Automotive Refinisher September-October 2014 by Automotive Refinisher magazine

COLLISION REPAIR ASSOCIATION 2_Layout 1 2014/03/19 11:25 AM Page 1

Enjoy the recognition you deserve.

In the last two decades the South African collision repair market has really come of age as right across the country top independent repair concerns have moved forward to embrace the changing technology of todays complex modern vehicles. One of the foremost concerns in recent years has been the constant bottom line profitability erosion partially due to the lack of standards which has lead to a over-traded repair environment. Top class independent shops have been left with only policies of a reactive nature and much difficulty in finding a proper return on their investment through a lack of recognition of the standards needed to run a professional repair facility. The Collision Repairers Association has adopted an entirely new approach to the industry and some of its challenges by recruiting the cream of the crop of the repair industry who have invested in standards and continue to put out quality repairs with the aim to please customers. The vast knowledge of the officials and staff will drive forward a strategic plan to improve repairer profits and gain recognition for the vast number of independent key role players in every area of activity in collision repair in South Africa.

The CRA over the past year have worked closely with some major insurers in putting together guidelines to progress the needs of both the insurance and repair sectors. The time has come for major structural repairers and the smaller nonstructural repair shops to have a dedicated voice at the negotiating table. Not only do we have to understand the insurance industry and some of their unique challenges, but we need to also offer long term sustainable solution to problems that have existed over the past 3 decades. The CRA is also driving a recognizable legislated standard via the DTI that will become compulsory for any repairer to trade in South Africa. This should see the repairers that have already invested in standards gain the recognition they so rightly deserve. The industry has certainly been begging for change and change has arrived in the form of the CRA. So call us soon to gain your place on the road forwards with the new trade organisation of the future in collision repairs. JOIN THE CRA AND GET THE RECOGNITION YOU DESERVE!

T he

benchmar k

quality

Call us on 0861 726 272 or Visit www.crasa.org.za

CONTENTS SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2014_Layout 1 2014/08/29 2:37 PM Page 1

Contents

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2014

ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT Joint Hollard and Telesure Venture

STARTINGLINE SPRAYGUN Entry Level DeVilbiss Equipment

BASF COATINGS Merger Update

IBIS

Conference Report

LATEST TRADE NEWS Motor Traders Organisation

NEW JAGUAR XE

Construction

DE BEER

Technical Centre

TTI GLOBAL TRAINING A Step Change

R-M

Workflow Seminars

AMID BIKE SHOW Report

NEW PRODUCTS What’s Hot?

12 13 14 16 22 31 38 46 60 72 82

Front Cover: Peugeot 2008 DKR Contents: IBIS Conference 2014, Barcelona

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PUBLISHER’S BIT - by Ian Groat WHAT’S HOT?

INSURANCE WRITE OFFS IT’S A MINE FIELD FOR COLLISION REPAIRERS

or over a year now some of our local key insurance companies have moved to a level of writing off a damaged vehicle at around 50% damage to the retail trade and selling price. These levels are in many ways not sustainable in an overview against the South African motorists and their personal loss for often they become a big time loser in this accessed-loss situation. High cost models are often in a blatant position of being discriminated against for they will, in most cases, lose the most in an insurance write-off situation at these levels. Like normal, it’s not such a simple matter as many insurers will still offer up to 60-65% of the cars value in order to keep the client on the road with a repaired vehicle. There is a new move by key motor companies like Hyundai, Honda, Peugeot and others who are now actively engaged through their approved body shop repairer networks to save a car on borderline cases that occur. These concerns are working closer and closer with insurers to overcome the write-off end result in some cases, in order to reduce client turnover and improve customer retention. Quoted figures show that a car owner whose vehicle is totalled in some 90% of cases never purchases the same brand again for various reasons. One of the biggest concerns for the motorist involved in many cases would be the fact that they have for instance a 70-month purchase period to fund in finance charges. This often leaves them stranded with huge financial amounts outstanding and unpaid at vehicle loss time. With the latest addition of some automotive auction houses now moving up to close to 1 000 code 2 write-off vehicles each month, the situation looks very depressing for the collision repair trade. There appears very little in the way of client transparency taking place in the area of vehicle loss due to accidental damage. This may be the time to question a customer’s rights. The Consumer Protection Act in some ways, seems a little grey when levelled against the total loss trend pursued by a handful of insurers right now in South Africa.

Another key area of concern must be for car makers that offer extended service and warranties on their models. Just imagine the ramifications of literally thousands of code 2 cars and trucks being repaired in back yards with no standards, re-appearing on the roads after repair and claiming there’s a diff-whine or body rattles that need attending to. Who would pay for that when the manufacturer was never informed the car was totalled under the code 2 package of loss and the diminished value that the car may see for a fouled up repair that another purchaser must endure without the knowlege his new vehicle is a major rebuild. Collison repairers who are increasingly asked to make more and more investments into equipment and output standards seem to be on the outside looking in. The push towards not repairing a vehicle damaged on the road is in full motion. In this option some insurers seem to have an eye on increased profits coming from removing the clients car at the cheapest cost with claiming excesses in place, while enjoying a share in the upside sale proceeds of the vehicle auction sales prices with the auction sales houses in place. It’s a win-win in some ways for the insurance but everyone else is left with a poor outcome as this trend to rid themselves of problem vehicles and clients gain momentum. We may have to advise you not to travel anywhere on the roads as it’s a bit too scary for words as the vehicle damage market takes a giant step to the left. Is it a move designed to increased insurer profitability purchased from the luckless insured driver once again? It all adds up to a fairly short term quest for profits at all costs in this model of vehicle salvage and a very short term view of loyal client retention.

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T H E V O I C E O F T H E I N D U S T R Y

September - October 2014 Telephone: Facsimile: Email: Website: Publisher: Editor: Accounts: Design: Assistant: CT Journo: European Technical Editor: 4

Edition 175 +27 (0)11 949 4091 +27 (0)11 252 6844 autoref@iafrica.com www.autoref.co.za Ian Groat Claire Macfie Val Groat Jay Groat Nataschja Ferreira Dave Fall Andrew Marsh

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The views expressed in articles in Automotive Refinisher are those of the authors and shall not be construed to represent those of the Editor or the Publisher. Accordingly, Automotive Refinisher accepts no responsibility for claims and statements made by advertisers and independent columnists. Further, the appearance of advertisements herein does not necessarily indicate the approval by Automotive Refinisher for the product and/or service advertised. Material may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the Publisher. Automotive Refinisher is dedicated to servicing the business interests of the collision repair industry.

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INDUSTRY NEWS LOCAL UPDATE

NEW FROM CRA

RA have put together work group committees in all the regions. The following groups have been put together: Audatex, Training, Complaints, Branding, Enterprise Development, Parts Procurement, Insurance contracts, Communication, Social media. The work group committees feed into a national committee who will be dealing with the industry stake holders. The members can use the following email addresses should they have enquiries: Audatex@crasa.org.za, Labour@crasa.org.za, Complaints@crasa.org.za, Parts@crasa.org.za, Insurance@crasa.org.za, Branding@crasa.org.za

New Criminal Racket The SAICB said it was aware of nine instances thus far, two vehicles were recovered and three arrests made. Service providers must ensure that the correct owners/clients take delivery of these vehicles, and insurers should alert auto body repairers to this situation to prevent such crimes from taking place.“We suggest that you advise your preferred panel of repairers to request identification from the insured before handing over their vehicle,” the SAICB recommends. One insurer stated that it has had five SUVs and a luxury sport car stolen in this manner, while a vehicle tracking company confirmed five similar cases reported in April.

WHAT’S HOT?

VW MOVE TO SAVE-A-CAR

olkswagen have introduced a novel Save-A-Car programme to avoid the total loss of one of their vehicles involved in a borderline write off type of accident. After a successful pilot, where they discovered learning points and improved on the concept, they are ready to roll out nationally. The programme is designed to reduce vehicle repair costs to an acceptable level in relation to vehicles deemed as damaged beyond economical repair by insurers. Repair cost reduction will be achieved through contributions by Motor Body Repairers, Dealers and VWSA. Through the programme we hope to save vehicles by encouraging repair as an alternative to disposal where repair is feasible. To ensure a successful application for assistance the following criteria applies 1. The repair value should exceed the vehicle insurer’s write-off threshold. 2. The insurer must be considering writing the vehicle off. 3. A motor body repair quoting system recognised by the insurer must be used. In this regard a repair quotation recognised by the insurer must be provided.

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4. The parts pricing should be based on VWSA’s recommended retail price. In this regard: l The individual dealer and/or motor body repairer remains entitled to decide on the price at which parts and labour are provided to the relevant customer and/or insurer. l VWSA remains entitled to decide the extent of its contribution. 5. Correspondence, quotations and other documentation must be on official letterheads. 6. The assistance request submission process specified by VWSA must be followed 7. All documentation must be completed in full. 8. After the vehicle has been saved, the successful applicant must provide VWSA confirmation from the insurer that the vehicle has been saved as a result of the programme. The repair will be subject to VWSA’s terms and conditions relating to the vehicle’s warranty, service or maintenance plan to the extent that the terms are still applicable. We are hopeful that this initiative provides an additional tool to assist in the reduction of insurance company vehicle write-offs, and encourage you to make use of the programme.

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REFINISH UPDATE COMPANY PROFILE

PPG INDUSTRIES LEADING COATINGS AND SPECIALITY MATERIALS COMPANY

ounded in 1883 as Pittsburgh Plate Glass by Captain John B. Ford and John Pitcairn near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, PPG Industries today is a global supplier of paints, coatings, optical products, specialty materials, glass and fibreglass. Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and colour, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. PPG is composed of 11 global businesses in three major segments: l Performance Coatings l Industrial Coatings l Glass Worldwide, PPG has more than 42 000 employees, manufacturing facilities in nearly 70 countries, and primary research facilities based in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. The company’s global headquarters are located in Pittsburgh. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: PPG), and the company is ranked 190 on the Fortune 500 with reported net sales for 2013 of $15.1 billion. From its founding in 1883 through the present day, PPG’s history reflects its dedication to enriching the communities where it has a presence. PPG’s global charitable contributions programs continue to evolve and grow in alignment with the continued success of the company. As PPG grows through innovation, expansion and product success, and as it broadens its global scope, so do its charitable programmes. In 2013, PPG’s global charitable contributions totaled more than $5.3 million. In South Africa, PPG has a strong and active presence countrywide. Trading under the PPG Industries banner, you will find architectural (PROMINENT PAINTS® brand), Automotive OEM, Automotive

Refinish, Industrial, Packaging, and Protective and Marine coatings. PPG Architectural Coatings (Prominent Paints Brand) From its inception in 1981, Prominent Paints has grown into a leading architectural brand in the South African market. The head office and manufacturing plant is situated in Alrode, Johannesburg, and employs more than 400 people. This modern manufacturing plant enjoys full integration and synergy with PPG’s research and development infrastructure and benefits from the more than US $400 million that is spent annually companywide on research and development. The Prominent Paints brand is built on strong partnerships with dynamic retailers and an ever-growing complement of trade contractors and painters. Through exceptional service delivery that stems from the internal drive and passion of our people, the Prominent Paints brand not only has become trusted in the market, it also has been acknowledged as one of the preferred architectural brands in South Africa. PPG Automotive OEM Coatings Since its beginning in 1924, PPG Automotive Coatings has focused on delivering innovative solutions. The first to introduce many coatings products to the automotive marketplace, such as cathodic electrocoat, powder clearcoat, compact paint systems and factory-applied spray-in bedliners, PPG remains at the forefront of innovation. Today, PPG Automotive OEM Coatings offers a complete line of products to automotive original equipment manufacturers worldwide. PPG colour experts combine extensive knowledge of coatings and special effects technologies with analysis of industry trends to aid automakers around the world in enhancing the images and identities of their vehicle brands. PPG Automotive Refinish PPG’s automotive refinish coatings operations began in 1926. Regardless of the application, you can expect PPG to meet or exceed the most demanding requirements for gloss, durability and ease of use.

Today, two out of every three cars benefit from PPG technology and knowhow. Bringing OEM expertise to the refinish market enables PPG customers to stay one step ahead, ensuring they consistently achieve high-quality repairs, enhanced productivity and profitable growth.. PPG Industrial Coatings PPG Industrial Coatings has earned a reputation as a leader in the marketplace for innovative, high-performance products, world-class service and colour expertise. PPG continues to build this reputation of excellence, working with the world’s top designers and manufacturers to ensure their projects are nothing short of exceptional. With an unparalleled range of products for every industrial market, PPG guarantees substrates will receive exceptional protection that exceeds goals in style, sustainability and budget. PPG Packaging Coatings PPG is a leading producer of packaging coatings, with research laboratories, manufacturing facilities, commercial and technical centers strategically located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australasia and the Americas. This global presence gives customers an important advantage – convenient access to the most comprehensive range of internal and external coatings, decorative inks, compounds and pre-treatment solutions available, for virtually every end-use: • Beer and beverage cans and ends • Promotional tins • Food cans and ends • Paint cans and drums • Three-piece and aluminium aerosols • Caps and closures • Plastic and aluminium tubes • Peelable ends. PPG Protective And Marine Coatings PPG Protective and Marine Coatings (PMC) is a world leader in the field, dedicated to developing, manufacturing and supplying coatings that anticipate the demanding challenges of protecting customers’ assets in the global energy, infrastructure and marine industries. Bringing innovation to the surface is a trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. Pro minent Paints is a registered trademark of Prominent Paints (Pty) Limited.

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INDUSTRY UPDATE WHAT’S NEW?

HENKEL AND GAYDONS’ VENTURE

urban based automotive spares wholesaler, Gaydons have become a major force to be reckoned with within the motor industry by concentrating on service excellence and parts and product availability for over 23 years, while general manager Yusuf Kajee says that his team of professionals offer built-in combined skill and knowledge of note, delivered around a personal service to meet every customer need. Their client base extends to the whole of southern Africa across the wholesale sector of the auto trade with a great many leading brands on offer. Part of this formidable range has been the Loctite and Teroson offerings from Henkel South Africa, says Jason Stevenson. Based in River Horse Valley, close by, they have focused their attention on the new range of auto body repair speciality products to improve their availability nationally stocking the latest adhesive technologies for vehicle repair and maintenance division from Henkel. “Having a bit of a rethink on our role with Henkel and their passion for excellence philosophy, to keep pace with increasing customer demand for the range, Gaydons have increased their available stock on hand to service continued growth and

Jason Stevenson from Henkel Adhesive Technologies (left) and Yusef Kajee, general manager of Gaydons are driving better brand availability at wholesale levels across South Africa. customer demand.” If you need any help or deliveries as a wholesaler or reseller of the Henkel brand call Gaydons on +27 (0)31 319 4000 or email ykajee@gaydons.co.za

MANUFACTURING NEWS

AUDI ACCEPT PENALTY IN CHINA

udi will accept punishment from Chinese authorities for breaching anti-monopoly laws in the world’s largest car market. An investigation by Chinese authorities found that Audi’s dealer arm, FAW-Volkswagen Sales Co. had “violated national antimonopoly laws,” the automaker said in a statement. Audi said that it and FAW-VW “closely co-operated with the investigation and will accept a penalty.” The statement came after China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), that polices violations of anti-monopoly law, said it had been investigating the sector, dominated by foreign companies and their joint ventures, for more than two years. It is the latest sweeping probe China has launched into alleged wrongdoings by foreign firms in multiple fields, among them pharmaceuticals, technology and baby milk. Audi parent Volkswagen Group set up the FAW-VW venture to manufacture Audis and other models. “Management processes in the sales and dealership structure are much improved to prevent similar incidents in the future,” according to the statement. The statement did no explicitly state that Audi acknowledged any wrongdoing. But it added, “Audi and FAW-Volkswagen attach great importance that all applicable antitrust and competition laws are adhered to.” China’s antitrust crackdown signals a new era of regulatory scrutiny in the country and threatens to end the days when products from Audi sedans to Starbuck’s lattes 10

generate fatter profits in Beijing than in London or New York. In the past few months, Chinese antitrust authorities pressured at least seven carmakers to cut prices and raided the offices of software maker Microsoft Corp. The probes, combined with signs the government is shunning some US technology companies for security reasons, have left foreign businesses struggling to figure out the evolving laws and regulations in the world’s most populous country. Those seeking to adapt face the challenge of interpreting vague rules in an economy that’s no longer as reliant on foreign investment as in past decades. “We may be seeing a paradigm shift where the rules of the game are changing,” said David Loevinger, former US treasury department senior coordinator for China affairs and now an analyst at TCW Group Inc in Los Angeles. “Until people figure out the new rules it will create a much more

uncertain business climate.” Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, Chrysler, Toyota and Honda have announced price cuts of vehicles or spare parts in the wake of an investigation by the NDRC into more than a dozen automakers. The NDRC, China’s main economic planner, takes primary responsibility for oversight of pricing and is one of three government bodies that enforce the nation’s anti-trust laws. “There’s a concerted effort on the part of multiple regulators in China to aggressively enforce the regulations,” said Kent Kedl, managing director for Greater China and North Asia at Control Risks Group Holdings. “They are being much more aggressive now than we have ever seen.” For Volkswagen, China is so profitable that its earnings there, along with those of Audi, generate all of its cash flow, according to analyst by Max Warburton, an analyst at Sanford Bernstein.

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LOCAL NEWS

The successful collision repair finalists were: Canal Panelbeaters, Clubman Panelbeater, PAD Panelbeaters, Lehlobo Autobody Repairers, Sleen Panel and Paint, Shenge Autobody and Smiths Autobody.

INSURANCE INITIATIVE

HOLLARD AND TELESURE SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

t’s taken over two years of painstaking development from two industry giants in motor insurance, but Hollard and Telesure pooled their resources to drive the initiative of supplier skills development with legislation to be met regarding the BEE levels of work supply. Needing a serious change in thinking the companies set about putting in place a number of collision repair centres across South Africa to comply with the Financial Sector Code with regard to enterprise development. It took a great deal of time and effort to get through the 200 or so initial applicants for the programme which has strict levels of quality standards and customer care that have to be delivered. A big part of the successful candidates on the supplier development initiative also sees a need for the companies to be financially viable. All in all there are only seven successful operations that are currently in the new roll out that met all the key performance criteria needed from Hollard and Telesure. It’s all about a cry to give work to the BEE body shop sector but the shops will also need to become much more professional in terms of the way that they market their companies with clients going forward. This, plus each body shop has to have an excellent management system in place to contend with today’s immediate business environment. In general terms many of the aspiring companies enjoy excellent skill levels but had a long way to go on customer skills levels. A few body shops on the programme were able to get discretionary grants to drive the procurement programme with key staff in place. Malcolm Schnaid, group procurement manager from Hollard and Nick Jacobs, general manager supplier management from Telesure, welcomed all the successful body shop repairers to a glittering function held in Sir Herbert Baker’s grand designs at the Villa in Parktown. The overall outcome and success of the whole initiative has been absolutely superb and the successful applicants should now move on to enjoying a growing successful relationship with both insurance service providers going forward. The programme of upskilling this sector of the collision repair market is in full motion. The whole initiative of developing the right supplier programme will accelerate into the future plans of both insurers in this initiative. 12

A joint enter prise development venture

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PRODUCT PROFILE WHAT’S HOT?

NEW STARTINGLINE GUN FROM DEVILBISS

eVilbiss have recently introduced a new Startingline spraygun with a new design nozzle and air cap which delivers optimised performance and durability for the tough everyday conditions experienced in todays busy spray shops. This low cost lightweight gun offers a comfortable ergonomic fit and feel in the hand. Coupled to this is a lightweight trigger-pull and easy fluid and air control adjustments for the spray fan. There is also the ability to adjust the spray guns incoming air volume with a built in air valve control at the base of the spray gun. Startingline by DeVilbiss comes equipped with two set up options. The 1.3 model offers busy professional spray painters a high efficiency option to give great layout on top coats, waterborne and solvent base coats and clears with the high efficiency air cap design. The larger 1.8 nozzle size is designed for use with high build primers for it offers top levels of atomisation for the more viscous automotive refinish products at the body panel preparation stage of a repair. These set up applications, says DeVilbiss, cover all conventional automotive and industrial paints delivering a smooth flow and excellent pattern shape. The Startingline’s lightweight and strong construction comes complete with a 550ml acetal gravity cup plus a paint filter, cleaning brush and spanner in the kit. All this comes at the best ever price from DeVilbiss. It’s designed to cope for the deserving spray painter who will value the DeVilbiss quality but wants a great entry level price on the brand’s performance. For more information please call BASF Coatings, Tony Carling on +27 (0)21 930 3233 / Mark at Tunzi Automotive on +27 (0)11 867 7887 or visit www.devilbissu.com for more information.

It’s expected that this well priced new Startingline spraygun range will ramp up sales of Devilbiss sprayguns in the local market.

US NEWS

CONSUMERS DEMAND REPAIRERS ADOPT NEW TECHNOLOGY

ustomer demand is changing the automobile repair industry, according to a recent survey by AudaExplore, a data-driven solution provider for insurance carriers, repairers, dealerships, fleet owners and suppliers. More than 135 repair and insurance professionals told AudaExplore in a survey given at the 2014 NACE/CARS Expo and Conference in July that digitally empowered customers are driving them to adopt new technology and communication methods. the three most “disruptive technologies” that more than half of the respondents said their businesses adopted were mobile, social media and data analytics technologies. In addition, nearly half of the respondents said that new vehicle technology was a real issue for their business. “It was not a surprise to learn that shops are worried about evolving vehicle technology,” said Adam Vasquez, VP of marketing at AudaExplore. “Advancements in aluminium, vehicle connectivity and anti-collision technologies are forcing the repair industry to adapt and converge offerings at an increased pace. These changes can cost businesses both a significant amount of time and money.” Other key findings of the survey included: l 35% of shop owners ranked estimating accuracy their most important technology capability

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l 24% of respondents said real-time customer communications are

their number-one technology capability l 22% said employee productivity technology was the most

important to them l 12% of respondents said business analytics was at the top of the

list for their technology capability needs l 4% of respondents said parts efficiency was their most important

technological capability l 79% of those surveyed reported that their technology is up to

date l 9% of repair professionals said cloud computing played a

significant role in transforming their business. 13

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LOCAL NEWS WHAT’S HOT?

BASF COATINGS SERVICES MERGER - FIT FOR THE FUTURE

he merger of the BASF Coatings Service’s Wynberg branch with the Centurion branch on 1l July, 2014, made for exciting news, as it formed a single distribution platform that services the entire Gauteng region. The decision for the merger was carefully considered based on an internal research that began in 2012. The evaluation findings pointed to how BASF Coatings Services South Africa could be better positioned to deliver better services to its customers. The core business of BASF Coatings Services is the sale of automotive refinish paints and paint process supporting products. Therefore, it made good business sense to have one point of distribution and to have these essential services under one roof. “A renewed energy and purpose is what you feel at any team meeting,” said

Puren Thathiah, national operations manager, “and good energy is important to inspire and sustain growth.” The Centurion branch has become more focused as sales and operations have been split. This will allow the team to concentrate on the core business, and is good news for customers as they are given improved service. The new building in Centurion is of a high standard in terms of current safety and health regulations. As a result those who work there have a sense of pride in their new surroundings. “The safety of our employees is paramount to us and in this new facility we have achieved European standards in warehouse safety,” said Sanjeev Ramnath, branch operation manager. To add to the benefits of the merger, the delivery schedules remain unchanged.

Twenty delivery vehicles make two deliveries a day to each area. They cover the whole of Pretoria, Johannesburg North, South, East, West and the central business district, and Vereeniging. Communication has been vital during this move. “At BASF Coatings we see our clients as business partners,” said Vicus Herbst, regional sales manager. “We offer complete business solutions. It’s not only about a quality product but the special service we provide in helping our clients reach maximum profitability along the way. “Our body shop audit programme has been a successful tool in accomplishing this milestone. We conduct a three-day analysis of a customer’s business and then provide feedback on areas where they have done well and also give suggestions on how to streamline their business to maximise productivity and their bottom line.”

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Glasurit, Division of BASF Coatings Services www.glasurit.com/za

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CONFERENCE BARCELONA, SPAIN

IBIS BARCELONA

BARCELONA by Jay Groat

he annual IBIS event was met by a full house of delegates again this year, who were treated to insights from industry experts in Barcelona Spain, where a ‘best practice’ theme dominated talks. Lesley Upham, director of commercial development at Thatcham Research, considered the body shop of the future. There is rapid globalisation of our industry, with respect to vehicle design and manufacturing. The fact that 10 global platforms will be the base for over 30 million vehicles by 2018 might make things a little easier for the repairer, as manufacturers look to capitalise this global manufacturing model. The harmonising of their products will help us as it means less capital outlay for the collision repairer. As vehicle models become more modular and more formalised, the method of repair to OEM standards will become easier across the world. Another reason for this consolidating and modular design could be due to sociatal behavioural changes in Europe. Patterns of vehicle ownership are dropping. For instance new car sales to 21-34 year olds fell from 38% in 1985 to 27% in 2010. In recent polls 46% of ‘millennials’ (also known as the millenium generation or generation Y) prefer spending their money on smart devices and education or cheaper forms of transport like rentals if the need to drive should arrive. Other reasons driving these figures could be new car pricing and the deteriorating economic climate they have grown up in, or

possibly a greener footprint. The fact remains they are slowly falling out of love with private automotive transport. Be that so, manufacturer’s are still trying their best to drive down pricing, emissions, weight and fuel consumption to accommodate these behavioural changes and to reach aggressive government target. One thing they are driving for sure is change within the automotive industry to new innovative heights. Take for instance our greener electric cars. This now adds more weight to vehicles than ever before with the introduction of heavy fuel cells. Engine downsizing requires more weight reduction and is resulting in the biggest engineering challenge – balancing the two. Safety features have to become a part of the package too. What this means for repairers is there will be a lower number of panels in the future car, meaning higher panel cost. Carbon is becoming the ideal ingredient for components, be it mechanical, interior structure or trim. With all these new manufacturing techniques it can be said that the repair process will not always mirror the production process. The body shops will need some kind of damage diagnosis or on-site material identification in order to understand the repair technique choice. Just one of the challenges to repairers recently is how to reset radar technology replaced to OEM standards. All these factors mean that repairers will find themselves in need of a multitude of skills such as fully trained assessors, who will use advanced technology to set a correct repair path - a kind of collision

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repair method consultant. The shop will also need multi-skilled technicians using model specific repair methods A high calibre of technicians capable of dealing with advanced IT and electronic skills will be required. The biggest question being asked from Lesley was, ‘Do you have a defined job or person specification to match the skills and mind set you will need for this future shop?” All these requirements are mixed in with the demands set by customers and the diversity of models. Added to this is the severity of repairs and time for those non-insurer funded repairs or the fixing of elite high-end exotics, which all culminate in one resolution, the rise of the ‘Super Shop’. These are the main choices being made today due to economies of scale (mass output + cost saving by body shop which is in turn transferred to customer) and flexibility of space. The super shop, due to the size of operation and production, employs technical skilled labour and mirrors manufacturing production flow. These are all aspects to consider when focusing on what to do for your shop’s future. Olivier Wood of Innovation Group France then gave insight on the French accident repair market. France still remains a key country for motoring, with a density of cars above the European average. Olivier said that France too was suffering from a significant drop in motor registrations, 5.7% above the decreased European -1.7% mark. He said however that their next door neighbour Spain had recovered

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with +3,3% average last year. “Such a decrease in new model purchases leads to the general car park getting older by 8,2 years’, said Olivier. Besides all the challenges France has faced, the industry still remains a large sector of the industrial environment with Renault and PSA. The country has 14 000 body shops, of which 85% of them have less than 10 employees working for them. The split between independents and OEM networks is exactly 50/50 with most insurers operating internally with approved repairer networks to negotiate conditions of service and labour rates. Much the same as we see on our side of the world, except some legislation that was implemented this year in favour of the consumer was the ‘La loi Hamon’. The law see’s a reduction of contractual obligation and duration in order for the customer to be free to choose any provider at any point of time, during the contract. This has had enormous consequences in the insurance industry as everyone bolsters their service delivery and competitive cost for consumers in order to keep clients and differentiate themselves to prospective ones. This new law has radically changed the market in favour of the client. much like our own Consumer Protection Act we see in South Africa. The trends where the client is key to your company’s well being, is becoming more prevalent globally. Who knows how long it will take until our legislation follows suit as we head towards a global norm. 17

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INVESTMENT NEWS BRAND BUILDING

MESSE FRANKFURT TO HAVE OWN SUBSIDIARY IN SA

The new directors group are seen here Raymond Burke (back left), Ute Schuchardt (front left) from Automechanika in Germany and Phillip Otto (back right) and Pula Dippenaar. The team have great plans for the extenstion of the business.

esse Frankfurt, one of the world’s leading trade fair organisers, will have a permanent presence in Africa in future. The Group is acquiring a 56% majority stake in South African trade fair organiser South African Show Services (SASS), based in Johannesburg. The SASS portfolio includes trade fairs such as the Johannesburg International Motor Show, the Rand Show, the AMID Motorcycle Expo, the Johannesburg Boat Show and the SA Outdoor Lifestyle Show. The new portfolio also includes Automechanika Johannesburg, which has been organised under licence by SASS since 2009. African shareholders. The company is to be renamed South African Shows Messe Frankfurt. The previous South African Show Services management team – Raymond Burke, Pula Dippenaar and Phillip Otto – will remain on board, to be joined by Ute Schuchardt, who is to transfer from Frankfurt to Johannesburg. Uwe Behm, member of the executive board of Messe Frankfurt: “This transaction allows us to further expand our global presence. Our activities in southern Africa demonstrate our firm belief that the future offers a wealth of opportunities for the African continent. We are pleased to be joining forces with such a successful South African company that is ideally acquainted with the local market conditions.” With regard to Messe Frankfurt’s participation, Raymond Burke, chairman of South African Show Services, explains: “We are delighted to be working together with one of the world’s leading trade fair companies. With its events all around the world, Messe Frankfurt is a prime example of internationality in practice, and it is exciting to be part of this international company. We believe that this partnership has major growth potential and will open up many opportunities for us to grow our existing exhibitions and also to attract additional exhibitors to our country. “Messe Frankfurt has in the region of 50 international sales partners throughout the world, which will be of considerable benefit in growing our business.” Pula Dippenaar, CEO of South African Show Services, adds: “With this move, we are solidifying the partnership that was established with the Automechanika event in South Africa.” Messe Frankfurt sees South Africa as having great potential for developing into a trade fair centre for the African continent – not unlike the role fulfilled by Germany in Europe. The trade fairs in the portfolio of the new company complement the existing 18

The skills competition was a great success at the previous Automechanika in Johannesburg. It was sponsored by 3M, Balco, PPG and Hurricane Equipment and they have plans to make it an even more spectacular affair at next year’s show. worldwide range of events in the “Mobility & since 1954. It was the first German trade fair Logistics” business field. For instance, the company to open a representative office in Johannesburg International Motor Show is Johannesburg, the Group being represented the most important automotive fair in Africa all over Africa by its sales partners. With its and a constant fixture in the global trade fair new venture in Johannesburg, Messe calendar for the automotive industry. Frankfurt is now opening up a subsidiary of Messe Frankfurt has been active in Africa its own in Africa.

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PRODUCT PROFILE NEW REFINISH BRAND

KAPCI LATICO REFINISH RANGE

gypt’s international coatings company Kapci Coatings have recently launched a new entry level Latico range to the company’s offer of refinish brands. Formulated to cope with an increased demand for value for money by their repairing body shop distribution chain, the Latico brand offer is backed up by both easy application, good wet look finishes as well as fast through times. “It answers the market needs in South Africa,” says CEO of Kapci, Nizam Ally, “and the Latico refinish line is already boosting sales in Africa for Kapci refinish.” It has also had great reception in the Middle East. The Latico brand includes a range of basic toners plus high performance clear and hardeners in the top coat refinish line up and new formulations on high build primer. It is known for its: l Competitive price l Easy application, fast dry times l Established, proven performance The Latico 5200 lightweight universal putty is specially designed at the body preparation stage for filling both large and minor dent damage on many surfaces like bare steel, galvanised steel, aluminium substrates and soundly prepared old paint finishes. Latico is also backed-up with a full Kapci lifetime warranty and is available right now from Kapci and all of their full national distributors. National training sessions were held recently. Reda Mostafa and Medhat Ramadan were on hand from Egypt for the hands on training. They spent a great deal of time with local distributors showing them how to gain optimal results with the Latico value range. To find you nearest dealer please call Kapci on +27 (0)11 834 1252 or visit www.kapci.com for more information on the Latico product range. The Latico value brand is the latest introduction in the Kapci Coating’s stable of products.

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LATEST NEWS WHAT’S HOT?

MOTOR TRADERS ORGANISATION LAUNCHED

MTO Chairman, Noel de Robillard says, “It’s very important to seek to fight the good fight on gaining ground for small business owners. We will be on record as striving to keep MTO membership fees at low levels, with the prospect of delivering a more comprehensive offering and greater service delivery levels. “As the MTO develops in the second half of 2014, one of the main functions will be to engage and negotiate with trade unions on labour matters. The MTO aims to gain ground in the various areas of vehicle dealerships, forecourts, franchise workshops and motor body repairers and a dedicated call centre will handle member queries. “To date, close to 300 members have already signed on. This fantastic response shows,” says De Robillard, “that our drive to lift MTO membership to 1000 companies and individual suppliers is totally achievable.” As an alternative organisation in the industry we distinguish ourselves because we care and are dynamic and forward thinking in our approach. In the short life span of MTO, they have managed to bring together these benefits:

l We are currently the cheapest association, fees ranging from R300.00 per month. l BEE Certification assistance at preferential rates. l We have a panel of lawyers available for our members at any time at the lowest rates. l MTO is currently negotiating on an affordable medical aid for our members. l Motorite has endorsed the MTO to ensure that your warranty work can continue and are at the final stages with all the other warranty companies. l MTO has undertaken a huge marketing campaign to ensure we drive consumers to our members. The MTO understand the value of belonging to an associating and what an association needs to do for their members. We are striving to ensure that our member’s benefits are taken seriously. Our vision at the MTO is more for less ensuring that members get value for membership and that we deliver on our services. For more information call them on 0861 298 009. You can send them an email to members@mto.org.za or see their webite www.mto.org.za

Meet the new sales team from MTO who are set to ramp up the new group’s motor trade membership in the year ahead. From left to right are: Mandy, Daniella and Robyn.

Noel de Robillard heads up the new Motor Traders Organisation (MTO). Their recruitment for members is forging ahead across South Africa.

his year has been a year of turmoil within the South African motor trade. Small, medium and micro enterprises are estimated to employ 660 000 people in various sectors of the trade. The challenge to answer some of the many and varied complex problems and issues that face a modern day company are set to be answered with the introduction of an all new official body to champion their rights. The Motor Traders Organisation (MTO) is an employers body registered under the labour relations act and is geared to represent with various sectors of Government and on the well being of SMMEs. It has also developed plans to advance the Collision Repair Association (CRA) to act as an umbrella body within the motor industry. Fighting the good fight with the latest protracted NUMSA strike inflicting unnecessary hardship on operation and negatively affected profits within the trade, a big part of MTO’s success story will be with a specialised legal team to guide members regarding existing laws and regulations, particularly in the light of the Consumer Protection Act.

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DRIVING THE MOTOR INDUSTRY

Visit our website www.mto.org.za Email : members@mto.org.za

Call 0861

298 009

The Motor Trade Organisation is a new organisation which exists to support and promote the interests of the South African motor industry. We will be working closely with member companies and plan to become the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Voice of the Industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; promoting its position to both government stakeholders and the media. It has been formed to address your concerns and needs as business owners. For far too long business owners in the SMME market have been on the recieving end of additional costs, higher wages, stricter, tighter legislation and compliance, all aimed at the betterment of consumers, workers and even at times our suppliers. This is true because the trade unions have a strong voice and fight for their members. Government wants to address consumer needs hence the consumer protection act. BUT WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES, who is protecting the interest of business owners?

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INDUSTRY NEWS AWARDS

VOLVO REAP DESIGN AWARDS

he Volvo Concept Estate car that made its debut earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show has been named the year’s best automotive design by Auto Express readers. The concept, which previews Volvo’s new design direction and its forthcoming all-new XC90 SUV, was named Best Design award winner during its New Car Awards 2014 ceremony in London. The Volvo Concept Estate triumphed in a hotly contested category, beating competition from 14 rival designs, including the Jaguar F-Type, BMW i8 and Land Rover Discovery Vision Concept. The interior of the car attracted particular praise for its simple, elegant design, which removes visual clutter from the cabin by minimising the number of buttons on the fascia and replacing them with an intuitive touch-screen located in the centre of the dash. This, together with the use of high quality, natural materials, including an Orrefors crystal gear lever, are all themes that will be reflected in the luxurious design of the new Volvo XC90, to be revealed later this year. British born Robin Page, director of interior design at Volvo Car Group, accepted the Best Design award trophy at the ceremony says: “I am delighted to

The latest XC90 Volvo will use scalable product architecture in its design directions and it’s already a winning formula. receive this award, on behalf of the design team, in recognition of the successful design of the Volvo Concept Estate. This concept was created to illustrate our new design language, enabling the world to have an insight into our future design vision.” Steve Fowler, editor-in-chief of Auto Express said, “Our readers’ reaction to the recent Volvo concepts, especially the Volvo Concept Estate, bodes well for the next generation of Volvos starting with the new XC90. And we have to agree with our readers, the Concept Estate is one of the most striking cars we’ve seen for a very long time and certainly one of the best designed

Volvo’s.” The all-new Volvo XC90 will be the first car built on Volvo’s new SPA (scalable product architecture) platform and will feature the new range of efficient fourcylinder Drive-E petrol and diesel engines. The flagship model will be a new, twinengine, plug-in, hybrid model, badged T8, that is an electric car, a hybrid car and high performance car all rolled into one. It will offer up to 400hp but have carbon dioxide emissions of around 60g/km (NEDC cycle), making it the world’s most powerful and cleanest SUV.

PRODUCT NEWS

NEW METALUX PLATINUM SERIES

hemSpec is proud to launch their new flagship clearcoat system, the outstanding Metalux Platinum Series. The breakthrough 9150 medium solids clear uses the latest urethane technologies to create a new level of diamond finish for vehicles. The Platinum Series MS Clear is a userfriendly, 4:1 acrylic urethane clear coat system designed for professional refinishing shops and other production environments where speed and dependability are essential. It provides excellent flow and levelling, superior gloss retention, and distinctness of image. Exceptionally easy to use for either partial or complete refinishing jobs, with superior reisstance to shrinkage and dieback, Metalux Platinum Series medium solids clearcoat also remains easy to buff for day-after applications. Faster and easier to apply than high solids clearcoats the new Platinum Series offers you the choice of fast, medium or slow hardeners for spot, panel or overall refinishing. 24

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INDUSTRY UPDATE

PRODUCT PROFILE

RUPES MIRACLE BIG FOOT POLISHING SYSTEMS

Marco from Rupes demonstrates the actual scratch marks from 3000 grit abrasives that will have be removed with the Big Foot machine back to full gloss levels.

elette South Africa recently introduced the very latest in system. They are air ventilated to reduce work build-up. The Rupes polishing systems. Rupes have an innovative Zephir grades of polish offer a unique way of getting the job done approach in developing new process technology that right the first time from the heaviest polishing job up to a one-time started way back in 1947. process of polishing. This Italian company believes there is always a better way to get From 3000 grit up to full gloss in a one process basis with either things finished faster in collision repair so using the company statethe Zephir ultrafine gel or Keramick fine polishing gels that are of-the-art research centre, the computer designed tools are available from Rupes in the latest deluxe Big Foot random polisher perfected and tailored to each respective market demand. kit from Celette. Their Random Orbital LHR 15ES models were capably Rupes’ large area Big Foot LHR 15 model avoids heat build-up and polishing failures. The Blue sponge is quite demonstrated to a number of brilliant at restoring failed paint finishes. specialist refinishing companies in the trade at the Celette SA head office recently. “It’s a total system from Rupes,” says Richard Gajic, “for along with the 150mm size large area polishing machine a new TA 50 Mini Random Orbital has been developed for denibbing and polishing small area defects.” The Big Foot design sees up to six speed adjustments and a large trigger switch with a lock on setting. The handle helps to reduce operator fatigue as the polisher has minimum vibration levels. It works with great balance. Also on offer is a special slow start-up facility to reduce polish fling from the polisher in motion. A number of pads make up the 26 AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

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INDUSTRY UPDATE WHAT’S HOT?

THE CARSYSTEMTM CARBO-TEC SYSTEM FOR CARBON FIBRE REPAIRS arbon is ultra-light and strong. When it comes to reducing vehicle weight carbon fibre is becoming more popular as a solution, but it rules itself out as a choice in most cases, unless price is little concern as it is incredibly expensive. Whether Audi A8, Bugatti Veyron or McLaren MP4-C12, there is hardly a vehicle whose style is not increased with Mansory. The look and feel is also made more individual and luxurious with the Mansory, company who have two locations in the Czech Republic, a range of carbon components are manufactured in their factory.

Getting the mats to lie so precisely is an art in production itself as each mat must have no defects. To know which should be passed over and what can be used is a result of production knowledge. To obtain a paintable surface, the material has to be ground. To ensure that there are no tiny holes or pores, a filler can be used. “To begin with painters had to sand the carbon fibre area repeatedly, but this was an enormous effort,” said Thomas Weppner, director business unit Carsystem Automotive. “The second clear coat wasn’t a good idea on the first layer of substrate.” Carsystem is the parent company of Vosschemie, one the world’s biggest manufacturer of fillers. They have developed a practical solution to the problem called Carbo Tec-Line and it was launched in 2012. The system consists of two fillers, the Carbo Putty – a polyester putty for straight surfaces – and the Carbo Spray – a polyester spray filler. To complement this is a range of matching hardeners, thinners and a carbon clearcoat.

A Clear View Carbon fibre, when coated with a clear paint, is good looking as the inserted mats of fabric appear three dimensional to the eye.

UV Protection “Both putties are transparent and no yellowing will occur as they have UV inhibitors built in for UV protection”, says

Weppner. The filler can be coloured with pigment pastes and adapted to the polyester system. Mansory use the Carbo-Tec line on the visible carbon areas and enjoy the fact that the surface is quickly insulated and protected. A high film thickness can be built up and the product offers 60% on time savings. Weppner says that more and more sporty designed vehicles are showing exposed carbon fibre areas – from wing mirrors to spoilers – and as such Carbo-Tec is the answer to job efficiency and a high quality look and finish at the end. Collision repairers will be faced with the task of fixing any damage on these parts and the transparent filler helps in this regard. The most important component of the system is Carbo Spray – a polyester spray filler for carbon parts. It is very successful in filling irregularities, such as grinding marks and pores. It is fast drying and see-through on a non-porous surface and is easy to sand. The 2K clearcoat is suitable for respray and spot repairs and can be mixed to what you need with the various hardeners. It is fast drying and cures well. The 2K Carbo Clear has a brilliant gloss finish and can be polished easily. It is also UV protected and has excellent scratch resistance.

The Carbo-Tec line from Carsystem makes working with carbon fibre easier and ensures a high quality gloss finish.

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Contact Deon on 083 628 2288, deon@hurricane.co.za, www.hurricaneauto.co.za

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FUTURE TECH JAGUAR XE BREAKS COVER

TECHNICAL

NEW ALUMINIUM INTENSIVE JAGUAR XE BREAKS COVER

he innovative new Jaguar XE redefines the standard in its segment. Designed around Jaguar’s modular vehicle architecture, the XE is the only car in its class to use an aluminium-intensive monocoque chassis, with lightweight aluminium accounting for 75 % of the structure. This milestone in body engineering, a product of Jaguar’s worldleading expertise in high-volume production of aluminium vehicles, ensures that the Jaguar XE combines outstanding design with benchmark levels of ride and handling – it will be the true driver’s car in the segment. Lightweight construction is a core element of Jaguar’s DNA and Jaguar is at the cutting-edge of aluminium technology within the automotive industry. The Jaguar XJ, XK and F-Type have all been developed using exceptionally stiff bonded and riveted aluminium structures: now the XE becomes the latest model to use this aerospace-inspired technology. The weight reduction realised ensures that the XE is the most fuel-efficient Jaguar yet with fuel consumption and CO2 emissions on the NEDC combined cycle of less than 4 litres/100 km and under 100g/km respectively. “The Jaguar XE body uses over 75% aluminium content, which far exceeds any other car in its class. This gives us a body structure with unrivalled low weight: it’s light but also immensely strong with

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extremely high levels of torsional stiffness. We’ve made sure our aluminium-intensive body structure exceeds all global safety standards without compromising on vehicle design or refinement.” said Dr Mark White, Jaguar’s chief technical specialist; Body Complete. The Jaguar XE’s aluminium-intensive body is beautiful to look at, but the structure also delivers exceptional torsional stiffness. The light but strong architecture incorporates highly advanced suspension systems delivering unparalleled levels of ride quality, handling and steering. The Jaguar XE is also the first car in the world making use of a new grade of high strength aluminium called RC 5754 that’s been developed specifically for the XE. This new alloy features a high level of recycled material and makes a significant contribution to Jaguar’s goal of using 75% recycled material by 2020. Designed and engineered in the UK, the XE will be the first Jaguar to be manufactured at a new purpose-built production facility at the company’s Solihull plant in the West Midlands in the UK. The world premiere of the new Jaguar XE will be held in London on September 8, with a South African on-sale date of late 2015. 31

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INDUSTRY NEWS WHAT’S HOT?

FAW OPENS NEW PLANT IN SOUTH AFRICA

outh Africa, the Eastern Cape and the Coega IDZ are set for rapid growth as FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA (Pty) Ltd officially opened its vehicle manufacturing plant. July marks a momentous event in SA’s automotive industry history, as the first FAW commercial vehicle, built in South Africa, rolled off the assembly line at the FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA (Pty) Ltd production plant at Coega, in the Eastern Cape. With President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma in attendance, together with numerous dignitaries from the Government of China, the country saw the culmination of a US$60 million investment in the Eastern Cape. President Zuma said, “Following our BRICS trade agreements, this massive investment by a Chinese Corporation augers well for the future of this partnership between our countries. “Today’s FAW Coega plant opening has the added advantage that South Africa is seen as an investment destination of choice. This is an example to other global companies, which can rest assured that the South African government is doing everything possible to maintain its world-class offering as a springboard into unlocking the potential of the African continent. “Our focus in the next five years is to provide a sustainable energy mix for the country. Energy security is key to enhancing SA’s global competitiveness. “Today, opening the FAW plant here in Coega, is a remarkable example of the positive co-operation that we as South Africans can attract from foreign investors. It is imperative to job creation, our growth and future prosperity,” Zuma concluded. The decision to build the FAW plant in South Africa is very significant from a global perspective, as it is one of the most important and largest investments made by a Chinese entity in South Africa to date. The total investment has been financed by China FAW Group Corporation, the China-Africa Development Fund (CAD-Fund) together with FAW Africa Investment Company Ltd. This collaboration speaks volumes to the growing interest from global Chinese Industry in unlocking the true Africa potential.

A number of firsts for FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA (Pty) Ltd *At a cost of US$60 million towards the establishment of this modern, high-quality vehicle production plant and its associated infrastructure, this is truly the single biggest recent vote of confidence in the local vehicle industry. *The Coega plant with it’s build-up capacity of 5 000 units per annum, represents the first high-quality Chinese manufacturer to setup and contribute on this scale, in the Eastern Cape region. *FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA (Pty) Ltd will be the first OEM to build locally its entire range of commercial vehicles sold here, 14 models spanning the medium, heavy and extra-heavy commercial vehicle segments. Henceforth all FAW trucks in SA can carry the ‘badge of honour’ of “Made in South Africa.” Originally announced in 2012, the decision to construct the local FAW plant was not one that was taken lightly, explains FAW Vehicle Manufacturers SA (Pty) Ltd, “We could have gone to Kenya, or Tanzania where FAW has been present in sales and service for over 30 years, but in the end we chose South Africa because of the infrastructure. It then came down to a choice between East London and Coega.” In the end Coega was chosen, because as Leiter says: ‘the infrastructure is perfect.” FAW is positive about the future and the growth plan that has been formulated for the FAW brand in South Africa. FAW internationally, rose as a result of the political dispensation in China that allowed more free-market enterprise and encouraged overseas exports. As China grew then so will Africa grow now, and FAW is ideally placed to benefit from the demand for vehicles on the continent as FAW has established a solid presence, where it counts.

ALIGNMENT FOCUS

NEW HUNTER WINALIGN HD TRUCK WHEEL ALIGNMENT

eaderquip, the HD fully integrated alignment system for truck and bus repairs. There are many new features to the US-designed piece of equipment for the user. One feature is that no jacking is required which is a big time saving point, along with the ability to compensate all the measuring sensors at once as the alignment takes place live on the repair screen. All measurements are completed at once to be able to diagnose tyre wear conditions with built-in auto locking turnplates along with the built in turn-plate bridge for rolling compensation analysis. The units in alignment are also able to get their alignment taken without unhooking from the cabin or horse. All this can be achieved, say Leaderquip, who are the sole importers for the brand, in just four minutes to check tyre wear and angles in under three minutes. The package also includes a special mobile truck pulser to easily move the vehicle for rolling compensation measurements and the unit, which is optional, doubles as a wheel chock to stop rolling of any type while alignment is being done. To get more information call +27 (0)11 334 1680 or visit info@leaderquip.co.za and their sales team will contact you on the HD system. 32

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DRIVEN HYUNDAI ELANTRA

yundai Automotive South Africa has launched the enhanced 2014 Elantra, incorporating a refreshed design and improved product features, with the aim to further strengthen this award-winning model’s presence in one of the most competitive market segments. A host of new features have been added, while maintaining the roominess, warranty and safety that has helped Elantra to become a winner in its market segment. The newly designed front bumper, radiator grille, fog lamps as well as adoption of LED light guide and projection headlamps add a dynamic, high-tech feel to the Elantra. Interior design elements were modified with the aim of improving usability, reflecting feedback from customers of the previous Elantra model. Such research and feedback resulted in the centre air vent position being moved upward on the dash, while the front centre armrest position was also raised. The lightweight, all-aluminium 1,6 litre Gamma MPI four-cylinder engine is used for the 2014 Elantra, equipped with D-CVVT to boost power output of 96kW at 6 300 rpm and allow lower exhaust emissions while delivering class-leading fuel economy. Peak

torque delivery is 157Nm at 4 850 rpm. Fuel consumption of 6,4 litres/100km has been measured officially for the manual transmission derivative, while the automatic version recorded 6,9 litres/100km in a combined (urban and open, rural roads) test cycle. The CO2 emissions are 152 g/km and 163 g/km respectively for the manual and automatic derivatives. Hyundai’s commitment to making the Elantra highly fuel-efficient continues with a six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual control or a standard six-speed manual transmission. Developed and manufactured entirely inhouse, the six-speed automatic transmission is designed for engine applications in small midsized passenger cars. The suspension and steering components of the Elantra are anchored to a chassis of outstanding rigidity and strength that permits more precise tuning of the final ride and handling settings. The Elantra boasts a long list of standard features including safety escort headlamps that remain turned on for 30 seconds after the driver leaves the car, an auto defogging system, and rear park assistance sensors. The Elantra features airbags for the driver and

front passenger, ultra-high tensile steel used to reinforce safety-critical areas of the car’s body structure such as a stronger centre member underneath the dashboard, added protection for the driver’s knees in case of an accident and hot-stamping technology used to maximise body rigidity of the side structures. Seatbelt pretensioners complement the passive safety features of the Elantra. ISOFIX child seat anchors are also standard safety features. An Advanced Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist forms part of the Elantra’s active safety system. The spare wheel of the Elantra is a full-size alloy, stored under the floor of the 485-litre capacity luggage compartment. Included in the price of the 2014 Elantra is Hyundai’s ground-breaking five-year/150 000 km warranty, with a five-year/150 000km roadside assistance deal adding further peace of mind. A five-year/90 000km service plan is also part of the standard package. Service intervals are 15 000km. The prices of the Elantra 1.6 Premium (manual) is R247 900 and the Elantra 1.6 Premium (automatic) sells for R262 900.

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TRAINING AND LEARNING - by Andrew Marsh

HOW TO FIND A SUPER HERO

o matter what activity we find ourselves engrossed in, there is an optimism that one – or more – of us will be world class, world beating. Quite simply, brilliant. Because most of us are not immediately or obviously brilliant at most of the things we do, the most frequently ‘issues’ used to explain the gap between optimism and reality are: • Company culture • Communication • Time management • Training Each one of these subjects is perfectly valid, but is applied like paint all over the organisation without too much thought. The bald fact is, most of us work for a group of people inside an organisation for which we gain reward for our efforts. Along the way we usually find some pretty remarkable people and some folk we would rather not see again, but for the most part in terms of doing something that the company needs to function to make money to give us the reward we have earned, we get on with the job in hand. Some of us do a job because we love – or perhaps obsessed – about the activity. The Blight Of Blind Optimism For the collision repair business blind optimism translates as paint specialists who can repair even an area the size of a hand without using half the store contents, panel people who can remove the most subtle damage without turning it into a month long activity and mechanical/electrical/trim specialists who can take things apart as well as put them back together without any ‘spare’ parts left over – oh, and it works perfectly afterwards too. In all cases these people should be able to prepare full management accounts in real time and be prepared to present at a conference if required. For the owners or managers they would always be in a great mood, always invest in the latest ideas and always listen to other team members – whilst preparing those management accounts and providing 24/7 webcasts on their vision of the future. What happens when these grand objectives and superlative performance are not achieved? The questions start to be asked. Take a look at any athlete. They prepare methodically to build their capability day by day, extending a specific raw talent from being good to world class. Their success in the instant they win a race can be traced directly back to the previous months or preparation, using the skills of other specialists to ensure that their diet, daily activity and muscle condition all build towards the one goal. The objective is tightly defined and every single activity around it is aimed at getting the athlete to perform as close to the point of serious physical injury as possible. A finely honed balancing act, but success is rarely a fortunate accident. One missed training session, one mistake in the diet, could mean the difference between winning and coming last. Let’s look at that corporate whinge list again: • Company culture – the result of many complimentary and systematic business activities. • Communication – utterly dimensionless. Used as a sticking plaster for ill-defined issues. Usually this is a symptom of processes that does not work. • Time management – usually levelled at the individual, but usually buried deep in the business operates as well as the individual approach to use of time – usually complex. • Training... the magic box to solve all known problems from famine to world peace. The Dfference Between Training And Learning The fundamental core of learning is to be able to apply knowledge to new situations. For example we learn language from the start of basic sounds, then phrases and on to a basic set of words. From that we quickly expand the number of words we know, using the core principles to construct ever more elaborate communication purely from our own minds. No matter what our ability to use language, when we need to be understood, we usually succeed. The process is via building knowledge, information that is retained and leaves us with the ability to use that knowledge in our own way. Training has a rather more specific purpose. On the one hand it 36

has to involve all the processes of education with retained knowledge as the mark of success, but it also can be something imposed on the person being trained. The training may be an important part of reducing insurance liability, or legal compliance… or a way to ensure people behave in a certain way. What? One of the oldest automotive companies in the world that also happened to operate franchises as a means of quickly expanding its global reach, Daimler AG, used to have a mantra: Engineer the vehicle to survive the worst abuse of an owner – or even more critically – the service support. The provision of training by the automotive sector from consumable suppliers through to vehicle manufacturers is immense and rather expensive. The prices charged to delegates barely cover the true cost of putting these courses together, but serve the rather useful purpose of ensuring those who are trained get a big slice of corporate ‘culture’. This ensures that those who receive the knowledge are informed about a very specific view of any given technology. Come Fly With Me If we look towards aerospace we can see immense learning programmes that need to be fulfilled before anyone – no matter what the job role – is allowed to move onto specific aircraft knowledge courses. In turn, as each technician completes and successfully passes the course tests they gain the right to use that knowledge to work on that specific aircraft model across major areas of the world. Further, that work access is automatically deleted unless regular additional learning is undertaken. The aerospace ‘training’ is an integral part full traceability/accountability – from raw materials, manufacturing processed, delivery and operational/service records of a specific aircraft, which might be more than 30 years old. In effect people are licensed to work on aircraft models (referred to as ‘types’) in the same way pilots have to learn the basics (practical as well as theory) before being able to then advance to another model. Does The Automotive Training Model Fly? Long ago training was born as a walk through the parts manual, with extra time dedicated to areas of vehicles that were safety critical or even ‘problematic’. So the courses were heavily structured around warranty return data to address issues that might be managed by special maintenance routines to limit further liability on the part of the vehicle manufacturer. Attending a course is taken as a major part of ‘success’, and assessment is rarely used as a means to assess how much the delegates have learnt – even if it was used this way, delegates are free to leave the building and start work on any vehicle they choose – with or without expertise. There’s the problem in a nutshell: no enforcement of the foundation learning (the apprenticeship) that will make sure candidates who failed, do not work on vehicles. Having become an active technician there is no enforced professional learning programme, so that when some new technology appears the technician has to find out about it or not work on parts of vehicles with that new technology. For the paint, panel and mechanical/electrical/trim specialists to the outside world there is no difference between someone who has just picked up the essential tools for the first time and a person who invested in a structured career – of course, the reality is rather different. Now to the training antics of the vehicle manufacturers: For those who will only deal with a particular make the courses on offer make sense, but they are (naturally) heavily orientated towards model specific information. In addition the course material is much closer to a huge instruction rather than training. The question – does this allow for learning? Let’s go with a technician who only works with models from one manufacturer. A problem arises – how many times have we heard tales of endless part swaps or disputes about panel condition where the fault remains and the outlet claims it does not? Frequently diagnostics are thrown into the equation, a powerful tool that with appropriate agile minds can help trace all kinds of issues. Just plugging in the diagnostic tool and reading the display is going to deliver somewhere around 70% of the possible successful outcome.

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www.autoindustryinsider.com

Learning vs Training The problem outlined shows how blindly following the flawed logic that anyone or anything has all the answers all the time results in a professional process that can be challenged too often because the person involved is not thinking. If the core information about how a paint system is prepped/applied/cured, the limits of particular panel materials along with the critical nature of the load path application or the way a sub-system should work on any given vehicle model – is missing, well what a surprise… The decisions taken to repair will be flawed.Training does not solve anything without learning, and although some commercial courses offer a certificate to show the delegate turned up there does need to be more rigour. Training courses really should test the candidate’s understanding to ensure the most important parts are learnt. That makes candidates understandably more nervous, but then again the sense of achievement is greater because the outcome means something. None of this will happen overnight. Just like the athlete every single member of the company needs to hone their skill continuously. On the part of the company there is little point to spending any money on training courses without considering the overall goal and the very specific targets that need to be completed to achieve the overall goal – that applies to the individual as much as it applies to a company. Thinking is sometimes difficult, but is usually a very cost effective way to get around problems because it draws on what we have learnt – even if it shows we need to do some fact finding in order to make a better decision. Some team members may not have had much or any formal education. So, the learning process will need to be closely matched to how the person learns which could range from working with a colleague through to class room based training. Successful completion of a course should be recognised, to allow the person to

take on a wider variety of work or to permit continued work on more elaborate vehicles. In the absence of a national or regional recognition of skill level, this could be set up within the company. There is the subject of additional payment, but the primary recognition should be for the increased skill/knowledge to access more of the available work in the business. The automotive sector globally has progressed for too long without national or internationally recognised levels of attainment. The current process of model specific information is fine, but the upto-date base knowledge material giving an overview of what is going on is missing. Our company wrote such a document for a multi discipline collision repair apprenticeship programme and filled it with the latest information – because that is the snapshot that forms the base line for our new talent. Just attending a handful of manufacturer training courses would give great information on a model specific level but not the overview to allow candidates to see what features are common and what features are unique. The automotive industry attracts people who in the main love vehicles. So, having team members ask for material to take away and read in their own time because they want to find out more should be the mark of business success, because the learning process is well and truly underway. Retained knowledge with the passion to find out more is a very, very powerful business tool.

Auto Industry Consulting is an independent provider of technical information to the global collision repair industry. Products include EziMethods, our online collision repair methods system and A uto Industry Insider, o ur co llisio n repair industry technical information website. For more information please visit the websites: www.ezimethods.com and www.autoindustryinsider.com or contact ben.cardy@autoindustryconsulting.com

JHB: 011 908 5446lCT Tonie: 083 458 0699lKZN Wayne: 073 048 6250lezecare@mweb.co.za 37

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INTERNATIONAL UPDATE TRAINING

NEW VALSPAR AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS AND TECHNICAL CENTRE

alspar Automotive has opened a new Business & Technical Centre in Lelystad, the Netherlands. The car refinish manufacturer offers car refinishers a company-wide range of training courses at this centre; from technical and colour training courses to courses on sales, marketing and organisation. Users of Valspar brands such as De Beer Refinish, Octoral and Valspar Industrial Mix (VIM) can use the new centre’s modern facilities. About 200 customers, suppliers and employees attended the spectacular opening of the Business & Technical Centre (BTC). The official opening was in the good hands of Carl Wierks, vice president Global Automotive, who directed a colourful fireworks display. All those who attended were then given a tour of the new building. At the heart of the BTC is a state-of-the-art spraybooth that meets all technical and sustainability requirements. The spraybooth is surrounded by several classrooms for practical and theoretical training sessions. The colourful furnishing and comfortable layout will serve as an inspiration for the students coming here

The new state-of-the-art Valspar Automotive Business & Technical Centre opening was celebrated in fine style with approximately 200 customers, suppliers and employees. Cowley and some of their key distributor members were on hand to witness this special occassion. from dozens of countries for their training. The BTC is equipped with every imaginable multimedia, communication and presentation tool. Knowledge And Support The Business & Technical Centre crystallises Valspar Automotive’s ambition to support customers by sharing knowledge and skills across the board. Developments in the automotive sector have resulted in car

refinishers facing an increasing number of questions and demands. A company’s success depends on whether or not it has a thorough knowledge of colour and, in particular, colour determination. Valspar shares more than a century of colour and car refinish experience with its customers, thereby helping them to work more efficiently and increase their operating profit.

WHAT’S HOT?

DE BEER GET APPROVAL FROM KIA MOTORS EUROPE AND GENERAL MOTORS

ia Motors Europe (KME) has entered into a partnership with Valspar Automotive which involves, amongst other services, that the Kia dealers in Europe will be able to use the Valspar De Beer Refinish and Octoral paint brands for all level of bodywork repairs. The agreement also gives Kia dealers access to the extensive training and support programme of Valspar Automotive. “The partnership offers Kia dealers opportunities for improving their productivity and increase customer loyalty and satisfaction in a competitive market”, says Dr Heiner Schwan, director of automotive key accounts at Valspar Automotive. The partnership with Valspar Automotive supports Kia’s growth plans in Europe. Valspar Automotive – a supplier of colour technology – combines in-depth knowledge of the market with innovative aftermarket concepts. The high level of supply reliability – based on a broad representation across Europe – 38

would have been key factors for Kia deciding to enter into a partnership with Valspar. In the coming decades the number of complex cases of vehicle damage is expected to decline due to the increase in traffic safety and technical automotive innovations. At the same time, minor damage such as scratches will remain the same or perhaps even increase. This market segment in particular offers car dealers opportunities for achieving an extra return and customer loyalty. Uwe Hannes, vice president KME aftersales: “The Valspar Smart Repair Damage Indicator is a simple and easy-touse tool which allows local Kia dealers to offer customers a repair service for minor damage and to undertake this in-house. This increases sales and profitability and also strengthens customer trust which leads to a higher level of customer satisfaction.” GM Approve Waterbase 900+ General Motors, a global leader in vehicle manufacturing including well known makes

such as Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Opel and Vauxhall, has given a global approval for De Beer Refinish WaterBase 900+ Series by Valspar Automotive. This approval is based on the GM Specification GMW15406M. All countries where General Motors vehicles are manufactured, sold or repaired can now utilise the De Beer Refinish WaterBase 900+ Series for General Motors warranty work. “General Motors performed meticulous and thorough testing of the 900+ product for global use and we are excited to report a successful approval. This approval shows Valspar Automotive’s continued dedication to our customers and our products. Valspar’s vision is to be the best coatings company in the world; this is another step in demonstrating our commitment to excellence in the coatings industry,” said Carl Wierks, global vice president of Valspar Automotive. For additional information about Valspar Automotive, visit www.valsparauto.com

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Call for distribution opportunities in your area. Sole Importer Cowley Automotive Products Tel:â&#x20AC;&#x2C6;(016) 933 2233 email: sales@cowleysa.co.za COWLEY AUTOMOTIVE & INDUSTRIAL COATINGS (PTY) LTD

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TECHNOLOGY UPDATE WHAT’S HOT?

TUNZI AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIES ADD TO THEIR RANGE

erfect finishing is part of the DeVilbiss way of offering highly technical answers to premium motor making sectors where process requirements are driven by performance and product back-up. The new innovative smart pump range sees a whole lot of smart technologies built into a single unit to provide a low cost optimum performance with running costs achieved that are much lower than compressed air driven models. It works with conventional hardware and an optional smartcard to achieve high savings in running costs while delivering the paint to the user point at the correct pressure and volume only when needed. Durability is a key area in manufacture and only high quality materials and surface treatments are used in the smart pump construction to ensure an extended operational life. The flow rate is controlled with adjustable operation speed with the use of a special inverter AC frequency to achieve a speed range of 16 to 40 cycles per minute. It is suitable for pumping paint solvents and

The Tunzi team of Rene Roux (left) and Bernie Davenport are seeing great interest in the new DeVilbiss E2-30 for motor makers and other bulk paint users. They come in a full range of performance pump sizes to enable big cost savings on time and materials. Major energy savings are one of the big advantages for motor manufacturers using the Smart Pump from DeVilbiss technology. Tunzi have demonstration units available with full technical back up. other suitable material. It also reduces paint shear due to positive displacement piston design that fully utilises a cam-to-cam full overhead combination to cut surges. “OEM companies have been testing the smart pump range for an extended period,” says international DeVilbiss export sales manager Adrian Perry. “In South Africa alone we have already had official orders for

over 20 of the smart pump range. “This is a major step for the new pumps,” says DeVilbiss. The range is on offer from Tunzi Automotive who now field specialist back-up for the technical running of the smart pump range. Going forward you can obtain more information by calling Tunzi Automotive Supplies on +27 (0)31 205 3091.

LOCAL NEWS

MAPLE SMART PUMPS FROM DEVILBISS

he Maple Smart Pump range is designed for use in commercial applications. This new lightweight unit features state-of-the-art designs that deliver lower surge in paint delivery by the use of an integrated fluid regulator. A special intelligent charge over mechanism means it is flexible to be able to operate in any position of installation. The newly designed diaphragm technology delivers a much longer life compared to the standard operating designs. It also uses a combination of reciprocating action with rubber PTFE composite diaphragm designs with a special change over mechanism of air supply which assures a non-sealing feature as well as the possibility to run the pump at very low air pressures along with a build in fluid regulator. The Maple DX pump always delivers the perfect appearance on a refinish or industrial repair unit. You can get it from Tunzi Automotive Supplies on +27 (0)31 205 3091.

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Adrian Perry, export sales manager for DeVilbiss, says truck and bus builders can save big on both solvent use and fast cleanup purging times.

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INDUSTRY NEWS TTI GLOBAL TRAINING FACILITY

A STEP CHANGE IN BODY SHOP TECHNOLOGY

“Can a business partner promise you the world if they only operate in half of it, we do not think so,” says Altus van Wyk.

ltus has opened an absolute state-of-the-art training centre, built in record time with the assistance of Aer-o-Cure. Based on the old Pretoria Road, at number 727 Pretoria Road, Wynberg in Gauteng. It is set to revolutionise both the trade and OEM systems of collision repair education. The facility has just about everything any body shop would ever need with a specialised aluminium repair bay, two post lifts, Car-OLiner benches and Evo Jig systems. It has a metal working room, spray booth and preparation zone areas for body preparation. Training courses will feature both technical classroom sessions plus practical sessions. Visiting MD, Kevin Perks, is on record as saying with Aer-o-cure’s drive to complete the centre it’s been an absolutely amazing development for TTi Global who have for many years been training Jaguar Land Rover technicians on new aluminium welding, riveting and bonding techniques. The need for changing methodology has never been driven more strongly with car makers now making units with aero industry methods for both strength and the pursuit of lightweight construction. Everything is changing. Perks has long-term industry experience. He worked for motor makers such as Bentley and Jaguar, establishing repair standards before arriving to head up TTi Global’s international training and consulting business. “With this in mind, the expected launches of the new Range Rover, Jaguar F-Type and upcoming all new Discovery, the subSaharan market for major car makers is set to change in a dramatic way,” said Kevin. “We will be helping dealers in body repair and vehicle construction repairs from Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia and many more SADAC countries to keep pace with the technology to uplift skills levels with the electric CANBUS wiring on understanding testing methods with phase 1 and 2 training modules. With the changes in technology, there is a huge need to support our South African body repair staff by developing and enhancing their skills. Altus has been in the industry for many years and this passion has been the driving force behind him setting up the facility. The TTi Global team is now hard at work, establishing modules for the industry to gain traction with the new methods in use on many new 46

vehicles being launched. “All in all,” says Van Wyk, “as TTi Global, we are set to revolutionise local training in all its forms.” How It All Started In 1976 a husband and wife team named Shirley and John Brzezinski founded S&J Tech Data Service Company out of a small home office. The company provided services as a subcontractor for various suppliers to the automotive industry, focusing on research and development of service manuals and publications. Habitual innovators always seeking new avenues to explore, Shirley and John soon expanded the company to include training programme development. S&J Tech Data grew rapidly, both in size and reputation. And with the tremendous growth trainers and numerous technical writers were added to the staff; the company moved its operations to an office in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and Technical Training, Inc. was duly formed. Outsourcing its technical talent allowed TTi to absorb S&J and, in 1994, the corporation was re-organised as a full-service provider of training resources and support services. Never too comfortable with its successes, the company continued to seek new ways to add value for its clients. The result was an international expansion that has led to offices in China, Japan, Thailand, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Venezuela. In 2008, regional offices were added in Europe and new territories continued to be explored as the company brought its pioneering spirit to India and the Middle East. In 2010 TTi Global acquired Lorien Connect, further enhancing its global footprint, capabilities and position as a truly global organisation. Today, you will find TTi Global staffing, training, research and consulting experts hard at work, every day, driving change and delivering results in more than 24 countries on five continents. As the world continues to change, TTi Global will continue to lead and adapt, never forgetting where they have come from, but believing that there’s no limit to where they can go. For more information please call Altus van Wyk on +27 (0)82 561 4687 for information on the training initiative.

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Visiting MD Kevin Parks of TTi Global, said nowhere in the world had they received the commitment and implementation speed that Aer-o-cure had delivered in the start-up phase.

The paint preparation deck works with the latest Aer-o-cure energy efficient infrared.

Practical training in progress.

The Car-O-Liner repair section has a 3D measuring Car-O-Tronic measuring system installed.

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All new Aer-o-cure 3400 aluminium bay is fully equipped and now in use.

Dubai based trainer Vernon Vidamouler shows how itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done with theory sessions. 47

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WORLD CLASS BODY SHOP CONCEPTS

For over 25 years Aer-o-cure have been at the cutting edge of body shop designs. Now Walter (left) and Alex Lenaerts have taken things one step further with the new TTi Global Training Centre in Wynberg, Johannesburg.

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INDUSTRY NEWS - AER-O-CURE WHAT’S HOT?

utomotive Refinisher went behind the scenes to talk to Alex Lenaerts from Aer-o-cure about the all-new TTi Global Training Centre to see how it all started and how they helped with the state-of-the-art concept. “As a company at Aer-o-cure we specialise in package turnkey body shop installations and have always wanted to have our own in-house training centre where we would be able to showcase the latest technology available internationally from ourselves. Realistically though we’re in no position to supply the accredited and approved training that TTi Global are able to offer, so the opportunity to become involved started in earnest at the beginning of the year to establish with key role players a continuous training academy,” said Alex. “Aer-o-cure have been able to put the new centre together in record time with a fully operational facility which will include, as it always does with our turnkey philosophy, a full spray booth, aluminium repair bay, preparation deck with infra-red drying along with all the lifts and Car-O-Liner body straightening bench racks to meet standards set by Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Ford and VW for specialist training on any new type of aluminum and high strength steel body repair.” Walter Lenaerts designed and installed the operation in just eight weeks which was an absolute record start-up for the company. “In pulling out all the stops for TTi Global in our latest international body shop installation, Aer-o-cure have redesigned many of the spray booth electrical cost saving motors, touch screen, micro processing and service installation service offers. Each motor maker, particularly with aluminium repair, specify a range of approved small tools to avoid cross contamination between aluminium and high strength steel. For example, sealed tool stores house the special tools separately in the aluminium repair room. TTi Global has already put through a number of training courses. The number of delegates per course is set to six so that high quality transfer from trainer to each candidate can take place. These courses can take up to two weeks in some cases, so a specialised canteen room and a theory classroom have been installed into the building. “With TTi Global’s expertise and their professional approach, we are extremely pleased that as a company Aer-o-cure can now, become a major role player in the upliftment of trade knowledge and vital methodology changes that are trending internationally. “Right now it’s early days for the centre, but I must say certain motor constructions locally have shown a big interest in our initiative to ramp up training with TTi Global already,” concluded Alex.

Training Expertise Now In Africa TTI Global are proud to announce the opening of a new state-of-the-art collision repair training centre in South Africa. We plan to deliver specialist model specific training modules now being used in the new world car designs and production. The centre features international trainers as well as a proven syllabus developed globally with local authoring to help improve your company’s business performance. We offer our tools, technology and talent to bring world class training to your staff.

Designed with ultra low energy consumption in mind and with a turnkey approach in layout, Aer-o-cure is becoming highly successful locally and across the African marketplace with concepts like this new shop in Cape Town.

Call Altus van Wyk at TTi Global +27 (0)82 561 4687 AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Using the latest XPress 800 at Alfa Trio in Vereeniging proved a great success.

PRODUCT PROFILE

WIELĂ&#x201E;NDER+SCHILL NEW MODULAR XPRESS 800

aking life easier on the repair of aluminium bodies suddenly took a step forward with the all new XPress 800 machine. Its innovative design has developed the riveting tool one stage further on ease of use when removing or piercing with self-piercing rivets or flow form rivets steel panels and blind rivets. The compact design has taken a full five years of intense research and development, working closely with motor makers to perfect the XPress 800 ability and performance. The full kit comes with a number of components to get the job done correctly. It has a powerful pneumatic operation that has been boosted with a pushpull facility PP90 for fast removal of stubborn rivet centres. Along with a special riveting arm the tool box is also easily transportable. It also carries a full Mercedes-Benz approved certification accreditation and comes complete and ready to work with both 0.6mm and 0.8mm blanking bits. With the use of aluminium structures expanding considerably on Jaguar Land Rover products, BMW, Audi and many more specialist models the WielĂ¤nder+Schill XPress 800 supplies a working production tool that will have good everyday working performance. Its flexible design enables it to be used in any one of five methods to remove rivets with its modular design and high power. A special component allows the XPress 800 unit to be used in very confined areas with up to nine tons of blanking force. The units weighs around 1,65kg and comes complete with calibration stamps, die plates, back shaping tools for all car manufacturers and works well

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on flow form rivets with speed regulation and air pressure regulation valving built in. Local agents Hurricane Equipment have recently been introducing the new XPress 800 into local top level collision repair operations. You can get more details on both cost and sundry equipment on the riveter from Deon Joubert on +27 (0)83 628 2288 or email deon@hurricaneauto.co.za or andrew@hurricaneauto.co.za. You can also visit the website on www.hurricaneauto.co.za The unique push-pull riveter is easy to use and comes with a complete kit.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

by Jon Parker

TRENDS

INSURANCE PRICE COMPARISON UK THE SEARCH EXPANDS

rice comparison sites for insurance coverage have made a big impact on the collision repair industry in the UK, could it come to South

Africa? Whether you believe globe-trotting is a gratifying part of your job or a chore, there is one thing that it does highlight, people are very similar wherever you go, with the same needs and desires we all have in our lives. This similarity enables those huge corporations such as Coca-Cola, McDonalds, GM and Ford to be able to sell almost the same product whether in the US, Uruguay or Uzbekistan. What I do find interesting as an international traveller is how different markets have had entire industries changed by some products, whereas they aren’t even heard of, or recognised, in other continents. I guess this is where opportunity comes from, where businesses can make real money when trading models are proven and can then be replicated. Over the last five years, automotive insurance and collision repair have been transformed by one such business idea, the implementation and uptake of which has created catastrophic challenges and changes within motor insurance and the body shop market sectors. The automotive insurance buying public within Europe, and in particular Britain, was hit hard by the global financial crisis and has changed its behaviour from loyal customers to price-driven, chop-andchange shoppers in this mandatory insurance category. So what’s the driver for this incredible change? It’s called the price comparison site (PCS), websites similar to those that compare flights and medical insurance, but now in the automotive insurance industry. A simple one-off entry of your vehicle, personal and location details into the website, and within a couple of minutes 52

you are presented with a list in priceascending order, the cheapest first, of most insurance carriers’ quotes for you to choose from. Typically consumers will scan down this list and find the best price, but from a brand they are comfortable insuring with. From a consumer’s perspective this is utopia, you get the cheapest price from a trusted brand without having to phone numerous companies, or fear being upsold on the telephone. It changes people’s behaviour from dog-like (loyal) to cat-like (predatory) and changes the whole dynamic of our market. There is, like most things, a downside, and it seriously affects you and me within the collision and insurance industries. People cease buying insurance time and time again from the same company, meaning pricing has to become more competitive and insurers have to compete in a more volatile and transparent marketplace. Insurers have to strip out the “value” of their policy to compete on price. In the UK we saw a 40% drop in premiums as these sites started to become popular to the point where about 65% of insurance is now purchased this way. To add another twist to the tale, comparison sites became savvy and allowed consumers to change the voluntary value of their deductible to be able to be increased, up to a value of about R15 000. The net result of course is that the premium paid is significantly reduced. Most purchasers of motor insurance do not consider they will ever have an accident, therefore, they bump their deductible higher. This creates a number of significant challenges and changes to the collision repairer. You are quite unlikely to see the same customer again in a DRP scenario because the following year they will have insured with somebody else, so building a

repair business and relationships is more difficult. Fewer people will claim when they have a collision because they suddenly realise that they have a R15 000 deductible, and it’s unaffordable. This means fewer repairs being carried out. The smaller, more profitable work is being taken away, and statistics we witness show annual claims percentages down in about five years from 14% to just 8%, almost half of the work being repaired under the DRP model. Because insurers are now under extreme pressure to be competitive in a transparent marketplace, they have to reduce costs within their own businesses. This typically means significant internal staff culling and, inevitably, a squeeze on the supply chain, that’s you. If you think the insurer is demanding today, consider what it might be like if the PCS gains traction in the US. Insurers will start to demand much more. In the UK market, this has manifested itself with free courtesy vehicles, shops owning tow-in trucks, reduction in paint and materials charge-out, and insurers demanding better management information around the whole vehicle repair, often resulting in a 1:1 ratio of production to front office staff. In simple terms, the costs to the collision shop are escalated dramatically, charge-out is capped and margins are squeezed. Will this happen in North America? I can’t say for sure, but a couple of these sites have emerged in the US in the last year. In the UK, these sites are very profitable for their owners, with massive growth and value. Insurers almost have no choice but to play ball with them, as it encourages new insurers to enter the market because of the incredible reach they have through television advertising. In many European countries, PCS advertising is twice that of traditional insurers. It will only be a short time before the PCS begins gaining momentum.

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INDUSTRY NEWS WHAT’S HOT?

VOLKSWAGEN EXPAND IN CHINA

W Aktiengesellschaft and VW Group China have signed a joint declaration for two new vehicle plants in China. In the presence of German chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese premier Li Kequiang, Prof Dr Jochem Heizmann, member of the board of management of Volkswagen Akitengesellschaft and president and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, signed a joint declaration for two new vehicle plants in China, together with Xu Jianyi , Chairman of FAW. “China has become our largest and most important market. To satisfy the demands of our customers in the country we are engaging in a further substantial expansion of our capacities in China, together with our Chinese partner FAW Volkswagen,” said Prof Martin Winterkorn, chairman of the board of management of Volkswagen Akitengesellschaft, who witnessed the signing of the declaration. “With these investments, Volkswagen is clearly expressing its commitment to the Chinese market. Following two decades of successful cooperation, Volkswagen will further intensify its strategic partnership with FAW with a view to bringing innovative, sustainable mobility solutions onto the Chinese market,” said Heizmann. The two new vehicle plants are to be built step-by-step on the East coast of China in the cities of Qingdao in Shandong Province and Tianjin. The decision in favour of these two locations was taken together with the joint venture partner FAW. The key site factors were high qualification levels and the infrastructure available. Furthermore, Tianjin is the location of a new production plant for dual-clutch gearboxes (DSG) for Volkswagen in China that is due to be inaugurated at the end of 2014. Together, the two partners are to invest

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Volkswagen Scirocco about two billion euros in the expansion of production capacities. Volkswagen has been active on the Chinese market for 30 years and is one of the Western pioneers of the automobile industry in the country. Together with its two joint ventures FAW-Volkswagen and Shanghai-Volkswagen, the Group delivered about 1.51 million vehicles between January and May 2014, representing a rise of 17.7% compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany also visited the Volkswagen plant in Chengdu, southwest China, Prof. Dr Martin Winterkorn, chairman of the board of management of Volkswagen AG and Prof Dr Jochem Heizmann, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, welcomed the guests, together with the guests Xu Juanyi, chairman on FAW and Zhang Pikie, president of FAW-Volkswagen. “Our objective is to work substantially on a long-term basis throughout the world. Here in China, we are setting high environmental stands at our 17 locations and investing more in eco-friendly technologies and plants than ever before. Volkswagen is banking on China’s innovative power because this market provides key impetus for our industry though groundbreaking new trends,” said Martin. During her visit Merkel also inspected the production area of the Chengdu plant. Here, sustainability is practised right down to the last detail. About 90% of the materials used

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in vehicle production come from local suppliers. In addition, the paint shop at Chengdu is the first facility in Asia to be equipped with the ‘EcoDry Scrubber’ an evironmentally friendly technology that reduces water consumption for the painting process by up to 90%. Chancellor Merkel also visited the training centre and the assembly shop of the Chengdu plant and expressed special interest in the possibilities of vocational training in China. Apart from six different vocational training courses, FAWVolkswagen also offers the possibility of a dual course of studies at Chengdu. Merkel talked to young trainees and learned about their experience within the professional families. Each year, about 20 000 courses are completed by employees at the training centre, to improve further the quality of production and to raise educational standards. By opening training centres at all its plants in China, Volkswagen was the first company to introduce the principle of dual vocational training in China. “People are the key to our success. That is why we are committed to educating young talents,” said Heizmann. “Our objective is to offer innovative, ecofriendly products and reliable service. Efficient use of resources and environmental compatibility are also among the top priorities at our plants. In such a fast-growing market as China, a well-trained workforce is essential for mastering these challenges.”

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AR S-O 2014 CLAIRE_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/08/29 2:20 PM Page 18

LOCAL NEWS

by Natasha Odendaal

MOTOR MAKERS

PSA PEUGEOT CITROËN VICTORIOUS AGAIN

he 1.6 litre four-cylinder direct injection twin turbo petrol engine jointly developed the PSA Peugeot Citroën and BMW Group has won the key 1.4- to 1.8-litre category at the International Engine of the Year Awards for the second year running. Following its success, the 1.6 litre 4-cylinder 175hp engine was judged best in class by a panel of 65 motoring journalists from 32 countries across the globe. The engine came away a clear winner with a total of 333 points, 60 points more than ever before. It also finished in the top five of the overall IEotY award. Currently fitted in the Peugeot 207 and 308, this engine is the largest of a family of engines ranging between 120 and 175 hp. This engine family will equip other compact models in the Peugeot and Citroën ranges. Announced in July 2002, the co-operation between PSA Peugeot Citroën and BMW Group has applied the strengths of each partner to successfully solve the conflict between advanced engine technologies and cost pressures in the small and compact car segment. All major components for these engines are made at a dedicated 330 million Euro, 60 000 square metre production facility at PSA Peugeot Citroën’s Francaise de Mécanique plant in Douvrin,

Northern France. PSA Peugeot Citroën’s Charleville and Mulhouse Metallurgy Division plants supply the raw castings, whilst final assembly is carried out at Douvrin for Peugeot and Citroën models. The International Engine of the Year Awards are the automotive industry’s most sought after accolades. Judges apply their impressions from driving the latest cars to identify the powerplants that offer the best driveability, performance, economy and refinement. The Awards have underlined the Group’s broad capabilities in engine design and manufacture, as well as the success of its cooperations policy. Ken Gibson of Britain’s largest selling daily newspaper, The Sun, said, “Collaboration between manufacturers on engine development has never made so much sense.”

WHAT’S HOT?

SMALLER PLAYERS GET LEG UP INTO COLLISION REPAIR TRADE

ollard and Telesure have launched a pilot programme to lower the barriers to entry for small motor body repair (MBR) companies and put them at the forefront of preferred suppliers. The generally larger preferred MBR suppliers claimed the bulk of the millions of Rands spent every year in the saturated MBR industry and by empowering the smaller player to meet the requirements of preferred supplier status, a steady flow of business could be cemented. The two insurance giants aimed to train, develop and mentor seven selected MBR

companies in human resource management, vision and leadership skills, financial management, marketing and other key competencies essential to developing an economically viable and sustainable business operation. Following the conclusion of a business diagnostic exercise to determine specific interventions, the MBR companies would undergo a business assessment, the identification of specific business needs and a customised mentoring programme. The development programme would run until early 2015. “The promise of a regular flow of cars to

the MBR [companies], together with their increased capacity to properly service those vehicles and customers, will lead to their sustainability and increased employment opportunities,” said Hollard personal lines GM Anton Botha. Telesure MD Tom Creamer hoped that the programme would become a benchmark for enterprise development in the insurance industry to enable other entrepreneurs to benefit from the “right nurturing and mentorship. Together, we hope to develop sustainable businesses that will continue to grow long after the pilot is over,” he concluded.

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AR SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/08/29 2:35 PM Page 20

INDUSTRY NEWS

WHAT’S HOT?

BACK TO BASICS FOR EN PRODUCTS

N Products from Greece have been in South Africa recently promoting the refinish brands of their all-new ultra-fast curing 4400 HS filling primer that has an amazingly quick drying time of around one hour before it can be reworked. “This feature,” says Vasillis Sarafidis, international sales manager for EN Chemicals, “makes their latest formulation a real time production boosting product.” Spokesman Suleman Joosab says that this is part of a package that is seeing the Auto Paint Centre group, who are importing and distributing the EN product range across southern Africa, enjoy ever increasing sales. The company recently held many live demonstrations on the practical advantages of using the high build production primer in many panelshops and other refinish end users in KZN.

EN Products Founded in 1982 in Thessaloniki, Greece, this family-owned company started as a manufacturer of bituminous products for the local market. Within a few years, the company grew up and began to extend its range by introducing innovative products such as nitro cellulose putties and surfacers. With those new products EN gained a reputation for quality and reliability. It was the moment to go further and expand into new markets. By the end of 2008, a group of entrepreneurs acquired the EN brand and founded the EN Chemicals SA. The company’s mission was clear from the beginning. Transform EN to a worldwide recognised brand of the automotive refinish market. Up to now the group invested a lot in the company’s restructuration and today represent one of the faster growing auto refinish brands in Europe. Our products are distributed in 15 countries while the company is preparing to launch a new series of innovative and environmentally compatible products. For more information on the range call +27 (0)31 902 7666 or visit www.automotivepaint.co.za

UTOMOTIVE Subscribe Now! R E F I N I S H E R

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AR SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/08/29 2:34 PM Page 7

INDUSTRY NEWS ALUMINIUM

ALUMINIUM REPAIR ACCELERATES

e’ve been writing about the growing use of new metals and aluminium in vehicle production for years now. We’ve watched the topic progress from “this might be the next big thing” to “this is just around the corner” to “This is here now” in what seems like a very short span of time, covering procedures, tools and equipment shops need to properly repair these stronger, lighter vehicles. At times, it has felt as though these advancements were eons away, but things have heated up recently, beyond the use of aluminium in more exotic vehicles, like the Teslas that our case study shops repair. These last couple of months, when Ford started making announcements about its aluminium-bodied 2015 F-150 and plans for training shops to fix the new truck, really illustrate how far vehicle construction has come. The new F-150, which Fords says will be roughly 700 pounds lighter than its steel-bodied predecessor, represents the dawn of a new era in vehicle construction and repair. These mass-produced trucks, and other aluminium-bodied vehicles that are sure to follow, will be in shops in no time. The Aluminium Association expects an average of 550 pounds of aluminium per vehicle to be the norm by 2025. If you’ve been waiting for a good reason to prepare your shop for aluminium repairs, there it is. The country’s most popular pick up is kicking off the movement,

The rapid increase of bonding and riveting methods taken from the aerospace industry is now busy cascading down to high production models. Training body repair technicians will become a vital part of survival for the future.

and if you can’t fix it, the vehicle will soon be heading to shops that can. According to a January estimate by Automotive Service Association chairman Darrell Amberson, less than 10% of shops in the US meet the certification and equipment requirements necessary to work on aluminum vehicles. I’m sure we’ll see that number increase dramatically in coming years. And as this change unfolds, there are others to watch, such as the loudening buzz around carbon fibre’s greater presence in vehicle construction. This still seems to be in the “this might be the next big thing” stage, but with pressure on automakers to meet strict CAFE standards, we could see the material go mainstream in a hurry. BMW’s i3, for instance, is made largely of carbon fibre.

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BUSINESS UPDATE TRAINING

R-M WORKFLOW SEMINARS

he R-M brand is continuing to stake their claim of becoming the refinish premium system of choice as they strengthen their position in the collision repair industry. A recent specialist workflow seminar held at Wynberg by Jason Jurams focused on all round profitability and was delivered to a number of key account body shops from across the country. “This is just one of the R-M value added services,” says Warren Tollman, CEO of the RSB Autogroup. “In todays market you can’t just carry on pushing tins, it’s much more difficult than that. Your mission becomes one of realising the promised savings and delivering the body shop improved profitability as a service provider. We’re determined to extend the service levels that our customers will need to become sustainable in the long term for their businesses.” Jurams, who conducted the push and specialised training towards a better understanding of overall profitability for the 12 delegates, has been trained on various business development programmes in Europe. “We start by showing how important key performance indicators are in the overall business measurement of a body shop operation. After establishing special

Held at the RSB Training Centre in Wynberg, the all new business management system from R-M was rolled out to some national high profile body shop owners of the RSB Autogroup. It has met with great success as they highlighted new management philosophies now seen in world markets.

measuring performance criteria in the management of accounts and the profit and loss side of the operation can be monitored in a much more accurate way. “When used extensively in the way that forecasting business performance can be achieved by management and by introducing fast tracking of things like hours that are available to be sold by a repairer and actual achieved hours sold per working day or week, this labour rate of sale can become a vital part on any company’s calculation on profitability. “This plus the latest international methods seen in use across the world all help to smooth out operational bottleneck

production and loss of profitability. It’s mostly about optimising all the basic operational areas of service and management to achieve a better output and improved workflow and bringing down the customers key to key time in the delivery of the repair until the collection point of the repaired vehicle.” All this effort from the R-M brand is designed to strengthen the position of the customer by concentrating on the success of the group’s affiliation with its key end users. This is just one of the ways that RSB Autogroup are driving up value added services to optimise efficiencies within body shops.

“If you can’t measure it you can’t manage it,” says Jason Jurams. He has attended various business modules in Europe. 60

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INSURANCE NEWS

HD KOREK

An all new straightening system for heavy duty vehicles Fully approved by Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles

The compact Korek HD floor frame features a double layer ground frame for robust performance and easy set-up. The flexible tower assemblies are highly mobile. It offers extended cab tower pulls with traction pulls of 20 tons per basic tower. The towers are simple to fix as they operate on rollers and are fixed to the HD Korek frame by four wedges with three main stands on offer. This is coupled to 30 ton composition hydraulic sets. The options for a perfect chassis cab and frame straightening job are endless as well as painless. As far as speed of output and profitability are concerned, the HD Korek offers major profitability at a reasonable entry level cost. It is ideal for both CV repairers and large fleet operators as an investment in Truck repair. 30 Ton Stand

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CONFERENCE

INSURERS UNFAMILIAR WITH TREATING CUSTOMERS FAIRLY

n a special conference poll at the annual Insurance Institute of South Africa (IISA) conference at Sun City, only about 55% of the 1 000 strong audience knew how many outcomes were contained in the Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) legislation. TCF is an outcomes-based regulation from the Financial Services Board that seeks to embed the fair treatment of customers throughout the insurance value chain. Peter Todd, president of the IISA and the former CEO of Mutual and Federal said while insurers often complained about the regulatory burden they faced, more selfPeter Todd told delegates that they regulation was needed. should not wait for regulators to point “We shouldn’t wait for the out unfair practices to the industry and regulator to point out unfair fix these non-transparent activities practice to us,” Todd said. He based around insurance policies. added it was clear more transparency in explaining insurance policies was needed. Deputy director-general of National Treasury Ismail Momoniat said policy wordings needed to be clearer and contain less legal jargon, where legal liability was not always clear. He suggested standardised policy wording. He said the industry needed to devise standardised products for low-and middle-income South Africans and that, while compulsory car insurance had merit, “it must be linked to more affordable insurance products.”

LOCAL NEWS

BROKER’S FEES UNDER REVIEW

ommissions paid to brokers who distribute insurance policies will not be prohibited in the risk space, which includes shortterm insurance and life risk cover, but will more than likely be scrapped in the investment space, according to the Financial Services Board (FSB). However, commissions paid by insurers to brokers in respect of the distribution of risk insurance polices will be capped, noted Caroline da Silva, deputy executive officer for Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) at the FSB. Addressing delegates at the Insurance Institute of SA Conference, Da Silva added that fees paid for advice would not be capped but should be agreed between brokers and their clients. She said insurance companies would further act as a ‘safe harbour’ to ensure advice fees were not too high. “Commission on insurance policies is often hidden, so that customers think they are receiving intermediary and advice services for free, which in turns leads to a perceived lack of value in the role that financial advice plays,” Da Silva emphasises. She said that capping commission paid to brokers was problematic when it meant they were then paid the same amount as call centre agents, despite often doing more work to provide advice to customers. Justus van Pletzen, CEO of the Financial Intermediaries Association of Southern Africa (FIA) said Retail Distribution Review (RDR) would promote a consumer centric business model, but could see the further exit of experienced advisers from the industry. Da Silva said the FSB aimed to release the RDR discussion paper during August.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

AR SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/09/02 10:27 AM Page 10

BURNER NEWS WHAT’S HOT?

ALTHEAT BURNERS CAN CUT YOUR BOOTH HEATING COSTS BY HALF

ndre Froneman has introduced a new range of alternative heating solutions. Altheat Burners have become world leaders in cost effective solutions on current energy sources. Body shops already using this new burner from Altheat, some for 18 months already, have consistently showed a savings of approximately 60% on their previous diesel account. “Used oil costs just R6.00 per litre on average.” says Andre. The unit is made to be very flexible as it is specifically designed to use and burn used oil straight out of the bottom of a tanker without delivering any smoke residue into the atmosphere. It is able to withstand tough African conditions. The unique Venturi Effect used by the burner allows for fuels that would otherwise block normal burners nozzles to flow easily through this burner. The flame is also fully adjustable and allows for a maximum power, or it can be adjusted to ‘idle’ while maintaining the heat. For safety, the Altheat series of burners come fully equipped with safety features that operate fail to safe modes. This means the burner shuts down to a safe mode and thus prevents any potential risk of fire damage. Types of oil that can be used to generate are: l Engine Oil l Gearbox Oil l Diff Oil l Hydraulic Oil l Vegetable Oils l Creosote l Diesel l Paraffin By using and reclaiming waste products, the environmental aspect of the burner works well in disposing of potential catastrophic pollutants. It burns with no visible smoke pollutants with extremely low ash content. All this is achieved with the generation of good gradient heat properties and in todays cut throat collision repair business there is also a much lower element of risk of theft with no black market value. You can kiss the up and down costs of crude oil prices goodbye with the Altheat method of generating heat for your spray booth once and for all. Time the value of the flame output is some 80kW to 249kW approximately. To get the full list of potential cost savings please call Andre on +27 (0)72 463 9570 or email andref@altheat.co.za The eco burner uses many types of used oils and is a big source of energy at around R6 a litre. Body shops can slash their spray booth heating costs.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

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NEWS FROM THE ZOO - by Roger Houghton

Mercedes-Benz `future truck 2025.

The Porsche Macan

AMAZING GERMAN CONTRASTS

he life of a motoring journalist in the 21st century is a wonderful kaleidoscope of automotive variety, particularly when one’s involvement extends to trucks – as is the case with me. This resulted in me going to Germany to witness a self-driving Mercedes-Benz truck in a simulated autobahn-driving situation with 20 other Merc models making up the traffic. This was a real peep into the future as the new technology is only scheduled to go into production in 2025, hence the name of the advanced Actros-based truck-tractor as Future Truck 2025. Then, a few weeks later, I was off to Cape Town to experience the latest iteration in the growing range of Porsche passenger cars in the form of the new, mid-size Macan SUV, which is another amazing piece of German engineering. These two memorable experiences certainly served to underline the manner in which the Germans are setting the global pace in terms of automotive technology developments. Mercedes-Benz, which has been renowned for more than a century for its innovations in automotive technology, certainly stole a march on its competitors with the public display of its self-driving truck. Future Truck 2025 is seen as a forerunner of the trucks that will be able to drive autonomously on the motorways and highways of Europe and certain other countries where road signs and road markings meet the critical standards required for a self-driving truck. The driver will be able to relax and do other work while the truck drives itself, staying on the planned route and running at the maximum permitted speed while remaining a safe distance behind vehicles in front. The driver will have to drive the truck onto the motorway before engaging Highway Pilot and will have to take the wheel to overtake another vehicle and to leave the motorway, but for much of the time on the road he or she will be able to do the duties of a transport manager and not just a driver. This system is expected to make driving a better career choice, which is important in view of the growing shortage of qualified drivers in Europe. It will, of course, also be much safer and there should be fewer traffic jams too. The Mercedes-Benz Future Truck 2025 incorporates many new components and systems, but also includes several that have been tried and tested and are already in use in passenger cars, for example in the self-driving S-Class luxury sedan, which could be on the market by 2020. The overall title for the inspiring one-day event with MercedesBenz was Shaping Future Transportation and the scope was

extensive. What was impressive was the way the Daimler team demonstrated how wide-ranging the project is, stretching from the technological aspects to the need to change driving laws to permit the use of autonomous vehicles on public roads, as well as the necessity to get the buy-in not only of the authorities but also of the public at large. The diversification that has happened to the hallowed Porsche brand in the past decade is amazing. Originally known as a maker of sleek two- and 2+2-seater sports cars, this German manufacturer extended the range by adding the Cayenne large SUV in 2002 and then introduced a big luxury sedan, the Panamera, in 2009. These newcomers rocked the boats of many purists, but they have made a huge commercial impact as Porsche’s sales has soared globally and particularly here in SA. Last year, Porsche sold more than 160 000 units worldwide and expects to get close to the 200 000 unit mark next year. The reason for the expected growth in sales is the addition of yet another derivative, the Macan compact SUV/cross-over. The name Macan, pronounced “Ma-kaan”, is derived from the Indonesian name for a tiger. This beautifully engineered five-door has just arrived in SA and I had an opportunity to enjoy its very impressive dynamics on the sweeping roads of the Western Cape. The Macan is a distant derivative of the Audi Q5 with the Porsche SA team in Cape Town hastening to inform us that the platform has been widened and strengthened while more than 60% of the components have been redesigned or modified for the Porsche application. On a personal note I had expected the Macan to be a bit smaller than it is and more affordable. However, it is very spacious inside and is a versatile load carrier too, while having plenty of power and mind-blowing driving dynamics. This is sure to be another winner for the brand and one wonders how long it will be before a slightly smaller SUV, spawned from the Audi Q3, will join the Porsche line-up, along with a rumoured, slightly smaller sedan of proportions apparently similar to the BMW 5-Series. While in Cape Town for the Macan launch I was fortunate to sit opposite Porsche SA CEO Toby Venter at dinner and during the evening he informed me that he was going to bid for Kyalami three days later. I was overjoyed as he is a real petrolhead with a deep love and understanding of motor sport. Then I had the opportunity at the auction at Summer Place to lead the cheering when Porsche was announced as the successful bidder at R205-million. So glad it wasn’t a property developer!!

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

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AR S-O 2014 CLAIRE_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/09/02 4:13 PM Page 16

PRODUCT PROFILE TESTIMONIAL

SATA SPRAY GUN AND FILTER SYSTEM A GREAT ADDITION

he highest requirements for quality and performance are the basis for the SATA® Filter 200TM modular filter line. The modular system allows the user to adapt to their exact requirements. Compressor oil, condensation and dust particles in the pipeline are part of the everyday routine when working with compressed air. SATA compressed air filters assure 100% technically clean air – with a separation degree of 99.998%. With these filters, compressed air problems will be eliminated. The rugged construction of all filter components ensures long service life. The filter elements of oil/water separation are completely reusable and easy to clean. To ensure a permanently high compressed air quality, a combi filter should be serviced and examined frequently for flawless function. There are now very few malfunctions using the new modular system because of the excellent air quality. You can enjoy improved finishes and prevent bad paint jobs. Sturdy full metal construction means low service efforts. The system provides optimum protection for compressed air driven tools. It offers first class quality and a long service life. The system is best used alongside the SATA guns, and especially the HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure) Technology. Extra savings are had with this gun as there is maximum transfer efficiency and minimum product consumption. A transfer rate of above 65% is obtained by using an air cap pressure maximum of 0.7 bar. In order to obtain excellent paint results with the HVLP guns, a higher air volume is required for atomisation, and that’s where the SATA® Filter 200TM comes in. Testament to how well this system works together is the fact that a very thick layer of dust had to be cleaned off of the filter system at the back of the spray booth in order to take photos at Centurion Panelbeaters. When you don’t notice something, it means it is working really well delivering time after time on every job. “The system is so easy to use and it has worked incredibly well with our waterborne system,” said Wessel Louwrens, co-owner of Centurion Panelbeaters. “It has definitely saved us on our bottom line too as there is excellent paint transfer from the SATA Spray gun. The excellent finish that the system provides means it has been a great investment to our body shop.” 68

The SATA® Filter 200TM modular filter is an effective behind the scenes filtration system. It feeds almost 100% clean air making compressed air problems a thing of the past.

The SATA HVLP gun range delivers excellent efficiency and its brilliant material transfer is enhanced with the SATA® Filter 200TM modular filter.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

SATA AD S-O 2014_Layout 1 2014/08/27 10:46 AM Page 1

AR SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/08/29 2:34 PM Page 1

DID YOU HEAR? by Roger McCleery

DID YOU HEAR? by Roger McCleery Listen to Ro ger McC leery every Tuesday o n Radio To day (1485 A M) at17h30 fo r everything abo ut SA mo to ring.

n Thursday 24th July at 1.40 pm, Lot 25 fell under the Auctioneer’s hammer for R205m to make it the highest figure ever paid for a single property in South African history. Lot 25? Kyalami Race Track, which was bought on auction by Porsche South Africa and their CEO, Toby Venter. 600 people-plus attended this auction that disposed of 24 other property lots (No 24 had already been sold) until it hit the big one for Kyalami. It took all of one minute and 49 seconds to sell this icon of South African motorsport, which over the years was arguably better known than Johannesburg or even South Africa! In its early days when you went overseas people spoke about Chris Barnard, Gary Player, the Springboks and Kyalami. (Later it was Mandela, Tutu and Apartheid.) The circuit couldn’t have gone to a better company or a man more passionate about motorsport than Toby Venter, who competed in Moto-X in the Golden Years for the Shell Suzuki Works Team and also shone in Porsche racing here and overseas. Plans for the circuit are already being made. First a CEO will be appointed. Then starts the long and expensive slog to restore Kyalami to its former glory as “The Greeks” who asset-stripped the property left everything but the pits and circuit itself looking like an apocalypse had struck. Venter says “We must make Kyalami viable as a business and then we will get promoters to organise events at the circuit and bring back some of the glory days of this legendary Grand Prix track with spectators closer to the action and watching racing in the good old South African manner – next to the fence with braais going in the background.” Many of you may well remember going to Kyalami and experiencing this. Well done to Toby Venter and Porsche South Africa. Honda and Mercedes led the way when a survey conducted by ALG went checking for quality and value. Amongst luxury brands, Mercedes-Benz placed first ahead of Lexus, BMW, Porsche and Audi. JD Powers Quality Study also placed Mercedes-Benz plant in East London amongst the top motor manufacturers in the world. Ford and their partners Complete Pet Food collected eight tons of pet food for charities in South Africa. So it isn’t only cars and bakkies they sell – they get their Ford Dealerships to donate as well. 18 charities benefited from this collection. The charity work continues. Bridgestone Tyres donated 110 sets of beanies, scarves and gloves to keep the winter cold away for residents of Sunfield Fortuna Home. One of the quietest cars you have ever driven is the new Honda Accord. It has even got two mikes in the roof lining to ensure that

everything is kept quiet. It is a luxury car to compete with the German cars – but with no options. What you see is what you get. There are three models. They start at R389 000 and go up to R549 000 for a 3.5-litre V6. It has got lane-watching cameras, rear cameras, automatic dipping headlights, advanced LED lights, laneassist and a collision braking system. You name it and the new Honda Accord has it all. Also what is nice in their 2.0-litre and 2.4litre engines they have long life, chain driven (not belt driven) overhead camshafts. The V6 also goes onto three or even two cylinders when not much power is needed. It takes affordable Honda’s cars to entirely new levels and certainly worth putting to the top of your shopping list. French cars are on the way back. DS, the French premium automotive brand from Citroën, sold 63 800 in the world in the first six months of this year. Bestseller was China accounting for 60% of their sales with 468 000 units sold since the launch of the DS3 in March 2010. Sister Company, Peugeot, has recorded 853 000 units sold in the first half of 2014. They are also going to enter into the Dakar with a two-wheel drive vehicle next January. Porsche delivered 87 800 in the first six months of 2014. Ford Motor Company in South Africa got together 1 000 of their dealers, press and VIP’s at the Sandton Convention Centre recently to highlight their plans for the future, not only in South Africa but up sub-Saharan Africa as well. They also brought out Mory Callum, their chief designer, (whose brother is Iain, is chief designer at Jaguar). Both of them hail from Scotland. 32 Macan premiere SUV’s made by Porsche were sold even before they launched in the country. Truly a luxury SUV they come in three models with a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel, a 3.6-litre V6 biturbo or a 3.6-litre V6 bi-turbo with mega power. People in attendance caught sight of the new Fusion, which could be coming our way shortly, along with the new Ford Mustang in right-hand drive for the first time, both coming our way for 2015. Not forgetting the Focus ST, which is part of the biggest selling nameplate in the world. Better service coupled with even better affordable motoring are all part of Ford’s thinking. General Tyres are back in business as a brand. Continental Tyres in Port Elizabeth will be highlighting both Conti and General Tyres in the future and dropping some of the lesser-known brands such as Barum, which Conti bought in the Czech Republic. They launched some of their new on- and off-road tyres to show the press what they have on offer. Could be that we will hear more from this tyre company in the not too distant future. All the tyre companies seem to have gone very quiet recently on what products they have to

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AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

AR SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/08/29 2:34 PM Page 2

Brad Binder the first South African in 29 years to achieve a podium placing in a motorcycle world championship Grand Prix. offer, and just concentrate on production. Renault South Africa sales have gone up 92% since 2013. New models such as Clio, Duster and Sandero have put Renault on a new sales level. A distinguished career in the South African marketing and advertising world and also one of the founding fathers of Toyota South Africa, Hennie Klerck, passed away recently at the age of 83. Mahindraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MGP3O Moto3â&#x201E;˘ racing motorcycle claimed a best-yet result and second top-three podium finish in a row in the German GP, in front of capacity crowds at the atmospheric Sachsenring, closing the first half of the 2014 season on a successful note. South African Brad Binder, riding for Ambrogio Racing, put his customer 250cc Mahindra in the fight for the win throughout the 27-lap race, and crossed the line in second spot, just 0.180 seconds behind victor Jack Miller (KTM). This made Binder the first South African in 29 years to achieve a podium placing in a motorcycle world championship Grand Prix. The previous person to achieve this honour was Mario Rademeyer, who took third place in the 250cc race at the South African motorcycle Grand Prix in 1985.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

The towers are simple to fix as they operate on rollers and are fixed to the HD Korek frame by four wedges with three main stands on offer. This is coupled to 30 ton composition hydraulic sets. The options for a perfect chassis cab and frame straightening job are endless as well as painless. As far as speed of output and profitability are concerned, the HD Korek offers major profitability at a reasonable entry level cost. It is ideal for both CV repairers and large fleet operators as an investment in Truck repair.

71 43

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The Superbike magazine team were on show all weekend. 3

This confederate warrior ran on the Bonneville Salt Flats in record breaking mode.

Mike Puzey with his own brands like the Italian Benelli Super Triple bikes.

WHAT’S HOT?

AMID BIKE SHOW REPORT

he annual bike blitz put on by the Amid Motorcycle importers was once again an all go-and-show event with literally every new model launched across the world seen on the numerous makers show stands. Along with this came the public announcement that this year’s contenders, some nine models are to be tested in the Pirelli Bike of the Year Competition, by Matt and Hairy Harry from the Bike Show. Hall 5 played a big role this year in entertaining enthusiasts out to view the model of their choice. Backed with a myriad of accessories, all squashed in for the three short days. It all proved to be the epicentre of all things bike as the adrenaline junkies weren’t left out whizzing around the 4x4 track and super motor racers put on a fine show for spectators. So it made no difference if you came to just see your mates or take time in a retro-classic or even a huge V-twin new model cruiser. It was just a case of choosing your own personal eye candy and enjoying the weekend’s entertainment for this year. Fun for one and all – courtesy of Amid.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

AR S-O 2014 CLAIRE_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/08/29 2:20 PM Page 22

PRODUCT PROFILE ABRASIVES

MIRKA GOLD CLASSIC STILL TOPPING THE CHARTS

ne of Bulldog Abrasivesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; top selling range of products is the Mirka Gold Family! Available in discs, sheets and rolls â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Mirka Gold products have become a classic abrasive which give a great performance within a lot of different applications. The tough latex coated paper base makes Gold a balanced flexible product with a good initial cut and fantastic durability. The full resin bonding and even grain coating provide a constant stock removal and excellent surface finish. This durable, all-round sanding material is very well suited for tackling all kind of applications within the automotive sector. Gold features semi-open and special stearate coatings designed to prevent clogging and pill forming which helps achieve an optimal sanding result. For more information on this chart topping product as well as the rest of the Mirka range, contact the Bulldog Abrasives sales team on +27 (0)11 786 5991 or visit our revamped website: www.bulldogabrasives.co.za

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

AR S-O 2014 CLAIRE_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/08/29 2:19 PM Page 13

LOCAL UPDATE WHAT’S HOT?

THE PROOF OF THE POLISHING SYSTEM IS IN THE COSTING

tatus Panelbeater’s entrance to the company says it all. This South Coast Panelbeater in KZN turns out to be a nationally recognised top collision repair centre in Port Shepstone. It is run by Danie Steyn and his sons Martin and Gerhard. Their control of the business is exceptional. They literally have a system in place for all the sections of repair within the company. Accompanied by Ryan Matchett from Bulldog Abrasives we are here today to get a graphic overview of the great cost savings they have achieved in the polishing section of Status Panelbeaters. The figures make for good reading if you’re a profit minded owner. In July, the time sheet and polishing performance shows their exact polishing costs per panel. Martin explains, that in producing around 171 repainted vehicles, which includes a panel repair count of some 966 panels, their overall cost using the Presta polish system is just R2.34 per panel. This represents a significant saving of close to 60% over some of the previous systems used at Status Panelbeaters. The two operating section polishers have gained this result since starting with the Prest Ultra Cutting Creme, which can capably remove up to 2 000 to 3 000 sanding marks when used with the double sided yellow medium wool buffing pad. “By using the foam pad, we’re able to reduce our panel heat up levels and have less swirls on freshly painted solid or metallic refinisher materials,” says Martin. Stage 2 sees the use of the special, blue, foam polishing pad. It’s designed to remove swirls fast and works rapidly in producing a high gloss level on the finished job. The Aurora Hand Glaze, which is silicone free, is used on all types of refinish. On dark colours Status Panelbeaters have seen and achieved great success when using the Chroma Swirl remover with the blue soft foam polishing head. “The Presta polishing system is a way cheaper option, it is very concentrated and delivers great mileage for the polishing section. Just a drop goes a long way and it’s now proved in our cost savings since using this product. “The whole polish and final glaze body repair section is achieving profitability like we have never seen before at Status Panelbeaters,” concluded Martin. 74

Status Panelbeaters in Port Shepstone, KZN, operate one of the finest repair centres in South Africa

Martin Steyn (left) says that there is much more profitability with the new Presta polishing system.

By using one swirl remover and the Presta hand glaze, Ryan Matchett (left) from Bulldog Abrasives says that the overall cost per panel is only R2.34 on average.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

HURRICANE AD S-O 2014_Layout 1 2014/08/27 10:43 AM Page 1

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SAFETY NEWS WHAT’S HOT?

CHRYSLER INSTALL CUTTING EDGE TEST FACILITY

he vehicle safety requirements stipulated by institutes such as the New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) are becoming more and more stringent and the associated test procedures more complex. As a result, vehicle manufacturers such as Chrysler need to install cutting-edge testing equipment in their own crash test facilities, allowing them to develop products that meet the full range of requirements of vehicle testing authorities in the future as well as build safer, more reliable cars. For this reason, in spring 2013 the Group commissioned the company Messring Systembau GmbH based in Munich to comprehensively modernise and upgrade the central testing facility in Chelsea, Michigan, the world renowned Chelsea Proving Grounds (CPG). The testing grounds have a size of approximately 3 800 acres and the CPG were founded in 1954. Messring is the world’s leading supplier of crash test facilities and their components and has already implemented more than 100 large-scale testing centres. Chrysler ordered the cutting-edge MicroTrack system from Messring, including a drive system with electric motor, M=Light Led lamps, curb test equipment featuring a special sled, and two new film pits. First, the existing track system for accelerating test vehicles was replaced with the tried-and-tested MicroTrack system. The system offers a major benefit, the guide channel is much thinner than in conventional systems, allowing for many more details to be captured in vehicle crash video footage from below in the film pit, a key criteria for evaluating vehicle crashing behaviour. In older track systems, the wide guide channels obstruct the most important details. Chrysler can operate the track system in two directions using the same guide channel, towards the impact block inside the hall and towards the outer area of the facility. The narrower, nearly zero-clearance system for guiding the new trolley also promotes better control of the test vehicle and higher precision in terms of speed and point of impact. The highly versatile MicroTrack can be installed with various lengths, ranging from a few metres (low speed systems such as RCAR tests) to several hundred metres, regardless of whether the track system is located in a hall or outside. System performance and precision have improved significantly thanks to the new drive system. Vehicles with a total weight of 4.6 metric tons can now be accelerated at speeds of up to 120 km/h along the 220-metre track. In addition to a high-speed camera, you also need flawless illumination of the impact zone in order to efficiently document the exact moment of the actual crash. The formula for success is relatively simple, plenty of light promotes high depth of focus and short exposure times and therefore greater detail for subsequent evaluation. More importantly, it’s easier to observe deformation of the vehicle bodywork, which is important for testing engineers. For this reason, Chrysler opted for Messring’s M=M=Light Led lamps. This technology is revolutionary in the crash test industry and was installed in the US for the first time, at a customer’s site. The 46 Led lamps were all installed in the two film pits at the testing centre. The rear impact pit and the front pit at the impact block are both located inside the crash test centre’s large-scale test hall in Michigan, which measures 43 x 26 metres, both protected by a robust pane of Plexiglass. Every component possible now undergoes extensive testing for both performance and reliability on the new Microtrack system that Chrysler purchased from Messring. It is at the Chelsea testing grounds in Michigan.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

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AR S-O 2014 CLAIRE_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/08/29 2:20 PM Page 17

LOCAL UPDATE WHAT’S HOT?

DR SMASH EXPAND THE SYSTEM’S REACH

John Banfield and Christine Boorman from Dr Smash software are now upbeat about the company’s progress in body shop management.

he affordable collision repair and motor industry management software package from Dr Smash has recently introduced a number of progressive changes to cover new developments in the industry. These include customer care and quote conversion tools along with around 20 other key areas of control that will affect any company’s profitability performance. John Banfield, CEO of Dr Smash says that the latest programme enhancements are the result of over 20 years of constant upgrading to the Dr Smash package, with the SQL version already in use with close to 100 of their top clients. “It’s proving to be very successful in the body shop field because the new software design is very user friendly

across the board. Things like workshop loading, financials, biometric time and attendance accountability for staff are taken care of.” With the new office now fully operational for customer support in Gauteng, Christine Boorman of Dr Smash says that they are now able to offer greatly

improved back-up for the regional activity. Following on this, Dr Smash is due to launch fully into the Zambian collision repair market in September this year with the innovative SQL updates. Call them on +27 (0)31 700 6498 if you need more information.

US NEWS

COURT ISSUES RULING IN RECYCLED PARTS CASE

he West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals ruled that salvage and recycled OEM crash parts are not prohibited by the state’s Automotive Crash Parts Act, the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) announced recently. The act requires collision repair professionals to get an owner’s signature before repairing a vehicle with replacement crash parts. However, the court found that the act was intended to cover only some replacement crash parts. In its ruling, the court said that aftermarket crash parts versus salvage or recycled OEM crash parts are “diametrically different” in terms of the statute. While a disclosure and vehicle owner signature will still be required for aftermarket crash parts, recycled OEM parts will not have the same requirements. "This ruling is a significant step forward for the professional automotive recycling industry and the increased utilization of genuine, recycled OEM parts," said Michael Wilson, ARA’s CEO. "ARA applauds the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals for recognising the value of recycled OEM parts to automotive consumers, collision repairers and insurance companies, and for supporting the definite role professional automotive recyclers serve

in today's automotive marketplace." The ruling brings closure to a 2011 lawsuit in which the state of West Virginia attorney general’s office filed a complaint and petition for injunction against Liberty Mutual and Greg Chandler's Frame & Body. The suit alleged the defendants violated the state's Automotive Crash Parts Act as well as the Consumer Credit and Protection Act by repairing new vehicles using salvage crash parts without getting the vehicle owner's’ consent. The court also considered whether the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act had any application to the use of salvage/recycled OEM parts. In both parts, the court determined that the defendants did not violate the law. The ARA has been involved with the case since 2012, when it wrote a letter to the state’s Attorney General in favour of recycled OEM parts, saying the “green” recycled OEM auto parts meet the performance, safety, fit and durability standards of new parts. The ARA also called on the Attorney General’s office to help the people of West Virginia understand that recycled or salvage parts are “OEM parts, fully functional and in many cases identical to original parts."

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

MIXPLAST ADS J-F 2014_Layout 1 2014/02/06 10:58 AM Page 1

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INDUSTRY UPDATE PRODUCT PROFILE

3M’S AUTOMOTIVE ABRASIVE ENHANCING PRODUCTION TARGETS

part from enhancing the quality of the panel work, 3M’s recently available range of abrasives, films and compounds, have revised production targets of automotive panel shops across South Africa. At one luxury vehicle brand’s panel division, this change has enhanced production by over 300 %. 3M’s automotive refurbishment range comprises of a variety of products, each showcasing its own innovative technology – from the advanced mineral composition of the Trizact™ discs to the products’ simple, self-explanatory colour-coded schemata and standard operating procedures. Whereas refinishing processes have traditionally involved workers reacting to the specific refurbishing requirement in front of them, 3M’s universal procedure approach has streamlined this process, eliminating the guesswork and trial-anderror nature that previously characterised this operation. Optimum Solutions For Each Panel Shop The abrasive 3M Purple Clean Sanding Discs and 3M Purple Clean Sanding Rolls are lined with logarithmic spiral escape routes, which improve dust extraction by almost 90%. This has important process-enhancing results: enduring far more wear, the abrasives last two to three times longer than regular abrasive equipment, processing more panels with reduced changeover time. The realtime extraction of dust eliminates a major cause of deep scratches, pigtails, swirls and holograms on the panel surface – a primary reason for recalls. The repair process starts with coarse grit abrasives, which are replaced by progressively finer grits as required by the paint finishes. The body shop uses the full range of 3M Purple Clean Sanding Discs and 3M Purple Clean Sanding Rolls. This stage of panel preparation requires coarse abrasives, with the P80 and P180 providing the principal solution. The abrasives are used to remove damaged paint from the metal, shape surface fillers and prepare the surface for primer. The 3M Purple P80 discs have replaced the traditional grinding disc, reducing wear on the aluminium skin panels for a better finish.

The paint shop has finer grit requirements in preparing the panel for the topcoat application. The discs and rolls used here are the P320; the P500, used for normal colours; and the P800, used for metallic finishes. Blending requirements – to match panels – are achieved with the P1000 Trizact™ Disc. The Perfect-It III paint rectification system is used in paint rectification shops. The 3M Purple Finishing Discs P1200 and Trizact™ P1500 discs are used to remove surface defects. The finish is then refined further using the 3M Trizact™ P3000. Additional refining, using the 3M Trizact™ P6000 reduces scratch depth to between 0.2 and 0.3 microns. Vehicle polishing is a three step process: firstly, the 3M Perfect-It III Fast Cut Compound is applied, which removes scratches and restores gloss. The 3M Perfect-It III Extra Fine Polish is then applied, deepening the gloss. The final application is the 3M Perfect-It III Ultrafine Polish, which removes all residual swirl marks for the achievement of the showroom condition. The masking process has also been enhanced for improved productivity, with the 3M Moisture Resistant film providing a precise panel mask that has demonstrated increased resistance to the development of sub-surface water marks, a commonly-associated issue of panel masking. More and more automotive panel shops across South Africa are realising the enhanced productivity affected by the 3M automotive refurbishment range.

ZENITH INTRODUCES THE SA ZENITH STAR SPRAYBOOTH THE EQUIPMENT SA STAR SPRAYBOOTH FROM EQUIPMENT With improved 50mm steel wall thickness, state-ofthe-art colour matching fluorescent lighting and new safety features in the stainless steel burner and heat exchangers. The SA Star Spraybooth also incorporates both front and side doors for easy entry at a very competitive price. The spraybooth meets and exceeds health and safety standards.

SLASH SLASH COSTS COSTS WITH WITH THE THE SA STAR SA STAR SPRAYBOOTH SPRAYBOOTH

CONTACT HENRY BASSON

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AR S-O 2014 CLAIRE_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/09/02 4:15 PM Page 23

NEW PRODUCTS

BULLDOG ABRASIVES SYKES PICKAVANT BODY BLADE HOLDER New to Bulldog Abrasives is the Sykes Pickavant range of body repair tools. The adjustable Body Blade Holder is just one of their many body repair products available. This blade holder is suitable for forming and shaping fillers and metal during body repair work. It has a robust construction with a steel tension adjuster, a sole plate and a tough plastic handle. The Sykes body blade holder is very versatile with a two-position handle for vertical or horizontal use. It has a steel tension adjuster and base plate and is compatible with most flat profile 356mm body blades. The body blade holder is supplied with a standard flat cut 9tpi blade â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6.5tpi and 13tpi blades are also available (sold separately). For more information on this product as well as the rest of the Skykes Pickavant range please contact the Bulldog Abrasives sales team on +27 (0)11 786 5991, or on sales@bulldogabrasives.co.za. You can also download their catalogue, which is available on Bulldog Abrasives' website under the "Information Centre" tab: www.bulldogabrasives.co.za

VIRGIN PLASTICS CAR KITS This 3 in 1 Kit consist of a steering wheel cover, floor mats and a seat cover which is easy to use. At 25 micron it can be used more than once. Your ideal protection item to have, it protects your vehicle inside when going for panelbeating and servicing. For more information call +27 (0)83 251 9442 or office +27(0)11 616 2870 or email them at virgin@mweb.co.za for more information.

EN EXPAND PRIMER OFFER EN Rapid Filling Primer 4400 HS High build primer offers the maximum filling on rough surfaces and also works well as a wet-on-wet primer at reduced viscosity. The new primer speeds up the primer process with ultra fast through drying times. It can be flatted both wet or dry, in some cases after just an hour or so, depending on the ambient temperature. It also meets the latest compliant low VOC levels. The 4400 new formula adds a dash of speed to any spray shop in reduced process time. IK Primer This high build single pack primer offers the flexibility to work well on many substrates with good adhesion levels and a high build. The surfacers are very flexible and it delivers good scratch build qualities. Call Auto Paint Centre on +27 (0)31 902 7666. 82

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

AR S-O 2014 CLAIRE_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/09/02 4:15 PM Page 24

DEVILBISS STARTINGLINE GUN Startingline by DeVilbiss comes equipped with two set up options. The 1.3 model offers busy professional spray painters a high efficiency option to give great layout on top coats, waterborne and solvent base coats and clears with the high efficiency air cap design. The larger 1.8 nozzle size is designed for use with high build primers for it offers top levels of atomisation for the more viscous automotive refinish products at the body panel preparation stage of a repair. These set up applications, says DeVilbiss, cover all conventional automotive and industrial paints delivering a smooth flow and excellent pattern shape. The Startinglineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lightweight and strong construction comes complete with a 550ml acetal gravity cup plus a paint filter, cleaning brush and spanner in the kit. All this comes at the best ever price from DeVilbiss. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s designed to cope for the deserving spray painter who will value the DeVilbiss quality but wants a great entry level price on the brands performance. For more information please call BASF Coatings, Tony Carling on +27 (0)21 930 3233 / Mark at Tunzi Automotive on +27 (0)11 867 7887 or visit www.devilbissu.com for more information.

KAPCI COATINGS NEW LATICO BRAND The Latico brand includes a range of basic toners plus high performance clear and hardeners in the top coat refinish line up and new formulations on high build primer. It is known for its: l Competitive price l Easy application, fast dry times l Established, proven performance To find you nearest dealer please call Kapci on +27 (0)11 834 1252 or visit www.kapci.com for more information on the Latico product range.

MIX AND MATCH MIDO GALVA STUCK FILLER This new formulation polyester body filler has been introduced to the Egyptian refinish brand to ensure a top quality result when dents and scuffs need a repair solution on galvanised or aluminium surfaces. It has excellent adhesion and offers perfect filling of pinholed surfaces. It has a pot life once catalysed, of some three to five minutes of workability time. It is fully dry after 30 to 40 minutes after curing with a special primer hardener. For more information call Mix and Match on +27 (0)31 465 4511.

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WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HOT? JOBS, EQUIPMENT, SERVICES AND MUCH MORE Auto Industry Consulting provide technical information and consultancy to the global collision repair industry. Our subscription based website

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AFRICAN PANORAMA - CLUB X

hasing the future is what got the boss to sit in the passenger seat with his friend George. They were crossing through Germany to get a trade show in Geneva. It all sounds fairly simplistic until you roll in George’s appetite for speed and the German Autobahn. A few things compromised the actual driving element, like George’s general ignorance for any road signs to reduce speed whivh was quickly ignored, so missing apex’s on corners and almost crashing into slower trucks on the highway became the norm. Forget about enjoying the real world. Everything in the two-litre hire car was under extreme pressure as the boss envisaged a big crash in which all the lights would go out. George’s comment that if the car broke down that they could enjoy a free tow did little to calm down the rising tension between them. Behind all this was the fact that George needed his eyes tested. Yes, he was about as blind as a bat behind the steering wheel. So as evening loomed the boss suggested, at his wits end, that they should stop off in the remote town of Doodingdon in Switzerland and pick up some urgently 86

needed spectacles from any available optometrist. Basking in the serene civilisation of the Swiss countryside was once again interrupted at sparrows, as George wanted to push on to buy his daughter a Swiss watch in Geneva. After another two-hour trip at breakneck speed, and a further period of a primitive scene of vulnerability from the boss, they arrived just 10 minutes after all the shops closed on Saturday afternoon for the weekend. It was just another giant waste of time and effort. Fortunately that just left them one afternoon free after George’s mad dash across Europe. For once there was peace and quiet over a skinny latté at the pavement’s edge. The next great idea, however, soon came to George. “You know, I know a club where the women all look great and are friendly to strangers. We will go there tonight.” After a general rest, off they went to find it but there were two things he could not quite remember – the address or the name of the club. So they were soon traipsing this way and that trying to find the place. Fortunately after a couple of hours they gave up and took time out to eat. After around five hours of

being lost in and around Geneva in the dark, “Club X” was discovered just two doors away from their hotel in the other direction from the front door. In Switzerland for some reason these emporiums feature curvaceous females who are only allowed to talk to strangers. It’s a strictly no canoodling experience. When done at 2 am in the morning it’s all very strange indeed. Your hostess gets paid for the amount of champagne she sells at 60 Euro’s a bottle. She soon calmly tells you that her three illegitimate children are in dire straits in Formosa and she is currently enduring the worst case of cystitis ever from drinking three bottles of French champagne daily. The social club is not quite what it seems, but looks ominously like a mafia inspired – and run – tourist trap. It turns out that Georges’ hostess is a Bosnian refugee with all sorts of problems. So after all that hostess soul searching, and with a nod and a wink later, it was time to call it a night. As a world traveller, once again the truth dawns, just go to bed and rest up and don’t chase an impossible dream in a strange country – as it’s too expensive and it never delivers.

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