Automotive Refinisher Nov-Dec 2015

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T H E V O I C E O F T H E I N D U S T R Y November-December 2015

Edition 182

FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW REPORT

WHITE WALL BOYS

AKZONOBEL’S AUTOMATCHIC VISION

THE EXPLOS IV TRUTH ABO E U MULTI-MIX T REPAIR

IN THIS ISSUE >> >> >> >>

GOODWOOD REVIVAL DECADE WITH KAPCI GLASURIT CELEBRATE DID YOU HEAR?

REPAIR SOLUTIONS N-D 2015 3_Layout 1 2015/10/29 11:22 AM Page 1

TAkinG The FRiCTion ouT oF CoLLiSion RePAiR

CALL 0861 268 885

CONTENTS N-D 2015_Layout 1 2015/10/30 2:04 PM Page 1

Contents o bb ee rr 22 00 11 55 NSoevpet me m b eb re r- -D eO cc et m

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CRA NEWS

A Review of Activity Survey Results

FRANKFURT SHOW FESTOOL RANGE Stars Roll Out Vermont’s New Line

KEEP PUSHING SIKKENS RELAUNCH CustomPaints Feature Allied

SIKKENS STANDOX

AutoMatchic Vision 60 Years of Service

EXPLOSIVE TRUTH PORSCHE Multi-Mix Top Shop Repair

GENROCK EXPAND CYMOT NAMIBIA UK MarketTrade Beckons Windhoek Show

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CAPE PAINT & PANEL CONSOLIDATION Customer Evening Trade Trends

KINSEY PARTS SURVEY IBIS WORLD WinnersMarkets and Losers Repair

DEVILBISS MIXING SOLUTIONS FUTURE TECH New Binks GemsbyMachine Peugeot Design Andrew Marsh

KAPCI SUCCESS ALUMINIUM

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10 Years of Growth Repair Bays

FUTURE TECH

VW Group Drama - Meltdown or Hype?

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Cover: Mercedes-Benz “Concept IAA” Contents: Goodwood Revival 2015

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PUBLISHING NEWS YEAR-END WRAP

2015 - THE YEAR THAT WAS

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ne of the biggest surprises of this publishing year has been the speed that it disappeared at as we spent all our time over achieving on this personal summit to look back on some highlights.

To recount would be the mixing it up with the captains of industry. At the CRA conference at Automechanika we fielded our resident technical guru, Andrew Marsh to show one and all the vast and definitely changing process of repair technology that’s to be embraced going forward as everyone is heading for aluminium, carbon fibre and high strength steel construction on future cars.

Attending the IBIS conference in Greece showed another looming trend, that of rapid industry consolidation which is being pushed on this mainly “Ma and Pa” dominated collision repair trade. Big business is looking to get a better return and insurers continue to push boundaries to control repair costs.

Each and every year I’m sure that body shop owners see it all as very tedious and as an invasion of the way normal business is conducted.

With that said, the duplication of costs that hound repairers on compliance with approved repair programmes where when all is said and done, over 90% of equipment laid out to meet these differing standards is the same equipment. Surely one day a degree of common sense on approved spot welders and other equipment must be realised to reign in compliance investment costs for different motor makers.

In terms of trade activity it has been an interesting year. With work values holding steady the impact of the 50% write-off rate initiative has denuded some of the smaller shops of a large chunk of anticipated work

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flow as the nation’s scrap yards and auction houses seem to bulge with getting rid of write-off constipation volumes. With a large increase of insurance vehicles condemned to being scrap metal it would be nice to see some major insurers back down without loosing face on this unwanted and largely unsustainable demand. We are not Europe where the directive was installed. Africa has it’s own unique set of collision repair circumstances.

Firstly, the cars and trucks are more expensive to purchase and so too are the replacement spares like airbags and other electronic pieces of equipment which are condemned all too soon with minor looking accident damage work to the breakers yards.

Take a look at this edition. It’s the largest ever year-end document so it proves that we’re doing something right. The advent of last years post office strike action pushed the Automotive Refinisher digital version forward. We’re posting some 15 000 hits a month on that alone and its just growing.

Finally, once again we would like to extend a large thank you to our faithful band of trade advertisers who make this magazine possible and perhaps mostly to you, our avid readers who seem to enjoy the efforts of us all at the publication. We strive to produce a body shop trade magazine without equal, even on a global scale.

So travel well and enjoy the festive season with out too many traffic fines or intoxication to arrive back safe and sound to take on 2016, warts and all with a keen ambition to do well next year. It’s important to keep that tigerish ambition with sheer will power, don’t you think?

Best regards, Ian Groat Editor’s bit – A year of celebration Some may think me mad to be celebrating a year of tough economic decisions and all round rubbish leadership in our government, but then I am one sandwich short of a picnic at the best of times. I think it’s growing up in this beautiful country of ours and experiencing the extreme highs and

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lows you get used to in what we call “normal day life” in South Africa.

It truly has been a year of celebrations for us at Automotive Refinisher magazine as we clocked 30 years in the business with our July –August issue – our 180th edition. What started out as a hobby on the side has turned out to be one heck of a ride.

The collision repair industry is still as interesting and as complex as it ever was and is reaching warp speed with the technological onslaught that we are experiencing now more than ever. Harder more malleable metals, better wet look finishes, more economical every day consumables – to name a few – see us scurrying into the future at a hectic pace. But it’s never boring!

This year has seen new paint brands being launched into the SA market and a new distribution network forging ahead. Small area repair has been highlighted once again as an expanding area of profit and the latest in aluminium repair has been under the spotlight along with the new tools needed.

Standox is also enjoying their 60th year of business and have plans to celebrate this achievement the whole year through.

Glasurit’s parrot also turns 90 years old this year. Congratulations to you both in reaching such amazing milestones. Such achievements in modern day times are not to be taken lightly.

The top notch standard of the magazine is due to our wonderful teams of production and design, printers, mailers, advertisers and our ever enthusiastic readers. It truly is a team effort and I thank you for your hard work. It definitely shows in the excellent “read me” quality that is widely enjoyed locally and abroad. Wherever this festive season finds you, remember that the greatest gift you can ever own can’t be bought at the shops, but found in the hearts of true friends and loving family. Have a good rest and we all look forward to making the magazine bigger and better in 2016.

Best regards, Claire Macfie

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH:

F a cs imi le : +2 7 (0 ) 11 2 5 2 68 4 4 E ma il : a u tor e f@i a fri ca . c om W e b si te : www. a uto re f. c o. z a

UNITED KINGDOM

P u b lis he r: Ia n Gr oa t E d ito r: C la ir e M a c fie A c cou nts : V a l G roa t D e sig n: Ja y G roa t A ss ist a nt : N a ta sc hj a Fe r re i ra C T C or r es p ond e nt : Da v e Fa ll T e chn ic a l Ed it or: An d re w M ar sh 4

A U S T R A L I A MEDIA PARTNER

The views expressed in articles in Automotive Refinisher are those of the authors and shall not be construed to represent those of the Editor or the Publisher.

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

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INDUSTRY newS

by Steve Kessel

“The year ahead will p ro bably face tr ends of new netwo r k op por tunities, incr eas ed telematic developments and gaining a lar ger national foo tp rint on member ship for the CRA,� says Steve Kes sel, o per ations dir ector at CRA.

CRA NEWS

rackINg up steadY progress

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his year has absolutely flown by and CRa activities across the board have been full steam ahead for our membership which remains committed and satisfied. we can confirm that during this year we have also been able to grow our insurance influence by developing relationships with them as the industry changes constantly with consultation and new trends in panel structures and networking which will affect procurement practices. the membership conference which was held at automechanika yielded positive results as we also fielded a stand at the expo. what was gained from this was that a large cross section of our members voiced their concerns on major issues that face the South african motor body repair business and we have started to work on some of those issues both for members and with our invited associate partners at the event. new legislation and protocol implementation has kept us on our toes this year and by being very proactive on various aspects of the Consumer protection act and the treat Customers Fairly protocol amongst others and the changes that these will bring to everyone’s business operations on a daily basis. the Independent Industry Repair association survey placed the CRa in top position as an association in a number of key activities.

Our overall score was voted the best and even though the results were very close I think we can take a bow for the CRa operation which has only been in operation for a few short years. So we must be doing something right for members and that is the bottom line on the survey results. the CRa national rollout this year to be truthful could have been better but like any emerging business we were beset with a few staffing issues and our focus next year will be meeting with members more actively, advising on immediate roll out initiatives

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and to get to some of the body repairers in outlying areas. these regions have all expressed interest in joining, so our 2016 profile of challenges will include a drive to gain more members or a larger footprint of collision repair centre that meet with the associations high operating standards. the impending introduction of larger network operations will in my opinion only continue into next year so it is vital that independent standalone operators have a battle plan to contend with these business related trends. the CRa are striving to put some innovative plans together for the members going forwards in areas like telematics and other business plans which will also change the landscape of auto body repair in the future.

I thank you all for your continued support.

Taking part in the Automechanika show gave the CRA valuable time to talk about our performance and current trade issues that face collision repair membership.

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LOCAL update WHAT’S HOT?

patrIcIa doINg well IN a maN’s world A DVA N C E D T E C H N O L O G Y LASTING IMPRESSIONS

ExPRESS DELIVERY UNLIMITED SERVICE SA Auto Paints have a solid 20 year history in body shop supplies.

Our legendary service in Gauteng covers a full product range of foundation fillers and primers, superfast colour matching service and customer care that really counts for your business.

We have a full fleet of express delivery vehicles on hand.

Suppliers of: Auto Glass Lamps Motor Spares Bonnets Abrasives Fenders Spoilers Auto Paints We are stockists of Luxor Paints

Patricia Farrell sees to a large base of clients for SA Autopaints and says that the company win with their great service and express deliveries to the trade.

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here aren’t too many ladies working in the tough world of collision repair. we recently talked to patricia Farrell who works as a technical sales representative for Sa autopaints in newlands, Johannesburg. patricia’s success seems to come from a long history in the business for she sold abrasive systems for Klingspor for many years. today she is handling over 20 key accounts travelling the across the Reef to different industrial and commercial companies.

One of her most successful clients has been Raw truck Sales run by owner Rodney plett. they operate out of a huge site in Boksburg. Rodney and his partner paul van der Merwe have developed other ancillary companies like truck Busters, a stripping yard, and Force professional tools. Raw will rebuild just about any horse and trailer or pantechnicon vehicle back to new condition.

Rodney who has many years of experience under his belt says that they concentrate on auction sales and total write-off trailers.

By importing their own spares they are in many cases able to build them back to good, road-going units. patricia sells them all their consumable products such as Luxor 2K paint systems. the company have held their own in some difficult trading conditions. Rodney had a long period of working on the powerstar repair centre in Centurion and started up on his own some 17 years ago with partner paul who is a technical expert on the truck repair operational side. Raw have a full yard of rebuildable commercial cabs and some trailers that would be very intimidating to try and complete on expert repair. However nothing seems to frighten off the expert team at Raw truck Sales.

Farrell says that these customers are typical of her satisfied clients which are backed up by fast and expert service from Sa autopaints on an everyday basis.

Call Today

Tyrone Zackey +27 (0)11 673 9381 Patrica Farrell 082 901 1175 082 885 7301 Trevor Basson 079 632 1612 Visit: www.luxorpaints.co.za Mail: info@luxorpaints.co.za

Rodney Plett of RAW Truck and Rebuilders has a stock of spares second to none with parts that are self imported by the group.

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GUMTREE AUTOMOTIVE

ECONOMIC PRESSURE DRIVES NEED FOR PRIVATE AUTOMOTIVE SALE ASSISTANCE

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he latest Vehicle Price Index figures released by TransUnion indicates that the demand for used vehicles continues to increase, with one new vehicle financed for every 1.78 used. New car price inflation has also softened, while the price inflation of used cars is accelerating with increasing speed.

“It is not unusual when considered against the backdrop of lower consumer confidence and increasing financial pressure,” says Jeff Osborne, head of Gumtree Automotive. “Fuel and electricity costs, the rising cost of new vehicle imports, uncertainty about the economic outlook – all have an impact – and because the gap in pricing between a new vehicle and a used model is so significant, prospective car buyers will look to the secondhand market, without question. And of course, on the other side of the coin, sellers will take advantage too.”

While Osborne says that the quality and quantity of secondhand vehicles are favourable, private sales can present challenges for the uninitiated, whether buying or selling. “There are thousands of individuals who use our site to sell their cars privately and have done so for years, but if you aren’t familiar with cars or the process, there are some pitfalls to beware of. From the selling side, there are obviously risks associated with dealing with large amounts of cash as well as the ordinary risk of transacting with individuals you don’t know. From the buying side, you might not have the technical know-how to determine whether or not the car has undisclosed faults or been damaged in an accident. Because these deals aren’t protected by the Consumer Protection Act, the new owner will have very little legal recourse after the purchase to demand repairs.

“There are also other considerations. What if the owner hasn’t settled financing at the bank, or in the worst case scenario, what if the vehicle was stolen? How does one approach financing for a private deal? Or transfer ownership? The administration can be

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Jeff Osborne, Head of Gumtree Automotive mind-boggling if you haven’t actually completed such a deal in the past.”

Osborne says that these factors have spurred the demand for private automotive sales facilitation, such as the Motofinn solution endorsed by Gumtree. “We’ve formalised our relationship with Motofinn in July not only because the demand for assistance grew significantly, but because of our greater strategic focus on continuously improving the automotive offering on our site. This service not only takes care of the administration surrounding a private car deal – it also ensures that the seller receives their payment in full and that the buyer is assured that the vehicle is cleared mechanically, legally and financially before purchase.”

Andrew Sutherland of Motofinn says that the solution was born out of a need for safety as well as convenience from both buyers and sellers. “Buyers and sellers are being steered towards the informal motor trade due to financial pressure, but they would still be willing to pay a small fee for the benefits that have traditionally been limited to professional dealerships alone.

Financing, a full HPI check, secure payments, a full service history, police clearance, administration – all of these services can be accessed easily and without delaying the transaction.”

Osborne says that while numerous of these verified transactions have taken place, they expect that these are only the “tip of the iceberg”. “At the current rate, making use of third party facilitator could very well become the norm for private sales. In many ways South Africans are pioneers when it comes to implementing and discovering safety solutions for the private classifieds market. We do, however, urge customers to only make use of endorsed services that have the backing of respected industry bodies. In Motofinn’s case, this includes DEKRA Automotive, TransUnion and Deloitte,” concluded Osborne.

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inTERnATiOnAL NEWS

MiLESTOnES

HERE’S TO THE NEXT 90 YEARS OF THE GLASURIT PARROT

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he parrot is celebrating a big birthday. In 1925, when it was created, no one would have imagined that it would have such an illustrious future. Back then, Glasurit didn't choose just any member of the parrot family.

The Ara, which is the largest and most colourful type of parrot, has become the company trademark and for 90 years has stood for premium-quality paints and coatings worldwide.

The parrot's colourful feathers feature a combination of the primary colours red, blue and yellow, from which any colour under the sun can be mixed. They reflect the colour diversity of Glasurit paints. The parrot, with its vibrant personality, stands for the joy of colours and is characterised by the combination of its bright plumage and its intelligence. Its large size and communicative personality make it both stately and likable.

These attributes can also be found in the Glasurit brand, which sets itself apart by continuously responding to the needs of the market and the environment. As a result, the colourful parrot is regularly featured on cans with especially environmentally friendly waterborne paints and other solvent-free products.

For Nico Krukenberg, Glasurit commercial manager, one thing is certain: "It's the combination of innovative ideas and years of experience, along with the ongoing optimisation of 'inner values' that ensures the long-lasting excellence of Glasurit's high-quality products."

How it all started Today's appearance of the Glasurit

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parrot is the result of a long evolution influenced by historical events and fashion trends. The parrot's biography is colourful; it also describes Glasurit's product history and is a testimony to the changing times.

When Max Winkelmann founded the lacquers and paint company in Hamburg in 1888, the parrot was nowhere in sight. Five years later, Winkelmann revolutionised the lacquer market when the company manufactured its very first product dubbed "Crystal White", the first lacquer that could be applied by brush.

At that time, this made application much easier and increased durability of the coating.

Since China, as the home of lacquer, had a long tradition and guaranteed quality of the lacquer technology, Winkelmann's lacquer cans featured a drawing of a mandarin's head.

In 1898, Winkelmann was so successful that a separate brand name was registered for the numerous products: Glasurit. The name stands for the "glaze-like hardness" of the paint finish and from then on, like the mandarin's head, has symbolised quality.

The parrot is born In the golden twenties, the demand for colorful paints rose and the development of sprayable nitrocellulose paints heralded a new era. The new times called for a new individual symbol for Glasurit. In keeping with the joie de vivre of the Roaring Twenties, the new symbol needed to be more modern, more colourful and more dynamic.

In 1925, more than 20 years after the founding of the "Glasso" paint factory in Münster-Hiltrup, the parrot was featured

Glasurit logos from 1935 to 1960.

on Glasurit's paint cans. Until the mid1930s, it was displayed alongside the longestablished mandarin logo. It wasn't until later that the parrot appeared alone, serving as the unmistakable symbol of Glasurit's brightly coloured products.

In the early 1930s, the parrot had a rather playful appearance. Afterwards, it looked a bit more fluffed up and relaxed.

During the war years, it had a stern expression and the labels used German Fraktur typeface. In the post-war era, the parrot's appearance was again adapted to reflect the re-emerging vitality.

Over the decades, the parrot's appearance has undergone constant changes. But one thing remains unchanged: both in the past and in the present, the parrot symbolises the joy of colours.

The parrot today – Premium quality and stylishly refinished cars Today, the parrot is shown in flight, which emphasises its dynamic nature and brings colour and gloss into the world of cars.

The brand's design is more dynamic and modern and accurately reflects Glasurit's position as a globally successful premium brand. The exotic and luxurious aura enveloping the parrot also highlights the aspects of increasing internationalisation and the high value of the products.

Parrots tend to be very long-lived birds.

The Glasurit parrot has already surpassed all age records and in 2016 will continue to stand for a blaze of colours, brilliant ideas and colour quality. "We'll make sure of that – in the coming 90 years as well...," said Krukenberg.

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FRANKFURT MOTORSHOW 2015

ThE STARS ROLL OUT AT FRANkFURT MOTOR ShOW

Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA.

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et again the Frankfurt show showed no sign of a slow down in new model roll outs. The sheer enormity of this show is enough to put the world on hold until all of the slickest concepts and new model releases are revealed.

Frankfurt is one of the largest car shows in the world, dwarfing Geneva and Paris for the title of Europe’s biggest new car event in terms of sheer scale. As you’d expect, the German home brands always dominate, battling to out-do each other and show the world their latest innovations.

Porsche Mission E Most people are fans of 0-100 km/h in less than 3,5 seconds, and fast battery charging. And well done to Porsche for finally designing a four-door car with a rear end as desirable as the 911’s.

Honda Project 2 & 4 concept Its exceptional engine, a 999 cc V-4 fourstroke unit, was originally developed for the world-class MotoGP motorcycle racing series and has been specially tuned for the public road. With a 14 000 rpm red line, the unit is mated to a six-speed DCT gearbox and delivers peak torque of 118 Nm at 10 500 rpm.

Nissan Gripz Nearly the identical size as Nissan’s Juke, 12

Honda Project 2 & 4 Concept.

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Alfa Romeo Giulia.

Peugeot Fractal Co ncept.

Porsche Mission E.

Hyund ai N 2025 Vis ion Gran Turis mo Concep t car.

Citroën Cactus Co nvertible.

Nissan Gripz.

which has a huge fan base in Europe, the Gripz uses its sports car charisma to lure speed freaks to the crossover world.

Alfa Romeo Giulia Under the bonnet beats the heart of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, an allaluminium, 2.9-litre turbo petrol V6 engine, inspired by Ferrari technology and expertise, which produces 600Nm of torque, resulting in a top speed of 307 km/h and a 0–100 km/h time of just 3.9 seconds.

Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA The Mercedes Concept IAA serves two purposes. As a design study, since it features a fascinating capability of transforming the exterior (shape of the vehicle) for better aerodynamic efficiency on the push of a button or automatically when the vehicle reaches a speed of 80 km/h.

The four-door coupé is interesting, inside it previews the E-class that will debut next year and looks a lot like the current SClass.

The Peugeot Fractal is meant to take this thinking even further, with an emphasis on the absolute bleeding edge of stereo design and technology. Peugeot says that about 80 percent of the car was made in a 3D printer, the Fractal is electric. It’s not an especially powerful car, coming in at 204 horsepower, split equally between the two motors.

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There was no shortage of new model arrivals at what has become the biggest motorshow of the year.

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CUSTOM CORnER RANDFONTEIN

WHITE WALL BOYS

KEEP PUSHING

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’m not sure how the conversation went but it was somewhere along these lines.

“Honey, I feel that the Maserati I’ve got isn’t really fulfilling the family car purpose I thought it could. I think I’m going to add some scissor doors into the equation to make getting in and out the car easier for the kids.”

What are scissor doors you may well ask?

They are doors that open up instead of out, like the ones that you would see on a Lamborghini.

It’s these doors that have put David Gumede and Lesego Legoale’s business, 18

White Wall Boys, on the map. Seven years ago these friends, now business partners, began fitting white wall tyres to cars in Kagiso, just outside of Randfontein. Then people asked if they could introduce suspension mods, while others wanted to restore their classic cars and make them one of kind ‘moving art’. A car bespoke just for the owner’s taste. With great personal service and an open mind to dream big, David and Lesego have given life to several golden oldies.

It was this established trust that found the owner of a white Gran Turismo Maserati

asking if the team could convert his doors to scissor ones. And they were up for the challenge. They did such a good job that a second Maserati owner turned up for the same idea. Each car had a respray and suicide doors but the dark blue Gran Turismo had some body work done too.

The Grand Parisienne Pontiac – a gorgeous classic car - held her own at the photoshoot in a beautiful metallic blue. A lace curtain detail on the roof created a one of a kind detail which was repeated inside the boot on the air pump that pumps up the suspension. Gadget mad David showed us

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pics by Jay Groat, story by Claire Macfie

the remote control, just a normal garage door one, that he had converted for the car.

If you press the top button the front suspension pops up and the bottom button lifts the rear of the car. A definite must have toy for real petrol heads.

I certainly thought that I’d seen it all when I saw a Toyota Conquest sanded down for a new colour sporting scissor doors too! I mean what the heck, why not.

Preparation of the bodywork happens at David’s grandfather’s house. A team of young men are forever washing and detailing each vehicle with lots of enthusiasm and care.

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When spraying is required, they rent time in a booth at a panel beater in Randfontein to get the job done perfectly.

ABS Krugersdorp are their preferred supplier and their favourite refinish paint is PPG with its excellent wet look finish.

The latest project is the conversion of a standard Quantum into a party bus. The seats inside have been removed and a wrap around bench has been made inside for comfortable socialising instead. When finished, with a few hints of faux red crocodile to boot, it will boast a fridge, flatscreen TV and it will be a truly South

African party piece.

“Keep Pushing” is the company motto and it shows the evolution from then to now and into the future. That’s exactly what the duo of David and Lesego are doing.

They are presently converting David’s grandfather’s old bicycle shop into a showroom to highlight what they can do. David is currently working on an app that will allow your cell phone to tilt and adjust your suspension as you choose. It seems that there is no dream too big for this team. The sky is the limit for this hard working pair and I for one can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.

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pROdUCT PROFILE

No t only is the new AutoMatchic Vis ion much s maller from AkzoNob el, b ut it perfo rms functio ns in a fraction o f the time says Ro ry K ilroe (left) and Jurie Scheep er s from Auto Paint Solution’s technical team.

WHAT’S HOT?

SIKKENS REVOLUTIONISE COLOUR MEASUREMENT

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igitising colour has always been something of a Holy Grail in the world of auto repair. Now, after years of painstaking research, we have the technology in South Africa.

Over 100 years ago, Henry Ford might have said: “Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black,” but ever since the first Model-T driver tail-ended a horse buggy, body shop repairers have faced the same dilemma – what exactly is black?

The infinite colour variations that reflect our individuality in cars today hasn’t made their job any easier. Matching “just the right silver” for a Mercedes has always been more art than science, dependent on the human eye – and subjective perceptions – of the colourmatcher, however expert or experienced. Our love for modern metallic and pearlescent finishes raised the bar even higher.

“While the age and condition of a car’s finish might influence colour, the biggest variation in automotive colour often results from production in different plants and the use of different raw input or processes,” explains Fabio Vitale from Allied Paint Solutions (APS).

“Take, for example, Toyota red pearl metallic, which is produced simultaneously in plants in Japan, Europe and North America. All of these factories could be using different paint manufacturers. Those manufacturers get a sample swatch of the specified colour, but the results are not exactly the same for each batch produced, let alone each production site.”

“Over the last five years, however, research at AkzoNobel has made enormous strides in the field of colour digitisation. With this new development, they have finally taken the art out of the science of colour measurement, and together with the Mixit Pro, the AutoMatchic Vision is a revolution in colour measurement. We’re proud to be partnered with AkzoNobel in launching this product here in South Africa, at the same time it gets introduced to the rest of the world,” he continues.

The AutoMatchic Vision features a propriety engine that measures colour accurately through its multi-angle lens’s, transferring the information wirelessly to the Mixit Pro software engine then

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searches for the best colour match. And if that match is not good enough, the software engine will even calculate an improved, optimised formula using AkzoNobel’s vast colour database and colourmetric knowledge. The smart search feature indicates the performance level of the match next to the suggested formula, in addition to the colour visualisation on the screen to allow easy recognisability.

The Automatchic Vision also has the lowest measurement gap in the vehicle refinish market meaning it can measure spots on panels with high curvature that could not be measured before. Calibration is also only necessary once a month.”

“Colour digitisation and the Automatchic Vision take away the margins for error and doubt,” says Jurie Scheepers from APS’s technical team. “It gives painters an accurate answer they can rely on.

AkzoNobel spent years working with many people in the background to develop these formulas and do the measurements.

“Giving customers access to this wealth of digitally stored knowledge and experience, at the press of a button, saves them time and because the formula is exact, it delivers a consistent result – a concern we all share. Of course, it also saves the money which used to be wasted on mismatches.”

Once calibrated the Auto Matchic Vision stays accurate without fur ther adjustment for 30 d ays. That’s a big firs t.

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SIKKENS A4 AD S-O 2015 WEB VERSION_Layout 1 2015/09/08 2:20 PM Page 1

S i k k e n s p r o u d ly p r e s e n t s

Autoclear Range “This clearcoat is the perfect solution for all types of jobs” star ring

Visit us on www.sikkensvr.com

Tel: 011 454 8128 Fax: 086 459 8211 Email: info@alliedpaint.co.za

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HEALtH & SAFEtY MULTI-MIX REPAIR

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EXPLOSIVE TRUTH ABOUT MULTI-MIX REPAIR

Alex Lenaerts (left) in the Aer-o-cure multi-mix work area shows the ProWoTech GmbH mobile vacuum in action which sets the standard for health and safety when dealing with explosive aluminium steel and carbon fibre dust.

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s motor makers push the boundaries in automobile design in every direction to both save on manufacturing costs and provide increased safety for occupants, along with ever greater fuel efficiency, the trend to incorporate aluminium structure with high strength steel and composite plastic materials is forging ahead.

So you can now quickly forget about doing aluminium in a single special working area. From now on it’s going to be a multi-mix repair station and some of the big drivers in this new trend are Audi and VW with the TT3 model lightweight construction. This requires in real terms, even more investment in equipment standards in the multi-mix repair station of the future. The use of the VAG integrated model platform MQB is extended across the group architecture with their new VAS 6673 level of recommended and future requirements is unveiled.

The Advantage With the new concept of bringing together all the body materials like aluminium, hybrid steels and composite materials, in reality this means that the area now becomes effective as an often curtained off area for everyday workshop use. Thus the investment can work as a powerful tool for daily business. As usual with an advantage there is normally a downside which is ever present and the emissions of these new material substrates in repair come under a hazardous substance ordinance across the world.

Often this necessitates a special assessment for local health and safety and fire laws and all the responsibilities for compliance fall in the bodyshop owner’s lap. Sadly as a repairer you now need some 22

chemical, physical and legal knowledge to repair this multi-mix type of vehicle.

Hazardous Problems Let’s start with the dust coming from the aluminium steel and CFRP fibreglass. Aluminium dust is flammable and can be deemed to be explosive depending on the concentration of dust and its particle size.

If a fire does start and a worker throws water on the dust it will explode into a ball of fire or produce toxic hydrogen gas in what is called a thermic reaction that burns at 2 400°C and often needs special extinguishers to stop the spread of the fire. Water will only add to your troubles should there be an accidental fire in the workshop.

From a health aspect recycling aluminium dust is a hazardous activity. Due to its static electricity component, CRP dust is also harmful if inhaled causing splinters which are very fine and can enter an operator’s lungs. It also attacks smartphones and computers in close proximity. Along with this list of processing red flags are the rust and dust that will cause heat when being removed. These too can cause a thermic fire.

If you’re not very careful by now perhaps you are beginning to realise that an ignition of these dust materials can easily burn the shop down and kill people as it did recently in China in the mag wheel factory where 86 people were killed. The factory was flattened when aluminium dust suffered a thermic explosion due to an ignition source from a maintenance worker on site.

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story by Ian Groat and pics by Jay Groat Enter the Vacuum The number one priority is to eliminate external sparks (which are vey common) via a spark trap, the sparks enter the trap at 200 km/h and are disintegrated by the TUV approved spark trap. The particles are then returned to 200 km/h in the five metre calming pipe before entering the ATEX vacuum machine. This process eliminates potential external ignition sources from entering the machine which itself protects the contents from its own ignition source such as electric motor and static charge (Attex 3 IID).

Most body shop owners don’t realise it is their responsibility to ensure the correct usage of any equipment, therefore it is critical that the equipment is used in accordance with the owner’s manual by the manufacturer of the machine and approved by an independent authority such as TUV on its effectiveness.They often carry a full class H filter and fireproof rating but even with all this it’s best to keep the different waste dusts separate. Working clean at all times will reduce the ever present fire risk.

“This is the best safety device out there,” says Bernd Himmelreich of ProWoTech GmbH, who are based in Germany and who presented a talk recently on handling these multi-mix hazards in repair.

Further to This It is interesting that VWG were among the OEMs that pushed for dedicated aluminium working rooms inside conventional repair shops.

The advent of multi material body structures has been underway for some years, as can be seen clearly on the Mercedes-Benz C class W205. The image below is an aluminium strut tower - for the rear suspension of S class W222, which is very similar to that used on W205.

If one does no house keeping (removing dust as it accumulates) and no segregation of tooling, then problems will come very quickly.

Yes, build up of particles smaller than 420 micro metres across combined with a build up of static electricity charge can result in an explosion. Automotive Refinisher magazine explored this subject in the March 2015 edtion.

However, good housekeeping can result in not using dedicated aluminium processing rooms and no risk of explosions. More critical is the advent of bonded joints which require excellent process control to achieve the correct cured joint strength. So, by all means get the super dooper vacuum device, but it won’t solve all the issues by itself. It requires good processes, and clean working areas too.

It is recommended to remove thermic dust after each job is finished from the collection tray.

This unique spark separator slows down the sparks from grinding operations.

Bernd Himmelreich from ProWoTech GmbH, are the company producing the latest TUV approved spark trap system with this explosion protected vacuum for dust with a class H explosion proof electric motor. It meets VW specifications and with a three stage design also handles carbon fibre waste material.

This beautifully crafted heat treated aluminium casting from Mercedes-Benz is surrounded by a mix of sheet aluminium and steel alloy panels.

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MAROUNS AD S-O 2015_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2015/09/04 11:31 AM Page 1

new rapid bolt on repair area l e-glass curtain with ttv red eye protection l self assembly with aluminium rails l free standing work area l available in two sizes

mobile vacuum work centre

Marouns Johannesburg: Marouns Midrand: Marouns Benoni: Marouns Vereeniging: Marouns Durban: w w

(011) 216 0600 (011) 312 2767 (011) 420 2700 (016) 455 4423 (031) 208 3221 w . m a r o u n s g

Marouns Bloemfontein: Cape Paint & Panel: Intercity Springs: Intercity Pretoria: r o u p . c o . z a

(051) 430 0960 (021) 510 8250 (011) 815 4433 (012) 327 6133

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INDUSTRY newS WHAT’S HOT?

the eVer INcreasINg ImportaNce of repaIr data

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n any given year, roughly 75 “significant” vehicle debuts or engineering changes hit the market, says I-CaR’s Jason Bartanen.

It leaves shops in a perpetual state of playing catch-up, and it puts a premium on the industry’s hottest commodity today, data.

Repair data has become a crucial aspect of the three-pronged foundation of successful repairs, along with training and equipment. and data has become big business for industry equipment providers, so much so that companies with traditional backgrounds in pulling equipment have adopted data as their largest revenue source.

Chief automotive technologies is one of them. Roughly 25% of Chief ’s worldwide sales come from its data segment, compared to 21% for its pulling equipment. Richard perry, global repair product manager for Chief, sums up the reasoning pretty simply: without accurate repair data, you can’t make accurate repairs. “without being able to fully diagnose and find an issue with a vehicle after a collision, you can’t repair it properly,” perry says. “You just can’t do it.” as vehicles continue to progress, shops must turn to data to make sure they don’t get left behind. the standard go-to for shops should be OeM build data, and the repair information those automakers provide, Bartanen says. that’s the minimum requirement, he says, and the folks at Chief suggest taking it a step further. Build data from OeMs provides the original specs of a vehicle, as it would come off the assembly line, perry says. It allows for a threshold on slight variances in the measurements, but it doesn’t necessarily provide a “real-world” benchmark for shops, he says. put a vehicle on a lift to measure damage, he explains, and the front and rear of the vehicle can sag up

by Bryce Evans

to 75 mm. that sag, as slight as it may sound, can cause gross miscalculations in repairing the vehicle, especially when modern restraint systems and advanced safety features are timed in accordance to chain reactions in the vehicle that take place over milliseconds. this is where repair data comes in. Chief has built its own database, measuring every available vehicle while on a lift, and adjusting the benchmark specs to reflect the conditions the average shop would see when measuring.

Chief has data Resource Centres placed throughout the world to consistently gather new vehicle repair specs. the info is automatically updated and available through the company’s e-access platform. It gives proper benchmarks for the repair process, perry says, and adds another level of accuracy for technicians.

“Correct vehicle dimensions, and repair methods, are imperative for ride quality, collision energy management, and for proper function of safety systems, including restraint systems and many of today’s other advanced safety systems such as the plethora of electronics associated with collision avoidance technologies,” Bartanen says.

But data is only half the solution for repairers looking to complete accurate and safe repairs. “what’s important is that collisiondamaged vehicles are repaired using a 3-d measuring system,” Bartanen says. “today’s vehicles cannot be properly repaired without 3-d measuring.” a collision can affect a vehicle’s structure in three directions: height, width and length. Because of that, perry says, vehicles must be measured in all three directions; hence, the now common term 3-d measuring. there are a handful of electronic measuring systems, such as those made by Car-O-Liner, Spanezi and Chief. the devices provide an accurate baseline for the repair process, often finding hidden damage that would go unnoticed using traditional measuring gauges. and they can give instant feedback if used during the repair itself. using one is a must in today’s industry, as far too many repairs are being made incorrectly, says Mike Cranfill, Chief vice president of global collision and new business development. Chief reports show that just two out of every 10 vehicles in a shop are measured before work is begun, and based on the company’s own analysis of typical vehicle damage, eight out of 10 vehicles need measuring to find hidden damage.

LOCAL NEWS

the marouN’s group IN durBaN ramp-up traININg

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he Marouns Group branch in durban, managed by Steve tarpey, has moved to increase spray painter knowledge on colour mixing standards along with their training on shop primer body preparation levels. the company operate a fully kitted out in-house theory classroom for Spies Hecker and Standox refinish training. tarpey, who has long term experience in refinish supply is backed-up by Rory Brough on the technical training front. “what’s all important is that your regular system users actually achieve new levels of profitability and success so no one can neglect the area of rework on jobs that were unsuccessful the first time round,” says tarpey. “what we aim to achieve is improved levels of our customers knowledge in getting the absolute best results with say the new StandoBlu waterborne system every time. this is a vital part of what we offer on improved performance. with our expanded services with a special spraybooth and Hammach dust free preparation the company can offer a host of new workshop technology with new spraybooths from SaIMa, Hammach, Jollife Lifts or Spanesi measuring or auto straightening benches. “we have become a sort of one-stop shop for KZn collision repair concerns who want to upgrade and meet new operation challenges on repair technology.”

You can get more information from Steve on +27 (0)31 208 3221

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Stever Tarpey has many years of experience in body shop management and training. The company have a superb training centre on site.

Basic primer preparation levels of improved finished work using dust free equipment fast track improved production levels say the team in KZN. 25

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indUSTRY UPDATE

PPG have moved their headquarters from Krugersdorp to Longmeadow East Business Estate in Edenvale.

These new premises also sport a new training facility to be launched shortly, so watch this space.

WHAT’S HOT?

EMBRACING CHANGE WITH PPG

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hings will always change, even though change is not always easy. It is inevitable, but taking those first steps with acceptance and enthusiasm are the key words to a successful change.

The PPG Refinish Business has excitedly embraced the change for relocation. After many months of planning, the Cape Town and Durban depots, as well as the Krugersdorp operations moved into their new homes. The main drive behind the relocations, was due to the growth of the business and the decision to outsource its warehouse facilities.

The Cape Town depot was the first to move office to their new location in Tyger Waterfront, Tyger Valley. To follow was the Durban depot who burrowed down only a few kilometres from their previous location, now situated in a tranquil environment in Kloof.

Both the facilities are now also equipped to supply theoretical training sessions and interaction with their customers.

Last but not least was the Krugersdorp offices, founding their new home in Longmeadow East Business Estate, situated in Edenvale.

Together with the new training centre, they are now situated much The tranquil setting of PPG in KZN lends itself to a much more relaxed work place.

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more centrally with easy access from all major routes. The new, state-of-the-art training centre will grant PPG’s customers the opportunity to learn in a hands-on environment.

Whether you are a refinish paint technician, body shop owner or manager, spray painter or rebuilder, PPG offers you a wide choice of training curriculum to ensure that your knowledge and skills stay abreast of the latest products, technologies, equipment and collision repair process methodologies.

The spacious new training centre will primarily focus on training and support for the current existing brands in South Africa, namely PPG Deltron®, Envirobase® High Performance, MaxMeyer® and Selemix®. It offers a complete package, from product training, Paint Manager system, equipment usage, job costing and much more.

Complying with the European EHS rules and regulations, this training centre is well equipped, giving the customer a guarantee of quality and will allow training with the latest technologies and equipment. All of our training techniques and services are built around essential body shop practices and reflect the realities of the market.

The Gauteng, KZN and Cape Town offices have been tastefully finished and staff and clients made to feel welcome.

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PPG N-D AD 2015_Layout 1 2015/10/27 10:59 AM Page 1

For more information call +27 (0)11 454 8105 or visit www.ppgrefinish.com

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INDUSTRY update

by Anna Zeck

DESIGN

NIce waItINg areas caN wIN customers

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ne of the things you have to capture in your body shop today is that it has to be world class. when the general public is walking into the front office of a collision centre, especially as more millennials are becoming customers, they compare the experience of walking into a collision centre with other experiences in their life. they’re comparing a collision centre to a lawyer’s office, a hotel, etc. Customers will make a value judgement about your shop within the first five seconds of entering.

More and more, when we talk about lean, you think about production, but that extends to the front office too. Recently, there has been more initiative to take a look at the office and implementing lean processes for the administrative offices. they’re realising they can eliminate a lot of waste, save money and improve processes.

By doing that, they really are taking a look at their whole customer experience, which is priceless. there is so much waste and nonvalue in the front office. until they stop to take a look at that, they’re doing the same things day in and day out.

Many shops are streamlining the process and they’re keeping it all open and visual.

Some of the ways you can do that is with glass panels from the desktop up on desks so visually you can see what’s going on in the front office while still maintaining privacy for employees. when the customer walks up to the front desk, no matter who is in the office, your team can see when a customer comes in the door and greets them.

It’s about making it clear for the customer. when they enter the shop, they know exactly where to go and what to do. You don’t want a customer to walk in and not know who to talk to. there is a defined area with a front reception desk. there might even be an area in the back where the frontoffice staff can hear a customer enter and still greet them. at this point, it’s no secret that having a “wow” factor is important. It’s becoming a very common refrain. there are several things that have become standard to a customer waiting area and that every shop should do just that to make theirs professional. every shop needs to walk through this checklist: • the area is redecorated every two years • the magazines are refreshed every month, and cover a variety of interests • Carpets and floors are kept clean • Bathrooms are regularly cleaned • Comfortable seating and a range of seating options are offered 28

N6 Panelbeaters in Aliwal North have really done a professional job to welcome clients.

• a refreshment station with free coffee and water is always available • If there is a tV, it is state-of-the-art kind and the volume kept relatively low • Free wi-fi – if it is available.

However, there are also new trends that shops should follow to really stand out from the pack. First, the current colour standards that are popular are bright and light. It’s all about keeping things very simple and streamlined. that extends to furniture too. we’re not seeing those overstuffed leather couches like we were a few years ago. It’s really about keeping it simple and getting rid of the clutter. that means getting rid of old plants, tons of brochures or papers

everywhere. when it comes to certification or plaques, try to make it look purposeful. Many customers don’t know what industry organisation actually is or what a certification programme entails, but framing them and grouping them together on a wall does make more of an impact.

Free coffee, soda and snacks are a good way to make customers relaxed while they wait for a repair. Make sure the refreshment area if well stocked. Coffee machines, sinks and other appliances should be free from leaks. these days, it’s really about a Keurig machine or offering cuppaccinos, expresso’s or lattes.

Alberante Auto Spray have an extensive line up of approvals to ensure clients of their professional approach.

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CARVELO AD N-D 2015_Layout 1 2015/10/27 11:00 AM Page 1

GENERAL A4 AD M-A 2015_Layout 1 2015/03/23 11:14 AM Page 1

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INDUSTRY newS

Llewelyn Muld er Junior ( left) seen her e with his father Llewelyn Senio r. They have done an amazing job for the Gener al Paint br and in Africa and will now mar ket the G enRo ck b r and in the United Kingd om.

WHAT’S HOT?

geNrock eXpaNds INto the uk market

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nternational applications (IaL) and General paint uK have announced details of a strategic partnership which sees the Oxfordshire-based coatings and consumables supplier taking General paint to market through its network of refinish distributors.

General paint is one of the fastest-growing producers of car paints and ancillaries for the refinish industry with a heritage which stretches over five decades and a market presence in more than 60 countries.

Its paint range comprises specialist and general-purpose 2K compliant solvent and waterbased systems. they boast a constantly updated library of more than 87 000 colours and a comprehensive selection of a-grade ancillaries including clearcoats, primers and activators. dean Royal, CeO General paint uK said, “we plan to take our products across the length and breadth of the uK by building upon our international reputation for the accuracy of our colour match and the high quality of our premium finishes. to do this we need to work with partners who have the drive, innovation and market presence to represent our proposition throughout the refinish industry.”

“Our first-class products need a first-class distribution representative and I am delighted to announce we have appointed International applications as our key business partner within the uK. Llewelyn Mulder, IaL’s managing director, said, “I have a long personal connection with General paint, having established it as a leading brand within the african continent, and was keen to be involved with its distribution in the uK. IaL is pleased to be able to offer the full General paint range to our distributors. we are already booking our first installations and look forward to a long and productive relationship with the General paint uK team.”

IaL, which acquired the trade Group in May 2015, has recently expanded its operations by opening offices in South africa and South america. It takes paints, coatings and consumables to the uK refinish market through independent distributors.

General paint, founded in 1959, entered the automotive refinish market in the 1970s and introduced waterborne technology in the 2000s. Its product range includes GenRock and Gen20. Its GpC pro software gives body shops access to a database of over 87 000 colours for all major vehicle manufacturers and international standards, with new colours formulated daily and added weekly for online colour retrieval.

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Competitive price and perfo r mance has d r amatically incr eased wor ld sales o f the r efinish line for G enRo ck.

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AR NOV-DEC 2015 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2015/10/29 1:15 PM Page 8

DRIVEN peuGeOt 208 Re-eneRGISed

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he new peugeot 208 continues its move upmarket with the arrival of the Gt line, which has a strong, dynamic and sporty feel. the new range combines re-energised, assertive styling with new, highly efficient puretech engines and an advanced automatic gearbox, while a new Gt Line model adds sporty appeal. peugeot’s innovative i-Cockpit has also undergone further refinement. this latest peugeot 208 line-up consists of three models, offering a choice of three highefficiency euro6-compliant puretech engines, two transmissions and two trim levels. the exterior is compact, chic and dynamic, the peugeot 208 is a distinctive head-turner in a segment better known for its pragmatism than its style. the new 208 improves further on an already attractive package by adding stronger visual impact.

Key changes include new headlights with black and chrome elements, creating a sharper, more assertive expression, while Led daytime running lights are included on the active and Gt Line models. a new bumper with crisper, cleaner lines is linked to a smoothly integrated grille that’s wider and gains a more pronounced chrome

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surround. Higher trim levels (Gt Line) get a distinctive black and chrome grille treatment that creates a three-dimensional effect. these changes, together with repositioned fog lamps, endow the new 208 with a wider, more emphatic look that also emphasises the hatchback’s dynamic character.

Safety and security remains a core attribute. Its five-star euro-nCap safety rating is the result of a comprehensive array of active and passive systems across the entire model range. active safety systems include aBS anti-lock brakes with eBd, and eBa, while passive features include dual front airbags, inertia reel seat belts and front and rear head restraints. the hazard lights activate automatically under emergency braking while central locking systems automatically lock doors when driving off. It also has side airbags and eSp as standard. the entire new peugeot 208 range is equipped with euro6-compliant three-cylinder engines featuring puretech technology. the normally aspirated 1,2-litre engine employed in the 208 1.2 active is even more frugal, recording a combined-cycle fuel consumption figure of 4.3 litres/100 km, while the CO2

emissions dip to just 99 g/km. the threecylinder is credited with 60 kw of power at 5 5750 r/min, and 118 nm at 2 750 r/min.

Inside, the innovative i-Cockpit is equipped with an Mp3-compatible Cd receiver with multiple speakers, a trip computer, electric power steering, air-conditioning, electric front windows, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, height and reach-adjustable steering wheel, and a refrigerated glove compartment. the most notable addition is the seveninch colour touchscreen display which centralises key functions and features via an intuitive user interface, while the steering wheel gains multifunction controls. the sound system includes both Bluetooth and uSB connectivity. also standard on the Gt Line are an electrochromatic rear-view mirror, autoactivating headlights and rain-sensing windscreen wipers. Manual air-conditioning makes way for an automatic bi-zone climate control system. pricing includes a three-year/100 000 km warranty. active and Gt Line models also benefit from a five-year/60 000 km premium plan (Full Maintenance plan).

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PHOENIX EXCHANGE AD M-A 2013_Invoice TOYOTA 16-8-05 2015/07/16 1:31 PM Page 1

Telephone: +27(0)79 206-7881 / Fax: +27(0)11 452-8372 Tyrone: +27(0)82 856-1200 Aki: +27(0)84 889-7014 / Email: info@phoenixchange.co.za Website: www.phoenixchange.co.za

AR N-DCLAIRE_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2015/10/29 2:32 PM Page 7

pAinT And AbRASivES TRADE EVENING, CAPE TOWN

ON THE MOVE

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ansai Plascon pulled out all the stops at a recent customer trade evening to show some new innovative products in their car refinish brands. The function was attended by close to 80 prominent trade customers from Cape Paint and Panel, in the heart of Cape Town.

The Kansai Plascon team were all there to show some of the innovative activities that the company are currently developing with their range of Acryline, Standox, Spies Hecker and Mastermix refinish brands.

These are sold across South Africa with the latest intelligent solutions on colour matching and computer retrieval. Warren Gillman, senior marketing executive at Kansai Plascon, said these system brands have successfully positioned the group both from a quality of refinish and because the offer is very competitive.

The Maroun’s Group are the largest OEM supplier and that is their core business which gives brands like Standox and Spies Hecker the best package in everyday body shop essentials right through sub-Saharan African markets.

Axalta have also recognised the Kansai Plascon strength in the local market and are busy ramping up the local availability footprint for their latest Spies Hecker and Standox waterborne range to increase turn around speed in paint shop production as well as to improve overall profitability for body shops.

The Cape Paint and Panel team of technicians and management p ut on a g reat evening of entertainment.

The manufacturing headquarters remains in Port Elizabeth but the company also operate huge sales offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban to back up their large share of the body shop refinish business.

Rob Simpson, general manager of The Maroun’s Group then took the stage to present The Maroun’s Group future market drive.

The company, with its 10 branches across South Africa, is ideally placed to become a one-stop shop for their refinish paints and parts business. Their team have consistently travelled across the world to secure great brands like Colad, Dinitrol Corrosion Protection, Indasa Abrasives, SAIMA spraybooths and Italy’s finest electronic measuring and bench package from Spanesi. The large equipment is handled by The Maroun’s Group key staff members for equipment upgrades, Rory Brough and Heinz Brügger.

Simpson went on to say that recent activity by a technical backup team who had travelled to the local end using repair shops. They had been effective in improving methods on offer and very successful in improving client’s profitability with increased throughput and less reject work being seen.

As the night went on three lucky attendees were rewarded with weekends away. The trade evening proved to be a resounding success for The Maroun’s Group in what they term a revitalised state of mind.

G eneral manager for The Maroun’s Gro up Rob Simpso n r eviewed new service levels fo r Cape bo dy s hops to increase thro ughput and up p rofitability.

There were lucky d raw p rizes for three s uperb weekends away at exo tic lo cations.

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Warren Gillman, senior marketing executive at K ansai Plasco n, outlined many new p roces ssaving inno vations with the new waterbor ne technolo gy refinish br and s on offer.

Peter Dove ( left) from Pyrmo SA and Rory Broug h fro m The Maroun’s Group equip ment division, were on hand to field custo mer enq uiries .

The Cap e Paint and Panel team were o ut in full fo rce at the function.

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The lavish evening spared no expense. Everyone who attended had a sup erb time, including the team from Wheel Collision.

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AR NOV-DEC 2015 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2015/10/30 12:42 PM Page 21

PARTS BASKET SURVEY KINSEY REPORT

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he 2015 Kinsey Report covers 74 vehicles in nine categories – the same number of vehicles as last year but with the Crossover section, which had become seriously unwieldy, now separated into two components: Crossover and Executive Crossover.

The method of data capture remains unchanged, with all prices collected within the same calendar month, including VAT. Prices are sourced almost exclusively from franchise dealers around Durban, to replicate as closely as possible what the customer would experience.

For the customer it is very important to take note of the VIN number found on all vehicles when getting a quote for any parts required (left bottom corner of the windscreen – a 17-digit alfa numeric code that identifies every component of the vehicle). This will ensure that everything from trim to engine, gearbox, tyres etc will be specific to your model vehicle and with all the variations on the market this makes part identification both easier and more precise.

Shopping around can still pay dividends. Manufacturers are only allowed to set a “recommended selling price” while individual dealerships may charge whatever they feel is fair and reasonable.

Large volume sellers are competitively easy to compare prices but the lower volume brands may only have a single franchise and getting a “second quote” may involve considerable travelling.

This year’s Kinsey Report shows some alarmingly high prices which I don’t think can be blamed entirely on the deteriorating rand.

There are instances where items like mag rims and windscreens cost R10 000 and more. Admittedly there are cases where we are not comparing like for like, an example of this is the rear fender, which may be just that, or a complete side with door apertures. Bakkies are also awkward in that some manufacturers offer sides for the load box while others offer only the complete load box – which obviously is going to be far more costly.

Obviously comparisons must be made with similar vehicles, in the same or similar category since physical size of the part will also affect its cost structure.

This year we have dropped some vehicles and included others which were absent from last year’s report. The choice is so huge and one has to be selective. Consideration is given to the NAAMSA monthly sales figures which reflect the volume of sales for each vehicle. Some “iconic” vehicles are also included even though their sales are not in the Polo/Corolla league.

The area of crash parts is probably the most important in this study – most certainly the most costly. Servicing and warranties plans cover most costs for as much as 120 000km (Mercedes) but the moment you drive your new vehicle out of the showroom you and your insurance company are potentially liable to enormous costs.

Vehicles with aluminium body panels and chassis components, for example, are complicated and very expensive to repair and some are even written off when the repair costs reach 50% of the resale value of the vehicle. The use of alloy is very “in” at present – ostensibly to lighten the vehicle and thus improve fuel consumption. This is a false environmental greening effort since aluminium requires much more energy to produce and recycle than steel does, which in my opinion negates the advantages.

Other items that show big discrepancies include fan belts and flywheels. Some vehicles are now fitted with fan belts which resemble large elastic bands. They never need tensioning or adjusting, but unfortunately cannot be re-used if say, the engine is stripped.

Flywheels in some vehicles are a double mechanism connected by a series of strong springs. These dual mass flywheels can cost over R10 000 and unfortunately some have a fairly limited lifespan, sometimes only 80-120 000 km, before they begin to rattle and require replacing. The replacement of clutch and flywheel can cost R20 000 to R30 000 and is not generally covered by warranty and service plans.

Results in Categories: It is interesting to note how engine capacities have dropped to comply with emission regulations. Several 1.0 and 1.2 litre turbocharged engines are now in vogue.

City Cars and Entry Level Cars The new Datsun GO is a clear winner here with a parts basket of R37 631 (and a low selling price of R102 500). It’s a great first-time 36

Datsun GO is a clear winner in the City Cars and Entry Level group.

purchase, making owning a new car affordable. It may lack a few refinements like ABS brakes and airbags, but it’s a solid little vehicle for basic transport. Second overall in parts is the Nissan Micra at R44 479 (both these two are sourced from India) and third is the Polo Vivo at R49 805.

Best for servicing parts is the fourth placed Ford Figo followed by the Micra and Spark. The GO shines in repair parts and crash parts with Micra second and Figo third in repair parts and Go, Micra and Polo Vivo taking the top three spots in crash parts.

Super Mini The Renault Sandero (R65 517) narrowly pips the Fiat 500 (R65 738) with the Peugeot a not-too distant third with a parts basket of R67 463. The least expensive car to service is the seventh placed Polo, some R250 less than the Sandero in second place, followed by the Fiat. In the repair portion you are better off with a Fiat 500, while accident parts costs are lowest for the Sandero, followed by the Peugeot 208 and Fiat.

Family Favourites A pair of real family favourites, two Toyota Corollas take first and second – the Prestige just edging out the Quest at R67 078 and R69 466. Third is the Alfa Giulietta which always seems to surprise with its competitiveness.

Most economical to service is the VW Golf 7 (6th overall), followed by the Hyundai Elantra, both substantially less than the Corollas. In the repair section the Elantra and Kia Cerato are tops, with the Golf in third spot.

The Corollas come into their own with substantially less expensive crash parts, over R15 000 better than the third placed Alfa. It’s important to note that if the purchase price of a vehicle is comparatively low that the crash parts are inexpensive, to avoid reaching the write-off point. With any insurance you are still better off repairing than writing off the vehicle as you are seldom paid out enough to replace your vehicle and end up having to pay in a considerable amount. The Alfa, with a more expensive selling price, is one of only two cars in the survey with a parts basket to selling price percentage of under 20%.

Compact Crossover The Toyota Avanza heads up this class with a parts basket of R67 786, ahead of the Ford Eco Sport, one of the latest one litre turbo engined vehicles. Third is the Renault Duster.

The Duster is the least expensive vehicle to service followed by the Avanza and new Citroen Cactus 1.2 (4th).

The Avanza is substantially less pricey for both repair and crash parts, with the Renault Duster second in repair parts and the Eco Sport second in crash parts. Citroën has come up with an innovative idea to deal with minor scratches – the Cactus has plastic panels on the sides of the vehicle which are capable of absorbing impacts of about three km/hr, such as supermarket trolley damage. These can be individually replaced when necessary.

Crossover Toyota’s Fortuner heads the list here once more with a parts basket of R77 413 compared with the second-placed Kia Sportage at R92 992 and the Toyota Rav 4 at R97 708.

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Most economical Crossover to service is the Mitsubishi ASX followed by the Hyundai iX 35 and the Nissan X Trail.

Repair cost honours go to the Fortuner just ahead of the Chev Trailblazer (fourth overall), both well ahead of the third-placed Kia Sportage. Fortuner is also the most economical in the crash parts section by close to R14 000, followed by the Sportage and Rav 4. As a percentage of basket price to selling price, the Fortuner has the lowest figure in the survey at 16%.

Executive Crossover These are the real top dog SUVs and I felt they warranted a class of their own. Priced at over R750 000, and all automatic, the parts prices are probably more of academic than economic interest to their owners, but might be an eye opener to many of us. The winner here is the Volvo XC 90 with a total parts basket price of R164 508, followed by the Audi Q7, and close on its heels the Toyota Prado. All these vehicles have extensive service plans and it is only if they are kept for a long time or run up very high mileages that the cost of servicing could become an issue.

Volvo has the lowest service parts cost at R4 810, followed by the Range Rover Evoque (4th) and the Prado. In the repair section the Evoque has the least expensive basket ahead of the Quattro and the Volvo. The Toyota Prado is severely hampered by having very expensive shock absorbers which make the repair basket the most expensive of the group, but is able to pull back to a competitive position by having the least costly crash parts ahead of the Volvo and Audi.

Double Cabs Here three countries of origin compete for the top position. India wins with the Tata Xenon (basket price of R58 527) followed by Japan with the Toyota Hilux Raider (R85 986) and China’s GWM Steed 6 (R89 437). The GWM has the most competitive service costs at

CITY CARS & ENTRY LEVEL

Parts Description

Retail Selling Price Parts basket as % of selling price Air Filter Oil Filter Pollen Filter Spark Plug Each Glow Plug Each R/H Wiper Blade L/H Wiper Blade Front Brake Pads Rear Brake Pads Cam Belt / Timing Chain Front Brake Disc Rear Brake Drum / Disc Front Shock Absorber / Strut Rear Shock Absorber / Strut Clutch Plate Pressure Plate Flywheel Fan Belt Bonnet Front Bumper Skin Grille L/H Front Fender Wheel Rim L/H Headlight Assembly Front Windscreen Aircon Condensor Radiator R/H Front Door R/H Rear Door R/H Front Window Glass Rear Bumper Skin L/H Rear Fender Boot Lid / Tailgate L/H Tail Light Assembly Rear Windscreen Total

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

R2 269 ahead of the Tata and Isuzu KB300 (fourth overall).

Repair parts winner is the VW Amarok – though it must be noted here that most Amarok D/C sales are with automatic gearboxes, so there are no clutch and pressure plate/flywheel prices in the list, as with the manual transmissions. GWM comes second.

Crash parts sees Tata Xenon the clear winner by more than R20 000 on second-placed Toyota Raider.

Single Cabs We are not exactly comparing apples with apples here, since we have included two half-tonne bakkies in with six full tonners. The Nissan NP 200, with a parts basket of R47 026, just pips its larger brother NP 300 Hardbody for first spot. Third is the other “small fry” the Chev Utility 1.4 Club. Servicing honours go to Nissan Hardbody, a scant R23 from the NP 200 with the Chev Ute in third. The Chev Ute retaliates by having the best repair parts basket ahead of the two Nissans.

And in the crash parts it’s the two Nissans in 1-2 position again.

However, it is interesting to look at the rest of the bakkies in this section – the one tonners – the Isuzu 250 leads the Toyota Hilux, Mazda BT 50, Ford Ranger 2.2 and VW Amarok.

Executive Saloons The first three places are very closely contested – R2 500 separated them in their parts basket prices. Leader is the BMW 320, followed by the Audi A4 and The Infiniti Q50, which is a first timer in the Kinsey Report. All these vehicles are automatic, so there are no pricey clutch and flywheel costs. Audi comes out top in the servicing section ahead of the Infiniti and all the cars are within a thousand rand or so. The repair portion has the Infiniti well ahead with a larger range of costs. The crash parts costs reflect the overall basket – first to the BMW, second to the Audi and third to the Infiniti.

DATSUN GO 1.2 LUX

NISSAN MICRA 1.2 VISIA+

VW POLO VIVO

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FORD FIGO 1.4 TREND

SUZUKI SWIFT 1.2 GL HATCH

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R102500 36.71% R143.08 R82.07 R318.16 R68.96 N/A R119.28 R119.28 R1131.60 R1053.36 R869.18 R553.55 R754.25 R1148.57 R587.10 R647.45 R929.70 R1024.35 R405.03 R1681.67 R1761.30 R1174.20 R1710.00 R367.00 R1710.00 R1761.30 R2961.48 R1080.71 R2348.40 R2348.40 R587.10 R1761.30 R1140.00 R2348.40 R1174.20 R1761.30 R37 631.73

148300 29.99% 138.91 79.67 224.07 43.04 N/A 205.47 147.39 815.72 1022.68 844.49 651.48 879.91 825.251 404.69 813.20 1163.20 1475/93 393.24 2890.97 1681.67 911.53 1395.50 706.64 1632.51 1488.97 4118.65 2636.50 4083.29 4283.36 491.82 1486.72 1204.29 3819.29 675.87 843.49 44 479.41

159600 31.21% 192.66 157.32 250.80 61.56 N/A 177.41 157.82 761.34 1261.53 783.41 812.11 1121.28 875.50 771.83 794.87 719.98 2419.14 760.30 2309.22 2073.55 495.35 882.19 1854.68 1771.74 1376.09 5034.11 1382.36 4933.20 2338.50 541.43 2050.51 4458.13 3460.60 1290.74 1474.52 49 805.78

154900 35.75% 120..84 114.00 297.14 102.14 N/A 111.61 95.42 629.47 951.90 511.32 1283.64 1306.44 876.67 678.30 1749.96 KIT 1244.88 703.38 4345.68 2488.42 N/A 1494.54 1102.38 2132.94 3425.70 2428.30 2443.02 4505.28 4505.28 388.74 1633.62 6110.40 5123.16 1318.98 11153.68 55 377.23

143900 40.30% 202.60 66.65 224.73 54.21 N/A 220.00 160.00 942.93 942.82 640.76 1081.38 1188.12 1673.16 883.39 882.08 1166.23 22409.02 175.43 3326.53 2161.77 590.18 1749.73 1583.22 2061.63 4049.17 3423.83 4909.01 3874.47 3650.28 649.76 1713.76 4869.36 3304.83 1152.93 2169.71 57 993.59

143000 41.91% 211.88 90.17 168.42 140.46 N/A 277.00 244.00 667.84 1105.73 575.21 777.31 746.21 1088.23 730.69 1865.53 782.39 3342.42 202.10 4074.60 2200.28 749.73 1874.32 4072.32 1792.82 3259.68 3748.63 2200.28 5215.48 N/A 586.75 2852.22 5860.90 5378.47 1124/59 1919.95 59 911.02

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LOCAL UPDATE

Taken at Mirka’s recent visit to South Africa at Bulldog Abrasives state-of-the-art training centre. From left to right are: Ted Saari (Mirka Export manager, sales), Jason Baynes (Bulldog Abrasives WID director), John Maroun (Bulldog Abrasives CEO) and Simon Bloxham (Mirka vice president, sales).

MiLESTOnE

MIRKA AND BULLDOG ABRASIVES; 20 YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP

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ulldog Abrasives in the period of 20-years have successfully imported and distributed Mirka products throughout sub-Saharan Africa. During these years the business has progressed from traditional sanding with different products to complete sanding systems consisting of abrasives, tools and polishing compounds.

The feedback from both end-users and distributors has been the key to success when it comes down to the introduction and development of Mirka’s new sanding solutions. Customer feedback is commonly used throughout the product development process to ensure that the end product is something that solves a customer’s problem or fulfils their need. Bulldog Abrasives have always played a crucial part in this by continuously rolling out product demonstrations on Mirka products.

Mirka has established subsidiaries all around the world (with some exceptions) and South Africa, including the Sub-Saharan region, is one of the territories where Mirka distribution is successfully handled on an 40

importer basis. Bulldog Abrasives have throughout the years built up an efficient logistic system and a dedicated sales team for each market sector. With the local knowledge and optimised product range the common set targets have been reached year after year.

The relationship between Bulldog Abrasives and Mirka has evolved over the years and the level of understanding, communication and trust has been a key factor to the growth of Mirka’s product range in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Mirka is a world leader in abrasive technology and innovation with the training of the end-user being a critical part of this, enabling them to use the products effectively and to their full potential. Bulldog Abrasives, with their fully equipped training centre, continuously offer customer training on Mirka products.

Bulldog Abrasives offers in-house training on surface preparation which is recognised by Merseta as an accredited skill.

Another key factor in the growth of the Mirka product range in Sub-Saharan Africa

has been the training and technical support that Bulldog Abrasives has provided on-thejob for end-users thereby upskilling the staff to increase output and minimise wastage.

In the past body shops have been mainly working with wet sanding products, but there is a clear direction towards dry sanding, and thanks to the professional support provided by the sales team of Bulldog Abrasives, the sales of dust free sanding products are growing from year to year.

Mirka has always offered end users a complete surface preparation system with the latest and highest level of technology.

Mirka’s dedication to technology and environmental friendliness coupled with Bulldog Abrasives’ dedication to training, technical support and job creation creates a formidable team that will continue to grow from strength to strength.

For more information on the Mirka range, contact Bulldog Abrasives sales team on +27 (0)11 786 5991 or sales@bulldogabrasives.co.za

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Rotary House, 31 Heidelberg Rd, Johannesburg, 2094 Phone: (011) 334 1875 Fax: (011) 334 0965 www.celette.co.za info@celette.co.za

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INDUSTRY update WHAT’S HOT?

dr smash software package Now wIth major upgrade

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ver the last few years, the dr Smash team have launched a number of new modules that have helped the system to become more user-friendly, with a great deal more information on hand to improve all areas of the body shop repair process. they have subsequently also introduced their latest version, which has been completely redesigned, using a SQL database. this will offer the dr Smash clients piece of mind with regards to the safety of their data and increased user-friendliness. dr Smash assures us that they will continue to keep their package at the forefront of the market and that they have plans to continue to expand their package into a total organisation management system.

John Banfield, the founder of dr Smash, gave details of a host of innovations at a recent user group evening held in durban. there are new options such as the ability to expor t information to pastel or to automatically complete manufacturer’s reports. It can facilitate the auto-generation of SMS’s and/or emails to clients to keep them informed about the progress of their vehicles. this comprehensive new system even includes a module for the booking in of potential work and management of workshop load capacity to prevent overbooking.

Overall, the upgrade has also introduced a number of tracking features that not only allow you to see where the vehicle is or when it may be ready but also the ability to track spares and consumables allocated to a job card and/or employee. this is all displayed and controlled in an easy-to-use summary monitor know as the workshop control monitor. Colour coded departments, schedules and admin requirements, allow for easy detection of any workshop bottlenecks or issues that may need attention. the

Michael Boorman welcomed delegates to the KZN customer trade evening in Durban for Dr Smash.

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John Banfield has spent years perfecting the Dr Smash software. The system now offers many new management controls for body shops. addition of the new admin dashboard has been designed around helping manager’s improve and monitor productivity of employees and workshop efficiency, which again is displayed using an easy-to-use colour-coded system. the information this system makes available on all aspects of business is

incredible, and will give any owner or manager access to state-of-the art control and management of more than just the bottom line but also company productivity and workflow at all times.

For more information call +27 (0)31 700 6498 or visit the website www.drsmash.co.za

Christine Boorman (right) maintains close relationships with her system users.

The new innovations from Dr Smash were well received by collision repair delegates.

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GLOBAL newS

International Business Report

WHAT’S HOT?

chINa slowdowN hurtINg motor makers

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hen Volkswagen (Vw) and other major car makers had begun reining in Chinese production along with wages and other costs, industry sources said as executives at the Frankfurt automotive show put a brave face on a sharp slowdown in the world’s biggest vehicle market. the German car giant’s Chinese joint venture, Faw-Vw was cancelling staff bonuses and cutting shifts at its plants near Changchun, in north-eastern China, insiders said. the bonuses typically account for more than half of the assembly-line workers’ pay.

Volkswagen and General Motors (GM) are among the vehicle manufacturers most exposed to the downturn in China. demand for new vehicles has slowed abruptly as a stockmarket slump compounds the effects of a cooling economy. demand is also shifting from foreign to domestic brands. while China has accounted for more than half of Vw’s profit in recent years, GM and its Chinese partners risk being wrong-footed pursuing a R189.6 bn expansion in China. Both have begun trimming local production, by about 5% in July, according to a consultant. “the mood is very depressed at Vw, BMw, or GM,” said Clemens wasner of austrian automotive Consultancy, eFS, which advises several German car makers in asia.

Hubert waltl the production chief of Vw’s high-end audi brand, said it had also reduced output at its Chinese plants, trimming the work week to five days from seven in response to lower demand. the brand’s Chinese facilities were previously “overheated,” said waltl. audi chief Rupert Stadler said the company expected “further growth in China, and we will not change our investment plans.” a GM spokesman said the company’s business model in China was ‘different’ from most of the other multi-nations, with large investments in many brands where sales were still rising.

BMw, the largest luxury car maker, warned last month that its forecasts for this year could be at risk from any further deterioration in China’s market, where sales are falling for the first time in a decade.

In Frankfurt, where car makers have built their biggest show stands to display luxury cars with Chinese buyers in mind, car executives played down the extent of the slump and its consequences. pSa peugeot Citroën boss Carlos tavares told BFM Radio that peugeot sees “very big growth” in China. He added, “as a result of this slowdown there are players who are panicking and cutting prices, which makes it harder to sell vehicles at a fair price and obviously hurts everyone’s business.”

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LOCAL update

A recent customer training workshop held in Durban by Tunzi saw the innovative Binks Gems mixing machine put through its paces.

The unit can monitor up to four spray painters in every way possible from material utlisation to costs. It is ideal for both truck and body builders and as well as industrial applications.

PRODUCT PROFILE

deVIlBIss INtroduce gloBal electroNIc mIX solutIoNs

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hen it comes to getting control of costs on an industrial spray painting operation it can often be viewed as a trip into a giant black hole. truck and trailer makers see steel going in one side and trailers or parts coming out of the other end. Quite often no one seems to understand how the colour changes and downtime on refilling systems affects the paint shop and it is often not recorded. the all-new Binks Gems paint mixing system says deVilbiss automotive Refinishing (Finishing Brands), can now provide the ability to prove what quantities of materials are consumed in the course of the day. “Operators can quickly be trained in the use of the system and it is also very easy to maintain,” says adrian perry, export sales manager for deVilbiss automotive Refinishing.

On a recent trip to South africa from the deVilbiss team, the Binks Gems computer system was technically demonstrated by tunzi in KZn and Gauteng to key industrial companies in the 48

bulk circulating of materials business. It is able to supply information for up to two spray painters with individual print outs on total paint and solvent usage. actual spraying times, number of colour changes and a host of other controls on the painters performance right down to the actual cost of job run time can be seen. during the development of Gems deVilbiss research and development spent a considerable amount of time understanding the process and fixing problems to deliver a unit that works out of the box right away. there is a special training presentation video for fast start-up times in various market sectors. product manager from Finishing Brands, Steve Mannouch, provided a great technical overview of the Binks Gems 2K system paint delivery machine and says that by introducing touch screen technology the electronic control unit interfaces between flow rates of material and pump activation.

By activating all the appropriate valve timings along with measuring and controlling fluids, the key components are split into the top box where computer

controls are managed by a programmed Sd computer card while fluid controls and dispensing is taken care of from the bottom box of the machine. the Binks Gems unit has patented technology on the 2K hardener mixing system and the computer screen uses easy to follow graphics. “what sets the Binks Gems apart from other mixing systems,” says Mannouch, “is the data gathering and transfer ability of this package. It is able to provide spread sheets on performance and material audits to deliver actual running costs for an operator using the excel data system.” there are a number of optional extras available like a solvent flow meter, gun flush machine box and a gun add-on kit to personalise any machine to the exact requirements from a customer. the units are planned to come into the local market early next year as production is ramped up in europe. prospective clients can call the local distribution agent like tunzi for more information on the groundbreaking Binks Gems technology.

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From left to right; Bernie Davenport, Rene Roux and Mark Weatherill from Tunzi have already got sales for the Binks Gems unique mixing system.

Steve Mannouch from DeVilbiss shows how the Binks Gems touch screen computer is set up.

The Binks Gems machine offers amazingly low colour purge or clean-up volumes, says Steve.

Adrian Perry holds the theory sessions for trainees at the demonstration venue in the KZN Automotive Training Centre.

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InDUSTRY update lOcAl neWS

COURT PLACE CHEMSPEC INTO LIQUIDATION

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outh african paint company Chemspec closed its doors after a high court application for its liquidation saw more than 400 people across the country lose their jobs. the winding-up application in the durban High Court was predicted after one of its financial bankers called in a R74 million loan given to keep the 58-year-old business going while under business rescue management.

But what appeared to be a good offer, one which would guarantee jobs and the company’s continued presence in South africa, was dashed at the last minute. and its former chief executive Strath Wood, who left South africa under a cloud of debt and whose estate is under threat of repossession, could have put the final nail in the coffin through his

involvement in entities which own the property where the company is based. according to an affidavit filed with the court, the offer from an international investor to buy the business as a going concern for R175 million was conditional on being able to lease the property where the company operated from.

Strath Wood and his family trust have interests in the company that owns the property and he sits as a director on its board. the affidavit also states that despite several attempts by the potential buyer to mediate an acceptable compromise regarding the lease, the parties were unable to reach an agreement.

WHAT’S HOT?

HONDA APPROVES PPG FOR FLAGSHIP NSX SPORTS CAR

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ven before Honda’s all new flagship sports car, the NSX reaches its first customers in early 2016, ppG has already received global repair approval from Honda Japan for the sleek supercar. the NSX was first conceived in 1990 and was a technological masterpiece in its time, the second generation followed suit with an advanced lightweight multi-material construction. the latest NSX features a sophisticated power unit including a twin turbo V6 engine, three electric motors and a nine-speed dual clutch transmission which directs the total system power of more than 410kW to the road via all four wheels. exterior styling is another highpoint, with every element of the

Tel: 011 425 4062 Franz: 082 463 6284 Email: info@specialheat.com 1 Madeley Street, Rynfield, Benoni 50

low, wide and sleek aerodynamic body designed to reinforce the car’s credentials. attention to detail can be found everywhere, including a truly dynamic colour selection. Customers will be offered multiple three-stage colour options, including ppG’s andaro tint dispersion technology, which provides the ability to achieve deep, pure and more chromatic colours than is possible with traditional pigments. ppG’s coatings technology will actually be applied at Honda’s new performance Manufacturing Centre in Marysville, Ohio, where the second generation supercar will be produced. a team of ppG staff from Japan and the uS has been supporting Honda during the development phase and the step into production that will see the vehicle makes its transition from concept to the road.

Supercure Spraybooth Rail System

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INDUSTRY newS USA NEWS

rIco lawsuIt targets top auto INsurers

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n one of the most extensive representations of the issues affecting the collision repair industry ever committed to print, Crawford’s auto Centre of downingtown, pennsylvania filed an exhaustive 164-page lawsuit on april 30 against State Farm, allstate, GeICO, progressive, Farmers, Liberty Mutual nationwide, alleging that the companies conspired to control the cost of automobile repairs. the suit argues that the defendant insurers also violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisation act (RICO) by creating artificial ‘prevailing’ rates based on their dRp shops’s use of products by the industry’s three leading information providers (audatex/audaexplor, CCC or Mitchell) who has been named as conspirators. the suit, which also names uSaa, travellers and american Family as conspirators but not as defendants, was filed in the uS district Court for the northern district of Illinois, eastern division.

Crawford’s seeks to have the lawsuit granted class action status to allow for the inclusion of any non-dRp facilities that ‘performed automotive collision repair work or services on or in connection with a vehicle insured by, or covered under insurance issued by’ any of the seven defendant insurers and used a CCC, Mitchel or audatex estimating programme for a repair estimate or supplement since 1 January 2006. according to the suit, the action seeks to remedy the defendant insurers “long-running unlawful conduct to suppress compensation to repair facilities for automotive collision repairs covered by insurance. defendant insurers State Farm, allstate, GeICO, progressive, Farmers, Liberty Mutual and nationwide, together with their three conspirator insurers, are the 10 largest private passenger auto insurers in the united States, collectively holding 70% of the market, and control all aspects of collision repairs, including establishing the industry standards for compensation paid to repair facilities.” additionally, the suit argues that because the defendant and conspirator insurers all use the estimating programmes of at least one Information provider (and because these companies sell the

same programmes to insurers and repair facilities) the Ip’s ‘serve two masters’, the defendant insurers as well as ‘the repair facilities, which must use the estimating programmes to perform their work because the estimates are the only means by which insured repairs are paid.” the complaint states that “the programmes are marketed (to the insurance industry) by the Information providers as controlling costs and purportedly improving accuracy, but with respect to the repair facilities, the purported goal is preparing comprehensive estimates.”

“Based upon my discussions and investigation, we saw that there appeared to be a real wrong that was occurring here, and it was subjecting a significant portion of the collision repair industry to that conduct (with) injury as a result,” the Information providers said. “I thought that it required a remedy that would be material, significant and something that would hopefully change the structure and the framework of the relationship between the insurers and the portion of the collision repair industry that is represented in the case, and how it is that they get compensated for repairs on behalf of insured and other third parties who are covered under insurance.” additionally, Bloch notes that automotive consumers stand to gain tremendously if their case reaches its desired conclusion.

“Once the repairers are treated more fairly and/or are not subjected to the same type of interference and impact from the insurers conduct, the insureds will benefit from the totality and quality of the repairs that can be made,” Bloch explains. “that’s not say that the quality has been lacking on behalf of the constituency who’s brought the class and the case, but the environment in which the repairs can take place at that point will inure to the benefit of the insures and those covered by insurance.” not surprisingly, Bloch says the case has received an ‘extremely favourable’ response from various members of the collision repair industry. “we’re fully confident in the case that we’ve set forth,” he says. “we intend to proceed with all due deliberate effort and speed in seeking remedy and relief on behalf of the class.”

NEW TECHNOLOGY

waVe Your haNd aNd the BoNNet pops up This is the car developed by Brose for the Frankfurt Show.

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uto suppliers are not only working to make for clean air. Some also want clean hands. at the recent Frankfurt auto Show, German components maker Brose showed off its latest innovations, among them, a rear door that can be opened automatically and a petrol tank door that can be opened with a simple gesture. the rear door uses electronics similar to those found in automatic liftgates, something the company makes, along with mechanical and electrical components for seats and doors.

Brose sees a touch-free door as a comfort feature. when dropping off the kids at school, there’s no more running around to make sure the door is closed securely. the same idea inspired the petrol tank door, which slides open with just a wave of the hand. Brose sees it as a possible feature for future electrified vehicles and luxury cars. “a mere movement of the hands will suffice in the future to open the tank lid or engine hood touch-free,” the company said. “the advantage: your hands stay clean.”

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GOODWOOD REVIVAL 2015

GOODWOOD

ATTRACTS RECORD CROWDS

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Sir Stirling Moss

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record sell-out crowd of 149 000 echoed a sensational 18th Goodwood Revival Meeting during the weekend of September 11-13 at the iconic Goodwood Motor Circuit in the south of England.

The outstanding on-track moments of the weekend included the first gathering in history of all six original Shelby Daytona Coupes, on the 50th anniversary of the organisation’s World Sportcar title, and the honouring of the career of legendary racer, team boss and constructor, Bruce McLaren.

Race highlights included the annual RAC TT Celebration race for early 1960 GT cars, which was won by the JD Classics prepared Jaguar E-type of former British Touring Car Champion Gordon Shedden and Chris Ward; and a back-to-front victory in the St Mary’s Trophy for 1960s saloons for the mighty Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt of ‘Le Mans’ expert drivers Tom Kristensen and Henry Mann.

Seventeen-year-old Peter de la Roche, on his first visit to Goodwood, secured victory in the Earl of March Trophy for post war 500cc single-seaters, taking the lead at the final corner of a scintillating race; while success in the Lavant Cup, held exclusively for 1950s Ferrari sports prototypes, went the way of James Cottingham’s Ferrari 500 TRC. The 75th anniversary of the ‘Battle of Britain’ was commemorated with a poignant on-track moment on Sunday afternoon that featured 94-year-old Wing Commander Tom Neil, a Royal Air Force veteran who saw active service during the battle, and with an evocative 12 Spitfire flypast.

Track displays included a collection of over 50 ‘Series I’ Land Rovers and more than 25 US ‘Gassers’ that lit up their tyres with a series of spectacular burn-outs each morning, while the Earls Court Motor Show central concours celebrated Ferrari through the ages.

Off-track, the 60th anniversary of the Fish Finger was marked with an authentic trawler while 50 years of Youthquake was marked with a 3D billboard featuring live models in Miniskirts.

Bonhams’ Saturday sale of historic cars and automobilia resulted in £763 000 being achieved for Keith Richards’ Bentley ‘Blue

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Lena’ while the Revival High Street featured period stores from Tesco, Kenwood, Bendicks and more, and the March Motor Works presented by BMW Group took the form of a trendy London Mews garage and celebrated coachbuilt specials from BMW, Rollys-Royce and Mini.

Lord March said: “The 18th Goodwood Revival drew a record sell-out crowd, who not only witnessed some of the most iconic racing cars every built dicing wheel-to-wheel, but also celebrated the career of motor racing legend Bruce McLaren, saw, for the first time in history, all six original Shelby Daytona Coupes together on track and joined an incredibly poignant and fitting tribute to the bravery of all those who

fought in the ‘Battle of Britain’. My sincere thanks to everyone who came for their support and enthusaism for the event, which continues to be cherished by enthusiasts of motor racing and vintage culture across the world.”

Tom Kristensen blasted the record books with an absolutely amazing drive in the huge V8 Ford Galaxy when he came from last place on the grid line-up in the St Mary’s Trophy to take a hard fought win after 16 laps.

On the second day it showed the best cut and thrust racing of the weekend as he dispensed with superquick Alfa’s and Cosworth machinery to take the chequered flag.

Tom Kristensen came from the back of the field to win the St Mary’s Trophy in a scintillating race.

Winner in the Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt, Tom Kristensen celebrates with Frank Stippler and Gordon Shedden.

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GOODWOOD REVIVAL 2015

The Barry Sheene two part race was an absolute stunner and at the finish line it was the Irish champion Jeremy McWilliams and Duncan Fitchett on a 1961 Manx Norton who took the overall win for the two leg race by just half a wheel in the closest finish to the chequered flag all weekend. The crowd went absolutely wild and watched on intensely.

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PYRMO_Layout 1 2015/10/28 11:14 AM Page 1

Top Brands in Body Shop Repair

Dealer enquiries welcome

PYRMO SOUTH AFRICA +27 (0) 11 244 4978

Pyrmo SA sole importer

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INDUSTRY newS GLOBAL FOCUS

BodY shop gloBal market reVIew - australIa

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nsurers continue to call the shots in the australian repair market, with the two dominant insurance groups, who cover around 80% of motorists, exerting the most sway. during 2013 and 2014 major insurers IaG and Suncorp restructured and radically reduced their approved repairer networks which led to a huge cull of shops that had previously depended on vehicles from these work providers.

Other insurers such as Queensland’s RaCQ have followed suit. this has led to a large number of anecdotal collison repair shop closures, possibly as much as 15% of the market (these reports are from industry suppliers as these figures aren’t monitored nationally).

It is an increasingly hostile and difficult landscape for single site family repair businesses to navigate successfully. while some shops are undoubtedly thriving under the new contracts, there are reports that many of those who won the contracts had not fully understood their business costs and are struggling to make any profit out of the increase volume they are receiving.

Consolidation is speeding up with an increasing number of business owners choosing to sell or shut their doors in the face of fast-paced technology changes, capital investment costs to keep up with technology, slimmer profit margins, falling accident rates and skilled staff recruitment issues. the Suncorp joint venture Capital SMaRt rapid repair chain has 24 shops in high population, urban areas, the SMaRt team recently took over another Suncorp joint venture, a supershop in Sydney formed called Q-plus, specialising in heavy hit repairs. now called SMaRt plus there is industry expectation that further heavy hit facilities will follow in other cities. the Gemini Group has been following an aggressive growth strategy with owner andy Hopkins making no secret he plans to reach at least 50 shops. there are currently 32 shops in the network with the finishing touches to a ‘game changing’ shop in Queensland taking place at the time of writing. a merger has resulted in a publicly listed company called aMa which currently has 12 shops in two states and is planning a national footprint and fast growth. Latest acquisitions have been prestige shops which may suggest a strategy of aiming for strong national prestige offering to bridge the gap with Gemini which soaks up a substantial part of the volume model market.

In response to this consolidation, affiliation groups consisting of independent repairers such as the australian accident Repair network and Car Craft are stepping up recruitment activity to offer independents some of the bulk buying and other advantages that multi-site operators enjoy.

Car manufacturers in australia are experiencing growing competition from ‘parallel parts’ or grey imports. this, combined with a preference by insurance companies to use alternative OeM parts, repaired or recycled parts to reduce repair costs. Suncorp Insurance has set up its own parts company aCM parts which has begun selling parts with nSF-a Certified mark, indicating the product is tested and approved by nSF International for the australian market. In response to these conditions vehicle manufacturers have been putting increased emphasis on their approved repairer network with peugeot and Volkswagen setting up theirs recently and luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMw encouraging dealer-owned repair facilities. while skills shortages continue, these are less severe than in previous years given that there are less shops and that many shops are running lean operations using less tradesman than they have traditionally. anecdotal evidence suggests that many tradespeople are leaving the industry because the shop owners can’t afford to pay wages that are attractive enough to retain staff.

Meanwhile the numbers of young people enrolling in vocational training in the motor industry is in decline which also means that the

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number of courses and institutions offering vocational training is shrinking. a large number of body shop owners are using the 457 skilled migrant visa to bring in qualified staff predominantly from the uK or the phillipines. a national shop grading programme created by the australian Motorbody Repairers’ association for the industry has been slowly rolling out over the course of the year. this divides jobs carried out by shops into three categories from light to structural repair and assesses on training, equipment levels and environmental compliance.

Suncorp Insurance has its own published standards for the repairers in its repair network. an historic Heads of agreement between participants in the automotive supply and service industry was announced at the end of 2014. the agreement is primarily about technical data sharing so that consumers can choose who maintains or repair their vehicle. the agreement states that technicians must be able to access technical data at a fair and reasonable rate. Meanwhile repairers also have access to thatcham’s escribe and eZi-methods repair. the cessation of motor vehicle manufacturing in australia in 2017 announced by Ford, Holden and toyota last year has prompted a government inquiry into the future of the motor industry in australia. this is a generational chance for all sections of the motor industry, including body repair, to tell the government about the challenges businesses face in terms of regulatory and taxation burdens and future skills shortages. there is concern that unless something is done now to attract young people into the industry and to understand what skills they will need, that there won’t be enough technicians with the skills necessary to keep cars on the road in a country that is more dependent on motoring than most.

On a more positive note there are some smart, second or third generation shop owners coming through with a positive ‘can do’ attitude bringing fresh thinking and keen to adapt to a changing market place. there is still optimism for the future of the industry from those who are investing in the business strategies which will mean they will be part of the elite guard which survives and thrives through current and future market consolidation. while accident rates are falling in australia and the headlines are dominated by accident avoidance technology and driverless cars, this continent has some local conditions as individual as its native animals.

Firstly ‘biblical’ weather such as hail and cyclones drum up plenty of repair work for the areas that experience these conditions. australia’s current 10-year vehicle parc age means that repairers have plenty of older technology vehicles to work on that don’t need up-to-theminute training on repairs which will enable them to hang in for another couple of years before there are a larger number of newer vehicles in the car parc. Finally, the vast geographical distances in australia mean that the infrastructure for driverless cars will be a long time coming outside of urban areas. So, while accident rates will continue to fall it’s unlikely they will fall as sharply as they will in more densely populated areas in europe, for instance.

FaCtS and FIGuReS aBOut auStRaLIa population Gdp total Vehicle parc number of passenger vehicles

23.1 million $1.560 trillion uS 17 633 493 13 297 260

average age of vehicle fleet 10 years number of motor insurance brands around 50 number of vehicle brands on sale 67 number of body shops - vigorously debated, average of estimates yields about 3200 nationally.

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NEWS FROM THE ZOO - by Roger Houghton

kYalamI Now Needs to Be much more thaN just a race track

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race track can no longer be just a race track, as was the case when the Kyalami circuit opened for business in open veld north of Johannesburg in 1961. nowadays circuit owners worldwide have to find ways of making their pieces of real estate earn their keep as venues for a host of other activities, some not even motor-related. this will certainly be the case at the rebirth of the motorsport icon that is Kyalami. toby Venter, the CeO of porsche Sa and a true motor sport enthusiast, said when he bought the track through the Venter Family trust in July last year for R205-million on auction that he was going to be the owner of a ‘venue for hire’ and not a motor racing promoter. “Motor racing costs money and we now need to make money,” he quipped. the scope of rejuvenation at the Kyalami Grand prix Circuit is growing apace as the re-development team, headed up by entrepreneurial Venter, and his right hand man, affable andrew Baldwin, the group property manager, who is the person driving the amazing rebirth project on site.

I was fortunate to be invited to go on a conducted tour of the construction site last month with Baldwin and porsche Sa’s very efficient and friendly public relations manager, Christo Kruger. It was a real eye-opener. progress is amazing and everything is being done to the highest quality standards. a great deal of focus is now on providing world class conference and exhibition facilities as well as a top class “non-denominational driving experience” in the area previously occupied by the go-kart track and the hive of small buildings that previously housed a number of small businesses, mostly motor sport related..

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a significant new development is the making of big changes to the main pit building and conference centre. apart from its function for motor sport this building caters for conferencing, brand activation and exhibition requirements, which will be an important source of revenue for the company. a decision has now been taken to spend R50-million on upgrading and increasing the appeal of these facilities. these new facilities need to be serious money earners to make the whole project viable. the initial budget for redeveloping the site was R100-million and all of us with long links to this hallowed 73 hectare property in Midrand were delighted. However, that number continues to grow and is probably getting close to exceeding R200-million by now. the project team is taking the view that it will be better and ultimately more cost-effective to extend the scope of the upgrading and rebuilding now, while the major construction is under way, rather than tackling these additional projects piecemeal at a later stage. this means that the opening of the new Kyalami will now take place in the first quarter of 2016 rather than in the fourth quarter of this year as was envisaged at a function in May where a group of motoring journalists was given the unique opportunity of driving around the Old Kyalami in porsche panameras on the day before the ripping up of the old track began.

For me it was a wonderful experience to go to Kyalami to see first-hand the way dreams are being made into reality. I can assure you we will have a new Kyalami that will be right up there at the top in terms of international standards.

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BETAG AD J-A 2015_Layout 1 2015/10/30 1:53 PM Page 1

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Kapci Coatings; Tel: +27 (0)11 834 1252

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story & pics by Jay Groat

TRAINING

BETAG INNOVATION’S SMALL REPAIR TOOL SEMINARS

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ired of wasting unnecessary company profits? Aimed at saving body panels by repairing instead of replacing them, small repair is fast becoming a body shop’s means of efficiency, thanks to more turnover being left after the

repair.

Ralph Meichtry, CEO and founder of the Swiss-based company Betag Innovation, noticed there was a shortage of body panel repair tools within the trade. He then over the next 15 years, with the help from OEM’s, insurance agencies and body shops, developed the Flatliner system aimed at helping shops be more profitable and productive due to lower costs and time taken to repair.

Automotive Refinisher magazine spoke to Meichtry at a Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) training session held recently at Celette SA at their training centre in Johannesburg. Meichtry reckons: “The core intention is making the modern body shop technician’s work more efficiently as time is money. So everything we do is focused on helping the technician get his or her job done faster, better and more cost effectively.

The two-day seminar predominantly focused on Betag’s PDR offerings and what the best techniques are on removing small dents almost anywhere.

Day one of training focused on the tricks of the trade in PDR. Customers were taught fast effective methods of massaging small to medium dings out of body panels using specialised PDR rod sets, glue systems and lamps. Clients learned which tools were best for the type dent.

The theory was followed by practical sessions. Dent removal on a variety of body parts was a good way of showing customers just how valuable a system like this is, because of its part savings ability.

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It’s astounding when you consider just how much time you are saving without taking paint costs into consideration and just what the long term benefits of such a system is to a panel and paint shop.

Day two of the training schedule concentrated on repair instead of replacement once again. Clients got to use the Flatliner Panel Repair Systems. These systems are for fixing larger damaged areas of the vehicle. Hard to shape places such as a boot lid with levels and edges is no problem. Whether it is a steel or aluminium repair, the Flatliner has the system for the application.

Body shops make more money by repairing body panels rather than replacing them. With the core system being the Flatliner small to medium it’s evident just how necessary the tools are for cost effective fast repair. The company is so dedicated to customer training because they want the equipment to be used to its full potential.

Contact Celette SA for any future Betag Innovation training information or more on the Flatliner system in action. Call them on +27 (0)11 334 1875 for more product information.

BETAG INNOVATION TRAINING: Day 1 module PDR: Lighting the dent, types of dents, first steps, knocking down, repairing elastic and plastic dents, repairing complicated dents,types of tools, access on the car, access behind the braces,glue systems.

Day 2 module Flatliner: Tools and systems, spot welding units, analysing damages, proper preparation, repairing, cost comparison.

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INDUSTRY update

story and pics by Ian Groat

Nizam Ally (left) and commercial management representative and member of board of directors, AmrEl Sayed, have built up one of the group’s most important export markets in the world for their winning refinish with Kapci Coatings SA.

LOCAL ACHIEVEMENTS

kapcI coatINgs celeBrate 10 Years IN south afrIca

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he egyptian paint maker Kapci Coatings has posted incredible expansion despite a number of internal political problems. the Group from port Said, through their local agent nizam ally, have taken a sizeable slice of the local market. with close to 60% of the Group’s paint making capacity going to the automotive side – Kapci and Latico brands – the South african operation have pioneered Kapci Coatings global advance while remaining one of their biggest expor t markets. “the overseas group had a turnover of some 195 million uS dollars,” said amr-el Sayed on a recent visit to South africa. this from a privately owned, two-family member team of management is no mean feat. they have also established a leading position in the Middle eastern market and along with that unbridled success comes a new factory based in India, plus huge advances into the ultra competitive market in europe. the company is powered by significant expenditure into research and development and colouristics that play a vital role in

system ease of use. development of both solvent and waterborne ranges now see a 9000 Series colour box with 35 000 actual spray out shade cards with derivative colours becoming available internationally. this works in tandem with the 15 000 colour box shades for fast and accurate visual colour checking on Kapci Coatings formulas.

Because they are a diversified paint maker, India will also make polyester body fillers and compete in the wood finish business. It is a self-funded 150 million dollar investment – but they feel asia needs it going forwards.

On colour again, Kapci Coatings are now using the latest ultra-accurate three- and five-angle colour matching spectrometers which employ easy-to-use user-friendly software. to keep up with the demand in Kapci Coating’s own home market is an all-new facility, now in building progress. It is a huge, 130 000 square metre, planned paint factory and will take up to three years to complete. this capacity, coupled to the one in India of

some 67 000 square metres, means they are very serious about the Kapci Coatings growth plan for international sales to keep ramping upwards. the commercial success of the brand really zoomed forwards after the company exhibited at automechanika shows across the world, as well as at the Sema Show in Las Vegas. From this input new anti-scratch clearcoats, high solid clear coats and faster high build primer fillers, new putty fillers and a new formula lightweight filler will be introduced early next year to make their refinish line as good as anything on the market. as always it will be with a great value price to performance levels and will also be bolstered with 5200 new formula putty, 5900 basecoat lines and a reformulated 5870 clear matt finishing line.

So they are confident that with all this constant improvement plus huge investment, their spray painting end users will continue with bolstered confidence when purchasing the Kapci Coatings refinish brands.

Amr-El Sayed says that South Africa remains a top Kapci refinish destination in terms of success.

The Kapci Coatings SA national distribution team are based in Westgate, Johannesburg.

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Kapci Coatings; Tel: +27 (0)11 834 1252

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REpAiR TIPS

HELpFUL HinTS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FROM SATA

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ATA is a name synonymous with innovation and quality. It is no small wonder then that they have a website assistant at hand to answer any questions a client may have. Here are the answers to some of the more frequently asked questions which offer some excellent guidance.

Material consumption As a spray gun manufacturer, SATA are often asked about the correct meaning and interpretation of the terms “material consumption” or “transfer efficiency”. What is the actual difference between material/fluid delivery rate, transfer efficiency and material consumption? These terms are often misunderstood and misinterpreted – so let’s take a closer look.

Material delivery rate The material delivery rate describes the amount of material (paint) which in a defined period of time is released from the material passage – in actual fact from the fluid tip of the spray gun – at a defined dynamic gun inlet pressure. The inlet pressure on the spray gun should always be correctly adjusted.

This is particularly easy with the DIGITAL technology of the SATAjet 5000 DIGITAL or with the retrofit SATA adam 2. It is also possible, however, to connect a standard air micrometer with manometer to the gun.

Since pressure in combination with the 64

supply of compressed air (air consumption) has a great influence on optimum results, you should always ensure to set the inlet pressure as recommended.

You will find information on the correct pressure to be used in the paint application sheet of the paint manufacturers or on the web pages reserved for each individual SATA spray gun and with the gun trigger being fully pulled. This rate is measured in grams per minute (g/min).

The actual material delivery rate is effectively dependent on the size of the nozzle system (i.e. fluid tip size), the dynamic gun inlet pressure as well as the viscosity of the material. Viscosity is the time (in seconds) it takes the material to completely flow out of a standardised container.

This means: The higher the dynamic gun inlet pressure the larger the nozzle size and the higher the specific weight of the material, the higher the material delivery rate.

However, it does not say anything about Transfer Efficiency rate or indeed material consumption.

Transfer Efficiency Rate The Transfer Efficiency rate defines the amount of paint material released from a spray gun which actually reaches and remains on a flat surface of a defined size (e.g. 1 m²-panel) under a defined set of parameters comprising of dynamic gun inlet pressure, spray distance and spray angle, and with a fully pulled gun trigger. Modern-day

spray guns, like the HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure) and RP (RP is an acronym for Reduced Pressure) guns from SATA, reach transfer rate efficiencies well above 65%, as mandated for the collision repair industry by legislation in many countries.

Material consumption In practical terms, the effective material consumption varies depending on the geometry of the object to be painted, the work speed of the painter, the spray distance and the existing dynamic gun inlet pressure, as well as the required film thickness.

If we paint, for example, a bike frame with a surface of approx. 1m² and in comparison a 1m²-panel with the same spray gun used with identical application parameters, everyone will expect a much higher material consumption in the case of the bike frame, despite the fact that we are operating with the same Transfer Efficiency rate and the same material delivery rate.

Conclusion: The above explanations clearly prove that mere considerations of individual parameters, as for instance the often cited Transfer Efficiency rate do not provide any practical guidelines for the daily work of the painter. With this in mind, the recommendations of the paint manufacturers should always be strictly observed.

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SATA AD N-D 2015_Layout 1 2015/10/27 10:56 AM Page 1

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INTERNATIONAL TRENDS

by Jon Parker

WHAT’S HOT?

GloBal trends Matter

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outh Africa has a truly international flavour, which is fortuitous as it deals with many points I have been discussing over the last couple of years. I see markets and countries around the world dealing with collision repair at different places in time, going through similar challenges, but all at different phases.

More than ever, we are repairing the same, or very similar vehicles. As manufacturers build more “global” vehicles, the techniques to return them safely back to their pre-damaged condition technically should be the same. It’s everything that surrounds the vehicle repair that is the fascinating bit, and the part that will define how an industry, its insurers and its customers behave.

This, in turn, has an impact on how cars are repaired, and the profitability of collision shops.

To predict what’s going to happen in our market here in North America, we need to look at countries that are the most progressive.

If we want to see trends before they occur, or what are likely challenges coming down the pike, surely we can learn from other countries. So where is the best place to look inside the crystal ball?

Take the UK, for example. It’s an island with the same population (64 million) as the combined populations of California (38 million) and Texas (26 million), but only has 3 500 primary shops chasing all of that work. That compares to a total of about 18 000 shops in 1990. Due to a variety of circumstances, the number of repairs is dropping by about 15% per year. The questions are, “Why?,” and also, “Why has the US not seen the same reductions?”

The answers lie within a few numbers. Gasoline costs about $9 a gallon in the UK, significantly impacting driver behaviour.

Approximately 80% of vehicles are diesel, helping some achieve 80 MPG. People make fewer trips and buy smaller cars across the pond,

especially with a sales tax around 20%. Over here, motoring is very expensive, meaning less driving and smaller cars. The knock-on effect is a greater percentage of write-offs (some districts are at more than 30% of claims), less hours available per repair (now at an average of 13) and, of course, a reduction in claims frequency in a static population.

Will the US follow this trend ? Fuel prices will rise, Americans will buy smaller cars, and there will be more write-offs. This will result in fewer shops chasing fewer claims.

UK shops also face a high cost burden because of the overcapacity of shops versus the supply of damaged vehicles. Insurers have taken advantage of this competitive market. Most shops supply complimentary loaner cars that are owned by the shops, not rental companies or paid by insurance. Vehicles are self-authorised by the shop, and steering by some insurers is now at about 90%. Typically, we see a ratio of front-end to productive technicians at about 2:1, again, a very high cost to the business.

In the US, insurers cannot steer work like they can in the UK, but this trend will change as commercial pressure increases and legislation shifts.

As paint becomes more of a commodity, and paint companies seek new ways to sell their products beyond technical prowess or service levels, prices will be driven down with some discounts in the UK approaching 80% (of a price that increases about 9% every year).

Paint company deals with insurers in effect mandate the use of paint with an insurance contract, so if you work for the UK’s biggest insurer, you will be installing a certain brand of paint in your mixing room and using it on every one of their vehicles. Work with four insurers? You will need a larger mixing room to store the four mixing machines. Just think about the cost of training, inventory and increased possibility of mistakes!

Will all of this come to North America? Probably not, but I certainly see trends showing, behaviours changing and the market becoming more competitive and challenging, with shops becoming more costly to run. My crystal ball is already here, but it’s a little murky.

US NEWS

cars with crash avoidance steer clear of rePair shoPs

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teve Abrantes knows first-hand that vehicles capable of avoiding collisions without driver assistance will have an impact on the collision repair industry. The manager of San Diego Volvo’s collision centre has already seen a reduction in Volvo XC60 crossovers since a crash prevention system became standard on the vehicle in 2010.

“We’re not seeing that car in here,” he says of the vehicle, equipped with a system called City Safety. “The avoidance system is costing us money because we’re not seeing those cars with the same frequency as the previous models.”

Though he suspects any repairs involving the avoidance system could earn his business a bit more than a traditional fix because of the expensive and intricate components, he has yet to find out.

Abrantes says he plans to start tracking repairs on the model to see just what he’s earning, or missing because of the system.

It’s a predicament many repairers could find themselves in as crash avoidance technology becomes more widespread. If recent studies are an indication, the systems could prevent huge numbers of crashes each year if they become standard in every vehicle.

An October report from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) estimated that crash avoidance technology could eliminate all accidents caused by driver error. That’s a whopping 90% of crashes.

An earlier study by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), which 66

Vo lvo XC60 evaluated the Volvo XC60 with City Safety technology, found that claims under property damage liability coverage were filed 27% less often for the vehicle compared to other midsize luxury SUVs. Claims under bodily injury liability were filed 51% less often. And overall claim frequency for the XC60 was lower than for all other midsize luxury SUVs combined, as well as other Volvos, under every type of insurance coverage.

The XC60’s system detects the distance and speed of other vehicles within 18 feet of its front bumper when travelling between two and 20 km/h day or night, and automatically brakes if a crash is imminent.

Shops should be ready to learn about new crash avoidance systems as they are released, since repairs to those systems, which can include cameras, sensors, microprocessors and other components, will probably become commonplace. They could also make for more expensive repairs, she says, but costs will inevitably come down as production ramps up.

Arantes says, “We’re seeing the systems in the premium brands now, but they will certainly impact our bottom line as they become more common.”

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NEWS FROM THE ZOO - by Roger Houghton

NamIBIaN NeIghBours set reallY good eXamples

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isiting neighbouring countries used to be very popular for many South africans in the days when gambling, legal strip shows and girlie magazines were taboo in the RSa. popping across the border to Swaziland or Lesotho for the weekend or sometimes journeying to LM (Lourenco Marques, now Maputo) in Mozambique or even Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) were very ”in”. the laws in South west africa (now namibia) were similar to Sa at the time so this was not such an attractive destination other than for 4x4 adventurers, nature lovers and big game hunters.

However, with the liberalisation of Sa following the arrival of the era of the Rainbow nation in 1994 there is no longer the need to cross borders, which have become an increasing hassle and frustration over the years.

I have had the occasional trips to Swaziland, Lesotho, namibia and even one journey to Maputo but these visits have always been linked to new vehicle launches or motor sport events.

Recently my wife, Meg, and I were invited to join three other couples on a 10-day road trip in namibia and we accepted enthusiastically. the main aim was to visit the etosha nature Reserve and other game lodges as we travelled from windhoek to etosha and then down to Swakopmund before returning to windhoek and flying back to Gauteng.

It was not only enjoyable but also very informative and educational and opened our eyes to the progress being made in our neighbouring country.

Immigration and customs formalities at the airport were pretty quick and painless.

However, the biggest surprise for us coming from Sa was the general cleanliness not only in the cities but also in the smaller towns. namibians obviously take pride in keeping their living areas clean; there were no heaps of trash and curtains of plastic bags hanging on barbed wire fences which we have to accept as the norm in our country. the informal housing also seems of a better standard than generally found in Sa. another big plus was the very good condition of most of the roads. admittedly we kept to the major tar roads – usually long and straight! – as we heard that some of the gravel roads are in poor condition, with potholes. there are also road works for new road construction, which is encouraging. there were no beggars, but there are quite a few street vendors in parking areas trying to sell you trinkets such as key rings. On the negative side we encountered

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Sarel and Jenny Nienab er seen with their Toyo ta For tuner in fro nt of the famous Vinger klip sand sto ne column.

unfriendly and officious law enforcement officers. we saw very few of them outside built-up areas and there are a few permanent road blocks with no optional roads in these areas. Our group travelled in two vehicles, a local Chevrolet trailblazer and a toyota Fortuner driven to and from namibia by Sarel and Jenny nienaber of Knysna and the latter couple were given some stick by the authorities. the first “offence” was pointed out at a roadblock outside windhoek. this was the failure to display a Za national sticker on the rear of the Fortuner. Sarel pointed out to the officers that nobody at the border post or at previous roadblocks had mentioned that this was a legal requirement, but to no avail and the result was a R500 fine. we found a shop selling a Za sticker close by and this was then OK. the next “offence” came at a roadblock between Swakopmund and walvis Bay and this was a severe reprimand for not having the third party insurance paper (bought at the border) in the car (it was in the hotel room).these two instances left something of a bad taste as we were tourists spending money in the traffic officers’ country!

Otherwise generally the people were friendly and service levels good and costs of accommodation, food and beverages was pretty good value for money. (Sa notes and even coins can be used in namibia and there are atMs to draw more money, although this did include a fee).

Besides seeing plenty of game in the etosha reserve – several water holes were teeming with wide varieties of animals – we also stayed in several first class lodges and B&Bs. the three national resorts in the etosha – namutoni (originally a fort), Halali and Okaukuejo – were disappointing to those who had seen them a couple of decades ago. we did not stay in any of them but called in for pit stops and a quick look around. the fact that these are evidently no longer popular resorts for tourists has resulted in a host of excellent accommodation options being built in the vicinity of the reserve. we stayed at Onguma Lodge and etosha Safari Lodge. (One can buy a Gondwana Card for R100 each which gives substantial discounts on a host of resorts in namibia, with the etosha Safari Lodge being one of them). Other places we stayed were Omaruru Game Lodge, Vingerklip Lodge (a gem in the mountains) and at B&Bs in windhoek and Swakopmund.

In the end it was a number of long roads travelled, but it was a very pleasant break and a real eye-opener.

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LOCAL NEWS This hard working contingent recently attended the R-M Management Seminar training course in Cape Town.

TRAininG

MANAGEMENT SEMINARS FROM R-M

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rogrammes for success is a suite of business analysis tools that have been developed by R-M, which enable you to implement recommendations to improve the efficiency and profitability of your body shop.

This suite of business tools has been developed so that any body shop, regardless of size, can work together with the R-M team to produce a comprehensive analysis of the business.

Each module within the programme will provide practical recommendations for every aspect of the business from skill levels and staffing, right through to body shop equipment specifications.

Programmes For Success may be a sophisticated programme, but you don't need a business degree to use it. The umbrella of programmes starts with the “Management Seminars” and is rounded off with Topscan, Design and “Bodyshop Optimisation Consultations” for a well balanced look at training for success.

Knowledge is power. That’s why R-M has called upon the industry’s leading experts to pass on the benefits of their knowledge and experience to help you manage your business more efficiently and more profitably.

The R-M Management Seminars have been developed to suit the specific requirements of body shop owners, managers and sales staff.

All seminars have been developed to meet the very highest educational 68

standards, with both practical and theoretical content to ensure easy learning.

Recently these Management Seminars were held in Cape Town and Gauteng to help empower R-M customers to make the most of their bottom line in their business.

The work covered was from the first module focused on accomplishing the best in day-to-day business.

Module 1: Improving operational performance In order for your body shop to remain profitable in this increasingly competitive market, continuous improvements in operational performance are essential.

R-M with the support of consultants from different countries has developed a dedicated two day management seminar that is guaranteed to help your body shop benefit from significant improvements in body shop operations.

Content Management Seminar Module 1 is based on body shop operation theory including body and paint shop area optimisation, basic indicators, break-even analysis and charge out rates.

In addition to the management of basic indicators, module 1 looks at staff motivation as well as the roles of the receptionists, the technicians and the body shop manager.

Objectives Delegates should

have

a

full

understanding of the entire running of the body shop from the efficient use of the equipment and processes, workflows and space optimisation as well as labour, motivation and profitability.

Target Delegates from many areas of the industry can benefit from this seminar, including body shop proprietors, managers, foremen, technicians and sales staff.

All you need is a basic knowledge of automotive refinish and repair.

Benefits Delegates should have a full understanding of the entire running of the body shop from the efficient use of the equipment and processes, workflows and space optimisation as well as labour, motivation and profitability.

The R-M Management Seminars have been developed to meet the very highest educational standards to ensure that delegates understand the interdependencies of the repair process and its organisation. Delegates can work together and exchange experience in the improvement of body and paint shop processes.

An efficient team in your body shop is what you will achieve after attending this course.

Contact R-M directly for this course and other Programmes for Success on +27 (0)11 872 1217 as well as their training schedule for 2016.

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Tel: 011 872 1217

RSB AutoGroup, Joshua Doore Building, 4 Andries Street South, Wynberg, JHB

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DID YOU HEAR?

by Roger McCleery

The Volvo XC90 designed and built in Sweden walked away the winner in the Large Sports Utility Vehicle category as well as the overall Women on Wheels Car of the Year. The girls have spoken.

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he girls have spoken. after thousands of votes were cast by women on wheels (South africa) readers and combined with the judges’ votes, the new XC90 designed and built in Sweden (with Geely money), Volvo walked away the winner in the Large Sports utility Vehicle category as well as the overall women on wheels Car of the Year. they focused on the elegance, space and wellbeing of the design of the new Volvo XC90 plus digital craftsmanship that delivers a unique and calming experience. all that did it for them. a South african Cross Country co-driver, Sandra Labuschagne, has been chosen to join a prestigious cross-country rally initiative run by the FIa women in Motorsport Commission and the Qatar Motor and Motorcycling Federation. nine drivers and co-drivers are going to take part in a five-day training and assessment programme in doha in Qatar. One team will be chosen to compete courtesy of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycling Federation in the 2016 Sealion CrossCountry Rally in the uaR. Highly experienced, Sandra has been competing in donaldson Cross-Country Championship racing in South africa for a number of years and was one of 85 applicants from 39 countries. She navigates for her father, Coetzee.

More women power. Bev Schellings is organising a project in aid of charity to get the most Suzuki cars and motorcycles together at ‘the wedge’ in Beyers naude drive in Muldersdrift. all the cars and motorcycles will be parked in the shape of the Suzuki “eSS” and if enough owners pitch up they could go for the Guinness Book of world Records. they are talking 1780 participants. If you own a Suzuki, get there! toyota in South africa and their plant have received an award from the un Industrial development Organisation as a global industry leader in their energy management programme. the same thing has happened at Volkswagen in uitenhage which has saved unbelievable amounts of energy in manufacture and painting.

General Motors put on an annual Best technician competition every year here in South africa. winner of the top technician Skills awards in 2015 was Govender dharmalingun (52) of South Coast Motors in KZn. Steven de wet (28) of Reids enron City in Cape town was second with Quinton Vermeulen (33) of williams Hunt in pretoria in third spot.

So now you know where to take your GM vehicle for a service. we all know a cleaner engine delivers more power. a motorsports company in Canada put LiquiMoly’s Oil additive service to the test. Results were astounding, using a porsche Cayenne GtS. Just before an oil change they added LiquiMoly engine plus motor 72

oil which loosens all the floating deposits and other dirt and then drained it together with the oil. they then filled it with fresh oil – a LiquiMoly low viscosity high tech 5w40 plus LiquiMoly motor oil saver to make seals soft and flexible and then Cerra tec, a friction modifier with tiny ceramic particles to give it less friction. the result? 20Hp more performance from the engine. this test was also done on a C230 Merc and a porsche 993 with similar results. the Germans are manufacturing and blending great oils for cars, motorbikes, trucks, agriculture and earth moving equipment as well as marine. and it’s all available right here in RSa. porsche, after pulling off a great win at the 2015 24-hour race at Le Mans, have announced they are going to keep racing their 919 Hybrid until the end of 2018. a bit disappointing for the opposition, also for their company cousins, audi, because they all have to be racing against this 1000 Hp machine.

Honda in South africa has just launched a new executive flagship in their Honda Ballade range which now consists of six models with three spec levels. Highly reliable, the Ballade offers space, practicality, safety and comfort linked with performance and economy. the first half of 2015 saw peugeot finish up with 886 000 units sold. there was a 3.9% increase in worldwide sales. europe sales are up 6.7%, asia 9.6%, africa and the Middle east 10.9% and India pacific 50.2%. they wouldn’t do these great figures without a lot of hard work and great models. takata, who make those troublesome airbags for the Japanese manufacturers, have announced that 2 354 Lancia 1.6 litre and evo derivatives sold between 2003 and 2007 will be recalled for safety inspections and replacements. take it to a dealer who will do it for you. It takes about an hour.

Mitsubishi is one of 11 vehicle manufacturers affected by a potentially defective airbag inflator. the Gautrain gets an annual subsidy of R1.5bn says Gauteng’s transport MeC, Ismail Vadi. R1.5bn a year would be enough to fund the entire Gauteng Freeway project. the Gautrain subsidy now consumes a quarter of Gauteng’s department of transport budget.

60 000 people a day use the Gautrain between pretoria and Jo'burg and OR tambo airport. the aa says it shows that the transport mode is for higher earners. It is unjust for tax payers’ money to be diverted from the transport budget to subsidise these commuters. “the arteries of Gauteng are the roads, which keep commerce going.”

Fuel was set to drop in September but no go as the drop in the Rand value took care of that.

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Listen to Roger McCleery every Tuesday on Radio Today (1485 AM) at17h30 for everything about SA motoring.

If you are ever renting a car around the country there is a real bargain going at R145 per day. It is a Chery 323 available through tempest Car Hire. alwyn Jordaan and Melanie Barnard are the 2015 Spirit of africa trophy champions using an amarok. these girls certainly do well. In 2014 they were third overall. 2015 saw them take home the R50 000 prize money on offer for their achievement of winning five days of demanding 4x4 challenges in the Qwalata Game Reserve in Botswana.

20 teams competed in the finals. nearly 500 teams started in the competition. nissan deployed two 4x4 navara pick-ups – a double cab and a King cab to agri Gauteng so they could visit and help develop 120 emerging farmers in the Rust de winter Reserve. the 2015 pirelli Bike of the Year went to Kawasaki H2. Cosponsors were LiquiMoly, tom-tom and total. two of these have been sold in the country at R300 000 a pop. alcohol and traffic crashes are clearly linked says the aa. Many drivers still claim they are safe to drive after drinking, but this is clearly not the case. even if you are a cautious driver and have had only a few drinks, research shows that you could be a statistic of a big accident or imprisoned. the Beetle still lives. the current Volkswagen Beetle has been refreshed with a whole lot of extras such as 17” alloy wheels, and lots of goodies to enhance the looks all over the car. Called the Club Beetle, it retails for R294 800. they have got a cheaper one at R153 200 called the Club up with a 1 litre 55 kw motor, and also boasts a host of goodies. watch out for fraudsters pretending to work for motor dealerships who, to avoid negative publicity, come to fetch your car at home and take it into the dealer for repairs. that could be the last time you see it. 29 cases have been reported since October last year. a car in Gauteng could find its way to Botswana or Zambia in no time at all. news from the Indian manufacturer Mahindra, is that they have just rolled out their five millionth vehicle. also they aim to be among the top 50 most admired brands worldwide, says their Chairman and president of the Group, Sp Shukla. Mahindra this year was named the 10th most trusted brand in India. It is now established in more than 100 countries, including South africa.

Sanjoy Gupta has taken over the helm at Mahindra in this country. Current Md, ashok thakur, will be heading up Mahindra’s newly established african Business unit aimed at increasing the company’s business in africa.

Honda’s tops again when it comes to reliability according to a British after Market warranty company. this info is used by the uK motoring magazine, “what Car” to find the most – or the least reliable brands – in the uK. Honda has topped the reliability rating for the ninth year running. You can’t beat that. toyota has now sold over eight million hybrid vehicles. the last million being built in the last 10 months. the girls are at it again. pretoria resident,Viane van dyk won the 2015 Ranger Odyssey Competition run over 12 days and 2000 km through damaraland and Kaokoland in namibia. She beat 19 other contestants to the title. Some of the contestants came from nigeria, Ivory Coast, angola and Mozambique.

Some Germans have created an electrical car powered by salt water. It has only full electric engines and consumes only salty fuel as the propellant.

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The compact Korek HD floor frame features a double layer ground frame for robust performance and easy set-up. The flexible tower assemblies are highly mobile. It offers extended cab tower pulls with traction pulls of 20 tons per basic tower.

The towers are simple to fix as they operate on rollers and are fixed to the HD Korek frame by four wedges with three main stands on offer. This is coupled to 30 ton composition hydraulic sets. The options for a perfect chassis cab and frame straightening job are endless as well as painless.

As far as speed of output and profitability are concerned, the HD Korek offers major profitability at a reasonable entry level cost. It is ideal for both CV repairers and large fleet operators as an investment in Truck repair.

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COATinGS NEWS pROdUCT pROFiLE

THE KAROCLE CLEAR RANGE AT A GLANCE

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he SC clear series is an abbreviation of STARCLEAR, a clear brand for KAROCLE. Its products are basically set up by mixing ratio between paint, hardener and thinner and also by solid content.

The variation of products is to provide the best options to each individual painter according to their skill and environment.

Here below is a brief product explanation.

1:1 CLEAR SC-112UH is an ultra-high solid clear and can cover solvent and waterborne base coats, maintaining superior quality and gloss. This product meets VOC regulations in Europe and the US. 2:1 CLEAR Consists of seven products: SC-2110, SC-2152, SC2130, SC-2122, SC-2100 are

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medium solid types. SC-2100HS is a high solid type and SC-212VH is a very high solid type.

Medium solid types of products are already seen in Africa and the Middle East Asia market.

The SC-2100HS and SC-212VH also meet VOC regulations in Europe and the US. 3:1 CLEAR SC-3100HS clear has been developed to improve workability for body shops for quicker throughput, fast drying and shortened flash off times.

This is all achieved while with excellent quality and durability at the same time.

4:1 CLEAR SC-4101Q, is a medium solid type of clear that is quick-drying. It minimises dust problems and you are able to do light

polishing within a shorter time after the clear process.

Matte CLEAR SC-211FT, is a 2:1 type that basically gives “low gloss� quality. It is suitable for the latest trends and can mix with other 2:1 clears such as SC-2122, SC-2152, SC2110, SC-2113 to give various gloss levels like eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss.

In the same way, SC-411FT, which is 4:1 type, can also give various gloss levels by mixing other 4:1 types clears.

Special CLEAR SC-8212 is a 2:1 type. It is an antiscratch clear that delivers excellent quality and gloss and boasts good workability.

SC-9210, is also a 2:1 type that is for a headlamp refinishing clear. It is very environmentally friendly.

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FUTURE TECH - by Andrew Marsh

VOLKSWAGEN GROUP MELTDOWN, OR IS IT HYPE?

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he global media can’t believe its luck. A famously cash rich vehicle manufacturer pushing to become the biggest in the world nearly three years ahead of their own plan, caught red handed by the US Environmental Protection Agency bending the rules. Forget the facts, rush in and join the feeding frenzy.

Lets take a look at vehicle emissions No, they are not perfect. The test is performed to a drive cycle that has a series of accelerations, steady cruises and decelerations – and looks nothing like a real driver on a real road. However, this system has brought tail pipe emissions down in huge steps since the days of looking at emissions from the tail pipe with no equipment beyond a nose and a pair of eyes. Most of the global emission tests are either based on the European system or the US system, or a hybrid of both.

If we imagine the whole possible load and speed conditions that an engine can operate at, the emission test (EU or US) looks at about 20% of the total area, and all of it at lower speeds as well as lighter loads. Once the vehicle is above these speed/load conditions it can emit anything.

But, the emission control system has to work all the time, and it has to survive use at higher speeds and loads in order to emit correctly under test conditions. Excess fuelling for example will accelerate erosion of the catalytic converter wash coat or even cause the ceramic substrate to collapse, both of which require repair.

A vehicle is tested according to it’s kerb weight and the aerodynamic drag, which can be calculated or measured. All of these factors are carefully considered right at the conception of a new vehicle, because if a vehicle is but one kg over the target weigh the on-cost in meeting the next level of ‘inertia class’ can be significant.

This also applies to the aerodynamic drag factor as well – we can see that aerodynamics and weight are key points in powertrain emission control strategy.

During the emission test special tyres are used on the rolling road because even though the drums are two metre in diameter they still load the tyres abnormally. So the tyres are usually well worn to reduce tread deflection and pressurised to the maximum permitted to reduce side wall deflection – all to ensure no blow outs during the test.

From the time the vehicle starts the tail pipe emissions are collected – typically 90% of the measured result is collected in the first 10% of the test.

Crucially CO2 is not a measured type approval (‘legal’) test. It uses the same drive cycle, the same emission measurement equipment, but is not limited. Many European governments based vehicle taxation policy on tail pipe CO2 emissions with the resulting chaos.

The push to reduce CO2 and hydrocarbon emissions forces diesel fuel injection pressure upwards, which can lead to increased particulate formation but will cause more NOx to form. There are exhaust treatment systems for particulates, for hydrocarbons and CO2. However there is no easy fix for NOx – it requires the addition of urea to help form the much healthier NO2, which is an entire additional system.

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What did VWG do?

Some years ago diesel engines were seen as a demonstrably more efficient solution for internal combustion engines in that they used a base fuel that could be found more readily than gasoline and so had better long term security. In addition diesel engines back in the 1990s has 10% to 20% fuel economy advantage, so it was a policy win-win.

There were two key developments for passenger cars which followed the commercial vehicle engine technology – higher direct injection pressures and variable turbine geometry turbochargers.

The market was transformed. Old passenger car diesel engines were given a new lease of life and customers like the immense – insane – flat torque curves.

Volkswagen Group (VWG) chose to not go with the Fiat Auto/Bosch common rail diesel fuel injection system, instead investing with Bosch in camshaft operated high pressure unit injector ‘Pumpe Duse’ or PD system. Volkswagen Group used the technology widely, but not one other vehicle manufacturer followed.

The crowning glory was raking the in-line 2.5l five-cylinder engine, removing one cylinder and producing the 2l PD twin cam EA188 diesel engine as the first successor to the 1.9l single cam engine.

In 2005 VWG did a U-turn. The then new 16v twin overhead cam diesel engine – EA189 – featured a common rail diesel injection system, timed to meet the impending European Euro V emission regulations. It was a huge admission. The investment in PD was written off, and from that point on all VWG diesel engine upgrades and new diesel engines featured common rail injection. Crucially the next highest volume engine was 1.6l, based on EA189. Even more importantly, the engine family had to cope with Euro VI which was still under discussion as well as the massive tightening of rules in the US – again at that point still under discussion.

Given a new engine family takes around two years to develop a feature strategy to enable it to survive in the market for at least 10 years, and takes a further five years to go from first ideas to a developed validated production engine, this U-turn was done in mid programme. The question now: was the combustion chamber design not quite right from the beginning? Was the U-turn done too quickly?

The get out of jail card Most vehicles are only driven by one pair of wheels. Anti-lock brake systems (ABS) and electronic stability control systems (ESC) rely on measuring the speeds of all four wheels – so when the vehicle senses two wheels are not moving and two are, it needs to decide to enable or disable ABS/ESC. Failure to do this can result in the engine power being reduced – not exactly what’s needed during an emission test.

It seems VWG used this routine set up in the software architecture by the engine fuel system and engine management control module manufacturer, in this case Bosch, to access and emission test a specific calibration map. This, an engine with a flawed combustion process was able to meet Euro V, Euro VI and US emission tests and yet give customers all the performance they wanted. Crucially in the last week of September 2015, the German Federal government stated neither Daimler (Mercedes-Benz, Smart) nor BMW Group (BMW, Mini) had used such a technique.

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www.autoindustryinsider.com What next?

Governments around the world are deeply annoyed about this.

The implication is that a commercial company can get around legally binding tests with intellect, whilst leaving their customers somewhat bewildered. There are several things that will happen: • Share trading in VWG will make the usual suspects fabulously wealthy.

• VWG will survive, but it won’t achieve the largest vehicle manufacturer in the world status by 2018 – perhaps more like 2025.

• The push of a single emission test standard which has been in development for a decade already, will increase.

• The idea of doing a test and submitting one’s own results on the understanding that if caught there are severe penalties – the US system – will be revised.

• The European network of government agencies who inspect legally binding performance parameters as part of the whole vehicle type approval process, will be tightened.

• The push for Euro VII and even tougher US standards will get offset, and all of the above settles down.

• Euro V EA189 engines will be fixed by a software update, and only for the heavier vehicle applications (ie, those with marginal emission results).

• Euro VI EA189 engines are likely to gain a retro fit urea injection system along with a software update.

• US EA189 engines…. who knows?

VWG executive board debated the situation for seven hours on 30th September 2015. They undertook to roll out notification to owners affected by the issue throughout October 2015, which would then detail how they will deal with the immediate issue. The UK government have already stated that no owner of an existing VWG diesel engine powered vehicle will have the CO2 tax banding

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Passenger car d iesel engine emissions p rogr ess from 1993 to 2014. © Jo hnson Matthey PLC altered, which affects vehicle excise duty (tax) as well as company car user tax.

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

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INDUSTRY newS WHAT’S HOT?

gt motIVe serVIces IN south afrIca

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ndustry long-term specialists in collision repair management, Sue Moore and Ingo von Boetticher, have moved to organise an all-new cost effective Gt Motive system. the system is currently being employed in a number of key european markets such as Spain, France, portugal, Germany, Italy, uK, Greece, turkey and austria. they have teamed up to offer this cloud computing collaborative which is based on the latest developments in dealing with claims, maintenance and breakdown management. Von Boetticher says that the Spanish family-owned concern is present in more than 12 500 repair shops and interface with over 76 insurance companies. “they deal with approximately 26 000 preferred end users in this area of the market where car damage assessment forms a vital part of the overall speed of the work at hand. this sees the Gt Motive Cloud internet based package hold some key advantages over traditional competitors in the business across the board.

“Our quotes will ultimately cost body shops between 30%, and up to 50% less to generate than current systems in common usage. the company became live and operational in august and we are very busy ramping up demand in the areas of computer estimates,” says Von Boetticher. the giant american company Mitchell are a partner company to Gt Motive and it all adds up to around 46 years of experience and expertise. together Moore and von

Sue Moore (left) and Ingo von Boetticher have many successful years in the business of collision assessment management behind them. They recently launched GT Motive to the SA business market.

Boetticher add close to another 30 years in the management of accident quotations in the local market.

“Our key operational statistics are also very impressive with 36 car manufacturers and more than 850 models available, and more than 4 500 references per model. So with around 1 000 graphics per model for fast analysis at the body shop computer screen, we are able to define specific workflows using a combination of smartphones, mobility and social media.

“Gt Motive offers a fast connect on claims for clerks, customers with cloud technology. with these innovative ideas Gt Motive has gained the trust of different customers in the automotive repair market in fleet management and body repair centres,” said Von Boetticher.

About GT Motive Gt Motive solutions

provide

the

technology to achieve the best results and restore normality after a vehicle accident or breakdown.

Gt Motive can simplify and improve the exchange of information using cloud computing collaborative platforms that connect all players in the process, generating efficiency, quality and savings. the company was born from a strategic alliance between Gt Motive in europe and Mitchell International, market leader in north america. the new organisation resulting from this alliance aims to revolutionise the european market, as the leading communication platform that Mitchell has established in the uS is now available in europe. to get in touch with Gt Motive call these numbers: +27 (0)79 921 1187 or +27 (0)82 381 2083 or visit their website: www.gtmotive.co.za

PROFIT FOCUS

what caN collIsIoN repaIrers upsell to customers?

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hat types of things can collision repairers upsell to customers when their vehicle is already at the

shop? upselling additional services can benefit collision repair shops. dupont performance Coatings conducted an informal survey of collision shop customers, which revealed that 65% of customers are willing to consider purchasing an additional service. as always, start by analysing the damage on customer vehicles, and give them solid advice on the issue they initially came in for. after that, you have earned the right to ask customers if they would like you to assess 82

their vehicle for any additional damage or to discuss other services. If the customer agrees, then proceed with putting together a package of potential upsells that would benefit them. every customer will be in a different situation regarding extra services they might need. It’s important for shop employees to listen to the customer’s needs, look over their vehicle closely and put together a package that fits those needs. there are many things that collision repair shops can upsell. the following are just a few ideas, which are ranked by their frequency of success: 1. paintless dent removal

2. detail 3. Glass repair or replacement 4. Cosmetic ding and dent removal 5. Headlight restoration 6. tyres and wheel alignment there are training options available for shops that want to improve their upselling skills.

In general, the key to getting customers to accept the upsell is to offer it in the form of advice. use an advisory tone of voice, and explain to the customer how the additional repair or service will add value to their vehicle, or allow them to feel safer while driving.

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DRIVEN tata BOLt

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ot only is the new Tata Bolt right up-to-date in terms of design, space utilisation and relevant, advanced technology, but it features well in its infotainment system often only found on more upmarket cars.

“The Bolt hatch and sedan will extend the current product offering from Tata in the local market. Each of the Bolt derivatives will be offered with two trim levels – XMS and XT – and with a choice of five body colours,” sais a company spokesman.

The attractively-styled Bolt range is competitively priced and offers buyers the option of a five-door hatch or a compact four-door sedan. A well-appointed, spacious cabin with an impressive list of standard equipment, particularly in terms of infotainment – make these newcomers from India strong contenders in a category which is dominated by entries from Europe, Korea and Japan.

The spacious Java Black interior of the Bolt can seat five adults, with claimed classleading legroom for the rear seat occupants.

The instrument panel is boldly styled with easy-to-read instrumentation, while discreet touches of chrome are used to highlight certain aspects in a tasteful style.

There is a full complement of comfort

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features including air-conditioning (climate control on the XT derivatives), electric windows front and rear, electricallyadjustable exterior rear view mirrors and remote openers for the fuel flap and luggage compartment.

A 5” infotainment screen dominates the piano black centre section of the instrument panel, leading to the gearbox console heralding the connectivity of the Bolt range.

A multi-information display incorporates readings for a digital clock, outside temperature, dual tripmeters, instantaneous fuel consumption, average fuel consumption and distance-to-empty fuel tank.

The engine was developed by the Tata R&D team in conjunction with global power unit consultancies and leading global suppliers. Power output is 66kW@5 000 r/min with an impressive 140Nm of torque being available between 1 500-4 000 r/min.

There are three different settings for engine response: Sport, Eco and City modes, with Sport as the default setting for the Bolt in South Africa.

The engine drives the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission with the top two ratios being overdriven to assist in lowering fuel consumption.

Steering is electronically controlled with

electric assistance and is speed sensitive.

Safety features rate high on Tata Motors’ priority list and the Bolt is well equipped with ninth generation Bosch ABS for the disc/drum braking system with electronic brake distribution (EBD), including a cornerbraking feature. There are airbags for the driver and front passenger, speed-sensitive, automatic door locking and daytime running lights. In terms of vehicle security there is an alarm-immobiliser and remote central locking. There are steering wheel-mounted controls for the audio and phone facilities, while a centrally-located 5” screen (touchscreen for XT variants) supports the multimedia experience with Bluetooth technology for smartphone integration.

“The Bolt hatch and sedan have certainly moved on significantly from their predecessors, and we believe we now have two models well placed to grow Tata’s share of the important B-segment,” commented CEO Kyri Michael. “We are happy with the competitive pricing position despite the weak rand at present and the Bolt is certainly a value-for-money offering in the discerning South African car market.”

The Bolt hatchback’s starting retail price is R132 995 plus VAT. The sedan retails for R143 995 plus VAT.

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COLLISION REPAIR ASSOCIATION 2_Layout 1 2015/05/15 11:49 AM Page 1

Enjoy the recognition you deserve.

We thank you for providing us with the opportunity to introduce our dynamic service offerings and present to you a vision for simplicity, success and sustainability.

The CRA has evolved as an organisation with passion, understanding and the will to provide results to our esteemed members from the basis of being a voice to the auto body collision industry. We employ consultants and are associated with people suitably qualified in all aspects of collision repair and related business management skills with high integrity and willing to offer their support to ensuring the success of your facilities.

Our objectives are issues the proactive body shop owner does not really have the time to concentrate on to ensure the optimisation of their business. The constant changes in the law, support in compliance with statutory requirements, relationship mentoring with government and insurers on selection criteria with regards to financial allowances on mark-up and labour rates as well as aiding consumer choice on service expectation. Further hereto our aim is to provide technical support and training on advancements in collision repair techniques and new equipment investment advice.

To date the CRA has achieved significant change with benefits and are on the road to create market awareness which in the short term will emulate consumer appreciation not previously evident in our local market.

Our mission will ensure via procedural compliance that our forum will enforce a code of conduct that covers consumer protection, work force motivation and job security and ultimately peace of mind to business owners on secure, and beneficial return on investment. We have also concluded annual inflationary labour rate increases with a major insurer

including labour rate allowances above the rate which individual repairers would normally be able to achieve independently and thus extended as a financial benefit to approved members. This will be protracted via further meetings to almost all the other major insurers in the short term.

As with any Association annual membership fees are payable to cover administration costs and our membership is based on grading status. Further hereto our membership is extended to equipment and service related suppliers whom have a similar vision of business ethic.

These include at present paint suppliers, a BEEE accreditation agency, an authorised health and safety compliance consultant, quoting and business management software suppliers and high end workshop equipment suppliers. This will also result in better service, support and preferential rates on association.

We provide an on-line E Procure business data profile of members to support recognition for independent role players in every area of activity in the collision repair industry. The platform will provide assistance to work providers and consumers with accident damaged vehicles to make educated decisions in allowing the most professional repairer the opportunity of refurbishment within acceptable time frames and in line with warranty reinstatement protocols.

In conclusion we trust you can see the benefit of belonging to our Association and look forward to the synergy we can create by our providing valued service and more importantly ensuring your enthusiasm and input is shared with other members at organised events of our approved panel.

JOIN THE CRA AND GET THE RECOGNITION YOU DESERVE!

T he

benchmar k

of

quality

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

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NEW PRODUCTS SILVER FALCON EZCALIPRE ELECTRONIC MEASURING SYSTEM Autorobot EzCalipre is the new member of their measuring system line. EzCalipre is an advanced 2/3D measuring device for exact verification of vehicle chassis and body condition and for damage documentation. The new tram gauge is easily portable and movable. It can be used for 2/3D measuring in all kinds of surroundings, and therefore it opens up whole new scopes for vehicle estimation.

EzCalipre's technique is supported by Autorobot's own, very comprehensive vehicle data files (approximately 60 reference points per vehicle). Autorobot EzCalipre tram gauge uses wireless WLAN technique and it has a unique capability to register height differences in vehicle measures (patented feature).

Silver Falcon have the EzCalipre Electronic Measuring System (300EL+3) at a value price of R92 200 excl. VAT. For more information call Silver Falcon on +27 (0)83 628 2288 or see www.hurricaneauto.co.za

GM P P A ROVED

CARSYSTEM PAINT PLANER A MUST FOR EVERY PAINT SHOP The Carsystem Paint Planer removes dry paint-tears without harming or scratching the surrounded areas. It can be used to smoothly scrape off the hardened paint-tears and embedded dust nips from the surface, in order to prepare this areas for further steps such as sanding or polishing.

The Paint Planer has a special, very sharp blade, made of chrome/vanadium steel.

The blade of the Paint Planer is made with a special hollow-ground form and never needs to be re-sharpened. It has an embedded magnet, on which the blade can be fixed. The upper side of the holder is fitted with velcro so that you can fix the blades to the mini sanding discs grip. It may be used with either the velcro or magnetic side of the hand tool.

For more information on this product as well as the rest of the Carsystem range, please contact Bulldog Abrasives sales team on +27 (0)11 786 5991.

SNAP-ON 14.4V MICROLITHIUM CORDLESS RECIPROCATING SAW KIT The perfect size MicroLithium saw allows users to work in confined areas and create more intricate cuts. It is small and lightweight. It produces 3 100 strokes per minute and has a variable speed switch. The depth guide can be adjusted without the use of tools. It has an integrated LED work light and the battery gauge is LED too.

Kit components are the tool, the charger, two lithium batteries, a six-inch saw blade and a handy carry bag to keep everything together.

You can find out more about this product by contacting their Snap-on dealers or account manager, or by contacting customer service on 0861 762 766, emailing: enquiries@snapon.co.za or visit www.snapon.co.za 86

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ANEST IWATA AZ 40 HTE GRAVITY OR PRESSURE SPRAY GUN The AZ 40 HTE (High Transfer Efficiency) gravity or pressure spray gun from Anest Iwata is now more manoeuvrable due to a 20% loss in weight. The cup size available is 600cc or 200cc and made of polyethylene which helps should they be dropped to prevent less damage.

The gun boasts a new air valve too. The fluid needle and nozzle are stainless steel and the fluid needle packaging is in PTFE. The body is also coated in PTFE for easy cleaning. It has a new atomisation air cap set and is extremely low in air consumption.

You can get more information by calling Anest Iwata on +27 (0)11 463 2169 for details on this high performance spray gun range.

LUXOR PAINTS PURIS PERFECT FINISH Puris products offer a permanent scratch removal, unmatched depth and a brilliant finish. Reviving and restoring the surface to like-new showroom condition.

Their refinishing formulas were designed specifically for body shops and 21st century paint systems (HS, MS, SRC) allowing professionals to provide the service that their customers expect and deserve. Puris products offer the purest quality, eco-friendly and biodegradable ingredients and packaging.

For more information call Luxor Paints on +27 (0)11 397 6622 or visit www.luxorpaints.co.za

CELETTE SA BETAG INNOVATION PDR TROLLEY SET The PDR Trolley Set is an innovative and handy workstation combining the most important PDR systems in one handy trolley. It is an absolute necessity for every ambitious body shop wishing to increase efficiency.

The 3 most important tool kits: • 25 pce Pro Set – Ideal for parking/hail damage.

• SPS Full Set – Ideal for larger areas.

• Glue Puller GP2 – Ideal for hard to reach areas.

Includes a practical storage trolley, so you have all tools in one place. With the four electrical plug connection cable you can plug in all tools needed, making it compact and neat.

Call Celette SA on +27 (0)11 334 1875 for more information.

Q-BRANDS MESH VELCRO DISCS Zandmesh, a new line of “Dust Free Velcro” Discs and Rolls are now available from Q-Brands and their distributors. The discs are 150mm in diameter – grits available from P80-P400. The Zandmesh rolls are 25m in length ranging from P80-P320, giving the options of cutting a 198mm or a 420mm strip.

For more information on Q-Brands call Val or Geoff +27 (0)11 440 2714 or visit www.qbrandssa.com

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NEW PRODUCTS NEW RODCRAFT LOW VIBRATION HAMMERS FOR EFFICIENT MATERIAL REMOVAL New Rodcraft low vibration hammers are built to last and easy to operate. The combination of its power (up to 12 joules), its compactness and the fact that it is lightweight enables the job to be done more efficiently. The back part of the tool is designed for greater handling by the operator and superior comfort comes with a new reduction damped valve system with air cushion that mitigates any vibrations.

With a long or short barrel, the new Rodcraft low vibration hammers will match your material removal needs in many applications such as metal working or stone/concrete jobs. Also available in kits with a selection of chisels, you can order the Rodcraft hammers in a kit version in order to protect and store your tool and accessories together in a handy high quality case. For more information on this product as well as the rest of the Rodcraft range, please contact Bulldog Abrasives sales team on +27 (0)11 786 5991 or sales@bulldogabrasives.co.za.

VIRGIN PLASTICS DOUBLE-SIDED TAPES Virgin Plastics has high quality double-sided tapes. Guaranteed professional finish with no comebacks. There are 30 metre rolls in the popular sizes of 0.8mm width. Included in the range is the mirror white form tape 10m or 30m easy application onto number plates. The trim mask tape is a dream product saving you time and money.

For more information or to order please call +27 (0)83 251 9442 or +27 (0)72 380 3020 or the office on +27 (0)11 616 2870, or email them on virgin@mweb.co.za

FILTACAPE NOW OFFER MASKING TAPE, PAPER AND FILM Filtacape have recently added masking paper, film and tape to their wide range of filtration products. The masking paper and film can be used in any body shop to cover vehicles being repaired. The masking tape is for general purpose and comes in 50mm x 50m.

Call Filtacape for more information on these products on 082 549 4017 or email filtacape@outlook.com

TYRE FIX 4X4 AND 340ml Repairs and inflates tubed and tubeless tyres without a wheel change.

Security you cannot afford to be without.

Special Lubricants and Allied Chemical Products

tel: +27 (0)860 772 652 l email: sales@spanjaard.biz l www.spanjaard.biz 88

We are a company with expertise in Air Filtration and Dust Collector units. We offer broad and versatile products and services for the most cost effective filtration solutions you need. Let us help you obtain the best air quality in your body shop. Distributor opportunities available.

Contact Lydia on 082 549 4017 or filtacape@outlook.com AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

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WHAT’S HOT? JOBS, EQUIPMENT, SERVICES AND MUCH MORE

DENT PRO-PORTABLE DENT PULLER

Call us on

076 142 7263 082 452 6631 www.panelprotech.co.za

TEKNIKLOTH® A Tekniklean Product

WIPES AWAY SURFACE CONTAMINATION Teknikloth®- high-tech lint free surface cleaners are an absolute must for all paint shops. They provide less wastage and linting than other systems of preparation. Suitable for use on both water based and solvent based systems.

Photo supplied by Primo Panel and Paint Pinetown

Unique properties include: n Lint Free n n No scratched or damaged paintwork n n Does not break up in any known solvent

Strong wet strength Excellent absorption

We have been supplying the industry for the past 18 years.

NEW DISTRIBUTORS WELCOME. Call 031 579 3688

for your nearest distributor.

Email: sales@tekniklean.co.za or joanne@tekniklean.co.za AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

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AFRICAN panORaMa - LIFe at 70

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ow does the publisher feel about reaching this milestone?

“Surprised mostly,” but pleased to roll back the years on emigration, travel and friendships in his life. I share a birthday with the luckless millions who were wiped out on the day the a-bomb fell on nagasaki in 1945. these days I am mostly surrounded by people of accumulating years like myself where talk is all about doctors bills, or are you going on a cruise to wind out the few days that lie ahead and that’s because many of the people I deal with are invariably considerably younger than I am and are always telling me what to do.

My generation of post world war 2 baby boomers were born into a different world, one of pea soup fogs, sweet rationing and where winston Churchill was yet to become prime Minister and the Queen hadn’t made it to westminster abbey for her Coronation. the uK can best be described as a large lump of coal stuck out in the north Sea, but despite the often miserable weather we became the first generation that would grow up with minute black and white tv screens, pop music and both central heating and the national health service. as a child many old men and relations knew people who had fought all over the world in the war and who had also fought in the First world war. the grim nostalgia of all the years of deprivations from it all hung around like a damp memory as we played on motheaten school playgrounds and everything was black with coal smoke, but sometimes the summers were blissful.

My mother was an Irish nurse and a devout Catholic set against an opposite Royal airforce Officer who was a Scotsman from wick in Caithness and who was an agnostic with three sons. It wasn’t a marriage that was made in heaven. His job was one of moving house all the time as the american airforces were relocated home, and transport command (air logistics) got the job of taking on the many airbases that were left deserted by the Yanks.

On the subject of schooling I do feel short-changed a bit for with 13 schools starting when I was six years old and leaving at just 14 years old, it took me seven years in the ‘dunce’ class to learn how to slowly read and by the time it was all over the Catholics hadn’t even shown me one academical piece of arithmetic to contend with. So as some comedians will comment I had an education the size of a postage stamp where you could still write your name and address on the back of it. It’s a poor start that leaves you playing catch up for the rest of your life. through all this I was already working delivering papers in the morning before school started, and once again in the evening. It was in the day of a form of child slavery at seven shillings a week – in every kind of weather. not wanting to stay on for more religious education in the autumn of 1959 I parked my push bike outside the local labour exchange and squeakily asked the man behind the desk for a job. He said “I don’t think your balls have descended yet have they?” no was the reply. “well I think you should be in paint looking at you, go and 90

by Ian Groat

get this job.” that first offer of employment saw me to this day become involved in the paint trade. So after 55 years I think he was right.

I write my articles in long hand still and they get sorted out by a clever set of well educated collegues, but to be truthful, the word surgery needed on tenses and punctuation remains a throwback from my formative years. working as an apprentice for two pound a week wasn’t exactly being well paid for 46 hours of hard graft, but in my five years of commerical non-reward I did manage to get some qualification in paint technology to become a barely employable individual.

Joining a local coffee bar motorbike gang who were motorcycle mad drew a comment that I wouldn’t make Christmas from the local doctor, but what’s long forgotten about this time was the music revolution of the Beatles and elvis in the swinging 60’s. It was another world of live entertainment with four local dances to attend each week and the prospect of girls on the horizon. You were year’s away from worrying about the first grey hairs to see arise on your chest.

My future father-in-law ran a large motorcycle repair concern, so cheap spares were the order of the day with visits to the Isle of Man tt races and a very insular British outlook installed. things were all well and good until I was cast outside into the cold world of unemployment and was placed on the human scrap heap at the tender age of 21. It left a black mark on my progress for a while.

I don’t want to play the gypsy violin to life but it took over six months to get gainful employment as yet another trainee position with the Rover car group, straightening bonnets, domes and being surrounded in a pall of grinding blue smoke while becoming dehumanised at pillar 67 in a production building in the Swindon plant in the south of england. this put me fairly and squarely in the emigration corner where, along with my girlfriend Valerie, we took the South african perceived good offer of a life of sunshine in a country devoid of class distinction.

So after another three years of finding out that manual labour did not play inside left for Real Madrid’s soccer team, the deal was set to jump on a 737 jet and try to forge another life without any family or friends. But it did start one of the abiding pleasures that I have enjoyed in the form of the opportunity to travel. It’s the single greatest gift of my affluent generation to get around the globe relatively easily, cheaply and safely. to become part of a post war generation that became the most travelled ever when the world varied and was mostly welcoming.

In the second part of this narrative, I’ll tell you about falling off a large jet plane with 24 pounds of luggage and a brand new wife of less than two weeks into a strangely hostile Jan Smuts airport and the roller coaster 46 years that that has delivered. emigration isn’t for sissies. It’s a brave new world to encounter, and their ain’t no looking back once the wild ride starts.

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YATU NEW AD M-J 2013_Layout 1 2013/07/15 12:50 PM Page 1

Introducing a new and improved formulation system with local and international formulas.

LIFETIME WARRANTY

Contact Suleman Tel (031) 902 7666 info@automotivepaint.co.za www.automotivepaint.co.za

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