Collision Repair Magazine 17#5

SEMA ON THE STRIP - AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO THIS YEAR’S SHOW IN LAS VEGAS!

THE SAFETY OFFICER COMETH

SOUTHERN COMFORT

The Gateway Autobody team pulls together to survive an unexpected safety inspection.

Is your team prepared for one?

A complete breakdown of NACE Automechanika in Atlanta, Georgia!

HITTING THE LINKS

CARSTAR IN CALGARY

Consolidated Dealers spends a day on the greens during annual golf event.

Stetsons, steaks and the stampede—a look at the network’s biggest-ever annual conference!

HOLDING DOWN THE FORT

When it comes to getting things done, Fort Rouge Auto Centre operations manager Mike Kilmury knocks it out of the park!

PLUS Collision 360’s Anthony

Iaboni shares strategic insights, Restoring Woodstock’s iconic light bus, a sit down with “The Recall Guy” & much, much more!

Volume 17, number 5 l October 2018

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$7.95

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Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40841632 l 86 John Street, Thornhill, ON L3T 1Y2

CONTENTS

ON THE COVER 12 SMOOTH OPERATOR

VOLUME 17, ISSUE 5, OCTOBER 2018

How Mike Kilmury has taken business at Fort Rouge Auto Centre to the next level!

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FEATURES 18 RESURRECTING THE PAST

A Canadian documentary covers the work of the Vancouver vehicle restoration team bringing back one of the 1960s most iconic vehicles, the Woodstock bus.

22 ESTIMATION OF SIMPLIFICATION Mitchell International presents the ten steps that every estimator should be following!

Fort Rouge Auto Centre’s team. Operations manager Mike Kilmury’s herculean efforts have kept the business driving forward even in difficult times!

25 SCANNING THE SCENE

Scan tools have been around for a while, but are they being used properly? Experts weigh in on how bodyshops can use them to build up their businesses!

29 SURVIVING SAFETY INSPECTIONS

What to expect if a health and safety official makes an unexpected appearance on the shop floor—a survival guide for bodyshops!

39 GEARING UP FOR SEMA

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Canadian film-maker John Wesley Chisholm’s mission to resurrect Woodstock’s iconic bus.

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Gears and glory await! A breakdown of everything to expect from the big show in Las Vegas, this November!

Collision 360’s chief, Anthony Iaboni shares his insights on the industry and where it is headed.

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74 CARSTAR IN CALGARY

Bull-riding, flaming lassos and Stetson-clad repairers, oh my! American and Canadian delegates unite for the banner’s first cross-North American conference!

90 360° VISION

When it comes to insights about the collsion repair industry, who better to ask than a guy whose business is built on knowing everything about it? Collision 360’s Anthony Iaboni shares his business insights!

94 GRINS ON GREEN PASTURES

Consolidated Dealers and CCS hits the links with industry partners for their annual golf tournament!

Ready! Set! SEMA! A sneak peek at everything to expect from this year’s show in Las Vegas this November!

HAVE YOUR SAY. We welcome your comments on anything you see in

96 FIX DRIVES FORWARD

The Fix Auto Network holds its annual Ontario regional golf day, conference and tradeshow in King City, Ontario.

Collision Repair magazine. Send your feedback to editor@collisionrepairmag.com.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 5

CONTENTS

NEWS

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45 INDUSTRY 47 TECHNOLOGY 48 OEM 50 BUSINESS 53 REGIONAL 100 RECYCLING 113 TOWING

DEPARTMENTS 08 PUBLISHER’S PAGE by Darryl Simmons Our debt to Canada’s collision community

Sweet as a Georgia peach! The full run-down of this summer’s biggest collision repair event, NACE Automechanika in Atlanta, Georgia.

17 ENGINE KNOX by Steve Knox Onward, to CCIF Toronto!

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33 WHO’S DRIVING? by Jay Perry The right ingredients

35 PRAIRIE VIEW by Chelsea Stebner Lessons learned

79 PRINCIPLES OF REPAIR by Peter Sziklai Templating a new position

83 TRAINING by Andrew Shepherd I-CAR raising the bar 107 RECYCLING by David Gold A bright, green future awaits The insider’s guide to pre- and post-scanning, and how it is changing the industry!

114 FINAL WORD by Gideon Scanlon Remembering Jeff Sanford

CARSTAR heads to Calgary, while Fix and Consolidated Dealers hit the links!

Saddle-up for a full round of event coverage!

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ON THE COVER:

96 94 6 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

Remembering Collision Repair’s own Jeff Sanford, writer of the Friday Fun, Tuesday Ticker and the Last Word columns.

Mike Kilmury, operations manager of Fort Rouge Auto Centre in Saskachewan.

YOUR ONLINE SOURCE Canada’s collision repair information resource.

New articles and top news stories daily.

Visit www.collisionrepairmag.com.

PUBLISHER’S PAGE

HERE FOR YOU Collision Repair’s debt-of-gratitude to readers

By Darryl Simmons

I

f there is one thing that Collision Repair has counted on over the years, it is the passionate and vocal support we receive from members of all parts of Canada’s automotive aftermarket community, and especially from collision repairers.

In my column this issue, I would like to take the opportunity to thank these involved readers, and to make it clear that our ears are always open to your input. After all, for the Collision Repair team, there is cer-

Collision Repair tradition that had gone by the wayside.

“I remember that you used to run an annual report giving collision repairers the opportunity to grade bodyshops,” he said. “It would be great to see that happen again—it gave shops the ability to share their collective opinions, and insurers a sense of how they compare to one-another.”

It was far too good a suggestion for us to turn down, and our team immediately began working with the caller on an online

PUBLISHER DARRYL SIMMONS (647) 409-7070 publisher@collisionrepairmag.com EDITOR GIDEON SCANLON (905) 370-0101 gideon@mediamatters.ca ART DIRECTOR MICHELLE MILLER (905) 370-0101 michelle@mediamatters.ca STAFF WRITERS JORDAN ARSENEAULT jordan@mediamatters.com LINDSEY COOKE lindsey@mediamatters.ca JORDAN PORTER jordanporter@mediamatters.ca GRAPHIC DESIGNER JILL THACKER jill@mediamatters.ca VP INDUSTRY RELATIONS & ADVERTISING GLORIA MANN (647) 998-5677 advertising@collisionrepairmag.com MANAGING DIRECTOR, INTEGRATED BUSINESS SOLUTIONS ELLEN SMITH (416) 312-7446 ellen@mediamatters.ca PUBLISHER’S ASSISTANT LAURA JENSEN (647) 998-5677 laura@mediamatters.ca

AFTER ALL, FOR THE COLLISION REPAIR TEAM, THERE IS CERTAINLY NO HIGHER HONOUR THAN RECEIVING YOUR WARM RESPONSES TO OUR WORK. tainly no higher honour than receiving your warm responses to our work. More importantly, no better source for criticism of our coverage or ideas for the stories we should consider pursuing—including in this very issue.

While at NACE Automechanika in Atlanta, Georgia this August, our editor Gideon Scanlon was approached by a number of readers who said they hoped to see more coverage of the impact of new scanning technologies on our industry—a topic that has become the thematic backbone of this edition.

Reader input has played an even bigger part in our plans for our next issue, which will include a special report on auto insurers and their relationship with the collision repair facilities.

In September, I received a call from a friend and long-time reader who runs several bodyshops in Ontario. During our conversation, he reminded me of an old

8 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

survey. Designed to provide collision repair professionals with the ability to share their candid opinions on insurers without fear of repercussions, the survey will remain open at collisionrepairmag.com until November 10, 2018.

Not only am I happy to invite eve r y on e w it h i n t h e c o l l i s i on re p a i r industry to participate in the survey, I would like for all of our readers to know that we are always happy to hear from you. If you have a story, criticism or idea for our magazine, please do not hesitate to give us a call. We can be reached by phone at (905) 370 0101, or email us at editor@collisionrepairmag.com.

INDUSTRY RELATIONS ASSISTANT WANJA MANN (647) 998-5677 advertising@collisionrepairmag.com CONTRIBUTORS DAVID GOLD, PETER SZIKLAI, JAY PERRY, THERESA JACHNYCHY, WAYNE KRAUSE, STEVE KNOX, STACEY PHILLIPS, JEFF SANFORD, WANJA MANN SUBSCRIPTION One-year $39.95 / Two-year $64.99 Collision Repair™ magazine 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 Collision Repair™ magazine 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”

Collision Repair magazine is published by Media Matters Inc., publishers of:

NEWS

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Carrossier ProColor network announced that Marie-Noël Gagné will be the new administrative and Marie-Noël Gagné customer ser vice assistant for the company. Gagné has held various other positions in administration and customer service throughout her career. In her new role, she will be responsible for monitoring customer service interventions and providing support to the network’s workshops.

FinishMaster has recruited Chris Adams as the president and operating officer for the corporation to replace Steven J. Arndt, Chris Adams who is saying goodbye after more than 25 years of service.

With more than 20 years of executive leadership experience Adams has previously held senior positions at ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a major multi-shop operator in the collision repair industry.

He also held a senior executive role at Pep Boys and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF) has a ne w executive director, Fr ance Dav iau lt .

She is a bilingual France Daviault. and seasoned association leadership professional who has worked in the private sector as well as with NGOs and non-profit organizations. Daviault spent more than a decade in progressively more senior executive leadership roles.

Her experience includes leading the communications team for the Canadian Council of Motor Vehicle Administrators (CCMTA), and most recently serving as vice president of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA), managing the overall association operations and industry programs for an industry

trade association. In parallel with that role, France was also executive director of Heavy Duty Aftermarket Canada (HDAC).

AkzoNobel welcomes Pat Ryan to the team as a service consultant with vehicle refinishes. He is well-known throughout the industry and Pat Ryan has more than 23 years of experience with the Ontario market. He has previously taken on roles such as sales director for CosmosSync, vice president of operations for CAR-MS QRP Group of Recyclers. He was also the owner of Canadian Collision Data Services and was a claims procurement manager with Aviva Canada.

Fix Automotive Network Canada has announced that Sylvain Séguin, who had previously served as AkzoNobel’s Canadian Sylvain Séguin country manager, will serve as the network’s new vice president of operations. Séguin will oversee the operations teams for all brands in the network in Canada, which includes Fix Auto, NOVUS Glass and Speedy Auto Service. An industry veteran with 29 years’ experience, Séguin began his career in the industry as an automotive painter. Séguin has held various positions with AkzoNobel Coatings since 2004.

Fix Automotive Network Canada has named Chris Peterson as general manager of the Fix Automotive Network in Alberta and Saskatche- Chris Peterson wan.Peterson will oversee the continued growth of the network as well as the teams for all FAN brands in the region, which include Fix Auto, NOVUS Glass and Speedy Auto Service. As a member of the executive team, he will report directly to president & CEO Steve Leal. Peterson joins the FAN team with more than 20 years of experience in business

10 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

development, customer service and operational management. He has held various senior management positions in the automotive industry including director of operations and a group manager. The bulk of Peterson’s experience comes from his 18 years with Enterprise Holdings.

Correction: In the last edition of Collision Repair, a photo of Thomas Maple of the Fix Automotive Network, was misidentified as being Steve Love, the then newly appointed manager of Global Finishing Solutions parts and filters sales department. The corrected entries have been included in this edition.

In May, the Fix Automotive Network announced that Thomas Maple would become the general manager for the British Columbia region.

Maple began his journey with Fix Auto in 2012 as the shop Thomas Maple manager of Fix Auto Calgary South Central.

He later transitioned to the strategic partner developer position for the Alberta market, a key operational role supporting unprecedented regional growth in 2013. In 2014 Maple relocated to B.C. for a similar role, providing onsite assistance to Fix Auto’s members. As the brand and team continued to grow, he moved into the operations manager position in 2015, directing a team that oversaw franchise consistency in both Alberta and B.C. Maple’s role will be to pursue the strategic development of all Fix Automotive network brands in B.C. and to support operations of the current Fix Auto, NOVUS Glass and Speedy Auto Service locations.

Global Finishing Solutions has announced the promotion of Steve Love to manager of the parts and filters sales department. Love has been with GFS since 2014, working within the industrial sales business unit.

He began his career with GFS as an estimator, and in 2016 was promoted to the position of estimating manager. In this role, Love gained management Steve Love experience and worked internally to develop process improvements.

In his new role, Love will work closely with internal departments, distribution channels and with GFS’ strategic accounts to continue to develop the company’s parts and filters business unit.

MANNING

ON THE COVER

THE FORT

By Jordan Arseneault

M

Mike Kilmury, shop manager at Fort Rouge Auto Centre.

12 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

ike Kilmury’s favourite part of his job at Fort Rouge Auto Centre is sending customers home safe and happy. Being able to work around cars all day— call it an added bonus.

“I’ve always been interested in anything with four wheels,” said the shop manager.

Kilmury’s journey into the collision repair world started back in high school when he took his first auto mechanic class. After graduating he started as a 19-year-old at a heavy truck bodyshop and used parts supplier. Swiftly moving through the ranks, he started as a labourer, became a dismantler and then moved into parts sales.

“As soon as I moved up into parts sales I knew I wanted to keep going further, I wanted to flip over into the bodyshop side of things,” Kilmury said.

Kilmury made good on his promise to himself, transitioning over from a 16-year career in heavy trucks to collision repair.

ON THE COVER

A technician carefully performs measuring procedures.

Fort Rouge Auto Centre’s management team firmly believes in doing each job right the first time.

“I was in heavy truck for a long time and I wasn’t sure how I would be on the car side of things,” Kilmury said. “Once I got into it I realized that I actually excelled more in the training and management aspects of the automotive industry.”

Two years after his switch to the “car side of things,” Kilmury, already experienced in a number of positions in the industry, was hired on as the production manager at Fort Rouge Auto Centre in Winnipeg.

In reality, the hiring was more of an adoption into the family run business, as Kilmury became the first person outside of the direct family to join the management side of the company.

“Mike is a people person. He listens to everyone involved at Fort Rouge whether they are upper management, repair technicians or members of the cleaning crew,” said office administrator Vienna Girimonte.

“He is a huge part of what we do here, he feels like one of us.”

It isn’t just his reliability and sunny attitude that has benefitted Fort Rouge Auto Centre. His dedication to driving long-term projects forward has provided the business with a tremendous competitive advantage.

In just five years, Kilmury has played an integral role in preparing the facility to become Manitoba’s first Volkswagen certified repair shop. He followed this up by applying for, and eventually gaining, the bodyshop’s status Porsche certification repair shop — another provincial first!

“Mike was directly involved in the communication process with the OEM’s and making sure our shop was meeting expectations,” said Girimonte.

“He was able to take charge and make sure the changes that needed to be made in order to get the certifications were taken care of.”

The two certifications have given Fort Rouge the flexibility to do complete repairs on both brands of vehicles, avoiding the timely procedure of having to send the product back to the original manufacturer. The shop is also a certified repair shop for Fiat/Chrysler, Kia, along with being a recognized repair shop for Honda/Acura.

“With the changes in technology and the repair procedures on vehicles, our motivation was to make sure we’re up to par and that we’re repairing these vehicles to pre-accident condition as per OEM standards,” said Kilmury. “We definitely want to be certified in a few more brands of vehicles. It seems that is the way the trade is going.”

Last fall Kilmury reached out to Manito-

ba Public Insurance in regards to becoming a direct repair shop. Having witnessed the success of the program over the past couple years, Kilmury believed the time was right for Fort Rouge to become involved.

After going through a probation period, in which the bodyshop was responsible for following MPI’s guidelines and meeting the insurer’s quota, Fort Rouge became recognized in the spring of this year. Customers can now have their estimates done directly at Fort Rouge, rather than having to take their vehicle to an MPI claim centre.

“The biggest advantage for the customer is that we can take their vehicle and find all the damage up front, before reassembling the vehicle and sending an estimate off to MPI,” Kilmury said.

Once the estimate has been approved by MPI, parts are directly ordered to the repair

From structural repairs, to refinishing, glass replacement and routine maintenance procedures, Fort Rouge aims to provide for all the needs of Winnipeg drivers!

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 13

ON THE COVER

The Fort Rouge Auto Centre team. The vehicle dealership, service centre and collision repair centre has been serving Manitoba drivers since 1981.

facility and the necessary repairs are made.

The vehicle never needs to leave the shop and a once convoluted process was replaced by an elegant drop-off/pick-up method.

“It saves the customer in down time and added expenses such as rental car fees,” said Kilmury.

Between the OEM and MPI certifications Kilmury has helped transform Fort Rouge Autobody into one of the province’s most dynamic shops. Equipped with some of the latest technology and training, the shop bolsters a strong reputation of being able to provide top quality repairs.

For Kilmury himself, the opportunity for self-improvement isn’t something he

takes for granted.

“I love to learn and take every opportunity I get to further my knowledge in this trade,” said Kilmury.

Having become platinum in two separate I-Car classifications, Kilmury has been persistent in practicing the very message he preaches. The added knowledge has allowed Kilmury to become more involved in the repair process, providing him with the added benefit of knowing what’s going on in all facets of the business.

A team-member performs 3D measurements.

With Fort Rouge Auto Centre has received a gold class rating from Manitoba Public Insurance.

“At the end of the day I know that when a vehicle is leaving we’ve done everything correctly,” said Kilmury.

Making sure that corners aren’t cut and that vehicles are repaired back to factory standards

“I take pride in knowing that when a customer leaves with their vehicle they have nothing to worry about.”

The team at Fort Rouge Auto Centre assisting customers.

As one of the largest facilities in the Winnipeg area, Fort Rouge’s management believes the best way to build business is to build repeat business!

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- Mike Kilmury

ON THE COVER

are just a couple of the staples that Fort Rouge Auto Centre was founded on and qualities Kilmury is adamant to maintain. The family-owned business, which was established by brothers-in-law Joe Lucia and Frank Torchia back in 1981, operates with virtually no advertising, relying on word of mouth and repeat customers. The commitment to service is something that Kilmury takes great pride in and is just one of the many aspects that separates Fort Rouge from its competition.

“We’ve seen many vehicles that have come in with claims and once we’ve got the vehicles and taken them apart, we’ve found all kinds of poor repairs, hidden damages or stuff that just wasn’t fixed properly,” Kilmury said.

“You see it a lot and it’s not what this trade is about.”

Moving forward Kilmury hopes to equip Fort Rouge with more OEM certifications to be able to repair every vehicle that comes through the shop doors.

With plenty of work still needing to be done to achieve that goal, the shop and its manager can take pride in the steps taken towards becoming a more complete bodyshop, while still maintaining their founding principles of premium quality and service.

It would have been hard for Kilmury to have imagined how much he would accomplish in such a short period of time when he made the decision to changeover from the heavy truck industry seven years ago. Despite all the success that’s come Kilmury’s way; he remains focused on the very same things that brought him to the automotive side in the first place.

“I take pride in knowing that when a customer leaves with their vehicle they have nothing to worry about,” Kilmury said.

“Our quality and safety is our number one priority and that’s something I am proud to be a part of.”

Mike Kilmury with Fort Rouge Auto Centre owners Frank Torchia and Joe Lucia. While he might not have been born into the business, Kilmury enjoys unofficial family-member status.

A GFS Ultra paint booth on the shop floor. Offering refinishing and glass replacement services to customers requires the team to target their investments in systems that reduce cycle times and improve results.

View from the outside of Fort Rouge Auto Centre.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 15

ENGINE KNOX

CCIF IN YYZ In January, the Canadian Collision Industry Forum arrives in Toronto—will you be there?

By Steve Knox

I

n August, I found myself in a conversation that has stuck uncomfortably in my mind. During lunch with a colleague—a veteran in the Canadian collision world—we were discussing industry changes, and how repair businesses have needed to adapt to address them.

The cars we work on are not like the old ones. Customer expectations are much higher, legal implications of poor repairs are huge, and so on.

I began talking about how I have an upcoming CCIF event to attend, and I asked if he would be going. His reply was, “What’s the point of those anyways?”

I was floored.

Early in my career, there was a CCIF event coming up locally. An insurance field appraiser came into my office and asked if I was attending.

they employ. They answered my specific questions that had been plaguing me about their products. I met image desk people and insurance managers who I had only spoken to over the phone, and was able to begin a face-to-face relationship. I heard how the issues I had were not mine alone, they were industry issues. I heard of changes that were being forecasted to affect our repairs over the next decade. I found out that my little corner of the dealership was no different than all of the other collision centres out there. This was my true introduction to the community that I was already part of.

As the years have passed, and I’ve attended meeting after meeting, I’ve learned how truly important attendance is at CCIF. Our industry is changing now so rapidly that we need now more than ever to stay on top of it. Connected

“AS THE YEARS HAVE PASSED, AND I’VE ATTENDED MEETING AFTER MEETING, I’VE LEARNED HOW TRULY IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE IS AT CCIF.” The visitor explained how the presentations at those meetings are so important to our industry and how I should be going. I thought,“I have enough on my plate here, why would I go and rub elbows with a bunch of insurers?” I didn’t go.

Years passed, and I kept working in my little shop in the back of a dealership, and kept selling the same high quality work in the same manner as we always had. Being in a Ford dealership, I saw new technology in cars coming through, but hadn’t paid much attention to how these new cars may affect me.

One day, I had an issue of Collision Repair land on my desk. I thumbed through it, and saw photos of some of the insurers I knew, and some of my local competitors at a big meeting in Toronto - CCIF. The article went on to discuss how they were talking about upcoming changes in technology, software and hardware to support these changes, and the effects that it will have on the industry.

“Hmmm,” I muttered to myself, “There might be some good information there. Perhaps I could show how our shop is interested in keeping up with the cars that are being sold on our showroom floor.”

The following January, I went to Toronto for the big meeting. I ran into most of my product supplier’s specialists

cars are being sold every day in Canada. If the average vehicle on the road is near ten years old, we all had better be ready to have an entirely different business model less than ten years from now. These issues are being discussed at every CCIF meeting this year.

I told my colleague all of this, and hope the message struck home, but I am all too aware of the fact that he isn’t the only member of the collision repair community to wonder about the purpose of the CCIF and like-minded organizations. It is easy to disengage from the changes hitting the collision repair community. It is easy to be cynical about efforts to prepare for the future.

My message to the Canadian collision community is this: if you want to understand where we are going as an industry, and learn about how to survive, reserve a seat.

It’s important—none of us are in this industry alone.

CARSTAR Fredericton and CARSTAR Fredericton North general manager Steve Knox is a member of the CCIF Steering Committee and an I-CAR instructor. He can be reached at sknox@carstarfredericton.ca.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 17

RESTORATION REPORT

P E A H T S G T N I RTheEResurrection STO Rof

BY LINDSEY COOKE

the Woodstock bus

F

or three days in 1969, hundreds-of-thousands of young people made their way to a farm in Upstate New York to attend Woodstock Music Festival. Of the many iconic images that came out of the event was one of a painted Volkswagen Light Bus—known to history as the Woodstock Bus. Painted by artist Bob Heironimus, the design’s use of religious iconography from many faiths from around the world seemed to capture the spirit of the age—a desire for intercultural harmony. In fact, the image became so famous that it quickly began to be used as a visual short-hand for the counter-culture movements of the 1960s.

The original bus has been lost to history, however, one Canadian television producer and a team of auto restorers are on a mission to resurrect it. John Wesley Chisholm and autobody mechanics at Skinner Classics in California, are bringing a replica of the old light bus from Woodstock back to life—and to television screens across the world.

Chisholm is based in Nova Scotia, where he mostly works on factual entertainment shows with the Discovery Channel and National Geographic. “My specialty is finding

things that are lost,” says Chisholm.

One of his projects for National Geographic was to film a show about the hidden symbols in the architecture in Washington D.C. A project which brought him into contact with Dr. Heironimus.

Perhaps not surprising for a man who found fame working religious symbolism into popular art, Chisholm describes the artist, today an art historian, as the real life “DaVinci Code guy.” In fact, the van art wasn’t even Heironimus’s most famous piece on the subject. He be best known as one of the United States “best muralists” because of his 2,700-square-foot mural done in 1968-1969, referred to as “Apoc-

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alypse” at the Johns Hopkins University.

Living up to his credentials as an art historian, Heironomus provided Chisholm with some interesting details about the bus. Among them, he mentioned that he had painted it for his friend’s band. Known as The Light, the band would soon move away from the counter-culture scene after landing a gig with the decidedly clean-cut Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons shortly after the festival.

Chisholm was fascinated by the story.

With the 50th anniversary of Woodstock approaching, he decided to make a documentary TV special about repairing the original bus but ran into a slight problem—it had gone missing.

RESTORATION REPORT

Dr. Heironimus couldn’t remember what had become of it. From what he did remember, after Woodstock—which he didn’t actually attend in the first place—the bus had been on the commune where he lived and continues to live today.

Chisholm however, was still convinced that the documentary could go forward. He explained to the broadcasters that, though he didn’t have the bus and he doesn’t have the money to restore it, he could make a show about looking for the bus.

“I spent about six months traveling to Volkswagen graveyards, swaps and shows. I even went to the last of the old fashioned kind repair shop where guys still tune carburetors.

We traveled to the top of New Jersey and to the bottom of Arkansas looking for the bus,” says Chilsholm.“Based on some information, we hired detectives. And because the hippies who were involved wanted to get psychics, we even talked to some psychics!”

Everyone has their own theory as to what happened to the bus, but Chisholm realized that they weren’t going to find it, and that it had probably broke down at the side of the road somewhere and was just eventually pushed into the woods.

“So that was the end of the bus. We had to find a replacement.”

At first, they had thought they found the matching bus and had sent it off for the

John Wesley Chisholm leans on an unpainted 1960s Volkswagen Light Bus that he and autobody mechanics at Skinner Classics in California, are turning into a replica of the original Woodstock Bus.

The bus during the Woodstock festival in 1969.

repair process to East Coast Volkswagen Restorations in St. Augustine, Florida.

It wasn’t until then that Robert Skinner, owner of Vacaville Auto Body Center, famously known as Skinner Classics, got involved.

Skinner says that he was tagged in a post online in reference to them having the wrong bus, so he decided to reach out to them.

Skinner Classics has been working on restoring split buses for over 30 years and Skinner says that he has owned around 400 buses personally, so it’s safe to say that he knows them inside and out. He was able to identify the proper model of the original bus from old photographs, and soon enough, they found a matching one in San Jose, California.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 19

RESTORATION REPORT

“We travelled to the top of New Jersey to the bottom of Arkansas looking for the bus. Had some information, hired detectives and because the hippies were involved they wanted to get psychics, so we talked to some psychics”

Bob Heironimus paints religious symbols on his iconic bus. Now a modern art scholar, he received a Phd in 1981 for his doctoral thesis: An Historic Analysis of the Reverse of the American Great Seal and Its Relationship to the Ideology of Humanistic Psychology.

Skinner went and had a look at this replica. They said it was perfect, Chisholm explains.

“I had money to make the documentary but not to restore a bus. So, I said we’ll do a Kickstarter.” It turned out to be a huge success. The goal was to raise $90,000 for the restoration of this bus, and within 30 days they received $77,000 Canadian, from people who love Volkswagen.

On the very last day of the Kickstarter, Volkswagen in the United States donated the rest to reach their goal.

“It was a whole lot of 100 dollars here and 100 dollars there and then in the end Volkswagen came in and finished it off,” he says.

With the money they received they were able to start on the restoration of this 55-yearold replica of the original Light bus. Chisholm said the bus was in good shape but really rusted around the door panels and the trim, all four corners were smashed in and one of the long panel sides had a big dent in it.

Skinner Classics performed all the old-fashioned body work on it, pulling out the dents in the metal, making sure there was no filler anywhere and then flattening out the rod panels of the bus, which is one of the hardest things to do when it comes to autobody work.

“It was actually a pretty decent bus, but you know for a bus that is 60 years old. It just needed some love and attention,” says Skinner.“With Dr. Heironimus wanting it rust free, we pretty much had to attack any area that had rust and remove it completely, and replace it with the best sheet metal.”

- John Wesley Chisholm

Once they finished that aspect of the repair they put the bus on a car lift and started the mechanical work on it. They replaced the engine, transmission, rebuilt the front suspension and reconstructed all the electrical in the bus.

They had three weeks to finish the repairs on the bus, which was a really tight schedule says Skinner.

“Something like this could take a lot longer than this. We were working on it for almost two and a half weeks, just in metal work alone and then of course it had to go into the paint department and be equipped for a prep to be painted which was a primer, and then went in to get it refinished,” he says.

Chisholm says the bus was then sent over to Baltimore, where Dr. Heironimus’s commune is. They set-up an old century

20 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

Dr. Bob Hieronimus’ Apocalypse mural is another iconic work of 1960s counter-cultural art. It is located in Johns Hopkins University.

barn that would substitute as the paint shop for Dr. Heironimus and the help of a couple of apprentices to start painting in.

To get the exact mural they are transferring the images from the old pictures of the bus and using an old grid system onto the new bus with the use of one shot paint. The bus will then be finally sent off to East Coast VW Restorations in St. Augustine for final reassembly and restoration.

Then what? Chisholm says the plan is to take the bus on a long trip to Woodstock for August 2019, just in time for the 50th anniversary.

So, keep your eyes peeled for this onehour documentary TV special that will be aired on Discovery Canada and Curiosity Stream in the United States sometime next year.

TECH TALK

TEN TIPS

By Wayne Krause

T 1

Every Estimator Should Be Following

Brought to you by Mitchell International

oday more than ever, the importance of creating an outstanding blueprint to automotive repair is an integral part of making proper and safe repairs. Creating a road map of how the vehicle is going to be repaired provides the most accurate and efficient methods of repair and ensures that every standard operating procedure (SOP) is being met. In I-CAR’s Cycle Time class, they identify that “Doing a complete repair blueprint has been identified as a key to improving efficiency in a repair facility.”

Have an SOP for the estimating process Develop a systematic approach to writing a complete estimate and ensure that it’s repeatable. Most importantly, follow it on each vehicle blueprint.

Training

2 3 4

Take the time to be educated on today’s automobiles and the technology associated with them. Anyone who endeavors to repair an automobile should know how the system really functions before they can repair it. The same holds true for anyone that is tasked with writing a damage appraisal. If an estimator is not armed with the knowledge of how systems function or which parts are HSS or UHSS and what estimators are allowed or not allowed to do by a specific manufacturer, an estimator may not be able to write a complete estimate.

Pre-scan The importance of doing a pre-scan or health check on every vehicle that comes into a facility will help ensure that every system is functioning as designed. Not doing a pre-scan is like going to the doctor and expecting him to know what’s ailing the patient without verbalizing any symptoms.

Photographs Just as important to writing a good estimate, is photographing everything around the vehicle. Pictures help ensure that everything on the vehicle is captured, including damage associated with the loss and any pre-existing damage. Documenting everything helps remove doubt as to what the vehicle came into the facility with.

22 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

TECH TALK

5

Know and understand the estimating platform Becoming an expert on the software that repair facilities use not only makes an estimator more efficient, but assists in getting everything that is “Not Included” for the database a repair facility is using. The procedure pages have been commonly referred to in our industry as “the profit pages.”

Research and access the OEM repair information

6 7 8 9

This an important aspect of writing a repair blueprint. This includes any TSB’s, Technical Bulletins, OE Recalls and specific air bag replacement matrices that might exist. Without the knowledge of how the OE wants the vehicle repaired, it may be difficult to repair the vehicle correctly. Most of the time, repair facilities do an outstanding job of accessing repair procedures and writing an accurate damage appraisal. These repair procedures should get into the hands of the ones actually doing the work - the repair technician!

Teardown The teardown process gives an estimator the vision to see any hidden damage that can easily be overlooked with a simple repair plan without removing components. The best estimators in this industry do a complete teardown, photograph and write a complete blueprint.

Identify one-time use or non-reusable components There are a number of specialized fasteners and parts that certain manufacturers have deemed as non-reusable. Identifying these at the earliest stages, the estimating portion, will help ensure that a repair facility is not faced with supplements at the tail end of the repair process for parts that may be special order, or back ordered, thus affecting the total cycle time.

Identify any needed sublet There may be instances where a repair facility may not have the necessary equipment or technician in-house with which to perform certain operations, and therefore will need to sublet those operations. Identifying these early helps ensure the most efficient cycle time on the entire repair.

Post-Scan

10

Just as important as the Pre-Scan is the Post-Scan, or final health assessment. Everything that a repair facility does on today’s automobile has the potential to set a fault code (DTC) or digital fingerprint.

Even simply R&Iing a mirror or door handle, may set a fault code.

The Post-Scan process can help determine whether or not the repair process has been completed proper and safely. It’s at this point where a technician is able to clear any codes that were originally set during the collision or that may have been added through any touch points. Finally, it gives a repair facility the opportunity to provide a clean bill of health to their customer that will delight them in knowing that their investment has been well taken care of.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 23

SPECIAL REPORT

OEM Scanning tools Top five things to consider when looking into purchasing scanning tools for your shop

By Stacey Phillips

F

or decades, scanning tools have been on the market, but many bodyshops are only now beginning to realize why they have become so vital to the world of collision repair.

An increasing number of collision repairers are beginning to recognize the importance of pre- and post-scanning every vehicle to ensure all systems are working properly and calibrations are completed.

“Until you’ve run a diagnostic tool on a vehicle, the damage that may or may not be there is often unseen,” said Jake Rodenroth, director of industry relations for asTech, which focuses on providing OEM diagnostics to collision repairers.“You can get the vehicle fully assembled and then have an electronics issue that keeps the car from going home on time.”

“When a job comes in, you must gather as much information about the vehicle that you possibly can prior to working on it,” said Chuck Olsen, executive director of operations for AirPro Diagnostics, which offers remote OEM-compliant dealer-level scanning and calibration services. “Otherwise, if you find trouble later on, you won’t know if the problem was already there or if you induced it during the repair process.”

Whether you are replacing a diagnostic scan tool at your bodyshop or looking

“Until you’ve run a diagnostic tool on a vehicle, the damage that may or may not be there is often unseen.”

- Jake Rodenroth “When a job comes in, you must gather as much information about the vehicle that you possibly can prior to working on it.”

- Chuck Olsen

to purchase one for the first time, there is a range of debates occurring in the repair industry right now regarding the best method to use for scanning. In an effort to break down the best method for you, I will outline the three primary options available: purchasing OEM scan tools, aftermarket scan tools, or utilizing a diagnostic service provider. In addition I will break down five key steps to consider when contemplating scanning tools.

Each OEM has its own proprietary scan tool. Although they may offer more in-depth coverage than aftermarket tools, they are specific to that manufacturer’s vehicle.

There is a wide range of aftermarket scan tools available ranging from simple code readers to fully-functional scan tools. Although they allow your shop to work on a wider range of makes and models, most may not be as comprehensive as an OEM tool.

A third option is using a mobile or remote diagnostic service provider. Mobile service providers come on site to perform the work necessary at the shop. Remote service providers help repairers identify and correct existing issues by remotely operating a scan tool at the vehicle or by using an Internet connection through a proprietary interface connected to a scan tool at another location.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 25

SPECIAL REPORT

SCANNING TOOLS

Five things repairers should consider:

1. Personnel For many shops, Rodenroth said the first step is to determine whether or not you have a person in-house who possesses the mechanical skills necessary to operate a scan tool. Like any other equipment in your business, it comes down to how the store is staffed.

3. Functionality Using a scan tool is not like picking up a screwdriver where you can only turn it left or right, said Rodenroth. Every tool has different capabilities, and some are easier to navigate than others, said Olsen. Features can vary widely from tool to tool including the display, whether you can store live data, the various modules it can read, special functions, programming/calibration capabilities, and report capabilities.

5. Training Some companies offer basic training modules on how their tool operates however, in many cases Rodenroth said shops are on their own. Performing electrical diagnostics on a car is not something you can learn overnight, he said. As a result, it can often be a challenge for a shop to learn that skill set.

26  COLLISION REPAIR  COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

2. Type of coverage Not all scan tools are created equally.

Depending on the focus of the shop and its size, there are different coverage options.

Olsen says it is important to look closely at your business and determine if you are working on European, Asian, or domestic models and then plan accordingly.

4. Cost Price is another important consideration before making a purchase. It can be a heavy financial investment for those purchasing OEM tools. On the other hand, Olsen said if the cost sounds too good to be true, it probably is. In addition, there are typically software update fees each year, which can range in price from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

BE PREPARED

When the workplace health and safety inspector arrives, will your shop pass muster?

By Theresa Jachnycky

I

had just returned from an extended absence and was eyeing the emails and piles of paper on my desk, when a collegue gave me the news—a workplace safety and health inspector had just pulled up in the parking lot. My initial reaction was irritation at having to abandon my plans for the day—and possibly days— to accompany the inspector, provide requested verification documents, and make myself generally available for telling-offs.

My annoyance was quickly replaced with mild apprehension—I had no idea what the inspector would be looking for on this day.

Experience did little to prepare us for the inspection, and even though the shop is WorkSafe certified, one never knows what to expect—apart from expecting the unexpected.

Every inspector we ever had walk through our doors appeared to have a different focus and priority. This lack of uniformity in health and safety inspections is a pet peeve of most collision repairiers facilities and other businesses, and the inconsistencies in requirements is prevalent across the country.

In Canada, occupational health and safety falls under 14 jurisdictions—the provinces, territories and federal government. Each jurisdiction sets out the details for its legislation, enforcement and whether a regulation is mandatory, discretionary or “as directed by the Minister”—resulting in a patchwork network of overlapping legislation and regulations.

Common to all jurisdictions, however, are the following:

• R ights and responsibilities of workers and employers’ responsibility which is part of the business’s Internal Responsibility System or IRS (see text box) • “ Right to know” legislation known as WHMIS • P rotections for Vulnerable Workers • T ransportation of Dangerous Goods • Competancy • Due Diligence • Posting Requirements • C riminal Code Sections 214.1, 22.1 and 22.2 How then, does the above apply to workplace safety and health in collision repair facilities and what will an inspector be looking for when visiting a site?

First, know a provincial or territorial occupational safety and health inspector may enter any work place at any reasonable time.

Notice is not required. Typically, workplace safety and health divisions establish inspection schedules for industries based on risk.

High-risk industries can expect visits once or more times per year; moderate-risk industries

biennial; and low-risk every 3 or more years.

If a business has been fined for violations in the past, annual inspections are highly probable regardless of risk type until the inspector is satisfied the deficiency leading to an improvement order is corrected and sustained on repeat inspections.

Also factored into the frequency a workplace may be called on is the response time for addressing improvement and stop work orders. Repeated extensions for an improvement order may create the impression the order isn’t complete.

So, how risky is the collision repair industry? According to the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, industries involving motor vehicles, parts and supplies rank 18 of 47 on the Combined Risk Index placing the industry into the moderate-risk category for occupational safety and health reported incidents meaning, on average a collision repair shop can anticipate a visit every other year.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 29

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Next, what to do when the inspector arrives? Be sure to have either the most senior employer representative or designate meet the Inspector on arrival. Arrange for the designated employee representative or WSH Co-Chair to accompany the Inspector during the visit.

What will the inspector be looking for? Any of the following may be of interest to the Inspector for a full inspection. Spot checks are just that and depend on the theme identified for the industry.

Risk scores assigned to the rankings of small business industries by injury, illness and fatality IR MOTOR VEHICLES, PARTS & SUPPLIES

1. Workplace Hazards 1.1. D esignated Substances - paint & body products containing isocyanides. Inspectors will be checking to ensure spray painting is occurring in a well-ventilated area, employees are trained in the use of the products, and wearing proper personal protective equipment including full face respirator; 1.2. F lammable liquids - Inspectors will seek to verify that products are stored in areas where no sources of ignition exist and that the products are isolated from other operations such as flammable storage cabinets;

2. WHMIS 2.1. S afety Data Sheets (SDS) for all hazardous chemicals used and stored such as solvents, thinners, flammable liquids and applicable paints. Employees must be able to demonstrate they are able to identify the location(s) for the Safety Data Sheets and identify first aid and protective equipment requirements; 2.2. V erification of training in the proper use and storage of hazardous products kept on site. The employer will need to provide training records on WHMIS showing who attended and when they did. A simple spreadsheet with employee names and dates attended will suffice and it is a good idea to have a poster with WHMIS Symbols put up at the worksite. Anticipate inspectors may want to confirm employees’ knowledge about the hazardous products they work with and may ask employees directly about which of the products they use are hazardous and how they protect themselves and others from the products (safety goggles, gloves, masks, appropriate respirators)

3. Eye Wash Stations

Must be installed and training provided

on how to use and maintain the eye wash.

4. First Aid Kits Must be located in the area of work and contain the appro priate supplies for the nature of the work being performed.

Anticipate inspectors may want to see a checklist to verify supplies are routinely inspected and restocked.

5. Fire Extinguishers

I nspectors will check to see the location of the fire extinguishers, any objects that might be obstructing the extinguisher, monthly inspection checks and annual service records.

30 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

SIC

501

Rank by combined risk index

18

Combined risk index

7

Nonfatal occupational injury IR

2

Occupational Illness IR Fatal Occupational Injury IR

5

0

6. Internal Responsibility System The business’s policy statement on Workplace Safety containing the Employer’s and Employees Responsibilities; an established workplace safety and health committee OR a designated employee representative in workplaces with 19 or less employees. Consider taking pictures of the WSH Co-Chairs or Employee Representative and put them up on the bulletin board. It will help everyone know how to answer a question about who the employee representative is.

7. Lifts Inspectors will seek to verify employees know how to use the lift properly by asking an employee to demonstrate or describe how to perform the lift. Inspectors will also want to see a checklist showing daily inspections have taken place and third, annual preventative maintenance by an authorized company.

8. Spray Booth I nspectors may ask to see the fresh air supply system and confirmation a sample air test was performed.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

9. Vulnerable Workers I nspectors will look for evidence of safety and health training for vulnerable workers, use of personal protective equipment and safe acts. A written outline of the information covered in the training, and workers’ acknowledgement of having received such training.

10. Posting requirements Essentially a bulletin board for posting certain documentation and signage as prescribed by the jurisdiction’s legislation. The specifications for this requirement are highly variable between jurisdictions. To determine specific jurisdictional requirements, check out the summary table featured on the CCOHS website at ccohs.ca/oshanswers/legisl/posting.html.

11. Transportation of Dangerous Goods Products falling into this category include gun wash and

waste gun wash. Inspectors will look for proper and legible supplier or product labels and possible signs of deliveries to/ from the business. While the above list may appear daunting, it is manageable when broken up into smaller tasks.

Begin with answering each of the points, share the responses with the business’s health and safety representatives and create a plan to address deficiencies. Tackle the easy stuff first and know it doesn’t need to be overly done up or costly to fulfill requirements.

After a distinguished career in the not-for-profit sector, Theresa Jachnycky joined the family business in 2014. She has provided executive leadership to small, medium and large corporations, and worked with diverse client populations and professionals in the areas of strategic and operational planning, community development, administration and finance. She holds a masters degree in health services administration & community medicine from the University of Alberta and a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Manitoba.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 31

WHO’S DRIVING?

WORK + PLAY = PROFIT How ensuring your employees have fun at work will boost productivity

By Jay Perry

I

t sounds oxymoronic to say ‘work’ and ‘fun’ in the same sentence, but I am here to explain how this is a necessary outcome leaders must seek if they wish to be successful in attracting and retaining the best of the best. Great leaders work hard at making it fun for employees while at the same time keeping productivity high.

Would you want to spend a third of your life being unhappy, having no fun? Of course not, and neither does anybody else. This is not to say the leader is the

scale. One of my favourite activities is to catch someone doing something right. All of these things combine acknowledgement of employees and the creation of engagement by everyone in the company.

Sir Richard Branson has said for decades,“Take care of your employees and they will take care of your customers.”

I believe this even more relevant now than when he first coined that phrase. The new generation needs a different type of engaged leadership that automatically happens when you work on having fun at work. I particularly

ONE LAST THING TO KEEP IN MIND ABOUT FUN AT WORK IS THAT IT HAS BEEN PROVEN CONCLUSIVELY THAT THE BETTER THE EXPERIENCE AN EMPLOYEE HAS WHILE AT WORK, THE HIGHER THE PROFITABILITY OF THE BUSINESS. court jester but they need to have an eye on what can combine a few important things like productivity with team-building, creativity, kindness, celebration and plain old fun.

When fun is present, creativity can be released, good sensations are felt literally, and positive memories are created. We are never going to forget the all-nighter we had to pull because of a deadline. But remember that we are quick to inject thoughts of the fun we had doing it. This has been your own experience and it is the fun ones that you love to share.

So it makes perfect sense for the leader to be on the lookout for fun things to attach to the business. These things could be “gamifying” work by creating mini-competitions between teams or individuals, or it could be special projects that the team can work on collectively.

I have several clients that have participated in charitable causes, such as repairing vehicles to be gifted to families in need. Another client hosts an annual bowling event that has raised significant amounts of money for the Special Olympics. Others have charity car washes on an annual basis and have raised millions for medical research. However it doesn’t always have to be on a grand

love it when I see customers interacting with employees in fun ways, getting caught up in the wave of fun! This exemplifies exactly what Sir Richard was talking about.

One last thing to keep in mind about fun at work is that it has been proven conclusively that the better the experience an employee has while at work, the higher the profitability of the business. This is a fact, not an anecdote. An international chain of retail outlets conducted a survey across their company and found the direct correlate of the quality of the employees experience and the higher profitability of the outlet. So there you have it.

It has a monetary motivation as well as makes life better.

Remember, fun is infectious, you will find yourself joining in which will only further engagement and positive experiences between you, and your employee’s.

Jay Perry is co-author of the book Success Manifesto with Brian Tracy, and the founder of Ally Business Coaching, a process improvement and leadership development firm. He can be reached at jayperry@a-b-c-inc.com.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 33

LESSONS I’M LEARNING

PRAIRIE VIEW

Six simple life lessons to keep in mind.

By Chelsea Stebner

F

Direct is best

Decisions

Values

I’ve learned that usually my gut reaction is the right decision. Often though, I become over analytical and wind up overwhelmed by a decision. A good rule to follow? 24 seconds, 24 minutes, 24 hours.

As a matter of fact, following this rule often helps when your first reaction may be frustration or anger in a tough situation.

Don’t compromise. The right way is never usually the easy way. Know your values. Write them down. Speak them and practice them every single day. And ensure that the people on your team understand and practice your values. It gives them confidence in making decisions in their job roles. It instills pride in a job well done. It shouts to the world that you’re walking the walk.

irst off, let’s be real. The lessons we learn will never end. And as my father in law states, “education hurts, or it’s expensive.” As leaders, we’re constantly put into situations where we need to make snap decisions, spend dollars, take care of customers, take care of employees and continually build business.

People pleasing doesn’t always provide clear direction. Clear and precise instruction is what people need to get the job done. Besides that, your clear communication can open up opportunity and also wipe out your perceived attitudes of others. How often do you think that someone may not agree with you when in fact they are wide open to your suggestions?

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 35

PRAIRIE VIEW

Set goals

Coaching

Do you have goals for your business? Have you written them down? Have you communicated the goals to your team? If not, how can they help you succeed?

Do they even know why they are doing what they are doing? Goal setting and making it visible keeps you on track in the daily hustle. Especially small business owners who are so busy working on a daily basis that they get trapped by the day-to-day grind and forget to focus on the vision and goals for the longevity of the business.

Are you finding yourself with a group of five shareholders and no clear job roles? A good lesson for learning. As so many small businesses that have grown, we simply do whatever needs to be done.

But that creates confusion for the team, hinders decision making, and makes us inefficient all round.

Investing in our team and building job roles and an organizational chart is already making a difference in our day-to-day at the shop. And that creates more opportunity for growth.

This is not a journey for the faint of heart, and I often get overwhelmed by the responsibility I place on my own shoulders. However, I know my goals are reachable. With strong values and a strong team of support it’s all doable. I do make mistakes every day. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes it’s expensive.

Lifelong education and informal mentorship There are leadership classes, workshops galore and opportunity around every corner. Join a business group, trade books with another avid reader. Glean information from every place you can. Listen to a podcast, watch a TED Talk and engage with others that are in leadership roles.

How many times have you been at a conference or meeting and gained value from a sideline chat with another attendee? Sharing stories and information and getting that gold nugget helps keep us fresh!

36 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

Chelsea Stebner is a co-owner/ operator of Parr Auto Body, a collision repair facility located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She can be reached at chelsea@parrautobody.com.

SEMA 2018 GUIDE

SEE YOU ON THE STRIP SEMA 2018 hits Las Vegas this autumn

E

ach year, thousands from the automotive industry eagerly await the annual SEMA specialty products trade event. This year, SEMA will take place October 30 – November 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and has promised a powerhouse line-up of vendors, events, and special guests.

In 2017, SEMA attracted over 70,000 domestic and international buyers to the event over the course of three days and featured close to 3,000 newly introduced parts. This year, SEMA organizers are looking to build on that momentum with new displays, entrepreneurial competitions, the unveiling of new products, and over 75 free educational seminars available.

Action Packed-In-Tight The event space dedicated to the SEMA show can be a little overwhelming, with over 3,000 new products being displayed and 2,400 exhibitors companies spread over one million square feet, the SEMA organizers understand that you may want some help planning your route. So if you are looking to get the most out of your experience this year, the SEMA website has a very useful floor plan tool that you may utilize to plan out your day at the massive event space in order to be as efficient as possible when deciding which booths, exhibits, or seminars to stop by.

The event is spread out into five different sections of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Celebrity Guests In past years, SEMA has showcased the work of a featured artist for the event such as Max Grundy who specializes in customized rat rods, and Ed Tillrock, a talented sketch artist specializing in automotive imagery. This year, SEMA has selected 29-year-old Alex Caramona as their featured artist for the event. Caramona specializes in traditional printmaking and art, producing relief prints from wood or linoleum plates that he carves OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 39

SEMA 2018 GUIDE

by hand. In an interview with Caramona, it is easy to gauge the excitement that he feels for this opportunity.

“Being named the artist of the 2018 SEMA Show is overwhelming and exciting. After seeing the impact last year that art has at the SEMA Show, I’m excited to take on this challenge,” said Carmona.“I’m looking forward to showcasing my art to the thousands of buyers and exhibitors who will be in attendance.”

Although Caramona will be the featured artist for SEMA 2018, you can look forward to spotting dozens of industry celebrities this year including famed rally car driver Ken Block, NASCAR hall of famer Richard Petty, “The Andersons” from the champion monster truck Grave Digger, world-renowned customer painter Peter ‘Hotdog’ Finlan, and many more.

West Gate

• First time & Featured exhibitors

North Hall • Restyling and car care accessories • Mobile electronics and technology • Collision repair and refinish • Tools and equipment

Central Hall • Racing and performance • Hot rod alley • Restoration marketplace • First-time and featured exhibitors

South Hall Upper • Trucks, SUV’s and off-road • Power sports and utility vehicles • Business Services • First-time and featured exhibitors

South Hall Lower • Global tire expo • Wheels and accessories

Performance Pavilion First-time and featured exhibitors

40 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

SEMA Launch Pad The Next Great Business: Entrepreneurs Pitch Their Ideas • Monday, October 29, 2018 • 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

• Westgate Resort & Casino, Theatre Each year, SEMA pits new businesses against each other with hopes of launching new automotive parts and services. The competition offers the industry’s top innovators and entrepreneurs under the age of 40 a booth at SEMA to showcase their business for marketing a new automotive service or product. Now in its sixth year, the Launch Pad Next Great Business is a well established and heated competition, in with each business brings something fresh to the pavement.

WTC General Membership Meeting • Monday, October 29, 2018 • 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Las Vegas Convention Center, ACES Restaurant

Gear-Up Girl Networking Event, Powered by SBN • Monday, October 29, 2018 • 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

• Las Vegas Convention Center, N264

SEMA Education Opening Keynote • Monday, October 29, 2018 • 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.

• Las Vegas Convention Center, N258

Education Seminars • Monday-Friday, • October 29 - November 2, 2018 • 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

• Las Vegas Convention Center, North Hall Meeting Rooms

SEMA Vehicle Technology • Monday-Thursday • October 29 - November 1, 2018 • 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

• Las Vegas Convention Center, N258

Women Driven Seminars • Monday, October 29 Wednesday October 31, 2018 • Las Vegas Convention Center, North Hall Meeting Rooms

SEMA 2018 GUIDE

YEN - General Membership Meeting & Mixer • Monday, October 29, 2018 • 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

• Las Vegas Convention Center, N234

◆ TUESDAY

Cars & Coffee, SEMA Edition • Tuesday-Friday, October 30 - November 2, 2018 • 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

• Westgate Las Vegas Casino & Hotel, South Patio **No tickets required**

SEMA Vehicle Reveal and SEMA Award Presentation • Monday, October 29, 2018 • 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

• Las Vegas Convention Center, Outside Grand Lobby Entrance

Brew Talks • Tuesday, October 30, 2018 & Wednesday, October 31, 2018 • 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

• Las Vegas Convention Center, N258

Exhibitor Appreciation Party Featuring the SEMA Vehicle Reveal and SEMA Award Presentation • Monday, October 29, 2018 • 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

• Las Vegas Convention Center, Silver Drive

Truck Market Happy Hour Presented by LTAA • Tuesday, October 30, 2018 • 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

• Las Vegas Convention Center, LTAA Booth #34185

◆ WEDNESDAY ARMO General Membership Meeting • Wednesday, October 31, 2018 • 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

• Westgate Las Vegas Hotel, Conference Rooms 4-6

NHRA Breakfast • Wednesday, October 31, 2018 • 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

• Westgate Las Vegas Casino & Hotel, Paradise Event Center

Ask the Experts: Free Private Meeting with IP, Tax or Antitrust Attorney or Investment Banker • Wednesday, October 31, 2018 • 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

• Las Vegas Convention Center, N232

PRO Booth Happy Hour • Wednesday, October 31, 2018 • 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

• Las Vegas Convention Center, PRO Booth #13113

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 41

SEMA 2018 GUIDE

◆ THURSDAY PRO General Membership Meeting • Thursday, November 1, 2018 • 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

• Las Vegas Convention Center, N232

Coffee and Conversation presented by WTC

SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet

• Thursday, November 1, 2018 • 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

• Las Vegas Convention Center, Inside Lower South 1

• Thursday, November 1, 2018 • 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

• Westgate, Garden Patio & Paradise Event Center

SEMA Ignited

◆ FRIDAY

• Friday, November 2, 2018 • 3:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m.

• Las Vegas Convention Center, Platinum Lot

SEMA Cruise • Friday, November 2, 2018 • 4:00 p.m • Las Vegas Convention Center, Silver Drive/Red Road **No tickets required**

Directly following the SEMA Cruise event, the world’s most unique custom cars will funnel into the Platinum Lot of the convention centre (see floor plan graphic). The Ignited event allows attendee’s the rare opportunity to take photos, and talk shop with top customizers. The event features food trucks, music, entertainment, drifting, automotive celebrities, builders and more.

The SEMA Cruise has historically been one of the most anticipated events of the week, and this year is no exception. The Cruise is a free event that happens Friday evening outside of the Las Vegas Convention Center as a capper to the week’s festivities and features 1,500 of the sickest rides aptly described as ‘rolling art’. The cruise begins when the show ends at 4:00 p.m. on Friday.

The festivities include awards, giveaways, entertainment and seating for the crowd—expanded this year with additional bleachers.

SEMA Battle of the Builders Competition Featured at SEMA Ignited • Friday, November 2, 2018 • Time: TBD • Las Vegas Convention Center, Platinum Lot

Online attendee registration is $40 USD per person until Friday, October 12. After that date, attendee registration online or onsite increases to $90 USD per person. Attendee badges allow entrance to both APPEX and the SEMA Show all days of each show. (Note: AAPEX exhibits are not open on Friday, November 2, but the SEMA exhibits are open on Friday.)

Registering exhibiting personnel in excess of your company’s complimentary allotment pre-show is $40

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USD per person. Thursday, October 25, exhibitor badges ordered online or onsite in excess of your company’s complimentary allotment are $90 USD per person.

The company you are employed by does not have to be a SEMA member in order for you to attend the SEMA Show, but you do have to hold a qualified position and work within the automotive industry. The SEMA Show registration process requires you to provide proof that you work within the automotive industry.

SEMA 2018 GUIDE

SEMA Through the Years Half-a-century of automotive excitement The first SEMA Show is held in the basement of the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Just 98 manufacturers have booths, and an attendance sits at about 3,000 people.

With Star Wars becoming the biggest blockbuster in history, the auto industry is inspired to add a little spectacle to the SEMA Show. Las Vegas, with its glamour, great weather and easy access to entertainment, became the show’s permanent home.

The first annual New Product Showcase kicks off, allowing all exhibitors to enter a product at no cost.

1967 1974 1977 1986 1990 1998

OEMs unveil more than 100 of their upcoming models at the SEMA Show. The event takes up a million square feet for the first time.

2003 2017

1977 1967

By Wanja Mann

The SEMA Show moved to New Mexico, hosted at Anaheim Stadium. At that time, a booth cost $375.

The SEMA Show goes mainstream, with Jay Leno chosen to host the SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet. Even mainstream auto enthusiasts are becoming familiar with the event. In a profile from Car and Driver, it was described as the best place to discover “West Coast car culture without breathing the smog or fighting the freeways.”

The SEMA Show expands, taking up more than halfa-million square feet of space. Attendence tops 100,000 for the first time.

The SEMA Show turns 50.

The event draws more than 60,000 buyers, hosts 2,300 exhibitors, and has more than 11,000 booths. Total attendance at the Show tops 150,000 for the first time, with more than 3,000 automotive journalists in attendance.

2003 1986 OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 43

INDUSTRY NEWS

AIA’s Community of Practice on access to connected vehicle data The Automotive Industry Association is calling on industry stakeholders, third parties and AIA members to participate in the Community of Practice, an initiative designed to improve access to connected vehicle data for the automotive aftermarket.

The Community of Practice will discuss information about access to vehicle data and what some of the risks might be, or the opportunities. It will also to discuss the development of position statements on access to connected vehicle data.

A top priority for the AIA is lobbying for changes about who is able to access connected vehicle data has become a major focus for the association. Connected vehicles now have access to the internet and can exchange data wirelessly.

ABI research estimates 78 million existing vehicles will be connected to the web by 2021, and 98 percent of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. and Europe are connected to the web.

The AIA is asking that participants be involved in video or conference calls as needed, and for meetings.

The first meeting is set to be held in October.

To apply to participate in the Community of Practice, email AIA Canada’s policy and government affairs analyst Erin Chreptyk at: erin.chreptyk@aiacanada.com.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 45

INDUSTRY NEWS

CADA joins free trade coalition The Coalition to Keep Trade Free, an action group led by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, has received the endorsement of the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA). “...the trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada has only escalated over the last few weeks with U.S. President Donald Trump continuing to mount auto tariff threats against Canada,” said CADA’s president and chief executive John White in a press statement.

Set up to prevent the Trump Administration’s efforts to fundamentally change the trading relationship between Canada and the United States, the coalition has highlighted the dangers posed to the automotive industry in Canada.

CADA’s criticism was not just directed at the Trump Administration, but also towards Canada’s parliament. Last spring, Canada’s parliament unanimously voted to rebuke the

John White, President & CEO of the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association

United States with a series of in-kind tariffs on everything from wood to playing cards.

“This is not a time for tit-for-tat measures, but rather a time to ensure that we have a strong working relationship with our partners across the border,” said White.

CADA’s position against Canada’s tit-fortat response also gained the support of one

member of parliament. Though independent, Maxime Bernier supported the measures in the spring with his defection from the Conservative Party, the Quebec politician has had a change of heart. He has even suggested that he will form a new party that will campaign to reverse Canada’s financial retribution against the states.

Electric arriving: WalMart plans full fleet conversion Walmart Canada has announced plans to fuel its truck fleet using 100 percent alternative power by 2028.

The company hopes to accomplish the goal by acquiring an additional 30 Tesla 18-wheeler semi-trucks, adding to the 10 trucks they ordered in November of 2017.

The decision to move towards sustainability is part of Walmart’s drive to reduce their carbon footprint and improve driver safety.

The potential 40-truck fleet would be divided in two. The first twenty trucks would be used at the Mississauga base, while the leftover 20 trucks would be allocated to the company’s newly-announced Surrey, British Columbia sustainable fulfillment centre, scheduled to open in 2022.

“We are always looking for innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and lead the industry in the drive for sustainable change,” said John Bayliss, senior vice-president, logistics and supply chain, Walmart Canada.

“By converting 20 per cent of our fleet to electric vehicles by 2022 and committing to alternative power for all fleet vehicles by 2028, we are putting safety, innovation and sustainability at the forefront of our logistics network.”

The Tesla trucks will provide added safety features including: regenerative braking technology, surrounding vehicle cameras, automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning.

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TECHNOLOGY NEWS

University of Waterloo’s ‘Autonomoose’ milestone University of Waterloo researchers have achieved 100 hours of operation on public roads with their self-driving car.

The milestone comes almost two years after the team won approval from the Ontario government to participate in on-road testing of the vehicle, in what was referred to as a vehicle pilot program.

“We’re pulling this off and 100 kilometres is symbolic of that,” said Prof. Krzysztof Czarnecki, one of the project’s lead researchers.

“It’s a number you can’t reach without having a robust system.”

The autonomous vehicle, better known as Autonomoose, is a modified Lincoln MKZ equipped with nine cameras, LiDAR and radar scanners and other sensory devices that compiles data which is then processed by an onboard computer software.

Currently the car operates independently in ‘autonomous mode’ at speeds up to 35 km/h, passing through intersections and reacting to traffic lights up to two kilometers at a time. A human driver is behind the wheel at all times and has the ability to take control whenever required.

Krzysztof Czarnecki, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Waterloo, and a former Daimler-Chrysler researcher.

“This is an important stepping stone,” said Danson Garcia, the lead hardware researcher.

“We can definitely see this is doable and that our research is moving forward.”

Going forward, researchers plan to improve the vehicle by limiting the number of human interventions, improving the cars perception of other vehicles and pedestrians, and refining the artificial intelligence mandatory for the car’s autonomous software to make difficult decisions and maneuvers on its own.

“There is still a lot of tuning needed and development to follow up on, but for us this is a huge achievement. When we did our first road test, the system was really just a fundamental subset of what we have now.”

The project involves over 60 professors, engineers, researchers and graduate students from the University of Waterloo and represents the most advanced university-based program of its kind in Canada.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 49

OEM NEWS

Toyota and Lexus triumph in mirrorless car race Toyota Motors announced that their mirrorless concept car will be available for sale late October in Japan. The automaker said that the side mirrors of higher-grade Lexus SE sedans will be replaced by small cameras, with the addition of a monitor on the inside of the vehicle on both sides.

The cameras offer a number of features including expanded views during turns or when backing up, enhanced video imaging for night time driving, and complete protection from both condensation and water droplets from rain.

Due to this drastic augmentation of a safety feature, Toyota says that they will be keeping a close eye on any malfunction so that dealers and consumers are well aware of any issues and issue prompt recalls for repair if necessary. On top of this, safety regulations have been revised by the European Union, as well as Japans Transport Ministry.

One stipulation of the new tech is that the monitors inside the vehicle must be mounted in a place similar to where a conventional mirror would be.

While the cameras on the outside are very sleek and aesthetically pleasing, Toyota also says that the new cameras will take up less space which will improve forward visibility, as well as a reduction on wind noise.

A number of higher end auto giants such as BMW, Volkswagen Group, and Nissan Motors have been toying with similar innovations, however Toyota will be the first group to commercialize this technology.

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OEM NEWS

Nissan recalls vehicles over fire risk Nissan has recalled approximately 240,000 cars and SUV’s worldwide due to the potential risk of fire caused by faulty seals in the pump.

There are 19,761 affected vehicles in Canada.

The OEM is warning drivers that if they see the anti-lock brake warning for more than ten seconds after starting the engine, they should be advised to park their vehicle outside and away from other vehicles and structures.

The anti-lock brake pump has the potential to leak fluid onto a circuit board, which would result in an electrical short and increase the risk of fire.

Nissan estimates that 56 percent of the

An Infiniti QX60s. The model is one of several Nissan vehicles to be recalled over a problem with the anti-lock brake pump.

vehicles being recalled have the problem. Nissan Muranos were previously recalled for the same issue in 2016.

The recall includes certain 2015-2017 Muranos, 2016 and 2017 Maximas, 2017 and 2018 pathfinders and 2017 Infiniti QX60s.

Chrysler scuttles 300, announces new model 2019 will be the last for the Chrysler model 300. In 2020, the downsized Chrysler brand will make room for a new member of the family – the sleek new Portal fully electric minivan will be available for purchase in 2020. This electric van includes an almost all glass roof, and in later models will feature a retractable steering wheel when self-driving mode is engaged.

The 2020 model will likely not have this technology available, however the Portal has no shortage of connectivity tech. Although Chrysler says it is going to share a likeness to the Pacifica in design, the Portal will feature a unique reconfigurable interior and sliding French doors throughout. The Portal is reportedly based off the popular concept which Chrysler debuted in the 2017 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The Chrysler 300 is currently built in FCA’s Brampton, Ontario plant, however there is

The Chrysler Portal will arrive on North American roads in the 2020 model year.

no word yet on where manufacturing of the Portal will take place. This begs the question of what will become of employment at the Brampton plant beyond next year. Rumors

surrounding assembly space for another vehicle at the Windsor plant have surfaced as a distinct possibility, threatening the future of employment for the west end plant.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 51

BUSINESS NEWS

From NAFTA’s ashes, USMCA rises to save auto sector Canada has reached a deal with Mexico and the United States regarding a trilateral free-trade agreement across North America. NAFTA is no more, but the United States - Mexico - Canada - Agreement (USMCA) has risen from its ashes.

It is difficult to understate the relief felt within the automotive community. Until the beginning of October, the fate of the Canadian auto industry faced an existential threat from the possibility of a no-deal situation. In fact, according to a paper issued

by TD Bank, the collapse of the free-trade arrangement could have cost the Canadian

CADA public affairs director Huw Williams.

The USMCA will be nearly identical to NAFTA, though with a few new regulations that may affect the auto industry.

auto sector more than 150,000 jobs.

Within the Canadian auto industry itself, demand for a deal to be made reached fever pitch in September. Early that month, during an interview with CTV, Canadian Auto Dealers Association public affairs director Huw Williams suggested that the Canadian government was not taking the situation seriously enough.

“The fact that we have more than $150 billion worth of automotive parts and manufacturing in this country, 80 percent of which goes to the United States,” Williams said. “The pressure is still on the Canadian government to make a deal and ensure we have a comprehensive agreement that includes automotive and other factors.”

The new agreement will likely preserve its integrity—not just within Canada, but in all three countries. After two-and-a-half decades, the North American auto industry had learned to ignore borders, meaning the industry would struggle to compete with international competition should its factories be forced back into the United States.

While the new agreement is, in substance, nearly identical to NAFTA, many of the changes directly target the auto industry. Foremost among these new caveats is a subsection that will mandate that 75 percent of vehicles must be manufactured in any of the three signatory countries in order to be free from tariffs. This policy will come into effect in 2020.

The deal also states that 40 percent to 45 percent of auto content is to be made by workers earning at least USD$16 per hour, something that Canadians would not have to worry about as many make much higher wages. In the case of Mexico however, it would drastically reduce their ability to attract manufacturers based on their current $5-an-hour wages.

With U.S. imposed tariffs threatening the Canadian economy in the months leading up to the agreement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau simply said “This is a good day for Canada,” as he walked out of the meeting that finalized the deal.

AkzoNobel’s search for gold in South America AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals has officially purchased Polinox, South America’s leading producer of ketone peroxides, an essential ingredient in the manufacturing of polymers. This purchase will expand the company’s footprint

in South America and will ultimately establish it as one of the region’s leading producers of curing systems for polyester thermoset resins.

With this new acquisition, AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals now owns all of Polinox’s brands and trademarks, including Brasnox, Perbenzox and TecnoxSuper, as well as its customer list and production expertise.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to serve my customers, and I am confident that we can strengthen our relationships with the know how AkzoNobel has to offer,” said Roberto

Pontifex, managing director of Polinox, who is joining AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals as commercial manager.

As for the manufacturing of these products, they will be moved to the company’s plant in Brazil, which is currently being expanded and will be complete sometime next year.

“We signed an agreement to acquire Polinox in July and are fully prepared for a swift integration… we now look forward to serving Polinox’s impressive portfolio of customers and further accelerating our growth in this important region,” said Johan Landfors, executive committee member responsible for Polymer Chemistry.

AkzoNobel’s purchase of Brazillian chemical company Polinox suggests the company intends to become a major player in the South American market.

52 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

ADVERTORIAL

Simplicity Car Care Thornhill

K

irk Lin Simplicity Care Franchise owner is proud of this modern 20,000 square foot collision repair facility that includes state-of-theart down draft machines for painting. One is for cars and the other for trucks. Collision Repair magazine caught up with Lin to find out more about being part of the Simplicity Car Care family.

CRM: What was the name of your shop before joining Simplicity and how long have you been in business?

KL: Before joining Simplicity Car Care we were an independent bodyshop under the name of Linwood Motors in Thornhill, ON. I’ve been in this business now for 25 years.

CRM: What were some of the challenges you faced as an independent?

KL: We faced the same challenges of most independents; it was tough to build the business and we had operational inefficiencies.

ular basis, along with guidance on what to invest in to better my business. Simplicity made it easy.

CRM: Have you noticed any changes to the business since joining? What would they be?

KL: The shop is running much smoother. It is definitely more organized, cleaner and operating more efficiently from the front of the shop to the back. The cycle time has been improving as well. We have already gained new business accounts and sales have grown. The Simplicity team has many years experience in the industry and that helps tremendously. They have helped us become better at managing our business.

CRM: Have your customers noticed a difference?

KL: The customers like knowing that we are part of a larger group like Simplicity.

It’s important for us to try and do what we can to make the customers happy. Being

a part of Simplicity helps ensure that our customers know their car is in good hands.

CRM: Does it help with cycle time and volume?

KL: We can now handle 80 to 100 cars a month and the cycle time is about two or three days. Everything is moving in the right direction.

CRM: Has Simplicity offered training and if so, has it been helpful?

KL: Training is available as soon as you become a franchisee. We have estimator training and we encourage employees to pursue further training.

CRM: Any last words?

KL: The team at Simplicity are great people.

When we need help they are there for us.

They add a lot of value to the business and we look forward to the future

CRM: What made you decide to become a Simplicity Franchisee?

KL: I envisioned a brighter future with Simplicity. Cars and technology are changing so quickly and it’s hard to keep up. As an independent, there is no time. I knew we needed to take the next step. After joining we received training and support on a reg-

Visit simplicitycarcare.ca/franchisee

AUGUST 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 53

BRITISH COLUMBIA | REGIONAL NEWS

ICBC’s estimator overload The scandal-ridden Insurance Company of British Columbia (ICBC) has hired 43 new estimators to oversee repairs performed in Fort St. John and Prince George, with plans to bring on 17 more.

“We understand that British Columbians needing auto repair work have concerns

has long been poorly received by some members of the provincial collision community, he now faces criticism from the broader public.

Last week, many British Columbians were scandalized by the news that a woman left paralyzed from the neck down had been

denied coverage for her occupational therapist.

The crown corporation says it had estimators conduct more than 2,800 inspections this year, though no information has been released to indicate whether this practice has resulted in any savings.

Provincial Attorney General David Eby.

about possible overbilling, and the impact this has on insurance costs,” said the provincial Attorney General David Eby. “That’s why I directed ICBC to increase the number of estimators on the front lines.”

Eby, who has become the cabinet official responsible for bringing the crown corporation back from the brink, famously described the ICBC’s financial situation as a “dumpster fire” shortly after it emerged that it would see a $1.3 billion loss in 2017.

While some repairers may say the decision to hire additional estimators was reached after careful consideration, Eby had initially agreed to hire on additional estimators last November, after the union representing ICBC estimators helped publicize now-debunked claims from a former employee that fraudulent repairs were costing the insurer hundreds-of-millions of dollars.

“These new hires will provide more guidance and support to bodyshops, increase governance of ICBC’s material-damage programs, and help strengthen ICBC’s relationships with industry.”

While Eby’s oversight of efforts to restore the public insurer’s financial situation OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 55

REGIONAL NEWS | ALBERTA

Doug’s Place hosts largest EV event in Alberta Doug’s Place, a collision repair shop based in Edmonton, hosted the city’s biggest-ever event showcasing electric vehicles.

Nelson Santos, parts manager among other roles with the shop said that they are Tesla certified and see a lot of these vehicles come into their shop.

Electric vehicles seem to be reaming some popularity as time progresses and drivers begin to realize it is more efficient than your standardized vehicle.

There are currently 50 EV charging stations across the province of Alberta. But in terms of the whole country, EV sales have increased by 68 percent year-over-year. As of 2017 the total number of plug-in vehicles on the road in Canada sits at 47,800.

The Tesla certified shop held the BBQ event for Tesla owners to come out and mingle as well as check out the shop and see how some of the repairs are done on these vehicles. There were also technicians on-site to answer any questions that anyone may have had.

Santos said the reason they did this event

Doug’s Place hosts largest EV event in Alberta

was because they became a sponsor for the Tesla Owners Club of Alberta and decided it would be a great way of networking as well as giving them the chance to see how the shop operates on repairs for their type of vehicles.

56 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

He said that there was a great turn out of over 100 people and 41 Tesla’s parked out front.

They are planning on doing another BBQ event because it was such a hit and it probably won’t be held until next summer, he said.

REGIONAL NEWS | SASKATCHWAN

The Parr Auto Body team, of Campbellford, Saskatchwan.

Pain on the Plains 2018 has been a bad season for drivers in Canada’s prairie provinces -- if not for their collision repairers. In 2018, summer storms have caused $200 million in property and vehicle damage claims, according to Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. In June, a storm with heavy rain and hail poured over Saskatchewan and Manitoba that caused $90 million in insured damage.

In July, Albertans and Saskatchewaners faced severe hailstorms. In total, this caused more than $30 million in insured

damage to homes, businesses and vehicles.

In August, Calgary was hit by another round of hailstorms, while a Tornado touched down in Manitoba destroying buildings and vehicles. The total insured damage from this storm was $80 million.

Prairie repairers will likely experience higher volumes of work in future summers as well. In a statement, the Insurance Bureau of Canada suggested that the prairies were unprepared to deal with increasingly severe weather.

“We are witnessing more frequent, intense storms and it is urgent that provinces and communities take concrete steps – such as improving land use planning and changing building codes – to adapt to severe weather events,” wrote Celyeste Power, the IBC’s acting vice-president for Western Canada. “These costs are only part of the picture – Taxpayers also foot the bill for this damage through disaster financial assistance arrangements programs that pay for many uninsured losses.”

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 57

REGIONAL NEWS | MANITOBA

FinishMaster Canada acquires Manitoba-based Spectrum Coatings FinishMaster Canada has announced the acquisition of Manitoba-based Spectrum Coatings. The company hopes the deal will help expand its market share across the province.

“This is an entirely new market for FinishMaster Canada, and we are very enthusiastic to have 17 new colleagues,” Michel Charbonneau, vice president of sales and marketing, PBE division, at FinishMaster’s parent company Uni-Select Canada, told Collision Repair.

“A large part of our business is the independent jobber, and they are a huge reason behind our success in Canada, but we are also looking to focus on increasing the FinishMaster portfolio of stores across the country.”

Founded in 1976, Spectrum is a distributor of automotive and industrial paint with 17 sales and service professionals. The company operates three stores in Winnipeg, Brandon and Winkler, as well as a training centre in Winnipeg.

The Spectrum Coatings team.

Charbonneau commented: “Spectrum’s training centre will be a great boost for our customers in the province, and will give them further added value. We are thrilled with this acquisition and excited to add this experienced team to the Canadian FinishMaster family.

They have developed and maintained strong partnerships with customers and are wellrecognized in their markets.”

He added FinishMaster Canada would continue to look for futher expansion opportunity across provinces to increase their

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shop portfolio, although he did not allude to where the company would target next.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Spectrum to our growing FinishMaster and UniSelect family in Canada. These Manitoba stores are a very nice addition to our growing corporate store network in Canada, and represent an opportunities to expand the brand’s presence nationally and grow in a key market,” added Brent Windom, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Canadian Automotive Group, another subsidiary of Uni-Select.

REGIONAL NEWS | ONTARIO

Larrry Luxton retires 54 years as a repairer After more than half-a-century in the repair game, Larry Luxton of Guelph, Ontario has decided to call it a day.

Luxton first got involved in the automotive business 54 years ago, when he began washing cars as a 16-year-old in Brampton, Ontario. It wasn’t long before Luxton moved to Toronto for an internship. Luxton would split time between jobs, working in Dundalk on the weekends. It was in Dundalk, Ontario where Luxton and his cousin co-owned a shop.

In 1971 Luxton left Toronto to move to Dundalk to work at his business full-time.

Seven years later he sold the business and began the next chapter of his career as a body shop manager. Luxton would go on to spend time at several dealerships across Ontario including Shelburne, Alliston, Kitchener, Cambridge and Guelph before entering semi-retirement in 2010.

For the past eight years, Luxton has worked in a small role at Speedy Collision Guelph.

The owner, Joe Logel, had worked for Luxton and been mentored by him early in his career.

This week,Luxton agreed to share his thoughts on the future of the collision repair industry, and his advice for those considering entering it.

Collision Repair: What advice would you give people entering the industry?

worked through it. Everybody had to buy a new MIG welder. Now, the technology is still a challenge.

There’s more and more of it going into the cars. Every time you turn around, something new is coming in. But, the young people today are so into technology. They were raised with it, and it should be easier for them to embrace the changes than us old guys.

Collision Repair: Do you think autonomous cars are going to become mainstream?

Larry Luxton: I don’t know about the autonomous cars. People talk a lot about them, but I think it will be a long time before most people get into them. People still get nervous on self-driving trains.

Larry Luxton pictured with grandchildren.

Collision Repair: What makes this trade so special?

Larry Luxton: I’d tell them it is a good trade and that it’s going to be a good trade, because there is going to be a labour shortage. I’d also tell them its been good to me over the years.

Larry Luxton: It is an art, just like carpentry.

Just like when they’re restoring a broken cabinet, there is something artistic about fixing a smashed quarter panel.

Collision Repair: What do you think the biggest challenge facing collision repairers is?

Collision Repair: What will you miss most about it?

Larry Luxton: The new technology -- it always is the new technology. I remember back in the 80s when they brought in the unibody. It was a big challenge for us to adapt to the change at the time. But we

Larry Luxton: The people. I’ve worked for a lot of good ones, and dealt with so many nice customers. Sure, some of them are notso-nice, but they are just easier to remember.

There are always far more good people.

Courts reject province’s EV rebate defense A law-suit brought against Ontario concerning the electric car rebates in mid-August has ended with the province’s defeat at the hands of Tesla Motors Canada.

While the Ontario government said they are reviewing the ruling, a Tesla representative said they are pleased with the final decisions to turn down the government’s transition plan.

The law suit began when Ontario Premier Doug Ford decided to take away the Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Incentive Program (EHVIP). The purpose of the program was to offer rebates of up to $14,000 on qualifying vehicles.

When this happened, the province honoured the rebates for people who have their vehicle delivered, registered and plated if it was purchased from a dealer before Sept.10. But they said the rebate would end right away if anyone ordered directly from the manufacturer, which would be Tesla’s customers.

In mid-August Tesla Canada sued the Ontario provincial government for cancelling the electric vehicle rebate and causing a loss in sales for the company. Tesla Canada argued the government deliberately and arbitrarily excluded its customers, while providing no warning or the chance to offer any input.

The Ontario government is now reviewing the ruling and will be making a decision on what they will do now.

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New Ontario Premier Doug Ford faced legal backlash for efforts to cancel rebates on electric vehicles.

ONTARIO | REGIONAL NEWS

OMVIC suspends car dealer for alleged fraudulent sale of repaired write-offs

John Carmichael, OMVIC CEO and interim registrar.

Citing allegations of fraudulent and illegal activity based on the sale of written-off vehicles to unwitting consumers, the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) has issued a warning about the Mississauga-based KK Motors.

With KK Motors, OMVIC found that the dealer purchased insurance write-offs from salvage auctions.

These vehicles were repaired and sold to consumers, often not by KK Motors directly, but rather by unregistered businesses or individuals working for the dealer. There is no suggestion that the repairers were aware of the alleged crimes.

“OMVIC believes that in order to distance themselves from these vehicles, KK Motors Canada forged documents and fraudulently transferred these vehicles into the names of past customers, prior to making the vehicles available for sale by the unregistered businesses and individuals, ” John Carmichael, OMVIC CEO and interim registrar stated. “Most purchasers didn’t know about KK Motors; they thought they were buying the vehicles privately.”

Of the 13 vehicles OMVIC investigated, six appeared to have rolled-back odom eters. One, a 2007 Honda Odyssey was sold in June by one of KK Motors’ associated sellers with an odometer reading of 141,411 kms; four months earlier the mileage for the Odyssey was reported as 335,230 kms.

“OMVIC is alleging the fraudulent manipulation of odometers was done by, or on behalf of, KK Motors Inc.,” explained Carmichael.

An investigation of the unregistered businesses and individuals who actually sold the vehicles is ongoing. As a result the sole officer and director of the dealership, Kajendran Kasippillai may not legally sell,

lease buy or consign vehicles. This isn’t the first strike for Kasippillai as he has a previous history with similar activity. In 2012 the dealer was found in breach of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act and fined $1,500 for advertising a vehicle without disclosing in the ad that it had been placed by a registered dealer. Additionally, the dealer was found to be in breach of OMVIC’s Code of Ethics and fined $5,000 in 2014 for failing to properly disclose material facts related to the past use, history and condition of vehicles it sold, including significant accident repair histories.

Auto repairers who perform extensive repairs for dealerships are not guilty of any crime, unless they deliberately perform operations designed to falsify vehicle data--like rolling back an odometer. They could face charges should evidence suggest that they had been aware that vehicles were being sold under false pretenses. Any repair facility tasked with performing suspicious procedures can protect themselves by reporting their concerns to OMVIC. Another dealership, Marcel Motors in Ottawa, has had its operations temporarily shut down for another series of alleged infractions.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 61

REGIONAL NEWS | QUEBÉC

Quebec cracks down on distracted drivers Quebec drivers should put down their phones or risk facing the province’s wrath, and some new, painful fines.

Those caught using cell phones while driving will now receive tickets of up to $600 and five demerit points. Those with cell phone related scandals in their past face even more harsh responses, with police able to suspend licenses for up to one month.

Until the end of June 2018, the fines were capped at $100 and four points. While the news may be less than welcome to the province’s drivers, cyclists will also see new fines. Cyclists caught wearing earbuds or using their phone will now be subject to $100 fines.

While this may sound draconian, Quebeckers who flaunt distracted driving laws are far from the most brutally punished in the nation. In Ontario, an offense may only

Valérie and Michel Véronneau with the team at Fix Auto Sherbrooke.

secure four demerit points, but it will hit a driver’s pocketbook to the tune of $1000.

Prince Edward Islanders, however, face the toughest punishments. They lose five points and up to $1200.

While it may seem an overreaction, some statistics suggest that distracted driving

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is the source of a tremendous amount of danger on the road. Saskatchewan Government Insurance recently described it as the leading cause of traffic collisions. In fact, according to some estimates, one-inthree vehicular repairs can be blamed on distracted drivers.

ATLANTIC | REGIONAL NEWS

Reviewing Newfoundland’s Insurance Claims The number of auto insurance claims in Newfoundland and Labrador has made auto insurance nearly the most expensive in the country.

According to the Insurance Bureau (IBC) of Canada, for every 100 vehicles in the province, 13 of them are claimed, whereas in the other Atlantic regions the number of vehicles that are claimed is around 10.

Amanda Dean, vice president of the Atlantic region for IBC confirmed that there has been a high rate of claims over the past several years.

“It’s been building,” she said.

The current annual premium for the province is $1,100 in comparison to the rest of the Atlantic region which is $800.

This has been brought to the attention of the Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities (PUB) and the IBC, where they have been holding hearings in regards to some solutions as, requested by the Newfoundland government.

These hearings will review and report the number of issues regarding auto insurance, including the reasons behind increasing claim costs and options to reduce costs.

This increase includes a number of bodily injury claims which might explain the reason why they are so high, said Dean. But they are still reviewing it to come up with other reasons they might have overlooked.

One of the things that they are suggesting is to put a direct compensation property damage policy (DCPD) into place. This would make it faster for drivers that have been in an accident to have their vehicle fixed in a timely manner. The rest of the regions in the Atlantic part of Canada already have this policy.

Collision repairers seem to agree that this policy would most likely benefit shops and drivers. At Rideout’s Bodyshop in Mount Pearl, one customer waited three days to have their vehicle fixed because the other person in the accident didn’t report it to their insurance company.

Gordon Healey, the shop owner of Healey’s Autobody Shop in St. Johns said he agrees as well but it would probably benefit adjusters as opposed to collision repairers.

Gordon Healey of Healey’s Autobody Shop in St. Johns.

Aside from putting a DCPD policy in place, Healey had mentioned that he noticed a number of write-offs, which ultimately impacts their work. He also said that the reason claims increased in 2017 was because of the hurricane that hit the province. The severity of damage to the vehicles caused the claim costs to go up.

Despite the high cost of premiums, auto insurers haven’t seen profits grow for the past five years. As a result, insurers are wary of entering the market. If the remaining insurance companies continue to lose money and are unable to cover operating expenses, they may leave the province, leaving drivers with very few options.

The other option for insurance companies would be to charge enough in premiums to cover their costs.

Drivers are hopeful that reforms will help initiate some sustainability with the insurance system.

“Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans deserve affordable auto insurance. With these hearings, IBC is pleased that the government has taken the time to understand the issues affecting the systems that have been driving costs higher for Newfoundland drivers. The auto insurance system needs to focus on consumers.

Auto insurance, especially when it comes to helping those with collisions and injuries, need to make people well while also being affordable,” said Dean.

Some of the recommendations made by the IBC are to implement a minor injury damages cap, enhance accident benefits, would make it easier to repair and replace damaged vehicles and to change the rate regulation process so that it is quicker and less costly.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 65

PRODUCTS

SCANNING TOOLS UP CLOSE AirPro: Orion AirPro’s ORION is a cloud-based diagnostic management system.

The company describes the software suite as offering a simple, streamlined platform for shops to scan data in a user and mobile-friendly manner. The device is said to offer a simple way of decoding VINs and ensuring against any incorrect information being entered accidentally. It can also automatically produce scanning and invoicing reports. The software is designed to seamlessly interact with CCC One accounts, which will allow users to automatically create repair reports through the ORION tool. The system is also configured for shops to be able to create several different user levels to dictate exactly who can see and control which aspects of every repair.

airpro.com

Ancel: AD310 Ancel AD310 is a simple DTC tool that is highly recommended if you want to read and erase generic engine DTC codes. Among these codes it also reads live data and some manufacturer trouble codes. With a built-in DTC Library of information about the codes, it has an easy-to-read and functional LED screen. With this tool you don’t need a battery, it takes a 12v from the OBD connector and comes with 2.5 feet of cable.

anceldirect.com

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 67

PRODUCTS

asTech: asTech Device The asTech remote diagnostic device uses OEM factory scan tools to search for, identify and resolve the diagnostic, electronic and computer related trouble codes resulting from collisions. The process is ideal for automotive repair shops that want to improve shop and technician efficiency, control severity, improve cycle times, reduce loss of use, guarantee completion dates, secure better results for DRP partners and loyal customers all while keeping the car in the production lane at the repair facility. Identifying each of the diagnostic related issues that need immediate attention after a collision has never been more important. The asTech diagnostic device makes the process easier than ever.

astech.com

Audatex: Vehicle Health Check Vehicle Health Check (VHC), a vehicle scan, diagnostic and repair solution, delivers comprehensive full system scans of vehicle computers. Combined with Solera’s extensive Identifix knowledgebase, VHC is available with multiple package options to meet the varying budgets, diagnostic needs and skill levels of the industry. These packages include VHC pro, which includes a portable Bluetooth vehicle connectivity interface and a mobile app, and the VHC technician package, which serves as an all-in-one tool for technicians. It reads codes, diagnoses repairs and provides OEM guidelines and wire diagrams from the Identifix DirectHit database. It also comes with a heavy-duty tablet.

audatex.ca

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PRODUCTS

Autel: MaxiCOM MK808 This is more of a professional DTC tool and is used if you are going to read all the control units. It reads the airbag, ABC, Immobilizer and many other control units in your vehicle. This product also offers many other functions such as, TPMS resets, oil service resets and a lot of the functions you would need to operate.

The Autel MaxiCOM MK808 is great for smaller workshops.

auteltech.com

Autologic Diagnostics AssistPlus Advanced & AssistPlus Pro Autologic Diagnostics offers its diagnostics platform AssistPlus in two forms: AssistPlus Advanced and AssistPlus Pro. Advanced is preferred for facilities and technicians working with European vehicle manufacturers, while Plus is recommended for shops servicing BMW, MINI, Land Rover and Jaguar. The system offers comprehensive diagnostics, vehicle data, fault codes, live technical data, pictures and video. Built around module replacement, programming and configuration, AssistPlus provides fault finding and analysis, enabling shops to provide service for premium marques.

The AssistPlus also includes a web browser, high resolution stills and video camera, live connection to assist technicians, cloud-based vehicle reporting and file syncing.

autologic.com

Autel: MaxiSys Ever wish there was a tablet tough enough to handle the rigours of the shop floor? According to Autel, MaxiSys utilizes an A9 quadcore 1.40GHz processor and a 9.7’’ HD touch screen. With an Android-based operating system, Autel says the scanning tablet offers the most up-to-date coverage of OEM-level diagnostics, making the device a diagnostic solution for shops and technicians looking to use technology to make smart repairs. The unit offers vehicle coverage for more than 80 U.S., Asian and European vehicle models and complete capabilities for codes, live data, actuation tests, adaptations and ECU coding. Live data is displayed in text, graph, analog and digital gauge for data review and analysis.

auteltech.com

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 69

PRODUCTS

FCAR: F506 HD Code Reader Pro The F506 HD Code Reader Pro is a device manufactured to provide quick and easy access to vehicle electronic control units and all supported sensors for truck repair, fleet management and maintenance staff. The product is capable of reading and removing fault codes, as well as analyzing live sensor data that can be saved or exported into an excel spread sheet.

According to the company, the Code Reader covers all major trucks, including imported truck OEM level coverage for Isuzu, UD, Hino, Fuso and OBD-II for all passenger vehicles.

fcarcanada.com

BlueDriver: OBD2 Bluetooth Professional OBDII This easy-to-use scanner is excellent at reading codes and has all the capabilities of an expensive handheld tool. The cool part about this tool is that it works with your smartphone or tablet.

It is certified for Apple and Android devices. With that being said, it is portable and has interactive graphing of live data. The BlueDriver App and BlueDriver Sensor work exclusively with each other to ensure quality.

bluedriver.com

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PRODUCTS

Mitchell International: Mitchell Diagnostics A comprehensive car diagnostic system for the collision repair industry, Mitchell Diagnostics is designed with ease-of-use and practicality in mind.

Powered by Bosch, Mitchell Diagnostics has an extensive library of vehicle coverage information from domestic, European and Asian OEMs. According to Mitchell, the system’s file documentation system also simplifies claims processing by closely linking diagnostic data with your repair and claims management system, whether you use Mitchell or any other information provider. The scan reports are standardized PDFs that are concise and easy-to-follow.

mitchell.com

OEM Tools: G-Scan 2 This device shares the same communication platform with G-Scan and inherits the outstanding diagnostic capability. The G-Scan 2 comes with many features such as a high-resolution LCD screen displaying long-text DTC descriptions, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, the latest Windows CE 6.0 and a smart-phone interface. It also contains a huge data storage of 16 GB SD. This tool offers a variety of utility functions such as Communication Line Inspection, Unit Converter, Calculator and Special Functions Calculator.

oemtools.com

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 71

PRODUCTS

Nexpeak: NX501 NEXPEAK NX501 is a universal generic DTC code reader that performs functions such as reading generic, manufacturer and trouble codes from the engine control unit. This device has an O2 Sensor Test and an EVAP Test. It’s made for advanced troubleshooting and diagnostics in the engine control unit.

amazon.com

PAD II: Launch Tech USA The PAD II is a robust, drop-tested and waterproof scan tool tablet, according to Launch Tech U.S.A. The tablet offers a 10.1 inch ultra-high resolution IPS touch screen. The PAD II boasts the same award winning software as previous Launch Pro-line scan tools including vast vehicle coverage, powerful special test functions, accurate and ultra-fast live data and graphing, along with module coding capabilities.

Also new in the PAD II is a customer remote diagnostics tool called GOLO that allows owners and technicians to remotely analyze customer vehicle data outside the shop—even thousands of miles away! A built-in customer management system and online user community further extends the utility and efficiency of the PAD II.

launchtechusa.com

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EVENTS

T

CARSTAR Rides Again

his summer, CARSTAR personnel and industry partners stampeded through Calgary for the Momentum conference.

With more than 1,000 guests corralling at the Telus Convention Centre, the conference broke new ground for the company—it was the first to bring both the American and Canadian halves of the banner, which was unified in 2015, together for the same event.

“It was great to have the event here, and to see all of our American colleagues enjoying the city,” says Matthew Stathonikos, vice president of the CMD CARSTAR Group, which operates a number of facilities in Alberta. “It was such a well organized event, and it really brought us all together.”

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By Lindsey Cooke

While the speeches might be the highlight of many banner conferences, at CARSTAR’s they would have to compete with a full-blown rodeo featuring burning lassos, stunts performed on horseback and even bull-riding.

Refusing to be outdone by all the entertaining horseplay, the keynote speech on business improvement delivered by W. Brett Wilson, the straight-talking energy sector investor of Dragon’s Den fame, brought both acumen and intensity to the stage. In his address, he shared his journey to success as a celebrated Canadian entrepreneur and creative philanthropist.

Industry analysts Mike Anderson of Collision Advice and Vincent Romans of the Romans Group also pleased the crowds with their own performances.

EVENTS

Anderson touched on the future for collision repairers in a world of self-driving cars, and how telematics will influence the way bodyshops perform even the most routine procedures.

Romans shared his take on current and future trends with the global collision repair industry.

Spurred on by the banner’s proud, 20-year tradition of raising money to fight Cystic Fibrosis, CARSTAR kicked-off the conference with a three-kilometre ‘Walk the Line’ fundraising challenge. Moseying along through the city and along the Bow River to the Olympic Plaza, the walkers managed to raise an astonishing amount for the cause. With the final tally hitting $470,000. The effort’s results far surpassed CARSTAR’s already ambitious $375,000 fundraising goal.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 75

EVENTS

The conference closed Friday night with the annual CARSTAR gala dinner and awards ceremony, where attendees dressed up and walked down the red-carpet to celebrate all of their hard-work. Among the Canadian names recognized during the ceremony were Frank Abate of CARSTAR St. Clair in Toronto and Johnny Kloeckes of CARSTAR Edmonton Mayfield, who were both named to the president’s club; Brian and Darryl Hemstreet of CARSTAR Red Deer, who received the EDGE award for outstanding quality; and B ernice DiVito of CARSTAR Barrie who received the community champion award.

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PRINCIPLES OF REPAIR

TEMPLATING A NEW ROLE Notes on the collision repair researcher project

By Peter Sziklai

I

n the last edition of Collision Repair we caught up with Peter Sziklai, owner of Tsawwassen Collision, to discuss a unique job position introduced at his shop. In May Sziklai had hired Alireza (Aliz) Ebedi Ghajari as the shop’s new collision repair researcher, a role not only new to the business, but also the collision repair industry. Aliz, who holds a PhD in systems engineering, has been working diligently with Sziklai to turn, for what is now a concept idea, into an established job template.

THE MAGIC BULLETS OFFERED BY A NUMBER OF PROGRAM VENDORS HAVE NOT YET PROVED TO BE EFFECTIVE... AT TSAWWASSEN COLLISION, WE HAVE DECIDED TO NOT SIT BACK AND WAIT.

After two months of having Aliz as the collision repair researcher, we had experienced as many detours as we had steps in the right direction.

Despite this, the path forward was becoming clearer and by the end of August we had established a three part project for Aliz to pursue: data complication and communications formatting, content, and ‘on demand’ responses to enquiries from the operations staff.

Data Compilation and Communications Format The first part developed was a format for retrieving, recording and then internally communicating vital repair information. At the core a multi-page Excel document was used to record any retrieved data.

Storage, retrieval and access by the repair report writers and others who need the information was more complex and Aliz’s code writing skills came into play.

The intention is that the document be available to all participants in the repair process at any stage, with alerts or signals automatically. Rather than pre-determine the value of content, our plan is to err on the side of

providing too much in an organized format. Each user can open the pages that are relevant to their role and decide themselves on the need or relevancy.

Content The second part of the project is content. This portion is critical, as without good content an elegant communications and data system is operationally useless. Aliz currently has access to Toyota, Honda/Acura, FCA and VW/Audi OEM sites. These four sites provide Aliz with sufficient information to allow for development work. The representatives of these companies have taken varying levels of interest in our project, with several becoming actively engaged and even offering direct communication lines.

We have learned that a useful compilation of information comes from the utilization of multiple sources, with most things being confirmed by final access to OEM’s. For example, Audatex has an excellent imaging add -on, with exploded component assembly images that can be rotated and viewed at any angle. This provides us with OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 79

PRINCIPLES OF REPAIR

a good indication as to what parts are involved and allows us to more effectively navigate to the relevant OEM section. Aggregator sites such as Alldata and I-CAR RTS are also useful in targeting information required and speeding up the search within the OEM site. Aliz has also discovered more than one public site or YouTube channel capable of providing excellent clues.

We are convinced that the full OEM sites are mandatory for the accurate and up to date content that is at the heart of the project. It’s starting to appear as though the most efficient use of these sites is as tools to use after preliminary searches have been completed.

This is primarily due to the sites all being different and complex to use. We are finding the generic and aggregation sites to be more effective in pointing us in the right direction. The OEM site then adds essential final detail and confirmation.

On Demand The third portion of the project is ‘On Demand.’

Despite Aliz still working outside the operations team, he is on site and available to answer specific ‘On Demand’ enquires. This component of work is valuable to Aliz, as it provides him with a learning experience on how to deal with operational issues of accident repair, while also completing a percentage of the work that improves our ability to be more profitable today. We are paying attention to the

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danger of the operation’s team overloading him with ‘On Demand’ work; as project development work would suffer.

Conclusion We foresee this development being a 12 month project.

Our hope is that within this time Aliz will have created a system where he can find and format information proactively and in a way that will allow for this material to be used operationally.

We envision this system being used by a collision repair researcher as a long-term separate role, one in which the use of a developed system itself will require a level of expertise and focused time. We do not see it as something that an ‘estimator’ can use by clicking tabs while writing an ‘estimate.’The industry is not the same as it was and new roles are needed.

The magic bullets offered by a number of program vendors to the industry have not yet proved to be effective. These programs will likely improve with time, but at Tsawwassen Collision we have decided to not sit back and wait.

Peter Sziklai is the owner of Tsawwassen Collision, an independent collision repair shop near Vancouver. Actively involved in the industry since 1982, he is the founder of the Ready For its Next Accident project (rfina.ca), which focuses on fostering an awareness of the principles of repair.

He can be reached at peter@tcltd.pro.

TRAINING

CROSS-BORDER CURRICULUM I-CAR Canada Follows Training and Recognition Advances

By Andrew Shepherd

J

ohn Van Alstyne, CEO and president of I-CAR, announced a number of major upgrades to the industry’s core training and recognition program last month at NACE. These included changes to the Professional Development Program curriculum which lays at the heart of Platinum individual and Gold Class shop recognition, as well as an increase in the requirements for these recognition levels. New payment and Industry Training Alliance models were introduced, as was a move to three-year welding certification renewals, down from the current five years.

The wholesale revision to the I-CAR program was backed by a two-year consultation with vehicle manufacturers, insurers, suppliers and repairers. It is also a coherent and forward-looking answer to rapid advancements in vehicle complexity and repair methods.

I-CAR Canada will be adopting the vast majority of these changes. At the same time, our collision repair industry will benefit from the ‘Canadian approach’ made possible by the creation of I-CAR Canada, as a licensor of the program in 2010. At that time it was recognized by all major Canadian partners that our geography, our unique industry structure, our language and our education systems necessitated some national customization.

This approach will continue with some paths determined and some yet to be decided upon.

Many of the details of these changes will be worked out through the fall – stay up to date by visiting i-car.ca.

I-CAR Canada’s Policy Platform · The ‘granularization’ of the curriculum, allowing trainees to choose more specific courses with less redundancy, will be followed almost identically in Canada, reducing role training requirements by between 8 and 30 percent in terms of training hours · As in the U.S., Canada’s Gold Class in Progress category will be terminated in 2019 · Many of the U.S. changes to Gold Class recognition will be adopted here, including the addition of a Gold Class – Aluminum category. In other areas, Canada’s leadership in setting the highest standards for Gold Class recognition will remain unchanged · The move from five-year welding certification to three years will be mirrored here in Canada, as all industry stakeholders recognize the critical role of welding in collision repair · I-CAR U.S. has offered a subscription course purchase model, based on a pool of some 32,000 shops. This is a difficult approach to adopt in a market one-tenth the size, and I-CAR Canada will instead look for ways to increase the predictability of spending on training and reduce the time spent on transactions · Finally, I-CAR U.S. has adjusted the Industry Training Alliance program to broaden the role of suppliers in delivering repair knowledge—Canada will follow suit Andrew Shepherd is the executive director of I-CAR Canada, a non-profit organization that provides collision repair training and ongoing education. He can be reached via e-mail at andrew.shepherd@aiacanada.com

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 83

TRAINING 101

The team at Dana’s Collision CSN in Fredericton, New Brunswick celebrate their shop’s gold class certification from I-CAR Canada.

Explaining Training I

Estimating with I-CAR

-CAR’s most popular courses provide collision repair professionals with the tools they need to remain effective at estimation, even as new technologies sweep through the automotive industry. Two courses, Art and Science of Estimator Interactions and Understand the Cycle Time Process drive home the lessons vital to anyone estimating in the modern age .

The Art and Science of Estimator Interactions goes over everything that has to do with the whole estimating process.

The course kicks off with lessons on how to successfully communicate with the customer. Students will be partaking in four activities that will test their ability to build relationships and develop their communication skills with customers.

Along with customer communication, trainees will also be using their problemsolving skills in working with insurance companies. Students will go through the whole process of estimating, as well as a step-by-step guide to identifying whether photos depict the reality of the damage.

The other seemingly popular course mentioned is Understand the Cycle Time Process. The course checks into trends that are facing the industry; whether they are currently happening or in our near future.

The course starts with an overview of the new technology that plays a role in collision repair, such as the trend of adding front-facing cameras to vehicles, and the automatic braking standard. It later goes into the technology trends that are going to have a huge impact on the business of the industry such as Intelligent damage detection systems, resistance spot riveting technology and more.

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The second half of the course goes into discussing the North American, Asian and European vehicle manufacturers. Finally, students will learn about how diagnostics and scans can be beneficial to a repair facility, as well as the different kinds of scanning tools that exist.

Covering everything from the growing importance of scan tools, to the technological marvels changing the nature of vehicle repair, both courses offer the information and skills needed for effective estimation work to be done on the latest generation of vehicle platforms.

EVENTS

GEORGIA, SWEET GEORGIA NACE Automechanika in Atlanta

Dave Foster, Michael Macaluso Jeff Labanovich from Carstar and Darryl Simmons from Media Matters.

Flavo Battilano of CSN and Paul Prochilo of Simplicity.

David Gold, Scott Robertson, Jonathan Morrow and Chad Counselman of the Auto Recyclers Association embrace Media Matter’s Gloria Mann.

T

he Deep South in the height of summer—for heat-averse Canadian repairers, it may have seemed an unusual choice, but the planning team behind this year’s NACE Automechanika conference pulled off an exciting affair that lived-up to past events.

From the Rockin’ Rides pavilion to the Multi-Store Operators Symposium and the Collision Industry Conference, this year’s NACE Automechanika conference did not fail to live up to its reputation as one of the most important of the collision industry’s events.

During the I-CAR training sessions, which were ongoing throughout the evening, several hundred participants were educated by the industry’s best trainers in more than 20 areas of the trade.

In the nearby OMNI Hotel, the Collision Industry Conference (CIC), which held its own meetings, went into great detail about why OEM procedures could, in no way, be treated as mere guidelines for repairers. In the panel OEM Repair Procedure Legislation, Review and Projections, a team of industry experts delivered an overview of recent legislative efforts and recent legal decisions regarding OEM procedures.

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Roger Turmel of AutoQuip and Collision Repair editor Gideon Scanlon.

Steve Leal during the MSO Symposium.

EVENTS

Mike and Lisa Kaplaniak and Claude Zalac of UniPart.

Jean Germain of First Choice Auto Repair Systems.

Jeff Peevy, David Goldstein, Amber Ritte and Marie Artim.

In their presentation, the CIC Task Force team, which includes Jeff Peevy and Gene Lopez, explained their work defining, identifying and cataloguing role-based verifiable conventions. They also discussed the idea for a new bodyshop position—the ADAS and safety systems technician.

In a speech that received a standing ovation, Petra Schroeder, the Woman’s Industry Network past chair, delivered a presentation on the network’s recent accomplishments and efforts. She praised the CIC’s members for their interest in the work of WIN and invited members—male and female—to consider joining, with a special extended

annual membership covering the remainder of 2018 and all of 2019.

The most talked-about presentation was, however, delivered by the Definitions Committee’s Barry Dorn and Chris Evans, who delivered a speech on their tireless work to bring the collision repair industry online.

The CIC Wiki, which aims to be as important to the collision industry as Wikipedia is to university freshmen, received so many questions and ideas for growth from the intrigued audience that the moderator was forced to call time on the open mic session.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 87

EVENTS

Jon Dulude, Scott Henderson and Tasha Willingham from Hollander.

Dan Hogg of Fix Auto World.

John Brill from Steck.

During the MSO Symposium, which was filled to the brim with many of the most recognizable banner executives and MSOs in the business, saw industry icon and financial analyst, Vincent Romans wowed the crowds with a densely-packed presentation on the state of the industry.

Later, several of the biggest names in the field took to the stage to discuss some of the points made in a panel hosted by analyst Brad Mewes.

Next year, NACE Automechanika which returned to Chicago, with the event scheduled to be held in May.

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Bobby Stevens and Jermey Baines from CarPartPro.com.

Stan Mikol, David Thompson and Gregg Strandberg from Garmat.

Bodyworx Professional editor Jordan Arseneault (far right) at a CARSTAR media scrum.

EXECUTIVE VISION

360° PERSPECTIVE C

ollison repair is in Anthony Iaboni’s veins—dedication and hard work are just two of the side effects. They are also the reason he has managed to get where he is today. The owner of Collision 360, a Toronto-area refinish supply story, Iaboni has taken his company from an ambitious idea and turned it into one of Canada’s top suppliers of collision repair products and aftermarket parts in just for years.

Recently, Collision Repair caught up with Iaboni to talk about his rise in the industry and what he hopes to accomplish in the future..

Collison Repair: What attracted you to the collision repair industry and what made you want to start your own company?

Anthony Iaboni : I grew up in the industry,when

my father first came over to Canada his first fulltime job was rechroming bumpers. From there he moved into a sales position with the company.

He eventually opened up his own business.

Throughout school whether it be elementary, high school or university, any free time I had I was at work helping him. I even managed my university schedule so that I was half a day at work and half a day at school. Whatever way it would break down I’d have to be at work for half the day, which ended up paying for my university.

I was probably the only guy in university with a nice car, because I was working half the time when other students were not. It was something that definitely helped me become entrenched in the business. When I finished university I decided to work with my father full-time, as he had some key employees leave him. I was going to get my masters, but he needed some stability so I said I would come and help before I finish my schooling. I ended up never leaving.We got to the point where in theory I was running his business, growing his business and I wanted to continue growing it. My father and his partner at the time didn't see the vision that I had of selling equipment, selling products and offering a complete solution to collision facilities. So I decided to branch off by myself and focus on all those other products.

Eventually my father closed down his business and came to work for me. It took a lot of guts and a lot of heartache initially, but in hindsight it's probably the best thing I've done.

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Collison Repair: What do you believe are

the keys to your own success in this industry?

Anthony Iaboni: For me the first key to success is maintaining top quality customer service, the second would be finding gaps within the market place and filling those gaps. Being strategically different from the norm and finding what’s going to separate you from your competitors is vital to success.

Collison Repair: How do you manage your employees and their career development?

Anthony Iaboni: I'm lucky to have a good

mix of staff. I’ve got senior journeymen within the trade, employees that have been serving the industry for twenty-odd years, and some relativity young workers. What I do with the young ones is start them off in entry level positions but we have plans for growth.So right now I have a gentleman that started when I launched the business as a delivery person,and is now managing my whole business. I've got another gentleman who started in the same position and he is now doing 85 percent of our technical support for anything that we sell. It’s all about building a plan, finding strengths in the youth and building within that.

Collison Repair: What do you find to be the most rewarding thing about this industry?

Anthony Iaboni Making my customers

happy, that's definitely the most rewarding.

When I've got collision facilities tapping me

on the back and telling me 'keep on doing what you're doing, you're above and beyond anything service-wise that we've received up until this point.' That tells me that I'm doing a good job, whether or not it's there dollar wise.

Long-term if we are making customers happy now, we'll be making customers happy in the future. We're ingraining that culture within our business where we stop at nothing to help our customers.

Collison Repair : What are your goals moving forward with your business?

Anthony Iaboni: Just keep on growing and

ultimately I’d like to set the standard for supplying bodyshops anything at any level, that's the goal. I'd like to be, at least in my selling area, the first phone call someone makes when they need something.

Collison Repair: What advice would you give someone young trying to move up into a managerial role in the industry?

Anthony Iaboni: The key for youth in the

industry is being passionate about what they do. It doesn't necessarily have to be a passion for cars, or panel beating, it can be any aspect of it really. Ultimately if they show a passion in what they are doing day-to-day, if they're reflecting that in their work, they are going to grow by default. I see it first hand through family members and my own kids, if you're passionate about something, and it’s steered in the right direction, you'll grow exponentially. There are examples

EXECUTIVE VISION

WITH ANTHONY IABONI,

AWARD-WINNING OWNER/OPERATOR OF COLLISION 360

in our trade right now of youth that live and breathe this industry and they're reaping the rewards of it.

Collison Repair : What's the most challenging thing for your business as you continue to grow?

Anthony Iaboni: The most challenging

thing for me as we grow is maintaining the levels of service and the expectation that we are accustomed to providing. Our business has been doubling year after year and customers get accustomed to a certain level of attention, a certain amount of service, and it’s important to be able to grow within that and continue to meet those expectations.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 91

EVENTS

Hitting the Links

By Lindsey Cooke

Consolidated Dealers Co-operative holds its annual Shareholder Appreciation Tournament

C

onsolidated Dealers Co-operative held its annual Shareholder Appreciation Golf Tournament at Copper Creek on September 11, 2018.

Set amid the rolling hills and forests of the Humber River Valley in the picturesque town of Kleinburg, 30 minutes north of Toronto, the event brought together more than 140 dealer principals, vendors, Consolidated Dealers and CCS staff.

Consolidated Dealers Co-Operative was founded in 1979 by the new car dealers of Ontario, creating a one-stop

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co-operative buying group for its dealer members. Consolidated Dealers currently have over 1,500 members across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada.

Consolidated Dealers is also the parent company of CCS, Canada’s premier new car dealer collision repair network with over 65 members in three Canadian provinces.

For more information, please visit consolidateddealers.com or ccsdealers.com

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Fix on the Fairway

By Lindsey Cooke

Golf and good deeds brings Fix Auto Network brands together in Ontario

W

hile the Fix Automotive Network may be known across the globe, nowhere is their presence as strong as in the central Canadian heartland—Ontario and Quebec. In King City, Ontario this September many of the provincial personnel, clad in the network’s iconic blue-and-black polo shirts arrived for the annual Fix Automo-

tive Network Masters Golf Tournament, and Regional Conference and Tradeshow.

The tournament, which was held on the lush and pleasant fairways of King Valley Golf Club, raised $10,280 for the Fix Automotive Network’s charity of choice, Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada.

The regional conference saw more than 130 participants—

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EVENTS

including representatives from all the network’s brands, Fix Auto, Speedy Auto Service, NOVUS Glass and Minute Muffler— in attendance. Alongside a number of industry partners, the day’s celebrations were an unparrallelled networking opportunity.

In addition to the action in the conference rooms, the Fix Automotive Network’s Ontario

meeting included an extensive tradeshow area with over 30 vendors.

“Now, they also have the opportunity to learn from their counterparts in other segments of the automotive aftermarket services industry,” said Daryll O’Keefe, Fix Automotive Ontario’s general manager. “This is part of the power of our network.”

As the event’s host, O’Keefe opened the meeting, outlining the agenda for the day before yielding the floor to president and CEO Steve Leal. Outlining his plans for the network’s continuing success over the next few years, Leal also noted that the network is committed to looking at what is working, and what could use improvement for each of its franchise programs.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 97

EVENTS

SPEAKING FRANKLY CCIF Vancouver dives into the deep issues

I

n late September, repairers from across Canada came together in Vancouver for the latest Canadian Collision Industry Forum.

With an array of presentations covering every aspect of the collision industry today, even the most controversial topics were up for debate—especially during the two-part panel discussion on accreditation and certification programs.

Panelists discussed the question of whether they believed accreditation and certification to be important and, if so, what the appropriate costs for becoming involved in such programs should be.

Presenter Tony Mammone, zone director operations, CARSTAR Canada, felt the frank and fearless discussion was something the industry would benefit from having more often.

OCTOBER 2018 COLLISION REPAIR 99

EVENTS

“My perspective on it is simple. I ask ‘what is the cost of us not investing, versus the other way around?’” said Mammone. “The costs [of not investing] are putting other people at risk with their lives, the safety of the occupants and the crashworthiness of vehicles. We must make these investments because it’s the right thing to do for our customer, but it’s also the right thing to do for our business.”

The second portion of the accreditation and certification panel revolved around the insurer perspective.

“The insurance industry is undergoing seismic changes driven by a multitude of macroeconomic influences,” said Rocco Neglia of the AIA. The position of women in the industr y was also highlighted during another panel discussion that included Teresa Jachnycky, Collision Repair columnist and director of Gateway Autobody.

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The panelists shared stories of their experiences in the industry and provided insight into how they achieved success in collision repair.

“You have all these different insights, but the one thing that remained the same was that no one got to where they are on their own. We all obtained assistance from others whether it is women, men or spouses, they all contributed to the success,” Jachnycky said.

The next CCIF meeting will be held in Toronto on January 24 and 25, for more information visit ccif.ca.

EVENTS

Left to right: Michael Naoom, Safelite Solutions; Mike Hastings, Car-Part.com; Janice Schroder, Car-Part. com; and Kevin Earlywine, Full Impact Technologies.

Details and Demonstrations Experts dig into technical aspects of repairs at 2018 CIECA Symposium in Tampa

By Stacey Phillips

F

or collision repairers fascinated by the most technical of details about the industry, the tenth annual Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association Symposium (CIECA)did not disappoint.

Held in Tampa, Florida in September, CIECA brought more than 100 American collision repairers together with insurers, vehicle manufacturers, parts and material suppliers, software suppliers and other mem-

bers of the broader automotive aftermarket.

“The goal is to make the industry more efficient and deliver benefits to all participants through reduced development and support costs, lower cost of implementation, reduce barriers to entry and faster development times,” said Fred Iantorno, the executive director of CIECA. “All standards are developed by CIECA volunteers for the good of the industry.”

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A cross-section of experts shared information about topical issues from both a business and a technical perspective. Some of the sessions included blockchain from Michael Hertzig of IBM; a presentation about onboarding for BMS (Business Message Suite) from Dan Seats at Motive Retail; how telematics is driving no-touch claims shared

by Dawn Mortimer of Verisk, and insight into connected cars from Sean Carey, president

CIECA’s executive committee, executive director and project manager prior to the CIECA Symposium. From left: Phil Martinez, past-chairman; Clint Marlow, chairman; Fred Iantorno, executive director; Stephen Betley, cochairman; Kim DeVallance Caron, treasurer; Jeff Schroder, secretary; and Charley Quirt, project manager.

EVENTS

of SCG Management Consultants. Clint Marlow from Allstate Insurance and CIECA’s chairman of the board also spoke on some of the top technology and consumer trends impacting the industry.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for business and technology to come together and hear dynamic industry presentations, case studies and different points of view,” said Iantorno.

During the three-day event, the National Auto Body Council (NABC), Allstate and Caliber Collision-St. Petersburg presented a vehicle to Tampa resident Deundre Williams as part of the NABC Recycled Rides program.

“It is an honour to work with our collision repair industry partners to help make a difference in the life of someone who valiantly served our country,” said Bill

Garoutte, president and CEO of the NABC. Symposium attendees also had the opportunity to network during the social events throughout the evenings.

Established in 1994, CIECA is preparing to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2019. The ceremonies are set to be celebrated during the organization’s next conference, CIECA Connex, will be held next Sept. 16 to 18 in Charlottesville, Virginia next year.

During the CIECA Symposium, attendees had the opportunity to hear about topical issues from industry experts.

Mike Anderson of Collision Advice, and CIECA’s brand ambassador; and John Donley, IANet.

Symposium speakers Ginny Whelan, Automotive Recyclers Association; Don Porter, United Recyclers Group; and Don Elliott, Carfax.

NABC, Allstate and Caliber Collision presented Tampa veteran Deundre Williams with a 2016 Kia Optima as part of NABC Recycled Rides program.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for business and technology to come together and hear dynamic industry presentations, case studies and different points of view.”

-Fred Iantorno.

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INFOGRAPHIC BANNER

In North America, the auto recycling community reduces oil demand by 85 million barrels-per-year

Auto Recycling

Fun Facts Source: armmass.com/carbon-footprint-study

About 80 percent of the materials in commercial vehicles is recyclable

By fluid volume, the amount of reclaimed oil and hazardous fluids by auto recyclers each year is equivalent to eight major oil spills

In North America, the auto recycling community reduces oil demand by 85 million barrels-per-year

27 million cars are recycled each year around the globe

25 million tonnes of material from old vehicles are recycled every year

The auto recycling industry provides enough steel to produce 13 million new vehicles each year

Automotive recyclers supply quality auto parts that cost as little as 20 percent as much as new parts By recycling vehicles, it is estimated that the recyclers prevent the release of more than 300 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

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RECYCLING

A SURE FOUNDATION At 75, the ARA works to create a bright future for the auto recycling industry

By David Gold

T

he Automotive Recyclers Association’s goal is to build on the credibility established by the organization over its 75-year history, led by those who served the organization before us.

The valuable time sacrificed by these members in good faith of great outcomes, is motivation for us to strive for continued excellence. We owe much of the current success to all of these individuals, and the groundwork they have laid, as we dedicate ourselves to following in their footsteps. As we work towards this objective we will continue to remain close with our trusted partners who work alongside us in association activities.

The auto recycling industry is changing in a variety of ways, at speeds we haven’t seen before. Now more than ever we must remain focused on educating the membership on the trends that will affect our industry in North America and abroad. We are currently polling industry experts on what they anticipate being the largest issues in the industry over the next five years. With this information we will create potential solutions to the issues where we can positively impact our future.

We have worked with the Events Advisory committee and meeting planner Kim Glasscock to secure the needed sponsorship for our 75th ARA Annual Convention &

“NO SINGLE PERSON CAN TACKLE THIS OR ANY ISSUE. MOTIVATING AND ENGAGING THE BASE OF THE MEMBERSHIP IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE STRIVING HARD TO DO AND WE HAVE ACCEPTED THIS CHALLENGE.” – CHAD COUNSELMEN ARA’s executive committee and staff have truly embraced a united path in which leadership communicates in a timely and transparent manor. Despite not always seeing eye-to-eye, we are able work diligently together in building a consensus. This is of a particular note when highlighting the process of decision-making. We continue to be accessible both individually and collectively and welcome the challenge as it is our duty in service to the association.

Being involved with high-level opportunities for the association and its members has shifted our focus away from daily activities that support the organization’s existence. This includes being fiscally responsible with the budget, participating in committee activities, enhancing position statements and listening to members at all levels.

Having volunteers is crucial to the organizations future and in many ways is the biggest asset. With their help, we will strive to be proactive and respond to threats as they arise. We are aware of this responsibility and take it very seriously.

Chad Counselman, second ARA vice president, pointed out recently, “No single person can tackle this or any issue. Motivating and engaging the base of the membership is something that we are striving hard to do and we have accepted this challenge.”

Expo. We are very excited about the robust programming planned for the event, and we are working diligently to make positive and impactful improvements.

In the coming days, Chad will speak at the Auto Recyclers Conference in Australia and Jonathan Morrow, first vice president, will travel to Poland’s third International Conference on vehicle recycling. Both the Australians and the Polish delegations have supported ARA and we are grateful for the relationships we have fostered there, among other countries.

Finally, it is with great pride that the ARA announces ownership of our headquarters building, thanks to prudent management. We are exceptionally thankful for this financial footing going forward. A more formal announcement and acknowledgements will follow in Orlando, as part of our anniversary celebration.

David Gold of Standard Auto Wreckers is the president of the Automotive Recyclers Association.

He can be reached at 416-286-8686.

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What about recycling EV batteries?

As electric vehicles are becoming more of a hot commodity, it is important to understand how their batteries are recycled.

The most common battery in standardized/ internal combustion engine vehicles is a lead acid battery, which is typically used as the car’s starter battery. However, electric vehicles (e.g. hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or full battery EVs) are typically powered by lithium-ion batteries.

Li-Cycle Corp. is a closed loop lithiumion battery recycler based in North America but with a global focus. CEO of Li-Cycle, Ajay Kochhar, said one of their company’s objectives is to act as a connector across the lithium-ion battery supply chain – from manufacturers to auto recyclers.

“The electric vehicle landscape and lithiumion batteries are continuously developing,” Kochhar said.

He explained that in Canada, EV batteries can typically end up with one of two types of parties. If someone takes their car back into the dealership, then the dealer typically coordinates with the OEM to have the EV battery pack picked up and transported to a processing facility for suitable recycling.

Kochhar said that this works “quite well and is continuing to develop further as EVs become much more common.”

The other type of party that it could end up with are groups outside the dealer, for instance, the collision repairers and auto recyclers. The possible challenge with this type of party is the current lack of specialized knowledge pertaining to high voltage lithium-ion batteries from EVs, including safe handling and transportation, Kochhar explained.

CEO of Li-Cycle, Ajay Kochhar.

It’s a fact that everyone in the industry is used to the standardized (i.e. internal combustion engine) vehicles – the ones that have been on the road for over a century.

But the big difference between the two is not only the type of batteries used but also the battery weight and power. EV batteries can weigh up to 500 kg and be up to 200 volts.

In order for the whole recycling supply chain to be the safest and most efficient, dealerships and the groups outside dealerships require training and increased awareness about the unique requirements for handling high voltage batteries.

Kochhar said that Li-Cycle actively collaborates with a broad range of stakeholders to meet this goal, so that the appropriate controls and training are in

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place in a number of years when many EV batteries require recycling.

Kochhar stressed the topic of safety. Many of the safety hazards are most prominent before EV batteries even reach recycling facilities – specifically, during transportation and handling (e.g. removal of high voltage batteries from EVs).

“Lithium-ion batteries are dangerous goods; when they are transported within Canada, requirements under Transport of Dangerous Goods Canada regulations must be abided by”.

Collaboration with OEMs to ensure that lithium-ion batteries are safely transported and handled across the supply chain is one of the suggestions he made. In order to improve the overall recycling rate of electric vehicle

FEATURES

lithium-ion batteries, end-of- lifecycle value was emphasized as another focus area.

In the case of lead acid batteries, approximately 99 percent are recycled in North America, which is one of the highest recycling rates for any product. This high recycling rate has been driven by regulation and economics. Few lead acid batteries are lost through the supply chain, primarily due to the positive end-of-lifecycle value associated with the product.

One of the challenges to enabling value positive spent EV batteries is improving resource recovery/recycling technology. Right now, the way that most lithium-ion batteries are recycled is through traditional processing plants, typically involving a smelter (i.e. a high temperature process). Smelting typically only recovers 30 to40 percent of lithium-ion batteries and is often a relatively high cost process. This ultimately costs more money for the whole supply chain.

Mirroring the lead acid example, financial value/incentive would go a long

way in promoting high recycling rates.

This is a goal that Li-Cycle is focusing on through its closed loop recycling technology that can recover 80 to 100 percent of all lithium-ion batteries. Li-Cycle aims to transform the value of spent lithium-ion batteries over the next five to ten years. Of course, this will be driven by numerous factors, including the inherent residual value of spent lithium-ion batteries.

“When there is a higher end-of-lifecycle value

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there is often a higher recycling rate,” he said.

There are other uses for these batteries once they are deemed no good to power a vehicle. Kochhar mentioned that one of them is repurposing. An example of the repurposing would be Nissan’s “The Reborn Light” initiative in which they used lithiumion batteries from EV’s to power Japan’s street lights.

Other end-of-lifecycle pathways include Repair, Refurbishing or Remanufacture.

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FEATURES

Scouting the true north Darrell Pitman, the owner of P&G Parts in North Bay has participated in multiple programs, events and causes for the auto recycling community. He recently attended the Tundra Take-Back this year for the third time. This time he was the only auto-recycler there among the team.

Tundra Take-Back is a program associated with the Canadian Auto Recyclers and Scout Environment designed to educate Northern communities on how to de-pollute and recycle end-of-life vehicles properly.

Unmanaged Extra Low Voltage’s contain harmful pollutants and occupy significant space within community dumpsites. They are rarely recycled due to the complicated and costly process of shipping.

Some of the programs goals are to develop a northern vehicle recycling guide, train and hire northern community members to assist with the recovery and recycling of ELVs, as well as to help the environment and land overall.

This year Pitman travelled with the team to northern Manitoba in the communities of Garden Hill and St.Theresa Point. He said the reason why he dedicates his time to this program is to give back to the industry as there is a demand for it within the northern communities.

According to Pitman it’s important because they don’t know how to recycle end-of-life vehicles. “They’ve never had to until now,” he said.

Anything around here is processed because of the access to the proper training, tools and equipment but up there it’s not the same, Pitman explained.

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“I am back home in North Bay now. My Tundra Take Back trip is over. I now have a better understanding of the remote First Nations community’s struggle with End Of Life Vehicles. I have confidence that Scout Environmental Tundra Take Back Programs has given these communities the tools and know how to face this problem head on,” he posted on Facebook.

So far the program has removed thousands of kilograms of waste including, over 1,300 tires, over 500 lead-acid batteries, 20 tonnes of scrap metal, 24-208-litre drums of oil, spent gasoline and antifreeze, as well as 2 lbs of refrigerants.

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An interview with Paul D’Adamo — better known as the Recall Guy From owning a recycling facility, to training college students on the finer points of public speaking, Paul D’Adamo’s career was split between two very different worlds. That all changed when Rebuilders Automotive Supply (RAS) approached him with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring both parts of his professional life together - and to do some good while he was at it. He was asked to traverse North America, educating members of the automotive industry about the dangers posed by Takata’s airbags, and letting them know how removing them from vehicles wasn’t just the right thing to do, but profitable as well.

As a result Paul D’Adamo became The Recall Guy, building awareness about the dangers posed by Takata’s faulty airbags and educating industry members about the need to safely remove them. A leader in the battle protect drivers from death-by-airbag shrapnel, D’Adamo has worked tirelessly to ensure that the world’s largest-ever recall is a success.

Canadian Auto Recyclers: Why don’t you start by telling us a bit about the scale of the Takata recall, and how it came about?

Paul D’Adamo: Well, it is the largest automotive recall in history, and there aren’t many auto makers who didn’t have exposure to it. Because they had the right price-point, Takata’s airbags were used in a lot of vehicles. There were about 50 million of them on the road. They are in vehicles by 20 makers, and in 133 different models made in a 15-year period.

Canadian Auto Recyclers: What is the danger with the airbags?

Paul D’Adamo: If a driver gets into an accident, they expect the airbag to protect them. They usually do. The problem with these bags is that, if they malfunction, they can send shrapnel through the vehicle. The first instance was recorded in 2004, but the recall effort was slow to get off the ground. It only gained traction in 2011 through 2014.

These airbags could kill anyone. I want to make sure recyclers are doing the right thing and remove them properly. As an immediate concern, you don’t want to be the guy who sells the airbag that kills someone. There are also larger industry implications if we don’t act.

Paul D’Adamo: My stock-and-trade is in public speaking. I have a masters of communication, and have taught public speaking and presentation skills at two colleges. I’ve been in the auto recycling business for 28 years, and when RAS suggested that I could use my public speaking skills to help keep people safe... well, I was excited about it – and I’ve been called a millennial in a boomer’s body.

Canadian Auto Recyclers: What strategies have you adopted to get the message across?

Canadian Recycler: What was it about the role that drew you to it?

Paul D’Adamo: We’ve pursued a multipronged campaign, which included me branding myself ‘The Recall Guy,’ and RAS using a hashtag – #YankThatBag. When it comes to my speeches, I try to use guilt, fear, honour—whatever works! You never know what is going to be the one thing to get people to realize the importance.

is transforming into a circular economy.

This sort of system works on “maximizing the value and eliminating the wastes by improving the design of materials, products and business models.”

It will require producers to be responsible for the collection and end of life management of the tires.

Producer Responsibility Organization’s (PRO) will be used to manage the tracking, collection, recycling, and government reporting requirements..

The goal of the new law is to force producers and retailers to take individual responsibility for their products by creating innovative recycling programs.

Ontario’s new tire plan As of next year, tires will be recycled through a new system in Ontario.

Last spring, Glen Murray, the minister of environment and climate change announced that Ontario Tire Stewardship, needs to close it’s Used Tires Program by the end of this year, and to submit a “wind-up” plan.

The Electronics and Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste had also received a notice for a wind up plan as well.

Some of the key actions in the wind-up plan include, eliminating the Tire Stewardship Fee for passengers and light truck tires by October 1; as well as, making available OTS’ Treadmarks IT system at no cost to the broader tire sector in Ontario to support competition and innovation in tire collection and recycling.

The new regulation that will come into effect January 1, 2019 means that Ontario

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Automotive Recyclers of Canada leaves NATA The Automotive Recyclers of Canada will no longer be a part of the National Automotive Trades Association, according to the organizations executive director, Steve Fletcher.

“We’re out,” Fletcher said, following a public meeting organized by the Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario (AARO) in August. “I can confirm that.”

Fletcher explained that a lack of activity from the association contributed to the departure.

Steve Fletcher.

“We hear from them maybe once or twice a year,” he said.

Unclear initiatives from NATA also led to AARO board member John Cochrane resigning as NATA president in July. To add to the turmoil AARO executive director Diane Freeman resigned as treasurer, along with her Ontario association also dropping out of NATA. “With all this going on, you have to wonder how effective NATA can be,” said Fletcher.

“Diane has resigned, John has resigned, AARO is out. They’ve lost, what, 40 percent of the membership? More?”

Current significant organizations that remain in NATA include the Automotive Retailers Association of British Columbia and the Hamilton District Autobody Repair Association.

Responsible auto recycling Auto recyclers have been making a conscious effort in recent years to ensure that decommissioned vehicles are both utilized for their working parts as well as keeping the environment in mind when de-polluting an end-of-life vehicle of all harmful substances.

This includes batteries, tires, fluids, and mercury switches.

CRM spoke with Dominic Vetere of Dom’s Auto Parts on the issue.

“Up until the last few years, there has been little to no guidance or regulation on how to handle the decommissioning of end of life vehicles,” said Vetere.

“Thousands of vehicles come off the road every year in Canada and if they are

not dismantled correctly, it poses a serious detriment to the environment. As an auto recycler, we owe it to our community, and the people of Ontario to do our part in decommissioning these vehicles correctly.”

In addition to each recycler doing their part in the effort of ensuring environmental safety, there are a number of programs and associations that can be relied on for support and tips on how to ensure all necessary steps are being taken.

These associations include, the Ontario tire Stewardship, Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association, Automotive Recyclers of Canada, Mercury Switch Out, the Gold Seal Program, and the Ministry of Environment and Climate change to name a few.

Dom Vetere.

Dom’s Auto Parts in Oshawa, Ontario.

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Ontario CAA Adopts Towing Bill Of Rights In spirit of Tow Safety Week, held in August, the CAA South Central Ontario announced a Towing Bill of Rights for consumers.

The Towing Bill of Rights highlights eight easy to remember points for motorists to keep in mind if they ever need a tow.

Drivers are often uneducated when it comes to requesting a tow for their vehicle. They worry about being over charged or being misled by tow truck operators that insurance will cover the costs when in fact it doesn’t.

“Despite the rules that came into law in Ontario early last year, many consumers still seem to be unaware of their rights when it comes to towing,” said Teresa Di Felice, AVP, government and community relations at CAA SCO. “It can often be very stressful for motorists after a collision or vehicle issue, and the Towing Bill of Rights is a quick and easy reference guide to help put the power and knowledge back in the hands of consumers.”

The list of rights for consumers is available in print and digital formats In partnership with the Provincial Towing Association of Ontario, CAA SCO will distribute over 10,000 handy reference cards to motorists across the province starting today.

“It is critical that motorists understand their rights when it comes to towing, and it is also important that tow truck operators understand exactly what is expected of them when a vehicle is to be serviced,” said Joey Gagne, president, Provincial Towing Association of Ontario. “Distribution of the Towing Bill of Rights contributes to both of these goals and we are happy to work with CAA to promote the protection of consumer rights in Ontario.”

CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) encourages all Ontario motorists and consumers to familiarize themselves with the specific terms of the Towing Bill of Rights: 1. You have the right to decide who can tow your vehicle and to what location unless otherwise directed by police.

2. A permission to tow form must be signed before towing starts, unless you have an auto club membership.

3. The towing company must provide you with an itemized invoice, before receiving payment.

4. The fi­nal bill cannot be more than 10% above the quoted price.

5. If you choose, you can pay by credit card.

6. During business hours, you can access your vehicle to get your personal items, while it’s stored at a towing facility.

7. A tow operator must notify you where your vehicle will be towed.

8. Tow operators must disclose if they are receiving a fi­nancial incentive for towing your vehicle to a particular vehicle storage facility or repair shop.

Tow Safety Week runs Sunday, August 19 to Saturday, August 25, 2018, and also features a Tow Show where roadside professionals will take a pledge to protect consumers.

A digital version of the CAA Towing Bill of Rights is also available for download or printing at towrights.ca

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THE LAST WORD

ADVERTISER INDEX COMPANY

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3D Canada ................................... 58 3M ................................................ 32 AkzoNobel ..................................... 4 ARSLAN ....................................... 66 Assured Automotive .................... 36 AsTech .......................................... 24 Audatex ...................................... 104 Auto Quip ..................................... 112 Axalta .......................................... BC BASF .............................................. 81 BETAG ...........................................54 Canadian Hail Repair ................... 82 Car-O-Liner .................................... 9 Car-Part.com ............................... 78 Carcone’s Auto Recycling ......... 109 Cardinal Couriers ......................... 69 CARSTAR Canada ....................... 77 CIIA ............................................... 51 Collision 360 ................................ 89 Color Compass ............................ 31 CAS .............................................. 73 Devilbiss ....................................... 59 Dominion Sure Seal ..................... 34 Equalizer ...................................... 56 Eurovac ........................................ 46 Excellence Auto Collision ............ 57 Finixa ............................................ 21 Fix Auto Canada .......................... 95 Flat Line ........................................ 47 Formula Honda ............................ 11 Garmat ......................................... 55 GFS ........................................ 76, 88 Herkules ....................................... 68 Impact Auto Auctions ................ 115 Keystone ...................................... 27 KIA ................................................ 44 Martech ........................................ 65 Micazen ........................................ 72 Mitchell International ..................... 7 NAPA Canada .............................. 62 Polyvance .................................... 45 PPG Canada ............................... 2,3 ProSpot .................................. 85, 98 RBL ...................................... 28, 101 Recycling Equipment Canada ..... 49 SATA Canada ............................... 37 SEMA ........................................... 38 Sherwin-WIlliams ......................... 71 Simplicity Car Care ...................... 53 Stark ........................................... 106 Steck ............................................ 61 Symach ........................................ 87 Thorold ....................................... 110 Tiger ............................................. 50 Transtar ........................................ 64 Valspar ......................................... 16 Wedge Clamp .............................. 35 Wurth ............................................ 63

JEFF SANFORD REMEMBERED Collision Repair’s senior writer passes away

A

few weeks ago, Jeff Sanford, the staff writer who brought his wit and whimsy to Collision Repair magazine’s Tuesday Ticker and Friday Fun columns, died unexpectedly at 46.

“I am deeply saddened by Jeff’s passing,” said Collision Repair magazine publisher Darryl Simmons. “He was a talented reporter devoted to the industry, a shrewd industry analyst and a dear friend.”

Like Simmons, Collision Repair magazine’s longest-serving editorial director, Mike Davey, reflected on the loss of Sanford on a personal level and an industry-wide one as well.

“I worked closely with Jeff over the years and was always impressed by his ability to read between the lines of a financial story and hone in on exactly what was going on and it’s wider implications,” said Davey. “We’ve all lost a friend and the world of journalism has lost a great business reporter.”

By far this magazine’s most widely read writer, Sanford will be remembered for providing detailed industry analysis in a clear and often comical manner.

Sanford’s work profiling individual shops put him in direct contact with many members of the collision repair community, though his close relationship with one repairer came as something of a shock for his father, Bob Sanford of Kingston, Ontario.

“I took my vehicle in for repairs, and the owner, after seeing my last name, asked if I knew a Jeff Sanford,” Bob recalls. “After I said he was my son, the shop owner pointed to a framed copy of a story on the shop by Jeff.”

Within the automotive repair community,

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By Gideon Scanlon

he may have been best known for his work as a business analyst in Collision Repair magazine however, Sanford’s reporting was not just confined to this magazine.

A business journalist who had started writing with Investment Executive magazine, Sanford would go on to serve as a staff writer for two major Canadian publications, The National Post and Canadian Business, and to interview Fortune 500 CEOs and two prime ministers.

In 2009, Sanford took up a dual role as a senior editor and publication manager for Wealth Professional.

“I am deeply saddened by Jeff’s passing. He was a talented reporter devoted to the industry, a shrewd industry analyst and a dear friend.” - Darryl Simmons In 2012, Sanford decided to return to his first love, reporting on business. Becoming a freelance writer for an array of magazines and newspapers, Sanford also took up a part-time role with Collision Repair.

Online, his popular Friday Fun series highlighted the stranger side of the auto aftermarket, while his Tuesday Ticker helped keep repairers abreast of the business stories relevant to them. In print, his Last Word column held a place-of-honour, closing out each issue.