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Autel

from October 2021 Shop & Product Showcase

from October 2021 Shop & Product Showcase, page 50

WD-40

by Autobody News Staff

When Ivo Rodrigues, owner of New Trimble Auto Body in Clifton, NJ, decided to step into the world of auto diagnostics, he began searching for the best tools for the job, and Autel moved right to the top of his list.

Now, Autel’s equipment has become an integral part of the body shop’s production and Rodrigues couldn’t be happier with his decision to go with one of the world’s leading providers of automotive diagnostics for automotive intelligent assisted driving systems.

When Rodrigues looks back at his career in the collision repair industry, he says he’s lucky, but his success has been built on timely decisions and smart moves. In 2006, he immigrated to the U.S. from his home of Portugal and quickly landed a job as a technician.

He came here as an ‘A’ technician ready to work long hours to establish a reputation for doing pristine work. His father owned an auto body shop in a small town just outside of Porto, Portugal, and Rodrigues grew up there working so he was poised and prepared for the future when opportunity called.

Rodrigues worked for several shops in New Jersey for the next seven years, but he never abandoned his dreams along the way.

“I dreamed about having my own body shop for a long time,” he said. “Then the shop I was working at was up for sale and the timing was right. I bought it in 2013 and updated everything and for the first few years, I ran a two-man shop.”

Today, Rodridgues employs 14 people and with several insurance companies including the shop as a member of their Direct Repair Program (DRP) repairs from 85 to 95 vehicles monthly.

By proactively pursuing cutting-edge technology, training and OE certifications, New Trimble is excelling in a highly competitive market. Rodrigues has never shied away from investing in the right tools to fix today’s cars that have essentially become four-wheel computers. With almost all the vehicles in his shop every day loaded with sensors, cameras and highly sophisticated electronic systems, Rodrigues and his crew have to rely on Autel’s equipment and information to do an effective job.

To perform a pre-repair inspection and then make any post-repair calibrations, New Trimble has a complete arsenal of Autel tools and equipment at its disposal. That means Rodrigues acquired a deluxe package of the finest systems and devices that Autel makes.

“If Autel has it, we want it, because in order to stay ahead of the system repair game we need the latest diagnostics available,” Rodrigues said. “The technology is always changing fast, so we’re dependent on getting updates in a timely fashion. We use the MaxiSYS Ultra scanner and have the Standard ADAS Calibration Frame working with the new Autel IA800, which provides the quickest and most accurate frame positioning available.”

The Autel Intelligent ADAS Optical Positioning System features six high-resolution cameras to deliver three-dimensional adjustment for the most accurate frame centering and vehicle distance recognition. Compatible with the Autel Standard Calibration Frame, and designed for seamless integration, this new component system optically measures two-wheel clamp targets to significantly cut down setup time and increase placement precision.

Autel is proud to say on the company website it has the most extensive camera, radar, lidar and night vision calibration coverage in the industry.

When you are scanning more than 80 cars every month like Rodrigues’ auto body shop does, speed is nearly as important as accuracy, particularly when you’re doing a post-repair calibration while a customer waits to pick up their vehicle.

That’s why he especially appreciates his MaxiSYS Ultra supporting the Autel Standard Calibration Frame and Autel IA800 tools. The software working together, they enable frame placement in as little as one minute to complete ADAS calibrations faster and more accurately, and easily repeatable.

This professional Optical Positioning System for the Autel Standard Calibration Frame includes six high-resolution cameras, wheel clamps and targets. For an average post-repair calibration, it takes roughly 30 minutes using the Autel system, as opposed to as much as 90 minutes to two days if you have to take the car to the dealership for the scan, Rodrigues said.

When talking about targets, Rodrigues has nothing but good things to say about this important part of his Autel system.

“I can tell you that these targets from Autel are better than the ones made by the OEs,” he said. “They are made out of machined aluminum, and you won’t find anything better, that’s for sure. We use them several times every day, so they have to be built right, and some of the ones made by carmakers are made out of thick cardboard.”

To stay current and ready for any car that comes through his doors, Rodrigues makes certain he keeps his Autel scanners up-todate at all times.

“Every two or three days, the updates appear on our tablets and we simply click on the ones we need. How can it be easier than that?”

While many body shops have hesitated to bring their automotive diagnostics in-house, New Trimble can say “been there, done that” and loving every minute of it. Autel has taken a potentially complex part of the process and made it easy for Rodrigues and his crew, and for that they are forever grateful.

Everyone at New Trimble Auto Body loves their Standard ADAS Calibration Frame working with the new Autel IA800 for its speed and accuracy. At left, Shop Manager Patricio Buri and at right, Office Manager Christina Lopez.