Axalta Coating Systems Opens New Training Centre in Western Australia

Axalta Coating Systems  has recently opened a new training facility in Bentley, Perth, Australia. The centre will become the key training destination for refinishers from the Western Australian region, focusing on Axalta’s refinish and industrial products, to help maximise refinishers’ skill-sets and keep them up-to-date with latest technology and techniques.

The new training centre, was initiated to help customers and business partners in Western Australia avoid having to travel vast distances, often up to 4,000km. It provides easy access to world class product and consultancy training programs that will address business and product requirements, sharpening customers’ competitive edge.

“Axalta’s new Western Australian training centre highlights our commitment to supporting our customers,” said Paul Polverino, Axalta’s National Training Manager. “Our new training facility focuses on commercially-oriented training that drives process optimisation, so that bodyshops can be more efficient and productive, while maintaining the highest possible repair quality and maximising their business performance.”

Located south of Perth, on the premises of Axalta distributor Global Autocoat, the 400mtraining centre is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, tools and layout.  It has two training rooms with the latest audio/visual equipment, two mixing rooms, a functional production planning room, two dry sanding floors and an adjoining colour study.  There are also two spray booths, one down draft and one down draft with GAS IR Arch, with full-length glass walls to optimise the un-restrictive viewing capability for training application techniques and demonstration, as well as the latest waterborne drying technology. They also include special climate control settings so training can replicate varying temperature conditions commonly found in the different regions of Western Australia.

The training centre also has dedicated, branded signage at every step of the repair process to ensure a smooth workflow and maximum productivity during training. And a large flat screen monitor in the mixing room allows trainees to follow the step-by-step mixing process easily, no matter where they are standing.

“By providing advance training techniques of our refinish and industrial brands – Standox®, Spies Hecker®, Cromax® and Nason®® Industrial – we will ensure the best usage and application of our products, colour tools, and the latest in coating technologies, including waterborne basecoats,” Polverino added.

For more information on training, or to book a training course please go to www.axalta.com.au or call 1800 292 582.

GM offers idea of what it might do with telematics, collision repair

Though the company checked him from revealing too much, a General Motors staffer at the recent NACE MSO Symposium in Chicago suggested how the company was considering using OnStar and telematics to streamline the collision repair process and influence customers’ choice of shop.

During the recent NACE MSO Symposium, Justin Klug of GM’s emerging business group and OnStar said that he was trying to give a sense of the OEM’s thinking — but not confirming anything. He said he had more slides, but GM got nervous about revealing too much.

Still, his presentation seemed to suggest that GM would recommend through OnStar that its customers frequent certified shops, as it already does with the mixed-materials Cadillac CT6 and hinted that it would do with its mass-market certified network. The presentation also teased the tantalizing possibility of OnStar scanning the car — something that collision repairers might be dropping the ball on today.

“A very, very, very small percentage” of General Motors vehicles received pre- and post-repair scans in 2016, according to Klug, despite a GM position statement released in October last year demanding both for all vehicles and a GM collision representative saying in August 2016 that scanning needed to be done by auto body shops — just as mechanics already had been for years.

“It’s part of the repair process,” GM wholesaler dealer channel manager John Eck said in an earlier panel at the Symposium, referencing the OEM’s scanning statement. “It has to be done.”

To read the complete article go to:http://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2017/07/27/gm-offers-hint-of-what-it-might-do-with-telematics-collision-repair/

This article is courtesy of John Huetter and Repairer Driven News . Check out their website at http://www.repairerdrivennews.com where you will find so much more information.

 

FIX AUTO WELSHPOOL JOINS FIX AUTO AUSTRALIA NETWORK

Owner Mark Zeyad Damer brings over 23 years’ experience to the Fix Auto network as Swan Smash Repairs becomes Fix Auto Welshpool.

Terry Feehan, Head of Business for Fix Auto Australia is pleased to announce the addition of Fix Auto Welshpool, owned and operated by Mark Zeyad Damer to the Fix Auto network, effective July 27th 2017.

Having begun his career as an apprentice panel beater in 1993, Mark is today an experienced collision repair professional with over 23 years of experience in the business. In 2003, after ten years of learning and refining his craft, and inspired by his father, Mark opened his own collision repair centre, Swan Smash Repairs. Over time, the business grew and prospered, and in 2007, the shop was moved to a larger location, to which an adjacent unit was added in 2011 to create capacity for increased business.

Having owned and operated his own collision repair facility for 14 years, Mark has witnessed many changes within the industry. He made the decision to join the Fix Auto network realising that consolidation is imminent and that the future would prove challenging for independent collision repairers who did not embrace change. Mark says he was impressed with Fix Auto’s global reach and entrepreneurial business model, which allows him the freedom to continue operating at a local level. “The Fix Auto network is made of successful family-owned businesses like mine, which grow thanks to their owner’s passion for the industry. Plus, Fix Auto offers value through their supply chain, as well as world-class marketing support and access to industry-leading operational tools and procedures. Through Fix Auto, we benefit from a recognized brand, strong industry relations, and a collective commitment to excellence. These benefits coupled with corporate support and a comprehensive suite of reporting tools allows me to proactively monitor processes and increase productivity,” said Mark.

Mark added that his core values, especially his focus on customer service, are aligned with Fix Auto’s priorities. “Customer service and quality of repairs have always been our primary focus. The dedication to our customers and superior service that you have come to expect over the past 14 years will remain unchanged. In fact, Fix Auto is made up of forward-thinking shops that are dedicated to continuous improvement, just as we are. After an accident, customers can be upset, so we do our best to minimise the impact and build trust by explaining the repair process. We first provide them with a calm and clean office environment. We then make an effort to explain the step-by-step process, from sending a quote, to the authorisation and repairs. Customers are made aware of the repair process and feel that they are in good hands, which reduces their worries and makes for an improved experience,” added Mark.

Fix Auto Australia Head of Business Terry Feehan concludes: “As Fix Auto grows in Australia, we are looking for partners who share our values and our vision of the future, and we know Mark and his team are a great fit for our growing business. I want to congratulate Fix Auto Welshpool on the start of this new chapter and welcome them to the Fix Auto family.”

For more information on Fix Auto Australia, please visit www.fixauto.com

AkzoNobel and Zagame Automotive Group announce new distribution partnership

Zagame Autobody

AkzoNobel and Zagame Automotive Group are pleased to announce an exciting new partnership that will see AkzoNobel’s world-renowned brands, Sikkens and Lesonal, distributed by the Zagame Automotive Group throughout the all-important Melbourne market place.

The AkzoNobel and Zagame Automotive alliance brings together a suite of premium automotive brands that will see AkzoNobel strengthen its market position through its presence within the Zagame Automotive network, while enabling Zagame Automotive to expand its already impressive portfolio into the new territory of automotive paints.

Zagame Automotive’s impressive portfolio includes some of motoring’s most prestigious and reputable automotive brands, being the exclusive Victorian dealer of Aston Martin, Ferrari, Maserati, McLaren, Lamborghini, Lotus and Rolls-Royce, as well as being Australia’s largest Audi dealer, totalling six dealerships in Melbourne.

Meanwhile, Sikkens and Lesonal, two of AkzoNobel’s premier brands that are built on the principles of expertise and innovation, are used in over 100 countries around the world.

General Manager of AkzoNobel Vehicle Refinishes Australia, John Bermingham, said that the new partnership grew out of a natural affinity that exists between the companies.

“We see a lot of synergies between our brands and, in today’s market conditions, it is absolutely crucial to have strong partners and reliable and effective channels to market,” he said.

Together, AkzoNobel and Zagame Automotive Group believe this partnership will deliver the best products, customer service and support to its clients, ranging from independently run body shops to multi-store operators.

“We have global expertise, renowned products, and Zagame has a strong name in the local market,” said Mr. Bermingham. “One of our values is ‘Winning Together’, and we see our partnership as such; not only will it help us to win more business, the end user will benefit from our joint forces.”

Managing Director of Zagame Automotive Group, Bobby Zagame, highlights this expansion as a new era in his business’s operations.

“Zagame Automotive is delighted to announce this new partnership with another globally renowned brand, AkzoNobel. With our recent acquisition of our distribution centre in Tullamarine, this new partnership will further diversify and expand our current logistics model, enabling our wholesale business to provide a complete service to our existing clients now and into the future.”

Axalta and TAFE NSW celebrate inaugural training graduation in Australia

Axalta Coating Systems recently celebrated the success of its partnership with educational institute TAFE New South Wales with the graduation of its inaugural program’s first students. TAFE, or Technical and Further Education, is Australia’s leading provider of vocational education and training courses. The program will help address Australia’s shortage of skilled technicians for auto repair and refinish, with nearly 5000 technicians needed to maintain industry sustainability.

Teachers and students
The Team-Axalta, I-CAR Australia and TAFE

Axalta’s alliance with TAFE NSW began in 2016. After the closure of TAFE course facilities at Mount Druitt, Axalta welcomed students to its facility in nearby Riverstone, Western Sydney. Well-equipped with the latest in paint technology and repair equipment, Axalta’s training centre gives access to technical trainers who instruct the students in the latest application techniques, evolving digital technologies and repair processes. As an automotive OEM partner, Axalta is well-placed to share the latest requirements and developments for a wide range of vehicle makes.

“At our Riverstone training centre, we provide the materials, the venue and a trainer to work alongside the TAFE trainer,” says Paul Polverino, Axalta’s National Training Manager. “Our aim is to show these talented young people that they can have a rewarding career in auto repair and refinish.”

In this regard, the partnership has been an incredible success. Around 90% of students who take the course through TAFE NSW and train at Axalta’s Riverstone facility continue with their study, where typically, half of the apprentices in Australia drop out before completion.

“The average dropout rate for all apprentices is about 50 percent,” says Carl Tinsley, the Autobody Repair and Surface Coatings teacher at TAFE NSW, Campbelltown. “But we found that with the Axalta course, we have a 90 percent retention rate. They receive hands-on training on modern technology and repair techniques, and can see how all of that turns into a well-paying job.”

Under the training and support of the partnership, each student has now successfully completed their Certificate III Vehicle Painting Apprenticeship. The first apprentices were recognised in an awards presentation in late June, where I-CAR Australia’s OEM & Operations Co-ordinator, Jason Trewin, was there to present the six graduates with their I-CAR Platinum Certificate.

“I-CAR congratulates the first group of apprentices to successfully complete their training. The initiative shown by the whole team at the Axalta training centre and the refinish staff at Campbelltown College should be commended for their efforts,” said Trewin.

“With the successful graduation of the first students under this program, Axalta is committed to continuing its support of additional apprentices who seek a career in auto repair and refinishing as an integral element of Axalta’s passion for sustainability and strength in the industry’s future.”

Editor: What a great initiative – congratulations to all involved.

ChemSpec USA appoints new distribution partner in Queensland

ChemSpec USA, a manufacturer of coatings for the automotive refinish, fleet and industrial markets, is excited to announce the recent appointment of Brisbane Refinish Supplies as distributor of its products into the Queensland market.

Brisbane Refinish Supplies will offer a range of value-for-money paint systems from ChemSpec USA, including the Metalux® Automotive Refinish System and MONTANA® BIG SKY® products for refinish, fleet and industrial applications. They will handle all aspects of importing and selling of product, plus technical support in their region.

“The challenge for ChemSpec USA was selecting a distributor that could provide customers with a simple, relationship-focused buying experience and a commitment to excellence. Partnering with Brisbane Refinish Supplies was an obvious choice as they have an outstanding reputation in the Queensland market space, supported by a very competent technical team,” stated Ron Snow, Sales Director for ChemSpec USA. “With our new mindset, we are eager to pursue the growth opportunities that present themselves in the Queensland market.”

Throughout Queensland, Brisbane Refinish Supplies is renowned for providing quality paint products and service. They have the expertise to support the automotive and industrial markets from colour matching through to technical application training and support. ChemSpec USA products will be distributed through their three locations across Brisbane (Archerfield, Virginia) and the Sunshine Coast as well as through a number of resellers in the state.

Brisbane Refinish Supplies are pleased to partner with ChemSpec USA, as it enables them to provide customers with the best paint solutions to drive their business forward.

Zane Willis, co-owner of Brisbane Refinish stated: “When it comes to automotive paints, Queensland repairers are looking for practical and proven solutions that offer true value for money. The ChemSpec USA range delivers on this.”

Following its acquisition by Axalta Coating Systems in 2015, ChemSpec USA has a renewed focus on growing and strengthening its relationships with customers in Australia and New Zealand. This new distributor appointment is a step towards strengthening its national presence and providing customers with the support they need.

For more information on ChemSpec USA in Australia and New Zealand, contact representative Corey Smith on Tel: 0419 552 868. Alternatively, Brisbane Refinish Supplies can be contacted on Tel: (07) 3193 6777.

CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY (CDU) JOINS I-CAR EDUCATION RESOURCE

Mark Czvitkovits

I-CAR Australia CEO Mark Czvitkovits has announced that Charles Darwin University (CDU) will deliver select I-CAR courses to meet the requirements for AUR32116 and AUR32416 training packages for apprentices.

Grant Mauger, VET Lecturer/Workplace Assessor – Vehicle Body said “The newly signed MOU between CDU and I-CAR Australia will expand opportunities for local NT apprentices to undertake cutting edge automotive repair industry training. In addition to the apprentices completing their Certificate III in Automotive Body Repair Technology, they can now graduate with a nationally recognised I-CAR Platinum level qualification.”

Czvitkovits stated “The inclusion of CDU into the Education Resource agreement continues to endorse I-CAR’s position as the leading education and resource provider in Australia for Collision Repair. CDU becomes the tenth RTO to commit to delivering the most current training material available for its current and future apprentices.”

Mauger also added “This accreditation is important not only for the individual’s professional development but also for the business professional development program. CDU welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with I-CAR Australia and to work with industry experts. This will only benefit our industry with trainee’s receiving current knowledge and recommended repairer procedures for vehicles of today and what to expect in the future.”

Completely new Jaguar E-PACE crossover mixes steel, aluminum to lightweight exterior

Jaguar has announced  it used magnesium, composites, aluminum and ultra-high-strength steel to create its completely new model, the “E-PACE.”

Revealed Thursday and going on sale early next year, the 2018 Jaguar E-PACE crossover is meant to blend a sports car with an 5-seat SUV. It starts at $38,000 — which is low enough that you might see one in the average market.

“Jaguar engineers have used a variety of ultra-high-strength steels, lightweight aluminum, advanced composites and precision processes to create a compact SUV capable of delivering Jaguar dynamics and meeting global safety standards,” the OEM wrote in a news release Thursday.

The hood, front fenders, roof and tailgate are all aluminum. Going aluminum for the “powerfully profiled hood” saved Jaguar 22 pounds compared to steel, while the fenders cut 6.6 pounds off the car’s weight. Besides improving gas mileage, the aluminum hood’s 13.2-pound weight savings drops “the vehicle’s center of gravity for improved handling and stability,” according to Jaguar.

To read the complete article go to: http://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2017/07/17/completely-new-jaguar-e-pace-crossover-mixes-steel-aluminum/

This article is courtesy of John Huetter and Repairer Driven News . Check out their website at http://www.repairerdrivennews.com where you will find so much more information.

 

motorex a big hit in sydney

Megiuars MotorEx hit The Dome at Homebush in Sydney over the weekend and what a great success it was! Prior to the official opening at 10.00am on the Saturday there would have been close to 1000 people lining up at the entrance ready to see a unique extravaganza of amazing custom and restored vehicles.

As well as the cars and motorbikes there were many booths offering a range of products and accessories as well as model cars and memorabilia-something for everyone!

Take a look at the gallery below to appreciate what the attendees enjoyed over the two days.

Holden donates a range of parts to the WorldSkills competition

 

 

 

 

 

As Australians, we pride ourselves on producing more than our fair share of talent, whether it’s in the pool at the Olympics or champions like Jeff Horn in the boxing ring – we punch above our weight.

The bi-annual WorldSkills competition is the automotive service industry’s chance to showcase young Aussie talent.

The competition’s automotive section is open to young tradespeople up to the age of 24 and across five disciplines: Auto Electrical, Automotive Mechanics, Heavy Vehicle Mechanics, Autobody Repair and Vehicle Painting.

Qualifying events are held across Australia, with the most recent (for Autobody Repair) being held in Newcastle last month. Twenty competitors took part for the chance to represent Australia as a ‘Skillaroo’ where they can pit their skills against the best of the best at the WorldSkills International completion held in Abu Dhabi later this year.

Obviously, for the Autobody Repairs competition to take place, vehicle body parts are required. To meet this need, Holden answered the call and came on board this year, donating a large range of panels to be used in Newcastle.

“Holden is serious about the automotive industry; this includes the next generation of industry professionals. We were pleased to provide the World Skills Newcastle event with panels for competitors to paint. I was highly impressed with all the competitors’ skills,” said Damian Cahill, GM Holden Collision Business Manager.

“With the increased complexity in Auto Body structures, it is important to make sure the industry has skilled people to provide repairs when needed. At Holden, we are really focused on making sure the industry has the right information to complete vehicle repairs, but you also need the skills to get this right. WorldSkills is a great way to foster talent within our industry.”

The competition this year had a record number of female competitors including Dusti-Lee Franchi from Stokes and Renk Panel and Paint of Perth South, Western Australia who was selected on the Skillaroos team and will compete in the Vehicle Painting in Abu Dhabi this October.

You too can get on board by following the Skillaroo’s progress towards Abu Dhabi and show your support via the WorldSkills Australia Facebook page: facebook.com/WorldSkillsAU.

Editor: Dusti-Lee Franchi is representing Australia and performed well at the trials in Newcastle recently. We wish her every success in Abu Dhabi.