Researcher Says

In a presentation at the 2017 Management Briefing Seminars on Aug. 2, Melissa Cefkin, principal researcher of human-centered systems at Nissan’s Research Center in Silicon Valley, said autonomous vehicles need to understand learned social behaviors—such as assuming a pedestrian standing outside the left side of the car is about to get in and drive and not walk into the street — before manufacturers can safely deploy them.

“We need to teach vehicles so they can move in a socially acceptable manner,” Cefkin said in an interview.

While most human driving behaviors appear to be inherent, many—such as waving another car through an intersection—are actually learned through experience, she said. The challenge lies in programming these norms and behaviors into a self-driving car. It is an addressable obstacle, Cefkin said.

“It’s not the death of the situation but rather an opportunity to advance it,” she said.

When autonomous vehicles start appearing on public roads, most people will experience them from the outside, either sharing the road as a driver of another car, or as a biker or pedestrian.

Celphy Gets Schooled on Etiquette

Nissan is addressing this education challenge by analyzing human driving behavior to determine which reactions are natural and which are learned. Once these behaviors are differentiated, developers can teach the vehicle what to expect in situations that don’t adhere to natural assumptions, such as driving through a pedestrian-heavy college campus where people are less likely to abide by traffic signals.

“What we’re trying to do is accelerate the ability to see those kinds of relationships that happen between different kinds of people in these situations,” Cefkin said.

However, identifying such situations is incredibly complicated. In a four-way intersection alone, there are myriad right-of-way dilemmas that crop up, both between vehicles and between vehicles and pedestrians.

How a car reacts to a situation also depends on time and place; traffic flows change by the hour, and each city has distinctive driving behaviors.

Cefkin predicts it will take a few years before driverless vehicles can adapt to learned driving behavior in an acceptable way, and even then it will be an ongoing process.

U.S. House Panel Approves Broad Proposal On Self-Driving Cars, Mindful of Road Deaths Increasing

Automakers and tech companies are pushing a bill through Congress that would limit local governments’ ability to regulate self-driving vehicles on city streets.

Designing autonomous vehicle systems to meet city needs could cut congestion, reduce traffic deaths and injuries, and free up scarce urban space for more pressing needs than car storage.

Legislation is moving quickly through Congress. The House of Representatives held a June 27 subcommittee hearing on a package of 14 bills regulating self-driving cars, then consolidated them into a single bill, which a House subcommittee voted for 54-0.

A U.S. House panel on Aug. 16 approved a sweeping proposal by voice vote to allow automakers to deploy up to 100,000 self-driving vehicles without meeting existing auto safety standards and bar states from imposing driverless car rules.

Representative Robert Latta, a Republican who heads the Energy and Commerce Committee subcommittee overseeing consumer protection, said he would continue to consider changes before the full committee votes on the measure. The full U.S. House of Representatives will not take up the bill

until it reconvenes in September after the summer recess.

The measure, which would be the first significant federal legislation aimed at speeding self-driving vehicles to market, would require automakers to submit safety assessment reports to U.S. regulators, but would not require pre-market approval of advanced vehicle technologies.

Automakers would have to show self-driving cars “function as intended and contain fail safe features” to get exemptions from safety standards but the Transportation Department could not “condition deployment or testing of highly automated vehicles on review of safety assessment certifications,” the draft measure unveiled late Monday said.

The issue has taken new urgency because of data showing road deaths in the United States rose 7.7 percent in 2015 over the previous year to 35,200, the highest annual jump since 1966.

Traffic deaths climbed nearly 8 percent in the first nine months of 2016, government data showed.

Current federal motor vehicle safety rules prevent the sale of selfdriving vehicles without human controls. Automakers must meet nearly 75 auto safety standards, many of which

4 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

were written with the assumption that a licensed driver will be in control of the vehicle.

General Motors, Alphabet Inc., Ford Motor Co., Tesla Inc. and others have been lobbying Congress to preempt rules under consideration in California and other states that could limit self-driving vehicle deployment. States could still set rules on registration, licensing, liability, insurance and safety inspections, but could not set self-driving car performance standards, under the proposal.

California state assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez questioned “why Washington would want us here in the states to not look at the safety standards—it should be up to every state.”

Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., said the bill creates a “strong but flexible regulatory framework” that seeks to avoid “a patchwork” of different state rules.

Auto dealers want the final bill to clarify that the measure would not preempt state dealer franchise laws that generally bar automakers from selling vehicles directly to consumers.

Democrats praised the bipartisan proposal but said they want more changes before the full committee takes it up, including potentially adding other

auto safety measures.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group, said it is “pleased that the legislation is moving forward, and expect to see areas finetuned in the legislation.”

Consumers Union, a public advocacy group, said the bill needs more changes and must “ensure that automakers demonstrate automated vehicles’ safety and don’t put consumers at greater risk in a crash.” The group opposes “restricting states’ safety authority without strong federal safety standards in place.”

The administration of former President Barack Obama last year unveiled voluntary guidelines on selfdriving cars that asked automakers to submit a 15-question safety assessment. President Donald Trump’s transportation secretary, Elaine Chao, said she plans to update those in the coming months.

Separately, Sen. John Thune, RSD, who is working with Democrats, said he hopes to release a draft selfdriving car reform bill.

www.autobodynews.com

UPDATED DAILY

AASP/NJ to Host 13th Annual Lou Scoras Tournament

On Monday, September 18, the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/ NJ) will hold their 13th annual Lou Scoras Memorial Golf Outing at the Colonia Country Club in Colonia, NJ. The event, which pays tribute to

former Board member and influential association member Lou Scoras, also raises money for a scholarship in his name, helping to engage and inspire the next generation of automotive technicians.

As one of the association’s most popular events, the Outing typically hosts over 100 players and dozens of sponsors. Executive Director Charles Bryant regards the event to be one that the Board is very passionate about.

“The golf outing always has a great turnout, of both players and supporters,” Bryant says. “Lou was so important to this industry and to so many people, and this is a great

opportunity for everyone to relax, have some fun and support an outstanding cause.”

As the event moves into its thirteenth year, AASP/NJ President Jeff McDowell says the Lou Scoras Memorial Golf Outing has become a tradition for those who attend.

“Every year we get to go out on the links, and it’s always a very successful event that I think Lou would’ve been proud of,” he states. “We have a great time, and it’s good seeing familiar faces come out, as well as some new ones.”

Registration for the Lou Scoras Memorial Golf Outing begins at 10am, followed by an 11:30am lunch and a 1pm shotgun start. The tournament will conclude with a cash bar, dinner and prizes starting at 5:30pm.

Registration forms for participants and sponsors for this year’s Golf Outing are available at www .aaspnj.org, or by contacting Charles Bryant for more details at (732) 9228909.

For more information on the NORTHEAST Automotive Services Show, please visit: www.aaspnj northeast.com.

To learn more about AASP/NJ, please visit aaspnj.org.

Continued from Cover

NY and CA Off the List

According to the study, as of July 1, 2017, there were 18,199 dealerships (rooftops), a 0.2 percent increase from the January 1, 2017 total of 18,170.

The number of franchises, or brands a dealership sells, also experienced a period of stability, slightly increasing from 32,012 on January 1, 2017 to 32,046 as of July 1, 2017.

“Over the last several years, the dealership network has set a new normal pattern of stability,” said Mitch Phillips, Global Director of Data for Urban Science.

“The data shows that 98 percent of local markets had virtually no net change (+/- 1 dealership). That said,

the most significant (net) dealership increases occurred in Texas, nine dealerships; Florida, seven dealerships; Pennsylvania, six dealerships; Missouri, five dealerships; and Ohio, four dealerships. An interesting observation is California and New York, both typically on the most active list, are no longer included on the most active list, demonstrating a period of stability.”

“Sales throughput for dealers is defined as the number of sales divided by the dealer count,” said Phillips. “With a stable dealer count, the throughput record is controlled by the sales volume. With the current range of 2017 sales forecasts being less than 2016, throughput is forecasted to fall around 25 units to 940 units.”

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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 5

AASP/NJ Donates $1,000 to Prostate Cancer Research

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

In July, AASP/NJ donated funds to support prostate cancer research for the second consecutive year, supporting Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in its efforts to combat the terrible disease. AASP/NJ President Jeff

AASP/NJ President Jeff McDowell presents a $1,000 donation to MSK’s Natalia Montoya on behalf of the association. Credit: AASP/NJ

McDowell met with representatives from the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center to present a $1,000 check. The funds were generated during the association’s recent Race Night event at Pole Position Raceway in Jersey City.

McDowell met with Natalia

Montoya, Development Officer for the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ. According to McDowell, “This is one of the best parts of my job. As I have said before, many of us have been, or know someone who has been, affected by prostate cancer. Memorial Sloan Kettering does an amazing job in their treatment and search for a cure for this horrible disease, and we are honored to contribute to and help further along what MSK is doing on a daily basis.”

Focused on personalized cancer medicine and setting the stage for transformational change, MSK strives to change how the world treats cancer by seeking breakthrough discoveries in their laboratories and expanding access to care with new outpatient facilities.

Montoya stated, “As a member of MSK’s Corporate Partners for Excellence Program, AASP/NJ’s generosity lets our physician-scientists provide cancer patients with the best treatment available today, while advancing research to improve tomorrow’s outcomes. We are grateful for their partnership.”

To learn more about MSK, visit mskcc.org. For more information on AASP/NJ, visit aaspnj.org.

6 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Auto Body Shop Owner Indicted on Charges He Stole Porsche

by Heather Yakin, Times Herald-Record

A grand jury has indicted a New Windsor, NY, auto body shop owner on charges he stole a 1978 Porsche 911 and falsified paperwork to cover the crime and claim the car for his own.

Patrick Torpey, 53, was indicted Tuesday on a dozen felony counts: third-degree grand larceny, second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, second-degree perjury, five counts of first-degree falsifying business records and four counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing.

Torpey owns 20th Century Towing and 21st Century Auto Body in New Windsor, NY. When Torpey was arrested in March, New Windsor police said the car owner had taken the Porsche to Torpey’s business for repairs in 2012, and died while the car was in the shop. Officials say Torpey hid the car from the owner’s wife, who was administrator of the estate.

The car was found in the summer of 2016. Police said the Porsche was seized from a garage at Torpey’s

home.

According to the indictment: On June 5, 2012, Torpey made a false entry in the records of JIJ Auctions with intent to defraud or to conceal a crime. Between July 13–Sept.

5, 2012, Torpey created a fraudulent towing bill, made a false notice of lien or sale in Department of Motor Vehicle records, falsified a garageman’s affirmation of bill of sale and a fraudulent statement of acquisition.

He filed the towing bill, notice of lien or sale, garageman’s affirmation and statement of acquisition with a public agency. One of the documents required a sworn statement.

Torpey remains free on $2,500 bail, and will be arraigned in Orange County Court.

We thank Times Herald-Record for reprint permission.

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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 7

Other States Add More MSO Locations, but Alaska Tops in Percentage Growth

by John Yoswick

The fact that shop consolidation has continued at a brisk pace over the last two years shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone in the industry.

However, the state with the fastest pace of MSO growth may be more surprising—Alaska.

New research published in CRASH Network shows that the number of U.S. shop locations owned by multiple shop operators (MSOs) with 10 or more locations has increased by more than 40 percent since 2015.

Caliber Collision has nearly doubled in size over the past two years, for example, while other large MSOs (ABRA, Gerber and Service King) have also added between 50 and 100 locations each.

In addition to this group of large consolidators, there are now more than 20 other regional MSOs that operate 10 or more locations (up from just 13 such chains two years ago). Combined, they add an-

other 269 locations (up from 195 in 2015) to the total.

While other states, particularly in the Western and Southern regions of the country, have added more MSO shops throughout the past two years, Alaska’s relatively small shop population allowed its MSO growth, as a percentage of its total shop population, to outpace the rest the country.

For example, Washington remains the most MSO-concentrated state in 2017, with 15.7 percent of its shop population (not including dealer-owned facilities) operating under the banner of a national or regional consolidator. But that MSO concentration is up only 2 percentage points over what it was in 2015.

By contrast, Fix Auto USA’s addition of seven locations in Alaska gave that state a whopping 14 percentage point increase in MSO concentration since 2015.

CRASH Network derived these numbers by combining the U.S. location counts of ABRA, Cal-

iber, Gerber, Service King, CARSTAR, Fix Auto USA and other consolidators with 10 or more locations, then comparing that MSO count in each state to the state’s total independent repair facility population, as reported in the most recently published U.S. Census Bureau data. While Bureau data does not include dealership locations or one-man shop operations, it provides a level base from which to make state-by-state comparisons, as well as historic comparisons.

Complete state-by-state data is available for subscribers on the CRASH Network website (CrashNetwork.com)

Those in the automotive industry will come together for professional business development and to learn the latest trends, practices, equipment, and technology, as well as to celebrate the industry and the accomplishments made in the last year.

Convention attendees and supporters will obtain knowledge that will help improve operations, enhance efforts and increase the bottom line.

The weekend-long event will kick off Friday, Sept. 22 with the annual board and delegate meetings during the day and early evening, and continue with a bonfire wel-

come reception for families in the evening.

Saturday morning will begin with keynote speaker Tom Tucker from the Auto Care Association.

Technical and management classes will be offered in both the morning and afternoon. Over lunch, H. Scott Matthews from Carnegie Mellon University will share his insights and findings on both the Emissions and Safety Inspection Programs.

After dinner on Saturday, attendees will attend a vendor show where they can see new products, have the chance to win prizes and connect with other attendees.

Sunday will again offer more training opportunities for both management and technicians, as well as a special peer-to-peer roundtable for shop owners and their partners.

For more information or to access the registration form, please visit http://www.aasp-pa.org/shopsurvival-summit-2017, call 717564-8400, or email SSS2017@aasp -pa.org.

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8 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

BASF is accepting submissions for the third annual Glasurit® Best Paint Award. Photos submitted must be of a Glasurit-painted vehicle, and the vehicle must be on display at the up-

2016 Glasurit Best Paint Award winner: a 1969 Mustang, owned by Tim Spencer, painted by Jonathan Goolsby of Goolsby Customs

coming 2017 SEMA show. The vehicle must also utilize Glasurit 22, 55 or 90 Line products, including primer, basecoat and clearcoat.

BASF and Glasurit will honor the winner’s outstanding excellence in painting at SEMA 2017 with Chip Foose presenting. The legendary restoration expert and long-time Glasurit advocate will judge the vehicles based on fit and finish, quality of preparation and final presentation.

Photo submissions of Glasuritpainted vehicles will be accepted now through October 27, 2017 on the BASF refinish web site.: http://www .refinish.basf.us/ For more information on Glasurit, visit the BASF booth #20353 at SEMA 2017.

Your leading source for MIDWESTERN Collision Repair News! midwestern.autobodynews.com

AASP to Hold Annual Shop Survival Summit Training in September

The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Pennsylvania announced that the annual Shop Survival Summit (previously TechTrain) will take place at the Wyndham Gettysburg in Gettysburg, PA, on Sept. 22-24, 2017.

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ASA-CO to Host Extreme Communication on August 28

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On August 28, ASA-CO will host “Extreme Communication,” the next course in the association’s 2017-18 Professional Business Series, at Kenz & Leslie BG Training Center in Wheat Ridge, CO. Julie Massaro, Executive Director of ASA-CO, shared, “Since communication is at the heart of every business deal and transaction, it is extremely important to communicate effectively with co-workers, customers and family members. We are bringing this seminar to our members to help them hone their communication skills.” Following dinner at 6 p.m., the seminar on “Extreme Communication” will be taught by ESI’s Maylan Newton from 6:30-9:30 p.m., and is designed for owners and managers.

Newton will discuss how to have difficult conversations that many people prefer to avoid by providing new tools to deal with these dreadful discussions and by teaching attendees how to turn confrontations into conversations that improve the business, lower stress and develop better leaders. To register for this seminar or any of the upcoming sessions in the Professional Business Series, visit asacolorado.org.

LIABRA Members Enjoy Competition Automotive Group’s Annual Car Show & BBQ

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On Thursday, June 29, the Competition Automotive Group hosted its Annual Car Show and BBQ in the parking lot of its BMW dealership in St. James, NY, to show appreciation for the group’s wholesale customers.

Many industry professionals were in attendance, including members of the Long Island Auto Body Repairmen’s Association (LIABRA).

Competition BMW Parts Director Wayne Locanthi, Infiniti Parts Manager Billy Walker, and Competition

The Grand Prize winner pictured with Tony Solo, Competition Automotive Group Wholesale Parts Manager

LIABRA Golf Committee Chairman Paul O’Connell was the lucky recipient of a beautiful BMW mountain bike

LIABRA Executive Director Ed Kizenberger “would like to thank the Competition Automotive Group,

10 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Automotive Group Wholesale Parts Manager Tony Sollo for providing LIABRA members with a wonderful evening.”

Beginning at 5 p.m., more than 100 car enthusiasts flooded the lot with their “cool rides” to flaunt at the car show, and hundreds more joined the party an hour later, enjoying a buffet BBQ dinner and listening to the musical stylings of the band SLAM. Kizenberger notes, “People out

in the lot spent the evening admiring the beautiful automobiles on shore.

There were antiques and collectibles from the ‘30s, ‘40s, ‘50s and up, including racing cars, Japanese cars, American cars, European cars, and even motorcycles – there was something for everyone! Everywhere I turned, there were LIABRA members, and it was obvious that they and everyone else were thoroughly enjoying the party.”

At 9 p.m., Tony Sollo began the raffle drawings, distributing a variety of prizes, including hats, shirts and a grand prize of a four-day golf trip to Myrtle Beach, including two rounds per day for four people. LIABRA Golf Committee Chairman Paul O’Connell was the lucky recipient of a beautiful BMW mountain bike.

LIABRA’s next event will be the association’s Annual Golf Tournament at the Baiting Hollow Country Club on Sept. 26.

For more information, call O’Connell at 516-524-2353 or Kizenberger at 631-941-9647.

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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 11

NYSACTA Outlines Position on Photo Appraisals and Initial Inspections tion/estimate/repair process, we have grave concerns about ‘photo’ inspecOn July 10, members of the New York tions in general, and believe engaging State Auto Collision Technicians As- an insurer photographer clearly viosociation (NYSACTA) wrote to the lates the regulations which request the Department of Financial Services to ‘person inspecting the damaged vehioutline their position on photo ap- cle… be licensed…’ In many cases, praisals and certain insurers’ positions ‘first call’ center personnel who may on initial inspections. not be familiar with New York regulaFollowing a phone conversation tions are telling consumers that if the about these matters, NYSACTA Exec- car is drivable (a risky assumption at utive Director Ed Kizenberger wrote, best by a consumer who most likely “NYSACTA is very alarmed at what has no experience evaluating collision can only be described as a damage), they refuse to send flagrant disregard of regulaout an adjuster and require tions by certain insurers the consumer to take a photo around field inspections. We and send it in for an estimate have received many comto be prepared. plaints from repair shops that “Either no inspection is certain insurers are refusing being conducted – in violato conduct personal inspection of the regulation; or the tions of vehicles when reinspection is being conEd Kizenberger quested by either the insured ducted by an unauthorized file photo or the repair shop holding the individual – another violavehicle, as required by Regulation 64 tion of the regulation. These false and (Insurance Law 216.7(b)(3)). misleading inspections are generating Kizenberger went on to explain, false and misleading estimates, which “Compounding that violation, these require re-inspections/re-estimates and same insurers are sending ‘photogra- unnecessarily delay the repair of the phers’ to pictorially assess the damage vehicle. These unwarranted delays do to the vehicle. While we appreciate a grave disservice to the consumer, and that insurance company ‘apps’ may threaten violation of those sections of play a role in expediting the inspec- Regulation 64 which set out specific

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

12 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

time periods within which the insurers must act to assure prompt, fair and equitable settlement of a damage claim.

Simply stated, we are concerned that certain insurers are in wholesale violation of the provisions of Regulation 64, and we have compiled countless complaints which we would be happy to share with you,” the letter continued.

Kizenberger concluded, “Clearly, the Department’s involvement in this matter is urgent and a full inspection into these charges is undoubtedly warranted… The flagrant disregard for consumer protections cannot be allowed to continue.”

The Department of Financial Services is requiring documentation to substantiate NYSACTA’s concerns, so the association has encouraged its members and other collision repair industry professionals in NY to pay attention to examples of poor claims handling, false and misleading

initial estimates resulting in much larger supplements due to the photo estimate, or an outright refusal to perform a proper initial inspection. Specific complaints should be filed directly with the Consumer Assistance Unit, and instructions for filing complaints can be found at: dfs.ny.gov/ consumer/fileacomplaint.htm.

After filing a complaint, NYSACTA encourages collision repair professionals to send all pertinent details of the complaint, including the DFS claim number, to: liabracomplaint@ gmail.com.

Kizenberger noted, “We encourage all our members to file complaints, when necessary, with the DFS. Also, you can help your customers file a complaint with the DFS as consumer complaints are very helpful. As an industry, we must present these complaints if we are to have any chance of resolving our problems.”

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Metal Mentors: Industry Organizations Collaborate to Support Students and Careers in Metal Working

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products has announced three initiatives to support students and schools focused on skilled trade- and manufacturing-related careers. First, ESAB has announced the WeldItForward student and school contest, which offers equipment, filler metal and cash prizes with a total retail value exceeding $97,000.

Second, ESAB is the exclusive equipment sponsor for the PaleyJames Project, a collaboration between Jesse James of West Coast Choppers fame and world renowned sculpture artist Albert Paley. Each artist will start one sculpture but finish the other. The works will be unveiled on November 6 at the FABTECH 2017 Exposition in Chicago and auctioned two weeks later. Proceeds will support grants, scholarships and educational opportunities created by the educational foundations of the five FABTECH cosponsors: American Welding Society (AWS), Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI), Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA), Precision Metal Forming Association (PMA) and SME (previously the Society of Manufacturing Engineers).

Third, ESAB has created metalmentors.com, a website that includes the WeldItForward contest entry por-

tal, news on the Paley-James Project and scholarship, grant and career-related information from AWS, CCAI, FMA, PMA, SME and ESAB.

Metal Mentors Website “The Metal Mentors website is a single, collaborative content destination from six organizations that pay it forward to the next generation. The site links to financial, educational and informational resources,” says Shyam Kambeyanda, President, ESAB. “By working together, we create greater possibilities for supporting the skilled trades and manufacturing and engineering careers targeting secondary and post-secondary students in technical education, manufacturing and engineering programs.”

Paley and James Support Albert Paley is a world-renowned modernist metal sculptor. He is one of the most distinguished and influential metalworkers in the world. His passion for working with metal has driven him to support the challenge to encourage young talented people to seek opportunities in the various metalworking processes in the arts and trades. He says that, “Metal working processes require a multitude of skills

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and disciplines. However, when most people look at fabricated objects, they have no concept of the processes required to create that object. One of the reasons I agreed to participate in the Paley-James Project is that it would enable us to introduce more people to the myriad of career opportunities available within the field.”

Jesse James of Monster Garage fame also has a history of supporting education, including establishing the Long Beach Education Foundation and the associated Jesse James Industrial Arts & Welding Program. “STEM classes give students the skills to carry them for the rest of their life,” says James. “The reward of changing metal into motorcycles or sculptures creates a spark that can turn a passion into a career. I’m proud to be in a position to turn those sparks into fire.”

WeldItForward Contest Details The WeldItForward contest has two phases, essay and fabricated metal project. From August 21 to October 9, schools in the United States and Canada (except Quebec) can enter an essay supporting the “Weld It Forward” contest theme. Judges will select six semi-finalists, comprised of three secondary schools and three

post-secondary schools with a vocational or technical focus. ESAB will announce the winning schools via a Facebook Live event from FABTECH on November 7.

The six semi-finalist schools will receive a welding and cutting equipment package valued at more than $6,000, and teams of two to five students will create a fabricated metal project using this equipment. The sculptures will be judged online where photos of the sculptures will be displayed. The two winning schools, one secondary and one post-secondary, will receive a grand prize of $20,000 in ESAB equipment and filler metals.

Every student involved on the winning teams will receive an ESAB Sentinel A50 auto-darkening welding helmet ($300+ retail value), and a $250 cash award.

Contest rules and details are available at metalmentors.com.

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Northeast 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.

Executive Director of Newest ASA Affiliate, ASA-MA/RI, Brings Experience to the Job with Chasidy Rae Sisk

Regan said he believes it’s important for MA and RI to have an affiliate On July 17, ASA announced the addi- ASA chapter. tion of a new affiliate in MA and RI “Having a local presence adds (ASA-MA/RI). The new affiliate’s value to the membership,” he said. “It Executive Director is Stephen Regan, allows for local meetings and addiwho agreed to speak with Autobody tional vendor relationships with local News about his experience and plans companies in addition to the national offerings. Also, the members know for the group. they have someone at the state house Regan has been involved in the automotive industry since 1999, serving as and other local government meetings like the Massachusetts Auto Damage the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Auto Body Association from Appraisers Licensing Board. Finally, 1999–2011. He also served on they now have a local office the Board of Directors for the that is staffed and readily Society of Collision Repair available to assist them with Specialist (SCRS) from 2008 any needs they may have.” to 2013, including three years Since ASA-MA/RI launched, Regan has been as an Executive Committee busy personally introducing member. From 2009-2017, himself to current ASA NaRegan acted as the Chairman Steve Regan tional members in his area of the Collision Industry Conbrings almost since they’re now part of the ference (CIC) Governmental two decades of Committee and is also a for- association experi- affiliate chapter. He has also ence to his new met with existing sponsors mer Chair of the National Auto role as Executive who are interested in becomBody Council’s (NABC) PubDirector of ASAing part of the team. lic Relations Committee.

MA/RI “There’s a lot to do and In the fall of 2014, ASA National Executive Director Dan Risnot enough hours in the day, but I have ley contacted him to discuss whether no complaints,” he said. “I’m really he’d be interested in returning to a enjoying this!” leading role in the association business.

Currently, there are around 200 Regan explained, “At the time, ASA members in MA and RI. ASA did not have an active presence Regan shared, “There has been a in the Northeast. Dan was the Execu- lot of interest from the collision side. tive Director of SCRS when I served In fact, many collision repairers were on their board, so having a pre-exist- approaching me at the same time that ing relationship with him was a strong Dan and I started discussion in 2014. consideration when agreeing to un- [My experience] managing the Masdertake this initiative.” sachusetts Auto Body Association for

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

Man Charged with Stealing Tires, Rims from Watertown Auto Body Shop

by Alex Ceneviva, WTNH.com Staff

A Waterbury man was arrested August 7 after allegedly stealing tires and rims from a car at an auto body shop in Watertown, CT, then trying to sell them online. Police say on July 28th, a Subaru parked for service overnight at an auto body shop on New Wood Road had its rims and tires stolen and was left on blocks. Surveillance video from the shop showed a man removing the rims around 2 a.m., and then driving away in a two tone Ford Escape. Police say a few days later, the rims and tires were found on Offerup.com for sale. The

owner had reported a distinctive mark on one of the rims, which was seen in the online photos. Watertown and Waterbury detectives then responded to the ad and arranged to buy the rims and tires at a parking lot in Waterbury.

That’s when the seller arrived in the same two tone Ford Escape seen on the surveillance video. The rims and tires were found to also have that same distinctive mark. At that point, the seller, identified as 30-year-old Kristian Rivera, was arrested and charged with larceny. He was held on $5,000 bond and will appear in court August 15th.

We thank wtnh.com for reprint permission.

14 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

a dozen years will be very helpful for recruiting collision repairers, but it’s even better when they’re coming to you.”

Regan’s goals for ASA-MA/RI include “to become a valuable tool, or resource, for the repairers in MA and RI, to help make the shops in this area the most successful of any repairers in the country, and to create an atmosphere of collegiality, rather than competition, among the repairers in the region.”

ASA-MA/RI will begin their monthly meetings during the last week of September in Springfield, Worcester, Boston and Providence. Regan is striving to ensure that “each will feature nationally known leaders on topics from cybersecurity and telematics to parts ordering best practices, business management, AMI and I-CAR training, OEM certification options, new vehicle technologies, and much more. Our first will be a presentation by the Alliance of Automobile Manu-

facturers on the topics of cybersecurity and telematics.”

When asked why it’s important for local shops to get involved with ASA-MA/RI, Regan stressed, “I think all businesses, regardless of their industry, are better prepared for success when they are members of their trade association. Having access to information on industry trends, new tools, new manufacturing processes, new technician training techniques, and having an advocate monitoring governmental activity are strong reasons, but the most important reason, I believe, is the camaraderie and friendships that are developed amongst members. Being able to place a call to another repairer who belongs to the same organization as you, and perhaps getting a little help with a problem you’re having is priceless.”

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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 15

Motor Vehicle Deaths Modestly Lower than Last Year Preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council indicate motor vehicle deaths in the first six months of 2017 are 1 percent lower than they were during the same six-month period in 2016.

However, the country is fresh off the steepest estimated two-year increase in motor vehicle deaths since 1964, and it is too early to conclude whether the upward trend is over. The estimated deaths during the first six months of 2017 are still 8 percent higher than the 2015 six-month estimates, and the final six months of the calendar year—July

to December—tend to be deadlier than the first six. An estimated 18,680 people have been killed on U.S. roads since

New Labor Rate Survey Website from NABR National AutoBody Research (NABR) recently announced the launch of its new Labor Rate Survey website, LaborRateSurvey.com, making its VRS Labor Rate Surveys available to all collision repairers nationwide. LaborRateSurvey.com provides body shops easy access to NABR’s three surveys: VRS Standardized Labor Rate Survey, VRS Labor Rate Survey for Luxury & Special Vehicles, and the specialized Auto Body Labor Rate Survey for California, which is compliant with new survey regulations from the California Department of Insurance. The new site provides an immediate opportunity for

authorized collision repairers to further strengthen the industry’s largest independent labor rate data source, which combines labor rate prices, training, OEM certifications and equipment. All data is reported by the shops themselves and survey results are made available to both collision repairers and insurers.

“With a simple, easy-to-remember website address like LaborRateSurvey.com, it could not be any easier for all shops in the industry to access and take the VRS Labor Rate Surveys,” said Sam Valenzuela, President of National AutoBody Research. “The VRS survey

Service King Adds 17th PA Location

Service King Collision Repair Centers announced it has added its 17th Pennsylvania location after completing a deal to partner with Abernethy’s Auto Body located in Avondale, just

40 miles southwest of Philadelphia.

As part of the agreement, Abernethy’s Auto Body will begin operating as Service King, effective immediately.

Service King first expanded to Pennsylvania in 2014, and today operates 330 collision repair centers in 24 states across the U.S. “We are certainly proud of Service King’s continued growth across the greater Philadelphia area,” said Matt Robbins, Service King market vice president. “It remains our mission to provide customers a best-in-class repair experience. Partnering with premier teams like Abernethy’s Auto Body is a crucial

component to that success. We look forward to working together under the Service King name and providing customers a superior and safe repair service.”

Service King, with more than 40 years of experience, provides all customers a free professional estimate and backs all repair work with a written lifetime warranty honored at any of its locations nationwide.

“The Abernethy Auto Body family is immensely proud to join Service King,” Marie Abernethy said. “After 50 years of serving the Chester County community, we look forward to the benefits our teammates and customers will gain from partnering with a growing industry leader. Our customers and insurance partners can expect the same superior service, now backed by the Service King promise.”

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January and 2.1 million were seriously injured. The total estimated cost of these deaths and injuries is $191 billion.

“The price of our cultural complacency is more than a hundred fatalities each day,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “Although the numbers may be leveling off, the Road to Zero deaths will require accelerating improvements in technology, engaging drivers and investing in our infrastructure.”

The National Safety Council has tracked fatality trends and issued esti-

mates for nearly 100 years. Last winter, the Council estimated as many as 40,000 people were killed on the roads in 2016—a 6 percent rise over 2015 and the largest two-year percentage increase in deaths in 53 years. Those estimates—as well as the 2017 preliminary estimates— are subject to slight increases and decreases as the data matures. Factors impacting motor vehicle fatality trends include an improved economy and lower gas prices, both of which have helped fuel a 1.7 percent increase in miles driven from 2016 to 2017.

solves all of the key problems with surveys that this industry has faced and struggled with for decades.” NABR provides an independent and innovative solution that levels the playing field for everybody.

Among many other features, the survey is open to all repairers and is easily accessible; is available online 24/7; is standardized, so all shops take the same survey; measures posted rates; the data is not changed or manipulated in any way; and through the Variable Rate System (VRS), all labor rate data is fully transparent equally to everybody—collision repairers, insurers, and consumers. In addition, all

surveys go through a multi-point verification and validation process to ensure only genuine auto collision repair shops are included in survey results and to verify that claimed certifications are real.

Through its “Each 1, Tell 2” campaign, in which one shop takes the survey today and asks two others to take it tomorrow and do the same, LaborRateSurvey.com has the potential to reach the industry’s 33,000 body shops in only 15 days. But body shops must participate and help spread the word in order to help both themselves and insurers obtain the valuable labor rate data they need.

www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 17

BASF Refinish Coatings receives GM Global Refinish Approval BASF Refinish Coatings received General Motors Global Refinish approval for its Glasurit and R-M paint brands. BASF hosted the GM Paint Engineering Team at its North American Coatings headquarters in Southfield, MI. During the review the Glasurit & R-M refinish systems met or exceeded all the refinish standards established by GM. Both BASF’s premium paint line, Glasurit, and BASF’s productivity line, R-M, passed dozens of tests to retain this approval: hardness after cure, chip resistance, humidity adhesion, temperature cycle, gas resistance, chemical resistance, weather resistance and more. Only refinish systems approved by GM, from primer to clearcoat, can be used for GM warranty repairs.

“Using OEM approved materials and following all OEM repair procedures is critical to ensure vehicles operate properly after the repair, maintaining safe operation,” said Jeff Wildman, Manager OEM & Industry Relations, BASF Automotive Refinish NA. “Our goal is to provide peace-of-mind to vehicle owners that their vehicles, refinished with BASF

products, provide the same protection and durability as the original factory finish.”

Glasurit & R-M Refinish coatings, approved for all GM vehicles, comply with all global environmental rules, including US National rule, US/Canada low-VOC rule and the Paints Directive in Europe.

“BASF’s commitment to supply high quality products to GM is unwavering and continues to strengthen each year,” said BASF Refinish Coatings Vice President Marvin Gillfillan.

“Maintaining our global coatings approvals and earning the GM Supplier of the Year Award 12 times exemplifies our commitment to General Motors.”

Car-O-Liner® Supports Caliber’s ‘Changing Lanes’

Car-O-Liner, a leading global provider of high-quality, technologically advanced collision repair solutions for the automotive aftermarket, announced a program to provide equipment and training support for Caliber Collision’s

“Changing Lanes” program providing transitioning soldiers with collision re-

Caliber Training Center – Fayetteville, NC

pair career opportunities. Car-O-Liner will provide structural frame repair machines, measuring systems and welders to the Caliber training centers in Fayet-

INFINITI OF NORWOOD

teville, NC, and Killeen, TX. In addition, Car-O-Liner distributors have agreed to volunteer their time to conduct training seminars on a regular basis. Peter Richardson, Director of

Caliber Training Center – Killeen, TX

National Accounts for Car-O-Liner, stated, “Car-O-Liner is proud to partner with Caliber Collision to assist our military veterans learn valuable skills in order to successfully transition into the collision repair industry.”

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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 19

Shop Strategies with Stacey Phillips

Stacey Phillips is a freelance writer and editor for the automotive industry.

She has 20 years of experience writing for a variety of publications, and is co-author of “The Secrets of America’s Greatest Body Shops.”

She can be reached at sphillips.autobodynews@gmail.com.

Alaska Shop Owner Focuses on Company Culture & Customers While Dealing with Repair Challenges in the Last Frontier In Anchorage, AK, body shop owner Ryan Cropper often tells customers that Able Body Shop is where strong values merge with quality work. Cropper

about how he and his team go the extra mile to provide excellent customer service while dealing with collision repair challenges in Alaska.

How has your background enabled you to run two successful Q: body shops?

A:

Ryan Cropper and his family after receiving the award for Community Service for small business in 2015

currently operates two locations in The Last Frontier and said he has built his business on relationships and trust—one customer at a time.

Autobody News spoke to Cropper

From an early age, I learned the benefits of hard work and found that true commitment and dedication carry value.

I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. When I was 10 years old, I began mowing lawns in Alaska and started my own summer business called RC Lawns. By the time I was in high school, I had renamed my company Aurora Landscaping and hired many of my classmates as employees.

However, my true passion was auto body work. I worked on my family’s and friends’ vehicles and attended

20 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

auto repair classes in Oregon to learn more. When I was a tech in college, I found out that Able Body Shop Midtown was for sale in my hometown. It had been established in 1969, and the owner wanted to retire. I felt it was the perfect fit, so I purchased the shop in

chased Total Truck Accessory Center.

We opened Able Body Shop Downtown two years later. In 2016, we added another building that used to be a body shop, and we are currently working on an additional facility that will open this winter.

What are some of the Q: things that set your body shop apart from others in the industry?

We tend to be very difA: ferent than the average body shop in the United

States. The number one difference is the culture of our comRyan Cropper currently operates two locations in The pany and the steps we take to Last Frontier make it a positive one. We 2002. I was 22 years old and ready for have found that having a culture that we are proud of is one of the most ima new adventure!

I used money from small loans to portant components of having a successful business. expand the company and in 2004, I pur-

Number two would be the team atmosphere. We are still a flat rate shop, but we truly run in teams. Every team

logue that builds positive relationships, and we give our employees a reputation to live up to.

ability. Parts can take over a week to arrive in most cases. Another challenge we have operating a collision repair business in Alaska is the drastic difference we can experience in workloads, depending on the season.

When the snow is on the ground from October to April, it really changes the game!

local auto body program and have had fantastic results with this over the years. The students start out working for free, just getting school credit.

Once they are somewhat up to speed, we put them on payroll and assign them to a team. Many even stay with us for a full auto body career.

As an advocate of education, Q: how do you ensure you are advancing your technicians’ skills and

Q: what is the importance of doing so?

We have most national DRPs A: as our business partners. Over A: pair Alaska requires auto body rethe years, we have had great success technicians to have a crewith those partnerships and continue ative mind and patience while honing Is your shop part of any DRPs?

Since starting the nonprofit organization Empowering Destinations, Cropper said they have given away nine cars to families in need

member in our company is paid 100 percent commission except two—our maintenance man and bookkeeper. We also only spend marketing dollars on things that directly benefit our community.

Our management style is democratic and borders close to the guidelines of mentorship. We encourage informal communication of knowledge and experience. We support dia-

I am proud to be able to contribute to the growth and success of my 50 employees’ careers and personal lives.

What are some of the current Q: challenges collision repairers are experiencing in Alaska?

Finding great team members in our market is very difficult. We A: also have a problem with parts avail-

to value what it brings to us. The challenge is they often expect the same results you see in the continental 48 states, which can sometimes be difficult to achieve.

Can you tell us about the shop’s Q: internship program with the King Career Center?

We have been sponsoring a successful internship program A: with the King Career Center for over

10 years. We hire a couple of the most talented high school students from the

an attention to detail that ensures a high level of quality on every job.

They have years of practical body shop experience and hands-on exposure to high technology equipment.

Currently, we are concentrating on ICAR training for our staff as well as OEM certifications. We spend over $30k a year with I-CAR training. We do whatever it takes to get our staff the training needed, even if it means flying out of state for it. I am also extremely involved in 20 groups with Axalta, which is where I find out what is up-and-coming in the industry.

www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 21

Continued from Cover

CIC Panel

parts, Gillis said.

“Consent is a really tricky issue for consumers and consumer advocates,” he said. “Because of course we believe in full disclosure. But when you have to sign for something, there’s an inherent bias built into that signature.

Therein lays the problem.”

But Weikel said efforts to eliminate any state-required disclosure and consent won’t happen “on our watch.”

“They have been aggressively defeated every place they have been filed,” he said. “I don’t see why we don’t have a bill in every state requiring informed consent.”

are regarding the parts used in the repair of his or her vehicle.

Just as the automakers’ view of parts disclosure and consent probably came as no surprise to CIC attendees, advocates for the use of non-OEM parts predictably voiced objection to some aspects of such state laws.

“Disclosure is important,” Terry Fortner, vice president of corporate accounts at LKQ Corporation said.

“Everybody should know how their car is being repaired. But written consent was developed not for the conFederal Patent Proposal sumer, but for private interest groups. The panel also briefly debated the merAt the end of the day, we beits of the “Promoting Automolieve in disclosure, but we are tive Repair, Trade and Sales not a supporter of written Act of 2017,” or the “PARTS consent.”

Act,” proposed federal legisAaron Schulenburg, lation that would slash the executive director of the Sotime that automakers can use ciety of Collision Repair design patents to prevent other Specialists, said he sees some Terry Fortner of LKQ companies from producing reirony in proponents of nonplacement crash parts from 14 Corporation said OEM parts actively working traceability of parts years to just 30 months. The is more important to eliminate state laws rebill is designed to increase that certification quiring disclosure, consent or competition for OEM crash other restrictions on the use of such parts by shortening the period under parts. Speaking at an event earlier this which automakers can prevent the proyear, for example, a representative of duction and sale of non-OEM versions LKQ said his company worked to of patented parts. overturn an Arkansas law that limits Similar bills have been introduced the use of non-OEM parts without the during every Congress since 2007, and written consent of the vehicle owner Weikel said his organization doesn’t (the law was not overturned). “think it has any chance of going any“That sends a bit of a mixed mes- where” in this Congress either, in part sage in my opinion, especially when because it singles out only one industry you look at the variation in the [qual- – automaker replacement parts – for ity levels of the] parts that are avail- decreased patent protection. He said able in the marketplace,” Schulenburg patent law correctly protects those who said. “Why not safeguard the con- pour resources into the design of somesumer’s ability to choose that thing from those who simply on their vehicle?” copy that item “without actu“There’s a fundamental ally investing the money problem with consent—Why that’s necessary to develop do you need to consent to them.” something that is the same,” Allowing generic verJack Gillis of the Certified sions of prescription drugs Automotive Parts Association CAPA’s Jack Gillis without giving the developer (CAPA), responded. “There’s of a new drug time to recoup said requiring an inherent bias that the con- consumers’ consent its investment might lower to the use of nonsumer hears when you say, drug costs, Weikel said as an OEM parts can ‘We’ll get your car all fixed analogy, but “it’s not fair to bias their view up, but by the way we are the company that’s actually of such parts going to use these parts here, invested all that money on and you need to sign on the dotted the front-end.” line that you know we’re using these Gillis countered that someone parts.’” who buys a vehicle shouldn’t “be an Having to sign to consent to the use indentured customer” of the auof certain parts can unfairly lead con- tomaker, “having to buy all of my parts sumers to question the quality of those from that company.” He said the fed-

22 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

eral bill gives automakers 2.5 years of patent protection – “even though we think it should be zero years” – and prevents one automaker from copying the vehicle design of another.

But Weikel said if non-OEM parts manufacturers want to make versions of parts covered by an OEM patent, they can do what LKQ has done in some cases: sign an agreement with the automaker that allows them to sell non-OEM versions of the parts in exchange for licensing fees paid to the OEM. “That’s what should happen,” Weikel said. “That’s what happens in other industries.”

Views on certification and tracking Panelists shared viewpoints on a variety of other issues related to non-OEM parts during the CIC discussion:

• Gillis said he thinks all non-OEM parts – including mechanical parts – should be certified as equivalent to OEM. “It’s far more important that steering mechanisms and brake pads and true safety devices being put on cars match [the OEM],” Gillis said.

“It’s probably more important that a

brake pad meet the specifications that the original brake pad met than a fender does.”

• Fortner said he believes that traceability of parts is more important than certification of the parts. He said his company’s KeysIQ program allows a part the company sells to be traced from the manufacturer to the specific car on which it was installed. In the case of a recall—and Fortner said there have been two this year—“We’re able to trace that part all the way to the shop and to the car.”

• Weikel said among the concerns he has with non-OEM parts certifications is the lack of crash-testing conducted on such parts. He said CAPA —to its credit—decertifies parts when deemed necessary, but “what happens to the consumer that got that product the day before it was decertified?” He said shops also say they order certified parts only to have non-certified parts delivered.

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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 23

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.

Insurers Discuss Scanning, OEM Position Statements, Automaker Influence of Shop Choice Representatives from four major instatements and repair procedures in customers know “where their car can mediate notification that a vehicle has surance companies weighed in on general? be fixed [correctly].” been damaged” in order to quickly scanning, automakers’ influence on “We don’t consider them Andreoli, like all the in- start helping the driver. Without that consumers’ choice of shops, and refergospel,” Hoffbauer said. “A surers on the panel, noted currently, he said, there are delays in ring drivers to OEM-certified shops at lot of them are pretty vague.” that customer shop choice is loss reporting, and vehicles may get the sixth annual MSO Symposium.

He said there are some a key philosophy at his com- towed multiple times prior to repairs.

The half-day symposium was held position statements “we basipany. He said one “If we could collaborate in July during NACE Automechanika cally disagree with” and “have of the “cycle time” with stakeholders to help that in Chicago. The event was open not our own philosophy on,” such measurements his process happen seamlessly only to multi-shop operators (MSOs), as OEM prohibitions on use company tracks is for the customer, [and] make Progressive’s but also to larger single-location shops of non-OEM parts or the re- Chris Andreoli said the length of time that notice immediately so (those with annual sales in excess of $3 pair of wheels. between the acciwe can be there to help them vehicle telematics could be used to million).

“We try to study things. dent and getting the as quickly as possible, that more quickly get Panel moderator Marcie Tieger We try to talk to the OEMs vehicle to the shop, [would be] a real win for all USAA’s Kyle of Symphony Advisors asked the in- [to get more information or vehicles into shops so if vehicle telemthe stakeholders,” Lindorfer Thompson said after accidents surers if they anticipate issuing a forspecificity],” Hoffbauer said. atics helps “com- DRP shops should agreed. direct cars they mal position on vehicle scanning. “We have these ongoing conversapress that timeframe,” that is Tieger asked the panelists are not equipped Sandee Lindorfer, auto line tions.” a good thing. if a direct repair shop turns to repair to other management director for All“We’re aligned with Russ: Kyle Thompson, assisaway an assignment, saying shops state, said her company is It’s not gospel for us, too,” tant vice president of claims it is not equipped or trained working on such a statement, Lindorfer said. “I agree [that] for USAA, agreed that his company to fix that particular vehicle, whether though she did not provide a sometimes they just don’t wants to work with automakers to it would be viewed by the insurer “as timeline for it. make sense. So we try to “align our direct repair networks with not up to date” and thus jeopardize its “We evaluate each claim work with the OEMs when the offerings that they would [provide] status in the program. on a case-by-case basis. That we come across those to see at the time of loss,” and get that “imSee Insurers Discuss, Page 50 Allstate’s Sandee has always been how we’ve Lindorfer said her if we could do something to approached claims settlehelp communicate with them company reviews vehicle scanning ments,” Lindorfer said. “We and elevate that particular sitcontinue to look at pre-and charges on a “case- uation that may just not seem by-case basis.” post-scanning and continue to to make sense to us, or even learn. We leverage all our partners here, to repairers. Some statements make a as well as Tech-Cor, to give us feedlot of sense, and others we question back. And we engage with OEMs to and try to collaborate with the OEMs.” better understand their position stateAs the automakers move toward ments.” using vehicle telematics to automatiLindorfer said Allstate would like cally be notified of collisions, are the shops that conduct scans on insurers concerned about the vehicles that are part of Allpotential influence automakstate claims to include that ers may have on getting drivscan information with the ers to OEM-certified shops claim file. rather than an insurers’ direct Russ Hoffbauer, proprepair shop? erty and casualty claims di“First, I don’t think it’s rector for State Farm, also mutually exclusive because a Russ Hoffbauer of said scanning continues to be State Farm said his lot of shops that are on our Supply Centre “a learning process,” and that Select Service program are company doesn’t the company makes its deci- view OEM position certified,” Hoffbauer pointed statements “as sions on payment for scanning out. “I do think the OEMs gospel.” on a “case-by-case” basis relhave the technology advanative to the “nature of the damage and tage right now, having the technology what technology the vehicle has.” in their automobiles. So we’re defi“From our perspective, we’re nitely working with them, talking to kind of in the same place, just gatherthem, and trying to determine how this Branch Location - MA Main Store - RI Branch Location - CT ing more information,” said Chris is going to work in the future and the 142 Chandler St. 1155 Park Ave. 485 N. Main St. Worcester, MA Cranston, RI Norwich, CT Andreoli, corporate physical damage steps that we all should take.”

508.752.9700 401.943.1700 860.885.0700 process director for Progressive’s netHe said it basically should come work repairs. down to everyone involved—automakwww.ProvidenceLacquer.com www ww w.Pr w.Pr w.

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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 25

Continued from Page 3

Insurance Fraud Ring

The indictment charged that between June 1, 2009 and January 1, 2014, Anhuar and Karim Bandy illegally controlled several chiropractic facilities through purported “management companies” and “marketing companies” whose real purpose was to hide their ownership. New Jersey regulations require that chiropractic facilities be owned by licensed chiropractors or medical doctors; neither Bandy holds such titles.

In order to generate revenue for the chiropractic facilities, Anhuar and Karim Bandy used runners to bring motor vehicle accident patients to the facilities so the straw owners, could bill insurance carriers for services rendered at the facilities. An investigation determined that, through the scheme, the chiropractic facilities billed insurance companies for millions of dollars for services they purported to perform. The checks sent by the insurance carriers were deposited into the various accounts of the chiropractic facilities or the management companies. A large See Insurance Fraud Ring, Page 72

New WD-40 Degreaser Powerfully & Safely Gets the Job Done To meet the needs of trade professionals working in highly-regulated environments who must quickly and safely clean and degrease their work

sites, tools, equipment and machinery, WD-40 Company is adding nonaerosol Industrial-Strength Cleaner & Degreaser products to its WD-40® Specialist® line.

WD-40 specialist industrialstrength cleaner & degreaser is lowodor and cleans so well that it outperforms other leading brand degreasers. The water-based formula is safe to use on multiple surfaces, including sensitive metals like copper, aluminum and chrome. Containing unique bio-solvent technology, the biodegradable, non-aerosol spray is also U.S. EPA Safer Choice Certified, which means it is safer for workers and the environment.

“Automotive, construction, and maintenance, repair and operations

26 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

professionals want a degreaser that can effectively and safely help them get their jobs done,” said Tim Lesmeister, vice president of marketing at WD-40 Company. “The WD-40 specialist industrial-strength cleaner and degreaser products can be used in any work environment, and on any greasy job.”

WD-40 Cleaner & Degreaser

WD-40 specialist industrialstrength cleaner and degreaser comes in a variety of sizes with custom packaging designed to make work faster and easier. The formats include a 24-ounce refillable trigger; the easy, refillable port is convenient for heavy users.

A 32-ounce non-refillable trigger is also available. The larger bottle fea-

tures a durable, shatter-resistant trigger. It’s perfect for job sites where maintaining product accuracy in the bottle is important or regulated.

Other options include a gallon container, with a wide comfort-grip handle; it tackles larger jobs and can be used to easily refill the 24-ounce refillable trigger. A five-gallon container with spigot is also available. Its easy-pour spigot and easy-stack canister design is ideal for cleaning floors and other large areas.

A lightweight, yet durable plastic 55-Gallon drum is made for commercial facilities.

Other WD-40 Specialist degreaser products currently on the market include the aerosol industrial-strength degreaser, the only degreaser with a permanently-attached smart straw that sprays two ways, and aerosol machine and engine degreaser formulated with deep, penetrating foam action for degreasing engines, equipment and larger machines.

WD-40 specialist non-aerosol industrial strength cleaner and degreaser is available now at Lowe’s, Walmart, Grainger and Fastenal.

To learn more, visit: WD40Specialist .com/products.

www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 27

Product Innovation Industry Veteran Invents Useful Tools at Collision Edge with Ed Attanasio

Tim Briggs, 44, and his wife, Ginger Briggs, are the owners of Collision Edge and the inventors of many products, including The Tape Thing, The Dent Viewer and The Estimating Kit. These tools are designed to simplify basic tasks and make technicians’ lives easier. Founded in 2014 and staffed full-time by Ginger and her sister, Pam Griswold, Collision Edge is located in the family barn in Chattahoochee Hill Country of South Atlanta.

Tim Briggs entered the collision repair industry as a distributor/rep for Fowler Color Company in Atlanta, GA, in 1996 after working as a painter and airplane mechanic for many years.

“I didn’t know anything about the industry. I focused on learning one new thing every day and asked a lot of questions” Briggs said. “After that, I got a job working as a territory manager and did regional business development for PPG for a decade. During

my last three years there, I managed their largest MSO account and there was a ton of travel involved. My young family needed a dad at home, so I decided to get back into distribution and went to work for a regional jobber to get off the road. My heart has always been in the shop, solving problems for customers.”

Today, Briggs is the Director of Strategic Development for National Coatings & Supplies, Inc. (NCS), where he works on numerous internal and external projects. “NCS encourages employee innovation,” he said.

“It’s such an awesome company.”

Briggs is always looking for solutions. Many of the tools that he has created came about while he was looking for a better way of doing things when visiting shops.

The first invention that Briggs developed was called the Estimating Kit, a simple invention that informs users how to precisely re-affix car emblems

28 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.

and stickers after a repair. “We were doing disassembly back in 2014 and taking emblems off a truck, but when the time came to put them back on there, we basically had to guess,” he

Tim Briggs, owner of Collision Edge, is the inventor of the Tape Thing and The Dent Viewer, which are used in body shops all over the world

said. “Then, later when I was driving home, I passed one of the same types of vehicles on the road and I could see that I missed the right spot for the em-

blem by about six inches.”

Briggs then started looking for a tool that he could use to avoid misplacing car emblems ever again.

“My wife had a laser engraving business at that time, so I took one of her magnetic sheets to create the first prototype,” he said. “I went down in the basement that night and made the very first set of rulers. There are four different rulers in a set. They are designed to work in combination to locate the emblems and aid in photo documentation for justifying Blend Operations.”

Briggs began giving the Estimating Kit to his customers for free, and soon bigger and better ideas started entering his inventive mind, which led to The Dent Viewer.

“I spent a lot of time working with shops to improve processes,” he said.

“I was at West Georgia Paint and Body one day, and my friend and owner [of the shop] Tim Wilkerson was trying to take a photo of a dent. He was mov-

ing the camera all around, and I was wondering what he was doing. He told me he was trying to get the ceiling grids in the picture, because the insurance company won’t pay for dents unless they see them in the photos. So I went home that night and started coming up with the idea of The Dent Viewer. It was originally a plain white board with black grid stripes on it, and it worked okay. I made about 50 of them and gave them to all of my customers because I knew it solved their [dent viewing] problem. I wasn’t in it to make money—I just wanted to help my customers and make their lives a little easier.”

Like most great inventions, they evolve as users provide invaluable feedback to their creator over time.

“One day, an estimator called me and said he couldn’t get a good photo of a car, so I drove down there and it turned out to be a white car,” Briggs said. “So at that point, we decided to paint the other side of the board in black with white lines so they could use the device with white vehicles.”

After that, Briggs refined The Dent Viewer even further, adding a reflective film to the white side that illuminates grid onto the panel with the camera flash. He finally had his final

version to share with his customers.

Today, The Dent Viewer comes in two sizes and is a big seller with shops and insurance companies alike, Briggs said.

“The big four insurance companies really like The Dent Viewer, because they normally have big problems getting good photos of damage,” he said. “The field adjusters and shop estimators love it because they get fewer calls on photo quality from desk reviews, plus it’s a huge time saver to not have to retake photos after the estimator realizes his pictures aren’t detailed enough.”

The inventions started accumulating in Briggs’ mind—every time he saw a problem in a shop, he immediately started looking for solutions.

“With every repair, techs are taking nuts ad bolts off the vehicles and throwing them on a work table,” he said. “So, I started working on a magnet that you can clip onto your pocket that would hold nuts and bolts [in order] to cut down on walking back and forth from the table to set them down or drop them on the floor, because it’s a waste of motion.”

Briggs didn’t realize at the time that he was developing The Tape Thing

Caddy, even before he invented The Tape Thing. One day, he saw a technician doing a dance with a roll of tape.

“He was using it, and then putting it under his armpit,” he said. “Then, he would use it a little more and then stick it under his other armpit and then his mouth! I realized he didn’t want to set it down because it would get dirty. At one point, he dropped the roll and it ran across the floor and fell into a puddle of water. I thought, ‘There has to be a better way of holding on to that tape.’”

So the next day, Briggs found himself in the plumbing department of Home Depot with a roll of tape and purchased more than $150 worth of magnets, PVC fittings, epoxy and furniture skid pads. After tweaking the design and coming up with a way for the tape to spin in the user’s hand without burning it, Briggs knew he was on to something that might be big. He eventually ordered 2,500 units from a manufacturer in China, with most of the final assembly taking place in his living room, and sold them all.

Briggs is a consummate tinkerer and isn’t happy until he gets his inventions right, so he has now redesigned The Tape Thing three times.

However, he is finally delighted with

the finished product.

“We improved the magnet strength and mounting, and made every change the voice of the customer’s request,” said Briggs.

Briggs loved his final product and sold thousands more quickly, but all he could think about was the original idea that started him down this path.

Enter, The Tape Thing Caddy.

“It holds everything you need to prep a vehicle, including the razor blades, safely along with rags, scuff pads and sandpaper,” he said. “The goal is that when using The Tape Thing Caddy, preparers don’t ever have to set anything down, bend over to pick anything up, or walk away to find supplies.”

Three years ago, Briggs and his wife took their inventions to their first SEMA Show to unveil the Tape Thing to the collision industry.

“We met some cool people,” he said. “Tim Gerhard from TG Products let us put our products in his booth alongside his new product, The Rail Saver. We took 500 or so of The Tape Things with us to Las Vegas that first year and sold out. We threw estimating kits in the box and were surprised to see that they sold equally well.”

See Useful Tools, Page 72

www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 29

Body Shops Giving Back

Stacey Phillips is a freelance writer and editor for the automotive industry.

She has 20 years of experience writing for a variety of publications, and is co-author of “The Secrets of America’s Greatest Body Shops.”

She can be reached at sphillips.autobodynews@gmail.com.

NABC Recycled Rides Program Changing Lives During NACE Automechanika with Stacey Phillips

by Stacey Phillips

When Victoria Adams’ life took a turn for the worst, she lost everything—her job, her home and her vehicle.

“I was devastated,” said Adams.

“Sometimes, we go through struggles and tragedies. Some people give up because they don’t think there are opportunities out there anymore. I was one of those people.”

She reached out to Family Promise for shelter and support. In addition to helping her regain control of her life, the nonprofit organization also nominated Adams to receive a restored vehicle as part of the National Auto Body Council’s (NABC) Recycled Rides program. That was two years ago.

“These wonderful people working for these programs have made a positive and influential difference in my life,” she said. “They gave me and my child a better opportunity to grow.”

Recycled Rides involves collision repairers teaming up with insurers, car rental agencies, parts suppliers, salvage companies and vendors to restore and donate vehicles to those in need.

“We gather together as a team with one goal—to improve the life of an individual and their family,” said Linda Sulkala, NABC Recycled Rides program manager.

During the NACE Automechanika tradeshow held in Chicago, IL, in July, NABC presented four recipients with vehicles as part of Recycled Rides.

“Since 2007, we have been able to provide almost 2,000 families 2,000 vehicles to improve their lives,” said Linda.

This year, NABC’s goal is to donate 300 vehicles across the country, including one in every state. NABC also partners with 1-800 Charity Cars, which donates its services to process the paperwork to transfer the vehicle title from the donor to the recipient.

“All of us together have taken a vehicle that once upon a time was unable to be repaired simply because it cost too much,” said Chuck Sulkala, executive director of NABC. “By do-

nating services and products, we have now made that cost very minimal and returned the vehicle back to its quality of life so somebody could have good use of it and get back on their main stream of life.”

Dominic Brusco, chairman of NABC, said that what NABC does and why it does it changes and saves lives.

“We want to help people who are less fortunate,” Brusco said. “It makes us feel good and it does truly change the world.”

The first two recipients announced during NACE Automechanika were nominated by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Supportive Services for Veterans’ Families (SSVF), and introduced by the organization’s case manager, Debra Johnson.

Recipient: Devin Evans Vehicle: 2011 Buick LaCrosse Vehicle Donor: IAA represented by Jim Smith and Vince Donohoe Repairer: Gerber Collision & Glass in Schaumburg, represented by Eric Ohava, VP of the company

Devan Evans received a 2011 Buick LaCrosse during the event and said the vehicle will enable her to have reliable transportation for her family.

A service veteran who toured in Iraq and Afghanistan, Evans has received numerous awards. In 2016, she attended college majoring in early childhood education while working part-time. The challenges of being a single mother on a minimal income resulted in the loss of her vehicle. She was homeless when she entered the SSVF program in 2016, run by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. She now has a steady job and was recently promoted. Evans said the vehicle will enable her to have reliable transportation and support her

30 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

family’s needs. “Everybody goes through difficult times, but you just have to keep your head up and keep moving,” she said.

Service veteran Angela Walk said she was blessed and fortunate to receive a vehicle.

Recipient: Angela Walk Vehicle: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic Vechicle Donor: State Farm, represented by Elizabeth Clark Repairer: ABRA Auto Body & Glass Naperville, represented by Louis Sloka, commercial account executive Walk, also a service veteran, began

boot camp in 1990 and trained as a jet engine mechanic. She was one of only a few women who repaired jet engines at that time. After an honorable discharge in 1993, Walk earned an associate degree in accounting. She worked in various accounting positions before returning to Chicago to care for her ill mother. In 2017, Walk lost her job and ultimately her car after being involved in an accident. She joined the SSVF program and started working at Edward Hines Jr. Veteran’s Administration Hospital while regaining her mobility. “No longer will I have to ride the bus. To be given this car is a great honor and privilege,” said Walk. “I am exceptionally blessed and fortunate.”

The following two recipients were nominated by Family Promise of Chicago North Shore. Executive Director Tracy McKeithen announced the winners.

Recipient: Glenda Taylor See Recycled Rides, Page 56

ERRWK

www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 31

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Media and Publicity for Shops

Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.

First Impressions: The Appearance of Your Facility Might Be a Liability with Ed Attanasio

When I began writing on this industry, there were no DRPs and all of the cars still had carburetors in them (remember those good old days?). Over the years, I have seen body shops step up in almost every way.

Today, the public has a better opinion of the collision repair industry as a whole. They can see it by the way their vehicles are repaired to OE standards and in many cases, are impressed by the overall customer experience, including the appearance of the

The owner of BumperDoc in Escondido, CA, spent $50,000 on his waiting area, and was money well spent

shops. The old days of greasy garages with old furniture and outdated magazines in their reception areas are no longer the norm. The collision industry has figured out that if you look like a professional operation, you’re already halfway there.

I interviewed a body shop owner recently who had been rejected for an OE certification that he badly wanted.

He was told the reason for this was that his facility didn’t look professional enough. His shop is I-CAR Gold certified, outfitted for aluminum repair and has some of the most cutting-edge equipment onsite, but he did not cut the mustard because his shop (mainly the waiting area) wasn’t up to par. He also mentioned that he has probably been knocked out of contention for several DRPs because of the state of his facility.

About 20–25 years ago, we learned for the first time that most of the car dealerships in this country see a definite need to provide better facilities to compete. They beat most independent body shops to the punch by going over the top with their interior design and amenities. If you take a look at today’s new collision centers at car dealerships nationwide, you will

see things such as state-of-the-art architecture, multi-level parking, marble floors and restrooms that look like they should be at a Four Seasons Hotel. Customers are treated like royalty, with snacks, free water, juices and one of those coffee makers that offer you 6–8 different flavors from which to choose. They have hugescreen TVs and free Wi-Fi. One collision center in Northern California has an actual cafe on the premises, like its very own Starbucks, and—get this—a hair salon.

It’s all about the old first impression, because in most cases it’s a lasting impression. It used to just be called customer service, but now it’s the “customer experience,” like it’s a ride at Epcot. It’s no longer just about doing a good job and getting a positive review as a result. No, now it’s about connecting with customers to retain them for the long run, or at least until the next time they get in an accident.

If you could take your car to a really nice facility where you can be pampered, or to a shop that is old and beat-up, where would you go? You’re going to have to pony up your $500 deductible either way, so why not opt for the comfy collision center over the less attractive independent shop down the street? It’s not going to cost you any more for the repair, so it’s really an easy decision.

The reception area at Ramsey Paint & Body in Fort Lauderdale, FL, shows that you don’t need a lot of space to make it look good

Now obviously, you still need to do all of the right things to succeed, such as answering the phone promptly and correctly, greeting customers quickly and with enthusiasm, fixing the vehicle correctly the first time, delivering it to the customer on deadline and staying in contact with the customers throughout the entire repair, etc. But if you can do it all in a facility that impresses rather than depresses the customer, you’ve

34 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

already set yourself up for victory.

Ron Mercurio is the owner of the BumperDoc in Escondido, CA. It’s a franchise with 28 locations, the first of which he was able to buy in 2008. His

The waiting area at Uptown Body & Fender in Oakland, CA, gets 5-star reviews from its customers. It looks more like a cool cafe than a body shop

first goal was to make his facility look professional and clean, but with a warm and fuzzy feel.

“We worked very hard on our reception area to make it engaging and to show our customers that we care about quality,” Mercurio said. “We spent

more than $50,000 on our lobby alone, because we knew we had to have the right image. We are located near Rancho Santa Fe, which is a very high-income area, so those people are used to nice facilities and expect top-notch customer service.”

By taking the high road when it comes to his facility’s appearance, Mercurio’s business gets better every year.

“We are always looking to improve our space, and that’s why we took out a rolling door and installed a large window where our customers can see our techs working on their cars,” he said. “It offers a whole new level of transparency, and our clients really appreciate it.

At Uptown Body & Fender in Oakland, CA, co-owner Giovanna Tanzillo has been increasing her business every year since she opened its doors with her partner, Lisandro Allende, in 1992. She See First Impressions, Page 56

www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 35

Continued from Cover

State Farm Lawsuit

29-year-old wife, Marcia, who were trapped inside their used 2010 Honda Fit when the glued roof failed. It then created a domino effect that caused the vehicle’s safety cage to collapse, which led to the fuel tank located directly underneath the driver’s seat to rupture. During the Dec. 21, 2013 accident, the couple was trapped behind their steering wheel. Matthew Seebachan remained conscious as the fire burned his feet and lower legs before he was extracted from the wreckage by another driver. Another motorist then rescued Marcia Seebachan through the passenger window of the badly damaged vehicle. Neither was killed, but Matthew Seebachan’s burns took two full years to heal, according to their counsel.

The couple is represented by vehicle safety lawyer Todd Tracy with the Tracy Law Firm in Dallas, who filed two civil cases—one against John Eagle Collision Center, and one against State Farm.

The federal lawsuit claimed that several years ago, State Farm coerced John Eagle Collision Center into using an untested 3M panel bonding adhesive

in lieu of Honda-specified welding to replace the hail-damaged steel roof of the Honda Fit that the Seebachans had bought as a used vehicle.

“The couple suffered crushing injuries... because John Eagle Collision Center allegedly cut insurance costs by using glue instead of welding the car’s metal structure together, according to a defective repair lawsuit against the Dallas auto body shop,” the Tracy Firm said in a press release.

“John Eagle Collision Center, by covering up its arrogant repair of using glue rather than following the manufacturer’s body repair specifications and using welds just like Honda had done when they designed, developed, and tested the vehicle, created a time bomb that was waiting to explode,” Todd Tracy said. “This shop repairs almost 5,000 vehicles a year in Dallas alone, not counting their Houston Collision Center. It is a billion-dollar-a-year business that apparently is not following the manufacturer’s repair recommendations. In this case, the insurance company paid John Eagle $8,500 to make a repair that was not up to manufacturer standards. Is every vehicle that leaves a John Eagle Collision Center in Dallas or Houston a ticking time bomb waiting to

36 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

kill or maim? That’s a good question.”

On July 7, the body shop director at John Eagle Collision Center, Boyce Willis, stated under oath that John Eagle intentionally violated Honda’s 20092013 Honda Fit body repair manual when it glued the new steel roof onto the 2010 Honda Fit with 3M 8115 adhesive.

“State Farm dictated to John Eagle Collision Center about how the car was to be repaired, i.e., to use adhesive rather than spot welding,” Willis said. “Furthermore, State Farm can ‘trump’ the [OEM] specifications because the repair facility needs to get paid.”

The suit alleged fraud instead of shoddy work or poor shop management, according to the lawsuit.

“Defendant John Eagle unilaterally chose—on its own—to purposefully ignore Honda’s repair specifications,” it stated. “Defendant John Eagle made a conscious and deliberate decision to place unsuspecting people in a vehicle that it knew or should have known could cause serious injury or harm if involved in an accident, such as occurred in this case. Indeed, John Eagle knew that people could be killed or seriously injured, and deliberately chose to place the Seebachans in danger.”

The repair was done by the vehi-

cle’s prior owner, and Matthew and Marcia Seebachan were unaware of it when they bought the car, according to Robert Riggs, a spokesman for Tracy Law Firm. A Carfax report allegedly did not contain the information, according to a report from Tracy Law Firm.

“State Farm advertises that it is a good neighbor, but they are committing what is known as economic terrorism, and the body shops and the consumers are the victims,” Todd Tracy said. “The insurance company says, ‘Go ahead and do a subpar repair,’ and then they cover it up with a nice paint job and hand it over to the customer. Good shops know that they have a moral obligation to meet OE standards, but then they’re not getting paid for them by the insurance companies and losing millions. The insurance companies wear them down, and eventually something like this happens and people get hurt.”

The consumer suffers in the end, Tracy said.

“State Farm secretly and covertly plays Russian Roulette with its customers and the public by forcing body shops to choose their profits over the safety of the motoring public,” he said.

“State Farm sells auto insurance, so they are not in the business of designing ve-

hicles, or testing vehicles, or repairing vehicles. And their adjusters are certainly not professional automotive engineers with an expertise in designing vehicles that provide crash-worthy protection to prevent serious injuries. No insurance company should ever dictate to a collision center how to repair a vehicle. Such coercion jeopardizes public safety on the nation’s highways. We know what the insurance companies have done to health insurance, so do we want them dictating what happens in the collision repair industry as well?”

Tracy said that it ends up being a lose-lose situation for body shops.

“If you’re a shop that worries about safety and quality, you really have only two viable options, because the insurance company has a gun to their head,” he said. “First, they can refuse the work, but that means they’ll go bankrupt. Or they can do the repairs to OE standards and then try to get paid by the insurer for a proper repair, but that ends up being just a slower form of bankruptcy.”

John Eagle Collision was reportedly paid in excess of $8,500 by State Farm for a July 2012 hail repair, which entailed a complete roof replacement, according to the Tracy Law Firm.

Honda OEM repair procedures direct

shops to use a tack-weld on the front and rear corner edges of the new roof, and then perform a series of two- and threeplate spot welds and MIG plug welds to achieve the repair.

Willis also stated that 3M informed the shop that it was okay to use their adhesives on roofs, but then he also recognized that 3M documents stated that Honda prohibits that practice. In addition, Wills claimed in his deposition that utilizing structural adhesive was superior to welding, while admitting that he had no data to support the claim.

“It’s cleaner [and] it’s less intrusive to the vehicle,” Willis stated, according to the court transcript. “Keep in mind, it’s a—it’s a panel. It’s not a structural piece—it’s a panel.”

The lawsuit also accused State Farm of violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. In addition, Texas Watch, a nonpartisan citizen advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that insurance companies and other corporations are accountable to their customers, requested that the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) investigate State Farm’s involvement in the allegedly non-OEM repairs.

“For many years now, we’ve been telling shops that something is going to

happen and someone is going to die because we didn’t follow the procedures,” said Toby Chess, an I-CAR program instructor, training specialist, former salvage yard operator and regular writer for Autobody News. “Why isn’t the insurance company that the shop worked with on the line as well? Because we indemnified them, which means the burden is all on the body shop side while the insurance companies reap the benefits.

“Honda says you weld that roof on, but the shop decided we’re going to glue it on. We have three things here— money, time and quality—which two do you want? The insurance companies want it cheap and fast, and what ends up going out the door is quality.”

Aaron Schulenburg, the Executive Director of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) weighed in on the case.

“Some things require a catalyst, but nobody ever wants a catastrophe like this one [in order] for it to happen,” he said. “It stresses the importance of doing OE repairs and creating a culture within your business that is focused on gaining access to the information that’s out there, on every job. As an industry, we need to do a better job of recognizing

those who perform the best, in accordance with OE procedures, and setting them as the example that others should be encouraged to follow.

“There are documented repair procedures out there, and the industry needs to embrace utilizing them. This case, and others, is a prime example of why it is important that we as repairers make that a priority in all of our repairs.

“In fact, in June of this year, SCRS issued a position statement on the matter. It documented that it remains our position that if an OEM documents a repair procedure as required, recommended, or otherwise necessary as a result of damage or repair, those published procedures would be the standard of repair until such time the documentation changes. Disregarding a documented procedure that is made available to the industry creates undue and avoidable liability on the repair facility performing the repair.

“We will obviously have to wait and see how this plays out, but in the end, the obligation to repair these cars correctly is on you to use your professional experience and the tools that are available to perform the appropriate repair. The parties that make these deterSee State Farm Lawsuit, Page 55

www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 37

Updated OEM Scan Chart Now includes SUBARU items have been repaired and there are no remaining DTCs. It may also assist Subaru recently released its position in assuring the appropriate calibrastatement on pre- and post-repair scantions and reinitializations have been ning for 2004-model-year-and-newer performed.” vehicles involved in a collision. The Visit www.oempositions.com for “OEM Diagnostic Scanning Positions the full Subaru July 2017 release and Quick Reference Chart,” first introupdated OEM scan chart. duced to the collision repair industry In both cases of pre- and post-reby Autobody News in March 2017, has pair scanning, Subaru has chosen the been updated to include Subaru. seemingly softer language of “recomSubaru’s position statement exmends” in the statement. This is sure plains the reasoning behind and beneto create some controversy between fits of pre- and post-repair scanning, repairers and insurers. Some insurers are presently honoring the position statements with the stronger language of “required” or “necessary” while shrugging off procedures that are “recommended,” especially with the pre-repair scan.

When dealing with minced words and the hair splitting often inherent in the negotiation process with insurers, there is an art and a science to presenting the OEM documentation, educating the apGene Bilobram asks, “Are you ready for the vehicles of the praiser and making a cohesive future? The scan on this ETV revealed fault code V290017 argument that leads to the – Malfunctioning Mercury Vortex Thruster Module. Geez, proper allowances. This is a just last month we replaced the Flux Capacitor.” topic worthy of its own article. much in line with what we have heard For now, if an insurer will not honor from other automakers and industry scanning on a Subaru (or any vehicle) pundits before. From the July 2017 rebecause it is only recommended, shops lease: still have the ability to hold sway.

“In the event of a collision, these Repairers and insurers should read components could incur damage, the Subaru position in its entirety to unwhich may trigger diagnostic trouble derstand that the automakers are deemcodes (DTC), but may not be evident ing post-collision scans necessary from via a warning light on the instrument their point of view. Words such as “imcluster. It is imperative that these com- perative” and “critical” are included in ponents be evaluated after a collision the document. For instance: to ensure the vehicle is completely re“It is imperative that these compaired. If these components are not ponents be evaluated after a collision evaluated, it could have a direct effect to ensure the vehicle is completely reon vehicle operation and safety. paired. If these components are not For Subaru vehicles from model evaluated, it could have a direct effect year 2004 and forward involved in a on vehicle operation and safety.” collision, Subaru collision repair proThe above excerpt is referring to cedure recommends that pre-repair the sensors, cameras, control units and scanning be performed. Pre-scanning other components that make up the will reveal DTCs for items that are not safety and assist technologies present functioning properly in the vehicle. It in Subaru vehicles. The word “imperaallows a shop to identify any issues tive” is synonymous with “necessary” early in the estimate process, allowing and “required,” according to Merriama more complete estimate and encom- Webster and other thesaurus providers. passing repair process.

Scan tool diagnostics is crucial to Additionally, Subaru collision re- evaluating the components that the aupair procedure also recommends that tomaker has deemed imperative or repost-repair scanning be performed on quired by definition. these vehicles. Post scanning is critiWhen Toyota Motor Sales USA cal in ensuring the malfunctioning came out with its position statement a

by Gene Bilobram

38 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

year ago, I had the pleasure of a healthy debate with Eric Mendoza of Toyota’s Collision Repair and Refinish (CR&R) Training regarding Toyota’s choice of the word “recommends” in its July 2016 CRIB #191. In contrast to Subaru, Toyota does include the word “requires” with regard to a “Health Check” diagnostic scan when a vehicle is involved in a “collision that may affect electrical systems.” Toyota “strongly recommends” scanning before and after all repairs.

The result of my exchange with Eric was the conclusion that regardless of the language used, the repairer has been instructed by the automaker on the proper course of action. Toyota is a proponent of pre- and post-repair scanning on all its vehicles that are involved in a collision. A repairer or insurer that chooses to omit the procedures will do so against the recommendation of the manufacturer. Any negative outcome could place the customer in harm’s way much the same as ignoring a so-called “required” procedure would. A responsible repairer or insurer would not willingly choose this position.

As noted, a full read of the Sub-

aru position statement is essential rather than focusing on one word.

When an insurer states they won’t pay because it is only a recommendation, a shop could come back with, “Yes, Subaru recommends scanning because it is necessary!”

The Subaru post-repair scan recommendation states that “post-scanning is critical to ensuring the malfunctioning items have been repaired and there are no remaining DTCs.” The word “critical” in its adjective form is akin to necessary or required, perhaps with an even higher degree of importance. I’ve seen definitions of critical stated as “urgently needed” or “absolutely necessary.” By substituting the word “critical” with interchangeable terms, the statement becomes, “Post scanning is absolutely necessary…” and any remaining insurer objection is instantly eviscerated.

The simple truth of the matter is that all OEM Scan position statements, even those with the stronger language of “required” or “necessary,” are essentially recommendations. The automakers have no real authority to See Updated OEM, Page 40

www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 39

Continued from Page 38

Updated OEM

mandate, monitor and enforce these things outside of their certified shop network. Unless you count the radio scanners used for communication by law enforcement, there are no Scan Police. We are still several decades away from Chief John Anderton’s, Tom Cruise’s character in the film “Minority Report,” Pre-Crime officers’ rappel crashing through the front window when a collision repairer contemplates skipping a scan or calibration procedure. Although, it might not hurt to keep this image in mind the next time a shop even thinks about letting a vehicle go without a post-repair scan.

While stopping short of a written law or statute, OEM position statements provide a liability-shifting mechanism for the automaker, to be ignored at the repair shop’s peril. As a type of liability disclaimer, the OEM position statement may be better known as Exhibit (A) to the defense attorneys of the ignorant.

In all fairness, scan-resistant insurance companies are becoming the minority. I have seen and heard examples of insurance companies paying the cost of pre- and post-repair scanning at times without a dashboard light or automaker position statement.

The scan-friendly insurers provide a good example to those that remain resistant. Collision repairers should provide examples of the good insurers to

those bad actors out there still stuck on decades-old methodologies, which have no place in the exponentially advancing techno-world of today.

So, if an insurer attempts to deny post-collision scanning based upon the word “recommends,” the repair shop should kindly “recommend” that the insurance company thoroughly reads the document again. Recommend that the insurer explains their stance to the vehicle owner who will be directly impacted by the decision. Want a gamechanger? Involve the customer in the process and request any insurer denials in writing. See how quickly the negotiation environment improves.

Subaru’s July 2017 position statement goes beyond scanning with its strong recommendation supporting the use of genuine Subaru replacement parts while cautioning against the use of aftermarket or substitute parts. Subaru further tells repairers to always refer to the appropriate Subaru Service Manual, Technical Service Bulletin (TSB), or Body Repair Manual for the most up-to-date information on repair procedures.

On a particularly interesting note within the Subaru position statement, there are some recommendations regarding choice of scan tools. Like most automakers, Subaru recommends its own factory scan tool. A generic scan tool may be used, but the automaker cannot the content or guarantee the accuracy of generic or aftermarket scan tools. Nothing new here. What is note-

Car Guys Collision Repair in Agreement To Acquire Gunder’s Auto Repair In Lakeland, FL

Dave Mitchell, the president of Car Guys Collision Repair said the deal will officially close on Sept. 15. In addition to another acquisition Mitchell made on Friday, this becomes Car Guys’ thirteenth location in central Florida.

Mitchell said he and Gunder had been working on a deal over the past five months. Gunder’s Auto Repair made the deal public on Aug. 15 on its Facebook page.

Mitchell said the deal is notable because Car Guys is very DRPheavy, while Gunder’s Auto Repair is openly anti-DRP. Ray Gunder, owner of the shop, had levied around 40 lawsuits against State Farm, Allstate, USAA, Travelers and GEICO back in 2013.

“It’s an interesting story, with him getting out and us coming in,” said Mitchell. “We’re two different

faces and models of collision repair.”

“But there are also lots of similarities, because we want high quality and happy customers,” he continued. “What’s strange about that store is that most hops that are not DRP friendly, they don’t have much work. Insurance can strongarm them—that didn’t work with Ray. Through his loyal customer base and service and attention to detail, customers have continued to come back regardless of insurance companies have said.”

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Autobody News

40 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

worthy, however, is that Subaru recommends the asTech™ remote diagnostic solution as an acceptable substitute for the Subaru SSM4 diagnostic tool, making it the second major automaker to endorse asTech™ behind FCA (aka Chrysler) a little more than one year ago.

“If a Subaru SSM4 diagnostic tool is not available, Subaru recommends the use of an asTech™ device. The asTech™ device performs a diagnostic scan remotely using a genuine Subaru scan tool.”

Subaru’s position statement adds to the growing stockpile of ammunition outlined in “The Pre- and PostScan Revolution” featured in the May 2017 edition of Autobody News. The war chest of resources keeps building toward the day when the industry will no longer need my OEM Scan Chart or stacks of position statements to justify diagnostic scanning and calibrations—it will be line item number one, recognized as standard operating procedure in the automobile collision repair process.

As safety and assist technologies continue to become more pervasive with every new model year, the day of the 100 percent vehicle scan standard

may be here sooner than we think.

Forward-thinking, safety-conscious shops are already pressing toward the 100 percent mark by insisting on scanning almost every vehicle and getting paid in many situations without a dashboard light or an OEM position statement. These shops live by the words expressed in the second to last paragraph of Subaru’s July 2017 position statement: “The safety of our customers is our number one priority.”

Gene Bilobram has been an automobile physical damage appraiser for over 25 years. His company, Lacey Appraisal Service, Inc. is a physical damage appraisal, training, consultancy and manufacturers’ rep firm serving the collision repair and insurance industries.

He may be reached at (609) 384-8093 or at laceyappraisal@aol.com to discuss the latest shop tools and solutions in the pre- and post- scan revolution. His company is Manufacturer’s Representative for the leaders in post-collision remote vehicle diagnostics and systems calibrations.

The opinions expressed are that of the author and not necessarily the opinion of any of the companies, individuals or organizations mentioned herein or of this publication.

www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 41

H ONDA C ON NEC TI CU T

Lia Honda of Enfield E n fie l d

800-221-3131 860-741-3401 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-4 jdoucette@liacars.com

Manchester Honda M a nch e ste r

800-442-6614 860-645-3115 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-5; Sat 8-4 gabe.llantin@manchesterhonda.com

Schaller Honda N ew Br i tai n

800-382-4525 860-826-2080 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5; Sat 8-1 jkiniry@schallerauto.com MAI NE

Berlin City Honda So u th P or tl a nd

800-640-6685 207-774-6685 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30 mmmparts@berlincity.com

Prime Honda Saco

207-391-7910 207-282-0900 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Th. 7:30-7; Sat 7:30-4 klavalle@driveprime.com MAR Y LA ND

Criswell Honda Ge r m a n town

866-738-2886 Dept. Hours: M-Thu 7-9; Fri 7-7:30; Sat 8-6 hondaparts@criswellauto.com AC URA MAR Y LA ND

Tischer Acura Lau rel

800-288-6983 301-498-3322 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-4 wholesaleparts@tischerauto.com MAS SAC HUSET T 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 JE RSEY

Acura Turnersville Tu r ners ville

888-883-2884 856-516-6060 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4 kristen.powell@penskeautomotive.com 42 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Please contact these dealers for your Honda or Acura Genuine parts needs.

M AR Y LAN D

NE W J ERSE Y

N EW YORK

P EN NSY LVAN IA

O’Donnell Honda

Madison Honda

Dick Ide Honda

El li co tt City

Ma dis on

R o che st e r

Wex ford

410-461-5000 410-461-9654

800-648-0293 973-822-1710

800-462-0056 (N.Y.) 585-586-4919

724-940-2006

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5 bshortt@odonnellhonda.com

Dept. Hours: M-Thu 7-8; Fri 7-6; Sat 8-6; mschumer@madisonhonda.com

Dept. Hours: M-Thur 8-8; Fri 8-5:30; Sat 8-5 parts@dickide.com

Ourisman Honda of Laurel

Rossi Honda

Lamacchia Honda

Lau re l

Vin elan d

S y ra cu se

800-288-6985 301-498-6050

800-893-3030 856-692-4449

315-471-7278

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-7; Sat 7-4 julio.cruz@ourismanautomotive.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 6:30-5; Sat 7:30-3 dave@rossihonda.com

M AS S AC H U SE T T S

LIA Honda Northampton No r thamp to n

800-369-7889 413-586-6043 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-4 dstanisewski@liacars.com NEW JERSEY

Clinton Honda Ann a ndal e

877-657-2787 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5 chrish@clintonhonda.com

Honda of Turnersville Tur ne rsvi l le

800-883-0002 856-649-1584 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-4 sbaptist@penskeautomotive.com

Hudson Honda We st Ne w Yo r k

Route 22 Honda Hi lls id e

973-705-9100 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7:30; Sat 8-5 rt22hondaparts@route22honda.com

VIP Honda

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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 43

A Flip of a Coin Leads to Successful Business Partnership at Flawless Auto Body

by Jo Dee Black, Great Falls Tribune

A flip of a coin, a Montana High School Association rule and a mentor he met in junior high are a few things Jeramy Myers, owner of Flawless Auto Body, credit for his business success.

Of course, his own work ethic and leadership skills are what led to Myers’ ability to buy out his business partner, Owen Robinson, this month.

Jeramy Myers, left, is buying out his Flawless Auto Body business partner Owen Robinson.

Jeramy and Owen stand in the Revo paint curing system at Flawless Auto Body shop, which can cure paint in minutes. Credit: Rion Sanders, Tribune

“It’s bittersweet. It’s almost like a divorce, I suppose,” said Myers the day he and Robinson signed financial papers sealing the deal that means

after 16 years, Myers is the sole owner of the collision repair and auto body shop at 1111 38th St. N. in Great Falls, MT. “Owen has made me the successful person I am today,” Myers said. “(He) worked with me and turned me into a successful business owner. He saw something in me that most people overlooked.”

Myers, 44, and Robinson met more than 30 years ago when the now retired former owner of Lumber Yard Supply was a basketball coach at North Middle School.

Myers’ family had recently moved to Great Falls from the Fort Shaw area, and had missed tryouts.

“It was apparent he was a good player and another A-team coach and I both wanted him on our teams,” Robinson explained. “The athletic director flipped a coin.”

Myers played for Robinson in both seventh and eighth grades, as well as on a Big Sky State Games team Robinson put together. He mowed lawns for Robinson and bought a car from his former coach.

“Jeramy’s parents had divorced and

our relationship became a father/son relationship throughout the years,” Robinson said. “I was a groomsman in his wedding. He was a great kid, a real leader and team player.”

Basketball was Myers’ focus in high school. He was named the Most

Flawless Auto Body shop office and reception.

Credit: Rion Sanders, Tribune

Valuable Player of the C.M. Russell team in 1992 as a junior. However, that focus was yanked away his senior year when the MHSA denied an appeal to a rule that made students older than 18 ineligible to play high school sports.

“Because Jeramy’s family had moved, he was behind a year in school,” Robinson said. “He just had no idea this was going to happen—none of us did.

He called me and we appealed, but the ruling stood.”

“It shattered me,” Myers said. “I knew I wasn’t tall enough to play basketball at a bigger college. I probably could have walked on at a small school. But in high school, basketball was my life, and it was taken away from me.”

Shattered, but not broken, Myers picked up the pieces and refocused.

He leveraged his budding love of cars into a detailing business, hired a couple of buddies, and entered the world of small business.

“It took my mind off of basketball,” he said. “I refocused on my business and started to provide for myself.”

During the next several years, Myers worked for an auto body shop and as an insurance adjuster. He leveraged his basketball experience into business practices.

“There is so much that is similar in being good at a team sport and in business,” Myers said.

Then, 16 years ago Myers saw a chance to be the coach of his own business “team.” The owners of Flawless Auto Body were looking for a buyer,

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and he was interested.

“Jeramy called me and asked me if I wanted to go out to lunch, and I said, ‘Jeramy, are you buying?’” Robinson recalls with a laugh.

Myers ran his business prospect

by Robinson, and he did pick up the check. He also asked Robinson to be his partner.

“I told him I learned that you don’t get into things you don’t know anything about in business, but I helped him with his business plan,” Robinson said. “It became apparent that this would be a good investment.”

Robinson had Myers, who was about 26 at the time, put together as much money as he could, and the two became business partners.

It was a good move, Myers said.

“I thought running a business would be easy. All I had to focus on was doing good, quality work,” Myers said. “But there were times I honestly didn’t think I was going to be able to make it. Not only did I have to repair cars, take care of customers and insurance companies, [but] I had to deal with income statements, balance sheets, taxes, accounts receivables and managing people. I am sure

a few business owners and managers are laughing right now.”

Robinson used those overwhelming times as a platform for teachable moments.

“When I asked a question and kept going on and on, he would just sit there and look straight at me and not say a word,” Myers said. “When I finally quit rambling he would very politely ask me if I was done. I would then listen to all his wisdom, wondering why I didn’t think of that. Owen

Kenneth “Scotchy” Craib, a restoration technician at Flawless Auto Body shop, works on the door of a 1966 Ford Pickup Truck on July 11. Credit: Rion Sanders, Tribune

taught me how to stop talking and start listening.”

Myers brought plenty to the partnership, Robinson said.

“He is a natural leader—he gets along with all people,” he said. “He [has] hired and mentored great employees. He takes a long view and sets goals. I am extremely proud of this little kid I mentored in basketball.”

Flawless Auto Body was established almost 50 years ago. When Myers and Robinson bought the business, they had six employees. Today, Flawless Auto Body has a workforce of 28.

The business services 8–9 vehicles a day, using an impressive organizational procedure that includes just-in-time parts delivery to maximize efficiency.

Every vehicle is pre-washed before work is started, and then delivered meticulously detailed to its owner when repairs are complete.

“We’ve had a couple of people not recognize their vehicles, and we’ve even had a couple of people cry,” Myers said. “We want to exceed their expectations.”

Technicians work in teams instead of individually, a nod to Myers’ basketball experience that he says his employees tell him makes their work more satisfying and efficient.

Sales have grown year over year for the past 16 years, Robinson said.

“The business had a great reputation when we bought it, which was an advantage,” he said. “Jeramy hired good people and kept the focus on service and quality. And we knew we would have to evolve, or get left behind.”

Flawless Auto Body was the first in the Pacific Northwest to install a paint system, which cures in 11 minutes.

“Typically, you have to wait 60 to 90 days to even power-wash your vehicle after it’s [been] painted,” Robinson said. “That is not the case with this system.”

The philosophy guiding the business is talent, training and technologies, Myers said, which has helped both the business and its employees flourish.

“The employee leading our production team started with us in our entry level job, washing vehicles,” he said. “That makes me smile every time I think about it.”

Myers said he’s looking forward to the challenges of running his business on his own.

See A Flip of a Coin, Page 71

www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 45

46 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 47

Day Job/Night Job Shop Owner David Ludwig Uses His Art to Give Back with Ed Attanasio

Dave Ludwig, 58, owns Prestige Auto Body in Manchester, NH, a shop he started with just one helper back in 1986.

Today, he has 24 employees and is well-known for his quality repairs, but many people in the community also know him as someone who isn’t afraid to help others through his art. By creat-

Dave Ludwig and his daughter, Elizabeth, stand next to Ludwig’s first sculpture, a 9-foot pink ribbon that he designed with a local radio station to create awareness about breast cancer in New Hampshire

ing a series of incredible sculptures, Ludwig is building his philanthropy in a creative way that continually helps the charities he chooses again and again.

Always willing to help, Ludwig determined many years ago that he could use his unique artistic ability to help causes and organizations.

“It’s so much more meaningful to use my art to help these nonprofits, as opposed to just writing a check,” Ludwig said. “Anyone can give money and there is nothing wrong with that, but using your hands to make something that people will appreciate while raising money for the cause—how can it get any better than that?”

Giving back to his hometown is a big deal for Ludwig, he said.

“I was born and raised right here, so we donate to and support as many worthwhile organizations as we possibly can, including cancer associations, programs that support single homeless parents and local drug education and support groups,” he said.

“These charitable efforts have allowed us to build a positive reputation and establish credibility as a business.”

Some call Ludwig’s creations sculptures or structures, but everyone agrees that they were created for a good cause, and surely qualify as art.

“We do them for different community events to raise awareness, but we also do them to show people that good body techs are more than just wrench turners or guys who just slap bondo around,” he said. “Whether it’s their paint work or metal work, it’s amazing and these people are indeed artists.”

Nearly a decade ago, a local radio station met with Ludwig and asked if he could be a sponsor for a big fundraising event. That’s when his artistic journey began.

“They were looking to do something different, so I said, ‘Let’s brainstorm and see what we can come up with,” he said. “Our first piece was a large 9-foot pink ribbon made of aluminum that we did for a breast cancer nonprofit. When we unveiled the ribbon at the very first event, we saw the response, and it was pretty awesome.

Since then, the ribbon has been to a lot of breast cancer-related events, and so many cancer survivors have signed it.”

Ludwig and the radio station came up with the idea of having cancer survivors sign the sculpture, making it a piece of art that will continually help the charity by spreading its message.

Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.

bust wearing a pink bra that’s actually a bank.

“It’s 8 feet tall and 7 feet wide, and surely our most ambitious project to date,” Ludwig said. “It has a clear glass door on the back so people can see how

One of Ludwig's most well-known pieces is called the “Bust Bank,” a sculpture of a woman’s bust that also acts as a bank where people can donate to fight breast cancer

much money is being donated.”

Always looking for a new project, last year Ludwig created a 6-foot butterfly to help Hope for New Hampshire Recovery, a drug rehabilitation and awareness program.

“The butterfly represents hope and is made out of foam core covered with aluminum,” he said. “The wings are removable, and the whole structure breaks down easily so they can travel with it to other events. I am currently working on another piece for them.”

With an eye to possibly get out of the body shop business by age 65, Ludwig does not call it retirement, but rather a change of careers.

“I have no desire to retire,” he said.

“So when I step away from the shop, I will continue doing my creative endeavors, whether it’s making furniture or sculptures or even making high-end gold carts for people in Florida—who knows? I have to do something that stimulates me, and the art really does that.”

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Sun.: Ludwig created this beautiful butterfly sculpture for the New Hampshire Breast Cancer Coalition

“At that first event, I was able to meet so many survivors and hear their stories as they signed the ribbon with their names and their years of remission,” he said. “It was an amazing experience—one I will never forget.”

Ludwig’s second project gained significant attention for its creativity and “Bust Bank,” which is a white

48 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 49

Vehicles Abandoned at Body Shops Are Unwelcome Guests

Greg LaPoint is the owner of GBI Title in Denver, CO, and for the Has this ever happened to you? past 20 years has been helping both mechanical and collision shops in ColA customer brings in a vehicle and says orado and Nevada when customers they don’t want to run it through their abandon vehicles at their facilities. For insurance. You give them an estimate, even the most detail-oriented people, they sign it and you begin the obtaining the titles of these work. When the job is comcars isn’t a do-it-yourself job plete, all of a sudden you that any body shop owner or can’t reach the customer. You manager wants to get incall every day for about a volved in, LaPoint said. week and suddenly, you real“In Colorado, they call ize that no one is going to call them ‘lien sales’ and in Neyou back. Hopefully you got Greg LaPoint is the vada they’re ‘bonded titles,’ a deposit, but either way owner of GBI Title but either way, they’re not you’re now in limbo, and it’s in Denver, CO. For something most people will the past 20 years, going to cost you. be able to understand,” he If you have a shop where he has been helping said. “It’s a complex procemechanical and your space is limited and parkdure and until you’ve done a collision shops in ing is scarce, an abandoned car lot of them, you’re likely to Colorado and is like a squatter in your house. make mistakes. It involves Nevada when You can’t just kick it to the customers abandon sending a lot of certified devehicles at their curb, because the law protects mand letters and documenting facilities them. So now it’s your probevery step of the way. If you lem, even though you were just trying miss one little detail, you’re in trouble.” to do your job.

Some states have made the process At some point, uncomfortable even more difficult—Colorado being thoughts start entering your mind, inone of them, according to LaPoint. cluding all of the money you’re going “They have so many rules and to lose over this abandoned vehicle. procedures now in Colorado. It makes Your first instinct is to wheel it out to it that much harder to get a title on the street and act like you’ve never these abandoned vehicles,” he said. seen it before, but that can lead to “In Nevada, the cars get sold at lien problems down the road. If the owner sales and the buyer gets the title in the of the vehicle (or his divorced wife mail while the shop gets paid. But in who has the title) suddenly reappears, Colorado, they send the title to the you could be stuck in court for months. shop and then they have to sell the veby Ed Attanasio

Continued from Page 24

Insurers Discuss

ther and further from the truth.”

So are the insurers set up to identify OEM-certified shops on their networks? Hoffbauer said that’s not happening currently, but is something State Farm is studying.

“We do have conversations with the insured, and if they ask, we can recommend or try to provide advice, but we believe in customer choice, and they can go wherever they’d like to,” he said. “But we would prefer they make an informed decision based on facts.”

Similarly, Thompson said “capabilities-based assignments” are in the works at USAA.

“It does me no good at all to send a vehicle to a shop that isn’t properly equipped to handle the repair,” he said. “It just creates delays in the overall process, which isn’t good for the member.”

Lindorfer said Allstate has information available if a direct repair shop works on a particular type of vehicle, such as the aluminum Ford F-150, but the company’s systems will need to evolve before they can match that up with the customer’s vehicle at the first notice of loss.

“But our adjusters do try to tell them when they are writing the estimate that if they have a vehicle that needs a special type of repair, they need to inquire with their shop to ensure that they are able to repair that type of vehicle,” she said.

50 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

hicle and store it until then. They sure don’t make it easy for the shops.”

In Colorado, the state employs VIN Inspectors through their State Patrol offices, so before any abandoned vehicle can be sold, it must go through their system in order to ensure the car isn’t stolen. LaPoint realizes that it’s a necessary step, but also a little illogical.

“From my experience, car thieves don’t take stolen vehicles to shops for repairs,” he said. “I have never seen it happen, nor have I ever heard of it happening, but I guess it is what it is.”

In Colorado, LaPoint’s clients have to transport the abandoned vehicle to a State Patrol office, which means they have to tow it there—which is another hassle.

“It’s another cost and in some cases, the car will sit for 6-8 weeks until we can get the VIN inspection,” he said. “How hard is to find a VIN number and run the vehicle to see if it is stolen or not? It’s crazy. Colorado’s ‘bonded title’ procedure is two or three times more difficult than it even needs to be in my opinion. It is hobbled by red tape.”

OURCE PARTS S YOUR KIA

When it comes to abandoned cars at shops, LaPoint gets philosophical on the topic.

“If you’re in the business of fixing people’s cars, you are going to run into it, but it’s not the end of the world,” he said. “Why do people just walk away from their cars? I tell them about the three D’s—departed, deported or divorced—and usually one of those three is the reason. Also, people figure out that their vehicle is a piece of junk and they don’t want to pay the deductible.”

One of the main problems that LaPoint’s customers encounter is not acting quickly once they realize that a vehicle has been dumped on them, he said.

“In some cases, they don’t do anything for two years and the whole time the car is sitting in their back lot while its value diminishes,” he said. “Once they do start the process, they’re not even recouping the costs of the repairs.

So, I would suggest that as soon as you know that a certain vehicle isn’t going anywhere, contact someone like me to expedite the bonded title. The longer you wait, the more it costs you.”

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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 51

Tips for Busy Body Shops with Stacey Phillips

Stacey Phillips is a freelance writer and editor for the automotive industry.

She has 20 years of experience writing for a variety of publications, and is co-author of “The Secrets of America’s Greatest Body Shops.”

She can be reached at sphillips.autobodynews@gmail.com.

Best Practices for Photo Documentation: 10 Tips on How to Capture Useful and Relevant Images One of the many important steps in the claim handling process, according to Mike Cassata, owner of Hammer Insights, is proper photo and file documentation.

During NACE Automechanika in July, Cassata explained how to capture useful and relevant photographs that show the vehicle damage or lack of damage. “Photos are a real and necessary part of the complete claim file,” said Cassata. “DRP managers will tell

3) If you can’t squat, find an alternative method that is comfortable for you.

4) Take the majority of photos from the height of the impact along the body of the vehicle whenever possible. A yard stick can be helpful to show the height of the impact.

5) Use sunlight and shop lighting to your advantage and remove excess snow from the vehicle.

6) Fill the entire frame with the vehicle.

7) Parking lot lines can help accentuate damages in the images.

8) Include worn or trashed interior photos

9) Take your time, and make sure you aren’t including the vehicle owner, family memMike Cassata, owner of Hammer Insights, during NACE bers, pets or your own reflecAutomechanika 2017 tion in the photos. Review the you that poor photos and documenta- photos prior to uploading them. tion can be a bigger problem than the quality of the repairs.”

10) Don’t upload excess photos and He shared insight with attendees carefully follow each carrier’s guideabout the correct process that the ma- lines. jority of carriers want to see, although the rules may vary from carrier to carRegardless of the extent of the damrier. age, Cassata said there are five angles While working through the inrequired for all front-end claims: the spection process, Cassata said there are front of the vehicle straight on, the two important photos to capture in adright-front corner, left-front corner, dition to a legible one of the license and both sides. Photos of the rear plate: the VIN sticker on the door and damage are captured in a similar way the dash instrument gauges with the and include the right rear, right center, car running. Not only will this idenleft rear and both rear sides. Side damtify any Malfunction Indicator Lamps age photos should be taken using a (MIL), but also other systems, mileage panoramic view with multiple angles and fuel level. from front to rear. After panorama and Cassata shared 10 tips for opti- prior damage photos are taken, Cassata mum photo documentation: said it is often necessary to take photos of specific damage.

1) Observe the direct and indirect In the event of a comprehensive damages and then walk around the veloss, also known as “other than collihicle once or twice before beginning sion” (OTC), there are additional photo take photos and writing the estimate. tos to take such as animal hair or remains in the event of an animal loss.

2) Use the catcher’s position to take If there was a fire, Cassata said to try photos and refrain from kneeling to and locate the origin and include your protect your knees. remarks in the comment section. “The

52 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

cause of the fire is not covered, but the ensuring damage is,” he explained.

In cases of vandalism or theft, Cassata said the damage is often random and not specific to one area of the vehicle. “Regardless of the damages, photograph both sides of the steering wheel and all possible points of entry such as door locks, door frames and glass,” he advised. “Remember, lack of damage in these areas can be just as important to the investigation as actual damages.”

Photos are also required of the electronic equipment and console area. Cassata said to take time to note if the sound equipment was removed surgically or in a hurry, causing damage to the dash. He recommended taking a wider view of the front occupant compartment since it will often show additional damage to the dash, seats or removed parts left behind by those who vandalized the vehicle.

For vehicles that have been in floods, Cassata discussed fresh water losses as well as salt water losses. In terms of fresh water losses, he said to check with the carrier on its total loss guidelines. “Most will tell you that it’s usually up to the dash before they will total a vehicle,” said Cassata. In addition to removing the interior and trunk trim and carpets, he said to dry out the interior before mold and mildew appears.

Salt water losses, according to Cassata, are usually deemed a total loss by a carrier if the water is over the rocker. “It’s much worse than a fresh water loss due to the corrosion,” he said. However, he said the water line could be higher than what shows on the interior on both salt water and fresh water losses.

Many insurance carriers will ask for a total loss evaluation, and may even pay a DRP partner for this servSee Photo Documentation, Page 66

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Ford On Target—2017 Volume 2 Volume 2 of the Ford 2017 On Target publication is now available, according to I-CAR. Features of this volume include repair procedures, future technologies and replacement parts availability.

The first article talks about replacing the front apron tube (upper rail) on the aluminum F-150 and Super Duty. They compare the aluminum procedure to the procedure done on the previous steel bodied FSeries. The new procedure is less invasive than the previous generation, and does not require removing the instrument panel. According to the article, both the F-150 and the Super Duty have many similarities. However, the upper rail replacement procedures have many differences. One of the biggest differences is that the F-150 utilized a hydroformed aluminum upper rail, while the Super Duty uses a hydroformed HSLA-350 steel rail. Gerry Bonanni, Ford Sen-

Host of Hit TV Show “Bitchin’ Rides” to Debut New Custom Color Line of Akzonobel Automotive Paints at Sema

ior Damageability Engineer, states in the article, “Repairers are strongly advised to research the repair. That is probably the single strongest piece of advice I can give.”

Ford also talks about current and future advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). They touch on a current system, Pedestrian Detection, which is featured on several different Ford/Lincoln models, such as the 2017 Ford Fusion. This system utilizes a bumper-mounted radar and a windshield-mounted camera to detect pedestrians while driving. They also talk about future systems, such as Evasive Steering Assist and Wrong-Way alert. These systems are expected to start being utilized within the next two years.

Finally, they announce that you can get replacement boxes and cabs for the F-150. To read the entire issue go to https://rts.i-car.com/ collision-repair-news/ford-on-target -2017-volume-2.html. You can also go to the Ford OEM Information or Lincoln OEM Information on the RTS website to easily access this publication.

AkzoNobel and Dave Kindig, host of the popular cable TV show “Bitchin’ Rides,” have been working together to jointly develop a new custom color line of automotive paints. The new custom colors will make their debut at SEMA 2017.

“AkzoNobel is proud to join forces with Dave Kindig, a true automotive artist, who is known throughout North America for his exceptional quality, workmanship and style,” said Jennifer Solcz, North American Marketing Manager for AkzoNobel Vehicle Refinishes.

“AkzoNobel is in the business of color, and we are dedicated to color innovation through product development and dynamic strategic partnerships.”

Kindig is the owner and Chief Designer of the custom fabrication

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automotive shop, Kindig-It Design, in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is a stateof-the-art, one-stop custom shop where automobiles are rendered, designed, built and restored into works of art. The shop, which Kindig operates with his wife Charity, was so well recognized and respected, that the Velocity channel gave Kindig and his crew their own television show in 2014, “Bitchin’ Rides.” The show follows the everyday work of the crew at Kindig-It Design.

“I’m thrilled to be working with AkzoNobel on developing this brand new custom color line,” said Kindig.

“Since I started spraying Sikkens Autowave, my projects have never looked better. So, it is very exciting to me that I will be able to combine my style and quality and mix it with AkzoNobel’s exciting product line in order to come up with some pretty sick colors.”

For more information on AkzoNobel, visit www.akzonobel.com.

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FADRA, Honda Pull Recalled Takata Airbags from Local Salvage Yards

by Mike Holfeld - Investigative Reporter, News 6 WKMG-TV in Orlando

The mangled white 2003 Honda Accord parked in the front of the M&K Used Auto Parts yard in Orange City is the latest vehicle confirmed to have recalled passenger-and driver-side Takata airbags that have been pulled from the local auto recycling market.

Tom McMillon, owner and president of the used auto parts yard, told News 6 he had already collected 30 Takata airbag modules from Honda vehicles in the last two weeks—modules that, ironically, weren’t on the original recall list.

“It’s the right thing to do,” McMillon told WKMG-TV News 6.

“Let’s get them off the street.”

McMillon is a member of FADRA, the Florida Auto Dismantlers & Recyclers Association , a group that is working with Honda as part of a national effort to track and pull “airbag modules that contain recalled Takata inflators” from every Honda model between 2002 and 2012.

Chris Martin, spokesman for American Honda Motor Co., Inc., told News 6 that Honda has already “recovered over 70,000 airbag modules from salvage yards in the U.S.”

According to Martin, the recalled devices are shipped to a secure storage location “for eventual disposal.”

McMillon told News 6 he first received the call from Honda officials two months ago.

McMillon said the airbag modules found in any vehicles (19 manufacturers are impacted) are pulled and tossed into a cardboard box until they are “collected” by a representative of Rebuilders Automotive Supply (RAS).

According to Martin, RAS buys back recalled Takata airbags and then makes sure “they get to Honda, effectively taking them out of the open marketplace.” “(In) our industry, we’re not supposed to recycle these airbags— they’re supposed to go to the people to get rid of them for us,” McMillon told News 6. “There’s a lot of them out there. That’s what worries me.”

Martin told News 6 there is no reason to delay getting the airbags replaced if you see your vehicle identification number (VIN) is on the recall list.

“Owners should seek repair at an authorized dealer as soon as possible,” Martin said. “… The recall repairs are free, we have plenty of replacement parts for all affected Honda and Acura

Continued from Page 37

models and, if they need it, we’ll even provide a free loaner car to the vehicle’s owner for the day of the recall repair.”

Using the VIN, it is easy to determine if a vehicle has contained a recalled but unrepaired Takata airbag inflator by visiting recalls.honda.com or recalls.acura.com.

There are 19 automobile manufacturers impacted by the Takata air bag recall effort.

For a full list of cars affected by the Takata airbag recall, go to https:// www.nhtsa.gov/recall-spotlight/ takata-air-bags.

If you want to know if your car has an open recall, go to https://www .nhtsa.gov/recall-spotlight/takata-airbags or https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/ We thank News 6 WKMG-TV in Orlando for reprint permission. News 6 is continuing to investigate this issue, so be sure to visit: ClickOrlando.com /investigators to stay up to date.”

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minations about both the repairs and the associated costs are potentially going to end up being liable, and that’s an important consideration for a business.

When it’s all said and done, everyone in this industry should focus on putting the consumers, their family and anybody else traveling around on the roadway safely back into a vehicle that is repaired to the way it was before the accident.”

Attorney Jack Molodanof, the CAA’s lobbyist, said that the laws in California are clear. “Since this [was] pending litigation, I obviously can’t comment directly about the case, but as you know, auto body shops must follow accepted trade standards for good and workmanlike auto body and frame repairs,” Molodanof said. “This means that auto body shops in California must perform repair procedures, including sectioning of component parts, in accordance with OEM service specifications or nationally distributed and periodically updated service specifications, such as those offered by I-CAR, that are generally accepted by the auto body repair industry. It’s very clear.”

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Continued from Page 30

Recycled Rides

Vehicle: 2016 Ford Fusion Vehicle Donor: Allstate Insurance, represented by Steve Kelly, Allstate regional claims manager Repairer: Service King Collision Repair in Libertyville, represented by

Glenda Taylor near her new 2016 Ford Fusion, which she said will help her have more of a normal life

Marissa Caruso, regional business development manager.

Taylor was living in the Family Promise shelter program with her daughter and grandson. Her daughter had a very long work schedule and commute every day, so Taylor took her grandson to school and other activities on the bus. It took more than an hour each way before going to

work herself. “Having a car is probably going to cut my time by more than half, and that will help us have more of a normal life,” she said. “It will make my life and the life of my grandchild and my daughter much better. I’m very appreciative of everyone who was able to make this possible.”

Recipient: Harriett Fomond Vehicle: 2016 Nissan Altima Vehicle Donor: Enterprise Rent-ACar, represented by Gary Jefferson, director of insurance replacement sales in Chicago Repairer: All Line CARSTAR, represented by Teresa Kostick, president Fomond and her family were sleeping in a van when they learned of the Family Promise program. She and her daughter were taking the bus with her three grandchildren. A typical day involved taking multiple buses to drop off the kids at different places and then go to work. “With this car to get around, it will be so much easier now,” said Fomond.

“Thank you to everyone who participated in making this possible for me, my grandkids and my daughter.”

To become a member of NABC and find out more information about

Continued from Page 34

First Impressions

Harriett Fomond said it will be much easier to get around with her new vehicle—a 2016 Nissan Altima

the Recycled Rides program, contact: info@nationalautobodycouncil.org or visit NationalAutoBodyCouncil.org.

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GM to Launch Collision Certification Program in Early 2018

General Motors’ Customer Care and Aftersales division announced at NACE Automechanika Chicago, the U.S. trade show dedicated to highend technical and management-related training for automotive collision and service repair shops, that it will launch a comprehensive collision certification program in 2018.

“Today’s certification programs have to evolve to keep up with the rapid-fire pace of technological innovation in the auto industry, especially in areas like safety systems,” said John Eck, collision manager, GM Customer Care and Aftersales. “Our new program is being designed to measure critical behaviors and procedures that will help ensure every collision repair is done to the highest standards, whether the work is done at a dealership, an independent body shop or by a multishop operator.”

The new GM collision certification program will build on current training-and tools-focused programs, but it is much more comprehensive, adding standards for pre- and post-repair scanning, calibration, and overall repair. Throughout the development of the certification program, GM Customer Care and Aftersales is working closely with companies such as Mitchell International and Enterprise

Holdings, which share common goals of ensuring proper and quality repairs take place.

Last year, GM issued a position statement that all vehicles assessed for collision damage repairs must be tested for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) during the repair estimation.

Additionally, the vehicle must be retested after all repairs are complete in order to verify the faults have been repaired and new faults have not been introduced during the course of repairs.

GM is also looking at ways to incorporate technologies like OnStar into the process, such as providing drivers with information on qualified collision repair facilities based on vehicle location and crash severity.

“With Automatic Crash Response, OnStar is typically the first to know an incident has occurred,” said Brian Hoglund, OnStar Commercial Experience director for GM. “Depending on the vehicle’s repair needs and driver’s well-being, OnStar has the ability to help streamline the repair process while making the experience more convenient for our customers.”

All of GM’s position statements can be downloaded at http://www .genuinegmparts.com/for-professionals /position-statements.

56 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

credits much of her success to the look and feel of her shop.

“We wanted to create a comforting atmosphere for our customers, because when they come here, they have a lot of things on their minds,” Tanzillo said. “They are stressed out, so we want to alleviate that as quickly as we can. That’s why we created a waiting room with an espresso and tea bar, classical music piped in and artwork all over the walls. Our customers hang out here and we don’t mind it, because we know that it’s all about the attitude we want here at Uptown Body & Fender.”

So, if you’re thinking about sprucing up your shop, especially in those areas that are called “customer facing”—a business service feature experienced or seen by a customer— go for it. It will be money well-spent, because you can be one of the best shops in your area, but if it your facility looks like something out of “The Walking Dead” or “Sanford & Son,” you’ll never get the love and respect you deserve.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Last NASCAR Cup Series Car Revealed by Axalta On Wednesday, August 2, Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet SS for Hendrick Motorsports, and Craig Stephens, Director of Collision Services at AutoNation, appeared on QVC.

on November 19. The show also featured an assortment of die-cast model cars, apparel and other licensed collectibles.

Axalta will partner with and feature AutoNation on the car for the

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Last NASCAR Cup Series Car Revealed Live on QVC from Axalta’s Customer Experience Center

The appearance was during the “Dale Earnhardt Jr. Appreci88ion Tour” broadcast, live from the Axalta Coating Systems Customer Experience Center in Concord, North Carolina, to reveal the paint scheme that will be featured on the No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet SS for Earnhardt’s final start as a full-time NASCAR® Cup Series driver at Homestead-Miami Speedway

final race. The special-edition paint scheme is a tribute to the No. 8 Chevrolet that NASCAR’s 14-time most popular driver drove in his first Cup races in 1999. The car is adorned with the Axalta emblem on the hood and the AutoNation logo on the roof and rear panels.

“We enjoy our partnership with Axalta and were grateful to be included in such a momentous event in

World’s Painters to Display Unique Automotive Artwork at 3M Showcase in Royal Oak, MI

Join 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division in a celebration of classic car culture at the 2017 Woodward Dream Cruise with special guests Chip Foose, legendary automotive designer, and automotive painters from around the world. The 3M Demonstration and Education Mobile Operations (D.E.M.O.) trailer

will showcase the latest 3M solutions for automotive repair and maintenance with hands-on demonstrations for body repair, paint preparation, vehicle painting, paint finishing and vehicle appearance.

As part of the celebration, 3M AAD has invited 10 leading painters from around the world to illustrate their vision of classic car culture on a hood, using the 3M™ PPS™ System and other 3M automotive products. The unique hoods will be

unveiled at the 2017 Woodward Dream Cruise and the painters will be available to discuss their creations.

3M Automotive Aftermarket Division, automotive design legend Chip Foose and 10 leading painters: Pablo Prado, KandynChrome, USA Jacob Miles, Milestone Paint & Body, USA Connie Manjavinos, PassionateInk, USA Clay Hoberecht, Best Body Shop, USA Justin Jimmo, Refinish Network, Canada Carl-André Giroux, Canada Danny Schramm, SchrammWerk, Germany Christian Wilke, Germany Carmine De Maria, C.A.D. Custom, Australia Shane Wanjon, Exclusive Image Paint and Body, USA

3M D.E.M.O. Trailer Pasquale’s parking lot 31555 Woodward Ave Royal Oak, MI 48073 Saturday, August 19 9 a.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET

58 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

racing,” said Mike Jackson, AutoNation Chairman, CEO, and President.

Axalta Coating Systems is a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings. The Customer Experience Center is a state-of-the-art, 36,000 square feet training and conference complex designed to serve Axalta’s refinish, transportation OEM, and industrial customers, in person and remotely, and is located on the Hendrick Motorsports campus adjacent to some of the finest automotive technology and expertise in the world.

“Axalta’s Customer Experience Center is a world class facility outfitted with the latest technology that is designed to boost our customers’ productivity and efficiency. It served as an excellent venue for QVC,” said Mike Carr, Axalta President, Americas. “We wish Dale every success at Homestead and are excited to associate the paint and other coatings that we supply with the technology that underpins racing. It is also thrilling to share this moment of racing history with our customer, AutoNation.”

Items from the “Dale Earnhardt Jr. Appreci88ion Tour” broadcast are available, while supplies last, through QVC.com, the QVC apps or by calling 800-345-1515.

Auto Care Association Applauds Joint Statement on Tax Reform

The Auto Care Association is pleased and relieved to see that the tax reform framework negotiated by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX), announced today, has removed the border adjustment tax (BAT) from consideration.

“I want to thank those members who tackled this issue headon by scheduling meetings with their legislators, writing letters and making phone calls. Their time commitment and dedication to the cause was phenomenal and they should all be proud of their efforts.

We are grateful that we now have the opportunity to work with Congress and the administration to reform the outmoded tax code that is a burden to all of us.”

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National Auto Body Council Opens Nominations for 2018 Board of Directors

The National Auto Body Council (NABC) announced it is now accepting nominations for seven open seats for its Board of Directors.

Deadline for nominations is Friday, Sept. 1.

To qualify, the nominee must be either an individual member of the National Auto Body Council or the designated representative of a company member. Board members are elected for three-year terms.

All nominations must be submitted in writing. The election will take place at NABC’s upcoming Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at the SEMA Conference in Las Vegas. Per NABC Bylaws, proxy voting and nominations from the floor are not allowed.

Current NABC Board members whose terms are ending this year may also seek re-election. They include: • Greg Clark, Caliber Collision Centers • Michael Jordan, Manchester Collision Center • Keith Egan, Colours, Inc. • Joe Lacy, formerly of GEICO • Elizabeth Stein, Assured Performance

• Kerry Angers, Enterprise Rent-a-Car • Arlo Johnson, Driven Brands “NABC has already made a tremendous impact to help improve the lives of thousands of individuals through our community service programs. We have the opportunity to change and save even more lives, and welcome nominations for all segments of the collision industry for leaders who are passionate and committed to these same goals,” said Chuck Sulkala, NABC Executive Director.

NABC initiatives include the successful and popular Recycled RidesTM program as well as First Responder Emergency Extrication (FREETM), and the Distracted Driving Initiative.

Nominations for NABC board seats must be submitted in writing: Info@NationalAutoBodyCouncil.org or Executive Director Chuck Sulkala at chucksulkala@msn.com.

Fax NABC administrative office at (414) 768-8001 Mail to: National Auto Body Council, 7044 S. 13th St Oak Creek, Wisconsin 53154 For more information, please contact Chuck Sulkala directly.

Kia Selects OEC for Collision Parts Ordering and Fulfillment

OEConnection LLC (OEC), the leading automotive technology provider for original equipment manufacturers’ (OEM) distribution

networks, announced that Kia Motors America has added CollisionLink to its collision parts marketing program. The CollisionLink parts ordering and fulfillment solution will allow Kia’s dealer network to access competitive pricing on eligible OE parts and expand its market penetration in the U.S. Kia is the 23rd automotive dealer network in North America to use CollisionLink to facilitate its parts marketing program. With the addition of Kia, virtually 100 percent of all consumer vehicles on the

road in the U.S. are now supported

by CollisionLink.

“We are excited to bring Kia on board and to assist with its collision parts program,” said Bill Lopez, OEC Vice President & General Manager, Collision. “With our CollisionLink solution, Kia dealers can compete more effectively and increase their OE part sales while also improving order processing efficiency and customer satisfaction.”

“Selecting CollisionLink will provide our retailers with competitively priced OE parts,” said Greg Silvestri, Executive Director, Service Operations. “We chose CollisionLink because it has become a standard operating procedure among body shops that prefer to use OE parts at competitive prices. CollisionLink also streamlines the dealers’ workflow when processing orders to better serve its customers.”

By the fourth quarter of 2017, all Kia dealers will have access to their collision parts marketing program via CollisionLink.

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60 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Long-Running Federal Circuit Results in Victory for Mitchell in IP Dispute with Audatex The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s (PTAB) February 2016 decision invalidating all three patents in Audatex’s patent infringement lawsuit asserted against Mitchell, agreeing that the Audatex patents are abstract and not inventive.

Audatex sued Mitchell in February 2012, alleging that Mitchell’s WorkCenter software infringed three Audatex patents. The Audatex patents detailed a business process for using the internet to process insurance claims, including total loss valuations.

Before the PTAB, Mitchell asserted that the Audatex patents simply use well-known technology to generate valuation reports for damaged cars, and are not intended to improve a computer’s functionality.

In February 2016, the PTAB sided with Mitchell and invalidated all three Audatex patents as abstract under the U.S. Supreme Court’s Alice Corp. decision, in which the high court ruled that abstract ideas implemented using a computer are not patent eligible. The PTAB also decided each of the claims in all three Audatex patents were both anticipated and obvious.

Audatex appealed portions of the PTAB’s decision to the Federal Circuit. After receiving briefing and hearing oral arguments, on July 27 the Federal Circuit affirmed the PTAB’s invalidation of all three Audatex patents.

In its written decision, the Federal Circuit fully backed Mitchell’s arguments and rejected all of the appeal issues raised by Audatex: “The proposed claims recite nothing more than the collection of information to generate a valuation report for a damaged vehicle with the aid of well-known technology,” the opinion reads. “They embody an abstract idea that merely uses a computer and generic components as tools to collect these data and generate reports.”

“To see the Federal Circuit affirm the PTAB’s decisions so quickly after oral argument is welcome news for Mitchell,” said Stephanie Kroon, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary at Mitchell. “We believed from early in the case that Audatex’s claims against Mitchell had no merit and the Federal Circuit has confirmed our position. This decision is a complete victory for Mitchell.”

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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 61

National Organization Promotes Independent Jobbers

“It might not sound like a lot, but collectively our members represent Discounted purchasing power, indusmore than half a billion dollars in total try networking, business training, marsales across the markets,” said Robert keting support and an exclusive brand McKenzie, executive director of RDA. of collision repair products.

“Our members have over 250 locations combined in 26 states.”

RDA staff, which includes McKenzie, Marketing Director Melissa Jolls and Project Manager Georgia Thorson, receives direction from a board of directors consisting of RDA members. Additional members are involved in various committees and forums that provide insight and exRDA Member Gregg Schneider of Hi-Line Distributors pertise to the organization.

Hawaii at 2017 Austin roundtable discussion “Our goal is to connect marThese are just some of the beneket leaders so they can pool resources, fits offered to members of the Refinish Distributors Alliance (RDA), a national membership organization of independent PBE (paint, body and equipment) distributors.

RDA was founded in 2008 by seven members, and currently consists of 17 member distributors who represent a cross section of major refinish brands across the country.

2016 New Orleans RDA IPC product demo

by Autobody News staff

INSIST ON GENUINE GM PARTS

learn from one another and focus on “Our products are noted for their products and industry topics relevant to quality and consistency, and are field distributors,” said Jolls. tested by our group to ensure they perThorson said RDA is committed to form at a level exceeding customer exthe collision repair industry and strongly pectations,” said Jolls. shows its support through membership as well as participation with industry organizations and functions such as the AutoCare Association, CIC, CREF, I-CAR, NABC, SCRS, and SKillsUSA. “RDA realizes the importance of staying abreast of the latest information and trends, and supports organizations that Jay Devereux (center)of AccuTec presenting to RDA members during 2017 Austin IPC rodeo promote knowledge for industry professionals and safety for conIn addition, RDA’s IMPACT Elite sumers,” she said.

Program provides business and marketRDA provides products, services, ing services that enable members to networking, and industry resources to offer competitive pricing on office tools members. It also works with major in- that body shops may use on a daily dustry manufacturers that sponsor the basis to better compete with national organization and supply leveraged chains. buying incentives to benefit members.

“RDA programs help improve In addition, Jolls said RDA’s exclusive profitability, increase customer retenbrand, IMPACT Performance Prodtion, and attract new customers,” said ucts, provides a distinctive line of Jolls. quality products for members to offer Thorson said that one of the major shops. challenges facing the collision refinish

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industry is consolidation, which is reshaping distribution in many ways.

“The PBE aftermarket is affected by major players acquiring and taking body shop clients elsewhere for jobber services,” she said. “We even see consolidation within distribution, so RDA has become a place of refuge and resource for independent distributors to compete and succeed within their markets in a difficult and competitive environment.”

“Why go through this alone when there is an opportunity to be part of an organization that supports the growth and success of independent distributors?” added McKenzie.

IMPACT display at RDA Member Sturdevant’s Refinish Supply Center in SD

RDA member Josh Byers, President of Automotive Color and Supply Corporation in Fort Wayne, IN, said RDA enables other like-minded dis-

tributors in the same circumstance to come together and create strategies and platforms that will position each individual distributor within the group at the top of their respective markets.

Team RDA (l to r) Melissa Jolls, Robert McKenzie and Georgia Thorson

“I enjoy the collaboration with my peers to solve problems, the costsavings to my business and to my customers, as well as the ability to offer national programs that would otherwise be unattainable to me as an individual business,” Byers said.

RDA conducts sessions and events throughout the year that provide networking and various other opportunities for members and the shops they assist.

“Training is the biggest and most important component we offer the shops,” said Jolls. “Over 1,000 companies have attended our live webinars

covering various business, regulatory and technical topics.”

Thorson added that their 6H program for EPA & OSHA Painter Certification has trained, tested and certified hundreds of shops through the RDA platform.

IMPACT Performance Conferences (IPC) are held twice a year by RDA and are well-attended by members, manufacturers and other guests.

“We always incorporate training, pertinent industry information, and networking along with elements of team building, motivation and leadership,” said Thorson. “Attendance has doubled over the last three years due to the uniqueness and enhanced content of the events. We always try to make each meeting distinctive, and at least as good as the previous one.”

Jolls said the meetings give members the opportunity to learn and meet high-profile industry speakers, and that

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they focus on topics relevant to distributors that help them become better at what they do.

Thorson added, “McKenzie does a great job connecting all the elements of the meeting, and is a polished master of ceremonies.”

Looking ahead, RDA’s major goal is to expand the organization.

“RDA is always seeking new members, especially those who share commonalities with the group,” said McKenzie. “Our members find that independent distributors are stronger together and can influence the industry in ways that benefit individual members.”

Visit the Refinish Distributors Alliance website http://rda-impact.com/.

For more information about RDA membership and the organization’s upcoming IMPACT Performance Conference in Cleveland, OH, Oct. 16-18, contact Robert McKenzie at: robert emckenzie@me.com or 731-217-9081.

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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 65

PPG Launches NEXA AUTOCOLOR® Advanced Clearcoat P190-6920

PPG has introduced NEXA AUTOCOLOR® P190-6920 Production Clearcoat, an easy-to-use clearcoat designed for exceptional throughput and engineered specifically for use over AQUABASE® Plus waterborne

PPG P190-6920

basecoat. The new clearcoat is now available throughout the United States and Canada and is compliant with VOC requirements in all regions of North America.

“The launch of P190-6920 Production Clearcoat marks a significant advance in automotive refinish technology,” said Tim Jones, PPG manager, water collision segment, automotive reContinued from Page 52

Photo Documentation

ice. Cassata said to be thorough, accurate and include all of the options and relevant information. “Proper photo technique is necessary for the claim file,” he said. “You are the appraiser of record and the payment to the policy holder will be based on your report.”

In addition to taking photos of the VIN, gauges, actual damages and corner views, Cassata said all total loss vehicles require additional images such as vehicle options and front and rear interior views.

Supplement photos are often taken after vehicle disassembly. Since they can be difficult to decipher, Cassata recommended getting close enough to capture the damage but remain far enough away to provide some context as to the location of the damages. At least one photo of the license plate must be included as well as an undamaged part of the vehicle.

Insurance carriers often have their own requirements on how to document air bag deployments. In general, Cassata said the procedure is to include your initials and the

finish. “We’ve formulated this premium clearcoat to match perfectly with Aquabase Plus and deliver the exceptional finishes PPG customers expect.

Collision centers incorporating P1906920 into their system will appreciate the fast process times and energy-saving qualities that can increase productivity and provide consistently beautiful results.”

Jones added that P190-6920 allows easy application by utilizing the same hardener and thinners as the popular Nexa Autocolor clearcoats P1906930 and P190-6950. Further, he noted that P190-6920 allows exceptional throughput on repairs up to four panels, with a minimal bake time of just twenty minutes. The clearcoat features an energy-saving lower force-dry temperature of 120°F and is a timesaver in the booth: Panels coated with P190-6920 can be reassembled after an air-dry period of 90 minutes to two hours. The process ultimately yields an excellent appearance out of bake, with no polishing required and superb gloss retention.

For more information about P190-6920 and other PPG automotive refinish products, call (800) 6476050 or visit www.ppgrefinish.com.

date on the air bag with a permanent marker before taking a photograph.

“This practice will reduce fraud,” he said.

The full claim file is discoverable in court, which means it could be utilized in a court proceeding or other legal matter as well as used heavily in the decision-making process of settling the claim. Cassata said that every comment, line note, entry on the estimate, photo and entry in the portal must be turned over to the court when there is litigation.

He recommended maintaining a folder on every vehicle you repair as well as a chronological record of the activity and ensure all comments pertain to the file in case you are called upon to testify.

“You are the eyes and ears of the carrier so be sure to give them every opportunity to settle the claim fairly and responsibly by doing your part to supply the best photos and written documentation possible,” said Cassata.

This article was based on a presentation by Mike Cassata, Hammer Insights, during NACE Automechanika 2017. For more information, call (585) 794-0914 or email: hammerinsights @outlook.com.

66 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

New Chief M30 Pro Alu Stud Welder Is Faster and Easier to Use ®

Dent repair is faster and easier with less chance of ancillary damage when using the new Chief M30 Pro Alu Stud Welder. Grounding preparation is automatic, eliminating the need for

grounding cables, and through-material transfer of welding heat is minimized or eliminated.

For collision damage repair, when a stud is spot welded to the outside surface, all too often some of the heat is transferred through to the backside of the material, causing unintended additional damage.

The new Chief M30 Pro Alu Stud Welder incorporates technology that allows for a strong spot weld with minimal heat penetration, so little or no heat is transferred through the material to areas where it is not needed.

Another productivity enhancement of the Chief M30 Pro Alu Stud Welder is a grounding mechanism built into the stud gun head.

This eliminates the need to sand off

a piece of the panel material so that a ground can be attached to this bare metal area. Instead, when the M30 Pro Alu Stud Welder head is applied to the surface of the material where the stud is to be welded, grounding prongs automatically emerge and touch the surface, providing the necessary grounding to perform the stud welding.

“The new Chief M30 Pro Aluminum stud welder is designed to improve technician performance and productivity,” says Mickey Swartz, vice president of global product management for Chief. “It dramatically reduces preparation time and minimizes the potential for causing additional damage due to heat transfer.”

The M30 Pro Alu Stud Welder operates off of 115V power. It is available as part of the new Chief MultiTool Aluminum Dent Repair Station or separately.

To learn more about the Chief M30 Pro Alu Stud Welder, visit www.chiefautomotive.com/welding /aluminum-welders/multispot-m30al/ , contact your local Chief distributor or call (800) 445-9262.

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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 67

Mitchell Launches Mitchell Diagnostics™ System and Mitchell Estimating Cloud

by Stacey Phillips

This summer, Mitchell International announced two new developments to assist collision repairers run a more streamlined business. The Mitchell Diagnostics system was designed to enable shops to more effectively assess and repair vehicle electronic systems, and Mitchell Estimating Cloud focuses on enhancing the estimating process.

Mitchell, in collaboration with Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, introduced the Mitchell Diagnostics system for the collision repair and automotive claims markets. The company said the collision diagnostics system combines a best-in-class aftermarket scan tool with workflow applications in order to document pre- and post-repair scans and perform diagnostic repairs.

“In today’s rapidly changing automotive industry, collision repairers must quickly and accurately assess vehicle damage, while providing accurate estimates and decreasing repair cycle time,” said Jack Rozint, vice president of sales and service at Mitchell International, a provider of technology, connectivity and information solutions to the property and casualty claims and collision repair industries. “Mitchell Diagnostics will provide an end-to-end diagnostic system that combines appraisal and repair workflow applications with Bosch’s most advanced aftermarket tools.”

He said this will help shops increase productivity, experience a smoother repair process and provide an enhanced level of customer service.

After researching a wide variety of scan tools on the market, Rozint said Mitchell chose Bosch because of its coverage and modern technology, as well as the excellent support provided. Some of the features of the Mitchell solution include customized scan reports with automated document routing, Electronic Control Unit (ECU) reprogramming, with options that include target system for recalibrating Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) kit.

“Working with Mitchell will integrate our scan tool directly into the workflow applications used by collision repairers and insurance carriers, which will assist in the diagnostic por-

tion of collision repairs,” said Stefan Schmitt, vice president of engineering and product area diagnostics at Bosch Automotive Service Solutions.

The system confirms that the VIN on the scan report matches the VIN on the vehicle. Rozint said the re-

Jack Rozint, vice president of sales and service at Mitchell International, demonstrates the Mitchell Diagnostics system during NACE Automechanika 2017 in Chicago, IL.

port can then be used to support repair billing and offers carriers and repairers a record showing the vehicle had a clean scan after the repair process.

Bill Lawrence of 1st Certified Collision Group in Southern California said one of the challenges the multi-site collision repair operation has is documenting, confirming and getting compensated for the scanning done in-house.

“With the Mitchell Diagnostics system, we’ll be able to demonstrate via validation documentation that the work was performed on the vehicle with the VIN matching the insurers’ claim, and we can easily attach that to our repair order and the carrier’s claim file,” Lawrence said.

Mitchell’s system has the capability of adding scan reports to the major estimating, repair management and claims process systems and integrates with Mitchell Estimating and RepairCenter. The patent-pending system is currently available to repairers, insurers and independent appraisers throughout North America.

Mitchell Estimating Cloud is a cloud-based system, which was designed to simplify the estimating process.

“We are the only full-featured collision estimating application in the

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United States today that is fully cloudbased,” said Rozint.

Debbie Day, executive vice president and general manager for Mitchell Auto Physical Damage Solutions, said estimators and appraisers are no longer tied to their desks and can work anywhere on any modern browser and device, at any time.

The system, completely integrated with Mitchell Diagnostics, is capable of running on Microsoft Windows, Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. Shops can use the browser of their choice: Google’s Chrome, Apple’s Safari and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. Repairers may utilize either EMS or BMS standards for data sharing with trading partners.

“It’s an extremely intuitive system,” said Rozint. “Anybody who has used any estimating system before can sit down, watch a four-minute video and then log in and start writing estimates.”

Rozint said another advantage is that shops can write estimates more quickly and have the ability to work on multiple estimates at one time.

Some of the key features include the

ability to capture vehicle information prior to writing the estimate, photo integration, the availability of OEM repair procedures while the estimate is being written and guided estimating with pre-configured estimate templates available to assist the estimator with decision-making.

“Using the new Mitchell Estimating Cloud is changing the way we write estimates,” said Andres Sanchez, claims adjuster for Superior Auto Body. “I feel it’s going to shorten the time we have the vehicle in the shop, to write the estimate and get it approved. I like the fact that it’s web-based and that I can use the platform on a tablet or a laptop— even my mobile phone.”

Mitchell Estimating Cloud, completely integrated with Mitchell Diagnostics, is currently in limited release and being used by 80 facilities. It is planned to be fully released in the fourth quarter of 2017.

For more information about Mitchell Diagnostics and Mitchell Estimating Cloud, call (800) 238-9111 or visit www.mitchell.com/contact/autophysical-damage/apd-repair.

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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 69

CARSTAR Premier Collision Yelm Opens In Washington

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts, North America’s largest Multi-Shop Operator Network of independently owned collision repair facilities, announced the opening of CARSTAR Premier Collision Yelm at 103 1st Street N., Yelm, WA 98597. The CARSTAR location is owned by Matt Earsley. The Yelm location is the 25th CARSTAR facility in Washington. CARSTAR Premier Collision Yelm provides the highest quality auto body repair. It offers 24/7 accident support and towing assistance to get drivers back on the road quickly. The CARSTAR collision center in Yelm, WA provides dent repair, dent removal, storm damage repair and other services. They repair all makes and models, work with most insurance companies and offer a nationwide warranty. The center is open from 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday. “We are excited to expand in Washington with great owners like Matt Earsley,” said Michael Macaluso, president, CARSTAR North America. “His commitment to delivering the highest quality repairs and excellent customer service are hallmarks of the CARSTAR way of doing business.”

Service King Expands to 30 Shops in Southern California Tim Cusic, Service King Market Vice President for Southern California. “We are thrilled to continue growing the Service King family across the Southern California community with best-in-class repair services all backed by the core Service King promise.”

In three years, Service King has grown its footprint to 30 locations in the region and 42 total locations across The Golden State. The company focuses on providing consistently dependable service and working alongside all major insurance carriers to deliver a seamless repair experience. Service King repairs all vehicle makes and models while backing its work with a written lifetime guarantee.

By partnering with Valley Motor Center, Service King adds one of the top repair shops in the community to its roster. The 22,000+ square feet of production space provides the capacity to repair more than 400 vehicles a month.

“The Valley Motor Center family is proud of its history and commitment to serving the Los Angeles community,” said Cindy Cohen, Valley Motor President & CEO. “Joining hands with Service King provides

After first expanding to Southern California in 2014, Richardson, Texasbased Service King Collision Repair Centers recently announced the organization eclipsed another milestone in the region with the opening of its 30th local auto body repair center.

The announcement comes as Service King finalized a deal to partner with Valley Motor Center Auto Body in the heart of the San Fernando Valley.

As part of the deal, Valley Motor Center, located at 14954 Oxnard St. in Van Nuys, CA, will begin operating as Service King immediately. Service King, one of the fastest-growing automotive collision repair providers in the U.S., operates locations in 24 states across the U.S. “Valley Motor Center has a long, rich history of providing premier collision repair service to San Fernando Valley motorists,” said

our customers and business partners the support and benefits of a premier industry leader. We look forward to a very bright future together under the Service King name.”

Valley Motor Center Auto Body served the Los Angeles area with collision repair service since 1994.

Throughout its 20-plus year history, the company earned a reputation for superior quality and providing outstanding customer service while earning the business of several leading insurance providers.

As a Service King company, the location will extend the organization’s reach to the heart of the San Fernando Valley providing local motorists access to the company’s growing repair network.

For more information on the organization, or to find a local Service King repair center, visit: Service King.com and follow the company on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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New York Audi Albany Latham 518.783.5554 518.213.8182 Mon - Sat 7:30am - 6pm audiparts@audialbany.com 70 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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WIA Summer Conference Receives Positive Responses

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

Women in Automotive (WIA) held its 2017 Summer Conference July 9 –11 at the Omni Orlando Resort in Championsgate, FL. According to WIA Founding Board Member Subi Ghosh, “The event was incredible! We had over 300 attendees from all over the country coming together to learn, share, network and grow.

“We are happy that our attendees seem to have had a great response.

People not only enjoyed the access to brilliant minds to network with, but also learned important and valuable nuggets to take back to their companies and implement to bring about change and progress. I personally brought some members of my team that were so inspired and took notes back to act on immediately. The concept that seemed to stick with most of them was to invest time and education into themselves to grow and become stronger leaders in order to develop strong leaders themselves.”

Speakers at WIA’s 2017 Summer Conference included Lisa Copeland, Nicole Ashe of Cox Automotive, Shari Fitzpatrick, and FCA’s Ralph Gilles. The major topics covered were

leadership, dealership strategies and tactics, personal development, and selling, marketing and employment trends for women.

WIA’s mission is to accelerate the role of women in the automotive industry. They strive to educate, empower and connect women and men throughout the industry in an effort to move forward.

Ghosh elaborated, “Each year’s events are designed to continue that mission, and growing to be able to include more people. We also want to attract and recruit women into the industry.

“Every year, the event seems to get bigger and attract more influential names and roles within the industry than I expect. I personally believe this is a long overdue event and movement. Women have been somewhat ig-

Continued from Page 45

nored as a population within the automotive industry and are hungry for opportunities to connect and learn. The movement of forcing the conversation is the most attractive component of our main annual event and all of the smaller events we have throughout the year. It is so incredibly exciting to be a part of something that is moving the industry forward in such a great way.

The buzz within the industry, the impact we’re making with and for our attendees, and the results they are bringing back to us the following years, are all exceeding my expectations!”

One important idea that WIA wants the industry to remember is that the association is not just for women.

Ghosh explained, “Our content, agenda and overall feel of our events focus on broad concepts that fit anyone or any role within the industry. We believe we have grown year over year because of our focus on inclusivity.

All walks of automotive, all vendors, all partners, all media sources, and even all competitors are welcome and included. WIA is for everyone, because only together can we make a real difference.”

For more information on WIA, visit: WomenInAutomotive.com.

A Flip of a Coin

“But I realize that I will always be able to pick up the phone and know he [Robinson] will be on the other end,” he said.

Flawless Auto Body Customer Appreciation Day Car Show When: Noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 12 Where: Flawless Auto Body, 1111 38th St. N. Free registration for car show.

Food and refreshments will be served.

Entertainment by Grant Stebbins & The Insigators. Call 406-727-8611.

We thank Great Falls Tribune for reprint permission.

Visit the following URL for more details: http://gftrib.com/2ioWm5d

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M-F 7:30am - 6pm; Sat 7:30am - 5pm mbpartswholesale@yourmercedes.com www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 71

Latin Auto Parts Expo in Panama Hosts 350 Exhibitors, 3,000 Attendees at 2017 Show

If auto parts is your business, and you have Latin American customers.

Panama might be the place to be. The fourth edition of the LATIN AUTO PARTS EXPO took place July 19-21, 2017 at the ATLAPA Convention Center in Panama City in the Republic of Panama. 357 exhibitors from 18 countries exhibited a wide range of products, including accessories and custom parts, tools and equipment, auto repair and maintenance & auto body and trim. Approximately 3,000 visitors from 60 countries were present. Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia and Costa Rica were ranked the top countries of visitors.

The US Department of Commerce granted Trade Fair Certification to the LATIN AUTO PARTS EXPO for the third consecutive year.

Through this Certification, the Commercial Service of the Department of Commerce recognizes the Show Organizer’s professional capability to organize a United States Pavilion and endorses the event as an excellent opportunity to showcase U.S. products and services.

The Inaugural Ceremony was celebrated on the first day of the show at Teatro La Huaca in the convention center, welcoming all exhibitors and Continued from Page 26

Insurance Fraud Ring

portion of the monies deposited into the accounts of the chiropractic facilities would then be paid to the Bandy management companies.

The runners were paid up to $1,000 for each patient that they recruited for medical treatment. An investigation determined that the runners retrieved motor vehicle accident reports at local police stations, under the Open Public Records Act rules, and then visited the homes of the motor vehicle accident victims in an attempt to persuade them to utilize the services of the chiropractic facilities controlled by the Bandy brothers. The runners picked up the motor vehicle accident patients from their home and drove them to the chiropractic facilities. An investigation determined that payments were made to companies incorporated by Karim Bandy for over a thousand referrals of patients for medical treatment and/or clients for legal representation.

The following professional service providers pleaded guilty and were sentenced in the scheme: ● Dr. Mark Schwartz, D.O., 50, of Park

visitors the beautiful country of Panama. The ceremony consisted of a ribbon cutting, a musical and dance performance by the orchestra Sociedad Anónima, cocktails and a full complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Repeat exhibitors participating for the fourth consecutive year were presented with plaques on stage recognizing their companies’ loyalty to the expo.

The Educational Conferences were held on the second day of the exhibition at the Salon Portobello. The Conferences featured diverse range of speakers from industry leading companies. Topics presented in this year’s Conference line-up included, “Oxygen Sensors Diagnostic and Vehicle Emissions” (Mr. Alejandro Hernandez Marquez, Walker Products), “Heavy Duty & Industrial Specialty Lubricants and Fluids” (Mr. Santiago Estrada, Warco Products, Inc.), “The Benefits & Challenges of Selling Ultra-Premium products in a predominantly Low Cost Market” (Mr. Andy Abascal, Akebono Brake Corporation), to name a few.

This year a New Product Showcase was added to the second floor, which allowed several exhibitors to display their new and innovative products. Exhibitors who participated in this new feature included Mighty Auto

Ridge, owner of MLS Medical in Park Ridge who pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree health care claims fraud and was sentenced to three years of probation and 40 hours of community service. ● David Walker, Esq., 58, of Rockaway, a personal injury lawyer who pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree conspiracy and was sentenced to two years of probation and 40 hours of community service. ● Alexandra Gallegos, 55, of Piscataway, a paralegal who received a percentage of the profits of Walker’s firm, who filed personal injury claims on behalf of the motor vehicle accident patients. She pleaded guilty to third-degree conspiracy and third-degree criminal use of runners and was sentenced two years of probation, 40 hours of community service, and a $5,000 criminal fine. ● Edward Formisano, D.C., 55, of Roxbury, a chiropractor and purported owner of Eclipse Chiropractic, located in Plainfield, Lakewood Chiropractic, located in Lakewood, Liberty Chiropractic Center, located in Jersey City, and Chiropractic Spine Center, located in Perth Amboy. He pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree health care See Insurance Fraud Ring, Page 74

72 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Parts, Greentune/ASNU Fuel Injection, TSI Supercool, Akebono Brake Corporation, ROWE Marketing GmbH, Harfon Electric and TVA Automotive.

“Over the course of three days, we met and received bona fide leads from Cost Rica, Panama, Florida, Jamaica, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and Chile.

We have already initiated discussions with two accounts on becoming a distributor for FTZ in their country. FTZ considered the show to be a great success, and hopefully these leads will generate additional revenue, allowing us to achieve our international goals”, stated Stuart Pinholster, Director of Sales and Marketing for the American company FTZ Industries.

“My meetings during the expo went very well. I am already close to

closing the first deals,” said exhibitor Santiago Estrada, International Export Manager of Warco Products, Inc. The LATIN AUTO PARTS EXPO connects leading manufacturers and distributors of the auto parts industry with qualified buyers from Latin America and the Caribbean, creating and growing the distribution of their products in the region. The objective of the trade show is to facilitate long-term commercial relationships between suppliers and buyers.

The next edition of LATIN AUTO PARTS EXPO will be held July 25-27, 2018 at the ATLAPA Convention Center, Panama, Republic of Panama. If you would like to request more information, please call +1 786293-5186 or email alexandra@latin partsexpo.com.

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Continued from Page 28

Useful Tools

Yes, Collision Edge has done very well, but it does not mean that Briggs is going to quit his day job or think about early retirement.

“We were devastated by the 2008 downturn,” he said. “Our kids’ college funds didn’t amount to much and wasn’t going to get them far. After a lot of prayers, we swallowed hard and pulled the trigger sourcing molds and buying inventory to go to work on our American Dream. Our kids work in the business, attending all the trade shows they can, packing orders and assembling product. This is the legacy I leave to them. The lessons this business has taught them and me are irreplaceable. I tell everyone that I have a full-time day job and I don’t draw a salary from Collision Edge–zero. Every dime Collision Edge makes is either put back in the business, given to charity or poured into our kids’ futures. We’re going to keep solving problems as long as our customers reward our efforts with their continued business and moral support.

I love the body shop industry; it’s such a great community.”

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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 73

Three Decades of Dent Repair: Autocraft Commemorates 30 years on Marco Island

by Lance Shearer, Correspondent, Marco Eagle – Part of the USA Today Network

Not many Marco Island, FL, residents can claim to have been there for 30 years. For businesseses, the number is only a handful.

Owner Ernie Bordon with a 1969 Camaro he has worked on repeatedly. Autocraft celebrates 30 years of full-service automotive bodywork on Marco Island this month. Credit: Lance Shearer/Correspondent, Marco Eagle

But on August 1, Autocraft celebrated 30 years in business on Marco Island. The company provides complete auto body and collision services.

Autocraft owner Ernie Bordon, who has had the business since it began, said a lot has changed on the island since they opened their doors, particularly as regards to the summertime.

“Thirty years ago this time of year, you could fire a cannon down Collier Boulevard, and not hit anybody,” he said.

The whole team gathers for a recent group photo at a company picnic. Autocraft celebrates 30 years of full-service automotive bodywork on Marco Island this month. Credit: Lance Shearer/Correspondent, Marco Eagle

Nowadays, you can barely drive a car down Collier Boulevard without hitting somebody, which translates to a Continued from Page 72

Insurance Fraud Ring

claims fraud and was sentenced to two years of probation and 40 hours of community service. ● Louis Brown, D.C., 65, of Rahway, a chiropractor and purported owner of True Healing and Wellness, located in

steady stream of customers for a body shop.

The biggest change on Marco, said Bordon, has been “the transition from a vacation destination to yearround living.”

“We used to gauge how we were doing by how much money we had to borrow to stay afloat during the summer,” he said. “We’re population-driven – as the year-round residents grew, so did my business.”

That growth has been substantial, with the shop on Marco Island augmented by a second location in the northernmost reaches of Naples. Bordon bought the real estate his Marco store sits on 20 years ago, but the tightness of land availability limited the possibility of expansion on the island.

“In 1987, we did $188,000 worth of business,” said Bordon. “This year, we’re on track to do $6 million.”

From the original three employees, Autocraft has grown to now have 40 on the payroll.

“We just hired our 40th employee,” said Bordon. “That’s a lot.”

He credits much of the success to those employees, the skills and the attitude they bring to their work.

“I’ve got guys with me right now who have been here 15, 17, even 25 years,” he said.

One of the “guys” Bordon singled out for special mention is office manager Jeri Jurewicz, a 20-year employee.

“She’s like a controller for both stores. I couldn’t do this without her,” he said. Keeping the same good competent crew for a long time is key to producing consistent work, said Ernie, along with keeping those skills updated.

“This business has gotten incredibly technical. To fix cars properly, you need an array of equipment, and the knowledge of how to use it. You need to keep educating your employees all the time,” he said.

Along with body repairs and painting, the shop does mechanical work –

“We have a very loyal, consistent local clientele. We have customers who get into an accident up north, but wait till they come down here to get their car fixed,” he said.

One customer came in to pay her bill with a smile on her face as Bordon spoke with a reporter.

“They’re terrific – highly recommended,” said Linda Chambers.

“Ernie is a fine Christian man, and you know you can count on him.”

New Brunswick, New Century Chiropractic, located in Dover, and Wellspring Rehabilitation, located in North Plainfield. He pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree criminal use of a runner and was sentenced to two years of probation and 40 hours of community service. ● Gerald Roth, D.C., 69, of Highland

Park, a chiropractor who pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree criminal use of runners and was sentenced to one year of probation. ● Sergey Lipschitz, 44, of Morganville, an acupuncturist who pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree insurance fraud and was admitted into the Pretrial Intervention Program.

74 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

“if it’s part of the collision,” said Bordon. And they work on all makes.

Owner Ernie Bordon with happy customer Linda Chambers at the shop on Elkcam Circle.

Autocraft celebrates 30 years of full-service automotive bodywork on Marco Island this month. Credit: Lance Shearer/Correspondent, Marco Eagle

“We used to specialize, but the market is so diverse. We work on Toyotas, and we work on Bentleys – we specialize in everything,” he said.

The combination of skills, facilities and customer service has led to word-of-mouth promotion and repeat business.

Bordon also expressed his appreciation for Donna, his wife of 33 years, dating back to when he ran an auto body shop in Pearl River, NY, before coming to Marco.

“She was behind me all those 15 and 17-hour days,” he said. The couple has three adult children.

Beyond auto body work, Bordon has taken the lead in organizing an annual charity motorcycle run for the Joy of Giving, the Marco-based charity that provides Christmas gifts for underprivileged area children.

“It’s my passion to help kids during the holidays. I’ve done that for 12 years,” he said.

If you plan on getting an anniversary gift for Ernie and Autocraft, the traditional present for the 30th anniversary is pearls – but a banged-up car to fix would work, too.

If you go: Autocraft 754 E. Elkcam Circle, Marco Island 239-642-5309

We thank Marco Eagle, part of the USA Today Network, for reprint permission.

Owner Ernie Bordon, left, with shop manager Eric Fink. Autocraft celebrates 30 years of full-service automotive bodywork on Marco Island this month. Credit: Lance Shearer/Correspondent, Marco Eagle

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www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 75

Why Are Recalled Takata Airbags Being Recycled?

by Mike Holfeld - Investigative Reporter, Donovan Myrie - Special Projects Producer, KSAT

By now, you’ve probably heard the story: millions of airbags manufactured

by Japanese auto parts supplier Takata have been recalled by auto manufacturers.

Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) figured out that long-term exposure to high humidity and high temperatures breaks down the propellant used to trigger tens of millions of Takata airbags. The result: faulty airbags can go off unexpectedly and with enough force to break apart components, sending shards of metal into the head, neck, and body of a driver or front seat passenger.

And that’s exactly what happened to 18-year old Karina Dorado.

In March, Dorado got into an accident in Las Vegas while driving her 2002 Honda Accord. The accident wasn’t severe, but the teen was almost killed. Metal from the Accord’s Takata airbag punctured her windpipe, causing her to almost bleed to death. What

makes this accident so troubling is that Dorado’s airbag had already been replaced once… with a recalled airbag from a 2001 Honda Accord.

“The vehicle she was driving had a recalled Takata airbag,” Billie Marie Morrison, an attorney representing

salvage title. A salvage title allows someone to buy the “shell” of a car, fix it up, and then resell the car. Cars with salvage titles are considered total losses for the insurance company, but insurance adjustors believe there is money to be made at an auction, and,

the Dorado family, said. Morrison said the airbag was “not the one that came with her car.”

Dorado’s story is an odd one, but highlights a loophole with Takata’s airbag recall. Recycled airbags not turned in to be replaced by manufacturers can instead end up in used cars, even though it’s illegal to do just that.

In Dorado’s case, the story starts with an accident in Phoenix in 2014. A 2002 Honda Accord (that she would eventually end up owning) was considered “totaled” by the insurance company, but had what is known as a

with the right repairs, the car can be made road-worthy again.

Part of the repair to Dorado’s Accord was to replace the steering wheel airbag that had deployed in the Phoenix accident. But instead of getting a new airbag, the seller used an airbag from a 2001 Honda Accord.

That car was recalled by Honda to replace the airbag, but the car was never brought in. Dorado’s father bought her the 2002 Accord with a recalled 2001 Accord airbag car in 2015. Two years later, the teen was in the accident that almost killed her.

“It’s not uncommon for shops to use recycled airbags that were taken from vehicles on salvage yards, or sold online and put into vehicles where the airbags deployed in an accident.”

— Chris Basso

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76 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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Illegal or not?

Illegal.

According to the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act of 2000, it is illegal to sell a used automotive part (that has been the subject to a recall) that has not been fixed. So if you have a battery casing that has been recalled and fixed by the manufacturer, you can resell that part. But if you have never taken that same battery casing in for the recall, it’s illegal to sell it to someone else. Period.

In fact, as part of the FAST Act signed by President Obama in late 2015, the maximum fine levied by the NHTSA for a single violation of selling recalled equipment was upped to $21,000, with the amount for civil penalties for a related series of violations topping out at $105 million.

“We just don’t sell ‘em,” Tim McMillon said. McMillon has seen his fair share of Takata airbags. He owns M&K Used Auto Parts and has about 2,500 cars spread across 20 acres in Orange City.

“We take these airbags and give them to the right people to get them off

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the streets, so nobody uses them,” he said. In McMillon’s case, he was contacted a few months ago by Honda.

The company asked him to go through his records to see if he had any cars with recalled airbags sitting in the yard. McMillon’s team pulled the airbag and sent them to a contractor who was hired by Honda, who then got the airbags back to the Honda. The buyback program nets McMillon about $50 apiece.

How many airbags has Honda America gotten back from salvage yards?

More than 70,000.

That number comes from Chris Martin, a company spokesperson.

Martin said Honda is working with RAS (Rebuilders Automotive Supply) to recover airbag modulators from salvage yards that contain recalled Takata inflators. Once in-house, Honda stores the bags for eventually disposal.

Martin told News 6 that Honda leads the industry in fixing Takata recalls (they’ve completed some 10 million inflators). But that’s only a bit more than 60 percent of the recalled inflators still out there, and they have a ways to go.

“Owners of recalled Honda and Acura vehicles should seek repair at an authorized dealer as soon as possible,” Martin said. “There is no reason to wait. The recall repairs are free, we have plenty of replacement parts for all affected Honda and Acura models, and, if they need it, we’ll even provide a free loaner car to the vehicle’s owner for the day of the recall repair.”

GETTING RESULTS: What to do if you suspect your car has a recalled airbag?

Despite the best efforts of Honda, RAS, and salvage yard owners such as McMillon, there are still cars out there that have original equipment faulty airbags, or cars that have been taken in for the recall, fixed, but then had used faulty bags put in the vehicle.

“More than 750,000 airbags are replaced every year,” Chris Basso with Carfax said. “It’s not uncommon for shops to use recycled airbags that were taken from vehicles on salvage yards, or sold online and put into vehicles where the airbags deployed in an accident.”

Carfax is just one of many companies that track vehicle histories.

Aside from used cars, the company

also tracks thousands of salvage title cars that are put back on the road each year. And although many of them are safe, Basso believes it’s a good idea for the buyer to be aware of the previous condition of the car.

“Information is the first step to protection here.”

According to the NHTSA, there are about 70 million driver side and passenger side airbags that have been recalled. And those airbags aren’t just limited to Hondas: 19 different manufacturers have issued recalls spanning across 139 different models.

There are two steps you should take to see if you may (or may not) have a car included in the Takata recall. First, to see a full list of cars affected by the Takata airbag recall, go to https://www.nhtsa.gov/recall-spotlight /takata-air-bags. If your car is on this list, it’s time to dig a little deeper. Get your VIN number and see if your specific car has an open recall. You can plug in your VIN number at https:// vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/.

If you have an open recall on your car, contact the dealership to see when you can bring the car in for a replacement airbag. However, if you’re still not sure about the car and you want to

be absolutely positive you have a safe airbag, there are some extra steps you can take.

Select a vehicle history search tool to run a background check on your car. Three of the biggest companies specializing in vehicle histories are AutoCheck, VinAudit, and the aforementioned Carfax. Prices, options, and features vary for all three; you can read up and decide which one is best for you in this article.

Once you get a detailed report on your car, there’s still one more thing you can do to check your airbag: pull the airbag out of the car and look at the serial number. As the saying goes, DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME! Airbags are tricky pieces of equipment; leave it to a professional to get the airbag out, examine it, and follow up with the manufacturer. Basso said most shops charge about $60 for this.

That’s not a bad price for peace of mind and ensuring the safety of you and your passengers.

We thank News 6 WKMG-TV in Orlando for reprint permission. News 6 is continuing to investigate this issue, so be sure to visit ClickOrlando.com /investigators to stay up to date.

Genuine Porsche Parts...

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The Dealers Below are Genuine Porsche Parts Distributors.

MARYLAND

NEW JERSEY

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Porsche of Southampton

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800-216-5124

631-204-2565

Towson, Md

410-296-4852 Fax

parts@porschetowson.com www.porschetowson.com

MASSACHUSETTS Porsche Norwell Norwell

781-261-5230

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Flemington

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Southampton

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gspano@porscheofsouthampton.com www.porscheofsouthampton.com

Porsche of Princeton Lawrenceville

609-945-1500 609-945-0501 Fax

www.princeton.porschedealer.com

Porsche: There Is No Substitute

www.porschenorwell.com www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 77

National News

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.

ALLDATA and Google Partner for Free Marketing Webinar with Chasidy Rae Sisk

On Thursday, July 27, ALLDATA partnered with Google’s Automotive Marketing team to provide a free one-hour webinar on “Best Online Marketing Practices” for automotive shops, presented by Google Product Specialist Matt Krystofik. The material, relevant for both collision and mechanical shops, was very informative, and the interactive webinar attracted more than 200 automotive industry professionals.

“Best Online Marketing Practices” discussed changing consumer and technology trends that shops need to know about, three ways to grow a business with Google tools, and resources to help shops keep up with changing digital behavior. Krystofik began by sharing his intent to help shops make their advertising “accountable, actionable and impactful using myriad tools.”

After explaining Google’s goal of connecting users with information they care about, Krystofik indicated that consumer behavior is changing constantly with technological advances.

With smartphones readily providing the ability to research and consider their options, customers’ expectations are steadily increasing. Consumers have limited time, expect transparency that builds trust, and are guided by technology’s ability to easily connect them with a business.

Krystofik stressed, “Customers value interactions with little friction and where they can easily access the information they’re seeking at the moment they want it. Customers have more choices than ever, and if you don’t commit to speed, you’re losing customers.”

It is imperative for businesses to be present whenever, however and wherever the customer chooses to shop.

Google projects that 80 percent of the $49 billion automotive parts sales industry in 2017 will be digitally influenced, compared to 78 percent in 2016.

Krystofik asked, “What are you doing today to future-proof your business? There’s never been a more important time to ensure you have a great digital storefront.”

Over the past five years, there has been a 57 percent decline in visits to brick and mortar stores, but each visit yields higher value because customers do their homework online and enter with a strong intent to make a purchase.

“Google My Business lets you take charge of what people see when they do a local search for your shop, plus it allows you to update your listing and engage with customers from a phone, tablet or desktop,” Krystofik stated.

“Just as important, it’s free to use.”

Shop owners can update their Google My Business listing to adjust holiday hours, add a phone number or upload photos. These updates are made in real time, and the listing increases reach when customers search for that shop.

Krystofik advised, “Ask happy customers to post a review on your listing, because 70 percent of people trust online reviews from other customers.”

Google My Business also contains an Insights dashboard that reveals how customers interact with the shop’s listing, allowing the business to better target customers and attract new ones. Offering deals and providing updates on a listing is another key means of generating more sales and repeat customers.

Because everyone constantly uses their smartphones to research information, it’s important for businesses to build a great mobile experience. Shops can also generate and personalize a

website from the listing.

According to Krystofik, “There are many powerful features available to drive business. Promote potential customers with a call to action, or employ the option for people to submit their contact information so you can call them at your convenience. Booking appointments online is not currently available, but will be coming soon.”

Krystofik then emphasized the importance of ensuring company websites load at an appropriate rate of speed.

Krystofik shared, “Fifty percent of people will leave a website if it takes more than three seconds to load, but on Insights, you can test your speed, see the number of customers being lost due to the slow load, and compare your site to industry competitors.

“Google’s free tools help you understand what’s on your customers’ minds – think of Google as a data source for intent. Google Trends shows what people research, allowing you to see shifts in customer behavior and determine how to best meet their needs or desires. Recently, we’ve seen an increase in ‘near me’ searches.”

Discussing how to recognize customers with a high intent to purchase, Krystofik recommended using Google Adwords, which includes a keyword planner to expand a shop’s reach, explore how keywords will perform, or help users choose optimal words for their Google advertising campaigns.

Additionally, businesses only pay for the service when it results in people reaching out to them. The conversion tracking tool offers additional benefits by providing data based on ad clicks.

Krystofik stated, “Google offers great free resources to make the digital ecosystem much less daunting,” and encouraged his audience to register

Lear Corporation, a leading global supplier of automotive seating and electrical systems, today confirmed plans to construct a new world-class automotive seat manufacturing facility in Flint, Michigan at the former site of the Buick City administration building.

Lear’s new facility will provide

seats on a just-in-time basis for future vehicle production at GM’s Flint Assembly plant and will add manufacturing jobs and economic growth to the State of Michigan.

“We appreciate the support of the State of Michigan and the City of Flint which is allowing Lear to increase man-

ufacturing jobs in America,” said Ray Scott, Lear executive vice president and president of Seating Operations.

“This expansion of capacity reflects the positive outlook we have for our business as well as the favorable economic climate in Michigan, and will contribute to the revitalization of Flint.”

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

Lear Corporation to Build Auto Seat Manufacturing Factory in Flint, Michigan

78 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

their Google My Business listing, compare their site to others, and utilize Google’s free data trend tools.

“Don’t lose potential customers before they walk in your door!” he said.

After the presentation, Krystofik held a Q&A session, providing hints for taking ownership of listings, submitting feedback for updated photos and maps, and using Google’s customer support numbers for problems with various features. He also reemphasized the importance of reviews, the significance of making websites mobile, and discussed the value of a YouTube channel with good content as a marketing tool.

Krystofik concluded with “one helpful hint – claim your Google My Business listing!”

Presented by ALLDATA, the 35minute Google webinar, Best Practices for Marketing Your Shop Online, is currently available for on-demand viewing.

Shift into Genuine Nissan and Infiniti OEM Parts

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The following dealer proudly stocks genuine parts for your Nissan or Infiniti repairs.

NEW JERSEY

ACTION NISSAN Flemington

908-782-8250 (908) 237-0036 Fax Mon-Sat 8am - 5pm

fmondello@actionautogroup.com

MASSACHUSETTS

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South Attleboro

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508-761-9300

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8am-8pm Mon, Wed; 8am-5pm Tue, Thu, Fri 8am-4pm Sat frank@courtesyma.com www.courtesyma.com

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201-818-8995

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888-374-6575

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Brown Daub Kia

610-829-3020

(484) 546-0292 Fax

Kia of Coatesville Coatesville

610-384-7700

(610) 384-2171 Fax

8am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-12pm Sat Alan@kiaofcoatesville.com www.kiaofcoatesville.com

Kia of West Chester West Chester

610-429-3500

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Kia Parts. Your local Kia retailer has all the parts you need.

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610-562-4166

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7:30am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-12pm Sat jhenne@outtencars.com www.outtenkia.com www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 79

18 Million Fewer Domestic Nameplates

by Jim Lang, Lang Marketing

While the car and light truck population on U.S. roads climbed by 19 million between 2006 and 2016, the number of domestic nameplates moved in the opposite direction. The domestic nameplate light vehicle population fell by 18 million over this 10-year span.

This plunge in the number of domestic nameplate light vehicles caused a significant change in the mix of domestic and foreign nameplates on U.S. roads. The domestic nameplate share of vehicles in operation (VIO) fell nearly one-fifth, with dramatic implications for the car and light truck aftermarket in the U.S.

Light Vehicle Population Growth The number of vehicles in operation (VIO) climbed from 248 million at mid-year 2006 to over 267 million cars and light trucks by the middle of 2016.

This 19 million increase in VIO occurred despite a significant downturn in new vehicle sales for several years following the Great Recession of 2008.

Nameplate Contribution to VIO Growth Domestic and foreign nameplates did not contribute equally to the 19-million-increase in the car and light truck VIO between 2006 and 2016.

In fact, the entire gain was generated by foreign nameplate cars and light trucks, while the number of domestic nameplate light vehicles plunged over this 10-year span.

Domestic Light Vehicles Domestic nameplate cars and light trucks decreased by 18 million be-

tween 2006 and the middle of 2016.

Such a decline in the domestic nameplate population had never before occurred in the U.S. There were just over 168 million domestic nameplate light vehicles in the U.S. in 2006, with that number falling to approximately 150 million by mid2016.

Domestic Nameplate Cars and Light Trucks All of the reduction in domestic nameplates was suffered by domestic cars.

Their population fell from nearly 70 million to 49 million between 2006 and 2016.

Domestic nameplate light trucks recorded a modest 2.5 million increase during this 10-year span.

Plunge in Domestic Nameplate VIO Share Domestic nameplate cars and light trucks fell from two-thirds of all light vehicles in operation during 2006 to just over 56% at mid-year 2016.

Domestic nameplate cars and light trucks both suffered losses in VIO share. Domestic nameplates accounted for 56% of passenger cars during 2006, with their share falling to 40% 10 years later.

The domestic nameplate light truck share also declined, from 80% to 69% between 2006 and 2016.

Aftermarket Impact This historic decline of domestic nameplates and their share of cars and light trucks on U.S. roads have significant aftermarket implications.

The reduction of domestic nameplates was greatest among newer vehi-

cles, particularly those 6 years and younger, while domestic nameplates accounted for a growing number of older vehicles, especially those ages 12 years and up.

Repair-Age Sweet-Spot Domestic nameplates suffered a significant decline among vehicles in the so-called repair-age sweet-spot (those 6 to 10 years of age), which generally average the highest rates of aftermarket use for many different products.

This has led to a steady decline in aftermarket product share generated by domestic nameplates.

Future Domestic Nameplate Decline This trend of weakening domestic nameplate aftermarket performance will continue as the number of domestic nameplate light vehicles declines over the next five years, the result of weak domestic nameplate share of new car and light truck sales coupled with domestic nameplates accounting for a disproportionate share of light vehicles scrapped each year.

Motor Corp., totaling $553 million and affecting 15.8 million vehicles with Takata inflators.

In other Nissan news, workers at Nissan’s Canton, MS, assembly plant have rejected unionization.

By a margin of 2,244 to 1,307, workers voted against UAW representation, giving the union yet another blow in its decades-long quest to organize foreign automakers’ assembly plants in the South.

www.autobodynews.com

UPDATED DAILY

80 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

• Domestic and foreign nameplates did not contribute equally to the increase in car and light truck VIO over the past 10 years.

• Domestic nameplates fell from twothirds of all light vehicles in operation during 2006 to just over 56% by midyear 2016. The share loss among domestic nameplates was suffered by both cars and light trucks.

• Domestic nameplate light vehicles plunged 18 million between 2006 and the middle of 2016.

• Domestic nameplates recorded a significant decline among vehicles in the repair-age sweet-spot (those 6 to 10 years of age).

• The decline in domestic nameplates has occurred at a historic rate over the past 10 years. This trend will continue for the foreseeable future.

Chief Introduces New Universal Uni-Clamp Anchoring System

Chief’s new Universal Uni-Clamp Anchoring System is now standard on all Chief frame racks. The anchor stand features a replaceable crosshatch section that works like 180

Nissan Agrees to $98 Million Settlement on Takata

Nissan Motor Co. agreed to a $97.7 million settlement to resolve class-action consumer economic loss claims in the United States tied to the recall of 4.4 million vehicles with Takata airbag inflators, court records show.

The settlement is similar to others reached with major automakers.

In June, a federal judge in Miami granted preliminary approval to settlements with Toyota Motor Corp., Subaru Corp., BMW AG and Mazda

Six Major Takeaways • Total vehicles in operation (VIO) climbed 19 million between 2006 and 2016.

Chief Universal Uni-Clamp Anchoring System

teeth on both jaws and the anchoring stand to provide superior gripping power on the high-strength steel pinch welds common on modern vehicles.

The bolt pattern on each jaw has been lowered 25 millimeters so technicians can easily tighten the fastening bolts from the outside, without

removing the lower ground effect trim panels found on many cars.

“We have redesigned the Universal Uni-Clamp Anchoring System to increase anchoring speed and overall shop productivity,” said Richard Perry, OEM and strategic account sales manager for Chief parent company Vehicle Service Group (VSG).

“The system provides better holding power as well as easier, faster attachment to the high-strength steel pinch welds hidden by the OEM appearance trend of lower trim panels.”

The new crosshatch sections of the Chief Universal Uni-Clamp Anchoring System are also economical.

When worn, they can simply be unbolted and replaced with a fresh set, without the need to replace the jaws themselves, or the anchoring stand.

The system is compatible with all Chief specialty anchoring products, and can be retrofitted onto existing Chief Universal anchoring stands.

To learn more about the Chief Universal Uni-Clamp Anchoring System, visit: chiefautomotive.com/ Parts-and-Accessories/AnchoringSystems, contact your local Chief distributor or call (800) 445-9262.

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Curran Volkswagen Stratford

King Volkswagen Gaithersburg

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Valenti Volkswagen Watertown

860-274-9846 Fax: 860-945-4987 M-F 8am-5:30pm Sat 8am-12pm

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dprunner@vwking.com www.vwking.com

Ourisman VW of Laurel Laurel

301-498-6050 Fax: 301-498-0157 M-F 7:30am-7pm Sat 7am-4pm

julio.cruz@ourismanautomotive.com

Ourisman VW of Rockville Rockville

855-417-4511 Fax: 240-499-2488 M-F 8am-5:30pm Sat 8am-5pm rockvilleparts@ourismanautomotive.com www.rockvillevolkswagen.com

MASSACHUSETTS Volkswagen of North Attleboro North Attleboro

508-695-7131 Fax: 508-695-0321 M-F 8am-5pm Sat 8am-2pm

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NEW JERSEY Flemington Volkswagen Flemington

877-NJPARTS 877-657-2787 Fax: 908-782-1795 M-F 7:30am-5pm

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Open Road Volkswagen of Bridgewater Bridgewater

908-685-1068 Fax: 908-685-1547 M-F 7:30am-5pm Sat 8am-3pm vwb.parts@openroad.com www.openroadvwparts.com

www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 81

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• Prevents costly reworks • Bonded on 3 sides • Non-absorbing, heavy-duty paper with grip for mixing • Pays for itself the first week you use them!

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Technical Representative

Automotive, Fleet, OEM & Light Industrial Finishes

Due to our unprecedented growth in the industry Lusid Technologies, Inc. is looking for Technical Sales Representa!ves in all areas of the North American Market. Candidates should be able to demonstrate excellent communica!on and hands on technical skills.

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The Secrets of America’s Is noblwe for aila Greatest Body Shops avpurchase! by: Dave Luehr and Stacey Phillips

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ACTautostaffing.com or 727-733-5600 82 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Progressive Powder Coating on the No. 9 Axalta at Watkins Glen

Women in Auto Care Announce 2018 Winter Leadership Conference

Progressive, a highly automated, full-service powder coating finisher, offers value-added services to coat, assemble, pack, and deliver parts. It recently added a third high volume paint line to its operation that is capable of coating products up to 30 feet in length. Progressive’s state-ofthe-art eight stage washers are built to handle tough laser scale on site.

“We are excited to see Progressive featured on the No. 9 Axalta

day and a half conference will be held Jan. 31 – Feb. 1, 2018 at The Scottsdale Plaza Resort in Scottsdale, AZ. “Women in Auto Care had a very successful conference in Nashville this past month, and now we are heading to Scottsdale in January to continue the growth in leadership of female professionals,” said Tammy Tecklenburg, president, Women in Auto Care. “We had record-breaking attendance in Nashville and we anticipate an even larger turnout for our winter conference. We encourage all members to bring a colleague and introduce them to our strong and vibrant com-

Axalta Coating Systems has partnered with Progressive Powder Coating, Inc. to feature Progressive as the primary sponsor on the hood of JR Motorsports’ No. 9 Axalta Chevrolet driven by William Byron at Watkins Glen International on Saturday, August 5 2017.

Chevrolet this weekend. Like Axalta, Progressive is committed to growth and innovation to better serve its customers,” said Mike Cash, Axalta’s Senior Vice President and President of Industrial Coatings. “Motorsports is a great platform to showcase the performance and engineering we aim

to achieve on and off the track.”

“Axalta has always been a great partner to us at Progressive,” said John Sikora, General Manager for Progressive Powder Coating. “Their sponsorship of the No. 9 Chevy Car is just another example of their commitment to excellence.”

For updates on the No. 9 Axalta Chevrolet, follow @AxaltaRacing on Twitter.

Women in Auto Care (formerly Car Care Council Women’s Board) has announced the date for its 2018 Winter Leadership Conference. The

Massachusetts

New Jersey

ACTION HYUNDAI

800-767-1898

908-782-8250

508-832-6026 Fax

Mon-Fri 7am - 6pm Sat 8am - 3pm pobrien@herbchambers.com www.herbchambershyundai.com

ROUTE 2 HYUNDAI Leominster 743 North Main St.

888-240-3495 978-534-9933 Fax

COLLISION

For more information on the Women in Auto Care, visit: www.womenin autocare.org or email: info@women inautocare.org.

HERB CHAMBERS HYUNDAI Auburn 735 Southbridge St.

The RIGHT

munity.

“With a focus on education for young women looking for automotive careers, Women in Auto Care is a vital organization to the aftermarket. Not only do we support and provide leadership for existing members, but we also award scholarships to young women seeking careers in our industry.”

Past conferences have focused on personal development areas such as communication and creating a presence, as well as leadership. Industry trends are also a key component of the conference agenda.

From telematics to Capitol Hill, miles driven and the future of vehicles, the industry trend presentations provide valuable insight to all attendees and their businesses.

The conference is open to all professionals in the auto care industry. Online registration will be available in October, along with a detailed agenda.

Mon-Thu 7:30am - 7:30pm Fri-Sat 7:30am - 6pm parts@rte2hyundai.com www.rte2hyundai.com

Flemington 180 Rte. US 202

908-237-0036 Fax

Mon-Fri 8am - 5pm fmondello@actionautogroup.com www.actionhyundainj.com

New York

ATLANTIC HYUNDAI West Islip 193 Sunrise Hwy.

631-587-1628 631-893-8491 Fax

Mon-Fri 8am - 5pm Sat 8am - 4pm www.AtlanticHyundai.com

PARTS

For Your Collision Job. Visit these Genuine Hyundai Parts Dealers: www.autobodynews.com | SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 83

84 SEPTEMBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com