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Jay Leno Receives Token of Appreciation from BASF During SEMA 2015 by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor
Jay Leno, legendary comedian and host of Jay’s Leno’s Garage, received a special token of appreciation from BASF during SEMA 2015. Fans gathered at the BASF booth on November 4 while Dan Bihlmeyer, BASF’s North A- Jay Leno and the BASF Refinish team at SEMA 2015 merican marketing manager, his preference for BASF products. presented a signature leather jacket to “I’ve been using their products for Leno, who has a collection of 140 cars years and years,” said Leno. “It’s fun of his own. to have this kind of relationship. It’s Autobody News asked Leno about See Jay Leno, Page 39
CIC Debates How to Define a ‘Class A’ Shop—And If Such a Definition is Even Needed
See CIC debates, Page 34
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Whether the 2013 version of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) definition of the “Minimum Recommended Requirements for a ‘Class A’ Collision Repair Facility” is up-to-date given changes in vehicle and repair technology was not up for debate at the latest CIC in Las Vegas in November. Randy Stabler “We have a wholly inadequate Class A shop definition today,” CIC Chairman Randy Sta-
bler said. “Things are moving a lot faster than we are. So we need to keep up.” But a number of representatives of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) argued at the meeting that there is no longer much of a need for the document at all. “The real-world situation is this Class A definition is irrelevant in today’s market,” SCRS board member Dusty Womble of Roger Beasley Collision Center in Austin, Texas, said. “The cars have changed. The [automaker shop certification] programs have changed. There’s really not a
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by John Yoswick
VOL. 33 ISSUE 12 DECEMBER 2015
Winning SEMA New Product Awards Can Be Life Changers by Ed Attanasio
Capturing an award in the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s (SEMA) New Products Showcase can be a life changing experience for manufacturers that are looking for a fast track to success. Years of research and development coupled with hard work and buoyed by the spirit of entrepreneurship, these awards are given to the most innovative and cutting-edge new automotive aftermarket products in the industry today, judged by some of the biggest names in the automotive world. On Nov. 3 at SEMA’s opening breakfast, a handful of companies from all over the world received these highly coveted awards announced at a ceremony rivaling the Academy Awards. By just being associated with the SEMA brand, companies can gain instant credibility and fast track their journey to success. Nearly 2,000 products were entered into 16 different Showcase cate-
gories to be considered for SEMA New Product Awards this year. Winners were selected based on a variety of fac-
The Collision Repair & Refinish Product First place winner went to Innovative Tools and Technologies, Inc. for the Scangrip Sunmatch Color Match LED. From left, General Manager Jason Cox and Scangrip’s Marketing Manager Hanne Nadolny.
tors that included quality, marketability, innovation, technology, consumer appeal and more. First place in the Tools & Equipment Product category went to Nelson Glass Tools for its Automated Bonded See SEMA New Product Awards, Page 36
BASF to Open State-of-the-Art Automotive Refinish Training Center in Houston in January, 2016 BASF is opening a new automotive refinish training center in Houston, making it BASF’s first training center in the area. The center will be a 3,000-squarefoot training center located at 19345 Kenswick Drive, No. 600. The facility will include the latest in virtual and in-person training facilities, state-of-the-art spray booths and market-leading application equipment to enable next generation training for every job function required by the collision repair industry. The opening of this facility demonstrates BASF’s commitment to the automotive refinish marketplace and enhances the value provided to its distribution and collision repair customers in the southwest. Marcos Corradin, BASF Senior Marketing Manager, said, “The Houston training center will be a BASF cen-
ter of education for the collision repair industry. This training facility will allow us to educate our customers on the most efficient painting techniques along with Advanced Bodyshop Solutions and VisionPlus University courses for managers and front office personnel to help drive more business through their shops.” “Opening this training facility in the Houston market signifies the value we place on training our customers with both the latest technology and techniques,” said Paul Whittleston, BASF Vice President, Automotive Refinish. “It also enhances our ability to work with our distribution partners to deliver best-in-class technical and process training in the gulf coast markets.” BASF’s new training facility is expected to open January 2016.
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