June 2014 Shop & Product Showcase

Shop and Product

SHOWCASE

June 2014 // www.autobodynews.com

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2 JUNE 2014 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Young Shop Owner Saving Time and Money with Cromax® Pro

by Autobody News Staff

At 38 Bob Noaker of Noaker’s Auto Body & Sales in Duncannon, PA, is a veteran body shop owner with nearly two decades of experience running his own collision business. He’s pretty young to be at the helm of a busy shop and overseeing a staff of 33, but by always learning and never resting on his laurels, Noaker is succeeding in a highly competitive market.

Noaker is an early adopter when it comes to anything that will help his flourishing shop and changing to Cromax® Pro waterborne paint was one of those proactive things he’s just naturally driven to do. Other things he naturally does is refurbishing cars and donating them to those in need, as well as chairing his local I-CAR Committee, something he’s done for the past year.

Today, Noaker’s does $4 million in annual sales, but in the beginning things were a little dicey, according to Noaker. “I really didn’t know what I was getting into when I opened my own shop and my sales that first year were around $8,800,” he explained.

“I was 23 years old and it was a little scary, but every year things got better and we expanded in 2008. We’ve come a long way and this industry has changed a lot, but by always trying to improve our processes and pushing for a better product, we’ve been able to pay the bills.”

Noaker is not afraid of changing and surely not reluctant when he can help other body shops, especially when it comes to Axalta Coating Systems. “I’ve helped to train other shops about how to spray the Cromax® Pro and it’s been very satisfying. I’m proud to do it, because I believe in the product and the people at Axalta give us incredible support.”

After using Cromax® Pro from the very first day he opened his doors, Noaker decided to test the market and study his options after he decided that he wanted to start considering a different waterborne product back in 2009.

“I did my homework and really studied the different waterborne paints out there,” Noaker said. “I visited at least seven shops using waterborne to see what they were doing and the results they were getting with it. I then wrote a two-page report to analyze the

Noaker’s Auto Body & Sales Location: Duncannon, PA

Telephone: 717-834-6500 www.noakersautobody.com Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 33

In Business Since: 1999

Number of Locations: One

Combined Production Space: 20,000 square feet

Painter Matt Turns applies Cromax® Pro to a vehicle at Noaker’s Auto Body & Sales in Duncannon, PA

pros and cons of each. What I discovered is Cromax® Pro needed fewer coats to achieve the same coverage that I was getting with the other waterborne products.”

On average, Noaker found out that he needed only 1.5 coats with the Cromax® Pro versus 2-4 coats with the other brands, by polling painters and spraying them himself. “I also found out that with some of the hard-to-cover colors, the other waterborne product brands required as many as nine coats,” Noaker said. “But, even in the worst situation, these same colors only need 2.5 coats with the Cromax® Pro.” Noaker doesn’t like using too much product on any paint job for obvious reasons, but what really stood out for him was the cost of additional labor to complete each job with more coats. “Every coat is another 30-45 minutes to do it properly, so when you add it all up, it can really put a dent in your profit,” he said. “With the Cromax® Pro, we use less paint, the application process is faster and the color match is great. Now, really vibrant colors and tri-coats match better than ever before and those hard-to-match colors are no longer a challenge. On top of it, we don’t have to tint as much as we did in the past.”

Noaker switched to Cromax® Pro long before it was en vogue, he said. “I can safely say we were the first in this area to go with waterborne and I’m

proud of that. Being a green shop is a big deal, because it shows we care about the environment, and that’s why we also recycle more than 90% of our waste. Waterborne is coming to Pennsylvania anyway, so why not start using it and be good at using it now?”

Since Noaker’s was the first shop in his region to switch to Cromax® Pro, there was ample time to learn the paint and work extensively with the people at Axalta. “It was a great experience, because we had full access to their team and we took advantage of it,” Noaker said. “So, we had a ton of help during the switchover and we also gave them some advice in return.

We offered our input and told them how we felt they could better train shops in the future. They took some of what we said and used it, which just shows it’s a partnership that we have with Axalta.”

For shops anywhere in the country that are currently dragging their feet about converting to waterborne paint, Noaker can alleviate their fears.

“Axalta set us up right and that’s why the changeover went so smoothly,” he said. “You don’t have to spend a lot of money to spray water and it all comes down to air movement, so you may have purchase some fans. But, in the end it could save you money and definitely time, so do your due diligence and make an educated decision, just like we did.”

Owner Bob Noaker is enamored with the quality of the finished product with Cromax® Pro

Noaker’s loves the color matches they’re achieving with Cromax® Pro

Cromax® 50 Applied Card Way, Suite 300 Glen Mills, PA 19342 Phone: (855) 6-AXALTA www.cromax.us

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2014 3

4 JUNE 2014 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Tesla Drives Wisconsin Shop Straight to Car Bench Marshall Auto Body

by Autobody News Staff

When a body shop owner bought a Tesla, he was wowed by the vehicle and its cutting-edge technology. His next thought was ‘body shops will need to work on these cars!’ That’s how Scott Marshall and his son Aaron, owners of Marshall Auto Body in Waukesha, WI, made the decision to become Tesla-certified and purchase the necessary equipment from Car Bench America, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-end frame and measuring equipment for the automotive repair industry.

Aaron Marshall, now 43, began working at his father’s shop when he was seven years old, sweeping the floors but also learning the business one part at a time. “My dad let me take anything apart and put it back together from lawn mowers to all types of equipment. I helped in prep and detail until I entered high school, when I started learning about refinish, body and frame work from two co-workers that I still work with today.”

After getting a degree from the University of Denver in international studies and political science, Aaron returned to the family business and painted cars at the shop for a couple years. He decided to branch out, landing a job in sales for a paint company for a time, then returned once and for all to the shop world in 1994.

Aaron has increased the shop’s revenues every year by approaching every aspect of the business with a passion and purpose with the goal to be more efficient and greener at every turn.

Fixing more than 180 cars monthly in a relatively tight production area (7,800 square feet), Marshall has learned a great deal by applying the tools and teachings of the Toyota Production system from the manufacturing world.

When Aaron’s father Scott purchased his Tesla last year, both father and son instantly connected with the car and its technology. “We clearly see how this vehicle has the potential to re-kindle the connection that people used to have with their cars. That connection has drifted as cars have become to be seen as more of an appliance. We immediately pursued Tesla Collision Repair Certification, and although Tesla’s penetration in our market was less

Location: Waukesha, WI

Telephone: 262-549-4300 www.marshallautobody.com Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 20

In Business Since: 1978 DRP Programs: 19

Number of Locations: 1

Combined Production Space: 12,800 square feet Aaron Marshall (left) and his father Scott Marshall are excited to be involved with Tesla and Car Bench, because they covet the car and the equipment, respectively

than what it is in major metro areas, Tesla welcomed our interest and allowed us to become involved. We purchased the required equipment and one of our lead techs was at Tesla’s very first Aluminum welding and structural Repair Class.”

“At the time we wanted to become Tesla Certified, Car Bench was really the only structural repair equipment sanctioned by Tesla, so if you wanted to be certified, you had to have it,” Marshall explained. “We took this opportunity to upgrade all of our structural equipment, and that’s why we contacted Car Bench and purchased three machines from them.

We got a Triton, their smaller driveover bench that sits only four inches off the floor and doubles as a mid-rise lift, with a 10-ton pulling capacity. You can attach fixturing apparatus to it, so that you can fixture a vehicle, allowing use of the greater pulling power. If you fixture the car to the four points of the torque box, you can pull that car in half the time vs. pinch weld clamps, because the car is so sturdily attached to the bench. Along with the Infinity measuring system, purchased from Car Bench America, we complete 95% of all dimensional correction at the very beginning of repairs in the damage analysis phase.”

The larger bench that Marshall purchased from Car Bench is called the 5.2 Muraena Mobile Bench. According to Car Bench, this system uses multi-point fixture anchoring and holding required for proper repair of modern vehicles made with HSS, carbon fiber, aluminum and

exotic materials requiring ± 1mill tolerance, and is available with numerous fixtures and laser measuring options.

“This Muraena Bench is a fantastic piece of equipment and we love it more every time we use it,” Marshall said. “Going with Car Bench was a wise decision and we’re glad it worked out that way, because this equipment is so versatile and so well made. When we bought this equipment, we got rid of all our old measuring systems and frame machines, all of them!”

Robert Stevenson is Car Bench America’s National Sales and Training Support Manager and has seen a spike in his company’s sales since the recent resurgence of aluminum, largely due to the Tesla and the new Ford F-150. “We’ve done several Tesla setups recently like the one at Marshall Auto Body and seeing genuine interest in our systems from shops all over the country.

“One of the real advantages of Car Bench is that we have universal fixtures, which is a big deal,” Stevenson said. “If you don’t have this option and you’re working on any unibody repair, you may have to rent your fixtures, which cost $375-$400 for the rental $300 in freight costs, extended car rental costs and 1-3 weeks for delivery if the fixtures are in stock. It becomes very inconvenient and it can impact the shops’ cycle times. Then, you have to ship it back and it’s a hassle. We know that aluminum is here to stay and Car Bench America is leading the way.”

A Tesla sits on a Car Bench 5.2 Muraena Mobile Bench at Marshall Auto Body

Marshall Auto Body’s 5.2 Muraena Mobile Bench is on the job 24/7

Car Bench America 5251 W. 74th Street Edina, MN 55439 Phone: (952) 392-6095 www.carbenchamerica.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2014 5

6 JUNE 2014 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

CCC One Makes Hansen Auto Body & Paint a Better Shop

by Autobody News Staff

When it comes to customer service in any business, the goal is “Image perceived. Mission achieved.” If you can make a good impression with your customer during that initial encounter while finding a solution that leverages your professional approach, you’ve probably already won the game. An excellent example of this standard is CCC ONE™ Touch, a device that enhances and strengthens a shop’s relationship with its customers during the estimate process.

One of the first shops to demonstrate the convenience and interactivity of the CCC ONE™ Touch was Hansen Auto Body & Paint in Cypress, CA. With two large buildings situated on two acres, Hansen opened its door in 1959 and currently repairs 75-100 vehicles every month.

Owner Karen Hansen said she didn’t mind the fact that CCC asked her to be a guinea pig for the CCC ONE™ Touch. “They came to us back in late 2013 and asked us to test their Touch system and requested that we make notes along the way,” Hansen said. “They asked us questions about how it could be better and they really valued our input. They wanted our perspective because they knew we would be using every day.”

The crew at Hansen Auto Body & Paint has been using the CCC ONE™ Touch since last November and it’s already an integral part of their operation, Hansen said. “We’re able to provide a better level of customer service by using this device,” Hansen said. “It’s an estimating tool that’s convenient, accurate and easy-to-use. The VIN decoder saves us a ton of time, because all we need to do is take a photo of the VIN and it immediately downloads all off the vehicle’s information. At the same time, we get access to all of the car’s year-specific data, so that we know what parts are needed for the repair.

It’s invaluable and it makes all of our lives a lot easier, especially for our manager, Moises Romero.”

Karen Hansen has been running Hansen Auto Body & Paint since 2007, when her husband passed away, after working by his side for several decades. She treats all of her 15 employees well and that’s why her people stay for 15-20 years and take pride in their work, she said.

The crew at Hansen Auto Body & Paint appreciates the time-saving aspect of the device. “Logistically, it just makes more sense,” Hansen

Hansen Auto Body & Paint Location: Cypress, CA

Telephone: 714-828-1550 www.hansenautobody.com Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 15

In Business Since: 1959 DRP Programs: Two

Number of Locations: One

Combined Production Space: 60,000 square feet (two buildings) Manager Moises Romero uses his CCC ONE™ Touch at Hansen Auto Body & Paint in Cypress, CA, an estimating tool that’s convenient, cutting-edge and easy-to-use said. “Previously, we had to walk out there with a cart, to hold our digital camera and laptop. Now our people walk out there with a small tablet device. Estimates that used to take a half hour are now taking 10-15 minutes and the customer is right there during the entire process. Before, we would have to take a clipboard and write down all the information accurately and then input it into the computer. Now, the CCC ONE™ Touch has eliminated that step entirely and we don’t have to ask the customer to go wait in the front office while we do the estimate.”

By using the CCC ONE™ Touch, Hansen’s estimators can do just about everything they need to during that initial customer encounter, except actually repairing the car, she explained. “We can find the parts we need for the repair and compare pricing between OE, aftermarket and recycled parts—all right there with the customer next to the car. We can show the customer exactly what’s going on and explain to them what will be going into the repair. The average customer does not know what’s going on behind that bumper and has no idea what parts will be needed to do the job, so the CCC ONE™ Touch is a great way to actually show them, rather than just telling them what’s required.”

CCC’s Vice-President of Marketing Solutions Mark Fincher believes that the CCC ONE™ Touch is going to change the collision industry in several ways. “This device will not

only improve your productivity and the accuracy of your estimates by being face-to-face with the damage, but the customer engagement aspect of it is really an important factor,” Fincher said. “Estimators can now sell the job from start to finish by seamlessly using the CCC ONE™ Touch.”

Logistically, the CCC ONE™ Touch allows the estimator to work more quickly, thereby speeding up the entire process and educating the customer as well. “Now when you come out to greet your customer at the car, you’re not encumbered with a camera and a clipboard; you’re carrying only a Windows 8.1 tablet instead. It’s a more professionallooking approach and just another way to attract and hold that customer.”

Hansen Auto Body & Paint was one of the first to use the CCC ONE™ Touch and now approximately 150 body shops are currently using the device, Fincher said. “We wanted to see how it performed with multiple cars and in a real-world environment like a busy body shop. We let them play with it for 45 days and then we solicited their feelings about it. We took that input from Hansen’s and other pilot shops and refined the system. We brought it up slowly, just to make certain that it was up to the task and doing all of the things we wanted it to do. Once other shops get to see it and try it, I think more and more will get onboard with the CCC ONE™ Touch.”

From left, Hansen’s Manager Moises Romero, Estimator Cheyanne Loy and Front Office Manager Urbano Villalpando are all adept at working with the CCC ONE™ Touch

One of the first shops to demonstrate the convenience and interactivity of the CCC ONE™ Touch was Hansen Auto Body & Paint

CCC Information Services, Inc. Phone: (312) 229-3754 www.ccc-one.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2014 7

ANY REPAIR. ANY METAL. EVERY TIME.

ELEKTRON MultiTool Aluminum Repair Station and MultiMig 522 Welder

CHIEF GOLIATH Pulling Rack

CHIEF LaserLock™ Live Mapping™

Fix any metal on any job with Chief collision repair equipment.

Vehicles are evolving, but so is Chief’s collision repair equipment. Pull full-size trucks, measure multiple points in real time with Live Mapping™ and repair all types of metals – including aluminum – with the perfect weld every time. Plus, we have a hands-on technician training program and the most precise and comprehensive vehicle specification database in the world.

Bring the dream team of Chief products to your shop.

Visit chiefautomotive.com/dreamteam/abn today to learn why Chief is your single source for collision repair equipment.

8 JUNE 2014 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Growing MSO Puts Chief Automotive Equipment on Its Team

by Autobody News Staff

ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a leading national collision repair company with 218 locations in 17 states, uses hundreds of pieces of equipment on a daily basis, including many manufactured by Chief Automotive Technologies.

With so many moving parts in this huge operation, including thousands of cars being repaired monthly, ABRA relies on its equipment to perform every day. ABRA Executive Vice President of Operations Scott Krohn said his team appreciates the reliable products and strong support Chief provides to this growing company. In just the last three years, ABRA has nearly doubled in size.

Krohn is a 25-year veteran of the collision industry and has been with ABRA for the past 18 years. He began his career working in a small body shop while attending Southwest Minnesota State University and worked his way through college repairing primarily classic and muscle cars.

To meet the company’s high standards, ABRA utilizes Chief Automotive equipment in most of its locations.

“When we acquire a new location and they’re already using some non-Chief equipment, we will continue to use it,” Krohn said. “But when we build a new shop from the ground up or need to upgrade the equipment at an existing location, Chief is our preferred vendor.”

We asked Krohn if there are distinct differences between the brands on the market. “There are some great equipment suppliers out there, but what really sets Chief apart from the rest is their support and training component,” Krohn explained. “And that’s why we chose Chief and made them one of our preferred vendors. Sure, we greatly value their equipment as well, but in the end, we went with them for all of the other things they bring to the table.”

Krohn appreciates ABRA’s relationship with Chief Automotive and knows it will grow as the company grows. “It’s been seven or eight years that we’ve been working with Chief and we’re extremely happy with them for a lot of reasons,” Krohn said. “The measuring equipment changes every five to eight years and we don’t know what these machines will look like by then, but we’re happy to be involved in a forward-thinking company like Chief.”

Krohn also appreciates that he can deal with one contact when it comes to Chief Automotive, which is really a necessity when you have so

ABRA Auto Body & Glass Location: East Bloomington, MN

Telephone: 952-888-0333 www.abraauto.com Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 18

In Business Since: 1984

Number of Locations: 218

Combined Production Space: 18,000 square feet

Dennis Steinke, the Manager at ABRA’s East Bloomington, MN shop (at right) works with Gary Simpson, an apprentice body tech, and shows him how to use one of their Chief computerized measuring systems

many locations. “Chief works with their local distributors in each market, so we don’t need to have numerous relationships. If we need support or training, we can go directly to Chief.

That’s important for us, because it’s all about saving time and of course, money. Having the right people in place and fully-trained on our equipment is definitely an important part in our growth plan.”

Dennis Steinke manages ABRA’s East Bloomington, Minnesota, repair center. He’s been with the company for 13 years and his track record of using Chief equipment spans two decades.

“The Chief computerized measuring systems are great pieces of equipment, because we can get down to millimeters with them,” Steinke said.

“The first thing we do when a car comes into the shop is perform a premeasurement, so we can determine precisely how far the damage has transferred into the vehicle; how it moved the vehicle and how it was altered. It’s imperative we do a premeasurement, so we can pull it back to pre-accident condition. Our theory is to disassemble the car first and measure it, so we can determine the time required to repair it and then devise our actual repair plan. That’s why we can justify our repair times while avoiding surprises, as well as helping us to identify where we can section a car, if applicable.”

Echoing Krohn, Steinke values Chief’s training and support. “When we made this most recent purchase, the people from Chief came to do training twice—first right after the ma-

chines were delivered and then again 30 days later for some follow-up training. It was a great way to do it, because it gave us a month to use the equipment and then they came back to answer all our questions. They do it this way with all our stores and it’s very effective.”

If anything on any piece of his Chief equipment needs to be replaced or repaired, Steinke knows that Chief will always be there. “People break things, it happens,” Steinke said. “Everyone is human and we use these machines every day, so we’re not surprised if someone breaks a sensor, for example. But, all we have to do is call the people at Chief and the problem’s solved, usually within 24 hours. That way, it doesn’t slow us down or impact our cycle times.”

The company was founded in 1984 and headquartered in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; ABRA is a leading provider of vehicle repair services specializing in collision repair, paintless dent removal, and auto glass repair and replacement. Just eight months after opening its first location, ABRA opened its second. In 1987, the MSO launched a franchise program to manage accelerated growth.

In just two years, ABRA had added certified glass installation services to its collision repair centers.

Today, ABRA is the secondlargest MSO in the country and plans to continue expanding in the future.

Its mission is to be the best auto body and glass company in America by providing quality repairs, in a timely manner, with friendly, helpful service.

ABRA Executive Vice President of Operations Scott Krohn greatly values the reliable products and strong support Chief provides to his company

ABRA Manager Dennis Steinke has worked with Chief equipment for many years, so he knows the integral role it plays in his shop’s daily operations

Chief Automotive Technologies Phone: (800) 445-9262 email: salesorders@chiefautomotive.com www.chiefautomotive.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2014 9

10 JUNE 2014 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Dollies by DJS Fabrications Are Changing the Automotive Industry

by Autobody News Staff

Shop Owner Bruce Newell is all about utilizing new, innovative equipment and improved processes to do a better, safer and more efficient job.

To this end, 1st Class Collision of Murrieta, CA, was one of the state’s first shops to use waterborne paint, work on aluminum vehicles and incorporate ground-breaking lean production processes into his shop.

That’s one reason why Newell owns wheel dollies made by DJS Fabrications in Menefee, CA. They give him greater control to move any vehicle safely and easily throughout his facility.

Newell is a lifetime innovator when it comes to collision, so he knows that the industry is constantly in a state of flux. “I never get complacent, because this industry is changing all the time,” Newell said. “If we see a new product or technique, we’re not afraid to test it and see if it will work for us. If it can help us to work smarter and be more efficient my thinking is why not at least try it? I tell my people change is ongoing, so never get too comfortable.”

As a third-generation shop owner (Newell’s grandfather and father both had shops starting back in the 1970s) Bruce Newell has a perspective not all can match. In 1980, Newell got into the collision world and began working as a prepper. “I followed in my dad’s footsteps for several years and worked my way up to become a painter. After 11 years working for another company, I decided to make the move and started my own shop.”

In 1991, Newell and a partner started his first shop in Escondido, CA and then opened a second location 12 years later. In 2007, he and his partner split the business and each took over one of the locations. “That was our goal from the beginning,” Newell said. “We wanted to get both locations to where they were strong and then split them up and it worked out well.”

About 6-7 years ago, Newell started hearing about wheel dollies that worked better than anything else on the market. “We brought them in and immediately liked them. The DJS dollies and their parts carts give us more floor space to work with and help us in our lean production processes.

Since then, we’ve purchased a lot of their equipment, including another set of dollies, bed racks and some of their threshold ramps for our paint booth and also some frame plates, so that

1st Class Collision of Murrieta Location: Murrieta, CA

Telephone: 951-834-9700 www.1stclassmurrieta.com Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 28

In Business Since: 1991 DRP Programs: Four

Number of Locations: One

Doug Symiczek, the founder and president of DJS Fabrications (third from the right) is here at NACE with his team. A former body tech, Symiczek’s dollies and accessories are a huge hit with body shops all over the world

we can safely put the cars on our Chief rack. We realized rather quickly that this equipment is excellent and before long it all became a big part of our production system. Now we have eight of their wheel dollies; two dolly stations; 30 parts racks; two sets of threshold ramps and six bed racks.”

Newell can’t say enough good things about DJS Fabrications, their dollies and their accessories. “DJS’s equipment is a piece of our total puzzle here,” Newell said. “The parts carts help us to be more organized, and by using them we aren’t misplacing or losing parts. With the DJS wheel dollies, we don’t need five guys to move a car now. One technician can do it by himself, in a pinch, but I prefer two for safety reasons.”

Safety is always a big concern at 1st Class Collision of Murrieta, and that’s another reason why Newell prefers his dollies made by DJS Fabrications. “Some of these other wheel dollies out there are kind of Mickey Mouse, but the DJS dollies are stable and the chance of someone getting injured by the car falling off are slim and none. As the owner, I appreciate the fact that it’s a safe product for my guys to use, which is huge for me.”

Doug Symiczek, the founder and president of DJS Fabrications was a body man for 27 years before inventing his line of dollies and associated equipment, including a Universal Dolly system, a mobile dolly station, car dolly accessories, and even European

rocker and suspension adaptors (authorized by BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Corvette vehicles); truck bed carts; paint rail sets and folding and stackable cars parts racks. And it all began one day when an accident occurred in a shop.

“Back in 2006, we were using some homemade jerry-rigged gizmo and it wasn’t anchored securely,” Symiczek explained. “The car fell off it and one of the techs could have lost a limb. At that point, I thought hey there has to be a better way.

So, I started designing the Universal Dolly system right there and then. When we tried it, we were excited, because we saw that it was a very simple yet reliable dolly system. We put it on a car and it rolled like skates!

“The following year, we went to NACE with the dollies and we were scared,” Symiczek said. “My wife got a banner made and she had some shirts embroidered, so that we would look like someone. In those 2.5 days, we sold $57,000 in dollies alone. I looked at my wife and said it looks like a lot of other people have been having trouble moving cars.”

DJS Fabrications has done very well already this year and Symiczek believes his company has a bright future. “I was able to retire as a technician and we haven’t slowed down since that NACE show,” he said.

“We continue to grow at a rapid rate and we’re very pleased that shops are able to benefit from our products.”

Combined Production Space: 21,600 square feet

1st Class Collision of Murrieta, CA uses car dollies and accessories made by DJS Fabrications every day

1st Class Collision values DJS Fabrications’ products because they’re safe, convenient and made to last

DJS Fabrications 30141 Antelope Rd. #D-334 Menifee, CA 92584 Company Contact: Doug Symiczek Phone: (951) 698-4510 www.djsfabrications.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2014 11

12 JUNE 2014 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Large MSO Saves Time and Money Using Equalizer’s Glass Tools

by Autobody News Staff

With newer vehicles, glass work is more sophisticated than ever, and that’s why the glass technicians at ABRA Auto Body & Glass use Equalizer® auto glass tools. They especially prefer the Viper™, an omni-ratchet device that can cut through some of the toughest urethane in existence with no resistance, while removing quarter glasses and tough Dodge pickup back sliders easily and dramafree.

If you’re not familiar with ABRA, it is one of the country’s largest MSOs, with 218 shops in 17 states. In addition to full collision repair, the company also offers full-service mobile glass replacement and windshield chip repair.

And that’s where Equalizer® plays an important role for this rapidly-growing company.

Equalizer’s Founder and Owner Ray Asbery started his career in the auto glass industry in Louisville, KY as a delivery driver for a local car dealership. After watching technicians work on the vehicles he was delivering, Asbery switched jobs and became an auto glass technician, moving up the chain-of-command over many years until being hired by Globe Glass & Mirror in 1986 to manage their location in Austin, TX. Always the inventor and self-proclaimed tinkerer, Asbery created Exclusive Tool Company in November 1987 and took a leap of faith when he and his son Eric introduced their newest invention to the glass industry.

Their first tool was called the Equalizer and quickly it became a household name in several industries, including collision, according to the company’s website.

Known as an encyclopedia of collision knowledge, Mitch Becker is ABRA’s go-to guy in pretty much every area when it comes to fixing cars. He’s been an automotive collision instructor for more than 20 years and has taught approximately 3,600 classes for I-CAR and ABRA during that time.

Becker trains ABRA’s glass professionals about how to use Equalizer’s glass tools, because he believes that they’re some of the best in the industry, he explained. “We just don’t tell our people how to do something, we show them why they do it and it works well for us. We want our glass technicians to think for themselves and solve problems they encounter out there on the job and to question what they’re doing, so they’ll get better. The Equalizer glass tools are among the best I’ve ever used and I tell people

ABRA Auto Body & Glass Location: Faribault, MN

Telephone: 507-333-1255 Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: Nine In Business Since: 1987

Number of Locations: 218

Combined Production Space: 13,000 square feet

Glass technicians at ABRA Auto Body & Glass use Equalizer glass tools to work quickly, safely and effectively (Pictured: ABRA’s Faribault MN location)

about them all the time, because they save time and are extremely efficient once you become adept at using them.”

If you’re not familiar with glass repair terminology, the Equalizer tools enable the ABRA glass techs to perform what’s called Remove and Install (R&I) procedures. “For painting purposes, we need to take these windows off, because the moldings come up on top of the paint and we obviously can’t leave paint lines,” Becker explained. “The windows are getting more and more difficult to remove on these newer vehicles, because all of the moldings, trim and hardware are attached to the window now—it’s all one piece. Robots set the glass at the factories, so everything is set in place and to remove all of these accessories to get to the paint is more difficult.

New materials require the latest tools, Becker said. “With all of these high-strength steels, if you damage anything while removing a window, it’s a more serious deal. We’re also seeing more exposed edge glass and open pinch weld areas. The paint is now visible under the glass, so we need tools that won’t damage the glass or the metal when we do these R & I procedures.”

Mistakes now can be more costly than ever, Becker said, and that’s why he likes the fact that teaching his glass techs about how to use Equalizer’s Viper is not difficult. “If for some reason one of our techs breaks a window that can really set us back and cost us money. A quarter glass

(side of the vehicle), for example, can cost $900. So, it’s important that I can get these techs up and running quickly with these tools and in most cases, we’re able to do it.”

The Viper is good for ABRA and easier on their glass techs’ bodies as well, Becker said. “One thing that’s really great about the Viper is that it makes it much easier on my technicians’ shoulders and backs. We’re not having the neck, shoulder and back problems we used to encounter before, because now the techs don’t have to get into these odd angles to do the work.”

ABRA’s Joe Strong is a 25-year veteran of the automotive glass industry and that’s why he was able to give us a clear description of how Equalizer tools enable him to work quickly and efficiently when replacing windshields and quarter windows.

“I just started working with the Viper and I like it, but I will need to use it more to get faster,” Strong said.

“I’ve been using Equalizer’s glass tools for several years and they’re the best in the industry, without a doubt!”

Aaron Kasparek is the manager at the ABRA Auto Body & Glass location in Faribault MN and he has continually witnessed Strong work quickly and effectively using his Equalizer glass tools. “We get a lot of windshield replacement work here and Joe is our go-to guy when it comes to doing the job. It’s all about the right tools for any job and that’s why ABRA uses the Viper and the Python to do this type of very delicate work.”

Mitch Becker, technical instructor for ABRA said that Equalizer’s glass tools are the best he’s ever used

ABRA Glass Tech Joe Strong (left) performs a windshield Remove and Install (R&I) procedure with an Equalizer glass tool while Manager Aaron Kasparek looks on at ABRA’s Faribault, MN location

Equalizer® Company Contact: Shauna Davis Phone: (800) 334-1334 2611 Oakmont Drive, Round Rock, TX 78665 www.equalizer.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2014 13

14 JUNE 2014 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Rhode Island Shop Owner Sticks with IPG’s American Brand Automotive Tape

by Autobody News Staff

Body shop owners want their automotive tape to be like a good tech— reliable, predictable and tenacious.

They want it to stick in there on those tougher jobs and put in the extra time and effort to make the finished product look spectacular each and every time. And that’s why more and more body shop owners are making the switch to American® brand PG27 automotive tape and their affordable alternative product called AquaMaskTM (AM), both of which are manufactured

by Intertape Polymer Group® (IPG®).

“If it works, stick with it, that’s my belief,” Mark Walsh, the owner of Walsh’s Auto Body in Providence, RI said, when recently discussing IPG tape, the only tape he uses and proud of it. “If a product does its job, that’s just one more thing I don’t have to think about.”

Mark Walsh and his sister Kim run a body shop that fixes 100 cars every month, so losing sleep over things like whether their automotive tape is going to stick or not is not on their preferred list. A third-generation shop, Mark and Kim’s father was the first certified Volkswagen mechanic in the state of Rhode Island and wrenched on the German imports until he started Walsh’s Auto Body back in 1964, when Mark was a newborn. But as a teenager, he gravitated to the collision industry and began learning from the bottom up by working in his family’s shop.

“My dad was giving me simple things to do at the beginning to get my feet wet and learn the business correctly,” Walsh said. “First it was prep and then I moved on to doing stuff like repairing bumpers and just gradually progressing from there.”

In 1983, Mark took over the business from his father, a big step up for an 18-year-old fresh out of high school. But, by learning on the job and changing as the technology and industry evolved, Walsh was able to succeed in Providence, where it’s a very competitive market. Today, Mark’s son Josh, 29, is working for the shop as a painter, learning the business the way he and his grandfather did starting 40 years ago.

Walsh’s approach to doing business is basic and time-tested. “I’m a straight shooter and I back my word,” he said. “We’ve built a solid reputation here by doing quality work and this is not an easy business to be in.

It’s a battle every day, but all the insurance companies that work with us

Walsh’s Auto Body Location: Providence, RI

Telephone: 401-785-3560 www.walshsautobody.com Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 5

In Business Since: 1964

Number of Locations: One

Combined Production Space: 5,000 square feet

Walsh’s Auto Body in Providence, RI, fixes roughly 100 cars every month know that our word is 100% solid and they can count on us.”

Walsh changed over to IPG tape a decade ago, when his former tape had big problems doing its #1 job— sticking. “We get some pretty serious humidity here in Rhode Island and my old tape just wouldn’t adhere when the humidity was high. It was peeling back and I was getting overspray. That slows us down, because we have to buff it or clean it or completely paint it, in some cases.”

After witnessing a pattern of poor performance by his old tape, Walsh tried the American brandtape and was pleased with the results. “No problems, no issues and a clear line every time,” he said. “It comes off cleanly and makes all of our jobs a whole lot easier.” Just like a good tech, a good product makes everybody look good!

Made right here in the USA, IPG’s automotive tapes have been receiving amazing reviews from collision repairers from Alaska to Puerto Rico and everywhere in between as small mom-and-pop shops all the way to enormous MSOs appreciate it for its value and durability.

IPG’s American brand PG27 automotive tape is well-known for it easy handling, smooth crepe backing, incomparable conformability to uneven surfaces and its precise cornering capabilities andalso provides resistance to paint flaking and a clean, well-defined paint line. Lauded for its good quick stick and holding properties, this tape is designed for paint masking that requires clean and easy removal from a variety of

hot or cold surfaces. Its state-of-theart performance makes it a premium tape for automotive refinishing applications.

For shops that want a little lesscostly alternative, IPG also makes American brand AquaMask (AM) asking tape, which is designed to be used for a wide range of purposes in the shop. The rubber-based adhesive provides secure adhesion to both painted and bare metals and plastics, yet removes cleanly without adhesive residue, paint “flaking” from backside or surface staining. AM is an aqua colored, conformable saturated crepe paper masking tape with pressure-sensitive rubber adhesive, according to the company’s web site at: www.itape.com.

IPG’s Automotive National Sales Manager Monty Seawright believes that the combination of both the American Brand PG27 automotive tape and the AquaMask (AM) are a powerful duo for any body shop.

“Our PG27 is our high-performance tape and our AM is our medium grade product, designed to fill a need for shops are watching the bottom line a little more carefully,” Seawright said. “We introduced it to the market three years ago and shops like it because itcan save them money without sacrificing a lot of quality. It costs around 25% less, so we’ve discovered that many shops use both types of tape. For the more high-end work, they use the PG27 and for other work that isn’t maybe as crucial, they can save money with the AM.”

Joshua Walsh, Mark’s son, uses American® Brand PG27 automotive tape and IPG’s affordable alternative product called AquaMask® (AM)

A third-generation shop, Mark and Kim’s father Norman Walsh (pictured here) was the first certified Volkswagen mechanic in the state of Rhode Island and started Walsh’s Auto Body back in 1964

Intertape Polymer Group 100 Paramount Drive, Suite 300 Sarasota, FL 34232 Phone: (941) 727-5788 www.itape.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2014 15

16 JUNE 2014 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Matrix System Provides a Legal and Viable Alternative to Waterborne

by Autobody News Staff

Because volatile organic compounds (VOC) in paint have been recognized as harmful to both painters and to the environment, more and more states throughout the country have enacted regulations to reduce VOC emissions in many businesses, including body shops. When several states including California mandated the use of waterborne starting back in 2009, many body shops switched over without being aware of the fact that a low VOC solvent paint was available to them.

Today, many collision repairers know that there is a legal alternative to waterborne paint and it’s called Matrix System’s MPB-LV Premium Low VOC solvent basecoat. From small independents all the way to large MSOs, shop owners and painters are gravitating toward this paint, especially in regions where they’re encountering problems associated to the use of waterborne paint.

Curtis and Ann Duggan are the owners of Duggan’s Collision Center, located near San Diego, CA. It’s a family business, with the couple’s son Sean writing estimates and daughter Katie running the shop’s front office in a busy environment where a staff of 10 repairs 70-80 cars monthly. In addition to collision repair, the shop also does automotive restoration and for many years they were known for their amazing paint jobs, performed expertly each and every time, with perfect matching and lifetime warranties.

Until January 2013, Duggan’s Collision Center was using a waterborne product manufactured by a well-known company, but when he and his painters Alfonso Bravo and Julian McGee kept encountering issues with the product, they started looking around for an alternative.

After changing to the waterborne paint five years ago, Duggan encountered issues with it almost immediately. “I didn’t know what to do,” Curtis Duggan said. “We were having problems with coverage and it was impacting our cycle times and we were losing money by having to re-do work. When the weather here changes dramatically during the months of September and October, it even became more difficult to dial in this waterborne. So, I finally went to Alfonso and Julian my painters and told him to go ahead and use any paint line they felt more comfortable with. That’s when we decided to start using Matrix System’s MPB-LV Premium Low V.O.C. sol-

Duggan’s Collision Center, Inc. Location: Spring Valley, CA

Telephone: 619-465-5655 Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 10

In Business Since: 1989 DRP Programs: Two

Number of Locations: One

Combined Production Space: 6,000 square feet Painter Julian McGee at Duggan’s Collision Center enjoys spraying Matrix System’s MPB-LV Premium Low V.O.C. solvent basecoat and appreciates the amazing finished product

vent basecoat, which was an excellent move.”

After making the changeover to Matrix System’s MPB-LV Premium Low V.O.C. solvent basecoat, Duggan discovered that he wasn’t sacrificing productivity by using the new product.

“In fact, we not only improved our overall efficiency by switching to Matrix System but also gained some considerable savings across the board,” Duggan said. “We also now have literally perfect color matching, while saving 35% to 40% and drastically improving our cycle times. Our painter is happier and loves the fact that he’s getting better coverage and using fewer coats of paint. He feels more confident and the stress we were experiencing with the waterborne product is gone!”

Now that Duggan’s Collision Center is using Matrix System’s MPB-LV Premium Low V.O.C. solvent basecoat, the shop is enthusiastic about backing every paint job they do. “We pride ourselves on offering all of our customers an assurance of quality,” Duggan explained.

“When a customer leaves our facility, we want them to know that we stand firmly behind the finished product— without question. The exceptional quality of Matrix System’s products allows us to comfortably offer every vehicle with a lifetime warranty. We want our customers to leave feeling confident in the fact that their paint will stand up and by using Matrix System, we’re able to do that.”

Duggan’s Collision Center has been able to achieve things he could not do with his former waterborne paint. “During this last year, we have been able to see that Matrix System

is a perfect match for us,” Duggan said. “It meets all of our needs, including improved efficiency, real significant savings and excellent color matching. When the customer looks at the finished product, we know that the color match is dead-on and that feels good.”

But maybe most importantly, his new paint is helping to make his shop more profitable in a big way, Duggan said. “Our sales are up about $300,000 and we can credit much of it to our new paint. We also use Matrix System’s AccuShade color matching system and their FX Series Line of custom products, so we’re all in with Matrix and pleased, because our paint costs us less and we’re making more money.”

After switching to Matrix System’s MPB-LV Premium Low V.O.C. solvent basecoat, body shops from New York to Hawaii started calling Duggan to ask him is this paint for real and polling him about the results.

“They want my opinion and I’m not afraid to share the news,” Duggan said. “It works for us and it’s just as good to the environment as the waterborne paint, so we’re in compliance and we’ve had no issues with it.

I tell these shop owners that you need to try it yourself and see if it’s a fit for your production process and especially if you’re painters are comfortable with it.”

Duggan’s Collision Center is now a happy place again, with a painter that has his confidence back and his pride intact, Duggan said. “In the past, I used to tell our customers that our paint made us look good. Now, I can say that Matrix makes us look good!”

The crew at Duggan’s Collision Center is always ready to do an outstanding job on every car and for every customer

It’s a family affair at Duggan’s Collision Center. From left, Sean Duggan, Ann Duggan, Curtis Duggan and Katie Duggan oversee a shop that repairs 70-80 cars monthly Matrix System Automotive Finishes 600 Nova Drive SE Massillon, OH 44646 Phone: (800) 753-0303 www.matrixsystem.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2014 17

18 JUNE 2014 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Mitchell is a Star Performer in New Collision Center

by Autobody News Staff

When a veteran of the collision industry gets the opportunity to play an integral role in the design and opening of a new high-end collision center, he looks for three things right up front.

Namely experienced, well-trained personnel; top state-of-the-art equipment and a management system that can take the whole operation to that next level.

When Mike Gregorian, the body shop manager at the new Nick Alexander Collision Center in Huntington Park CA started the process of staffing and setting up his 35,000 sq. ft, shop for Nick Alexander Imports in Huntington Park, CA, he looked for the best of the best, including Mitchell International.

This 35-year-old dealership that sells BMWs and Mini-Coopers added this state-of-the-art shop late last year, but the design and planning of it took five years, according to Gregorian.

“One thing led to another and now we’re here,” Gregorian said. “I met Nick Alexander years ago while I was working with BMW as a consultant and he asked me if he could pick my brain about a possible new collision center. After providing some suggestions about the design and layout of the shop, Nick Alexander asked me if I would be interested in running it. I said yes, I’ve been waiting for you to ask me.”

“Mitchell Estimating and Repair Center together are like a member of my crew,” Gregorian said. “I’ve been using them my entire career in this business, almost 30 years, so when I was considering a system for this new shop, Mitchell was pretty much the only way to go, in my opinion. Over the years, other systems came on my radar, but I quickly discovered that Mitchell was so much more thorough and complete. Eventually, I met some of the Mitchell people during a Mercedes Benz training and then later again when I met them during a BMW training. When I saw them there, taking notes and learning about these vehicles, and the new repair procedures, I was really impressed, because I had never seen anyone from their competitors at these manufacturers’ training classes. They want to learn the right way to repair these cars, so that they can put it in their system.

Nick Alexander Collision Center

Location: Huntington Park, CA

Telephone: 323-583-1901 www.alexanderbmw.com Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 15

In Business Since: 2013

Number of Locations: One

Estimator Tom Nachreiner at Nick Alexander Collision Center in Huntington Park CA uses Mitchell Estimating and RepairCenter to write accurate estimates and track each repair

“I can write an estimate accurately, without doing extensive research, because it’s all in there.

Rivets, special materials, gluing, bonding—they have a footnote in there and in some cases, they even have the product listed there. That helps us to write a superior estimate the first time. Plus, most of the insurance companies that walk in here work with Mitchell, so that also makes the entire process much easier.”

Gregorian set up his shop to make Mitchell available in every department. “We have a laptop that the estimators can use and when we designed the shop, we made sure to add workstation terminals in the parts department and another in the technician’s stall with multiple jacks that we can plug-in just about anywhere within the shop. We want Mitchell available to everyone in the shop, especially for when we grow and add staff.

“Mitchell RepairCenter works with Apple products and the guys can actually look up information on their iPhones or iPads,” Gregorian said.

“The entire repair is tracked from body to paint and the iPhones and iPads are ideal for taking photos and they instantly can be loaded into the work order. It helps us to do our payroll and it also assists us in documenting every aspect of the repair. If we need a supplement, we have good photos of the car in process. Also, some of the customers like to see pictures of the repairs in process, so we can upload a photo to them and show them everything is going as planned. This is an

easy process with Mitchell’s RepairCenter.”

Alexander’s only estimator, Tom Nachreiner, was already very familiar and comfortable working with Mitchell’s products when he was hired, which made everything seamless, Gregorian said. “He’s got 30 years industry experience, so he has worked with RepairCenter and Mitchell Estimating and knows the system inside and out.

Through my experience, even an entry-level estimator or CSR can learn how to use this system rather quickly. Over the years, I’ve trained numerous people on how to use Mitchell and some of them are earning more money than me! How did that happen?”

Gregorian likes the simplicity of RepairCenter and Mitchell Estimating, because it makes it easier to train people how to use it. “I always tell people the estimating system is so simple, because it’s very intuitive and they can pick it up rather quickly,” he said. ‘I make sure they understand the included and not included operations and explain to them how important and vital it is, because that’s going to be your bible right there.

That way when they’re writing an estimate, you can be sure your staff is not overselling or underselling the customer or insurance company, because they have accurate information in their hands. Once you learn that, the rest is easy. Usually, within three months of using it, they’re proficient with it and can write good, solid estimates each and every time.”

Combined Production Space: 34,000 square feet

Body Shop Manager Mike Gregorian (forefront), Office Manager Vivian Sanchez and Estimator Tom Nachreiner rely on Mitchell Estimating and RepairCenter every day at Nick Alexander Collision Center

Nick Alexander Collision Center is a new state-of-the-art shop, but it’s already known for exemplary work throughout southern California

Mitchell International, Inc. 6220 Greenwich Street San Diego, CA 92122 Phone: (800) 238-9111 www.mitchell.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2014 19

20 JUNE 2014 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Major Collision Center Asks a Lot from its PPG Paint System

by Autobody News Staff

Collision Director for David Maus Collision Center, Charlie Smith, 61, is a 40-year veteran of the body shop business and one of the ways he’s succeeded is by working with the best-of-the-best when it comes to people, equipment and products.

David Maus Collision Center is a member of Van Tuyl Automotive Group and located adjacent to David Maus Toyota in Sanford, FL. The operation is enormous, repairing 450500 cars every month out of 42 bays in a 38,000 sq. ft. facility and employing 52 collision professionals.

Smith is particularly proud of his long and highly beneficial relationship with PPG—a partnership that spans over two decades and is still going strong.

“I’ve been associated with PPG for more than 20 years and I’ve been a member of their MVP Round Table for a long time,” Smith explained. “So I know the brand very well and appreciate my track record with them.

Their paint is excellent, but where PPG really stands out is with respect to support and training. They do so much more than just selling paint to body shops—they also set them up for success. That’s why body shop owners, techs and customers know and respect the PPG brand.”

Smith entered the collision industry in 1974, when he discovered that the best way to learn is by doing it yourself, he said. “I was working at a Chevrolet dealership in Kennett Square, PA, and one day my boss told me to take a 1974 Nova apart and put it back together. So, I said ‘OK’ and that’s how I learned— hands-on!”

David Maus Collision Center’s Body Shop Manager, Anthony Villanueva, 42, is a hands-on guy who has also learned the business by doing it himself. Villanueva is a great success story, because he started out on the bottom and worked up to technician then management in nearly a decade. “I started working for a body shop when I was 15 and I always wanted to learn as much as I could,” Villanueva said. “I worked up to body tech and did that for nine years and now I run a large operation with a huge amount of responsibility, but I love going to work every day.”

Smith likes the PPG products for many reasons and one of the major ones is the green aspect of their waterborne product. “One of the main things I really like about the PPG

David Maus Collision Center Location: Sanford, FL

Telephone: 877-478-9692 www.davidmauscollisioncenter.com Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 52

In Business Since: 2010

Number of Locations: One

Combined Production Space: 38,000 square feet

Dave Havling, a painter at David Maus Collision Center in Sanford, FL sprays PPG Envirobase®, a busy shop that fixes 400-500 cars monthly Envirobase® High Performance system is the environmentally friendly aspect of it,” Smith said. “We don’t have to use waterborne because laws in Florida don’t mandate it, but we choose to do it for the right reasons. We want to be as green as we can and this is a big part of it. It’s safer for our technicians and there’s less waste with the waterborne.”

In addition to running a greener operation by using PPG waterborne, Smith is also enamored with the finished product. “Some of the best color matches I’ve ever seen are with the Envirobase® High Performance system without a doubt and the cars coming out of here look spectacular.

This paint is perfect to get those OEM finishes that we’re looking for and the system has significantly improved our cycle times as well.”

As a result, the collision center’s sales have grown from approximately $600,000 monthly to almost $1 million every month and PPG can be credited for much of the company’s switchover to Envirobase® High Performance back in 2010, according to Smith.

To consistently make their numbers time and again, David Maus Collision Center has two teams of four people working out of two tunnel booths simultaneously. Each team consists of two painters, one prepper and one buffer and one of the two painters is the lead painter that plans the day’s work and assigns projects as needed.

Producing 20 pristine paint jobs every day means you can’t afford to

encounter even minor issues with your paint and your process and Villanueva is more than aware of this fact. “It’s definitely one car right after another without slowing down or pausing. We push that PPG and it performs for us. At the end of an eight-hour shift, we take a moment to look at the finished product, but then we’re right back at it, preparing for the next day,” he said.

Training for their painters at David Maus Collision Center during the changeover to waterborne was drama-free, because the people at PPG are seasoned pros and exceptional teachers when it comes to learning the nuances of waterborne versus solvent. “PPG takes the ball on training, through a combination of class instruction at their PPG training center in Orlando, FL, as well as additional training performed here at the shop. Of all the paint companies out there, I believe that PPG really excels at the training part. Our guys were proficient with the Envirobase® High Performance system in no time.

It was easy and as seamless as we could have anticipated,” Smith said.

Initially introduced in 1999 to meet low VOC legislation, PPG’s Envirobase ® High Performance system is one of the world’s mostused automotive paint. No longer just a basecoat color platform, the Envirobase ® High Performance system provides a suite of undercoats and clearcoats that integrate flawlessly with its advanced waterborne basecoat providing best-inclass color accuracy and durability.

Body Shop Manager Anthony Villanueva said he pushes his PPG Envirobase® system hard every day and that it performs for him spectacularly

Collision Director for David Maus Collision Center, Charlie Smith, has been associated with PPG for more than two decades, and that’s why he appreciates the company’s products, training and support PPG Automotive Refinish Company Contact: Cindy Schauer Phone: (440) 572-2800 email: schauer@ppg.com www.ppgrefinish.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2014 21

A Quest Automotive Brand

22 JUNE 2014 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Pro-Spray® is a Perfect Fit for 3-Shop MSO in Louisiana

by Autobody News Staff

Brock’s Collision Centers in Louisiana has a four-generation history spanning 42 years. Matthew Johnson and his mother Kellie Brock-Johnson run the 3-location MSO that was started by Matt’s Grandfather Johnny Brock, III, and with help from his father Johnny Brock, Jr. As you’d expect with this kind of legacy, there are stories and anecdotes that could take many days to tell. There was a lot of fun to be had during these four-plus decades fixing cars in the South.

“My father quit his job at a local car dealership and opened a shop right here on our property,” Kellie explained.

“He worked out of our garage and ran a tow service right next to our house until our first facility was finished. This was 1971 and we were just outside of the city limits of Shreveport. There was my father, my grandfather, my mother and all three of us kids and we all had a job to do. We had five acres, so there was plenty of room for us to grow a young company.”

Matthew Johnson remembered that running a body shop back then was hard work, but it was also fun, too. “My grandfather took a couple smaller compact cars and put the gas and brake pedals on blocks so we could drive them around our property. I learned how to drive when I was about 5 or 6 years old. One day I did drive out onto Interstate 20, but other than that I stayed on the property. Growing up in a body shop as a kid was always exciting, because there were always new things to get into.”

In the early 1990s, the Brock family opened its second location in Bossier City, LA, and then in the late ‘90s, they added two other locations in Shreveport, LA. In the mid-2000s they closed the original location. To oversee three busy locations and 40 employees, is not an easy job, but they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Today, my father is partially retired, but still comes into the office a few times a week. I oversee the company from behind the scenes and Matthew does everything else,” Kellie said. “We love this industry and it’s in our blood. We could have sold this business many years ago, but we love what we do, and we have a responsibility to our employees and to our customers. It is hard work, but it makes us happy, so why change?

It’s a way of life and we still enjoy working every day.”

Brock’s Collision Centers Location: Shreveport, LA

Telephone: 318-687-5070 www.BrocksCollisionCenters.com Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 40

In Business Since: 1971

Number of Locations: Three

Combined Production Space: 165,000 square feet (combined)

Brock’s Collision Centers is a 3-location MSO in Shreveport, LA that fixes approximately 500 total cars monthly

Literally living a life of collision was a wonderful existence and a great learning experience, according to Kellie-Brock Johnson. “I always worked for my father and that’s how I learned how to do things the right way. He taught me how to remove the tape after a paint job without hurting the paint, which isn’t easy or obvious. He taught us the proper way of doing things and part of that was writing estimates by hand. Our computer systems have taken over and do a lot of the thinking for us now, which can be good, but learning this way gave me a leg up when I was starting out.”

After working with another paint company for many years, the Brock’s decided to start looking at alternatives, before selecting Pro-Spray and its solvent product. “We were happy with our former paint provider, but we’re always looking around for new things and that’s how we found ProSpray. We like the product’s flow and the color matches are exceptional.

Over the years, we have sprayed just about everything out there and this Pro-Spray is probably the most userfriendly paint we have ever used.”

The Brock’s made the switch to Pro-Spray for two main reasons.

“First, it costs less than our former paint and that’s obviously a big deal,” Matt Johnson said. “The other thing that helped us to make the decision was the training that Pro-Spray offers. They’re willing to come here

and teach the classes in-house, which is so much more convenient than sending our people to a school somewhere. All of their product support classes such as color matching, color tinting, estimating—they all take place right here and we’ve been able to put this information to use on a daily basis.”

Brock’s Collision Center began spraying Pro-Spray’s solvent production all of its three locations in mid2013 even though many have said waterborne is nearly here. “We keep hearing water’s coming, and that was one of the reasons why we felt that the changeover to the Pro-Spray line would be good for us. When waterborne is mandated (Louisiana has no date yet), we will be able to start using Pro-Spray’s Low VOC product, while still being in total compliance.”

With 500 vehicles to be painted month after month without fail, Matt Johnson needs his paint system to perform consistently, he explained.

“We can’t afford to have comebacks or color matches that aren’t dead on each and every time. If you’re producing 25-30 cars every day as we are, one misstep can set us back 23 days, which then impacts our cycle times. To keep our DRPs and customers happy, we need to be able to rely on the Pro-Spray and to this point, I have absolutely no complaints with it. As for the back office, well, they are more than pleased with the bottom line.”

Rodney Born, a Pro-Spray jobber’s rep from Collision Services, tints a Pro-Spray color at the Brock’s Collision Center in South Shreveport, LA

Lead Painter Steven Green applies Pro-Spray clear to a vehicle at the Brock’s Collision Center in South Shreveport, LA

Pro-Spray Automotive Finishes Phone: (800) 776-0933 email: info@prosprayfinishes.com www.ProSprayFinishes.com www.YouTube.com/ProSprayAutoFinishes www.NavigatorColor.com www.facebook.com/prospray

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2014 23

24 JUNE 2014 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Mobsteel and SATA Shoot for Excellence

by Autobody News Staff

Location: Brighton, MI

Mobsteel in Brighton, MI, is renowned for building menacing looking American-made inner-city hot rods with a blue collar attitude that says, “Hey, we’re doing it our way and if you don’t like it—hit the highway!” Mobsteel cars exude power and raw style, making them popular among celebrity car collectors. What the celebs don't know is that every paint job on every beautiful Mobsteel design and build goes through a SATA spray gun, resulting in an outstanding product every time.

Mobsteel’s Founder and Owner, Adam Genei, greatly values his involvement with SATA and not just for their amazing spray guns. “Yes, they sponsor us and we love their products, but it’s a lot deeper than that,” Genei said. “They’ve wholeheartedly supported us and our brand from day one. We’ve been honored as special guests at their annual dinners and it’s a big deal, because many of their top people come in from Germany for those. They see the value in aligning themselves with a company like ours and we feel the same. Working with a company like SATA is awesome because it validates what we do. It wasn’t long ago that we were out there on our own, trying to get our first car in a show, slinging T-shirts and trying to build brand recognition.”

Mobsteel started out of necessity more than anything else, Genei said.

“The economy was tanking in 1999 and we were feeling it more here in Detroit than in the rest of the country, so we decided to turn our hobby into a business. I figured it I’m going to be broke, at least I’m going to be happy!

If you grew up in this area, you and your family were involved in the automotive industry in some capacity.

My grandfather owned a LincolnMercury dealership and everyone— my uncles, aunts, all my friends— we’re all tied to the car business one way or another.”

Mobsteel’s goal from the beginning was to take Detroit's finest vintage luxury cars and turn them into modern day menacing street machines while integrating new technology and modern features into each vehicle. “The cars we build are a part of American history and they’re made of steel, instead of

Mobsteel

Telephone: 714-828-1555 www.mobsteel.com Company At A Glance...

Type: Vehicle Restoration

Facility Employees: 8

In Business Since: 2002 Number of Locations: 1

Combined Production Space: 18,000 square feet Mobsteel creates cars that are well-known for their urban in your face attitude

some fiberglass,” Genei said. “The blood, sweat and tears of our family and friends are in these motors, frames and bodies. At Mobsteel, we take it to the next level and are always looking to be better. That’s why we just started a wheel brand and are opening a new manufacturing facility right next door. It’s called Detroit Steel Wheel Company, where we’re going to make some amazing wheels.”

Genei isn’t a painter himself, but he knows a premier high performance spray gun when he sees one in action. “I’ve had a chance to play with Ron’s SATA guns and all of the newest things that SATA is coming out with, such as their new mini-jets, and their 4000,” Genei said. “By associating with SATA, I’ve been able to learn the science behind the equipment and the process and it’s fascinating. These guys at SATA are like rocket scientists and the depths they go to perfect their products is pretty amazing. There’s a big difference with SATA over the other guns out there and it’s all about the touch and feel and the performance is exceptional. SATA guns are the luxury cars of the spray gun industry and everything else is an economy car.”

SATA’s quality guns play a role in Mobsteel’s quest for perfection, but having a top painter on his crew is the other half of the formula. “Our painter Ron Coan has been using SATA guns for 30 years and we’re very pleased to have him working for us.” Genei said. “Ron is legitimately an amazing artist and he still surprises me with every car he paints.

I ask him to do incredible things and he figures out how to do it. Ron is a perfectionist and he wants to fine tune every job until the end.”

Ron Coan has been painting cars for more than 30 years and today he’s considered one of the best painters in the country. His career hit the fast track around 2000 when he started doing concept cars instead of fixing them in a body shop.

In 2006, he came onboard at Mobsteel and began bringing his impeccable work to the company and sharing his love for SATA with rookie painters who come through the shop.

“I work with a lot of young painters and help them to learn the business,” Coan said. “When they’re ready, I give them a SATA gun and tell them to go out there in the world and do quality work. They always call me later and thank me, which is definitely satisfying.”

Genei, 39, sees a great future for the Mobsteel brand and loves the life it offers him. “Building these vehicles is more than a business, it’s a lifestyle,” he said. “We’ve had a great life and we really enjoy what we’re doing. Hopefully we can continue to do it and keep working with companies like SATA. It’s been a great journey so far, that’s for sure.”

SATA is a Dan-Am Company and the exclusive independent importer/distributor for SATA Spray Equipment in the USA & Puerto Rico, is well-known all over the planet as a premier provider of highquality paint spray guns and is a household name throughout the collision industry.

Mobsteel’s Ron Coan is considered to be one of the best painters in the country and greatly values his mutually beneficial relationship with SATA

Every amazing paint job performed by Ron Coan at Mobsteel goes through a SATA spray gun, ensuring an outstanding product every time

Dan-Am Company One Sata Drive P.O. Box 46 Spring Valley, MN 55975 Phone: (800) 633-7282 www.sata.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2014 25

26 JUNE 2014 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

For His Dream Cars, Oregon Rebuilder Relies on Valspar

by Autobody News Staff

Companies that restore classic cars can be successful by completing just 2-3 big projects every year, ranging in price from $80,000 to $1.5 million. But when you have that much money on the line and your customers are chasing their dreams, you have to use the very finest products out there. That’s why David Eckert, 50, the owner of Eckert’s Rod & Custom in Molalla, OR, uses Valspar® Automotive paint and De Beer products on each and every creation he builds.

It all began roughly 40 years ago, Eckert said, when he found his passion in old American-made cars. “My older brothers were involved in drag racing, so I just naturally jumped right into it,” Eckert said. “I was raised on a farm in New Jersey, so we were always wrenching on something and eventually it became cars. One of my brothers was into Corvettes and the other one was into Tri Fives, so they introduced me to those types of vehicles and I fell in love with them.”

Eckert then took his skills to the workplace and was hired at Harvester International as a technician, where he continued to learn as his experience grew. “I worked on construction equipment and other commercial vehicles such as large trucks and buses. It was a great experience, because if a weld failed or something cracked for whatever reason, we could see how it failed and learn to prevent it from happening again.”

Eckert was still restoring vehicles on the side and eventually he started a restoration business. When he moved to Oregon in 1992 he was quickly hired at Steve’s Auto Body Restoration in Portland. His very first project at his new job was a 1966 Cobra that had been owned by rock star Rod Stewart. Eckert did a ground up restoration on that vehicle and it was such a huge success that it won several awards. As they say— the rest is history.

Eckert’s Rod & Custom runs five projects all the time, but usually the shop produces only two vehicles a year. “They’re big projects, but we also get a good number of smaller ones too that keep us busy. We have a lot of clients who buy cars at auctions and they bring them to us to sort them out and straighten them, if needed. We completely restore every

Eckert’s Rod & Custom

www.eckertsrodandcustom.com Company At A Glance...

Type: Vehicle Restoration

Facility Employees: Five

In Business Since: 1989

Number of Locations: One

Combined Production Space: 15,000 square feet

David Eckert, the owner of Eckert’s Rod & Custom in Molalla, OR only uses Valspar® Automotive paint and De Beer products on all of his amazing vehicles. This incredible Mach 40 won Best in Show at SEMA 2012 car mechanically and cosmetically from the frame up. We want it to be a 100% OE car when we’re done, so that it runs likes its brand new.”

To get a dream car re-created

by Eckert requires a love for automobiles and enough money to get it done, he said. “I tell people that a $1 million rebuild requires roughly 11,000 man hours so it’s not a weekend part-time thing. It’s a huge undertaking and all we think about it and work on it until we get it absolutely perfect.”

Eckert started using Valspar Automotive’s products eight years ago.

He especially likes the epoxy primers offered by Valspar Automotive. For his top coats he uses De Beer (also a Valspar Automotive brand). “We weren’t happy with our former paint, so we started looking around and found Valspar® and their De Beer products,” he said. “They cost us less and the product is superior, so it was a fairly easy decision.”

Eckert wants a paint that is reliable and can take abuse. “We’re looking for a basecoat product that won’t shrink back on us, because that’s crucial. We’re buffing and cutting it a lot of the time to create that finished look we’re always shooting for. We’re also looking for a product that can make repairs easily if the vehicle suffers damage or abuse.

When we’re doing striping, for example, we want something’s that really

forgiving that will lay out and then we can come back in and touch it up and blend it in rather easily. We get all that and more from Valspar® Automotive’s products.”

Eckert is always testing the limits with his paint while pushing the process and pursuing perfection.

“When it comes to the high solid De Beer clears, we can abuse them and get the results we want,” Eckert said. “The recommended system is a two-coat process, but sometimes we’ll lay down six coats. We can really flow it on there big-time and not have any problems with solvent pops or shrink backs or anything like that.

“Another great thing is the clarity of the De Beer clear,” Eckert said.

“It’s so clear that you can put tons of it on there and it doesn’t change the color at all. In the past, if I was on a silver or a white and I applied too much clear, it would turn yellow, but I don’t have those issues with this clear. You can pour it out in a big glass cup and it’ll stay clear, which is outstanding!

When we asked Eckert which vehicle is the one that really stands out, he hesitated. “We love all of them, because everyone has a unique story behind it. If I had to give you an answer, maybe it would be the 1968 Mustang Shelby. That’s all pearl white with blue stripes and all painted with Valspar Automotive.”

Eckert is especially proud of this ’68 Ford Mustang Shelby, which he built in 2006 and painted with Valspar®

This 1954 Jaguar XK120 Drop Head Coupe is another Eckert creation that gets oohs and aahs all over the planet

Valspar Automotive North America Phone: (800) 845-2500 P.O. Box 1461, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1461 USA www.valsparauto.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2014 27

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