Bodyworx 4#3, October 2015

SPECIAL EDITION OF

SPOTLIGHT: TOP LEVEL COMPETITION AT WORLDSKILLS 2015

REMOVE RUNS

Grab your polyester putty and hang on tight.

PASSION, Customized

CRAFTED CULTURE Bill Hatswell and Craftsman Collision promote from the floor.

JOHN ST. GERMAIN BRINGS TOGETHER EXPERTS AT TIME BOMB CUSTOMS.

PLUS New gear at NACE, inside Centennial College’s autobody program, and much, much more!!!

Autumn 2015

l

$4.95

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Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40841632

l 86 John Street, Thornhill, ON L3T 1Y2

ONLY ONE THING LASTS LONGER THAN OUR COATINGS. OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU. As the world leader in coatings our long-term commitment to our customers is reflected in the numbers.

2,000,000+ COLOR FORMULA GLOBAL DATABASE 28,000+ CUSTOMERS USING PPG WATERBORNE 15,000 TECHNICIANS TRAINED ANNUALLY 9,000+ SHOPS USING MVP BUSINESS TEACHINGS 1,200+ U.S. AND CANADIAN DISTRIBUTORS 111 YEARS OF INNOVATION IN REFINISH COATINGS 1 COMPANY DELIVERS ALL OF THIS

Bottom line? As long as there are vehicles to paint PPG will be there to help you paint them.

Follow us online: www.ppgrefinish.com

©2015 PPG Industries, Inc. All rights reserved.

The PPG Logo and Bringing innovation to the surface are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

CONTENTS

15

profile 15 Custom crew John St. Germain and Time Bomb Customs called on specialists to help transform the Tri-Five Merc.

regulars 4 Publisher’s Page

by Darryl Simmons Career paths.

6 News Arslan Automotive demos the latest welding techniques, WorldSkills wraps up, hot tools, and much, much more!

38 Final Detail

by Mike Davey Pass it on.

31

28

24

Best in Show

Canadian Pride

We’ve rounded up some of the latest and greatest in equipment from NACE | CARS.

Justin Dambitis represented the country at WorldSkills in Sau Paolo, Brazil.

Secret to Success

features 12 On the Pulse

21 Quick Fix

The SEMA Show works to keep attendees up to speed on the trends set to rock the industry.

Got a run? Polyester putty can work to remove the toughest of runs without leaving a trace.

13 Chip, Up Close

37 Rapid Advance

Catching up with the winner of the 3M Accuspray System Spray Gun Meet Chip Foose contest.

Centennial College’s Auto Body Repair program arms students with workplace skills in three semesters.

Craftsman Collision founder Bill Hatswell built the company by fostering talent.

SPECIAL EDITION OF

SPOTLIGHT: TOP LEVEL COMPETITION AT WORLDSKILLS 2015

on the cover: Time Bomb Custom’s Tri-Five Merc in Goodwood, ON. Photo by Mike Davey.

REMOVE RUNS

Grab your polyester putty and hang on tight.

PASSION, Customized

CRAFTED CULTURE Bill Hatswell and Craftsman Collision promote from the floor.

JOHN ST. GERMAIN BRINGS TOGETHER EXPERTS AT TIME BOMB CUSTOMS.

PLUS New gear at NACE, inside Centennial College’s autobody program, and much, much more!!!

Autumn 2015

l

$4.95

l

Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40841632

l

86 John Street, Thornhill, ON L3T 1Y2

AUTUMN 2015  BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

3

PUBLISHER’S PAGE

CAREER PATHS

BODYWORX THE VOICE OF COLLISION REPAIR TECHS & PAINTERS

PROFESSIONAL PUBLISHER Darryl Simmons 647.409.7070 publisher@collisionrepairmag.com

The collision repair industry lets you blaze your own trail.

EDITOR Mike Davey editor@collisionrepairmag.com ART DIRECTOR Candace Taylor candace@mediamatters.ca ASSISTANT EDITOR Melissa Hayes melissa@mediamatters.ca

BY DARRYL SIMMONS

W

elcome to another exciting issue of Bodyworx Professional celebrating the fascinating career paths in collision repair and the auto claims economy.

These pages are jam-packed with stories and photos showing the variety of career options you’ll find—from custom painting and design, to estimating and management, and even to starting your own business. As repair gets more hightech, you’ll read how techs use skills

STAFF WRITER Jeff Sanford jeff@collisionrepairmag.com

ever, he believes very strongly in promoting right from the shop floor. This quickly and resoundly answers in a positive note from those wondering about what future potential collision repair offers. There is no upward limit.

You can use this magazine to help promote the industry to your friends, your family and your teachers. We actually just received a letter from a teacher in Napanee who uses the magazine to show his students the possibilities and opportunities in the collision repair in-

TECHS USE SKILLS RANGING FROM COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN TO PLASMA WELDING AND CUTTING. ranging from computer-aided design to plasma welding and cutting while working on the hottest cars you’ve ever dreamed of! Passion and enthusiasm exude page after page after page.

Highlighting this edition is the story of Bill Hatswell, an inspiration to anyone, but especially to repairers and painters. President of Craftsman Collision, a chain of collision repair facilities with numerous locations in Alberta and British Columbia, Bill’s company is also international, with facilities in California and China.

Bill came to Canada from Adelaide, Australia and opened a collision centre in 1971. Like many of the success stories in this industry, he worked hard and built a large business employing hundreds of people. Most importantly how-

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BODYWORXMAG.COM  BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

dustry. In particular, he used a story profiling Hilary Noack to show three girls that there are opportunities in this industry for women as well as men. All three are now in his class and loving it.

This is an exhilarating time in the collision repair industry. It is a time unprecedented in terms of learning a skill that demands passion and insight. If you’re in it, you know what I’m talking about. If you’re not, talk to someone about getting in. It might just be the best decision you’ve made.

VP INDUSTRY RELATIONS & ADVERTISING Gloria Mann 647.998.5677 advertising@collisionrepairmag.com DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING Ellen Smith 416.312.7446 ellen@mediamatters.ca MARKETING ASSISTANT Will Jacques will@mediamatters.ca GRAPHIC DESIGNER Laura Keung CONTRIBUTORS Michael Carcone, Justin Jimmo, Adrien Montoya

SUBSCRIPTION One-year $19.95 / Two-year $34.95

Bodyworx Professional™ is published bi-monthly, and is dedicated to serving the business interests of the collision repair industry. It is published by Media Matters Inc. Material in Bodyworx Professional™ may not be reproduced in any form with out written consent from the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statements made by its advertisers or independent columnists. All facts, opinions, statements appearing in this publication are those of the writers and editors themselves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions or endorsements by the publisher.

PRINTED IN CANADA ISSN 1707-6072 CANADA POST CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL SALES PRODUCT AGREEMENT No. 40841632 RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED Send change of address notices and undeliverable copies to: 86 John Street Thornhill, ON L3T 1Y2

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Bodyworx Professional is published by Media Matters Inc., publishers of:

BODYWORX THE VOICE OF COLLISION REPAIR TECHS & PAINTERS

PROFESSIONAL

Trainingmatters.ca T H E T RA I N I N G P O RTA L F O R C O L L I S I O N R E PA I R

magazine

DRIVE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY FRONT TO BACK

Boost your productivity. From the office, with bodyshop management and workflow planning for faster processes.

And marketing programs to help you attract new customers.

To the spray booth with local colour support. And benefit from our knowledge of economical application. With our business solutions, Cromax® is designed to help you develop your

bodyshop’s full potential. You can choose what is right for your shop: Cromax® Pro or Cromax® Mosaic™ basecoat in combination with either the Cromax® Premier LE or Cromax® LE undercoats and clearcoats. We are more than just paint.

We drive productivity so you can move your business forward. www.cromax.ca

The Axalta logo, Axalta™, Axalta Coating Systems™, Cromax® and the Cromax® logo and all other marks denoted with ™ or ® are trademarks or registered trademarks of Axalta Coating Systems, LLC and its affiliates, used under license by Axalta Coating Systems Canada Company. © 2015 Axalta Coating Systems. All rights reserved.

>>>

NEWS

Clinic demonstrates latest welding techniques

BY MIKE DAVEY Owners, managers and techs in the Greater Toronto Area had a chance recently to get up to speed on the latest welding techniques for modern materials, including aluminum. The clinic was presented by Sean Slaven and Jason Grey of Arslan Automotive and hosted by Fix Auto Mississauga Central.

The clinic star ted with a brief presentation conducted by Slaven where he noted that welding has been through numerous advancements in recent years, and that the technological change just keeps coming.

“Honda is changing the game,” he said, referring to recently updated repair procedures from Honda that use silicon bronze welds in a zig zag pattern.

The presentation ran through some of the equipment that

Aluminum Tech Tools are here!

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can be used to repair materials such as high-strengh steel and aluminum, covering some of the technological advances made over the past few years, and how they can help collision repair facilities stay ahead of the game.

Slaven showed off the current generation Tecna welder, noting that it is designed for ease of use.

“It’s a smart machine,” he said. “It reads the kinds of metal, the thickness of the metal, and then it welds it for you.”

The system includes a number of different settings, including “Expert” mode, used to input predetermined OEM parameters.

The machine offers another benefit, according to Slaven, in that it keeps an accurate log of all welds performed with the machine.

“At some point, insurance companies are going to want you to print and submit a record of you welds,” he said.

The presentation also covered other essential items of equipment for aluminum repair, including fume extraction and rivet bonding.

The “classroom” portion of the event was followed by demonstrations of the equipment, with attendees given an opportunity to try out the equipment for themselves.

To lear n more about Ar slan Automotive, please visit arslanauto.com.

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Innovative Body Shop Tools & Equipment

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Sean Slaven and Jason Grey of Arslan Automotive conducted the demonstrations at Fix Auto Mississauga Central.

NEWS

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WorldSkills celebrates the power of skills at closing ceremony

CROMAX® MOSAICTM Team Canada during the closing ceremonies of the 43rd WorldSkills competition in São Paulo, Brazil.

Following an intense and high spirited 43rd WorldSkills Competition, the Closing Ceremony of WorldSkills São Paulo 2015 brought an end the largest competition in WorldSkills history and the first ever held in Latin America. The event took place in São Paulo, Brazil, from August 12 to 15.

Approximately 9,000 competitors, experts, delegates, sponsors, partners and supporters recognized the excellence of the competitors from around the world.

There were 50 different competitions, but of course we had our eyes on just two: Auto Body Repair and Car Painting. Justin Dambitis and Kassandra Plante-Bilodeau represented Canada in their respective competitions.

Plante-Bilodeau came in 13th overall in Car Painting, with a total score of 484 points. Dambitis racked up a score of 494 in Auto Body Repair, coming 10th overall.

The competition at this level is intense, with many competitors landing final scores that are very close together.

During the closing ceremonies, WorldSkills President Simon Bartley expressed his thanks to and admiration for the amazing community of individuals and organizations from around the globe that contributed to the success of the event.

He encouraged everyone in the audience to take home and share all they learned throughout the competition—about themselves, about their fellow competitors, and about their skill.

Paraphrasing Winston Churchill, Bartley said that the close of the competition is “merely the end of the beginning.”

Stating that the “real work” starts now, Bartley encouraged all in the audience to take back home the experience and enthusiasm they developed here, and “use it as a legacy of this competition to spur development across their countries, regions, industries, and colleges.”

For more information on the WorldSkills Competition, please visit worldskills.org.

A basecoat line for automotive body shops doing collision work that is designed to provide dependable colour match and a durable OEM quality repair.

Classic coat-flash-reflow technology allows application flexibility and promotes excellent metallic control.

For additional information about this technology please call your preferred Axalta distributor or the Axalta Customer Care Centre at 1-800-668-6945. www.cromax.ca

info@collegeoftrades.ca 1.855.299.0028 The Cromax logo and Cromax Mosaic are trademarks or registered trademarks of Axalta Coating collegeoftrades.ca Systems LLC or its affiliates, used under license by Axalta Coating Systems Canada Company.

AN AXALTA COATING SYSTEMS BRAND

AUTUMN 2015  BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

7

®

™

© 2015 Axalta Coating Systems Canada Company. All rights reserved.

THE

Basics

By Bill Davidge, National Technical Manager at CARSTAR Automotive Canada

>>>

I-CAR launches Production Management role

I recently noticed an article regarding the opportunities to repair more plastic parts, and I strongly believe this is something most of us can master with some basic knowledge and experience.

For many of us, bumpers are the first thing we think of when we talk or hear about plastic. However, we should really think again. One of the ways manufacturers are reducing weight is through increasing the use of plastic. Just have a look under the hood of a late model vehicle.

As always, it’s important to source the vehicle manufacturer’s repair information prior to the repair to avoid unexpected surprises. For example, when repairing a part in an area where the manufacturer indicates there should be no filler material due to sensors behind the part, such as a bumper, that will not allow them to function properly.

There are many types of plastics out there that we will need to identify prior to an attempted repair. When looking for information, there are many websites that can help you to determine the type of plastic and the repairability of each one. Another great source of information is your vendors, who not only sell the products but who may also offer hands on training.

The first step in repairing plastic is much like repairing steel, we need to return the part’s basic shape using heat. It should be noted to work the area around the impact point to allow it to return to close to its original contour. You may want to set the part in the paint booth during a bake cycle to help it along, or maybe even put it outside on a sunny day. Neither of these ways will restore the part back to its original condition completely, but it will usually help.

At the end of the day though, the best approach is practice. Grab yourself a part out of the scrap, get the heat gun and go for it. I will discuss next steps in the next article.

8

NEWS

BODYWORXMAG.COM  BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

BY JEFF SANFORD I-CAR has officially launched a program for production managers. The courses will be available as part of I-CAR’s Professional Development Program.

Managing workflow is a key skill and is especially necessary in larger businesses.

The new course is a recognition of this fact.

“This is a terrifically interesting development from I-CAR US,” says Andrew Shepherd, Executive Director of I-CAR Canada. “This is not only covering an important role in the shop but moving the ‘learnProduction management is an increasingly vital role in many facilities, leading I-CAR to create ing organization’ concept from a new Professional Development Path. theory to practice.”

The new curriculum is designed to go beyond technical training.

The course is currently being offered in Through utilizing the real-life experithe US, but according to Shepherd, plans ences of actual production managers are in place for the program to eventually and shop owners, the course will promake its way across the border. vide participants “insight into critical Each course in the Production Manageissues and multiple areas of the shop ment role must be taken sequentially. floor, while enhancing critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.”

Learning Culture Overview (PM101E01) Working through the course will Before the Repair Starts (PM105E01) enable production managers to Matching the Repair to the Team (PM110V01) “quickly address complex problems Workflow Essentials (PM115E01) shop personnel face in collision repair production.”

The courses enable a facility’s production management leader to utilize techniques like root-cause analysis and process mapping to identify waste and defects in their local workflow process.

This allows the production manager to improve efficiencies and increase profitability at their facilities.

I-CAR’s production management curriculum utilizes blended learning, featuring courses that are designed to build on previous ones.

Courses feature interviews with industry experts and interactive exercises through a mix of live, online and new virtual formats.

Synchronizing Workflow through Team Communication (PM120L01) Problem Solving for Workflow Changes (PM125V01) Quality Is Your Business (PM130E01) Optimizing Processes, Equipment and Compliance (PM135E01) Developing the Team and the Business (PM140V01) Refining the Team and the Businesses (PM145L01) Students can review detailed information, register and track their progress for the Production Management curriculum online at i-car.com.

NEWS

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New impacts from Mac Tools Mac Tools has launched three new cordless impacts that are available in several variations.

The new impacts offer reliable power, comfort for more productive use and varying speeds and torque values for maximum user control.

The new products are BWP025-­D2: 1/4” 12V Impact Wrench Kit with 55 ft. lbs breakaway torque; the BWP138-­Z2: 3/8” 20V Impact Wrench Kit with 325 ft. lbs breakaway torque; and the BWP150-­Z2: 1/2” 20V Impact Wrench Kit with 375 ft. lbs breakaway torque.

The new cordless impacts are powered by DEWALT advanced, interchangeable lithium ion batteries that provide long lasting run-time.

The impacts feature a forward handle design with rubber overmold grips that are resistant to automotive fluids and deliver balance, control and comfort. Anti-marring bumpers protect the tool and work surfaces from damage. The bodies of the new impacts are made from glass-filled nylon that can withstand automotive fluids, and come equipped with a variable speed switch.

For more info, please visit mactools.ca.

Put the End of the Road…

Back On The Open Road

Snap-on launches cordless impact tool Snap-on has released the CT8810A, an 18-volt, 3/8inch lithium cordless impact tool. Featuring a slender design and balanced ergonomic control, the CT8810A is lightweight and compact while providing plenty of power, according to the company. The lithium battery provides short charge time and long life.

The CT8810A has an output rating of 230 ft. lbs of torque. and provides 3,480 blows per minute and 2,400 RPMs for free speed to break fasteners loose. It also features a digital fuel gauge and micro-controller to sense temperature and amperage, cutting off power to the motor before it overheats.

To learn more, please go to snapon. com/powertools.

There’s plenty of life left in Green Recycled Parts.

And putting them back on the road is a great thing for the environment, your customers and your business.

So offer your customers an environmentally friendly alternative that will save them about half the price of new OEM parts without sacrificing performance or quality. Not only will they appreciate it, you’ll be rewarded with enhanced customer loyalty, trust... and more repeat business.

All our members are certified by a third-party independent audit to meet the standards of the Canadian Auto Recyclers' Environmental Code.

Locate Green Recycled Parts for any vehicle or discover the new Gold Seal Recycler Program at

www.autorecyclers.ca

AUTUMN 2015  BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

9

HOT WHEELS

PUSHING FORWARD

•

SEMA sets the stage for change, helping industry stay ahead of the game.

These are just a few things that spring to mind when I walk the Las Vegas Convention Center show floor.

When I look back at the earlier years, the questions were similiar, but they were questions that would change annually—or at best, semi-annually.

BY MICHAEL CARCONE

W

ith the summer ending and November quickly approaching, this means only one thing to many hundreds of thousands of car enthusiasts and auto professionals. It’s that time of year for arguably the biggest and best automotive-and-accessory-related expo in North America: the SEMA Show.

To some, SEMA is the exposition of choice to walk through and take in all of the latest and greatest cars, accessories, equipment and gear on display.

To others, it is the place to see and be seen—to showcase new product, network, meet new customers and build professional relationships that will help bring exhibitors to the next level of success.

To me, the event is all of the above, and then some.

IN THE DETAILS Yes, I am a car guy but not in the same sense as others attending the show. You see, when I look at a car I look at it differently from the way most people would.

When I see a vehicle, I see it broken down into hundreds of parts and products, and I ask myself what can these parts do to affect the way I do business as an auto recycler.

I see a vehicle not for its value as a whole, but rather its value in its many separate pieces and parts.

Over the past few years, I have begun to see how the ever-evolving industry and changes in the construction of the automobile itself is affecting the very way we do business.

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BODYWORXMAG.COM  BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

staff have the right training to deal with the new products and vehicles?

On top of all of this, will I have adequate access to the right information when it comes to inventorying some the new products and parts on today’s cars?

CRITICAL CHANGES From body styles to suspension and braking, and from wheels to advanced technology, everything requires the willingness to adapt, change and refocus.

By attending SEMA, event-goers and industry stakeholders can get an up

With today’s technological advancements and dramatic shifts, staying on top of these critical changes has become necessary on an almost monthly or even daily basis, which is becoming increasingly difficult.

THE EVER-EVOLVING INDUSTRY ... IS AFFECTING THE VERY WAY WE DO BUSINESS. close and personal look at the changes set to come down the line years from now, and even those just on the horizon.

TODAY’S TRENDS Recently, the trend has revovled around new technologies.

First it was the sound systems, then it was front and rear bumper sensors.

Then came rear and front view cameras, and now it is crash avoidance and even self-driving, or autonomous cars.

Staying informed on how and why cars are changing, and working to keep up with new trends are all key to kickstarting and determining the changes I will need to make in my own business.

I ask myself questions like: • Will I need to look at more indoor storage?

• Will the new vehicle require a new process to dismantle?

• Will I have the proper equipment to dismantle the vehicle, and will my

Some of the answers to my questions come easily, and are controllable in the sense that I can make the changes that I believe will help keep my staff and I up-to-date and moving in the right direction.

Other questions that are not as easy to digest are the ones that involve having the access to the right information and interchange.

This information is vital to our industry and is something that needs to be readily accessible and updated at very rapid intervals.

One other thing you should know is that this information is supplied to us by third party companies. This is a topic I look forward to touching on in the near future.

Michael Carcone is the co-owner of Carcone’s Auto Recycling and Wheel Refinishing, located in Aurora, Ont. He can be reached via his company’s website at carcone.com.

MEETING CHIP FOOSE

Dave and Jeanne Marriott with Chip Foose at a 3M event in Calgary. Jeanne was the winner of the 3M Accuspray System Spray Gun Meet Chip Foose contest.

Passion for the Work

BY MIKE DAVEY

Jeanne Marriott of Painted by Dave meets a fan, and his name is Chip Foose.

J

eanne Marriott got the chance of a lifetime recently, when it was announced that she was the winner of the 3M Accuspray System Spray Gun Meet Chip Foose contest. The prize included an all-expenses paid trip to Calgary as well as a chance to meet Foose and discuss his work. Although in this case, they ended up discussing some of her work as well.

Jeanne’s worked in the industry for a number of years. She and her husband run Painted by Dave, a shop in Blenheim, Ontario that does customs, restorations and collision work.

Jeanne focused on bookkeeping, front office and administration, but she wanted to do more.

“A few years ago Fanshawe College was running a pre-apprenticeship program and I took a student down for the open house they were running. I decided to sign up myself,” she says.

Learning more about the technical side of the business was something Jeanne had always wanted to do, but between raising kids and building a business, there never seemed to be enough time.

“My youngest moved to Toronto right after graduating high school, and the timing just worked out,” she says. “I said to David ‘I’m going back to school!’ He said ‘What the devil took you so long?’”

Jeanne completed her Level 2 Apprenticeship last summer, and will complete her Level 3

in November or December of this year. Her passion shows in her school record, making the Dean’s Honor Roll for both her Level I and II. She was also chosen to receive the Tom Haggerty Memorial Award in 2014, given to the student who most represents dedication and passion in their chosen profession.

“We’re a mom and pop shop,” says Jeanne. “We’re trying to find individuals who are passionate about the work itself, not just there for the paycheque. We’ve had employees off and on in the last 10 years where my husband had to go over their work. One day, I was looking at very poor work, and said, ‘I could probably do a better job, because I care about what goes out that door!’ That’s when things started to fall into place.”

Jeanne went out of her way to give something back to her school. When she met Chip Foose, she had him sign a Fanshawe College t-shirt, and draw a truck on it. She’s donating the shirt to the school’s Auto Body Repair program.

Jeanne and Dave are both fans of Chip Foose’s work and his program Overhaulin.’

“I’m very much a fan of the work he does and I usually try to keep tabs on what he’s got coming out at SEMA or when he’s got a car at Autorama,” says Jeanne. “He is such a nice person and very easy to talk to.”

Foose is well-known for making a point of including his entire team when it comes to giving

<<<

credit. This strikes a chord with Jeanne.

“That’s the way we run our business,” she says. “We’re about each individual having done their part of the end result, and acknowledging that. That’s his philosophy as well. It’s who he is.”

Jeanne says winning the contest and the trip itself were both amazing experiences.

“3M was absolutely fantastic throughout the whole process. They handled everything,” she says. “It was actually a little overwhelming, but the overall experience was really great. They really rolled out the red carpet.”

One particular highlight for Jeanne was finding out Chip is an admirer of a car that Painted

by Dave sent to Autorama one year.

“Chip was so taken with the car at the show that he went back a couple of times to talk to the owner,” says Jeanne. “When I brought it up, he said ‘I’ve got pictures of that car!’ It was nice to see that our work had made such an impression.”

Painted by Dave does restoration and collision work, but it’s the custom builds that really excite Jeanne.

“We love the custom builds because we work hand-in-hand with the owners,” she says.

“A lot of the time they come in with an idea, and we work with them very closely to make sure it matches up with the picture in their head.”

There’s another aspect to Painted by Dave that Jeanne’s very proud of: the work they do with local high schools.

“We work with all five of the local high schools,” she says. “We always take on one or two students per semester, and we do recruit from the girls quite heavily. We’ve put five young ladies through the co-op program.

They might not end up pursuing it, but the young women we’ve had here are always pleased to develop some solid skills.”

The pride is evident in her voice when Jeanne speaks about the young women she’s mentored and helped along the path. While not all of them pursue a career in collision, some do.

“We have one young lady who’s about to wrap up her Level 3,” says Jeanne. While they are of different generations, there are some similarities between this student and Jeanne that are easy to spot: they’re both women in a male-dominated industry and they’re both about to complete their apprenticeships.

We also suspect Jeanne’s passed on her most important lesson: a passion for doing the very best job possible before the car goes out the door.

For more information on Painted by Dave, please visit paintedbydave.com.

AUTUMN 2015  BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

11

ADVERTORIAL

Top

Performers WANTED

Sandro Perruzza, Speedy Collision’s Ontario Operation Manager and Daniel, a painter with a Speedy Collision store in Toronto.

Speedy Collision is growing with teams that put the customer first.

A

re you a top performer? Do you want to join an has allowed us to rollout the next stage. While continuing to organization where your skills are valued and you greenfield new sites, we launched turnkey franchise opportuniare encouraged to build them and become even ties that ensured the platform was successfully deployed and better? Do you want the opportunity to move up profitably run. Speedy Collision soon grew to nine shops in Aland take on more responsibility? If you answered berta and expanded the customer base to include the largest yes, Speedy Collision might have the keys to your future. insurers and fleet customers in the province. Today there are Like-minded individuals pursuing a common goal are one over 20 locations and growing, operating in three provinces. of the most powerful forces in the world! We’re the founders Speedy Collision’s core values are Customer Satisfaction, of Spee dy Collision , Courtesy and Ethics, Professional Conduct and Results. Our Terr y Allen and Paul culture is positioned around our people, community and Hookham, and we’ve the environment. Commitment to the Lean Production Prodemonstrated this with cess facilitates this and ensures efficiencies are realized. This t wo businesses sucis achieved through a combination of continuous improvecesses. The first was ment, waste reduction and overall compliance to standard a successful risk manoperating procedures and health and safety standards. agement software We invest heavily in our people through training including c o m p a n y, w h i c h w e I-CAR Gold certification for our facilities and a world-class bensold in early 2008. The efit program which continues to make us the employer of choice. second was to serve the Speedy Collision can bring you new opportunities. There Pat, one of the body techs at Speedy Collision. Customer collision repair industry are Speedy Collision franchises operating in three provinces, service is important to every with Speedy Collision and we’re growing all the time. member of the team.

Repair Corporate.

A growing network means opportunity for our team We saw an oppormembers to grow as well. We’re always looking for great tunity in the collision technicians and painters to join our team, and we believe repair industry to apply Terry’s information technology very strongly in the principle of recruiting from within. and customer service background and Paul’s corporate At Speedy Collision, we know that today’s superstar tech finance and business compliance discipline. may be tomorrow’s superstar manager or franchisee. We With a focus on the customer experience, we realized encourage all of our staff to reach as high as they can. early on that small improvements had dramatic effects for Our team members enjoy numerous opportunities to the customer. Internally, effective communication, setting build their skills through training, an excellent benefit customer expectations and customer service training were package and the chance to move up. More to the point, critical success factors in developing a sustainable model. they enjoy a corporate culture that puts the focus where This overall approach is combined with it really belongs: the customer. the latest equipment; shop estimating, The Speedy Collision Performance management customer facing software Repair Network is positioned to lead and best in class paint systems. the way. Do you have what it takes Your Full Service Collision Centers The success of the first two locations to join us?

TM

CUSTOMIZER PROFILE

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Distilled EXPERTISE John St. Germain and Time Bomb Customs called in the experts to perfect the Tri-Five Merc.

BY MIKE DAVEY

John St. Germain of Time Bomb Customs. A true devotee of the art of custom, St. Germain regularly calls upon experts to help turn his visions into reality.

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CUSTOMIZER PROFILE

RIGHT: St. Germain gives the Tri-Five Merc a final polish in preparation for a photo shoot.

BELOW: John St. Germain’s first custom. Believe it or not, this is his daily driver for trips to the grocery store or visiting friends.

I

t’s rare to find any custom car that isn’t a team effort. The sheer amount of work involved, combined with the diverse skills needed, means there are few people who can do it on their own. Even when they can, the issue of time crops up. How long do you want your custom build to take?

John St. Germain of Time Bomb Customs in Goodwood, Ontario, takes the team concept one step further. He picks the right shop for the task at hand, and then another specialist for whatever the next step might be. His customs are his design and his concept, and he does some of the work himself, but he relies on a float-

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CUSTOMIZER PROFILE

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A custom sewn leather interior surrounds the driver, making the vehicle a feast for the senses both inside and outside.

ing team of experts to do what’s necessary.

His latest project is the Tri-Five Merc.

It may have been more of a team effort than usual. John St. Germain and Dave Mainland did the metal work. Rick Fabian did the bodywork, and here we should pause for a moment to mention that this stage took about two years to complete.

That’s two years of designing, cutting and welding. Just listing the many subtle and overt body modifications that went into the Tri-Five Merc would probably take up most of the magazine.

The suspension work went to John Edwards of Dream Machines. Len Hurley, known locally as Mr. Hot Rod, did the engine. Last, but certainly not least, John Connery of Connery’s Custom Paint did the finish work, giving the vehicle its colour scheme.

“I used the new Shimrin 2 low-VOC paint from House of Kolor,” says Connery.

“The paint job is called ‘Champagne and Beer.’ It’s Champagne Pearl with Ster-

ling Pearl fades and highlights and Kandy Rootbeer roof and scallops.”

Tri-Five usually refers to the 1955, 1956 and 1957 Chevrolet automobiles, in particular, the Bel Air, 150, 210 and Nomad. They’re incredible cars and remain some of the most popular vehicles for collectors and hot-rod enthusiasts.

You may have noticed this Tri-Five isn’t a Chevy, and we don’t just mean that it’s been customized. The car is definitely its own beast, but it traces more of its ancestry to the mid-50s Mercurys produced by Ford than to anything ever built by Chevrolet. The car’s name is a hat tip to the often customized and hot-rodded Tri-Fives.

St. Germain obviously wanted a distinctive custom with the styling of the mid1950s. This begs the question, why not just customize a Tri-Five Chevy?

“I like to look at what everyone else is doing, then not do it,” says St. Germain.

“I acquired a lot of parts to build this.

I’m proud of the work everyone put in and happy with the end result.”

Results like this are hard to argue with.

The Tri-Five Merc features body parts and trim from ’54, ’55, and ’56 Mercurys. The engine is a Ford Y-block 312 featuring speed parts from that era (as opposed to modern substitutions). The dash is from a ’56 Oldsmobile.

“Finding the right parts for this car took a lot of work,” says St. Germain. “I didn’t just phone up a supplier and order stock. It had to be authentic parts from the right car. A guy up the road from me collects convertible Lincolns. He turned out to be a great source for parts.”

The Tri-Five Merc marries a lot of different parts to make its impact, and it succeeds beyond measure. Every part was chosen for its appearance and performance. Just a few of the modifications involved grafting ’54 flares to the front fenders from a ’55. Of the ’56 Mercu-

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CUSTOMIZER PROFILE

ABOVE: The vehicle is filled with little touches that combine to project a sense of time and place.

RIGHT: Don’t make the mistake of thinking the mods are all about appearance. The engine can produce some serious power.

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THIS TRI-FIVE ISN’T A CHEVY, AND WE DON’T JUST MEAN THAT IT’S BEEN CUSTOMIZED.

ry taillights, there’s no sign.

As St. Germain notes, they didn’t have reverse lights.

Other changes and substitutions were made to suit St. Germain’s vision.

“We used the ’56 Oldsmobile dash because ’56 Mercury dashes are frankly depressing,” he says. “I wanted to do something that was completely different.”

There’s no question that the Tri-Five Merc is different. There isn’t a square angle on this vehicle. Even the angles on the doors have been rounded. The front bumper was shaved and the stock grill replaced and modifications made to the cavity.

“The whole inside of the cavity is black instead of gold. When you look right at the grill, it looks like it’s floating in there,” says St. Germain.

The control arms for the suspension are custom built by John Edwards of

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Dream Machines, with ten-inch bags in the front and six-inch bags in the back.

The Tri-Five Merc can rise up for driving or hug the ground.

It all comes together as one amazing vehicle, and the custom world has already taken notice. The Tri-Five Merc made its debut at the Syracuse Nationals and was a top 10 pick, in addition to being chosen as Street Rodder Magazine’s Best in Show. It will probably have picked up more accolades by the time you read this.

BODYWORXMAG.COM  BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

St. Germain started building when he was 18 years old. His first car was a Model-T coupe, with custom paint, additional gear and a big block engine. Not only is still around, it’s actually St. Germain’s daily driver, the car he takes out most often.

Some of his other notable cars are “Time Bomb,” a menacing looking ’36 Ford roadster painted in midnight black, and “Shoeze,” a coral and black ’50 Ford coupe that was featured in Custom Rodder magazine.

It’s clear that St. Germain is a man with a passion for custom automobiles, and he’s willing to put in the work and find the experts to achieve that perfect balance that is the hallmark of the well-executed build.

He sums up his custom philosophy in just a few simple words. “Custom is about getting rid of the ugly,” he says.

Definitely words to live —and build —by.

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o borrow a line from Bodyworx marketing material, “Pride, Passion & Skill” seems to sum up all of our over 600 employees from repair technicians, front office staff, repair planers and CSR’s alike. To properly complete a safe repair, “updated” training has never before been so important. Although this word has been out there for years now, there has never been a greater level of importance for all involved in the collision repair industry to continually update their knowledge and skills. Whether through vehicle construction technology and repair guideline training from the OEM’s that have changed to meet the weight requirements to reach the government Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards of 54.5mpg (5.2 Litres per 100kms) for the year 2025 or the materials that are on the table for the design and repair of

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future generations of vehi- THE ASSURED ACADEMY cles, we are going to require ADVANTAGE even more specialized equipment and specialty training on Although the basic repair prohow to properly assess and re- cedure is relatively similar on pair the collision related dam- whatever materials we’re workages. Aluminum has been in ing with, the ways of which limited use on many vehicles we plan, implement and comand in our repair facilities for plete the repair has drastically many years now but the latest changed. With the ever growing manufacturer design changes availability of OEM information on some market leading vehi- we’ve been fortunate to proaccles have allowed us to better tively train new and existing staff educate and make even more on the complex construction substantial investments to and repair or replacement recequip ourselves to assess and ommendations required to plan repair these types of materi- the repair process from the estials. Although aluminum is tout- mating stage to final diagnostic ed as the “material of the future”, testing required upon complesteel manufacturers are hard at tion. Implementation of the Aswork designing and implement- sured Academy has allowed us ing lower cost hybrid materials the unique ability to easily share such as carbon fibre reinforce- information throughout the netments sandwiched between two work in order to consistently thin sheets of UHSS. Repairabil- provide our insurance partners ity would most likely be limited with accurate estimates as well to finish and surface defects but as provide the safest repairs replacement of required compo- possible for our customers. nents is being addressed during the automobile design stages to - Jean-Marc Julien ensure limited intrusion into adjacent panels.

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TECH TALK

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Remove a Run with Polyester Putty A little elbow grease and the right grit will get it done.

BY JUSTIN JIMMO

Technical Representative Refinish Sales for Co-Auto Co-Operative

There’s probably nothing to be done about runs this bad, but most of them aren’t this bad. You can remove regular runs with polyester putty if you use some care.

R

uns. They happen to the best of us, although of course they happen to the worst of us a little bit more. A dreadful run or sag can cause a great deal of frustration, especially for a perfectionist, and you certainly can’t hand it over to the customer that way.

You could always completely refinish the panel, but anything that takes time and money is probably not a good option.

However, there are techniques for dealing with even the toughest runs that also help to keep the surrounding area intact as well.

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TECH TALK

1

2

3

If you’ve ever tried to remove a run like this, you already know that they are quite difficult to eliminate completely. You can see the run in pictures 1 and 2, but it doesn’t really show up that well in photographs. If only the same could be said when you’re looking at it with your eyes! You can get a better idea of just where the run is once the putty is applied (picture 3).

Just mix up your favourite brand of polyester putty and apply it as shown following the manufacturer’s instructions regarding working time, etc.

4

So you’ve applied the putty and you might be wondering why. The theory is that blocking down the putty brings everything to a single level. Your block won’t teeter, and you can’t really angle it either which reduces the chance of breaking through around the run.

Next, add a bit of tape around the putty. This is solely done as a precaution to help prevent scratches outside the putty (picture 4).

Now it’s time to sand. Start with a coarser paper and sand care-

THERE ARE TECHNIQUES FOR DEALING WITH EVEN THE TOUGHEST RUNS

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TECH TALK

5

6

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fully. You must use a block for reasons of control. Gradually go upgrit until you finish with a 1500 or finer. In this example, we used a 400-grit to start on a hard block. You can start to see how the run is gradually being removed with the putty (picture 5).

Once the putty is almost removed you should be sanding with a paper around 1000 grit paper. You can see how we’re progressing (picture 6 and picture 7). You can usually remove the tape at this point.

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Switch to a 1500 grit once you have removed all of the putty and give it a good blocking. You should have something that looks like this once it’s completed (picture 8).

Next, grab your favorite polishing system and shine it back up, just like any other polishing job. If everything went well you should have absolutely no ghosting of the run and it should be completely gone. This is how we finished (picture 9).

Touch Measuring System Self contained, small footprint, multi-function system. Diagnose structural and cosmetic repairs from the floor, lift, bench or rack. Flexible measuring of lower-body, upperbody and suspension.

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COMPETITION

Brazil pulled out all the stops to welcome the global trade community.

Road to

World Skills

I Justin Dambitis on his journey to represent Canada.

BY ADRIEN MONTOYA Justin Dambitis represented Canada at the latest WorldSkills competition in Brazil.

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BODYWORXMAG.COM  BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

n August, the beautiful city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, played host to WorldSkills 2015. The event is the largest and most decorated trade competition in the world. In total, 1230 competitors, including 29 Canadians, representing 60 countries battled in 50 skills over six sectors at the 43rd WorldSkills competition.

One of them was the Auto Body Repair competition, featuring 20 competitors including Canada’s own Justin Dambitis.

Dambitis’ road to success holds a twist as he started out wanting to become a mechanic, but fate had another plan for him. He tried an auto body repair class and “I have been

COMPETITION

loving it ever since,” says Dambitis.

Dambitis took it upon himself to become the best technician he could and did not shy away from working some overtime while attending high school. “I did all the auto body classes I could while attending grade 12, and that year I was introduced to the RAP,” says Dambitis.

RAP, or Registered Apprenticeship Program, is a modified apprenticeship program allowing a high school student to become an apprentice while still in school.

RAP gave Dambitis the opportunity he wanted, a job interview at a collision repair facility. “I was hired and started working every day after lunch for five months until school was done, and began working full-time,” says Dambitis. He has been working at that shop for just under four and a half years.

As a result, he is well beyond the apprenticeship stage, much earlier in his career than many others.

“At the age of 21, I have four journeyman tickets with two interprovincial red

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Justin Dambitis competing in Sau Paolo, Brazil.

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COMPETITION

The competition area at WorldSkills 2015.

seals,” says Dambitis.

Early in 2013, Skills Alberta contacted him and invited him to compete at the provincial level. Dambitis agreed to participate in the competition, where he finished second. That day, he promised himself he would come back.

A year later, Justin participated in the provincial skills competition again. The result was another medal but this time around, the medal was gold.

That first place finish earned him a chance to compete at the 20th Skills Canada National Competition held in Toronto.

At the Skills Canada National Competition, Dambitis found himself competing against six other post-secondary students.

Once again, he gave the competition everything he had, and once again he won gold. This medal meant he had earned himself a trial spot for Team Canada.

In his training for WorldSkills 2015,

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Dambitis traveled through Canada and around the world. He went to Ottawa, Saskatoon, Montreal, Montebello, and

DAMBITIS TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO BECOME THE BEST TECHNICIAN HE COULD. even to New Zealand to participate in the WorldSkills Oceania tournament, where he finished as runner-up. “I’ve also been

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to Toronto for 14 days as part of the SCNC and training with Daniel Chudy,” says Dambitis.

Chudy is a Team Canada Expert for WorldSkills 2015 and an auto body repair instructor at the School of Transportation at Centennial College. His job for the tournament is to deal with both the logistics and giving insight into Justin’s work.

“My expert informs me of things to look for and what the judges will be marking me on,” says Dambitis. Chudy has helped Dambitis with his spot weld drill marking the under layer of metal when the drilling panels come off, his finishing work with metal when using a vixon file, and what to look for in the finish and the outlook of the repair.

Dambitis trained daily for WorldSkills. Every day at work he utilizes the theories his trainer, Derek Topolnisky, has taught him. On top of that, he spent

COMPETITION

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“I THINK THE HARDEST CHALLENGE I FACED WAS BEING A YOUNG MAN ENTERING THE INDUSTRY.”

time at SAIT’s facilities on the weekend to master his craft.

“We mostly train at SAIT but we had a chance to train with the 2005 past world competitor Mark Millson at Excellence Auto Repair in Toronto for a week,” says Topolnisky. It was just one week, but Dambitis knew Millson’s insights could prove invaluable.

His shop is equipped with six bays, two paint booths, a floor pulling system and a frame machine. The facilities at SAIT include three big paint booths, four prep stalls, five frame machines and three floor pulling systems.

Throughout his time in the shop, Dambitis has worked on heavy collision repairs, which exposed him more to pulling frames, estimating the best ways to pull a vehicle and assess heavy body damage.

“I have always loved welding,” says Dambitis, which fits his work. Over time, Dambitis has developed affection for heavy collision repair and is mastering his passion for welding, all at once.

The other part of his training happened at his trainer’s school, SAIT. When he and Topolnisky met on weekends, Topolnisky taught Dambitis specific repair techniques Dambitis needed for WorldSkills.

Some of the material covered includ-

ed how to properly do a frame rail replacement, partial rail replacement, quarter panel replacement, quarter panel pick and file, bonnet pick and file and aluminum metal finishing.

“Justin does a couple of front rail section and a front rail replacement.

He uses the Car-O-Liner frame rack for practicing measuring and gauging,” says Topolnisky.

Looking back at his career so far, “I think the hardest challenge I faced was being a young man entering the industry,” says Dambitis. He added that when you are young “you are not given the same chance to show yourself.”

However, when he did get his chance, he made the most of it.

And, as far as the WorldSkills 2015 competition goes, Justin Dambitis was not worried. He worries about the only thing he can control, which is having fun while competing.

“I expect myself to give it my all in competition and work as hard as I could ever work while still being a team player and be as friendly as possible to my competitors,” said Dambitis ahead of the event.

All of the competitors were very closely ranked at the end of the competition, with numerous ties. Dambitis placed tenth overall.

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TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

NEW AT

NACE

The annual tradeshow showcases the latest and greatest in tech gear.

BY JEFF SANFORD

T

he International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) brings the best in equipment each year, offering attendees a chance to get up close and personal with a variety of new and exciting products on display on the tradeshow floor. We’ve rounded up some of the latest and greatest products and tools for techs featured at this year’s event.

One such standout was Luma III’s LEDequipped spray gun attachment. The first of its kind, the Aurora consists of a carbon fibre composite mechanism that fits behind the nozzle of a spray gun, featuring two LED lights on each side for enhanced illumination. The nozzle also produces a faint shadow to help paint techs line up the shadow mark at the bottom of the previous pass to achieve a 50 percent overlap.

Operating at 4600 Kelvin—the rough equivalent of rays from the midday sun hitting Earth—the LED light allows for colour matching during the painting process, rather than after. The company says the product will

26

save shops time and money by simplifying the process and decreasing room for error.

“You can see the atomization, you can see your pattern a whole lot better … light is right there in front of you,” says owner and CEO of Luma III, Kirk Lucas, who demoed the device live on the NACE floor. “You see what your paint job looks like naturally in the sun.”

EMM continued the theme of innovation with the European supplier’s North American debut of a high-end, redesigned modern paint suit, the Colad Bodyguard.

“No one has updated or innovated this in 20 years,” says Thomas van der Kooij, EMM Managing Director. “We think this is a product that is revolutionary.”

On the NACE show floor, van der Kooij pointed out the model’s features. The back of the Colad Bodyguard incorporates advanced, breathable mesh and ventilated fabrics to keep the painter cool. The suit also eliminates the cord that tightens the head around the face, opting for a simple zipper mechanism, making it easier to get on and off. The fit has also been re-designed to allow for mobil-

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ity, and features soft cuffs for added comfort.

EMM’s other offerings included Colad Color coding rings, a patented colour system for pump style spray containers, and the TurboMix, a new plastic paint stirrer constructed from recycled materials.

Chief Automotive Technologies also made their presence known during this year’s installment, offering up training demos using the company’s latest aluminum joining equipment.

Aiming to help the industry stay ahead of the game and make the transition to working with aluminum, the company has introduced a new rivet gun, the PNP90, into the North American market.

“We brought out a new welder. But we also wanted to bring out the rivet gun,” a Chief spokesperson told Bodyworx Professional magazine on the convention floor. “We find a lot of places are saying, ‘If we’re going to update the welder, let’s update all of it at once.’” The new rivet gun was designed to be compatible with various shapes and sizes of rivets offered by OEMs. Adding to the exhibition’s live demos, reps from Wedge Clamp Systems were also on hand to showcase the company’s new product, a re-designed Stat Gun. The upgrade aims to neutralize static and prevent build-up—which can attract dust, dirt and other airborne impurities, resulting in inconsistent, splotchy paint jobs.

Plastic areas in particular cause issues as the material tends to hold more static.

“People don’t understand that static electricity on the surface can affect the quality of the paint job. If there are areas that are charged in different ways this can affect the paint application,” says Claire Cleland, Sales Manager for Static Solutions, manufacturer of the gun. “Static control gives you a constant, natural paint job.”

Neutralizing static electricity can also make metallic flakes in paint stand up on end. This is key for high-end metallic paint jobs. Another benefit, Cleland adds, is that by painting evenly, less paint is used.

Shop owners have the option to buy or rent Wedge Clamp’s Stat Gun, but either way, Cleland says it’s designed to last.

With event organizers already looking ahead to next year, there’s bound to be an onslaught of great gear coming down the line. The 2016 installment is slated for August 9 – 13, taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

The new PNP90 selfpiercing rivet gun from Chief Automotive was part of the suite of aluminum tools the company demoed on the show floor.

The Aurora

by Luma III is the world’s first LEDequipped attachment for spray guns.

<<<

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Wedge Clamp’s redesigned Stat Gun works to neutralize static and prevent paint flaws.

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AUTUMN 2015  BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

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CAREER PROFILE

from the

<<<

BY MIKE DAVEY

GROUND UP Bill Hatswell has grown Craftsman Collision by promoting talent.

Craftsman Collision in the early years. The original shop moved to this building in 1977.

B

ill Hatswell founded Craftsman Collision, a chain of collision repair facilities operating 40 locations in Western Canada, with expansion facilities operating in the US and China. He also founded something else: an internal culture that reveres technical knowledge, practical experience and promoting from within.

In 1970, Bill was the owner/operator of a shop in Adelaide, Australia. The facility was a success, and to this day is one of the most successful collision centres operating in Adelaide. Which raises the question of what prompted him to sell the business and move halfway around the world.

“A friend of mine invited me skiing,” says Bill. “I tried it, fell in love with it, and it became an absolute passion. I told my wife I wanted to move to Canada. She thought I’d lost my marbles.”

There’s no question that relocating to British Columbia was a good move for Bill, his family and his business. Today, Craftsman Collision is a large chain that has gone multi-national. Including staff at head office, Craftsman employs over 400 people.

Bill’s experience with the hands-on part of the business led him to value those who started out as technicians and painters, and the culture at Craftsman Collision encourages them to go as far as they can.

Mark Greenberg is the Business Development Manager for Craftsman Collision’s Canadian and Chinese operations. In fact, he was heavily involved with opening the store in China and ensuring it would be a successful venture. Like many people in top spots with the organization, he started out as a working tech.

“I just loved cars,” says Greenberg. “I got into an apprenticeship right out of high school and started working.”

Greenberg left the collision repair industry to pursue a career in real estate. It was a successful move. He spent the next decade working in the lucrative world of Vancouver real estate, pulling down the top sales numbers for several consecutive years.

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CAREER PROFILE

Mike O’Callaghan.

ABOVE: Mark Greenberg.

RIGHT: Bill Hatswell in the front office of Craftsman Collision, sometime in the 1970s. The business has since grown to more than 40 locations in three countries.

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BODYWORXMAG.COM  BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

“I would absolutely say that my experience as a technician helped me in my real estate career,” he says. “Real estate hinges on details.

That sort of ability to see both the details and how they relate to the big picture is essential to a technician.”

Greenberg was successful in real estate, but monetary success doesn’t always equal happiness.

“I was in a position where I didn’t see my kids much or have much time for work-life balance,” he says. “I started discussing things with Bill and came to work for Craftsman Collision as a store manager.”

From there, he worked his way up in the organization, eventually leading the expansion into China, a virtually untapped market for collision repair services.

Mike O’Callaghan is Craftsman Collision’s General Manager of Operations. Broadly speaking, his responsibilities include supervising everything to do with operations. This can be a big job at a single highvolume facility. Expand that by over 40 locations and 450 employees, and you’ve got a rough idea of how tough the job must be. O’Callaghan takes it in stride, in part because he knows the staff are well-trained and have a can-do attitude.

O’Callaghan has been with Craftsman Collision for 18 years. His start in the collision repair industry was born of necessity.

“I was working at a car lot, and the boss told me to back up one of the cars,” O’Callaghan recalls. “I didn’t want to tell him I couldn’t drive a standard, and I ended up smashing in the side of a nearby Volvo. My boss said ‘You’ve got to pay for that!’ I didn’t

CAREER PROFILE have the money, so he ended up teaching me how to do bodywork instead.”

An apprenticeship followed, but after a time O’Callaghan decided to apply his skills in another area: insurance. He worked at the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) for four years before taking a job as assistant manager at one of the Craftsman Collision stores.

His latest endeavour with the company has been designing and rolling out a new set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with his team.

“Our in-house tech team designed the program and we’re now in the process of training staff on the details,” he says. “I think my early years as a technician gave me the ability to understand why a given process might be more difficult than it needs to be. Frankly, I removed more from our SOPs than I put in.

A lot of what I do is talk to the techs. I can say to anyone in collision repair management, if you really want to know what’s going on, what challenges you’re going to face and how to overcome them, you need to talk to the folks on the floor.”

Rick Hatswell is Craftsman Collision’s Chief Operations Officer. The last name is not a coincidence. He’s the son of the company’s founder, but if you think that’s how he got his job … well, you just don’t know how Craftsman Collision operates.

He started doing bodywork when he was about eight years old, sanding panels on an old MGB his father had purchased.

“Where I got serious was about age 13,” he says. “We got an MGB and I worked three summers in a row restoring it. That’s where I learned how to weld, patch and paint.

By the time I was done that car probably had 10 gallons of filler, but I learned a lot about cars from working on it.”

Like a lot of people, Rick wasn’t much interested in university after high school. Luckily for him, he had parents who supported his desire to enter the trades. He started an apprenticeship, and worked as a Red Seal apprentice from 1993 to 1997.

“I worked on the floor, got my paycheque and that’s what I lived off,” he says. “The experience has given me credibility over the years,

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and it’s made me more well-rounded. You can learn to run the business as a business, but if you don’t have that experience, there’s going to be a lot going on behind the scenes that you don’t know.”

Rick might not have wanted to go to university right off the bat, but he’s had his share of higher education since. He did an executive undergraduate degree at Simon Fraser University, and most recently he received an MBA from a prestigious joint program run by Queens and Cornell universities.

“That was full time for two years, with every Saturday in class plus three residencies,” he says. “It’s a difficult course to get into, but they value life experience and family business experience.”

The culture in any business starts right at the top, and Craftsman Collision is no exception. Without Bill Hatswell’s attitude, the company likely wouldn’t have the culture it enjoys today.

“I’ve always believed in promoting talent,” says Bill. “There’s no better way to know a business than from the ground up.”

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SCHOOL PROFILE

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Centennial College Centennial prepares students for work in three semesters

BY ADRIEN MONTOYA

C

entennial College is home to eight schools spread out over five campuses in Ontario. The school of Transportation is one of the three schools located on the Ashtonbee campus. The campus can be found at 75 Ashtonbee Road, the main intersections are Warden Avenue and Eglinton Avenue. Every year, the Auto Body Repair program accepts 80 new students.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW Centennial College’s Auto Body Repair program educates students on body and frame repair, workplace practices, welding, refinishing, how to use mechanical systems, health and safety in the workplace, computers, mathematics and communication. Centennial College’s Automotive Painter program teaches students how to apply shop practices, and the preparation and application of undercoats and topcoats.

service advisors or as appraisal trainee parts technicians. Automotive Painter program graduates will be ready for careers in automotive painting, commercial vehicle body repair painting or commercial vehicle painting.

PROGRAM LENGTH The Auto Body Repair program at Centennial College is 36 weeks long spread over three semesters. The first semester has six courses, the other two have five courses. This program starts in the fall. The Automotive Painter program at Centennial College is one semester long, and applicants can start in the fall, winter or summer. This program has four courses.

The labs at Centennial College are well-equipped with tools, lifts and safety equipment.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS In order to be accepted into the Auto Body Repair program, applicants must present an OSSD (Ontario Secondary School Diploma) or equivalent, or hold mature student status (those 19 years of age or older).

Applicants must also possess Grade 12 level English (E, C, or U or the equivalent), or take the Centennial College English entry test.

Applicants cannot directly apply for the Automotive Painter program.

They must be employed as an apprentice prior to entering the program. If interested in applying for this program, please contact the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

GRADUATION OUTLOOK Students graduating from Centennial College’s Auto Body Repair program go on to work as auto body repair technicians, automotive painters, automotive restoration technicians, commercial vehicle body repair and painting technicians, damage repair appraisers, insurance estimators, auto body apprentices, apprentice painters,

The program emphaisizes practical instruction, but also includes theory.

AUTUMN 2015  BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

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FINAL DETAIL

PASS IT ON

Give this issue to someone and help them.

BY MIKE DAVEY

T

hanks for reading this issue of Bodyworx Professional. Do me a favour and don’t put it down when you’re finished reading.

Pass it on instead.

Hand it off to anyone you know who you think might be interested in joining us in this exciting industry. We all know the collision repair industry needs more committed and passionate people. This publication can be a tool to help find them and show

They either don’t think of it, or they think the wrong things.

You’re reading this magazine. You are one of the ones who knows the score. Your friends, your teachers, your parents and your guidance counselors might not.

MISCONCEPTIONS I’m betting at least a few of them have misconceptions about the collision repair industry. Maybe they think

YOU’VE GOT A SOLUTION TO EDUCATE THEM RIGHT IN YOUR HANDS. SHOW THEM THIS MAGAZINE. them the potential for a career in a dynamic and high-tech field. But like any tool, it doesn’t do anything if you leave it on the shelf. Put this magazine to work, and find someone whose interest might be piqued by some of the articles and stories.

CATCH THEIR INTEREST Chances are you’re already working in the trade or you’re at least interested in it for the future. Here’s the thing, though. There are plenty of people out there who would make great techs, great painters, great estimators, or any of the other many positions you can find in today’s industry. But most of them aren’t interested in the trade.

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BODYWORXMAG.COM  BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL

you’re nuts for wanting to do what you do. You’ve got a solution to educate them right in your hands. Show them this magazine. Show them that Canada’s collision repair industry is a forward looking industry with a bright future for those willing to work hard and build their skills.

If nothing else, they’ll be better able to understand what you see in the collision repair industry. They’ll see that there’s a demand in this industry for talented and skilled creative problem solvers. They’ll see that collision repair has room for you to grow your career and your future. They’ll see that for some technicians, the sky is the limit when it comes to just how far they can go.

They won’t think you’re crazy, and you never know. You just might get a convert, someone else who will become interested in pursuing a career in this exciting field.

You might be wondering why this is important. It’s important if you ever want to be the owner of your own facility one day. You’ll find that there’s a big labour crunch in our industry and there has been for a very long time.

We need people who are technically minded. People who are creative problem solvers. People who like to work with their hands and actually see the results of their labours at the end of the day. We need all of these people and more.

It’s also important if you want to see your industry succeed and continue to serve the people of Canada. We need fresh blood and new ideas. You can be a part of that, and you can encourage others to do so.

Collision repair has a great story to tell. We’re inside the industry, so we’re in the know. Outsiders haven’t heard it yet. It’s up to us, as an industry, to make sure they get to hear that story. Let Bodyworx Professional be the voice that you use to fill them in on the advances we’ve made as an industry. Use this magazine to show them how the bar has been raised, again and again, and how they can help push it to an even higher level.

Mike Davey is the editor of Bodyworx Professional. He can be reached at 905-3700101 or via email at editor@ collisionrepairmag.com.

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