Bodyworx Professional 5#1

special edition

RACE THROUGH CAIS: ON THE GROUND AT CANADA’S #1 AUTO SHOW

of

FOR ROBOT EYES ONLY

All you need to know about the AV paint colour spectrum

DESIGNED TO WIN

MANITOBA CRASH COURSE

Training the next generation of autobody technicians and painters in Red River College

The painter behind the SATA Sailor Lady gun

Painting it Forward

Gabriel Merino shares life-lessons from the shop floor

+ Plus How to optimize paint production; Josh Dunand’s detailing business and much, much more!

April 2018

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$7.95

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Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40841632

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CONTENTS

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cover story 15 Painting it Forward Gabriel Merino has built a movement from inspiring others. regulars 4 Publisher’s Page

by Darryl Simmons

8 Educator Insight

by Cecile Bukmeier

All in the Detailing Learn about Joshua Dunand’s success in building two businesses from the ground up.

10 Education

by Bill Speed

12 Industry Insight

by Mark Millson

44 News Collision 360 hosts aluminum rivet bonding course and much more!

46 Final Detail

by Erin McLaughlin

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Sweet Wheels!

Gearing Up

The Canadian International Autoshow makes tread marks in Toronto

Red River College’s Transportation Department offers a pre-employment course in collision repair and refinishing.

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features New Products 24 Sailor Lady

42 Communication is Key

The artists behind the SATA gun designs.

The Art and Science of Estimator Interactions teaches clarity with customers.

27 AV Paint Adding more colour to autonomous cars.

43 In it Together

31 Maximize Your Time

With a little help from his friends, Brice Maier of CARSTAR East Lake Calgary is on track to achieve his dreams.

Five ways to optimize paint production.

The DeVilbiss SRiPro Lite Micro spot repair gun.

on the cover: Gabriel Merino, autobody painter at Budd’s Collision and founder of the Motivated Painters movement.

Photo taken by Kristina Smith.

April 2018 bodyworx professional

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Pre-Scan

spread the word We need you to pass the massage on!

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appraiser or a high school student, take a good solid look through the magazine and pass it on to anyone you believe could benefit from its message. Let them know that they are able to sign up for a free subscription.

The whole collision repair industry needs to work together to increase awareness about the amazing opportunities available in the field, and change attitudes in order to get more talented young people involved.

Our goal is to validate this industry, and those who have made the decision to embark on a life in it. who instills the industry with a powerful sense of passion. And the things passion can do for a person and their community are impossible to ignore.

Featured on this issue’s cover, the young painter at Budds’ Collision Services in Oakville, Ontario exudes passion when he talks about painting and refinishing cars. It is an infectious enthusiasm that mirrors this magazine’s mandate. Bodyworx Professional strives raise awareness of the positive aspects of the industry for those considering career options.

It’s the least we can do for an industry filled with people that deserve to be recgnized.

Our goal is to validate this industry, and those who have made the decision to embark on a life in it.

We also hope to rekindle that same passionate love for the field in those who already working here. In this issue, we do this by celebrating success stories like Gabe’s.

But we can’t do it alone. Whether you are a shop owner, an insurance

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EDITor Erin McLaughlin 905.370.0101 erin@mediamatters.ca Associate EDITor Gideon Scanlon 905.370.0101 gideon@mediamatters.ca

Darryl Simmons

very so often you come across someone who epitomizes all that is wonderful about the collision repair industry. Sure, they are charming and presentable, and the work they do is something particularly special. But more importantly, they love what they do. Really love it.

For these people, their work is not just a job. It is, rather a vocation they feel a calling to do. Gabriel Merino is one such person—one of many individuals

PUBLISHER Darryl Simmons 647.409.7070 publisher@collisionrepairmag.com

This is an industry jam-packed with exciting careers, offering countless opportunities for advancement and fulfillment.

Bodyworx Professional is the only publication in the country, and maybe even North America or the world, dedicated to promoting the industry in order to attract and retain the talented and ambitious personnel the industry deserves. This is a fantastic field and we want to make that known to as many young people as possible.

With your help in spreading the message, and passing around this magazine, we will attract into the industry more talented youth like Gabe.

If you need more copies to give out at your school, shop or event, just give use a call.

Creative Department Michelle Miller 905.370.0101 michelle@mediamatters.ca VP Industry Relations & Advertising Gloria Mann 647.998.5677 advertising@collisionrepairmag.com Managing Director iMM/Director Business Solutions & Marketing Ellen Smith 416.312.7446 ellen@mediamatters.ca Contributors Cecile Bukmeier, Bill Speed, Mark Millson, Justin Jimmo, Harland Goulbourne, Kristina Smith, Barett Poley, Tom Venetis, Brad Cole SUBSCRIPTION One-year $29.95 / Two-year $49.95 Bodyworx Professional™ is published bi-monthly, and is dedicated to serving the business interests of the collision repair industry. It is published by Media Matters Inc. Material in Bodyworx Professional™ may not be reproduced in any form without written consent from the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statements made by its advertisers or independent columnists. All facts, opinions, statements appearing in this publication are those of the writers and editors themselves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions or endorsements by the publisher.

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“We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.”

Bodyworx Professional is published by Media Matters Inc., publishers of:

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NEW PRODUCTS

Hot and Cool Step your game up with these new products

DeVilbiss: SRiPro Lite Micro spot repair gun DeVilbiss Automotive Refinishing recently introduced the new SRiPro Lite Micro spot repair gun. Said to combine the performance, fit and durability of a full-size spray gun with a lightweight design and pinpoint delivery system, DeVilbiss claims the SRiPro Lite Micro is ideal for minor and spot repairs, and is for anyone working in the SMART Repair and Mobile Tech industries. In the SRiPro Lite Micro, DeVilbiss is featuring its latest in micro repair air cap technology, the MC1 air cap. When paired with the 0.6mm tip, this cap produces a spray pat-

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tern from ¼” to 4” while holding a true fan shape and using minimum paint, according to the company. DeVilbiss also says the gun’s retooled trigger mechanism smooths the trigger action—ideal for fine control and light feathering. Advertised as being anodized inside and out for waterborne compatibility, and designed for use with primers, basecoats and clear coats, DeVilbiss includes an HV5 (HVLP) air cap, DeKups 9oz starter set, a torx wrench and a spanner wrench in its kit.

For more information, please visit autorefinishdevilbiss.com.

NEW PRODUCTS

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SATA: SATAjet 5000 B According to the company, the SATAjet 5000 B was designed to reliably operate, despite application distance and inlet pressure, by allowing the painter to optimize settings to match what is required by different paints, climate conditions and personal preferences. With the input of Porsche’s design studio, SATA says it focused on creating an ergonomic and stylish tool with a perloxal surface to make cleaning a breeze. With a trigger sleeve positioned to allow for safe and quick insertion of the paint needle. SATA also highlights the 5000 B’s half-turn spray fan control.

For more information, please visit sata.com.

Martech: P-20 Personal Breathing Unit Martech says that, when used properly, the device will work with the existing filtered compressed air supply. The unit will provide a bypass of air for a paint spray gun. The Personal Air Breathing Unit is a 20 standard cubic feet per minute (SCFM) system. The company says it is designed to allow for use with full hoods and can be equipped with vortex cooling tubes, if desired. The existing filter must provide air quality equal to that required for a flawless paint finish. The breathing tool is complete with a belt mounted system, built-in filter with filter monitor and a carbon monoxide monitor with both audible and visual alarms, says the company. The monitor runs on a single battery and continuously monitors the air. The unit is in accordance with U.S. standards for breathable air quality.

More information can be found at breathingsystems.com.

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EDUCATOR INSIGHT

Check it Twice Lists can be a big help in staying organized

By Cecile Bukmeier

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e have all had one of those days where everything seems to go by like a blur. By the end of the day, you can barely remember the sequence of repairs you made throughout it. This speaks loudly to those working in a bodyshop on a Friday afternoon. During the morning meeting, the manager points out how important it is to complete a list of jobs so clients can get their vehicles back for the weekend. These days, it can become very clear who is contributing to the wellbeing of the business and who is simply there for a paycheque.

to evaluate the colour selected once the painter begins to paint. The paint manufacturer’s colour decks are only a starting point. Speed, distance and pressure vary with each painter. Relying on the accuracy of the mix is not always sufficient. Failing to double check the colour can lead to a mismatch and a costly redo. Yet, many painters get loaded with the tasks of a busy day and skip over the five-minute step of double-checking their colour.

Implementing a checklist can help to curb skipping out on tasks. There are many versions that are available through paint or

Checklists can be tremendous assets on busy days. They take the guess work out of the repair and help a novice technician who may be unsure of how to complete a specific task. I recommend including a spot in your checklist to have a breather and look at the repair with a clear head. If you can time a break before you do a final check, it could allow you to see something that you missed along the way. Changing tasks at these “check points” can even help with fatigue and give you a fresh set of eyes to look over the repair before it continues down the line.

A technician who cares about their craft will have a tailored checklist for themselves.

The back of the shop has to run like a well-oiled machine, with all the parts working together to tackle the tasks at hand.

These are the days where if something does go sideways, it runs right off the track and into the wall. The most careless mistakes are made during these hours­—the type of errors that should not be made, but somehow slip through the line of sight and cause a break in the chain.

Everyday tasks can seem routine or automatic, but on the busy days routine seems to speed up and it becomes easier to miss or skip-over small tasks. A common mistake for painters is neglecting to create a spray out card for new bumpers.

With the variations of the colours and paint manufacturers used today, it is important

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repair material manufacturers’ websites. A common term for them is SOPs (standard operating procedures). None are completely perfect, but they can be a great starting point to help build a customized repair plan for you, your team and your shop.

These plans can be tailored to specific repair tasks or serve as a general overview that blankets many tasks.

So, who is responsible for creating a plan?

Depending on who you ask, I am sure you will get many conflicting answers. I believe a technician who cares about their craft will have a tailored checklist for themselves.

Working with the team that is responsible for a particular repair area in the shop, a sufficient checklist can be created and passed along to new technicians.

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As important as it is to push completed repairs through the shop, it is more important to make sure that you are not only following a successful repair procedure for the task at hand, but you are also paying attention to the little details.

A small pinhole or coarse sandscratch could really ruin your day if you are too rushed to take a few minutes and pay attention to the job at hand.

Cecile Bukmeier is an autobody instructor at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.

You can email her at CECILEB@nait.ca.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Keeping it Real Talking positives and negatives with prospective techs by bill speed

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he more things change, the more they stay the same. This is something that I have come to realize as true more and more throughout my career.

After retirement I quickly realized I still wanted to be involved in the industry. So, I recently started a part-time job that allows me to go into shops and interact with management and technicians. In talking to these people I have been hearing many of the same complaints about the industry that I did 30 years ago when I made the leap from the shop floor into the classroom.

Here is a summary of what I’ve been hearing: 1) Shop rates are too low.

2) Technician pay is too low.

With these concerns I am only scratching the surface. In my teaching days I always tried to focus on the positive parts of the industry and not the negative, but I also made sure to tell my students about the less glamourous of the industry, as well. I always tried to lead them to the better shops.

case those in our ranks who are exemplary technicians making a solid living so that we can attract young people into our trade.

We need to focus on the high technology side of the industry and not the menial dirty side of our industry.

The technology is out there to clean

I always tried to focus on the positive parts of the industry and not the negative in my teaching.

3) Technicians are hard to find and retain.

4) Insurance companies are not paying enough to fix cars properly.

5) Why is Shop X allowed to fix cars when they don’t have the equipment to do so?

Here is what I’ve seen in the shops: 1)

Some shops are well equipped, clean and charge a labour rate that allows its technicians a chance to make a good living.

2) Some shops are still working like we did in the 80s, with antiquated equipment and repair techniques.

3)

Technicians are working on the cold concrete floor with trash all around them instead of at a comfortable work height and clean environment.

4) Technicians are working unsafely with regards to respiratory protection.

5)

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Many employees can’t call themselves technicians because they are not registered, yet are performing tasks they are not qualified for.

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It is sad that in an industry where we hold human lives in the hands of the technicians fixing cars correctly, with the proper equipment and training, that we have unregistered people doing so. I have heard it said, too many times: “If I train an apprentice, they will leave.” My answer has always been, “If you train your apprentices properly and treat them well, they will stay with you forever.”

With all the skilled trades now searching for people to replace their retirees, this is the time for us as an industry to focus on apprentices. We have to make our trade stand out over approximately 140 trades in Canada that offer apprenticeships. Many of those trades exist in healthier environments and pay better than our industry. We have to show-

up our shops and make them healthy, appealing places to work. Make an effort to talk to students in your local high school and colleges­­—let them know what the industry is all about.

Get engaged. Volunteer for local career fairs as often as you can, bring in co-op students and get involved with Skills Canada competitions at any level you can. These students could be our future technicians, and its time to start treating them as such.

Bill Speed worked for the Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute until his retirement in 2017. He remains active in the Skills Competition to this day. Bill can be reached at speedwilliam3@gmail.com.

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

Keep Communicating Repair plans are worth the effort

By Mark Millson

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t seems that the difference between repair planning and estimating are undervalued in the collision repair industry. Defining the difference between the two, and using both systems to your advantage, can go a long way in improving a business. The goal of an estimate is to give the consumer an approximate cost of repair in a short amount of time. In contrast, the desired outcome of a repair plan is to give all parties a complete breakdown of all costs and consumables needed. At Excellence Auto, we are working to continue

your shop until you have all of the parts needed to complete the repairs. This delay may change depending on the brands you are working with.

To have a smooth sailing repair plan, you need to have a management program that will allow you and your staff to see every car that comes through your doors. You also need to be able to see what staff or departments have already completed on the car, as you may need to start blueprinting the repair when you’re waiting for parts or technicians’ availabilities. Some cars will

included labour. If you really look at all of these things, you will see how much you’re leaving on the table. I’m not talking about charging for things you’re not doing. I’m saying now more than ever you need to charge for everything your technicians are doing. Luckily, there is so much information out there to justify what repairs need to be done to a car.

Another lesson that our shop learned is that it is very important to have a team member audit the approved insurance repair estimate if you are not on a direct repair

“To have a smooth sailing repair plan, you need to have a management program that will allow you and your staff to see every car that comes through your doors.” improvement in this area. We believe in repair planning so much that we have increased the number of employees strictly devoted to dismantling, looking up repair procedures, confirming parts pricing and creating supplements.

Before you start changing the way your process works, let me share a problem I have come across when implementing a repair plan which motivated me to start a plan in the first place.

Most of the supplement parts we need are hard to find or not in the estimating program.

On top of that, these parts seem to have a very high chance of being back-ordered. If you’re waiting three to five days for parts to come in, then you find supplement parts are needed, by the time they are approved, ordered and received, you could be looking at two weeks from the time the car enters

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come in with estimates from other shops or an insurance appraiser may see the car at the customer’s home. Those cars still need to go through repair planning. If you’re doing a high percentage of supplements when the car is in production, then you’re behind the eightball.

I know most of this sounds easy but to be honest, we all fall into the habit of saying “this is an estimate—there may be hidden damage or costs.” However, if you start the repair process with that mindset, you will never get away from running into supplement costs throughout the repair. When you get to the end, you are more likely to let the small stuff go. With repair planning, you should be doing all of that work upfront, such as looking up repair procedures, part prices, sublet costs, consumables, in-conjunction parts and not

program. We have seen too many instances where there have been discrepancies between the two estimates. Any differences need to be rectified immediately.

Ultimately, the benefits of refining the repair planning process are the reduction of days of repair, increased technician efficiency and overall profitability. One of my personal goals is to transition our shops away from the reactive mindset to the more preferred proactive mindset. One of the most impactful ways of doing this is by having a properly run repair planning department.

Mark Millson is the director of operations at Excellence Auto Collision in Toronto, Ontario. He can be reached at mmillson@excellenceauto.ca.

Cover Story

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By Erin McLaughlin

Motivated

Painters

Gabriel Merino has built a movement from inspiring others

Photography

by Kristina Smith

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uilding a successful career is a feat that can be accomplished in a number of ways, most of which sound like clichés—work hard, prioritize your career and seek out reliable resources and influences. Gabriel Merino, founder of Motivated Painters and autobody painter at Budd’s Collision has found success in a way that you hear about less often: by helping others be their best selves with his self-started and increasingly successful movement, Motivated Painters. Born in Ecuador, Gabriel first arrived in Canada at twelve, his parents

wanting to give their children a better shot at life.

“It was a culture shock. I had a bunch of friends and family in Ecuador, and, suddenly, I had none. My strong friendships were cut off.” Gabriel experienced a feeling familiar to many new Canadians—being an outsider. As a result, the remainder of Gabriel’s childhood played out quite differently than many of his peers. While his classmates did regular ‘kid things,’ Gabriel worked as a paperboy and helped his family find stability in their new home. For this, he is thankful.

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Cover Story

According to Gabriel, many young entrepreneurs are either too quick to give up on their goals, or addicted to the hustle.

“I came to the point in my career where I felt like I had golden handcuffs. I started to feel I was losing passion, and I thought, ‘there must be other people who feel this way.’”

– Gabriel Merino

“I got to experience the fruits of my labour and getting ahead at a very young age. It was very encouraging,” he says.

“My parents really instilled in me the notion that if there’s a job to do, do it. They taught me to value my work and enjoy the fruits of my work.”

On reaching high school, one aspect of Gabriel’s personality became very clear to him: studying in a typical bookish setting is not for him. “I found it very disengaging,” says Gabriel.

In grade 12, a teacher told him about a co-op program his school offered, giving students the opportunity to work for academic credits. He was set up with Budd’s Collision, where he still works today, and embarked on a journey of learning far unlike that of a stifling classroom.

At first, Gabriel didn’t like the job, finding it difficult to work with older technicians who weren’t particularly interested in teaching kids. But after a while this changed.

“The first few things I painted, just to see the shine, it was so rewarding—taking something from being nothing and turning it into something beautiful.”

With this shift came a growing deter-

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While experiencing an ever-shrinking sense of interest in his work, Gabriel decided to turn to helping others extinguish their own career woes and re-establish a love for and interest in their work—hence his company name, Motivated Painters.

mination to get better. Doing an ‘okay’ job on your work is a good feeling, but doing an ‘amazing’ job on your work is, well, an amazing feeling. And for Gabriel, doing a great job doesn’t stop at the vehicles he works on. “Even when I clean the toilets, I want to make sure they are the cleanest.”

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Continuing, Gabriel says, “I was anxious to learn, and my enthusiasm was eventually recognized by my boss. I would describe myself as a clueless, relentless kid during that time. At first, I didn’t even know what sandpaper was, so I was a total rookie.”

Gabriel worked alongside industry legend

Cover Story

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Gabriel with the office staff at Budd’s Collision.

(From left) Gabriel, Alfie, Nicole, Jr., Tania, Mack, Kevin, Ian, Patrick and Michelle.

Although Gabriel’s efforts are solely geared toward helping other painters, he finds that from his videos he receives the same newfound passion for his work that he hopes to instill in his viewers.

Gabriel’s other side project: photographing mixed paint. Such photos are on display around Budd’s Collision.

Sam Piercey, who unsurprisingly ended up being a powerful influence and invaluable teacher. “I’m very grateful for Sam. He was like a strobe light and he believed in tough love. He would say things like, ‘When you go to the bathroom, would you wipe your butt half way or the whole way?’ I was like a sponge.

My perspective was to take his criticism in a positive way.”

Time passed, and the initial thrill Gabriel inherited from his work began to shrink. “I came to the point in my career where I felt like I had golden handcuffs. I started to feel I was losing passion, and I thought, ‘there must be other people who feel this way.’”

Instead of leaving his job, or puttering about in the rut he found himself in, Gabriel decided to turn to helping others extinguish their own career woes and re-establish a love for and interest in their work—hence his company name, Motivated Painters.

“I started making videos about techniques, being a better painter and videos about adding value to your company, how to get a raise and get work done. I talked about positive things. I was shocked that even one person watched my first video. I didn’t have a clue about how to do it and the video is terrible, but it’s still up on YouTube. After a while, I got better and the production value improved. I consider myself a pretty upbeat person, and maybe my character has come through in my videos, helped painters revive their passion.”

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Cover Story

The team of painters at Budd’s Collision.

Gabriel says he owes much to his coworkers. (Top from left) Reid, Gabriel, Emily and Miguel. (Bottom from left) Chris, Steve, Jason and Zahari.

Although Gabriel’s efforts are solely geared toward helping other painters, he finds that from his videos he receives the same revitalized passion for his work that he hopes to instill in his viewers. “I think in life you get back whatever you put into it. When I make these videos, I think of a person that’s watching it and what they should learn. I love knowing someone is learning from my work, and it overwhelms me with humility. I’m just a dude trying to make a difference.”

Ever since Gabriel was a child he wanted to help people pursue their passions, and he’s finally turned doing so into a career. “I am currently working on my dream and pursuing the things that I’m passionate about.

I love helping people and strongly believe in outrageous giving and purposeful living.

I want to create value for people wherever I can, and now I am committed to adding value to the automotive refinishing community through all the avenues available to me.

Bringing value to the people around you is

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In short, accept you don’t know anything—but never stop trying to learn.

Everyone you meet knows something you don’t, so take advantage of that.

the biggest investment you can make in your life, and that includes family, customers and other painters, in this case.”

Gabriel wants young entrepreneurs to know that to succeed, they must “Focus, add value and repeat.” According to Gabriel, many young entrepreneurs are either too quick to give up on their goals or addicted to the hustle, even when it comes at the expense of their family, health and significant other. It is vital to find balance between working hard and spending time doing other things you love.

Gabriel also shares this piece of advice, which he says, laughing, “People may not

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want to hear.” It’s this: “Stop talking and do the work.”

To painters, Gabriel advises they stay humble and give credit to other people, because eventually they will lift up your work. In short, accept you don’t know anything—but never stop trying to learn.

Everyone you meet knows something you don’t, so take advantage of that. Gabriel credits much of what he knows to the staff that have taught him and nurtured his skills at Budd’s Collision. His gratitude for them runs deep and inspired him to pay their kindness and patience forward, by helping other painters be their best selves.

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Industry Events

Sweet Wheels!

The Canadian International Autoshow makes tread marks in Toronto

By Harland Goulbourne and Barett Poley

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photography: Brad cole and Barett Poley

n an age where the Canadian International Autoshow (CIAS) continually steps up its game year after year, one may wonder how they could make it any better. In 2017, CIAS had over $100 million worth of exotics and new releases in the 625,000 square foot space. In 2018, they promised the bar would be raised again, and it was.

For skeptics who wonder what CIAS offers that could not be seen in any dealership, prepare to be enlightened.

CIAS offers the opportunity to open any car door, feel the exhilaration of gripping a racecar’s steering wheel, hear the satisfying click of the paddle shifters and smell the newly minted leather with stitched accents. Even models like the 610hp N.A V10 Audi R8 and 650hp V8 Corvette Z06 are free to explore. For the models that are commonplace on the roads, visitors earn a newfound respect for them while getting to feel the differences in gearboxes between brands.

Tuner Battlegrounds with PASMAG If you are slightly turned on by Fast and Furious movies, some time-worthy pieces would have been found here. Street Tuners dominated, while highly modified Volkswagens, Hondas and Hyundais populated the floor. Also featured was Richard Boake’s Pike Peak Hillclimb Subaru (if you like carbon, aero and power, this car will make you drool), and Crazy Leo’s Canadian Rally Championship Mitsubishi.

Boake’s #96 Subaru Impreza WRX STi

50 Years of Hot Wheels 50 years of Hot Wheels is exactly what you could imagine from your childhood, or rather, what you probably dreamed of. They had real Hot Wheels sponsored rides that were truly unique. They featured off-road buggies, hotrods and even a car that’s styled after Darth Vader.

The Darth Vader Car, prize of many a younglings’ collection, featured a powerful Chevrolet LS3 Crate engine, producing over 525 horsepower to the rear wheels.

The Vader Car originally debuted at a San Francisco Comic Con, meaning it has come a long way to get to Canada. It was designed

by Bryan Benedict, and fabricated by the

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fantastic builders at Picture Car Warehouse Brands. In addition to the drop-top, which mimics the Dark Lord of the Sith’s very own two-piece helmet, it features recorded heavy breathing and custom made redlined tires.

One of the coolest things Hot Wheels brought was a massive Hot Wheel track set. It was the same as the ones many of us played with as kids, and featured the famous plastic orange track and motorized ‘car shooters.’ But this one was 30 feet long and had 10 different ways to shoot cars through the course.

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The Rip Rod

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Industry Events

Art and the Automobile with Coble Beach by Barret Jackson

Legendary Motorcars Ford GT40 Competition Car

If you know anything about classic cars, you know Barret Jackson is synonymous with the best of the best classics. Walking in, guests were welcomed by the sound of a grand piano, along with some of the more rare and expensive cars in the world. Among them was the concept Firebird III, which shares similarities to the U2 Spyplane of its era. It doesn’t even have a normal motor, instead powered by a GT-305 Whirlfire gas turbine revving to 33,000 rpm. The exhibit also had a very special Ford GT40 competition car from Legendary Motor Car Company. It is one of only seven produced in the world.

EVolution Zone The EVolution Zone featured one of the biggest reoccurring themes of the entire show. Hybrid and electric vehicles were a major theme of the autoshow this year with almost every manufacturer showing off hybrid and plug-in electric models. The EVolution Zone continued the trend, displaying different charging methods, electric bikes, scooters and even segways. They had some pretty sweet electric rides on display as well. Sasha Anis from OnPoint Dyno had his ‘Blue Lightning’ electrified Lotus Evora on display, which maxed out the dyno at 2,000 ft-lb of torque. Talk about power.

The OPP’s brand new Tesla Model “X”

2018 Pagani Huayra Roadster

Auto Exotica All of the cars featured in Auto Exotica are what we car nuts dream of having in our garage. These are not the typical supercars you might see cruising down the 401.

These are hyper cars—the best of the best supercars.

Ford GT, Pagani’s, Koenigsegg Agera RS and BAC Mono populated the floor.

1963 Porsche 912

70 Years of Porsche The ‘70 Years of Porsche’ looked at the company’s history, with a focus on key individuals and six of Porsche’s most famous cars.

“Porsche is among the most iconic of automotive brands and the Canadian International Autoshow is thrilled to be able to tell [the company’s] story, from the beginning in 1948 to the present,” commented Campbell.

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Industry Events

Top 5 must see at CIAS 2018 2018 Corvette ZR1 The newest model to come out of the Corvette stable packs 755 horsepower and 715 ft-lb of torque, with over 600 ft-lb of torque and available from 2200 rpm to redline. The ‘performance’ styling comes directly from the C7.R program, which competes in the IMSA Weather Tech Championship and at Le Mans. It displays an impressive aero kit that can produce up to 950 lbs of down force.

As patrons walked in they were welcomed by the sound of a grand piano playing and some of the rarest, most expensive cars in the world.

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Firebird III Concept Car Styled to more of a cold war era U2 Spy-plane than a car from the late 1950s, the Firebird III is highly advanced for its time. It combines jet age styling and capabilities that have become common place on the road only in the last 20 years. Self-levelling suspensions, rear-facing cameras, anti-lock braking systems, computer control of driver inputs, cruise control, powered luggage compartment platforms and titanium body panels were all incorporated into the Firebird III. This special piece of engineering doesn’t have an average power plant. It revs to 33,000 rpm with its GT-305 Whirlfire producing 225 hp and controlled via a joystick.

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Industry Events

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Koenigsegg Agera RS

The latest jewel to come out of Christian von Koenigsegg’s powerhouse (literally). The $2.5 million Agera RS comes with a generous 1,341 horsepower, and hit 277.9 mph on a closed road in Nevada, making it the fastest car on the market and in existence other than purpose built NHRA Top Fuel or Funny Cars which have to be rebuilt after each pass.

Mercedes-AMG Project One

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A direct transfer of technology from their Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 Team who have won the Formula One Constructors and Drivers Championship for the last 4 years, the Mercedes-AMG Project One features a motor directly from the Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid. The engine produces 748 hp (558 kW; 758 PS), with torque still unknown. The engine will be combined with four electric motors (800 volts in total), with 120 kW electric motors at the crankshaft (Motor Generator Unit-Kinetic; MGU-K), 90 kW electric turbocharger (Motor Generator Unit-Heat; MGU-H), and two 120 kW electric motors at the front axle. It is a full carbon monacoque and bodywork. A weight figure hasn’t been released but it’s expected to be around 1300 kg which isn’t too bad when it has over one thousand horsepower combined with the hybrid drivetrain.

McLaren MP4-19 An absolute work of art with intricacies that will make you fantasize about driving it right off the shop floor, it was made possible by McLaren Toronto and Pfaff Automotive Group. The McLaren MP4-19 contested the 2004 Formula 1 Season with Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard. It was described as a ‘debugged version’ of the ill-fated McLaren MP4-18, which was not a hugely successful car as the team suffered various problems concerning reliability at the beginning of the season, with eight retirements in five races. By mid-season a new car, the MP4-19B, was ready. This all-new car with a radically redesigned aerodynamic package, meaning the car on display was an actual race winner.

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CREATIVE TOOLS

Sailor Lady

by Brian Hough

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tylish, irreverent fun is not a description normally applied to tools, but it is exactly how to describe the new SATAjet 5000 B Sailor (a.k.a. the Sailor Lady model) spray gun.

Released on September 11, 2017 this special edition, fully functional spray gun was born of the 2016 SATA Design Contest.

Colorado resident Connie Manjavino won a free SATAjet 5000, personalized and dedicated breathing protection mask and free entrance ticket, trip and accommodation to Automechanika 2016 in Frankfurt with her submission to the contest.

Painter Connie Manjavino developed the SATAjet 5000 B Sailor design.

With a design that is equal parts pop art and tattoo parlour chic, Majavino’s colourful composition features a pin-up style sailor woman set against a bright palette with the cool blues of the sea on the handle ascending upwards to a warm sunset pink, adorned throughout with nautical flourishes.

Part of the SATAjet 5000 B topcoat spray gun series that was launched in 2014, the special edition Sailor lady was released in both HVLP (high volume low-pressure) and RP optimized high-pressure technology forms, along with both digital and analog displays.

SATA started out in 1907 making surgical devices and equipment. It launched production of its first spray gun in 1925 to great 24

acclaim and an eager market. Since then it has developed and released a number of products for the paint shop including breathing protection, filter technology and a complete cup system.

Throughout its history, SATA has focused on meeting the demands of new paint technologies and perfecting its equipment to attain consistency for the industry.

In 2001 SATA began equipping its guns with explosion and shock-proof digital pressure gauges and, in addition to being invaluable in the shop, this new technology helped SATA win the Top 100 award for being one of the most innovative mid-sized companies in Germany and demonstrated that nearly one hundred years after it came into existence, SATA was dead set against complacency.

While most companies push themselves hard to come up with new technological innovations, the SATA contest and its 2016 winner put a spotlight on another dimension unique to SATA’s product line—aesthetic innovation. SATA’s line of special edition guns are not only fully equipped to stand up to the rigour of daily life and use in the shop, but beautifully rendered and dripping with cool.

The 2016 SATA Design Contest was not the first, however. In 2012, three finalists were selected via community-based voting, winning a SATAjet 4000 B Digital Spray gun featuring their design, while those ranking

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Released September 11, 2017, the special edition new SATAjet 5000 B Sailor fully functional spray gun was born of the 2016 SATA Design Contest.

fourth through tenth received a chrome-plated version of the same gun.

The designs of Carl Avery and Jessi Fraser of the United States and Omur Ozbek of Germany were named the top three, with Avery’s design ultimately being selected to be released as a special edition for the autumn of 2013.

With 285 drafts from an international field of almost 180 designers, this was no small accomplishment.

Looking over their back catalogue of special editions, it’s no surprise SATA would be able to attract so many talented designers. Visitors to their website who scroll through the special editions will be treated to a dazzling

CREATIVE TOOLS succession of artistic styles and imagery almost as distinct and varied in personality as that of the shops of the many SATA-wielding painters themselves.

The SATAjet 5000 B Aviator, for example, has an aviation themed design heavily influenced by pop art, reminiscent of the great silver age comic book artists.

A slew of visually engaging designs have been released by SATA over the years. These include the colourful California Dreaming edition, a camouflage edition that was featured at the exhibition stand of Automechanika 2012 and the evocatively fabulous Heart and Soul—a design you can get lost in, pouring over each and every dream-laden detail.

Of course, simpler statements have been made with their special editions as well.

Last year, in conjunction with the Canada 150 celebrations they released a special commemorative edition.

Most stunning of all were the SATAjet 3000 B and SATA minijet 3000 B Century editions that commemorated SATA’s 100th anniversary in 2007. A dedication to “all the painters in the world,” the Century spray gun’s body is gold-plated, accentuated by hand-set sparkling red Swarovski crystals.

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Left: SATAjet 4000 B Camouflage.

Right: SATAjet 4000 B Heart & Soul

Indeed, SATA’s commitment and reputation to design even saw them teaming up with the Porsche design studio to create the SATAjet 5000 B Phaser.

In many ways, it says a lot about SATA’s commitment to the painters who make up their clientele—that they recognize a paint shop is more than just the walls that surround it and

the inanimate objects within, but an extension of the craftsmanship, creativity and even the personality of the many painters that spray with SATA in hand. Its one thing to put in a day doing something you love, but it’s quite another to do it in style. With the Sailor Lady, SATA continues its legacy of special edition spray guns that do just that.

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AUTONOMOUS Outlook

Paint the Future Changing the colour spectrum for AVs

By Tom Venetis

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hen people describe the future of autonomous driving vehicles, they will paint it in bright colours. There is a reason for that.

Current autonomous driving technologies use a system of light detection and ranging sensors (LIDAR) that calculates the distance of objects and vehicles using pulses of laser or infrared light. The technology is quite effective, but suffers from one pretty significant limitation: LIDAR-based systems are most effective when other vehicles on the roads are brightly coloured. Vehicles that are painted with darker colours are difficult to see with LIDAR-based sensors.

“LIDAR relies on lasers being able to reflect off of surfaces and back to the unit,” says Barry Snyder, Axalta Coatings Systems’ senior vice-president and chief technology officer.

“Just like with sunlight, darker colours reflect

back less of this laser light than lighter colours, giving the LIDAR system less data to work with to map out the full picture of the vehicle’s surroundings. Light and bright hued colours like white are therefore easier for LIDAR to read and detect.”

“Coatings will be crucial to the variety of sensors that will allow vehicles to communicate with each other, to see each other and to detect obstacles and the path of roadways,” says Calum Munro, a senior scientist with PPG. “Just as coatings absorb visible light in different ways to give the appearance of colour to the human eye, they absorb the near infrared light used by LIDAR differently, making some coatings easier for LIDAR to detect than others. Traditionally, the colour we see is less important to the LIDAR than the reflectivity of the coating to the near infrared light used by the LIDAR.”

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AUTONOMOUS Outlook A car with a typical black coating, for example, will reflect just six percent of the near infrared signal than a car that is white, making that black car less visible on the road to the LIDAR system. This colour and coating issue is a problem for vehicle manufacturers and it restricts the colour palette available to them. Right now, if they want their vehicles to be seen by LIDAR-based systems, they need to be in colours that will be detected.

Consumers, however, want a larger palette to choose from, rather than just white.

That is why before fully autonomous vehicles can truly become successful, the paint and coating problem needs to be solved. The paint used needs to allow LIDAR systems to function properly for the safety of vehicles on the road.

“While effective laser systems and sensors are critical, we cannot overlook the role coating will play in making the autonomous vehicle market a widespread reality. Coatings on autonomous vehicles must be formulated to allow laser light through the coating and to allow sensors to receive light back through the coating,” continues Snyder. “If this can be achieved, automobile manufacturers will have many more options for where to place the sensors on or in the car, and will have many fewer limitations on the design of future vehicles. Therefore, the coatings industry must continue to evolve and innovate new products that will not block transmissions, while protecting the car from dirt, debris and damage and continuing to beautify.”

Coating and paint companies are now investing heavily in creating new formulations that will give a larger colour palette to car makers for autonomous driving vehicles.

As PPG’s Munro notes, colour helps manufacturers set themselves apart and creates a unique brand strategy for their vehicles.

As well, colour is one of the main decision points a consumer uses when determining which vehicle to purchase.

“The industry initially suspected that white cars and lighter coloured autonomous cars would be popular because they allow more effective LIDAR reflectivity, whereas dark colours traditionally absorb light,” Munro says.

“However, PPG is developing coatings that give darker paint colours enhanced detection and allow LIDAR and radar systems to penetrate down toward a reflective under-layer. The signal ‘bounces off’ this layer and returns to the sensor instead of being absorbed.

This coating leverages commercially proven technology from PPG’s aerospace business

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A car under infrared scanner.

that functions in the same light-and heat-reflective manner. PPG does not want to limit colour options for autonomous vehicles, but rather offer a full palette of choices based on our customers’ needs.”

PPG already had one coating technology that better manages the reflectivity of specific wavelengths, and expects to market improved coatings that will absorb less infrared light while providing car makers with a larger range of colours for their vehicles. The company also has composite coatings that are made to allow water and dirt to be easily washed away from sensor lenses. Other coatings are being developed that will minimize radio frequency leakage.

Axalta’s StarLite is an example of a colour developed to work with LIDAR. It is a light hue that uses the company’s tri-coat process, formulated with reflective synthetic pearl flakes to create a pearlescent effect. The

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reflectivity of the flakes and the colour allow vehicles to be more easily detected by LIDAR. “Coatings on autonomous vehicles also need to continue to be improved to reflect the laser light strongly enough to always be detectable,” says Snyder. “Autonomous vehicles are still in their infancy. Regulators and industry haven’t yet defined safety standards. What is the minimum reflectivity of a car coating we are comfortable sending onto the roads with no human driver? Is it 70 percent reflective? Is it 100 percent reflective? Answers to this will help dictate where the industry goes.”

Because of the higher reflectivity required from these new breeds of coatings and paints, repair times may be impacted and will likely demand that bodyshop painters become skilled in layering techniques. As safety standards evolve for autonomous driving vehicles, it will likely challenge paint-

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AUTONOMOUS Outlook

In the future painters may have to target paint locations for AVs.

ers to put specific coatings in targeted locations on car bodies to allow the sensor to see the vehicle while at the same time delivering the kind of colour appearance that drivers want.

“This kind of pinpoint precision will likely change the way paint is applied,” says Snyder. “In order to develop lasting solutions, the coatings industry must bring together

equipment manufacturers, coatings companies and applicators to define the future, mandate real change and make the progress necessary to revolutionize the industry.”

“Because the industry predicts that the rise in autonomous vehicles will ultimately result in increased ride-sharing, less human error and less accidents, the way bodyshop professionals use coatings to refinish ve-

A car with a typical black coating, for example, will reflect just six percent of the near infrared signal than a car that is white, making that black car less visible on the road to the LIDAR system.

hicles will change,” adds Munro. “While bodyshops will likely have a decrease in vehicles involved in accidents, they will encounter autonomous and electric vehicles that are in constant use and thus require fresh paint more frequently. PPG is working to develop coatings that slow the process of wear and tear, so autonomous vehicles can look newer, longer.”

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TECH TALK

Painting well is only half the battle!

Painting efficiently is vital to doing your job well.

Maximize Your Time Five ways to optimize paint production

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By Justin Jimmo

paint technician who can keep up with demanding production schedules will be one of the most valuable employees to any high-production repair facility. To be successful in this type of environment, here are a few tips on how to maximize the amount of time you spend on jobs coming through your paint booth.

1 Use dry time to mix colours in advance.

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Use dry time efficiently

The best paint technicians know that the application of paint is one the easiest parts of their job. Most people can be taught how to spray on product with a paint gun well enough, but this is only half the battle: organizing your day is key to maximizing productivity. A good paint technician will use dry time to colour match any potential job that makes its way to the booth. This way, any potential problems can be identified well in advance. You should also use this time to mix colour, check for any prep work that can be done and make sure all parts on the work-order will arrive in the booth with the job. The most successful paint technicians do not take breaks with the rest of the shop, but instead coordinate them around a bake cycle to minimize the impact on production.

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Tech Talk

2 Maintain your equipment carefully to avoid unnecessary slow-down.

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3

Maintain spray equipment

There is never a good time for rework!

Always take the time to properly clean your spray equipment after each job and dry it thoroughly. This may sound obvious, but this process breaks down more often than you might think. An improperly functioning gun will make paint application much more challenging and lead to more time spent in the booth correcting an application gone wrong. You should also monitor your air filtration system and make sure you are spraying with clean, dry air.

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Know your products

Paint manufacturers are continuing to innovate and find ways to help you get the most out of your day. Most manufacturers offer high-production clears that can shorten or eliminate bake cycles. These clears may be a preferred solution for your shop. Other innovative products

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might include direct to plastic or direct to e-coat sealers, single-step under-hood additives, metal breakthrough wipes, etc.

Your paint manufacturer’s website can be an excellent resource for this information along with product data sheets that help ensure it is being used correctly.

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The most successful paint technicians do not take breaks with the rest of the shop, but instead coordinate them around a bake cycle to minimize the impact on production.

TECH TALK

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4 Maintaining a spray out library goes a long way in productivity.

4

Invest in good stands

Sometimes shops are reluctant to invest in proper parts stands, but they can add a great deal of value to production. Quality hood, door and bumper stands can help speed up paint application and allow for cutting in and painting the exterior all in one booth visit. Be sure to keep prep stands on the production floor and try to reserve paint stands for only the booth.

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Creating a good reference library, especially for frequent colours you might encounter, can drastically increase the time you spend matching colour on the jobs down the road.

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Build a spray-out library

Many successful paint technicians have this in common: a well-organized spray-out library.

With almost every job you paint, a spray-out card should be automatic. Creating a good reference library, especially for frequent colours you might encounter, can drastically increase the time you spend matching colour on the jobs down the road.

You should also re-spray colours occasionally as sometimes variants are reformulated due to raw material or toner changes that can slightly change the colour. A wall mounted cabinet works best to help keep you organized.

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Paint Perfector Josh paint corrects a 2014 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang.

By Tabatha Johnson

All in the Detailing Joshua Dunand went from making minimum wage to making bank in less than a year.

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hat do you want to be when you grow up? For Joshua Dunand, owner of Amaris Premium Auto Care and Amaris Premium Aviation, the answer was clear at a young age from his interest in racing, a passion he pursued competitively for much of his youth. “It was always in the back of my mind as a kid that I didn’t want to just be working with cars. I wanted to live it, breathe it and go crazy with it,” says Josh.

That spirit has bled into every area of his life.

“I would always try to not just do my best but outperform anyone around me.” After funding from racing sponsors dried up, he vowed to work his way into the big leagues on his own dime, not wanting to rely on others to support his dreams financially. Now, at 22 years old, he has built two successful businesses from the ground up, offering elite and exclusive automotive services—and with hard work, he’s done it in less than a year.

Josh entered business school at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology in 2014 and simultaneously began working at an Audi dealership, making minimum wage doing detailing. There, he made a connection with the head of the department, who happened to run a mobile detailing venture on the side. “He took me under his wing and started showing me the ropes of what was going on,” says

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Josh. During the summer vacation between his second and third years, Josh ran the mobile business alongside the head. While he knew this would not ultimately land him back in the driver’s seat, learning from someone at the top gave him invaluable experience moving forward.

In the meantime, classes were a struggle, procrastination a battle continuously fought. It wasn’t until third year that Josh found an entrepreneurial class he really enjoyed. It gave Josh a playground to come up with business ideas

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After shot of a 2017 Shelby GT350 with its ceramic coating.

in a way he never had before. In the seats of a UOIT auditorium, Josh felt his mindset evolve.

“I was invested in what I was doing. I had to actually put some thought into it,” he says. “An everyday job wasn’t going to cut it for me.” The first term of that year he found himself impulsively digging into the market for detailers, staying up into the early morning doing research every night. “I’ve invested thousands, thousands of hours into this.” What he found, is, “there are so many people who can clean your everyday car,

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Paint Perfector

Working on the 1982 King Air C90.

but there are so few people that are invested in quality work.” His efforts uncovered a major gap in the automotive market: mobile services devoted to meticulous detailing of luxury vehicles.

He spent the second semester writing proposals and giving presentations working out the kinks in his idea. “It was amazing. I got to launch all of my business models, all of my numbers, my projections, everything, through the course.” As he finished his final presentation, Josh’s professor asked him, “Why haven’t you started this yet? Why are you still here?” And Amaris Premium Auto Care was born soon thereafter.

A hot minute later, Josh found himself meeting with the head sales manager of the dealership he leased his company vehicle from. In their conversation Josh saw an opportunity to push his business forward and jumped at it. “I told the sales manager, ‘you know what, I am going to come here Monday and detail a car for free. If you like the work, great, if not, have a nice day!”

When he arrived, expecting to be handed a beat up mini-van, he was instead asked to detail a Shelby Mustang that belonged to the owner of the dealership. “When I was done, I called them out and they had their whole executive team go over the car.” That same day, he got a contract with the dealership. “I had no idea I would get a big fish so quickly. It was a huge blessing to me.”

A year shy of completing his degree, Josh put his education on hold to continue growing his business full-time. Unsure what a winter would look like with the mobile side of the

Josh works on a Dodge Nitro.

business, he decided to put it into hibernation until warmer weather, and set about putting down some roots instead.

Burrowing into a small shop space shared with a friend, Josh committed himself to pushing the boundaries of his skills. “That first contract was huge and tied me up for a good chunk of the summer. Even though I invested so much time doing that work, I was still looking for every single avenue possible to grow the company and keep going after new clients.

I think that’s kind of a big mistake a lot of business owners make. They get complacent and they get too comfortable.” Josh followed the difficult path toward mastering ceramic coatings and it is now an integral part of his business. “There are very few companies that

work on these coatings,” he says.

While still committed to the detailing side of things, the company’s specialty has developed as paint correction, often followed with ceramic coating to protect it. “My company is the last step that nobody knows about when it comes to bodyshops. A lot of cars that we get come from bodyshops around us because they’ve been painted, but there’s that extra ten percent that takes as long as the actual paint job that so few people know how to do. We use paint-lift methods to completely restore old vehicles or perfect new ones.”

Expansion hasn’t stopped there. One afternoon, helping his dad ceramic coat his truck, a light bulb flashed in his dad’s head. Josh recalls, “He just sort of looked over at me

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Paint Perfector Josh with his race car.

“An everyday job wasn’t going to cut it for me.”

– Josh Dunand

and said, ‘Could you do this on airplanes?’ It got the wheels turning.” After spending a few months working out the details, the business split into two and Amaris Premium Aviation was born. Josh’s passion remains with the automotive side with his father building on his own background to manage the aviation end.

Plans for the future are to keep growing the auto care company in every way possible. Until recently this was a solo mission, but Josh has

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reached the point where hiring on additional help has become necessity. In the coming years he will begin to offer everything from oil changes and tire switch ups while continuing to do the paint corrections he is known for.

“It’s a means to get people in the door. One of the best things I do on the daily is interact with the clients and see how happy they are.”

When asked about advice for other young people trying to get into the industry, Josh says,

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“Credibility and reputation are huge. If you show up at any shop and you’ve finished school but never turned a wrench in your life, good luck.

Education is crucial, but you need time spent out in the field.” Another piece of advice Josh shares, that has become a mantra since his minimum wage days, is: “If you’re no good at the bottom, you’re not worthy of the top.”

While Josh continues working his way to the top, the track is never far from sight.

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School Profile

Gearing Up

Students are treated like they are on the job.

Red River College’s Transportation Department offers a pre-employment course in collision repair and refinishing

By Tabatha Johnson

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fter completing a post-secondary diploma or degree, the largest hurdle facing every student is acquiring that ver y first job they spent so long studying for. This is exactly the challenge that the instructors at Red River College’s (RRC) Collision Repair and Refinishing program prepare their students for, with the hope they will spring out of the classroom and onto the shop floor with ease.

“I’ve been here for 22 years and it’s been a staple for the transportation department [at RRC] for longer than that,” says Leonard Grieve, academic coordinator, automotive

mechanics. The course takes 38 weeks to complete and requires students to spend a total of four weeks in work placements: two weeks halfway through and another two weeks near the end of the term. Successful completion of the program earns students a Level 1 credit with Apprenticeship Manitoba.

Admissions are currently restricted to Manitoba residents, due to the program’s popularity. At most the school accepts two groups of 18 students for the year’s term.

The instructors say they rarely lose anyone from their initial groups. They do everything they can to see the students complete the program and get their accreditation.

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School Profile The instructors see their class grow into entrylevel techs.

As a pre-employment course, the main goal of the instructors is “to have them graduate and get that first job,” says Len. They also try to instil in their students a sense of responsibility and pride in their work and for their workplace. Showing up late to class equals showing up late for work, and won’t fly with the program’s instructors. They treat the students like they’re on the job from day one, teaching them to keep up with their attendance and marks and sharing life lessons on how to have a great career. It is important for the students to learn to work together, despite their differences.

“You can’t choose who you’re working with,” says Len. “Be respectful.”

The best part of teaching for these folks is watching the students grow. “As projects evolve, so does their confidence. They come in as students and we see them grow into entry-level techs,” says Len. For some students, the classroom will be the first place they’ll touch something to do with cars. “The students do all their own repairs from start to finish. That way they have some idea of what they’ll be doing in the real world,” says Barry Lee, instructor in

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The instructors watch the students’ confidence grow through the term.

the Collision Repair and Refinishing program.

“When you see in their face when they get the ‘Aha!’ moment, it’s great to see,” he adds.

The main focus of the program instructors is always on the students and any issues they might be dealing with, within or outside of classes. “We have really good support systems here even as far as instructors. We’re all here for the students even if they just need someone to sit down and talk for five minutes,” says Barry. “We’re invested in them,” agrees Len, “they come out really well prepared.”

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The instructors have all worked in the trades and bring that experience with them into their teaching. Anything you would encounter in a shop “it’s probably happened to us, good, bad and ugly,” says Len. They share this knowledge with their students in the hope they will avoid making some of the same mistakes. The classroom environment is easy going, keeping students smiling and having fun while they’re working.

Currently the students are working on refinishing, “matching paints and keeping it from

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School Profile Students do all their own repairs from start to finish.

RRC makes its best effort to stay on top of new technology.

“The students do all their own repairs from start to finish.

That way they have some idea of what they’ll be doing in the real world.”

- Barry Lee

running,” says Barry. “It’s one of the hardest things in the field.” Well equipped with “a brand new set of top of the line paint guns,” the students are getting to use the same tools they will encounter in the workplace.

The instructors do their best to keep up with the latest technologies in the ever-changing atmosphere of auto repair. “There’s always new things that are out there, so we are always keeping up to standards as they move quickly,” says Len. “We’ve been re-tooling with special tools” to help the students get

ahead of the learning curve on all the new tech being developed. One such tool the school has acquired is a door-holder, so replacing doors has become a one-person job. The program has also recently introduced paintless dent repair into their curriculum.

The students learn how to pick out dents without disturbing the refinish.

According to RRC, when students leave RRC’s Collision Repair and Refinishing Program, they are ready to take on the auto repair industry. This makes it a fruitful choice of education for students interested in pursuing a career in collision repair.

For more information on RRC, please visit their website at rrc.ca.

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CONTINUING EDUCATION Scott Earle teaches the Art and Science of Estimator Interactions at CSN Dana’s Collision Centre.

“The estimator has many roles. They have to communicate with the customer, they have to communicate with the shop, they have to communicate with the manager.”

- Scott Earle

Communication is Key The Art and Science of Estimator Interactions teaches clarity with customers

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he Art and Science of Estimator Interactions aims to explore the complex role of the estimator in collision repair. Over the course of four modules, students learn how to effectively educate customers on what work needs to be done on their damaged vehicle. As well, they learn to effectively work with insurance companies to get approval on estimates without a hitch. The course is best suited for estimators, repair planners and frontend managers.

“The estimator has many roles. They have to communicate with the customer, they have to communicate with the shop, they have to communicate with the manager,” explains Scott Earle, quality control analyst of Eastern Region, CSN Collision Centre and instructor of the training program. “It really pinpoints the necessity for communication with all parties.”

The first and third modules both put a focus on communication—an essential skill in any customer service role. Module one helps students to not only develop an understanding of how to communicate with customers, but teaches how to establish a relationship with them. The third module, on the other hand, educates students on how to interact with insurance companies.

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by Allison Preston

Module 1 –­Communicate with the Customer • Key skills an estimator must perform • Providing customer updates

• Effective customer service • Strategies for conflict resolution

Module 2 – Complete the Estimate • Verifying the final estimate is complete and damage is documented • Submitting supporting photos in accordance with insurance guidelines • Confirming that all supporting sublet documentation is provided • Verifying the accuracy of part prices and labour operations • Resolving estimating guide discrepancies

Module 3 – Communicate with the Insurance Company • Streamlining the documentation process for repair approvals • Problem-solving strategies • Interpreting non-verbal communication • Identifying what determines total loss

Module 4 – Obtain Estimate Approval • Learning to complete approval documentation with customers and insurers • Providing and reviewing warranty information • Using documentation required by Canadian federal and provincial laws The second and fourth modules highlight the process of conducting an estimate itself. The second module looks at how to complete and verify an estimate to ensure everything is done properly. The fourth module teaches students how to take that estimate and gain approval from the customers, insurance companies or both.

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In general, the Art and Science of Estimator Interactions course teaches participants to communicate with all parties that are involved in the repair. This course ensures that the estimator is familiar with all aspects of their role and what needs to be done to ensure that the process goes smoothly.

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Young Gun

strongertogether With a little help from his friends, Brice Maier of CARSTAR East Lake Calgary is on track to achieve his dreams

By Allison Preston

Brice Maier loves everything about his job, but his favourite part is taking cars apart.

“Something I like doing is getting something that’s completely destroyed and changing it back. It’s the whole process.”

– Brice Maier

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hat started out as “just a job” has turned into something much more important for Brice Maier, apprentice at CARSTAR East Lake Calgary, Alberta. Through hard work, and the support of his co-workers and manager, Colin Podrasky, the apprentice has turned a gig into a fruitful career.

It wasn’t until a friend gave Brice a taste of repairing cars that he became interested in it as a life-long commitment. “I helped a buddy do some work on his car. Then I got my own car and I did work on it,” says Brice. The rest is history. Brice started his first job in the industry as a detailer at Eastside Dodge at the age of 19. Soon after he began work at CARSTAR East Lake Calgary.

Brice loves everything about his job, but his favourite part is taking cars apart. “Something I like doing is getting something that’s completely destroyed and changing it back. It’s the whole process,” Brice describes.

After six months at CARSTAR East

Lake Calgary, he moved on from detailing to entering an apprenticeship position. On the side, he keeps busy furthering his education. Brice is currently in his fourth year at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and is expecting to complete his goal of becoming a journeyman by the end of the year.

As part of the apprenticeship program, it was vital for Brice to have the support of Colin, as well as his co-workers. “I’m gone for a couple of months so they have to fill in while I’m gone,” Brice explains.

Colin says he is impressed with Brice’s persistence and passion for autobody repair. “He’s passionate, works hard, he shows up on time, he’s really good,” Colin lists off. According to Colin, Brice went into his office everyday and asked for a flat rate until Colin finally gave it to him.

With Colin’s support, Brice has been able to demonstrate his abilities at work. Colin has trusted Brice to work on bigger jobs, and now he does most of the things in the shop.

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NEWS

Collision 360 hosts aluminum rivet bonding course Collision 360 recently hosted a training event at its training centre in Toronto. Anthony Iaboni, owner of Collision 360, says, “I get asked on a regular basis about repairing the new F-150.” In response, he decided to host a training event where a set of repairs could be performed on the vehicle live. His hopes for the event were that when attendees left, “The techs will know what to do when they get the F-150 in their shops.”

Beforehand, Iaboni acquired a complete aluminum F-150 box. During the event, Iaboni guided the 50 shop owners and technicians who attended the course through the repair procedures live, following the repair data from ALLDATA. Iaboni partnered with team members Tom Widmer and Juan Cordova from SEM, Art Ewing from Pro Spot and Russel Duncan from Color Compass and PBE to provide the training on the F-150 and the necessary aluminum rivet bonding. SEM gave attendees the inside scoop on its adhesives for rivet bonding and Pro Spot demonstrated how to remove and replace the rivets. To the benefit of those in attendance, two replacement F-150 box sides were donated by The Humberview Group specifically for use during the training event.

Cordova, the eastern regional sales manger for SEM, says, “It’s not about selling the product alone. It’s about training the customer how to use the product.

Anthony provides solutions for the technicians. He is extremely passionate about training and partners with manufacturers who support his training in the industry.”

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From left to right: Tom Widmer, Art Ewing, Juan Cordova, Anthony Iaboni and Russel Duncan.

During the event, Iaboni guided the 50 shop owners and technicians who attended the course through the repair procedures live, following the repair data from ALLDATA.

NEWS

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NEWS

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Color Compass hosts diagnostic scanning event The LAUNCH product booth at the event.

Color Compass recently held a diagnostic scanning event bringing in over 100 shop owners and technicians. “The response from attendees of the show has been extremely positive. Feedback from those who already purchased the units often said they were unaware the scanner could complete all the functions it can. There have also been requests for the advanced training modules already. Demo requests for the scanners are high, with a week wait or more currently,” says sales manager Sean Skoropat, White & Peters.

Going into the event, many shops had already expressed an interest in the scanning equipment and the discussion surrounding it. In fact, extra chairs had to be brought in to accommodate a larger than expected crowd.

Those present included existing users of the scanning technology, looking to learn more about the tool’s functionality, and new buyers looking to compare with other diagnostic equipment.

“Some shops who were comparing scanners have opted to order the LAUNCH tech based on what they saw during the presentations,” says Skoropat.

The presentation showcased many of the tool’s features, including its remote tech access. The presenter connected to the vehicle and completed the initial report and functionality tests from his scanner while the tech watched and assisted in the vehicle. During the live scanning presentation, one of the scan techs stood across the street to demonstrate the range of the Bluetooth connector, activating the lights and horn on the vehicle from his distant vantage point.

The presentation went through the three training modules set to be run at Color Compass University in April. Each of the modules explores the different levels of functionality of the tool and works through the more advanced testing, diagnosis, sensor re-learns and recalibrations.

Skoropat concludes, “Overall, to have such a good turnout when many shops are experiencing equipment overload shows us that the need for these types of events is there. Collision repair is rapidly evolving and equipment sophistication increases alongside. After sales support, training is key to ensure the shop realizes the full potential of the investment and that customer confidence in the brand remains high.”

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POST SCAN

grains of sand

The autobody repair industry is larger than it appears erin mclaughlin

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science fiction author once said, “There are universes in grains of sand.” In this story he was referring to the vast depth that a thing may hold, even if, in the eyes of an outsider, the thing is finite and small.

This hidden, underappreciated depth the author suggests can be found in the autobody repair industry. To an outsider,

truth. It is so important to not let such perspectives lessen how much you value the work you do. It is your world, after all. What does it matter that others don’t understand it? Keep pushing forward, keep getting better, innovate, explore your capabilities and do things you never thought you would be able to. If someone out there can do it, so can you.

Your mind, work ethic and a unbreakable willingness to learn are all you really need. They are powerful tools indeed, so yield them!

Every person involved with a repair is necessary, as is the specific skills and areas of interest they employ in their involvement. From the estimator, to the detailer, to the painter, to the student

Peering deeper into autobody repair, exploring the endless tunnels, caves and surprises within it, you realize autobody is so much more than you would have ever imagined. the process is simple: A hammering out of dents, a coat of paint, and you’re good to go. But upon peering deeper into autobody repair, exploring the endless tunnels, caves and surprises within it, you realize autobody is so much more than you would have ever imagined. It holds a universe of potential.

Dedicating an entire issue to the painters of collision repair speaks to the depth of the industry. A magazine could never encase in its pages every aspect of the industry—there is simply too much to discuss given that so many industry people, and the incredible work they do, deserve to be shown off to the world. Be proud of what you do. You are a life-protector, a magician, a scientist and an artist rolled up into one. Who else gets to say that?

Yes, those who do not understand what goes on on the shop floor have their own perspective—one which is both strikingly inaccurate and widely accepted as the

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This issue of Bodyworx Professional illuminates the people in this industry who have helped make peoples’ personal and professional lives better, and people who built successful businesses out of little.

It tells stories of progress, resilience and fighting for what one wants.

With that in mind, I would say that if there is any one thing you could take away from this issue of Bodyworx Professional, it is this: that all the limitations you think you have do not really exist.

Or, at the very least, they can’t stand in the way of you and the future you want if you don’t let them.

I’m by no means saying that charging towards what you want is easy. Some people might have to work harder to get to where they want to be, navigate more complicated routes or sail through stormier seas. But you can do it, even if all you’re starting with is a shoestring and a pair of tweezers.

who sweeps the floors—you cannot conduct a proper repair without dedication to quality and craftsmanship from every member of the team.

So, we must champion every person that walks into work every day, who’s playing their role as best they can and who is striving to become better always.

Every planet in this grain of a universe is needed. Even Pluto. And so, I encourage you to be proud of your contributions, big and small! And never forget that everything you do on the shop floor will only serve to make you better, both as a person, and as a professional.

Erin McLaughlin is the editor of Bodyworx Professional magazine. She can be reached by phone at 905370-0101, or emailed at erin@mediamatters.ca

Elevating the Industry The Canadian Collision Industry Forum provides a national venue for all collision industry stakeholders to network, share information and collaborate to develop solutions to common industry issues and challenges.

CCIF meeting speakers and/or panel discussions address the following three main CCIF priorities: • People | Human Resources

• Profitability | Sustainability

• Vehicle Technology

Montreal Airport Marroit In-Terminal Hotel (Located in Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport) 800 Place Leigh-Capreol, Dorval, QC H4Y 0A4 Canada

ccif.ca

RECEPTION

THURSDAY, May 24, 2018: 7:00 PM – 10:30 PM

MEETING

FRIDAY, May 25, 2018: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Breakfast and Registration

7:00 AM – 8:30 AM

CCIF Vancouver 2018 – September 27-28 September 27 @ 7:00 pm - September 28 @ 3:30 pm UTC+0 RECEPTION

THURSDAY, September 27, 2018: 7:00 PM – 10:30 PM

MEETING

FRIDAY, September 28, 2018: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Breakfast and Registration

7:00 AM – 8:30 AM