June 2017 Shop & Product Showcase

Shop and Product

SHOWCASE June 2017 // www.autobodynews.com

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 3M

Chief Automotive Technologies

Matrix Electronic Measuring, Inc. Robaina Industries Inc.

Kurt’s Collision Center

Precision Auto Body

Inter-Tech Collision Centers

Caliber Collision

Omaha, NE

Lewisville, TX

Maryville, IL

2-3

Reseda, CA

14-15

24-25

Accudraft Giannini’s Auto Body Shop Daly City, CA

4-5

DeBeer Refinish

Mobile Environmental Solutions

Sabetti Body Shop

Frank Leta Acura Body Shop

Kent, OH

AkzoNobel

16-17

St. Louis, MO

26-27

Arone Auto Body Homer City, PA

6-7

Axalta Coating Systems

Dominion Sure Seal Ltd.

PPG Automotive Refinish

Draper Motorsports & Detail

Tasca Collision Center

Fulton, NY

18-19

Cranston, RI

34-35

SATA Sugar Hill Auto Collision Sugar Hill, GA

36-37

Spanesi Americas Mike’s Auto Body and Repair 28-29

Spring Hill & Brookville, FL 38-39

Today’s Collision Malden & Chelsea, MA

8-9

CCC Information Services, Inc. Dabler’s Auto Body Salem, OR

Church Brothers Collision Repair

Perrine Auto Body Cranbury, NJ

20-21

Indianapolis, IN

30-31

10-11

Celette

Matrix Automotive Finishes

Prospray Finishes

Gold Coast Auto Body

Kuzin’s Kustom Body & Paint

The Custom Shop

Chicago, IL

Valspar Refinish

Pro Spot

Lusid Technologies

12-13

Polonia, WI

22-23

Flanagan, IL

Vescio’s Customizing and Restoration Rogers, MN

40-41

Wizards Products Wright County Collision 32-33

Buffalo, MN

42-43

2 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

3M Provides Kurt’s Collision Center with New Solutions for Dust-Free Sanding, Sustainable Profit

by Autobody News Staff

Kurt Mueller has transformed what started in 1980 as a body shop operating out of a two-car garage into a multi-million dollar business, now part of the CARSTAR MSO network.

“We’ve been blessed,” said Mueller. “First year I was in business, we made $105,000; last year, we passed $3 million.”

With the recent hailstorm that hit Maryville, IL, he predicts that they will do $4 million in 2017. “We’ve always been an hourly shop,” said Mueller. “With piece work, everybody thinks the other person is getting a better job than they are, which causes fighting amongst employees instead of working together.”

He’s always treated his employees the way he wants to be treated: fairly and with respect. “I’ve never had a problem getting employees,” said Kurt. “We had two employees in 1980 and added four employees in the last three years.”

CARSTAR Kurt’s Collision Center now has 18 employees and an additional 6,000 square feet of work space after expanding their facility in April 2016.

Another way the shop owner maintains a profitable business is by utilizing a host of products from 3M’s collision repair line: Platinum Select Body Filler, Platinum Plus glaze, Cubitron II abrasives, Dirt Trap for booth protection, buffing pads, compounds, polishes, headlight restoration, masking paper and plastic sheeting to cover vehicles, PPS cups, belt sanders and grinders, as well as bumper stands and door stands for paint work.

“We’ve used their two-part adhesives since they came out, as well as their sandpaper and car wash detailing system,” Mueller’s son Nathan added. Nathan will be taking over the shop when his father retires.

Mueller said that the Meguiars Car Wash Detailing System is very efficient and easy to use. “You just push a button and it puts the soap into the water and measures everything for you,” he said. “And it never over-mixes the solution.”

“About six months ago, we started using the Total Automotive Sanding System from 3M and Fes-

Kurt’s Collision Center

Location: Maryville, IL (618) 345-4519

www.carstar.com/locations/il/ maryville-15043

Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 18

In Business Since: 1980

Number of Locations: One DRP Programs: 20 Shops like CARSTAR Kurt’s Collision Center can reduce dust and improve worker comfort with mobile sanding systems like the Total Automotive Sanding System.

tool, which makes the sandpaper last twice as long,” Kurt continued. “I was a little hesitant to invest in it, but just in savings on sandpaper, we’ve already made the money back.”

Nathan and Kurt both agree that the mobile sanding system is a “fantastic” addition to 3M’s product line and that it has made a huge improvement in their shop. “If I told my guys we were taking it away from them, they’d tackle the guy trying to take it,” Kurt added.

Nathan and Kurt have also established a great relationship with their 3M reps. “They’re here at least twice a quarter checking in,” added Nathan. Mueller said he prides himself in being “as cutting edge as he can afford” when it comes to keeping up with the latest technology.

However, the Illinois shop has held off on becoming aluminum certified. “We’ve been first in doing a lot of things, and sometimes [these advancements] end up going away, and we don’t get a return on the money we’ve spent,” explained Kurt. “So we’re a little bit cautious this time.”

He added that his shop is capable of repairing small hits on aluminum vehicles, and that they haven’t had to turn a job away yet.

Besides word of mouth, Kurt said the employee’s involvement in the community has helped direct customers to the collision center.

“Our office manager is on the board of the Chamber of Commerce,

which encompasses five small towns,” Kurt explained. “We sponsor children’s baseball, soccer and softball teams; up to 35 teams a year.”

He continued, “It’s a roundabout way of using social media for your business because it’s through other people [who are posting about their child’s team.” Mueller also speaks at the Women’s Industry Network (WIN) Conference every year.

“Not trying to toot my own horn, but word has gotten out that I’m likable and when I talk to people, they listen,” said Kurt. “I try to make it fun, and when you get people in a comfortable environment like that, they tend to remember you more than if you put an ad in the paper.”

As for his top concerns as a shop owner, he said communication is number one. “Making sure the process and systems work is probably my number one concern,” he explained. “It’s important for the employees, owner, everybody involved to know what they’re supposed to be doing and for everything to be working in an orderly manner.”

As far as keeping up with the latest technology and the future of collision repair as a whole, Mueller remains “cautiously optimistic.”

“There’s going to be more changes in the next 20 years than have been in the last 40, and that’s really saying something,” said Mueller.

“Who knows, we could be working on cars that fly in the next 10 years.”

Combined Production Space: 12,000 square feet

The 3M masking process with plastic sheeting and high-quality green tape provides painters with optimum results.

CARSTAR Kurt’s Collision Center has come a long way since its humble start in a two-car garage in 1980.

3M 3M Corporate Headquarters St. Paul, MN 55144 (877) 666-2277 3mcollision.com Debby Robinson drobinson@vmg1.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 3

4 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Family-Focused Giannini’s Auto Body Shop Impressed by Accudraft

by Autobody News Staff

In any production-based environment, it’s imperative to put emphasis on the finished product, but for Mike Giannini, owner of Giannini’s Auto Body Shop in San Francisco, CA, it’s equally necessary to recognize the end user, the person whose vehicle is being repaired. He stresses to employees, “Treat every vehicle like it’s your own.”

Family is important to Giannini, who got his start in the collision repair industry while working in his father’s shop from an early age; however, he branched off on his own in 2000, opening a 2000 square foot shop across the street and in direct competition with his dad. Since then, Giannini’s Auto Body Shop has moved locations four times before settling into their new 40,000 square foot facility last year, where his 25-year-old son works as production manager of 25 valuable employees.

“My dad is amazing,” Giannini said. “He taught me about this industry. I earned his respect by showing him what I can do, and I’ve trained my son, Tommy, in the industry as well. He’s now one of my best employees, and I’m very proud of him. I’ve also had other family members work for me in the past, and my girlfriend, Jennifer Munoz, really helped us get the new facility ready to open for business. I’m grateful to have two wonderful people at my side.”

Last year, Giannini discovered another factor to successful operations when he chose to install two Accudraft Maxdraft downdraft paint booths and an accumix SS mixing room. “I was considering five different manufacturers, but Accudraft’s sales rep really sold me on their products. It’s a great company, and they’re very professional.”

Like Giannini’s Auto Body Shop, Accudraft is a family-owned-andoperated company founded in 1977

by Guy Pippa, and the organization is now run by his three children: Guido Pippa, Giovanna Helton and Lorena Markov. With manufacturing in New Jersey and Italy, Accudraft’s strong reputation for durability, performance and product support has made them a world-leading finishing system manufacturer. Using extrac-

Giannini’s Auto Body Shop Location: Daly City, CA (415) 864-2644

Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 26

In Business Since: 2000 DRP Programs: Three

Number of Locations: One

Combined Production Space: 40,000 square feet Giannini is impressed by Accudraft’s customer service and their high-quality products.

tion fans and specialized ventilation systems, Accudraft paint booths remove chemical fumes, dust particles, overspray and other contamination while simultaneously regulating temperature and humidity for proper paint application.

Although Giannini just installed the Accudraft equipment last year, he’s very pleased with the results of the conversion. “It’s a nicer booth and is very quiet inside. Even better, it was an easy transition to start using it—the fan comes on and you roll along. My employees like it a lot.”

Giannini praised his employees as well, stating, “My guys are amazing. The shop has all the equipment they need, and they work hard. It’s an incredible team, and I believe I have all the best employees in the city. They’re like family.”

That personal connection is also what Giannini strives for when dealing with customers. He believes that what makes his shop so unique is his emphasis on the personal touch.

“Yes, it’s a mega shop, and we produce large volumes of work, but that personal touch is just so important,” Giannini said. “My customers receive my personal cell number so they can talk to me about any questions they have about their repair.”

Appreciation for the importance of customer service guides Giannini in his business, and he also takes it into consideration when determining which companies earn his business.

Regarding the customer service pro-

vided by his paint booth manufacturer, he recalled, “When we had a problem, I contacted Accudraft and they flew a tech in right away to get it straightened out. I’m really impressed by how well they took care of me.”

At Giannini’s Auto Body Shop, “When a mistake occurs, we put the customer in a paid rental and fix our error immediately. Nothing bugs me more than no follow through. I definitely believe in following through on my promises—it’s great for success! Our average cycle time is under four days, and our repairs for DRPs average less than $1800.

Our customer service is at 100%, and we’ve been a Tier One shop for Allstate for 13 straight months, a national record. It’s really that personal touch that separates us from other shops,” Giannini explained.

The I-CAR Platinum shop repairs an average of 60 vehicles each week, and obtaining OEM certifications is next on Giannini’s agenda.

He has recently hired an aluminumcertified employee to meet the increasing demands for aluminum repair. Giannini is also planning to become more involved with the community by starting an annual vehicle giveaway donating a car to a family in need. Giannini’s Auto Body Shop sprays with PPG’s waterborne paints and was the second shop in San Francisco to convert to the more environmentally friendly option.

Giannini’s Auto Body Shop focuses on family first. (pictured: shop owner Mike Giannini with son, Tommy Giannini)

Mike Giannini believes in treating each customer’s vehicle as his own, and this personal touch has made him stand out among the competition

SAIMA of North America Inc. Randolph, NJ 07869 (800) 524-0340 info@accudraftpaintbooths.com www.accudraftpaintbooths.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 5

6 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Arone Auto Body Owner and Painter “Can’t Stop Smiling” Since Switching to Sikkens

by Autobody News Staff

Frank Arone has been in the collision repair business for over 20 years and restoring vehicles for about 15.

His auto body shop, Arone Auto Body, is located in Homer City, PA. “I’m a very hands-on business owner,” said Arone. “I do not spend the day inside the office; I’m out in the shop getting dirty. It’s just what I like to do.”

He said his “employee retention” is what makes his shop unique.

“I have guys who have been working for me for over 20 years, including my manager who has been here for 30 years,” Arone explained.

“That’s pretty much unheard of in this business.”

Arone said he’s been really lucky, despite being in a rural area with “not a lot of people to pick from.”

“My employees get along and work together well with no bickering or real issues at all,” Arone added.

He has mostly depended on referrals from current employees for new hires. “We have a good, solid group,” Arone added.

As far as attracting customers, the shop owner uses a variety of methods. “Besides word of mouth, we’ve put up billboards, shared customer testimonials on the radio and maintained our Facebook page,” he explained. “We are in the process of expanding our online presence.”

When Autobody News asked Arone about his main concerns, he listed profitability and technology.

“Working with DRPs has required us to add more staff to deal with the heavier workload,” he explained. He also said he has been looking into aluminum certification, so that may be his next big technology investment.

“We’ve been watching [the trend] closely to see what’s happening in our area,” he said. “There aren’t a lot of high-end vehicles here, so our big client would be the aluminum Ford pickups.”

The shop owner did make one move nine months ago that he has been over the moon about ever since—switching to Sikkens by AkzoNobel.

Arone Auto Body

Location: Homer City, PA (724) 479-3242 www.aroneautobody.com Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 18

In Business Since: 1985 DRP Programs: Seven

Number of Locations: One

Arone Auto Body is located in Homer City, PA and has been in business for more than 30 years.

“The Sikkens quality of paint is outstanding,” he said. “We’ve been looking for that flawless paint finish that Sikkens offers.”

Arone said before switching to Sikkens, he had to pay almost $200, 000 in restoration re-dos that the previous company wouldn’t stand behind. “[Our previous distributor] insisted that the solvents had to be forced out of the finish by baking the vehicle [up to 15 times]. They even wanted me to bake between the base coat and clear coat.

“I had been speaking to a sales representative from AkzoNobel for the better part of a year,” he said. “I told him, ‘Before I make the switch, I want to restore one of my own cars—a 1970 Camaro Z28—using your product from start to finish.’”

The sales representative happily obliged, even when Arone said, “I’m going to abuse the product and push it to the limit to try and make it fail.”

“We went through the whole process using only AkzoNobel products,” he said. “We never baked the car, never force dried it whatsoever, but we pushed it to the limit and the car looks fantastic.” Arone added that the 1970 Camaro Z28 restoration project took only seven months, “which is really hustling.”

“We’ve had no failures with Sikkens for restorations and collision

repair. I really can’t say enough good things about it.”

AkzoNobel has restored Arone’s love for painting. “I’ve been doing this since I was 12; I love this work,” he said. “I was so relieved when my AkzoNobel rep told me to ‘paint how you know how to paint.’”

Arone Auto Body also utilizes AkzoNobel’s Automatchic Vision Digital Camera. “It has been working really well for us,” Arone said. “It allows us to effectively match the original color from a library of options.”

Customers are amazed by the technology. “The camera system AkzoNobel offers is second to none,” Arone said.

Arone’s lead painter uses the camera exclusively for collision repair. “He hasn’t stopped smiling since we started using AkzoNobel products,” Arone said, including Manual Proportioning Unit (MPU), which dispenses clearcoat.

“When we visited AkzoNobel’s training center, we saw it used in a demo and were very impressed,” Arone said. If the painter runs out of clearcoat in the middle of a job, all he has to do is walk out of the spray room into the mixing room and it will be dispensed in seconds from the MPU. “There’s no measuring needed; it’s really fabulous,” he said. “If I tried to take it out of here, my lead painter would leave with it.”

Combined Production Space: 30,000 square feet

Owner Frank Arone switched to Sikkens paint by AkzoNobel nine months ago and has been thrilled with the results.

Arone Auto Body is also a restoration shop.

AkzoNobel 1845 Maxwell Drive Troy, MI 48084 www.akzonobel.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 7

8 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Today’s Collision Makes Customer Service a Priority, Reports Excellent Service from Axalta

by Autobody News Staff

Today’s Collision first opened in 1987, when Bobby Cobb founded his own shop after years of working in the collision repair industry. In 1989, he was joined by his childhood friend, Kevin Kyes, and over the past 28 years, the partners have collaborated to expand their business into two successful locations in the greater Boston area (Malden and Chelsea, MA).

Today’s Collision stands out from the competition because of the emphasis they place on customer service. According to Cobb, “Today’s Collision makes customer service a priority. Our emphasis on customer satisfaction begins with the first customer interaction on the phone or when they enter the shop. This focus then continues through all aspects of the repair process: estimation, parts ordering, body work, paint department and detail department. When the customer picks up their car, they are given the same attentive service.

Since every employee at Today’s is aware that they are to view their work through the eye of the customer, the end product shows this focus. After the vehicle is repaired, we ask the customer to rate our work and service and write a review of our company. This gives us the opportunity to correct any service issues that may have occurred during the repair process and ensure that the customer is completely satisfied.”

Cobb believes that customer service is a vital component of any successful business, and he appreciates vendors and suppliers who offer him the same customer service experience he provides his clients. Fifteen years ago, Today’s Collision started using Axalta’s Standox® paint line, which Cobb refers to as “a highquality product and very user-friendly.”

In regard to Axalta’s customer service, Cobb noted, “Our company’s productivity and profitability has been greatly impacted by Axalta’s customer service teams. As an MSO, Today’s Collision is given a layered team of representatives to help provide our company with needed training and advice. This group works with us on a continuous basis to en-

Today’s Collision

Location: Malden, MA; Chelsea, MA 781-321-6080 Todayscollision.com

Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Malden Employees who worked on the Recycled Rides vehicle recently donated. In the middle: blue shirt is owner Kevin Kyes. Next to him, Erin Vasselian, Gold Star Wife recipient; Chris Lessard (blazer & jeans), Program Director of Massachusetts Fallen Heroes; and owner Bobby Cobb. Photo credit: Paul Hammersley

sure we have the latest industry knowledge and are applying the best known strategies to our business... they have been our business partner for many years and are a great company to work with. This great fit, coupled with the great product, makes our paint supply decision an easy one.”

Cobb also praises Axalta’s Standox paints for their excellent colormatching abilities. “The product works well for us, especially when we are working on high-end, European-made vehicles,” he stated. “We are able to match OEM colors easily.

Many of our business partners are high-end dealerships that do not have their own body shops. Having the ability to fulfill the needs of this market segment keeps Today’s Collision as the go-to shop in the area.”

Today’s Collision includes two shops with a combined production space of 25,000 square feet, and participating in three DRPs, the shops’ 55 employees repair an average of 300 vehicles each month with $11 million in annual sales. In addition to collision repair services, the shops also offer paintless dent repair, glass repair and mechanical services. Today’s Collision is I-CAR Gold certified and the shops are certified through Honda and Acura’s ProFirst program as well. Some of their technicians are individually OEM-certified, and Cobb is in the process of adding several new OEM certifications to their repertoire.

Cobb and Kyes’ shops are also certified through Axalta. Cobb noted, “Our employees love working with Axalta products. Painters are very partial to a specific brand of paint, so

ours will always want to stay with this product. Axalta interacts with our employees to make sure they have the knowledge they need when using the product. Axalta paint has always been consistent throughout the years. We are able to use the same product in different environments. We have always had such a high customer satisfaction rating; it’s reassuring to know that the end customer is also pleased with the product.”

Today’s Collision takes being environmentally responsible seriously. They installed LED lights, recycle paint waste and plan to convert to a waterborne system by the end of the year. When they do, Axalta has several waterborne options to fit their needs, including Standox Standoblue®.

Community involvement is also an important component of the shop’s identity. “Giving back to the community has become part of the Corporate Culture at Today’s Collision. We are actively involved with many charities, including Journey Forward, Celebrities for Charity, The Greg Hill Foundation, Massachusetts Fallen Heroes and local schools and organizations,” Cobb explained. “One of the more recent additions to our community involvement is our participation in the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides Program. Today’s Collision repairs the vehicle with help and donations from suppliers, such as Axalta, and donates the car to a family or person in need. Our last three donated vehicles were donated to veterans and a gold star wife through our relationship with Massachusetts Fallen Heroes.”

Facility Employees: 55

In Business Since: 1989

Number of Locations: Two DRP Programs: Three

Combined Production Space: 25,000 square feet

Today’s Collision’s productivity and profitability have seen significant improvements as a result of using Standox paints by Axalta Coating Systems.

Customer service is the key to success for Today’s Collision.

Axalta Coating Systems Company Contact: Heidi Stilwell heidi.stilwell@axaltacs.com (610) 358-5353 www.axaltacs.com/us

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 9

10 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

CCC ONE® Repair Workflow Helps Salem, OR Body Shop Manage and Grow Business

by Autobody News Staff

When Mike Brockway and Dennis Dabler purchased Dabler Auto Body in 2015, one of their goals was to streamline operations to maximize profitability. That included purchasing CCC ONE® Repair Workflow for their Salem, OR, business. Not only have they found it to be extremely helpful in managing the body shop, but it has also been instrumental with production, cycle time and parts invoicing.

“The CCC software is a very important tool to help you run and operate your business in a way that you need to be competitive in this industry, especially with four huge MSOs that are basically buying up body shops by the hundreds,” said Brockway. “If you are an independent and going to be competing with them, you better know a lot about your business.”

Chuck Dabler opened the original body shop in the Eyerly Volkswagen dealership in Salem in 1967. A decade later, he branched out and established Chuck Dabler Auto Body. Over the years, Chuck built a stable base of clientele and a reputation for excellent service.

When he retired in 2002, his son Dennis ran the family business and Brockway came on board in 2007 as the head painter for several years.

Brockway briefly left to work as a technical representative for BASF, traveling up and down the coast teaching people how to use the products. During that time, he attended training classes and learned about the benefits of running a body shop using management software.

“If you want to be in the top 10 percent of body shops these days, you really have to understand software and how to run a business much the same way an insurance company runs their business,” said Brockway.

He approached the Dablers about coming back to the shop and he and Dennis purchased the business. They recently celebrated their two-year anniversary.

Although the facility had a solid foundation, techs focused on more than just collision repair. They were also repairing and painting motorcycles, hot rods, fire trucks, ambu-

Dabler’s Auto Body

Location: Salem, OR (503) 585-8066 http://dablerautobody.com Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 12

In Business Since: 1967 DRP Programs: Four Scott Nash (left) and Sean Snyder from Dabler Auto Body going over the production schedule using CCC ONE® Repair Workflow.

lances and even a washer and dryer.

“We talked about picking a lane and going as fast in that lane as we possibly could,” said Brockway.

The shop was bringing in about $850,000 in sales in 2014; the following year, it reached $1.4 million, and in 2016, that number grew to $2 million in sales. The partners attribute that growth in part to having a specific focus as well as utilizing the CCC ONE management software.

Dabler Auto Body had already been using CCC ONE estimating software. “CCC ONE was easy to work with and helped us secure DRPs,” said Dennis. “Having used other estimating software before, I found it beneficial and easy to use.”

Brockway didn’t have much experience using the software but quickly learned. Meanwhile, the shop researched management software options and ultimately purchased CCC ONE® Repair Workflow. “The number one reason is that it’s about as simple of a management software as it gets as far as interfacing,” said Brockway. “It’s extremely userfriendly.”

Fast forward a year and a half, and they are extremely happy with the product. “You can physically manage every facet of the body shop with the CCC ONE management software,” he said. “It can track information, sales and run KPI reports.”

The software combines the estimating and shop management features into a single application.

Brockway said this helps eliminate errors and rekeying of information.

In addition to producing cycle time and profit reports, it defines roles

and tasks and tracks production.

“CCC did a great job helping us get trained,” said Brockway. “The local rep is extremely knowledgeable and did a great job helping us implement everything.” He said technical support has been amazing and there is always someone on call to answer questions.

CCC ONE® Repair Workflow is used by everyone at Dabler’s, including the lead estimator, production manager and parts department.

The shop also interfaced the software with QuickBooks. “CCC ONE has helped every person in our business make more money by giving us more information,” said Brockway.

“Technicians can see our report, giving everyone an idea of how we need to improve.”

Brockway said if you have DRPs, it’s crucial to know your numbers.

“The reality is, these insurance companies know more about us than we know about ourselves,” he said.

“They manage numbers all day long.

If you don’t have a system to track some of that information, you’re at their mercy.”

His advice to shops considering a management software is to be patient during the implementation and allocate time to become proficient.

“We’ve grown the business 100 percent in sales and we’re 1,000 percent more profitable this year than last year,” said Brockway. “If you don’t have a management system in 2017 and you’re operating a body shop that does more than $1 million worth of sales, you really need to think heavily about investing in one to manage your business.”

Number of Locations: One

Combined Production Space: 12,000 square feet

Since purchasing Dabler Auto Body, Mike Brockway and Dennis Dabler have grown the business with the help of CCC software.

Located in Salem, Oregon, the collision repair shop prides itself on customer service.

CCC Information Services, Inc. Company Contact: Tom Williams (877) 208-6155 www.ccc-one.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 11

12 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Gold Coast Auto Body Impressed with Speed and Accuracy of Celette Frames

by Autobody News Staff

These days, OEM certification is a common direction for shops to take as they strive to increase profitability and ensure a safe repair with consideration of the many challenges presented by advances in vehicle technology. For Gold Coast Auto Body in Chicago, IL, OEM certification is a way of life. Looking to the future, owner Dominic Martino has predicted, “Vehicles will become more complex, requiring more specialized training, tooling, equipment and education - this will prompt many collision shops to become obsolete as they cannot, or will not, commit due to financial constraints or simply an inability to stay the course and fight for their own survival.”

Years ago, Martino set out to distinguish his shop from the competition by obtaining OEM certification for several manufacturers’ lines. The shop is certified through Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, VW, Honda and Acura, and through the Assured Performance Network, the shop is also certified to repair GM, Ford, Nissan, Infiniti, Hyundai, Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler vehicles.

These OEM certifications are what originally led Martino to invest in Celette’s frame machines, required by Mercedes-Benz, over ten years ago.

According to Martino, “The Sevenne and Sevenne XL have benefitted the business in terms of speed and the accuracy of the frame’s alignment.

Our technicians love the Celette and its fixtures. It is very easy to set up, and implementing the product posed no difficulty due to Celette’s excellent customer service.”

Martino added, “Our local representative, Bastien Dias Da Costa, offers excellent knowledge and customer service, and Greg Fritz, our Celette trainer, possesses the same qualities. They quickly address any concerns we may encounter, allowing us to avoid losing excessive amounts of time during the repair process. Celette always gets the job done, period!”

Recently, Martino provided a shop tour to Bastien Dias Da Costa and Celette President Pierre Nicolau. Dias De Costa explained, “We wanted to show our president a high-end shop in the Chicago area.

Gold Coast Auto Body

Location: Chicago, IL 312-787-0333

www.goldcoastautobody.com

Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair Facility

In Business Since: 1992

Number of Locations: One DRP Programs: Three Celette’s frame machines have helped Gold Coast Auto Body improve speed and accuracy when making alignments.

Gold Coast Auto Body is a big, wellequipped shop, and Pierre was very impressed by what he saw.”

Gold Coast Auto Body has been very pleased with the customer service offered by Celette as well as the quality of the company’s products. With bench systems designed based on manufacturer blueprints, Celette promises duplication of the factory build process and 100% accuracy. They also claim that repair predictability is unsurpassed by any other style of straightening equipment. When asked how the Celette frame machines compare to products used previously, Martino praised Celette: “There’s no comparison Celette is simply the best!”

The shop predominantly uses Celette’s equipment on Tesla and Mercedes-Benz models since those manufacturers require these frame machines, but Martino also utilizes the products during most of his other repairs due to the benefits derived, such as increased efficiency and ease of use. The shop is currently undergoing the application process to obtain Mercedes-Benz’s new commercial vehicle cut, though they’ve been repairing those vehicles for a decade.

Gold Coast Auto Body was founded in January 1992 by Lorenzo Martino after the MercedesBenz dealership where he’d been employed for 28 years decided to close their body shop. Recognizing his loyalty, they offered him an opportunity to run his own business and gave the 54-year-old man a shop, which became Gold Coast Auto Body. Lorenzo opened the shop with

his brother, a body technician, and later that year, Lorenzo’s sons, Dominic and Mario, went to work for their father, assuming responsibility for managing the shop. Around 15 years ago, Lorenzo retired from the business, leaving Dominic and Mario to continue his legacy as co-owners of Gold Coast Auto Body.

The busy 50,000 square foot facility’s 60 employees repair approximately 400 vehicles each month. In addition to participating in three direct repair programs, Gold Coast Auto Body acquires revenue by offering towing, storage, paintless dent repair, detailing, and cosmetic wheel repair services. Martino’s facility is equipped with the most technologically advanced products to ensure safe and proper repairs that adhere to OEM guidelines.

The shop is environmentally conscientious, spraying with BASF’s waterborne refinishing products, and they also participate in community and charity organizations. Gold Coast Auto Body is a member of the local economic and employment development council and is also involved in charitable military organizations as a donor and supporter.

When looking at current industry trends, Martino made observations about some of the positive things impacting the collision repair industry.

“The number of vehicles being sold has increased, which means more work for us, and the increasing complexity of vehicle technology requires more training, tooling and equipment to repair today’s vehicles—that’s Gold Coast Auto Body’s forte.”

Combined Production Space: 50,000 square feet

Gold Coast Auto Body is certified for 14 OEMs.

Repairing many high-end vehicles requires Gold Coast Auto Body to acquire the best training and equipment available.

Celette (630) 396-6100 www.celette.com toll free: 1-800-CELETTE

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 13

14 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Precision Auto Body Has Used Chief Automotive Products Since 1970s

by Autobody News Staff

As a female shop owner in a male dominated industry, Audrey Coletta has had to go above and beyond to earn respect and maintain a successful business.

“More and more women are joining the industry, but there still aren’t many female shop owners,” Coletta explained. “It’s been a challenge; most men assume you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’ll take a customer through the shop and give them an idea of the process and what the vehicles go through,” Colette said. “There have been times where they’ve said, ‘Wow you know your stuff,’ and I respond, ‘Yeah, I have to!’”

Precision Auto Body, located in Reseda, CA, is a family-owned shop that Coletta took over when her father retired. The single location shop has been in business since 1960.

“We have had two employees who passed away and had been working here for 20 some years,” she said. “Our newest tech has been with us for 3-4 years, while the other three have been with us for 10-14 years.”

Coletta added that the shop places special emphasis on employee retention.

“We invest a lot of time and money in training, and have been really fortunate with creating a great team,” she said.

Precision Auto Body specializes in high-end cars, is certified by Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Audi, and is BMW Factory Trained.

“We are Elite Certified by Mercedes, so our technicians are required to go for training twice a year in Texas,” Coletta said.

The shop invested in an aluminum clean room a couple of years ago, but has been working on aluminum parts for a while.

“What’s different now is that we’re working on aluminum structures, where before we worked on Lamborghini and Ferrari aluminum parts,” she explained. “When dealing with the integrity of the structure of the car, the technique and equipment are different.

“You have to be highly trained in order to do it properly.”

Precision Auto Body is in the process of adding Maserati to its resume, especially since the manufacturer is becoming even more

Precision Auto Body

Location: Reseda, CA (818) 888-7654 www.pabbodyshop.com Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 36

In Business Since: 1960

Number of Locations: One The front entrance of Precision Auto Body, located in Los Angeles County.

exclusive with its certification.

“We bought the Globaljig Presented by Chief Super Rotax bench so we could become certified by Maserati,” Coletta said.

She added that she has been highlighting the Globaljig bench on the shop’s Facebook page.

Precision Auto Body started using Chief products in the 1970s when the team purchased its first EZ Liner. In 2005, the shop replaced it with a newer model.

“The EZ Liner was our first piece of major equipment and has been very good to us,” Coletta said.

According to Chief’s website, the company offers the industry’s most extensive line of collision repair equipment, including frame machines, measuring tools, anchoring systems, welders, aluminum repair equipment, and vehicle specifications.

The shop owner added that Precision Auto Body is 100% dealer-referred with its own customer clientele.

“We have been named Best of the Best by Mercedes-Benz,” Coletta said. “Only a handful of shops across the nation have that label.”

The Los Angeles County shop is not a DRP for any insurance company, which, according to Coletta, allows them to work more for the customer than the insurance company.

“It can be an uphill battle and sometimes adds to the repair time, but it allows us to fix a car according to manufacturer specifications,” she explained. “We are able to spend more time on quality.”

Coletta said that while a lot of DRPs don’t like to do big repairs because it slows their process and impacts their numbers, Precision Auto Body is able to take on heavy hits.

“We’ve been known to basically remanufacture a car,” she said. “We take it down to the bones and bring it back to pre-accident condition.”

Coletta said that being an independent shop also allows her to justify hours more easily.

“Our techs recognize the benefits of working here,” she added.

Although Coletta is currently able to provide her employees with health insurance, dental, vision, and a 401(k), she worries that the increasing minimum wage in Los Angeles County will threaten that.

“Minimum wage goes up every year and will be $15 an hour by 2020,” she explained. “It’s really difficult to fight for that labor increase with insurance companies.”

She added that the increase doesn’t only impact cost of labor, but also workers’ comp and payroll taxes, along with other expenses.

“Even though we’re a small business, we’re able to give good benefits,” Coletta said. “I worry about whether I’ll be able to afford that in the future.”

She added that the regulations in Los Angeles County can also conflict with the quality of service and profitability.

“You used to be able to hire a tech anywhere, but because of all the training and certifications, you just can’t just do that anymore,” Coletta explained.

Many of the regulations in Los Angeles County are put in place to keep shops environmentally friendly.

Precision Auto Body has gone past the requirements to maintain a green shop.

“We have invested in a streamlined computer system that helps us save paper as well as solar panels and LED lights,” Coletta explained.

Combined Production Space: 25,000 square feet

Precision Auto Body invested in an aluminum clean room a couple years ago to keep up with manufacturer certifications.

Precision Auto Body recently added a Globaljig Presented by Chief Super Rotax bench as the shop pursues Maserati certification.

Chief 996 Industrial Drive Madison, IN 47250 (800) 445-9262 www.chiefautomotive.com/Global-jig

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 15

16 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Ohio Shop Shines After Switching to DeBeer Refinish Sabetti Body Shop

by Autobody News Staff

We always love to hear stories about how a technician gets hired and takes over the shop many years later. This is one of those tales, and the setting is Sabetti Body Shop in Kent, OH, where they have 14 employees and fix roughly 100 cars a month out of a 12,000 square foot facility.

It all began in 1967 when Mike Sabetti started the business with just two repair bays and a car wash that is now occupied by a Toyota dealership. Four years later, Sabetti built his current facility with 24 bays and two paint booths, and ever since, the business has grown at a steady rate.

Today, the shop includes three frame racks and a Hunter Alignment System.

Dave Burt began working at the shop right out of high school 39 years ago after completing the Maplewood JVS Autobody Collision Technology Program in Ravenna, OH. In 2000, Burt purchased 50 percent of the business along with a partner, and in 2011, he purchased the other half and now works hard to continue the great track record that Mike Sabetti established over three decades ago.

A big part of his success is embracing new tools, equipment, and products to do a superior job on every repair. Another component of Burt’s ongoing pursuit to become better involved in the recent integration of a new paint system into his production.

After using the same paint system for nearly 20 years, Burt decided to start looking around. “We met with five different companies over a sixmonth period and eventually decided to go with DeBeer Refinish,” he said.

“We were having color match issues with our former paint system and the support had fallen off over the years.”

Burt’s color matching issues disappeared when he saw the DeBeer Refinish BeroBase 500 Series in action. “After painting 10-15 cars with DeBeer to test it, the folks at Valspar Automotive brought in their Spectrophotometer and photographed eight cars and every single one was dead-on. I was sold!”

Burt’s painter, Joe Tilley, also liked the way the DeBeer Refinish brand sprayed and how it laid down, which ended up being one of the

Location: Kent, OH (330) 678-3443

www.sabettibodyshop.com

Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 14

In Business Since: 1967

Number of Locations: One DRP Programs: Four

Combined Production Space: 12,000 square feet

Co-owners David and Pamela Burt of Sabetti Body Shop in Kent, OH love the results they get with DeBeer Refinish.

major deciding factors. “Joe has been here for 26 years, so we value his opinion,” Burt said. “Once he told us that he was comfortable with the DeBeer product, we decided to go with it. He’s is going to be working with it every day, so his feedback was obviously crucial.”

Once the decision to switch to DeBeer Refinish’s solvent basecoat system was finalized, the actual conversion began and it was seamless and drama-free, Burt explained. “It was an easy process to get the DeBeer Refinish system installed here.

This system is actually easier, because with it we have fewer toners than we had with the previous system. The product delivers what it promises, so there wasn’t much of a learning curve. Our guys had to relearn some paint codes, but other than that, it was not a huge deal. We installed the system on a Friday and we were up and running with it when we opened our doors on Monday.”

Burt plans to send his painters to Valspar Automotive’s training center in Dearborn, MI, later this year to learn more of the ins and outs of spraying the DeBeer Refinish product line. “We want them to know everything they can about using this product and we’re confident that they will learn a ton when they go through Valspar Automotive’s program,” Burt said.

Sabetti Body Shop doesn’t rely completely on its DRPs for its busi-

ness and that’s the way Burt likes it, he said. “We are located in close proximity to three car dealerships that don’t have their own collision centers and they send us quite a few cars. In addition, we do a lot of fleet work out of Kent State University, which is right here.”

As a happy graduate of the Maplewood JVS Autobody Collision Technology Program, Burt believes in the program and has hired several of its graduates over the years. “I have seven graduates working here currently—two of them who are painters and my son Kyle who handles the frame rack and alignments; all of them are excellent employees.

When they come here, they know the basics and it takes a few years for us to train them completely. I credit this program for helping me get into this career, and that’s why we want to give back to them and support them whenever we can.”

Now that Sabetti Body Shop is using the DeBeer Refinish BeroBase 500 Series Basecoat System every day, would he reconsider his decision to switch? “No, we feel really good about this product,” Burt said.

“Sometimes people get comfortable with the old way, but once they see the alternative, they get excited. We have been able to save money on the DeBeer Refinish system without sacrificing any quality at all, so yes— we’re delighted!”

Painter Craig Snyder at Sabetti Body Shop appreciates the dead-on color matches he achieves with DeBeer Refinish.

Painter’s Apprentice Kyle Knapp uses DeBeer Refinish’s color match camera to dial in color matches.

DeBeer Refinish, A Valspar® Automotive Brand 600 Nova Drive, SE Massillon, OH 44646 (800) 321-0672 www.de-beer.com Facebook.com/OfficialDeBeerRefinish Instagram.com/OfficialDeBeerRefinish Twitter.com/DeBeerRefinish YouTube.com/OfficialDeBeerRefinish

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 17

18 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

New York Shop Owner is “Sure” to Have a Great Repair Using Dominion Sure Seal Product Line

by Autobody News Staff

One of the important components of running a successful body shop is having access to dependable products. Jeff Draper from Draper Motorsports & Detail has firsthand experience with Dominion Sure Seal’s products. The owner of the Fulton, New York facility said they not only help guarantee an excellent repair for customers, but also allow the job to get done more efficiently.

Jeff first started out in the collision repair industry when he was 16 years old. He learned body work from his father, John, and recalls helping with fabrication and painting motorcycles in their home garage. With a passion for cars, he worked at various body shops over the years.

About three years ago, Jeff purchased land to build his own facility and opened Draper Motorsports & Detail in 2014. “I taught myself everything I know,” he said. “I enjoy putting crashes back together and making vehicles look good.”

The body shop is open six days a week and focuses its energy on providing excellent customer service. “You have to go the extra mile to take care of your customers,” said Jeff.

His son, Brett, is currently attending BOCES vocational school and learning the auto body trade like his dad and grandfather. “I enjoy having my son help out in the shop,” said Jeff. “That’s three generations in our family who have a passion for cars and auto body repair.”

Over the years, Jeff has built a solid reputation for his shop where customers know they can bring in their vehicles and be assured of a great repair job. “Pretty much everything I do is word-of-mouth. I don’t even advertise,” said Jeff. “I’ve had some pretty bad crashes in here and my friends look at them and say, ‘You’re never going to put that together,’ and I do it. That’s gratitude when you see something driving down the road that you’ve repaired.”

When it comes to purchasing products for his business, Jeff said he pays close attention to what he uses in his shop. In 2016, William Oney, the rep for Dominion Sure

Draper Motorsports & Detail

Location: Fulton, NY (315) 440-1059

Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

In Business Since: 2014

Number of Locations: One

Combined Production Space: 15,500 square feet

Jeff Draper from Draper Motorsports & Detail and his son, Brett.

Seal, recommended that Jeff try out some of the company’s products.

The first thing he purchased was bedliner. “It was fantastic,” said Jeff.

Not only did he find that it sprayed nicely, but he also liked that it has UV protection to keep the black color intact so it didn’t fade out.

Since then, he has purchased a wide range of products from Dominion Sure Seal for his collision repair jobs as well as the classic restoration work he also does. They include bedliner for trucks, body filler, white body fill glaze, primers, gun cleaner and underseal products.

“It blows everything I’ve ever used away,” said Jeff. “The products are phenomenal.”

Established in 1972, Dominion Sure Seal is a leading manufacturer of sealants, protective coatings and adhesives. The company specializes in undercoatings, paints, plastic repair, anti-corrosion materials, liquid bedliners, adhesives, tapes and specialty chemicals.

The primers purchased for the shop, such as etching primer and underseal coating, are unique aerosols designed to reduce cycle time. Jeff has found that the primers are easy to blend and spray and have helped with efficiency. Dominion Sure Seal offers detailed information on their website about how to best use and apply the products, and Jeff said the rep has been great about answering questions.

Jeff recently began using one of the company’s newest products, The EZ Liner Bedliner. It can be sprayed, rolled or brushed on, and Jeff said it is cost-effective and easy to apply. “I’ve used a lot of bedliners and this is by far the best I’ve ever used,” he said.

Since using the products from Dominion Sure Seal, Jeff has shared his positive experience with others in the industry. “A lot of my friends are body men and I tell them about these products,” he said. “Sharing the information helps everyone.”

In addition to collision repair jobs, Jeff spends time working on restoration projects. Many of the products from Dominion Sure Seal have been helpful in this area as well. “With the restoration projects, the Dominion Sure Seal seam sealers have been phenomenal.”

His clients often enter the finished vehicles in car shows. One of his friends received a first-place award multiple times over a twoyear period since Jeff painted his ‘70 Challenger RT—one of only 64 built. “He chose me and my shop to paint his car,” said Jeff. “I couldn’t be prouder.”

Overall, he prides himself on providing customers with a superior repair using the best materials, including those from Dominion Sure Seal. “Dominion Sure Seal is passionate about what they are selling and it shows,” said Jeff. “The products speak for themselves.”

Draper purchased a wide range of products from Dominion Sure Seal for his collision repair jobs as well as the classic restoration work he does.

The owner of Draper Motorsports & Detail says the Dominion Sure Seal products are phenomenal.

Dominion Sure Seal Ltd. 6175 Danville Road Mississauga, ON Canada L5T 2H7 Phone: (905) 670-5411 Fax: (905) 670-5174 www.dominionsureseal.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 19

Perrine Auto Group Chooses Lusid

Lusid Technologies is proud to be partnered with Perrine Auto Group and their local jobber BKE Distributors LLC. Lusid, Perrine Auto Group and BKE Distributors are all committed to excellence. They all share the core values of honesty, integrity and a 'can do' attitude. Being close to customers and treating them more like family can be a rare combination. Perrine Auto Group is living proof that 'fair trade practices' still breed success in today's tough business world.

Many thanks for your business James, we wish you and your team success with a long and prosperous future.

20 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Perrine Body Shop Finds Lusid Products Offer Excellent Quality at Tremendous Cost Savings

by Autobody News Staff

When customers arrive at Perrine Auto Group in Cranbury, NJ, they can be assured of receiving an extra level of service while their vehicles are in the body shop. That might mean a ride to the grocery store or beauty parlor, help with changing a lightbulb in their homes or even shoveling a snowy walkway. “Our customer service doesn’t end when the customer leaves after dropping off their vehicle,” said James Farrell, II, the body shop manager at Perrine. “That is what has helped keep many of our customers coming back year after year.”

Since opening its doors 90 years ago, the body shop has prided itself on providing excellent service and ‘Turning customers into friends since 1927.’

“They are the daily driving force behind our motivation to continue improving our business while providing a customer experience that can’t be found anywhere else,” said Farrell.

The collision center, located in the same building as the dealership, is comprised of four dedicated body repair bays, a frame machine bay, two bays with dedicated post lifts, and a single car spray booth with attached cut-in and mixing rooms as well as a drive-through bay for estimates located adjacent to the office.

In 2012, the spray booth was converted to make it more effective for waterborne paint. Farrell said that after that conversion, they had multiple problems for a few years. These included system malfunctions with the fans and other drying equipment that were becoming costly to repair with every service call. They spoke to Perrine’s jobber, Brian Elmer, owner of BKE Distributors LLC, and he recommended trying Lusid Technologies’ GenRock solvent-based line.

“I brought the Lusid products to their attention because the costs savings with the products were significant, but at the same time they wouldn’t be sacrificing any quality,” said Elmer, who has serviced the Perrine account for more than 20 years. “This was the perfect fit for the shop.”

He said the Lusid products offer a lifetime warranty. “I’ve had zero

Perrine Auto Body

Location: Cranbury, NJ (609) 395-5599 www.perrinecars.com

Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: Eight In Business Since: 1927 DRP Programs: Six

Number of Locations: One Since switching to Lusid’s GenRock solvent-based line, Perrine has experienced a steady cost savings.

complaints on any of the products that I sell,” said Elmer. “Without a loss in production, without a loss in quality, I couldn’t find a reason not to offer them the products. That’s how well they work.”

After a visit from the Lusid product rep John Panto, Perrine decided to give Lusid the opportunity to perform an in-house demo.

“After we completed the demo, we decided it was time for a change,” said Farrell. “The ease-of-use, sprayability, quality and color match of the GenRock products were equal to, if not superior to what we were spraying prior to getting on board with Lusid.”

Following the positive experience during the demo, the collision center sat down with Elmer to discuss the cost efficiencies of the different products to maximize profits.

“It turned out that this product was going to save us at minimum 4550 percent of the cost of the product we were using prior,” said Farrell.

“The quality of the product was enough in itself to get us to switch, but once we found out the numbers, it ended up being an added bonus.”

Since switching to Lusid products in 2015, Farrell said they experienced a steady cost savings between 57-60 percent. “That’s huge for us,” he said.

“It freed up a lot of money that was spent on materials in years past and allowed us to add other products and services, which has helped our business grow in directions it never had before.”

His advice to other shops is to step outside their comfort zone and

give the products the opportunity to “wow” customers at a great cost savings. “If you’re an owner/manager, can you imagine saving 40 percent plus on materials without losing cycle time or quality and still offering a lifetime warranty to your customers?” asked Farrell. He also encourages shops to think about what they can do with that additional savings on materials.

“In this industry, we get comfortable with things, especially the single shop, mom-and-pop businesses,” said Farrell. “Looking back at the time we wasted, we could have saved a lot of money and began expanding our business sooner.”

Perrine Auto Group has deep roots in the community. It was originally opened in 1927 in Jamesburg, New Jersey as a Pontiac dealership

by Frederick S. Perrine, a United States Army veteran. In 1946, the dealership was relocated to a larger facility. When Perrine’s son, Frederick H., returned from serving in the United States Navy, he joined his father in the day-to-day operations and began expanding the dealership. His own son, Frederick L., helped further expand the business and relocated to Cranbury in 1997.

The company still has customers come in and say they’ve done business with Perrine since the 1940s and 1950s. “They say they continue to use us because we are just as family-oriented and friendly as we were back then.” He said they can also be assured of an excellent repair with the help of Lusid’s GenRock products.

Production Space: 6,000 square feet

Perrine Body Shop’s painter, John Orndorff, checks for a color in Lusid's expansive color deck.

Perrine prides itself on “Turning customers into friends since 1927.”

Lusid Technologies (801) 966-5300 www.lusid.biz

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 21

22 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Shop Owner Can’t Stop Falling in Love with Matrix Automotive Finishes

by Autobody News Staff

Bill “Elvis” Stull is the owner of Kuzin’s Kustom Body & Paint, a shop that performs complete restorations and light mechanical services in addition to collision repair in Polonia, WI. If you ask Stull what his interests are, he will mention things like awardwinning car restorations, snowmobiling and his fascination with Elvis Presley, among others. Another item on his preferred list would include the paint he relies on every day: Matrix® Automotive Finishes, a Valspar Automotive brand.

From a 1931 Model A to a 1948 Tucker and with a plethora of amazing classic cars in between, Kuzin’s has done more than 500 full restorations and complete paint jobs over the years. He has won a wide range of prestigious awards for his restorations, but he is always looking for that next dream project.

It all began more than 25 years ago when Stull made the leap to start his own shop. “My cousin Roger Clark was already in the business, so we started a partnership and named it Kuzin’s Kustom Body & Paint,” he said. “After one year, he decided to change his career, so I bought him out, but that’s how we came up with the name Kuzin’s.”

Stull couldn’t wait to get into the restoration game as a youngster.

“When I was 13, I went from building model cars to wanting my own car,” he said. “So one day I walked up to my dad and asked him, ‘Can I get an all-black 1968 Chevy Impala Super Sport?’ and I was surprised when he said, ‘Yes.’ I couldn’t drive it yet, of course, but my father and I started working on it and it became a fatherson project.”

A family friend owned a body shop, and one day he offered Stull a part-time job cleaning cars and sweeping floors with an eye on learning how to paint along the way. “I always wanted to paint that black Impala blue, so one day the shop owner I was working for let me bring it in for paint,” Stull said. “He helped me do the body work and prime it and then made sure I did all the

Kuzin’s Kustom Body & Paint

Location: Polonia, WI (715) 592-4707

wwww.kuzinskustom.com

Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair and Auto Restoration Facility Employees: Six

In Business Since: 1991

Number of Locations: One

Combined Production Space: 9,000 square feet

Bill “Elvis” Stull, the owner of Kuzin’s Kustom Body & Paint in Polonia, WI, uses Matrix’s MPB-LV Low VOC Basecoat to create classics like this one.

sanding. He did most of the painting, but I did get to do some of it and that was the moment when I got hooked!”

After working for several area shops, attending a local tech school to learn the mechanical side of fixing cars and learning as much as he possibly could, Stull finally decided to take a huge leap and start his own shop at the age of 21. “I figured I was young enough at that point that if it didn’t work, at least I had enough time to recover,” he said. “Now we’ve been here 25 years.”

By doing a lot of both crash repair and restoration work, Stull paints everything with Matrix’s MPB-LV Low VOC Basecoat, a product he switched to back in August of 2015. “We had been with another brand for 20 years and they changed their formula a while back and the clears just weren’t working well for us anymore. It was a different paint than what we had before, so we started looking around.”

Eventually, Stull became familiar with the Matrix brand by watching Counting Cars, a popular reality series in which they use the product. “I saw all of this strip work and candy work and I thought, ‘If they are doing all of this custom work and Matrix is performing that well for them, why can’t I use it, too?’”

The conversion process to the

Matrix MPB-LV Low VOC Basecoat system was fast and seamless and Stull hasn’t doubted the switchover for a millisecond. “The Matrix reps came here and they treated me exceptionally well. They gave me some paint and I painted my own truck with the Low VOC and did some stripe work and I knew from that moment on that I loved this paint. There was no peeling and it looked great— ’Wow, this is awesome,’ I thought!”

Stull loves the finished product, but he also likes the fact that he is using a more environment-friendly form of paint. “Even though it is solvent, it’s still low VOC,” he said.

“For a while, the state of Wisconsin was pushing waterborne, but they haven’t mandated it yet. We are now cutting hours off of production because the flash times are faster and the whole system is fantastic.

We’re using a lot less product too, maybe 20 percent; we’re saving a lot of money.”

Stull was an Elvis impersonator for years, but when it comes to Matrix’s MPB-LV Low VOC Basecoat, only the real thing will do. “When this paint came into my life, it put the fun back into my painting. I can do so many things with this product and it has me experimenting and being really creative, which is a big plus.”

Stull loves the finished product with Matrix’s MPB-LV Low VOC Basecoat, but he also likes using a more planet-friendly form of paint.

Kuzin’s Kustom Body & Paint was honored when one of Stull’s showstopping vehicles was featured in the 2017 Matrix Award Winning Finishes Calendar.

Matrix®Automotive Finishes, A Valspar Automotive Brand 600 Nova Dr., SE Massillon, OH 44646 (800) 321-0672 www.matrixsystem.com Facebook: MatrixSystem Twitter: @MatrixFinishes Instagram: @MatrixAutomotiveFinishes Youtube: MatrixAutomotiveFinishes

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 23

24 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

MSO Owner Has a Matrix Wand in All of His 8 Locations TM

by Autobody News Staff

The first Inter-Tech Collision Center opened its doors 30 years ago with a 1,800 square foot shop, and today, the company has eight locations in the Omaha Metro area and Southwestern Iowa.

Owner Tom Wortman has seen his business grow exponentially as he has changed with the times while always stressing customer service and quality above everything else.

One significant change he made at all of his locations a year ago was when he purchased a Matrix Wand™ for each facility—a move he calls “one of the smartest things I’ve done!”

Wortman loves the Matrix Wand™ for a lot of reasons, but the best one is that it provides ironclad documentation on every car he repairs. “This device eliminates the guesswork,” he said. “It enables us to produce precise repair plans by diagnosing and documenting structural and suspension damages in literally minutes. The documentation we get from the Matrix Wand™ is as good as gold and it allows us to find the damage that we would never be able to find without it.”

“The Wand’s Suspension Application is awesome!” Wortman said.

“Within a few minutes, the Wand finds the damaged suspension components needed so vehicles will align the first time. No more guessing, and we order the correct parts up front. Now, we deliver the customer their vehicle on time as promised. No more Friday frustrations with failed alignments at the last minute.”

After purchasing eight Matrix Wands™, Wortman made certain that key members of his crew became adept at using them. “We trained three guys with the Matrix Wand™ at each store, so that they can shoot these cars and we have backup at every location,” he said.

“We always want to have that knowledge in that facility, and the people at Matrix are great at training, so we want three people with the ability to use the device in each shop.”

As a result, Wortman has a built

Inter-Tech Collision Centers

Location: Omaha, NE (402) 898-8900 www.intertechcollision.com Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 76

In Business Since: 1987 DRP Programs: 15

Number of Locations: Eight

Combined Production Space: 132,000 square feet (combined) By shooting every car before and after each repair, Tech Jeramie Vargas at Inter-Tech Collision has the power of the Matrix Wand™ in his hands.

in support system within each facility. “What we’ve learned is that they will help each other and throw information around so that they can know everything they need to know.

The training is 1.5 days per store and they came to all of our shops, which is great. The training is excellent; the support is first class and the people at Matrix really care about our success. It’s evident from the first moment you meet them, and they reinforce it the more [that] you work with them.”

The Matrix Wand™ helps Wortman when dealing with his DRPs, he said. “We get a picture of the vehicle before, and what this is really giving us is a no-hassle frame bid to all the insurance companies. You can see it all clearly in black and white in millimeters in each direction, so that no one can dispute frame time with the Matrix Wand™.”

By shooting every car both before and after each repair, Wortman has the power of the Wand is in his hand when dealing with insurance companies. “We shoot the car when we’re done, and now we have documentation that shows we did it right. It goes into the same file with the before photos, and if two weeks later they try to question the repair, we have the documentation to show them that we did it correctly.

We can show them that the frame is straight, including the suspen-

sion and the alignment. It works great!”

Even the OEMs respect the power of the Matrix Wand™, Wortman said. “By using the Matrix Wand™ one day on a repair, we were able to find a flaw in an OEM part, believe it or not. We get our fair share of hail here in Nebraska, so we were replacing an OEM hood one day and it wouldn’t latch. My tech thought maybe that the radiator was pushed up, so what are we going to do? ‘Fear not, the Wand is on the job!’ So we shot it with the Matrix Wand™—both the hail-damaged hood and the new OEM hood—and we discovered that the vehicle’s hood’s striker was exactly 11 millimeters lower on the new hood than on the damaged one.

The car manufacturer agreed and paid us for a new hood, thanks to the Matrix Wand™!”

Now that Wortman has seen that the Matrix WandTM can make all of his shops more efficient while taking all of the guesswork out of the equation, he is more sold than when he purchased them. “The Matrix Wand™ did for the frame shop what resistance welders did for the body shop. I am a passionate owner and I’m not afraid to think outside of the box, and with today’s vehicles we need a device like this. It’s so ingenious and it has helped us so much, why wouldn’t anyone want to use the Matrix Wand™?”

Inter-Tech Collision has even found OEM parts that are made incorrectly by using the Matrix Wand™.

There is a Matrix Wand™ in all of Inter-Tech Collision’s eight locations, with three people at each facility who know how to use them.

Matrix Electronic Measuring, Inc. (800) 424-8023 E-mail: Matrix@thematrixwand.com website: www.thematrixwand.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 25

Mobile Environmental Solutions The leading U.S. provider of Portable Mobile Paint Booths with advanced technology airflow for the collision repair industry.

Finally, a Portable Mobile Paint Booth created to make your paint business efficient and profitable.

CALL TODAY 888-321-1320 Positive Pressure Cross Flow Filtration Mobile Paint Booth is EPA Certified, OSHA airflow compliant, and made with material that complies with the NFPAÂŽ 701 rule.

The Exhaust filters used exceed the 98% capture efficiency. EPA (SUBPART HHHHHH) 6H Rule The MES23X15HDLT comes equipped with twelve adjustable filtered air inlets. This design allows the sprayer to increase or decrease the air flow in desired locations of the booth.

Perfect for mobile technicians or overflow in bodyshops Standard Sizes: 15x15, 23x15, 30x15, 30x17 & 35x17 Bigger and Smaller Sizes are Available

Mobile Environmental Solutions

www.mobileenvironmentalsolutions.com

1150 McCaleb Road, Suite E1, Montgomery, TX 77316 888-321-1320 ph. 800-416-4230 fax 26 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

St. Louis Collision Center Loves Mobile Environmental Solutions

Frank Leta Acura Body Shop

by Autobody News Staff

Josh Simitjis is the reconditioning manager at Frank Leta Acura Body Shop, with two locations in the St. Louis, MO, area. Specializing in minor collision repairs, Simitjis and his small crew perform primarily PDR, wheel repair, light panel damage, scratch repair, bumper repair and bumper replacement on roughly 60 cars every month.

The business has been growing exponentially by filling a needed role in its region and doing quality work quickly and affordably. A major part of their success was the acquisition of a paint booth from Mobile Environmental Solutions of Montgomery, TX, the leading provider of portable paint booths in the United States.

When things really started to ramp up at Frank Leta Acura Body Shop, Simitjis realized he needed to make a change. “After being here for four years, we started running out of room,” he said. “With just one oversized bay in a 2,500 sq. ft. facility, we were running into production constraints. At one point we were having to turn work away, which of course made none of us happy.”

Simitjis was intrigued when he heard about the mobile paint booths made by Mobile Environmental Solutions, but he wanted to perform his due diligence and do a little research before making any decisions, he said. “We looked at the Mobile Environmental Solutions’ Facebook page and contacted one of their reps. We watched a tutorial video and we were definitely very impressed, but we wanted to see the booth in action ourselves.”

To achieve this, Simitjis and his service manager drove all the way to Indianapolis to see another body shop using the inflatable booth. “It was a four-hour drive one-way, but the trip was worth it,” he said. “When we saw the booth, we were amazed, to be honest. Everything they had told us was true. It sets up easy and it breaks down quickly and that was one of the major things that really impressed us.”

Now that Frank Leta Acura Body Shop has been using the mobile booth in every operation since last

Location: St. Louis, MO (314) 243-9210

www.frankletaaccura .com

Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: Four In Business Since: 2000

Number of Locations: Two

Combined Production Space: 9,000 square feet From left, Prepper Cameron Koch, Prepper/Painter Brad Dunivant, Reconditioning Manager Josh Simitjis and Painter Derek King at Frank Leta Acura Body Shop get the work out fast and clean by using an inflatable paint booth made by Mobile Environmental Solutions.

October, they’re happy that it’s part of their daily production. “It has made us so much more efficient and we can see it in the numbers,” he said. “By using this booth, we’ve doubled our revenues and are growing every month. It has already paid for itself.

“We did three times more business this year in February than we did last February and we can credit much of that to this mobile booth. It’s like having another little additional shop and we love it. We can have it up and operable in five minutes and it breaks down just as quickly. We set it up in the morning and break it down at the end of the day. We use it in our parking lot, which means we’re not giving up any shop space to use it.”

Half of the workload at Frank Leta Acura Body Shop’s two locations is customer-pay, with the other half derived from the dealership’s used fleet, Simitjis explained.

“Our customer-pay work is growing every month now because we are going after it through more advertising and marketing. The quality of our work has also gone up, thanks to our mobile booth. We have zero problems with dirt and dust and no issues with overspray. The booth blows any overspray toward the door and goes through some filters before exiting.”

Maintaining the mobile booth is

simple and drama-free, so Simitjis and his crews don’t have to slow down when meeting their crazy deadlines, he said. “We have a huge tarp on the floor in the booth and we just leave it there, even when we break it down. We pull it out of there every month and wash it and that’s how we keep it clean, but really there is very little maintenance required.”

When he does have any questions about the booth, Simitjis can call the people at Mobile Environmental Solutions and get a prompt response every time. “They always get back to us same day and we have done some three-way phone calls to keep my crew in the loop,” he said. “I give their customer service 10 out of 10 stars. The support is excellent and the product does what it is supposed to, so we are seriously thinking about getting another one for our satellite location.”

Simitjis wasn’t sold on a mobile paint booth from Mobile Environmental Solutions until he drove eight hours round trip to see it himself.

But now he is glad that he did. “Now I am definitely a believer, because this booth has helped me to produce a better-finished product and it’s so easy to use, it’s unbelievable,” he said. “We love it, and that’s why we’re seriously thinking about getting another one for our other location.”

Reconditioning Manager Josh Simitjis said that his mobile paint booth from Mobile Environmental Solutions has enabled him to double his revenue.

Easy to set up and break down, the crew at Frank Leta Acura Body Shop is enamored with their mobile booth.

Mobile Environmental Solutions 1150 McCaleb Road, Suite E-1 Montgomery, TX 77316 (888) 321-1320

www.mobileenvironmentalsolutions.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 27

28 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

PPG Products and Reps Grow and Adapt with Tasca Collision Center

by Autobody News Staff

Bob Tasca III comes from a long line of automotive enthusiasts who have been in the collision repair and car dealership business for almost 70 years.

Tasca Automotive Group was founded in 1943 by Bob Tasca, Sr. In 1953, Bob Sr. opened the original Tasca Ford in Bristol, RI. Just one year later, this dealership was destroyed by Hurricane Carol. They relocated and ultimately opened up the new Tasca Ford at 777 Taunton Avenue in East Providence, RI. It was here that Bob Sr. and his team became the second largest Ford dealership in the world in the 1960’s. This was also the birthplace of the Tasca Racing program and many historic muscle cars such as the Ford Cobra Jet, Tasca Street Boss, and Mystery race cars.

The Tasca family opened their first body shop in 1972 in Seekonk, MA. They now own three body shops—two in Rhode Island and one in Connecticut—and multiple dealerships that span southern New England. Their main shop, Tasca Collision Center, a 20,000 square foot facility with 15 employees, is located in Cranston, RI. “People in our market trust Tasca; there’s a powerful association with the name,” said Tasca. “We’re a good place to go to, and when mistakes happen, as they inevitably do, we acknowledge them and always do the right thing for the customer.”

Tasca Collision Center effectively uses social media to reach customers. “We have a Facebook page for every dealership where we promote our body shops as well,” Tasca explained. He added that they utilize a pay per click campaign that drives traffic to the body shop’s website. They also value DealerRater.com over Yelp as a source of traffic. “We’ve been named Dealer of the Year on DealerRater.com for the past eight years,” Tasca said.

Along with great customer service, the aluminum-certified shop prides itself on being “environmentally conscious,” especially when it comes to paint. They use the Envirobase® High Performance water-

Tasca Collision Center

Location: Cranston, RI (401) 681-1296

www.tascacollision.com

Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 15 The largest Tasca family auto body shop—Tasca Collision Center—is located in Cranston, RI.

borne basecoat system from PPG. “We’ve been using PPG waterborne paint products for so long, I can’t even remember when we started,” said Tasca. “They’ve been a tremendous partner every step of the way by helping us plan the layouts for our expansion, helping us to understand new technology in the paint industry, and helping us get certifications for I-CAR standards.”

Tasca Collision Center uses the full PPG line on everything from used cars to luxury vehicles.

“As our business has grown, PPG has adapted and worked with us on a multitude of fronts,” the shop owner added. “I’ve been thrilled with the relationship over the years.”

Tasca said that “finding experienced and skilled body technicians is more challenging than finding good service technicians.”

“We use a variety of methods [to find technicians]; word of mouth, growing people from within—which we work hard on doing—and reaching out to technical schools, but it still seems to be getting more and more difficult to find good employees,” the shop owner said.

As for his concerns for the industry as whole, Bob said he predicts an increase in consolidation that could impede on the productivity of smaller, family-owned shops.

“When you have autonomous cars and all of this new collision avoidance technology, there’s no question the marketplace is going to consolidate,” he said. “The big shops will get bigger and the small shops will be absorbed by other companies. The fewer accidents, the fewer body shops. However, accidents caused by texting and other distrac-

tions have increased, but that’s even more of a reason to make the shift to autonomous vehicles,” he explained.

Tasca advises those in Rhode Island who are looking to enter the collision repair business to buy up a shop that is already established. “It would be tough to start from scratch in today’s economy,” he said.

Tasca Collision Center is a member of the Rhode Island Auto Body Association. “At the meetings, members discuss DRPs, body shop rates, labor rates, and regulatory actions coming through,” Tasca explained.

“Rhode Island had a big movement toward classifying shops in either category ‘A’ or ‘B’. ‘A’ shops adhere to a higher standard, such as I-CAR and aluminum certifications, as well as providing separate waiting areas and bathroom areas for customers.”

The goal of the certification is to get a higher hourly rate for shops that have invested more in their business, which Tasca Collision Center definitely has.

Bob Tasca Sr. opened Tasca Lincoln Mercury (TLM) in Seekonk, MA, in 1972. TLM became the highest volume Lincoln Mercury dealership in the world in 1986, which repeated again in 1987 and 1988 while also winning the Ford President’s Award for outstanding customer satisfaction.

This fulfilled his dream of claiming “None Bigger, None Better.” It was also at the Seekonk store that Bob Sr. launched the innovative PreTrade program, pioneering the concept of short term trade cycles and leasing. He was also joined in the business by his three sons, thus fulfilling another of his dreams to build a successful family business.

In Business Since: 1972

Number of Locations: Three

Largest Production Space: 45,000 square feet (combined)

The 20,000 square foot interior of Tasca Collision Center in Cranston.

Tasca Collision Center provides a spacious and clean waiting room for customers to lounge in while their vehicles are being repaired.

PPG Automotive Refinish 19699 Progress Drive Stongsville, OH 44149 (800) 647-6050 www.ppgrefinish.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 29

30 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Indiana MSO Ensures a Proper Repair on Every Vehicle with Pro Spot i5 Welders

by Autobody News Staff

Nearly 90 years ago, two brothers, Noel and Clem Church, established Church Brothers Collision Repair.

Since then, the business has grown to include six locations in Indianapolis, IN. “We have a culture of being a family and that’s the way we want to keep it,” said Ted McClintic, the president of Church Brothers since 2002. “Our goal is two-fold: take good care of customers and repair their cars correctly.”

McClintic estimates the privatelyheld MSO repairs about 10,500 cars a year. With that volume of vehicles coming through their shops, it is especially important to have the latest and best technology, such as the Pro Spot i5 Smart Welders that they have used for the last year.

In 2015, the company began working toward becoming ProFirst Certified with Honda. “Honda opened our eyes to all of the changes that are happening in the industry and all the things we need to do differently when repairing cars,” said McClintic, who has worked at the company for 25 years.

Church Brothers found that their current equipment didn’t meet some of Honda’s specifications to repair vehicles, so they began researching other options. In addition to conducting research over the Internet, they set up demos to find out which welders on the market met Honda’s requirements as well as what would be a good fit for their technicians.

“The equipment is only as good as what the technicians are willing to use,” said Greg Gambrel, manager of technical processes and equipment.

Gambrel began working for Church Brothers in 1985 as a technician. In 1997, he left the company and became a high school career technical teacher. He also had a seat on the I-CAR Education Foundation board. After a decade, he returned to work at Church Brothers and said he currently helps drive the change of continuous learning at the company.

“With the tsunami of change we are dealing with on vehicles, it’s important to keep our technicians aware of advances and changes in the indus-

Church Brothers Collision Repair

Location: Indianapolis, IN (877) 972-4872

www.church-brothers.com

Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Church Brothers Collision Repair in Indianapolis, IN, repairs about 10,500 cars a year.

try,” said Gambrel.

As an I-CAR instructor, Gambrel was already familiar with Pro Spot welders, which are often used in ICAR classes. “We were impressed with the Pro Spot demo,” said Gambrel. “The i5 Smart Welder was easy to use and the technicians were in favor of purchasing it.”

Gambrel said one of the main concerns buying new equipment was if the process was updatable so they wouldn’t find themselves in a position of owning equipment that wasn’t relevant with the introduction of new vehicles and materials.

“Because we were going to make a big investment with six stores, we wanted to make sure we were getting our money’s worth out of the equipment,” he said.

Gambrel said they were very impressed with Pro Spot’s products and Church Brothers purchased six i5 Smart Welders for each of their locations. “Dollar for dollar, we found there was nothing else on the market available that was comparable to the i5,” he said.

Gambrel worked with the Pro Spot rep, Bill Montville, owner of Collision Correction Equipment in Hilliard, Ohio, to train the technicians.

“He must be Superman, because whenever we have an issue or questions, he’s Johnny-on-the-spot,” said Gambrel. “He is always here helping us.”

Pro Spot manufactures all their resistance spot welding equipment in the United States out of their Carlsbad, CA, headquarters. Established in 1986, the company owns an onsite machine shop, a research and development department, a fabrication facility and production lines

for the various welders.

“We would absolutely recommend Pro Spot equipment,” said Gambrel. “It’s user-friendly and there is no question about the quality of the weld on the vehicles.”

“When that piece of equipment is used, it gives everyone the confidence that we’re fixing cars correctly,” added McClintic.

One feature that sets the i5 apart from other welders is the ability for technicians to access OEM requirements within the system. Not only does this help improve cycle time, but McClintic said it is important when repairing vehicles so technicians can identify what needs to be done on every single car they are welding.

The i5 also allows technicians to print out documentation about the number of welds done on every vehicle. This enables the shops to track usage of the equipment constantly.

When they aren’t repairing vehicles, giving back to the community is also an important priority for Church Brothers. Throughout the year, the company supports numerous organizations such as the Concord Center, The Gary Dudley Memorial Scholarship Foundation, ICAN, Wish for Heroes and many others.

“Church Brothers has been blessed over the years with thousands of loyal collision repair customers who have trusted us,” said McClintic. “I feel like it’s our responsibility to give back in some way.”

Whether that’s through repairing cars properly with equipment such as the Pro Spot i5 welders or donating time and money for fundraising events, he said Church Brothers Collision Repair is committed to helping its customers and the community.

Facility Employees: 163

In Business Since: 1929

Number of Locations: Six DRP Programs: Ten

Combined Production Space: 100,000 square feet

Allen Haulk, a metal/frame technician at the Church Brothers Castleton location, installing a rear body panel with the Pro Spot welder.

Church Brothers purchased six i5 Pro Spot Smart Welders for each of their body shop locations.

Pro Spot 5932 Sea Otter Place Carlsbad, CA 92010 (877) PRO-SPOT prospot.com http://prospotwelding.blogspot.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 31

32 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Master Painter Says Prospray Finishes Makes His Life Easier

The Custom Shop

by Autobody News Staff

If you’re at all familiar with the best automotive painters, fabricators and builders in the world right now, you’ve probably heard of John Wargo, owner of The Custom Shop in Flanagan, IL. With 50 award-winning custom vehicles presented at SEMA shows and numerous national magazines featuring his work, Wargo paints each and every car with Prospray Finishes, a paint he claims changed his professional life 12 years ago.

With a dream and the drive to achieve it, Wargo opened The Custom Shop nearly three decades ago.

After graduating from high school, he began working the graveyard shift at a local printing company. After squirreling some money away, he took a chance when he negotiated a loan and purchased an old dilapidated Dodge dealership. With his parent’s help, they cleaned up the old building, repainted it and opened it as The Custom Shop in 1988.

To get his business off the ground, Wargo worked during the day at his shop and at night for another shop for his first eight years.

Once he started turning a modest profit, he quit his night job and concentrated all of his skills and imagination on creating amazing vehicles for a wide range of customers worldwide. It’s a great success story and one that is not even close to being finished.

Business has been so good lately that Wargo is building an additional 9,000 sq. ft. facility to do more of his work in-house, he said.

“It’s got a full drive-in basement, so it’s ideal for us. Space is a little tight right now in our original shop, so this is going to allow us do all of our woodworking, audio and upholstery right here.”

Wargo switched over to Prospray Finishes 12 years ago and he’s happy he did. “I saw a car at a show painted with Prospray in 2005 and that definitely got my attention. I am always looking for the next best thing to create a great product for my customers. I contin-

Location: Flanagan, IL (815) 796-2722

www.thecustomshop.com

Company At A Glance...

Type: Automotive Restoration

Facility Employees: Eight In Business Since: 1964

Number of Locations: One DRP Programs: Two

Combined Production Space: 22,000 square feet John Wargo at The Custom Shop creates amazing vehicles like this one and they’re all painted with Prospray Finishes.

ually ask myself how can I make my work look better. With multiple projects in different stages, I want a product that makes my life easier and that’s what Prospray does for us.”

Wargo wants a superior paint, but he also appreciates value as well. “Prospray gives us our best bang for the buck, and that’s why we changed over and didn’t look back. With all the primers, sealers, hardeners and reducers that we use, it can add up, but with Prospray I am getting a real value for every sprayable pint, because we use less product overall and the coverage is amazing.”

Wargo was initially impressed by the product’s atomization and his ability to fix work later without additional drama, he said. “If everything works the way it should, the solvent evaporates in the air, so it doesn’t get trapped in the paint job, so that we don’t get die-back. With Prospray, it’s no big deal to go back and make a repair to the paint job later if needed, because it’s simple to match up and easy to blend into, which is a huge plus.”

As a painter who gets energized about new, exciting colors, Wargo was immediately attracted

by Prospray Finishes’ extensive color library. “Prospray is excellent and ideal for what we’re doing

here. When I saw their complete color and the finished product, I was sold.”

There is a lot of money on the line with every project Wargo starts, so he needs a product like Prospray Finishes that he can rely on with full confidence. “Our customers pay from $100,000 to $300,000 on these full restorations and approximately $10,000 to $15,000 for just the paint,” Wargo said. “Big jobs can take as long as 18 months and a full paint job can take six weeks. So we have to make certain that our paint will make these people very happy, but first it has to make me happy, because I am the one painting these vehicles.”

At The Custom Shop, the possibilities are endless with Prospray Finishes, a Valspar Automotive brand, and that’s why Wargo isn’t looking for the next best thing anymore.

“Prospray makes my life so much easier, plus it is saving us time and money, so why would I switch?”

Wargo asked. “Everything here is all about time and materials, so we need a paint that will perform without issues. With this product, we never have any headaches, which helps us in a big way. Prospray has simplified the process; the support is great and we can do so much cool stuff with it that I can’t say enough good things about this product.”

At The Custom Shop, the possibilities are endless with Prospray Finishes, a Valspar Automotive brand, and that’s why Wargo loves the product.

With more than 50 award-winning cars in three decades, The Custom Shop is always looking for that next show-stopping car.

Prospray® Finishes, A Valspar Automotive Brand 600 Nova Dr., SE Massillon, OH 44646 (800) 321-0672 www.ProsprayFinishes.com Facebook: Prospray Twitter: @ProsprayAuto Instagram: @ProsprayFinishes Youtube: ProsprayAutoFinishes

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 33

34 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Robaina Stresses Training and Provides Support for Caliber Collision

by Autobody News Staff

Known for being a company where training and service come first, Robaina Industries Inc. helps collision repairers nationwide use cutting-edge equipment and tools to better repair cars. They know that many shops purchase sophisticated equipment, but without hands-on training and instruction, the hardware often sits in the corner untouched.

Robaina has built a strong reputation for providing exemplary training and customer support so that shops can become more efficient and productive without compromising quality.

By building a new, state-of-theart 18,000 sq. ft. facility in Santa Ana, CA, Robaina is prepared to take their training to another level.

Conveniently located near John Wayne Airport in Orange County, this new training center will be a goto destination for estimators, technicians, painters and other collision professionals whose companies are Robaina customers from New York to L.A. and everywhere in between.

One of Robaina’s clients is Caliber Collision, the largest MSO in the world, with 483 locations nationwide.

Caliber’s Senior VP of Operations, David Goldstein, has been working with Robaina Industries since 2006, so he knows the benefits of acquiring top-tier training and tools and how they can help his company.

By using all of Robaina’s approved equipment and tools in all of Caliber Collision’s 33 certified facilities that repair Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi vehicles, Goldstein recognizes Robaina as a great business partner that has proven itself over the years.

“We believe in their equipment and in the approach they’re taking to fixing these cars correctly and to OEM standards,” Goldstein said.

“Robaina isn’t a company that just sells you equipment and then you rarely see them. They are passionate about training and showing us how we can get the most out of everything we purchase from them.”

In addition to ongoing training, Robaina also provides Caliber Collision with some of the best support in the industry, bar none, Goldstein said. “If we ever have technical is-

Caliber Collision

Location: Lewisville, Texas (817) 291-8578 www.calibercollision.com

Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 10,376 In Business Since: 1997

Number of Locations: 483 Robaina Industries, Inc.’s Training Center is where technicians learn the latest repair techniques in the world using state-of-the-art equipment and tools.

sues or questions about any of the equipment or tools, we can go to them for whatever reason. It’s like having equipment experts on our staff. They are very interested in participating with us and helping to maximize the tools we acquire from them. They’re concerned about our workflow and willing to play an integral role in our company, and that is one of the things that really differentiates Robaina from everyone else.”

With so many high-end vehicles coming through its certified facilities, there is no time for guesswork, and that’s why Goldstein relies on Robaina for the right answers and right equipment. “They help us with the accuracy of the repairs, which is so necessary when we’re fixing these sophisticated vehicles,” he said. “When we use the equipment that we get from Robaina, especially the Celette Measuring Systems, we know that the work is going to be precise every time.”

Goldstein appreciates the fact that Robaina provides great training that is comprehensive and in-depth.

“This is not lightweight training, that’s for sure,” he said. “Robaina is very hands-on with their approach. They recently established the Robaina Training Center and it’s truly an impressive facility. They offer things like virtual welding instruction and classes that cover estimating, PDR, panel repair, aluminum welding, paint training and final QC. They’re continuing to expand their training program and offer the type of OEM-level training that you can’t usually get elsewhere.”

Art Williams, lead trainer at

Robaina, shows Robaina’s customers how to use the welders and other equipment that the company sells. He has seen collision professionals blossom in their jobs right in front of his eyes by training them onsite or at a Robaina training facility.

“We have seven trainers on our team and all of us are 100% focused on doing the best training available,” Williams said. “We want our customers to repair these cars precisely and efficiently. We want to help them so that they don’t have to re-do work or miss deadlines and we’re able to do that.”

When a technician sees how a Tecna Welder or a FAN 4.0TT spot welder, for example, can help him to do a better repair by using it correctly, it always makes his day, Williams said. “Our 3D welding simulator is an excellent training tool. When the technicians can see what they’re doing on the screen and then it provides them with a ghost image of what they should be doing, it’s a fantastic tool for MIG/MAG/Brazing training. After the training, they all credit our course and the welding simulator for advancing their skills.”

One of the best things about Robaina’s training is that once the classes are done, the support begins and never stops. “We tell people that their success is our success and that’s why they can always call me on my cell phone with questions at any time after the training,” Williams said. “We know how these tools can help them to do a better job, but sometimes it takes a little repetition and that’s why we’re here.”

At its new 18,000 sq. ft. training facility in Santa Ana, CA, Robaina features top trainers coupled with world-class equipment with names like Celette.

With today’s sophisticated vehicles, O.E. training is more important than ever before, and that’s why Robaina makes it a priority.

Robaina Industries Inc. 18000 Studebaker Road, Ste 700 Cerritos, CA 90703 800-692-3900 www.robainaindustries.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 35

36 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Young Painter Is a SATA Veteran With 15 Guns Sugar Hill Auto Collision

by Autobody News Staff

Casey Martin is only 23 years old, but he has 11 years of experience painting cars. In that time, he acquired 15 SATA spray guns and, by using other SATA equipment such as the SATA® vision 2000™ Respirator System and its Spray Gun Equipment Storage Cabinet, Martin is all-in when it comes to SATA. This young painter has painted more cars than many veterans with decades of experience under their belts, so how has Martin been able to fast track his career? “I started at age 12,” he said. “My family owned a body shop in Springfield, OH, so I learned from my grandfather and my uncle. The first car I painted was a 1968 Chevy Camaro. I did it in solid black and my uncle watched me do it to make sure it came out nice. After that, I was pretty much hooked.”

After working at his family’s shop, Martin landed a job at a large MSO where he painted cars in a high-volume environment for six years. After doing some research, he found out about Sugar Hill Auto Collision and reached out. Currently, Martin is the only painter at Sugar Hill Auto Collision and his production numbers are staggering. With his Prepper, Brian Ledford, they are logging 250-plus hours a week.

Knocking out the work with high efficiency five days a week, Martin sprays in two paint booths at a fast rate without sacrificing quality.

“We have our system down,” Martin said. “Brian and I work well together. We have two paint booths and I am constantly jumping back and forth. While I am painting a vehicle or color matching, Brian is getting the next car ready to roll. This is a brand new shop and the equipment is excellent, so I am in the right place to be. They switched their paint system when I came here because I told them I am more comfortable with another brand, which was pretty exceptional.”

The duo’s finished product is exemplary, according to the shop’s Co-Owner/CEO, Kevin Moreland.

“Casey and Brian put out an impressive amount of work, that’s for sure,” Moreland said. “Casey was working in the area and he stopped

Location: Sugar Hill, GA (707) 546-6487

www.sugarautocollision.com

Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 18

In Business Since: 1965

Number of Locations: Two

Combined Production Space: 13,000 square feet

Painter Casey Martin, Sugar Hill Auto Collision, has 15 SATA spray guns and uses other SATA equipment such as the SATA® vision 2000™ Respirator System and its Spray Gun Equipment Storage Cabinet.

by one day and we decided to give him a shot. Now he’s logging a ton of hours of production every week without exception.”

Martin is happy to be working for a shop that shares his work ethic and his passion for quality, he said. “I love it here at Sugar Hill and I want to work here for a long time.

As long as I can be using my SATA guns and working with this amazing company, I won’t be going anywhere.”

A second-generation shop that opened its doors back in 1965, Sugar Hill Auto Collision is run by two brothers: Randy Moreland is the COO and Vice President and Kevin Moreland is the CEO, President and co-owner of a shop that repairs close to 120 vehicles every month.

Martin is always looking to buy one of the newest SATA guns to add to his extensive collection.

“Each one has a different purpose and I do use them all,” he said. “I have different ones based on how I set up the job. There are some that are better with waterborne and better with solvent and I have one for just white and another for only black. I have probably invested more than $15,000 total on SATA guns over the years and all of that money has come back to me many times over.”

Martin loves SATA for its products, but also sees a lot of value in the company’s terrific customer service. “All of my SATA guns feel comfortable in my hands and they’re easy to clean,” he said. “They rarely break, but if they do, it is simple to repair them. And the support that SATA provides is great. If I have a question or a concern (which is rare), they always call me right back.”

While painting 6-8 cars every day without exception, Martin uses SATA’s comfortable breathing hood that thoroughly protects the face, hair and neck from overspray, he said.

“It works very well. It has a charcoal filter that I wear on my belt in a protective cage and it removes oil vapor and gasses. I wear it all the time, so that I can work in a containment-free environment that is safe. I am only 23, granted, but I have a wife and I want to be in this business for a long time if I can.”

Before jumping back into the booth to meet his incredible production schedule, Martin wanted to thank the people who helped him to be where he is. “Dick Ater, Bob Chaney and Chris Mormon were great mentors in the development of my career,” he said. “I want to credit them for my success, right alongside the people from SATA.”

Martin and his Prepper, Brian Ledford, paint 6-8 cars every day at Sugar Hill Auto Collision.

Martin at Sugar Hill Auto Collision values his SATA guns because they feel comfortable in his hands and are easy to clean.

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

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 37

38 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Mike’s Auto Body in FL Offers “Old-Fashioned Service with Today’s Technology” from Spanesi

by Autobody News Staff

John Gannon often tells customers that Mike’s Auto Body and Repair offers “old-fashioned service with today’s technology.” Part of that technology includes the Spanesi equipment he has added to his growing business over the last two years.

The body shop owner and his wife, Elizabeth, purchased Mike’s Auto Body in 1999. Back then, it was a small facility in Spring Hill, FL, with just a few employees. The Gannons expanded the business and a second building was constructed on the original property in 2007. The collision center is in one building and the other houses the company’s service and mechanical department.

The team is preparing to open a second location in Brooksville in summer 2017. The modern facility will include the latest in tools, systems and products, featuring those from Spanesi. “We’re excited about building a shop from the ground up that has all of the Spanesi equipment,” said John.

As one of the largest independent body shops serving Hernando and Pasco Counties, Mike’s Auto Body focuses on repairing late model vehicles. John said they take pride in providing quality, transparency and integrity. “The goal for every repair is for customers to have a positive experience,” he said. Utilizing Spanesi equipment has allowed the collision repair shop to diagnose and repair damaged vehicles according to OEM specifications quickly and effectively.

The shop learned about Spanesi equipment in 2015. After hearing about the benefits of the Europeandesigned products and conducting some research, Gannon purchased six 106 frame benches with universal fixtures as well as a multibench.

Since then, he has found many advantages to using the equipment. “I like the frame machines a lot because you get full 360 accessibility to any part of the car that is damaged,” said John. “They’ve been fantastic for us.”

In addition to improving the shop’s cycle time, the frame machines have helped save space. The previous frame machines used drive-

Mike’s Auto Body and Repair

Location: Spring Hill & Brookville, FL (727) 862-9474 / 352-688-0889 www.mikesautobodysh.net

Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair

Facility Employees: 55

In Business Since: 1999 The body shop is expected to open a new location in Brooksville during the summer of 2017, which will be filled with Spanesi equipment.

on racks, which took up a good portion of the floor space. The new Spanesi frame machines offer the option of sitting flush with the floor, so the team built pits for the new equipment. “I was able to spread them throughout the shop and everyone was able to get a little more elbow room,” he said.

The frame machines also have a track so a car has the option to move forward and backward for ease of mounting. “It’s definitely unique in the way you can move the car in the clamps on the tracks,” said John.

After experiencing success with the frame machines, John bought additional equipment, including Touch measuring systems and aluminum repair equipment. He said the innovative products offer excellent performance.

When it was time to decide what equipment to purchase for the new location in Brooksville, John knew immediately that they wanted to fill it with Spanesi equipment. When the facility opens, it will include two Spanesi downdraft spray booths, two downdraft prep stations, frame machines and welders. “The new shop is going to have everything from start to finish with Spanesi.

We’re pretty excited,” said John.

Regarding training and support, he said Spanesi has been top-notch.

“Our local rep, Steve Smith, [with] Automotive Collision Equipment of Florida, is definitely a guy who is committed,” said John. “When he sells us products, he does everything to ensure that he is around until everyone is satisfied.”

The new spray booths will also be beneficial in the new shop. “We

paint all of our cars in pieces as much as we possibly can,” said John. “It tends to fill up the booth quickly and this design is going to help with air flow.” Using waterborne paint, you need as much air flow as possible, he added.

John said the shop employees are highly trained and certified technicians. Many of the 55 employees have been part of Mike’s Auto Body for a long time and have come up through the ranks. “We really work hard to keep our employees,” said John. “We try to add all of the perks that some of the bigger shops do as well.” This includes offering health insurance, a 401K plan and providing uniforms.

“That’s very important nowadays because there are not as many young people joining the industry as we would like,” he said.

One way the shop is addressing the shortage of employees is by partnering with local technical schools.

“It’s an important thing to do,” said John. “You have to start somewhere. If these kids aren’t going to college and they are going to work, they should start right away and learn a trade.”

In the meantime, John is focusing on opening his new shop while running the current location and providing excellent service to customers. “We stand behind all of our work and provide a lifetime warranty,” he said. “We are able to offer this warranty because we utilize the finest equipment available in the collision industry such as the equipment from Spanesi. We have been very impressed with their products and support.”

Number of Locations: Two DRP Programs: Eight

Combined Production Space: 60,000 square feet

Drawing of Spanesi booth area at new location.

Steve Roller at Mike’s Auto Body is setting up to pull a frame on a Spanesi 106 Universal Fixture Bench.

Spanesi Americas Company Contact: Tim Morgan (Managing Director) tmorgan@spanesi-americas.com (224) 772-6374 www.spanesi.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 39

40 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Valspar Refinish Low VOC System: A Delicious Solution for Minnesota Shop

by Autobody News Staff

If you mention the name Vescio’s in many parts of Minnesota, folks will think that you’re talking about Vescio’s Originale, an Italian restaurant that first opened back in 1956.

Known for its great manicotti and incredible pizzas, the Vescio name is well-known for its popular cuisine statewide.

One of the descendants of the Vescio restaurant family is Bo Vescio, who owns and operates Vescio’s Customizing and Restoration in Rogers, MN, and sprays Valspar Refinish exclusively. Last year, Valspar Automotive presented Vescio with the “Outstanding Paint” award at Autorama Detroit 2016 for a 1947 Ford pickup truck that people are still talking about. The Valspar Automotive accolade is one in a long list recognizing Vescio’s show-stopping complete restores.

As a teenager, Vescio’s friends would be playing basketball in his driveway while he was inside his garage, busily painting bicycles and Hot Wheels. When he was finally old enough to own a real car, he bought and sold 20 vehicles before he was 18. If he wasn’t eating, sleeping or going to school, he was working on cars and loving every minute of it.

Right after graduating from high school, Vescio was on a fast track to success in the vehicle customization field when he encountered the largest challenge of his life. “I was diagnosed with testicular cancer at age 19, which meant chemotherapy,” he said. “But when I came back cancer-free eight months later, it changed my priorities in a big way and my attitude ever since has been let’s go for it! I’m not afraid to take chances and pursue bigger things now and I think that has helped me a lot in my business.”

Something else that Vescio isn’t afraid to talk about is his love for Valspar Refinish and the awardwinning finishes he is getting time and time again with the low VOC system. “We’ve been using Valspar Refinish for seven years now and it’s been amazing for us,” Vescio

Vescio’s Customizing and Restoration Location: Rogers, MN (763) 428-3190

www.vescioscustomizing.com

Company At A Glance...

Type: Automotive Restoration

Facility Employees: Seven In Business Since: 2000

Number of Locations: One DRP Programs: Two

Combined Production Space: 9,000 square feet Last year, Valspar Automotive presented Bo Vescio with the “Outstanding Paint” award at Autorama Detroit 2016 for this 1947 Ford pickup.

said. “We have used other brands in the past, but nothing can compete with Valspar Refinish’s lowVOC system, especially when you consider price and quality, which is superior. We’re comfortable using this product on our customer’s vehicles and they love it. The finished product is consistent and Valspar gives us that wow factor each and every time, and for the type of work we do, this is a must.”

After using a lot of different paints based on his customers’ preferences, Vescio decided to go with his gut and change to Valspar Automotive brand products almost exclusively. “Initially, we were spraying a lot of different brands because customers would have a color they wanted and so we went with them,” he said. “But we started using the Valspar Refinish system and we really liked it. The wet sanding and buffing with it is really nice and the color matching is excellent. Another big factor was cost. We were a little surprised that the Valspar Refinish low VOC system was less expensive yet delivered on quality.

Our show cars can stand right next to cars painted with some of the other leading brands and hold their own. I never have to do anything extra or magical to get this product to do what we want.”

The people at Valspar Automotive provide Vescio with all of the

support he needs, but there isn’t much required, he said. “They’re so knowledgeable and are willing to help us with any issue we have with the product, but to be honest, we don’t have any problems. Valspar Automotive’s reps are also great at sharing ideas about spraying techniques and what’s new about their products. I’ve been in this business for many years, but I’m always interested in learning about better ways to paint a vehicle.”

With many years under his belt, Vescio is still excited about what he’s doing and the quality he’s producing by painting cars with Valspar.

“Around here, we are always excited when we get the next car in here, because it’s another opportunity to do something really different and creative and wow that next customer,” Vescio said.

With big plans for the future, Vescio is still passionate about what he’s doing. Even though he relies on his top-notch crew, he isn’t afraid to jump in when needed. “I let the guys do most of the smaller stuff, but for things like candies and full cars, I normally do them myself,” he said. “Nobody likes to do candies because they’re tricky, but I have been doing them for a long time. By using Valspar Refinish, we are able to do the kind of work we live for, and that’s why I love every day around here!”

Bo (with his wife Laura) creates amazing vehicles at Vescio’s Customizing and Restoration that wow people and win awards, and each one is painted with Valspar Refinish’s low VOC system.

Classic vehicles come to Vescio’s looking old and tired in some cases, but when they leave, they shock the world.

Valspar®Refinish, A Valspar Automotive Brand 600 Nova Dr., SE Massillon, OH 44646 (800) 321-0672 valsparrefinish.com Facebook: ValsparAutomotive Twitter: @ValsparAuto Instagram: @ValsparAuto Youtube: Valspar Automotive Refinish

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 41

42 JUNE 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | Shop and Product Showcase

Shop Owner Loves the Family of Wizards Products Wright County Collision

by Autobody News Staff

When Neil Bateman was working at a large collision center in 1989, he was visited by a sales rep who showed him a line of cleaning, buffing and polishing products that immediately impressed him. He bought a few things, but he didn’t know the sales rep was actually the company’s owner. The company’s name is Wizards Products and the owner who visited Bateman’s shop that day was John Schlumpberger, the innovator of this line that is popular with collision professionals worldwide. Coincidentally, Bateman’s son, Adam, would become Director of Marketing for Wizards Products many years later.

“John showed me the Mist-NShine and Shine Master products back then. I told him that I would try them,” he said. “I always tell any vendor trying to sell me something new that it’s not my opinion that matters, it’s what the guys in the back think about it. They’re the ones who will be using it, and if they don’t like it, they won’t use it. The techs at that shop liked the products because they work!”

Bateman, Sr., 62, is now the owner of Wright County Collision in Buffalo, MN, a shop he acquired nine years ago after 22 years spent managing a large production dealership collision center. Wright County Collision repairs ten vehicles weekly in a 5,000 sq. ft. shop with four combination techs. The shop does 60% collision work with the remainder being classic car restorations, customization and repair.

Bateman entered the collision repair industry literally by accident at age 16. “Immediately after getting my driver’s license, I crashed my father’s 1963 Ford Galaxy,” he said. “After the accident, my dad took all of the money I was saving for a car and gave me the keys to his Galaxy. ‘It’s your car now,’ he told me. ‘Now go fix it.’ I had no choice, so I straightened the frame and hung a front end on the car. That’s where it all began.”

Bateman has been able to pursue his passion for classic cars by restoring vehicles for clients at

Location: Buffalo, MN (763) 682-3828

www.wrightcountycollision.com

Company At A Glance...

Type: Collision Repair and Automotive Restoration Facility Employees: Four In Business Since: 2008

Number of Locations: One

Combined Production Space: 5,000 square feet

Neil Bateman (left), the owner of Wright County Collision with his son, Adam Bateman, the director of marketing for Wizards Products.

Wright County Collision. His personal auto collection is impressive.

It features a 1950 Ford Business Coupe that he bought when he graduated from high school, a 1927 Ford Roadster, a 1961 Ford Ranchero, and a 1937 Ford pickup. He’s currently working on a 1961 Ford Unibody pickup.

Wizards Products plays an integral role in the daily production at Wright County Collision. “We love using Mist-N-Shine, because it’s easy to use and does an amazing job,” Bateman said. “When we take a car to a show—or even just before delivering a collision repair job to a customer—we can spray it on and wipe it off and it looks wonderful. It takes all the excess dust and dirt off and has never failed us. I’ve tried the other products out there and can tell you that it’s better. It sprays on and wipes off a lot easier and brings the shine up better with less effort.”

In addition, Bateman and his crew use the Tire & Vinyl Shine to prepare vehicles for the final presentation, he said. “We always like to detail and clean them up to stand them up taller than before they came here, so we wipe down all the interiors and even shine up the tires to make the whole vehicle look better.”

Bateman uses a lot of the Wiz-

ards Products line. “We use Wizards Mystic Cut Compound in our buffing process. We’re able to get the job done with one product versus the three from another brand we used to use. We follow that up with their Shine Master to give the paint a great shine and protection. It gives the paint the wet look our customers love. Once we’re done polishing, we use Wipe Down to remove any compounding residue from the cracks and crevices. We’ve also recently picked up their new Wizard21 Big Throw Polisher. We’ve used it on a couple of our restoration jobs so far and love it. It’s super easy to use and no swirls!”

Bateman gives an “A” grade to the product support at Wizards Products, but he does admit that he has an inside connection at the company. “My son, Adam, and I will discuss the products at family dinners, usually two every month,” he said. “If he doesn’t have an answer, he’ll get a hold of someone at the company and John, the owner of Wizards, will call me. It’s pretty rare in this industry that you can call an owner of a company and ask him a question directly. But that’s the kind of person he is and that’s the type of company that Wizards is. I know they give this type of customer service to everyone, so it’s not just me.”

Technician John Littlefield uses Wizards Mystic Cut Compound to save himself time in the buffing process.

Neil Bateman’s prized 1950 Ford out in front at Wright County Collision in Buffalo, MN.

Wizards Products 11469 8th Street Hanover, MN 55341 (800) 356-7223 www.wizardsproducts.com

Shop and Product Showcase | AUTOBODY NEWS JUNE 2017 43

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