December 2019 Southwest Editions by Autobody News

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Vol. 37 / Issue 12 / December 2019

SCRS Captures First Place at SEMA 2019 New Products Showcase by Ed Attanasio

To officially kick off the week, SEMA always announces its Best New Products Award winners at its opening morning breakfast. There’s

always a lot of anticipation, because companies know about the importance of these awards and this year was surely no exception. Nearly 3,000 products were en-

tered this year into the 16 different Showcase categories to be considered for a SEMA New Product Award this year. Winners were selected based on a variety of factors that included superiority of innovation, technical achievement, quality and workmanship, consumer appeal and marketability, among others. The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) won first place in the collision repair and refinish product category for its SCRS Guide to Complete Repair Planning – Blueprint Optimization Tool. The runners-up included GUNIWHEEL for its GUNIWHEEL

SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg’s organization won the first place in the collision repair and refinish product category for the SCRS Guide to Complete Repair Planning – Blueprint Optimization Tool. Credit: Ed Attanasio

and Spray Booth Services for its Airflow=Cashflow Remote Spray Booth Monitoring System. SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg discussed his organization’s winning entry. “Nine years ago, we created our Repair Planning Plan, which is a static document that lists items that are potentially overlooked. We received feedback over the years about it and we have refined it a few times. People told us that it

See 2019 New Products, Page 12

Industry Hears From Texas Couple Who Sued Shop Over Faulty Repairs

Six Cars Given Away by NABC Recycled Rides at SEMA 2019

by John Yoswick

by Ed Attanasio

CIC chairman Jeff Peevy said everyone in the industry regularly makes decisions that can have a profound impact on other people’s lives. Credit: John Yoswick

In an emotional on-stage interview at the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) held in Las Vegas in early November, the Texas couple who successfully sued a dealership body shop over its failure to follow OEM repair procedures talked about the dramatic changes in their lives caused by their substantial injuries in a subsequent accident. Marcia Seebachan said she remembers nothing from the time of the accident until four days later, on Christmas, when she regained consciousness in the hospital and wasn’t See Industry Hears From, Page 14

Every year at SEMA, the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides luncheon is on many peoples’ calendars, and the room is always packed with industry leaders, insurance companies, body shops, parts manufacturers, and more. Invariably, the event often features crying (in joy), happy faces everywhere, and a vibe that can best be described as pure benevolence. This year, NABC presented six deserving Las Vegas residents with the gift of transportation via refurbished vehicles that will now enable them to take care of their families, get to work, manage medical appointments and gain their much-desired independence. The Recycled Rides program partnered with a wide range of insurance carriers this year, including State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive. Rental car companies such as Hertz and Enterprise, and collision repair facilities and MSOs like Caliber Collision, Service King,

CARSTAR and Gerber Collision, vendor partners such as 1.800.Charity Cars, LKQ and others that have been involved in the program for many years.

Undercover but waiting to change lives forever, six cars went to six worthy families at the NABC Recycled Rides presentation at SEMA 2019. Credit: Ed Attanasio

The NABC Recycled Rides recipients gathered with their children, spouses, and friends to unveil their newly refreshed vehicles in spectacular fashion. Karl Champley, an Australian master builder, television personality and actor who is currently appearing on Ellen’s Design Challenge, served as the emcee for See Six Cars Given Away, Page 22

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CONTENTS REGIONAL

Bill Shaw is Recipient of CIF Service Award. . . 48

All Star Auto Lights Opens CO Location . . . . . . . 9

CCC Strengthens Network for Parts

DVIs at October Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Austin, Texas, the Latest Market to Test Ford Self-Driving Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Award to Parker High Body Shop in Parker, AZ, Highlights Shortage of Skilled Tradespeople . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 CARSTAR Colorado Business Group Sponsors School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Geico Files Complaint Against Six Parties in AZ for Fraud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Jobs at New Plant in Cibolo, Texas, Will Require Specific Skills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Renovations at Bollman Technical Center in CO Give Career Programs a Lift . . . . . . . . 16

Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Cummins Unveils Fuel Cell Truck in Atlanta . . . . 4 Elaine Herzberg Death: Self-Driving Uber Ignored Jaywalking Pedestrian . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Final Day of SEMA Features Thought Leaders & Top Build Winner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Fossil Fuel Dependence Will Increase Until 2030s Due to SUV Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Glass Installation and ADAS – The Game is Changing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Industry Hears From Texas Couple Who Sued Shop Over Faulty Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . 1 LKQ Announces Its Promise of Calibration . . . . 47 NABC 2019 Award Winners Announced . . . . . . 41 SATA Puts on Wunderbar Show at SEMA 2019. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

COLUMNISTS Anderson - Understanding and Performing the Needed Seat Calibrations . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Attanasio - PPG’s Booth Unleashes Creativity at SEMA 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Phillips - 3M Showcases New and Existing Products During SEMA Show . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Yoswick - Tesla Promises Better Parts Service, More Support for Body Shops . . . . . . . . . . . 46

SCRS Captures First Place at SEMA 2019 New Products Showcase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 SEMA Show Focuses on Advanced Vehicle Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 SEMA Show Kicks Off With Award Announcements, Celebrities & Educational Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Six Cars Given Away by NABC Recycled Rides at SEMA 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 The Driving Force – Women in the Automotive

NATIONAL 2019 Collision Repair Industry: A Year in Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 A Behind-The-Scenes Look at SEMA Before Opening Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 AkzoNobel’s Workflow System Gets Patent . . . 50

Autobody News presented a $250 donation to CREF’s Brandon Eckenrode for the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s Scholarship Fund. (l to r) Autobody News’ Online Editor Alexis Wilson, General Manager/Co-Owner Barbara Davies, Brandon Eckenrode of CREF, Autobody News Regional Sales Manager Kelly Hall

Industry Presented by Kukui . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 The Future of DRP: Is There One? . . . . . . . . . . 42 US Autocure Receives Fire Marshall Certification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 WD-40 Partners With SEMA Cares to Create Old School 1966 Ford Bronco . . . . . . . . . . . 40

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

ASA North Texas Members Learn About

Publisher & Editor: Jeremy Hayhurst General Manager: Barbara Davies Contributing Writers: John Yoswick, Janet Chaney, Toby Chess, Ed Attanasio, Chasidy Sisk, David Luehr, Stacey Phillips, Victoria Antonelli, Gary Ledoux Advertising Sales: Joe Momber, Bill Doyle, Norman Morano, Kelly Hall (800) 699-8251 Office Manager: Louise Tedesco Digital Marketing Manager: Bill Pierce Art Director: Rodolfo Garcia Graphic Designer: Vicki Sitarz Online and Web Content Editor: Alexis Wilson Accounting Manager: Heather Priddy Editorial/Sales Assistant: Randi Scholtes Office Assistant: Dianne Pray

Serving Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arkansas, Colorado, Arizona, Utah and adjacent metro areas. Autobody News is a monthly publication for the autobody industry. Permission to reproduce in any form the material published in Autobody News must be obtained in writing from the publisher. ©2019 Adamantine Media LLC.

Alloy Wheel Repair Specialists, LLC . . . . . 29

Fowler Honda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Audi South Austin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . 40

Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . 49

Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts

AutoNation Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram

Autobody News Box 1516, Carlsbad, CA 92018 (800) 699-8251 (760) 603-3229 Fax www.autobodynews.com editor@autobodynews.com

Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-27

of North Phoenix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . 42

AutoNation Collision Pats. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . 43

Axalta Coating Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Launch Tech USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Big Mike Naughton Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Mercedes-Benz of Littleton . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Blowtherm USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Mercedes-Benz Wholesale Parts Dealers . 48

BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . 47

Mirka USA, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Bob Howard PDC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Mitsubishi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . 38

Car-O-Liner Southwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . 31

Certified Automotive Parts Association . . . 18

North Freeway Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Chevyland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Part of the Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Christopher’s Dodge World . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Peak Kia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Classic BMW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Ray Huffines Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

SATA Dan-Am Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Covert-Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram. . . . . . . 8

Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center . . . . . . . 10-11

Dallas Dodge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Schmelz Countryside. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Dent Fix Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Sorbothane Soft-Blow Mallet . . . . . . . . . . 14

Eckler’s Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

South Pointe Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge . . . . . 22

ECS Automotive Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Spanesi Americas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Emich Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Stevinson Toyota West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Emich Volkswagen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . 46

Equalizer Industries, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Symach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Finnegan Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge . . . . . . . . . 2

Town East Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Fisher Acura . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Toyota of Laredo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Fisher Honda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . 44

Flatirons Subaru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 21

Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . 36

Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . 45

Young Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

autobodynews.com / DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS

Fossil Fuel Dependence Will Increase Until 2030s Due to SUV Demand by Joey Klender, Teslarati.com

A recent report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggests the dependence on energy sources derived from crude oil will continue to increase until the 2030s and emissions contributing to global climate change could also rise until 2040. The IEA cites the increasing demand for sport utility vehicles (SUVs) as the main contributor to vehicle-based emissions. The United States, China, and Europe have displayed a growing hunger for SUVs, and it is directly contributing to the environmental issues according to the IEA’s annual long-term forecast report, the AP says. The IEA suggested governments in these areas need to display “strong leadership” to reduce carbon emissions from SUVs in an attempt to save the environment. Perhaps the most frightening part of the IEA report was the idea that the growing demand for SUVs could eliminate any environmental benefits from the increasing popularity of electric cars. As the industry for battery-operated vehicles continues to grow across the world, the IEA

feels the current investment in renewable energy is “insufficient,” as the estimated global demand of barrels of oil per day until 2040 is expected to increase from 96.9 million in 2018, to 106.4 million in 2040.

Credit: Tesla

IEA Director Fatih Birol stated SUVs “were the second biggest cause of the increase in emissions in the last ten years, behind the energy sector and

more than all industrial sectors combined,” during an interview in Paris, France. Electric vehicle companies like Tesla have made significant strides in the fight against emissions from petrol-based vehicles. With Tesla’s Model X, along with the imminent release of the Model Y crossover, the company will now be able to offer those interested in purchasing an SUV two different vehicles that offer maximum cargo space in an energy-efficient manner. Fellow all-electric car maker Rivian will also begin producing its energy-efficient R1T truck and R1S SUV in late-2020 and early-2021. Electric vehicles produced by these two companies will rival their gas-powered counterparts, allowing for record amounts of towing capacity, range, and off-roading capabilities. The IEA also recognizes the growing demand for plastic and air travel as two other factors directly

Elaine Herzberg Death: Self-Driving Uber Ignored Jaywalking Pedestrian by David A. Wood, CarComplaints.com

The death of Elaine Herzberg in March 2018 was caused by a selfdriving vehicle system that could not see “jaywalkers” and failed to classify Herzberg as a pedestrian. Herzberg, 49, was killed when the Volvo SUV struck her as she ig-

nored the crosswalk signs and walked her bike onto the road. The bike had no side reflectors and the front and rear reflectors faced away from the self-driving Volvo. Additionally, Herzberg’s toxicology tests came back positive for marijuana and methamphetamine. In a final report from the National Safety Transportation Board (NTSB), conclusions reached by investigators match nightmare scenarios predicted by dozens of safety advocates who claim consumers are 4

being treated as lab rats when selfdriving cars are on the roads. In the NTSB report, the 2017 Volvo XC90 that hit Herzberg had its Volvo collision avoidance system deactivated at the time of the crash. The SUV was factory-equipped with several driver assistance systems offered by Volvo, but those features were disabled because Uber had equipped the Volvo with its “Advanced Technologies Group (ATG) developmental automated driving system (ADS).” When the XC90 SUV was operated in manual mode and controlled by a human driver, all the Volvo driver assistance components were activated, but those Volvo components were automatically disabled when the SUV was operated in autonomous mode. Federal investigators found the Uber software completely failed to accurately detect Herzberg as a pedestrian and couldn’t predict which path she was taking while crossing the road. According to the NTSB report, the vehicle was traveling 44 mph 5.8 seconds before the Uber struck

DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

Herzberg. The NTSB report says the selfdriving system never classified Herzberg as a pedestrian, and she was not classified as a jaywalking pedestrian because “the system design did not include consideration for jaywalking pedestrians.” Uber and Volvo say multiple changes have been made to the selfdriving test vehicles since the death of Herzberg, and both companies claim the same situation on a road today will be avoided. Uber told NTSB investigators that new software would detect and correctly classify the pedestrian 4.5 seconds before the time of impact. In addition to correctly classifying the “object” as a pedestrian, Uber says new software will correctly predict the path of a pedestrian crossing a street and if the pedestrian is on a collision path with the self-driving vehicle. The system allegedly will also initiate controlled braking more than 4 seconds before the original time of impact. We thank CarComplaints.com for reprint permission.

contributing to the report’s main point of the growing oil demand. “The world urgently needs to put a laserlike focus on bringing down global emissions. This calls for a grand coalition encompassing governments, investors, companies and everyone else who is committed to tackling climate change,” Birol said. The importance of identifying and eliminating the issue of carbon emissions is extremely important to the future of the climate. Elon Musk’s mission behind creating a vehicle that emits no carbon emissions has been the main goal since Tesla was created in 2004. “We’re running the most dangerous experiment in history right now, which is to see how much carbon dioxide the atmosphere can handle before there is an environmental catastrophe,” Musk said in 2013. The ever-growing environmental movement has been highlighted by increasingly prevalent activism from people like Greta Thunberg. However, it will take more than environmental activists to implement change. We thank Teslarati.com for reprint permission.

Cummins Unveils Fuel Cell Truck in Atlanta

Cummins Inc. unveiled its latest innovation, a heavy-duty truck with fuel cell and battery electric power. The demonstration vehicle was unveiled at the 2019 North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta. “Developing this cutting-edge hydrogen fuel cell truck as a technology demonstrator is an important step in gaining valuable insights that are critical to continue developing the right solutions for the market and preparing for the next 100 years,” said Thad Ewald, vice president, corporate strategy at Cummins. The truck was designed and integrated by Cummins in Columbus, IN, and includes a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell from Hydrogenics. To help all original equipment manufacturing (OEM) customers and end-user envision how Cummins’ fuel cell power can enable their success, the truck has been intentionally designed without collaboration from any of the company’s OEM partners. Obtained via Business Wire.

autobodynews.com / DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS

Jobs at New Plant in Cibolo, Texas, Will Require Specific Skills by Staff, KSAT 12 News

Not all the 900 jobs at the new AW Texas plant in Cibolo will require college degrees, but workers with specific skills will be in demand by the time it begins operation in 2021. The Japanese-owned plant will be producing automatic transmissions, and eventually hybrid transmissions, primarily for Toyota Tundras built in San Antonio. Mark Luft, director of the city of Cibolo’s Economic Development Corporation, said some of the jobs will require education in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. Luft said the company will also need those with training in fields such as robotics, computer software programming, mechanics, electronics and drafting of technical drawings. He said the plant will also have jobs that require skills in the assembling of products, research and development, business administration, logistics, procurement and environmental science. Depending on the skill levels needed, Ricardo Ramirez, director of analytics, performance and strat-

egy for Workforce Solutions San Antonio, said there is an estimated 50% to 87% gap between supply and demand. “Those are great jobs,”

Ramirez said. “What’s needed is more training programs, mainly in the technical fields.” St. Philip’s College is trying to fill some of the demand for trade skill workers, by training more than 500 students in the school’s automotive and manufacturing programs. Ben Birkenfeld, an instructor who trains technicians for General Motors, said, now that vehicles are

more dependent on technology and software, training is now even more vital. He said that’s why St. Philip’s gives its students a double advantage by offering a two-year associate’s degree and professional training because these days, “It’s not just the education they need; it’s those technical skills.” “These skill sets are just mandatory in the industry,” Birkenfeld said. For example, to build a transmission takes a lot of patience and know-how, he said. “There’s so many parts. They’ve got to go in at the right time, in the right spot and have the right amount of measurements. There is math and reading involved,” Birkenfeld said. One of his students, Jesus Gomez, who already works at Toyota Texas, is pursuing a career in automotive technology. “It’s one of those careers that will actually lead to something more, not just fixing them, but building them and designing them,” Gomez said. We thank KSAT 12 News for reprint permission.

US Autocure Receives Fire Marshall Certification

Industrial Finishes & Systems Inc., a leading distributor of automotive paint, equipment and supplies, in conjunction with US Autocure, is pleased to announce the completion of qualifications to the Class 1, Division II (Group D) U.S. prevention standards rating. This important certification indicates that US Autocure’s Phoenix gas-catalytic medium-wave infrared curing system complies with the following standards: • NFPA 79, Industrial Machinery; • NFPA 86, Ovens and Furnaces; and • NFPA 70 (NEC) Article 500. According to US Autocure Mechanical Engineer Mickey Meyer, “Achieving this certification is the culmination of many months of hard work. We followed the process carefully, resulting in our ability to provide a valuable piece of technology that meets these strict standards.” With this certification, the US Autocure Phoenix curing system can be installed in spray booths without enclosures or additional fire suppression methods. For more information, contact Industrial Finishes & Systems at 800-531-1305.

CARSTAR Colorado Business Group Sponsors School The CARSTAR Colorado Business Group is helping address the collision repair technician shortage the industry faces through a new partnership with Aims Community College, Automotive & Technology Center, Northern Colorado’s premier Collision Repair and Refinishing School.

Aims is ranked in the top 10 percent of Collision Repair and Refinishing schools in the country. The school has 75 students enrolled in the Collision Repair and Refinishing program. The CARSTAR Colorado Business Group is providing two scholarships each year for students who are in their second and final year. The group recently awarded the first two scholarships and was able to meet and discuss

AUTOBODY

future plans with the students at a special Donor/Recipient Event at Aims College main campus in Greeley, CO.

Center in blue shirt, Fred Brown, director of Automotive Programs, is touring the facility with the CARSTAR Colorado Business Group. Credit: CARSTAR Colorado Business Group

The group also just completed a branding initiative at the school, which has never been allowed. One of the classrooms and the general shop area are now branded CARSTAR.

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ASA North Texas Members Learn About DVIs at October Meeting by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On Oct. 17, ASA North Texas met at the Golden Corral Buffet & Grill in Irving, Texas, for its monthly meeting. The meeting featured Jim Silverman of ATI as well as a member topic of diagnosis of system or symptoms explanations. According to

Jim Silverman of ATI talked about DVIs. Credit: ASA North Texas

Chapter President John Firm, “Our meeting was well attended, and we had open discussion among members on the topic of DVIs and how they help make more profit. This was one of our best, most interactive meetings of the year among our members.”

Steve McCombs of Steve’s Certified Car Care explained the Shop Boss program for attendees, and Rick R. of Rick’s Automotive Cleburne demonstrated how his Bolt-On DVI sends a text to clients from his service writers. Firm demonstrated the Flex Check Auto system and explained how it distributes information to the customer. Silverman was the evening’s guest speaker, and he talked about the DVI process and the benefits of doing some form of inspection for the vehicle owner. Yard shared, “It was important to help members understand why a customer’s car should have some kind of inspection done every time they visit the shop.” Jeff Buckley, marketing manager for ASA North Texas, noted, “When multiple companies offer similar products or services, it’s amazing to be able to come together and share opinions. To have neutral ground and the ability to ask questions on each DVI system without sales pressure or ego allows each shop owner to make an educated decision.” ASA North Texas also had a surprise guest, Efren Villanueva from the Small Business Development

DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

Center (SBDC) of North Texas at Tarrant County, who explained how the SBDC can assist the automotive and collision repair industries. Firm believes that the meeting was very beneficial to attendees and noted that attendance was increased from the last meeting, including a new guest shop. Buckley added, “As we reach out and invite others to attend, our chapter meetings continue to grow. Food, fellowship, networking and training is a great base plan, but throw

School attended, and it was amazing timing because he had just received an operating system for the school and had questions about DVI.”

Surprise guest Efren Villanueva of the Small Business Development Counsel of North Texas discussed how the SBDC can help the industry. Credit: ASA North Texas

ASA North Texas’s Oct. 17th meeting was “one of the most interactive meetings of the year,” said President John Firm. Credit: ASA North Texas

in some sharing of business practices, and the formula for a great meeting is obtained! ASA North Texas welcomes guests. Jason Buster, automotive instructor at Waxahachie High

Buckley also encouraged members of the automotive and collision repair industries to consider how they can help local instructors and schools. “ASA has a special deal to sponsor an automotive school instructor which provides the school with access to ASA training, meetings and webinars. Can you help a local school?”

For more information about ASA North Texas, visit asantx.com or facebook.com/ASA-of-North-Texas2023432261204030/

All Star Auto Lights Opens CO Location

All Star Auto Lights, the leading distributor of replacement automotive headlights, announced that it has opened its eighth distribution center in Colorado. The impressive 14,506 square foot building is located in the Denver Metro area at 6333 E 56th Ave., Commerce City. Founded in 2004 and based in Orlando, FL, All Star is a distributor of replacement alternative lighting products to independent auto body shops and multi-site operators of collision repair centers. “We are delighted to announce the opening of our new Denver location. We strategically chose the new location to serve our current and expanding customer base in Colorado and neighboring states. The new location will warehouse over 7,000 auto lights and poises the company for further growth with this new, centrally located distribution center,” said All Star Auto Lights CEO, Matt Immerfall.

Austin, Texas, the Latest Market to Test Ford Self-Driving Vehicles by Staff, The News Wheel

Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC CEO Sherif Marakby announced that Austin, Texas, will become the third market in which the automaker will test self-driving vehicles on public roads. It’s fitting enough a choice —Marakby notes the fact that Austin was the first city to allow a public self-driving vehicle test and is currently one of the fastest-growing metros in the United States.

hopes will offer better access and more efficiency of use. “We believe that if you want to successfully launch a self-driving service that improves people’s lives, you can’t just drop into a city and start rolling cars out onto the streets,”

actly what we’ll be doing over the next few years.” Along for the ride will be Austin Mayor Steve Adler, who lays out the city’s 20-year goal of having at least 50 percent of residents taking part in public transportation, bicycles and forms of shared transformation. Adler sees two additional areas of major potential in the partnership: accessibility and safety. The hope is that automated vehicles will provide equity in transportation, making Austin a more empowering city for all of its residents.

Credit: Ford

According to The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, vehicle use in Austin is expected to double by 2040 against an expected 15 percent increase in highway capacity. This makes Austin something of a ripe testing ground for mobility solutions, and Ford is doing its part with self-driving vehicles that it

Credit: Ford

Marakby writes in an article on Medium. “You need to develop a comprehensive understanding of what people and local businesses would find useful — and that’s ex-

Ford also tests its self-driving vehicles in Miami-Dade County and Washington, D.C. The automaker hopes to commercialize fully autonomous vehicles by 2021. We thank The News Wheel for reprint permission.

autobodynews.com / DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS

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item you’ve already captured, and then display it on a comprehensive list of all potentially missed items. The user will then choose the items contained a ton of valuable informa- that apply and import them directly tion, but that it was hard to manually into the estimate.” Winning an award from SEMA can go through approximately 1,000 potentially missed items. They told us be a game-changer and Schulenberg that if there was any way to automat- knows that all too well. “We believe ically check an estimate with the that this technology is not out there with anything else, so we are really excited about its efficiency and the fact that it’s easy to use. It helps shops so that they don’t leave money on the table and create consistency amongst multiple writers. It is also an excellent training tool, especially for new shops that are looking to hire new people and expand. We will be sellCEO/Founder John Baker at Spray Booth Services won a ing it on a subscription basis runner-up award for its Airflow=Cashflow Remote Spray at $139 for the first year, and Booth Monitoring System. Credit: Ed Attanasio SCRS members can purguide that would be huge. So, for the chase it for $99 annually.” Were Schulenburg and his team past 18 months, we have been developing the product to make it a more excited when they found out that they sophisticated tool that can actually had won the award? “Absolutely,” he take your written estimate, import it said. “SCRS is an association whose into the system, will recognize the main goal is to help our shop memContinued from Cover

2019 New Products

SEMA Show Focuses on Advanced Vehicle Technology by Stacey Phillips

Day three of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 7, was filled with new product demonstrations, high-tech equipment and technology, and educational opportunities. One of the anticipated events for collision repairers during the show is the OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit, which is part of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) Repairer Driven Education (RDE) Series. During the three sessions held this year, attendees had the opportunity to hear innovators in automotive structural design and technology first-hand. The summit included information about preparing for emerging trends in automotive technology, a comprehensive discussion about accessibility to OEM procedures and technical support, and the importance of meeting the OEM’s expectations in welding. The presentations and panel discussions catered to those who realize the importance of embracing the necessary investments in equip12

ment and training to be successful in the future. An Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Forum also took place, highlighting some of the challenges associated with these technologies and potential resources and approaches required to develop solutions. In addition, a discussion was held on Computers, Cars and Cybersecurity, which focused on the direction of autonomous vehicles and potential security threats found by California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) students and security researchers. There were more than 100 automotive celebrity appearances throughout the day. From autograph sessions to product announcements, showgoers were able to meet stars such as Dave Ankin, CEO and star of the History Channel’s “ToyMakerz;” award-winning builder Charley Hutton at the PPG booth; and KC Mathieu of “Fast N’Loud” at the BASF booth. Check the Autobody News Facebook page for updates. More information about the SEMA show can be found online: https://www.semashow.com/.

DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

bers. We don’t traditionally create products, so this was a pleasant surprise. We know this award will give us a boost because the SEMA name

where body shop owners or managers can remotely monitor their spray booths and control the airflow and multiple functions,” Baker said. “Our system is ideal for shops with only one location or 20, to stay on top of your quality control without compromising productivity.” GUNIWHEEL captured the other runners up award for the GUNIWHEEL universal vehicle mounting system that features a tire and wheel-like design. Owner Sergio Rovito knows the Owner Sergio Rovito took one of the two runners up spots value of winning a SEMA with his GUNIWHEEL Universal Vehicle Mounting System. New Product Award beCredit: Ed Attanasio cause the SEMA name caris highly respected and carries a lot ries considerable weight in the of weight in the collision repair in- automotive industry, he said. “We dedustry. We are very humbled by this signed the GUNIWHEEL because we award and glad that we have created saw a definite need for an alternative something that is meaningful for this to jack stands and intended primarily for mounting purposes. Many colliindustry.” CEO/Founder John Baker at sion repairers use it to move vehicles Spray Booth Services is proud of his around the shop with a maximum patented pending monitoring system speed of 5 mph. It’s easy to install and that received one of the two runners doesn’t require any special adapters, up awards. “We have a product so shops love it.”

autobodynews.com / DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS

Continued from Cover

Industry Hears From

sure whether to believe her parents that her husband, Matthew, had also survived the accident and was just in another hospital. She said it only added to the couple’s trauma to later learn that their injuries were likely exacerbated

that their injuries in the subsequent accident were more severe because the roof separated and failed to protect them as it would have if Honda’s repair procedures had been followed. The Seebachans also sued State Farm for its alleged role in the shop’s choice of repair procedures; that lawsuit was settled a year ago without the terms of the settlement being disclosed.

“It’s one thing to be dealing with the most traumatic thing in your life, but to find out there were choices made that increased the likelihood that this happened to you is just re-traumatizing. There was a whole different grieving process that had to happen.” — Marcia Seebachan The discussion at CIC did not focus on the lawsuit, but rather on how the incident has impacted the Seebachans. Marcia recovered more quickly than Matthew though her injuries were severe: broken arm, wrist, femur, feet and pelvis, perforated intestines, and torn aorta lining. She required several surgeries to repair the tendons that attach her skull to her spine. Matthew’s severe burns, particularly on his lower legs, required more than two years of daily wound cleaning. He’s been unable to return to work nor continue his training to become a registered nurse. The couple has had to give up on their plans to become foster parents. Marcia Seebachan said as a clinical social worker, she must adhere to a code of ethics that requires her to use only evidence-based practices with clients. That makes it even more difficult for her to fathom why anyone would use a practice in their field – such as a repair procedure – without evidence and research that it is effective and appropriate. That’s why the Seebachans testified in favor Matthew and Marcia Seebachan told CIC attendees of legislation proposed in about the impact a shop’s failure to follow OEM repair procedures has had on their lives. Credit: John Yoswick Texas earlier this year that, if passed, would have rebuying the used vehicle, the shop quired the use of OEM repair prohad attached a replacement roof to cedures. Marcia Seebachan said that the vehicle (after hail damage) using the second or third or subsequent structural adhesive, even though owners of a vehicle deserve the same Honda’s repair procedures called for assurances the original owner had of the use of welds. The Seebachans ar- that vehicle’s engineered safety. “If you’re going to tell me this gued successfully in their lawsuit by the body shop’s decision – prior to the Seebachan’s purchase of the vehicle – to attach a replacement roof to it using adhesive rather than the welds called for by the automaker. “This wasn’t just a series of unfortunate events. This was something intentionally chosen to have been done to the vehicle that impacted us,” Marcia Seebachan said. “It’s one thing to be dealing with the most traumatic thing in your life, but to find out there were choices made that increased the likelihood that this happened to you is just re-traumatizing. There was a whole different grieving process that had to happen.” Two years ago, the Seebachans won a $42 million judgement against the Texas dealership body shop after an accident involving their 2010 Honda Fit. Prior to the Seebachans

DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

repair work is as good or better than the original design, then you should be able to show evidence to support that,” she said. CIC Chairman Jeff Peevy, who along with his wife, Marie, conducted the 40-minute conversation with the Seebachans at CIC, said his goal was to let the industry get to know the people they likely had previously only read about. “This is really about human impact as a result of bad decisions,” Peevy said. “Every one of us in this industry is in a position to make decisions. Those decisions impact people and their vehicles, their families and their safety. So I think it’s important that we start to think about the decisions we make, that we always consider those people who put their lives in our hands when we repair vehicles. We all, in every segment, have a role to play in these decisions.” He thanked the Seebachans for traveling to Las Vegas and speaking at CIC. “There’s no telling how many lives you have saved because of your strength and courage and willingness to come here and tell your story,” he

said. Marcia Seebachan said she knows many people undergo traumatic experiences without being given an opportunity, as she feels she and Matthew have had, to create some positive outcome from those experiences.

Dan Risley of CCC Information Services issued a statement affirming that the company has not and will not share data with CARFAX. Credit: John Yoswick

“We’re grateful for everyone being willing to sit in this space with us and hear our story, and hope you walk away with it when you make decisions in your practices,” she said. “That’s all we can hope for, is that you’ll remember that.” See Industry Hears From, Page 18

autobodynews.com / DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS

Renovations at Bollman Technical Center in CO Give Career Programs a Lift by Scott Taylor, The Westminster Window

The auto repair lab at Thornton, CO’s, Bollman Technical Center, with numerous bays and lifts and brand-new sets of tools, is the envy of professional shops, according to the school’s students.

Bollman Tech Diesel student Noelle Fancher. Credit: Scott Taylor, The Westminster Window

“It really allows me to get the experience I need as a student, as if I were working in an actual shop,” said diesel repair student Noelle Forcher. “I am working in an actual shop.” Bollman and Adams County District 12’s entire career tech program is in the middle of a two-year renovation program, so school and district officials decided to open the building’s doors on Oct. 24. The school hosted an

open house to showcase the school’s programs and show where the renovations are so far. “This was the date we had scheduled for our advisory committee meetings for all of our programs,” said Principal Janet Renden. “That brings in business and industry repre-

Bollman Tech Diesel students Noelle Fancher, left, and Devin Gonzalez. Credit: Scott Taylor, The Westminster Window

sentatives with parents, students. We figured that since the advisory members would be here anyway, we’d just do an open house.” The district began work in July on Future Forward at Washington Square, a brand-new career and technical program campus for Adams 12 students at 126th Avenue and Washington Street. The new facility is on

DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

track to be finished in the fall of 2020. It will supplement programs being offered at Bollman, at 90th and Washington, and Renden said she hopes it will let them expand the number of students they can teach. “This year we accepted 1,350 students and that was a record us,” Renden said. “That’s just for this campus. But even with that, we had to turn away 400 students we just couldn’t accommodate.” Renovations at Bollman began this summer, creating a student common area and maximizing the space for the automotive program. That program already offers classes along two tracks, automotive technology and diesel. “We should be able to serve about 900 students in the building,” she said. The Washington Square work is set to coincide with renovations at the district’s Bollman campus. The new construction at Bollman removed the walls in the automotive area, creating one long repair bay. Forcher, of Federal Heights, CO, said the students can pull a car in at one end and exit at the other. “It has definitely opened the shop a lot,” said Forcher, who is

completing her first year in the diesel program. “So, when I work in the shop, I have room to do what I need to do. It also allows for us to have better tech and that allows us to do different things.” The project is part of the bond vote $350 million bond package that

Bollman Technical School Principal Janet Renden, left, and Thornton City Councilor Jessica Sandgrenl. Credit: Scott Taylor, The Westminster Window

voters approved in 2016. That package was aimed at improving the school’s aging infrastructure and programs, with a significant portion dedicated to improving career and technical programs. We thank The Westminster Window for reprint permission.

CCC Strengthens Network for Parts Marketing

CCC Information Services Inc. (CCC) and BMW of North America (BMW) announce that the automaker will leverage the CCC Promote technology to provide dealers with a powerful new marketing solution to price and promote parts to collision repair facilities while estimates are being written. CCC Promote offers OEMs a way to present promotional pricing early in the estimating process when replacement part decisions are being made. Prices can be customized by vehicle make, model, year, or part type. “CCC is proud to support BMW and we value their endorsement of CCC Promote,” said Jim Kinsherf, vice president, OEM Group for CCC. “CCC ONE processes more than $13 billion in parts annually. By making CCC available to its dealers, BMW parts can be seen and made available within the estimating workflow of a dynamic community of repairers. We’re excited to support their parts program.”

Geico Files Complaint Against Six Parties in AZ for Fraud by Emmariah Holcomb, glassBYTEs.com

Government Employees Insurance Co. (GEICO) has filed a complaint against six parties in Arizona, alleging the group participated in “fraudulent acts” which included billing the auto insurer for windshield replacements that “never took place.” The parties being sued are: 808 Auto Glass, Jesse Pacheco, the sole member and operator of 808 Auto Glass, A&E Auto Glass, an Arizona limited liability company, Eric and Anna Solheim, who were the sole members and operators of A&E Auto Glass, Lightning Capital, a limited liability company that claimed to be a third party business, and Nicholas Minard, a managing member of Lightning Capital. Geico, is seeking termination of what it alleges is an ongoing fraudulent scheme and to recover more than $100,000 that the defendants have improperly obtained from the insurance company through hundreds of non-reimbursable insurance claims. “Geico is seeking reimbursement for windshield replacement services and the installation and use of windshield

parts – including mouldings, clips, and fasteners – attendant to the windshield replacements,” a portion of Geico’s complaint reads. In addition to money damages, the insurance company also seeks a declaration that states it is not legally obligated to pay reimbursement of more than $160,000 in outstanding claims for auto glass services and auto glass parts that have been submitted or caused to be submitted by the six parties, also known as the defendants. According to the complaint, Geico stated the auto glass claims involving this case were: • Fraudulent, in that they involved charges for illusory auto glass services and parts that were never performed and/or provided in the first instance; • Fraudulent, in that they were submitted through 808 Auto Glass, which never actually provided the services and parts, never obtained assignments of insurance benefits from the insureds; and • Were submitted in violation of contractual agreements between Geico and defendants Eric A. Solheim (E. Solheim), Anna M. Solheim (A. Solheim), A&E Auto Glass

(collectively, the A&E defendants). According to court documents, the alleged fraudulent scheme started in 2019 and has continued uninterrupted. The complaint also detailed how each party was allegedly involved in the aforementioned scheme. “Pacheco claimed to serve as 808 Auto Glass’ sole manager and member, and allegedly conspired with the other defendants to use 808 Auto Glass as a vehicle to submit hundreds of fraudulent claims. A&E Auto Glass was used by E. Solheim and A. Solheim to secretly provide the auto glass services and parts to Geico’s insureds, and conspired with the other defendants. Lightning Capital was organized in Arizona on or about March 8, 2010, had Minard as its managing member, and was used by the defendants to facilitate the use of 808 Auto Glass as a vehicle to submit fraudulent billing,” a portion of the complaint reads. Geico is currently seeking to recover financial damages under the civil racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations act (RICO) statutes. We thank glassBYTEs.com for reprint permission.

autobodynews.com / DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS

Award to Parker High Body Shop in Parker, AZ, Highlights Shortage of Skilled Tradespeople by John Gutekunst, Parker Pioneer

A representative of the Ford Motor Company came to Parker High School in Parker, AZ, on Nov. 8 to offer his company’s congratulations to Lee Hibl’s body shop students. Cesar Martinez, Ford’s regional technical talent placement specialist, told the students they placed fifth among schools in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico is Ford’s Automotive Career Exploration (ACE) program.

Ford representative Cesar Martinez congratulated the students on their achievements and told them to keep doing what they’re doing. Credit: Pioneer photo/John Gutekunst

“You’ve shown you are focused on learning a trade,” Martinez told the students. “You’re serious about becoming an automotive Continued from Page 14

Industry Hears From

Companies say they don’t share data with CARFAX. After discussions at several industry events in recent months about shop data from estimates or parts orders relative to a particular vehicle seemingly resulting in an entry on CARFAX or another history report for that vehicle, a number of companies are releasing statements saying they are not the source of such data “leakage.” “We don’t share data with CARFAX, never have shared data with CARFAX, have no intention of sharing data with CARFAX,” said Dan Risley at CIC, vice president of quality repair and market development for CCC Information Services. “So if you are writing an estimate in CCC ONE and it shows up on some customer’s CARFAX report, you need to do some research on your end: who is pumping data from your system, or if one of your partners that you’re sharing data with is sharing it with someone else.” 18

technician. Keep doing what you’ve been doing.” ACE is a program of courses designed to prepare students to become entry level automotive technicians. It involves partnerships between high schools and colleges or trade schools with local Ford and Lincoln dealerships. There is no charge to the students other than that the program must be sponsored by a local Ford or Lincoln dealership. There are 60 schools in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico that are involved in Ford’s ACE program. The program is sponsored by the Parker Motor Co. (PMC), the Ford and Lincoln dealership in Parker. Josh Greenwalt of PMC told the students they have service people who are from 60 to 70 years old, and they need people to replace them. He said service technicians can earn more than $60,000 to $80,000 a year here in Parker. “We’re letting you get your foot in the door,” he told the students. Greenwalt and Martinez said they now refer to auto repair people as “technicians” rather than “mechanics” because of all the high-tech equipment many cars have.

CCC’s statement came just a week after OEConnection told users of its CollisionLink system that the company “does not and has never provided or sold data to CARFAX, AutoCheck or any other vehicle history reporting company.” Frank Terlep, who co-chairs the CIC’s “Data Access, Privacy and Security Committee,” with Risley, gave “a big shout out” to such companies that have “stood up and said we’re going to protect our customers’ data.” He also shared a first draft of “Golden Rules” the committee is developing for those entities accessing and using shop estimate data. Those five rules call on such companies to make it clear what data is being used and why, to pledge to not misuse or allow others receiving the data to misuse it, and to give customers “the choice of what to share and what not to share.” Terlep said the committee welcomes feedback on the draft. He said the committee envisions presenting the rules, once finalized, to all companies using industry data, and to recognize those companies who pledge to abide by them.

DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

The ACE program serves to highlight there is a serious shortage of tradespeople in the nation. The shortage has been reported on by the media, including the Washington Post. It’s not just auto technicians. It’s also electricians, plumbers, construction workers, and many other skilled trades which don’t require a college degree.

Josh Greenwalt of Parker Motor Company told the students there are many opportunities available in the automotive field. Credit: Pioneer photo/John Gutekunst

The owner and general manager of PMC, Dan Beaver, said he began partnering with Parker High three years ago because he was tired of going out-of-town when recruiting new technicians. He said they currently have two Parker High graduates working for PMC, one of whom

is 19 while the other is 20. He said they’re both doing very well. “There’s a serious shortage of auto technicians nationwide,” Beaver said. “There are many opportunities, and lots of money to be made.” In addition to learning the technical side of auto repairs, Martinez said students need to develop the personal traits that will help them when they seek employment. “You must be able to pass a background check, have a clean driving record, and no drugs,” Martinez said. “You must be organized. Remember: time is money. You must also be punctual. If you’re to be at work at 8 a.m., be ready to work before 8 a.m. You must be ethical. That refers to what you do when you think no one is looking.” Parker High Principal David Daly said the students are learning real world applications from their education. “It’s wonderful Parker Ford decided to partner with us,” he said. “We feel very fortunate to have them partnering with us.” We thank Parker Pioneer for reprint permission.

autobodynews.com / DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS

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Changing lives for these six families is what we’re all about, and it takes a collective effort of industry leaders to make it all happen.” The recipients this year conthe afternoon. NABC Chairman of the Board sisted of four families, one couple, Darren Huggins opened the presenta- and a single mother whom all had tion as he welcomed those in atten- one thing in common—the need for dance. “Every year, this is the biggest reliable and affordable transportaevent that we put on for all of those tion. Chris Feliz and Amanda Holin the industry who support the work of the National Auto Body Council,” land received a 2018 Chevy Malibu Huggins said. “I am so proud to be that was donated by Hertz and repaired by Service King Red Rock. The parents of four who relocated to Las Vegas from a small town in Arizona never imagined that they would end up homeless. But luckily, they found the Family Promise Homeless Shelter that helped them on the path back to independence. Now they both have housing, full-time jobs Felicia Houston is a hardworking single mother of an 11year-old son, and now she will be driving a 2017 Nissan and a car that is safe and reAltima that was donated by State Farm and refurbished liable. by Gerber Collision. Credit: Ed Attanasio “We and the kids are so involved with this amazing program grateful for this incredible gift. It’s that has now given away more than also a valuable lesson for our chil2,200 vehicles since its inception. dren because it shows that yes–there Continued from Cover

Six Cars Given Away

DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

are good people out there who are willing to help others,” Feliz said. Cathy Fromoltz and her husband John received a 2017 Toyota Corolla that was donated by GEICO and refurbished by Gerber Collision – Henderson. Cathy Fromoltz was selected by Lake Mead Ministries to help her get back on her feet after

who is mentally challenged and lives with them. “Our lives changed the minute they unveiled that car,” Cathy Fromoltz said. “We are so happy and humbled, I don’t really know what to say but thank you!” Jeremy Davis and Naomi Jenkins, have worked hard to earn their independence and the new car will allow them to do even more. As parents of two, they trade work and child-care responsibilities between the day shift and the evening shift. They spent just a few months in the Family Promise shelter program before moving on to their own home. They reChris Feliz and Amanda Holland posed with NABC ceived a 2018 Ford Fusion President and CEO Bill Garroutte parents right before receiving a 2018 Chevy Malibu that was donated by that was donated by EnterHertz and repaired by Service King- Red Rock. Credit: prise and refurbished by Ed Attanasio CARSTAR Collision Maslosing her job. Subsequently, she ters in Las Vegas. “Now we can get to daycare, found out she had cancer and without any insurance, the couple had to school and work without relying on sell their car to cover bills. Cathy and public transportation, so this a gift her husband, who is disabled, moved that will definitely make an incredito Las Vegas to care for John’s par- ble difference in our lives,” Jenkins ents. They also have an adult son said.

Felicia Houston is a hardworking single mother of an 11-year-old son who said reliable transportation is the only gift she wants for Christmas. Santa delivered a 2017 Nissan Altima that donated by State Farm and was refurbished by Gerber Collision. She is enrolled in the Family Promise of Las Vegas Housing and Stabilization Program and has been employed at Mandalay Bay Hotel for the past six years. She has been struggling to get to work and travel throughout the community on public transportation. Even though she has a reliable job she has not been able to save money to buy a car. With the gift of the vehicle, Christmas came early for Houston. Janata Gibson, and her four teenagers and one pre-teen, have worked hard to keep her family together and continue their independence. She moved to Las Vegas a year ago and landed a job within weeks, but the family did not have housing. They found it would be difficult to keep the family together because some of the shelters place older teens in a separate dorm of the building. She called Family Promise, and there

was an opening. Gibson enrolled as a family, and there was no separation of the teens. Family Promise guided the family with the necessary resources to obtain a beautiful apartment for her family. With the gift of a 2018 Honda Civic from Progressive that was refurbished by Caliber Collision, Gibson is on her way to freedom.

During the luncheon, the Hall of Eagles honored Mike Anderson as its 2019 inductee for his dedication and service to the collision repair industry.

When Gibson saw her Honda Civic for the first time she nearly lost it. “Wow, this is a miracle!” One additional gifting as part of this year’s program was presented

earlier this fall because the family had an immediate need for transportation. Ma’Lia Ashe-Wiggins received a 2014 Toyota Corolla that was donated by Allstate and repaired by Service King – Grass Valley. AsheWiggins has three little boys. She moved to Las Vegas from California due to domestic violence. When she arrived, she was working two jobs and caring for her children, two of whom have disabilities. She was let go from one job due to her childcare duties and medical needs. That led her to get behind on her rent, and she became homeless. Family Promise provided her and her family shelter, food and supplies, which allowed her to work every day and keep her children in school and daycare. Also, the Hall of Eagles honored Mike Anderson as its 2019 inductee at the luncheon, and Margaret Keith was recognized for her work on the NABC F.R.E.E. programs over the years. The Hall of Legends was established in 1989 as the collision industry’s Hall of Fame. It honors exceptional individuals whose longterm efforts have reached beyond

their jobs and self-interest to make significant contributions towards the betterment of the industry, according to its website. Each year, only a select few distinguished individuals are inducted into the Hall of Eagles through the nominations and votes of current members of the Hall. NABC Recycled Rides is a unique program in which businesses from every facet of the collision repair industry team up to repair and donate vehicles to individuals and families in need of reliable transportation. Since the inception of the NABC Recycled Rides program in 2007, members of the National Auto Body Council have donated more than 2,200 vehicles valued at more than $36 million.

Your leading source for SOUTHWESTERN Collision Repair News! southwestern.autobodynews.com

autobodynews.com / DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS

SATA Puts on Wunderbar Show at SEMA 2019 by Ed Attanasio

SATA always has the same great spot at SEMA, and every year they pull the trigger and go all-in. This year, people who visited the SEMA booth in the North Hall saw new product releases, demonstrations, and worldclass painters from all over the planet to create original art all within a German-themed booth.

Painter Connie Manjavinos from Girls Behind the Gun (left) and Painter Ron Coan were greeting fans at SATA’s SEMA booth. Credit: Ed Attanasio

Fifty years ago, in 1969, “Peace, Love and Music” was the cool motto of the “Summer of Love,” when hippies adorned with flowers and tiedyed garb danced and celebrated at the fabled Woodstock Music Festival. Commemorating the 50th an-

niversary of this iconic concert, SATA recognized the cultural impact of the era all within a special edition spray gun. This special edition gun can be ordered with sample RPS multipurpose cups. The Hippie spray gun is available in “I” and “O” versions with nozzle sizes ranging from 1.2 to 1.4, both RP and HVLP technology versions come in Standard only, according to SATA. This year the theme was Oktoberfest, and Tony Larimer wore lederhosen himself to get into the Bavarian mood. “Since our company is based in Germany, the goal was to essentially bring a little Germany here, so we brought all of the various Bavarian aspects of Germany here, and we’re delighted with the results,” he said. “We always want to feature a booth with a lot of things going on that will engage and entertain people. I think we hit a home run with this one based on the feedback we’ve received.” At the show, SATA also offered discounts on www.satausagear.com — strictly devoted to SATA gear and promotional items for sale. “We offer something for everyone,” Coordinator of the SATA USA gear Katrina

Jorgensen said. “Now that we have the clothing website, every style and size is always available, and if an item is on backorder, it doesn’t take long to get the product delivered to the customer’s door.”

Airbrush Artist Ray Hill paints Jim Morrison, the late lead singer of The Doors, to promote SATA’s new Hippie spray gun. Credit: Ed Attanasio

Airbrush artist Franny Drummond was invited from his PaintZoo Studios in Langhorne, PA, to create portraits of classic rock stars such as Bob Dylan, Jim Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin, to name a few. Drummond is a nationally renowned artist who is well-known for painting NHL goalie helmets. “I love this,” Drummond said. “Normally, I create art in my studio with no one around, but with people

As the SEMA Show wraps up on Friday, Nov. 8, attendees had one last chance to view over one million square feet of automotive products and equipment in the SEMA Show Halls. Meanwhile, some special events were held throughout the day. The IDEAS Collide Showcase brought together thought leaders from inside and outside the collision repair industry to address innovative ideas to potentially resolve business challenges. The second annual event is part of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) Repairer Driven Education (RDE) Series. Mario Dimovski from Tradiebot Industries talked about augmented reality technology and how it might change the collision repair industry; Judy Folk from Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes presented about the benefits of a process-driven design; and Fred Iantorno of VeriFacts Automotive discussed collision shops in the connected age. Autobody News contributor John Yoswick will share a 24

detailed account of the presentations in an upcoming article for the magazine. Other training held during SEMA included classes by the InterIndustry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR). Some of the offerings included coordinating the repair process, the art and science of estimator interactions, and understanding cycle time. Those who completed an I-CAR course and successfully passed the post-test can earn credits toward the I-CAR Gold Class Professionals designation or ICAR Platinum Individual designation. The day ended with SEMA’s popular Battle of the Builders competition where 12 top builders had the opportunity to judge all of the finalists’ vehicles and vote on their favorite. Then, more than 1,500 vehicles exited the Las Vegas Convention Center in a “parade” of unique and customized cars as part of the SEMA Cruise. The dates for the 2020 SEMA Show are scheduled for Nov. 3-6. More information about the SEMA show can be found online: https:/ /www.semashow.com/.

DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

Painter Franny Drummond was creating images of 1960 rockers to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock Music Festival. Credit: Ed Attanasio

In addition to the assortment of clothing, browsers will also find that there are many promotional items available from drinkware, banners, PopSockets, all the way to a spray gun key chain.

Your One-Stop Shop for

Final Day of SEMA Features Thought Leaders & Top Build Winner by Stacey Phillips

coming by and checking out what I am painting is great. I have been using SATA guns for many years because they give me the freedom to be more creative.” SATAUSAGear.com now has free shipping in the USA only on purchases of $75 or more, and soon will be introducing new adult clothing styles, so be sure to check in regularly, according to Jorgenson.

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Product Innovation with Stacey Phillips

Stacey Phillips is a freelance writer and editor for the automotive industry. She has 20 years of experience writing for a variety of publications, and is co-author of “The Secrets of America’s Greatest Body Shops.” She can be reached at sphillips.autobodynews@gmail.com.

3M Showcases New and Existing Products During SEMA Show More than a century ago, 3M was established in Minnesota as a smallscale mining venture called Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. Fast forward to 2019, and

the company now operates in 70 countries and creates products and technology for a wide variety of industries. “At 3M, we use science to improve lives and help solve the world’s toughest challenges,” said Mike Roman, chairman and CEO of 3M. During the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, attendees had an opportunity to see new and existing 3M products

in two different booths. Autobody News sat down and talked to Dan Wittek, 3M application engineering manager, and Ricky Miller, 3M senior technical service engineer, about some of the products on display. The following is a summary of the highlights.

Accuspray™ and PPS™ Series 2.0 Kits and Accessories This family of products includes the PPS™ Series 2.0 Spray Cup System, PPS™ Series 2.0 starter and refill kits, and the Accuspray™ spray gun and paint cup kit. 3M created the PPS™ disposable paint cup system almost 20 years ago. The goal was to improve efficiency, reduce waste and speed up the prep and cleanup portions of painting. About a year ago, the company introduced the PPS™ Series 2.0 spray cup system to the market with an improved design for

DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

an easier painting process. “There is a more solid fixturing to the spray gun so it’s more robust,” explained Wittek. “There is also more filter

Precision Poly Tape Launched in July 2019, 3M™ Precision Poly Tape is the first advancement in general masking tape since the company originally invented it in 1924. Miller said the product features a polyethylene film that is low-profile, durable, waterproof, highly conformable and hand-tearable. It was designed to reduce slivering and leave a professional edge without the need for razor blades or other tools. When used, the backing conforms and (Back row l to r) Shawn Collins and Dan Wittek. (Front stretches around curves row l to r) Ian Shaw and Rob Blue. Credit: Stacey Phillips and has indicator lines that area, so you get a faster, smoother show when it is stretched too far, acflow of paint.” In addition, Wittek cording to Miller. In addition, it can said the locking mechanism for the be left on for up to seven days without collar is integrated into the lid, which adhesive transfer, slivering, ghosting is a feature that painters appreciate. or tape tracking.

Perfect-It™ 1-Step Paint Finishing System Introduced at the same time as Precision Poly Tape, the Perfect-It™ 1Step Paint Finishing System was designed to eliminate the need for a rubbing compound. Traditionally, Wittek said repairers used a heavy buffer and applied two to three applications of rubbing compound and then additional polishing. 3M’s new system allows for a more efficient process utilizing specialized abrasive

duces a deeper shine and flawless finish. “The Trizact™ abrasives are very forgiving and can allow somebody who is more novice to have the opportunity to produce really reliable, consistent results,” said Wittek.

Cavity Wax Plus Cavity Wax Plus provides corrosion protection for internal body panels, frame rails and structural enclosures. The system consists of a convenient aerosol spray can to eliminate the need for bulk spray equipment as well as three application wands in different lengths for harder-to-reach access. Wittek said OEMs recommend applying internal anti-corrosion material, including cavity wax, during a repair. “With the way our industry is changing, and the importance of folRicky Miller talked about 3M’s latest innovations during lowing OEM repair procethe SEMA show. Credit: Stacey Phillips dures and making certain a discs. When used with the 3M™ repair is done correctly, it’s imporHookit Purple Finishing Film 260L tant that it lasts,” he said. Discs and 3M™ Trizact™ 3000 and 8000 Grade Hookit Foam Abrasive CubitronTM II Abrasives Discs, Wittek said the system pro- 3M recently added 400+ grade discs

and sheet rolls to its family of Cubitron™ II Abrasives. Wittek said the new 400+ grit offers a very fine, highquality finish for paint preparation jobs like featheredging body filler, smoothing primer and sanding OEM e-coat. “It can cut through material 30

Blue Abrasive with a ceramic mineral blend; a high-power, VOC-compliant brake cleaner; a Headlight Restoration Kit; as well as an Auto Water Pump & Timing Cover Repair Kit with a threadlocker and an Auto Oil Pan & Valve Cover Repair Kit. 3M has also introduced additional configurations and sizes of its Blue Abrasives family, which are available in the Hookit™ (hook and loop) and Stikit™ (adhesive backed) attachment systems. “In addition to selling innovative products, we are doing everything we can to (l to r) Ricky Miller, Steve Garland, Heather Paddison be an educational resource and Chris Feather at the indoor 3M booth. They are for body shops,” said Witstanding in front of the 1969 custom Mercedes-Benz tek. “Our goal at 3M and the 280SEL, created by racer and builder, Josh Stahl and automotive aftermarket diVescio’s Customizing and Restoration. Other vehicles in the booth included a Shelby Daytona Coupe built by Chip vision is to sell processes to Foose and a 2007 Harley-Davidson Soft Tail Special. make our customers more Credit: Stacey Phillips efficient in their work.” percent faster and lasts twice as long Some of the educational reas traditional abrasives,” said Wittek. sources offered by the company In addition, it takes less time to sand, include 3M Standard Operating which improves overall productivity. Procedures (SOPs), a YouTube Miller shared information about channel, and the 3M Collision Readditional 3M products on display pair Academy. For more informaduring the show including 3M™ tion, visit www.3m.com.

autobodynews.com / DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS

Product Innovation

Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.

with Ed Attanasio

PPG’s Booth Unleashes Creativity at SEMA 2019 At the SEMA Show every year, people can’t wait to see PPG’s booth as the anticipation builds. What will the theme be? What vehicles will be on display, and which celebrities will make appearances? The given is that

level. What they come back with is always amazing and more than what we ask for! We have some of the most talented and creative masterminds using our products, and this year, they do not disappoint!” Mark Worman, one of the stars of the reality show “Graveyard Carz” where they perform over-the-top Mopar muscle-car restorations, loves meeting his fans at SEMA. “Some people just want to say hello, while others have specific questions about some of our builds. They want a glimpse at what goes into the making of the Bright colors on stunning vehicles is always a winning show, and I always tell them formula for PPG at SEMA. Credit: Ed Attanasio that “Graveyard Carz” is PPG’s one-of-a-kind booth will fea- 100% real. It’s such an honor for a ture custom vehicles, distinctive art- great company like PPG to invite us work pieces, advanced automotive to be here because it means they rerefinish products, celebrity meet-and- spect our work and our show.” greet sessions and a few surprises While some large companies shy along the way. away from pulling out all the stops at This year’s theme was “Creativ- SEMA, PPG zigs, while many others ity Unleashed” to honor great painters zag and the results are always highly that use PPG to produce eye-catching favorable, Fronzaglia-Murray said. art with that coveted “wow factor.” “SEMA is one of the best events out When you entered PPG’s booth, the there where we can connect with the first thing you noticed was a 30 foot people who use our products every faux brickyard wall covered with pop day,” she said. “We enjoy the entire art from top to bottom with a man- process of ‘talking paint’ with these nequin that looked like a tagger pos- top painters and find out what we ing atop. The main focal point of the can do in order to help them achieve display was a collection of artwork outstanding colors and finishes. This displaying the artistry and craftsmanship of more than 30 of the custom car world’s top artists. Cristina FronzagliaMurray, director of marketing communications at PPG, admitted that her company’s booth is always a priority every year and a fun project to work on. “Each year, we like to raise the bar in our challenges to our Every year PPG challenges its roster of car painters/artists painters,” she said. “This to do their finest work for SEMA, and they never let them time, our goal was to undown. Credit: Ed Attanasio leash their inner potential by inviting them to show what they al- year, we deciced to invite all painters ways wanted to do with color and to join in the fun and excitement of take their creativity to an entirely new what you can do with PPG paint and

DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

Richie Valles with his lowrider Impala. And we can’t forget Pete “Hot Dog” Finlan with his Impala all done in a bright white but with Pete Finlan touches all over the vehicle.” It was a who’s who of top name car painters this year, including Tom and Mitch Kelly of Kelly & Son Crazy Painters; Bob Tasca of Tasca Racing; Charley Hutton of Charley Hutton’s Color Studio; Kenny Youngblood of Youngblood Art/Motorsport (l to r) Allysa Rose, Mark Worman and Will Scott of Gallery; Allysa Rose, Mark Graveyard Carz were signing and posing for photos at Worman and Will Scott of this year’s PPG booth at SEMA 2019. Credit: Ed Attanasio “Graveyard Carz;” Bobby A pair of Impalas and a Cadillac Alloway of Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop. painted in lowrider style also stole the show this year in the PPG booth www.autobodynews.com at SEMA. “Paul Stoll and Frank Ramos did a tremendous job with UPDATED DAILY this amazing red Cadillac, as well as enabling others to share their inspiration with us on Instagram and Facebook using the hashtag #ppgunleashed.

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2019 Collision Repair Industry: A Year in Review by Chasidy Rae Sisk

As 2019 draws to a close, the world looks back on the year and reflects on all the changes that have come with the turning of a calendar. A handful of collision repair industry leaders share their thoughts on the most impactful memories for their associations in 2019, ranging from association growth and events to future-focused enterprises, such as legislation and aiding the next generation of collision repair professionals. Many associations report growth in membership and benefits for their members. SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg discusses the group’s continued commitment to their healthcare plan and the launch of their 401K Multiple Employer Plan. “There is a significant retirement savings shortage in America, and SCRS wants to change that in the collision repair space. We’ve put together and launched a solution that provides our small business members the opportunity to offer their employees a chance at something better. I really believe in the work we’ve done,” he states. Schulenburg continues, “2019 has been a really interesting year with a lot of ways that SCRS served as a place to turn for information, a source of education and a voice of advocacy, but I think the year has also been earmarked by our focus on finding ways to not just improve the industry, but the lives of those who work within it. It’s exciting to work on things that will matter to people in their business, and we are happy to be leading the charge for the industry.” CAWA established an ERISA health insurance trust this year, according to President and CEO Rodney Pierini, and Sandy Blalock, CEO of the ARA, proudly shares that ARA University, “our industry-leading online learning platform,” was converted to a full, free member benefit for direct members. “ARA leadership felt that the resources and training courses housed on the University were so valuable that every ARA member needed to have full, 24/7 access to the platform.” Earlier this year, AASP-MA implemented a labor rate survey being 32

run by National Auto Body Research, and according to Executive Director Lucky Papageorg, “It has substantiated something we all know – that the labor rate in Massachusetts has been artificially suppressed. It’s been a galvanizing issue for us.” AASP-MN focused on rebranding and improving its communication strategies this year with a refreshed logo and new tagline: “Your Champion. Your Ally.” Executive Director Judell Anderson explains, “The tagline speaks to the association’s role as our members’ greatest champion, leading the way with legislative advocacy, industry promotion and management education. It also recognizes that we are a strong ally, providing proven tools to help members run their business and achieve success.” Since Ray Fisher began serving as Executive Director of ASA at the beginning of the year, he reports, “We’ve had a significant culture change, improved our operating systems, and opened new channels of communication to our members and consumers by introducing the ASA App developed by MobileSoft and launching our new ASA Podcast. We’ve also increased our support and engagement with our Affiliates and renewed our commitment to increasing ASA’s member focus. In short, 2019 saw the growth of a new ASA learning culture that listens and tries new things to serve our members and the industry.” For NABA, it was important to grow the association’s membership in 2019 as a way of uniting the collision repair industry in Nebraska. NABA Vice President James Rodis says, “This helps us spread important information to a greater number of shops across the state and helps to ensure that shop owners have the needed information to do a proper repair for their guests. As an owner or even a worker, it’s extremely hard to stay up-to-date on everything so NABA tries to help out as much as we can.” IABA saw several successes this year. After standardizing the meeting agenda for all its chapters, the association experienced an increase in attendance across the state, including attendees from neighboring states.

DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

IABA President Doug Martin also indicates it was incredibly impactful to be able to bring in industry-leading trainers, such as Mark Olson of VECO Experts, Kristen Felder from Collision Hub and GM’s John Eck, thanks to sponsor support. Association events and training opportunities in 2019 were touted by many association leaders. AASP-NJ President Jerry McNee is happy the association saw an increase in the amount of training offers to members, and ASA North Texas President John Firm recalls the chapter’s largest meeting to-date which took place in September at Auto Zone. MSCRA most important venture of 2019 was taking over the Southeastern Automotive Repair Conference, according to Executive Director Ricki Garrett, who indicates being “very pleased” with the changes made to this year’s event. ABAT President Burl Richards reports that the Texas Auto Body Trade Show “keeps getting bigger and better every year and provides a great opportunity for networking and

training that, otherwise, attendees would not have access to without traveling out of state.” Due to ASA Northwest’s continued success with its annual Automotive Training Expo (ATE), Jeff Lovell, president and executive director, shares, “A new ATE East program has been established in October and has over 170 attendees going through two days of training. We are looking forward to growing this new event.” KABA also hosted a new event, its first annual trade show, which took place in April. KABA Vice President Tony Adams expresses pleasure with the attendance and shares, “As a new association, it was exciting to have such great representation from our members and collision repair industry vendors – it let us know we are on the right mission.” AAAMS President Randy Lisk referred to the 2019 conference as “one of the best conferences in many years,” and WIN Chair Cheryl Boswell mentioned the success of “another first-class educational con-

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ference for our entire membership – with more than 225 attendees [where we recognized] four Most Influential Women who have made and continue to make a positive impact on our industry.” WIN also “stayed true to its vision of driving the future of collision repair by providing scholarships and a mentoring program for nine women studying in vocational schools,” Boswell says. Presenting at the St. Louis School-Business Partnership workshop early in 2019 provided WAC with an opportunity to meet a variety of school representatives and nonprofit organizations, and President Shelly Jones shares, “With these connections, we have already begun to fulfill our mission on a much larger scale. In the future, there will be a very real opportunity to promote careers in the collision repair industry from within the classrooms.” The most important thing AWAF did in 2019, according to President Susan Rokosz, was “establishing a board position focused on STEM and piloting a number of STEM outreach efforts to girls and young women.

The automotive and mobility industries offer great opportunities in a wide-ranging selection of STEM fields, and we want to make sure that we fill the talent pipeline with great female candidates.” NATA also strove to initiate conversations about the opportunity the industry holds for students who will become future repairers. According to Executive Director Cathi Webb, “NATA’s first Educational Roundtable brought together educators, industry leaders, counselors, parents and students to support existing auto tech programs in Oregon schools. Educators help each other by sharing curriculum and teaching tools, and educators and employers brainstorm ways to help, such as donating tools, equipment and vehicles, job shadowing, internships, and advisory board participation.” WIA launched its partnership and scholarship program with Northwood University, increasing the number of scholarship programs they offer women to a total of four now. Founding Board Member Jody Devere states, “Enabling more women in the automotive industry to

reach their educational and career goals is of paramount importance to our mission.” CAWA created a scholarship program for “automotive high school teachers to assist them in keeping their programs viable – through the granting of funds, access to industry training, or the donation of automotive products and parts for use in the classroom,” Pierini explains. Associations on both coasts put a lot of effort into their apprenticeship programs to ensure that a new generation of techs are being properly trained to repair vehicles. IGONC Executive Director Bob Pulverenti shares, “After years of work to get the North Carolina Automotive Apprentice Program in place, we have registered six apprentices. IGONC is beyond proud to see these kids thriving in shops while obtaining their automotive degree, tuition-free.” ASA Northwest Chairman Butch Jobst is “happy to announce the iTAC apprenticeship program recently received a grant that will allow a faster roll-out of this awesome program. We are very fortunate to be-

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long to such a connected community of automotive repair shops who support one another.” Anderson also says that AASPMN’s continued investment in its MNCARS initiative was huge in 2019. “The availability of a future workforce remains the most challenging issue for the industry, and the sole purpose of MNCARS is to promote careers in the automotive industry and recruit young people into the state’s college-level automotive service and collision repair programs and, ultimately, into industry workplaces.” AASP-MN also introduced legislation to “make it an unfair claims practice for an insurer to deny payment for repair operations and procedures performed in accordance with the original vehicle manufacturer’s documented technical procedures,” Anderson shares. “While it was disappointing to have the bill pulled just hours before a scheduled hearing, we feel we’re well-positioned to advance this legislation in 2020.” Legislative efforts were also very important for other associations in 2019. ABAC promoted efforts to save the 1963 Consent Decree which pro-

hibits insurers from engaging in illegal and anticompetitive practices, plus they “enforced the appraiser’s code of ethics within [Connecticut] with respect to third party appraisal companies that were intentionally violating it,” President Bob Amendola says. ABAT was also involved with important legislation this year. Richards recalls, “Some Board Members testified in front of the Insurance Committee for our Texas House Bill that we tried to pass. It was an educational experience, and we believe our experiences this year will pay dividends when we introduce our new bill in 2021.” The collision repair industry continued to grow and advance in a variety of ways in 2019, and the experiences gained have positioned the industry’s associations to continue enhancing their membership benefits, training opportunities, efforts on behalf of the next generation, and legislative initiatives as 2020 rolls around. Autobody News looks forward to continuing to provide all the latest association news in 2019. Happy holidays from our family to yours!

A Behind-The-Scenes Look at SEMA Before Opening Day

explained the types of positions they typically hire for and the skills needed. With the Specialty Equipment MarThey included SCRS, Iket Association (SEMA) show openCAR, CREF, Service King, ing at the Las Vegas Convention and others. Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, attendees The 8th annual MSO began to arrive in Las Vegas for the Symposium was another big event. highlight. During the afShowgoers had an opportunity ternoon event, attendees to participate in several events. The had the opportunity to hear Society of Collision Repair Spe(l to r) Darin Poston, PPG, and Omar Acosta, Seward about the latest industry cialists (SCRS) Repairer Driven County Community College. Credit: Stacey Phillips trends and statistics from Education (RDE) Series kicked off Susanna Gotsch, industry today with sessions about advanced of DRPs and positioning your busibusiness communications, improv- ness for sustainability. Presenta- analyst from CCC. A panel discussion ing overall gross profit, the future tions are held throughout the week was held, focusing on the evolution of covering a wide range of OEM repair programs; panelists intopics for all segments of the collision repair industry. SEMA Education hosted a Student Career Day at the Westgate Resort Las Vegas. According to SEMA Edu- cluded Mark Allen, collision repair cation, the goal is to expose program manager of Audi North students to the diversity of America; Mike Anderson, president career opportunities avail- of Collision Advice; and Bob Mcable in the industry. There Donald, president of Summit Conwere more than 40 partic- sulting. Future trends in auto ipating companies and insurance and claims handling was organizations that inter- addressed by Clint Marlow, direc( l to r) Ariana Currim and Adriana Flores, California State University, Fullerton. Credit: Stacey Phillips acted with students and tor, Allstate. by Stacey Phillips

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autobodynews.com / DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS

The Driving Force – Women in the Automotive Industry Presented by Kukui

ship building and how we’re serving need,” Best pointed out. “We can help though. I can see people and know our customers in that arena.” make the experience less stressful. how they’re feeling. Everything I do On Oct. 18, Kukui Corporation’s Best noted, “Automotive is a It’s about taking their pain away and is based on our relationship with our Jimmy Lea hosted a webinar enti- male-dominated industry, but change making it easier for our cuscustomers, and that’s what tled “The Driving Force – Women in is starting with female shop owners. tomers. We understand the matters most.” the Automotive Industry” where he We start the relationship building. female consumer because Lea observed that 80% was joined by six automotive indus- It’s wonderful when we go to indus- we are them.” of automotive buying decitry experts who happen to try events and see so many sions are made by women, Carlson contributed, be women as they discussed women owners and lead- “Just having someone at and women spend over $2 their careers and their viers.” billion each year on autothe shop whose job isn’t to Cindy Frasca, sion of the future. Kukui’s Jarosik added, “Putting fix cars - there’s a person motive purchases and reCOO of Kukui. description of the webinar ourselves out here in public whose mission is to make pairs, yet less than 20% of pointed out, “Eighty perand sharing that we’re in so people feel welcome and comfort- the automotive workforce is comcent of all automotive buymany different facets of the able. Sometimes, people coming into prised of women. In regards to ening decisions are made by Kukui Corporation’s industry – it’s huge! It’s the shop are scared because they’re couraging women to enter the Jimmy Lea women. Every year, women such a fun industry to be in waiting to find out what’s wrong industry, Carlson rebuffed that idea: spend over $200 billion on vehicle now. It’s that ripple effect of touching with their car, but a huge smile and “I don’t want a woman working for purchases and repair services. And people. This wasn’t my greeting can change the us just because she’s a woman. I shy yet, less than 20% of the total work- dream. I don’t know that any away from making opportunities whole mood of the visit.” force in the automotive industry are of us wanted to work in the Frank concurred, “It’s just for women, but I promote all women.” automotive industry as kids, not about how we repair the opportunities in our field. I want but as soon as I started stepcars; it’s about how our a qualified employee, regardless of ping into those shoes, I knew customers feel when they gender.” I was home.” “I don’t want to open the door leave the shop.” Frank and Best are also just because you’re female,” Jarosik Dineff talked about her Leigh Anne Best, co-founders of Brakes for co-owner of Might customer service role in the said. “I want to open the door because Breasts, and Lea asked them Auto Pro Medina’s shop: “I’m not shy about the you’re skilled and have the passion to Complete Auto about their charitable organfact that I know nothing learn! We don’t just need bodies anyRepair and Care See The Driving Force, Page 38 ization which was founded about cars. I know people in 2011. In October 2019, over 230 shops participated, representing 38 (l to r) Megan Dineff, customer service manager states and two countries; 100% of the FOWLER for Ervine’s Auto Repair and Jamie Carlson, donations go to Dr. Vincent Tuohy owner of Ervine’s Auto Repair HONDA to support research for the Cleveland The panel consisted of Megan Clinic Breast Cancer Vaccine Fund. Dineff, customer service manager Frank and Best discussed how for Ervine’s Auto Repair; Jamie difficult treatment can be for victims Carlson, owner of Ervine’s Auto of breast cancer and emphasized the Repair; Cindy Frasca, COO of importance of finding a vaccine to Kukui; Kathleen Jarosik, owner prevent the disease. Carlson, a surof Xpertech Auto Repair; Laura vivor, urged shops to support Brakes Frank, co-owner of Auto Repair for Breasts and encouraged women 955 North Interstate Dr. Technology; and Leigh Anne Best, to have a mammogram done since LOUISIANA Norman, OK 73069 co-owner of Might Auto Pro Med- early detection is vital. More inforina’s Complete Auto Remation is available at www Southpoint Volkswagen 866.369.5376 pair and Care. Over 200 .brakesforbreasts.com. Baton Rouge 405-573-5719 attendees registered for the When Lea asked the pan800-291-0032 parts@fowlerhonda.com webinar which began with a elists about the unique ways 225-236-6194 conversation about how that women are improving M-F 7am-9pm Fax: 225-236-6201 each panelist got involved in the industry, Frank exSat 8am-4pm the industry and what opporplained, “The consumer has M-F 7:30am-6pm tunities the industry offers. changed in the past couple Kathleen Jarosik, brvwpaulj@bellsouth.net n Wide Delivery Area Dineff jokingly indi- owner of Xpertech decades, and it’s become a n Competitive Pricing Auto Repair cated that Carlson, her female dominant consumer, n Large Inventory mother, tricked her into the busi- so it’s comforting for them to see a n Honda Certified Staff ness, and Carlson emphasized that woman at the front counter and to there are many opportunities in the have that female touch in the shop, industry for men and women. Frank such as clean bathrooms and fresh agreed, “The industry has really paint.” changed, and it’s not just about fix“We are women so we are better ing cars anymore. It’s about relation- able to understand what women by Chasidy Rae Sisk

DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

autobodynews.com / DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS

From the Desk of Mike Anderson with Mike Anderson

Mike Anderson is the president and owner of Collision Advice, a consulting company for the auto body/collision repair industry. For nearly 25 years, he was the owner of Wagonwork Collision Center, an OEM-certified, full-service auto body repair facility in Alexandria, VA.

Understanding and Performing the Needed Seat Calibrations The need for vehicle seat calibrations isn’t new. Many years ago, Will Latuff of Latuff Brothers Auto Body in Minnesota forwarded me information pertaining to a seat calibration needed on a Honda. I started looking into it and found there are several vehicles that require these seat calibrations after a collision. Despite this information, last year’s “Who Pays for What?” survey found that 20% of shops have never asked to be paid for such a calibration. (Hopefully that doesn’t mean they aren’t doing them). I think there are a number of things that shops aren’t always considering when it comes to seat calibrations. First, you need to understand why resetting or calibrating the seat sensors is so critical. The system tells the vehicle about the person driving the vehicle as well as the passenger (if there is one). This is important because in the event of an accident, how the airbag deploys may vary depending on whether I’m the one

driving the vehicle – at 180 pounds – versus my sister driving the vehicle at 102 pounds. In some cases, the system tells the vehicle not to deploy some of the airbags, such if there’s no passenger in the vehicle, or if the passenger is a small child. Second, you have to research the OEM repair procedures related to them every time because they vary by automaker and from vehicle model to model. Some Toyotas, for example, require a seat calibration after any accident, no matter what, even if the vehicle was parked and unoccupied when it was hit. However, on other Toyota models, a calibration is required only if a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) related to the system has been set – yet another reason that performing a vehicle diagnostic scan is so critical. There’s no onesize-fits-all approach. Some of the systems may even reset themselves after a test drive; so, you have to check the procedures to know what the particular requirements are for

representatives. “I’m not going to compare men and women from an HR perspective,” Frasca quipped, continuing, “What I will tell you is more. We need smart people that can that we get amazing people through word of mouth. There are keep up with the technology certain aspects we’re lookand want to do this. This curing for in associates. We rent generation that’s graduneed people who care, pay ating from high school seems attention to details and reto be more open to going to ally want to do what’s best technical schools and enterfor our customers.” ing non-conventional female The panelists continued careers.” Laura Frank, co-owner of Auto their fun, conversational The discussion turned to how acceptable it is be- Repair Technology tone as they answered attencoming to attend technical schools dees’ questions, and the webinar concompared to pursuing a four-year de- cluded with Kukui’s Patrick Egan gree, and the panelists also conversed conducting a drawing for a $100 on the expense of being a technician, Amazon gift card. A replay of the the tools that must be purchased, and webinar is available at www.kukui the largest items, such as scan tools, .com/blog/women-in-auto-care-1. Lea announced that the next that are becoming imperative for the shop to invest in. Topics covered webinar would include several labor rates, certification, licensing, more extraordinary human beings, including Mary Steele, executive and educating consumers. Lea then turned to Frasca to ask director of ASA Florida, and he inwhat Kukui does to attract female vited Jarosik to return as a panelist.

the specific vehicle you are repairing. Automakers use different terminology for various systems, which presents another challenge. It might be called an occupant classification sensor (OCS), an occupant detection sensor (ODS), a weight calibration sensor (WCS), or a “passenger sensing system.” Many automakers refer to the process as a “zero-point calibration” of the system. I find one of the best ways to start researching seat calibration requirements is by checking the vehicle owner’s manual. It will tell you what the automaker calls the system, and can help you explain the importance to the customer. In the owner’s manual for a particular Nissan model, for example, it clearly states, “If there’s any impact to your vehicle from any direction, then your occupant classification sensor

(OCS) should be checked.” It goes on to say: “Failure to verify proper OCS function may result in an improper airbag deployment resulting in injury or death.” This is serious stuff. Knowing what the automaker calls their system will help you locate the information you need in the OEM repair procedures, often under the “safety restraint system” section; but, it can be tricky. Nissan often refers to the “occupant classification sensor” (OCS), but the information in Nissan’s TechInfo website may be under “zero-point reset.” Using the vehicle owner’s manual and the OEM repair procedures every time will help you understand and perform any needed seat calibrations, and help justify the need and importance of the procedure to your customer or any billpayer.

Continued from Page 36

The Driving Force

DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

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WD-40 Partners With SEMA Cares to Create Old School 1966 Ford Bronco SEMA attendees got a chance to look at the WD-40® X SEMA Cares “Year of the Bronco” was the theme 1966 Boosted Bronco and see at the 2019 SEMA Show, and that’s demonstrations of WD-40 Brand why WD-40 Company, in conjunc- products, many of which were used tion with SEMA Cares rebuilt a 1966 during the Boosted Bronco restoration. Every year, WD-40 selects a vehicle rebuilder for its reputation and skillset to work on its SEMA Cares car. This year it was LGECTS Motorsports of San Dimas, CA, with Louie Morosan and his two daughters Theresa and Sarah working side-by-side to make the Bronco a show-stopper. “It was a pleasure to do this vehicle because it is More than 20 companies were involved in the build by going to raise money for a donating their time, skills, or products to the project. good cause,” Louie MoCredit: Ed Attanasio rosan said. “It made it even Ford Bronco. After its appearance in sweeter to do the work with my two WD-40’s booth, it will be auctioned daughters and members of our crew. off to raise money for ChildHelp, a We are in this business to make nonprofit organization dedicated to money, of course, but when we can the prevention and treatment of child do something special like this with a major name like WD-40, that makes abuse. by Ed Attanasio

it really satisfying and good for the soul.” Morales, SEMA Garage mechanical engineer, played a role in the design of the Boosted Bronco. “We always love partnering up with companies such as WD-40,” he said. “We wanted to retain a lot of the original aspects of this 1966 Ford Bronco, but we added a more powerful engine and a lot of new features. To get so many eyes on this vehicle and get such great feedback throughout the

show is really a big deal!” WD-40 Brand debuted the Boosted Bronco three years ago at the 2017 SEMA Show with builder Aaron Vaccar, with rave reviews. That year, the Boosted Bronco was given a 3.5L eco-boost, a twin-turbocharged engine with six-speed automatic transmission. For the 2019 SEMA Show, WD-40 wanted to surpass what was achieved two years ago, so it took the rebuild to the next level and made numerous updates, including a brand-new fuel system and custom exhaust; custom fabricated turbo piping; new front and rear suspension with a 5inch lift and new front and rear axles; custom brown leather seats, a rear bench and fully carpeted interior to give an old-school aesthetic; new front and rear door panels with side mir(l to r) LGE-CTS Motorsports of San Dimas, CA, turned the rerors; six-point roll cage and building project into a family affair, with Louie Morosan and new exterior trim, wheels his two daughters Sara (left) and Theresa (right) working on the SEMA Cares 1966 Ford Bronco.Credit: Ed Attanasio and tires.

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“It’s great to be able to modify an iconic vehicle like the Ford Bronco using WD-40 Brand products, particularly as the 2021 release approaches,” said Mike Spagnola, SEMA vice president of OEM and

profits benefitting ChildHelp, one of the charities supported by SEMA Cares. “The WD-40® X SEMA Cares 1966 Boosted Bronco build is meant to inspire the next generation of automotive technicians to live life hands-on and continues WD-40 Company’s commitment to giving back,” said Erin Bala, director of brand marketing and innovation at WD-40 Company, which to date has donated more than $1 million to SEMA Cares charities through vehicle restoration and auctions. In addition to checking out the Boosted Bronco at the WD-40 Brand booth, SEMA Show attendees were SEMA Garage Mechanical Engineers Luis Morales (left) able to test the brand new and Conner Forcucci-Morris worked on the vehicle. WD-40® Specialist® PeneCredit: Steve Cummings, WD-40 trant with a Flexible Straw product development. “We’re hon- as it debuted at the show. Attendees ored to be able to participate in the could also enter for a chance to win build with WD-40 Company and sup- a collection of WD-40 Brand products and gear. port SEMA Cares.” They also learned how WD-40 After being on display at the SEMA Show, the vehicle will be auc- Multi-Use Product and the WD-40® tioned off with 100 percent of the Specialist® line of products played

a critical role in the Boosted Bronco build, including WD-40® Specialist® Carb/Throttle Body & Parts Cleaner; WD-40® Specialist® Industrial-Strength Cleaner & Degreaser; WD-40® Specialist® Penetrant with Flexible Straw; WD-40® Specialist® Electrical Contact Cleaner Spray; WD-40 EZ-REACH; WD-40® Specialist® Spray & Stay Gel Lubricant and WD-40® Specialist® True MultiPurpose Grease. Build partners that donated products for use on the Bronco include: Currie Enterprises; Wilwood Brakes; Wheel Pros; Toyo Tires; Energy Suspension; Drake Automotive; Solo Motorsports; Skyjacker Suspension; Lund International; NRG; Classic Instruments; Auto Custom Carpets; LGE-CTS; Distinctive Industries; PPG; Lokar; Magnaflow; Summit Racing; Hellwig Products; Yukon Gear & Axle; Tom’s Bronco Parts; Wild Horses 4x4; Flaming River; Tom Woods Custom Driveshafts; Greddy Performance Products; Weld Hard Fabrication; Covercraft; Painless Wiring; 3D Liquid Graphics; and Optima Batteries.

NABC 2019 Award Winners Announced

At the 2019 SEMA Show, the National Auto Body Council (NABC) presented the awards to its annual award winners. “There are collision repairers who are doing incredible work to build their businesses and serve their local communities,” said Bill Garoutte, president and CEO of the NABC. The NABC Body Shop Image Award was presented to Paul Branning of Branning Collision, with six locations in New Jersey. They were selected for décor and ambiance at their location at 98 Crow Hill Rd., Freehold, NJ. The NABC Award of Distinction was given to April Lausch, marketing manager for Faulkner Collision Center with 12 locations in Pennsylvania. Faulkner was honored for her support of many NABC events over the year. “We are so proud to be able to recognize the leaders in shaping the image of the collision repair industry,” said Marie Peevy, co-chair of the NABC Awards Committee.

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The Future of DRP: Is There One? by Autobody News Contributor

With an estimated 22,000 collision repair shops across the country dependent on Direct Repair Programs (DRPs), Pete Tagliapietra of NuGen IT said businesses need to pay close attention to the paradigm shift occurring in the industry related to these programs. Tagliapietra explored the current status and future outlook of DRPs in his recent SEMA presentation, “The Future of DRP: Is There One?” His talk was part of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) Repairer Driven Education (RDE) Series. Tagliapietra discussed four main reasons that the number of DRPs have been shrinking for top insurers. They include high administrative costs to run DRP programs, the growth of MSOs, alternative appraisal methods now being deployed and new technologies that are changing shops’ business relationships with insurers. “Insurance companies are selling a commodity product—it’s all about price,” explained Tagliapietra. During his presentation, he pointed out that both GEICO and Progressive have had rapid growth in market share over the last several years because both have focused on

ing action a number of ways to reduce costs. One of which is striving to reduce Loss Adjustment Expense (LAE). This is the amount that it costs an insurance company to adjust a claim. Tagliapietra said insurance companies are working to reduce their infrastructure by eliminating field and independent ap-

(l to r) Stacey Phillips and Pete Tagliapietra

praisers and relying on inside desk appraisers and third-party administrators, such as Snapsheet. They are also reducing management and administrative support and raising prices. In addition, he said companies are increasingly deploying what he referred to as the “self-service model.” This is when a vehicle owner takes photos of the damage, forwards them to the insurer through an app with the license plate and VIN number, the es-

“Over the next five years, you will see OEM certified repair networks have a big influence on how cars get repaired and where they get repaired.” — Pete Tagliapietra “price,” while other companies, such as Allstate, Farmers Insurance Group, State Farm and Travelers Insurance have typically sold “service” and as a result, lost market share. “While these companies focused on service over the years, they lost market share and GEICO and Progressive took it,” he explained. “This is relevant because as those companies shifted and they had their own claims processing models, the number of DRP shops in this country continued to shrink and will continue to shrink.” In response to changes in the industry and the diminishing number of DRPs, he said top insurers are tak42

timate is written and then sent to the repair shop of choice. “Five years ago, this model didn’t represent even 3 percent of the claims processed,” said Tagliapietra. “We now have companies that have reached over 30 percent of self-serve photo estimates sent in by the vehicle owner … and they love it.” Insurance companies are also embracing technology to analyze and audit claims. Tagliapietra highlighted several of these technologies in his presentation, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), image recognition, machine learning, predictive analytics and robotics automation.

DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

Options for Collision Repairers For many collision repair businesses, particularly those located in rural areas with one or two DRPs, the changes with DRP programs has caused a significant impact on their companies. Tagliapietra suggested several options independent repairers can consider incorporating into their businesses to meet these challenges. Currently, there are opportunities for collision facilities to seek DRP relationships with second-tier insurers, according to Tagliapietra. For the most part, these companies don’t have the same infrastructure challenges as the top 20 insurers. He suggested shops reach out to local companies and demonstrate they are willing to meet Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). “Learn more about the regional carriers in your local and state market area and how you want to promote business to them,” said Tagliapietra. “Then, call and find out who the local DRP coordinator is and let him

or her know how you can differentiate yourself in performance.” He stressed the importance of understanding that insurance companies are focused on cycle time, alternative parts, customer service and indemnity management. “If shops can promote and support those KPIs for insurance companies, they may be selected to participate in a DRP,” he added. Another option for shops, especially for those that aren’t part of a DRP, is registering and participating in a non-network services program such as Customer Shop of Choice and Open Shop, which send assignments to shops via the Internet. Ameriprise’s Shop of Choice Program is an example of online claims handling for nonDRP shops. Tagliapietra recommended getting aligned with one or two of the 18 OEM certified repair networks available based on the most popular vehicles in a shop’s geographic area. Although these programs are often costly, he said it’s worth considering. See The Future of DRP, Page 48

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Glass Installation and ADAS – The Game is Changing by Gary Ledoux

From the dawn of the automotive age up until around the early 1970s, a windshield’s job was simple - keep rain and snow away from the car’s occupants. In the mid-1970s, windshields took on a more active role adding structural integrity to the car’s body thereby increasing occupant safety. In the mid-1980s, the windshield served as an integral part of an airbag system, ensuring that the airbag was able to stay in front of the vehicle’s front-seat occupants mitigating injury. Today, the windshield not only protects occupants, but serves as a protective cover for front-

auto glass industry. By 1999, AGSC had developed the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standard (AGRSS) in partnership with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Since that time, many safety-conscious auto glass retailers have voluntarily agreed to follow the AGRSS Standard and have become AGSC members. The AGSC has provided the necessary standard for auto glass retailers to follow to make sure all precautions are taken to ensure driver and passenger safety. Unlike OE certification programs in the collision repair world, AGSC glass shops must agree to

“I cringe when someone tells me they had a windshield replaced at a non-AGSC shop, and the shop manager told the customer that recalibration is not necessary on an ADAS-equipped car.” — Debra Levy facing cameras as part of the car’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). It becomes, in effect, a “second lens” that the camera must “look” through. So, it is imperative that the glass acuity be clear, precise and unobstructed – and that the camera is recalibrated upon the windshield’s replacement. “In the past,” said glass industry consultant Bob Beranek, “glass and labor was cheap. A $300 windshield replacement was just a nuisance claim for an insurance company. Today, the replacement of a hightech windshield with recalibration can be upwards of $1,000 or more. No wonder insurance companies are taking notice.” Debra Levy, president of the Auto Glass Safety Council (AGSC) located in Stafford, VA, has a positive outlook on the fast-changing world of auto glass replacement despite challenges created by the need to recalibrate ADAS systems after a windshield is replaced. The AGSC was founded in the late 1990s when professionals from windshield manufacturers, car makers, adhesive companies, and auto glass retailers came together with the goal of defining auto glass safety. This group began the process of establishing a safety standard for the 44

maintain certain standards and protocols for repair and are periodically audited by a third party. And unlike I-CAR or ASE in the collision repair world, AGSC administers installer certification. In addition, AGSC provides education for the insurance industry and consumers. Levy noted, “The regular standards have been around for 20 years now. These deal with proper procedures, installation safety, and using the correct adhesive and sealant systems. We are developing and will soon launch standards and protocols for dealing with cars with ADAS systems. This will include identifying the different systems and how to properly calibrate front-facing cameras. This is a positive step for the glass repair and replacement industry and something that is sorely needed.” Of the estimated 8,000 to 12,000 auto glass installation companies operating in the U.S., about 1,000 are AGSC members and considered top performers. At present, glass installers are taking several different approaches to deal with ADAS equipped cars. Levy notes that AGSC members follow one of four options. Some have stepped up, purchased the necessary equipment and are recalibrating cars themselves. Some use an independent company that specializes in re-

DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

calibrating ADAS cars. (A cottage industry has grown up around this operation). Some send the car to the local OE dealer. And some simply notify the customer that the car has to be recalibrated, and that they should contact their local car dealer for their make. Some uneducated glass installers may not even mention it or completely dismiss the idea of recalibration. Levy noted, “I cringe when someone tells me they had a windshield replaced at a non-AGSC shop, and the shop manager told the customer that recalibration is not necessary on an ADAS-equipped car.” At the last Auto Glass Week trade show held in September in Indianapolis, a two-hour, standingroom-only panel discussion on recalibration was held. Co-sponsored by the AGSC for the third year running, this was one of the most popular events of the show. Installers were hungry for information. The panel fielded questions such as: • Are there any red flags that

will tell me if a job will require more research before starting? • How do I know if a car will be a major hassle before I even start on it? • Some car dealers are telling us they can’t see our customer’s car (for recalibration) for a week. How do we deal with that? • The dealers are not informed (about how to work on an ADASequipped car.) They don’t read their own literature. How do we deal with that?

One of the questions that arose about recalibrating is: should a glass installer start a separate company just for doing recalibration operations? One installer gave an emphatic “yes” and said that was one of the first things he did. Levy explains, “Having a separate company more easily allows them to do work for others including glass installers, body shops, and mechanical shops. It avoids a conflict of interest and insurance companies have an easier time reimbursing for the operation if it is sublet to a third party.” Beranek See Glass Installation, Page 48

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Industry Insight with John Yoswick

—John Yoswick is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon who has been writing about the automotive industry since 1988. He is the editor of the weekly CRASH Network (for a free 4-week trial subscription, visit www.CrashNetwork.com). Contact him by email at jyoswick@SpiritOne.com.

Tesla Promises Better Parts Service, More Support for Body Shops With nearly 500,000 plug-in electric vehicles now sold, Tesla has more such vehicles on the road in the United States than Chevrolet and Nissan combined. That means collision repairers, particularly those in key Tesla markets – like California, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey and Illinois – are likely to see one roll into their shops for repairs. Or will they? Tesla already operates more than a dozen of its own body shops, and the automaker has said it will more than double that in the coming months. “Why are we doing this? From our perspective, we need to create more capacity to repair our vehicles,” said Alex Tsetsenekos, a former executive at Liberty Mutual who Tesla hired last year to lead its effort to offer a better insurance option for owners of the company’s vehicles.

Operating its own shops, he said, is part of the company’s effort to lower the cost of ownership ¬– including insurance – for Tesla drivers. “We’re seeing that we can be anywhere from 20 percent to 30 per-

“They don’t want to drive an Enterprise car for four weeks. We also see demand from consumers who say, ‘Look, would you just fix it? You made it. You fix it.’ So we took that to heart.”

“Because of the way we construct our vehicles, we total fewer of them,” — Alex Tsetsenekos cent lower in repair costs than your standard repair shop,” Tsetsenekos said. “So we’re happy to take that [repair] volume so we can drive down that cost, affecting the consumer in terms of their [insurance] rates.” Reducing cycle time with the added capacity also gets its customers back in their cars more quickly, he said. “They bought a Tesla and want to drive a Tesla,” Tsetsenekos said.

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area is in part because Tesla’s shops have the needed training, tools and “knowledge transfer.” That’s why the automaker wants to increase the number of its certified shops. “Once [those shops] have all those capabilities and you direct the vehicles to those shops, I think we will see severity really fall,” Tsetsenekos said. Tesla is doubling the size of its collision repair support team to about 40 people, he said. In addition, certified shops (as well as insurers) have access to that team if they find a Tesla procedure for a particular repair that doesn’t exist. “There’s an entire facility where all they do is break down the cars and simulate how we are going to [make a repair],” Tsetsenekos said. “They will pull engineers out of the factory to come down and work with them. In three days, we will turn around a

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new procedure to fix something that you don’t have an answer for. Within five days, we publish it to everyone who has access to our tools.” While Tesla’s Elon Musk has sometimes cast the blame for what he sees as slow repairs of Teslas by shops, Tsetsenekos acknowledged that weaknesses in the company’s parts logistics have contributed to repair delays and added costs. “We’ve taken that to heart at the most senior level,” Tsetsenekos said. “The ability to have the parts when and where they are needed is something that, quite frankly, other OEMs have a long track record of delivering. Part of it is their dealer networks. Part of it is they have just had years and years to develop that.” He said the company’s body shop team is being responsive to that issue, and at times has gone into the factory “and literally taken a part off the line and driven it down to a shop, saying, ‘Here’s your part.’” Other improvements in parts logistics are underway, he said, and by next spring, Tesla will have it parts “logistics capability up relative to our competitors” like Ford or GM.

Tesla also has followed through with its plans, announcing earlier this year, to begin selling auto insurance to owners of its vehicles in California, with plans to expand the offering to other states. Tesla claims the rates it offers are as much as 30 percent lower than those of other insurers. The automaker is working with State National Insurance Company on the program. State National

is a subsidiary of Markel Corporation, the 47th-largest personal auto insurance company in the United States (with similar market share as Horace Mann, American Access, Wawanesa General, and Safety Insurance Group). Data from Tesla vehicles, particularly when in autonomous mode, “will decrease the frequency and severity of collision claims for Tesla owners,” State National has said in regulatory filings about what will allow it to offer insurance

at a lower cost. But Tesla is also making efforts to work more closely with other insurance companies in an effort to reduce the costs of policies for Tesla owners. One advantage for both body shops and insurers, Tsetsenekos said, is that only about 4 percent of Teslas are declared total losses, when comparable luxury brands are totaled at three to five times that rate. “Because of the way we construct our vehicles, we total fewer of them,” he said. He thinks that even low total loss rate could be improved further by getting more of the wrecked vehicles into Tesla-owned or certified shops. “There are situations where we have had body shops call us and say they’re going to total the car,” Tsetsenekos said. “When we’ve peeled that back, they were struggling to repair certain aspects of the vehicle. So they had a discussion with a field adjuster and said, ‘We don’t know [how to repair this],’ so it’s a total. That’s been one of the themes we’ve seen. It’s not every time, but it’s more than an anecdote.”

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LKQ Announces Its Promise of Calibration

LKQ Corporation is providing customer peace of mind by introducing its Promise of Calibration. The Promise of Calibration states: “LKQ Corporation warrants that all recycled OEM, reconditioned OEM and KeysIQ parts purchased directly from LKQ and installed on a private passenger vehicle, are suitable for the calibration of appropriate ADAS components with properly operating systems.” As an added benefit, LKQ provided further assurance by supplementing the Promise of Calibration to include the actual diagnostic and calibration labor operation. “Providing this level of comfort and commitment for our parts and services benefits all stakeholders within the collision repair and glass industries including repair shops, insurers, and most importantly, vehicle owners,” said Terry Fortner, LKQ North American vice president of sales and marketing.

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Continued from Page 44

Glass Installation

added, “They can even do calibrations for car dealers.” Recently, Safelite, famous for replacing windshields at a customer’s “home or office” launched a new television ad that shows a customer bringing her car to a Safelite shop where the windshield is replaced and front camera recalibrated, a nuanced difference to be sure which retail consumers may not notice, but is not lost on those in the industry. Levy noted, “Depending on the car, the work may need to be done in a controlled environment or it may be done on-site. Obviously, if a vehicle needs to be on a perfectly flat surface a street or parking lot may not be the best place.” Bob Beranek is the principal for Automotive Glass Consultants in Sun Prairie, WI, providing training, information and consulting services to the glass repair and replacement industry. Beranek noted, “The business model of changing a windshield at a

person’s home or place of business is quickly coming to a close. Most cars can’t be effectively calibrated in the field after a windshield replacement.” Beranek notes that most domestic cars require a dynamic calibration, meaning the car has to be driven a certain number of miles or time under certain conditions to recalibrate the forward-facing camera. Most foreign cars can be recalibrated in static mode, meaning the car sits still during the process. Other cars, like Honda, require both. And some OE’s do not release recalibration information publicly – they make it available to only their dealers. This really limits the number of places and the conditions under which this brand of car can safely be recalibrated. Asked about the liability that a glass installer may face if they don’t properly address a car with an ADAS system after a windshield replacement Beranek said, “If the installer does not do the calibration themselves, or subcontract someone else to do it, or at least tell the customer that it has to be done and have the customer sign off on it, the installer could be liable in the case of a sub-

participating in social media and digital marketing. Tagliapietra invited a media consultant, Stacey Phillips, to explain why it is relevant “OEMs are becoming increas- and how it can help grow a collision ingly concerned about protecting repair business. Phillips shared some of the bentheir brands,” said Tagliapietra. “Over the next five years, you will see OEM efits of digital marketing, in particular certified repair networks have a big social media, with attendees. They included more accessibility to customers; the ability to interact with customers and find out what their needs are; and the opportunity to build relationships with insurance companies. She also said it can be very cost-effective for businesses and is measurable. Pete Tagliapietra spoke on “The Future of DRP: Is There “The bottom-line is that One?” during SEMA 2019 your competitors are online influence on how cars get repaired and it’s becoming vital to survival,” said Phillips. “As DRP programs and where they get repaired.” In addition, Tagliapietra men- continue to shrink, it’s important tioned that shops can seek to be a for businesses to look at new ways preferred dealer repair service and/or of marketing. This will not only a third-party administrator (TPA) help publicize their businesses in their local market, but it will also network shop. The presentation also included help contribute to their future sucinformation about the importance of cess moving forward.” Continued from Page 42

The Future of DRP

DECEMBER 2019 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

sequent accident. That said, a car may be perfectly recalibrated. Five minutes later, the settings can be knocked off by hitting a pothole or driving through a construction site thereby mitigating the installer’s liability.” Beranek agrees with Levy’s assertion that a cottage industry continues to grow around postglass-replacement front-camera recalibration. He says, “Companies like Snap-On, Opti-Aim, Autel, and asTech and soon AirPro all have equipment that will cover 90% of the cars on the road. The equipment is expensive, but the process is not difficult. The process may require a certain amount of unobstructed flat space, where ambient light can be controlled. But if an enterprising person wants to invest in it, they have a ready-made and growing business.” OE dealers are perhaps the most qualified to do post-glass-replacement ADAS recalibrations and should have the corner on the market. Instead, most have shunned the work and the profit it might have generated, creating a void within the industry filled by small one and two-

Bill Shaw is Recipient of CIF Service Award

The Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) is proud to announce that the first-ever CIF Distinguished Service Award was presented to long-time Board member, Bill Shaw, at the SEMA Red Carpet awards breakfast on Nov. 6, 2019. Shaw joined the CIF Board as a Trustee in 2008, served as Board Vice President in 2009 2010, and was appointed to the position of Board President in 2011, serving in this role for the next nine years and working diligently to provide assistance to industry families in need of assistance. Shaw has been a tireless promoter of the CIF mission, demonstrating a selfless commitment to the cause, spending countless hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of hours over the past 12 years working with donors, recipients, and helping to drive awareness of CIF. The CIF Board of Trustees extends their deep gratitude to Shaw for his enduring support over the years.

person operations. When asked what the future may hold, Beranek noted, “It wouldn’t be hard to make these cars self-calibrating, especially for the forward-facing camera which drives a lot of the system. This could be the case in as little as five to ten years. Today, the OE’s may be afraid that a self-calibrating system may open themselves up to lawsuits if the system doesn’t perform properly, but that is true of any system in the car.” On the question of current liability for glass installers, and since he has served as an industry expert on several glass-related lawsuits (not ADAS related because it is too soon) Beranek said, “Right now, everyone is trying to figure this out. ADAS is new to the industry. It snuck up on us and is not yet on lawyer’s radar. Eventually, a system will fail, someone will get hurt, it will go back to the glass installer, and the lawyers will be all over this.”

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AkzoNobel’s Workflow System Gets Patent

SEMA Show Kicks Off With Award Announcements, Celebrities & Educational Opportunities tions from 2,400 exhibiting companies. Showgoers were able to meet More than 160,000 people attended the Specialty Equipment Market automotive celebrities, including Association (SEMA) Show in Las Wayne Carini, Chip Foose, Dave Vegas. The four-day-long event Kindig and Richard Rawlings. One of the highlights of the kicked off on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Durshow is the New Products Breakfast held the first day of SEMA. The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) received the award for Best New Collison Repair & Refinish Product for its newly launched Complete Guide to Repair Planning - Blueprinting Optimization Tool. GUNIWHEEL received the runner-up award. Look for a detailed article by Ed Attanasio Jeff Peevy, CIC chairman, pictured with his wife about the award winners Marie, and Marcia (in red dress) and Matthew in the next issue of Auto(sitting) Seebachan. Credit: Stacey Phillips body News. The SCRS Repairer Driven Eding the week, attendees will have the opportunity to walk through 1.2 ucation (RDE) Series sessions were million net square feet of exhibit held throughout the day. Dave space and an additional one million Smith of Auto Damage Experts square feet of features and attrac- talked about completing thorough by Stacey Phillips

Carbeat™, AkzoNobel’s state-ofthe-art digital bodyshop workflow control solution that enables automotive body repair shops to track their work in production and thus operate more efficiently, has been awarded a patent. The U.S. Patent Office found the Carbeat system inventive based on several outstanding features, including its use of drag-and-drop functionality, and its identification and use of trend data for more efficient body shop planning. “We are very happy our software fulfills the strict requirements for this patent,” says Mike Sillay, product manager services, AkzoNobel. “Technology is playing a growing role in our industry. Our mission is to help collision repair professionals save time and money, and we are proud of the system our team has created to help achieve that.” To date, Carbeat is being utilized in 15 countries and is available in 17 languages.

and workmanlike repairs and Lee Rush from Sherwin-Williams Automotive Refinish held a session titled, “Sick and tired of collision management the old way?” In addition, Brett Steele of Podium talked about why collision centers should be texting. Held in conjunction with the SEMA Show is the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) meeting. CIC Chairman Jeff Peevy has set aside an empty chair at each meeting to represent the consumer. Peevy filled that empty chair with special guests Marcia and Matthew Seebachan. The Seebachans were the owners of the Honda Fit vehicle that was in the accident that resulted in a $42 million lawsuit. Peevy, and his wife, Marie, interviewed the Seebachans about their experience and the human impact of poor repair decisions. Check the Autobody News Facebook page for show updates. More information about the SEMA show can be found online: https://www .semashow.com/.

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