Help from Equip and Service King

The future of collision repair rests with the industry’s newest body technicians, many of whom are currently in school.

Training and education have always been important to the future of collision repair, but within the last decade or so, it’s become a “make it or break it” equation. Today’s cars are essentially large computers on wheels, and if we don’t have the right people to fix them, we’re all lost—including shop owners, carmakers and even the insurance companies.

On April 19-20, Brian Gutierrez Jr. from Equip Automotive Systems conducted a two-day advanced training session at Contra Costa College (CCC) as part of the school’s collision engineering apprenticeship program.

After completing 16 hours and showing proficiency at cold panel removal technology, eight CCC apprentices received OE certifications from Equip Automotive Systems for becoming adept at the process of removing weld-on panels using OEM body repair manuals and cold panel removal procedures to maintain host panel integrity.

Laura Lozano, collision repair technology professor and automotive department co-chair, is delighted to coordinate a series of training sessions with leading companies like Equip Automotive Systems.

“These training classes are instrumental to our program because our students are learning things they can use during their apprenticeships and for when they get out into the field,’’ Lozano said. “Later during this semester, we have Sikkens, I-CAR and Polyvance coming here to provide training for our collision engineering apprenticeship program.”

Lozano stresses the newest cutting-edge techniques in the collision repair industry through these special training sessions.

“With the introduction of highstrength steels, we had to start reexamining the old ways of doing things, and start teaching cold panel removal technology,” she said. “Are the old ways still applicable with the new, stronger steels and the automakers’ increasing use of them to where they’re comprising a larger percentage of the metals used in vehicles? The old ways may become obsolete very quickly, so we need to teach our students the latest and the greatest way of doing things.”

By learning the latest techniques, CCC students will be set up for future success after they graduate and enter the field.

“Using a torch to heat and straighten frame rails can compromise the structural integrity of today’s advanced metals,” Lozano said. “Cold straightening using a drill bit means that the new panel will be received properly because it hasn’t been exposed to heat. Changes in vehicle design have created some interesting challenges in the collision repair industry, such as finding the proper repair procedure for the specific vehicle being repaired. A major concern for any technician repairing vehicles with these high-strength steels is collateral damage, or the damage to parts not damaged by the collision but by the repair process.”

Gutierrez described the process and its benefits.

“The procedure of ‘cold straightening,’ or not using heat, is becoming the norm on many frame rails and reinforcements,” he said. “In this procedure, heat is used in the repair, but it may be limited in temperature and/or time heated.”

After completion of this course, students received a certification in the process of removing weldon panels using OEM body repair manuals and cold panel removal procedures to maintain host panel integrity.

“On behalf of our CCC students, faculty and staff, we wanted to express our gratitude for your continuing support and share the results of our last grant awarded by Service King,” Lozano said. “We were able to purchase five sets of cold panel removal tool kits just in time for our student to participate in an advanced training provided by Equip Automotive Systems, Inc. Students had a blast, and all ex-

pressed how insightful this experience was.

“Thanks to the Equip team for coming to our campus and providing this opportunity to our students, and thanks to the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) for helping us to make this happen,” Lozano said. “Without their help, we wouldn’t be able to provide these types of training.”

Laura Lozano, Contra Costa College professor of collision repair technology and automotive department co-chair, coordinated a training class where her students learned how to perform cold panel removal techniques.

Pictured, left to right, are CCC students Cynthia Pool, David Bone, Sam Ortega, Bryan Ahumada and Jesse Deleon, who received certifications by completing the training successfully.

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Brian Gutierrez Jr., right, from Equip Automotive Systems, conducted a two-day advanced training session at Contra Costa College as part of the school’s collision engineering apprenticeship program.

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