Automotive Refinisher Nov-Dec 2014

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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 2014

Edition 176

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PARIS SHOW

GOODWOOD REVIVAL

WORLD SKILLS COUNTDOWN

IN THIS ISSUE >> >> >> >>

CMC AUTOPANEL KINSEY REPORT DELTA PANELBEATERS STANSURE ROADSHOW

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Enjoy the recognition you deserve.

In the last two decades the South African collision repair market has really come of age as right across the country top independent repair concerns have moved forward to embrace the changing technology of todays complex modern vehicles.

One of the foremost concerns in recent years has been the constant bottom line profitability erosion partially due to the lack of standards which has lead to a over-traded repair environment.

Top class independent shops have been left with only policies of a reactive nature and much difficulty in finding a proper return on their investment through a lack of recognition of the standards needed to run a professional repair facility.

The Collision Repairers Association has adopted an entirely new approach to the industry and some of its challenges by recruiting the cream of the crop of the repair industry who have invested in standards and continue to put out quality repairs with the aim to please customers. The vast knowledge of the officials and staff will drive forward a strategic plan to improve repairer profits and gain recognition for the vast number of independent key role players in every area of activity in collision repair in South Africa.

The CRA over the past year have worked closely with some major insurers in putting together guidelines to progress the needs of both the insurance and repair sectors. The time has come for major structural repairers and the smaller nonstructural repair shops to have a dedicated voice at the negotiating table. Not only do we have to understand the insurance industry and some of their unique challenges, but we need to also offer long term sustainable solution to problems that have existed over the past 3 decades.

The CRA is also driving a recognizable legislated standard via the DTI that will become compulsory for any repairer to trade in South Africa. This should see the repairers that have already invested in standards gain the recognition they so rightly deserve.

The industry has certainly been begging for change and change has arrived in the form of the CRA. So call us soon to gain your place on the road forwards with the new trade organisation of the future in collision repairs.

JOIN THE CRA AND GET THE RECOGNITION YOU DESERVE!

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

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Contents

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014

PUBLISHER’S BYTE Accidents Reduced Globally

CMC AUTOPANEL New Cape Town Top Shop

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STANSURE

National Roadshow

PARIS MOTORSHOW With a Twist

PEUGEOT 208 REBIRTH AutoInsider

AUTOMECHANIKA 2014

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What Was Hot at Frankfurt

KINSEY REPORT Winners and Losers

GOODWOOD REVIVAL 2014 Report

DELTA PANELBEATERS Top Shop

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WORLDSKILLS COMPETITION Automotive Week

ARNOLD’S CLOCK African Panorama

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Front Cover: Citroën Divine DS Concept Contents: Peugeot Quartz, Paris Motor Show

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

VEHICLE SAFETY FEATURES REDUCE ACCIDENTS GLOBALLY

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arly research results from across the world are picturing a diminished accident rate with body shop repair signals of reduced vehicle damage along with diminished injuries sustained by drivers and passengers. These worldwide studies have been conducted in the US by the Highway Safety Institute and the results of the study revealed that injury related claims shrunk by almost 26%, along with a damage reduction of some 15%.

This is down on previous years. The European numbers also show a similar decline in Germany. ATX and German research revealed a 9% reduction in all claims as Sweden’s police have recently tracked this decline and announced a 48% reduction in front-into-rear impacts. Switzerland’s insurers AXA and Winterhur studies of statistics into accidents also posted a 31% reduction in front-into-rear crashes and a lower third party claim rate.

Finally, Tristar Worldwide Chauffeur Fleet standards fitted with park distance safety features saw a 27% reduction in front-into-rear accidents.

Just what all these trends will eventually deliver on South African roads and highways remains a big mystery for our accident rates remain horrific. Take the 54 vehicles and lives lost near Alberton by just one cavalier truck driver with an unroadworthy 16-wheeler.

One thing that will undoubtedly need to be factored in is that despite our strange mix of civilisation and African non-civilisation, new Lidar and CMOS radar signals will undoubtedly be legislated at some point. It will eventually play a major part in reducing serious vehicle accidents into the next decade.

were stripped and dismantled by chop shops. Close to R5 billion worth are removed and transported across our borders to neighbouring countries and worst of all, in my view, up to R3.1 billion worth of stolen and non-recovered vehicles are worked back into the e-Natis re-registration system by cloning and duplicating of other South African road-going vehicles.

This registration system seems to be riddled with a bunch of corrupt officials all on the take to make this huge business flourish.

The big downside of all this is that 39 000 cloned vehicles were reportedly copied last year alone. So once again the original car vehicle owner is left with the headache of settling the outstanding vehicle lease or HP; and in many cases the thieves simply ride along without being stopped or ever caught by the police.

This is a lucrative pastime to avoiding work and stealing your way forward. It is driven by dodgy vehicle sellers and gullible purchasers to a deal that’s always going to be ‘too good to be true’. If you ever wanted to engage in a toxic conversation about South Africa out of control in crime policing, please start right now as our bungling and non-reactive police force once again struggle to cope with our criminal creativity across the country.

Disgraceful Crime and Vehicle Statistics Continuing on from the Alberton accident, one vehicle was stolen during that time as well as a multitude of personal belongings.

It is no small wonder that the police publish their vehicle statistics one year in arrears for they make a country and its crime levels appear to be completely out of control.

Looking firstly at the 66 000 vehicles with a value of some R8.5 billion – stolen or hijacked in a calendar year – some of the shocking statistics reveal that according to the SAPS and the South African Insurance Crime Bureau, some R514 million worth of these units

‘Tis the Season Is it just me or has 2014 been a year of the “blur” as it has whooshed by at an ever quicker pace than experienced before?

Thank you once again to all of our avid readers, contributors and advertisers, without whom we wouldn’t have the joy of putting this publication together.

Be sure to take some time off during the seasonal break; pat the dog, love the family gatherings and wherever you find yourself – be safe and take it easy on the roads.

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Contingency Plan for the Postal Strike As I write this we are knee deep into a 10-week postal strike that seems to have no end in sight. Please visit our newly updated website at www.autoref.co.za and download the latest magazines at no charge and in a convenient page turner. We have also uploaded it in ISSUU for those of our readers who are using Ipads or other tablets.

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November-December 2014 Telephone: Facsimile: Email: Website: Publisher: Editor: Accounts: Design: Assistant: CT Correspondant: European Technical Editor: 4

Edition 176 +27 (0)11 949 4091 +27 (0)11 252 6844 autoref@iafrica.com www.autoref.co.za Ian Groat Claire Macfie Val Groat Jay Groat Nataschja Ferreira Dave Fall Andrew Marsh

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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BASF Coatings Services 086 1100 173

www.devilbisseu.com

Tunzi Automotive +27 (0)11 867 7887

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INDUSTRY UPDATE WHAT’S HOT?

MOTOR TRADERS ORGANISATION MAKING PROGRESS

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he new venture of the Motor Traders Organisation (MTO) continues to make marketing progress says Noel de Robillard. “Right now we are enjoying good success in signing up new members as far afield as the Port Elizabeth area of our operation.” The local market encompasses up to 600 000 people being actively employed in the various sectors of the motor trade and the objectives of the MTO are to champion their rights across the trade.

“With the introduction of the Motor Traders Organisation ultimately we can see the expansion of our signed Noel de Robillard, head of the Motor up membership approaching 1 000 companies and individual members as well as trade supply concerns. In the roll Traders Organisation (MTO). out phase towards the end of this year and early next year, one of our media functions will become a push to negotiate with trade unions within the motor trade on various labour matters and employer concerns within our target area of operations of vehicle dealerships, motor body repairers and fuel forecourt operations, to name but a few.

“Right now we’re already at around 300 signed up new members and the response has been positive to some of the services that we offer to our members to guide them through existing legislation, particularly in regard to the Consumer Protection Act. It’s a vital area for small business operations. We’re also continuing to try and keep our MTO membership fees at low entry levels while being able to offer the prospect of delivering a full service package with good service delivery levels for as an alternative industry organisation in the motor trade.” concluded De Robillard.

MTO are driven by the following benefits: l Our rates are very competitive ranging from R300.00 per month or R3 000.00 annually l We offer BEE Certification or assistance at preferential rates l We have access to lawyers and labour advisors who can offer our members assistance with all legal matters, again at preferential rates l We are currently negotiating with a reputable broker for affordable basket packages which include Medical Aid and Pension fund for employees, specifically for MTO members l Motorite, and Warranty solutions have endorsed the MTO to ensure that your warranty work can continue and are at the final stages with all the other warranty companies l We have a marketing campaign to ensure we drive consumers to our members l Tap a tag - a list of benefits including negotiated rates on speed point of 2.15% and 1.75% on a debit card.

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DRIVING THE MOTOR INDUSTRY

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

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298 009

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

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TOP SHOP CMC AUTOPANEL, BRACKENFELL CAPE TOWN

CMC AUTOPANEL LAUNCH IN STYLE Story and pics by Ian Groat

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he Dals Motor Group (DMG) really got into top gear way back in 1995 when Tommy Nel opened up a panel shop in Montague Gardens. Tommy, who started out as a Vereeniging-based panel shop owner, had paid some school fees on just how to get the world’s best body shop to perform. He started with his family to overhaul the way forward and by using his personal drive and desire to become the best at collision repairing in the South African market. Dals has continued to build state-of-the-art repair facilities in the Cape Town suburbs.

The next big opportunity for the Dals expansion came in the purchase and revamp of Dals Brackenfell where another huge upgrade was set in motion to cope with a Mercedes-Benz approval programme. With his 40 years’ experience, Tommy, with his son Elvin, set the foundation for Brackenfell.

So it came as no surprise to see the Nel family introduce the allnew, 8 000 square metre body shop. Dals Libertas Goodwood and Dals Claremont was thus opened in the Southern suburbs; they boast a number of approvals including another Mercedes-Benz badge. These shops complement the already strong Dals Montague Gardens branch; the five branches have some 17 000 square metres between them.

The Brackenfell operation, together with long time turnkey specialist, Walter Lenaerts, have introduced a shop with no less than four full-size sprinter spray booths along with an Aeromix colour room plus the Aeroprep and vacuum assisted preparation decks.

“The shop is really part of the final push to deliver excellent repair work as it features world class technology,” says Nel. Elvin gave a great opening speech to say that it had been a long hard road with his father in learning the business where he had seen himself working as a driver, storeman and assessor, he truly learnt the business from the ground up.

The final realisation of a dream come true was the opening of CMC Auto panel. The DMG facilities now employ over 160 people 10

in the various operations in the suburbs across Cape Town and with the new technology-packed workshop, he felt confident that they were on the right path.

To name one feature, the new operation featured the Aerocure glass sided spray booth which now uses the latest energy saving motors to reduce electrical costs by some 50% over older type cabins. With over 350 invited guests the evening function was a full bells and whistles affair on the launch evening.

The two aluminium bays have the most advanced equipment and methods in aluminium repair, this is part of the ongoing commitment the Nels have towards their customers to ensure their vehicles are repaired to factory specification in hospita-like conditions. These conditions ensure that no cross contamination between ferrous and non-ferrous metals take place.

Tommy Nel hasn’t enjoyed the best of health in recent years but remains absolutely driven when it comes to completing his personal dream of being able to deliver the absolute best service and customer experience in body shop repair in Cape Town.

The CMC operations are backed up by more than 30 towing and response vehicles and controlled and monitored by a special call centre for clients with 24 hour Cape Roadside Assist.

Knowing Tommy for the entire 40 years as I do you have to commend him on sticking with the dream against plenty of wind on his chest along the highway to get the result of a body shop that ranks as one of the best in the world right now. His final comment of having a talented family to see him through it all says it all.

In closing, facilities like these that take our industry forward, they raise the bar to another level. Many thought Tommy Nel was crazy to take on such a project. Nevertheless here we are, a testament to his determination and passion to see his industry soar to new heights.

The Dals Motor Group would like to thank the Nel family for taking us with them on this journey.

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Ansie (left) and Tommy Nel are seen here with their daughter Lindie Nel. As a family driven business they are very proud of their legacy.

R-M systems are the refinish of choice for the Dals Group operations and the RSB team give top notch service to maintain excellent levels of service back-up.

The smart new shop front and excellent signage make a great first impression on anyone.

Aerocure’s new drivethrough spraybooths feature visual computer temperature and energy read outs while in operation. There was a live demonstration taking place during the event.

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“The all new Caroliner aluminium repair room is fully equipped for future aluminium repairs,” says Alex Lenaerts.

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TOP SHOP CMC AUTOPANEL, BRACKENFELL CAPE TOWN

CMC Auto Panel provided the guests with a superb evening of entertainment.

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1. Looking more like a huge night club, the CMC shop is simply enormous in size.

2. It was a very lavish occasion with no expense spared.

3. Elvin Nel thanked everyone for coming along to enjoy the evening and especially everyonel involved in the hard work needed.

4. Over 350 invited guests partied until late with great entertainment and music to celebrate the occasion.

5. CMC pulled out all the entertainment action in a power-packed evening party.

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LOCAL UPDATE WHAT’S HOT?

CRA’S TRAINING AND AUTO ESCALATE INITIATIVE

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facelifted training course about occupational safety has been rolled out on a national basis by the Collision Repairers Association (CRA).

The syllabus for training has been further refined by specialist trainer for the deaf, Dr Frik Botha, and covers all the disciplines needed in today’s body shop environment. The course meets and exceeds safety standards for both employers and statutory legislation that need to be met.

A new compliant first aid kit will soon become available nationally from CRA and all queries from members of any urgent nature can be solved by calling Lisa-Marie Germanus on 082 600 9565. She is also available to talk to new members and prospective CRA body shops.

Celebrating Two Years Of Success The CRA are already marking their second year of success as an association that cares in the collision repair industry.

They wish to thank all of their members for their generous support, time and feedback.

“The ability to listen to our members and then implement these actions is what makes us different,” said Lisa-Marie.

Auto Escalate Initiative Gains Momentum The Auto Escalate initiative has finally ended the long-standing divisions of fair labour rates and annual increases between collision repairers and insurers. Based on reasonable and fair business practice, the parties have undertaken to automatically increase the labour rate annually on 1 September.

The percentage will be based on the annual wage increase that appears in the official gazette. The date also coincides with the introduction of annual wage increases in the automotive sector.

Auto Escalate will ensure that annual increases will be regulated, fair and will have no conflict in the labour tariff wars of previous days. It is a first for the industry and has been driven, amongst others, by the support of two of the largest insurers in the country.

The Collision Repairers Association (CRA) who have pioneered the Auto Escalate initiative, intend to make this an industry benchmark to be proud of. They currently have 350 members nationwide.

In celebration of this ground breaking initiative, CRA members of the Free 16

State/Northern Cape region held a fundraiser. The CRA has all the industry players approached for donations and R150 000 was raised for Little Fighters Cancer Trust. A sizeable gift for sure.

The CRA FS/NC would like to thank the following contributors for their generous donations: G old • BASF • Lindsay Saker VW Bfn • Marouns Silver • ABSA • ABS • Audi Centre Bloemfontein • Auto Niche • BFN Multi franchise • Grandmark • Honda/Mahindra BFN • Human Auto • IMA • Mag Repairs • Imperial GM • Santam Bronze • Aon • Bloem Bakkie Linings • C&F Motor Spares • Central Nissan

• Dup’s Towing • Exact Towing • Goldwagen • Glasfit • Hollard • Hyundai Bloemfontein • Indwe • John Williams • Landmark • Moto-Inn • OFS Car Breakers • Oranje Toyota • PG Auto Glass • Silverton radiators • Mrs Fredrie van der Merwe CRA Contributors: • Auto Body Worx • Auto Renew • Auto Vision • B&H Paneelkloppers • Dent Doctor – BFN • Dent Doctor – Kimberley • OFS Panelbeaters • PC Struwig • Perfect Panelbeaters • Pokwani Panelbeaters • R&G Panelbeaters • TC Panelbeaters • Thompson’s Panelbeaters • Triomf Panelbeaters

“CRA have had a very productive and successful year so far as membership continues to grow” says LisaMarie Germanus.

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TRAINING UPDATE TRAINING

SATA & BULLDOG ABRASIVES COMMITTED TO SUCCESS

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ulldog Abrasives is the sole distributor of the SATA range of products in Sub-Saharan Africa. In a joint initiative between Bulldog and SATA, six of Bulldog’s top technical representatives travelled to the SATA Training Centre at their head office in Kornwestheim, Germany, for five days of intense technical training. They were trained on SATA’s entire product range and systems to upskill and then pass this valuable knowledge onto their customers.

SATA’s philosophy is “always be up to date with state-of-theart technology” – this can only be achieved with on-going training and the enhancement of personal knowledge. Bulldog’s sales team made use of SATA’s in-house training centre with spray booth, and had training in both theory and practical fields. They were trained

by SATA’s training manager, Andreas Engenhardt, and were looked after by SATA’s export manager Frédéric Martinez.

Bulldog staff were schooled on the different types of filters available from SATA as well as the piping layout of the compressed air system. They also learnt about all of the guns as well as the safety equipment utilised when using SATA’s spray equipment. Training was also provided on the maintenance and cleaning of the spray guns, which is rather important as the life of the gun is dependent on it. This was just a fraction of what was learnt during their visit to SATA. They were given a tour through SATA’s production facility where they were shown how the legendary SATA quality level is achieved. Seeing their precision production machinery provides a lasting impression of SATA’s product quality.

The team were then introduced to the following recently released SATA products: The premium spray gun SATAjet 5000 B which sets new standards when it comes to quality – painting has become easier than ever before! This gun is extremely versatile in terms of application distance and inlet pressure. Painters now have the ability to set pressure and distance as required by the paint to be applied, the climatic conditions and the work method to achieve perfect finishes.

SATA has released their SATAjet 4000 B “Surfer” gun with an attractive design, reflecting the theme of the German spray gun manufacturer at this year’s Automechanika trade show. The design of this extraordinary spray gun epitomises the Californian way of life – sand, surf and sun – the impression of California Dreaming!

This gun is available as a strictly limited edition and will be available from Bulldog Abrasives as from the middle of October 2014.

The SATA filter is now equipped with a SATA Filter Timer. The SATA three-stage filter regulator unit is equipped with an activated charcoal filter to efficiently remove ultra-fine particles and oil vapours. In order to maintain the efficiency of the filter regulator the unit must be regularly maintained, thus avoiding coating flaws, quality issues and ultimately expensive reworks. The regular replacement of saturated filter cartridges is equally essential when working with air-supplied breathing protection in order to preserve the health of the painters. To remind users to exchange exhausted filter elements regularly, from now on all SATA filter regulator units will be supplied with a set of SATA filter timers.

SATA’s commitment to the continuous improvement in the quality of their product range and the operators’ knowledge of how to effectively implement the use of these products is testament to their devotion to their brand and their company ethos which has resulted in 99% of SATA’s customers returning to purchase SATA products.

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Peerapong Maythanarapong from Mercedes-Benz Thailand, was in Germany at the same time and joined in with the Bulldog team’s training schedule. Left to right is: Luteyn Risseeuw; Peerapong Maythanarapong; Craig van Blerk and Andreas Engenhardt.

Bulldog technical representative, Dale de Clercq (right), receiving a certificate from SATA training manager Andreas Engenhardt.

From left to right: Frédéric Martinez, SATA’s export sales manager; Donovan Spriggs and Dean Palmer Bulldog technical sales representatives; Andreas Engenhardt, SATA’s training manager.

Bulldog sales manager, Banie Welthagen (right) receiving a certificate from SATA training manager Andreas Engenhardt.

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INDUSTRY UPDATE INSURANCE

STANSURE NATIONAL ROAD SHOW

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n a novel move to engage with their selected approved repair network, Stansure recently held a national road show convention for body shop, parts and paints in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Bloemfontein and Gauteng.

Peerushen Moodley, head of procurement told delegates that a think tank approach on how Stansure could improve their working relationships with the network of body shops was a good way to go.

The group have upped their motorbook by over 20% to close to 46 000 policies this year and it’s a vital drive to improve every way they can with repairing stakeholders as claims volumes increase. This type of engagement is a vital part of improving the company’s insured drivers experience. They are currently seeing some 22% of total write offs and salvage returns remain satisfactory.

Right now what is needed is an improvement in key-to-key time to make repairs fast, simple and absolutely painlesss.

That’s the new objective from the Stansure operating team.

Len Moodley then went on to say that driveable damaged vehicles had seen an increase over the years and they were seeking new pathways in repair processes to get clients cars returned on time and closing down time wasting gaps in the process can often be overcome by increasing communication across the board. With the lions share of small hits of which 50% remains driveable under current conditions of their policy holders.

Kirk van Wyk, who handles the national claims, went on to say in some cases clients abused courtesy cars by not returning those rental Avis vehicles on time. There were obvious ways on reducing friction in this area Peerushen Moodley said much can be done to improve working relationships at Stansure.

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The Stansure roadshow was well supported as the insurer looks to improve their clients collision repair cycle experience. of operations to diminish costs for all stake holders in improving the car hire process management cycle.

Parts were an ongoing problem for many repairers as delays up to three months were not uncommon for impacted vehicles seen in repair with towing now consolidated with MSRG accessing yards. Those who attended felt problems still exist on chargeout rates and collection costs for distance repair companies on outlying areas that needed to be resolved in a more formalised way.

Stansure was originally started as an in-house operation to cover Standard Bank employees but has since gone on to grow like crazy into a national book of insured drivers.

They are seeing approximately 450 damaged units each month with 200 nondriveable, 200 driveables and 50 write off vehicles being the pattern of damage seen on average.

Vehicles in warranty are now always towed to the closest approved repairer and with over 10 000 new policies now being sold over 2014, collision repairers involved will see a gradual increase in repair volumes.

Clinton Poonsamy, manager: Motor Assessing, informed delegates of a new process structure on claims processing at the call centre. The process now concentrates on removing any wasteful expenses and improving the client’s experience with a step-by-step approach to each stage of the

repair cycle.

General discussion on problematic areas of poor assessor questions, payment delays and other bits and pieces gave Stansure the room to improve the total offer. “We want to do things better and better for all concerned,” said Moodley. Costings and clearance certificates were also up for general discussions, as were the company audit profiles. SMD went through the current process of assessment, many felt they could see improvements to reduce cost and speed up repair cycle time on the Stansure assessing methodology.

Talks on 24 Fix Autoglass and other key areas were also included in the national road show. Moodley was upbeat about the outcome as the company had found many new paths to eliminate cost frictions and process improvements going forward to drive Stansure client experiences upwards in a bid to keep their insured drivers in the right frame of mind.

“As a progressive insurance company, examining failure demand is important to Stansure to try to eliminate these areas of contention and costs as we are now striving to reduce customer effort by making it quick and easy for customers to try and solve all the problems. It lowers the customer’s effort which makes them more likely to remain loyal and keep them with a Stansure master policy,” concluded Moodley.

Len Moodley said Stansure were taking a progressive path for all stakeholders involved.

Clinton Poonsamy told the attendees about the new process structure in the call centre.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

by Tom Franklin

UPGRADES

DON’T FALL BEHIND ON UPGRADES

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pgrades and repairs are financially painful when you neglect them for too long. Remember the old tune, “All or Nothing at All”, first recorded by Frank Sinatra? It aptly describes many shop owners’ approaches to making changes or improvements.

It came to mind after talking with a close friend who sells and services spraybooths, frame machines, welders and other key collision shop equipment. She says that in this tough economy many shop owners are choosing to upgrade their existing equipment rather than buy new. She also says she is appalled by the sorry state of much of the equipment she is asked to rehab.

On chassis machines chains are frequently broken, hydraulic pumps are leaking and hydraulic rams don’t operate properly. The holding clamps are often in poor working order. Most of these components must be serviced once a year. If they had been, the cost of upgrading and repairing them would be a fraction of the bill for servicing these neglected components.

Frequently the computerised measuring equipment has been neglected so long that it stands unused in a corner while technicians use old tram gauges to make less accurate measurements. When asked why these components have been allowed to fall into this sad state, the shop owner replies he was intending to replace them with new equipment, but just hasn’t gotten around to it. “All or nothing at all.”

Body straightening machine neglect is nothing, however, compared to paint booth neglect. Regular booth exhaust ducts should be cleaned every six months, but they’ve often been ignored for a year or more. Booth ceiling filters should be changed every six months and floor filters or exhaust wall filters should be replaced about every two weeks. My friend says the state of some of the filters she has seen are so bad they must be seriously affecting the quality of the paint jobs coming out of the booth.

Burners and mechanical units need to be serviced every six months, but aren’t. Paint cabinets contain ancient materials that should have been disposed of months ago. Much of this is neglect to the point that it could become hazardous. Once again, incremental timely replacement and maintenance could have cut the cost of upgrading in half, rather than nearly painting the balance sheet red.

My friend sees all kinds of neglect in paint booths. Air line filter elements should be changed every three to six months, but often aren’t. (Air compressor filter elements like desiccant beads need that kind of attention too). Air compressors and dryers have not been

maintained properly by changing oil filters on compressors and adding Freon to the air dryer every six months. Air lines are just air receivers that no longer work properly when they’ve not been drained in the morning and in the evening. All of this adds up to greater replacement costs.

Air line hoses and quick couplers develop leaks. This is one of the most costly areas to a body shop. One leaky air hose can cost a shop up to R2 000 in a single month. Clarifiers that should have been cleaned out once a year appear to have been untouched for several.

At this point some are beyond repair and must be replaced at significantly more cost than simple maintenance.

Even the cords to the polishers and vacuum cleaners are frayed and in poor working order, sometimes with exposed wires. Again, most of this neglect is actually hazardous. Taken one at a time, these neglected areas may seem trivial, but together they add up to a significant sum.

With many shops considering the lean production approach, the “scrub” phase, cleaning, repairing or replacing equipment that is not functioning properly, risks being a major task.

If the lean Japanese concept kaisen, which calls for incremental changes in a shop’s appearance, equipment or personnel training, had been applied all along, the shop’s cost would have been lean as well.

I recently had an occasion to make a number of visits to a loved one in a convalescent hospital. Every time I visited, I noticed something was being painted, upgraded. A convalescent hospital can’t shut down to be painted, so they paint a bit every day, even it’s only a door a day. It’s a lesson that’s relatable for collision repair today, since business is still not booming in most areas, technicians should have at least a little time every day to attend to some kind of maintenance. A kaisen-like incremental approach to keeping a shop in top operating condition might well be the best lean approach, and far less costly than “all or nothing at all.”

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PARIS MOTORSHOW GAY PARIS WITH A TWIST

by Andrew Marsh

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his is a slightly sideways look at the Paris Motor Show which got underway at the start of October 2014. Some ground rules first: • The show always has global premiers even though the vehicles have been launched before and/or are primarily intended for Europe.

• All premiers are linked to the last show – which happened two years ago.

• There are a huge number of ultra-light, ultra-slow and ultraexpensive vehicles on show, since France is the biggest market in Europe for ‘quadricycles’. Uniquely these speed-limited vehicles can be driven by 16-year-olds, the infirm and the banned. How socialist is that?

There is a rather bigger trend underway. Or two. Let’s look at these….

When is an ‘all-new’ vehicle a facelift?

As a direct result of the global economy crash most vehicle manufacturers struggled to keep the full force of their model replacement programmes going along. Some of these manufacturers effectively cancelled replacement vehicle programmes, and instead carried on with updating existing products to comply with ever more stringent emission regulations, for example.

Ford for example had a range of MPVs based on the CD345 Mondeo (Galaxy and S-Max) which had been in production since 2006 – here we are in 2014 and the S-Max replacement has only just been revealed. True the Ford Fusion CD 391 (to be called Mondeo in Europe) has been on sale in the US since 2012 but plant closure in Europe and weak demand for the current Mondeo allowed the replacement programme to move out by two years. Meanwhile the ‘all-new’ Focus3 is in reality a revamp to the bumpers and a huge investment in revised powertrains, which will then carry on into Focus4 in due course.

How did this play out?

Aston Martin – lots of minor revisions, but same old product. Bentley Mulsanne Speed – more wood, more glitz, more power. An upgrade. Will anyone buy it? Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta – limited edition, but expect the active aerodynamics to appear on the regular 458 in the very near future.

Ford Focus3, C-Max – major powertrain facelift, minor exterior upgrade. Honda Civic Type R ‘concept’ – much delayed, a range addition.

Honda CR-V – this really is a facelift with an upgrades 1.6-litre EarthDreams turbodiesel engine. Infiniti…. In deep, deep trouble. Having re-named the entire product line up with some very minor revisions, added genuinely new vehicles (Q50 for example) and then struck a deal to use Mercedes-Benz diesel engines along with building a new car based on the A class platform in Mexico…. When will Infiniti settle down and get some serious sales made?

Nissan Pulsar – this is a new product for Europe, but really is the same thing that could have been bought in other parts of the world for some years. The cunning plan? Having cleaned up with Qashqai (Dualis) and Juke (Jake?) for the pseudo SUV market, Nissan Europe think by going conventional they’ll clean up again. So that’ll be about 10 years ahead of the curve….

Opel/Vauxhall Corsa – this one is an almighty facelift. Brand new engines, transmissions and exterior panels with a new interior. So why is this a facelift? This is not the ground breaking GM baby platform because that was cancelled. Instead the platform co-engineered with Fiat is all set to enter its second decade of manufacture. Tricky.

What was really new?

Fiat 500X – it might be advised to view this car in a dark room whilst wearing sunglasses. Not quite in the league to the 500-oh-L, it uses the same C platform as the Alfa Romeo Guilietta and the new Jeep Cherokee – and replaces the Suzuki built SX-4 based Sedici. Much delayed, and to be built in Italy by Fiat – but only on good days.

Hyundai i20 – following the lots of small steps path, the i20 builds on the previous platform and gains some all-new engines. Evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

Jaguar XE, a nearly all aluminium car aimed at BMW 3 series (although JLR also mention 5 series) built at the Land Rover plant in Sol-i-hull. Power will come from Ford built supercharged V6 petrol engines and the new JLR built ‘Ingenium’ engine range of four cylinder petrol and turbodiesel engines too.

Land Rover D-I-S-C-O-very Sport – Just as JLR were taken over by Tata, there was a plan to produce a seven-seat version of the Freelander 2, a plan that was just nine months from start of production. All went

quiet. JLR launched the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque (blessed with design input from Victoria Beckham), Range Rover/Range Rover Sport and now launch the revised, re-skinned seven-seat Freelander 2 as the Disco Sport. It will feature the all-new JLR ‘Ingenium’ range.

Mazda MX-5 – all new, the fourth generation vehicle and to be built with ‘another engine’ for Alfa Romeo too. Paris saw the Mazda version – we await the Alfa Romeo version. Oh wait – will the Alfa Romeo version have seven year’s roadside assistance? Or should we start walking now?

Renault Espace, given the current product has been in almost continuous production since 2004 with just one major facelift, once can say that it needed replacement. Following the theme that MPV monobox profiles have been replaced by pseudo SUV cross-overs, Espace gains the platform from Nissan Qashqai (or Cash-cow) and is ‘ow you say, refocused. Why? Renault want to get back some of their top end luxury car market – much as they have tried to do since the days of the Renault 25.

Skoda Fabia – the third generation Fabia and the first Volkswagen Group ‘small’ car to be based on the MQB kit introduced with Golf VII/Seal Leon/Skoda Octavia/Audi A3. Expect the stop-gap Polo V (facelifted a few years ago), the Seat Leon and Audi A1 to be replaced in time with this new version of MQB. Suzuki Vitara – all new, really, really all new. This will take over from the SX-4 and is closer to an SUV than the previous car. The introduction of the Vitara marks the end of production collaboration in Europe with Fiat.

When is ‘new’ technology really off the shelf?

The automotive industry is moving quickly to introduce everexpanding technology which is centred on connectivity and active safety – although no area of the vehicle is immune from this progress. However, we are seeing the introduction of mass market ‘new’ technology is really about 10 years behind where the real break-through technology is. So as we have seen at previous events, automotive technology on offer to vehicle manufacturers is really a consolidation of two decades of activity.

Expect another major technology burst to get underway in the next four years….

Those concepts….

Citroën C4 Cactus AIRFLOW 2L concept – how does two litres per 100 km fuel consumption grab you? C4 cactus is not based on C4 but on a stretched C3 platform. This concept revises the body structure to include fibre-reinforced plastics, aluminium and steel alloys . Then it adds a compressed air/hydraulic hybrid drive system – which still means the vehicle is 100kg lighter than a C4 Cactus. It also has active aerodynamic tabs. Hocus pocus? No. The main technology partner for the driveline is Bosch. This may not appear exactly as shown in Paris but most of it will go into production very soon.

Audi TT Sportback concept. OK, this might not make too much sense but just as Citroën created the sub-brand ‘DS’ so Audi wants to create a ‘TT’ brand. The first two steps are in place – the coupe and roadster. Can’t wait for the TT Q – loads of ground clearance and no headroom. Anyway, TT Sportback is coming, like a Swiss train…. a cert.

Infiniti Q80 Inspire – a concept with more to say in its name than the vision. Interesting use of colour – white leather for the back seat occupants and black leather for those up front. This is supposed to prepare us for the Q80…..

Lamborghini Asterion LPI 910-4 concept - a melange of previously used exterior themes combined with a full-blown hybrid powertrain. Not really a product in its own right but an important pointer to where Audi will take Lamborghini next.

Renault EOLAB concept – a body shell made with aluminium, steel alloys and fibre reinforced plastics and complete with active aerodynamic surfaces. Even the front seat backrest frame is made from CFRP. The harness is made from aluminium (to save weight). Drive line is batterybased hybrid drive. The real point? A huge indication of how Megane 4 will look.

SsangYong XIV-Air and XIV-Adventure – aimed at the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV-4, the only question is will Mahindra & Mahindra ever put this into production? Volkswagen XL Sport concept. Take one super optimised hybrid drive coupe, extend the wheel arches sideways (so destroying the aerodynamics) and eject the two-cylinder turbodiesel engine for a Ducati V2. Pointless.

Overall The Paris show has had some rocky times in the past and came close to closure. However it has bounced back and from the 2014 array of new vehicles and oddities it seems to have been a success. For the automotive industry there are a few storm clouds gathering – the European economic slow-down is biting once more and the number of times a product can be described as ‘all-new’ is getting harder to justify. However, this was probably the last time we will see yawing gaps in the product renewal process, since the automotive industry more or less got back on an even keel in 2012.

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Renault Eolab

Maserati Alfieri

Infiniti Q80 Inspiration

Lamborghini Asterion

CIitroĂŤn Cactus Concept

Volkswagen XL Sport concept

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INTERVIEW NICO KRUKENBURG, BASF COATINGS SERVICES refinish market.

Looking to South Africa, we recognised the initiatives of the car manufacturing industry to drive waterborne products ranges within the approved panel- and body shops. Therefore, the local market will develop further in this direction and we are enthusiastic to drive and support this development as well The current drive is one of improving the way body shops are managed to concentrate on systems and profit improvement. Is this part of a company drive?

Yes – this is not only part of the company drive, it is a core topic within our strategy and a key pillar to any one of our premium paint brands.

It is evident that establishments such as massive fleet companies and insurers in Europe are looking at partnering with suppliers that can affect the efficiency and productivity of their systems and processes. It is our mandate to support and educate body shops in the effort to reduce the repair times and increase the body shop’s utilisation. In a simple formula: More cycles per day in a body shop.

As a result of this outlook we host a number of body shop business seminars and related training activities in all regions of the country.

Our Value Added Services team in South Africa attended several annual training sessions in Europe to ensure they are on top of their game when it relates to global trends and outlooks that needs to be considered for our local industry and market.

Talking about group progress, have you fulfilled the original visions as it has evolved for the Glasurit brand across South Africa?

In business you never come to an end – but, yes, we are fully on track. The targets are ambitious, but we have a very good team spirit within the company, sales and service teams. During my first weeks in South Africa I have already experienced the dynamics within the organisation. I am sure that our time is right for our product and service portfolios which have been developed for this market.

The colour offer from major houses has moved to special tools to increase formula retrieval and identification, where are you with this area of the business?

Color offer is “key” for the car refinish market. If the colour doesn´t match the job has not been done. We offer online and offline tools, such CPS (Color Profi System for metallic colours) in the fourth generation with more than 6 000 chips and more than 14 000 OEM colours represented. For solid colours we offer CPS Uni (Colour Profi System Uni) in the third generation with more than 1 700 chips. Tinting guides and tinting swatches complement this offer.

Customers can use the Profit Manager Pro-software too. In addition to this, we can refer to one of the largest color databases which is Glasurit Color Online. This is linked as well to the Profit Manager Pro-software to get the right colour-formula easily. Last but not least is the very advanced solution of the Ratio Spectro II device – we see the future in this color identification tool. We therefore strongly believe that we have the right answers and advice to the questions of our customers.

What is the driving focus from BASF Coatings Services right now and into the future?

Productivity and efficiency are key for our clients. Workflow organisation and key-to-key time has become more and more important. Continuous training of our customer base becomes an important key-success-factor. For this reason BASF Coatings Services will open a state-of-the-art training facility in Johannesburg soon. This training facility is based on the experience of a network of European training centres. I have visited a number of the training centres in Europe and can only emphasise the value of a South African Training Centre which will enhance the value of our business. We will furthermore open additional local decentralised training centres in Durban and Port Elizabeth. This will complement the centres we already have in Bloemfontein and Cape Town. Here we see a strong focus in the future.

Where do you see the BASF Coatings Services group looking in the next three years ahead, locally and internationally?

We believe that our strong brands will help our customers to increase their business. The business environment remains challenging. But within our regional and even global network, we will be able to strongly support our customer.

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ico Krukenburg started at BASF Coatings (Europe) in 1999 and worked for marketing, sales, product management and supply chain for Industrial and OEM Automotive Coatings in the German Headquarter in Muenster/Westphalia.

During 2003 to 2011 he worked as sales and project manager for a European company in the field of secondary raw materials and recycling and returned to BASF Automotive Refinish in 2011 in Europe, being responsible for European business development manager for fleets and (technical and commercial) approvals. Later, he became business development manager within the business management key account division for commercial vehicles.

How has your period of BASF Coatings Services consolidation been progressing?

You call it consolidation; we see this more as a (re-)focus on our core competence and core business. Doing this, we had to take tough decisions that may look like a consolidation, but we concentrated on the quintessence of our business, the vehicle refinish business. In my view my assignment in South Africa is a true commitment from our headquarters to the South African Automotive Refinish Industry. Within the EMEA (Europe-Middle East and Africa) region set-up of BASF Coatings, South Africa is one of the top five countries – and therefore of great importance to the BASF Automotive Refinish business in EMEA. In addition to this, the South African organisation acts as a hub for the Sub-Sahara region and is therefore important for the entire region.

With the waterborne initiatives pursued globally by the group, how do you rate the local market in terms of progress in refinish?

BASF Coatings is one of the global leaders in waterborne car refinish. Early in the 1990s we started with the Glasurit 90-line – before the European VOC-regulation forced it upon automotive paint manufacturers, suppliers and users. Today, the waterborne system is approved by the greater majority of key car manufacturers.

It is one of the most efficient paint systems available for the vehicle 26 26

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FUTURE TECH - by Andrew Marsh

208 LEADS THE RE-BIRTH FOR PEUGEOT

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hirty years ago the 205 GTi was born – a car which took a European formula which had been established with the Volkswagen Golf (small car, bigger than usual engine, very precise handling) and pushed the performance envelope.

Few who ever drove one ever forgot it – indeed the 205 family was a huge success since the ground work in the main vehicle programme was so good. The 205 was followed by the slightly larger 206 which broke with the past as the first major Peugeot vehicle not to be designed by Pininfarina, but internally it too was a huge commercial success. 207 became slightly bigger again, and a much more mature product than the previous models. But then, consumer demands for refinement, safety and build quality inevitably took its toll on vehicle weight.

Mayhem Everywhere During this period the fortunes of Peugeot SA went from invincibility to near collapse – the interior systems and metal forming business (Fauricia) and the logistics company (Gefco) remained very profitable whilst the automobile division lurched from difficulty to difficulty. Lucrative powertrain engineering collaborations with BMW and Ford were either terminated or scaled down, whilst for more than a decade the Chinese market remained a mystery whilst others who started at about the same time (Volkswagen Group, BMW) powered ahead. The global financial crisis pushed this global business with founder family board members close to the brink – the analysis showed the board had lacked conviction and made poor choices to add to the woes. The result? The majority of Gefco was sold to the Russian State railway, Fauricia almost became independent and people openly talked about the end of both Peugeot as well as Citroen car production.

Part of the car ‘issue’ was that Peugeot had a tiered product range swathed in corporate clues which made less and less sense for the public. The push by ‘premium’ brands downwards had already destroyed the upper end models, eaten into the mainstream volume products and now openly challenged the base products. The French Government did everything possible to assist Peugeot SA by fixing short-term loans much to the anger of the EU (since repaid in full) – Renault too was in deep trouble but at least had Alliance partner Nissan to help. Peugeot SA was alone, confused and in deep trouble.

Seeing the Light Whilst the ‘old’ administration was in charge and through the 28

board room revolution, Peugeot SA found its heart. Starting with yet more super-efficient mainstream product they went left field and took on both the Fiat 500 and the Mini with a re-modelled threedoor super-mini, by inventing the brand ‘DS’ and crucially pushing the three-door hatch to a higher price point than the five-door hatch C3.

That quietly got consumers back in love with the product. The current market see’s brand as a reassurance for build quality/reliability, but the hook is the design and just how the purchaser can make their own car unique. BMW openly admitted every single Mini leaving the production line had on average £2 500 of options which in turn had a far higher margin than the base vehicle.

That’s what got the global automotive industry’s attention.

The Beginning The Geneva show of 2011 was the first outing for the 208, along with the sister car the Citroën C3 (A58). On both show stands there were production quality pilot build vehicles, a far cry from the fleet of eight production quality hand built prototype 1007s that adorned the 2007 Paris show (cost circa €250 000 each) – a car that went on to lose €15 380 for each vehicle built. However, the biggest investment was a brand new three-cylinder engine buried in a walkway beside the stand…

The Bare Formula This was proof Peugeot SA had really started to find its feet again.

The ‘formula’ was utterly conventional for the era – up to six airbags (two front, two side, two curtain), electronic stability control with integrated hill-hold feature, electric power steering assistance with the electric motor fixed to the rack, LED tail lights (depending on trim level) and day time LED running lights. Braking was via discs at the front and drums or discs on the rear. Equally the suspension conformed to type with McPherson front struts for the front suspension and coil sprung torsion beam rear suspension.

What Could all the Fuss be About?

The interior was longer than the 207, by 100mm – but the exterior was 70mm shorter. Add to that the 1.6 litre turbo petrol engines jointly developed with BMW (used in the R55/R56/R57/R58/R59/R60/R61 Mini) which replaced the larger and heavier 2.0-litre engine, the 1.0-litre three cylinder engine and the shortened body with and extensive use of higher strength steel alloys. The result is an average vehicle weight saving of 114kg when

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www.autoindustryinsider.com compared to 207. The weight saving for the 1.0 litre petrol engine model is 173kg, weighing in at just 975 kg! That is pretty remarkable for a small vehicle complete with modern safety protection and NVH performance.

The key was reduced tailpipe emissions, and to achieve that there are three important approaches: • Managing the air over and underneath the vehicle to minimise aerodynamic drag – which reduces the amount of engine power required for a given speed.

• Reducing vehicle weight to in turn reduce the amount of power required to accelerate it, so reducing tailpipe emissions.

• Increasing the efficiency of the engines which in turn are smaller because of the reduced demand from the vehicle.

Steel Alloys Everywhere The increased use of higher strength steel alloys contributes to weight saving and getting more performance from less material, making the 70mm length reduction compared to 207 viable – even improving the crash energy absorption management. The roof skin is laser welded into position…

But, there’s More Spiritually the 205 GTi cast a long, long shadow over its successors – it weighed just 850kg, and had power outputs ranging from 105bhp through to 130bhp. It was the combination of torque curve, power curve, gear ratios, body stiffness and vital spring/damper/tyre optimisation that produced such memorable performance. The 206 and 207 GTi vehicles were very good, but the 208 GTi promised to shed some weight and get back towards the svelte dynamics of the original.

Introduced almost a year after 208 went into production, the GTi uses the 1.6-litre turbocharged direct injection petrol engine codeveloped with BMW, in 200bhp form. The upgrade for 208 GTi increases the vehicle weight to 1 160kg, and the frontal area from 0.65 m2 to 0.72 m2 (CdA – 0.34).

To cope with the additional power the front subframe is stiffened (which is shared with the 156bhp 1.6-litre turbo engine models), the rear torsion beam uprated, the damper re-calibrated and the braking system re-optimised. Additionally the track at the front is widened by 11mm and at the rear by 15mm. Like the original the interior has unique front seats and interior colour theme.

Enter the anniversary edition. This features a lowered ride height by 10mm, increased front track by 22mm at the front and 16mm at the rear compared to the regular GTi. The engine output is increased to 208 bhp/300 Nm, driving through a six-speed manual transmission with revised ratios and Torsen limited slip differential. The two-tone paint is an option, and probably the most eye catching feature.

Will it Work?

Peugeot is not the first vehicle manufacturer to wake up and realise it has drifted some way from its original values. What makes the 208 range the bedrock of success is the engineering that has gone into the platform, so no matter how it appears – a small hatch, a cross-over SUV, a niche product to go head-to-head with other market leaders – the capability to meet those diverse needs is built in. Just as Ford found more than two decades ago, having a vehicle which responds quickly and accurately to driver inputs equals enjoyment, and that leads directly to sales success.

After all, no matter how congested traffic becomes when the roads do clear we want to enjoy driving. Will 208 really lead the rebirth of Peugeot SA? The market tide is turning and 208 is well placed to exploit that.

Auto Industry Consulting is an independent provider of technical information to the global collision repair industry. Products include EziMethods, our online collision repair methods system and A uto Industry Insider, o ur co llisio n repair industry technical information website. For more information please visit the websites: www.ezimethods.com and www.autoindustryinsider.com or contact ben.cardy@autoindustryconsulting.com 29

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AUTOMECHANIKA REVIEW 2014

by Roger Houghton pics by Ian Groat

With record show attendance Automechanika management were ecstatic about the show result.

Seen at the South African pavilion was the new South African CEO Ute Schuchardt for Automechanika.

Cromax with their Spies Hecker brand and Standox refinish had returned in force for Automechanika this year.

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he 23rd staging of the premier Automechanika trade fair for the automotive aftermarket held in Frankfurt, Germany, from September 16-20 was the biggest and best in the history of this event that stretches back to small beginnings with only 415 exhibitors at the inaugural show in 1971.

The recent five-day Automechanika trade fair in Frankfurt was definitely the place to be for those involved in the growing business of servicing the aftermarket needs of the motor industry. Many South Africans joined visitors from virtually all the countries in the world to view the offerings of a record 4 631 exhibitors. The displays were spread over 10 exhibition halls and several of the open areas on the 305 000 m2 site. The total length of the aisles at this year’s show totalled almost 42km.

Only 707 of the exhibitors were from Germany, with the other 3 924 coming from 70 nations situated outside the borders of the host country. China had the most displays at 783, but other countries with large representation included Italy (489), Taiwan (471) and Turkey (265). Nineteen South African companies had their wares on display at the DTI-backed SA Pavilion at its usual location in Hall 1.

Parts and Components, with 2 267 exhibitors, was far and away 32

Sykes-Pickavant have launched a special tool kit for repairing aluminium bodies.

The Wielander and Schill team offered a host of time saving repair equipment. the best supported interest group and this year it was split from Electronics and Systems, which had 532 exhibitors. Other groupings were Accessories and Tuning, Repair and Maintenance, IT and Management and Service Station & Car Wash.

“The ratings given to this years’ trade fair have been outstanding, with a significant impetus coming from outside Germany,” said Detlef Braun, a member of the board of management of Messe Frankfurt.

This year’s show was attended by 140 000 trade visitors from 173 countries, with a quarter of them coming from the workshop sector.

The number of international visitors rose by five percent to 60%.

“More than ever before, Automechanika in Frankfurt has shown itself to be a platform for the presentation of important, future-orientated technologies as the keys to tomorrow’s developments through the entire automotive aftermarket,” added Braun.

The Fair also presented many of the latest products and developments from the global market for trucks and buses under the banner of Truck Competence. This was the second time that this sector had been promoted separately and the fact that about a quarter of the exhibitors, more than 1 000 of them, displayed the distinctive orange Truck Competence was proof of the wide

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Car-O-Liner showed an expanded VAS 6528 approved repair package.

Mirka showed a new Aquastar low dust sanding product at the show.

DeVilbiss have a new expanded range of the successful GTi range.

Electric vehicles dominated an entire hall to show a futuristic vehicle display.

Celette have moved the company repair to an improved drive on system.

acceptance of this concept.

Braun said that it was interesting that sustainability and environmental compatibility also played an extremely important role in the commercial vehicle segment with many relevant products and services on display.

Many conferences and workshops took place during Automechanika Frankfurt. Particularly popular was the Collision Damage Talk, the best attended event on this year’s Automechanika Academy programme with 600 participants. The event was jointly sponsored by automotive paint manufacturers who returned to Automechanika after an absence of 12 years.

“We have regained our confidence in trade fairs as a marketing tool and enjoyed the opportunity to meet the world at Frankfurt and are looking forward to the next edition of the fair in 2016,” said Cromax sales manager Frank Forst.

The hall where alternative mobility concepts were displayed had far more exhibitors than at the 2012 show. In fact this year there were 50 exhibitors from 12 countries in this hall of the future.

On display was a broad spectrum of alternative powertrains from hybrid to electric to LPG and natural gas. Besides charging

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infrastructures, charging management and plug and cable systems the participants offered insights into the latest developments in the fields of motors, electronics, lightweight construction, power storage technologies, battery management, energy supply, financing, basic and advanced training, repairs and service. Many companies reported on working successfully with universities, research institutes and other industrial partners that bodes well for future developments.

Another magnet for visitors was the Galleria with a wide-ranging choice of basic and advanced training choices. For example, over 650 trade visitors from 36 countries attended the practice-orientated workshops on collision-damage management. As a participant reported, “The workshops exceeded my expectations. Messe Frankfurt has created a platform that not only provides specific information on topical issues but also enables visitors interested in these subjects to familiarise themselves with practical aspects of new technologies in a very short time,” commented Braun.

Automechanika Frankfurt is certainly a revelation for all involved in the automotive aftermarket as evidenced by the huge number of visitors that attended this biennial event. The next Automechanika Frankfurt will be held from September 13-17 in 2016.

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BODY REPAIR OVERVIEW

by Roger Houghton pics by Ian Groat

41 kilometres of walkways makes Automechanika 2014 the largest ever expo in Frankfurt

Autorobot from Finland were one of a number of repair systems showing new three dimensional measuring equipment.

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ith show attendees running at almost 10% up on the best ever recorded visitors, the international component for the repair trade was running at record levels.

At Halls 10 and 11, it was a grand return for some of the major refinish companies after their absence of over a decade. Altexa, Standox and Spies Hecker had taken space along with BASF and Glasurit to come back and talk to their many world importers and end users. But while they were moving ahead some of the other up and coming paint companies were on show so with an emphasis on new waterborne refinish and Yatu, General Paints and Kapci all reporting that they had done good business in their quest for larger export markets.

Vehicle body repair was once again well represented with major companies like Car-OLiner, Blackhawk, Autorobot, Celette and Chief, to name a few all showing vastly updated new measuring systems that now measure in these dimensions at the same time. Along with this were new high power approved by car makers on show both for spot welding repair and also in Mig and low temperature Mig brazing types.

With an ever-increasing supply base out of the Chinese market place their march forwards on the supply of spraybooths, preparation zones, spray painting equipment looks to be going on world market. Well that’s not really a big surprise as their cost to manufacture just about anything remains at 18 cents to the US dollar when production costs are analysed.

Henkel had a huge stand to demonstrate their various new glue technologies and two-pack bonding systems. The company has got a range of new body fillers and underbody sealing systems.

A number of new smart repair packages were unveiled to show how these concentrate on body repairs used without the need to strip interior panel trim because collision damage hits are now smaller in general at road accident levels. There demand seems to be on the increase.

Apprentice training got good traction from the German Skills Development body with the emphasis being on getting increased awareness at school and college levels for collision repair careers. Overall this years’ event covered some 41 kilometres of walkways with around 2 700 exhibitors out to gain new business.

So just when you though this business could not expand any further before your very eyes at Automechanika, it did. That’s what makes it the greatest show on the automotive trade development on planet earth.

34

SATA showed a brand new air fed mask which meets world safety demands.

GAV from Italy have a huge range of specialist spray equipment on offer.

Kapci at the expo showed new colour tools that have been developed for the market globally.

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Superfast Hunter Wheel Alignment makes the company a world leader in this area of business.

Bringing in vocational learners to the body shop repair trade had big traction at the fair to increase industry opportunity for employment.

Blackhawk showed the new HD Korek truck repair which features ultra tall cab pulling technology.

BASF showed a novel historic car value system in Frankfurt.

The show for repairers is short of mind boggling for it’s sheer scale of exhibits from 2 700 exhibitors across the global market.

Literally hundreds of special hot rods and other unique custom cars were on view at the show.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

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AR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/11/05 9:34 AM Page 10

INDUSTRY UPDATE

HD KOREK

An all new straightening system for heavy duty vehicles

WHAT’S HOT?

BOLT STOP BIG BANG CUSTOMER DAY

Fully approved

by Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles

Hein Scheepers (left), enjoyed a garden party type of day with the Henkel Team on hand for the Bolt Stop Customer Day.

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

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

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

30 Ton Stand

Hydraulic Stand

FOR COSTS AND INFO CONTACT ANDREW MACKIE ON 083 628 6639

Mobile High Lift Stand

T

he Bolt Stop successful distribution centre pulled out their key suppliers on a recent customer day when Bantam distributors arranged some exciting displays of new technology products being introduced into the auto trade. With the help of the Henkel-Teroson brands, Dewalt, King Tony, Vermont Sales and Jonway, amongst others, Bolt Stop attracted a large band of their loyal customer base on the day.

Director of the Bolt Stop, Hein Scheepers, is a real bike enthusiast.

This year with the help of Craig Bowles VRM Sales Manager at Henkel, and their sponsorship, they have trained nearly 15 young development riders with the vibrant 100cc. The team managed to get to around 18 long and short circuit track meetings right across South Africa this past season.

“We are also going to continue our efforts by expanding the sponsorship from Henkel next year,” continued Craig, as this has become a successful partnership between ourselves and Bolt Stop, to assist up and coming young riders and their look alike GP machines.

They always put on an excellent show,” he concluded.

SAFETY

VOLVO DEVELOPS INFLATABLE CHILD SEAT

V

olvo has unveiled its inflatable rearward-facing child seat concept using ground breaking technology, making it safe, easy to pack and carry, and versatile to use. The seat has an innovative pump system that inflates in less than 40 seconds. Volvo used a unique material called drop-stitch fabric when creating the prototype. The fabric is very strong when inflated and is a common technology in the boating industry, having been originally developed by the military.

Lawrence Abele, design manager at the Volvo Monitoring and Concept Centre in Los Angeles and the designer behind the new seat, said, “For me child safety is always the number one priority. For many, travelling with young children is a challenge; any assistance to simplify the parents’ life with young children is a great thing.”

The vehicle manufacturer has also published a brochure: Increased Safety, to reduce claim frequency, which offers an overview of Volvo car’s sophisticated safety features and how components such as windscreen, bumper and grille can affect their performance.

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INDUSTRY NEWS WHAT’S HOT?

Training Expertise Now In Africa

The Volkswagen Alltrack

V

olkswagen Group plans to reduce costs at its namesake passenger cars brand by five billion Euros by 2017 and boost productivity as it seeks to lift sagging profitability.

Efficiency gains have failed to keep pace with rising R&D and labour costs, CEO Martin Winterkorn said in an internal presentation to company managers.

The VW brand, the carmaker’s biggest division by revenue and deliveries has profit margins lower than rivals because of fixed costs that VW said are relative to Toyota.

The brand’s 2013 profit margin was 2.9% compared with auto division margins of 8.8% at Toyota and 9% at Hyundai Motor. The unit’s operating margin dropped to 1.8% of sales in the first quarter from 2.4% a year ago. The company’s target for the VW brand is a 6% margin. VW’s profitability gains are disappointing given its steady expansion, analysts say.

“Let’s be honest, we have a lot of catching up to do with our core competitors,” Winterkorn wrote in a letter to VW managers. “That is why we must now take action that is clear, effective and sometimes painful,” he said, pointing out that R&D costs had surged 80% across the multi-brand group since 2010.

VW employs nearly 575 000 people, more than any other carmaker. Much of VW’s production is in its home market of Germany, where workers secured a significant pay increase last year.

The company has sought to offset its heavy wage bill by sharing parts and development costs among its portfolio of 12 vehicle brands.

Winterkorn said production of an additional variant of the VW Tiguan SUV was determined to be “not economically feasible” to produce in Germany and such setbacks need to be addressed. “Our shred task is to create the ability to profitability produce these vehicles here in Germany.”

Auto workers in VWs home country cost 48,40 euro per hour last year, the highest in the world, according to data from Berlinbased auto-industry group VDA. That compares with 25.63 euros in the Unites States and 29.96 euros in Japan.

VWs top labour representative said he supports the push to lift earnings and demanded that benefits determined in collective bargaining agreements remain untouched by cutbacks.

“Regarding productivity, the board and the management have to finally do their job,” Bernd Osterloh, head of VWs workers council, said in an internal newsletter to employees obtained by Bloomberg News. “It’s right that Winterkorn finally makes it clear that management has to fix its own mistakes.”

Winterkorn said that the VW brand may decide to stop making non-profitable models, citing convertible cars. Other steps may include lowering purchasing expenses, reducing complexity, cutting factory expenses and improving sales channels.

While VW plans to intensify efforts in areas poised to shape future mobility like connected vehicles and electric cars, it intends to outsource production of components that can be produced more profitably by suppliers.

“This is not about cosmetic change,” Winterkorn said, “This is about asking fundamental questions.”

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

37

TTI Global are proud to announce the opening of a new state-of-the-art collision repair training centre in South Africa.

We plan to deliver specialist model specific training modules now being used in the new world car designs and production.

The centre features international trainers as well as a proven syllabus developed globally with local authoring to help improve your company’s business performance.

We offer our tools, technology and talent to bring world class training to your staff.

Call Altus van Wyk at TTi Global +27 (0)82 561 4687

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PARTS BASKET SURVEY KINSEY REPORT

THE KINSEY REPORT

T

he Kinsey Report on parts pricing is now a quarter of a century old and provides a guideline to owners and prospective vehicle buyers on the costs involved in servicing, repairing and fixing accident damage. The 2014 report includes for the first time a section on entry-level single cab bakkies in addition to the traditional sections, and this year I have combined the City Cars and Entry level together. With 72 vehicles in the study this year, we have had to leave out a number of cars – some good sellers like the Renault Sandero which has a proven track record of reasonable pricing and other brands, where the yearly sales are either dwindling or very small.

There are a few surprises in this year’s results with new brands featuring in the top three positions. Many manufacturers and importers work extremely hard to improve the affordability of their vehicles. Volume plays a large part in pricing – and a new brand entering the local market inevitably has a low volume, but as this increases so does the need for parts – so volume discounts from the parent company kick in. With new models there is often confusion with parts pricing until the electronic parts catalogues at the dealerships are stabilised and glitches are sorted out. Everything should be OK before your new vehicle needs parts (with the exception of crash parts, if you are unlucky).

Sourcing of parts is also crucial – a vehicle and parts sourced, say, from Europe, can have a vastly different cost structure from the same vehicle manufactured in some of the Eastern countries. India has shown itself to be a good source country recently with a number of brands featuring in the top four.

As always, the service/maintenance plans play a big part in running costs up to 45 000km and more, as do the warranties offered by manufacturers. The cost of crash parts however, is more critical – the insurance excess and write-off point of a vehicle are linked to the cost of an accident repair – and the panel beater’s bill can escalate very quickly even for a seemingly minor bump.

A point here, which could save a good few thousand rand of repair costs, is to not carry anything heavy on the passenger seat if it is not occupied. The vehicle can be “fooled” by those kilograms into deploying the airbag, which often breaks the windscreen – and that could be R20 000 more on the account.

As we have mentioned before, crash parts may seem similar, but

40

Ford Ecosport 1.0 Trend, the winner of the Compact SUV crossover segment.

the price says otherwise. Rear fenders, for example, on many vehicles extend from the front door apertures right to the back of the vehicle – a far cry from a panel traditionally seen around the back wheel!

Headlights too, vary considerably from a fairly simple halogen lamp to high intensity discharge systems costing R15 000 or more per side.

When buying an older vehicle, or when your own vehicle no longer has a warranty/maintenance plan in place, the cost of repairs becomes an important consideration. Clutches for example, have become expensive to replace (the advent of pricey duel-mass flywheels, which are known to give trouble sometimes), could turn a routine repair into a very expensive business.

It pays in the long run to do some solid investigation before buying, particularly a used vehicle.

For all the details of this year’s Report, or for past reports, go to the Kinsey Report website www.kinseyreport.co.za City Cars and Entry Level This combined section consists of small modern cars – several built out east – or “older” stalwarts that have stood the test of time.

Leader here is the Ford Figo 1.4 (built in India) which wins hands down in least expensive service, repair and crash parts. The Polo Vivo follows with affordable repair and crash parts, but pricey rear brake shoes push the servicing section up somewhat – the good news being that they should last for 50 000km. Third spot goes to the Honda Brio 1.2, some R10 000 more expensive than the first two, and just pipping the Toyota Etios by less than R200.

Super Mini These modern high tech cars, a blend of European and Eastern styling, have pretty robust sales figures and plenty of support from the young, appearance-conscious market segment. Top honours go to Citroen’s DS3 VTi, helped in no small degree by having the least expensive crash parts. Peugeot 208 comes in second with good pricing for servicing (second to Renault) and crash parts (second to Citroen). Third place race is narrowly won by the Hyundai, just R71 less expensive overall than the Renault Clio, which has the distinction of having the most affordable servicing basket.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

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by Malcolm Kinsey Family Favourites This is one of the largest volume segments in the SA market and one of the biggest categories in the survey. Clear market leader is the Toyota Corolla, which with two models available, the Quest and current Corolla, make up almost 2 000 sales per month. The Quest, which is the previous Corolla model, just edges out its more modern counterpart by less than R1 000. Toyota’s strength here lies in the very affordable accident repair costs which in some instances are half that of their competitors. This means that even quite old Corollas are often viable to repair.

In third place overall is the Hyundai Elantra, also third in crash parts costs, but competitive in both service (third) and repair parts prices (second).

Compact Crossover The Ford EcoSport 1.0T wins this category – another Indian-built vehicle - and this new high tech vehicle has a three-cylinder 999cc turbocharged engine producing over 90kW. From the point of view of this pricing study though, its main strength lies in reasonably priced crash parts to move it into top spot. Second is an old favourite, the Toyota Avanza, almost at opposite ends of the technology field, which is able to remain competitive in the service parts costs and is comfortably ahead of the rest in the prices of its repair parts. Peugeot 2008 comes in third, also assisted by good crash parts prices.

Crossover This huge section probably accounts for a similar size slice of the market as the family favourites and is certainly one of the fastest growing segments of the market, as a trip to any shopping mall would confirm, fuel costs notwithstanding.

The Toyota Fortuner dominates this category with a massive

COMPACT CROSSOVER

Parts Description

Retail Selling Price Parts basket as % of selling price Air Filter Oil Filter Pollen Filter Spark 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

FORD

PEUGEOT

overall lead of over R30 000 on second place, but one has to bear in mind that the Fortuner in the survey is an automatic and hence does not include clutch and flywheel prices. The secondplaced Kia Sportage and third-placed Hyundai IX 35 both have expensive flywheels – R10 000 and R14 000 a pop – which, if they are taken out of the equation, tend to narrow the gap a bit.

Very affordable crash parts prices however, still gives the Fortuner an unassailable advantage over its rivals.

Double Cabs India and China head off the Japanese onslaught in this section – Tata XENON doing the honours again. Once more, affordable crash part prices are a very real factor keeping the Tata ahead. The GWM Steed likewise, is also very competitive in its crash parts and maintains its second position in the category helped along by the lowest repair parts cost in the basket. In third place is the Nissan NP 300 double cab – still a good, reliable vehicle given its long lifespan in the SA market place.

Single Cabs This is a first – we highlight some of the base single cab models – two under one-tonners in the NP 200 and the Chev Ute and five full one-ton pick-ups.

And the winner here is the Nissan NP 200 followed by big brother the Nissan NP 300 Hardbody. Toyota Hilux comes in third and all these have picked up some benefit from the pricing of their accident parts.

RENAULT

FIAT

NISSAN

SUZUKI

ECOSPORT 1.0T TREND

2008 1.6 ALLURE

DUSTER 1.6 DYNAMIQUE

500L LOUNGE

JUKE 1.6 5 DOOR

SX4 1.6 GL

R229 900 25.41% R335.16 R125.40 R158.46 R327.18 R207.48 R140.22 R1461.48 R1713.42 R715.92 R1022.58 R916.98 R1005.74 R673.74 R3847.52 KIT R3690.52 R566.58 R3739.20 R1244.25 R428.64 R907.44 R2197.93 R3409.74 R1712.28 R2331.30 R2978.82 R2878.50 R4135.92 R214.32 R1600.56 R6710.04 R5833.38 R779.76 R403.56 R58 414.02

269 900 24.90% 148.11 125.07 286.45 196.91 257.62 257.62 1378.86 863.47 552.31 727.41 2141.35 1409.37 1363.91 2749.49 KIT 4395.27 319.70 2629.14 2116.18 811.30 814.35 3037.92 4254.95 3080.78 3108.69 3060.49 3802.39 3871.49 1038.11 1634.19 5770.01 4908.53 2147.60 1763.08 65 022.12

212 900 32.60% 158.75 87.84 117.58 82.54 90.37 90.37 811.89 954.74 1105.18 1145.22 144.45 1902.65 1159.87 2513.78 KIT 3372.21 210.83 3874.86 2222.81 1796.81 2998.61 1668.82 3432.68 2390.81 4096.37 3638.13 3993.43 3876.00 917.13 3772.31 4446.01 5601.82 1619.76 3809.09 69 39.71

257 900 29.92% 275.14 106.00 224.41 76.54 201.63 201.63 1109.06 964.65 609.47 1067.82 671.71 2636.64 1534.94 3066.45 KIT 3576.35 383.47 5217.57 6752.58 N/A 1012.55 1710.01 2055.10 3805.75 3494.51 1567.50 7790.59 4795.98 716.78 3751.22 6006.53 7445.48 1345.72 3004.55 77 178.33

249 500 45.79% 165.30 107.95 241.83 317.88 147.33 231.10 765.56 795.29 1914.33 1034.50 1515.20 1994.04 1456.26 1449.30 2005.62 18431.52 447.70 5489.96 2787.30 4180.89 2506.84 9217.66 2230.55 5405.33 5521.88 3938.51 5635.09 5034.87 5297.36 2595.52 8162.19 5933.22 1851.15 5440.02 114 249.06

265 900 50.15% 239.33 89.21 266.21 115.96 610.87 494.76 2767.95 1468.91 1499.72 1772.10 1520.16 6775.78 2829.64 1531.25 2151.34 3782.57 400.44 7583.44 8121.09 2483.62 2705.14 6038.45 6823.48 9118.72 6261.61 8232.27 8541.56 7589.91 1772.15 8299.75 3032.57 8777.56 3904.91 5742.56 133 346.97

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PARTS BASKET SURVEY KINSEY REPORT Auto Executives As the category indicates, these are all high tech, automated, wellappointed cars which proudly represent some of the main manufacturers in the market. Priced between R400 000 and R577 000, the price of their parts is less likely to be of concern to their firsttime owners, but may well be of interest when they reach the used car market.

Audi A4 just pips the Volvo S60 in a very close race, marginally beating the Volvo in each section. The Hyundai Sonata 2.4 follows closely in third.

This year we have seen some exceptionally close pricing, which indicates that manufacturers are very aware of the importance of competitive parts costing. A few surprise winners will probably cause a stir in some sectors.

The Nissan NP 300 2.0 Hardbody came up tops in the first ever single cab comparison.

Side Box The method of compiling this survey has not changed over the past 25 years. I first find out which vehicles the manufacturers and importers consider their highest volume sellers. Obviously some of the really big players could have several vehicles in any one category if only based on the numbers sold, so there has to be as fair as possible a selection to include as much variety as is practical.

A list of parts is either taken to a dealer, or emailed or faxed, so that all quotes are written. Only queries are done telephonically.

These days, for a large number of vehicles we actually supply a VIN number for the vehicle we want, which does away with any confusion as to which model we want.

The figures are what a customer should pay on the day the quotes were done – we ensure that all quotes are completed within the same calendar month to avoid end-of-month price hikes or reductions.

SINGLE CABS

Parts Description

NISSAN NP 300 2.0 HARDBODY

TOYOTA HILUX 2.0 VVTis

CHEVROLET UTILITY 1.4 CLUB

ISUZU KB 250 BASE

FORD RANGER 2.5

MITSUBISHI TRITON 2.4 GL

Retail Selling Price Parts basket as % of selling price Air Filter Oil Filter Pollen Filter Spark 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

R194 200 28% R410.16 R107.95 N/A R29.47 R65.11 R65.11 R696.89 R563.52 R902.60 R1148.70 R843.02 R358.45 R426.77 R1992.90 R1705.12 R5942.79 R250.97 R3853.96 R2924.92 R1923.43 R2048.02 R1135.67 R3661.44 R3909.86 R1670.15 R3738.12 R5509.45 N/A R1132.70 R1311.00 R1667.28 R2024.87 R1114.46 R1237.80 R54 373.65

210 400 30.54% 475.77 221.97 768.50 76.13 143.47 116.61 1501.00 1230.85 756.99 1633.60 986.37 1332.45 525.76 1332.53 989.12 3376.06 1022.66 2963.08 1767.73 1389.82 1171.84 1466.74 3138.67 2468.26 5820.25 4932.11 4129.84 N/A 876.66 N/A 6553,22 6122.37 1085.12 1134.60 61 510.15

159 500 40.49% 250.86 90.71 279.00 53.74 429.35 PAIR 827.33 770.79 325.30 383.42 723.88 980.10 494.77 842.51 836.75 2915.32 355.04 5801.45 2770.42 650.89 1678.24 1807.22 2203.18 1044.35 1509.98 1335.58 5412.66 N/A 176.24 1030.25 11839.71 9440.92 766.34 6554.56 64 580.86

204 000 32.86% 302.90 194.70 216.86 N/A 27.85 27.85 1336.68 880.32 646.88 1103.88 1049.03 2115.93 745.95 933.44 916.83 5716.59 267.43 6069.02 3016.16 2278.60 2382.01 922.13 2410.67 4508.13 2307.45 2545.00 7015.97 N/A 818.10 2270.31 5110.26 5554.91 1374.02 1636.20 67 034.80

189 900 39.55% 443.12 125.40 465.12 190.38 116.82 116.82 1487.70 2048.58 1647.73 1482.00 1094.95 845.88 644.10 5597.45 KIT 1737.93 685.53 6527.64 2941.50 4455.12 1769.85 1841.10 2880.10 1568.70 2610.60 2778.08 6790.19 N/A 285.00 4254.51 7139.82 7297.36 2416.90 723.90 75 099.86

179 900 49.12% 496.0089.52 128.69 N/A 34.76 216.63 136.45 1395.71 665.17 623.76 1904.22 2460.96 1166.51 639.67 1384.26 1852.76 3915.71 315.30 5105.26 4857.89 763.13 4187.13 2295.17 5978.01 9132.80 4428.39 9352.62 7188.57 N/A 2170.01 2540.96 2427.64 6256.27 1555.05 2799.94 88 375.41

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PRODUCT PROFILE WHAT’S HOT?

NEW MIRKA® PROS

T

he new Pneumatic Random Orbital Sander – Mirka PROS650CV was developed in-house by Mirka’s industry leading design team.

It is packed with clever features which has created an efficient and effective sanding tool that is perfect for professional operators.

Mirka PROS650CV has a 5mm orbit and has been specifically developed to produce maximum dust extraction, even at a low suction power, thanks to a wider dust outlet in the machine housing which substantially improves dust suction efficiency.

The innovative features continue with a “brake seal” designed to deliver a variety of valuable performance benefits. For example, in contrast to conventional pneumatic random orbital sanders, the brake seal on the Mirka PROS makes the backing pad oscillate rather than free spin when holding the machine in the air. This eliminates the possibility of causing deep marks in the surface when fast rotating abrasives first touch the job.

In addition, as soon as the tool is removed from the work surface the brake seal immediately brakes the “rotation speed” of the backing pad.

The long-life brake seal also contributes to improved dust extraction efficiency by minimising internal suction leakage.

Like all Mirka tools, the Mirka PROS features optimised ergonomics that make it comfortable to grip and easy to use for long periods of time.

The design also incorporates an integrated cover that isolates the operator’s hand from the cold inlet hose fitting.

To help operators achieve the very best performance from the Mirka PROS650CV, a new backing pad has been designed – 150mm with 5mm orbit. It features a central air inlet which results in improved air flow and helps extract dust away from the centre of the tool even faster.

For more information on this high quality tool, contact Bulldog Abrasives’ sales team on +27 (0)11 786 5991 or sales@bulldogabrasives.co.za

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DRIVEN HYUNDAI IX35

H

yundai, like sister company Kia, has upgraded its best-selling SUV with a range of technological and styling enhancements, an improved new two-litre petrol engine and a new six-speed manual gearbox.

The original ix35, launched in 2010, has generated consistently good sales, thanks a great deal to its reliability. Now come a new petrol engine as partner to the existing diesel, new gearboxes and new equipment.

There are six derivatives, their names based on the shared 2.0 NU engines: Premium ix35 with the two-litre petrol engine linked to either a six-speed manual or sixspeed auto transmission. Intermediate ix35 2.0 NU Executive with the two-litre petrol engine and six-speed manual transmission.

Elite, powered by the two-litre petrol engine and the other two by the two-litre turbodiesel. The range-topping R2.0 Elite is equipped with the two-litre turbodiesel, a sixspeed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

The exterior enhancements of the new ix35 include: new projector headlights with LED accents, LED tail lights, new bodycoloured front grille, roof side rails and sunroof, and new 17 and 18” alloy wheel rim 46

designs.

One of the most significant upgrades, Hyundai says, is the replacement of the twolitre Theta II petrol engine with a new, superefficient Nu two-litre multiport injection (MPI) engine that claims to supply a more even and efficient delivery of power and torque – with peaks of 116kW at 6200rpm and 192Nm at 4000rpm respectively.

The engine is available in combination with a new six-speed manual gearbox or an improved, very responsive and smoothchanging six-speed automatic transmission with manual/sequential override.

The six ix35 derivatives offer a variety of specifications according to budget or requirement, though there is only one 4x4 version.

All benefit from a number of exterior changes that include a new design of alloy rims and restyled bi-function projector halogen headlights and LED “positioning” lights. The Premium derivatives run on new 17” alloys, the Executive and Elite models on 18” – the latter perhaps the better bet for Gauteng – once The Getagun province, now The Potholed Province.

The cabins have Hyundai’s signature blue

lighting, power windows and locks, remote keyless entry and foldaway mirrors with electric control for the ix35 Executive and Elite. “Even the front cupholders are illuminated with blue light for night drives,” the automaker proudly reports.

Executive and Elite units have leather upholstery with adjustable lumbar support for the driver (though my driving partner, a lady with back problems, couldn’t detect the change as I moved the lever).

The ix35 has excellent rear legroom and as a bonus, the rear seats recline. The cars also have lots of cubbies, slots and holders, which the media release kindly listed.

Pity that all-wheel drive is only available on the top, and therefore most expensive, model but I suppose Hyundai SA knows its market.

But this IS Africa and people do like to go offroad – few of them, however, have the bucks to afford nearly half a million of them for the pleasure. However, the ix35 Executive and Elite derivatives come with electronic stability control, hill-start assistance and downhill braking control.

The Hyundai ix35 is delivered with a fiveyear or 150 000km warranty, a five-year or 90 000km service plan and five years or 150 000km of roadside assistance.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

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AR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 12:58 PM Page 1

DID YOU HEAR? by Roger McCleery

The 11 Car of the Year finalists for 2015, what a line-up!

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azda South Africa, an official subsidiary of Mazda in Japan, officially opened its doors for business in South Africa on 1st October. It is headed up by David Hughes, from Australia, the new MD for Mazda SA, where he took Mazda to the number one position with 118 000 Mazda sales in one year.

A dyed-in-the-wool motor man, he brings three brand new models to the marketplace – with more to come. The Mazda 3, Mazda 6 and diesel Mazda CX5 are full imports from Japan, while the Mazda BT50 bakkie continues to be made by Ford Motor Company in Pretoria and distributed through 50 Mazda dealers here in South Africa. The quality, the ride and features these Mazdas bring to the market place all come at a good price as they hit the premium sector of their segment in South Africa.

Toyota has just launched a new stylish Yaris into the marketplace that should give them good numbers going into the future. They are fitted with one litre-, 1.3 litre- or 1.5 litre hybrid engines, and offer five-speed, six-speed or automatic gearboxes. Prices start at R168 000 and they come with a three-year, 45 000km service plan and warranty from Toyota.

Really on the ball, the Castrol Toyota Motorsport Team competing in the recent Toyota Dealer Rally in the Cape brought out their competition cars with the new Yaris look just two days after the launch in Cape Town. They finished first and second in the Rally with Giniel de Villiers/Greg Godrich enjoying their first ever National Rally Championship win ahead of team-mates Leeroy Poulter and Elvene Coetzee, who unfortunately spun their Castrol Toyota just two corners from the end and lost the rally by eight seconds.

The Sasol Solar Challenge run under the auspices of the FIA, the international controlling body of automobile sport in the world and Motor Sport South Africa, started in Pretoria at the end of September.

Some of these futuristic looking vehicles can top 160km/h and average over 90km/h for the entire event. They are designed primarily for efficiency rather than for the comfort of the driver or practicality. Particularly as summer approaches, their streamlined closed-in cockpits have no air-con.

Their route took them from Pretoria to Bloemfontein, GraaffReinet, Port Elizabeth, along the Garden Route to the finish in Cape Town. It was an eight-day event. There were eight domestic teams entered by SA Universities and Technical Schools but also included three international teams from Holland, Cyprus and Turkey. The entire race was over 6 000km with teams managing between 500km and 700km per day.

“An awesome Picanto now looks even sportier and sexier,” say KIA’s people here in South Africa, thanks to a mild exterior update.

The Picanto has done exceptionally well since first launched here way back in 2011. Fresh off the mark, the Picanto scooped a design award coming out ahead of more than 11 000 entries from 60 countries. It was KIA’s fifth Red Dot Award in less than three years.

Ever on the move, GWM (Great Wall Motors) in China are increasing their production abilities in Baoding. They have just completed Phase 1 which can produce 850 000 per annum out of one factory. Their R&D is nearly completed. GWM’s design team has 48

been put on a new level with ex-BMW designer, Pierre le Clercq, joining the team. Now they are constructing a new plant in Russia as they go about achieving the company’s goal of manufacturing 1.5m vehicles by 2015.

KTM Motorcycles have just introduced a free two-year 15 000km Service Plan for their 1190cc Adventure Motorcycle. That is for all models of Adventure sold after September 1, 2014.

Adventure bikes are all the rage these days. Reliable on the tar, they will go to most places all over Africa.

The AA remains opposed to e-tolling which looks like it’s starting to go on the blink. Already there are rumours of staff being laid off.

The whole system was a no-brainer from the beginning.

The Honda CRV became the world’s best selling SUV during the first quarter of 2014. Figures provided by automotive market consulting specialists Focus2Move showed worldwide sales of the CRV totalling 165 000 vehicles, up from 162 000 sold in the same period of 2013. It finished above competitors like Toyota’s RAV, Volkswagen’s Tiguan and the Nissan Qashqai, President of Honda Aircraft Company, Fujinosan received an award for “Innovation and Aeronautics” in St Petersburg in Russia in September. The over-the-wing engine mount configuration, soon to be seen flying around the world, has taken years of development. It has now been assembled for a myriad of customers. The Honda Jet is billed as the world’s most advanced light business jet aircraft. This is the fastest, highest flying, quietest and most fuel-efficient jet in its class. Do we expect anything else from Honda?

The VW Polo Vivo that was pushed back into second place by a new Polo, has returned to the top of the sales charts with the launch of the restyled Polo Vivo. It has been South Africa’s top selling passenger car for five years and has been a great marketing success for VWSA. In September the Vivo was the biggest seller of vehicles in our market – bar none.

The VW Polo is one of our biggest exports going to many countries overseas, in LHD or RHD configuration. Always conscious of the environment Volkswagen has just won the Exporter’s Club Top Environmental accolade. This was awarded at PE’s Boardwalk Convention Centre a month or so ago.

If you visit Volkswagen you will see why everything is made to save the environment and in Volkswagen language being “very blue”, as opposed to the normal “green” everybody else uses.

Carel Otto and his wife, Danielle, won the VW Spirit of Africa Trophy held in Botswana. They took home R50 000 worth of prize money for this achievement in an event run for the last five years by Sarel van der Merwe, our motorsport icon.

The MG people in South Africa have just received their first stock of the all-new MG3 Super Mini, which has been doing great things selling overseas and in fact racing in British Touring Cars.

With a more regular supply, we should soon start to see more of these on the road, coming from a marque that started 90 years ago in Britain. The cars are still designed and engineered at MG’s historic home in Longbridge in Birmingham.

The motor industry does lots of good things for the environment. The latest is the Isuzu Off-Road Academy getting involved in the Rhino Revolution trying to stop the slaughter of

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

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Listen to Ro ger McC leery every Tuesday o n Radio To day (1485 A M) at17h30 fo r everything abo ut SA mo to ring. these massive animals to hack off their horns. It seems a losing battle with vets, rangers and even government officials involved in this whole sordid business.

GWM has sold 50 000 vehicles since they first opened their doors in South Africa seven year ago.

Ford has increased their commercial vehicle line-up with three new Transit variants and are serious about entering this lucrative market in a big way. More models are to follow.

Renault has certainly cracked a few volume sellers for the marque with the launch of the new Megane. Add these numbers to the Clio, Duster and Sandero and they are looking pretty good to increase their sales from the 1 500plus they do every month. 1 615 were sold in September.

Audi sold 155 450 cars worldwide in June. This is a 10.8% increase over the same month in 2013.

Mitsubishi are back into the car market with a favourablypriced A-segment car called the Mirage. It comes at an extremely competitive R1 900 per month, including a 12 month comprehensive insurance to make it affordable for younger buyers.

There is a rumour that Parliament is going to start a Concour’s d’Elegance Club after seeing some of the vehicles observed at the ANC Conference at Mangaung last year: 106 BMW X5s, 28 Range Rover Sports, 11 Maseratis, nine Ferrari’s, six Hummers, 211 BMW 7- or 5-Series sedans, and 103 Merc sedans. That’s a good start by all the people trusted by the public to keep those expenses down.

Johan de Nysschen, previously of Audi North America and Infiniti, is now President of Cadillac in America. This again shows South Africans can go to the top in the world motor industry.

South African Mike Halforty has become the first home grown CEO of a local subsidiary of Bridgestone Tyres.

Jonathan Wing (17) from Hilton College in KZN has won the World Handicap Championship title in heavy rain in France. He is the only kartracing driver in South Africa with a prosthetic left leg. He now joins 14 South Africans who hold World Karting Championship titles but is the first to win a handicap world title in motorsport.

The Finalists for the 2015 WesBank / SAGMJ Car of the Year (COTY) competition were announced during a thrilling reveal event at the Inanda Polo Club in Johannesburg. Hosted by WesBank, the competition’s headline sponsor, the Finalist reveal follows a vote cast by a 29-member Jury from the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ), of an original list of 40 Semi-finalists.

The eleven finalists for the 2015 WesBank / SAGMJ Car of the Year competition, South Africa’s premier motoring event, are (in alphabetical order): Audi A3 Sedan 1.4T SE S Tronic BMW M4 Coupé Auto BMW M4 Citroën C4 Picasso E-HDI 115 Intensive Honda Accord 3.5 V6 Exclusive Lexus ES 250 EX Mercedes-Benz C-Class C 200 Auto Nissan Qashqai 1.6 DCI Acenta Auto Porsche Macan S Diesel Renault Duster 1.5 DCI Dynamique 4WD Subaru WRX Premium Toyota Corolla 1.4 D-4D Prestige The winner of the 2015 WesBank / SAGMJ Car the Year will be revealed at a gala banquet on 18 March 2015, also hosted by WesBank. Motul and Hollard Insurance supply support sponsorship.

Follow the action on Facebook by liking the WesBank Car of the Year page, or on Twitter by following @wesbankcoty. You can also read more about the competition and its finalists on www.wesbankcoty.co.za

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

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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Story and pics by Ian Groat

ANOTHER GREAT GOODWOOD REVIVAL

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his year’s Revival Meeting was once again packed with many unforgettable moments and with a record sell out of some 140 000 spectators and competitors all out to enjoy the fabulous occasion. Set in glorious weather, this was once again an overdose of beehive hairstyles, tweed costume jackets and silly hats over two days of cut and thrust races of which there were eight special events per race day.

Jaguar Focus Not only were there no less than 25 D Type Jaguars racing along with thundering XKS1 1950 racers in the Lavant Trophy, it was a wall of sound blasted out by all those powerful straight sixes all singing in unison. It was quite unforgettable while the racers were strutting their stuff. The public were witness to some pre-1974 Jaguars, set at the entrance to the circuit. It produced some 4 500 veterans and pristine concours type machinery from yesteryear dedicated to Jaguar’s greatest classic cars – all on show at the historic fun fair. They came 50

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from Switzerland, Germany and Italy - in fact from all corners of the world to be part of the great Brown’s Lane Classic Display.

Maserati Greatest Racers Maserati took centre stage at Goodwood with the spectacular sight and sound of 16 Grand Prix Maserati 250 FS’ racing in a double celebration of the car’s 60th anniversary and centenary of manufacture. The car makers centenary success first saw Juan Fangio drive a 250 F to its first victory in 1954 at the Argentine GP and with that they went on to take the title in 1954 and 1957. Other great drivers like Sir Stirling Moss and Roy Salvadori paraded daily and also raced in the Richmond Trophy in the mid 50’s, along with a starstudded line-up of drivers of the era.

Jackie Stewart Sir Jackie Stewart got his big moment of glory this year at Goodwood with a 50-year line up of his great race cars. Right from

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

JAY'S PGS _NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/11/03 12:50 PM Page 3

by Ian Groat

Everyone turned out in period style for the Revival occasion.

Sir Stirling Moss with Joe Ramirez.

Unforgettable moments for spectators and competitors alike.

Emannuel Pirro had some spirited drives in the huge Ford Falcon.

the early BRM P261 to a Marcos GT Xylon he drove in his first ever race. Speaking from the special podium, Stewart said to finish first you first have to finish. He went on to say that he was privileged to have worked with some of the finest mechanics and team managers of all time. Ecurie Ecosse and his race team in the 1950’s saw legends like John Surtees, Sir Stirling Moss and Mark Webber, showing real style in the Tyrell GP racers on the parade laps.

Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean) luckily escaped physical damage when he was involved in a shunt in his Ford Falcon V8 driving the first Shelby Cup Race. He muscled the huge V8 powered classic in fine style until he hit another competitor and spun off forcing him to abandon the Saturday race.

The dawn patrol aviation demonstration had opened each day’s activities with a fly past from a PSL Mustang along with a Spitfire and German fighter aircraft to replicate the Battle of Britain theme. You could be forgiven for missing the sweet sounding BRM 1950 V16 1.5litre type 15 racer as it noisily went about laying down some track

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

A Grand Prix Maserati 250 FS at full speed.

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Over 140 000 enthusiasts flocked to the Goodwood Revival this year in another sell out extravaganza.

The only man ever to win Formula One and motorcycle GP World Championships, John Surtees was on parade.

Sir Jackie Stewart leads out his championship race cars at Goodwood with Mark Webber in the No 2 Elf car.

Jackie Stewart got a big reception with his 50 career racers on parade.

rubber at the races. Other activities found at Goodwood this year included a vintage aeroplane static display, along with fly pasts of Lancaster bombers and Canberra jet aircraft. The bands played out endless swing numbers from the dance tent on the lawns and the re-created Mods and Rockers faced off like they did in 1964. Outside a re-created Brighton Pier, looked like the old days reincarnated.

All this while real gearheads were treated to a festival of memorable racing like the Barry Whizzo Williams track dice to see off stiff opposition with his 1959 Sunbeam Rapier in the Saint Mary’s Trophy races.

With great weather to bless this blissful retro racing pageant it once again proved to everyone who attended to race or watch that there is nothing quite like it anywhere in the world that can take you back to the 1940s1960s period like the Goodwood Revival.

It is absolutely unique in the phenomenal way that everyone joins in to get dressed up for this great racing occasion and that’s why it remains such a captivating event. It’s much more than a car show, it’s an indulgence of petrol head nostalgia.

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Men at Work

Being hosted by RollsRoyce Motors has definite advantages for the Revival days for this photographer.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

WIELANDER AD NEW S-O 2014_Layout 1 2014/08/27 10:50 AM Page 1

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

JAY'S PGS _NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/11/03 10:51 AM Page 5

Outright winners with the 1948 1000cc Vincent Rapide mahcine, Beau Beaton and Craig McMartin. The bike blew its gearbox crossing the line in part 2 of the races.

Kevin Schwantz got 10 out of 10 for his crashing ability on the Norton.

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JAY'S PGS _NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/11/03 10:51 AM Page 6

BARRY SHEENE MEMORIAL RACES

Beau Beaton and the mighty 1000cc Vincent muscled their way to victory this year.

by Ian Groat

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ucked away in the race programme at Goodwood was the two-part Barry Sheene Memorial Race. It was set over 16 laps each day and featured two riders per team to contest the trophy offering a Le Mans-type start. Last year South Africa was represented by ‘Team Incomplete’ with Jimmie Guthrie and Peter Labuschagne who posted a mid-finish to the race. This year’s race, however, morphed into machines produced way back in the early fifties with 31 teams set to do battle on longstroke Manx Nortons and early Triumph Twins – as well as a four cylinder Gilera that came out to play.

This year it was the turn of Australian ace Beau Beaton and Craig McMartin who brought a super swift 1948 Vincent Rapide from KH Equipment to put the cat among the pigeons in the normal Manx Norton pecking order winning list. There were also notable world champions in the entry list in the form of Kevin Schwantz, Micheal Rutter, Troy Corser and Steve Plater.

Practice and race days were held in unusually balmy autumn weather conditions and the Vincent took pole for the first leg after a frantic start which saw Irish superstar Jeremy McWilliams suffer a fall on the track to damage the 1952 Manx front forks irreparably. After the rider change, the mighty Vincent, which had an extra 50 horsepower advantage over the competition, disappeared into the blue yonder. With both riders overcoming the bikes refusal to brake well around any corner, Steve Plater, former TT winner and commentator rode a solid stint with Glen English to take second spot after a huge scrap with Scott Smart for the podium places. Motor Cycle News tester Adam Child scooped fourth on a 1954 Matchless C80.

With the Vincent’s obvious superiority and despite its huge size and weight, the organisers let a later 1961 Manx into the second leg, ridden by Jeremy McWilliams and Duncan Fitchet. This machine was to produce the race scrap of the weekend. Troy Corser struck trouble with the Sebastian Gutsch 1937 BMW R5 SS and was out of the first race. Also sidelined was the Gilera of Brian Richards as all types of mechanical mayhem seemed to strike these old clunkers some 70 years young.

In the second leg the Vincent 1000cc didn’t have it all its own way for the nimbler 1961 Barbour Norton Manx harassed and outrode the bigger machine time and again to bring the crowds to their feet, and, despite winning by a wheel as they crossed the line for the chequered flag an ominous puff of blue smoke saw the Rapide blow up its gearbox.

However, despite that they took the overall win for the two-part Trophy race. Second was the Fred Walmsley on a 1953 Manx Norton with Plater and English on board. Child and Ling rode a brilliant race to scoop the final podium position in another race where more favorites fell by the wayside with mechanical failure in the heat of the moment.

The Schwantz/O’ Connor Manx Norton, brought all the way from New Zealand by ace Turner Ken MacIntosh, took a well-deserved fourth in the Memorial final placings in a race that featured bikes that started their lives more than 75 years ago. They are still capable of big speeds, even by modern standards.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

Kevin Schwantz rode this 1952 Manx Norton to finish fourth for Ken McIntosh.

Troy Corser rode the 1937 BMW like the wind but did not finish.

The pace for the Memorial Trophy was a flat out dice from over 60 world class racers.

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

AR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 12:59 PM Page 25

SAFETY NEWS CRIME UPDATE

REMOTE BLOCKING CRIME ON THE RISE

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ecently there have been an increasing number of remote blocking incidents taking place across the country. Mutual & Federal therefore would like to keep customers informed about potential risks and how to avoid any problems if/when criminals interfere with a car's central locking system, leaving the vehicle owner thinking that their car has been locked when it hasn't.

Criminals can block a car’s remote signal by pressing down on a gate remote at the same time the car owner presses down on their immobiliser to activate the car alarm and the central locking. Most car and gate remotes operate on the same frequency, making it easier for criminals to interfere with the signals. Thus, a driver will be under the impression they’ve locked their car while they haven’t.

Due to the increase in incidents of remote blocking, Mutual and Federal will now cover items stolen from unoccupied motor vehicles, even if there are no visible signs of forced entry, provided certain conditions are met.

Below are some tips on how you can protect yourself from this sneaky vehicle crime trick: • Do not to leave any valuables in your vehicle. If there are any, do not leave them in a place they are easily visible, but rather in a locked boot or compartment.

• Do not rely on sound alone and assume that your vehicle is locked and alarm is armed. Ensure rather that you watch the vehicle

lock whilst listening to hear for the distinctive “bleep”.

• Before walking away from your vehicle, physically check your door handle to make sure your vehicle is locked.

• Park as close to the entrance of the shopping centre as possible as there is always a lot of people and general movement.

• Be aware of suspicious individuals lingering around the parking area.

Mutual & Federal encourages drivers to stay alert and vigilant for any suspicious activities at all times as this could save money, frustration and more importantly lives.

AR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 12:58 PM Page 3

TRAINING UPDATE TRAINING

HOW WILL WE REPAIR AUTOMATED SELF DRIVING VEHICLES?

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uto manufacturers could have driverless cars on the road within the next few years. Here’s what your shop needs to know.

Fully automated vehicles that obey traffic signals, detect other cars and obstacles and manoeuvre roadways without human interaction could realistically be available in less than five years. Nissan Motor Co. and Mercedes-Benz have both publicly promised fully automated vehicle designs to be commercially ready by 2020. Tesla hopes to release an automated model by 2017 and Volvo is launching an autonomous vehicle pilot programme later this year.

It’s a trend that all shop owners should carefully watch and prepare for, says Daniel Gage, spokesperson for the Alliance of Automobile Manufactures (AAM). “Virtually every auto manufacturer is also working on an automated vehicle of some sort,” he says, noting that technology companies like Google and IBM are getting involved as well.

“There will be automakers that have fully automated vehicles ready to roll out in a very short time frame.”

Although several societal questions remain before these cars become commonplace, the movement will eventually succeed because auto industry experts and policymakers believe the technology will help minimise traffic accidents, improve traffic flow, reduce road congestion and boost fuel economy.

“The use of fully automated vehicles will pose dramatic changes to the collision repair industry that shop owners should pay attention to now,” says Tim Ronak, senior services consultant for AkzoNobel Automotive and Aerospace Coatings. Cars will be more computerised than ever before, which will drive changes in necessary training and knowledge for technicians, and cause shop owners to diversify their business initiatives in preparation.

Various collision avoidance features have already been proven to reduce traffic accidents and claim severity, so fully automated vehicles are likely to impact collision based work volume and revenue.

Roughly 85% of all traffic accidents are caused by human error and could be avoided with automated vehicles.

“But that doesn’t mean the end of the collision industry,” Ronak says, “because the trend of automated vehicles will drive new business opportunities for body shops. Two brand-new business markets will open up that shops can specialise in to differentiate themselves from the competition and build 58

sustainable business models.

“First, shops can get into the retrofit business. It’s possible that automated vehicle technologies could be retrofitted into existing cars that already contain certain collision avoidance systems. For example, shops could add additional features to current vehicles with electric steering, such as the 2012 Chevy Malibu, to make the car fully automated.

“There could be a massive market for retrofitting through data ports,” Ronak says.

“There’s going to be a whole new industry opening up in the retrofit of this technology.”

“Another new market opportunity for shops, is sensor system maintenance.

Automated vehicles will have a plethora of sensor and camera systems that will periodically require correction, calibration, adjustment, cleaning or replacement. He says there will be significant business opportunity for shops that are capable of performing those services.

“If you fail to leverage technology in your business, you will not stick around. But it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom,” Ronak says. “I believe it will become a higher margin business due to the technology as we start to adapt. Shops just truly need to embrace technology as an advantage, and position themselves for the change by investing in and acquiring the right knowledge.”

“Although fully automated vehicles won’t be showing up in your shop for some time it’s a good idea to start getting ready because there will be a large demand for reputable shops with automated vehicle capabilities in the future,” Gage says.

“We’re going to have huge reliance on independent shops,” Gage says. “There are too many cars on the roads and too few dealerships to have people only go to authorised dealerships for repairs. We don’t have enough dealerships to service the entire fleet.”

Performing the work will require a specialised set of skills and abilities.

Automated vehicles will operate using dozens of driver-assist features in combination with several computer software programmes and algorithms. That means repairers will not only need to be proficient collision technicians, but computer technicians as well. Acquiring electronic-

based training focused on understanding vehicle computerisation will be essential in order to properly diagnose, repair and replace new sets of software, sensor systems, electronic components and wiring.

“It’s not just learning about the existence of those systems. There’s going to be a core level of knowledge about how those things work that will be important to have,” Ronak says. “Collision repairers need to understand these root technologies in order to troubleshoot the problems that cars are going to have in the future. It will be about sensors, scanners and diagnostics.”

Little information is currently available regarding the specifics of automated vehicle repair, but automakers will be committed to making information accessible as soon as it’s available. The industry will see increased usage of online training modules, and manufacturing companies will work closely with industry associations to disseminate information and training.

Richard Wallace, director of training systems analysis for the Centre of Automotive Research (CAR), says the industry will also experience changes in curriculum among secondary and postsecondary schools. Many vocational schools have already started developing programmes that are more heavily focused on electronics, software and radio communications.

Right now, Wallace says the best way for shops to proactively prepare for automated vehicles is to get closely familiarised with all of the electronic and driver assist features that already exist on late model vehicles.

Many components making automated vehicles a reality are used right now, such as navigation, adaptive speed control, automated braking, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring and automatic parking.

Wallace says use of those systems will be increasingly prominent until fully automated vehicles hit the market, and obtaining training on those components is an effective way to incrementally advance knowledge and skills.

“As more and more companies make these standard on vehicles, those are going to be components included in the automated vehicle,” Gage says. “The phasein of those technologies will be incremental and evolutionary.”

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

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

PHOENIX EXCHANGE AD M-A 2013_Invoice TOYOTA 16-8-05 2013/03/18 1:38 PM Page 1

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INDUSTRY UPDATE WHAT’S HOT?

ROLLS-ROYCE ANNOUNCES NEW CENTRE

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olls-Royce Motor Cars has announced that a new Technology and Logistics Centre will be built at Bognor Regis, close to the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, West Sussex.

The new 30 000m2 centre will consolidate a number of current logistics functions and allow for future expansion.

The Technology and Logistics Centre will be located on the Oldlands Farm Business Park on the northern edge of Bognor Regis, 12 kilomtres from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

The Centre will be ideally situated to take advantage of the forthcoming Bognor Regis Northern Relief Road, due to open in 2015.

Around 200 people will be employed at the Centre, with a number of new roles created in addition to those transferred from existing logistics functions. The Technology and Logistics Centre is planned to be fully operational in early 2016.

The site has been identified by Arun District Council as part of its ‘Enterprise Bognor Regis’ initiative. The area is being developed as a new premier business location in West Sussex, reserved for mixed office, industrial and supporting development to deliver a new generation of buildings in a high quality environment to sustain both newly established and growing businesses. Rolls-Royce will be the first major business to take advantage of the initiative.

The Technology and Logistics Centre will consolidate three current operations – an inbound warehouse for production parts; a distribution centre, including an inbound body store and finished car store and a workshop for car preparation. The Centre

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

An artists view of the new Technology and Logistics Centre that will be built at Bognor Regis, which is close to the home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood. will be managed on behalf of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars by an external logistics provider.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, chief executive officer for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said, “I am delighted to announce our new Technology and Logistics Centre, which reflects the sustainable development and ongoing success of our business. Every RollsRoyce motor car is built at the home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood and this new facility will provide the required local logistics support for our current and future models.”

He continued, “Rolls-Royce is a British manufacturing success and we remain fully committed to building our future here in West Sussex.”

Business Minister, Matthew Hancock, said, “This terrific new centre at Bognor Regis will give a huge boost to the local economy, and safeguard 200 jobs. It’s testament to one of our Great British success stories, Rolls-Royce, and its valued contribution to UK manufacturing.”

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HYUNDAI SA OPENS ASSEMBLY PLANT IN SA

HYUNDAI SA INVESTS IN LOCAL ASSEMBLY PLANT

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yundai Automotive South Africa officially opened a commercial vehicle assembly plant on September 4 this year on the East Rand of Gauteng, as part of a multi-million rand investment in its commercial vehicle division in the local automotive market.

“The opening of this assembly plant forms an ideal platform from which to strengthen our business strategy, both in terms of commercial market growth and sustainability, as well as an increasing commitment and investment in the South African economy,” says Wade Griffin, director of commercial vehicles at Hyundai Automotive SA. “We believe that there are strong opportunities through investment and local assembly to capitalise on for our business.”

The rationale behind the semi knocked-down (SKD) assembly plant in Apex, the industrial area of Benoni, was largely driven by a long-term strategy to grow Hyundai’s share in the South African commercial vehicle market, to be more competitive and to increase Hyundai’s investment in the country’s economy. The initial aim is to produce 50 units a month, focusing specifically on the Hyundai HD65 and HD72 trucks.

At this stage most of the trucks produced in the plant will be distributed in the South African market, but Hyundai Automotive SA is investigating options to export to markets in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa. Of the vehicles assembled in the Benoni plant, 20% will be exported to neighbouring Southern African countries such as Botswana and Namibia as part of the immediate plans.

Hyundai Automotive SA established the factory by buying an existing plant from Imperial Holdings as part of a R110 million investment in the Commercial Vehicles division of Hyundai in South Africa.

“We did careful research to establish the economic viability and sustainability of such a SKD assembly plant. Hyundai Commercial Vehicles is a division of Hyundai Automotive SA – one of the main players and biggest sellers in the South African automotive market. This investment in our Commercial Vehicle division enables us to be more

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aggressive and competitive due to the zero import duty as an incentive for local assembly of trucks,” says Griffin.

Stanley Anderson, marketing director of Hyundai Automotive SA, says it is important to note that the company’s investment reaches beyond the monetary aspect. “We have already employed over 30 staff, with the vision of increasing this to around 60 people. By creating these initial 30 or so jobs, we are directly improving the lives of more than 230 people.

“However, there are at least an additional 10 people that can gain employment as a result of the development of this plant, if we consider our current service partners. And further job security too, if you include other suppliers in terms of logistics, maintenance, cleaning, security and information technology services.”

Hyundai has brought in a number of trained engineers from Hyundai Motor Company’s Commercial Vehicle division in Korea to assist with the local training and development of staff to ensure that best practices are followed in the assembly process. From here, the Hyundai Training Centre at the head office of Hyundai Automotive SA will be responsible for ongoing training.

“We have already produced the first trucks from the assembly plant. The local production of HD65 and HD72 trucks will give us a lot of momentum to increase our present three percent share in the medium commercial vehicle market,” says Griffin.

An increase in local content of the vehicles that are assembled in the plant will bring further savings, a more competitive business model and create further jobs in the local economy. “We are obviously at an early stage in the development of the local operation, but we are already examining the expansion of locally produced parts for our assembly line,” says Griffin.

“We chose the premises in Benoni for two reasons: There was an existing infrastructure and suitable buildings and storage areas to run such a plant; and it is situated in the economical hub of South Africa – Gauteng – where there is a big demand for products such as our HD65 and HD72 trucks.”

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

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AR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 12:58 PM Page 12

INDUSTRY NEWS

by Roger Houghton

With 70% of drivers on the road without cover, the insurance industry and collision repair operations enjoy a skewed business in road accidents.

LOCAL NEWS

LEGISLATE COMPULSORY INSURANCE

S

outh African business is backing the move by the SA Insurance Association (SAIA) for compulsory third party insurance for all vehicles in South Africa to be put on the government’s legislative agenda. This is according to the Innovation Group’s Future Now report, a very insightful study of the local insurance industry both the current situation and future predictions.

The Innovation Group’s managing executive: insurance, Jonathan Holden, says that an additional spur comes in the process of harmonisation currently under way among SADC countries with South Africans travelling to many of these countries having to buy third party insurance cover at the border.

The report, which was released earlier this month, has an interesting look at trends and future developments. According to the CEO of Innovations, Glen Mollink, the report highlights an imminent technology-driven revolution and emphasises the need to collaborate on data-sharing in the future.

Mollink says the tools exist in telematics and “big data” to do something about traffic congestion and poor driver behaviours, “But it requires the cooperation of the 40-odd insurance companies in SA, traffic authorities and vehicles owners.”

The research also showed an appetite for more flexible policy options. Telematics is set to become a significant disruptor to the South African motor insurance market over the next decade, and is likely to very soon impact pricing methods across the industry.

Mollink says the successful motor insurers of tomorrow will be making significant investments today in their ability to process huge amounts of data, so as to be able to tailor premiums to exactly reflect risk, thereby improving margins.

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Through Business Intelligence systems, of which telematics is but one component, the cost of supply chains can be reduced by a considerable margin where fleet managers and supply chain operators are in possession of high-quality data input relating to, the vehicle, driver behaviour, time of day and seasonal factors, billing, fuel and maintenance costs, lading, medical history, route-info and more.

In addition, the report states that once Aarto is implemented “accountability will reside with the company, which will be liable for any sort of traffic infringement by its employees while driving a company vehicle.” Management systems will be needed to enforce this system.

Insurance executive Holden adds, “The insurance industry is poised over the coming decade to use technology as never before in all aspects of its business from signing up policyholders to administering claims. This is one of the findings of the Future Now Report, released in September by Innovation Group.

“The South African motor insurance industry is in the midst of an exciting and fundamental change in the way in which it evaluates risk, prices policies and interacts with its customers. Technology and data are set to come together to redefine the insurance-customer relationship.

“One of the by-products of the digital revolution has been the shift in the balance of power from industry to consumer. In the past the consumer buying experience was weighted more in favour of brands and brokers, whereas new technology is acting as something of a leveller. The report also found that technology in automotive design and fleet management is likely to result in fewer accidents, and certainly fewer serious ones,” concluded Holden.

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AR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 12:59 PM Page 13

INDUSTRY UPDATE

by John Parker

TRENDS

RETHINK THE PROCESS

H

ere is a thought-provoking quote from the esteemed organisational theorist Russell L Ackoff, “T he righter we do the wrong thing, the wronger we become. W hen we make a mistake doing the wrong thing and correct it, we become wronger. W hen we make a mistake doing the right thing and correct it, we become righter. T herefore, it is better to do the right thing wrong than the wrong thing right.”

It’s a bit of a tongue twister. Here is how it relates to what we do, working in the collision industry.

Isn’t it true that we all strive to do things better in our business? Daily we meet challenges head on, grapple with the day-today trials that customers seem to throw at us and firefight to please everyone most of the time.

Many collision shop owners have worked out that life needn’t be like this, and have gone through a systematic process of trying to analyse the individual problems to try to stop them before they happen. It’s true that as business owners, we recognise that individual problems in our businesses need to be eradicated, which often requires some smart thinking in order to design processes that eliminate, or at least significantly reduce, individual challenges.

It’s not only the unexpected problems that we attempt to solve, it’s also about implementing processes in order to make our ‘system’ of repairing vehicles more efficient. Efficiency drives what we do in order to make a profit. We streamline our organisation and dissect it into its component parts in order to neutralise that critter that keeps destroying our well-oiled machine. Experience demonstrates that most shop owners do this sort of thing in their own way, and from their experience in doing those things they see benefits to their businesses from their hard work.

Now let’s look at Ackoff’s first sentence and see how it may apply to collision repair.

Some smart thinking needs to be done to overcome daily fire fight problems when it comes to increasing production demands.

“The righter we do the wrong thing, the wronger we become.”

What if all of the effort we put into doing the better (righter) thing in our business is actually being carried out on the ‘wrong’ thing? What if we are channelling our great intentions and efforts into improving something that is not actually the thing that’s broken and what if the real thing that is broken is actually the ‘system’ itself?

Don’t we just assume that we know how to repair cars? Don’t we just assume that because almost every other collision shop repairs cars this way it must be the ‘right way? What if, inherently, it is actually the ‘wrong’ way to repair cars, and we just keep trying day-in to improve what is a broke system in the first place?

What I’m questioning is whether we are currently repairing vehicles in the correct way and by the correct process in order to achieve our real goals, without realising that the ‘system’ we use to run our businesses might be inherently wrong.

According to Ackhoff’s statement, “When we make a mistake doing the wrong thing and correct it, we become wronger.”

How can this be so? Well, if the system is inherently wrong, then no amount of rectification to individual parts will make the ‘system’ a better system. It’s still wrong and effort and energy have been wasted in order to stick a band-aid on what is not really the

problem.

If the system is inherently the correct one, but with areas that require resolve, then those areas are corrected, the system becomes better. Remedial work that is ‘systemic’ not ‘systematic’, ie: not dealing with an individual problem in isolation, always wins because it takes a holistic approach to the overall outcome of the business, not the department.

Interestingly, when Ackoff says, “Therefore, it is better to do the right thing wrong than the wrong thing right,” he has a point.

Distilled down to the core meaning as far as a collision shop is concerned, this is called ‘systems thinking’ and it’s systems thinking that takes a systemic approach to problem solving, process design and organisational theory. Some years ago, a team studied systems thinking, among other theoretical operational methodologies and recognised that the whole process of collision repair is just plain wrong. It’s actually not fit for purpose, and clearly is not conducive to running a business with 21st century challenges for profit and customer prerequisites.

Current processes, culture, technologies and thinking need to almost be thrown out the window. The question was, how different would body shops be if running a systems-based solution?

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AR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/11/05 9:39 AM Page 18

LATEST NEWS

by Ian Groat

WHAT’S HOT?

LOCAL EXPORTS INCREASE

I

t is nice to be able to report some positive market developments concerning vehicle exports. It looks like all concerned in the automotive industry export council have had another focused year of trade expansion. In general they represent the interests of seven motor manufacturers and exporters namely BMW, Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen along with interested parties in the truck and bus industry, this plus up to another 500 component supply concerns.

Industry spokesman Dr Norman Lamprecht, executive manager of NAAMSA, remains upbeat about the export vehicle track record despite a protracted industry strike earlier in the year.

For the past two decades the South African automotive industry has been transformed into an internationally more competitive, globally integrated industry supplying high quality automotive products to the domestic and global markets. The South African vehicle manufacturing and associated industries have grown to become the major contributors to manufacturing activity in the country. The APDP, which commenced 1st January 2013, is designed to take the industry to the next level by doubling vehicle production in the country to 1.2 million units per annum by 2020.

The value and insight which data has to offer and the role that data plays are absolutely key and integral in formulating policy and defining business strategies.

Market intelligence provides companies with a competitive edge. Accurate and timeous

Dr Norman Lamprecht seen flying the export flag at the recent Automechanika trade fair in Frankfurt. The South African team of competent exporters this year racked up good product interest levels for local automotive products. data gives insight into current trading conditions, acts as an indicator as to where the market is headed and assists companies to develop better and appropriate strategies.

A recent development relating to South African trade should include data in respect of Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS) in order to provide a more accurate reflection of South Africa’s trade.

BLNS country trade statistics have previously not been included in South Africa’s trade statistics because of the free flow of trade from a customs point of view within the Southern African Custom’s Union (SACU). The automotive industry’s trade performance has subsequently been revised with BLNS country data in the 2014

publication, and where applicable, with retrospective effect.

The South African automotive industry has enjoyed sustained growth in both domestic sales and exports since the downturn in 2009, despite the uncertain international climate. During 2013, total automotive industry exports increased by R7,8 billion or 8.2% to R102,7 billion from the revised R94.9 billion in 2012.

The economic challenges in Europe and the US are forcing South African companies to look at alternative markets and partners to diversify risk and create new avenues for growth. Indicative of this trend, the export value to 21 of the 152 country export destinations more than doubled from 2012 to 2013.

TECH UPDATE

TOYOTA FCV PROGRAMME BOOSTED

T

oyota has reached an important production staging post in its programme to launch its first fuel cell vehicle, gaining government-approved status to build and inspect highpressure hydrogen tanks. Having met the stringent criteria required by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the first manufacturer to do so, Toyota can now increase production of tanks that can be used for safe storage of hydrogen fuel at up to 70 MPa (700bar) pressure. This keeps the company firmly on track for the market introduction of its Fuel Cell Sedan in Japan, Europe and North America in 2015.

Japanese law requires all pressured gas containers and accessories to be type-certified and made available for official safety inspections during the manufacturing process. Until now, Toyota’s hydrogen tanks also had to undergo a further inspection before being installed in a vehicle. The inspection schedules had a direct impact on its inventory control and the manufacturing timetable for Toyota’s FCV prototypes.

By being able to self-inspect the tanks it makes, Toyota can now streamline its FCV manufacturing process, while maintaining the

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

highest quality and safety standards. As well as improving efficiency and productivity, this is also expected to help reduce the cost of FCV’s.

To gain official approval (KJKS 0102), it has had to meet 194 requirements and demonstrate an appropriate high level of quality of management. It prepared a quality manual and a set of inspection rules to provide a fully documented hydrogen tank quality management system that goes beyond its own operation to include affiliated parts.

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AR N-D 2014 CLAIRE_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 1:24 PM Page 5

INTERNATIONAL ESCAPADES - by Chris Mann

MILLE MIGLIA

THE PLEASURES AND PAINS OF A 1000 MILE HIGH SPEED DRIVE ROUND ITALY

I

t all started last autumn when my friend Jo Ramirez and I were chatting about our respective bucket lists of things to do before we died, or were too decrepit to do them, and discovered that we were both desperate to compete in the Mille Miglia retrospective.

The Mille Miglia was first staged in 1927 as a 1000-mile road race round Italy, from Brescia down the Adriatic coast to Rome then up the Mediterranean coast back to Brescia. Enzo Ferrari described the Mille Miglia as ‘the most beautiful race in the world’ and competitors ranged from weekend warriors in their FIAT specials to the top professionals of the day. In 1957, though, just a few miles from the finish, a tyre blew on the Ferrari of the Marquis de Portago, the resulting crash killing de Portago, his navigator and nine spectators; following which the race was banned.

In the 1980’s the Mille Miglia was revived as a retrospective for historic cars and has become the world’s most 68

exclusive classic car event, a magnet for celebrities and aficionados alike. Why not, we thought, do it together in my Jaguar XK120 Roadster? The model had competed in the ‘proper’ Mille Miglia and thus, in theory at least, eligible to run in the retrospective. Whilst obtaining an entry for this high-profile event was reputed to be more difficult than getting an invitation to Elton John’s birthday party we thought it had to be worth a try. Jo had worked for Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini back in the sixties and later with the Tyrrell, Fittipaldi and McLaren F1 teams so having him on board might help our cause. He also spoke fluent Italian – which was a real bonus!

Another factor in our favour was that my XK had period competition history in the hands of then-owner Michael Brook, who had been given the car as a 21st birthday present in the mid-1950’s and used the car for ‘courting during the week and racing at weekends’. Now, though, the

car was pretty tired mechanically and if it was to have any chance of completing a thousand mile thrash round Italy a major rebuild was needed.

Jo spoke to a friend on the Mille Miglia committee and called to say that our chances of getting an entry looked good, so I set about completing the long and complex Mille Miglia entry form. Sorting the car was now the most urgent priority and the rebuild was well under way when, in mid-February, we heard that our entry had been accepted. Then a minor crack in the block was discovered, delaying the completion date. Then, on its post-rebuild shake-down, disaster struck, when a core plug blew, the result of the acid-dip carried out to facilitate the block repair. There was no alternative but to remove and strip the engine, replace the core plugs and then put everything back together.

Normally nearly a week’s work, engineer Simon Hemsley had the car back up and running in only two days, a

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

AR N-D 2014 CLAIRE_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 1:24 PM Page 6

herculean effort which enabled me and ‘Team Manager’ Chris Connelly to catch the ferry by the skin of our teeth, Two days before the start of the 2014 Mille Miglia the 451 competing cars gathered at the Brescia Fiero for scrutineering and to enable completion of the seemingly interminable paperwork required by the organisers. Finally, all was ready and on Thursday, May 15, we set off through Brescia’s chaotic rush-hour traffic to the start ramp where, at 7.27pm our Mille Miglia adventure started in earnest as we were flagged off the start ramp and we headed east to the Adriatic coast, part of an ever-evolving high speed snake of classic cars, cheered on by a million spectators and waved through towns, villages and red traffic lights by the local Polizia. Every so often we would be diverted on to a timed section which required us to travel a series of set distances in specified times, measured to 1 000ths of a second and were, it appeared, critical to success.

Unfortunately, although we had had a sophisticated rally meter fitted to the car, neither of us could work out how to use it so our time-trial efforts rapidly descended into farce but the car drove beautifully and we arrived at our first night destination near Padua just after midnight, the crowds of spectators still out in force.

Day two was bright and sunny as we set off on the first leg of our 775-kilometre journey to Rome, one of the last cars to get away. Heading south we made good progress through Rovigo, Ferrara and Ravenna, and on to San Marino where lunch awaited. Keen to make up time we declined lunch, grabbed a banana and a bottle of water and set off to mess up the next series of time-trials, before heading to Ancona where the Polizia Stradale looking cool in their mandatory shades escorted us in a 70mph convoy through the town centre.

From Ancona we messed up more time trials en-route to Casale before heading inland to the beautiful medieval city of Ascoli Piceno. We were now nearly back on schedule but the skies were looking menacing as we headed off into the mountains towards L’Aquila and, as dusk descended, the heavens opened. Within minutes the driving rain had soaked us through and rendered vision impossible. Jo slowed to a crawl and we tried folding back the aero-screens in an attempt to see. It made little difference other than exposing us to a barrage of what felt like pin sharpicicles. Freezing cold, wet through and unable to see we crawled on through the darkness for what seemed like hours, our misery compounded by an engine misfire as the water found its way into the distributor. The rain eventually eased but by this time we were totally lost, eventually reaching our hotel at 3.20am having been on the road for nearly 20 hours!

The following morning, after what seemed like about 10 minutes sleep we threw on our dry clothes and headed for the start line, over an hour behind our scheduled departure time. As a result the usual crowds lining the street had long since left for their morning espresso and within a few kilometres we were once again well and truly lost. Fortunately, we were befriended by a helpful local who directed us back on to the correct route and the first check point at Ronciglione.

The scenery was glorious and the sun shone, both Jo and I feeling remarkably chipper as we headed north-west through Viterbo and Radicofani to Siena and the next checkpoint in the breathtaking medieval square of Il Campo. Once again Jo was greeted like a homecoming prince, interviewed at length by the checkpoint commentator, great fun for us but created a growing queue of impatient competitors behind us.

Jo Ramirez worked for Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini back in the 60’s and later with Tyrrell, Fittipaldi and the McLaren F1 teams.

The Mille Miglia is described as the “most beautiful race in the world” and has become the world’s most exclusive classic car event.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

The problems of the previous day combined with our less than stellar efforts in the timed sections meant that we were never going to make the leader board so we decided to omit the next section via Pisa and Lucca, enabling us to enjoy to the full the spectacular Futa and Raticosa passes, arguably the most iconic elements of the Mille Miglia.

It was the right decision, the sweeping roads were a joy to drive and the XK was back on song, its six-cylinder yowl music to our ears, our pleasure marred only by the occasional time-trial. Soon after 7pm we arrived in Bologna to find the whole town had turned out, cheering on the passing competitors in the evening sunshine as we headed for the Piazza Maggiore and the end of day three.

On Sunday morning we left Bologna for the final leg of the 2014 Mille Miglia, heading for Modena where Jo pointed out the Albergho Real Hotel favoured by Ferrari works drivers of the 1950s and 60s.

Long gone, though, was Modena’s other elite hotel the Palace where, back in 1962, Jo had the grim task of clearing the effects of his close friend Ricardo Rodriguez, following his death in practice for the first ever Mexican GP. Rodriguez’ family bequeathed Ricardo’s iconic yellow crash helmet worn by Jo on our Mille Miglia trip as a mark of respect to his friend.

After Friday and Saturday, the final leg on Sunday was something of an anti-climax, a relatively gentle 240-kilometre drive through Modena, Mantova (home of the legendary Tazio Nuvolari) and then on to Brescia where it had all started. Our Friday trials and tribulations well and truly behind us Jo and I arrived at the finish line to the acclamation of the crowd and with smiles a mile wide. We had successfully completed ‘the most beautiful race in the world’, an experience we will never forget.

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AR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 12:59 PM Page 19

TOP SHOP DELTA PANELBEATING CENTRE

Story by Dave Fall and pics by Ian Groat

RIGHT THE FIRST TIME The open plan body shop hall at Delta shows excellent levels of workshop production routing.

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AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

AR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 12:59 PM Page 20

Constant reinvestments boosted Delta’s performance.

PPG’s Tammy Robberts, regional sales manager for the Western Cape and Robin Gaffley.

Concentrating on a right first time production has made Delta Panelbeating Centre able to lift customer satisfaction retention levels.

The coating of choice has almost always been the PPG refinish system because of great back-up says Anthony Kannemeyer (right).

Technical service and sales back-up from ABS Parow have concentrated on keeping paint utlization to a minimum. From left to right are: Anthony Kannemeyer, Robin Gaffley, Director for Delta and John Beck from ABS Parow.

D

eep in the heart of Strand, in the Western Cape, can be found Delta Panelbeating Centre. Owned by Robin Gaffley, a man who applies a strict code of business ethics: “Every job that passes through my workshop has a signature of confidence and workmanship of the highest quality”.

Delta is a busy shop, with bodyshop repair approvals from at least 13 motor manufacturers, including Audi, VW, Honda, Hyundai, GM and Toyota. “‘Courtesy cars are also available should a customer be completely without transport – this is all part of our service”, says Gaffley.

“I have been in the panelbeating business for close on 33 years now. As a matter of fact, we started out in premises just further down the road, lovingly remembered as ‘The whole in the wall’.

Even when we started out we strived and went the extra mile, to ensure the perfect job, first time, every time. I always wanted to make a difference to the area to build up a solid panel shop reputation’.

“The Strand is currently seeing substantial economic growth, with a fair amount of panel shops opening and operating within the area.

Over the years business has gotten tougher, with many a panel shop also now coming and going. Through dedication, hard work and good reputation, Delta has stood the test of time”.

“I think from the word ‘go’, we felt success coming our way.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

With a host of approvals for motor makers and insurers client confidence is assured for the repair at Delta Panelbeating Centre.

Although I am a hands-on type of guy, I have the happy knack these days of selecting the right tradesman to tackle the task in hand. We started up with half a dozen of staff members. Today, we have a staff complement of around 30”.

As one of PPG’s most loyal and long standing customers, Delta started using the PPG Deltron product range during the late 90’s and converted in 2004 to PPG’s waterborne based technology called Envirobase® High Performance. With PPG, a world leading coatings and specialty product company, they are assured of the latest technology and innovation. Running alongside Delta’s successes, is their PPG supplier, ABS Parow, and as said by Gaffley, “they offer a great back-up service, always putting our needs first and being a fundamental part of our business for many years”.

“Good business ethics, no matter what business you are in, are paramount, and it has made this panel shop successful. As stated earlier, I am not prepared to ever do a half-hearted job on a customer’s vehicle”.

“Four points I would like to stress regarding the PPG Product the finished result is always superb, their spray techniques couldn’t be simpler while using their waterborne paints, their products have a good shelf life and finally – one must never forget PPG’s blends are virtually unlimited and certainly cover every model that reaches South Africa – no matter the manufacturer.

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AR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 12:59 PM Page 21

INDUSTRY NEWS USA NEWS

INSURANCE CASE GAINS MOMENTUM

W

hat started as a flurry of announcements, a legal filing in Mississippi, a lawsuit in Florida, the IABA starting a class-action campaign in Indiana, has turned into a nationwide wave of wrongful practice litigation against insurance carriers.

Repairers from several states have enlisted the legal muscle of John Arthur Eaves Jr, a Mississippi-based attorney who’s worked on a number of high-profile cases around the world. Eaves has been at the forefront of this fight and, as of press time, has repairers in 41 states having filed or preparing to file suits as part of the collective effort. He said that he expects all 50 states to be involved by the time the case, which has been consolidated to Florida US District Court, goes to trial in the next 18 months or so. For their part, insurers have strongly disputed the claims, and filed a motion to dismiss.

With the help of Eaves, a group of repairers took the fight to Capital Hill, staging a mid-September rally in Washington September with the hope of spurring legislation that would reinforce the 1963 Consent Decree as US law and put an end to what the industry claims to be illegal practices by insurance carriers.

The real game-changer though happened in August when Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell filed suit against State Farm on behalf of consumers, a landmark moment that brought charges of collusion and unsafe practices against insurers out of the collision industry fishbowl and into the public forum.

The attorney general’s office brought similar claims in its suit, steering, unsafe requirements in repairs, short-pay issues, etc, but the real difference, says assistant attorney general Stacie Deblieux, will be awareness. The average consumer will now be made aware of what her office believes are illegal actions begin taken by insurance carriers.

It’s been a “from-all-angles” attack, Eaves says. Auto insurance providers, individually and collectively, have denied the accusations.

“The description in the lawsuit filed by the attorney-general in Louisiana is not in line with State Farm’s mission to serve the needs of its customers, and our long, proud history of achievements in advancing vehicle safety,” State Farm spokesman Dick Luedke says.

“A vibrant, profitable auto collision repair industry is in the interest of State Farm and other auto insurers. At the same time, we are advocates on behalf of our customers for reasonable repair costs.

We believe repairer profitability and quality auto repairs that are reasonably priced can both be achieved.” Shops can still join in on the multi-district suit by contacting Eaves’ office, he says. More shops means more evidence in court. According to Eaves, the evidence is overwhelming. His team has collected affidavits, depositions and “millions” of documents outlining the claims repairers are making.

Liking his chances, Eaves wanted an expedited trial and is hoping to go to court within the next 12 months. The Florida US District Court judge handling the case is expected to set the timeline for the trial at some point between a hearing in November and a status conference in December. From the time of that announcement, there will likely be a 60-day waiting period before the information gathering phase of the trial begins. That is when insurance companies will be forced to turn over internal documents, Eaves said.

In Louisiana, no date has been set for a trial in the attorney general’s case. Deblieux says it would be reasonable to assume that more states will follow in her office’s footsteps and file on behalf of their consumers.

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AR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 12:59 PM Page 24

INDUSTRY NEWS TECHNOLOGY

ALUMINIUM VS HIGH STRENGTH STEEL

W

orld Steel Dynamics’ (WSD) report Autobody Warfare - Aluminum Attack, based on its independent consultation with steel, aluminium and automotive experts, concludes that steel can deliver the weight savings required to meet federally mandated fuel economy targets for most vehicles. The report was formally presented to steel executives at the World Steel Annual Conference in Moscow.

“This timely analysis demonstrates the value of advanced high-strength steel designs in meeting the needs of automakers while exposing the cost of penalties of switching to aluminium,” said Lawrence W Kavanagh, president of the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). “We are enthusiastic about the findings, which confirm our extensive research showing automakers can meet their weight reduction goals with advanced high-strength steels. The report’s conclusions and forecast for steel, are good news for customers and consumers as they demonstrate that automakers can and will continue to depend on the performance of steel and the safety fuel efficiency and sustainability it provides.”

Other key findings of the WSD study include: • Advanced high strength steels (AHSS) will offer more than sufficient lightweighting opportunities to automotive companies in the next decade, and from 2021-2025, automotive designers will be implementing any amount of higher-strength steels.

• Once engineers decide to redesign steel-intensive vehicles from the ground up, they will implement sizeable and relatively low-cost weight savings with advanced high-strength steels, enabling continued supply of steel closures.

• Advanced high strength steels, even if priced substantially higher than other auto sheet, are quite attractive given their weight savings relative to aluminium, and will rise to 237 million tons in 2025, a 330% gain displacing mild steel and alternative materials.

• Automakers will not widely adopt aluminium or other alternative materials during their next round of design, and the growth in aluminium sheet in cars, SUVs and light trucks will peak about 2018.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

AR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/11/05 9:40 AM Page 4

NEWS FROM THE ZOO - by Roger Houghton REGULAR BITS

A REGION OF THE WORLD WHERE DISCIPLINE RULES

I

have recently been on two business trips to Western Europe where I, as a Virgo, truly enjoyed the discipline, neatness and cleanliness of that part of the world. On this occasion my travels took me by coach from Paris to the Netherlands via Belgium, and a week later travelled to Frankfurt for Automechanika.

I was the only journalist on the first trip, which was with DAF, and the party included 11 truck operators as well as four executives of Babcock International, which has the franchise to market and distribute DAF trucks in Southern Africa.

Travelling by luxury coach allows one to truly enjoy a country and, on this occasion, to be part of well disciplined driving with the huge number of trucks nearly all clean and with their loads neatly covered to save fuel. Road surfaces were excellent and well marked. We did not see a single road accident or broken down vehicle either.

The DAF trip also gave me the opportunity of visiting two motor museums, one being the DAF museum in Eindhoven. (www.dafmuseum.nl/en) and then I went on a private visit to the Louwman Museum in The Hague.

DAF has had a long and chequered history since small beginnings in 1928. It has encompassed the design and manufacture of trucks, vans and cars but it is now totally focused on making trucks. It is the fastest growing truck brand in Europe as well as being part of the USbased PACCAR company which has made a profit every year since its founding in 1905.

Founded in 1928 in Eindhoven, The original DAF Company was started by Hubert “Hub” van Doorne and his brother Theo, as a vehicle repair workshop. The original workshop is now part of the DAF museum which has a very interesting collection of vehicles.

In 1932 a decision was taken by the Van Doorne brothers to concentrate on building trailers, backed by their landlord, a brewery owner. The company then took on the name Van Doorne Aanhangwagen Fabriek, which was abbreviated to DAF. One of the early truck projects was converting Ford 4x2 trucks to a 6x4 configuration that led to the manufacture of military vehicles.

High volume production of trucks, trailers and buses really began in 1949 and included many vehicles for the Dutch army.

Hub van Doorne remained an innovator and in 1954 he developed a variable belt-drive transmission system derived from the use of belts and pulleys in industrial manufacturing and machining processes.

This resulted in a preview of the DAF car at the 1958 Amsterdam Motor Show. It was launched the following year as the first volume production car since the Clyno of the 1920’s with continuously

variable transmission (CVT) using belt drives to the rear wheels. The system was known as the DAF Variomatic transmission. The fourseater car was powered by an air-cooled, twin-cylinder engine of 590cc. This engine was enlarged to 850cc over the years and various Renault engines of 1 100cc and 1 300cc were also fitted.

Volvo Cars then took over DAF cars in 1975 and the 66 model was renamed the Volvo 66. Then the Volvo 343, which should have been the DAF 77, was launched and DAF turned its attention fully to truck development and production.

DAF merged with the British Leyland Company in 1987, but ran into financial difficulties in 1993 when the British truck market collapsed.

PACCAR, a Fortune 500 company and one of the leading truck manufacturers in the US, came to the rescue of the Dutch company with a takeover in 1996. This was followed in 1998 by PACCAR’s takeover of Leyland, which was integrated into the DAF truck operation and remains a British manufacturing base to the present.

The Louwman Museum is firstly an amazing piece of architecture and then it is set in beautiful surroundings with lots of greenery and water. (www.louwmanmuseum.nl).

It is the oldest private (family-owned) collection of vehicles in the world, dating back to 1934. The Louwman family has been in the motor business since 1923 and is the importer of Toyota and Lexus cars and Yokohama tyres into the Netherlands.

The varied range of vehicles on display in this magnificent building goes from the very early days, when wagon wheels were the norm on motorised transport, to the last of the Toyota Formula 1 cars (2009).

Some vehicles remain in their original state and others have been painstakingly and immaculately restored. It is amazing to think that the vehicles on display cover motoring over a period of 125 years and in general they all have specific historic value, with some being the only examples of a brand.

This amazing trip back in time was followed a week later by many hours spent walking the aisles at Messe Frankfurt, the second largest exhibition site in the world.

This was my fourth visit to this premier trade fair for the automotive aftermarket and on each occasion I have had the pleasure of the company of the publisher of Automotive Refinisher and fellow classic motorcycle enthusiast, Ian Groat, as we walked and talked the show for three days. You can read my article on the show elsewhere in this edition of AR.

This DAF Variomatic on display at the DAF museum in Eindhoven has special interest for South Africa in that it is right had drive and a TAB (Bethal) number plate. It was powered by a twin cylinder “boxer” engine of 750 cc’s and had a belt drive continously variable transmission system.

This is believed to be the oldest Toyota in the world. It is an AA model which was produced from 1936-1943. Approximately 1400 were made. This car, on display in the Louwman family museum in The Hague, the Netherlands was located in Russia in 2008 where it had seen hard use at the hands of a Siberian farmer.

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AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

AR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 12:59 PM Page 26

PRODUCT PROFILE WHAT’S HOT?

RODCRAFT QUALITY PRODUCTS

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odcraft is one of the world’s leading brands of pneumatic tools and workshop equipment dedicated to the vehicle service and industrial maintenance applications, with a broad range of high quality and durable products.

The versatile MBX automotive set is a patented versatile system used for the removal of underbody coating, paint and rust, with or without a sandblasting effect (without sand). The MBX system also removes decals/stickers in a cold and efficient way without heating up. It has a cool slow speed and safe “chain saw” handling. The MBX machine comes with long lasting belts that can be resharpened when required, which results in cost savings. The MBX set consists of the air tool; four bristle belts; one broad lamellae eraser wheel; 11mm and 23mm wheel adapters; a rear adapter for the assembly of a silencing exhaust hose system; a top handle and is suitable for both 11mm and 23mm MBX accessories and consumables.

The renowned RC2277 BEAST power is now delivered to you in a more ergonomic tool. The new RC2277 curved handle with injected TPR grip, and its new one hand-operation power setting system, now offers a much greater comfort of use in everyday operations such as tyre changing and general mechanical operations. The new edition of the RC2277 composite impact continues to deliver its famous fast and high torque performance, with its 1250Nm of power in reverse and one of the best powerto-weight ratios on the market. The NEW BEAST will be more than just a tool but your best partner when it comes to power and robustness.

The new Rodcraft GHN series includes three transmission jack models, ranging from 300, 600 up to 1000 kg in lifting capacity.

Featuring a chromed cylinder in an oil bath, for high durability, and anti-rust, the Rodcraft GHN series is a high quality range. The GHN transmission jacks include several safety and ergonomic features such as descent pedal in an upright position for avoiding missoperation, a large foot pedal for lifting without locking position, safety valve against overloading and lots more. You’ll like the large and low clearance base for high stability and the small foot pedal used for lowering which ensures very convenient hand-free operations. Each transmission jack is provided with 1.2m length of chain, a reversible claw with rubber pad and a magnetic tray for better convenience in applications.

Rodcraft’s active engagement in the market, as well as the high quality of their products, has earned them a brand recognition level of over 86% in major markets. Bulldog Abrasives is the sole distributor of Rodcraft products in Sub-Saharan Africa – contact their sales team on +27 (0)11 786 5991 or sales@bulldogabrasives.co.za for more information.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

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EN AD NEW M-J 2014_Layout 1 2014/05/14 12:43 PM Page 1

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AR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 12:59 PM Page 28

The final judging was a tough ask with close marks across the board.

The BASF Coatings technical team supplied great assistance for the spray painter competition.

It was an emotional evening African style when the judge announced the two winners.

Stuart Parmenter (left) has a vocation in training the 3M team and others.

WHAT’S HOT?

WORLD SKILLS COUNTDOWN COMPETITION

A

at SA Automotive Week at the Gallagher Show centre in Midrand.

The two finalists, Ntebaleng Seema from SA Airways Technical and Cirhuwani Netshituni will now go on to a world skills final where only one delegate will enjoy the Sao Paulo skills world finals next year in September 2015.

Spray Painting Competition With a full complement of specialist technical assistants from BASF Coatings on hand, Stuart Parmenter from 3M set out skills on primer preparation, wet-on-wet painting and final bonnet finishing skills with delegates from SA Airways, Cornright Motors and the AIDC Training centre. They tested their skills against each other live

Body Repair Skills Organised by Eddie da Silva of ABS in Midrand, this competition was sponsored by Santam Insurance and the aspiring repairers had a number of repair areas in which to excell. The dentless repair was sponsored by Dent Digest and Gondolier tools.

Along with rust removal and panel replacement, dent repairs and major structural repair tasks on a number of special panels, after the full three days of competition the scores were within very tight levels of each other. Eventually Thabiso Mollale from Dent Doctor Randburg tied with Ntebaling Seema, a lady auto body repair specialist from SAA Technical. Again these two contestants will go forward to a special final to be held at Automechanika next year to select the finalist for Sao Paulo in South America for the world skills finals.

recent RMI initiative saw three sections of trainees competing in the Best of the Best skills trade testing. Held over three full days the competition was well supported by some high profile trade sponsorships with Aerocure, 3M Auto Trade, BASF Coatings, Gondolier and Bulldog Abrasives all contributing to the competition by way of large sponsorships.

The trade competitors were split into three groups being spray painting and vehicle refinishing, body repair technicians and mechanical technicians. They were all given specific tasks over the three days of the competition.

Five of the contestants were apprentices from the Nthuthuko Foundation. They made it through the provincial level and thoroughly so on a national level.

5

Santam supplied sponsorship for the body repair competitors.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

6

The two winners will go forward to Automechanika next year and they will go head-to-head to see who gets to Sao Paulo.

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AR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 12:59 PM Page 29

INDUSTRY NEWS

by Jeff Osborne

WHAT’S HOT?

GUMTREE ONLINE CAR SALES PLATFORM

Introducing

the Gumtree Auto Inventory Tool for dealers Gumtree is South Africa’s largest local website with 7.9 million unique browsers on desktop and mobile.

“Autos” is Gumtree’s largest category, attracting over 3.5 million visits each month that generate a staggering 220 000 email leads every month.

Dealers list the majority of the approximately 150 000 vehicles in the “Auto” section, and although this has always been “free”, we are mindful of the amount of dealer time and resources consumed in the loading process. As such, we are excited to announce our new tool for Gumtree Auto Dealers called Gumtree Auto Inventory Tool.

The tool offers Auto Dealers incredible automation, convenience, flexibility and value. To Register go to www.co.za/pages/autodealers

For More Information about GAIT Call Jeff Osborne & his team On +27 (0)11 784 3413 Or 0800 999 045

Register with GAIT online.

82

Jeff Osborne says that dealership sales staff are powering the Gumtree platform forwards because of what it can achieve.

I

“

have spent my entire life involved, in some way or the other, in the motor industry, at oil companies, the Retail Motor Industry Association (RMI) and recently, the world of online car sales. When e-commerce - and the subsequent deluge of e-new car platforms started growing in popularity - I was, like many motoring professionals and enthusiasts, both sceptical and very excited. I did realise early on though that these platforms were great for the average consumer. It opened up a world of choice, a means of easy price-checking and a way of making really informed buying decisions with relative ease. For dealerships, it wasn’t always the case.

“For many, online car platforms are a grudge purchase. They realised that in an increasingly competitive marketplace, they had to move online to reach their customers, but often themselves are at the mercy of the party that operated the platform.

“A survey of 13 000 new vehicle drivers in 11 countries conducted by Accenture Research found that more than three quarters of respondents (80%) would like more customised digital content from dealerships. Not only that, 74% said that they desire “better integration between dealer sites and inventory search functions” and 83% said improved digital media (including images and video) would speed up the buying process.

“A consistent customer experience is vital to the online-offline sales process, an area in which the auto industry is notably lagging other sectors in the eyes of the consumer,” concludes Luca Mentuccia, the global MD of the Accenture Automotive Group. “At a time when digital marketers are using algorithms to predict what online visitors want to know, automakers should be better able to shape content that is more user-centric.”

“Customisation and control, any dealership will tell you, is the one thing they are not provided with when signing on to traditional automotive platforms. There are basic text and photo options, but branding is not allowed. There are some dropdowns to pre-populated fields, perhaps, but they can be far from ideal. And perhaps worst of all, none of it is integrated with existing sales management, inventory management, stock control or customer service management tools that the dealership might have. In fact, we often find that individual sales people may upload ads to move stock in their own departments, unmanaged, and thus leaving the dealer principal with very little control over the customer’s experience.

“Usually, this process is very expensive, dealerships are tied to contracts, fixed monthly fees and strict controls that sometimes leave them with a tool that is over, or underutilised. Moreover, these tools rarely, if ever, take the various tiers and functionality of the average automotive company into account. A dealer principal has a very different interest in online trade than a salesperson who primarily wants to know if another branch has stock of an item he needs, and to market the vehicles he is responsible for selling.

“It’s time for dealerships to move out of the dark ages of online sales platforms and opt for an alternative that puts full control back into their own hands.”

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

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Contact: Deon Joubert on 083 628 2288 Email: andrew@hurricaneauto.co.za Email: deon@hurricaneauto.co.za Visit our website: www.hurricaneauto.co.za

AR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 12:59 PM Page 23

INDUSTRY NEWS

PARTNERSHIP

ALLIANZ & BMW EXTEND GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP

A

llianz SE and BMW AG announced that the two companies have renewed their collaboration on a global level for another five years. The CEO’s of the two companies, Michael Diekman and Dr Norbert Reithofer, signed the extension of a Global Partnership Agreement between both groups, which was originally agreed upon in 2009, in September 2014.

Since the start of the Global Partnership in 2009 Allianz and BMW triples its joint customer insurance business, with the companies currently cooperating in 27 markets and distributing about 50 joint products.

The new agreement focuses on the international rollout of car and mobility related insurance products such as car insurance, extended warranty and payment protection and also sets the basics for global cooperation in areas such as emobility, used cars, sales channels and driver assistance and safety systems.

BMW Aftersales is now also part of the agreement that they state will enable efficient aftersales processes that guarantee seamless claims handling and premium services for the customers.

“The last five years have proven the strength of the partnership between BMW and Allianz. With our in-depth product and sales expertise in insurance solutions, our global presence and our ability to develop innovative products and services along the

automotive value chain we are confident that this successful cooperation will develop event further,” says Karsten Crede, CEO Allianz global Automotive.

“Since the start of our global partnership five years ago we have successfully expanded the joint customer insurance business with Allianz. It is our target to internationally expand and intensify our joint cooperation. With Allianz we do have an ideal partner, which supports us and our customers and comprehensive, transparent and high class premium products and services on a global basis,” explains Erich Ebner von

Eschenback, head of the BMW Group’s financial services division.

In the US, BMW markets BMW Performance Insurance, offered in conjunction with Liberty Mutual, that guarantees the use of OEM Replacement Parts, among other benefits.

Vehicle manufacturers are expected to increasingly seek to promote insurance products to their car customers, both as a profit centre for the manufacturer and its dealers, but also to leverage the insurance relationship to benefit both the collision repair and parts businesses by promoting certified repair networks and OEM parts.

INSURANCE

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS CENTRE WARNS OF COUNTERFEIT AUTO PARTS

T

he use of illegal counterfeit automotive parts is increasing in the United States, creating public safety concerns, according to experts at the National Intellectual Property Rights Co-ordination Centre (NIPRCC), which is led by US Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

In a Collision Week report a British Columbia man who sold counterfeit airbags sourced from China on eBay who was sentenced to six months in a federal prison, three years’ supervised release and was ordered to pay R330 000 in 76

restitution, following an investigation by ICE and HSI. These counterfeit parts usually bear the trademark of a legitimate and trusted brand, but they were produced by another party and are not made to the specifications of the original equipment manufacturer. They’re often produced illegally and sold at a profit to fund other criminal activities “Law enforcement has identified a trend of counterfeited parts that is growing at an alarming rate,” said Bruce Foucart, acting director of the NIPRCC. “At best these parts will not perform well as authentic

parts. At worst they can fail catastrophically with potentially fatal consequences.” Some of the most dangerous counterfeit products involve the explosive elements of air bags that can literally explode in the victim’s face during an accident.

Some other counterfeit parts seized by law enforcement include, seat belts, oil and air filters, brake pads, brake rotors, control arms, windshields, bearings, steering linkages, ignition coils, microchips, spark plugs, wheels, solenoids, clutch housing, crankshafts, diagnostic equipment, suspension parts and oil pumps.

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

HENKEL AD N-D 2014_Layout 1 2014/10/30 10:38 AM Page 1

Henkel SA (Pty) Ltd Private Bag X083, Wadeville, 1422

For more information, please contact Craig Bowles on 079 504 4563 or Tel: +27 (0)11 617 2689 www.loctite.co.za, www.henkel-mea.com

AR N-D 2014 CLAIRE_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 1:27 PM Page 17

NEW PRODUCTS SNAP-ON TOOL STORAGE COMBINATION Snap-on is proud to announce the special edition Deep Cranberry with Black Trim 20 Drawer Combo Tool storage Unit. Unit includes Standard Tool Storage Snap-on features including Double wall Construction, Lock n Roll Drawers, Ball bearing drawer slides, Heavy Duty casters, pneumatic lifts on the top chest.

Overall Dimensions are: 1,472cm Height (lid closed), 1,016cm width and 508cm deep.

This unit is available as a combination as illustrated at the featured price of R27 770 excluding VAT or as separate units as follows: l KRA2212AKPMB; 12-Drawer Roll Cab only R15 780 Excl VAT (On promotion during November and December with FREE Hardwood top valued at R4 850). l KRA2208KPMB; 8-Drawer Top Chest R11 990 Excl VAT. For more information contact your Snap-on Dealer or e-mail tools@snapon.co.za Visit our website www.snapon.co.za for specials on these and others or see our advert on page 57 of this publication.

BULLDOG ABRASIVES HOMEGROWN PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP/CAR POLISHING SEAT

MIRKA’S FLEXIBLE YELLOW FILE BOARD Mirka’s flexible yellow file board 70x400mm Grip 53H (part number 8391150111) is adjustable to suit any concave or convex shape. The board has yellow dot marks that indicate the straight shape and red dot marks indicating the maximum shape. The handle enables a flexible and ergonomic grip.

Both the low profile and the durable construction provide excellent control over the sanding process. The performance is enhanced when used in conjunction with Mirka Abranet strips.

For more information on this product as well as other products in the Mirka range contact Bulldog Abrasives’ sales team on +27 (0)11 786 5991 or sales@bulldogabrasives.co.za.

86

Bulldog Abrasives have the solution to all of your workshop needs – introducing their professional workshop/car polishing seat which enables you to reach the lower areas on motor vehicles without a problem!

Characteristics are as follows: l40° slant angle adjustment on the seat l Low height = 310mm/High height = 370mm l Four x 2.5-inch wheels l Weight capacity of 150kg’s l Colour = black and red.

For more information on this product as well as the rest of the Bulldog Abrasives range of products contact their sales team on +27 (0)11 786 5991 or sales@bulldogabrasives.co.za

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

AR N-D 2014 CLAIRE_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/11/05 9:45 AM Page 18

ANEST IWATA NEO AIRBRUSH & COMPRESSOR Gravity-Feed Dual-Action Airbrush Preferred when working in small- to medium-sized areas with small amounts of paint, these gravity-feed airbrushes perform well at lower air pressures, which help create greater detail.

The interchangeable gravity-feed cups offer paint capacity options. The larger size offers easy in-cup paint mixing. The medium size makes it easy to see over and good to view the working surface. The no-cup option is great for quick touch-ups when only a tiny amount of paint is needed.

A unique 0.35-mm needle and nozzle combination for finer detail spraying and medium-sized spray patterns. Ideal operation is between five and 35 psi. Ideal for use with smaller air compressors.

Neo Air Compressor l Compact, Portable, Miniature Air Compressor l Weighs Less than 450 grams! l On/Off and 3-Speed Control Button l Airbrush Holder l Air Hose l 100V —> 240V Power Supply.

Call Anest Iwata on +27 (0)11 463 2169 for any queries on these or any of their other quality spray guns and equipment.

VIRGIN PLASTICS PROTECTIVE APRON This tough plastic polishing apron is new from Virgin Plastics workware protection products and displays a durable overall finish. It should last a long time in the body shop polishing work area.

For more information call them on +27 (0)83 251 9442 or office +27 (0)11 616 2870 or email them at virgin@mweb.co.za for more information.

QBRANDS 4CR TOUCH-UP KIT Here are three essential tools from 4CR just for the spray painter: l Dust Pick Needle Kit (7550) – To remove dust particles from wet paint l Titanium Run Razor (7530) – For removing paint runs quickly and easily from a cured surface l Touch-up Tip set (7540) – A set of three sizes for small, accurate touch up work.

Contact Geoff: 072 069 5423 or Valerie: 082 923 4373 or visit www.QbrandsSA.com

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

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AR N-D 2014 CLAIRE_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 1:24 PM Page 3

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

Auto Industry Consulting provide technical information and consultancy to the global collision repair industry. Our subscription based website

www.autoindustryinsider.com includes:

l Vehicle Technology Review Videos l New model introductions l Vehicle manufacturer connections l Technology trend overviews l Vehicle engineering materials l In depth industry reports l Industry news and more.

Ezi-Methods; our vehicle repair methods solution: CRI Tech Reports; a monthly publication providing strategic and practical industry information.

For further information on any of these products and services please contact: ben.cardy@autoindustryconsulting.com or by calling

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Q-Paste, the new one step polishing range from Q-Brands, seen here with the wool mop and polishing sponges, is packed in 1kg, 3kg and 5kg buckets and gives a perfect glossy finish.

Call Geoff: 072 069 5423, Val: 082 923 4373 or visit www.QbrandsSA .com 88

AUTOMOTIVE R E F I N I S H E R

AR N-D 2014 CLAIRE_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 1:24 PM Page 4

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

GREASED LIGHTNING Spanjaard Rubber Grease is compatible with all plastics, natural and synthetic rubbers.

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

We weld with over 20 years of experience.

Repairs to aluminium, magnesium components, high strength steel, bronze, pewter, iron, titanium, copper and damaged steel.

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All our products are durable and made from top quality manufactured materials.

l Bonnet Stands l Windscreen Holders l Swivel Stands l Bumper Racks

Tel: +27 (011)334 1008 Stesamoo: +27 (0)83 247 8717 Email: competent.c@gmail.com 89

AR NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 NAT_NOV/DEC 2005 paganation 2014/10/31 12:59 PM Page 27

AFRICAN PANORAMA - ARNOLD’S CLOCK

F

or most of Arnold’s long life in the motor trade things remained amazingly successful and he was always the type of eternal optimist living life as hard as he could. That meant taking the family to a local drinking spot and giving them an exhausting experience of waiting for their inebriated Dad to come out and drive home at enormous speeds to test out his car cornering abilities.

As business within the repair trade experienced its normal feast or famine profit cycles, Arnold who by now had become over the years a slightly overweight middle aged boss, began to tire of the daily grind and had by now taken to a mid-day binge at the local pub to overcome the financial darkness that surrounded him – accompanied by his Boxer dog, Duke. They went pint for pint in the lunch hour until the dog eventually passed away with cirrhosis of the liver.

Having a large family, maintaining debts and a loss of social cohesion took a big toll on Arnold’s mental health as the worry got the better of him. He finally went right around the bend by taking midnight walks until the soles of his shoes disintegrated.

Looking like a complete “outie” dressed in his favourite tweed trousers with cycle clips to tuck them into his socks, the police found him early one morning after had had inflicted his body to a 30-kilometre purgatory self 90

punishing long distance walk.

It wasn’t long after that that Arnold was removed to the funny farm for some electric shock therapy. It was there that after jumping out a first floor window to escape, that lady luck intervened. The smacks on the back of the head and a soft landing in a huge privet hedge, seemed to knock some sense back into to him. After an eventual recovery, with the exception of a full moon evening, Arnold seemed a bit dotty but under control and spent much of his time down in the shed with his lathe, or asleep.

The one thing that was still a cause for concern with Arnold was what to do with his posessions as his final days loomed ahead, for he had no will in place. Eventually after being prodded and pushed Arnold sat opposite the family attorney and went through his secrets and wishes one by one, that is until it came to the grandfather clock.

It all stalled there. He had a son that needed a lifetime of care and four daughters. Who should get the clock? “Please make a decision about the clock,” said Lenny, the family attorney and after what seemed a lifetime, Arnold bequeathed the clock to Geoff, his son.

Rolling on the years, Arnold eventually popped his clogs in the front room next to the TV, but even the gods have a strange sense of humour for Arnold’s great concern about the grandfather clock and the fact that

by Ian Groat

the tax man must not know everything about his affairs reappeared. No one could now find his will and another had to be lodged to overcome the official way forwards. Fortunately the family attorney had a notorised copy in his office.

Everything did however become much clearer after the relentless house cleaning party got to the family front room where next to the mantelpiece stood the huge clock. As they were working through the old clothes, worn out socks and other clapped out coats, they eventually opened up the clock’s glass front door to discover in dismay that there was a large sum of money and the missing will stuffed into the bottom of the clock.

Arnold’s last wish it seemed was to cheat the tax office of his stash and the hot money came as a complete surprise. It seems the balmy old git had saved like crazy for barren days ahead. Quite what good it did him was questionable as he lived in the end like a loner with a fortune of money stuffed at the base of a clock.

It really was proof positive that Arnold spent the twilight years as a sort of recluse, barking mad and always fearing the appearance of the tax collector for revenge and debtor’s prison. In life no one knows quite how it works, but being overly cautious is not a great way forward, although Arnold thought it was the way to go.

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