49 minute read
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
JOHN GRIFFIN - AKZONOBEL
AkzoNobel has appointed John Griffin as regional commercial director for Automotive and Specialty Coatings in the Americas. Griffin has held various sales, management and executive roles across the company’s global and regional automotive aerospace, packaging, yacht and film coatings segments. Griffin will also continue to be AkzoNobel’s regional director for North America.
SHERIF MARAKBY - MAGNA INTERNATIONAL
Sherif Marakby has been appointed as the executive vice-president of Magna International. Marakby’s experience includes working as head of Ford’s AV business, Ford Autonomous Vehicles, as well as working as vice president of Uber’s global vehicle programs. Marakby also served on the board for Argo AI, Ford’s self-driving technology partner.
SOMER MULLINS - FIX NETWORK CANADA
Somer Mullins has joined Fix Network Canada as the director of Marketing and Communications for Canada. Somer brings more than 15 years of solid agency and corporate marketing experience to the position. Somer started her career in the Customer Service Division at Ford and then went on to mobilize efforts for the Extended Service Plans, Motorcraft Accessories and Quick Lane Business.
SYLVAIN SÉGUIN - FIX NETWORK CANADA
Sylvain Séguin has been appointed as the new executive vice president for Fix Network. Séguin has been with Fix since 2018 where he oversaw operations for all brands within Canada, including Fix Auto, ProColor Collision, NOVUS Glass and Speedy Auto Service. With more than 30 years of experience in automotive aftermarket services, Séguin will surely be an asset to Fix as he will take on responsibility for all Canadian operations going forward.
Pre 8am LTL Delivery Dedicated Logistics Pre 8am Package Delivery
MOST RELIABLE PRE 8AM DELIVERY SERVICE
Spray Gun vs Spray Can
Peter Kwasny GmbH has achieved breakthrough solutions in small damage repairs with the SprayMax system. Professional repairers will appreciate the process flexibility with both 1K and 2K technology options and how they can reduce cycle time and add thru-put to their operations. SprayMax provides spray gun-like results while saving time and material costs. This Benchmark Application Comparison outlines impressive results.
Test Conditions
Damage Characteristics: Damage to the bodywork consisted of surface scrapes on the front part of fender. No additional parts of vehicle body damaged. No corrosion. Damage range was 3-4 inches (8-10cm) in length, by 1-1/2-2 inches (4-5cm) in height.
Process and Procedure: Repairs were done straight on the car with fender in its original position. Color shade measured with a digital color instrument. Base coat mixed using a commercial mixing machine, from one of the established paint systems in the market. Filling of the coating into the corresponding cup of a spot repair spray gun or via a FillClean machine into the aerosol can. In this instance, a prefilled can was used from the SprayMax product line designed for the corresponding color system.
Residual materials in spray gun or spray can are not taken into consideration for the benchmark calculation, neither are any pot life issues with the 2K materials.
An automatized gun cleaning device was used to clean the spray gun after the single coating steps.
Repair as performed with a spot repair spray gun: All preparation work like cleaning, masking, grinding and primer/ filler application was done in a work stall designed for general repair procedures. The coating with base coat and clear coat was done with a spray gun in a spot repair booth. Drying was done using IR-lamps outside the spot repair booth. Energy costs of the spot repair booth is not part of the cost evaluation below.
Repair performed with the SprayMax aerosol system: The spot repair procedure and all consecutive steps were performed in a working area designed for preparation or multipurpose, with local air suction active.
Variable labor costs for the different steps of the repair procedure are not taken in consideration. Benchmark calculation relates to working times only.
Steps
Preparation
Grinding
Covering
Primer/Filler
Drying
Grinding (Filler)
Base Coat/Top Coat Blender Thinner
Drying
Cleaning
Finish
Summary
*SprayMax in relation to spray gun
Process
4min. Silicon-Remover: Cleaning
3min. Damaged Part: Sanding and subsequent cleaning
10min. Mask non affected part with paper, clean again
13min. 2K Primer mixing, putting in cup, activate local air suction, 2-3 spray applications, cleaning of spray gun
20min. IR-Drying
6.5min. Dry sanding, sanding aerosol shaded part, cleaning
43min. Move car to spray booth, prepare base coat, 2-3 applications, mix 2K clear coat, 2-3 spray applications, blending
26min. Remove car, IR drying
6min. Cleaning of spray gun
5min. Polishing
136.5min.
4min.
3min.
10min.
10min.
20min.
6.5min.
40.5min. Prepare base coat, fill into can, 2-3 applications, activate 2K clear coat, 4 minute mixing / shaking time, 2-3 applications, blending
15min.
2min.
5min.
116min. Time saving 20.5 min - 15%
Material Consumption*
-50%
Silicon Remover (ca. 11.5g)
- 50%
Silicon Remover (ca. 11.5g)
+ 30%
Filler (ca. 2g)
- 50%
Silicon Remover (ca. 4g)
- 30%
Base Coat (ca. 2.5g) - 50%
Clear Coat (10.5g) - 45%
Blender (ca. 4.5g)
Material Reduction (ca. 37.5g) - 42%
THE LAZER LEGACY
Lazer-focused and ready to thrive
BY MAX REID
At fourteen-years-old, Bob Heroux painted his mom’s car. From there, he was hooked.
High-quality of work, attentive customer service and dedicated leadership have been the keys to Lazer Autobody’s stellar success. Bob Heroux—dubbed ‘Lazer Bob’ in the local collision repair scene—and his wife Jennifer opened Lazer Autobody in October of 1987.
“When we started out, Bob and I worked super hard,” said Jennifer, co-founder of Lazer Autobody.
“Bob could paint, do bodywork and everything in-between—he was ready for anything.”
Starting the business wasn’t without its challenges, however, as the pair learned to work through the growing pains of establishing their brand in Saskatoon.
“When I opened Lazer Autobody I didn’t really know how to get my name out there,” Bob told Collision Repair. “I started doing some speciality paint jobs on some little fancy cars, some drag cars, street cars. Then I painted my own car with a big mural on the side of, and it was an eye-catcher on the streets of Saskatoon. My name got out there quite quickly—people started saying I was one of the best painters in Saskatoon.”
With some time and a lot of learning, Bob, Jennifer and the Lazer Autobody team became known around Saskatoon. The facility gained a reputation for quality repair work and Bob’s
The leaders of Lazer Autobody, from left to right: Cole Jabusch, partner and head painter; Bob ‘Lazer Bob’ Heroux and Jennifer Heroux, owners; and Braydon Heroux, partner and customer service rep.
uncanny eye for colour matching paint—a skill that would go on to make him one of the most sought-after refinishers in the city, if not the province.
“I can match any colour,” said Bob. “When we started out, I would never use a microfiche or scale to make a colour—I just mixed it by eye. I did things this way for probably the first five or six years of business, and the paint companies could not believe that I did not use the scale to make paint.”
“Anybody that had something they couldn’t match, the paint companies would get him to be the one that would match them,” noted Jennifer.
Eventually, Bob became so synonymous with the Lazer Autobody brand that many of his customers and colleagues simply refer to him as ‘Lazer Bob’ in conversation—a name that speaks directly to the precision and care he puts into his work.
Lazer Autobody’s quality repair work is one thing, but the impression the shop’s team leaves on customers is what makes all the difference for Lazer Autobody.
“We have high standards for how we want our customers to feel about us and how we want their vehicle to be returned to them. It’s really important to us. For us, it’s just who we are,” said Jennifer.
The Lazer Autobody team makes a point to support charitable causes, including a $102,500 donation to the Nutrien Wonderhub children’s museum.
“When you build good, honest relationships and aren’t hiding anything, business flow becomes a lot easier,” Bob remarked.
In putting forth this genuine effort to support his customers in the same way that their business was supporting him, Bob earned the respect of not only his Saskatoon regulars but of others in the industry as well.
“He could talk to anybody and they’ll always have good things to say about how he dealt with his customers, or how he dealt with his suppliers,” said Jennifer. “Bob always had such a good rapport with SGI as well.”
Among all else, family remains one of the most important things at Lazer Autobody. Bob and Jennifer’s son Braydon, now a business partner, has been instrumental in leading the shop forward through a landscape of ever-changing technology.
“He is leading the way in technology for our shop. He’s our researcher,” said Jennifer.
Integrating family into the business wasn’t a seamless transition either, as the Heroux’s were no strangers to butting heads every now and then.
When Braydon reflects on the first few years he laughs and admits it had its challenges.
“The first three years were difficult, to say the least. You just don’t know what your role is completely, and you always feel like everybody is chomping at the bit to do the same thing. Job descriptions were huge
When Lazer moved to its current location 24 years ago, the business doubled its floorspace. Jennifer and Bob said it’s where they’ve planted their roots.
for us, so we knew what to expect from each other.”
Working with family is never perfect, but the Heroux’s say they still wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It is difficult working with family all the time and we do have to work hard and be honest with each other, and sometimes that’s not fun. All in all, as the years are going by here, I think we are becoming more adjusted,” said Jennifer.
Part of the succession plan for the Herouxs included bringing their then head painter into the mix as a partner. Cole Jabusch came in with a lot of experience and energy, said Jennifer, but most of all he was able to contribute a fresh viewpoint when the Heroux family needed it most.
‘We consider Cole to be the calm in our storm, we are very fortunate to have his expertise in our paint and body department as well as transitioning into the inner workings of running a business. He’s methodical in his thinking and so he brings a lot to our shop,” Jennifer remarked.
Lazer Autobody continues to grow to this day as Braydon filled Collision Repair in on the latest developments happening at their 1,115 sq. metre (12,000 sq. feet) facility in central Saskatoon.
“We are in the midst of putting in a new mixer room and prep station in our shop. We are also installing a new car aligner 3D measuring system and a framing machine.”
With SGI’s Safe and Quality Auto Repair project offering a two-tier compensation structure as of April 2020, Lazer is I-CAR Gold Class certified and prepared to crush it in the coming years.
The facility’s reputation stems far beyond the borders of Saskatoon. As a longtime PPG customer, Lazer has helped showcase PPG products through its quality repairs, and the paint supplier is hugely proud of all the facility has accomplished.
“I am personally very excited and proud that Lazer Auto Body has been featured in this issue of Collision Repair magazine,” said Norm Angrove, director of refinish for PPG Canada. “Lazer, has been a flagship PPG customer for many years. Their ongoing commitment to providing world class customer experience and operational excellence is very evident in every aspect of their business. They have been a member of our Western Canada round table group and an active participant in all of our business solution offerings.”
Following in the steps of his father, Braydon has also began developing an impressive reputation for himself. He sits on the board for the Saskatchewan Drag Racing Association, as well as on the Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers (SAAR) board of directors.
“Braydon is a young up and comer in the collision repair business here in Saskatchewan,” said Tom Bissonnette, director for SAAR. “Our industry needs more young people like Braydon that are fully engaged in developing a world class collision repair business. I really appreciate his open mindedness as he takes an established business to the next level.”
With SGI now offering a two-tier accreditation program, Lazer Autobody is I-CAR Gold Class certified and ready for future success.
After starting the business in 1987, Bob’s impressive eye quickly became synonymous with the quality repairwork of Lazer Autobody; many simply call him ‘Lazer Bob.’
The Herouxs have not gotten lost in their success. The businessowners have made it an active point for the shop to always be giving back to their community.
Whether it be their $102,500 donation to the Nutrien Wonderhub children’s museum in Saskatoon, or their work with supporting the Gordie Howe Sports Complex—an initiative that led to the complex creating the Lazer Autobody Spirit of Sport Award in honour of the shop’s efforts—the importance of community engagement is by no means lost on this family. “We’re in a position now that we felt that we really would like to be more part of our community and children, of course, are at the heart of most people, they are for us anyway. We have three granddaughters and one more grandchild on the way. So we thought, what
Cole and Braydon, partners at Lazer Autobody are part of Bob and Jennifer’s succession plan—though this duo won’t be giving up their posts anytime soon.
better way to help our city out than with a children’s museum.”
To boil down exactly what makes the Heroux family such a fixture in their community isn’t so easy, but perhaps Jennifer put it best:
“You need to tap into your resources, act with goodwill and leave people with a good impression. That’s what will get you far in this business.”
PDR PROGRESSION
Dented Canada has finalized an agreement with Vale Training Solutions, which will allow the company to administer the Vale PDR Certification Program throughout Canada. The program will be administered by Dented on Vale Training Solutions’ behalf. Depending on the level of certification a technician is attempting to achieve, the certification will begin with test administrators making an appropriate size dent in the metal—using an air gun filled with compressed air that shoots out a steel ball. A PSI gauge will also measure how powerful the ball is discharged into the panel, which will allow a consistent sized dent to be made. After the dent is made, a technician will have a time limit to properly repair the dent. Once the repair is complete, the dent will be inspected and re-measured with a Vale training calibrated scanning machine. The technician will then be ranked based on the size of the dent and the time it took them to repair it, as well as the quality of the final product. To complete the testing, Dented will be booking appointments throughout Canada. The official unveiling and initial testing began on October 1, 2020.
Dented will now administer the Vale PDR Certification Program throughout Canada. Dented also acquired Alberta-based Dent Force earlier this year.
SIMPLICITY SPREADS EAST
Simplicity Car Care is pleased to welcome its brand-new Gatineau, Quebec. and Rogersville, New Brunswick, locations into its family of collision repair centres. “We are thrilled to expand the brand into the provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick as these markets present a great opportunity to support independent collision repairers in growing their business while enhancing their quality of life. We are equally excited to work with our insurance partners to help make their policy holders experience, simple and seamless.” says Domenic Ieraci, president of Simplicity Car Care. These two latest locations can now be added to a total of 48 Simplicity repair centres across the country that strive to make car care simple and affordable for every vehicle owner.
BOYD’S BACK TO BUYING
Last month, Boyd Group Services told investors it had re-entered the mergers and acquisitions game and had resumed spending to upgrade existing facilities. During an August 12 earnings call, CEO Tim O’Day said that Boyd stopped M&A because of the “significant uncertainty” at the beginning of the pandemic and discomfort over the idea of staff travelling to purchased body shops to integrate them. However, the company is “once again beginning to evaluate growth opportunities as they emerge,” O’Day said during the same call.
Mondofix (Fix Network World) has announced plans to launch ProColor Collision in the United States. Fix Network World acquired ProColor Collision in September 2019 with a vision to expand the valuable brand outside Quebec. The first ProColor Collision location in Ontario, Canada opened in July of this year, with another 14 locations expected to launch across Canada by December. In the United States, ProColor Collision will initially focus on building its network in California, Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. Its team of industry professionals will bring proven experience in sales, operations and marketing as well as standardized tools and training to help prospective franchisees grow their business further.
Fix Network World president Steve Leal said, ProColor’s U.S. expansion offers “tremendous potential” for continued growth.
STEELE’S STOCKS
Rob Steele, CEO of Steele Auto Group announced he has acquired 24,000 common shares of AutoCanada at a price of $17.25 per share for aggregate consideration of $414,000. Following such acquisition, Steele, together with presumed joint actors pursuant to applicable securities legislation, controls 2,756,455 shares representing 10.04 per cent of the outstanding AutoCanada shares.
REMOTE ASSISTANCE
Opus IVS has been awarded a patent for a pass-thru remote diagnostic system. The invention was originally created by Bluelink, however Bluelink was acquired by Opus IVS in 2019 with a patent priority date of September 2010. For the past two decades Bluelink has been a pioneer in creating innovations that would allow a technician to remotely diagnose a vehicle using J2534 and other standards. The technology that was originally developed by Bluelink has been used by Opus IVS to deliver diagnostic repair guidance and programming services remotely from seven call centres with hundreds of expert technicians.
PPG AND THE DOE
PPG has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to pursue research in the use of two versatile, high-output processes in the production of lithium-ion battery electrodes. The goal of the PPG project, titled High Energy and High Power NMP Free Designer Electrodes with Ultra-Thick Architectures Process by Multilayer Slot-Die Coating and Electrophoretic Deposition, is to achieve step-change improvements in production efficiency of lithium-ion batteries used in automotive and commercial vehicle applications. Multilayer slot die coating and electrophoretic deposition (EPD) are highly scalable methods for applying uniform films on a variety of substrates, says PPG. The coatings giant was the first to commercialize cathodic EPD, an industry standard for protecting vehicle panels and components from corrosion. The three-year U.S. $2.2 million project is one of 13 selected through a DOE initiative focused on addressing engineering challenges for advanced battery materials and devices.
With SEMA going virtual this year, SEMA events vice president Tom Gattuso said many vendors plan to make representatives available from the typical 9 to 5 p.m. show day. However, Gattuso learned that many exhibitors intend to man their virtual booths beyond the regular hours, to make up for the different time zones and their international audience. “The virtual SEMA360 show floor will technically be open 24 hours [during] SEMA week,” said Gattuso. He also says that many international visitors have now embraced this idea and at registering for SEMA360 at a decent rate. Due to the popularity of the virtual event, Gattuso can see this continuing pass the pandemic by offering a “digital companion” once in-person shows return, because of the “international appeal.” Vendor representatives-attendee interactions in the exhibitor booth (manufacturer showcases) might take form of a public text chat or video conference, said Gattuso. An attendee and vendor can split off into private meeting rooms which can be set up as regular chat, Zoom or Microsoft team meeting. With SEMA360, the organization is targeting for an audience of about 20,000 to 30,000 people, with thousands already signed up.
SEMA events vice president Tom Gattuso said SEMA360 will aim to replicate the one-on-one networking experience.
ARA YOU THE ONE?
Do you know someone who stands out in the industry? The Automotive Retailers Association (ARA) is calling for submissions for their 2020 Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The ARA’s annual award is meant to recognize a Canadian business owner in the automotive industry who demonstrates, among other things, a forward-thinking attitude, strategic planning for both business and industry, a helpful impact on their local community and the willingness to always improve. In order to eligible, the applicant must be the majority shareholder of their business and the business itself must be profitable and at least two years old. The application form for this award can be found on the ARA website. The deadline for applications is October 15 with the winners to be announced at the ARA Virtual AGM scheduled for October 20-22.
Desrosiers Automotive Consultants recently partnered with the Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario (AARO) to survey their members as to current market conditions and the outlook for the year. When asked about the change in the dollar value of their sales over 2019, a slim majority of respondents noted a decrease of between one percent and 25 percent.
However, a significant portion of respondents noted sales increases with July especially showing strength. About 47 percent of respondents indicated that July’s sales exceeded that of 2019, however, that number quickly dipped to 41 percent in August. The report also noted that respondents felt a “moderate to severe” decline in the frequency of preventative maintenance work, while general diagnostic work remained largely unaffected.
GLOBAL REFINISHING
Global Refinishing Solutions will be hosting a virtual Auto Refinish Summit from October 26 to October 30, featuring a virtual car show, product demonstrations, visits from industry celebrities and much more! The four-day online event will see demonstrations of GFS products like the REVO Accelerated Curing System and Side-Load Finishing Systems, as well as appearances by Ringbrothers founders Mike and Jim Ring, Graveyard Carz creator Mark Worman. A virtual happy our will also be hosted alongside conversations with GFS’s equipment experts aimed at shop efficiency, productivity and profitability. The event is free for all to attend. Visit globalfinishing.
com/2020-auto-refinish-summit to register.
Global Finishing Solutions will be hosting a virtual event from Oct. 26 to 30, featuring product demonstrations and visits from industry celebs.
LET’S PAR-TEE
The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) held its first virtual golf fundraiser on July 25. After the original annual golf fundraiser was cancelled due to COVID-19, participants from more than 30 states and Canada participated in the online fundraiser—golfing 18 holes from their homes using the TopGolf game. The registration fee was $25 and will be used to help support high school and college collision programs in this upcoming school year. Less Sullivan from Georgia, U.S. took the win in the game with a score of 53 and won the prize of a GoldenTee home arcade, provided by Enterprise. CREF are now looking into additional online fundraiser ideas for fall and winter.
As more connected cars emerge on Canadian roads, a leading cybersecurity expert is warning consumers of “a huge transformation” currently underway in the automotive world. Vehiqilla, A.J. Khan, CEO of Windsor-based automotive cybersecurity firm recently laid out some of the threats both automakers and consumers will have to face in this increasingly interconnected landscape in an online interview. He mentioned that this includes any data from devices connected to the vehicle as well as the tracking data from the vehicle itself–all of which are vulnerable to hackers. “We are not ready for a massive breach. We are still far away from having strong protection on vehicles,” warned Khan. “But the good news is that this is being taken very seriously. There is a new standard coming out called ISO21434.” This “new standard” is an upcoming automotive security standard that once officially introduced in late 2020 will raise the bar for standard cybersecurity capabilities in all cars on Canadian roads. “It will look at cybersecurity from the point of conception of the vehicle, to design, to operations, to maintenance, and to disposal. It will look at the whole life cycle of the vehicle and how to make that secure,” he said. Khan adds that once this change is made, all Canadian automakers will be obligated to integrate the standard into their vehicles and only then will “our transportation will be secure from cyber breaches.”
A leading Canadian cybersecurity expert says “a new standard” on cybersecurity is coming.
info@symach.com www.symach.com
the newest generation of spray booth
UBER INSURANCE DEAL
Economical Insurance has announced a new and significant relationship with Uber in Canada. The relationship will provide insurance coverage to every Uber Rides and Uber Eats trip in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. The relationship will officially launch September 1, 2020. This announcement came after Economical Insurance announced its plans to convert from a mutual company to a publicly traded share company. Economicals most recent launch was Vyne which uses advanced technology to provide faster service, improved workflows and sophisticated products and pricing for brokers and their customers. The insurance coverage for drivers operating with Uber will continue seamlessly.
MISREPRESENTATION IN MANITOBA
Manitoban drivers seem to excel in getting caught with auto insurance fraud. The number of Manitobans charged with auto insurance fraud has tripled since 2019, reports Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI). MPI executive Curtis Wennberg said the increase in people getting caught is largely due to MPI’s increase in investigating suspicious claims. According to the insurer, by the end of July 2020, there had been 88 fraud charges laid against 33 people. The rise in charges is stark compared to the 30 charges laid against 10 people during the same period in 2019. A special investigation unit (SIU) at MPI is responsible for handling suspicious claims, and according to the Crown corporation, and in 2019 the SIU saved more than $10 million for MPI rate players in 1,200-plus investigations.
On September 17, Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA) produced a webinar discussing collision industry disruptions, what they are and how they will disrupt the industry. The speakers for the webinar were Frank Terlep and Jake Rodenroth. Terlep is the current CEO of AutoTechcelerators and has been involved in this industry since the late 80s. Rodenroth is the director of OEM and industry relations for asTech. During the webinar, Terlep took the driver’s seat and shared his insight on major disruptions affecting the collision repair industry now and in the future. The greatest takeaway from the webinar was learning how the traditional FNOL will be disrupted due to the insurgence of telematics based FNOL. Telematics based FNOL will cut out the middleman and send collision victims straight to the insurers, jumping the steps a consumer would normally take when they suffer a collision, such as calling insurance, locating a shop, estimating cost and scheduling the repair. However, with telematics you would skip that and right after an accident, the car will tell the customer exactly what shop to go to, estimate the cost and schedule a repair.
MPI is increasing its investigations in suspicious claims, resulting in more Manitobans getting caught with auto insurance fraud, said Curtis Wennberg, MPI executive. During CIECA’s September webinar, Frank Terlep discussed how telematics based FNOL will disrupt the automotive industry in the coming years.
Autel US Expands ADAS Calibration Coverage Advertorial
Autel’s release of three calibration expansion packages for its Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) calibration frame systems, the Standard Frame Calibration System and the MA600 Mobile Calibration System continues to signify the company’s aggressive commitment to ensuring its customers have the latest OEM-compliant targets, calibrations components and software to calibrate the ever-growing number of ADAS-equipped vehicles that enter their shops.
The LDWTARGET3 Expansion Package, compatible with the Standard Frame Calibration System, provides both expanded Lane Departure Warning (LDW) vehicle coverage and new targets that enable more efficient calibration of a vehicle lines previously covered. New calibration coverage available with this package include LDW systems on 2018 and newer Alfa Romeo models and expanded coverage (2013-2016) of Subaru’s Eyesight system, with the inclusion of the Alfa Romeo LDW and the Subaru LDW2 targets, respectively. Also included in this package is the Toyota One-Time-Recognition LDW target and an LDW target and suction-cup target holder for Hyundai Genesis vehicles. This Toyota target, which depicts three patterns on one target board, enables the technician to calibrate the vehicle system more efficiently, no longer needing to move one target to three positions on the systems calibration crossbar. The Hyundai Genesis LDW target and holder is designed for these vehicles that require their systems to be calibrated with a target placed over the vehicle’s hood.
The release of the MA600CAL3 Package truly revolutionizes the MA600 Mobile Frame Calibration System, transforming a unit that was initially designed for LDW camera calibrations, with limited NV and Radar calibration capabilities added after its introduction, to a comprehensive mobile calibration unit able to perform radar and night vision calibrations on a wide range of vehicle lines equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Blind Sport Monitoring (BSM), Front Collision Warning (FCW) and Night Vision (NV). The MA600CAL3 package is composed of a Mounting Plate that attaches to the frame and enables the remaining parts of the package, the Radar Calibration Box, Radar Calibration Plate, ACC Reflector, and Night Vision (NV) Calibration Box to be attached and used to calibration the ADAS devices on the vehicle. The MA600LDW3 Expansion Package for the MA600 Mobile Frame is composed of the Toyota One-Time-Recognition LDW Target, the Subaru LDW2 Target, the Alfa Romeo LDW Target, and the Honda LDW3 Target. New calibration coverage available with this package include LDW systems on 2018 and newer Alfa Romeo models and expanded coverage (2013 through 2016) of Subaru’s Eyesight system, with the inclusion of the Alfa Romeo LDW and the Subaru LDW2 targets, respectively. The Honda LDW3 target enables faster completion of dynamic calibrations of IDSS-equipped Honda vehicles.
An Autel MaxiSYS ADAS tablet or a MaxiSYS tablet with ADAS software is required for use either Autel ADAS Calibration System. For more information, please contact an authorized Autel US distributor.
175 CENTRAL AVENUE, SUITE 200 FARMINGDALE, NY 11735 • USSUPPORT@AUTEL.COM • 855-288-3587 • WWW.MAXISYSADAS.COM
The Nissan Titan’s legacy in Canada will come to an end in Canada because the automaker wishes to focus its resources on its core strengths. “The Nissan TITAN pickup truck will not be sold in Canada beyond model year 2021. We will focus our resources on existing core models in our crossover and sedan portfolios,” wrote Didier Marsaud, Nissan Canada’s director, of corporate communications in an email to Collision Repair. Despite efforts to refresh the Titan in the 2020 mannequin year, the pickup truck still struggled to compete in the full-size pickup truck market. Now, Nissan Canada is focusing on the mid-size pickup truck market, with its all-new Frontier, which according to Marsaud, will “arrive in Canadian showrooms next year.”
The Nissan Titan will no longer be sold in Canada beyond the 2021 model year, Nissan Canada told Collision Repair. ORANGE YOU GLAD?
Kia Canada has introduced a bold, limited edition Stinger in neon orange to light up the road.
This limited-edition Stinger is based on the 2021 Stinger GT Limited model and we be available this fall. To complement its vibrant exterior, the floor mats feature an orange contrast stitch detail to bring some of the outside inside Since its introduction in 2018, the Kia Stinger has won numerous awards around the world including the AJAC 2019 Car of the Year award in Canada.
Ford of Canada and Unifor have reached a tentative agreement on a three-year national labour contract, which will see Ford retool the Oakville assembly plant to build five new electric vehicle models, Unifor president Jerry Dias announced Tuesday morning. The plant will also assemble batteries, adding 300 new jobs. The retooling will be made possible thanks to a $1.95 billion investment from the federal government, and the first model will roll off lines in 2025. A new four-litre engine—to be used in Ford Mustangs and F-150—will also be built at the Windsor, Ontario engine plant, securing and potentially adding jobs at the plant, said Dias. “Today is a historic day. We are not only talking about solidifying the footprint of the auto industry in the short term, but for the long term. I think it’s fair to say that as an
organization we hit a home run,” said Dias.
Jerry Dias, president of Unifor, which represents some 23,000 auto workers in Canada, announced new electrifying plans for the Ford Oakville assembly plant in September.
TESLA’S BATTERY BARGAIN
September 22nd saw Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, announce a new battery system that will enable Tesla to launch a $25,000 electric vehicle. During Tesla’s much-anticipated Battery Day event, Musk said this new system–the “million-mile battery,” which won’t be in serious high production until 2022—will be produced in-house by Tesla with the use of larger cylindrical cells. The “million-dollar battery,” is not meant to run one million miles between recharges, the idea is to design batteries that can be swapped in and out to help with long hauls. According to Musk, the new design of batteries, paired with in-house production will make Tesla batteries cheaper to produce. is going to make them cheaper to produce. The new battery system will offer five times more energy and six times the power of the current battery pack used in the Model 3 and Model Y, said Musk. Despite the new battery announcement, Tesla will continue to buy batteries from suppliers including Panasonic, CATL and LG Chem, to meet its demands, but will start pilot production of the new battery at its factory in Fremont, California. Musk estimates it will take approximately one year to reach production capacity.
SPECIAL ANNUAL EDITION
YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST!
2021 EDITION COMING SOON
MORE THAN 160 PRODUCTS! YOUR GUIDE FROM ABRASIVES TO SOFTWARE!
METHODS TO IMPROVE THE SCANNING PROCESS!5PLUS YOUR KEY TO PURCHASING DECISIONS! ONLY $14.95 CANADA POST CANADIAN PUBLICATION MAIL SALES PRODUCT AGREEMENT NO. 40841832. A SPECIAL EDITION OF COLLISION REPAIR MAGAZINE 86 JOHN STREET. THORNHILL, ON, L3T TY2 STANDOUT RECYCLING SERVICES AND TOOLS12
INFORM,ENGAGE, CONNECT
Collision Repair’s Buyer’s Guide is a valuable industry resource featuring more than 160 products and services specifically catered to the automotive repair sector. Available both online and in print, the Buyers’ Guide is an easyto-access tool that provides crucial information to the collision repair industry.
After nearly thirty years of continuous production, Honda has axed its Civic coupe. The model will no longer be sold after the 2020 model year. According to Honda Canada, buyers are increasingly gravitating toward the Civic Hatchback and Sedan. The automaker said it had seen a general decline in coupe sales across the industry, with sales of the Civic coupe falling to just three percent in Canada in 2019. Honda will also be discontinuing its Fit and Accord manual models at the end of the 2020 model year. Honda’s Civic coupe is part of a nameplate that has been the bestselling car in Canada for 22 years running. Although its sales dipped by 12.85 percent in 2019, the model still managed to hold its crown to be the bestselling vehicle overall.
While the two-door titan contributes little to that total nowadays, it has been a big part of the Civic success story.
DISINFECTION CONNECTION
Researchers with the Department of Chemical Engineering and Health Services at the University of Waterloo (UW) welcomed the recent donation of a prototype for a PPE disinfecting machine, designed and built by engineers at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) in neighbouring Cambridge, Ontario. TMMC’s machine uses Ultraviolet C (UVC) light—an effective means of sterilizing PPE and other tools. A reflective chamber is equipped with several UVC lamps. Contaminated items can be loaded into a portable, wheeled rack and rolled inside. Once the door is secured using special safety-rated latches, the machine exposes items to UVC light for approximately five minutes to disinfect them. TMMC engineers developed the machine in partnership with two area companies. Prescientx specializes in UVC technology for the medical industry, while JMP Solutions is a controls integrator with whom TMMC has enjoyed a long working relationship.
The University of Waterloo welcomed a PPE disinfecting prototype from Ford in September.
Mitchell 1’s new MessageCenter texting app that allows shop owners to text message customers directly, is now available in Canada.With MessageCenter auto repair shops can reach out to their customers right away with two-way text messaging directly from inside the Manager SE shop management system. This app eliminates roadblocks such as calls going to voicemail or emails that go to an address that the customer may not check on a daily basis. The MessageCenter app is an optional add-on to the Manager SE system.
NEW SENSOR
Tesla is seeking approval for a new sensor that will prevent children from becoming trapped in hot cars by implementing a new vehicle sensor that could also be used for theft-prevention, Reuters reported. The automaker has requested the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approve the use of unlicensed millimeter-wave sensors which would operate at higher power levels than existing rules allow. The short-range motion-sensing interactive devices would use four transmit and three receive antennas, along with radar that would provide a number of benefits over camera-based or existing occupant detection systems.Tesla says the radar in the sensor provides depth perception and can see through soft materials, such as a blanket covering a child. To help prevent false alarms, the automaker says it can differentiate between a child and an object, as well as detect breathing rates and heart patterns.
Tesla is attempting to develop a new sensor that will aim to stop children from becoming trapped in hot cars.
Touchscreens are a “new normal” in new cars, as auto manufacturers shift from traditional dials and buttons to a more technology-based way of controlling a vehicle. Now, however, a new technology developed by Jaguar Land Rover and the University of Cambridge may mean physically touching a display could also become a thing of the past. The technology called ‘predictive touch’, allows for contactless interaction with a vehicle’s touchscreen, as a series of sensors and artificial intelligence will predict your hand movements towards the display. Jaguar Land Rover says that ‘predictive touch’ can reduce touchscreen use by up to 50%, keeping the driver’s eyes on the road for longer. There are not yet studies as to how well this technology works, as similar technology has appeared in smartphones, but none of them have proved more effective than simply physically touching the display.
A Phoenix, Arizona woman has been charged with negligent homicide as a result of a fatal collision involving her autonomous vehicle while she was driving for Uber. Rafaela Vasquez pleaded not guilty to the charge that has found her to be criminally responsible for the death of 52-year-old Elaine Herzberg from Tempe, Arizona. Data provided by Hulu showed that Vasquez had been watching TV instead of monitoring the course of her self-driving car just minutes before the incident that claimed Herzberg’s life.
Uber was able to reach a settlement with the victim’s family in 2018, avoiding any criminal liability on the company’s part.
An Arizona Uber driver has been charged after colliding with a pedestrian while operating an autonomous vehicle in 2018.
I-CAR’S ADAS LIBRARY
I-CAR’s U.S. branch has created an online free library in order to provide collision repair professionals with up to date information on topics, trends and industry insights. I-CAR’s advanced driverassistance systems resource (ADAS) library will provide a “Crash Course,” in ADAS growth, “Business Tools and Tips,” a “Driving the Conversation” panel: How ADAS is affecting the collision repair industry today and tomorrow, and much, much more. This new library will provide the industry with information on any rapid changes as well as providing exclusive insights and solutions. “The resource is another way I-CAR can share its expertise in ADAS collision repair, and its neutrality in bringing together voices from OEMs, suppliers, insurers, and others within the inter-industry, to tackle the challenges of today’s ADAS repair while preparing us for what’s ahead,” wrote Jerry Peevy, I-CAR U.S. vice president of technical products, programs and services.
TACTILE TRAFFIC
Tactile Mobility and BMW have announced that software from Israel’s Tactile Mobility will be included in BMW’s next generation of vehicles beginning in 2021. The idea behind the collaboration is to equip vehicles with the ability to analyze the road surface attributes under their tires, enabling detection of road conditions. Tactile Mobility is known for its software that uses vehicle’s non-visual sensors such as wheel speed, wheel angle, RPM and gear position to assist smart and autonomous vehicles to pick up on road dynamics and conditions.
Tactile Mobility extracts data from existing built-in sensors, such as wheel speed, brakes paddle position and additional systems, and utilizes the data to create a new unified signal that represents the state of the road and vehicle. For example, when driving over an icy road, a car camera does not detect the ice, as the black ice resembles the road. The virtual sensor cleans up the background noise, and by using signal-processing techniques, applying its proprietary algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI), it enables the representation of the ground as it is.
Back in 2019, a carrier cargo ship called MV Golden Ray capsized while carrying 4,200 Hyundai vehicles, and due to a string of setbacks, those vehicles are still trapped today. While there were no casualties, the ship, which is 106 ft wide and has a capacity of 20,995 deadweight tons, is a hard project to dismantle. Preparations were made to go to the site of the ship and start to carefully scrape it for parts. This however, was put on pause due to COVID-19. The group that oversaw dismantling the ship had 10 responders test positive for COVID-19, which then required the other 50 responders to quarantine. The other problem the group ran into was as hurricane season approached, further setbacks quickly arose, and the project was put on hold most likely until October. In terms of the dismantling process, the team will use a VB-10,000 twin-hull heavy-lift vessel, which will then use two 69-metre tall gantry cranes to cut the ship into eight large sections that will then be lifted onto a barge and transported to a recycling facility in Louisiana. Hyundai has had 4,200 vehicles trapped in Atlantis since 2019.
DUCK, DUCK, JEEP
Jeep drivers have an unspoken bond, anyone who drives one knows to wave to fellow jeep drivers when they cross paths. However, this bond has been further strengthened with a new trend called ‘Jeep Ducking,’ and it all started in the great white north. Jeep owners are purchasing rubber ducks, writing a little note on them and leaving them on other Jeeps as a way to spread goodwill and positivity. As quirky and fun as this trend is, it has a rather heartbreaking origin. Self-proclaimed creator Allison Parliament, 31, said she started ducking in July after she was physically assaulted in Ontario, for having an American license plate, according to the Taunton Daily Gazette. Parliament works in both Alabama and her birth country of Canada, splitting her time between both countries. She explained that she was driving her car, which has Alabama license plates when she was approached by a man who pushed her into her vehicle and told her to go back to the U.S. Instead of getting angry, Parliament and her friends decided to react to the situation with positivity. She went to a nearby store, purchased a rubber duck and placed it on a Jeep with a note explaining its purpose. After that, Parliament and her friends took to Facebook and the trend blew up. There is now a private group on Facebook, called Official Ducking Jeeps with over 14 thousand members from all over the U.S. and Canada. As well, an Instagram account that features people who have participated in the ducking challenge.
A Hyundai dealer in Brazil has become famous all over the world after they adopted a stray dog and brought him into the dealership as a canine car consultant. The manager of Prime Hyundai, Emerson Mariano, found the dog and started feeding him, giving him water and providing him shelter. The dog stuck around, and the staff became fond of him. The manager then adopted him permanently. The dog has been named Tucson after Hyundai’s small crossover. Tucson is about a year old and since being adopted has been taken to the vet for all his necessary shots. He now owns many accessories as part of the Prime Hyundai family, such as tires, a tuxedo and his own employee badge. He likes to spend his days at the dealership
in his very own doghouse.
Tuscon, the first-ever canine car consultant and Employee-of-the-Month.
WHERE’D SHE COME FROM, WHERE’D SHE GO?
A Tennessee woman recently received a shock when she received her drivers licence back from the DMV as it appeared that she had become invisible. Jane Dodd chose to renew her license online but after it came in the mail she was confused as the picture on the licence was not of her but instead an empty chair. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security says the photo was taken accidentally and had come to end up on Dodd’s licence as it was the last photo taken in her file. Luckly, Dodd’s was not upset about the incident and even said it gave her a few laughs. Dodd’s posted the photo to facebook and it has been shared more than 19,000 times and several memes have also surfaced. Dodd’s received her new license—and this time, she is visible.
Jane Dodd was astonished to find herself missing-in-action after receiving this driver’s license in the mail.
The Dog Sack invention started to appear in 1935 making its debut in the June 1935 issue of popular mechanics. The idea behind the invention was to keep the car clean while allowing the dog some fresh air.The original article says: “When you take your dog along for a ride but prefer to not have them inside the car, they can ride safely and comfortably in this sack, which is carried on the running board. The bottom of the sack is clamped to the running board and the top is fastened to the lower part of an open window with hooks, covered with samm rubber tubing to prevent marking the car.” Thankfully, this invention was never added to any car models.
AUTOPILOT NAP
A Canadian driver was been caught sleeping while autopilot drove the car at 150 km/h in September. The incident was reported both on Twitter by the Alberta Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and on national news. “The officer was able to obtain radar readings on the vehicle, confirming that it had automatically accelerated up to exactly 150 km/h,” the RCMP said in a statement. The RCMP took the matter very seriously and charged the driver with speeding. They also issued a 24-hour license suspension.
WÜRTH CANADA IS HERE FOR YOU
As Canadians get back to work, and we learn new ways to keep ourselves, our employees, and our customers healthy.
We want to provide you with the necessary safety products, disinfectants and cleaning, as well as social distancing solutions and more.
Please don’t bring back the Dog Sack.
SCAN HERE TO SEE OUR GUIDE
LEADING THE WAY,
The best leaders have an innate ability to articulate a vision, embrace the values of that vision and create an environment where everyone can reach their goals and perform at their best. Leadership requires clarity, decisiveness, courage, passion, humility and the ability to inspire. If you have checked a calendar lately or opened your eyes to the ever-changing world around us, you will have realized that the approach and face of leadership today has evolved.
JENNIFER MANCHUR Fusion Collision in Edmonton, Alberta
Inspired by the way she could turn an upsetting situation like a collision into a positive experience, Jennifer Manchur embarked on her automotive career at a Volkswagen/Audi collision repair facility. Hungry to learn every aspect of the collision repair process, she quickly climbed the ladder to become a shop foreman—and soon after was offered the position of assistant manager at a Ford dealership’s collision centre. After another transfer saw Manchur jump into a position as co-manager at a Dodge dealership, she began to realize management was a lot different than the hands-on work she was used to. It didn’t take long to get settled, though, and Manchur soon became the sole manager of the facility. For the last 13 years, Manchur has been a manager at Fusion Collision. When she first started at the facility, she felt she was in over her head–the shop was twice as big as her previous one, which meant twice as many employees to manage. But fast-forward 13 years to the present, and she is beyond proud of the team she has working with her.
VICTORIA DE TINA Performance Collision in Grimsby, Ontario
Victoria De Tina was drawn to the fast-paced nature of the automotive repair industry. With a background in business marketing, De Tina began her collision repair career off as an estimator but quickly climbed her way into the management position in just two years. As manager, De Tina considers her position less about management and more about being a leader to her team. Our body shop, said De Tina, has a team focused atmosphere; as a team, they work together to define goals and meet targets. Her philosophy as a manager is that working day-to-day doesn’t make you successful, but creating long term goals does. When someone in the community suffers a collision, De Tina promises to prove why Performance Collision Grimsby is the collision centre the community trusts. She says her proudest accomplishment so far is when her shop received their Gold Class certification with I-CAR and Certified Collision Care recognition. “It was a true team effort,” she says.
BRITNY SPYKER John Bear Collision Centre in St. Catharines, Ontario
Britny Spyker’s first job in the automotive industry was in the service department scheduling maintenance appointments. Less than a year after starting her first position, Spyker jumped at an opportunity to join the team at John Bear Collision Centre. She says it’s hard to define her style as a leader, but she always aims to be organized, clear and concise in her instruction so her team is always on the same page. She recalls the effect employee satisfaction impacted operations in her dad’s facility and makes sure her employees are always at their happiest. She may not be one to hover, but she makes sure her staff know of her open-door policy should anything ever come up. Growing up alongside her diesel mechanic father, Spyker always knew she wanted to work somewhere she loved, just like her dad. Her proudest accomplishment thus far is the knowledge she’s gained and the connections she’s obtained throughout the industry.
JANECE CROCKER CMP Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC in Calgary, Alberta
Janece Crocker boasts 19 years of experience in the industry. She could build vehicles before she could drive them,gaining experience in her youth alongside her father passing her the 10mm wrench. Still, Crocker found herself “starting at the bottom,” when she embarked on her own career in the industry. She says her early days were often filled with washing floors, helping technicians around the shop, completing her first-year apprenticeship and absorbing everything like an engine air filter. But after about a year of “pulling wrenches,” Crocker realized she missed the customer interaction aspect, so she took up a post in the front end of the shop. In 2015, she was offered the position of assistant service manager at a large GM Service Centre, where she was able to put her years of experience to use. Then, in November 2019, she was promoted to her bodyshop manager position at CMP Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC. Crocker doesn’t see herself as a manager; she says she’s more of a hands-on leader that’s there makes sure her well-oiled team works together, making a point to empower the team to make their own decisions and suggestions.
THEIR OWN WAY
No longer in 2020 is our industry deferring to the longest tenured or a member of the establishment for direction—we are embracing those who have the brightest ideas, a new perspective and an ability to execute. Today we are celebrating the new face of leadership in collision repair and those who are doing it their way. If you think it has come a long way so far, you’ve yet to see anything.
HEATHER SHONSTA Go Honda Collision Centre in Edmonton, Alberta
When Heather Shonsta was young, her father would take her and the family to car shows where she was left fascinated by custom paint jobs. It wasn’t until after working at her father’s bodyshop that her interest in automotive repair really took off. Working her way as a detailer through the apprenticeship program, Shonsta became a journeyperson while working at her father’s shop—but she didn’t stay in this role long. She quickly moved up to the front of the shop as an appraiser and, eventually, made it into management. Shonsta says on of her “keys to success,” is ensuring employee satisfaction. She always makes sure to interact with her staff, making time for personal conversations to ensure they all feel safe, secure and trusted. Shonsta is hugely proud of how she’s climbed the ranks in her short time in the industry. She chalks much of her success up to her management style and says focus, dedication to the trade and proper repair procedures mean everything for Go Honda Collision.
KAYLA PEDDLE Crosstown Autobody in Edmonton, Alberta
Kayla Peddle grew up in a bodyshop but took a different path in her late teen years, opting instead to chase hailstorms in Western Canada. However, after witnessing enough hailstorms for a lifetime, peddle turned back to her automotive roots. Peddle took a leap when she joined the Crosstown team. Her previous management experience gave her what she calls a “crisp” management style; she’s very straightforward and takes an upfront approach to running the shop. She gives candid feedback where needed and encourages continued learning. Peddle’s mission is to have Crosstown be the number one autobody shop for customer satisfaction and quality service delivery. Her mantra is “teamwork drives the vision,” and that team is like one big happy family for Peddle. By being successful in the industry, Peddle hopes to inspire more women in the automotive realm. When women see other women succeeding in collision repair, it inspires them to know they can do it too. Peddle says being a successful woman and bodyshop manager in what is traditionally thought of as male-dominated industry is her proudest accomplishment yet.
SAMANTHA GERBER Forbes Motors in Waterloo, Ontario
As Samantha Gerber progressed through a college program hardly related to the automotive industry, she found herself more and more intrigued by a career she never thought she’d find her place in. Once she took the leap and began working at a dealership, Gerber saw the chance to utilize skillsets she never knew she had. The endless possibilities for growth inspired her and she soon gained a full-time position working between two different dealerships. After a few years, a receptionist position popped up at the Forbes Motors bodyshop. A bodyshop was unchartered territory for Gerber, but she hasn’t stopped writing estimates since. Gerber the keys to a smooth working environment are clear and collective goals that ensure everyone is on the same page. A trick Gerber uses to help keep the workplace positive is by passing on positive customer feedback so every member of the shop will know about it. “It is important the whole team is acknowledged,” she adds. Gerber has been within this industry for almost six years now. She looks back at all the women she started out with and holds a great sense of pride thinking about how far she has come in a male-dominated industry.
NORMA WHITE Red Deer Nissan in Red Deer, Alberta
Growing up, Norma White never considered a career in the automotive industry. However, once she was given an opportunity the day to day operations of the automotive repair field, she says she “was hooked.” White began as a receptionist, eventually finding herself more involved with the back end of the shop. Before her manager resigned, he announced he had found management material in White and began teaching her Audatex and Mitchell’s estimating systems. After just one year as a receptionist, White was hired as manager. She describes her management style as laid-back, yet firm. She has complete trust in her team and feels confident in knowing there’s no need to babysit her team and their work. Boosting employee morale can be difficult working in a stressful industry, but White believes positive employee morale is a big part of success. “I try to stay positive even when times are tough—positivity is the key to happy employees,” she says.
