Ryan Hurdman was taught at an early age that the key to success is experience, the willingness to step in and learn and the tenacity to build a strong foundation of teamwork using the lessons gained from both the industry’s benefits and difficulties.
LOOKING FORWARD WHILE GIVING BACK
Dom’s Auto Parts celebrates 60 years with a community barbecue.
EVENT PLANNERS
Repairers and industry reps share their dream event speakers and topics.
REQUESTED TOPICS
Collision Repair asked what exactly the industry wants. See who their dream speakers are.
STORM STRATEGIES
PDR experts on the current hail claims process and the rise in repairs.
Familiar faces, new roles! NEWS-IN-BRIEF
Bite-sized updates from across the industry
Local news from coast to coast
On June 24, industry members and golf lovers alike hit the green for CHC Paint and Body Shop Supplies fifth annual golf tournament at the Scarborough Golf Club in Toronto, Ontario.
Aaron Hebb of AkzoNobel hosts an estimating session at the company’s Ontario headquarters. Get an insider look in this issue.
GREEN
NAVIGATING THE FUTURE
The collision repair industry’s response to emerging challenges
By DARRYL SIMMONS
The collision repair industry in Canada is at a crucial juncture, where collaboration and dialogue among shops, insurers, and OEMs is becoming more important than ever. This shift in dynamic is vital, as repair shops possess the onthe-ground knowledge necessary to ensure safe and high-quality repairs. Recent developments highlight that networks, insurance companies, and OEMs are starting to listen to the insights and expertise of repair shops rather than dictating terms, marking a significant positive change.
As highlighted in an excellent presentation by Darryl Hemstreet and Daniel Trevisanutto at the recent CARSTAR conference, and further emphasized in an on-stage panel discussion, the industry must move towards a model where all stakeholders—shops, insurers and OEMs—work
as references from OEM procedures, and not automatically agree when adjusters dispute necessary repairs. By providing thorough documentation and justifying the scope of work, shops can educate insurers about the necessity of each repair and secure fair compensation. Moreover, fostering open and ongoing dialogue among insurers, manufacturers and shop owners is vital. This communication ensures that all parties are aligned on expectations and standards. Insurers must understand the evolving complexities of modern vehicles and the critical importance of adhering to OEM procedures. Manufacturers should support shops by providing access to the latest repair information and training resources.
It’s essential to include repair considerations during vehicle design. OEMs should engage
INSTEAD OF VIEWING SHOPS MERELY AS COST CENTRES, INSURERS AND OEMS SHOULD RECOGNIZE THEM AS VALUABLE PARTNERS WHO CAN PROVIDE INSIGHTS INTO IMPROVING THE REPAIR PROCESS.
collaboratively. It was made clear that sustainable success depends on each group remaining profitable and working together to find efficient solutions that can speed up repair processes rather than slow them down.
One of the key takeaways from these discussions is the need to leverage the intellectual capital within repair shops. Instead of viewing shops merely as cost centres, insurers and OEMs should recognize them as valuable partners who can provide insights into improving the repair process.
INCLUSIVE DESIGN AND REPAIR PROCESSES
Another crucial point is the importance of integrating repair considerations into the vehicle design process. Vehicles should not only be designed for performance and aesthetics but also for ease of repair. OEMs must engage with repair shops to understand the practical challenges they face and incorporate solutions during the design phase. This collaboration can lead to more repair-friendly vehicles, ultimately reducing repair times and costs. Despite the increased workload and complexity of repairs, many shops are not being compensated for all the work they perform. Shops must document each step of the repair process, using line items
with repair shops to understand the practical challenges they face and incorporate solutions during the design phase. This collaboration can lead to more repair-friendly vehicles, ultimately reducing repair times and costs.
The collision repair industry in Canada is navigating a complex and evolving landscape. By addressing the challenges presented by increased miles driven, the rise of electric vehicles, government sustainability mandates, an aging vehicle fleet and an inflated used car market, repair shops can position themselves for success.
Investing in advanced technologies, continuous technician training and adopting environmentally friendly practices will be key. Additionally, ensuring fair compensation for the work performed and fostering open communication with insurers and manufacturers will be critical for the industry’s long-term sustainability. Through these efforts, the collision repair industry can ensure it remains resilient and capable of providing safe, highquality repairs for all vehicles.
PUBLISHER
Darryl Simmons
publisher@collisionrepairmag.com
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Orest Tkaczuk | orest@mediamatters.ca
EDITOR
Allison Rogers | allison@mediamatters.ca
ART DIRECTOR
Yvonne Maschke | yvonne@mediamatters.ca
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Sarah Perkins | sarah@mediamatters.ca
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Michael Vavaroutsos | michael@mediamatters.ca
VP OF INDUSTRY RELATIONS & ADVERTISING
Gloria Mann 647.998.5677 | gd.mann@rogers.com
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Ellen Smith 416.312.7446 | ellen@mediamatters.ca
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Wanja Mann 647.998.5677 wanjamann1@gmail.com
DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER
Cassie Doyle | cassie@mediamatters.ca
MARKETING COORDINATOR
William Simmons | william@mediamatters.ca
INTERACTIVE MEDIA DESIGNER
Dayna Dicuangco | dayna@mediamatters.ca
CONTRIBUTORS
Shlomi Amiga, Stefano Liessi, Jay Perry, Rene Young
SUBSCRIPTION
Single edition $7.99 One-year $39.95 ( 6 issues) Collision Repair ™ magazine is published bimonthly, and is dedicated to serving the business interests of the collision repair industry. It is published by Media Matters Inc. Material in Collision Repair™ magazine may not be reproduced in any form without 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 and statements appearing in this publication have been compiled and included with the permission, though not necessarily the endorsement, of the editor, or of independent columnist contributors, and are in no way to be construed as those of the publisher, or as endorsements of them.
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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
EMILE FREMONT, UNIPARTS O.E.M.
Emile Fremont has been appointed as a senior management consultant with Uniparts O.E.M. Canada. Fremont brings over 30 years of collision repair industry experience to the role. Fremont will assess industry trends, identify market opportunities and focus on maximizing national relationships. Mike Kaplaniak, CEO of Uniparts O.E.M. Canada, said that the company is thrilled to have Emile Fremont join the team. “We look forward to his contributions in cultivating key client relationships and driving our business development initiatives.”
MATTHIAS WACKER, PORSCHE CARS CANADA
Porsche Cars Canada has appointed Matthias Wacker to the role of director of aftersales. Wacker joins Porsche Cars Canada’s Aftersales department from Porsche AG in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany where he has held various management positions in aftersales and supply chain strategy for the past five years. In a recent press release, John Cappella, president and CEO of Porsche Cars Canada said Wacker’s impressive resume, abilities and knowledge of the brand make him an exceptional addition to the team.
HENRY KARIUKI, LEVEL5DRIVE
Level5Drive has announced the promotion of Henry Kariuki to director of operations Canada, effective immediately. In his new role, Kariuki will oversee all operational activities across Canadian operations, playing a pivotal role in driving strategic initiatives forward. Kariuki has been an integral part of the Level5drive team since joining in 2022, consistently demonstrating exceptional leadership and a deep understanding of the industry and market dynamics. Kariuki said he is honoured to take on this new role and excited about the opportunities ahead for Canadian operations.
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REBUILDING AFTER THE BLAZE
Fix Auto Drayton Valley’s journey to recovery
In May 2023, Drayton Valley, an Alberta town known for its tight-knit community, faced a daunting threat as wildfires loomed on its doorstep. Fix Auto Drayton Valley, led by owners Andy and Lana Moritz and General Manager Adrianna, found itself at the heart of this disaster.
The crisis began with a dire phone call at 11p.m. on May 4 from Adrianna to Lana.
“The wildfires are rapidly approaching Drayton Valley, and we’ve received evacuation orders,” Adrianna reported, her voice shaking.
In about an hour, Adrianna had to pack what she could and hit the road with her kids on what would be a fourhour journey to their family in Camrose, Alberta, leaving everything else behind—including her husband, who stayed behind to help shut off the oil and gas wells. The entire staff
was displaced, finding refuge with family, in schools or in surrounding community camps.
Shortly after the fires neared the city, power outages severed all connections to the shop. Without access to files, the team had no idea where the cars were or how many vehicles were on-site, creating a stressful situation, especially when insurance companies demanded information. Adrianna’s photographic memory became a critical asset during this chaotic period.
“We were in a state of complete disarray,” Lana recalled. “Adrianna’s ability to recall details was invaluable.”
After two weeks of uncertainty, the evacuation orders were lifted just before the long weekend in May. No one knew what they’d be returning to, and staff were given some additional time to organize themselves. Upon returning to
“The emotional toll was significant. But the resilience of our team was truly inspiring.”
— Lana Mortiz, co-owner
the community, seeing the acreage that had been destroyed was devastating.
“The scale of the damage was shocking,” Lana said. “The fire had reached right up to a town monument. Any closer and several establishments would have been destroyed as well.”
The power was still unstable, and essential equipment like paint booths and servers were damaged due to surges and outages.
Despite the fortunate lack of smoke damage, the shop faced chaos with weeks worth of vehicles requiring rescheduling. Claims continued to pour in, and the administration became a nightmare. June bookings were pushed to September, and it took nearly eight months to catch up on production.
“The scale of rescheduling and managing claims was overwhelming,” said Adrianna. “But we knew we had to keep pushing forward.”
The wildfires caused immense personal, financial, and emotional devastation. Staff and management dealt with the stress of displacement, the uncertainty of returning home, and the monumental task of resuming operations.
“The emotional toll was significant,” reflected Lana. “But the resilience of our team was truly inspiring.”
Customers, dealing with their own trauma from the wildfires, would often take their frustrations out on the shop.
“People were in distress,” Adrianna explained. “It was challenging to manage their stress while dealing with our own, but we empathized with their situation.”
Living in Calgary, Lana and Andy depended heavily on Adrianna’s leadership in Drayton Valley. Adrianna set up a group chat for staff, ensuring everyone stayed connected and supported. She tirelessly organized check-ins, communicated
with customers and insurance companies, and coordinated inventory with the greater Fix Auto brand support team. Her dedication and hard work were instrumental in guiding the team through this crisis.
“Adrianna was the anchor we all needed,” said Lana. “Her leadership was crucial in keeping the business afloat.”
Despite the devastation, no staff members lost their homes. The fire reached the town’s edge, but miraculously, it stopped just meters short of causing further destruction. The Drayton Valley community held lunches and supported each other, showcasing their resilience.
“The community spirit was incredible,” Adrianna noted. “Everyone came together to support each other in ways we could never have imagined.”
Adrianna’s leadership, coupled with the team’s dedication, exemplified the spirit of Drayton Valley. They navigated through one of the toughest times in their lives with perseverance and commitment. Adrianna’s exceptional leadership during this crisis not only saved the business but also reinforced the bond within the team and the community.
“I’ll never forget that phone call with Adrianna,” said Lana. “We are incredibly thankful that everyone was safe and that we could rebuild stronger than before.”
Through their hard work and resilience, Fix Auto Drayton Valley emerged from the ashes, poised to embrace the future with renewed strength and unity.
Their journey through hardship underscored their collective strength and community spirit, truly embodying the ethos of the Fix Auto brand. In their unwavering resilience and dedication, they have demonstrated that teamwork and perseverance conquer every obstacle.
PROGRESS PLANNING
The CWB Group and Canadian Collision Repair Academy are hosting an instructor-led Progressive Repair Planning Program from August 2024 to March 2025. The four-day program is designed for repair planners, estimators, insurance personnel, front office staff, and technicians. The content focuses on accessing repair guidelines, following OEM manuals, addressing changing construction technologies, and ensuring fit and finish. The program combines industry overviews, customer communication methods, and collision repair knowledge to teach attendees the repair planning process for various stakeholders. Completion of a pre-class task is required before attending the main course. For additional information, contact Jean-Marc Julien, CWB Collision Repair Instructor, by email at ccra@ cwbgroup.org or directly at 289-971-4668.
This course is hosted at the Canadian Collision Repair Academy, which is located at the CWB Group Ontario headquarters in Milton, Ontario.
PREPARING FOR HURRICANE SEASON
Crash Course (CCC) recently released its Q2 2024 report indicating that hurricanes and severe convective storms have a considerable impact on the auto insurance and collision repair industries, resulting in an increase in damages and economic loss, 94 percent of all comprehensive claims estimates for derivable vehicles also included paintless dent repair (PDR) over the last two years. The goal of this report is to help the automotive industry navigate the 2024 hurricane season, using exclusive information based on CCC’s aggregated historical claims and repair data. According to the report, since 2021, hurricanes have specifically amassed over $180 billion in damages and economic loss in the United States. Moreover, the report further notes that an indication of hail-related damage is claims that include PDR. In 2023 alone, 19.4 percent of comprehensive claims included PDR and 80 percent of claims identified as “hail” included PDR. Throughout 2023, PDR was included on 19 percent to 35 percent of repairable comprehensive estimates.
data indicates a 1.6 percent annual increase in vehicles being declared total losses by insurance carriers in 2024 relative to 2023. This is primarily due to the continued erosion of used vehicle values and an increasingly mature vehicle pool, as over 73 percent of valuations across all loss categories are for vehicles seven years and older.
CONNECTING IN CALGARY
Fix Network Canada hosted strategic partners at its Calgary training centre for an estimating course designed to review and refine collision repair estimating skills. According to Philippe-Andre Bisson, director of marketing and communications, Fix Network, the training was facilitated by Tim White, senior services consultant at AkzoNobel. A total of 22 attendees from Fix Auto Canada and ProColor franchisees participated in the event, and while attendees were mainly appraisers, Bisson noted that there were also some repair planners, a few shop owners and managers in attendance as well as two customer service representatives who are learning estimating.
The objective of the course was to review and refine the estimator’s skills relative to collision repair estimating. During the event, topics covered included: evaluating frame, suspension and mechanical damage; learning how to use the P-pages and what to include on an estimate; justification for labour time to create a thorough and fair estimate; and the importance of OEM procedures and how to use this to develop a repair plan.
MERGING MAKEOVER
LKQ Corporation has announced the merging of the LKQ PBE and FinishMaster business in the United States under one umbrella company called LKQ Refinish. According to a recent press release, “the LKQ Refinish mission is to provide quality products, reliable delivery and a steadfast commitment to our customers.” Moreover, Ed Pietrzak, vice president, marketing and vendor relations commented that “operating as LKQ Refinish underscores our ongoing commitment to continued focus and growth in the sales and service of current and future customers in the automotive, collision, fleet and general industrial businesses.”
SOUND INSPECTIONS
Hyundai has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system that utilizes sound to aid in quality inspection and has applied the technology in its production lines. According to the automaker, AI will analyze the subtle sounds generated during product inspection to determine quality accuracy. Hyundai Mobis recently completed a pilot implementation of an Acoustic AI-based inspection system at its Changwon plant in South Korea. What makes Acoustic AI special is that it develops algorithms that assign meaning to specific sounds and then facilitates appropriate judgements. Choi Nak-Hyun, Vice President and head of digital transformation at Hyundai Mobis, stated, “this initiative marks a pioneering example of process innovation not only in the automotive sector but across the global manufacturing industry.”
MOPAR IN ONTARIO
On July 9, Stellantis North America officially commemorated the recent opening of a new state-of-the-art Mopar Parts Distribution centre (PDC) in Brampton, Ont. with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the facility. The new facility will employ approximately 170 members and will aim to support Stellantis dealerships and customers in Ontario, Quebec and Eastern Canada. Additionally, the 513,000-square-foot facility currently houses close to 55,000 parts and has the capacity to ship up to an estimated two million orders annually.
INSURANCE NEWS
A DASH OF INFORMATION
The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has announced the launch of the Driver and Auto Search History (DASH) system. This system specifically aims to provide industry-directed policy and claims information to users. The press release also outlined how DASH will be used to provide detailed reports on a consumer’s auto insurer history, including policies, claims and other relevant information used to provide an insurance quote. DASH is available to private auto insurers and brokers licensed to sell insurance in Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. The service is offered through the official DASH portal and through an API that integrates with an insurer’s underwriting system.
PREMIER PUMPS BRAKES
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith recently announced that the province will not be considering government-run public auto insurance despite a recent report suggesting hundreds in savings for drivers. The report by Oliver Wyman and Nous Group was originally commissioned by the Alberta Treasury and Finance Board. Oliver Wyman and Nous Group further noted that making the switch to a no-fault system could save Albertans around $730 a year on premiums for an estimated $2.1 billion in consumer savings across the province. According to CTV News, “the sticker shock of bringing through a fully publicly-funded auto insurance program in Alberta made all the ministers’ eyes pop,” said Smith, adding that she believes “the appetite for a full Alberta-run public insurance system is very low. There are lots of Albertans who are prepared to pay the extra dollars so that if they do end up–heaven forbid—in a terrible accident, they can hold someone accountable through the legal process.”
While generative AI emphasizes versatility for general users, Acoustic AI is designed for industrial applications. It is specialized for processing large volumes of tasks in a short time. The inspection system at the Changwon plant can detect defective products at a rate of one unit per second.
The new centre also represents the first Stellantis facility in North America to use the AutoStore automated storage and retrieval system.
The Passionate Parts People
CHARGED REPAIRS
J.D. Power data states battery-electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) require more repairs, on average, than gas-powered vehicles in all repair categories. In the 2024 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), J.D. Power data indicates that gas and dieselpowered vehicles experience an average of 180 problems per 100 vehicles. EVs and PHEVs experience about 86 more problems, on average, with 266 problems per 100 vehicles.
DEGRADATION DEMANDS
Recurrent, which aims to offer more transparency surrounding electric vehicles (EV), has found that while high-voltage charging (DC fast charging) does accelerate EV battery degradation over time, there is no statistically significant difference between fast charging more than 70 percent of the time or less than 30 percent of the time. In other words, the frequency of DC fast charging (i.e. using DC fast chargers 70+ percent of the time vs. less than 30 percent of the time) does not appear to have a significant impact on the rate of battery degradation, even though fast charging itself can lead to greater degradation compared to slower charging methods. Steps that can be taken to help preserve an EV’s battery include reserving high-voltage charging for long distances such as road trips, avoiding charging when the vehicle’s battery is either very hot or very cold, as well as when it is at extreme battery states such as at five percent and 90 percent charged.
Recycled Transmissions and Engines are carefully removed from the vehicle in one of our state-of-the-art dismantling plants, inspected for damage, and inventoried with consistent descriptions and accurate donor vehicle mileage to ensure quality.
Remanufactured Transmissions and Engines go through a systematic process and are restored to “Like New” condition, meeting or exceeding OEM specs. Most LKQ Remanufactured Transmissions come with 3-Year Unlimited Mileage warranty, and most LKQ Remanufactured Engines come with a 4-Year Unlimited Mileage warranty.
A FUTURE VISION
Ford has filed a patent for a vehicle system that would use adaptively steered vehicle headlamps operated by driver gaze and head direction. The patent specifically describes a headlight system that “has a steerable headlamp configured to illuminate the roadway with a light beam along a selectable projection angle” using a controller that is “configured to compare the driver gaze angle.” Essentially, the technology would come with eye tracking and head tracking tools to monitor when and where to direct the headlights.
YOKE CONVOKE
Stellantis has filed a new patent design for a yokestyle steering and braking system that removes the need for foot-controlled inputs entirely. The patent describes a vehicle system in which “pivoted movement of the motion control input about (a) pivot axis in a first direction (would cause) a forward motion of the vehicle, and pivoted movement of the motion control input about (a) pivot axis in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction (would) reduce a speed of forward motion of the vehicle.” To put it differently, the vehicle system described would require drivers to turn the steering wheel to turn the vehicle, push down to accelerate and pull up to brake, all with no feet required.
As such, while there is no guarantee that this vehicle design will ever make it to the manufacturing stage, the system is perhaps one example of how vehicles could be made more accessible for those with lower-body mobility issues.
CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?!
TRI-WHEEL TRIALS
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) recently pulled over a driver on Hwy. 417 for continuing to drive their vehicle with only three wheels after losing a tire. Police originally noticed the driver in question after they continued down the highway following one of their front wheels falling off their vehicle. “The driver of the vehicle thought it would be a good idea to continue driving after his tire fell off on Hwy. 417, while he drove past a police car,” said OPP on social media platform X. Police also noted that the driver was uninsured at the time. “The driver faces a minimum $5,000 fine upon conviction,” the OPP further said. The OPP is reminding drivers that they need four tires to drive on the highway—especially if their vehicle started with four to begin with.
REFLECTIVE RISKS
One Tesla Cybertruck owner, Tyson Garvin recently machine-polished his vehicle to a mirror-like finish, making it nearly invisible on the road. In an act of unintentional camouflage, Garvin’s machine-polished Cybertruck reflects its environment so that he is essentially driving around with mirrors on his vehicle. “It doesn’t have all the porous stainless steel that holds all the oil from your fingerprints,” Garvin originally told Business Insider. “When we ordered (the vehicle) on Tesla’s announcement day, I knew I was going to polish it that day.” Despite the potential hazards of a mirror-like finish, Garvin further told Business Insider that thankfully, the vehicle’s tailgate points slightly downward so that other vehicles’ headlights don’t reflect perfectly across the Cybertruck. Still, many Reddit users have voiced concerns about the legality of driving a stainless steel disco ball.
The polishing process needed to make the Cybertruck near-invisible reportedly took 120 hours to complete.
Since 2013, CCS has been the network of choice for Canada’s most progressive new car dealer collision centres. For dealers, by dealers, our tailor-made solutions will help grow your business by retaining more customers and putting you on the map with our national insurance partners. For the road ahead and the road less traveled, CCS will be there for you. If you are a new car dealer anywhere in Canada, find out more by booking your test drive of CCS today.
Over 85 locations. One mission. To be the best.
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OVERSEEING OPPORTUNITY
FOR RYAN HURDMAN, COLLISION CENTRE MANAGER AT BRAMGATE COLLISION CENTRE AND BRAMGATE VOLKSWAGEN, COLLISION REPAIR OFFERS A CHANCE TO EMBRACE OPPORTUNITIES AND TO FACE CHALLENGES HEAD ON
The automotive industry is a ever-evolving landscape—and collision repair prevails as a field rich with opportunities, and also rife with challenges to overcome. Having grown up in the industry, and now collision centre manager at Bramgate Collision Centre and Bramgate Volkswagen, Ryan Hurdman was taught at an early age that the key to success is experience, the willingness to step in and learn and the tenacity to build a strong foundation of teamwork using the lessons gained from both the industry’s benefits and difficulties.
Hurdman first began working in the industry at 14 years old. His father, who opened a General Motors dealership in 1991, exposed Ryan to a crash course in automotive repair. From working in the service department to cleaning the shop and assisting the technicians, Ryan quickly became an everyman with a kind of early apprenticeship for what would soon become a more serious career.
“My grandfather owned a Ford dealership,” Hurdman said, “and with my father having owned a GM dealership, the automotive industry has always been a part of my life.”
“I’ve pretty much done it all. Cleaning and maintaining the dealership, driving the customer shuffle, parts advisor, service advisor, collision supervisor, sales associate and now, more recently, collision centre manager and general manager.”
“In the beginning, when I got my driver’s license, I became more involved in the shop and interacting with customers as a service advisor. I worked summers there until I finished school, then I started working as a service advisor full time.”
Ryan quickly developed a goal-driven mindset for his approach to the industry— one complemented by a degree in business management—and founded in the desire to learn and grow for the future, and in the case of collision repair, to face the unexpected.
“When I was working full time as a service advisor, my next goal was to become a service manager. When people ask me how I got into the collision side of the business, I always tell them it was by accident—pun intended. My father’s dealership had a collision centre and the manager at that time had given his two weeks notice. I was asked to step in and learn everything I could as there was no
guarantee of finding a replacement manager in the time frame.”
“I was 23 years old at the time, and my father went, ‘okay, get in there.’ I joke about it now, but at the time, I went home with a headache every night from just trying to absorb as much information as I could from the outgoing manager.”
However, despite the sudden learning curve and having previously “known nothing about the bodyshop side of the industry,” Ryan still had the support of those who came before him.
“Our previous manager was super helpful in teaching me. He was the first one to really introduce me to the collision industry. We still stay in touch. Even after he left the position, we would have monthly calls where we would catch up. It was a huge support for me, and he also became someone that I could have a healthy competition with, and this helped drive me forwards that much more.”
It took Ryan six months to ultimately feel comfortable in the role. During this time, he had to learn as much information as possible and to work with the—by today’s standards—outdated tech.
Story by SARAH PERKINS,
Photos by SHLOMI AMIGA
“I think it’s important to train and develop your employees and to always be learning. I want my staff to know that I’m always here to help them and I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty. I involve my staff in decisions whether it’s day-to-day, process changes or business development. It’s important that your staff knows the goals of the business and how we plan to get there. We do everything as a team.”—Ryan Hurdman, Bramgate Collision Centre.
“At the time, we didn’t have the technology that we have now. We were still using floppy disks to store images of damages and the insurance industry was much more spread out. I was trying to learn the ropes while also learning 23 different insurers’ estimating processes. Even after doing the job, I originally turned the role down when it was formally offered to me. It felt like a big leap to make at 23 years old.”
However, having stuck to his desire to embrace opportunities when they arrive, and having found a passion in the industry, Ryan continued in the position and today, tries to impart a similar mindset in those he trains.
“I encourage the young people in our facility to take any opportunity that comes to them and run with it. Face challenges head-on; if you make mistakes, we can work through them and then that’s a learning opportunity as well. On-the-job training is extremely valuable. It’s about paying attention
“When people ask me how I got into the collision side of the business, I always tell them
it was by accident—pun intended. My father’s dealership has a collision centre and the manager at that time had given his two weeks notice. I was asked to step in and learn everything I could as there was no guarantee of finding a replacement manager in the time frame. I was 23 years old at the time, and my father went, ‘okay, get in there.’”
and taking lots of notes, but it’s also about gaining experience.”
“I want my employees to feel empowered to make their own successes and mistakes without the fear of failure. That’s how you really build a confident team.”
In his tenure as general manager, Ryan has successfully filled every technician bay in the collision centre and currently has 18 employees at Bramgate.
Ryan’s management style is unique—he does not feel as if he belongs to any one school of thought as he takes pieces from different styles and uses them everyday.
When asked by Collision Repair what his biggest success has been in the industry so far, Ryan commented that “excluding the first Covid year, I’ve managed to grow the business by one million dollars or more year over year for the last 12 years.”
“Within this success, the biggest challenges have been continuing to find ways to
achieve this growth, whether this is by creating more efficient processes, building strategic business partnerships or bringing businesses in house.”
Today, the shop currently holds certifications for Volkswagen and Audi. Bramgate is the only Audi-certified collision repair facility in Ontario’s Peel Region.
And, in continuing to look ahead to see what opportunities may be on the horizon, when asked about future plans for the business, Ryan was quick to stress sustainability and growth.
“We are currently reviewing other manufacturer certifications we feel would be beneficial and align with our strategy for growth. Bringing sublet services in house is another strategy that would allow us to grow and reduce our length of repair.”
“The Bramgate building has also been in business since the late 1960s and so there have also been talks of potential future expansions
or the development of other shops in the Mississauga region. I would like to be able to grow Bramgate to be in league with places like Budds’ Collision and Pfaff Autoworks.”
While Ryan Hurdman may have been born into the automotive industry, it is choosing to embrace all that the collision repair industry has to offer—both the good and the bad—that has allowed him to take the foundations of his youth and turn them into a community that is always putting their best foot forward.
The beginning of his collision career may have felt like being thrown into the deep end, but Ryan continues to tread forwards into a future that he is excited for and more than glad that he stuck around to see.
“I joke and say that once you’re in this industry, you have a two-year window to leave before you’re in it for life. I’m glad to be in it for the long haul and I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds.”
A BI G WI N FO R C ANA DA
I talian welding manufac turer enters the Canadian market
The future of welding in Canada is about to be rewritten, as Crescent Industries and Telwin embark on an ex traordinar y journey of innovation and excellence together This groundbreak ing collaboration combines Telwin’s exceptional exper tise in welding machines, cutting systems, and batter y chargers with Crescent Industries’ strong market presence and commitment to excellence. Together, they are poised to revolutionize the Canadian market and introduce cutting- edge innovation that will reshape the industr y For 60 years, Telwin has been a pioneer in manufac turing advanced welding solutions. With a global pres-
paralleled range of products Their por tfolio ser ves diverse production
building, shipyards, and professional divisions. Telwin is renowned for its state - of-the -ar t, innovative, and technologically advanced solutions,
designed to optimize productivity, reduce inter vention times, minimize operational costs, and deliver exceptional per formance under any conditions
Telwin’s commitment to excellence and continuous improvement is re-
pany premises k nown as “ The Home of Welding.” Spanning an impressive 120,000 square meters, this state - ofthe -ar t facility houses modern production plants, robotic lines, specialized development and testing laboratories, automated stores, and training and demo areas. Telwin’s international industrial hub showcases their dedication to innovation, advanced research, and sustainable improvement.
Crescent Industries has built a solid reputation as a reliable supplier of auto body shop supplies in Toronto for over 37 years. With a steadfast commitment to delivering the highest quality produc ts and prioritizing customer satisfac tion, Crescent Industries has cultivated a loyal clientele. Their market presence and unwavering dedica-
tion to exceptional customer ser vice have established them as a recognized leader in the industr y
The strategic par tnership between Crescent Industries and Telwin signi-ting- edge technology and exper tise into the Canadian market. This collaboration combines Telwin’s technological mar vels with Crescent Industries’ strong market position and commitment to excellence
Witness the convergence of I talian ingenuity and Canadian excellence as Crescent Industries and Telwin unite to reshape the collision repair landscape in Canada. Together, they will deliver unrivaled quality, innovation, and customer satisfac tion, setting new benchmarks for the industr y
Prepare to experience the transformative power of Telwin, now available in Canada through Crescent Industries’ esteemed par tnership.
For more information please call (905) 364-5093 or visit telwin.com or crescentindustries.ca.
To learn more about Telwin check out the company video #Telwin60 GO FURTHER WATCH THE VIDEO > PROFESSIONAL
DOUGLAS ROBERTS
COLLISION REPAIR REMEMBERS THE DEDICATED OWNER OF FIX AUTO BARRIE
Collision Repair is extending sincere condolences to the entire Roberts family regarding the passing of Douglas Birkley Patrick Roberts.With a strong passion for vehicles, Douglas opened his first collision repair shop almost 50 years ago at 155 Brock St in Barrie, Ontario. Roberts Collision then joined the Fix Auto network about 20 years ago where Douglas served on the advisory board, was a brand ambassador and became a champion of the network. Twelve years ago, Douglas further opened Roberts Complete Auto Care.
Many will remember Douglas as an avid fan of SATA’s special edition spray guns. He often scored the winning bid for the special editions at the Canadian Collision Industry Forum (CCIF) Toronto events.
Douglas’ strong sense of business contributed to steady growth, and he was always proud to support his employees and their families.
He is held in loving memory by his wife, Barbara, his children, Kim, Shelley and Todd, as well as his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Douglas will be remembered for his warm and open personality, his caring nature, and his ability to be the life of a party.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Youth Reach, a local charity that provides grants for children to participate in programs such as dance, music and sports.
Douglas’s strong sense of business contributed to steady growth, and he was always proud to support his employees and their families.
Douglas will be remembered for his warm and open personality, his caring nature, and his ability to be the life of a party.
Douglas Roberts, founder and owner of Roberts Collision, which became Fix Auto Barrie more than 20 years ago, has died.
Douglas Roberts was featured on issue 13#4 of Collision Repair magazine, where he commented that the collision repair industry was all about creating a welcoming community.
VEHICLE MFD. BY HOND THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLICABLEFEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETYAND THEFT PREVENTION STANDARDS IN EFFECTON THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE.V.I.N.: 00000000000000000 TYPE:MPV
THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLICABLEFEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETYAND THEFT PREVENTION STANDARDS IN EFFECTON THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE.V.I.N.: 00000000000000000 TYPE:MPV STK A AA5 --NH737M
VEHICLEEMISSIONCONTROLINFORMATIONConformstoregulations:2016 MY California: Not for sale in states with California emissions standards. TWC/HO2S/WR-HO2S/CAC/TC/DFI T2B4 LDV 2.3L-Group:GFMXV02.3VJW Evap:GFMXR0125NBV Noadjustmentsneeded.
ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY , BUMPER , AND THEFT PREVENTION STANDARDS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE . PASS. CAR
VEHICLE MFD .BY: TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING, GVWR 4233LB GAWR FR 2668LB RR 2668LB THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY , BUMPER , AND THEFT PREVENTION STANDARDS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE . PASS. CAR C⁄ TR : 4Q2 ⁄ LA43 ACV30L--CEPGKA A ⁄TM:
VELOCITY IN VICTORIA
CARSTAR CANADA EMPHASIZES FRANCHISEE PROFITABILITY, GROWTH AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Story by ALLISON ROGERS
CARSTAR Canada’s franchisees are truly passionate about their network and the opportunities it offers to help them thrive.
This was evident at this year’s national conference, held in early July with the stunning backdrop of Victoria, British Columbia.
This year’s conference theme—VELOCITY—celebrated CARSTAR Canada’s 30th anniversary, and the company put special emphasis on topics like franchisee profitability, industry relations and leveraging CARSTAR Canada’s sources for hiring, staff retention, customer service, the adoption of advanced repair technologies and much more.
During a media roundtable, CARSTAR Canada Brand President Sabrina Thring and CARSTAR Canada Vice President of Operations, Dave Foster, shared some of the reasoning behind this year’s topics.
“We want to bring the fire,” said Thring, referring specifically to CARSTAR Canada’s Restore the Star program, aimed at franchisee growth and profitability.
“Members of our network should know that you never need to leave CARSTAR to find a solution,” added Foster.
Thring was thrilled to reveal that the participation rate at CARSTAR Canada’s regional meetings is 70 percent.
Foster and Thring also touched on CARSTAR’s drive to help its franchisees in the adoption of advanced technologies like ADAS calibration.
“Our members can use a partner or do [calibrations] in-house,” said Thring. “We are pushing the in-house calibration movement.”
CARSTAR Canada also raised $73,495 for Cystic Fibrosis Canada throughout the event. Special mention goes to Andrew Northrup, zone director, West, for CARSTAR Canada, who brought all CARSTAR Canada zones together to raise $20,000 to get him to shave his mustache live on the stage.
Check out our photos from VELOCITY on the following pages.
CARSTAR Canada’s VELOCITY event marked an industry first: an open panel with an insurer, an OEM, a shop and an industry expert. Paul Hicks, TD Insurance, Brian Chiu of Nissan, Rob Kember of CARSTAR Centennial Auto Group and Darryl Simmons of Collision Repair mag.
The Saputos and Lucarellis were honoured for their commitment to the CARSTAR brand. The two families owned the first Canadian CARSTAR franchises and have proudly remained in the network since 1994.
WINNER’S CIRCLE!
CARSTAR Canada honoured franchisees during the final evening event—a 90s-themed gala. For all those wondering, Quebec franchisees were honoured as the Best Dressed, with special mention to the two Stings.
WINNERS WERE:
• CARSTAR Marketer of the Year – CARSTAR Collingwood
• Length of Rental (LOR) Award – CARSTAR Chevrier
• Rookie of the Year – CARSTAR St-Eustache
• Ironman Award – Javier Torres, CARSTAR Torcam Group
• Vanguard Award – Kember Family, CARSTAR
Centennial Group
• President’s Club Award: CARSTAR Radar Group; CARSTAR North Toronto; CARSTAR Toronto St. Clair; CARSTAR Toronto Red Deer; CARSTAR St. Urbain; CARSTAR New Minas.
FRANCHISEE OF THE YEAR—DON MOR CARSTAR!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CARSTAR TOP CYSTIC FIBROSIS CANADA FUNDRAISERS!
CARSTAR Centennial Auto Group, CARSTAR Johnny K Group, CARSTAR LC Group
CARSTAR has been supporting Cystic Fibrosis Canada for over 25 years after the granddaughter of a franchise partner was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
From there, the relationship blossomed as owners, industry partners, and communities across the country came together to raise over $5 million for cystic fibrosis research, care and advocacy.
GATHERING ON THE GREEN
CHC PAINT AND BODY SHOP SUPPLIES HOSTED ITS FIFTH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION
On June 24, industry members and golf lovers alike hit the green for CHC Paint and Body Shop supplies’ fifth annual golf tournament at the Scarborough Golf Club in Toronto, Ontario.
Hosting a record number of attendees in CHC’s largest tournament yet, the event brought together shops, insurers and suppliers from across the country.
The event saw participants work to meet par while also supporting contributions to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“CHC Paint and Body Shop Supplies is honoured to hold our charity tournament supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation,” Manny Pacheco, Vice President, CHC, told Collision Repair magazine. “We have always been proud to give back to our community and share these moments with our partners. It means a lot to us that we’ve had so much support over the years.”
Check out some exclusive photos from the event and see who was on the scene—or rather, on the green.
Hosting a record number of attendees in CHC’s largest tournament yet, the event brought together shops, insurers and suppliers from across the country.
Monthly Specials
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• Can be air or force dried for a perfect look.
RAPID CURE CLEAR
Rapid Cure Clear is a 2.1 VOC high production system developed for spot repair and one panel repair. This 4:1 clear is a one visit clear with 3 back to back to back coats that can be sanded and buffed in 20-25 minutes air dry or directly after cool down if baked for 5 minutes at 130oF.
Key Detail Buckets
Key Detail Buckets
Key Detail Buckets
Key Detail Buckets
SOAP - CAR WASH SOAP - 1 QT
Key Soap is a biodegradable, medium viscosity liquid car wash concentrate. Highly concentrated formula, reduction recommendation is one cap per gallon to avoid possible streaking.
Key Soap is a biodegradable, medium viscosity liquid car wash concentrate. Highly concentrated formula, reduction recommendation is one cap per gallon to avoid possible streaking.
Key Super Degreaser cuts through heavy concentrations of grease, dirt, oil and non-water soluble contaminants. Perfect for engine and driveline degreasing as well as heavy grease industrial applications. Works well to remove grease from tractors, forklifts and hydraulic equipment. KEY SOAP - CAR
grease, dirt, oil and non-water soluble contaminants. Perfect for engine and driveline degreasing as well as heavy grease industrial applications. Works well to remove grease from tractors, forklifts and hydraulic equipment.
Key Soap is a biodegradable, medium viscosity liquid car wash concentrate. Highly concentrated formula, reduction recommendation is one cap per gallon to avoid possible streaking.
Key Soap is a biodegradable, medium viscosity liquid car wash concentrate. Highly concentrated formula, reduction recommendation is one cap per gallon to avoid possible streaking. Key Wash N Wax removes road film and grime while rinsing off easily. This is the ideal product for used cars that need to look their best as it allows for a spot free rinsing and excellent sheeting characteristics with little chamois time. It also brightens chrome and glass. Lasts for 1 week in dry conditions.
KEY APC - ALL PURPOSE CLEANER - 1 QT
All Purpose Cleaner is a
Key Wash N Wax removes road film and grime while rinsing off easily. This is the ideal product for used cars that need to look their best as it allows for a spot free rinsing and excellent sheeting characteristics with little chamois time. It also brightens chrome and glass. Lasts for 1 week in dry conditions.
Key Wash N Wax removes road film and grime while rinsing off easily. This is the ideal product for used cars that need to look their best as it allows for a spot free rinsing and excellent sheeting characteristics with little chamois time. It also brightens chrome and glass. Lasts for 1 week in dry conditions.
Key Wash N Wax removes road film and grime while rinsing This is the ideal product for used cars that need to look their allows for a spot free rinsing and excellent sheeting characteristics little chamois time. It also brightens chrome and glass. Lasts in dry conditions.
KEY276-QT KEY SHINE FINAL DETAIL WIPE- 1 QT
Key All Purpose Cleaner is a biodegradable, non-caustic, non-butyl concentrate that works in numerous applications. Safe to use on paint, metal and fabric surfaces when diluted correctly. Safe for use on exterior and interior surfaces. General purpose - 10:1. White wall tires - 4:1. Interior surfaces - 12:1.
Key All Purpose Cleaner is a biodegradable, non-caustic, non-butyl concentrate that works in numerous applications. Safe to use on paint, metal and fabric surfaces when diluted correctly. Safe for use on exterior and interior surfaces. General purpose - 10:1. White wall tires - 4:1. Interior surfaces - 12:1. Key Shine is a thin, lightly scented, ready to use liquid designed for use on chrome, plastic and painted surfaces. It will also easily remove dust, fingerprints, dirt as well as buffing and polishing residue without leaving a film - even on gloss. Great for pre-final delivery.
Key All Purpose Cleaner is a biodegradable, non-caustic, non-butyl concentrate that works in numerous applications. Safe to use on paint, metal and fabric surfaces when diluted correctly. Safe for use on exterior and interior surfaces. General purpose - 10:1. White wall tires - 4:1. Interior surfaces - 12:1.
Key Extreme is a non-alkaline ready-to-use
Key Extreme is a non-alkaline ready-to-use spray on, rinse off wheel cleaner. Tough on brake dust, grease and road grime. Rinses off easily after application. Contains brighteners specifically designed to clean and brighten coated aluminum and painted chrome wheels. Removes brake dust. Key Blue Microfiber Towels for detail wiping included in kit. sold as each.
Nozzles
FORMULA FOR SUCCESS
FIX NETWORK CANADA HOSTS ANNUAL CONFERENCE WITH EMPHASIS ON NETWORK LEGACY, F1 PARTNERSHIP, NEW FUEL TYPES
Fix Network’s franchisees and industry partners gathered in Gatineau, Quebec, this past June for the company’s annual conference.
This year’s theme, Formula for Success, focused on Fix Network’s Formula 1 Kick Sauber Stake Team partnership; the future of fuel and repairing various vehicle types; repair processes; Fix Network’s Canada-born legacy and more.
Opening remarks came from Fix Network President and CEO Steve Leal, along with Sylvain Seguin, president of Fix Network Canada. Leal stressed the history of the Fix Network brand, touching on the various brands they’ve folded in as of late. He emphasized the many countries where Fix Network touts a presence, including but not limited to Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Saudi Arabia.
“This recognition is humbling and appreciated as it recognizes not only the recent growth of D’Ambrosio Collision Group’s three locations, but the legacy built previously by my father and grandfather.”
—John D’Ambrosio Jr. Owner, D’Ambrosio Collision Group Recipient of the Fix Network Canada President’s Award 2024
Another highlight from the event: Alessandro Alunni Bravi, managing director and team representative of Sauber Group, which Fix Network World holds an F1 sponsorship with, delivered key insights and answered the audience’s burning questions about Formula 1.
Before the event wrapped up, Fix Network
Canada took the time to appreciate franchisees with some annual awards. John and John Jr. D’Ambrosio were awarded the prestigious President’s Award, representing the partner best exemplifying the values of the Fix brand and network.
“This recognition is humbling and appreciated as it recognizes not only the
recent growth of D’Ambrosio Collision Group’s three locations, but the legacy built previously by my father and grandfather,” said John Jr. Fix Auto Edmonton Downtown and Carrossier Procolor A.M. were the recepients of the Customer Experience Award; Fix Auto Millstream Victoria and Procolor Mont-Blue were given the Performance Award.
Fix Network Canada came together at the Fix Conference Formula for Success to build 45 bicycles for the Children’s Aid Foundation of Ottawa. Fix Network Canada said the donation brought joy to 45 deserving children.
When you invest in a Fix Auto franchise, you invest in a business model with a proven track record in 12 countries around the world. You invest in a fully branded business with a roadmap for success. You invest in the same values and work ethic that grew your local business to what it is today.
Drive your business forward with:
• Solid performance-driven operational model and ongoing training.
• Full branding and marketing support for local awareness and promotion.
• Proven experience in winning insurance work.
• Established global supply and fleet arrangements.
Our owner started as a franchisee, and this inspires our commitment to the success of the local business owner.
LOOKING FORWARD WHILE GIVING BACK
On Saturday, June 22, Dom’s Auto Parts hosted a barbecue with friends, family and industry members alike to celebrate its 60th year in business. The event had an impressive turnout of approximately 250 people, and saw customers, friends and family enjoying a variety of activities that offered a little something for everyone.
From a diverse selection of lawn games to a bouncy castle for the kids and axe throwing for the adults, attendees were able to mix and mingle, all while enjoying a barbeque and a car show courtesy of The Motor City Car Club.
When speaking with Collision Repair magazine, Dom Vetere, owner of Dom’s Auto Parts, said this was an amazing day.
“The Motor City Car Club brought a bunch of their cars down. We also had friends and family bring their cars down. So, we had a bit of a show and shine kind of thing going on, with cars parked all over the property, tents set up, food, cake. It was a great celebration,” Vetere said.
The event also asked that people bring food, so that it could be donated to the area’s local food banks. In total, attendees filled around 15 boxes of food to be donated.
Last year, when discussing what the company should do for their 60th year in business, Vetere further told Collision Repair
that not only did he know that he wanted to celebrate the milestone, but he also knew that he wanted to show appreciation towards the employees that have been with Dom’s Auto Parts the longest.
“Randy has been with us for 51 years, since he was a teenager. My grandfather and dad hired him in the late 60s when he was about 11 years old,” he said. “We also have Bobby, who’s been with us for 47 years and two others, our bookkeeper and our shop manager, who’ve been with us for 34 years. So, we wanted to show just how amazing they are and how much help they were over the years and that we couldn’t have gotten to this point without them.”
To end off the day, Vetere offered recognition awards to longtime employees and thanked guests with a heartfelt message of community and connection.
“We’ve had some tough times,” Vetere told guests. “We had the fire and that was a tough time for us all. But like in life, we have people around us who help us out. So, I hope at some point through all these years, Dom’s was able to help. Thank you to everyone who has helped us. We’re all here to look out for each other.”
Check out exclusive photos of the event below.
DOM’S AUTO PARTS 60TH ANNIVERSARY WAS AN OCCASION FOR COMMUNITY CONNECTION
“We wanted to show just how amazing [our employees and community] are and how much help they were over the years and that we couldn’t have gotten to this point without them.”
—Dom
Vetere, owner of Dom’s Auto Parts
Congratulations to Dom’s Auto Parts on an incredible 60 years in business!
This milestone is a testament to your dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence. Here’s to many more years of success and continued growth. Wishing you all the best as you celebrate this remarkable achievement!
— from the staff at
CARBON IN CLAIMS?!
The
automotive aftermarket must become sustainable—see Solera’s steps to sustainable claims
Climates are under extreme pressure. As a contributor of carbon emissions, the automotive aftermarket must take steps to curb its contributions and sow the seeds for a sustainable industry. Solera has stepped up to the challenge.
As Bill Brower, Solera’s senior vice president of global industry relations and North American claims sales, points out, auto insurance premiums have increased up to 25 percent over the last year. These increases are largely driven by increased auto collisions, higher labour costs, parts shortages and increased used vehicle prices, to name a few factors.
Combine the current cost of repair with public opinion around sustainability and it’s clear the collision claims industry needs to be on board with environmental initiatives. A 2023 PWC survey states 77 percent of consumers are willing to pay more for recycled, sustainable or eco-friendly products. A global Solera survey found 75 percent of consumers would switch to an insurer that could prove its sustainability credentials.
It’s time to take a look at how your business can achieve a more sustainable claims process.
According to a survey by Solera, insurers current carbon reduction actions include:
•46 percent invest in renewable energy
•45 percent prioritize repairs over replacement parts
•43 percent use more recycled materials in repairs
•43 percent select suppliers that use sustainable materials
•39 percent are investigating green insurance policies DATA
Effective sustainability initiatives hinge on data literacy and analytics. Reducing your carbon emissions won’t be possible if you don’t understand them in the first place.
Insurers seeking to bring down premiums to attract and retain customers while simultaneously supporting their sustainability initiatives should consider data-driven solutions. Diligent data tracking is the first step in analyzing where you can reduce and offset your business’ carbon emissions.
Under the Global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) protocol standard, there are three scopes of emissions. Scope one includes direct emissions owned or controlled by the organization; scope two includes indirect emissions, from the generation of energy purchased to fuel, heat and cool the organization’s operations. Scope three is the most difficult to track, as it includes indirect emissions occurring in an organization’s value chain—for example, for insurers: emissions produced by policyholders’ vehicle repairs.
To aid in this important step, Solera has developed a unique algorithm within the auto claims industry to analyze and support businesses to reduce the carbon emissions of the claims process managed by the insurer.
REPAIR OVER REPLACE
Car insurers are focused on repairs as they seek to reduce emissions in their supply chains. Greener repairs offer rich potential in improving sustainability.
Traditionally, the default choice has been to simply fit new parts; but for common problems like damaged bumpers, carrying out repairs or installing used parts is more environmentally sound. Omitting new parts when repairable means less carbon-emitting production, and reusing green recycled parts prevents them from going to landfills.
To paint a picture: it takes 500 years for a plastic car bumper to break down in landfill. Choosing to repair rather than replace 11 front bumpers can result in a -236kg carbon emissions reduction, which is equal to four tree seedlings grown over 10 years.
Further, Simplicity Car Care CEO Paul Prochilo maintains that repairing or refurbishing parts can lead to an 85 percent emissions reduction. The use of green recycled parts over new parts reduces emissions output by approximately 47 percent, he says.
Solera’s global data finds two-thirds (67 percent) of drivers surveyed are comfortable with used parts, citing guarantee (57 percent) and cost (46 percent) as a driver toward used parts. As such, Solera suggests insurers consider offering competitive premiums for policies that prioritize repairs and green parts.
KICK EMISSIONS TO THE CURB
SIMPLICITY CAR CARE AND SOLERA HOST FIRST-EVER AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT
Story by ALLISON ROGERS
Buckle up. That was one of the core sentiments at the recent, first-of-its-kind Automotive Industry Sustainability Summit: buckle up and embrace sustainability, before it’s too late for you and your business.
Hosted by Solera | Audatex Canada and Simplicity Car Care, the first-ever Canadian Automotive Industry Sustainability Summit was a jam-packed event; both in the sense that every attendee left with plenty to think about, and that every seat in the house was filled. Attendees included automotive technology suppliers, plenty of insurance reps, network members and media partners, while topics highlighting the event was the joint launch of the Canadian Claims Economy Sustainability Council, an initiative between Simplicity Car Care and Solera | Audatex. Open to all industry collaborators, the purpose of the new council is to identify, discuss and propose solutions to industry problems and ensure a sustainable future for both the insurance and collision repair industries.
Bill Brower, Solera’s senior vice president of global industry relations and North American claims sales, said key pillars will rest in collaborative engagement; the establishment of stakeholder partnerships to address and solve sustainability challenges
and leveraging knowledge of key industry experts, government regulators and other sustainability professionals.
Check out more key intel from the event below.
LEADING THE CHANGE
Keynote speaker Helle Bank JØrgensen used Wayne Gretzky’s famed quote to frame her presentation.
“I want you to skate to where the puck is going to be. We can’t say, ‘Let’s wait until we have environmental regulations, or ‘Let’s wait until we see the effects of climate change,’ because it will be too late.”
JØrgensen, founder and CEO of Competent Boards, is an ESG analyst who has consulted companies like IKEA, Lego, Shell and Walmart on sustainability strategies. She likened the current shift toward more environmentally sustainable practices to the introduction of mandatory seatbelt-wearing, which hit Canada in the mid-1970s.
“Think about how many lives have been saved by the introduction of mandatory seatbelts,” she said, emphasizing that it was insurance representatives that originally rallied for the law. “Climate change offers
the same scenario. You can be leaders in this change, and you could also rally behind something that saves lives.”
J Ø rgensen pointed out that younger generations are partial to sustainability efforts—something to consider from a recruitment and customer service perspective.
“Let’s look at who our customers will be three years, five years and ten years from now. What about the employees you’ll be hiring three years, five years, ten years from now? We need to consider this.”
The top actions businesses can take to lead a sustainable shift into sustainability, according to JØrgensen, are firstly, to “get started.”
“It would be a stupid thing to just wait and see, because this is really happening.”
She also stressed the power of collaboration, and said businesses should “get back to the data and understand” factors related to sustainability.
“You need to move forward on a path that gets you where you want to be with your sustainable goals.”
For companies that think such strategies seem benign, JØ rgensen suggests a more blunt approach and “think like an activist.”
“Sit down with your team and think...’what could kill this company?’ Engage. The best
“Think about how many lives have been saved by the introduction of mandatory seatbelts. Climate change offers the same scenario. You can rally behind something that saves lives.”
— Helle Bank Jørgensen, ESG specialist, CEO and founder of Competent Boards
think you can do is discover what is important. Then, bring each issue up and work out the logistics, one by one.”
GREENHOUSE GAS GRADINGS
Brower took the stage at the summit to discuss the management of carbon emissions in the claims economy. Another interesting tidbit for the crowd: 11 front bumper replacements can equate to -236 kilograms carbon emissions reduction, which is equivalent to four tree seedlings grown over ten years.
Relating to J Ø rgensen’s insights on the youth’s attraction to businesses with sustainable practices, Brower showed data dictating that 76 percent of consumers would discontinue a relationship with companies that treat the environment “poorly.” Further, 80 percent of global investors believe the way a company manages environmental social governance (ESG) risks is an important factor in their investment decision-making.
He also introduced a new sustainable scorecard for collision centres and insurance businesses of all kinds to measure their carbon neutrality. The scorecard data will be benchmarked and measured against Solera’s
global data hub and greenhouse gas protocol standards, empowered by AI learning, to measure, analyze and decide opportunities where a company can reduce and offset their emissions.
A PANEL FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
An executive insurance panel featuring Michelle Li, VP of planning, performance and business partnering at Aviva; Alena Kharkavets, VP of supply chain claims at Intact Insurance; Paul Reichert, senior director of MSO and insurance at LKQ Corporation and Paul Prochilo, CEO at Simplicity Car Care, provided some insight on repair versus replace practices, the importance of a sustainable future in the industry and educating the sector on what needs to be done.
Prochilo emphasized that Simplicity Car Care repairs vehicles wherever possible, which significantly reduces the company’s carbon footprint.
“In the cases we cannot repair a part— that’s where the use of green recycled parts is key. It reduces our carbon footprint by 42 percent,” he said.
Reichart said LKQ is taking sustainability “very, very seriously.”
“There is no closed door for us at LKQ,” he said, specifying that everyone in the industry is welcome to discuss sustainability efforts with the company, should they reach out to Reichart to facilitate.
Kharkavets made the startling note that modern-day plastic bumpers can take more than 500 years to break down in the landfill.
“For too long, we’ve focused on a onedimensional view of the claims process,” she added.
Li said that, in a perfect world with the ideal sustainable vision, there would be a set of standards.
“I would love if we could get some sort of standardized data—a consistent methodology for all of us to work together, so we’re singing the same song.”
“To pave this path and host the first-ever Automotive Sustainability Summit for the aftermarket in Canada, it is a true honour,” Prochilo told Collision Repair magazine. “Sustainability in the automotive aftermarket has been at the forefront of Simplicity Car Care’s efforts and we’re proud to spread our vision across the industry in this exciting partnership with Solera | Audatex Canada.”
Paul Prochilo, CEO of Simplicity Car Care, said it was an honour for Simplicity to co-host the first-ever Canadian Automotive Sustainability Summit.
Bill Brower outlines the Sustainability Scorecard, facilitated by Solera.
CHIPPING FOR CHARITY
FIX NETWORK HOLDS ITS 15TH ANNUAL ONTARIO GOLF TOURNAMENT
Story by MICHAEL VAVAROUTSOS
The 15th annual Fix Masters Golf Tournament was a great success. The event, which was held at the iconic Glen Abbey Golf Course, saw 37 teams of four from around the automotive industry compete to help raise donations for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada (RMHC).
Fix Auto London, which included Darren Hewitt, Patrick Schaffner and their guests got the top spot at the tournament, shooting a 14 under par. They were awarded with a pennant that gets branded every year.
The tournament also held a longest drive competition, with Fab Giacomelli winning the men’s contest and Tanya McCulloch winning for the ladies.
Daryll O’Keefe, the Senior Vice President for Fix Auto, said that the inception of the tournament was to bring people from all over the industry together.
“We wanted to bring in all of the stakeholders in our world, whether that be insurance partners, vendor partners or strategic planners, to show the shop owners
that actually do the work,” O’Keefe said.
The day was finished off with a feast of chicken quesadillas, brisket sliders, grilled cheeses and more. Fix even provided a gelato cart. O’Keefe further commented that this wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the golf course.
“The facility did an amazing job of hosting. It was just a wonderful culinary experience as we traveled the course and it culminated in a nice reception,” he explained.
This tournament was also used to show appreciation towards one of the early adopters of Fix Network in Ontario. Doug Roberts, who had been with the network for over 20 years and had run his facility for 50 years, recently passed away this Father’s Day. To honour Roberts, there was a memorial held for him, showing photos of his participation in the golf tournament throughout the years.
Roberts’ daughter, Kim, who is now the operator of Fix Auto Barry North, spoke at the event to celebrate the life of her father.
“We always like to think that we’re part
of a world of constant improvement and this golf tournament is testimony to that because year after year, we improve on the experience. This was a day of celebration, networking and to take advantage of the power of the network and raise funds for charity,” O’Keefe said.
RMHC offers support to families with hospitalized children. The charity believes every child deserves their family’s presence and love, especially when facing serious illness.
“It’s been a wonderful partnership. The connection between our family of owned shops and the families that attend these Ronald McDonald House facilities is just amazing. It’s families helping families for just the purest and most corrective reasons,” O’Keefe said.
There were approximately $7,200 in donations raised toward RMHC from the tournament. Funds were raised through 50/50 ticket sales, registration donations and a generous donation of $715 from Daniel Tsatsos, the 50/50 winner of the day.
AN ELEVATING EVENT
AUTOCANADA’S ELEVATION 2024 CONFERENCE CONNECTED INDUSTRY MEMBERS TO GROW FOR THE FUTURE
On June 19 to the 21, AutoCanada Collision and Hail held its Elevation 2024 Conference, where guests alike joined together for informative and fun networking opportunities and knowledge sessions all centred around continuing to elevate for the future.
The event brought 120 exclusive guests, was held in scenic Kananaskis, Alberta, and was jam-packed with key talks from OEM partners, vendors, insurance partners, and AutoCanada Collision and Hail team members.
Throughout the event, panels included various subjects such as an EV Electrical Storm Panel, Insurance Partners Summit Exchange, OEM Riverside Discussion, and Repair Masters Fireside Chat. Two special guests included UFC Hall of Famer, Georges “Rush” St-Pierre, who captured the audience with stories about his unique life, and Steve Greenfield, Founder and CEO of Automotive Ventures, who discussed the future of automotive retail.
“Events like these bring together people from different parts of the industry to form stronger win-win partnerships. They provide a venue to share knowledge and discuss subjects that help move the industry forward and encourage everyone to operate with integrity.”
— Keven Lupien, Director of Experience and Design, AutoCanada
The event closed with a round of golf at the beautiful Kananaskis Golf Course where guests were able to enjoy the amazing mountain views alongside games on the green. Following this, the evening concluded with the annual Collision Centre awards dinner, where many of AutoCanada’s team members were honoured.
When speaking to Keven Lupien, Director of Experience and Design, along with other AutoCanada team members, they commented that overall, the event “was an amazing conference filled with incredible people.”
When asked about the main highlights of
the event, the group further commented that being able to share key values and initiatives with guests was the main highlight as it helped to integrate everyone into a community mindset of goals for the future.
“Our President, Jeff Thorpe, presented the values and key initiatives which are the foundation used to elevate AutoCanada to the Summit. This was further detailed from a collision and hail perspective by our Vice President of Collision and Hail, Arthur Crawford” Lupien and team said.
For the team, other highlights of the event included the special guests, with the team
collectively cheering “GSP! GSP! GSP!” for George St-Pierre.
When asked why events such as the Elevation Conference are important for the industry, Lupien and team concluded that “events like these bring together people from different parts of the industry to form stronger win-win partnerships. They provide a venue to share knowledge and discuss subjects that help move the industry forward and encourage everyone to operate with integrity. They’re also about experiencing genuine interactions with colleagues which may not be possible in day-to-day business operations.”
PARTNERS MEET IN THE PRAIRIES
SPEAKERS SET FOR SASKATCHEWAN ASSOCIATION OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIRERS FALL EVENT
The Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers (SAAR) will host its annual Fall Conference and Trade Show on September 5 and September 6 at the Dakota Dunes Resort and Casino near Saskatoon.
This annual event combines industry speakers and conversations on top-of-mind industry topics with a well-attended trade show and plenty of networking time.
Festivities will start on Thursday with the SAAR golf tournament at the stunning Dakota Dunes Golf Links. Some friendly competition will fuel the day’s start with a long drive contest at 11 a.m. before noon’s shotgun start.
One particularly outstanding presentation slated for the event will come from Pat Quinney, owner of Quickfalls Collision Centre in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Quinney experienced a major fire at the collision centre this past spring and he plans to share his experience thus far in dealing with the aftermath. He will also included his advice on how to avoid some of the challenges he’s faced in the rebuilding process.
Spots for the conference are limited—as is the hotel room block for attendees. Contact dir@s-a-a-r.com for more information.
SPEAKERS SLATED FOR THURSDAY INCLUDE:
• BodyshopConnect
• AutoHouseTechnologies
• Saskatchewan Polytechnic
• Regen Replica Systems
• SkillsCanada
• Motor Safety Association
• Saskatchewan Government Insurance
• 3M
• LKQ Corporation
• CarPart Pro
Photo from Dakota Dunes Golf Links. SAAR will host its annual golf tournament on the grounds on September 5.
A STOMPIN’ GOOD TIME
SIMPLICITY CAR CARE HOSTS ANNUAL STAMPEDE SHINDIG
On July 12, Simplicity Car Care hosted franchisees and friends for its annual Calgary Stampede party, hosted this year at Simplicity Hallmark Autobody.
“It was truly a great event,” said Franco Borrelli, owner of Simplicity Car Care Hallmark Autobody. “We all enjoyed each other’s company; a gathering of fellow Simplicity franchisees, Simplicity corporate staff, insurance partners, vendor partners as well as friends and family. It was symbolic of the Simplicity Car Care community.”
More than 300 guests attended the party, which featured live music and a good old fashioned summer BBQ.
“Lori Kole sang a song that’s once again on the Canadian charts—‘Annie’,” Greg Wing, director of brand development for Simplicity, told Collision Repair. “It’s a tribute to missing indigenous woman in this country.”
Scott Nicholsson of the Las Vegas Duelling Pianos also tickled the keys at the event, which sent guests dancing into the late hours of the evening.
“The owners of Simplicity Car Care Calgary Central, led by Franco and Rob Borelli, open their location up to us every year for this day. They show the amazing family that is Simplicity Car Care—going out of their way to make sure the Stampede is memorable for our friends.”
“We can plan, we can buy food and beverages and hire a band and that makes it an event. All the people that came, that’s what made it a party,” said Wing.
“Thank you everyone that attended and made this the best event ever! And a special thank you to everyone for not booing me off the stage when I got up and played guitar and sang with the band!”
Simplicity also hosted some special guests, including legendary chuck wagon driver Troy Dorchester.
Photos by GREG WING, SIMPLICITY CAR CARE AND KARI BARTON, BODYSHOPCONNECT
A true star of the Calgary Stampede, Johnny James, a 14-year-old horse weighing in at 1,400 lbs. He’s a proven leader in chuckwagon racing and graced Simplicity’s party attendees with his graceful—but hefty—presence.
SPECIAL DAY FOR THE SAPUTOS
SAPUTO CAPITAL COLLISION CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF AVIVA AUTOCARE CENTRE MISSISSAUGA SOUTH
Saputo Capital Collision recently celebrated a very special grand opening. The Saputo family, its dedicated team of staff and key industry partners were at Aviva AutoCare Centre Mississauga South—Saputo Capital Collision’s newest facility—in early June to help celebrate the facility’s grand opening.
“To be partnered with a company like Aviva, a company like CARSTAR—I have nothing but gratitude,” commented Saputo during the ribbon cutting ceremony. His sons were given the grand honour of holding the scissors and officially opening the centre.
Little Havana Café was on-site to provide refreshments for guests as they networked and shared sentiments on the Saputos’ latest achievement.
ADVANCEMENTS IN PAINT SPRAY TECHNOLOGY
Spray guns had been on the scene for a century —then 3M added their perspective
The first use of what we would today call spray painting dates back more than 100 years when the Southern Pacific Railway first employed a “method of painting by spraying with air.”
The tools that today’s auto body shops use to apply paint finishes are descendants of that technology. Even after 100 years, tools are continuing to evolve along with coatings to enable performance that was not previously achievable, and 3M is working to help spray the smarter way.
3M™ Paint Application Solutions products have helped streamline workflows in the bodyshop. The paint booth can be a bottleneck for shops, and 3M has been working to address that with products that enable more efficiency with faster setup, changeovers and clean-up. With better efficiency, painters can spend time where it matters.
Not long ago, paint technicians couldn’t tilt their spray guns much more than 45 degrees—much less upside-down—because the paint would spill from the open cups/ vents. With the invention of 3M’s Paint Preparation System (PPS™), the collapsible closed liner system allowed painters to go anywhere their work took them. This value continues with the refinements in the 3M™ PPS™ Series 2.0 Spray Cup System.
Another nuisance in the paint shop— the cleanup process. Before, it took almost as much time to clean a paint gun and its accessories as it did to do a job. Now it takes a fraction of the time and uses mere ounces of
with its easily removeable and cleanable atomizing heads. Additionally, its stainless steel reinforced composite materials make the 3M spray gun weigh about half as much as traditional metal ones, which helps cut down on operator fatigue.
The 3M™ Performance Spray Gun, which debuted in 2020, was developed and tested over several years in the laboratory and bodyshops around the globe. It began by taking many of its cues from the product portfolio of the company’s 2007 acquisition of Accuspray™, which made a spray gun suitable for primer application. Engineers at 3M saw the potential to create a modular product that could handle jobs from priming through topcoat using different materials and nozzle sizes. They filled a whiteboard with ways they could do better, prototyped, and tested these concepts in the field.
One of the most impactful advantages coming from the launch of the 3M™ Performance Spray Gun was its ability to help customers better utilize paint.
“Customers began coming back to us about three or four months after launch and saying they were using less paint,” said Corey Munn, 3M Global Segment Director. “They would normally mix 12 ounces to do a job, but now they were seeing three or four left over. That really began to help us understand that we were solving a problem far greater than we realized. Painters and shops started to see that they could get paint to the panel faster with less waste and overspray.”
Several features of the system contribute
First, its efficient high-volume/low-pressure (HVLP) design reduces “overspray,” the industry term for paint that ends up in the air or on the wall instead of on the work.
This not only improves material efficiency but helps shops comply with updated U.S. Clean Air Act standards.
Users can also use embossed graduations to mix paints directly in the gun’s cup rather than in a separate mixing vessel, so there’s no loss in transfer from one to the other. The cup has a disposable liner and a built-in filter, both of which save paint and cleanup time compared to standard designs. Together with the 3M™ Performance Spray Gun’s built-in high transfer efficiency, there is a notable impact on coating consumption.
The construction of the system is also critical. The 3M design uses interchangeable nozzles which route paint from the cup to the nozzle without any of it entering the body of the spray gun itself. Injection-molding the spray gun body makes it possible to create optimal air passages for HVLP operation. This can help customers operate their spray guns at lower air inlet pressures and reduce the workload on their compressors. This manufacturing method can offer advantages in this regard relative to metal designs that are typically forged or cast and then machined afterward—just as they were a hundred years ago.
The lesson from 3M Paint Application Solutions is that there are always opportunities for improvement. And the design team isn’t done yet.
“Paint spray guns will continue to evolve as they have over the past 100 years, and there are exciting technologies that can be incorporated into these tools,” said Ryan Erickson, 3M Product Developer. “We always feel there’s room left to help the customers, and we’re already working on a next generation that will add more benefits and efficiency based on their feedback.”
UNDERSTANDING DYNAMIC FACTORS
KNOWING WHAT MARKET FACTORS IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS IS CRITICAL FOR REAL-TIME AND LONG-TERM SUCCESS
The automotive aftermarket is a dynamic place that faces a breadth of challenges on a daily basis. Understanding those challenges and the factors shaping them could be critical to your business’s success, regardless of what aftermarket vertical you operate in. And the current market is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before, Blair Earle, managing director of IAA Canada, tells Collision Repair magazine.
We recently hosted Earle for a conversation on the Collision Repair magazine Industry Insider podcast. Read some of our highlights from the July episode on the following pages to learn how Canada’s total loss ratios, trends in vehicle theft and the dynamic changes occurring in the vehicle auction marketplace impact collision centres, automotive recyclers and other automotive aftermarket players. Scan the QR code or visit www.collisionrepairmag.com/podcast to listen to the full episode.
Collision Repair magazine: The dynamic world of vehicle auctions is moving at a very fast pace—as all the automotive industry is. Blair, can you shed some light on the current supply and demand dynamics in Canada’s used vehicle auction market?
Blair Earle: Every used car is born out of the new car market. The supply and demand dynamics in the last four years have been unique. We’re just starting to overcome supply challenges. There’s a flow of vehicles from trade-ins because of new product coming through the marketplace. Lease returns that were extended through COVID are coming back to the market because people have replaced their leases and fleet renewals.
In addition, we’re going to see rental car companies have greater access to new vehicles in the back half of 2024, which will produce more vehicles for the used car supply.
On top of that, Canada now has a population of 41 million. Many of those people are going to seek transportation by car. Consumer confidence is another topic that affects the demand. We’ve got interest
rates, job uncertainty, mortgage rates, grocery prices and the price of used vehicles. Those are just a few factors affecting the ecosystem.
Meanwhile, dealers are looking to replenish their inventories to meet this consumer demand. We’ve seen a higher demand for reliable, fuel-efficient vehicles due to the rising fuel prices and economic uncertainty.
And there’s a big shift towards online vehicle auctions, allowing more buyers and sellers to participate, which affects the supply and demand dynamics. One of the big shifts in online auctions this year is that IAA Inc. has been acquired by Ritchie Brothers. It gives us an expanded footprint across Canada.
CRM: How do you think that the pandemic has changed the used vehicle market?
BE: Well, if you think of all the used vehicles that were kept on the marketplace during the pandemic—consumers opted to repair rather than buy new—as well as the demand for parts, the demand in our auction lanes and our segment of the business, [IAA Inc.] has risen higher in the automotive food chain.
We’ve had a bunch of those used vehicles come back in all segments of remarketing, but also the insurance segment. So, the volume in the auction lane has increased coming out of the pandemic. And the quality of these vehicles has increased.
CRM: Can you give readers a definition of Wholesale Vehicle Value Index. How does the wholesale vehicle value index influence decision-making in the automotive industry?
BE: The Wholesale Vehicle Value Index is a crucial tool for understanding the market trend as you just described. It tracks the average prices of vehicles sold at wholesale auctions. It can fluctuate based on supply and demand as we touched on, and broader macroeconomic conditions as we talked about interest rates and inflation.
For dealers and industry stakeholders, the index helps with making informed decisions about inventory management, pricing strategies, and purchasing decisions.
A declining index could signal an oversupply in the marketplace, leading to
better pricing and opportunities for buyers. So, at IAA, we keep a close eye on the leading wholesale indices for shifts in the market. For years now, we’ve seen demand in our lanes holding strong with less pricing fluctuations.
More interestingly, we’re seeing more late model, low damage vehicles available at auction, particularly over the last three years. A big influence is the huge increase in vehicle theft, with recovered and repossessed vehicles.
CRM: Could you give us an overview of how new vehicle sales in Canada are impacting the auction supply and demand, the pricing trends, and including the split between electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles?
BE: This is a topic that’s near and dear to my heart, especially in the Canadian industry. New car sales have taken a lot longer to grow, post-pandemic, in Canada. In 2019, we were on track to sell two million new vehicles nationwide. That dropped off to between 1.5 million vehicles to 1.6 million vehicles during pandemic years. We’ll still be short of two million new cars sold on the second side of this year.
In situations where new vehicle sales are strong, we see more trade ins, which increases the supply of used vehicles.
Canada is observing a growing trend towards electric vehicles. Lately, there’s been a small decrease in the purchase of those electric vehicles. Part of that is due to removed incentives in some regions, as well as the prices and availability. This shift affects the used markets as well. ICE vehicles still dominate the marketplace in Canada, especially in rural areas.
Higher prices for new vehicles, as I mentioned, have pushed consumers towards a used market, which increases demand and potentially raises prices for these used vehicles.
So, we have all these new people in the country—they need to have transportation— and we have them feeding the used vehicle market through the new car chain. The demand for used vehicles and used parts and our good partners on the non-franchisedealer side—the recyclers and the collision centres—are still looking for those used vehicles and those used vehicle parts.
CRM: Could you elaborate on the total loss ratio in Canada and its implications for insurers and vehicle supply auctions?
BE: Insurers determine the total loss ratio; they compare the cost of the repairs to the actual cash value—the ACV. That ACV is very important in total loss determination. If the ratio is between, for example, 70 percent and 80 percent of that ACV, it can trigger a potential loss assessment.
The total loss ratio is crucial in the insurance industry. It indicates the percentage of claims costs relative to the total premiums earned by the insurance company. In Canada, the ratio fluctuates factors such as rising repair costs, the new technology in vehicles and ADAS, and an increased frequency of accidents.
The total loss ratio directly influences the supply of vehicles at auction. If you have a high total loss ratio, that means there’s more supply coming into the auction lanes for our partners. I recently read an article I was very interested in. It detailed just the amount of technology that’s still to come with autonomous vehicles. I think the trend is going to continue as total loss
ratios are going to go up and it could be largely related to complexity in glass repairs and ADAS.
CRM: To clarify your point there—a lot of repairs and total losses may be due to complexity of repairs. A lot of the cars that IAA might see might have one part that’s badly damaged, but the rest of the car is perfectly intact and an option for used parts?
BE: A hundred percent.
CRM: Can we touch on vehicle thefts? You mentioned repossessed and stolen vehicles end up as part of IAA’s auction pipeline.
BE: In regard to vehicle thefts, I’d love to say we’re going to see a decrease in it. Apparently, that’s not the case, if we follow a trend over the past 24 months in Canada. It’s going to continue to rise, especially for high demand vehicles, whether it’s import SUVs, pickup trucks or premium vehicles.
These thieves have outsmarted modern security systems, but this affects vehicle owners, impacts insurance premiums and resale values and so it’s important to be very careful out there.
Economic factors such as interest rates or unemployment rates play significant roles. We’ve seen an uptick in repossessions due to the economic pressures on consumers. And a lot of those repossessed vehicles, once they go through the waiting period, have been going through our auction lanes.
I believe we’re going to see that increase over the next 18 months in Canada. We traditionally have been very flat, but there’s going to be extra repossessed products going through the Canadian marketplace.
THE DYNAMIC CANADIAN MARKET
Unpacking the used vehicle auction landscape and its impact on the aftermarket with BLAIR EARLE, managing director, IAA Canada
ESTIMATION STATION
AKZONOBEL HOSTS TRAINING SESSION TARGETING SKILLS RELATIVE TO COLLISION REPAIR ESTIMATING
AkzoNobel hosted a class of 15 students for an Acoat Estimating, Consistency and Documenting Damage course in late July.
The course, designed to review and refine estimator skills relative to collision repair estimating, was held at AkzoNobel’s Ontario headquarters and training centre and led by Aaron Hebb, AkzoNobel service consultant. Participants were presented with knowledge on how to optimize profitability per repair order while complying with insurer DRP requirements.
The course was divided into nine topics, including writing a consistent estimate, estimating guidelines, approach to estimating, key estimating decisions, judgement time, P-pages and refinish time justification, assessing structure damage and negotiations.
Hebb said these sessions aim to unite the industry and support its continuous improvement and development.
“It’s about coming together as an industry and supporting the industry’s growth and development. I think it’s so important that one of the key pieces of our future is coming together”
“The goal of today is to ensure the students come away with a new mindset that they take into estimating when they’re done. When they’re in their day-to-day jobs, when they’re doing the estimates, what matters is how they approach the estimate and how they approach the customer.”
Collision Repair magazine also spoke with four students who attended the class, all of which think it is extremely beneficial to be a part of a course like this.”
“I started only 10 months ago in the business. So for me, it’s great to learn a lot from like-minded people in the same industry, and just to get a better picture of estimating,” said Sietzi Stelpstra of CSN Hutten in Fergus, Ontario.
“I would recommend this training to
others, especially people who are new to estimating. It’s very informative,” added Andrea Payawal from Intact Service Centre in Markham, Ontario.
Nathan Elcich, CSN Glen Merritt, St Catharine’s, Ontario, said he gained some valuable new knowledge.
“I learned some new things, some tips and tricks. I’m hoping to bring some back to my colleagues,” he said.
Davie Pereira of Color Compass Corporation and PBE Distributors said he chose to attend the session so he could be in tune with topics relevant to his customers.
“I need to be more relevant and valuable to my customers, just in educating them, or anything that I can help them with. Anything to help them be more successful and profitable, I want to be a part of.”
By taking part in this event, students will be awarded a certificate for completing the course, along with I-CAR points which can go towards certification.
Story by MICHAEL VAVAROUTSOS
“Sessions like today are about coming together as an industry and supporting the industry’s growth and development.”
— Aaron Hebb, service consultant, AkzoNobel
Nathan Elcich, CSN Glen Merritt, St Catharine’s, Ontario, plans to bring tips and tricks back to his colleagues.
Andrea Payawal from Intact Service Centre in Markham, Ontario, recommends the training to the industry.
Sietzi Stelpstra of CSN Hutten in Fergus, Ontario, only started in the business 10 months ago and is eager to absorb new information.
Michael Vavaroutsos and Gloria Mann of Collision Repair mag with AkzoNobel’s Aaron Hebb, instructor for the day.
Davie Pereira of Color Compass Corporation and PBE Distributors said he chose to attend the session so he could be in tune with topics relevant to his customers.
REQUESTED TOPICS
WHAT INDUSTRY MEMBERS SEEK FROM EVENT TOPICS AND SPEAKERS
While the summer brings many opportunities for some fun in the sun, for the collision repair industry, it also presents a chance to gather for some truly bright conferences, charity events and get-togethers. Collision Repair reached out via survey to find out what exactly the industry wants out of future events and what kinds of gatherings unite members together with an excitement for the season.
When looking at the acquired data, the majority of survey respondents were collision centre owners and managers at 52.9 percent of all respondents. This was followed by suppliers and distributors at 11.1 percent. The rest of respondents were from all other aspects of the industry.
EVENT ESTIMATES
Additionally, of all respondents polled, the majority at 41.2 percent, claim to attend three to five events every year. This was closely followed by respondents reporting attending two events every year at 17.6 percent.
EVENT INTEREST
When looking at the kinds of topics that industry members would most like to hear at events, the number one request at 64.7 percent was for panels to provide greater insight into advanced vehicle technologies such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and advanced vehicle repairs. Following this, at 47.1 percent, respondents also reported a desire to learn more about recruitment and training at industry events as well as emerging industry trends and regulations. In a close third place at 41.2 percent, respondents reported wanting more event programming focusing on estimations.
PERFORMER PREFERENCE
With industry events offering a variety of programming and alongside this, a diverse group of speakers, Collision Repair was interested to know what type of speakers respondents find the most valuable.
Of all respondents, the majority at 64.7 percent, commented that they would most like to hear from technical experts and trainers as well as collision repair business owners. Alongside this, survey respondents would also like to hear from business management consultants at 41.2 percent and inspirational speakers at 35.3 percent.
EVENT VARIETY
Lastly, in terms of event types, regional and provincial association meetings were ranked among those surveyed as being the most valuable. Following this, training seminars and workshops as well as vendor trade shows and expos were also highly favoured.
FUTURE FUNCTIONS
While the collision repair industry has a longstanding history of putting on some grade A events, Collision Repair magazine was curious to see who industry members would most like to see as speakers in future events. The following names were respondents’ top choices: Mike Anderson, President and owner of Collision Advice; Chris Hadfield, Canadian astronaut and engineer; Kristen Felder, Head of Collision Hub; and Collision Repair magazine’s very own publisher, Darryl Simmons.
Mike Anderson, President and owner of Collision Advice
There will now be two more companies following in Zenith Insurance’s footsteps to end their auto insurance coverage in Alberta.
Aviva Direct and Sonnet Insurance have separately announced each will withdraw its auto insurance services from Alberta, effective early January 2025 for Aviva and December 2024 for Sonnet.
For customers, this means they’ll have to find another insurance provider when it’s time to renew their coverage. As the owner of six CARSTAR locations in the Edmonton area, Johnny Kloeckes said that Zenith, Sonnet and Aviva pulling out of the auto insurance market has played no effect on him or the collision repair industry.
Kloeckes’ broker, Rob Rogers, Manager of MHK Insurance Brokers in Calgary, agreed that as an independent broker, he didn’t notice any impact when Zenith pulled out of the Alberta auto insurance market in 2023.
“They were such a small player,” he said. “I think they had approximately 14,000 policy holders, which in the grand scheme of things, didn’t have any impact.”
Rogers said the auto industry in Alberta is quite broken right now, and the challenges that are faced in the auto insurance industry and the insurers specifically come from a few different directions. One of these challenges—the province has instituted a profitability
cap on the industry. This means that no auto insurer can make more than six percent profit on automobile insurance.
“The main factor contributing to the current auto insurance issues in Alberta is the profitability challenges. I’d be concerned for insurance companies in Alberta if Alberta goes into a public auto system,” Rogers explained.
Aaron Sutherland, IBC’s western vice president, said that if Alberta were to consider public insurance, it would cost three billion dollars in taxpayer dollars to start up, according to a report done by the government.
Sutherland added that there are two ways in which public insurance can lower the
price for insurers. The first is moving to a no-fault insurance system, although he said there is no reason you wouldn’t be able to move to a no fault under a private system. The second would be to create an ongoing taxpayer subsidy by shifting the cost of car insurance for drivers to taxpayers.
While the province has explored moving to a public option, Sutherland said the region has also expressed a lot of skepticism about whether or not it can be a viable solution in Alberta, considering what has happened in other provinces with public insurance.
“ICBC and British Columbia have cost taxpayers over four billion dollars in the past decade. SGI in Saskatchewan and MPI in
Aaron Sutherland, Western Canada vice president, Insurance Bureau of Canada.
Heather Mack, policy and communications advisor at the Automotive Insurance Rate Board.
Manitoba are currently leaving red ink again today, and that’s having an impact on taxpayers in those provinces as well,” Sutherland said.
Sutherland stated that there is a possibility that Alberta can move to a no-fault insurance system, around taking action on the legal class underlying coverage.
“But we need to be thinking about holistic solutions as well, and one that’s jumping out in Alberta more and more is what’s going on not just in the repair industry, but in the towing industry as well,” he said.
“This type of activity is going to begin to exert real pressure on claims as well.”
Heather Mack, the policy and communications advisor at the Automotive Insurance Rate Board, said the Board heard comments
from many companies in advance, stating that they were facing some challenges in the auto insurance market.
“There were definitely some warning signs, but we’re talking about companies that have probably less than one percent in the market,”
Mack said.
Mack said that the factors contributing to the current auto insurance issues in Alberta are seen in various verticals of the product. For bodily injury, the litigation costs are quite high in Alberta because of the system that they have in place. The province is also seeing continued supply chain issues, cost of parts and cost of repairs.
“All of these things are putting pressure on the premium, and in the midst of an af-
fordability crisis globally, we’re just hearing a lot from consumers that are very concerned about how they can afford something that is a mandatory product. It’s not something they can just decide not to insure their vehicle because it’s required by law,” she said.
Mack said there have been several challenges over the last few years, which has ultimately led to the three auto insurance companies’ decision to leave the province. These, along with many more auto insurance companies have been operating at a loss for the past few years.
“Overall there have been some challenges and that’s what the government is looking at reforming right now to address some of those challenges.”
STORM STRATEGIES
NAVIGATING THE HAIL REPAIR AND CLAIMS PROCESS
Story by SARAH PERKINS
Canadian weather continues to grow more extreme in the wake of global climate shifts. Summer storms are increasingly becoming the new normal. From the rise in flooding to hail events, both the environment and vehicles are left to weather the damage. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), “hailstorms and other natural disasters are increasing in frequency and severity. With today’s extreme weather events, insured catastrophic losses in Canada now routinely exceed two billion dollars annually.” Notably, the hailstorm that took place on June 13, 2020 in Calgary, Alberta resulted in approximately 70,000 insurance claims and over $1.3 billion in insured damages alone.
With questions of weather patterns on the rise, Collision Repair magazine reached out to industry experts, Tony DeSantis, Manager, Strategic Opportunities and Quality Control, Dented Paintless Repairs Inc. and Bing Wong, Managing Director, Canadian Hail Repair and United Hail Repair, to gain insight into the hail claims process, its technologies, as well as how the current state of the environment contributes to the cost of claims and the timeline of repairs.
When speaking to Tony DeSantis, he noted that “not all hail repairs are expensive” because
“the advent and adoption of paintless dent repair (PDR) has allowed for significant savings in repair costs, reduced parts usage and short cycle times when the damage is light.”
DeSantis continued that, “PDR pricing is directly correlated with the severity of the damage. As a result, it is not unheard of for complete PDR hail repair costs to be as low as $1,000 if the damage is minimal. However, more significant hail damage can be expensive to repair due to several factors. Hail damage often affects one entire side and all the top panels of a vehicle, and if the damage is severe, the repair costs can escalate quickly. For example, if you had to replace a roof on a newer Ford F-150 via the traditional conventional repair, you would be looking at 25 plus hours of labour at a cost of more than $4,000. If the PDR process can be used, the costs are often less with a much quicker cycle time.”
“Additionally, technological advancements in vehicles contribute to increased repair costs. These advancements necessitate additional education and repair steps such as ADAS calibrations.”
However, DeSantis said, “the skill level of PDR technicians has increased significantly over the past 20 years, allowing for more
complex and difficult repairs to be completed. Furthermore, vehicle part delays and scarcity, capacity concerns, all exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have forced PDR technicians to enhance their skills further. These delays have required insurers, bodyshops and PDR technicians to collaborate more closely to repair panels that might have been historically replaced.”
Finally, DeSantis highlighted how “panel composition has increased repair costs. Many OEMs are using many different metals, some of which require more time, more tooling and more skill to repair, such as aluminum.”
“Ultimately, PDR also helps reduce the overall carbon footprint of the repair and maintains the vehicle’s original parts and paint. An analysis commissioned by Dented showed that the PDR process on an ‘average sized car’ with hail damage resulted in 39 times less carbon emissions than a conventional repair.”
As a result of these variables, for DeSantis, “hail repair and the claims process varies a bit from insurer to insurer on how they prefer to handle the process and is often dictated by the size of the storm and overall severity of the damage.”
“For the most part, in a CAT scenario, a key component in the process is getting the bulk of the vehicles estimated as quickly
as possible. This is a critical piece in that it must be done accurately to minimize any potential supplements afterwards. In addition to ensuring the vehicle is clean and proper lighting is used, a skilled PDR estimator will be able to determine which panels can be repaired via PDR versus traditional methods. In addition, the PDR estimator will identify any cracked paint, damaged mouldings or other parts that need to be replaced.”
“Dented strongly believes in VALE PDR Certification for technicians. It provides for an unbiased assessment of a technician’s capabilities and sets a standard for who should be qualified to be able to repair a vehicle.”
When asked about the current state of hail claims research and technology, DeSantis commented that “it is difficult to quantify and determine how effective some of the procedures currently used are in either reducing or eliminating potential hail events.”
“Within Alberta, cloud seeding is a common practice, with the intention of reducing the overall size of hail. There is a lot of new research being conducted by Western University and the Northern Hail Project, whose objective is to ultimately manage the risk and damage associated by catastrophic hail events to all aspects of the economy.
“The skill level of PDR technicians has increased significantly over the past 20 years, allowing for more complex and difficult repairs to be completed.”
— Tony Desantis, Manager, Strategic Opportunities and Quality Control, Dented PainTless Repairs Inc.
Manager of Strategic Opportunities and Quality Control for Dented Paintless Repairs Inc, Tony DeSantis.
Managing Director, Canadian Hail Repair and United Hail Repair, Bing Wong.
WEATHER WATCHERS
Ontario-based researchers are hoping to take a dent out of the hail claims process by using climate technology to better understand forecast and weather warnings.
According to CBC News, Julian Brimelow, executive director of the Northern Hail Project–which is based out of London, Ont.--aims to establish a hail pad network in Canada’s hail alley which extends from just south of Caroline, Alberta to just north of Cochrane, Alberta.
The hail pad network is a static network made up of 40 sensor pads, and complemented by 20 sensors in and around Calgary, that are sensitive to hail impacts. For Brimelow, the goal of this technology is to better understand the number of storms occurring as well as their size, and then to use this technology to better advise the public and the industry so that vehicle damage and future claims can be avoided, or at the very least, lessened.
“The reality is,” DeSantis continued, “these events continue to occur and they do cause damage. We are seeing increased measures put in place to help mitigate potential losses. As technology continues to evolve, we see alerts being sent to consumers advising them of potential damaging hail, suggesting they take appropriate precautions.”
“As weather patterns are changing, we are also seeing more storms within regions that traditionally haven’t seen that much hail before. For example, Ontario is traditionally not a very hail intense province, however, in 2023, there were at least five separate larger storms that caused damage.”
With the increase in bigger storms, when asked how long the hail repair process takes, DeSantis concluded that “there are so many
factors that need to be considered on how long a storm may take to process hundreds of claims. Do the repairs require parts replacements which are typically hoods and roofs, and if so, what is the parts availability? We have seen in larger CATS that parts availability can quickly become an issue. There is also bodyshop capacity, as these repairs are often larger and take longer, creating a delay. In these instances, it is not unheard of to have repairs completed more than one year after the initial storm. Although, PDR can help with timelines.”
Bing Wong, managing director at Canadian Hail Repair and United Hail Repair, explained that their preferred process is also one that allows hail damage files to be sent to the body shops for processing.
“At the bodyshop,” Wong noted, “we can determine what the best repair process is for each vehicle and build a proper repair plan for approved repairs. When the volume of claims is too large for the bodyshops in the market to handle, we will set up CAT centres or drive-in appraisal centres to help see customers more quickly.”
For Wong, despite potential changes in national weather conditions and shifts in automotive technology, Canadian Hail Repair “is not yet convinced that scanning technologies provide a clear and consistent net benefit in speed or cost for insurers.”
Wong further commented that his group of companies have worked extensively with scanning companies and while “these technologies certainly will be a part of the
future hail claims processing, today, they still require a considerable amount of human participation.”
The group also “does not see Canada as having large enough hail events year over year to require investment to maintain, deliver and set up the systems as well as keeping the technology up to date in a market that is so dynamic globally.”
Compared with areas such as the United States, where Wong’s hail company operates as United Hail Repair, he believes that “hail damage events are largely cyclical and regional and we still do not see wide spread use of scanning technology even in markets like Texas and Colorado that each receive more hail every year than all of Canada”.
damage almost all of the panels of a vehicle in a brief moment, whereas, in a typical minor car accident, maybe only two or three panels are damaged on average.”
Additionally, Wong further commented that “hail can also cause fairly extreme damage to roof panels, roof rails and rear quarter panels that are difficult or impossible to replace on a vehicle.”
Unlike Desantis, for Wong, “we have found that hail is a relatively minor problem in Canada with many other global markets experiencing relatively many more hail events and far greater claims volumes.”
To help mitigate costs while also ensuring efficient repairs, Canadian Hail Repair “believes that using PDR can bring significant reductions in claims costs.” This is specifically because “savings are realized by reducing total losses” and because “PDR can prevent the need to replace and refinish many exterior panels.”
For Wong, “PDR can turn the irreparable into easily repairable in many cases,” with his team “saving hoods, decklids, roof panels and even doors from requiring replacement and refinishing.”
— Bing Wong, Managing Director,
However, despite these beliefs, for Wong, when hail events do occur domestically, the costs associated with claims can routinely be expensive “because large hailstones can
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With this all being said, Wong was clear to stress that ultimately, “repair costs will always be a concern for insurers when there are suddenly thousands of extra claims to process in any given market.”
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DRIVING THROUGH TIME
ANALYZING AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING 10 YEARS AGO VS. TODAY
Story by SARAH PERKINS
In the last decade, the landscape of vehicle materials in the automotive industry has remained on a fast track towards automotive advancements. This has continued to shape the foundations of collision repair in a race for service excellence.
For professionals entrenched in the world of repairing and restoring vehicles, keeping pace with material advancements has become not just a necessity, but a fundamental aspect of the craft. From the widespread adoption of lightweight aluminum alloys to the emergence of advanced composite materials, the evolution of vehicle manufacturing presents both challenges and opportunities alike.
Read below to journey across automotive manufacturing from yesterday to tomorrow and see how far repairers have come, and more importantly, how far they’ll have to go in the future.
CHANGES IN MATERIALS
While the visual appearance of vehicles may not look so different from those from 10 years ago, the materials used to create them have seen massive shifts over time. Vehicles of the past may have been made up of predominantly steel-based products, but today, a more diverse range of materials drives current cars forwards.
According to a report released by Mentor Works looking at the “Next Generation of Automotive Manufacturing Materials and Processes,” modern vehicles are transitioning away from steel foundations and towards a variety of alternatives such as aluminum, magnesium, and composite materials.
“Vehicle frames, including floors, doors, roofs, body side panels and fenders are typically constructed from steel. As these are the components most responsible for driver safety, they are the most difficult to use other materials for. Materials used for other less-critical components such as a vehicle’s hood, sunroof, bumper, or engine cradle are often experimented with as this offers the opportunity to reduce overall vehicle weight,” the report notes.
Compared to the cars of the past, today’s vehicles are made up of a collection of the following:
MODERN MATERIAL FACTS AND FIGURES
1. Mild steel: Easier to form than traditional steel, mild steel is ideal for cold-stamping and other more traditional manufacturing methods.
2. High strength steel: This form of steel uses traditional steels and removes carbon during the baking cycle. This creates a product that can be more easily formed and baked into harder metals.
3. High strength low alloy (HSLA): HSLAs are carbon manganese steels strengthened with a micro alloying element such as titanium.
4. Ultra high-strength steel (UHSS): As the name implies, structural steel with very high strength levels.
5. Aluminum 5000 and 6000-series: This form of aluminum has non-corrosive properties.
6. Magnesium: A light-weight metal, magnesium has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of all structural metals.
7. Carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP): CFRPs are extremely strong, light plastics which contain carbon fibres to increase strength.
8. Adhesives and Resins: The modern vehicle now contains around 27 pounds of adhesives and this number is expected to continue to increase in the future.
CHANGES IN MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES
The vehicles of today are also created through a series of new and diverse manufacturing techniques. Because high strength steels are often difficult to shape using traditional manufacturing methods, this has led to a rise in hot forming or hot stamping in which sheets of metal are heated and then pressed into a desired shape and then rapidly cooled to increase strength.
Other novel manufacturing techniques include automotive 3D printing, which allows for the forming of parts that are more complex than possible when using molding, and resin transfer molding in which resin materials are pumped at high pressure into molds and then shaped using a pre-inserted fibre form.
According to a report from the United States National Safety Code’s Highway Loss Data Institute which estimates the future of automotive technology, by 2026, approximately 71 percent of registered vehicles could be equipped with some form of advanced technology such as rear cameras, parking sensors, adaptive headlights and lane centering features.
While a decade ago, things like in-vehicle connectivity was primarily limited to infotainment systems, today’s vehicles are increasingly connected, offering integration with smart devices, cloud-based services and Internet of Things (IOT) devices.
Furthermore, the advent of connected car platforms has enabled features like remote vehicle monitoring, diagnostics and over-the-air software updates. The past decade has also witnessed significant advancements in driver assistance systems (ADAS) aimed at enhancing safety, comfort and convenience as in-sensor technologies, artificial intelligence (A.I.) and vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems have continued to develop.
The push for a more environmentally sustainable future also means that while the vehicles of the past were more than okay with guzzling gas, today’s vehicles are increasingly striving for a greener palette, especially in the form of electric vehicles (EVs).
RISE OF TECHNOLOGY
CHALLENGES IN CHANGING MATERIALS AND PROCESSES
However, the road to progress does not come without its challenges and while often paved with good intentions, it’s not without its potential potholes.
COST CONSIDERATIONS
Modern materials—such as carbon fibre composites— are often considerably more expensive than traditional steel. Additionally, modern manufacturing processes often require specialized equipment and expertise that can be costly to acquire, upskill and maintain.
MANUFACTURING COMPLEXITY
Lightweight materials—such as those used in EVs to compensate for the added battery weight—often require specialized manufacturing processes that differ from those used for traditional materials. For instance, aluminum fabrication involves techniques like stamping. Implementing these techniques can add complexity to the production line, leading to logistical challenges and increased lead times.
INTEGRATION CHALLENGES
Joining lightweight materials like aluminum and plastic often poses significant challenges due to differences in material properties and behaviours. For instance, welding aluminum requires expertise in handling heat-sensitive materials to prevent distortion and metallurgical defects.
Due to these challenges, bonding techniques like adhesive bonding and riveting are typically employed for joining dissimilar materials like aluminum and carbon fibre composites. However, achieving this process requires specific surface preparation and compatibility issues.
PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY CONCERNS:
While lightweight materials can offer advantages in terms of fuel efficiency and performance, ensuring durability and crashworthiness remains a critical concern. Lightweight materials may exhibit different modes compared to traditional materials, necessitating thorough testing and validation to ensure—-as is the goal of any good automotive part—continued compliance with OEM and industry safety standards.
In this way, while the past 10 years have witnessed a remarkable transformation in the automotive industry, more exciting is the ability to continue looking towards the future where the possibilities for innovation and progress continue to be endless, shaping the way we move and interact with vehicles in the years to come.
CAR CONNECTIONS
COLLISION REPAIR REACHED OUT TO STEFANO LIESSI, TRAINING AND CURRICULUM
COORDINATOR COLOR COMPASS
UNIVERSITY FOR INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Collision Repair magazine: How have vehicle materials changed over the past ten years and how does this affect how they are repaired?
Stefano Liessi: In the past ten years, we have seen a mix of materials and applications, so much so that no two OEMs are alike. We can attribute this to many factors; technological advancements from engineering, political influence, cost factors, advancements in safety research and the data that supports it.
When we look at all these influences, we learn there is a reason for the changes in design and applications of these materials. With the advancements comes changes to repair processes. We can no longer repair each vehicle the same as the last, or the same as in the past. One vehicle may use aluminum components and from here, we must research if that component can be repaired, and if so, how? What are the steps if another vehicle has aluminum components but they are graphed to steel components, is the aluminum repairable? If so, how? What kind of steel is it? Can I pull something straight or does it have to be ‘jiggled’? Can I use adhesive? And the list of factors grows like a tree with multiple branches. And this only scratches the surface.
CRM: What are the challenges of repairing newer vehicle materials such as lightweight materials and recent structural changes?
SL: The challenges become very specific to the vehicle in front of you, so much that the age, make, model, sometimes even the sub model will impact the process. As the use of lightweight materials and design changes become more prevalent, we see the process change in when and how we repair or replace, what is the method used for fastening, and so on. Once you have completed some of these processes and had some training on them, they are not so daunting and are less challenging. However, the challenge is not only the process, but understanding the processes and why they must be adhered to.
In my opinion, it is the knowledge of ‘why’ that poses the true challenge. Taking a technician that has been on the bench 10 years or 20 years, or even an apprentice, and handing them the repair procedures to a modern-day vehicle is comparable to putting me in an operating room with a textbook and saying, “have at it.”
How do we take someone with a Red Seal designation that requires a total of [in Alberta] 26 weeks of in-class college studies,
“We can no longer repair each vehicle the same as the last, or the same as in the past.”
— Stefano Liessi, Training and Curriculum Coordinator, Color Compass University
alongside in-shop mentoring over four years, to comprehend the cognitive thought process of an engineer with [at this level of OE design] a Masters that equates to up to eight years of university studies in areas of physics and mechanical applications that we have only barely scratched the surface of? The challenge is to train and get technicians to think and understand in unison.
CRM: How has the increase in technological systems within vehicles affected how they are repaired?
SL: Precision and accuracy are paramount to the success of any repair today. There was a time when “close enough” was sufficient for many, not that I agree with this thought process; however, we become a product of our environment. The use of ‘shims’ was common even at the OEM level and today this has become obsolete in our manufacturing process. We have escalated to a level of proficiency and accuracy that requires repairs to be within the vehicle tolerance; for many OEs this is within +/-1mm.
The design and manufacturing of vehicles is all done with numbers, this is why we measure and the only way you know it needs to be measured is to measure it. Measuring a vehicle should be mandatory on any repair as this not only verifies the vehicle is true to spec for the advanced driver assistance systems to function correctly, but it also ensures your repairs are meeting the requirements for OE certification.
Old school logic is no longer applicable to today’s repairs. The thought process, application of procedures and due diligence is at a whole new level and requires a crew of people that understands this. The application of our practical wisdom, ethics, knowledge and skill set has never been in greater demand as it is now.
? QUESTION EVERYTHING
WHEN IT COMES TO SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION, ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS IS PARAMOUNT
Column by JAY PERRY
Inside our coaching practice, we have much to share with our clients about the art of questioning. First, questions have a tone. We need to have an awareness of how tone can create engagement or oppositely, defensiveness or other negative reactions. Obviously, as leaders we want our people engaged with us and so we need to pay attention to this issue of tone.
I like to illustrate the concept with two questions asking about the same subject.
Number one: you didn’t upload the file to the adjuster, did you? In this question, we can clearly feel the accusation, can’t we? This tone sets up potential negatives.
Notably, if the person had uploaded the file, they could be offended by the doubt the question implies or get very defensive. Alternatively, they could get embarrassed if they had not yet uploaded the file. Probably more reactions could appear—none of them positive.
Questions are extremely powerful in guiding people and reaffirming culture. They need to be carefully crafted.
Asking about the same subject but using a completely inquisitive tone would instead sound like this: do you know if the file was uploaded to the adjuster? In this response, there is no defensiveness, just pure pride if the file had been uploaded and a reorganizing of priority if it had not been uploaded. Both positive outcomes!
Questions are extremely powerful in guiding people and reaffirming culture. They need to be carefully crafted. They actually start the process of thinking in a particular line of reasoning and hold the potential to help us improve the thinking of our team members.
Many leaders have trouble with this concept as they cling to a very outdated idea that the leader must have all the answers. Instead, we know and teach that the leader must have all the questions. These questions guide people to thinking about solutions (how would you suggest we approach this challenge?) They lead to engagement (I have some thoughts on
how we can proceed but am very interested in your opinion, could you share it with me?) They can lead people to superior, alternative approaches (what do you think of this idea?).
Why do leaders cling to the outdated idea of having all the answers? Because much of the time they fear looking incompetent so giving answers is an easy way to reinforce their value to the employee. Unfortunately, all it does is set up the leader as being the repository of information and turns employees into robotic appendages. This locks the leader into a position of being “needed” in the business as opposed to having time dedicated to working on the business.
It is not an easy task to retrain ourselves to default to questions. We have many clients that have grown in that direction with great success. The transition in mindset can be done; it helps to fortify our leadership obligation of working on the business and thus helps us to be the one who’s driving!
is the founder of Ally Business Coaching, a process improvement and leadership development firm, and co-author of the book Success Manifesto with Brian Tracy. Jay is also an education partner with California Coast University in Santa Ana, California. He can be reached at jayperryally@gmail.com
JAY PERRY
TIME-TESTING TASKS
HOW TAKING THE TIME TO DEVELOP YOUR CRAFT WILL HELP YOU SPEED AHEAD OF THE GAME
Column by STEFANO LIESSI
Phrases like “The ten things you need to know,” “This is taking the internet by storm,” “The four top things that will change your life,” etcetera, are all too common. They reflect on our culture of instant gratification, where we’ve grown accustomed to expecting immediate results with minimal effort. This is not a surprising statement but rather a daily reality, and it’s a problem in the workforce. It astounds me how we constantly strive to get faster at everything. For example, at the drive-thru, we have two lanes now so that you can practice the fine art of the ‘zipper merge’ pre-Big Mac. Self-checkout has been sold to us as a time saver so that we can be in and out faster than ever. The list is endless. If we look at this culture we have created as a society, we will see how the trickle effect is now pooling up and creating havoc within the industry. Staff often want things to happen yesterday: “the promotion isn’t coming fast enough,” “I don’t get paid enough for someone who has been here eight months…” So, off they go in
search of a better job or career. Many speakers and psychologists have all these outstanding cure-all answers that tell you, “You need to do this” and “This is how you manage that.” How’s that working for you? It’s not. Is it?
Although very relatable, I won’t get into financials regarding door rates and pay structures; that’s for a different day. I want to get you thinking about how slowing down can make things work out. This is not just for the shop culture but also the educational and technician cultures. Throwing money at a situation will not always fix things; it just works as a Band-Aid, and eventually, the Band-Aid falls off in the pool. It is said that time heals all wounds; there is merit to this. Cutting back on time is making things worse. We have been taught over the last few years that, “you need to plan for the employee’s career path,” “you need to set them up with benefits and retirement plans from day one,” “employees need downtime, give them ‘X’ number of paid holidays a year right from the start.” Offer your employees incentives and bonuses, as
We are so worried about getting to the top fast, and employers are so worried about setting boundaries regarding earning your way up, that a lot of the culture has forgotten about the value of ‘earned placement.’
well as time in lieu. This all sounds wonderful. I wish I had been so lucky way back then. So, here is the thing: there is a crucial component missing from all of this and no, it’s not AI or pizza parties which, by the way, are getting an unfair rap. The crucial component missing is ‘earning it.’ Whatever happened to working your way up the ladder, dealing with the hard knocks, and taking the ‘time’ to get good at your craft? We are so worried about getting to the top fast, and employers are so worried about setting boundaries regarding earning your way up, that a lot of the culture has forgotten about the value of ‘earned placement.’ People think I got my license, diploma, or degree, and they should start at the top. Wrong. All that tells anyone is you can pass a test. Yet, our culture panders to this.
I had a conversation recently with an acquaintance where they described how a recent employee was given a plan for their career as a service tech. It included time for school—paid time, that is—funds for advancements and accommodations during campus time, but they had to start at the bottom and pay their dues, so to speak. What a great opportunity. However, the tech thought he was better than that and quit (after eight months). He has much to learn, and the company seems to have dodged a bullet. They wanted the employee to earn his position. That was too much to ask.
So, how do we solve this problem of instant gratification in the workforce? As I mentioned earlier, there is no magic answer, only ideas. Instead of a culture based on false hope, insta-
STEFANO LIESSI
bility, and open-ended promises, we must build one based on stability, effort, and time-tested earning dedication. This won’t happen overnight, but it’s a shift worth the effort for all involved. The employer hires dedicated staff interested in self-development, working in a facility dedicated to quality. Like-minded people tend to stick together and form a culture based on earning it, not being given it. In my opinion, and you are entitled to my opinion, this is the culture we need to cultivate in our workforce. Slow down and take the required time; if someone doesn’t want to earn their place, show them the door. There is another out there that is deserving of it. Once you have cultivated a team of those willing to earn it, you will have a culture that has earned the pizza party.
is the Training and Curriculum coordinator for Color Compass Corporation. He is also a Red Seal technician and refinisher. Stefano enhances his 40 years of experience with 15 years of I-CAR instruction and a post-secondary degree. He also trains Skills Alberta students and has brought home 11 medals for the province, and taught high school students in the auto shop for six years.
He can be reached at sliessi@colorcompass.com.
NOT JUST AN ADAS TECHNOLOGY PROVIDER, A TRUE PARTNER
OEM REPAIR INFORMATION DIRECT FROM THE SOURCE
When it comes to automotive repair information, there are numerous sources, but only one can claim to be the original
“There are many reasons why access to accurate and current information is paramount.”
— Rene Young, Automotive Retailers’ Association
By RENE YOUNG
Arguably, the most valuable tool in your workshop is information. The days when a “mechanic” could store in their head most of the information needed to properly repair a vehicle are long gone. The most complex thing they might have needed was a wiring diagram, and they would find one in a printed repair manual. Most often, the manuals were produced by third-party publishers, and that wiring diagram would have been redrawn from the original OEM diagram.
Today’s technicians are dealing with vehicles that are vastly more sophisticated and the volume of information published by automakers has grown exponentially year over year. Information is constantly being updated, something that never happened to a manual once purchased.
There are many reasons why access to accurate and current information is paramount. You want to do the job right the first time to avoid comebacks and unhappy customers. You want to protect yourself and your business from liability. The repairs must
be performed in a safe manner, protecting the technician from possible injury, the vehicle from damage, and the customer from an unsafe vehicle.
Furthermore, many certification programs insist that you follow OEM repair procedures. And as if all those reasons aren’t enough, your technicians don’t like doing guesswork, so employee morale can also be affected by the quality of information being used for repairs.
All third-party information products (you know their names, so I won’t mention any here) are conveniently packaged, in terms of coverage, format, and price, but they all just recycle information that originated from the automakers, used under license. These products satisfy the day-to-day needs of most shops, but situations often arise where they fall short. If the repair requires that you upload a software update or perform an initialization procedure for a module in the vehicle, that update may be referred to in the third-party application, but not provided.
There is, however, an information provider that has it all, and it is always the most current information available: the automaker itself. The original source.
All mainstream automakers selling or distributing vehicles in Canada maintain a technical information website where independent repairers can obtain the same repair information that is available to franchised dealerships.
This was made possible by the Canadian Automotive Service Information Standard (CASIS), an agreement reached in 2009 between the associations representing Canadian automakers and the independent repair industry.
Each manufacturer’s website is unique to their own brands. Some are easier to navigate than others. The OEM technical information websites are subscription-based services and prices and terms vary between manufacturers. But the point is, independent repairers have access. So, how does an independent repairer find the website of a particular vehicle make?
OEMRepairInfo.ca it is a free service available to all Canadian automotive professionals, providing quick and easy access to the OEM technical information websites.
The National Automotive Trades Association (NATA), one of the CASIS signatories, developed a website to serve as a portal to the OEM technical information websites. The portal website, OEMRepairInfo.ca, was launched in 2016. It was built on the common platforms of the times, but it had become outdated and difficult to manage.
A new, improved version was commissioned by the Automotive Retailers Association of B.C., a NATA member, and it was launched in June 2024. The new website incorporates modern design techniques and is built on the world’s leading web platform, providing a seamless and efficient user experience.
This portal it is a free service available to all Canadian automotive professionals, providing quick and easy access to the OEM technical information websites. It is enhanced with third-party resources, where available, and it includes tips on how to find specific types of information in the OEM websites.
You begin by clicking one of the manufacturer buttons on the Home page. This takes you to a page for the respective manufacturer. There you will find a description of the types
ALDER ALTERATIONS
of information available from the manufacturer, how to register for an account with that manufacturer, and a link to the respective technical information website. There are answers to frequently asked questions and other helpful information.
Further development will see the addition of new features over the coming months, including a feedback form for users to report gaps in information they may have discovered on an OEM website.
Security-related information is not covered by the CASIS agreement. Some manufacturers do provide a method of accessing vehicle security information (key codes, immobilizer reset procedures, etc.), while others do not. On each manufacturer’s page, OEMRepairInfo.ca indicates whether this information is available to Canadian repairers.
OEMRepairInfo.ca is designed to be a one-stop source for OEM service and repair information, enhanced by the inclusion of third-party resources where available. Canadian repair professionals are encouraged to visit and explore the site and bookmark it for future use.
Uni-Select has announced the strategic acquisition of Alder Auto Parts in Surrey, B.C., bringing the total number of corporate stores in the province to 21.
In a recent press release, John Feddersen, president of Alder Auto Parts commented that “joining Uni-Select starts a new and important chapter for us. We are proud to unite with a company that respects our heritage and shares our values. This partnership will amplify our strengths and continue the legacy we have built in this community.”
Alder Auto Parts, founded in 1978, includes three locations in Aldergrove, Port Kells and Cloverdale, B.C., with a dedicated team of 34 employees.
“We are excited to welcome a well-established family-owned business with strong regional roots and a shared commitment to our core values and quality service,” said Emilie Gaudet, president and chief operating officer of Uni-Select.
“This acquisition is a testament to our robust growth strategy and our dedication to maintaining the legacy of businesses we proudly incorporate into our family,” Gaudet further explained.
Uni-Select has announced the strategic acquisition of Alder Auto Parts in Surrey, B.C., bringing the total number of corporate stores in the province to 21.
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE
In late June, Calgary, Alberta, attempted to make strides to rectify a catastrophic water main break, while collision centres in the area also tried to be mindful of water usage.
Mike Nichol, general manager of Simplicity Car Care Airdrie, told Collision Repair on June 10, that they were doing their part to follow the city’s orders by keeping a watchful eye on their water usage.
“We are being asked to reduce water consumption wherever possible,” added Nichol.
Franco Borrelli, owner of Simplicity Car Care Calgary Central Hallmark Auto Body, said his facility was also answering the calls to conserve water.
“We’ve mostly been affected by having to shorten our wash times in the detail department,” said Borrelli.
Repairs to the broken main were estimated to take at least a week, and the City of Calgary cautioned residents to continue conservation measures until the main was fixed.
Simplicity Car Care Airdrie was located approximately 40 kilometres from the break, which is around the Bowness and Montgomery area, along 16th Ave. NW. Residents of Airdrie, Chestermere and Strathmore–locales around Calgary–were also being asked to watch their water usage.
In late June, Calgary, Alberta, attempted to make strides to rectify a catastrophic water main break, while collision centres in the area also tried to be mindful of water usage.
REPAIR RECOGNITION
Simplicity Car Care Airdrie has announced that it has been named the “Best Place for Auto Body Repairs” in the 2024 City View Airdrie Readers’ Choice Awards for the fourth consecutive year.
According to a recent press release, the City View Airdrie Readers’ Choice Awards provide the community with “a platform to recognize and celebrate local businesses that demonstrate excellence in their fields.”
Simplicity Car Care Airdrie has been a part of the Simplicity Car Care Franchisee team for two years and Mike Nichol, General Manager commented that “having been a shop owner since 2006, joining Simplicity has allowed us to expand our community support through programs like the 100 Men Who Give a damn, the Business Club of Airdrie and Area and our Annual Charity Golf Tournament.”
Nichol further noted that “supporting local is vital in our area, and being part of Simplicity enhances our ability to serve our community and customers better. We believe that our dedication to local involvement will continue to drive our business forward.”
In recognition of this most recent award, the Simplicity Airdrie team “looks forward to continuing to serve the community with the same dedication and excellence that has earned (them) this esteemed award for the past four years.”
PROBLEM PARTS
CTV News recently reported that a Saskatoon vehicle owner was shocked when he was told that a replacement part for his 2023 Toyota Corolla would not be delivered until 2050. Collision Repair further reached out to the industry to find out about the severity of parts delays in the province.
After being involved in two collisions, Keith Cassidy was told that, while most of the parts were available to fix his vehicle, he was surprised to find out that the delivery of these parts was quoted as arriving in 2049 and 2050, respectively.
Toyota Canada further emailed CTV News to state that the 2050 date is populated by default in its system, but that the global supply chain challenges continue to affect the entire automotive industry.
In response to this story, Collision Repair reached out to Chelsea Stebner, Managing Partner, Parr Autobody in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to ask about the current state of parts delays in the industry.
Here, Stebner confirmed that she and the Parr Autobody team have been seeing an increase in parts delays since the Covid-19 pandemic,
Alongside this, Stebner reported that the shop is “also getting lots of back orders with no ETA at all. It’s definitely challenging to keep track and follow up on.”
“We had a Volkswagen that came in as a non-drive in September of 2022 and that had a parts delay that we were able to IOU, thankfully,” said Stebner.
“That part finally arrived in February of 2024. During the pandemic, we also had a non-drive Hyundai with a door shell ‘on a boat somewhere’ on route to us for about five months. Luckily in that case, the customer was not at fault in the collision and the insurance company was covering a rental for the insured.”
INTRODUCING INCENTIVES
The Manitoba government has followed through with its promise of electric vehicle (EV) financial support and has successfully introduced its $4,000 provincial rebate program for new EVs, with $2,500 going towards used EVs.
With the adoption of this incentive program, Manitoba is now the seventh province in Canada to offer EV rebates, with the amount also being stackable with the $5,000 federal rebate program.
Both battery electric (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid (PHEVs) vehicles are eligible so long as drivers purchased the vehicles from Manitoba dealerships. Rebates are also limited to one per vehicle per owner.
New EVs must have a maximum manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $70,000, while used EVs have to be only a maximum of $70,000 and have to be less than four years old.
The rebate program is retroactive so that drivers who have purchased an EV between August 1, 2023, and July 1, 2024, are able to apply. New Teslas costing $70,000 or less and purchased outside of Manitoba between August 1, 2023, and May 2, 2024, will also qualify.
The overall rebate program is a $25 milliondollar provincial initiative.
“Also luckily,” Stebner concluded, “most customers are understanding, but the reality is that collision shops are the main point of contact for customers, so shops definitely bear the brunt of a customers’ frustrations with parts delays and the entire claims process.”
MANITOBA | REGIONAL NEWS
Tracy Schmidt, minister for environment and climate change further commented in a recent press release that “this is a win-win for our province, we’re fighting the climate crisis while also lowering costs for families right away with a rebate on EVs and helping them save money every month on their daily commute.”
A NEW LEVEL
The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) has announced the locations of this year’s Skilled Trades Career Fairs.
The 2024 Level Up! Skilled Trades Career Fairs marks the third year that the MLITSD has offered trades education and networking for youth in the province.
In a recent press release, the MLITSD has further announced that due to last year’s success, Level Up! is expanding the number of sites being offered, and will this year, provide opportunities for up to 30,000 of Ontario’s youth across 15 sites.
Here, attendees will be able to learn more about the skilled trades and connect with employers in a hands-on, experimental learning environment.
The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, in partnership with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services has also selected Enterprise Canada Inc. as the vendor to lead the planning and delivery of the fairs.
As a result, Enterprise Canada Inc. will work with the Ministry and skilled trades partners, trainers, employers and school boards to plan, organize and launch the career fairs. This includes event planning, strategic management expertise, marketing and promotion and facilitation services to deliver the event.
COLLEAGUES IN CAMBRIDGE
CARSTAR Cambridge is firing up the engines on a unique hiring campaign – sponsoring a race car in the local Pure Stock racing series at Flamboro Speedway to attract automotive enthusiasts to the collision repair industry.
CARSTAR Cambridge, partially owned by Allen Mattice, and the LC group, owned by Ian Ladd and Peter Chavez, will run the No. 13 CARSTAR Cambridge car driven by Mattice in the Pure Stock series this summer. Mattice finished seventh in the season opener on May 4. Racing takes place at Flamboro Speedway every Saturday at 6:30 p.m. through Sept. 28.
“We are always looking for great talent to join our team at CARSTAR Cambridge, and this is the perfect way to introduce our brand and business opportunities to race fans who are car lovers and may want to consider a career in the industry,” said Mattice. “This is our second year representing CARSTAR and the LC Group of CARSTAR locations at the track and we’re looking forward to a great season.”
In addition to running the race season, CARSTAR Cambridge will again host an employee appreciation event at the track that has been very successful, a popular event the last two years.
CARSTAR Cambridge and the LC Group take pride in their community involvement including (but not limited to): Cystic Fibrosis car washes, Cystic Fibrosis walks, donation drives, and supporting local sports teams and community organizations.
Locations for the event include: Cobourg (Sept 12); Barrie (Sept 17); Kitchener (Sept 19); Thunder Bay (Sept 24); Sault Ste. Marie (Sept 27); Sudbury (Oct 1); Timmins (Oct 3); Cornwall (Oct 8); Ottawa (Oct 10-11); North Bay (Oct 16); GTA East, Oshawa (Oct 22-24); Windsor (Oct 29); London (Nov 12-13); Niagara (Nov 19-20); and GTA West, Mississauga (Nov 26-28).
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DOORS OPEN IN DORVAL
CARSTAR is proud to announce the opening of CARSTAR Dorval, located at 691 Av. Lépine, Dorval, QC, H9P 1G3 right off the A520 east highway near the airport.
Gabriel Roubeiz, owner of CARSTAR Dorval, is a recognized and experienced manager who has been in the industry for over 40 years. CARSTAR Dorval is an 11,000 sq. ft. facility with 20 trained employees equipped to repair all makes and models. In addition to collision repair, the team offers turnkey calibration, alignment, a complete auto glass service as well as general mechanics. With a collision centre full of state-of-the-art equipment including a new 3D electronic measuring system and Spanesi frame pulling bench, the team is leveraging its resources to pursue OEM certifications.
“We have built a solid reputation with our customers, and we are happy to expand our impact through this new partnership, as we have an easily accessible and premier facility,” said Gabriel Roubeiz, owner of CARSTAR Dorval. “Our team is dedicated to advancing alongside the changing industry and we look forward to continuing to improve our expertise with the support of CARSTAR.”
“The entire CARSTAR Dorval team is dedicated to collision repair excellence and knows how to keep up with changing vehicle repair needs,” said Rémi Michaud, zone director, CARSTAR.
“We are pleased to welcome Gabriel Roubeiz and his exceptional team to the CARSTAR family, and we know that the Dorval community will appreciate this expert level of service.”
FUELING FUTURE FOUNDATIONS
On May 29th, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, announced investments of over $42 million for Quebec apprentices in skilled trades.
According to a press release from the federal government, funding will be provided over five years beginning in the 2023 to 2024 financial period to the Government of Quebec through the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy’s Union Training and Innovation program.
This funding will also support investments in modern and up-to-date training equipment and materials as well as supporting innovation and enhanced partnerships to help improve apprenticeship outcomes.
Minister Boissonnault also highlighted two investments for a total of $3.5 million to two unions for projects under the Women in the Skilled Trades Initiative, which helps women in Quebec get the apprenticeship training and support needed to enter the skilled trades workforce.
Here, funding will specifically go towards an investment of over $940,000 to the Centrale des syndicats démocratiques (CSD), which aims to reduce barriers and increase access to Red Seal Trades in the province. Funding will also go towards an investment of over $2.5 million to the Syndicat québécois de la construction (SQC) to help hire women apprentices and provide career development.
FATAL FINDINGS
A crash report using data from Transport Canada and released by Ontario-based Preszler Injury Lawyers has revealed that of all the provinces, Prince Edward Island is the most dangerous for fatal collisions.
The data, which looked at census details concerning casualty rates in 2021 per 100,000 people, specifically showed that P.E.I. had an average fatality rate of 10.5 and an average injury rate of 287 out of 100,000 people.
This number represents more than double the national average at 4.7 per 100,000.
Following P.E.I., New Brunswick came in at second with a fatality rate of 8.6 per 100,000, but a higher injury rate than P.E.I. at 342.7. The Atlantic region also came in third with Nova Scotia seeing a fatality rate of 7.7 and injury rates of 308.7 per 100,000 people.
Comparatively, Ontario’s driving fatality rate came in at only 3.8, with injuries also sitting at a lower 216.4 per 100,000.
Transport Canada’s data also showed that collisions with fatalities are more likely to occur in rural settings, but that personal injury of drivers and passengers is instead more likely to occur in urban settings.
A SKILLED START
Starting in September 2024, Grade 12 students who meet provincial graduation requirements at the end of the first semester can enter skilled trades programs at the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) before graduating.
Education News Canada reported that the province is launching a pilot program that will see 34 eligible students begin at the NSCC in February.
“Skilled trade careers are high-paying, in-demand opportunities throughout our province. It’s an excellent time to become a skilled trades professional,” said Premier Tim Houston. “Today, we’re announcing a pilot program where graduating high school students can enter the skilled trades sooner.”
The program will include nine months of training, allowing students to graduate in November 2025 and to enter the workforce sooner.
ATLANTIC ADVANCEMENT
On June 7 and June 8, automotive recycling industry members gathered at the Rodd Hotels and Resort Charlottetown in Charlottetown, P.E.I. for the Automotive Recyclers Association of Atlantic Canada (ARAAC) annual meeting. During the two-day event—which saw 60 attendees—topics covered included green recycled parts, insurer-repairer-recycler relations, EVs and much more. Friday featured panel discussions from Luke Gamm from Car-Part, and Micheal Angeli from Hollander, who both highlighted changes in or coming to their companies’ systems. Wally Dingman, Canadian Automotive Recyclers Environmental Code (CAREC) Auditor for Atlantic Canada, presented some of the highlights from last season’s CAREC Audits and what to expect in his upcoming audits. Dingman noted that members are currently scoring at 85 percent or better—the only association in Canada to do this. Steve Fletcher, executive director, Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (OARA), gave an overview of national association activities, focusing on the impact of EVs on the industry; plastic bumper recycling research and OARA’s Green Recycled Parts study demonstrating greenhouse gas savings with reusing auto parts. Elected to the ARAAC Board of Directors were: Candice Brown from Brown’s Auto Salvage; Devon White from A-1 Automotive and Larry Rushton from Sunrise Salvage. They join Dalbert Livingstone from Island Auto Supply (Chair/Treasurer); Andrew MacDonald from Maritime Auto Parts (Vice Chair); and Derek Covey from Covey’s Auto Recyclers (Immediate Past President).
ARAAC hosted its annual conference in early June. Alongside 60+ attendees, Hollander, Car-Part, IAA, Copart and Atlantic Oil all had display booths in the meeting space to talk directly to recyclers, answer any questions and demonstrate their products.
SAVE THE DATE!
Attention, automotive recyclers! The Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (OARA) has set a date for its 2025 Convention and Trade Show. Next year’s event will be held March 27 through March 29 in an exciting new location—Niagara Falls, Ontario! The event, hosted at the Hilton Niagara Falls and Fallsview Casino, will include a 50+ vendor trade show, keynote presentations, roundtables, networking, fundraising and much more. Attendees will also get the chance to tour two nearby recycling facilities: Thorold Auto Parts and Miller’s Auto Recycling. A special event is also planned for March 29, honouring OARA Executive Director Steve Fletcher’s 33-year career in the auto recycling industry as he takes a step back from his duties with OARA. For more details on registration, visit www.oara.com
Towards the end of the event, attendees also had the opportunity to tour Dalbert Livingstone’s, ARAAC Vice President, Island Auto Supply, where the event then closed with a classic summer barbeque.
The Stirling-Rawdon Council recognized Woodbeck Auto Parts in July in celebration of the business’ 85 anniversary. MP Shelby Kramp and a representative from MPP Ric Bresee’s office were in attendance to help the Woodbeck family celebrate. Woodbeck Auto Parts was originally founded by Burton and Verna Woodbeck in 1939. The business remains a family affair to this day, with the Burton and Verna’s sons Ron and Bruce taking over as second-generations, followed by Bruce’s son, Greg Woodcock, who is the third-generation family owner today.
The Woodbeck family with MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman.
HARDIN IN THE HOTSEAT
ROEPKE’S NEW ROLE
United Recyclers Group (URG) has announced the appointment of Kelly Roepke to the URG Board of Directors. A press release from URG noted that Roepke brings a “wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the board.” Roepke previously served as president and general manager of Y-Yard Auto & Truck Inc. She has grown up in the business and has hands-on experience in every department, said URG. Roepke has also been recognized by her peers as the “Most Influential Successor” in 2008 and received the “Most Influential Woman” award in 2010.
looks forward to welcoming Kelly Roepke to its Board of Directors.
Trent Hardin has assumed the Executive Directorship of the Alberta Automotive Recyclers and Dismantlers Association (AARDA) and will further assume direct responsibility for the members’ Canadian Auto Recyclers Environmental Code (CAREC) audits in Alberta. Hardin has spent 40 year in industrial operations in Alberta and is National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO) certified. He has extensive training in hazardous materials, from WHMIS through TDG and HAZMAT response and beyond. He also carries experience in advocacy related to toxins in environmental non-governmental organization (ENGO) sectors, having held an NGO seat on the Clean Air Strategic Alliance, a provincial board that is government, industry and non-governmental run. With the assumption of his new responsibilities, Hardin said, “I look forward to engaging wholeheartedly and being able to make good use of my experience—to increase engagement across the board, with the current membership, and by expanding it.”
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GET BLITZED
Ottawa Police Services (OPS) recently conducted a tow truck enforcement blitz across the city, where 40 tow truck were stopped, and 43 charges were laid. Officers were verifying compliance with the Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act (TSSEA) and requested items like certification, required licenses to operate in Ontario, consent forms, run sheets and daily logs.
Four out of the 40 vehicles stopped were placed out of service; one was impounded due to lack of certification. Local news sources have advised the Ottawa area will likely conducting ongoing enforcement. Photo: Ottawa Police.
SEAL OF APPROVAL
As of July 1, 2024, tow truck drivers require a provincial certificate to operate in Ontario. The move comes following significant government efforts to address “bad actors” in the towing industry. Legislation was passed in 2021 as the government assumed industry oversight responsibilities from municipalities. Tow truck company operates have required certification since January 1, 2024, when the 2021 law came into effect. Among other new protections: tow truck drivers are required to provide information to customers about their maximum fees, and they must take the customer’s vehicle to the desired location using the most direct route.
BE FREE!
Rivian has announced that it is developing a software that would allow its EVs to be free wheel towed, according to a recent patent application. Free-wheel towing refers to when a vehicle is towed behind another vehicle with all four wheels on the ground. In the patent application, Rivian proposes adding a software made for free-wheel towing to its EV pickup trucks and SUVs alongside the various drive modes and other software-enabled features already available.
rolling out of sync with the towing vehicle.
MARITIME DELAYS
Tow truck operators in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, are frustrated after the Municipal Government delayed a decision on a controversial bylaw until after the summer. The bylaw in the question attempts to place limits on the fees tow truck drivers and charge to clean up accident scenes; place regulations on licensing of operators and regulates who/which companies are called to accident scenes. One operator argued that the regulations are unfair and that there is no “tow truck industry” in Cape Breton—just 10 private companies operating to make a living. Cape Breton regional police Staff Sargeant Joe Farrell argues regional police need the bylaw to control accident scenes more effectively; insurance providers have also complained of excessive towing fees, he added. Tow operators objected to a proposal for a flat fee for cleaning up accidents during a June protest. They demand more insight before the bylaw is further discussed in council.
ADVERTISER INDEX
3M ................. inside front, 95
Abrams Towing Service .... 97
APT Auto Parts Trading..... 05
Arslan Automotive .............11
Audatex | Solera ................ 45
Auto Data Labels ............... 29
Axalta 95, back page
Canadian Hail Repair 75
Carcone’s 94
Cardinal Couriers Ltd 06
Car-o-liner 15
Carstar 33
Color Compass Corp 71
CCS 21
Crescent Industries 26,27,69
Fix Auto Canada 08,09,41
Hunter Engineering 12
IAA 55,62,63
IBIS 65
Keystone (LKQ) 37
LKQ Corporation 17,19
Martech Services 85
OpenRoad Mercedes-Benz
Surrey 10
PPG 07,95
ProColor 51
Repairify 83
Sata inside back
SEMA 69
Simplicity Car Care 13
Thorold Auto Parts 93
INTER-INDUSTRY INTERACTIONS
The value of face-to-face communication
By ALLISON ROGERS
Icould start with a thousand analogies about the pace of change in the collision industry, but we all know how quickly things move around here.
It’s no secret collision centres have faced unprecedented challenges in the last few years. Parts shortages, labour woes, increased operating costs and the pressure of adapting to the needs of modern vehicle technology. That’s not even mentioning the players
discriminate; they affect businesses of all sizes across all regions. Whatever you are going through, there is almost certainly someone else who has faced, or is facing similar circumstances.
This is where industry events are key. Whether it’s a network-organized conference featuring store owners, managers, insurance and vendor partners or an industry week like SEMA, there are opportunities abound.
THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE; THEY AFFECT BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES ACROSS ALL REGIONS.
taking on the electric vehicle market, who tackle specialized training and high-voltage compliant procedures. Sometimes businesses can feel like it’s a fight to keep the doors open and the lights on.
But a rising tide lifts all boats. One of the best ways to rise up together as an industry is provided through events, where you can actively engage with peers, regardless of what vertical of the industry you operate in.
When was the last time you had a true, face-to-face conversation with a fellow industry professional? A competitor, to simply exchange perspectives in the hopes you may learn something? We’re not talking about a quick “how d’you do you?”—but a real, substantive discussion about the challenges we face, as an industry, and solutions to be explored.
It can be far too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of your daily duties. We can get siloed in our little worlds, mulling away at the jobs we find familiar, but it’s a dangerous trap to fall into.
When it comes down to it, we’re all in similar boats. The challenges you face do not
Think of all the chances for collision repair industry members to witness and partake in conversations regarding top-of-mind industry challenges and experience the first demos on brand-new revolutionary products. Perhaps best of all: these events provide a perfect environment for you to share ideas with like-minded professionals. They may be seeking the same solutions as you.
It’s not just about learning from others, whether it be the people on the stage or from a conversation during a networking break. Part of attending is also sharing your own experiences. You never know whose problem you may be able to solve, or what new perspective you may bring to the table.
So, I leave you with the same question posed at the outset: when was the last time you had a true, face-to-face conversation with a fellow industry professional? If it’s been a while, I encourage you to seek out the next industry gathering—hosted by a supplier, fellow shop, organization, 20-Group, et cetera—and make a point to attend. Golf tournaments even count. After all, ‘tis the season.
Allison Rogers is the editor of Collision Repair magazine. She can be reached at allison@mediamatters.ca.
SATA air cooler
SATA air cooler
To ensure that the breathing air inside your SATA air vision 5000 is always comfortable this summer, you can cool it down with the SATA air cooler when working in a hot paint booth.
To ensure that the breathing air inside your SATA air vision 5000 is always comfortable this summer, you can cool it down with the SATA air cooler when working in a hot paint booth.
The temperature can be individually adjusted to lower your breathing air temperature as much as 5.5°C to 15°C (42°F - 59°F) relative to temperature of the air inlet.
The temperature can be individually adjusted to lower your breathing air temperature as much as 5.5°C to 15°C (42°F - 59°F) relative to temperature of the air inlet.
The SATA air cooler can be conveniently integrated in your existing SATA air vision 5000 system. Available from your SATA dealer.
The SATA air cooler can be conveniently integrated in your existing SATA air vision 5000 system. Available from your SATA dealer.
Art. No. 1006990
Art. No. 1006990
WATERBORNE MADE EASY
With a waterborne basecoat that’s easy to mix, match and apply and that uses the same coat flash application you’ve already perfected, Cromax® EZ makes an exceptional finish feel effortless. Discover how easy an outstanding finish can be.
