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Two California Bills Attempt to Amend the Business and Professions Code The first of two bills introduced in the California Legislature (SB 1460, Lee, not yet assigned to committee) would remove the requirement for insurers to disclose aftermarket parts installation Southwest and make certified parts adequate for Edition compliance with the Business and Professions Code (Section 9875.1). Currently consumers must be advised Texas in writing that aftermarket parts are being installed. Oklahoma Lee’s bill would require only that Louisiana such disclosure be made in the conNew Mexico sumer’s policy statement. The bill also requires certified aftermarket parts vendors or distributors to warrant parts equivalently to OEM, an electronic tracking system to monitor recalls, and a new requirement for reporting defective parts to both the certifying agency and the California’s BAR. The bill would also require vendors to proSoutheast vide the body shop with a service guarantee on defective parts which inEdition cludes a full refund within 60 days.
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In California the Automotive Repair Act establishes the Bureau of Automotive Repair under the supervision and control of the Director of Consumer Affairs. Existing law provides that a person who fails to comply with the act is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000, by imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or by both that fine and imprisonment, except as defined. Existing law also prohibits an insurer from requiring the use of nonoriginal equipment or aftermarket replacement parts for repairs on an insured’s automobile unless the insured has been given advance notice of the use of these parts in the repair estimate as well as information on the warranty applicable to these replacement parts. This bill would require an automotive repair dealer or insurer who uses or directs the use of replacement crash parts, as defined, to follow spec-
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VOL. 30 ISSUE 3 APRIL 2012
Nearly 200 Congressmen and Senators Write in Opposition to China’s Auto Parts Practices On March 16, a group of 188 U.S. lawmakers led by U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) urged President Obama to crack down on “predatory” Chinese pricing practices, which they said are threatening the U.S. auto parts industry and could cost the U.S. more than a million jobs. “We cannot wait until further damage is done,” the nearly 200 members of the House and Senate— including all the Democratic members of the House Ways and Means Committee—said in a letter to President Obama. “Seventy-five percent of the jobs in the automotive sector are in auto parts, and these jobs are at risk in every state in the nation.” The Congressional letter encourages Presidential action against Chinese predatory trade practices in this sector to be one of the “first and highest priorities” of his Administration’s recently created Interagency Trade
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Enforcement Center. The lawmakers praised the administration’s creation of the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center to promote a more coordinated effort, which they say will provide the United States additional resources to examine China’s and other nations’ trade violations. This effort, unlike any that have taken place in recent memory, asks the Administration to further investigate the barriers that China has adopted and initiate appropriate action to level the playing field. The complaint is supported by the United Steel Workers. “Most trade cases are filed by the private sector after substantial injury has occurred. China’s practices in this sector have already caused harm, but the goal is also to alter its policies before the complete decimation of our domestic industry. In these critical economic times, we must take every appropriate action to address unfair See Chinese Auto Parts, Page 52
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U.S. Senate Passes Transportation Bill with Highway Safety Provisions
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The U.S. Senate has passed Senate Bill 1813, a two-year transportation bill worth $109 billion to go toward highway construction and auto safety initiatives. The House of Representatives has not completed work on its highway bill and may take up the Senate bill. The Senate legislation includes the fol-
lowing: ● revises highway safety improvement programs ● directs the secretary to establish requirements for regularly recurring updates and approval of state strategic highway safety plans See Transport bill, Page 10
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2 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Winter vs Auto: Let Spring Begin
COLUMNS Attanasio - Rich’s Auto Body: Approaching 50 Years and Not Slowing Down. . . . . . . . 14 Cheney - Class Auto Center: An Aptly Named First Class Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Chess - CAFE Standards Will Affect More Than A Shop’s Miles Per Gallon . . . . . . . . 44 Franklin - Sprucing Up Your Shop For Spring. 36 I-CAR - Oil Spill at the I-CAR Tech Centre in Appleton, WI, Raises Awareness. . . . . . . . 60 Insurance Insider - ‘Survival of the Fittest’ Also Applies to Collision Repairers . . . . . . 42 Nigro - Feather, Sand and Fill: Paint Operations Body Shops Perform But Don’t Get Paid For. 38 Schroeder - LeMans Body and Paint: Still a Family Affair After 53 Years in the Los Angeles Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Sisk - The NORTHEAST™ 2012 Trade Show: All About the Seminars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Weaver - What If You’re Looking for More than One Waldo? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 NATIONAL 275,000 Subaru Forester SUVs From 2009–12 Recalled For Rear Seat Belts Failing to Lock Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Assured Performance Network Offers Other OEM Rewards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 CARSTAR Expands Sales/Marketing Teams. . 23 Chrysler Launches Certified Collision Repair Facility Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Connecticut Bill Adds Subsection to Require Recycled or A/M Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 DealerTrack Expands Integrated Services to Assist Dealers in Complying with New CA
Total Loss Vehicle History Law . . . . . . . . . 59 Delaware Bill (HB 242) Prohibits Insurers from Exploiting Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Fix Auto Appoints Tim Clark as Senior VP, Insurance Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Ford Probes 2005-06 Ford Taurus Throttles . 31 GM Recalling Some 2012 Regal Sedans . . . . 31 Guardian Auto Glass acquires Glass Specialty Company of Bloomington, Illinois . . . . . . . 29 Helpful Documents, Tools And Information Only a Click Away for Shops. . . . . . . . . . . 47 Hyundai Recalling 2011-12 Sonata Hybrids For Rear Seat Belt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Infiniti Launches National Certified Collision Repair Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Infiniti Recalling 2003-04 Infiniti M45 Sedans . 31 Iowa Shop’s Action and Iowa Collision Repair Association, Established in 2005, Starting to be Heard Statewide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 LQK Has Record Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Mexico Implements New Mandatory Auto Insurance Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Mitchell’s Claims Triage is Available to Carriers. 23 Montana Collision Repair Specialists’ Legislative Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Nearly 200 Congressmen and Senators Write in Opposition to China’s Auto Parts Practices . 1 Nissan Leaf Nationwide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 NORTHEAST™ Trade Show Leadership Forum. 51 PSE Appoints Guy Barnes as VP, Sales & Marketing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Rhode Island Bill Would Delete Anti-Steering Legislation Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Specially Constructed Vehicle Amnesty to End . 43 The Levan Group—Where Crash and Mechanical Parts Intersect . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 TopTech Finder Unites PDR Techs with Body Shop Managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Toyota Recalls Another 681,000 Vehicles . . . 31 U.S. Senate Passes Transportation Bill with Highway Safety Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 UPDATE on Tow-for-Pay Scam, “Evangelist Jerry Bratt” and “Jacqueline Harris” . . . . . 25 Verifacts Symposium Recognizes Achievement, Industry Unknowns, and Negotiation. . . . . 50 WD-40/SEMA Cares Foose Challenger Raises $115K For Charity at Barrett-Jackson . . . . 48 Women’s Industry Network Holds Planning Meeting in Late January, Will Hold Annual Conference in May in Atlanta . . . . . . . . . . 19
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Indexof Advertisers
REGIONAL CAA Glendale/Foothill Chapter Holds Meeting About Industry Total Losses at LKQ, Santa Fe Springs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 CAA to Hold Second Quarter Board of Directors Meeting in Long Beach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 CAA’s Orange County Chapter Holds Morning Meeting in Tustin, Discusses 5-Year AQMD NOx Rule Postponement and Monetizing Social Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Caliber Collision Centers Expands in California With Acquisition of Autocraft in Torrance, Makes 101st Location in the Southwest . . . 6 California Autobody Association and Automotive Service Councils of California to Hold Legislative Day in April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 CAPA Announces Plans for New Vehicle Test Fit Lab in California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 CAWA Elects New Chair of CAWA’s Manufacturers Advisory Council . . . . . . . . . 6 NV Lexus Dealership Hosts MPi Technician Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 PPG MVP Spring Conference Sold Out . . . . . . 6 SA Recycling Celebrates 50 Years at Terminal Island, CA, Location . . . . . . . . . . . 6 San Diego Cracks Down on Texting While Driving Ban, Nets 500 Tickets. . . . . . . . . . . 8 Two California Bills Attempt to Amend the Business and Professions Code . . . . . . . . . 1 Ward Myers of IMC Elected as Secretary to the CAWA Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . 6 Written PC Premiums in AZ Decline to $7.4B in 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2012 Ridler® Award Winner Features BASF’s Glasurit® Paint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Airbrush Artist JoAnn Bortles is Writing Her Seventh Painting Book . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 BASF Advises Shops to Join the Move to Waterborne Coatings Now . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Bobby Alloway’s 5 Essential Tips for Achieving a Flawless Black Finish . . . . . . . 24 Custom Painter Charley Hutton Explains Step-By-Step How to Create Realistic Wood Grain Effects With PPG Products. . . 58 PCL Has Been Primed Since 1929 with Clear Solutions for Shops . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 RBL Products New Pre-Treat System . . . . . . 19
Publisher & Editor: Jeremy Hayhurst General Manager: Barbara Davies Assistant Editor: Erica Schroeder Contributing Writers: Tom Franklin, David Brown, John Yoswick, Lee Amaradio, Rich Evans, Janet Chaney, Toby Chess, Mike Causey, Tom McGee, Ed Attanasio, Chasidy Sisk Advertising Sales: Joe Momber, Sean Hartman (800) 699-8251 Sales Assistant: Kristy Navarro Art Director: Rodolfo Garcia
Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . .60 Automotive ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 BASF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . .45 Buerge Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge . . . . .11 CCC Information Services . . . . . . . . .7 Chief Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 CSS USA, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Downtown Motors of LA (Audi, VW, Porsche) . . . . . . . . . . .17 Drew Hyundai-Volkswagen . . . . . . .43 DuPont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Elk Grove Toyota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Enterprise Rent-A-Car . . . . . . . . . . .57 Equalizer Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers AZ, CA, & NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Galpin Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29, 37 Garmat USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . .53 Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32-33 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers . .54 I.C.E. Institute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Innovative Tools & Technologies . . .42 Kearny Mesa Subaru-Hyundai . . . . .30 Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers .41 LKQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Mazda Wholesale Parts Dealers . . .56
Serving California, Nevada and Arizona, Autobody News is a monthly publication for the autobody industry. Permission to reproduce in any form the material published in Autobody News must be obtained in writing from the publisher. ©2012 Adamantine Media LLC. Autobody News P.O. Box 1516, Carlsbad, CA 92018 (800) 699-8251 (760) 721-0253 Fax www.autobodynews.com Email: news@autobodynews.com
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Contents
MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . .59 Mitsubishi Wholesale Parts Dealers .51 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers . .21 Moss Bros. Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge . .13 Nissan/Infiniti Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 PCL Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 PPG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Preval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Pro-Spray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Rare Parts Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 RBL Products, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 RealParts.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Replica Plastics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Riverside Metro VW-Honda-HyundaiNissan-Mazda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Safety Regulation Strategies . . . . . .46 SATA Spray Equipment . . . . . . . . . .18 Shingle Springs Nissan-Subaru . . .22 Sierra Chevrolet-Honda-MazdaSubaru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Solution Finish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Star-A-Liner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers . . .52 Timmons VW-Subaru . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers . . .61 VeriFacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers .50 Volvo Crash Wholesale Dealers . . .48 Weatherford BMW . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 3
CAA’s Orange County Chapter Holds Morning Meeting in Tustin, Discusses 5-Year AQMD NOx Rule Postponement and Monetizing Social Media The Orange County chapter of the California Autobody Association (CAA) held their monthly members meeting on February 28 at the Tustin Ranch Golf Club at 8 a.m. Speakers Chris Linford, Travis Ashby and Rob Thatcher of Oozle Media spoke about how shops can use social media outreach to bring in more first time customers. Chapter Vice President Ben Mendoza of Kelly’s Body Shop in Santa Ana opened the meeting by announcing that the chapter’s board will
Chapter Vice President Ben Mendoza discusses AQMD Rule Postponement
remain the same for 2012. He also talked about the postponement of the AQMD’s Rule 1147 new NOx requirements for spray booth burners; shops have been given a 5 year extension on the rule thanks to efforts from
CAA members and others. But he warned shops that part of the extension rule is that shops have to monitor and document their gas readings for their spray booths to maintain this extension. If the AQMD shows up requesting this readings log and a shop has not kept it, a hefty fine will be distributed to the shop. Oozle Media’s presentation was driven by the work they have done with Shine Collision, a collision repair shop in Salt Lake City, UT. Thanks to their social media efforts, spearheaded by Oozle, Shine has been able to increase their gross income by $400,000 this year. “The ROI of social media is you’ll still be in business in 5 years,” said Travis Ashby, Oozle’s CEO. Travis talked about how google is now using a social search function, meaning when logged into your google account, people searching on google will see pages their google contacts have “plus oned” show up first. Google treats pages your contacts have “liked” as a recommendation and brings those listings up first. According to Travis, this is why it’s important for shops to have
California Autobody Association and Automotive Service Councils of California to Hold Legislative Day in April
The California Autobody Association (CAA) and the Automotive Service Councils of California (ASCCA) will host a Legislative Fly-In Day on April 18 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. This day offers an opportunity for association members to fly to Sacramento to talk with their local legislators about legislative issues they see in the collision industry. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet with local legislators and hear from various guest speakers. Fill out the registration form available at www.calautobody.com and book your airfare. The associations will take care of the rest, including transportation from the airport, food, and the scheduling of legislative appointments. Reservations will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Past speakers have included: Chief, Bureau of Automotive Repair; Governor’s Small Business Advocate, Governor’s Economic Adviser; Chair, Select Committee on Career Technical Education & Workforce Development; Author AB2289 (Smog Check), Chair Sen-
ate Transportation & Housing Committee. Find your local legislator at w w w. l e g i s l a t u r e . c a . g o v / p o r t zipsearch.html. ASCCA will provide roundtrip transportation to and from the Capitol. There will be 2 morning shuttle pick-ups/drop offs at 7:45 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and afternoon pick-up/dropoffs between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. No airline from Burbank, San Diego, and Orange County airports offer early flights that arrive by 9:00 a.m. If you are arriving on a later flight, special arrangements will be made for your transportation needs. The day's schedule will be; 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. welcome breakfast, 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. special guest speaker, 9:30 a.m. to noon legislative appointments, noon to 1:00 p.m. lunch, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. legislative appointments. People who show up as part of a group have a better chance of getting an appointment to speak with their local legislators and often have a greater impact. For more information about this event please visit: www.calautobody.com.
4 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
a social media following. Also when a potential customer is using google to look for a business, if a business uses its social media a
Oozle’s Travis Ashby talks social media ROI
lot, that will bring their page up on the search. According to Chris, social media has a huge effect on SEO because it’s more instances where your business’s name appears. “There is a high correlation with what you do on social media and your google ranking,” said Chris, “One of the best things you can do is get people to share your website on Facebook.” Oozle also differs from some
other social media companies because they meticulously track what calls are coming in from a result of what type of advertising. They have businesses use separate phone lines for each type of advertising they do so shops can see where their advertising dollars are best spent. This way they know what generates the most unique callers, a.k.a. new potential customers. Oozle also recommends recording calls at your shop, not only to track new callers but also to make sure your employee’s customer service is on point. “Every call is important,” said Ben Mendoza, “Your employees have got to have great customer service or you’re going to lose that caller.” According to Rob Thatcher, the way an employee conducts an inquiry call makes all the difference. “The whole ticket to all of it is to ask questions—not 20 questions—but 5 questions,” said Thatcher. For more information about Oozle Media visit www.oozlemedia.com.
www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 5
PPG MVP Spring Conference Sold Out PPG’s annual spring MVP Business Solutions Conference, to be held from March 25-27, at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix, Arizona, has sold out, PPG announced March 1. The conference has a notable lineup of well-known, motivational keynote speakers, relevant seminars, and interactive workshops all focused on aiding attendees in improving their collision center performance. The conference is structured to give participants exposure to fresh approaches for advancing their competitive capabilities. Two prominent keynote speakers highlight the conference agenda: Vince Poscente and Joe Calloway. “We are very pleased that our customers recognize the importance of these conferences,” said Jim Berkey, director of PPG MVP Business Solutions. “We put a lot of effort into providing pertinent information and processes that can make a real difference in a collision center’s business success. Apparently, our customers are finding genuine value in what we are offering because these confer-
NV Lexus Dealership Hosts MPi Technician Competition
MPi, a provider of dealership service department diagnostic solutions, held a skills competition to determine who is the best service technician at Lexus of Henderson on March 10, according to Auto Remarketing News. MPi hosted about 7,000 technicians from 455 dealerships nationwide in this competition, called REV It UP. The competition consisted of a series of four races designed to test technicians’ skills and speed using MPi’s software system for the vehicle inspection process. The REV It UP national champ received $5,000 cash, a $5,500 scan tool from OTC and two grand prize custom trophies—one for the winner and one to display at the dealership. The company also pointed out the grand prize winner additionally received a NASCAR race ticket weekend with the venue based upon winner’s home location from Phyzix Automotive. Phyzix provided VIP passes for two, pit passes, airfare and accommodations. “Changes in automotive technology over the past 10 years have profoundly changed the way auto dealers now have to work on cars,” MPi emphasized. More details about MPi and its tools can be found at www.mpifix.com.
ences are gaining in popularity. We are delighted to have another sell-out event.” These PPG conferences are biannual events; the next conference will be held in the fall. For more information, visit ppgmvp.com. Additional information about PPG MVP Business Solutions and future conferences may also be obtained by calling (866) 237-8178.
CAWA Elects New Chair of CAWA’s Manufacturers Advisory Council
Michael Antonelli of Vantage Marketing Global, inc. has been elected the 2012 Chair of CAWA’s Manufacturers Advisory Council. Antonelli is founder of Vantage Marketing Global, inc., a resource management company serving the automotive supply chain and is based in Grand Island, New York. Mr. Antonelli is joined by Ron Aparicio of Walker Products as the 2012 MAC Vice –Chair. The MAC offers the Association a manufacturers perspective in the distribution channel and members also participate in CAWA’s standing committees.
SA Recycling Celebrates 50 Years at Terminal Island, CA, Location
The scrap metal recycling firm SA Recycling, headquartered in Orange, Calif., is celebrating the 50th year of the operations of its Terminal Island, Calif., location. SA Recycling, which has more than 50 locations in three Western states, processes about 3 million tons of ferrous and nonferrous scrap per year. To commemorate the anniversary, the company held a celebration at its Terminal Island site on Feb. 27, 2012. The facility, on 27 acres, has operated a mega shredder since 2006. SA Recycling has operated the Terminal Island facility for nearly five years. Prior to SA Recycling acquiring the facility, the Terminal Island location has operated under different names. David Thornburg, a spokesman for SA Recycling, says since the company acquired the facility it has transformed the location to one of the “greenest” recycling facilities in the country. The company has state-ofthe-art stormwater systems and other programs to reduce the facility’s impact on the environment, he says. During the anniversary celebration, the company singled out Francisco “Pancho” Rojas, who has worked at the location for 44 years and now serves as a maintenance manager of the facility. The facility has a total of about 150 employees.
6 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Caliber Collision Centers Expands in California With Acquisition of Autocraft in Torrance, Makes 101st Location in the Southwest Caliber Collision Centers announced its continued expansion into the Los Angeles area with the acquisition of Autocraft of Torrance.
Caliber’s new Torrance location
Caliber Collision’s newly acquired 24,000 square feet collision repair facility is now open at 3032 Kashiwa Street, Torrance, CA. “Our most recent acquisition provides additional Caliber Collision market penetration around the Los Angeles market as we continue to grow both organically and through strategic acquisitions across California, Texas, Arizona and Nevada markets. Our Torrance opening creates additional Los Angeles area capacity as we provide our insurance clients the cost management, operational consistency and customer focus they
require in today’s competitive insurance market” said Steve Grimshaw, Caliber Collision Centers’ Chief Executive Officer. “Our new Torrance opening represents our 101st center in the southwest and our 46th center in California. This new center now brings our total number of Los Angeles area locations to 15 as we continue to grow into the greater Los Angeles collision repair provider of choice” added Mark Sanders, Chief Operating Officer for Caliber Collision Centers.
Ward Myers of IMC Elected as Secretary to the CAWA Board of Directors Ward Myers of Interamerican Motor Corporation (IMC) has been elected Secretary of the CA/AZ/NV Automotive Wholesalers Association (CAWA) Board of Directors. He joins other 2012 officers of the Board including Steve Sharp of WORLDPAC as Chair, Ed Jimenez of Riebe’s Auto Parts as Vice-Chair, Ron Aparicio of Walker Products as Treasurer and Mary Davis of NGK Spark Plugs as Immediate Past Chair.
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www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 7
2012 Ridler® Award Winner Features BASF’s Glasurit® Paint The 2012 Ridler® Award winner announced at Detroit Autorama® February 26 was the 1955 Ford T-Bird, owned by Dwayne Peace of Tyler, Texas. The car was painted with BASF’s Glasurit® 90-Line™ Brilliant Red waterborne paint.
“BASF’s Glasurit paint has been on six of the last 11 Ridler award winners,” said Vitor Margaronis, Marketing Director, BASF Coatings Solutions, North America. “We’re very proud of this achievement and the quality of our products.” The list of products used to paint the car included Glasurit’s Epoxy 801-72, Polyester Filler1006-26, 90Line Waterborne Basecoat and HS Multi Clear 923-155. A total of 64 vehicles competed
for the coveted award at the Detroit Autorama. Vehicles are judged based on three criteria: creativity, engineering and workmanship. “The execution of the plan and the quality of the build were outstanding,” said Butch Patrico, Cochairman of the Detroit Autorama and Ridler judging supervisor. Patrico also said the process for this build was similar to what a major manufacturer would do to build a prototype. "This was not a normal build. He didn’t follow a cookie cutter process.” The car was painted by Jacob Edens and Jeff Greening of Greening Auto Company in Nashville, Tennessee. “The entire painting process took about six months,” said Jesse Greening. “The color helped it show very well.” The Ridler award is named after Don Ridler, who started promoting Autorama in the 1950s. With his expertise, Autorama became one of the top hot rod shows in the country. Following Ridler’s passing in 1963, a decision was made to create an award to honor his memory. The Ridler award has been given out to the best new creations since 1964. Cars must be shown for the first time to be eligible for the award. To learn more about BASF refinish products visit: www.basfrefinish.com.
CAA to Hold Second Quarter Board of Directors Meeting in Long Beach
San Diego Cracks Down on Texting While Driving Ban, Nets 500 Tickets
The 2012 Ridler Award Winner from Detroit Autorama is the 1955 Ford T-Bird owned by Dwayne Peace featuring BASF’s Glasurit 90-Line Brilliant Red paint
The California Autobody Association (CAA) will hold their second quarter 2012 Board of Directors meeting on May 18 and 19 at the Westin Hotel in Long Beach. Quarterly Board Meetings are open to all CAA members. The weekend schedule of events is as follows; Friday, May 18th, 2012: 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm Reception-Hornblower Cruise for Board Meeting Attendees; Saturday, May 19th, 2012: 7:00 am to 8:00 am Continental Breakfast, 8:00 am to noon CAA Board of Directors’ and Membership Meeting, noon to 1:30 pm CAA Lunch, 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm CAA Board of Directors’ and Membership Meeting. Make reservations now with the hotel and with the CAA before rooms run out. All room blocks are available until Friday April 20, 2012 at $139.00 for single or double occupancy. Reservations after this date are subject to non-group rates and room availability. Call the hotel reservations now at 562-436-3000 and ask for the CAA group block. All Reservations must be prepaid. Visit www.calautobody.com for registration forms.
The San Diego Police Department started a campaign cracking down on the texting while driving ban in the state of California from February 13 to 18. During this campaign, which lasted for a span of 6 days in February, officers cited nearly 500 drivers who were texting or talking on their phones while driving, according to NBC San Diego. Officers cited 467 adults who they saw texting or talking on their phones without a handsfree device, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Department. In addition to the cited drivers, CHP officers and Sheriff’s deputies also said they spotted over one thousand distracted drivers during this period. “Distracted driving is a serious traffic safety concern that puts everyone on the road at risk,” read a statement from the department. According to the Sheriff’s Department, many of the drivers pulled over for texting or talking on the phone said they were aware of the well-publicized crackdown before being pulled over.
8 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Written PC Premiums in AZ Decline to $7.4B in 2010 A report on Arizona’s property/casualty insurers issued on March 1 shows a drop in written premiums to $7.4 billion, and a large increase in losses incurred to $6.4 billion for 2010. The report, from the Arizona Insurance Council, shows these and other economic impacts of the P/C insurance industry, which covers commercial, home and auto risks; 2010 is the most recent year for data. The yearly compilation of data by AIC comes from numerous sources, including insurers and the Insurance Information Institute. The report shows P/C premiums written by Arizona insurers have fallen steadily in the past four years: 2009 ($7.6 billion), 2008 ($8.1 billion), 2007 ($8.4 billion). Written premiums were $8.2 billion in 2006. “It has been a trend of slightly decreasing written premiums,” said Ron Williams, executive director of AIC. Williams attributes that downward trend to largely strong competition and the remaining impacts of the prolonged economic recession. “During recessionary times people are looking to cut back on expenses whenever they can,” Williams said.
As a sort of double whammy on the state’s P/C industry, 2010 was also bad year because of intense storms, many of which caused “significant hail damage,” he said, adding that rising costs of parts and labor to repair those claims for commercial, home, property and auto were also contributors to the increase in losses incurred. The $6.4 billion in losses for Arizona insurers in 2010 dwarf the last five years on record. They were up from $4.6 billion in 2009, and $5 billion in 2008. Losses were $4.8 billion in 2007 and $4.3 billion in 2006. But Williams couldn’t say whether falling premiums and rising losses would be enough to start to turn the market in Arizona The report also shows the 950 insurers operating in Arizona have a significant economic impact on the state. In terms of employment in 2010 there were over 28,000 P/C insurance professionals residing in the state, and insurance companies paid over $153 million in state premium taxes. More than $9 billion of P/C insurers’ assets were invested in Arizona municipal bonds, according to the report.
www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 9
CAA Glendale/Foothill Chapter Holds Meeting About Industry Total Losses at LKQ, Santa Fe Springs by Tom Franklin
Although she was home ill, Linda Holcomb, Glendale/Foothill Chapter President, gave a report on the CAA’s first Quarter Board Meeting held in Sacramento. It was read by chapter board member, Mark D’Angelo, who conducted the evening meeting. Linda said, “I have to tell you I am very excited about our new President, Dave Picton. He delivered one of the best president’s speeches I’ve heard in a long time. Dave would like to hear from any of our members about their Mark D’Angelo ideas and directions of our Industry and the CAA. His phone number is (916) 731-8203. Please feel free to call him.” D’Angelo said, “The focus of this meeting is a very important issue in our industry, total losses. They are affecting our body shops every day and taking away repairs from us. Not to mention that most of the customers really don’t want their cars totaled. The purpose of this meeting is to take a look inside the world of total losses and find out why they are happening, and where they are going.” The principal speaker at the meeting was Herb Lieberman, who serves on LKQ’s Operating Committee, work with LKQ’s Govt Affairs Dept and represents LKQ Corp to many inter- and intra-industry national associations by speaking on “The Total Loss Dilemma.” With more than 430 facilities in five countries, LKQ provides its customers with the industry’s largest selection of replacement parts and services. LKQ specializes in recycled OE auto and truck parts, new Continued from Front Page
Transport bill
● requires the secretary to issue guidance to states on establishing performance measures and targets for state highway safety improvement programs to reduce serious injuries and fatalities on highways. In addition, the bill authorizes
aftermarket replacement parts, reconditioned OE replacement parts, remanufactured engines and transmissions, rebuilt OE replacement parts, heavy truck and equipment parts, paint and body shop supplies and equipment, and salvage vehicle disposal, with national part purchase programs and insurer services. The meeting included a tour of the LKQ facility to get a one-on-one look at their business behind the scenes. Herb said, “This is a multiple Industry Concern—not just the concern of LKQ Corporation. In fact it is so important that SCADA has made the topic of salvage determination, purchase, sale and processing its number one issue of concern for 2012. This is a topic that I believe has great impact on the collision repair industry, all suppliers to the collision repair industry and—truly most important of all— a direct impact on the consumer who we are all in business to serve. “ He started out by noting that LKQ handles between 10,000 and 12,000 salvage vehicles a week. They obtain most of these vehicles through competitive bidding. While this may seem like a lot, he began showing how many vehicles could have been available, not only for salvage bidding, but to shops to be repaired. Out of 65,000 a week, 19,500 (30%) are exported out of the U.S. Out of the 24,500 taken by professional dismantlers, many parts are also shipped out of the country, largely to Russia and Nigeria at this time. This should be of great concern to collision shop owners because those 10,500 (25%) vehicles could have stayed in the U.S. and been repaired by our body shops. To make this worse, Insurance Auto Auctions recently signed an exclusive agreement to provide China with their vehicles. One aspect of the problem he emphasized, is the absence of a uniform standard for what constitutes a total
highway safety research programs, including data collection, crash reduction projections, low-cost safety measures and safety policy studies. The House version of a highway bill currently has no new auto safety provisions. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has said the House will not consider the five-year, $260 billion proposal to fund highways, but will consider a shorter-term bill.
10 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
loss, what percentage of a vehicle is repairable and how the title is branded. Every state makes its own laws. Often an insurance company makes the decision, taking away repairs from the collision industry and also overruling customers who really don’t want their cars totaled. Herb Herb Lieberman noted that in New South Wales, Australia, a law was passed that required any vehicle that was declared a total loss by a professional estimator, to only be sold for end-of-life processing. The result was significantly more vehicles being repaired by the industry. Herb stressed that this problem can only be solved in the U.S. by shop owners coming together with other concerned players like auto dismantlers to press for laws declaring some-
thing like a 50% consumer right to repair. The potential control for such a right is already in place. In California, used car dealers are required to report the VIN of a vehicle to the NMVITS, National Motor Vehicle Title System, or pay a $1000 fine per vehicle. In this difficult economy more people are choosing to repair and keep their existing car rather than buying new. Lobbyists for organizations like the CAA need to educate legislators about this issue and stress the importance of protecting consumer rights as well providing business and jobs for a vital industry like ours in our state and in the nation. Herb Lieberman can be contacted at HMLieberman@LKQCORP.com. More information on this topic can also be obtained by contacting Patrick Matthews, district manager for the west region, at 562-587-9014, or prmatthews@lkqcorp.com. Percentages mentioned in this article are used as approximate numbers based on actual LKQ Purchases and percentages given by major salvage auctions.
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www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 11
Shop Showcase with Erica Schroeder
Erica Schroeder is assistant editor at Autobody News in Carlsbad, CA. She loves to talk with owners about their shops and goings on in their areas. Contact her at eschroeder@autobodynews.com, or 800-699-8251
LeMans Body and Paint: Still a Family Affair After 53 Years in the Los Angeles Area some achitectural flair to the new LeMans Body and Paint was started in 1959 by Lyman Beetley as a small building which earned them a city of used-car dealership and collision reSanta Monica beautification award. pair shop in Santa Monica. Tragically, Putting in the extra effort helped bring with John Yoswick he passed away in 1964 at the too- their business and the industry as a soon age of 54. When his sons, whole from the “local garage mentalRichard and Robert, took over the ity” to an important service business in the community. When the third generation took over the business DRP relationwith Ed Attanasio ships were just starting to heat up, so the group took an aggressive approach towards insurance contracts and rapidly expanded the business. They added a second location in Los Angeles in 1999 and a third in El Segundo in 2007. The family also brought in long-time with Ed Attanasio family friend Ross Kulkin to help Lyman Beetley and his business partner at the Santa manage the business. Ross had Monica location shortly after it opened in 1959 spent 10 years on the insurance business when they were just company side and was able to add teenagers in 1964, they pushed the some great perspective to the group. business more towards the collision Across all 3 locations the busirepair work and slowly phased out the ness has 60 employees, sees an averused car sales over the next few years. age of 350 cars per month and grosses In 1974, the brothers purchased about $9 million annually. The busithe building north of the original lot, ness has about a dozen DRP contracts, and then the building south of it in some for nearly 20 years. The Santa 1980. This created a private office Monica shop encompasses 16,000 space for managers as well as an exsquare-feet, the Los Angeles shop is panded paint area. 21,000 and the El Segundo location is Richard’s children, Kim and 32,000. All 3 locations are also I-CAR Gold Certified. “We all try to run it as one, with a uniform approach” said Kirk, “My father and uncle are also still involved in the business; they’ve been around a long time so there are things that they add in a consulting manner that are priceless.” The family all works toRobert and Richard Beetley with DuPont’s Clyde Milhouse gether for the common good (standing) and DuPont jobber Bob de la Pena in 1972. This article highlighted the class and elevated customer of the business by spreading service the brothers brought to the shop themselves out among the Kirk, and Robert’s sons, Bill and Ed, three locations and meeting weekly to took over the business in the late ensure unity. 1980s and still manage it today. “While our body shop family According to Kirk, in the early continues to grow, most people have 70s his father and uncle were the first been here a decade plus,” said Ross. guys in the area to really take their “We have very low turnover when shop to the next level, with a polished it comes to our employees,” said Kirk. reception area and a strong emphasis Painter Sam Share, who is now in his on customer service—requiring all eighties and started his employment personnel to dress in a business profrom day one at LeMans, still comes fessional attire. They also built in in and helps out the painters in Santa
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12 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Grande with PPG and Jim Williams from FinishMaster really educated him on waterborne technologies and advised him during LeMans’ switch in 2007. Kirk said it only took about a month to 6 weeks for his painters to get used to spraying waterborne and with the constant technical support and excellent service provided by PPG and FinishMaster he was able to stay focused on the front office instead of the paint production during the transition. “We’ve enjoyed a great partnership with LeMans, and look forward to it continuing in the long term,” said LeMans’ Santa Monica location, present day David. while his youngest son Mario is now Kirk says their paint preparation part of the office management team. process is also more important with With 3 fully-functional locations waterborne than with solvent. the business can load level work and “A better quality prep is required employees across the locations to with waterborne than with solvent,” even workloads and fill personnel said David. According to David wagaps. The business keeps all of their terborne is a thinner product and it digital information and bookkeeping won’t fill any small sand scratches on a cloud service. This way any in- like solvent. So more attention to the formation needed at one business can prep process helps to deter this, while be pulled up easily at another. Rethe actual spraying process is basically cently their estimating system the same. provider, CCC One, has also moved to Kirk also says the high cost of a cloud format and with that all three changing to waterborne is “a bit overblown.” At his shop, he said there wasn’t a whole lot of cost associated with making the change and he didn’t have to change everything about his paint area like some companies Kirk Beetley, Bill Beetley and Ross Kulkin in the private office space are suggesting. For his just south of the Santa Monica location shop, he said he gave shops can view each other’s estimates all the spray booths a deep cleaning and performance from their respective and added additional fans to increase offices. air movement. This helps combat waLeMans has used PPG paints for terborne’s longer base coat dry times. the last 20 years—after changing to PPG has also been modifying their top their Envirobase waterborne products coats to increase production. about 6 years ago, Kirk says he couldKirk also says he can’t wait for n’t be happier. waterborne clear coats to come out to “Everyone was afraid in the be- complete the process, because he ginning that the colors wouldn’t come thinks it will cut down a lot on the out right, etcetera, but we’ve had very paint fume smell, which will really little issue with using waterborne,” benefit shops in densely populated said Kirk. areas like their locations. According to Kirk, David See LeMans, Page 18
Monica. He was head painter at LeMans for over 35 years, and now he still comes in to assist the paint department. His apprentice Oscar Flores took over 23 years ago and is still going strong, training his oldest son Eddie to take over paint production,
www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 13
Shop Showcase
Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.
Rich’s Auto Body: Approaching 50 Years and Not Slowing Down with Ed Attanasio
Spanning four family generations and “I still exercise three times every Presidents, Rich’s Auto Body’s biggest week,” he replied. “I cycle and run and test has been an unending struggle with in business for nearly 50 years, Rich’s Auto Body in Merced, Calif. has seen I watch what I eat and that is pretty the insurance companies, he explained. the automotive collision industry much how I do it. It’s not compli“In the ‘90s, we were charging with Ed Attanasio change and re-invent itself more than cated—if you care about your health around $26 an hour for labor and I felt just a few times over the decades. and body, you can work until you don’t like we weren’t making enough to pay want to anymore. I still love it, so I have the bills. We had three DRPs and I no plans to quit. I told my wife that if I wrote them all a letter and told them die right here at this shop just take me that I was raising my rate by five dolout on a gurney, no big deal. I don’t lars. So, they fired me immediately want it to interfere with our cycle times. and my head was spinning. I’m not But, staying at home and slowing down would drive me crazy. I have to keep working.” Restoring antique cars led to an ongoing revenue source for Rich’s Auto Body 46 years ago when a customer Son Leonard Rich III, (at left) father Leonard Rich, Jr. and grandson Joseph Rich together wanted an old Lincoln-Continental run Rich’s Auto Body in Merced, Calif. painted, he said. Leonard Rich, Jr., who will turn “One day in 1966, a fellow came Rich’s Auto Body today 80 this year, is the founder and still the in here with a classic 1940 Lincoln driving force behind this large operaContinental. They only made 400 of going to make it, I thought. But you tion. Rich, Jr.’s son, Leonard Rich III this particular car. He wanted it painted know, we made it through and eventu(age 55), is the shop’s general man- and I gave him a price of $700 and he ally they came back. We must have ager and his son Joseph (age 29) said that’s too much. He said he wanted had what they needed, because they works by his side while they run a to use the car as his wife’s second vehimade me hang for 3-4 years, but they 50,000-square foot body shop that cle. I thought, this guy doesn’t know all came back. The insurance compaalso includes a towing company, car what he has, so I asked him do you nies dictate so much in this industry museum, upholstery division, car want to sell it? I traded it to him for a and some of them insist on doing it restoration business and a vehicle de- Mercury I had and the rest is history. their way and with their rules. They tailing business. We now restore cars year-round and I tell you what they’re going to do and Rich's Auto Body, Inc. was have collected a bunch of them. We’re that’s it. They set the standards, not us. founded in the summer of 1964 by currently working on a Pierce-Arrow It never ends. We have one insurance Leonard Rich, Jr. after learning the infor a customer and it is a beautiful car.” company that we’re working with dustry while working at his father's After collecting more classic cars right now and they’re saying that body shop in Ambridge, Pennsylvania himself, Rich, Jr. opened a museum at weekends should count as work days for seven years. In 1962, Rich, Jr. and it’s not logical. And moved to the west coast to join his fathey want you to use rether’s relocated shop. cycled parts or less ex“I drove one of my father’s old pensive parts, but in the two trucks to California from Amend, we’re responsible bridge,” Rich, Jr. said. “My dream was for the finished prodto be a doctor and I wanted to pursue it, uct.” but then one day my mother told me, But, by working ‘One thing you can do is fix cars, so go within the system, Rich, do it! Plus, your grades aren’t good Jr. has flourished in even enough.’ That was the best advice I ever hard times, he said. Leonard Rich III, (at left) father Leonard Rich, Jr. and grandson got. Two years later I decided to try and “Over the years, we Joseph Rich together run Rich’s Auto Body in Merced, Calif. make it on my own, so I opened my found a happy medium own shop.” his facility and it’s a big attraction. It with the insurance companies and we When most 79 year-old people are features 70 mostly domestic vehicles perform for them. We go out of our way retired or considering it, Rich, Jr. works valued together at approximately $2 to accommodate them when we can, at his shop five days a week, starting million, including some rare Packards, but sometimes we will fight them on early in the morning and not leaving Buicks and Chevys. His rarest is a 1938 quality. It’s always a situation where until well after closing, in many cases. Buick Century convertible, valued at we’re representing the customer’s inHow has he been able to keep going roughly $65,000, Rich, Jr. said. terests, believe me.” 100% in this hectic industry for more Surviving through three deep reAlthough he has established mututhan 50 years? cessions, several wars and ten U.S. ally beneficial relationships with his in-
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14 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
surance partners over time, Rich, Jr. still runs into steering practices, he said. “When you have a facility like ours in a small town, people are going to come here and then some of these insurance companies will try to steer them to another shop. They say steering is no longer an issue, but it’s not true. Once a customer says I’m taking my car to Rich’s Auto Body, they shouldn’t say anything more or recommend another shop, but it happens almost daily. California law says they can’t force them to go to any other shop, but they don’t stop trying.” Leonard Rich III is the shop’s general manager and has been working for his father off and on over the years, after owning a restaurant and working in real estate, he said. “I came back, because it’s a good business to be in. While others are struggling, we will always have work in this industry, because it will rain and there will be accidents. As long as nobody gets hurt, we’re doing well.” How has Rich’s Auto Body succeeded for so long in such a volatile industry, we asked Leonard III? “I would call it karma. We do so much extra stuff around here for our customers and the word gets out. You build a reputation one vehicle at a time, and after so many years doing it, I know it pays off.” Joe Rich, Rich III’s son, is the shop’s manager and deals primarily with production issues, he said. “I started out at the bottom and worked as a car washer and a general gofer, and then progressed to be a parts puller, parts manager and eventually I wanted to get into estimating. I went to go to work for another shop for a while in order to learn the trade from a different perspective, and that’s where I really grew up. Working for my father and my grandfather is a blessing and I appreciate my situation every day. I think our success starts at the top. When our employees see my grandfather still working at his age, from early morning to late evening , they can’t help but have a great attitude and believe in their work.”
www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 15
BASF Advises Shops to Join the Move to Waterborne Coatings Now Environmental legislation and increasing restrictions on VOC emissions continue to transform the coatings industry and collision repair business. Waterborne paint systems have become more prevalent as the best way to radically reduce greenhouse gasses. At BASF, this environmental breakthrough has also become an opportunity for product and service innovation to add superior value, helping increase shop safety, productivity, quality and, ultimately, customer satisfaction.
Innovative BASF Products Leads As a world leader in automotive refinishing products, BASF introduced one of the first waterborne systems with the launch of the Glasurit® 90-Line™ in 1992. Ahead of its time, the highperforming 90-Line began a revolution that has not only made many collision repair shops more environmentally friendly, but has improved quality and throughput — through ease-of-use, low material consumption, fast-drying formulas, better hiding and easier blending. Moreover, the fact that approximately 70 percent of all new cars are finished with waterborne paint make 90-Line an ideal system for repair. And when it comes to quality, it’s reassuring to know that the world’s finest automobiles—including Mercedes-Benz and BMW—have waterborne paint. In addition, ultra-luxury cars such as Maybach and Rolls Royce are hand sprayed at the plant with 90-Line. For collision repair centers that demand high productivity, superior quality and cost efficiency, BASF’s RM® automotive finishes continue to be the right choice. R-M’s low-VOC waterborne basecoat—Onyx HD™ — has been used by many independent collision repair centers and car dealerships for almost two decades. The system brings next-generation processes into the shop, while offering excellent versatility, durability and cost effectiveness along with superb color matching with BASF’s proprietary COLOR-MAX® system. And, Onyx HD does all this while meeting today’s most stringent VOC regulations at local, regional and national levels. The combination of R-M’s fast drying primers, high gloss “no-bake” clears and Onyx HD low-VOC waterborne basecoat reduce cycle time and
energy consumption while helping preserve the environment. Being green with Onyx HD can actually save
you some green, helping make the business case to switch to the waterborne system.
More Than Just Great Products BASF’s Glasurit® 90-Line™ and RM® Onyx HD™ paint products are supported by industry-leading lifetime warranties, along with technical training programs, advanced color information systems and business management programs. SmartTrak® is a state-of-the-art color management system that provides fast and accurate color formulas. It’s designed to help increase shop profitability and productivity through color updates, inventory and stock control management, formula customization, cost and low-VOC tracking, advanced reporting and more. The company’s comprehensive VisionPLUS® program is an industryleading suite of value-added programs geared specifically for collision repair centers. This full-service toolkit helps collision center managers and owners monitor, grow sales, streamline business operations and gain a solid competitive edge in the industry. And, VisionPLUS Online is a turnkey tool that allows collision repair centers to track, analyze and advance their business in real time. This allows for immediate and continuous improvement, increasing shop productivity and profitability.
16 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
keep in mind the following advantages: • Reduced basecoat solvent emissions by approximately 90 percent • Increased quality and customer satisfaction • Improved color matching • Improved throughput • Applied with conventional spray equipment and easy to clean up • Improved safety (less toxicity, lower odor and reduced flammability) • Reduced hazardous waste Before you make the final decision to change to a waterborne paint system, it is important to be aware of not only the advantages of using waterborne technology, but also key differences when compared to a solvent system. There are many questions a shop should ask before switching to waterborne coatings. Let the experts on Waterborne Automotive Finishes from BASF answer them for you. For more information about switching to waterborne, contact your BASF representative by calling 800825-3000, or visit www.basfrefinish.com.
Better to Lead Than Follow the Pack In the U.S., some state and local jurisdictions are taking the lead in regulating automotive refinishing emissions. California and Delaware, for example, have developed practice standards for shops to reduce VOC emissions. And, as a further indication of things to come, Canada has already required all shops to switch to waterborne basecoats. Clearly, shops would be well advised to stay ahead of coming legislation and switch to waterborne systems before it becomes mandated. When considering conversion to a waterborne paint system, be sure to consult with your BASF representative. Beyond the regulatory considerations,
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against all issues. Basically, if there is a product failure issue on a job done at LeMans, PPG will assist in getting the vehicle redone. “It’s just about adapting to LeMans’ next step in their expanchanges in the industry,” said Kirk, sion will be a mechanical facility, “My advice to shops making the slated to open in 2013. switch to waterborne; don’t fear it— “We’re trying to encompass all embrace the change and move on to aspects of the collision repair and prothe next challenge.” vide our customers with a one-stop full PPG also guarantees LeMans auto care experience,” said Kirk, “We paint work because their techs are also want to reduce cycle time by conPPG certified. Kirk says this is a nice trolling more aspects of the repair.” safety net for the businesses and reinRoss’s attitude from a marketing stand point is once you capture a customer you want to retain as much work from them as possible. Kirk says the fact that they have been able to remain family owned and operated for 53 years is a big feat; the group has done this by finding each person’s niche and letting them take on that role The paint mixing room at LeMans’ El Segundo location so no one butt’s heads. By forces LeMans’ decision to use PPG finding where each person is strongest products exclusively. they have been able to work together David said that PPG backs Le- with minimal conflict. Mans’ lifetime warranty on their paint The fourth generation of Beetleys jobs, which backs the overall paint job is coming out of their teen years and Continued from Page 12
LeMans
18 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
are beginning to learn the business; Kirk says he is excited to see the new ideas and energy that they will bring to the table. “We have great managers and shop personnel,” said Kirk, “We are blessed to have found such great, ex-
LeMans’ Los Angeles location, acquired in 1999
perienced people and we do our best to promote a family atmosphere with mutual respect.” Kirk also attributes a lot of the business’s staying power to their adaptability. “We’re adaptable, unlike a lot of the businesses that have been around as long as we have,” said Kirk, “We’re not stuck in our ways, we embrace the industry changes as they come.” But Kirk says a lot of times with industry changes it’s best to do your homework. “You’ve got to be patient,” said
Kirk. “Everyone is out to invent or reinvent the next best tool or business practice! We need to focus on our strengths and what has worked for us, keeping an open mind and an eye on our competition.” LeMans is also known for their ability to deliver top-notch customer service for a competitive price. “We’re not the highest priced in town—but we’re definitely higher in service than most,” said Kirk. For more information please visit www.lemansbody.com. LeMans Santa Monica 2107 Lincoln Blvd Santa Monica, CA 90405 310-452-3870 LeMans Los Angeles 3040 S. Robertson Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90034 310-836-2448 LeMans El Segundo 200 Nevada Street El Segundo, CA 90245 310-426-9400
Women’s Industry Network Holds Planning Meeting in Late January, Will Hold Annual Conference in May in Atlanta The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) Board gathered in Dallas, TX, in late January to review the group’s activities in 2011 and plan for 2012 and early 2013. “This Strategic Planning meeting is a yearly event that we rely on to help keep us focused and on-track to achieve the goals we have set out for our organization,” said Board Chair, Victoria Jankowski. WIN will focus on these primary areas this year: enhancing the value of WIN membership and sponsorship; improving WIN’s web and social media presence to provide a more robust communication and educational vehicle for members and sponsors; forming a Task Force to conduct a needs analysis on our website and social media presence and make recommendations to the Board; increasing industry visibility of WIN, our activities and our members; providing a WIN presence at strategically significant industry events; making WIN promotional materials available upon request to WIN members who are willing to represent the organization at events of importance to them; establishing a more robust operational and governance structure for the
Board of Directors; refining standards for Board nominations and subsequent executive appointments; refining the WIN nomination process and put additional form around the executive appointments. “This new executive appointment process will be implemented as the current term ends and the new one begins,” said Jankowski. The 7th Annual WIN Conference, “Be The Change!”, will be held on May 6-8, 2012 in Atlanta, GA. Keynote speakers for this annual conference will be Robyn Benincasa, an adventure racer, firefighter and motivational speaker, and Cathy Bonner, CEO of Service King Collision Repair Centers. Benincasa will present a keynote address titled “Extreme Change: Adapt, Overcome & Win As One,” in which she will share stories of triumph through adversity. Bonner will also present a keynote address titled “The Ten Commandments of Leadership.” For more details please visit www.womensindustrynetwork.com.
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RBL Products New Pre-Treat System
RBL Products has introduced its Pretreatment system in the automotive aftermarket. The system is very simple. It consists of a water-based conversion coating that is applied by wiping onto a bare metal surface. The product protects against corrosion and promotes adhesion. The directions are simply, you just wipe the pre-treatment onto the bare metal. Then let it air dry. The average dry time is between 2–5 minA bare metal piece treated with the RBL Pre-treat system (left) and a non-treated piece (right) utes. You can then apply primer surface directly over the pre-treatment. It world. The same process is used on can be used on Hot and cold rolled every car produced since World War ll. Every vehicle as soon as it enters the metal, galvanized, stainless steel, alupaint shop is processed by a multiminum, and other exotic metals. stage zinc phosphate dip and rinse sysThe pre-treatment system was developed as a substitute for wash, etch, tem before it enters e-coat and primer. RBL president, Ron Lipson and epoxy primer. Expensive primers and waiting for 24 hours, as well as stated “The pre-treatment product puts adhesion and corrosion issues, are now back what was removed from the metal when grinding and sanding oca thing of the past. curs. Once the industry understands The pre-treatment system chemistry was developed and patented by the product and how it works it will Give us yourRBL opinion onre-matters industry. becomeaffecting standard onthe all bare metal reHenkel Corporation. Products pairs. Insurance companies are going cently was granted exclusive rights to to mandate this product where appliconvert the technology into pre-saturated wipes and markers. Henkel is the cable.” For more information visit publisher@autobodynews.com largest pre-treatment company in the www.rblproducts.com.
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Airbrush Artist JoAnn Bortles is Writing Her Seventh Painting Book ent. After he passed away unexpectedly JoAnn decided to honor his Airbrush artist JoAnn Bortles, who memory by taking a crack at becoming a professional custom painter. So owns Crazy Horse Custom Painting, and lives in Waxhaw, NC, started airshe moved to Florida, which then, as now, was a hot spot for custom painting and honed her craft. “Being around all these great painters made me really want to up my game,” said JoAnn. While in Florida JoAnn met and married her husband (now ex-) and they moved to Waxhaw in 1996. When she got to North Carolina, JoAnn realized it was a totally different game and since she was relatively unknown in the area she had a hard time finding people who would let her paint their cars. “Those first years in North Carolina were pretty rough,” said JoAnn. She painted hot rods, motorcycles, boats, just about anything she could. Then in 1998 JoAnn showed six motorcycles she painted at the Easyriders Bike Show in Charlotte, JoAnn astride one of her custom creations NC. The six bikes took home the six with a favorite spray gun, a SATA RP. The bike top trophies, including Best of Show. won Best Motorcycle Paint of the Year in 2005 This got the attention of one of the brushing her art onto motorcycles as a Easyriders Magazine editors and he teen in the seventies on a dare. A lifetold her if she did well at their show long interest in art led her to Parson’s in Columbus, OH, that the magazine School of Design in New York City, would do a feature story on her. but she eventually had to return to JoAnn’s Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute bike won Second Place Best of Show at the Columbus show, so the magazine did the article on her. The publicity from the article and her awards at Charlotte attracted many more customers and was a turning point for her career. JoAnn was featured in (and wrote her own articles for) Southern Living, Easyriders, VTwin, A close-up of the 1965 Impala SS that JoAnn painted in Las Vegas; this car has taken home several awards for Street Rodder, Hot Rod, best flames American Iron, Ironworks, suburban Connecticut to help out her Hot Bike, VQ, and many other magaparents. She had taken welding classes zines. in high school and became a certified She has also written no fewer welder after returning home. She than six books on custom painting worked various factory jobs for the with publisher Motorbooks. Her first next few years until the words “If book “How to Custom Paint Your you’re such a hotshot artist, why don’t Motorcycle” was published in 2005. you try and paint my bike tank?” JoAnn is currently working on her jolted her into the world of custom seventh book with SATA Spray painting. Equipment, to be titled The Complete Her painting career really took Guide to Automotive Painting: From off after the unexpected death of a Prep to Final Coat, which will have friend in 1993. Her friend David had a heavy focus on waterborne painting always pushed JoAnn to take her techniques, using PPG’s Envirobase painting to the next level, saying she waterborne paints in particular. should be more serious about her talThe book is slated to come out by Erica Schroeder
20 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
and processes. The goal is to make the book answer any question about bodywork, painting and custom work. The book will be available through all SATA jobbers worldwide in addition to being sold on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers. JoAnn started using PPG The Stevie Ray Vaughan mural JoAnn won 2nd Place Best paints in 1995, and she says of Show with at the Cleveland EasyRiders Show in 1998 she couldn’t be happier with in 2013 and will have two main sec- their products. tions. The first half will focus on “PPG is without a doubt the most vehicle restoration from plastic re- user-friendly product I’ve ever used,” pairs to sheet metal to body restora- said JoAnn, “And that’s what makes it tion. JoAnn’s welding and the best bargain for painters. The high bodywork background will shape quality of PPG products actually save this how-to section. The second half painters time and money. PPG products make my painting life easier.” JoAnn stands behind her work and the durability of PPG’s products with a consumer guarantee on her work for 5 years. JoAnn also says that of all the waterborne paints she has used, PPG paints the smoothest with the tightest lines. She finds it especially The ‘67 Firebird JoAnn is restoring and customizing for unique for painting woodher seventh book. This is what the car looks like before any work has been done. The after photo will look far difgrain faux finishes. She also ferent. According to JoAnn, many of her projects look still uses PPG’s solvent-based something like this when she gets started. paints for some applications. will focus on custom painting using “Whether I’m using solvent or water, both waterborne and solvent tech- I use whatever works best for the niques. One of the main projects in painting situation,” said JoAnn. the book will be restoring a 1967 JoAnn also likes SATA Spray Guns. Firebird that has been waiting for She recalls first starting out using attention for 20 years. the cheapest equipment she could The car is “pretty rough” says find. Then when she met the people JoAnn, but by the end of the year she at SATA and tried out their products will have the car restored completely. she said she realized why you would pay more to use these guns. “Paint is so expensive,” said JoAnn, “When the paint is all mixed and you’re ready to go into the booth, is not the time to find that you have a problem with your paint gun. And time is money. Having good quality equipment makes all the difference.” Joann now uses SATA guns A close-up of some burlwood woodgrain Crazy Horse exclusively on her work. painted on a ‘46 Ford “Using good equipment The book will detail this process and changed the way I work,” said JoAnn. JoAnn hopes it will show her readers She is really thankful for some of her how manageable a big project can be other product relationships, including See Crazy Horse, Page 22 if approached with the right attitude
www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 21
sometimes the customer is happy with the initial drawing. Then after customer approval she starts painting. Evercoat, Gerson, American Tape and JoAnn basically free-hands a Meguiar’s. lot of the art; sometimes she “Just being able to say I work uses Art Tool templates on with these companies is a very hum- more complicated projects. bling experience, it shows just how far “The templates are reJoAnn painted this 1939 Ford in 2005 with real fire flames, it was the first real fire paint that she did and it I have come,” said JoAnn. ally a time saver,” said won PPG's Top 5 Most Outstanding Paint in 2006 JoAnn says her process really de- JoAnn. She often uses a 2009, Best Painted Motorcycle of the pends on the vehicle she is working combination of templates, sketching on; she generally creates a pre-work and free-hand to get the look she Year in 2005 and 2012, and many other awards. drawing on the computer to show the wants. JoAnn will attend the SEMA client and get their input. Sometimes “Custom paint is only as good show this year and will also paint a JoAnn and the customer will collabo- as what’s underneath it,” said JoAnn. rate on the design a bit here, and And in her shop, much of the body- 1932 Ford on Power Block TV’s Muswork and prep are handled cle Car section in the coming weeks. She is also a member of the SEMA by her assistant David Association and serves on their SBN Malkin. JoAnn has won dozens of Select Committee. For more information about awards for her work, including JoAnn and Crazy Horse Custom PPG’s Top 5 Most Outstanding Paint in 2006, Best of Painting, please visit www.crazyShow and First Place at the horsepainting.com. 2006 Easyriders Bike Show, GoodGuys Shows Best Crazy Horse Custom Painting Flames in 2005, Best Paint at PO Box 623 the Boardwalk Show at 2005 Waxhaw, NC 28173 JoAnn and her 2004 Crazy Horse Chopper which has Daytona Bike Week, Big Bear joann@crazyhorsepainting.com been driven hard. The paint job has held up extremely (704) 843-3780 well, a testiment to the work and product quality Car Show Best Flames in Continued from Page 20
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Fix Auto Appoints Tim Clark as Senior VP, Insurance Services
Fix Auto USA announced the appointment of Tim Clark, CPCU, as senior vice president of insurance services. As a key member of Fix Auto USA’s senior management team, Clark will be charged with strengthening Fix Auto’s existing insurance relationships and implementing new strategic partnerships. In addition, Clark will oversee the Fix Auto insurance services department, including the Fix Full Performance Claims Solution (FFPCS) program. Before joining Fix Auto, Clark led Performance Claims where he was instrumental in launching the network management technology platform used by four of the top eight U.S. insurers. Prior to Performance Claims, Clark was the vice president of insurance services at Safelite Auto Glass, where he was responsible for developing Safelite’s claims outsourcing strategy for extending managed claims solutions to Property and Casualty insurers. Clark began his insurance claims career at Safeco Insurance, holding a variety of field management and corporate positions before becoming an elected officer of the company.
CARSTAR Expands Sales and Marketing Teams
CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts is expanding its corporate leadership and service teams to add industry experience and expertise, naming David B. James as VP of Marketing and Sharon Mazanec as Regional Service Manager for the Midwest. James is an award-winning marketing professional with over 15 years of experience leading corporate strategy and marketing initiatives. James brings a broad background in traditional and online marketing. Joining James on the CARSTAR Team is Sharon Mazanec, CARSTAR’s Midwest Regional Service Manager. Mazanec comes to CARSTAR with over 25 years experience in the collision repair industry and was recently named one of 2011’s Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry by AkzoNobel. Mazanec has an extensive background in the collision repair industry including Allen Samuels Enterprises and Sterling Autobody Centers, among other collision repair companies in Texas.
PSE Appoints Guy Barnes as VP, Sales & Marketing
Painters Supply & Equipment Co. (PSE) has announced the promotion of O. Guy Bargnes to the position of senior vice president, sales and marketing effective March 12, 2012. Bargnes has served as vice-president of sales and marketing since joining the company in June, 2010. “Guy has been instrumental in driving sales and market share growth of our automotive refinish business,” said PSE President, Patrick Mayette. “He has also lead PSE’s Learning Center initiative to deliver the best value-added programs to our customers.” Bargnes will be taking on additional responsibility in 2012 leading the development of the specialty coatings group which was recently announced at PSE’s national sales meeting. He will continue to represent Painters Supply on the following industry trade organizations: Automotive Aftermarket Industries Association (AAIA) where he is PBES Chairman until May, 2013, National Auto Body Council (NABC) and Collision Industry Conference (CIC). Prior to joining PSE, Bargnes held senior level sales and marketing positions at BASF Corporation.
Mitchell’s Claims Triage is Available to Carriers
Mitchell has announced the immediate availability of Claims Triage, a technology solution created specifically to streamline resource allocation decision-making for physical damage claims. Claims Triage allows insurance carriers to determine the most efficient resource for an assignment at First Notice of Loss (FNOL), thereby improving customer satisfaction by accelerating claims settlement. “Mitchell is continuously striving to improve the insurance claims experience with the most innovative solutions, driven by our data-centric approach to high performance claims management,” said Paul Rosenstein, Vice President for Mitchell. “Claims Triage is another compelling example of our commitment to serving the unique property claims needs of our insurance clients.” Claims Triage eliminates assignment guesswork by defining questions and criteria around the status of the vehicle. Claims Triage is fully integrated within Mitchell WorkCenter™. To learn more, please go to Mitchell.com/WorkCenter.
www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 23
Bobby Alloway’s 5 Essential Tips for Achieving a Flawless Black Finish Bobby Alloway loves the color black. Alloway, who has been building and painting hot rods for years, was named the 2011 Autorama Builder of the Year at the 59th Detroit Autorama earlier this year. The award was just the latest in a long series of coveted accolades for the painter, including Goodguys’ Street Rod and Street Machine of the Year, the Don Ridler Memorial Bobby Alloway Award, America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, plus countless others. He was inducted into the Rod & Custom Hall of Fame in 2004. “It s rich, classy and doesn’t ‘hurt’ any car,” says Bobby. “No one ever says, ‘that s an ugly color’ when it s black.” Some painters avoid black because of its reputation for being unforgiving in calling attention to even the tiniest of flaws. Alloway maintains that the prep and painting process should be the same, regardless of whether the car is red, blue, white or
black. What is the secret to his flawless finishes? “The key is to not be in a hurry,” says Bobby. “Don’t take any shortcuts.” Here are some tips from the master himself:
per. “This is where most people make their mistake,” says Bobby. “They’re afraid they’ll remove too much material by using the coarse paper. You want to flatten it out so that all that’s left is sand scratches.
Tip 2: Choose the right black color. Bobby uses PPG Deltron®, and is currently a big fan of DCC9300 for single stage work and DBC9700 when using basecoat. “It s a rich black,” says Bobby. “It s also friendly to use and isn’t prone to ‘printing’ (the kind of unwanted imprint that can occur when you set a panel aside on a towel or rag).” For clearcoat, Bobby’s process includes PPG Concept® DCU2002. Where two to three coats of clear are recommended, Bobby and his team will apply additional coats.
This is where having five or six coats of material is essential, since three to four of them may be sanded off in certain areas.”
Tip 1: “Make sure the car is straight as an arrow,” says Bobby. He follows this rule religiously regardless of the paint color.
Tip 3: Get the fat out (aka any ‘orange peel’),” using 600 grit sandpa-
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Tip 4: Sand single parts or panels using sanding blocks of varying sizes and shapes. Alloway’s hot rod shop uses many styles of blocks, but will also make a new one if needed for the project. “This doesn’t have to be expensive,” says Bobby, “You can make
them yourself depending on what you need.”
Tip 5: Sand, sand and sand some more. Follow the 600 grit with 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000 and 2500 grit sandpaper. Do not skip a single step! Whereas three to four days of sanding might be typical, it is not uncommon for a vehicle in Bobby’s shop to be sanded for several weeks. The Alloway process requires a flow coat of DCU2002 which is sanded and buffed. For more information about Bobby Alloway, please visit www.allowaysrodshop.com. For more information about the products mentioned in this article, please see www.ppg.com.
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UPDATE on Tow-for-Pay Scam, “Evangelist Jerry Bratt” and “Jacqueline Harris” Last month we reported on the tow for pay scam going around and several more body shops contacted ABN to thank and update us. The invitation comes by FAX or from a deaf-services
basic scenario is that their car needs to be towed from another state to be fixed at your shop. But they need you to pay the tow bill before the car can be delivered. Several shops have received faxes
visit their mother. The fax also asks for the address of your shop. For example, Sherry at California Auto Body in San Diego, CA, received a fax from “Jacqueline Harris”
relay call. The relay call operator will call you and say a deaf person has need for your services. Calls have been reported in California, Florida and Georgia. Some names have changed but the
from someone using the names “Evangelist Jerry Bratt” or “Jacqueline Harris” repeating the basic scenario saying they had an accident in a Cadillac Escalade on their way to Kansas or to
on March 13 stating the same set up as the Jerry Bratt scam. The fax she received came from a number with a Dallas, TX, area code, but the faxes have not all come from the same
number or area code. The scammer expects shops to pay a tow bill over a $1000 and they tell you the “wrecker” will only accept a moneygram. Sometimes they also request a credit card. Paula Chipman at GTA Auto Body in Chatsworth, CA, received the fax on the right. In the deaf or disabled relay version of the scam, Vivian from Chico, CA, reported that she had received this scam relay call: “This person had a similar scenario, they were from my town traveling to Texas in a 2008 Escalade and had an accident. After I asked for the tower’s phone number so I could contact them directly, she disconnected from the call. When I called AT&T they said the call was generated from a computer and there was nothing they could do about it. They could be in another country. This is not only a scam but a terrible way to use a disability as a means to rip people off.” Don’t fall prey but alert us if you receive this fax or are otherwise contacted. The reported sending fax numbers: 202-204-0669, 469-519-0414 and 678-250-9047.
www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 25
Shop Showcase
Janet Chaney has been involved in the collision industry as shop owner and business consultant. She serves her clients through Cave Creek Business Development. Contact her at jchaney.cavecreek@gmail.com.
Class Auto Center: An Aptly Named First Class Operation with Janet Cheney
Class Auto Center in Long Beach, California is aptly named—truly a first class operation. This 15,000 square foot shop stands out like a beacon to L.A. traffic on the 405 Freeway. The facility was built from the ground up in 1990 by owner Ray Neveau. Neveau’s first shop was a very small two-bay shop in a dead end alley in Long Beach, however his impeccable reputation brought customers to his door. Erik Sumen was a ‘surfer’ kid who loved cars and knew of Neveau’s reputation, being very much in awe of him. Erik was fixing jet skis at home in his garage, when he found Ray Neveau in his little shop in the alley. Erik eagerly went to work for Ray as the ‘donut boy.’ Neveau then built Class Auto Center and their relationship has built this business to where it stands tall today.
Class Auto Center in Long Beach
This unique, upscale repair facility does all the estimating, bookkeeping and management of the operation upstairs. As you walk into the hi-tech waiting room, customers are welcomed by a customer service representative and seated in a quiet and clean environment, while the business of running this business is done up stairs. Even parts are managed upstairs and moved by a freight elevator that ascends to the parts room and descends into a corner of the production area. There are no Direct Repair Relationships with insurance companies at Class Auto Center. They have strong relationships with their dealership partners and take excellent care of their mutual customers. This shop pays close attention to all details and they have a high customer return rate. Class Auto Center proudly has earned Manufacturer Certification from Mercedes Benz, Audi, Porsche and a a special Certification for the Nissan GT-
ronment. Class Auto has again taken a great curb appeal on a main thoroughstep towards exceptional quality and fare in Garden Grove. built their aluminum room in a comClass Auto Center is an active pletely separate building. member of the California Autobody “We all take pride in what we Association, participating in the Glendo,” says Sumen, “we have long term dale Foothills Chapter. Erik Sumen employees and have built a culture of also participates on the Governmental working together.” You could hear the Committee for the Collision Industry friendly sound of agreement when Conference (CIC). Class Auto keeps walking through this shop. Sumen its fans apprised with a Facebook page continues, “We are The aluminum room at Class Auto Center in family oriented and Long Beach sort things out so we can keep things simR. The 15 trained technicians at Class Auto Center have the best manufacturer ple in our employees lives.” Class certified equipment available for them. They exclusively use Celette, the only Auto has a princifully authorized unibody and frame pled core that makes it easy for everyone structure repair system for high end Euto follow protocol. ropean motor cars. They use the new Wielander-Schill Inverter Spot Welder. “We follow repair Two down draft paint booths are in manufacturers reca separate building in a ommendations and do the repair right The team at Class Auto Center corner of the pie shaped lot , just a few feet from the first time,” Sumen states with confidence. and it looks like there will be more sothe production buildThis year, Sumen and Neveau are cial media for these shops in the fuing. Two prep stations ture. are in the same building tackling a new challenge. They have Inspiring confidence with the cusas production. Lead opened Global Collision Center, lopainter, Miguel, is a cated at V.W. of Garden Grove. This tomer, their business card reads: ‘Specializing in collision repair and stickler for detail and existing shop needed the business model, experience and enthusiasm of cosmetic care of World Class automoexpects very high qualbiles. ity from himself and his this team. The major remodel of this facility has brought it to the Class team of four. They use Spies Hecker exclusively, and recently updated their standard, although Global will not be Class Auto Center a Certified facility. It will work on all 3031 Cherry Avenue waterborne technology to the new Spies makes and models. Long Beach, California 90807 Hecker Permahyd Hi Tec. There will be no Direct 562-595-6400 Repair Relationships, at this www.classautocenter.com Give us your opinion on matters time, at this store. The book of business will be built from Global Collision Center customer referrals and deal10800 Trask Avenue www.autobodynews.com ership relationships. They Garden Grove, California 92843 publisher@autobody CHECK IT OUT! will maintain their commit- 714-638-7444 ment of superior quality and customer service that will follow them from Class Auto Center. Global Collision is well with a Chief Ez Toequipped advertise The source for timely Liner, down call Advertising Sales draft at: spray information that every booth and updated welding 800-699-8251 body shop needs! Erik Sumen outside the new Global Collision Center at equipment. They will also e-mail: VW of Garden Grove, CA use Spies Hecker waterborne advertising@autobodynews.com CALL 800-699-8251 Aluminum repair is a condition of Pernahyd Hi-Tec. Miguel, the lead painter from Class Auto Center will most Manufacturer’s Certification. All www.autobodynews.com Start Your FREE aluminum repairs must be isolated and oversee the paint department in the Mail Subscription. new shop, as well. This facility has completed in a no-contamination envi-
26 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
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PCL Has Been Primed Since 1929 with Clear Solutions for Shops by Ed Attanasio
When it opened its doors more than eight decades ago, Pacific Coast Lacquer (PCL) Automotive was providing products for body shops painting automotives such as Ford Model A’s, Hudson Roadsters and Austin 7’s. Today, the brands and names have
changed, but PCL still markets a wide range of paint-related products to the collision industry, including surface cleaners, pre-treatment coatings, primer surfacers, primer sealers, single stage topcoats, aerosols and solvents. The body shop business has changed in a big way since 1929, back in the days before DRPs or labor rate
surveys. But according to Ruben Laguna, PCL’s Director of Sales and Marketing, quality products backed by solid customer service is still a formula for success and longevity. Since being hired by the company in 1988, Laguna has seen PCL grow and change with the times and is proud of the company’s role by providing solutions for body shops that are 100% compliant and make financial sense as well. “I tell my customers that our products offer all three things: Performance, quality and price,” Laguna stated. “That’s why they represent a great value across the board. You can save money, but are you sacrificing quality or performance as a result? And just because you pay more, does that necessarily mean you’re getting real value?” Manufacturers of automotive refinishing products have come and gone over the years and PCL is proud to be the only manufacturer of its type still doing business in California. By developing new products through its
28 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
extensive R&D efforts at its headquarters and factory in Los Angeles, PCL has developed a wide range of innovative products, including several that can be used with both solvent and waterborne paint systems,” Laguna explained.
Body shops make up 85% of PCL’s total revenues through more than 300 paint suppliers and jobbers statewide. The company’s best-selling products are its primers and clears and within the last few years, the manufacturer’s flat black and flat clear topcoats have become extremely popular, especially with customizers making the fashionable trend more commonplace. Twenty-four years ago, changes in California’s environmental laws
drastically changed the types of solvents that had to be used for cleaning paint guns. PCL quickly became the number one provider of these types of solvents in the California market, because they were able to change rapidly and adhere to the new requirements quickly. In addition, all of PCL’s compliant cleaning solvents adhere to South Air Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1171, which began requiring more waterborne cleaners starting in 1999. All of PCL’s products are designed to meet and/or exceed local and national environment and air quality laws and requirements, according to Laguna. Exemplary hands-on customer service has long been a key element to PCL’s continued success, Laguna explained. “If you use our products, you also get our knowledge and our years and years of experience. We respond quickly to questions and concerns without fail, and if one of the body shops using our products gets cited for some reason, we’re there to represent them and address the violation. It
doesn’t happen very often, because we formulate our products to be 100% compliant across the board, but when it does, we do everything we can to rectify it.” Training in order to learn the application techniques associated with any of PCL’s products is also always available, Laguna said. “Our products
are very easy-to-use, so most of our customers don’t require training. But if they want it, we will come out there and train them right at their shop. We back every product we make and
that’s why we’ve been serving the automotive industry continually for so long.” By making products that have become invaluable to body shops throughout California over the decades, PCL has survived several recessions without taking a hard hit, Laguna said. “Between 2007 and 2008, when the economy took a beating, we increased revenues by 20-25%. When times are lean, more body shops buy our cleaners, primers and sealers particularly, because they know they will do the job, saving them time and money.” Susan Simmons is a 30-year veteran of the automotive paint industry and is the store manager of FinishMaster in Montclair, California. Servicing approximately 200 Southern California body shops, Simmons has been working with PCL since she entered the field, she said.
“PCL has definitely found several niches over the years and by providing compliant products at affordable prices, they’ve done very well,” Simmons said. “We sell their
primers, surfacers, sealers, clears and solvents to a wide range of different customers, from custom shops to doit-yourselfers to hobbyists, restoration shops and of course, regular body shops. We get customers who call us all the time and ask specifically for PCL’s products, especially their flat
black paint fast-drying product.” Simmons values the support and accountability offered by PCL, she said. “Paul Casanova is my PCL rep, and he is always available and willing to help us in any way. He has assisted us in training and on numerous special projects. If we ever have any issues with PCL products, Paul is there to do whatever it takes to make it right. If there is any hint of trouble, he replaces the product without question. PCL definitely follows through and stands behind all of their products, which makes working with them a no-brainer.” PCL Automotive 3150 East Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90023 (800) 752-1566 www.pclautomotive.com
Guardian Auto Glass acquires Glass Specialty Company of Bloomington, Illinois Guardian Auto Glass LLC announced February 27 it has formed a new company, Guardian Auto Glass Bloomington, LLC to acquire the assets of Glass Specialty Company based in
Bloomington, Illinois. Guardian Auto Glass provides glass repair and replacement services for automobiles, buses, trucks and recreational vehicles and now has more than 75 loca-
tions throughout the United States. Glass Specialty began operations in 1957 and currently provides auto glass replacement and repair services from multiple servicing locations
across Illinois. Ron Talley, current CEO of Glass Specialty will serve as vice president and managing partner of the new company.
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Mexico Implements New Mandatory Auto Insurance Laws
Two of the most popular Mexican destinations for US and Canadian tourists have passed new laws recently requiring drivers to carry auto liability insurance at all times. Baja California Norte (home of destinations such as Tijuana, Ensenada, Rosarito, and San Felipe) and Jalisco (home of destinations such as Guadalajara, Lake Chapala, and Puerto Vallarta) have passed laws requiring that all drivers carry liability insurance. Other states have had similar mandatory auto liability insurance laws in place for some time. Derek Kartchner, Vice President of Business Development for http://www.mexpro.com said, “We feel this is a good step towards solving a huge problem; whether in the US or in Mexico uninsured drivers create an unneeded burden at the time of an accident, and cost all drivers more. We applaud the states that have taken steps towards alleviating the number of uninsured drivers in Mexico, and encourage other states to do the same.” Jim Labelle, CEO of IIG said, “While this is an important law, we would also urge our customers to ensure they are protecting their own interests. Not only should visitors to Mexico purchase Mexico Auto Liabil-
ity coverage, but also Comprehensive and Collision coverage. We encourage all of our customers who drive to Mexico to obtain a similar level of coverage in Mexico that they carry in the USA or Canada.” Labelle’s firm has insured over 1 million US and Canadian plated vehicles since launching its website a little over ten years ago. Visitors to Mexico can purchase and print their policies in real time on http://www.mexpro. com. All policies sold on the site meet the new state requirements, and many other optional coverages are available to ensure that consumers are properly covered when driving in Mexico. For more information about these laws or to purchase a Mexico Auto Insurance policy visit http://www.mexpro.com or call 1- 888-467-4639.
LQK Has Record Results
LKQ Corp. has announced results for its fourth quarter and full year ended Dec. 31, 2011. Income for the fourth quarter was $56.1 million, a 36 percent increase over the 28 cents per share reported for 2010. For the full year 2011, income from continuing operations was $210.3 million.
TopTech Finder, an open job marketplace bringing together automotive repairers and paintless dent repair (PDR) technicians, announces its website is now available at: www.toptechfinder.com. By providing an online search engine to connect automotive repairers and qualified PDR technicians, TopTech Finder puts power and convenience back into the hands that count. In addition, because of the damaging storms in the Southeast and Midwest, TopTech Finder is waiving all fees on jobs posted in the month of March by body repair shops in effected states. TopTech Finder is the vision of CEO Jeff Herman, who developed the idea to help body repair shops easily connect with reputable PDR technicians to fix hail damaged vehicles. “When hail storms hit, a shop’s regular PDR resources are often overwhelmed with work. Shops are then forced to choose from techs who arrive at their door, without any knowledge of the tech’s reputation, quality of work, experience, or training. Shops have told me horror stories about handing that first customer car over to an unknown tech”, said Herman. “TopTech Finder solves this
problem by letting repairers investigate techs before they hire them.” Repairers of all types can post their PDR jobs for free on the site. They can then search for techs and see their online profiles. Tech profiles show qualifications including experience, training, certifications, and associations. If satisfied, repairers can invite techs to the job. Conversely, techs can search for and apply for jobs. Body repair shops, retail PDR businesses, hail teams and other repairers can create their free, no obligation account at: www.toptechfinder.com.
Nissan Leaf Nationwide
Nissan opened up sales for their Leaf all-electric vehicle to all states in the US on March 1, 2012. After the EV's initial launch in limited markets at the end of 2010 and a piecemeal, state-by-state roll out throughout 2011, the Nissan Leaf will finally be available to order all around the U.S. Nissan sent out a statement saying in part, “We are officially a 100% electric nation. Look out for an e-mail around 3/1/12 detailing when you can order your Nissan Leaf.”
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GM Recalling Some 2012 Regal Sedans
General Motors is recalling about 3,633 2012 Buick Regal sedans for parking lights that fail to activate when drivers turn on the vehicle’s headlight switch, according to Consumer Reports. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this flaw violates U.S. safety standards and may cause an increased risk of vehicle collisions due to reduced visibility of the Buick car. NHTSA says the recalled Buick Regal parking light malfunction is caused by a software programming error during the sedans’ manufacture from February 2011 to last month. GM will notify Buick Regal owners affected by this safety flaw to bring their cars in to local dealerships where the vehicle’s “body control module” will be reprogrammed for free. General Motors is expected to contact owners of recalled Buicks at the end of March. However, consumers can receive more information about this safety recall by calling GM’s toll-free customer support line (800521-7300) and asking about GM recall number 12048 or by visiting the NHTSA website: www.SaferCar.gov.
Infiniti Recalling 200304 Infiniti M45 Sedans
Nissan North American has issued a recall of about 8,120 Infiniti M45 luxury sedans, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency says the 2003-2004 model years of the Infiniti M cars have a flaw that causes the gas gauge to display a higher fuel level than the amount of gas actually in the vehicle’s fuel tank, according to Consumer Reports. NHTSA first investigated reported problems with the Infiniti M45’s fuel gauge last December. And according to the latest report from NHTSA, they traced the issue to a faulty circuit board used in Infinti M45 sedans made from March 2002 through June 2004. Nissan is expected to begin notifying customers affected by this recall in mid-April. Owners will be instructed to bring their recalled Infiniti M45 cars to local dealerships where mechanics will modify the fuel system’s circuit board for free. For more information, consumers can call Nissan’s toll-free customer service number (888-327-4236) or visit the NHTSA’s website: www.SaferCar.gov.
Ford Probes 2005-06 Ford Taurus Throttles
A federal probe was launched in February into 2005-06 Ford Taurus sedans by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after 14 consumer complaints of stuck throttles. According to NHTSA’s Office of Defect Investigations (ODI), the majority of consumers have complained of high engine speeds—up to 4,000 RPMs—when shifting the Ford Taurus out of gear and into Park or Neutral. Others have complained of difficulty in slowing or stopping a moving car, according to Consumer Reports. In some of the cases reported to the federal safety agency, drivers allegedly had to shut off the Taurus’ engine and/or shift into Neutral in order to stop the vehicle. The alleged incidents are believed to be related to the cars’ cruise control cables—however, engineers with Ford Motors and NHTSA’s ODI are working to determine what causes the throttle to stick and determine whether a broader recall of the Ford Taurus is necessary. Consumers can file a vehicle safety complaint on NHTSA’s website, www.SaferCar.gov.
Toyota Recalls Another 681,000 Vehicles
Toyota has issued recalls for their Camry, Venza and Tacoma models, reaching a grand total of 681,000 vehicles. According to Consumer Reports, the smaller portion of the recall involves 70,500 model year 2009 Camrys, and 116,000 Venzas from 2009 to 2011. The larger parts of this recall belongs to the 495,000 Tacoma trucks from model years 2005 to early 2009. The Camry and Venza recall has to do with the contact-type stop lamp switch; silicon grease may have reached the inside of the switch and caused an increase in electrical resistance. If this occurs, warning lamps on the instrument panel may be illuminated, the vehicle may not start, or the shift lever may not shift from the “Park” position. In some cases, the vehicle stop lamps may become inoperative. Tacomas may experience friction between the spiral cable and the retainer in the steering wheel spiral cable assembly may occur in some vehicles. Toyota hopes to alert affected owners in early April. The fix should only require about 30 minutes and will be done for free at the Toyota dealeship.
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The Honda and Acura Dealers Listed Here are HO ND A CA L IF O R N I A
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Autowest Honda Roseville
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Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5:30 autowesthondaparts@hotmail.com
Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 parts@hondaofhollywood.com
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Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-4 robertevenson@chapmantucson.com
Avery Greene Honda
Honda of Oakland
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800-834-8886 707-551-3202
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Barber Honda
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650-364-1011
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661-396-4235
Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5:30; Sat 8-5 gkemp@hondarc.com
800-717-3562 559-891-5111
Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5:30 bestchoice@barberhonda.com
Kolbe Honda
Clawson Honda F re s n o
559-435-5000 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-5 parts@clawsonhonda.com
First Honda S i m i Va l l e y
888-523-0698 805-584-6646 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7:30-5 hondaparts@firstautogroup.com
Galpin Honda M i s s i o n H il l s
800-GO GALPIN 818-778-2005 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-5 blemen@galpin.com
Honda Cars of Corona Corona
800-557-3652 951-734-9045
San Francisco Honda S an F rancisco
415-913-5125
Chapman Honda
Santan Honda Chand ler
Dept. Hours: M-F 7-8; Sat 7-6
Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5:30 partsws@sfhonda.com
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Honda Redwood City
Selma Honda
Dept. Hours: M-F 7-5:30; Sat 7-5 wholesaleparts@santanhonda.com
Reseda
800-735-1424 818-609-7441 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 7:30-5 carparts@kolbehonda.com
Larry Hopkins Honda S u n n y va le
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Davis
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Nelson Honda El Monte
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Dept. Hours: M-Sat 7-5 terry.love@pscauto.com AC U R A CA L IF O R N I A
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Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-5 acuraparts@acuraoftempe.com
Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-6 mitch.cash@hendrickauto.com
Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-5 iwashitas@autonation.com
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ARIZONA
Peo ria
Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7-5 dcavanaugh@vtaig.com www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 33
Service, Diagnostic and Mechanical NEWS
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Infiniti Launches National Certified Collision Repair Network Autobody News
Infiniti has launched a new nationwide Infiniti Certified Collision Repair Network, a comprehensive program designed to recognize and distinguish body shops that meet or exceed standards for repair work, training, equipment and delivery of Infiniti customer service. The new certification program is open to both Infiniti retailer-owned and independent collision shops. “The purpose of the certification program is to provide the resources to help ensure consistency of the repair of Infiniti vehicles on a national basis,” said Carnie Colliver, senior manager, Parts and Service, Infiniti Americas. “Each Infiniti owner that comes into these certified facilities presents additional face-to-face opportunities to reinforce the Infiniti Total Ownership Experience.” The certification program will be conducted in conjunction with DuPont Performance Coatings (DPC), which will assist in the implementation of the program’s certification process, and I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, which will conduct technician training. “Facilities that have the willingness to participate in this program must have the commitment to achieve higher standards in the collision repair industry. This program will be a platform to satisfy all aspects of their customers’ automotive service needs,” said Colliver. ● Infiniti Certified Collision Repair Facilities will be able to distin-
Chrysler Launches Certified Collision Repair Facility Program
CALIFORNIA • NEVADA • ARIZONA
guish their facility from non-Certified repairers, by an ever expanding marketing package including but not limited to: ● A shop plaque acknowledging to customers the facility is a member of the Infiniti Collision Repair Network and recognized as meeting the requirements set forth by Infiniti ● Customer marketing materials explaining the benefits of using the certified shop network for repairs and the use of OEM collision parts ● Exclusive website for Infiniti Certified Collision Repair Facilities to obtain program and technical information ● Infiniti owner awareness marketing initiative ● Shop locator for owners to identify Certified shops in their area “The overriding goal is to provide a better customer experience— with an assurance of safety through the repair process and facility standardization, and the financial preservation of the vehicle to help minimize diminished value after collision repairs,” added Colliver. “Certified network collision repair facilities will deliver a professional relationship consistent with the Infiniti brand—and enjoy the added prestige of being recognized by Infiniti as meeting our stringent factory standards.” For more information on enrolling contact the Infiniti collision group via email at: CollisionRepairNetwork@Infiniti.com
Chrysler Group’s Mopar Brand has announced that enrollment is now open for the newly launched Chrysler Recognized Certified Collision Repair Facility program. This program involves the services of Assured Performance Network and allows dealers and independent collision repair facilities to meet the qualifications necessary to be recognized by Chrysler as a collision repair facility of choice for its Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Fiat and Ram vehicle owners. Chrysler’s program is managed by Assured Performance Network and is designed to benefit OEM parts purchases and ensure customer satisfaction via Certificates of Authenticity (see sidebar below). Under the program, shops will become a “Chrysler Recognized Certified Collision Repair Facility,” and receive official signage from Mopar with Chrysler Group logos. The certification opens the shop for approval for other programs, not yet specified. Member shops will receive 5% rebates on 100% OEM Chrysler collision repair parts. When repairs are completed with OEM collision repair parts, a Write Certificate of Authenticity, to help the resale value of the customer’s vehicle, will be created for the customer’s records. Updates will be made to the CARFAX vehicle report showing 100-percent OEM parts were used in the repair, and that a Chrysler Recognized Certified Collision Repair Facility made the repairs.
Assured Performance Network Offers Other OEM Rewards
Chrysler joins GM and Nissan in the certified collision shop program managed by Assured Performance Network which is designed to benefit OEM parts purchases and ensure customer satisfaction via Certificates of Authenticity. Assured Performance Network
also offers member benefits which earn 5% rebates from GM and Nissan. GM and Nissan are providing an incentive and reward for shops to use more genuine GM and Nissan parts and less aftermarket. Members can receive a rebate of
34 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
5% off list price on GM and Nissan parts when you repair using 100% GM and Nissan parts on ALL repairs using GM and Nissan collision parts. Members can print and present a “Certificate of Authenticity” to their customers illustrating that you have
April 2012
Shops will also receive a business development report to help evaluate the business and identify key improvemments. “We announced earlier this year that Mopar would be changing the entire ownership experience of our vehicles, and this program is another important step forward,” said Tony Brenders, Vice President of Technical Service Operations, Mopar. “Working with Assured Performance Network, we will not only expand our repair capabilities across the U.S., we will also ensure that the work performed will be to the highest level of quality.” The new certification process requires key business standards including: ● Road to Gold: Attaining and maintaining I-CAR Gold Class Professional shop status ● Minimum welding standards: Owning and utilizing squeeze type resistance spot-welding equipment which duplicates the original assembly process ● Minimum measurement standards: Utilizing structural straightening equipment with three- dimensional measurements The program launches on March 26, 2012. Shops interested in beginning the certification process can visit: www.ChryslerCertifiedShop.com for more details and program registration.
used 100% Genuine GM and Nissan parts to repair their vehicle. The posting and auditing process is automated with 100% Write ESP (enhanced settlement process). For more information see: www.assuredperformance.net
Gonzo’s Toolbox
This is a new story by Scott “Gonzo” Weaver as posted on his website, www.gonzostoolbox.com. Gonzo has been serving the Tulsa area at Superior Auto Electric for over 27 years. See his book “Hey Look! I Found The Loose Nut”, which provides a Good Laugh for Mechanics of Any Age. The book is available at amazon.com. Contact Gonzo at Gonzosae@aol.com.
What If You’re Looking for More than One Waldo? with Gonzo Weaver
OK, I really do fix cars for a living. I tomer will take their car to a relative take a car that’s acting up, locate the or next door neighbor, or they’ll find problem, and make the appropriate re- the cheapest shop or the closest pair. Sometimes I haven’t a clue garage in their area. I’ll hear a cuswith Richard where to look when I start, but withArnold a tomer tell me they always go to a cerfew proper tools, a little ingenuity, tain shop for all their repairs, so they think nothing of going to a specialist and a whole lot of experience I’ll find for repairs. But, when that doesn’t the problem eventually. work it’s time to ask for a recommenIt’s like finding Waldo, that nerdy dation for a shop that can make the relittle guy dressed in red and white who pairs. Now, of course, this isn’t true travels a lot and specializes in challengwith Ed Attanasioof everyone. A lot of people have a ing people to locate him. He sometimes hides in plain sight. You’ll usually have family mechanic they have used for to look closely to find him. Except my years, while others believe the dealer“Waldo” doesn’t wear a red and white ship is the only place to go for repairs. cap to give himself away. My Waldo is Whichever or whatever way works for each and everyone is just fine with usually something to do with a compome. nent or part that with has failed, or has deErica SchroederOne way or another somebody cided to be difficult. I sometimes think has to find Waldo. When it comes to cars, Waldo that these weird repair jobs that end up can be pretty crafty. He can be hiding at my shop are like an elaborate game of in thousands of places. He can be “who can find Waldo first?” I’m not always the first guy to try under the hood, behind the dash, in the trunk, or under the seat. He can be and find Waldo. A lot of times a cus-
Jobber Journal
well concealed or under layers of components—carpet, plastic, or engine parts. With today’s cars he can even be inside a computer lurking about in the form of a corrupted bit of information. I never know where he’ll show up, but I’ll do my best to find him. The other day I was on a Waldo hunt for a whacked out gas gauge. The fuel gauge was stuck on empty on this ‘03 Ford Van. It came from another shop after they had given up on it. The shop had already tried a new sending unit in the tank, but it only lasted a day or two before the gauge quit again. So where is that little beanie cap wearing weirdo hiding this time? I started with behind the steering wheel. After doing the self test on the dash it was clear the gauge was not responding, so I broke out the gauge simulator and hooked it up to the fuel gauge. Even with the tester adjusted to 160 ohms (full tank reading) it never budged off of empty. Gotcha Waldo! You’re in the instrument cluster… aha! Got ya this time for sure ya skinny little twerp! I got the new cluster approved and installed it the next day. I hooked up to the scanner, checked that all the programming needed was done. That’s typical stuff… mileage, tire size, etc … not a big deal (with the right scanner, an IDS in this case or the dealer parts department can set most of it up for you when you order it. Actual programming needs vary from year to year, so be careful to follow all manufacturer’s directions). I was so convinced that I had this one I didn’t think I needed to recheck my work, so I was in for a surprise when the gas gauge didn’t move right away. I’ve seen this before. It can take a minute or two, or up to 20 minutes if the key was on while filling up the tank. I didn’t recall turning the key on when I was installing the new cluster, but by the time I had the van off the lift and backed out of the shop the gauge was working. Done, problem solved. Waldo, you’re out-of-here! Boy was I wrong. Seems old Waldo had to come back just a few days later. The gauge is back on empty again just as it did with the first shop. Now what is he doing? Waldo
Shop and Product Showcase Shop Showcase Shop Snapshot with Erica Schroeder
Consumer Callout with Ed Attanasio
Custom Corner with Ed Attanasio
Company Connections with Chasidy Rae Sisk
Shop Strategies for Savings with Walter Danalevich
Inside Insurance with The Insurance Insider
is a crafty kind of nerd. Is he messing with me? I’m about to “go mechanic” on his butt. Back to the gauge tester again. This time the gauge reacted with every movement and changed with every setting I could put it through on the tester. I knew the empty reading on this tank is around 15 ohms and a full tank is 160, so I should have a reading somewhere in between those readings from the tank sender. It was 16 ohms? Oh, come on. Is this tank empty? I gave the tank a couple of knocks with my knuckle “rap, rap, rap” and asked sheepishly, “You in there, Waldo?” I got an approval to drop the tank down to check it further. I could tell the other shop changed the tank sending unit. They had butt-connected the lead together (Gee, ya could have just disconnected it) but I did notice something rather strange about the sending unit. The float was bent around the fuel pump and an edge of the bail was trapped against the actual fuel pump bracket. Waldo is up to something here, and it’s not the sender. I grabbed a flashlight and looked down in the tank. There inside the tank is the tray that the fuel pump rests in. It’s mainly there as a way to control the sloshing affect of the fuel and to help give the gauge a steady reading. The only thing was the tray wasn’t staying in place. It had broken free from the bottom of the tank and was sliding back and forth as the van drove down the road. “Waldo, you’ve been a very naughty little fellow,” I said to myself. The only thing that made sense about the dash being bad was that somebody must have tried to send voltage back up the sending wires to the dash, and it probably knocked the gauge out. It wouldn’t have been hard to do with the gauge and fuel pump leads all in the same connector. Somebody could have easily (accidently I hope) crossed the wrong leads, which created another Waldo. While the original Waldo remained in hiding inside the gas tank the whole time. Now I just have to tell the customer where I found him at this time. Great, just great—two Waldo’s in two places in one car. I think I’ll let Waldo explain this one to the owner himself.
www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 35
On Creative Marketing
Sprucing Up Your Shop For Spring with Thomas Franklin
It’s been said that a picture is worth a Walk through the shop and imagine you thousand words. Yet, with today’s digihave an insurance executive or dealertal cameras in cell phones, even, picship owner walking along with you. Try tures are worth less than a dime a looking at your place from his or her dozen. Yesterday’s promotional pieces, eyes and take some notes. These could flyers, brochures and even website be the improvements that make the difpages, all may have nice photos, but ference in how your shop is valued as a people are less impressed with them place to refer customers. these days. To really make an impact on A few standard interior-decorating with Dick Strom a potential source of referral business, measures can make a major difference in you need to get them to come to the how your shop is perceived. If you often shop and see the real thing. One live have spare parts or some other eyesore contact is easily worth more than a in your office or waiting area, a useful thousand pictures. device to hide that kind of thing is the With spring arriving, this could be room divider. These are generally just a a good time to spruce up the shop and couple of free-standing 2’x 6’ or 3’x 6’ push for some live visits by referral copanels hinged together, but depending on ordinators you’ve been chasing. Over how they’re painted or covered with fabthe winter some aspects of your shop ric or used to display promotional may have fallen into disrepair or worse. posters, they can be a significant visual Getting an entire shop showcase-ready asset in an otherwise drab room. If the Lee Amaradio Jr.or waiting area is uncomfortably is generally notwith an easy task. Spare office parts storage and the paint mixing room small, a mirrored wall gives an illusion may have become major eyesores. of larger space and also reflects light to
Opinions Count
Action Counts
Tom Franklin has been a shop sales and marketing consultant for fifty years. He has written numerous books and provides marketing solutions and services for many businesses. He can be reached at (323) 871-6862 or at tbfranklin@aol.com. See Tom’s columns at www.autobodynews.com under Columnists > Franklin
brighten a dimly lit room. Although a body shop is in the automotive painting business, it’s surprising how many shops fail to adequately paint their buildings, driveways and equipment. Just painting the spray booth doors makes them look newer and better maintained at a glance. The same is true of the paint storage room. Older equipment like ancient frame machines and welding equipment can be spruced up quickly with a coat of the metallic paint you use on vehicles every day. Dealership shops are more likely to have identifying signs over bays indicating body work, frame work, welding, etc. Dealership driveways also usually have painted lines to direct customers to various parts of the facility. But an independent shop can add a perspective of professionalism by adding a few signs around to designate how various bays are used and perhaps some painted lines on driveways. These simple cosmetic
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measures will make a major difference to visitors accustomed to well organized and generally very clean offices. While these improvements might be made to impress an insurance executive or dealership owner, other changes might be added for more specific visitors. Some shops have begun to take advantage of the “baby boom generation” achieving the status of “seniors,” and looking for ways to alleviate physical problems that can come with aging. Special handicap access elements around the shop can assist an older person taking a shop tour and the shop could profit from offering and installing handicap-assistance devices like power running boards. Driving schools have begun to multiply as public schools drop driver training classes. Some shops invite student drivers in to look at heavy hits to alert them to what can result from hazardous driving. A shop showcase might add a display to that effect. Also a
THE CARCOON WORKSTATION
shop that caters a bit to mothers and parents should consider adding some child-entertainment items that could be emphasized when showing a mother or parent around the shop. This kind of convenience can make a major difference when a prospect is comparing competitor shops in your area. While all of these improvements would significantly help sell your shop to prospective referral source visitors, the impact on shop personnel shouldn’t be overlooked. Sprucing up a work bay and perhaps making some improvement in the appearance of standard worker clothing tells a technician his or her work is valued and especially appreciated at this time. This same technician is likely to also present a better P.R. image when people are coming through on a tour. Efficiency studies have shown that personnel in general perform better in well organized, attractive spaces. You may have started out to simply make improvements to impress anyone coming through on a shop tour, but you could also be pleasantly surprised to find that your improvements have reduced cycle time and made a major difference in your financial bottom line.
Delaware Bill (HB 242) Prohibits Insurers from Exploiting Data
Rhode Island Bill Would Delete Anti-Steering Legislation Language Rhode Island is becoming a legislative battleground for competing interests between shops and insurers. No fewer than six bills have been introduced this year in an attempt to modify the state’s unfair competition laws. In January, H 7688 introduced a classification system: creating “three (3) classifications of full collision licensees based upon the amount and type of equipment maintained and used by the auto body shop, the number of certified technicians employed by the auto body shop, certification and compliance with environmental agencies such as the EPA.” This bill also required different labor rate surveys for each classification. H 7690 introduced “three (3) business days advance notice to the insurer adjusting the claim for damage to the vehicle for the purpose of allowing the insurer an opportunity to appraise and photograph the vehicle prior to dismantling” and bolstered the insurance fraud statute by requiring shops and insureds to certify that repairs have been made in accordance with the insurer’s appraisal and indemnifying the insurer for repairs not made at the request of the insured. Now, bill H 7782, introduced Feb. 16, would amend the state’s unfair competition law by deleting the section of the law that requires insurers to in-
As more insurers begin offering payas-you-drive insurance options in which vehicle driving patterns are tracked by the insurer through a device hooked to the vehicle’s on-board diagnostic system, a Delaware bill (HB 242) would prohibit the release of such data by insurers to others, and would prohibit insurers from using the information for anything other than consideration for premium discounts, unless the policyholder gives consent. Any violation of the bill would charge the violator with a Class G Felony.
Connecticut Bill Adds Subsection to Require Recycled or A/M Parts
Raised Bill 387 in CT calling for the use of alternative parts as the primary means of repair on state vehicles. The amendment reads: (j) In performing the requirements of this section, the Commissioners ... shall use recycled, remanufactured or aftermarket parts as the primary means of maintenance and repair of the state fleet, provided the requirements of this subsection shall not apply to any fleet vehicle under the management of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
form insureds or claimants of their right to use the shop of their choice. The deleted section (15) reads: (15) Requiring that repairs be made to an automobile at a specified auto body repair shop or interfering with the insured’s or claimant’s free choice of repair facility. The insured or claimant shall be promptly informed by the insurer of his or her free choice in the selection of an auto body repair shop. Once the insured or claimant has advised the insurer that an auto body repair shop has been selected, the insurer may not recommend that a different auto body repair shop be selected to repair the automobile. An auto body repair shop may file a complaint with the department of business regulation alleging a violation of this subdivision (15). Whenever the department of business regulation has reason to believe that an insurer has violated this subdivision (15), the department shall conduct an investigation and may convene a hearing. A complaint filed by an auto body repair shop must be accompanied by a statement written and signed by the insured or claimant setting forth the factual basis of the complaint, and the insured or claimant must voluntarily appear and testify at any administrative proceedings on the complaint.
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The Community-Focused Body Shop
Domenico Nigro is the president of Nigro’s Auto Body, a very progressive shop for their community in Philadelphia. In addition to many productivity innovations, Nigro’s installs equipment for disabled drivers, has developed several phone Applications, and represents products which directly support charities such as United Way and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Contact him at: nigroautobody@comcast.net.
Feather, Sand and Fill: Paint Operations Body Shops Perform But Don’t Get Paid For with Domenico Nigro
How much money are you losing each HAPs 6H rule to reduce the public’s year by not charging for Feather, Sand health exposure to Hazardous Air Poland Fill (aka Feather, Prime and Block)? lutants (HAPs). The agency’s main objective is to significantly lessen the If you’re charging nothing, I can guarCheney amount of HAPs released into the enantee you $5,000with more inJanet yearly profits vironment during paint stripping or if you follow this advice and start getting compensated for the necessary work surface coating operations. During such work practices, the you’ve always been doing. Feather, Sand and Fill is a non-in- most dangerous chemicals, namely, methylene chloride (MeCl), cadmium, cluded procedure that takes the surchromium, lead, manganese and face from 150-grit level smoothness to the condition of a new, undamaged nickel compounds, represent signifipanel that can then begin the refinish cant risk to employee health if proper engineering and administrative conprocess. The labor and supplies used with with feather, prime and block trols are not in place.” The 6H rule requires that this may fluctuate based on the nature of the repair area and should be consid- portion of the process needs to be done by the paint department, in an ered when deciding which work needs to be performed. I will address the is- enclosed space, and is therefore a resues many shop owners have in get- finishing procedure, not a body repair ting insurance companies to pay for process. This rule helps solidify this procedure, the laws involved, and Feather, Sand and Fill as a refinishing process by definition of the law, but it possible solutions to consider. In 2006, the Collision Industry still isn’t properly compensated for by Conference Estimating Committee de- the Insurance Companies. This means that any application of fined feather, prime and block as primer that is sprayed through a HVLP “non-included refinish operations that complete the process from 150 grit to spray gun must be done by a certified the condition of a new, undamaged painter, inside an enclosed spraybooth panel... The body/paint labor and ma- and billed as a paint procedure. But how should your shop charge terials necessary to prepare the repaired area from 150 grit to the and get paid for it? It is a judgment call that must be condition of a new undamaged part is a valid and required step in the negotiated on the spot. The repair process. The labor and material al- process only takes you up to the 150 lowances for these operations requires grit level, but I have to get the panels an on-the-spot evaluation of the spe- to pre-loss condition before the refinish process can take place. I am faced cific vehicle and damage.” Despite this clarification, shops with this issue on almost every single are still having trouble claiming this job and I approach it by talking with process and being paid for the work the adjuster directly. I say “If the Pand materials. Some insurance com- Pages state that this is a necessary panies say that Feather, Sand and Fill process to repair a job and bring it back to pre-loss condition, then why is included in the repair process, which simply isn’t true. In addition, would it not be covered?” So, first I prove my point that it’s a necessary often times, on many insurance compart of repairing the vehicle. I cite The pany estimates, they state that feather, 6H rule that supports claiming it as a sand and fill is included in the repair process, which directly contradicts the refinishing process. At this point, some insurance companies will pay law, the P-Pages, and the logic of our business. Of course, the insurance for the operation, while others simply companies don’t want to pay for this will not pay. In this case, the insurance companies are forcing auto body costly operation becuase they’ve shops to break the law by not listing haven’t had to pay for it for years. the procedure as a refinishing process An even stronger argument can be made using the language in the federal and therefore admitting to violating the 6H rule. Failure to comply to the regulations imposed through the EPA’s 6H rule. “On January 9, 2008, the EPA 6H rule can result in hefty, daily fines and even jail time. If your shop doesaccepted a new standard known as the
Shop Showcase
38 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
n’t report or charge for it, you are in a way admitting to breaking the law. Another typical response is that charging for feather, sand and fill is not competitive in the market, and because other body shops are allowing the insurance agencies to take advantage of them, they claim that all shops should folllow suit. I also hear “you’re the only shop that charges for this process,” which simply isn’t true. So the insurance company is literally telling us that because other shops aren’t recouping these costs, we should all lose the revenue and break the law. So how do you calculate the costs of FSF (or FPB)? A simple forumla that I’ve come up with over the years in the business, and doing my own time studies is as follows: I use .3 per repair hour to calculate FSF. The example we’ll use is a 2 hour repair. 2 X .3 = .6, Refinish labor rate = $48 x .6 = $28.80, Paint and Materials = $27 x .6 = $16.20.
Total costs associated with Feather Sand and Fill on a 2 hour job is $45. If a shop performs two of these each week, there is a yearly loss of $4680 a year. In addition, at a sales tax rate of 8%, the state is losing $375 a year for each shop not being paid for this process. If you simply use the formula above, your painter’s efficiency goes up and you’re no longer supplying these materials for free. Determine your repair times first, state this is only a repair process, first negotiate your body repair time and specify that this is only for the repairs, not for refinishing. Once that is established then you negotiate your time and costs for Feather, Sand and Fill by using my formula. This will increase your painter’s efficiency, it will increase the profitability of your paint supplies and it will add to your overall business See Feather, Sand and Fill, Page 43
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www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 39
The Levan Group—Where Crash and Mechanical Parts Intersect merged collision and mechanical parts customers, including nearby mechanical shops, walk-in cash customers and and seen it lead to more profits and adIt’s like water and oil; church and a whole new business segment they ditional customers as well. SSF Imstate—the Democrats and the Repub- had never tapped into before—the doported Auto Parts in South San licans. For many decades, there have it-yourself (DIY) market. Francisco is such a business, marketalways been two disparate sources for “The DIY customers are starting ing both mechanical and collision collision and mechanical parts. But to save money by doing repairs they parts with good results, according to now, still mired in an economy that is would not consider before,” Levan Bill Foxworthy, the company’s Colliimproving but lagging, aftermarket said. “Now, we get about 30% of our sion Parts Director. “When business slows down, business from these people. both mechanical and collision shops And by adding more chemistart looking around for new sources cals, clears, bondo and sand of income,” Foxworthy explained. paper (he does not sell paint), we are appealing more and “Body shops obviously need mechanmore to the growing DIY part of our overall business.” Owned and operated by six brothers, Kenny, Michael, Brandon, Andy, Harry, and Henry; each Levan oversees one location while Andy works at all five warehouses when required. It’s a hardworking family that came to Inside Sales Rep Leo Puentes, Owner/Manager Kenny Levan and Sales Rep Andrew Knowles market a wide the United States from VietBill Foxworthy is the Collision Parts Director at range of both collision and mechanical parts at the Levan nam 33 years ago. In 1988, SSF Auto Parts, a company that sells both Group they started the Levan Group mechanical and collision aftermarket parts for brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, parts distributors are starting to think with little capital but lots of sweat, Porsche, Volkswagen, Audi, Mini Cooper, outside the parts box and adding me- Levan said. Saab and Volvo chanical parts to their collision inven“I came to this country when I tory and vice versa. When ancillary was 13 and I always tell people, I ical parts to complete a lot of their rerevenue becomes vital to the bottom pairs and more and more people are started working the minute I got off line, every company starts looking that boat and haven’t stopped yet,” he buying salvaged cars, fixing them up harder for the “new, new thing”. By said. “It’s a family business, so we and re-selling them, especially with a being a one-stop parts source and ex- make the decisions together and we lot of the higher-end imported vehipanding their inventories, companies work as a team. We’re always thinkcles we sell parts for.” are increasing profits and building a ing of new ways to make our company SSF sells a fair amount of front larger, more loyal customer base. better, and adding parts or supplies to end parts, water pumps, fans, bearThe Levan Group, Inc. has been our inventory has turned out to be a ings, condensers, wheel components in business for two decades and has and air conditioning parts to five locations in California and Texas, body shops. Conversely, meso owner Kenny Levan has seen the chanical shops are buying collision parts industry change and remore headlights, grill, eminvent itself on many levels. That’s blems and other accessorywhy he began incorporating mechantype body parts as needed, ical parts into his collision inventory according to Foxworthy. It’s within the last several years. hit-and-miss and tough to “We’re always looking for ways track, but Foxworthy knows to increase our revenue, because once that SSF is providing a valueyou rely totally on certain types of added feature by offering parts, you’re limiting yourself,” Levan both. SSF sells collision parts Kenny Levan runs the San Jose, Calif. location for The said. “We discovered that our body for 80% of the car nameplates Levan Group. He started selling collision repair parts in addition to his mechanical inventory to better cater to the shop customers want certain mechanthey also sell mechanical do-it-yourself market and body shops looking for a oneical parts to supplement their crash parts for, including BMW, stop solution parts. It’s a matter of convenience and Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, if we can match the prices they’re wise move. We carry mechanical parts Volkswagen, Audi, Mini Cooper, Saab finding elsewhere, it’s an easy deci- at all of our Bay Area locations and and Volvo. will be expanding to include Sacrasion for them.” “Sure, our mechanical lines are mento very soon. By the end of 2012, our bread and butter,” he said. “But By offering a limited range of mechanical parts, such as radiators, lamps, all of our Northern California loca- we’re starting to see that the two types tions will have collision and mechanwindow regulators, shocks, brake parts are slowly morphing together, so we and struts, for example, the Levan ical parts, as well as shop supplies.” realize that we need to keep selling Other parts distributors have both. When business starts lagging, Group has attracted a new group of by Ed Attanasio
40 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
we see a spike in collision parts sales, so we know it’s a necessary part of what we’re selling. We’re in an age of convenience and shops realize time is money. If they can improve cycle times as a result, it’s a win-win, definitely.” Foxworthy has been in parts for several decades, so he has seen the parts industry change with the Internet and other technological advances, he said. “The auto repair industry has seen a lot of drastic changes, but in other ways they’ve been reluctant to change. Selling both mechanical and collision parts would be a logical alternative, especially when we’re all fighting for that extra dollar. But, it’s not the traditional way of doing things, so aftermarket distributors aren’t going that way. The overall attitude is we're not going to change something that's already working. But, we all know that’s shortsighted thinking.” By incorporating aftermarket collision parts into their inventory mix, Midway Aftermarket in Kansas City, Missouri has benefitted by the resurgence in the DIY market while appealing to body shops that want a mix of recycled parts coupled with new aftermarket parts, Marketing Director Aimee Studna explained. “For more than 20 years, our salvage yard has been our core business,” she said. “Several years ago, we started identifying a need with our customers who wanted a mixture of recycled parts and aftermarket parts, both collision and some mechanic al parts, mostly air conditioning parts and radiators. Now customers ask about them and we sell them right alongside the crash parts and our recycled inventory. This way they get a mix of new aftermarket and recycled parts, which appeals to a lot of the insurance companies.” Can collision and mechanical parts co-exist together in the same warehouse? Will automotive shops of all types gravitate toward this onestop shopping approach to acquiring parts and how will the OEM’s react when it starts becoming more than just a minor trend? Stay tuned, because we’ve learned that if money is involved, people will adapt and quickly change their ways of thinking in the pursuit of increased profits and a bigger piece of the overall parts pie.
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Inside Insurance
The Insider is a corporate-level executive with a Top 10 auto insurer in the U.S.. Got a comment or question you’d like to see him address in a future column? Email him at Auto.Insurance.Insider@gmail.com
‘Survival of the Fittest’ Also Applies to Collision Repairers with The Insurance Insider
the Certified program could result in The collision repair industry has too many body shops. I’m not sure anyone an improper repair and compromise would seriously dispute that. The your safety.” Chasidy Rae Sisk sooner we can ridwith ourselves of 15,000 body shops, the better all of us will be. Yes, it’s true, all of us will be far better off. This includes insurance companies, vendors, body shops themselves and consumers. How can wewith make Chasidy this happen Rae at Sisk a faster pace? That may be beyond the limited scope of this mastermind, but it wouldn’t be an Insider article without a recommendation or two, so buckle up and get ready. The car manufacturers should further develop their certification programs and join together as one voice to educate consumers at the point of purchase. “If your car is in an accident, you must take it to an OEM Certified Repair Facility to Sadly, that statement isn’t some guarantee a proper repair. Taking trumped-up idea to scare people. It’s a your vehicle to a body shop outside fact and the motoring public should
Northeast News Shop Showcase
42 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
know that while there are more than 35,000 body shops in the country, too small a percentage are prepared to repair aluminum, identify substrates, weld “exotic” metals and use proper-sectioning procedures. The complexities of today’s vehicles provide a significant challenge to repairers. And five years from now, the 2012 vehicles will look like a Model A does today. U n f o r t u n a t e l y, there aren’t a lot of people who fully understand the implications. Most industry pundits will probably tell you that I’m solely referring to the Mom-and-Pop body
shops as being ill-equipped or lacking in necessary repair information. Au contraire, mon frère…I’m referring to shops that might be just like yours, maybe even most shops. I’m not trying to lose readers, just the shops that are clinging to their outdated business models and procedures like a mother bear to her cub. And since we aren’t likely to see car manufacturers creating sophisticated certification programs that virtually eliminate the bottomfeeders, there is an alternative. One that is probably a little more humane. For the Rhodes Scholars and my fellow Ivy league compadres, I offer you: The Darwin Theory. Yes, a concept so primitive that a caveman could follow along. Flo? Maybe not. It’s a simple but effective concept. Survival of the fittest is surely the answer to the ills of this over-pop-
ulated industry. If you are from an area where deer are prevalent, you may be able to better relate to my body shop reduction initiative. In many states, deer have become a problem. There are too many deer and not enough predators to keep the population down. The answer to that problem is open season. How does this relate to body shops? I’m not suggesting open season where we shoot the weak and vulnerable. There’s no need to suggest that when we have a natural predator. Consolidators are the ying to the yang, the french to the fry, and the predator on the bottom-feeding body shops. Thankfully, the mega-mighty shops are slowly and steadily eliminating competition from the marketplace. It’s a slow, arduous process but one that will ultimately yield the positive result we all seek (even though you may not know you want it), which is fewer shops. Consolidators receive a substantial number of calls every month from shops looking to sell their businesses. It has become a buyer’s market, and those with capital are licking their chops but patiently
waiting. Why buy today when the price tomorrow is going to be a little cheaper? The Mom-and-Pop shops are dying a slow death, and the longer they wait to sell, the less they are going to get. Most insurance companies are happy to see the attrition of shops, although the rate of decline is less than desirable. This isn’t about eliminating the Mom-and-Pop businesses that we were once the backbone of America and still play a big role. It is about eliminating the undersized deer, the one with a limp and the one that can’t see very well. By eliminating the weak, the larger, more astute operators can continue to grow at a rapid rate. That will raise the overall quality and efficiency of shops in this industry. The shops that can better serve our customer. Ooops, I mean our mutual customer.
The Insider is a corporate-level executive with a Top 10 auto insurer in the U.S.. Got a comment or question you’d like to see him address in a future column? Email him at Auto.Insurance.Insider@gmail.com.
EW DRN DAI HYU
Continued from Page 38
Feather, Sand and Fill
success and bottom line. If you try these methods and they don’t work, you should show the adjuster the P-Pages, even reference this article. Ask the adjuster to prove to you that you don’t have to do this step which is required by all three estimating systems and established as an industry standard. What do they say? If you’re still not being compensated, have them call me. Write us, let us know if you’re charging for this operation. The only way for justice and fair compensation from insurers is through cooperation and unity among shop owners. Allowing the insurers to strong arm your bottom line is costing us thousands each year. A standard formula can be applied to all jobs that account for these costs in a fair and transparent manner.
www.autobodynews.com
Specially Constructed Vehicle Amnesty to End
SEMA has been working with the California legislature and state agencies to provide protection for owners of improperly or illegally titled and registered specially constructed vehicles (SPCNS). Under a looming threat of prosecution, this program was pursued to help vehicle owners and builders avoid a situation that could have led to confiscated cars and felony law enforcement actions. Beginning July 1, 2011, an amnesty program to allow proper registration of previously registered SPCNS went into effect. The program is slated to conclude on June 30, 2012—roughly 16 weeks remain (as of March 12, 2012). These solutions permit these vehicles to demonstrate compliance with current BAR smog-check tailpipe emissions requirements, in addition to providing amnesty for owners that have knowingly made false statements regarding the value of these vehicles, the year of manufacture or knowingly falsified any other facts in documents filed with the DMV or CHP. Owners of vehicles that are subject to the smog install one of sevGivelaws us may your opinion on eral OEM engines and related powertrain components that are intended to meet state emissions requirements.
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Hey Toby!
Toby Chess is an I-CAR program instructor, Training specialist, and former salvage yard operator. Toby is universally known in the collision industry for his work with first responders and advocacy for body shops and consumers. He can be reached at tcspeedster@yahoo.com
CAFE Standards Will Affect More Than A Shop’s Miles Per Gallon with Toby Chess
Ask most people about CAFÉ stanto look at the challenges for these dards and they would immediately steels. The first area is we need to think of food quality control. There is understand is the effect of heat on another meaning that you probably metal. know and it will drastically impact Heat applied to mild steel will inyour business, but you may not be crease its strength (once it cools). aware why it will. Heat applied to high strength steels CAFÉ stands for Corporate Averwill with David McClune decrease its strength. Heat apage Fuel Economy-- the average miles plied to ultra high strength steels per gallon on an OEM’s passenger (UHSS) will destroy the steel. Recars and trucks. The standards for member these facts. passenger vehicles will rise from the national current 27.5 mpg to 35.7 mpg by 2015, while light trucks will go from 23.5 mpg to 28.6 mpg. My next question is how will the OEMs accomplish these figures? Car and trucks will be lighter and smaller, with a greater use ofwith aluminum, Johnplastics, Yoswick carbon fiber, magnesium and advanced high strength steels (60 percent of all steel in today’s vehicles is AHSS). These exotic materials are the reason that fuel economy will impact A couple of other facts that you body shops. need to remember: There are two Aluminum is being used on virtypes of energy behavior that we tually all makes and models built need to recognize when dealing with today, not only on upscale import today’s vehicles. The first one is ensports cars. The hood on a Toyota ergy absorption. This is the process Prius for example is made from aluof dissipating the energy by the dewith Richard Steffen minum. You will need to invest in formation of the part. As the part new tools and training to work with collapses, energy is lost as it travels increasing use of this metal. from front to back or back to front. This deformation is accomplished by use of laser welds (different thicknesses of metal or different metals attached together with laser welds), collapse zones and reinforcements. Most of the metal on today’s vehicles utilizes high strength steel with MPa (a megapaswith John Yoswickcal is a unit of pressure, which here is a measure of stiffness or tensile strength of materials) ratings between 440 and 590. The second
California Autobody Association
Year in Quotes
The design of energy transfer is to move the energy away from the impact without it deforming. This is accomplished by making the part extremely strong. Many OEMs utilizes ultra high strength steels in the cabin reinforcements (“A” pillar reinforcement, “B” pillar reinforcement and roof and rocker reinforcements). The MPa ratings are 600 and above with some metals reaching over 1400 MPa’s for these metals. You ask the question why are they using these super metals. The answer is simple. The government and Insurance Insti-
Collision Repair Association of CA.
Transition Planning
Besides hand tools and aluminum stud guns, you will need to know how to weld aluminum and you may need to invest in a dedicated aluminum welder
Shop Showcase
with Karyn Even with an increase in theHendricks use of aluminum, the percent of usage is Note that the front of the Volvo has collapsed relatively small compared to the use and shortened length is evident, but there is no deformation in the passenger’s compartment of Advanced High Strength Steels. Steels (AHSS) will pose the biggest type of energy behavior that we deal problems for repairers and we need with is energy transfer.
Shop Showcase
44 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
with David M. Brown
The IIHS devised a test to determine the strength of the “B” pillar to withstand roof crush in a roll over scenario
tute for Highway Safety demanded it. Let’s look at Federal Motor Vehicle See Hey Toby!, Page 48
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Northeast News
Chasidy Rae Sisk is a freelance technical writer from Wilmington, Delaware, who writes on a variety of fields and subjects, and grew up in a family of NASCAR fans. She can be contacted at crsisk@chasidyraesisk.com.
The NORTHEAST™ 2012 Trade Show: All About the Seminars with Chasidy Rae Sisk
autobodynews.com, search ‘Northeast I attended my second consecutive 2011’ (select exact phrase). AASP/NJ Northeast Trade Show, officially show number 36, on March 9 with Chasidy Rae Shop Sisk Differentiation: How to Make and 10 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ. As I Your Shop Stand Out, with Mark Olson spend more time at these kinds of In a presentation geared for shop owners and managers events I begin to appreciated how on how to more much there is to learn in this complisuccessfully procated business of collision repair. It is mote their facilia very educational and useful event ties and to set their that collision repairers should make shop apart from the effort to attend next year if possilocal competitors, ble. no one has more My focus this year was to cover Verifacts’ the seminars which included waterof the necessary Mark Olson borne technology, nitrogen welding, experience and triage blueprinting, and managerial background than Mark Olson, COO of VeriFacts Automotive and a wellcourses. I was especially curious on how they had been updated from last known industry speaker for a couple of decades. Olson is an accomplished year. If you didn’t see my coverage of last year’s show it might be worth a expert in many specialties in collision quick review as several of the speak- repair but has particular expertise in ers drew upon their previous presen- vehicle damage assessment, proper retations. Check out my story at pair methods and collision industry
Shop Showcase
46 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
forensic analysis. Starting with a reminder that shop owners will get no business if they do not remember to ‘ask for the car keys,’ Olson focused on the goal to obtain more business. With the decline in the number of industry shops, his seminar attempted to show shop owners and managers what it’s going to take to stay in business. Beginning with the assumption that quality work will make a shop stand out, Olson admits that this comes with a price since standing out too much will make competitors try to knock you down. He notes that people will know a shop for two reasons: if they do something really great, or if they do something really bad. Drawing on his seminar from last year, Olson reminded attendees that there are things that people know, things that they are aware they do not know, and then there are things that
they are unaware that they don’t know. Addressing several attendees directly, he proved his point by showing that there are many rules in the industry that shop owners are not aware of since the rules change constantly. He stressed that this business is all about understanding the rules of collision repair. An example Olson gave of auto body technicians being unaware of rules was the case of weld-through primers. Most weld-through primers state on their label not to weld through, and they must be dabbed on even though they come in a spray can. See last year’s coverage for more details. Though the rules change constantly, technicians are held accountable to the current rules, so they need to stay up-to-date. Shop owners or managers should acquire information See Trade Show, Page 49
Helpful Documents, Tools And Information Only a Click Away for Shops by John Yoswick
Looking for tips, tools and resources to help your business, defend your positions or do your part for the industry? Here’s a collection of links to sites, documents and information you may find interesting and useful. — Motor Information Systems has released a revised edition of its Guide to Estimating (http://tinyurl.com/7zhbvr3), its explanation of what is and is not included in its estimating labor times (the system used by CCC Information Services). Revisions made in the February 2012 version are highlighted in blue within the guide. The new guide, for example, indicates that recalibration of the steering angle sensor is not included in Motor labor times. Bumper labor times are now shown to include lamps when mounted to the bumper but not include optional equipment lamps or those not mounted to the bumper. Labor times for fender inner panels are now shown to include grinding, filling and smoothing welded seams up to 150 grit sandpaper. The guide adds electrical wiring to the list of non-included items on frame labor, steering column overhaul, trunk lid, lift gate and quarter panel times. Hinge pillar glass and moldings are now listed as included in cowl, hinge pillar and dash panel times. — I-CAR has actually lowered the cost of its online training (http://tinyurl.com/7rsb2sb) to make it comparable (on an hourly basis) to the fee for its live, classroom training. There are now more than four dozen online classes available, some vehiclespecific (such as “Ford F-150 Frame Replacement”) and others more general (such as “MIG Brazing”). — Although the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) said earlier this year it had found no discernable defect that led to two fires in Chevrolet Volts weeks after they crashed, it is standing by its recommendation (http://tinyurl.com/7jd88tu) that shops not store severely-damaged vehicles with a lithium-ion battery inside or within 50 feet of a structure or another vehicle. — Whether or not your shop participates in State Farm’s “Select Service” program, it can be interesting to check out the program’s revised shop
locator system (http://tinyurl.com/ 7yegybx) that policyholders, agents or claims personnel can use to locate a participating shop. Rather than locating shops based solely on proximity, the system now ranks shops based on their current performance score from State Farm (although those scores aren’t shown on the site). Interestingly, only three shops appear on first page of search results; users have to click through to subsequent pages (each of which lists five shops) to see additional shops - potentially including shops that could be much closer to their home or work than ones higher up on the search results. — Ask shops about their nagging concerns about the future, and chances are they’ll mention the increasing crash avoidance technology on new vehicles. They probably weren’t heartened by the fact that David Strickland of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently said his agency will decide next year whether to mandate vehicle-tovehicle communication technologies in new cars, which he said could address up to 80 percent of crash scenarios “We have been working on this notion for over a decade,” Strickland said, according to the Detroit Free Press. “We really do feel very bullish on the prospect of getting it on the ground.” But those who make a living based on auto crashes can take some measure of comfort from a recent report (http://tinyurl.com/7ujp5ws) from the Highway Data Loss Institute. It says that even with such mandates, it can take decades before new safety features are in 95 percent of vehicles on the road. According to the report, it won’t be until 2016 that 95 percent of vehicles have front airbags, for example, and until 2028 for side airbags. Based on that trajectory, forward collision crash avoidance technology won’t be in 95 percent of registered vehicles until 2049, the Institute predicts. — And just in case you want to read more about future vehicle technology, an article (http://tinyurl.com/ 6s88yp6) in a BBC news magazine asks, “How close are we to a crashproof car?” It quotes a Volvo technical adviser who says the automaker has pledged that after 2020, no one will be killed or seriously injured in
one of the automaker’s new cars. And Wired magazine in February (http://tinyurl.com/7foslf4) featured a fascinating look at the “autonomous car,” one that essentially drives itself. — This may come under the sarcastic heading of, “Tell me something I didn’t know,” but the highly-publicized report (http://tinyurl.com/6ukvr4s) regarding paint and materials compensation methodologies released earlier this year also found that while average costs for paint and materials have grown by 50 percent since 2005, the average compensation rates paid by insurers have risen by only 23 percent. Much of the coverage of the study focused on the fact that it found that 64 out of 68 industry participants interviewed think the current way paint and materials compensation is calculated is a poor methodology. Only four people (including representatives of three repairer operations and one estimating system provider) rated the current system as “adequate” or “good.” The study concluded the current system is flawed in part because on smaller jobs, repairers do not receive adequate compensation, and for large repair jobs, insurers believe materials charges become excessive. The study, conducted by Richfield Associates and commissioned by ComputerLogic (which produces the PMCLogic paint and materials costcalculation system), included interviews with shops, insurers, suppliers, association executives, consultants and trade publication editors. —If you’re interested in some documents that challenge the insurance industry, the Consumer Federation of America issued a report (http://tinyurl.com/6phzony) earlier this year that says insurance premiums have become an undue economic burden on low- and moderate-income Americans, and that state regulators should do more to help reign in these costs. “What is undeniable is that high auto insurance costs for (these) households either impose a substantial financial burden or greatly limit economic opportunity, especially access to jobs,” said the report’s authors, who are a former Texas regulator and the executive director of insurance at the Consumer Federation of America. The report suggests lowering minimum liability limits, creating spe-
cial programs (as has been done in California and New Jersey) to help low-income Americans get cheaper insurance coverage, and eliminating policy pricing elements (such as education level and credit history) that hurt low-income households. Meanwhile, another recent report from a coalition of consumer groups says Insurers overstate their industry’s financial losses from natural disasters and otherwise manufacture perceived crises to allow them to dramatically increase premiums and profits. The report (http://tinyurl.com/ 7t6h8d2) says Americans have for 35 years been “victims of this industry’s little-understood economic cycle, created by anticompetitive (yet legal) underwriting practices, unique and opaque accounting policies and virtually unchecked power when it comes to regulation of insurance rates.” The report from Americans for Insurance Reform—a project of the Center for Justice & Democracy at New York Law School that includes nearly 100 consumer groups—said insurers are once again using disasters like Hurricane Irene to end a 5-year “soft market” of stable rates and heavy competition among insurers, and replace it with a “hard market” marked by extreme rate hikes. Insurers can overstate losses from disasters, the report says, because they are based on estimates of unknown future claims, which are, during “hard markets, wildly exaggerated.” The study’s authors point out that insurers make plenty of profit in both types of markets not through underwriting but through investment of surplus that has been set aside for future claims. That surplus has risen by a factor of almost 40, the study states, and totaled $580 billion in 2010. The report urges governments to require more data from insurers, gain more control over rates, and repeal insurer’s antitrust exemption under the McCarran-Ferguson Act.
John Yoswick, a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, who has been writing about the automotive industry since 1988, is also the editor of the weekly CRASH Network (for a free 4-week trial subscription, visit www.CrashNetwork.com). He can be contacted by email at jyoswick@SpiritOne.com.
www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 47
mometer. I will take a before and after reading with an instrument to test the strength of steels.
Continued from Page 44
Hey Toby!
Safety Standard 216A. By the model year the government wanted a 2 ½ times gross vehicle weight to be placed at the “B” pillar, but HEAT AFFECT ZONE
The first test was done on a front rail on a 2009 Toyota Camry which is high-strength steel and has a strength category of 440 MPa. The value of the steel is 16.9 which converts to a 440 MPa reading
This “B” pillar reinforcement on a 2010 Toyota Scion is being replaced at the factory joint in the roof and it is not sectioned
MIG Weld
The steel was heated to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds and allowed to cool naturally. A second reading was taken Spot Weld
The above 2 welds are fusion welds. The metal becomes molten (over 2200 degrees Fahrenheit) and when it cools, a ring forms around the weld known as the Heat Affect Zone. This area on high strength steel is weaker than its surrounding metal. In the case of ultra high strength steel, this area has a strength equivalent to the strength of mild steel, which has no energy absorption or energy transfer capabilities
One method of reducing the heat affect zone is skip welding. A bead length of 25 to 38 MM is made (#1 weld). A second weld is made (#3) and the weld is closed by last weld (#2). Let’s look at what heat does to metal
the IIHS wanted 3 times and by model year 2012, 4 times. What happened was most manufacturers were able to meet the 2012 standards in 2009 and
The reading was 27 or 50 percent less on the point scale, but was a slightly above 600 MPa. Think about this. Fusion welding takes place at 2200 degree and this part was only heated to 800 degrees. Think what would have happened to the steel if it was heated to 2200 degrees? It would have lost all of its strength. This is why most manufacturers require the cabin reinforcements to be installed at factory joints and not sectioned
its affect on these metals. I am going to heat the metal with an induction heater and monitor the temperature with a non contact therThe strength of the metal dropped to 250 MPa. It lost nearly 50 percent of its strength. This is the reason why Toyota states in their CRIB #175 -- “Do not use heat for straightening”
A reading of 53.7 or 1380 was observed. Again the part was heated to 800 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 seconds
those vehicles received a 5 star rating. We now need to look at heat and
WD-40/SEMA Cares Foose Challenger Raises $115K For Charity at Barrett-Jackson The WD-40/SEMA Cares Foose Challenger is used to raising eyebrows, but by the time it rolled off the auction block at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction January 20, in Scottsdale, Arizona, it also raised big money for charity to the tune of $115,000. This is the third consecutive year WD-40 Co. has partnered with SEMA Cares to build a custom vehicle for a good cause.
Readings were taken again after the part was allowed to cool naturally
The WD-40/SEMA Cares Camaro and WD-40/SEMA Cares Mustang also raised money for the same two SEMA Cares charities—Childhelp and Victory Junction Camp—and the three vehicles have raised a combined total of more than $400,000 for those charities. “On behalf of the SEMA Cares Committee, I would like to extend a See SEMA Foose, Page 62
48 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
The next part to be tested was a “B” pillar reinforcement from a Volvo XC90. The part is constructed of advanced steel alloyed with boron.
I want to end this with a couple of thoughts. You will need to invest in an inverter 3 phase spot welders. You will need to invest in obtaining data for all structural repairs. You will need to invest in Training, You will need to invest to be competitive and safe.
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Continued from Page 46
Trade Show
from the vehicle manufacturers or an aftermarket service that acquires the information from the manufacturers on every car, for every repair. This is their responsibility since the manufacturers will not alert shop owners when they change their rules. While Olson admits that many mistakes result from shop owners and technicians being unaware of the current regulations, this can be aided by knowing everything about a car from the very beginning of the job, when they first write the estimate to ensure a quality repair. “The goal of any repair is to put the vehicle back into the same state and shape as it was so it performs the same way in the next collision as it did in this collision and is cosmetically correct,” said Olson. Switching topics to that of the counter culture of quality, Olson reinforced that a “quantity culture” is one in which shops focus on throughput, cycle time and profits, assuming quality will take care of itself. Asking questions such as “how soon?”, “how
fast?” or “how much?” sends the message to technicians that quantity is more important than quality. Olson believes it is necessary to establish a new culture with a balance between quantity and quality where there should be a shift from “going through the motions” to everyone being committed to the process. It is the responsibility of each employee to deliver a quality repair to the customer. Though he insists that everyone wants to do the right thing, doing so requires everyone knowing what the right thing is. The four components to a positive repair experience are thorough damage assessment and customer communication, internal quality control stage checks and peer inspections, pre-delivery inspection and estimate review, and well-defined customer delivery protocol. Concerning customer communication, it is useful to learn the customer’s preference for communicating to best provide customer service; some customers might prefer a personal phone call while others find an email or text to be sufficient. VeriFacts also suggests using a stage-check verification in which the
technician and a peer inspector signs off at each step of the repair: Body, Refinish, Assembly, Sublet, Interior & Exterior Clean-up and Final Inspection. This will help reduce the number of unsatisfied customers and increase your CSI. Olson put it simply: “this is about exposing your excellence.”. Some key ways to show the world that a particular shop is great is through wordof-mouth, Internet, especially social media, and advertising. It is also useful to give customers tours of Larry Montanez III the shop, just as giving an insurance company a tour to demonstrate flow, equipment, special certifications and so forth is helpful in convincing them to add your shop to their DRP and refer their business in your direction. VeriFacts’ research finds that shops tend to improve in quality over time. The typical pattern shows an improvement in quality, followed by a drop before the shop finds a steady pattern. Olson emphasizes that it only
takes a month to create a habit which is necessary for those looking for sustained change over time. The manager or owner drives this pattern, and if they enforce a particular behaviour for a solid month, employees are more likely to accept this as habit and continue adhering to it. Discussing quality dimensions, Olson says the five key elements are repair planning, equipment, materials/parts, process consistency and repair quality. Repair planning means ensuring that the shop has the requisite systems, credentials and access to repair information, while the equipment aspect concerns making sure that essential equipment is well-maintained, accessible and working properly. Shops should make sure the correct materials and parts are being utilized also. Process consistency entails setting up and enforcing standard working procedures “to ensure consistency and sustainability of repair outcome,” and for repair quality, “the assessor will verify repair quality by observing in-process vehicles and technicians’ work to validate conformance to VQ standards.” See Trade Show, Page 56
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Verifacts Symposium Recognizes Achievement, Industry Unknowns, and Negotiation teacher?” After the expected and silent answer of ‘no,’ Delmege answered his The fourth annual Verifacts Automo- own question: “No one remembers his tive Fix it Right/Fix It Smart Sympo- name, yet he unlocked the intellectual sium, was held February 23–24, at the key that changed the world.” This simple question set the tone spectacular Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort in Dana Point, California. This as Delmege invited the attendees to invitation-only symposium was at- challenge conventional thought and explore the future. The international tended by 350 collision professionals including shop owners, insurers, and line up of speakers and panelists came prepared to do that. related industry partners. A most unusual and gratifying segment of the Symposium was Verifacts recognition of other industries who have a proven commitment of quality and excellence. Dr. David Spong, who retired as President of Boeing Aerospace Support, is the only two-time recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National (l to r) Larry Jeffries, CARSTAR Canada, Stacy Bartnik Quality Award, the only forCARSTAR USA, and Farzam Afshar, CEO of Verifacts Automotive at the NABC display mal recognition of the perIndustry veteran Dale Delmege formance excellence of both the was Master of Ceremonies for theday public and private U.S. organizations, and a half event. In opening the event receiving said awards from Presidents Delmege asked if anyone remembered Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. The the name of Albert Einstein’s math Baldridge Award is given by the Presby Janet Cheney
ident of the United States. Dr. William Buchanan, an Orthopedic Surgeon with Kaiser Permanente has been instrumental in pursuing continuous improvement in the organiza-
(l to r) Jeanne Silver CARSTAR Mundelein, Kristen Felder, Collision Hub, and Shawn Collins of 3M, share a moment at the Verifacts Symposium
tion with unprecedented success. Dr. Buchanan also serves as a volunteer on the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Air Rescue Program. Dr. Buchanan brought a video showing an intense display of what the LA Air Rescue people do and how critical systems and procedures are to this process of saving lives. Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s
Department Aero Bureau were recognized for their exemplary Aviation Safety Management System. Verfifacts CEO, Farzam Afshar, recognized these three with the Verifacts “Role Model and Safety Award.” Several presentations followed. Negotiate Like the Pros, by Attorney John Patrick Dolan, was informative, uplifting and much fun. Attendees participated in a brief ‘survey’ identifying certain behavior styles. His message: be Tough, Shrewd and Cool Under Pressure. ‘Don’t roll over and play dead—there are other options.’ Fix it Right/Fix it Smart sounds like a simple formula, yet the challenge of the unknown from every industry segment was recognized. Discussion points revolved around the theme of unprecedented change. Recognizing the ‘firehose’ of information being thrown at the industry and how is this to be assimilated and used effectively, to identifying the balance of cost containment intersecting with new technology. As one industry representative confessed,
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“we are not sure even where we are going.” Selected industry partners displayed innovative products and were available for education and discussion throughout the event. Verifacts CEO, Farzam Afshar and COO, Mark Olson, are cofounders of the company. Their collective experience brings a high level of innovative thought, skills and industry knowledge to Verifacts Mark Olson, Automotive. The Verifacts COO, talks Symposium is a about the smart reflection of their way to fix a car industry message. This Symposium brought together a collaboration of information and an amalgam of industry minds melded together to work towards the ultimate goal of achieving better repairs, better processes, better relationships. In short, a better industry and Verifacts would say, ‘Exposing Excellence in Collision Repair.’ For more information see: www.verifactsauto.com.
Continued from Front Page
CA Bills
ified procedures when using replacement crash parts, to expressly notify the automobile owner regarding the use of specific categories of crash parts in making the repairs, and to provide disclosures as to the warranty for those parts, as specified. Because this bill would create a new crime, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. The bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Tire Repair Non-exclusion Galgiani’s bill (AB 2065) would amend the Business and Professions Code to remove tire repair and changing from the list of exclusions to repairing vehicles. Existing law defines the repair of motor vehicles to mean all See CA Bills, Page 53
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NORTHEAST™ Trade Show Leadership Forum forum was Tony Lombardozzi with Automotive Collision Repair Services Attendance at the recent NORTH- in New Hampshire, who repeated his EAST trade show, at the Meadow- message of self-sufficiency for the inlands in Secaucus, NJ, was up 20% dustry and his advocacy of independfrom last year, which was up from ence from insurers through his presidency of the Coalition for Collision Repair Excellence (CCRE). Lombardozzi put it plainly: “The insurer is not a third party to our contract with our customer and should not be involved in the repair process. What an insurer appraiser writes is meaningless. It serves no purpose in the repair process.” The show-organizer and exAASP/NJ Exhibiting at Northeast 2012, their own show ecutive director of the Alliance the year before. Some seminars were Automotive Service Providers of overflow seating and organizers had New Jersey (AASP/NJ), Charles to pull in extra chairs for people who Bryant, agreed with Lombardozzi’s arrived late were standing. assessment of insurer involvement. Heard and seen at the show were Bryant undersome familiar figures in the industry. scored that repairSeveral took the mike at the Northeast ers not negotiate Leadership forum. with insurers. One person we all wanted to “Offer them a cup of coffee, talk hear from was the owner of North to them about last State Custom, Greg Coccaro, who surprised a number of attendees night’s hockey Charles Bryant with the revelation that he’s back to game, and direct doing business with Progressive In- them to the car they want to write an surance, despite estimate on,” Bryant said. “But don’t the long and tor- go back there with them and don’t neturous legal bat- gotiate the repair... You are the expert tles between the on how to repair cars, not the insurtwo. Even though ance company. Write what needs to be business is rela- done, make a proper and safe repair tively slow for and bill fairly for your work.” shops in the area, Both stressed that repairers need Greg Coccaro his Progressive to take responsibility for educating work has actually picked up. Coc- customers about the repair process caro was told by a Progressive em- and explain why the estimate the reployee that “Progressive does not pairer wrote is the most reliable one. have a network of shops in New Janet Cheney York any more, so the intense steergave a quick reing they practiced in this area has port on a couple of subsided.” Coccaro added, “I’m state’s associanow repairing cars for Progressive’s tions that don’t alcustomers once ways have the ear again.” Coccaro of the national still owes some trade press. See Janet Cheney $500,000 in legal her article this fees to defend his issue (p. 54 and 55). See also Chasidy shop’s reputation Sisk’s column at autobodynews.com. and his own name. He hopes Tony Lombardozzi Search: to be able to recover his losses due to the causes of action in his pending lawsuit against Progressive. Another engaging speaker at the by Chasidy Sisk and Janet Cheney
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Continued from Front Page
Chinese Auto Parts
trade practices by foreign countries,” said USW President, Leo Gerard. This letter follows action by the United Steelworkers (USW) and others to identify broad sets of practices utilized by China to protect its auto parts sector to the disadvantage of its competitors. The Congressional letter ratifies USW concerns and calls for immediate action. The USW repre-
sents about 850,000 workers in the United States and Canada in a wide variety of industries, ranging from glass making to mining, paper, steel, tire and rubber and other manufacturing environments. The United Steelworkers (USW) says that America’s auto parts sector continues to be threatened by unfairly traded auto parts imports from China and its policies that exclude US products from their markets. The USW lauds the 188 members of Congress who signed the Congressional letter,
demonstrating broad political support behind intentions to stop China’s protectionist, predatory and illegal trade practices. The lawmakers included many from the auto manufacturing states of the upper Midwest, which will likely be important in Obama’s bid for reelection in November. They said China uses a “vast array of policies” to give its auto parts producers an unfair trade advantage. Those include Chinese limits on imports of foreign auto parts and sub-
sidies that drive down the prices auto parts that are made in China, the lawmakers said. “These tactics are working. Chinese auto parts exports are rapidly growing and have increased almost 900 percent since 2000,” the lawmakers said. The appeal follows Obama’s recent decision to establish an interagency task force to boost U.S. enforcement of trade agreements. The lawmakers urged Obama “to use all existing authorities” to protect the
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52 APRILKANSAS 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com UTAH
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U.S. auto parts sector, but did not outline a particular course of action. Advocates have said the administration’s options include bringing a case at the World Trade Organization or initiating an action under U.S. trade remedy laws that would lead to duties or other restrictions on imports from China. The USW also filed a petition with the US government alleging that the Chinese government unfairly favors, through subsidies and other trade measures, its domestic manu-
facturers of “green” goods like solar panels and wind turbines. The petition was filed under a section of US trade law—Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974—that was once a strong protectionist weapon but has basically gone dormant since the advent of the World Trade Organization.
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are administrative: Because the failure of a person repairing and changing tires to register as an automotive repair dealer with the bureau would maintenance of and repairs to motor constitute a crime, the bill would imvehicles, as specified, and excludes pose a state-mandated program. The from the definition, among other California Constitution requires the things, repairing tires, changing tires, state to reimburse local agencies and lubricating vehicles, installing light school districts for certain costs manbulbs, batteries, windshield wiper dated by the state. Statutory provisions Give your on matters affecting blades, and us other minoropinion services. This establish proceduresthe for industry. making that bill would delete repairing and changreimbursement. This bill would proing tires from that exclusion list. vide that no reimbursement is required Reasons cited for the removal by this act for a specified reason. Continued from Page 51
CA Bills
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Hyundai Recalling 2011-12 Sonata Hybrids For Rear Seat Belt
A recall of 2011–2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid cars was issued by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on March 8. According to the report, more than 14,700 of the Hyundai hybrid vehicles have rear center seat belts which fail to meet federal safety standards. However, Hyundai believes it doesn’t need to fix the seat belt issue with all Sonata hybrids—or notify all affected Sonata owner, as required by the usual federal safety recall procedures, due to the fact that the issue only affects Sonata hybrids manufactured after December 2010. According to the federal safety agency claims both the lap and shoulder portions of the rear center seat belts disconnect when occupants press the 3-point safety belt’s unlock mechanism—a violation of safety
Montana Collision Repair Specialists’ Legislative Record
standards. According to Consumer Reports, Hyundai claims it will fix the rear center seat belt issue in the approximately 1,633 new Sonata Hybrids still in dealer’s lots. But the company has filed a petition with the agency to not fix the approximately 13,095 hybrids already in owners’ hands “on the basis that the non-compliance described is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety,” said the NHTSA recall notice. Until NHTSA reviews and denies the Hyundai petition, Sonata Hybrid owners will not receive any notification from Hyundai that their vehicle may have this safety issue and that a fix is available. Owners can stay on top of federal safety recalls regarding their vehicles by subscribing to NHTSA e-mail alerts from the agency’s website: www.SaferCar.gov.
by Janet Cheney
The Montana Collision Repair Specialists is an active association that is experiencing growth in membership this year. The association’s spring meeting is in Great Falls in April. Guest speakers will be Steve Bullock, Montana Attorney General, who recently announced his candidacy for Governor, and Jesse Laslovich, Chief Counsel for the Montana Securities and Insurance Division, who has announced his candidacy for Montana Attorney General. This association has a strong legislative history. Their most recent legislative victory was in 2010 when a bill was passed that ‘prohibits insurers from disregarding a cost item identified by an estimating system.’ In October of 2011, Montana State Auditor, (Insurance Commissioner),
sent an Advisory Memorandum to all Property and Casualty Insurers doing business in the State of Montana, advising them of the law and stating possible fines. MCRS Past President, Max Yates, owner of Yates Body Shop in Butte, Montana has served region, HD 74, as State Representative for the last two years. Representative Yates has also announced his candidacy to continue his seat in the State Legislature in 2012/13. For a state as large as Montana, this association stays very connected through telephone calls and email and jobber support. Fall and Spring Meetings are well attended, hosting at least 80 people. Many shop owners will drive 7-8 hours to attend a meeting. Membership is almost at 100 shops out of about 225 in the state. Not bad for a state that has more cows than people!
275,000 Subaru Forester SUVs From 2009–2012 Recalled For Rear Seat Belts Failing to Lock Properly
Subaru of America is recalling 275,000 Forester vehicles from the 2009 to 2012 model years. The models have rear center seat belt systems which do not meet federal safety standards and could inhibit the proper installation of child safety seats, said the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
NHTSA also says the automatic locking retractors in the rear center seat positions of the recalled Subaru Foresters do not lock properly. This increases the risk of injury to passengers sitting in that seat position during a collision. The seat belt flaw could prevent the proper installation of child safety seats in the rear cen-
ter section of Subaru Forester vehicles. Subaru will notify owners of Forester SUVs, manufactured from November 2007 to March 2012, who may be impacted by this federal safety recall in mid-April. Owners will be instructed to bring their recalled Foresters to local dealerships where mechanics there will
replace the rear center seat belt assembly with a new, modified automatic locking retractor for free. Consumers can call Subaru's toll-free customer support line (800-782-2783) regarding the recall campaign identification number WQA-37. Consumers can also visit the NHTSA website, www.SaferCar.gov.
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54 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
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559-436-0743 Fax Mon-Fri 7am - 6pm Sat 8am - 1pm etaylor@lithia.com
Iowa Shop’s Action and Iowa Collision Repair Association, Established in 2005, Starting to be Heard Statewide
copy of the Consent Decree to the State do business in Des Moines. Color All tionship with the DOI and Governor’s of Iowa and asked, ‘What are you going is a franchise that promotes collision office in Iowa and will move forward When Tom O’Mara, an Iowa shop to do about it? This is still enforceable.” repair work done in a parking lot under this year on the Governor’s request. result ofus thisyour meeting, the Governor owner, was told by an insurance com- As a Give This association hosting the to a tent. ICRA has been the introduced to the opinion on matters affecting industry. Want toisContribute pany that they were only going to pay requested that the Iowa Department of legislative process at the State Capital Midwest Auto Body Trade Show, him $52 an hour, even though his labor Insurance research three business prac- in Des Moines, working with the Na- March 28 at Prairie Meadows, in the www.autobodynews.com rate is $56, he became “mad as heck and tices in Iowa: collision repair labor rates, tional Federation of Independent Busi- Des Moines area. Admission is free, of storage. ness State Manager, Andy Warren. was notCHECK going to take it anymore.” He steering, and non payment there are management, technical trainpublisher@au publisher@autobodynews.com IT OUT! called the vehicle owner and read the This was last September. In December last year, six Board ing, and product demos. Over 50 venThis story made national news in Members of the Iowa Collision Repair dors are participating. We are very state law to him. The law in Iowa says that if the insurer writes an estimate or USA Today and may have helped open Association (ICRA) met with Iowa In- excited about this event. It is going to your has one written for them, and the repair a line of communication between Iowa surance Commissioner, Susan Voss and have great productPromote displays and lotsbusines of costs more than the estimate, the insurer collision repairers and the governor’s approximately twenty representatives of show specials andandoor prizes. article fe exclusive must pay the difference. The vehicle office. the insurance companies. The DOI recMost Iowa Community College your products or ser In only a few years, the ICRA has owner called insurer and insisted they Collision Repair programs will also ognized the association as representaTothe advertise To advertise The source for timely pay O’Mara’s bill. ThenSales O’Mara and asked at:have booths and bring their students to call Advertising at:called become an established and recognized tive of the collision callindustry Joe Momber information thateducaevery them to assist with the labor rate survey the show. Also, three of our dealership that supports the Iowa Governor’s office repeatedly state organization 800-699-8251 800-699-8251 shopnetworking. needs! in the next 30 days. and industry until he got a face to face meeting with tion, training,body Against the recom- members are bringing hot new cars to e-mail: Governor Terry Branstad. O’Mara had mendation of the ICRA, ae-mail: labor rate sur- the show room floor. Admission is free CALL: Joe Momber for advertising@autobodynews.com jmomber@autobodynews.com CALL 800-699-8251 to convince the governor’s aide first be- Sales Tax vey was done in that short period of and the ICRA is anticipating a great Reimbursement Legislation fore getting a meeting with the governor. Due to the abbreviated legislative ses- time and results have not yet been and enthusiastic crowd.800-699-825 www.autobodynews.com www.autobodynews.com Start Your He showed him estimates and letters he sion at the State For more information contact: Capital in DesFREE Moines posted. This is a work in process and we Mail claims revealed insurer threats against in 2011, the ICRASubscription. Sales Tax Legislation are looking for a better working rela- www.iowacra.com him, the last three years’ worth of price was tabled. Representative Tom Sands increases he has had to endure, and a has been working closely with ICRA copy of the 1963 ConsentSee Decree. “I NEW lobbyist Scott Weiser and has committhe Register Your Email for Our highlighted everything in the Consent ted that this initative will be first in line Decree that the insurers agreed not to do in the legislative docket in 2012. anymore,” O’Mara said. “I let them In 2008 ICRA stopped the Color know this is the thirdwww.autobodynews.com time I’ve given a All franchise from getting licensed to at www.autobodynews.com by Janet Cheney
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www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 55
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A process that Olson recommends implementing is working on cars using the OEM recommendations. It is necessary to follow manufacturers’ instructions by-the-book as they have reasons for their requirements, and disregarding their rules can lead to unsafe repairs. The fact that mistakes occur in this area is a failure of the process, not a failure of technicians, according to Olson. He claims that there needs to be consistency in the market for shop owners to expose their excellence.
OEM Procedures v. Repair Standards Decisions for Estimology: Part 1 OEM Repair Procedures vs. Repair Standards was a two part seminar, given by Larry Montanez III of P&L Consultants and IACDA, which addressed repair standards: where they are now and what’s likely in the future. Many OEM’s repair standards were covered, including discussion of the OEM positions, repair procedures and the potential development of re-
pair standards within the industry. Montanez broke his seminar into two parts beginning with P&L’s mission statement: “Our training programs will assist the Collision and Insurance Industries to work together during all stages of a physical damage claim in a spirit of fairness, intelligence, cooperation and accuracy. This will help to serve a vehicle’s owner, the mutual customer, with fast, safe and pre-loss condition repairs that are fiscally reasonable under OEM and industry accepted practices.” Montanez began with the OEM’s self interests: liability protection, component failure supported by testing, government regulations, consumer advocates, IIHS crash testing and NHTSA investigations, lawsuits and court decisions, and warrantee/defects attributed to design flaws. OEM position statements were created for the purposes of or because of OEM liability protection, components failures supported by case studies, lawsuits and court decisions, re-engineering design flaws, ensuring safe repairs and product, copyright and trademark protection. Getting specific with OEM
guidelines from several manufacturers: Montanez illustrated that Acura/Honda forbids the use of aftermarket or alternative components as well as the replacement of structural components. They forbid the use of salvaged airbags or other components, as well as sectioning frame components, bonding, and steel or aluminum wheel repairs. Audi dictates which spot welders and bench systems can be used as well as specific repair equipment, specific training for ASF and steel, specific welding, and repair procedures and parts. They also specify the use of OEM components and wheels and define structural repair. BMW specifies the use of spot welders, bench systems, repair equipment, rivet-bonding, steering gear damage, and other repair procedures and parts. They also demand certain training for steel and dictate the use of OEM components and wheels, a specific body filler thickness and PDF requirements. Chrysler/Jeep’s OEM guidelines require certain weld bonding procedures, structural component usage,
and the use of heat during repairs while prohibiting reconditioned wheels and salvaged air bags. General Motors forbids the use of salvaged airbags and reconditioned wheels, but they allow recycled OEM components. They specify panel bonding procedures, clipping procedures and PDF procedures. Montanez discussed the OEM guidelines of several additional manufacturers, but most were some variation of the above. More importantly, he advised where to find the repair procedures. In addition to OEM websites, shop owners or managers can go to i-car.com or nastf.org. Both provide links to OEM websites, or they can go to ALLDATA collision’s website which provides access to approximately 95% of OEM information online. Montanez emphasizes the importance of acquiring OEM information for each repair made in a shop. Noting that “repair standards are made up by people who are trying to appease a different group of people who have no business being involved in collision repair, and who are just looking to save money on it”, Montanez noted that if repair standards are
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created, they should be decided scientifically by a group including repair specialists, engineers, and so forth. He specifies that creating repair standards are only a good idea where none exist and the manufacturer refuses to release any. OEM repair standards cannot be rewritten to save money because, as Montanez reminded his audience, “when you start playing around for money, you’re risking people’s lives.”
OEM Procedures v. Repair Standards Decisions for Estimology: Part 2 Continuing his seminar on OEM and repair standards, Larry Montanez III of P&L Consultants and IACDA focused his second session on the pros and cons of developing General Repair Standards, as well as the legal issues involved, how they should be developed and who should develop them. Opening with the topic of who wants repair standards, Montanez explained that collision repairers want them because they are untrained and too lazy to search for them on OEM websites. MLO shop owners want them to make insurance “partners”
happy, since insurers desire repair standards because they are greedy and covet savings. Aftermarket suppliers are also driven by greed and the desire to make sales, while many industry associations are influenced by insurers. However, Montanez insists that the idea of creating repair standards is not completely wrong. The pros of creating repair standards are as follows: more available procedures, lower insurer costs, lower severity, fewer totaled vehicles, more repaired vehicles, better insurer relations, more use of used parts, more sectioning procedures and more parts options. Meanwhile, Montanez listed the cons as: more improper repairs, more liability exposure, more fatalities, more injuries, more diminished value lawsuits, more shop lawsuits, dangerous to motorists and more bad business decisions. If repair standards were created, Montanez insisted that it should begin with the formation of an independent group comprised of OEM representatives, collision repairers, engineers, physicists, metallurgists, industry experts and I-CAR Tech Center’s Jason Bartanen and Steve Marks. Addi-
tionally, repair standards should only be created where none currently exist and only after a request letter to the OEM has failed. They should also be supported by crash testing and computer animated drawings, and they should be reviewable every six months. Montanez points out that this process should not include insurance companies because “no one cares what the insurance companies think.” Using a case study of a business decision, Montanez talked about a 2006 Nissan 350z which was sold after chroming the factory rims. One month later, in October 2006, the owner was driving northbound on Rt. 405 in Los Angeles while an LAPD motorcycle traveled southbound when wheel separation occurred, causing the wheel to hop the median and hit the police officer, throwing him 150 feet from the point of contact. When the car’s owner purchased the vehicle at a local dealership, he was offered a chrome rim package, and the job was sublet.(Search ‘Nagel’ at autobodynews.com for this story from 2011.) Unfortunately, Nissan has prohibited chroming on their rims since the mid-1990s since they noted a change in metallurgical properties which caused problems with holding strength. The dealership paid $2.75 million between the salesman, the owner and the technician, while the $20 million case against the sublet jobber, owner, technician and even driver is still pending. Montanez claimed that every shop that uses an outside rim source promotes improper repairs. In the case of improper repairs, liability falls on the repair facility, the owner personally, the technician (in some states) and sublet jobbers. The supplier can also be sued, but the insurer will never be in the courtroom for an improper repair. In the instance of liability, safety factors are important, so only the OEM guidelines matter. OEM procedures are derived using the scientific method which includes research, experiments, analysis and so forth. Their engineering design process works as follows: define the problem, brainstorm, background research, specify criteria or protocols, create alternative solutions, choose the best solution, develop a design proposal, build a prototype or mode, test and evaluate or redesign, refine and retest, create or produce, and finally, communicate the results. The goal be-
hind these engineering principles is to keep the occupants safe, therefore it is very important not to change the parameters of OEM guidelines. Shops should also heed manufacturers’ repair areas. In closing, Montanez defined the cost of business, specifying that materials are not a cost of the shop. These should be paid by the insurance company or customer, so shops should never ignore OEM procedures to cut costs as this could lead to unsafe repairs which could result in injuries or deaths to the occupants as well as potential claims against the shop. P&L Consultants can be found at pnLEstimology.com. Drying Waterborne: What You Need to Know NOW Taught by Tom Beck, CEO of Future Care, the seminar about Drying Waterborne taught many important principles concerning how to properly dry waterborne paints. Since Beck has been involved in the conversion to waterborne since 2003, his Tom Beck goal in this seminar was to teach attendees about the realities of converting to waterborne in an attempt to best prepare them for the transition. Beck began by showing that friction slows down the air touching the surface, thus there is a small area surrounding a car in a paint booth where air velocity is decreased. This is the friction micro barrier which extends two to three inches around the car where the air is pulled in tight. In order to dry waterborne paint, it is necessary to open up this micro barrier. Laminar air flow is air that moves in one direction, and though this is what is used in spray booths, it is the enemy of waterborne which needs a multi-directional air flow in order to dry efficiently and effectively. Though air velocity is more important than temperature, increasing air velocity and temperature is even better. When researching how to best dry waterborne, Beck found that while increasing the amount of air, cubic feet per minute, by adding fans will reduce dry time, it increases energy consumption, thus costing more money. Switching tactics, he investigated the effectiveness of increasing See Trade Show, Page 61
www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 57
Custom Painter Charley Hutton Explains Step-By-Step How to Create Realistic Wood Grain Effects With PPG Products Charley Hutton, custom painter extraordinaire, explains how to create a realistic, wood grain look with a few simple tools and PPG Envirobase® High Performance basecoat. A painted wood-grain effect is one way to add a distinctive look to your custom build. In this step-bystep article, Charley will show you how to paint a panel with one style of wood in the center, framed by another wood grain look. Creating the wood grain effect is about having the right tools. You’ll want to have a variety of sponges, some with loose density for creating larger grain, and others more dense for tighter grain. Sea sponges are ideal. You’ll also need a choice of brushes, preferably inexpensive ones with stiff bristles. The brushes are used to create very tight grain lines, what we call the “dry brushing” technique. And finally, you’ll need an airbrush and compressor for shadowing and highlighting.
Of course, like learning any special effect technique, it will take some practice to get the technique down. “Some of the techniques I’ve learned actually came by accident,” said Hutton. “For example, Paul Stoll, PPG’s custom painter/trainer, and I discovered a cool trick while doing a ’49 tin woody. We didn’t like the look we were getting, so when we went to wipe the paint off, it smeared and created a really nice wood grain effect— and I’ve been using this technique ever since.”
The Paint Two colors of basecoat are needed for the wood-grain look—a dark, reddish brown (T442 Woody Brown at 800.0 pts. and T430 Green 100.0 pts.) and a lighter tan color (T429 Trans. Golden Yellow at 940.0 pts., T442 Brown 40.0 pts. and T430 Green 20.0 pts.) In my case, Hutton uses PPG Envirobase® High Performance basecoat and he says it works wonderfully. “I especially like the fact that if you apply some paint and you don’t like the effect you’re getting, you can easily re-wet again with more waterborne color, giving yourself a fresh start,” said Hutton.
58 APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Painting the Outer Frame (1) Hutton starts with a white basecoated panel, masked off to create a center panel. Each end of the outer frame should be masked with mitered corners, typical of wood frames. (2) Start with the top and bottom portions of the frame. Wet your finer sponge with the lighter tan color, squeezing out the excess by pressing it into the side of the mixing cup. Then, simply drag the sponge across the surface in one direction, repeating the process several times. Next, we need to mask the outer frame to create a beveled look. With ¼-inch tape, mask from
the side where you want the light source to appear to come from. Do the same with the bottom edge. Then mask the frame panels, leaving only the bottom edges of the frame exposed. (3) Then, as the paint begins to dry and get sticky, drag your gloved hand across the painted surface. As it begins to drag it’ll create authenticlooking grain with that knotty look. After dragging all the way across the panel for several strokes, start from the center and drag, and make smaller swipes in succession, gradually tapering your strokes to short swipes. If the paint starts to set, just re-wet it with more waterborne paint.
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(4) After finishing the top and bottom of the outer frame, mask the corners off before doing the sides. Be sure to “under mask” a bit, which in the end will create a darker line highlight. Then, using your sponge and gloved hand, create the wood-grain look on the side panels, as you did on
(7) Airbrush the areas left unmasked. This will darken them and create the illusion of shadows. (8) After creating the darker shadow lines, re-mask over the lines in preparation of creating a lighter, highlight line. Once you airbrush the unmasked areas of the frame, making
13 the top and bottom. Remove the masking on the corners and allow the paint to dry. (5) Next, we need to mask the outer frame to create a beveled look. With ¼-inch tape, mask from the side where you want the light source to appear to come from. Do the same with the bottom edge. Then mask the frame panels, leaving only the bottom edges of the frame exposed.
14 it darker, the area covered by the tape will leave a lighter, highlight line. (10) Shadow and Toning. Next, reduce the same lighter color with a clear basecoat T490 at 2:1, and reduce 4:1 with reducer. This will make the color more transparent. Airbrush the outer frame panels to add tone and accentuate the grain in the wood. When the ¼-inch lines are unmasked it will leave the lighter highlights.
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Painting the Center Panel (11) After it’s dried, re-mask the outer frame, and remove the masking from the center—you’re ready to create the wood grain effect on the middle panel. With the sponge, use the same technique as the outer frame to apply the color. Start at one end and drag the
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sponge in straight lines across the panel. Keep applying coats and as the paint begins to dry, it’ll get sticky and cause the sponge to drag. This creates a streaked, grained look.
(12) Now you want to add tone with a paintbrush and the darker, reddish shade of brown. Dip the brush into the mixing cup and tool it out, so little is left on the bristles. Using light strokes, swipe the brush across the panel, creating the darker streaks. First, apply strokes horizontally across the panel. Be sure to leave streaks to mirror the inconsistent color of natural wood. (13) Next, airbrush the panel in vertical, up ‘n down strokes. This is called “ribbing.” (14) If you’d like to add a simple logo, this is the stage to do it. Using the same paint you used to tone the wood, airbrush the cut-out of the logo. This will create a darker highlight around the letters, creating a debossed effect. For more information about the products used in this project, please visit www.ppg.com.
DealerTrack Expands Integrated Services to Assist Dealers in Complying with New California Total Loss Vehicle History Law
DealerTrack Registration and Titling Services Group now offers a new solution for California dealers so they can comply with a new state law that goes into effect beginning in July. With the passage of Assembly Bill 1215 last year, DealerTrack explained all used vehicles offered for sale in California must have a vehicle history report pulled from the National Motor Vehicle Title and Information System. DealerTrack indicated it integrated the history reports into their Electronic Vehicle Registration process in an effort to ensure compliance with the law and provide an efficient, cost-effective tool for dealers. Partnering with Florida-based Auto Data Direct, a provider of realtime access to vehicle records, DealerTrack will offer ADD’s new StiQR product to enhance the availability of vehicle histories to consumers. The StiQR developed by ADD last year uses QR code technology to deliver NMVTIS reports to consumers at the point of sale. An individually coded sticker, adhered to the vehicle’s window, can allow consumers to scan and instantly receive a current NMVTIS report using a free app on their smartphone. DealerTrack reiterated the new California law requires that a NMVTIS report must be provided to consumers free of charge if requested, and that when a brand is found on a vehicle, a red warning label is placed on it alerting the consumer to the issue. As dealers know, the NMVTIS database is a U.S. Department of Jus-
tice information system operated by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators that contains automobile information from states, insurance carriers and the salvage industry. As of March 2009 every business that handles junk, salvage or total loss vehicles must report specific pieces of information about these vehicles to the national database. DealerTrack senior vice president Mark Furcolo emphasized, “DealerTrack is always committed to helping dealers comply with state legislation, especially as it evolves. “By partnering with ADD, we will provide California dealers with a unique solution that leverages ADD’s StiQR technology with our OLRS not only to ensure all state requirements are met, but also to provide dealers with an efficient, cost-effective electronic tool for managing the vehicle registration and titling process,” Furcolo continued. ADD president Jim Taylor added, “Auto Data Direct has spent the last 11 years developing Internet-based tools for the automotive industry that assists with compliance and efficiency for automobile dealers. “When we developed the StiQR, our goal was to provide both dealers and consumers instant access to information that is vital when purchasing a used car,” Taylor went on to say. “We’re very pleased that this innovative product will be a valuable tool for California dealers as they meet the new requirement and benefit from the StiQR’s marketing and lead generation capabilities.”
www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 59
I-CAR Tech
This article first appeared in the I-CAR Advantage Online, which is published and distributed free of charge. I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, is a not-for-profit international training organization that researches and develops quality technical education programs related to collision repair. To learn more about I-CAR, and to subscribe to the free publication, visit http://www.i-car.com.
Oil Spill at the I-CAR Tech Centre in Appleton, WI, Raises Awareness A small motor oil spill incident at the I-CAR Tech Centre in Appleton, Wisconsin in the spring of 2011 has raised our awareness of the many considerations involved with a material spill into the environment. What started as an accidental collision between a snowplow and a 55-gallon drum of
with the melting snow. A rainstorm further aggravated the situation. The company that provided the snow plowing offered to immediately come in and dig out all of the contaminated soil and stone, take it to a local landfill, and replace it with fresh new material. The offer was put on hold while we sought legal and other professional advice. We were informed with Lee Amaradio Jr. that because we discovered the contamination and it was on our property, we were responsible for immediate containment to minimize environmental impact. We were also responsible for addressing possible downstream contamination. A local civil engineering and enFigure 1 - The spill was discovered in the vironmental firm was hired to assess spring after the snow melt the spill. Their observation showed waste oil on an adjoining property re“visual and olfactory evidence of pesulted in an experience we would troleum contamination.” That initial never want to repeat. observation was verified by a core There were several steps and desampling. It was recommended that cisions that had to be made to assure wood chips and hay bales be layered proper cleanup. What was more on the visible spill areas in an attempt stressful than what we knew about the to contain it (see Figure 2). The engiincident was what was unknown. How neering firm added a ten-foot abfar had the spill traveled? Was the sorbent boom to the containment groundwater contaminated? What efforts. They were also required to inpublic agencies might have to be inform the Wisconsin Department of volved? How much was this all going Natural Resources Regional Spills to cost? Coordinator. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources was the only public with Dan Espersen agency that had to be involved with the incident. Numerous photographs were taken of the site, including aerial photographs. An early concern was that the oil had leaked into a ditch containing surface water (see Figure 3). Whether the oil had contaminated any groundwater was unknown until Figure 2 - Sawdust and hay bales were first weeks later.
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loaded, and sent to a qualified landfill. The depth of the excavation varied, but it was no deeper than 6". By late May, the spill was entirely contained. By early June, all affected soil was removed. This had to be confirmed by another round of soil samples.
Figure 3 - There was a fear that the spill had migrated into a nearby drainage ditch
The final 13-page report by the civil engineering and environmental firm, in color and spiral bound, contained the entire testimony since the firm was hired. An appendix included
all the photos, lab analysis charts, and statements from everyone involved. The firm’s final observation was summed up in the statement: “Given the amount of oil released and the amount of contaminated material hauled away, the environment has been restored to the extent practicable.” The excavated area had to be backfilled with clean topsoil and seeded. The snow plowing company handled all the expenses for the spill cleanup, except for the initial core sampling that I-CAR had authorized on its own. One of the last steps was receiving a final signoff from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Regional Spills Coordinator. That twopage report did not come until weeks after the final engineering report was printed and delivered. The DNR report stated that the spill was cleaned
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We thought we’d share our expeCleanup rience to perhaps benefit another faA couple weeks after the initial obserMikea similar Causey vation, it was agreed that the snow cility that mightwith encounter incident. plowing company that first made the offer to remove the spill would be allowed to do so, but only under the Discovery and Initial Steps The spill was discovered in mid-April guidance and direction of the civil enas the snow melted (see Figure 1). A gineering and environmental firm. 55-gallon drum of motor oil in a parkExcavation began in May. Due to ing lot near the Tech Centre property the electrical and telecommunications was damaged by a snowplow during underground conflicts, it all had to be the winter. Some 30 gallons of spilled dug out by hand (see Figure 4). Nearly oil was carried off the pavement along six tons of soil were excavated,
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up to the extent practicable, and no further cleanup is needed. The
hide the incident or ignore the issue. Contact the local agency and ask, “What do I need to do about an outdoor oil spill?” Similar to a vehicle owner involved in their first collision, a facility owner doesn’t know what to do when an accident occurs. We took the initiative to contact the local engineering firm to do a core sample. We then asked the firm what do we do next? Their advice was to take every effort to Figure 4 - The excavation had to be done by hand due to contain the spill. Being upthe obstructions in the area front about the incident is algroundwater was not contaminated. ways the best approach. The spill had not migrated into the drainage ditch. It was also noted that Conclusion no citations had to be issued in con- The affair required us to collaborate nection with the spill. Final landscap- with legal, engineering, and environing of the area could then begin. The mental firms that we had little or no final cost to I-CAR was much less contact with previously. As it turned out, the spill did not contaminate surthan what we had feared. rounding groundwater. It was contained and cleaned up in a relatively Suggestions for a Similar Issue In case a facility encounters a similar short time. We hope this story of our issue, we can only suggest being experience will help whatever conforthright with the environmental au- taminant spill situation you may encounter. thorities. It will do no good to try and
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Trade Show
the speed of the air, linear feet per minute, and found that it is a very useful method in drying waterborne, even more so if the temperature is also increased. By offering a system with multiple nozzles, he is able to accelerate speed and increase the temperature of the air simultaneously. An issue with waterborne paints is the rate of evaporation as water dries slower than solvent-based paints, evaporating chemically at its own pace. Humidity is the enemy of waterborne paint, as is the dew point which is the point at which the air cannot hold any more moisture. Thus, it becomes necessary to condition the air to accepting more moisture in order to dry waterborne paints more effectively. Warm air is less dense than cold air and is thus able to absorb more moisture. Unfortunately, cold air settles lower to the ground since it is more dense, and this leads to an ineffective method of drying paint when using a downdraft air flow which will push air down over the car, causing the ends of the car to dry much faster as more air is being pushed through these small spaces between the vehicle and the walls of the booth. Accelerated Drying Systems can reduce flashoff and energy costs because they increase productivity by allowing more cars to be processed through the booth. Beck classifies systems that use compressed air, such as hand-held dryers, as stage one systems which consume a lot of energy. Stage two systems do not use compressed air. Such systems include ceiling fans, booth pods and Jun-Air QADS. Jun-Air’s Quick Accelerated Drying Systems (QADS) provide twice the velocity of a booth pod, plus they increase the air temperature by thirty degrees by redirecting the hottest possible air from the plenum down to the car. Beck said the temperature will need to be greatly increased in a system that forces air downward in order to reach the goal of 140°F in bake mode, but since cold air sinks and warm air settles on top of it, the lower surfaces of the car will still not reach the necessary temperatures for the paint to dry properly. This is critically important as the paint will move if a clear coat is applies before
100% of the water in the paint is evaporated. By bringing air from the plenum through ducts on the side of the booth, the QADS allow all surface areas on the vehicle to reach the necessary temperature to dry effectively. Additionally, the QADS contains a ionization bar which neutralizes static electricity within the booth. Since static electricity is the enemy in the spray booth, the QADS system disperses positive and negative ions in the air, allowing flake to orient properly so that the paint will look the same in all places. The system can be retrofitted with AFC, Accudraft, Blowtherm, Future Cure, Omia, SprayBake, Sunkiss and Welbuilt, among others.
Painting With Blended Nitrogen Michael Haydell, President of Haydell Industries, taught the seminar on painting with blended nitrogen to teach the secrets of painting with nitrogen technology instead of compressed air, claiming that it will cause a significant drop in Michael Haydell the use of wet materials, a dramatic increase in booth through-put and a large decrease in the cost of booth exhaust filters. During the seminar, Haydell discussed his company’s nitrogen technologies compared to general compressed air spraying systems. Because of moisture, temperature and static changes, the viscosity of painting material changes each time it is sprayed, and it is therefore not repeatable in every instance. Additionally, a typical air compressor builds static, and colder, dry air is more statically charged which results in the material separating once applied to the substrate. According to Haydell, “static is making the material do what it wants it to do, not what the painter wants it to do.” He adds that this is the case regardless of whether the reducer is solvent-based or waterborne. Showing two videos to compare spraying with compressed air and with nitrogen, Haydell demonstrated that with compressed air, some parts of the substrate were never touched by the paint, even after three coats. Meanwhile, the substrate was fully covered in only two coats when apSee Trade Show, Next Page
www.autobodynews.com | APRIL 2012 AUTOBODY NEWS 61
plied with Haydell Industries’ perfect fluid carrier. As another means of showing the perfect covering technique of his fluid carrier, Haydell suggests putting optical enhancers in the primer and using black lights in the booth to see the spots that were missed. Likewise, if UV blockers are added to the base, it is easy to see where the optical enhancers are not covered under a black light, thus showing the ability to completely cover the substrate in only two coats when using nitrogen technology. Haydell Industries separates im-
purities at a gas level by temporarily separating the gases to redirect air’s properties. They also control temperature through their hose, allowing them to control viscosity by controlling temperature. By using less material, shops can release less VOCs into the atmosphere as well. Haydell also claims that his system is very low maintenance as long as the hose is not damaged by being run over. Overall, Haydell insists that by reducing coats and materials by 30–50%, shops can also save 20–30% in material costs by using nitrogen technology.
SEMA Foose
special thanks to Craig Jackson and the staff at Barrett-Jackson for their help with the auction, as well as the management team at WD-40,” said Luanne Brown, SEMA Board Member and SEMA Cares Committee Chair. “Their hard work not only with the Challenger but with the three WD-40/SEMA Cares vehicles, combined with the creative style and vision of Chip Foose, has exceeded our expectations and will allow
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us to continue to make a difference in the lives of thousands of children.” Chip Foose, who designed the custom ’12 Dodge Challenger SRT8, was on hand at Barrett-Jackson to see the vehicle cross the auction block and dropped the hammer to close the auction as the vehicle received the winning bid from Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal Alsaud of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “Working with Chip Foose, who has used WD-40 Multi-Use Product his entire life, is an honor,” said Tim Lesmeister, vice president of marketing for WD-40 Co. Visit WD40.com/Foose.
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