Collision Repair 20#3

DOES AI HAVE A PLACE IN ESTIMATION? ANSWERS INSIDE!

Volume 20, Number 3 l June 2021

SECURING THE SEAL

70 YEARS STRONG

OEM Certification —is it worth it?

Marcel’s Collision celebrates a special anniversary

SPEARHEADING SUCCESS RAJ JOHAL AND THE CRAFTSMAN COLLISION DELTA TEAM FORGE THE FUTURE OF AUTOBODY REPAIR

PLUS: Repairify (asTech)’s Pres. on what’s ahead | Prepping for hail season | www.collisionrepairmag.com Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40841632 l 86 John Street, Thornhill, ON L3T 1Y2

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Over the past 2 months, Pro Spot International has been helping Craftsman Collision expand their aluminum repair capabilities.

All of Craftsman Collision’s 43 locations are now qualified to repair aluminum vehicles.

Pro Spot, through their distributor Color Compass, supplied all of the Craftsman shops with PR 5 riveting systems, Aluminum Dent Repair Stations, new Glue Tab Dent Repair stations, and the new pneumatic sanding stations. Pro Spot has been a consistent partner, supplying them with their spot and pulse mig welders in the past.

Pro Spot and Color Compass conducted on site training following all COVID-19 safety precautions and protocols, which was

Craftsman Collision - Chilliwack technicians with Color Compass trainer Steve Scanlon

supported by the Craftsman management Adaptive Auto team.

Weldwas Mode The Glue Tab Dent Repair training a huge hit with the Craftsman technicians.

“They were really amazed at how complete and easy it was to repair dents with the GlueWireless Tabs”, Connectivity says Pro Spot’s Canada Sales and Marketing Manager Russ Duncan. “At one location, we repaired an aluminum hood in under 20 minutes that was originally destined for recycling.”

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CONTENTS

CONTENTS

VOLUME 20, ISSUE 3 | JUNE 2021

DOES AI HAVE A PLACE IN ESTIMATION? ANSWERS INSIDE!

Volume 20, Number 3 l June 2021

SECURING THE SEAL

70 YEARS STRONG

OEM Certification —is it worth it?

Marcel’s Collision celebrates a special anniversary

SPEARHEADING SUCCESS RAJ JOHAL AND THE CRAFTSMAN COLLISION DELTA TEAM FORGE THE FUTURE OF AUTOBODY REPAIR

PLUS: Repairify (asTech)’s Pres. on what’s ahead | Prepping for hail season | www.collisionrepairmag.com Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40841632 l 86 John Street, Thornhill, ON L3T 1Y2

ON THE COVER Raj Johal, manager of Craftsman Collision Delta came into the industry as a parts expert and continues on as a natural bodyshop master.

12 DEPARTMENTS

40

Marcel’s Collision celebrates 70 years of autobody success!

10

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

62

REGIONAL NEWS

80

RECYCLING NEWS

81

TOWING NEWS

Familiar faces, new roles!

Industry happenings from coast to coast!

Cycle through auto recycling!

The stories in the towing sector’s headlights!

FEATURES

50

34

ASKING ASTECH

78

SHUFFLING THE BOARD

Repairify (asTech) President Cris Hollingsworth on delivering ADAS calibrations.

The Automotive Recyclers of Canada unveils its new chair!

SGI introduces a Claims Representative role— but what does it mean for Prairie repairers?

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 5

CONTENTS

CONTENTS COLUMNS

36

Collision centre manager Tim Schuster and dealership GM Sarah Budd share their secrets to teamwork, and how it makes the CARSTAR Kitchener dream work!

44

Hail season is upon us—are you ready to flex your paintless dent repair (PDR) skills? The industry’s top names in hail repair share the ins and outs of this mesmerizing technique.

46

Sticky situation or success starter? Brock Birky of KecoTabs gives the details of glue pull repair (GPR)!

48

08

PUBLISHER’S PAGE

54

WHO’S DRIVING

56

LET’S TALK TRAINING

58

PRAIRIE VIEW

60

TOM’S TALES

82

FINAL DETAIL

By Darryl Simmons

By Jay Perry

By Stefano Liessi

By Chelsea Stebner

By Tom Bissonnette

By Allison Rogers

OEM Certifications—are they really worth it?

Industry reps share their perspectives.

HAVE YOUR SAY YOUR ONLINE SOURCE Canada’s collision repair information resource.

New articles and top news stories daily.

For more infor visit collisionrepairmag.com

6 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

We welcome your comments on anything you see in Collision Repair magazine. Send your feedback to editor@collisionrepairmag.com.

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE TODAY!

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PUBLISHER’S PAGE

A SUMMER TO REMEMBER A new start is on our horizons

BY DARRYL SIMMONS

S

u m me r has ar r ive d. Pand e m i c restrictions are loosening from coast to coast. Brighter days are ahead—and Collision Repair’s 20th Anniversary edition is right around the corner.

The question on everyone’s mind is what exactly has changed in the last 16 months—and where do we go from here? It’s not just the pandemic, but also this whole concept of a “global reset.”

Conspiracy theories aside, what are the repercussions? There’s too much talk about the “new normal” and how things will “never be the same.” Utter poppycock, I say. Those aren’t my words of choice, but this is a family publication.

of everlasting success. One that can pride itself on the ability to thrive amidst disruption.

On another positive note, Canadian drivers are set to hit the road in droves once COVIDrelated travel restrictions are lifted, according to a new Leger survey for the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC). The survey finds that 61 per cent of drivers are planning a summer road trip or a drive to a vacation destination.

Among younger drivers aged 18 to 34 and 35 to 44, that number climbs to 70 per cent and 72 per cent respectively.

Not surprisingly, COVID-19 has had a major impact on summer driving intentions with 60 per

Change is painful, but it is evident. It’s the only thing you can count on being consistent.

The coronavirus is becoming the accelerator for one of the greatest workplace transformations of our lifetime. How we work, exercise, shop, learn, communicate, and of course, where we work, will be changed forever. While the past 16 months have been mentally and emotionally taxing, we have now started to adapt the way we work to suit the new restrictions.

Change is painful, but it is evident. It’s the only thing you can count on being consistent.

Let’s look at the core value proposition and mission statement of the collision repair industry, no matter if your shop is small or large, network or independent, urban or rural. What unites everyone is a common goal of putting the lives back together of those who have had things disrupted by an automobile collision. This is an industry of fixers, problem solvers and healers.

It’s right there in the name—repair.

Yes, life will pivot—yet another word I never want to hear again—but your core values and dedication to customers will never change. So, I say “Bring it on!” Not that I’d like another pandemic or a lockdown or a line-up for vaccines—not at all. But this is an industry that is adaptable and formidable and capable not just of survival, but

8 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

cent of drivers saying the restrictions imposed by the pandemic had a big influence on their decision to take a vacation involving driving this summer. In other words, get ready for a busy summer!

Plus, what could be a better time to put in a plug to be part of our Special 20th Anniversary Edition! For the last 20 years, this publication and our dedicated staff, has prided itself on sharing the inspiring stories of Canada’s hardworking collision repair business owners, technicians, suppliers, distributors, consultants and the like, spreading the gospel and glory of this incredible sector. Our journey is far from over but join me in looking back on just a few of the memories we look to highlight as we look back on the success of our industry.

Join Collision Repair mag in celebrating the stellar achievements of this industry—and pat yourself on the back as you do so. We would not be where we are today without your support and resilience.

PUBLISHER Darryl Simmons publisher@collisionrepairmag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Orest Tkaczuk | orest@mediamatters.ca EDITOR Allison Rogers | allison@mediamatters.ca STAFF WRITERS Max Reid | max@mediamatters.ca Maddy Kylie | maddy@mediamatters.ca Angela O’Grady | angela@mediamatters.ca Bianca Mazziotti | bianca@mediamatters.ca ART DIRECTOR Yvonne Corvers | yvonne@mediamatters.ca VP OF INDUSTRY RELATIONS & ADVERTISING Gloria Mann 647.998.5677 | gd.mann@rogers.com DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Ellen Smith 416.312.7446 | ellen@mediamatters.ca INDUSTRY RELATIONS ASSISTANT Wanja Mann (647) 998-5677 wanjamann1@gmail.com DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER Cassie Doyle | cassie@mediamatters.ca CONTRIBUTORS David DiCenzo, Jay Perry, Stefano Liessi, Chelsea Stebner, Tom Bissonnette

SUBSCRIPTION Single edition $7.99 One-year $39.95 ( 6 issues) Collision Repair™ magazine is published bimonthly, 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 and statements appearing in this publication have been compiled and included with the permission, though not necessarily the endorsement, of the editor, or of independent columnist contributors, and are in no way to be construed as those of the publisher, or as endorsements of them.

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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:

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NEWS

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE ADAM CEIFETS | DRIVEN BRANDS CANADA CARSTAR has announced Adam Ceifets has been appointed vice president of insurance for Driven Brands Canada. Ceifets has more than 27 years of industry experience with vehicle rental partners. Although he spent time on both the operations and sales teams, Ceifets spent the last 14 years driving the insurance strategy to enhance the rental experience for their shared customers. He has been a part of various industry associations and initiatives and most recently served a two-year term for the CCIF Steering Committee.

JERRY RAPOSO | TED GROUP The TED Group has proudly announced that Jerry Raposo will serve as the new regional sales manager for the province of Alberta. Raposo has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, spending time as a bodyshop manager before transferring to the distribution side of the industry in sales management and key account roles. His new role will focus on demonstrating ownership, commitment, and accountability to the TED Group’s customer base as well as capturing new sales opportunities within the Alberta market, said the company.

KAREN KLEIN | SASKATCHEWAN GOVERNMENT INSURANCE Karen Klein has been named Saskatchewan Government Insurance’s (SGI) new claims industry partner representative. Klein comes from the Swift Current Auto Claims office and brings several years of experience from various auto claims roles. In the newly developed role, Klein work closely with SGI’s Shop Relations Representatives in the Technical Research Services department to respond to or triage shop inquiries.

LARRY MILLER | UNIPARTS O.E.M. Uniparts OEM of Canada has named Larry Miller as the new regional manager for the company’s British Columbia division. Miller has been focused on the collision aspect of the auto industry for the past 15 years, and having worked on the architectural team for Honda Canada’s ProFirst Program, brings a wealth of OEM experience to the team at Uniparts. Miller’s new responsibilities will involve growing and managing the Uniparts OEM supplier network, as well as providing service to all current and future bodyshop customers.

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ON THE COVER

While running the bodyshop was a little daunting at first, Raj was able to grasp the ropes of the job in his first six months with Craftsman. Twenty years down the road and Raj’s same persistence for greatness stands true.

COMMITTED TO THE CRAFT How Raj Johal’s passion paved his way to success

BY MAX REID

Photo Credits: Colbert Creative Communication

I

Craftsman Collision, Delta, British Columbia location.

12 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

t may not seem like it these days, but the collision repair industry is very lucky. Few industries still allow room for the passion and personality that’s present in this field.

Managers can build reflections of their values and ideals in the shops that they run and make active adjustments to the culture of their and the employee’s environment—and Raj Johal, manager of Craftsman Collision Delta has done exactly that.

With a bright, genuine smile and a longstanding passion for cars and their evolution, Raj has been running his shop in Metro Vancouver for the past four years, and feels prepared to meet any challenge that comes his way.

“It all started with my love for cars,” said Raj in an interview with Collision Repair. “My love for all things automotive was sparked at a very early age; I just loved everything about them, and my passion progressed into a career working in the automotive field. When I got a chance to start with Craftsman Collision, I immediately knew I was in the right place.”

ON THE COVER

Billy Lunot, parts coordinator, mirror matching parts using TCW process.

Jose Figueroa, left, and Vinny Chandra Red Seal refinishing technicians.

Sam Singh, assistant manager at Craftsman Collision Delta, estimating using TCW (The Craftsman Way) process.

Raj’s upbringing as a passionate do-it-yourself-er helped plant the seeds for the level of care and devotion that he and his staff put into repairs every day.

“I did a lot of projects in my own garage, took my own cars apart. When something was wrong with my vehicles, I never took them to a garage to get them fixed; I always tried to fix them myself. When it got too complicated, I’d call a tow truck, send it off to a mechanic and let them finish it up, but I’d really try and do things myself,” said Raj. Raj wasn’t always certain he’d end up in autobody, however. After high school, he took a few years away from the classroom to find his place in the world.

“Back then, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do as a career. I took a couple years off and had some menial jobs. But as soon as I heard of the chance to start with Craftsman as an assistant manager, it all felt right.

“Here we are, 20 years later!”

“Early on, the company wasn’t as big as it is now,” remarked Raj. “We didn’t exactly have defined positions like estimators and parts production people.

“Raj and his team truly define and are in alignment with our company vision, empowered in the fast lane of innovation to be the performance leader in every market we serve,” —Mike O’Callaghan, COO and VP Operations, Craftsman Collision

Raj Johal, manager of Craftsman Collision Delta.

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 13

ON THE COVER

Kyle Wishinski, Red Seal body technician making safe, proper repairs.

“I definitely employ a collaborative management style. I like to involve our whole team when it comes to input, ensuring that every team member is important and a part of our solutions.”

–Raj Johal, manager of Craftsman Collision Delta

Jose Figueroa, refinish technician, painting to perfection.

14 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

Happy Haher, Red Seal body technician showcasing state of the art aluminum repair equipment for OEM certifications including Ford.

I was hired on as an assistant manager, but I essentially was a vehicle estimator,” said Raj. “I was very, very new to the business. I didn’t know a lot about collision repair, but obviously I knew a lot about cars. When you know a lot about cars it becomes a tad easier to write estimates. That’s where I started.”

The journey hasn’t been without bumps in the road, as Raj found a steep learning curve when given the opportunity to run a shop on his own.

“It was quite overwhelming right at the beginning. Not knowing the ins-and-outs of this business; not knowing the insurance protocols,” said Raj. Though, with his natural managerial skills, Raj managed to learn the ropes and more in his first six months on the job. Before long, Raj had developed his own way of doing things around the shop.

“I definitely employ a collaborative management style. I like to involve our whole team when it comes to input, ensuring that every team member is important and a part of our solutions.”

The results of Raj’s philosophy have clearly paid off, as he is proud to say that he has a number of longstanding employees among his 11-strong team of staff.

“Both of my painters are nearing the 30-year mark with Craftsman Collision. Our bookkeeper

ON THE COVER

Raj Johal, Manager, far right and his 12-strong team of staff.

has been here for probably about 15 years. I’ve got a couple of techs that are probably close to 10 to 15 years,” he beamed.

With his trusted team of veteran body techs and refinish techs, Raj says he’s not only just prepared for the technological challenges in the collision industry’s near future, he’s pretty jazzed about it too.

“I think we’re very prepared. Craftsman Collision is very dedicated to having the best technology, the best equipment and the best training for our employees. Those three things are very important for the evolution of vehicles and I think our company provides that for us. It’s very important for us to ensure that our techs are trained on the most current technology that’s out there,” said Raj. “The incoming changes to modern vehicles are what’s really exciting to me. Cars are ever-evolving, especially in the last few years with electric coming on strong. Today, we’ve got pre-collision warnings on vehicles and all the electronics that drive vehicles.”

Craftsman Collision Delta currently stands in prime position to address these technological advances as they come too, thanks to the veritable treasure trove of OEM certifications they have under their belt.

“We’re Ford-certified; Hyundai/Genesis-certi-

fied; FCA-certified; we have Nissan-certification; we are Kia-certified; and we’re also a partner in the Certified Collision Care network, which is Canada’s nationally recognized OEM certification program” said Raj. Raj’s shop is his pride and joy, and the care and attention he puts into his work speaks to that. Ultimately, he wants his staff to trust him as much as he trusts them.

“Our main focus is keeping the doors open and keeping all of our staff employed, which we have. Company-wide with Craftsman, we’ve kept all of our doors open at all of our locations. It’s a true testament to the brand and the loyalty to our company, to our insurance providers, to our people that work for us, to our customers,” said Raj. Mike O’Callaghan, COO and Vice-President, Craftsman Collision, also boasts of Raj’s dedication to managing the Delta, B.C. location.

“Raj consistently displays a can do positive mental attitude,” said O’Callaghan. “People are naturally drawn to him. Raj understands walking with purpose and is not afraid to make decisions, learn from his mistakes-as we like to say “adapt and keep it moving-what’s next”.

Further, Raj’s focuses as a manager align well with the Craftsman Collision company goals, said O’Callaghan.

“Raj and his team truly define and are in alignment with our company vision, empowered in the fast lane of innovation to be the performance leader in every market we serve,” he said.

“The team is aware that Craftsman truly values them and that their opinion matters. That we encourage innovation and believe everyone is a leader in their functional role. We support learning from our mistakes and see problems as opportunities.”

And there’s only more greatness to come for the collision centre.

“We’ve had a lot going on in the last year,” said Raj. “A lot of devising internal programs for ourselves to ensure we come out of COVID stronger than ever before. We want to be one of the best. Craftsman Collision Delta is up there with the best of our industry, I’d say.”

You can expect Raj to stay there too, which is acknowledged by his shop’s recent Tier 1 accreditation from the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). He has no plans on going anywhere as he plans on running his shop until he retires.

The collision repair industry is lucky. Not simply because it allows passionate people to share in a collaborative and exciting work culture. But because it has people like Raj Johal to help lead it.

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 15

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INDUSTRY NEWS

DOUBLE WHAMMY

EV APPREHENSION

A Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge has more than doubled a fine imposed on a former auto body shop owner, who pleaded guilty to workplace safety violations that contributed to the death of an employee. The court announced the decision saying the sentence for one of the violations was “demonstrably unfit.” On June 5, 2020, Elie Phillip Hoyeck, owner and supervisor of now-shuttered Your Mechanic Auto Corner in Dartmouth, N.S., was issued more than $27,000 in fines, after the court called Hoyeck’s admitted safety violations a “reckless disregard” or “deliberate indifference” to safety.

In addition to the fine Hoyeck was also ordered to spend 25 hours making a garage safety video for his community service. The incident occurred in September 2013, when Peter Kempton, a mechanic at Hoyeck’s shop was using an acetylene torch to remove a gas tank for a minivan. The tank ignited while Kempton was underneath the vehicle and he died of severe burns the day after.

Across Canada, collision repair facilities and automakers have been preparing for the future: electric vehicles and highly technical vehicle systems. The shift toward an electric future could be premature, however. According to a new survey, there are still barriers preventing Canadians from adopting EVs, A recent poll conducted by the Leger for the CVMA and Global Automakers of Canada (GAC), the top reasons Canadians cite for not purchasing an EV are limited driving range (55 percent), the higher purchase price (54 percent), a lack of public charging infrastructure (47 percent), and the time required to charge (45 percent). Just 38 percent of consumers were even aware their respective governments offered consumer EV purchase rebates of up to $5,000.

COLOUR IS KEY A recent survey conducted by Axalta shows that colour plays a huge role when consumers look to purchase a vehicle. More than 4,000 participants aged 25 to 60 in four of the largest vehicle-producing countries – China, Germany, Mexico and the US said that colour was a key factor in 88 percent of purchasing decisions. Solid effects were the top choice of respondents in the US and China, while German respondents chose pearlescent and Mexico chose coarse metallic and pearlescent as their preferred paint effects. In China, the preferred colours are white (29 percent) and black (26 percent). In Germany 32 percent of participants prefer black, stating it reflects elegance. In Mexico, 90 percent of participants say colour is important, and 22 percent prefer red. Truck owners in the United States are choosing more colourful versions of blue (No. 2) and red (No. 3). Bolder colours are becoming more popular, according to Axalta.

To no painter’s surprise, Axalta says that colour plays an important when consumers look to purchase a vehicle.

NO SAAR-CASM HERE Do you hear that? That’s the call of the Prairies. The Saskatchewan Association of Auto Repairers (SAAR) says this year’s Fall Conference will go ahead as an in-person event. Organization director Tom Bissonette said SAAR is planning to host an in-person Fall Conference this coming September 9, 10 and 11. The usual lineup of activities is expected to carry on to this year’s event as well, as the annual golf tournament, trade show and AGM are all expected to go forward at the conference. The Saskatoon Inn has also been announced as the host hotel for the event. The SAAR Fall Conference gathers together industry leaders, shop owners and exhibitors of all kinds to Saskatoon every September for three days of discussions, debates and just a little bit of golf. Information regarding registration for the SAAR Fall Conference is expected to come in the near future.

Canadian repairers can prepare for an in-person meeting this September, as SAAR plans to host its annual Fall Conference.

18 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

INDUSTRY NEWS

THE SHOW MUST GO ON Pack up a bottle of Advil and your lucky cargo shorts, all signs are pointing to the 2021 SEMA show being on and in-person in Las Vegas this year, following 2020’s COVID-induced virtual hiatus. Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak recently committed to reopening the state to 100 percent open operations by June 1, leading SEMA show organizers to secure up space at the Las Vegas Convention Center, well in advance of the confirmed Nov. 2-5 show dates.

As it stands, more than 1,200 companies have signed on as exhibitors for this year’s show.

PPG’s booth at SEMA 2019, the last time the industry gathered for an in-person Vegas show. SEMA said its 2021 show, slotted for November 2 through November 5, is set to go on as an in-person event.

FINAL PUSH TO THE STARTING LINE The Automotive Industry Association of Canada is calling on the public for one last push to get the “Your Car. Your Data. Your Choice.” campaign through the doors of the House of Commons. AIA Canada President Jean-Francois Champagne announced the association is in need of 500 signatures on a new petition (petition e-3320) that will formally put the campaign before the House. Petition e-3320 is set to close on July 10 at 10:03 a.m. ET.

The Clear Choice SprayMax offers a broad range of 1K and 2K clear coats to meet every small damage repair need.

From matte finish to high gloss to rapid dry – plus a spot blender for seamless transitions – SprayMax has you covered. To learn more on how to transform your shop productivity, scan the QR code or contact your SprayMax representative.

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JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 19

INSURANCE NEWS

A MASS-IVE STATEMENT The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Massachusetts (AASP-MA) has issued a statement confirming it will represent both direct repair program (DRP) and non-DRP shops, while simultaneously calling DRP conditions a “detriment to [the] industry” in its position statement. “AASP-MA is a pro-consumer association representing all collision repairers and mechanical repair shops, regardless of insurance affiliation,” the trade group states in its position. “However, it is our firm belief that the restrictive and suppressive insurance referral and ‘program’ contracts are a detriment to our industry and could create a liability risk for vehicle owners and collision repairers.

“We strive to advance the industry through education, regulatory enforcement, and legislation to dismantle the control and influence insurers have on consumers and our industry,” wrote AASP-MA. According to the group, AASP-MA is comprised of independent collision repairers, dealership collision shops and mechanical repair facilities. The organization says it “strives to provide education and support to assist all shops to achieve their desired objectives.” The group has not elaborated but has publicly posted the mission statement on its website.

ELECTRIFYING INSURANCE Rivian has announced its in-house insurance coverage is now available in 40 States, though the program is not yet available in Canada. Rivian Insurance will offer buyers a quote before ordering their vehicle in hopes to make the process less stressful. In a post on its website, Rivian said this integrated insurance coverage allows the OEM to quickly and comprehensively diagnose issues, even remotely, and “identify solutions faster.” The automaker also wrote this would allow it to offer lower premiums compared to regular insurance brokers. While Rivian Insurance is currently only offered in the US, the company hopes to expand to Canada, and everywhere else its electric vehicles are set to be distributed soon. Rivian builds the R1T electric truck and R1S electric SUV, both of which are set to begin delivering to Canada in Nov. 2021.

Rivian has also announced more plans to eventually establish a certified collision network in Canada.

TOKEN OF TRUST CAA has been named the most trusted brand in Canada for the second year in a row in the annual Gustavson Brand Trust Index, released in early May. CAA has been rated one of Canada’s top two most trusted brands in the index for five years running and has been in the top spot in insurance for four consecutive years. This year, CAA also finished first in two sub-categories of the index: honest communication and treatment of its customers.

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WHAT’S RIGHT TO REPAIR ALL ABOUT? Demystifying one of the industry’s most vexing issues—and its ramifications

www.fixnetwork.com/en/

BY STEVE LEAL

If you have been following the news and developments taking place across the world, chances are you would’ve come across the term Right to Repair more often in recent times than before.

Over the past few years, a great deal of steam has been generated over the Right to Repair issue, not only in certain markets but all over the world. Governments are either actively vetoing legislation or approving it unanimously. So, why does this fuss over Right to Repair concern you and me?

To put it simply, “Right to Repair” requires original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide consumers and independent repair businesses equal access to repair documentation, diagnostics, tools, service parts and firmware as their direct or authorized repair providers. The movement covers almost every possible industry – from automotive to electronics to industrial tools to farm equipment and even household appliances such as the toaster or vacuum cleaner.

The debate on the Right to Repair legislation focuses on two extremely vocal groups caught in the same boxing ring and doesn’t seem like it’s going to end soon. Depending on which side you are on, the “Right to Repair” bill is either a good thing or bad.

In one corner of the ring are the opponents (OEMs) who think that sharing such important information may harm the quality and brand image of their products, may lead to copyright infringements. They also believe that some consumers could end up damaging the product or hurting themselves if they tinkered with them.

In the other corner, the proponents (qualified and amateur repairers, DIY enthusiasts and consumers) argue that OEMs are pursuing a monopolistic strategy aimed at protecting their authorized repairers and forcing customers to shell out exorbitant amounts of money to get their products repaired or replaced. Repairing will also extend the lifespan of the products.

They are therefore asking for governments to remove these “digital locks” on the products.

Caught in the crossfire are the governments who are trying to find a solution that is mutually acceptable to both parties. Some governments in Europe and Australia have

already passed and implemented the Right to Repair legislation while in Canada and the US, the issue has come up before government committees repeatedly with no solution in sight.

For the aftermarket industry, passage of the legislation will mean vehicle manufacturers and OEMs will have to share critical vehicleand part-repairing data not only with their authorised dealerships and service centres but also with independent repairers and consumers. The manufacturers fear that this would expose their products to copyright infringement and lead competitors to duplicate their technology developed through years of research and development.

Some environment lobbies opine that repairing the product makes complete ecological sense as fewer products end up in the landfills. In the case of automotive parts, this would mean a significant easing of pressure on the landfills as most vehicle parts are larger in size in comparison to, say, a toaster.

The Right to Repair movement has become a global phenomenon. In several US states, beginning in model year 2018, automakers are required to use a standard, non-proprietary interface allowing technicians to access a vehicle’s service data.

The news from Australia is encouraging.

Following nearly a decade of campaigning by the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA), the government announced plans to introduce a new law that will make it illegal for automobile companies to withhold information from qualified independent mechanics – keeping the cost of replacement parts, vehicle maintenance and repair affordable.

In Canada, not too long ago, the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA Canada) launched the Your Car Your Data Your Choice campaign aimed at mobilizing the aftermarket industry spreading awareness about the importance of consumers being able to control access to their vehicle’s data.

The not-for-profit organization is calling on the federal government to acknowledge the importance of vehicle data ownership and says independent shops will be effectively shut out from repairing newer cars without the

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proper data. Currently, vehicle owners must depend solely on OEM-authorized repairers to perform any critical diagnostics.

AIA’s initiative engages car owners, policymakers, and other stakeholders on issues related to vehicle data, including what it is, why it matters, and its implications for consumer choice. It believes that wireless vehicle data needs to be transparent and shared with the consumer if the aftermarket wishes to remain competitive as global supply chains go digital.

The legislation (popularly known as Bill C-11) will ensure that all vehicle information is personal data and that owners can choose where can they take their vehicles for maintenance and repair. Their position is that access to the right information would mean that repairers can provide “timely, cost-effective, and proper repair for the consumer”.

In my opinion, sharing this critical information with repairers can level the playing field and make the aftermarket industry more competitive. I envision several opportunities for both OEMS and repairers themselves – in their quest to deliver optimum customer satisfaction, repairers do their best to restore every vehicle to their original condition.

It is also important to understand that if the bill is passed, shops need to be adequately prepared to be able to repair connected vehicles. This means investing in the right tools and equipment, as well as training and certification for all its team members. While it is uncertain when the bill will see the light of day, it is encouraging to note that shops are already gearing up.

In the end, what we want is to create an ecosystem that is equitable for all stakeholders – one that addresses the needs of both OEMs and the aftermarket as well as provides transparency to consumers.

STEVE LEAL

is the president and CEO of Fix Network World, one of the leading global automotive aftermarket services networks with more than 2,000 points of service worldwide.

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

WELDING THE WAY CSN Owen Sound (VR) has just expanded its toolkit to include the VAS6755A welding system.The facility is the first shop in Canada to acquire the automatic spot welding system, which comes equipped with features thickness, a telescopic arm that adjusts both vertically and horizontally, and a lightweight ergo grip the gun with a 355-degree swivel handle that allows for more relaxed working positions for the tech. Adam Sutherland, general manager at CSN Owen Sound, says it was the step in the right direction to get the new welding equipment into the shop.

He said this equipment was the newest, greatest and latest welder that was available with 16000 amps and was the most compact, lightweight and maneuverable welding head available. The VAS6755A welding system can also record all welding data and has a coolant shut-off button for quick-change attachments.

CSN Owen Sound (VR) is fired up to be one step closer to Volkswagen certification with its new VAS6755A welder from Car-O-Liner.

STRAP IN ItalDesign, an Italian design firm, has designed a mechanism that could act as a seatbelt - for motorcycles. This patent was filed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who’s been a part of the design of original VW Golf and Lotus Esprit, and Ducati 860 GT. Using this patent, rider’s are not strapped directly to the motorcycle, instead they are fastened to a backbone-like frame that’s attached to the bike with a quick-release mechanism, which can fully detach the rider from the bike. The seat belt uses sensors to determine what type of accident is occurring and whether it’s safer to eject the rider from the harness or to keep them attached.Cycle World magazine says the mechanism may be more suited for scooters and touring bikes, rather than sport bikes— since the seat belt doesn’t allow for much movement.

AU REVOIR, RADAR Tesla is ditching front-facing radar sensors in Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, which will make the vehicle’s driver-assist systems, such as Autopilot almost fully reliant on cameras.

Starting May 2021, Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in North America will no longer be equipped with radar sensors. Instead, these vehicles will rely on camera vision and neural net processing to deliver Autopilot.

All Model S, Model X and vehicles built for markets outside of North America, will continue to be equipped with radar and will have radar-supported Autopilot functionality until the automaker determines to transition those vehicles to Tesla Vision.

Tesla is ditching front-facing radars, though the automaker’s vehicle built for markets outside of North American borders will continue to use radar tech in ADAS and autopilot systems.

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 23

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

DIRECTOR DUNN The chief engineer of special projects for Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd., Fraser Dunn is joining the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association (APMA) Project Arrow team, which is currently developing the first Canadian-made, zero-emission, autonomous vehicle. Dunn will be the project’s chief engineer. At the U.K.-based sports car manufacturer, Dunn worked on vehicles such as the Vulcan and Valkyrie Hypercar. He is now leaving Ashton Martin and joining the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association (APMA) project full-time. “He’s going to take the dream and build it,” Flavio Volpe, president of the (APMA) told Automotive News. Currently, over 335 Canadian companies have promised $100 million towards the project, he said. After the car is finished, the vehicle will go on a tour in 2020.

Fraser Dunn, chief engineer of special projects for Aston Martin, has joined Project Arrow, the all-Canadian concept car in development by the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association.

LOOK MUM, NO HANDS! The UK has broken ground as the first government to allow fully self-driving vehicles onto public motorways, with the first such vehicles expected to hit British roads at some point this year, Reuters reported. The British Transport Ministry is currently working to establish regulations for these vehicles, which as it stands, are currently restricted to speeds of 60 km per hour or less. First on the agenda is addressing Automated Lane Keeping Systems (ALKS) and how to implement them into the UK highway code. Politicians in Britain are aiming for the nation to become a global leader in autonomous driving, projecting that 40 percent of the vehicles on British roads will have some amount of self-driving capabilities by the year 2035, thus creating 38,000 new skilled jobs in the process.

PERFECT MATCH Airpro Diagnostics and Techcelerators have a completed technology licensing agreement with the plan to merge the Auto Techcelerators’ ADAS, Calibration and Test Drive CoPilot™ technologies into AirPro’s diagnostic and calibration services platform. “After meeting with AirPro’s management team and seeing first-hand their existing and future diagnostic and calibration solutions, I was thoroughly impressed.

I felt integrating our ADAS, Calibration and Test Drive CoPilot™ technologies with AirPro’s solutions would help AirPro Diagnostics create the industry’s most complete and advanced end-to-end ADAS diagnostic, calibration, documentation and validation solution,” said Frank Terlep, Auto Techcelerators co-founder and CEO.

WHAT A STEEL Kia said its all-new, fully electric 2022 Kia EV6 crossover will be mostly composed of steel. In a release, the automaker said the body structure will be made up of 75 percent high-strength steel (HSS) and ultra-high strength steel (UHSS). Since EV battery packs already add a significant amount of weight to electric vehicles, this announcement comes as a surprise. Most automakers use lighter materials in the exterior, such as aluminum, to offset the battery’s weight. According to a survey conducted by DuckerFrontier, aluminum is the preferred metal for electric vehicle makers in North America because of its light weight. The automaker also said the EV6 is also equipped with an augmented reality windshield, featuring three-dimensional navigation and vehicle information to help drivers keep their eyes on the road, as well as ultra-fast charging.

24 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

Kia’s 2022 fully electric EV6 crossover will feature an augmented reality windshield with a predominantly steel body.

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BUSINESS NEWS

FIVE ALIVE CSN Collision Centres signed five new locations in April. The additions come as CSN looks to solidify itself as the preferred option for independent and banner repairers who are interested in joining a network to secure their future in the increasingly competitive collision industry, says the network. CSN Collision centres added in April 2021 include CSN Auto Shoppe in Camrose, Alta., owned by Lift Auto Group; CSN Drayton Valley in Drayton Valley, Alta., owned and managed by Megan & Ken Willows; CSN Pete’s in Peterborough, Ont., owned by Kevin Carlaw; CSN Huntsville in Huntsville, Ont., owned by Kevin Carter; and CSN Retouche Rapide in Saint Eustache, Que., owned and managed by Sylvain Laforme.

CSN added five new centres to its network roster in April. The network’s total footprint in Canada has now increased to 211 locations and with a number of additional prospects in the pipeline, CSN anticipates the trend to continue throughout 2021.

EYES ON ADAS

GREYHOUND’S FINAL RACE

AirPro Diagnostics and Spanesi Americas have announced an exclusive agreement that will see AirPro’s suite of diagnostic and ADAS calibration services provided to current and prospective customers of Spanesi Americas, as part of the company’s Spanesi 360 offering. The AirPro scan tool and system are said to meet rigorous vehicle manufacturer requirements by having OEM licensed software and scan‐tool hardware resident or “local” to the vehicle. ORION, AirPro’s cloud‐based diagnostic management system, is the hub by which all services are delivered within the company’s “10 Minute Response Pledge.”

The long-haul public transportation sector is going to operate a tad differently moving forward as Greyhound ceases Canadian operations after nearly 100 years of service. “We deeply regret the impact this has on our staff and our customers, as well as the communities we have had the privilege of serving for many years,” said Stuart Kendrick, the senior vice president of Greyhound Canada. According to the company’s press release, this closure will have no impact on the American Greyhound Lines Inc., and in fact, some cross-border services will remain available after border closures are lifted.

BOY OH BOYD Spanesi Americas and AirPro Diagnostics’ exclusive agreement will see the AirPro scan tool offered as part of Spanesi’s 360 collision repair offerings.

WÜRTH EVERY MINUTE In a landmark accomplishment for any Canadian business in the automotive industry, Würth Canada is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2021, having moved operations from Germany to Montreal in the early ‘70s. Known for supplying fasteners and other consumables to the automotive aftermarket, Würth was founded in Germany in 1945

by Adolf Würth. Adolf ’s son Reinhold would be the one to take the company overseas to Montreal in 1971, and then south to Mississauga 15 years later in 1986. Today, Würth Canada CEO Ali Moghaddam speaks to the value of family presence at the company that he has noticed since he first took on the job in October of 2020. “I’ve been involved in the industrial distribution industry since 2003,” said Moghaddam.

“One thing I was attracted by was Würth’s strong foundation as a family business and its people–people who are dedicated to the business, the company, and its customers. It’s a company with a nice balance between a corporate institution and a family business.”

Würth Canada is celebrating 50 years in 2021.

26 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

According to financial results from the Boyd Group, the parent company of several auto glass and collision chains in North America, the company had a bit of a rough start financially to 2021.

With sales decreasing by 9.9 percent to US$421.6 million from US$467.8 million in the same period of 2020. Boyd’s U.S. operations saw a 6.5 percent decline in revenues in the first quarter of 2021, compared to 2020. While the company’s Canadian chains saw a 34 percent decrease in revenue. Boyd said Canada took an even larger hit than the chains in the U.S, as its economic reopening has been much slower and since many more health restrictions are in place, said the company.

Boyd’s Canadian stores suffered 34 percent dips in revenues in Q1 2021. Tim O’Day, CEO of the company said the decreases were largely due to the nation’s slower economic reopening.

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CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?!

NIGHT RIDER A man from Milton Ontario got quite the surprise in March after dropping his 2018 Nissan Altima off for service at a local dealership. Frank Statti dropped his car off for repair and thought nothing of it. While the vehicle was in for repair Statti checked his insurance company’s monitoring app and found his vehicle was far from the dealership where he left it. He located his car 90 kilometres from the dealership, and the app noted speeds of up to 148 kilometres per hour. It was later revealed that a Milton Nissan technician had taken the car home to diagnose the problem. Officials at the dealership reportedly told Statti it’s not uncommon for technicians to take vehicles home to resolve the issue overnight—though the customer never agreed to have his vehicle taken out of town. Further, Statti noted that the rear camera—the reason he brought the car in for service—was never fixed. He also noted that his insurance provider will see that his vehicle was speeding which could negatively affect his premium. Nissan Canada says his rear camera will be checked at another dealership.

If you’re taking your customer’s car for a test drive, it’s in good practice to let them know first.

DEEP DIVE Toronto Police pulled a mystery vehicle out of Humber River, which is expected to have been underwater for more than 25 years. Toronto Police Services said the car was reported stolen 25 years ago. The car was noticed by real estate agent Jordan Marushiak who was showing a client a condo that overlooked Humber Bay when he noticed the submerged vehicle. Marushiak ended up conducting a do-it-yourself investigation on the vehicle and posted a video of it to his YouTube Channel. The short video titled Car Under Water Lake Ontario, Part One, shows close-up shots of the submerged car using an underwater camera and includes aerial shots. Marushiak says he promises to make a part two to give updates on the mysterious aquatic vehicle.

One Atlantis driver was probably pretty ticked off to see his car had been towed while he was at the dentist.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES A home in Nova Scotia is having quite the stroke of bad luck. Richard Campbell’s home in Cape Breton has been struck by a car not once, but twice this year. Campbell’s house is located near what locals refer to as the Duck Pond turn, a sharp turn on Union Highway in Scottsville, N.S. According to the Cape Breton Post, there is a sign warning drivers to slow to 35 kilometres per hour before the turn near Campbell’s residence, though it’s clear that advice isn’t always followed. There is currently a large chunk of foundation missing from Campbell’s home, as well as a cracked drywall interior.Two of his vehicles were also damaged in both collisions, though no one was injured in either accident.

28 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?!

BATTLES OF WIT What began as a game of zingy wordplay between a Listowel, Ontario, Speedy Auto Glass facility and the Dairy Queen restaurant next door has turned into a battle of wits between businesses across Canada. The national game began in late April after Speedy Auto Glass launched a lighthearted jab at its DQ neighbours. “Hey DQ, wanna have a sign war?” read Speedy Auto Glass Listowel’s initial proposal.

“You bet your glass we do,” DQ fired back. Thus, a multi-day back-and-forth between the two businesses, prompting several other local businesses to participate in the festivities—at first. Now, the trend has spread across the nation, with businesses from Charlottetown, P.E.I. to Victoria, B.C., and everywhere in between participating.

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JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 29

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

COAST TO COAST Summer 2021 could be a busy one

BY MADDY KYLIE

A survey conducted by the Tire and Rubber Association said 61 percent of drivers are planning a summer road trip or a drive to a vacation destination, while, among younger drivers aged 18 to 34 and 35 to 44, that number jumps to 70 per cent and 72 per cent respectively.

C

ollision repair shops may finally get their volumes back to pre-pandemic levels this summer, with approximately 61 percent of Canadians looking to take a road trip this summer.

A survey conducted by the Tire and Rubber Association said 61 percent of drivers are planning a summer road trip or a drive to a vacation destination, while, among younger drivers aged 18 to 34 and 35 to 44, that number jumps to 70 per cent and 72 per cent respectively.

While Canadians from coast to coast to coast clearly share a hankering for travel, there are also some interesting regional highlights when it comes to road trip preferences:

British Columbia British Columbians are slightly more likely than others to make concessions when it comes to their travel, with 79 percent stating the pandemic changed their vacation plans and the vast majority (89 percent) planning to stay closer to home than usual this summer.

Alberta

Ontario

Alberta residents are slightly more likely to hit the open road, with 61 percent planning a road trip this summer. And, on par with the rest of the country, almost half (48 percent) of Albertans planning a road trip noted camping would be their preferred outdoor activity.

Roughly in line with the rest of the country, Ontarians are open to driving a little farther from their home this summer, with 35 percent willing to drive 7 or more hours.

Saskatchewan, Manitoba Relatively on par with the country, residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are true road trip warriors, with 35 percent willing to drive more than 12 hours from their homes for their vacation. Not surprisingly, almost two-thirds 63 percent of Saskatchewan and Manitoba respondents say fuel efficiency is the car feature they care about most when taking a summer road trip.

30 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

Quebec Quebecers seem to love their cars the most, with more than half (58 percent) stating the pandemic has caused them to miss driving and 67 percent feeling that their car is a part of their family.

Maritimes Atlantic Canadians feel most connected to nature, with the majority stating the pandemic has given them a greater appreciation for the outdoors (85 percent) and 79 percent interested in domestic travel.

20 YEARS

Your Story is Our Story Celebrating the past, present and future of Collision Repair

Collision Repair Magazine’s 20th Anniversary Issue Share your photos, memories or ideas from throughout the years for a chance to be featured!

20

YEARS ANNIVERSARY

For more information visit collisionrepairmag.com

STAND UP SPEAK OUT

THE CURRENT CLAIMS CONUNDRUM Does AI have a place in the collision repair process?

BY ALLISON ROGERS

T

he cliché, “you never know what you have until it’s gone,” has never rung so true among the collision repairer community than it does now. The once-dreaded sight of an insurance adjuster walking up the drive used to bring a flood of emotions over the most seasoned of repairing pros. Today, that same feeling is conjured by the ding! of an email alert and a string of often-blurry vehicle images.

When the pandemic hit last March, insurers across North America—faced with little other choice—put faith in photo-estimating and artificial intelligence technologies in estimating to replace in-person interactions. The reality of photo estimating had long been teased, though the reality of an AI-powered process seemed a distant dream on the horizon; someday we’d get there, and it would be glorious.

Of course, everything changed. COVID ravaged expectations and forced a rapid-fire response. With in-person contact off the table and photo estimation poised as its replacement, it only made sense for insurers to nail down their technical capabilities. A year down the road, and here we are, smack-dab in a world where insurers and IT firms are hyperfocused on perfecting the so-called Holy Grail—touchless claims.

Pre-pandemic, LexisNexis Risk Solutions estimates about 15 percent of U.S. auto claims were settled via customer-supplied photos rather than by in-person adjusters. Now, the data firm estimates that number is closer to 60 percent, and LexisNexis expects it to reach 80 percent by 2025.

For insurers, photo estimation appears like a win. Adjusters can push through more estimates per day from behind a computer screen than out in the field, spending 30-plus minutes travelling between shops. According to Mark Friedlander,

32 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

“It’s not hard to tell that many insurers are using people to generate estimates that have never spent any time in a shop or on the floor getting some hands-on experience in collision repair.”

STAND UP SPEAK OUT

Have you encountered or used AI-powered claims processing?

Would you recommend AI-powered claims processing to other collision centres?

N/A 14.3%

NO 52.4%

YES 47.6%

YES 23.8%

NO 61.9%

Results based on a survey conducted

by Collision Repair magazine.

a spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute, a U.S.-based industry group, AI tech has also spurred “great results for policyholders,” presenting an easy-to-navigate collision repair solution in the palm of your hand that many consumers find quite appealing.

The benefits of such a process are plastered across the web and touted by many, but collision repairers are left out of the equation—and they aren’t as rosy about the idea as the rest of the field appears to be. Some see the process as a way for insurers to unload additional work on the already bustling bodyshop.

“The whole concept of an end-to-end claims process adds several hours of unpaid work on our end, including delays in repairs and extensions in rental vehicles,” one reader told Collision Repair mag. “The majority of shopowners I speak with are simply looking for ways we can get paid for our extra work.”

“AI is not the ultimate solution that the insurance companies think it is,” warned another reader. “Sure, it may one day be the way all estimates are done, but it has a long way to go before then.”

The pushback is not to say the industry is unwilling to accept an AI-powered reality. Rapid change is a pillar of the sector, and the idea of reacting to whatever ball is tossed their way is second nature to the collision repairer. As it stands, the consensus among repairers is that AI can benefit the collision claims process—there just needs to be some compromise as the sector prepares to adjust.

“If AI software were to take the place of sometimes untrained or simply outdated human appraisers who ignore or are unaware of OEM procedures and far too often try to repair cheap not properly, I’m all for it.”

As one reader pointed out, AI is only as intelligent as the people who program it— and given the longstanding tension between repairers and insurers, the former’s trust in the latter is flimsy at best. In a world where precious minutes are wasted on disputes over OE vs. aftermarket parts and missed lines on estimates, many repairers consider it difficult to find trust in a machine-powered process pushed on them by insurers.

“It’s still typical today to have insurance rewrite an estimate three to four times before they get it right. It’s not hard to tell that many insurers are using people to generate estimates that have never spent any time in a shop or on the floor getting some hands-on experience in collision repair,” they said.

“If AI software were to take the place of

sometimes untrained or simply outdated human appraisers who ignore or are unaware of OEM procedures and far too often try to repair cheap not properly, I’m all for it,” wrote another reader.

“This software would have to be industry-driven and designed, adaptive and predictive. Any AI produced or influenced by the insurance industry I fear would be biased toward cost; not safe, quality repairs.”

Regardless, one belief remains true across the industry; AI-powered claims aren’t disappearing anytime soon.

“We’re going to see a lot more use of AI in the not-so-distant future. As an industry, we must be able to adapt to the constant changes we are seeing AI is just another evolution of the claims process between insurance and the repair industry.”

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 33

TECHNOLOGY

THE ASTECH APPROACH Repairify (asTech) President Cris Hollingsworth on what’s ahead

QA

BY MAX REID

& W

hether it be as rudimentary as a backup camera or tire pressure gauges, or as complicated as a fully self-driving platform, ADAS components can be found in nearly every vehicle on the road today, and they aren’t getting any less complicated.

Companies like asTech help provide shops with the tools and documentation to stay current with the always-changing world of advanced driver-assistance systems. Through asTech’s acquisition of adasThink, and the more recent investment from 3M, the company’s reach is extended further than ever, to help get shops prepared for these new components.

That is why Collision Repair got a hold of Cris Hollingsworth, president of Repairify, asTech’s parent company, to talk about the future landscape for collision repairers in an increasingly ADAS-heavy world.

Collision Repair: With the widespread use of ADAS technology becoming more prevalent and an overall decrease in collisions expected to result from that, how do you expect the business landscape for collision shops to change?

Cris Hollingsworth, president of Repairify (asTech).

Cris Hollingsworth: If that does happen, we know it’s important to help empower the shops and our business partners to be prepared for the sophistication of the vehicles. Our company recently acquired adasThink; we’re very pleased with that because of the additional services that we can provide to our customers. The data is validating that 80-plus percent of vehicles today require one or more calibrations.

What we see is that with the growing sophistication of and complexity of parts, shops will be evolving; this will be both a challenge and an opportunity for shops. It is a challenge to make certain that they stay current with

34 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

the right tools, technology and equipment in order to do those calibrations. It is not simple to do a calibration. Today, it involves exterior components, like targets or alignment systems, or even just having a level floor.

CR: What proportion of collision shops today do you believe are currently capable of ADAS calibrations?

CH: asTech has internal data and we look at it constantly to determine exactly how many of our customers are capable of doing certain kinds of calibrations. The challenge is that calibrations have become so widespread and deep that shops have different capability levels. There are facilities capable of doing 50 percent of the calibrations that are present on vehicles today, and there are shops that can do 100 percent of them. It’s not something you can put a percentage on. What is most important here is the fact that we see the way that we can help the industry. There’s going to be more calibrations in the future and shops need to be prepared to do them. At asTech, we’re simply trying to provide the tools and equipment for them to be able to get back to really what is the core objective, which is to fix the vehicle properly and return it to its OE operating conditions.

CR: How can the products and services that asTech provides help shops in their dealings with insurers?

CH: We’re focused on accuracy and complete quality repair. Going back to the adasThink acquisition; what we see as the first and foremost thing is to help the shop to properly identify the ADAS systems that are in a vehicle. That is what we are accomplishing with that kind of data product.

TECHNOLOGY

There’s going to be more calibrations in the future and shops need to be prepared to do them.” – Cris Hollingsworth, President, Repairfy (asTech) The second piece then, is to make certain that we enable shops, through our course solutions—to make certain that we provide them with documentation, so that they are doing repairs to the OEM standards.

At the same time, we provide the reports and the documentation to support the reimbursement for the shop with the [insurance] carriers and through the DRP programs, so that the carriers are comfortable in the fact that the shop has identified the systems that are in the car and the shop did use the appropriate tool.

The carrier can effectively look at the file and say, ‘I can see here the shop actually referenced OE documentation on how to do that calibration.’

We provide all of that to our shops. We see it as a sort of total service solution.

CR: Could you talk a little bit about the relationship between OEM certification and ADAS technology?

CH: The industry is becoming more aware that vehicles today are incredibly sophisticated. I

like to refer to the fact that vehicles are becoming a platform for a link of networked computers.

ADAS technology is focused on the safety and service of the vehicle; and with so much more ADAS technology being installed and implemented as it continues to evolve forward.

Really getting down to making certain that you repair those systems—especially the integrated, networked systems they have become today—repairing them to OEM standards has really become critical, especially to our shop partners. Their goal is to return the vehicle to the appropriate working standard for the customer and following the OE repair process.

In the past, you were driving a highly mechanical device. You had mechanical parts that were physically interfacing with each other, in order to make the vehicle operate. Today, you’re actually driving a sophisticated network ecosystem of computer technology.

CR: What do you see as being the most significant safety concern that ADAS will have to address in the near future?

CH: ADAS is definitely about safety, but ADAS is also about service. When people say ADAS, that term is specifically about safety, but the two are almost becoming merged. A lot of the systems on the vehicle are not necessarily a ‘safety’ system. A lot of the systems that have become really automated are also about service, like automatic tire pressure gauges.

The industry has an opportunity. There is a tremendous amount of data able to be aggregated around what is happening in collision events with the ADAS systems that are on vehicles today, based upon the behaviour of the driver; how did that ADAS system work properly, and how did it fail. We have automotive intelligence that we are working to bring to market and be able to help that industry with that data and be able to say ‘based on how the scans and calibrations were done, this is what happens most times this vehicle is in a collision.’ From that data we can extrapolate things like an ADAS system that is not behaving the way that the driver is behaving.

Through that type of collaborative process in the industry, the data will tell us where the industry needs to make those changes.

Let the data speak. The data will tell us exactly where ADAS systems are working and where they’re not.

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 35

FACILITY FOCUS

Tim has been with CARSTAR Kitchener King Street for 33 of the 35 years the business has been operating. With Sarah’s Budds’-groupbacked expertise, the facility has great things in store.

A BUDDING PARTNERSHIP The future is bright for CARSTAR Kitchener

BY MAX REID

T

o try and find any comparison to the dynamic duo that is Sarah Budd and Tim Schuster would most certainly do a disservice to the unique and unequaled partnership that exists between these two collision industry veterans.

From their own distinct walks of life, Sarah and Tim have come together at CARSTAR Kitchener in a joint effort that is changing minds on how the world sees our industry.

Their secret; always take that one extra step to leave an impression on a customer.

“We strive to be a little different than everyone else. Customers are typically treated like a number, but not here at Kieswetter. You’re a person and we’re going treat you like one.

We’re always going to do something extra for you. We’re focused on giving people their money’s worth, doing a little extra and promoting our name,” said Tim Schuster, manager of CARSTAR Kitchener King Street, which also provides collision services for the Kieswetter Mazda dealership.

With managing partner Sarah Budd, of the successful southern Ontario-based Budds’ Group, the pair are combining decades of industry expertise and business pedigree into

what has turned out to be one of the country’s most highly reviewed collision centres.

“We’ve been lucky enough to win a lot of awards through CARSTAR. Of all the CARSTARs across Canada, a couple of years ago we were voted number one for customer service. We’re pretty proud of that, it was pretty important to us. It’s important to the [staff],” said Tim.

business for a very long time. We opened our first shop, Budds’ Collision, down in Oakville in 1983, which I am not ashamed to say is before I was born,” Sarah joked. “kind of grown up around the business my whole life.”

“We were searching for the right opportunity when the Kieswetter dealership came up for sale. Rob and Mal Kieswetter, who owned it previously, did a great job building up the

“It was an easy transition for us to make because there was nothing to fix; it runs pretty smooth.”

– Sarah Budd, managing partner, CARSTAR Kitchener Drivers in the Kitchener area have come to rely on Tim, a trusted face in the community who has been with the shop for 33 of its 35 years, and the recent addition of Sarah and her background in shop management only spelled good things for CARSTAR Kitchener King Street.

“Tim and I got to know each other pretty recently. My family has been in the collision

36 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

name and the reputation here in the Kitchener community for 35 years. We were excited to take over a business managed by someone who has been here since nearly the beginning. It was an easy transition for us to make because there was nothing to fix; it runs pretty smooth.”

From Rob and Mal, Tim and Sarah carry on a tradition of exceptional customer service and a genuine family atmosphere around the shop.

FACILITY FOCUS

With its longstanding history in the area, CARSTAR Kitchener King Street has a trusted reputation among locals and provides collision services for the Kieswetter Mazda dealership.

“A big part of what drew us to this opportunity is the fact we’ve always been a family business.

My grandfather started the business originally; my dad and his brother are running it now; and then myself and my cousin are now becoming involved as well,” said Sarah “This store—being run by two brothers and their dad before them—has that same atmosphere. CARSTAR Kitchener King Street has many long-term employees, a ton of client loyalty; the stars aligned to create a really great opportunity for Budds’ Group to continue that work. At CARSTAR Kitchener King Street, they treat their customers like family and we always have as well, so it just really fit with our culture.”

Tim and Sarah continue to foster this same ideology into their business with intention and the results are clear following interactions with any one of their happy customers.

“Tim says the shop is also fortunate to have a good relationship with CARSTAR’s south

west Ontario manager, Marty Smith, who Tim described as ‘so helpful and approachable. We are lucky to have a guy with his experience and there to help at a moments notice. He’s a well respected guy with all the insurance companies.’”

“Rob and Mal started that trend,” said Sarah.

“They always treated people with the utmost care, and their customers took note of that. A lot of car dealers and collision shops get a bad reputation alongside whatever ill-educated stereotypes people hold about our industry. It really matters when you see how people treat their customers and the honesty with which they transact, and people want to work in a place like that.

Tim’s not the only one who boasts a long career with the east-Kitchener based facility; the 4,900 sq.-ft bodyshop is backed by a number of long-time employees.

“Tom, one of our painters, has been here for 15 years. Bobby, he’s our parts manager for the

Mazda store, but he also does all the parts for the collision centre and he’s been here for 18 years,” said Sarah.

Sometimes the team becomes so much like its own family, you can forget that some of them actually are.

“The Kieswetters have three boys and they all work here,” said Tim. “The former owner’s children serve as the assistant service manager and a sales manager.

Then the youngest one, Jake, is an estimator at the CARSTAR,” said Sarah. “They all stayed on, which we are grateful for and they are great members of our team. It’s all about family— theirs and ours and our customers.”

All things considered, the Budds are a relatively new addition to the family, having come on board with CARSTAR Kitchener King Street and Kieswetter only five months ago, but the two recognized a winning combination when they saw it.

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 37

FACILITY FOCUS

“Speaking for all the staff, we are really excited to have the Budds’ Group; they’ve got a wealth of knowledge, a ton of dealerships and if they don’t know it, nobody knows it. So we’re pretty excited to have them on our side,” said Tim. “It’s an exciting time for us—a step forward.

We’ve got some clout behind us and some great knowledge. We’re looking forward to it, all the staff are.”

Likewise, Sarah says she is excited to be backed by a team that has helped her take a new step in her career.

“I’m very excited that this is my first role directly managing a bodyshop,” said Sarah.

“I’ve obviously been around the business forever and I’ve managed other car dealerships before, but this is the first time that I really get to dive in and manage the bodyshop as well.

Tim has been great, getting me acquainted with the insurance people and all the various contacts. It’s a shame we can’t meet any of them in person yet, but I’ve done a lot of this type of thing [gestures towards her Zoom window]. So we’re looking forward to getting back to a little more normal and a little more throughput.”

In the meantime, Tim and Sarah will carry on dishing out top-notch customer service and quality repairs like they always do.

Tim Schuster, the CARSTAR Kitchener King Street Collision Center manager at Kieswetter Mazda.

Lift is a leading Canadian consolidator in the collision repair industry. With 14 facilities across the country, Lift has plans for further expansion in 2021 and beyond.

Sarah Budd, general manager of Kieswetter Mazda.

Thinking of selling?

To learn more please contact Koos Reineking at kreineking@liftautogroup.com

www.liftautogroup.com

38 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

ANNIVERSARY FOCUS

A MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT FOR THE MARIERS Seventy years, three generations and endless passion

BY ANGELA O’GRADY

40 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

ANNIVERSARY FOCUS

Know Your Stuff Providing proper repairs doesn’t have to be a labyrinth—hold strong Insurer-repairer relations can be a maze for the collision repairer striving to restore a vehicle to its pre-accident condition, according to OEM standards. And, when it comes to getting fairly compensated for necessary scanning, diagnostics and calibration procedures, that maze becomes an everyday labyrinth for the modern collision repairer.

Marcel’s Collision in 1955, four years after opening.

The Marier family is beyond proud to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its independent collision repair facility.

Join Collision Repair mag in congratulating the family!

M

arcel’s Collision, a family run business in Windsor Ontario set up shop in 1951 and hasn’t left since.

The shop, originally called Marcel’s Service Garage, was established by Marcel Marier. As the years went by Marcels brother, Jerome Marier, became more involved and eventually became the sole owner in 1980.

Now, 70 years after opening, Marcel’s isn’t just a collision repair shop, they also sell and lease cars, and remain a staple in the community of Windsor-Essex.

Marc has been the sole owner of Marcels Collision since 2015—but not for much longer. ““I’ve been there 40 years myself. I just announced my semi-retirement a few weeks ago,”

“We owe a big tribute to Dad, he’s carried on his brothers legacy and he’s the reason why we are able to be here today celebrating 70 years” – Marc Marier, current owner of Marcel’s Collision “We owe a big tribute to Dad,” says Marc Marier, Jerome’s son and current owner. “He’s the legacy of this company.”

Marc and his brother TJ took over in 1990, and their father planned to retire. But after TJ’s unexpected passing in 1997 Jerome stayed to help Marc run the business.

Marcel’s was initially a service shop.

Marc shares a laugh as he reminisces on the changes the shop has been through over the last 70 years.

“There was a time they sold hamburgers for crying out loud,” he says.

said Marc. “I’ll be passing the reins on to my daughter, Michelle.”

Michelle Marier-Whitehead signed on as the company’s financial controller in 2012 and will soon take over the business.

Marc attributes the success of the business to “a lot of hard work, and a very, very loyal client base.”

“Our family name is trusted in the community,” said Marier-Whitehead. “Everyone knows the Marier family. I’m the third generation to come into the business and I think that goes a long way.”

Recognizing the importance of OEM procedures—and spreading the word—is the first step in backing your repair case to any party. With impressive capabilities like those of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), come great responsibilities— which often lay upon the collision repairer. The procedures required after even the slightest bump can be extensive, and it’s your job to be educated on the topic. Be prepared to prove the case for your proposed estimate.

The customer, while some may be mightily aware of the safety capabilities present on their vehicles, does not have the same understanding as a collision repairer.

Leverage your knowledge in vehicle systems by explaining—and, if needed, showing—your customer why your recommended calibrations are so crucial to the repair process. With the customer on your side, your goal of completing a proper repair is one step nearer.

When it comes down to it, your job as a collision repairer is to repair what is needed postcollision—no questions asked.

For any scanning, diagnostic, ADAS-related questions, feel free to reach out to AirPro Diagnostics.

AirProDiagnostics.com JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 41

ANNIVERSARY FOCUS

Marcel’s Collision, located in Windsor, Ont., is preparing enter its third generation of family ownership as Marc Marier, current owner, moves into his semi-retirement and passes the reigns to his daughter, Michelle Marier-Whitehead.

Marc attributes the success of the business to “a lot of hard work, and a very, very loyal client base.”

As she prepares to take over the business, Michelle has her eyes set on OEM certifications—and staying independent.

42 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

ANNIVERSARY FOCUS

“Our family name is trusted in the community.

Everyone knows the Marier family.”

– Michelle Marier-Whitehead, financial controller and future owner of Marcel’s Collision

Jerome, left, who took over the facility from his brother Marcel in 1980, set the foundation for the Marier name to become one of the most trusted names in collision repair for the Windsor-Essex area.

Marier-Whitehead notes that car repairs can be pricey, and often people feel as though they are taken advantage of when it comes time to bring their car in for repairs. She says that the trust her family has built in their community has allowed them to gain the client base that has kept them operating over the past 70 years.

Marc says that his shop doesn’t just give out bills, they make sure people know what they’re paying for.

“We work for the customer,” he says. “We don’t just write an estimate, we educate them first. And I know my daughter will take that to the next generation.”

In a constantly evolving industry like automotive repair, keeping a local, family run shop

running can be tough - but Michelle doesn’t plan on throwing in the towel any time soon.

“Making sure we have all of the equipment and training that the industry will require in order to be certified to service all makes and models - domestic and foreign - will keep a lot of doors open for us,” said Michelle.

Marcel’s Collision website calls their shop a testament to the strength and power of family. Both Marc and Michelle are proud to be a part of three generations of local business owners.

“There’s not too many independent shops around anymore,” said Michelle, “We’re exceedingly proud that our name has been able to stick around and lead to our success.”

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 43

DENT REPAR

ALL HAIL PAINTLESS DENT REPAIR

The rise of PDR The origins of the technique can be traced back to a gentleman named Frank T. Sargent, who wrote a book titled The Key to Metal Bumping in the 1930s.

BY DAVID DICENZO

D

omenic Serra vividly remembers the need to prove himself in the early stages of the Paintless Dent Repair industry. Serra, the founder of Alberta-based PDR Canada, was back in his hometown Hamilton, Ontario in the mid-1990s when the concept of fixing car dents–typically from hail–was becoming more mainstream in the repair world. Not everyone was as passionate about PDR as he was, though—Serra saw some shoddy work from others, which contributed to a negative image of the technique.

So he committed to using his own talents to change people’s minds about PDR. “We had to prove ourselves,” Serra says of how he and his crew began. “If we got a job from a dealership or a used car lot, we would repair a car for free just to show them what we could do. We slowly started making headway.

“I did this trade scared, until I did it skilled.”

Serra ultimately went West–and his PDR Canada in Sherwood Park, Alberta is now a fixture within the industry’s expanding landscape.

It’s taken creative PDR experts like Serra time to establish themselves, in part because of the hesitation to acknowledge the benefits of the technique. PDR has several appealing characteristics–speed, efficiency, paint preservation, among others – though it took a long time for them to be embraced.

“PDR can be economical, quick, and a high-quality method for restoring a vehicle to

“The PDR techniques and tools today are phenomenal. We’re able to fix very complex dents, glue pull deeper dents, and fix large oil-can dents with all of the improvements over the last decade.”

– Ricky Chin, director of Hail Specialist its pre-damaged condition,” says Ricky Chin, Director of Hail Specialist, a Calgary company established in 2009 with temporary repair centres across the Prairies and into Ontario capable of up to 200 repairs a week at peak capacity. “It’s also very eco-friendly, with zero harm to our environment.

“The PDR techniques and tools today are phenomenal. We’re able to fix very complex

44 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

dents, glue pull deeper dents, and fix large oil-can dents with all of the improvements over the last decade.”

The origins of the technique can be traced back to a gentleman named Frank T. Sargent, who wrote a book titled The Key to Metal Bumping in the 1930s. In 1960, Mercedes Benz staffer Oskar Flaig utilized PDR techniques to clean up cars at the International Sports Show

DENT REPAIR

In the 1990s, few were as passionate about paintless dent repair as PDR Canada President Domenic Serra.

in New York City, using a hammer handle to remove small dents in vehicles that occurred through the course of the day.

Over the decades, the number of tools used, and the creativity employed by technicians has grown. So did the frequency of weather events, which provided more opportunity. By 2000, Eastern Ontario-based company Autodentist was doing strictly PDR for car dealers and rental companies. Two years later, Doug Best joined as they opened a new venture, Canadian Hail Repair, which focused on smaller repairs that didn’t necessarily require trips to the collision repair facilities. Repairs that took weeks in traditional settings could be done in a matter of days. But PDR wasn’t entirely mainstream then and there was trepidation by both insurance companies and customers.

“We would use techniques that minimize the repair area of the vehicle,” says Best, Canadian Hail Repair’s VP and General Manager. “The businesses go hand-in-hand with used car dealerships and rental car companies. They are much more affordable repairs and much faster.

“In the early 2000s, there weren’t a lot of hailstorms that affected Canada. But by the mid-2000s, there seemed to be more and more.”

One hundred percent of the jobs done by Canadian Hail Repair are PDR. With employees based in Calgary and others able to travel the country, the company can respond to a location hit by hail and where repairs are needed within 24 hours. The core group has 10 staff members, though as many as 95 technicians have been utilized and deployed across Canada in a single hail season.

PDR technicians can receive certification through Vale Training in Arlington, Texas, though not everyone in the industry has gone through that process. For those who do, training

“PDR can be economical, quick, and a high-quality method for restoring a vehicle to its pre-damaged condition,” says Ricky Chin, Director of Hail Specialist.

“In the early 2000s, there weren’t a lot of hailstorms that affected Canada. But by the mid-2000s, there seemed to be more and more,” says Doug Best, Canadian Hail Repair’s VP and general manager.

Push and tap tools for PDR jobs come in different shapes, lengths, diameters, and sharpness—and there’s definite artistry to using them.

and the subsequent on-the-spot testing is a challenge. Technicians are expected to repair a dented panel to a very precise measurement within an allotted time.

“It has to be within a frog’s hair,” says Serra, recalling the Vale test he and some of his employees took. “It’s just unbelievable. We were all sweating, but it was fun.

“In the end, job experience repairing the cars, and having your heart and soul in the game is what’s going to make you a good technician.”

In addition to experience, PDR technicians need tools. Push and tap tools come in different shapes, lengths, diameters, and sharpness—and there’s definite artistry to using them.

“There is more tooling available to us and the inventors in the industry are constantly developing new ones,” says Serra. “The lighting is getting better and the tools are broader. We have sharp tips, shallow tips, wide tips, induction tools, and electric tools that help repair dents that were otherwise unrepairable.

“It’s not an easy trade to learn but the new tools help.”

Now that PDR is a more established and trusted technique, the question is what’s next?

Some traditional repair shops now have their own in-house technicians. And within the PDR realm, Glue Pull Repair is gaining popularity.

“The next big uncharted territory in the PDR business is heavy-duty, collision glue-pulling,” says Best. “It’s far less invasive than some conventional repair methods. You pull damage from the outside and not welding pins onto the panel or disrupting the e-coat on the backside of the panel, which could possibly create a corrosion problem. It speeds up the conventional repair process, with less use of body fillers.

“We’re seeing a lot of licensed body techs using PDR to increase their speed and quality of the repair.”

Chin sees PDR as a critical component of the collision repair industry going forward.

“PDR saves the vehicle’s original paint job, saves the customer from long wait times, and it saves insurance companies money,” he says.

“It’s very efficient for autobody technicians as PDR tools improve allowing push, tap, and glue-pull on a non-accessible area, either metal or aluminum.

“It’s turning the impossible into possible more often.”

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 45

Q&A

STICKY SITUATION OR SUCCESS STARTER?

QA &

KecoTabs’ Brock Birky talks glue pull repair

BY DAVID DICENZO

I Brock Birky, director of business development for KecoTabs, says glue pull repair is here to stay as OEMs turn focuses toward less invasive repair processes.

“The industry’s first reaction was, ‘This is snake oil.’”

– Brock Birky, director of business development, KecoTabs

nnovation is critical to all industries. In the automotive body world, the introduction of techniques like Glue Pull Repair (GPR) has changed the game.

GPR’s roots are in Paintless Dent Repair, originating in the backyards and garages of ambitious individuals looking for creative solutions to fix dents. It was first introduced as a viable commercial method in about 1999 by the German company Würth, and in the past few years, has become an established panel-straightening technique. GPR utilizes a variety of constantly evolving tools and tabs to make quick, less-invasive repairs that preserve a vehicle’s original paint.

Brock Birky gained his GPR knowledge from some of the trade’s original technicians. Birky is the Director of Business Development for KecoTabs, an Oklahoma-based tabs and tools manufacturer at the forefront of GPR’s growth.

KecoTabs has been making plastic parts for 50 years but in the past decade, president Chris White has specialized in creating molded items specifically for GPR. The company has published a thorough how-to guide that is easy to understand and produces repeatable results.

46 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

It emphasizes the 6 C’s: clean, check, choose, coat, correct, continue.

GPR tools are already amazing – and getting better. The next level for businesses like KecoTabs is educating their users.

Collision Repair: When did we first see GPR? Brock Birky: Back in the late 1980s, it originated with homemade device tabs that people would manufacture themselves from things like wood and nails. They were crude tools attached to a panel to pull a dent out.

CR: What was the initial response to the technique?

BB: The first reaction was, ‘This is snake oil.’

Collision repair people figured there was no way it could be real and that there was some kind of camera action going on behind the scenes.

Chris would go to trade shows and people just didn’t believe it. There were also many cheap options and the DIY aspect of GPR seemed to tarnish it.

Q&A

KecoTabs continues to work on tab and adhesive technology, pulling techniques, refining the process and making sure that everyone who has a GPR system at their shop is using it to its full capability.

CR: How has that image changed?

BB: It took some time to gain the trust in the reputability of the process. We’ve overcome that. GPR has gained notoriety in the collision repair space, especially over the past three or four years. Shops were familiar with it because the PDR tech that the boss contracted out was using it for small damage. We just expanded on that and created big tabs to correct larger damage. When we sell our systems to shops, we like to sell GPR kits first.

One of the main differences is our process. It legitimizes us because there is a guide and standard operating procedure to follow and refer to.

CR: What do you see as the future of the industry and how do Original Equipment Manufacturers view GPR?

BB: We focus on providing the least invasive repair possible and GPR is that. We predict that OEMs will eventually begin to limit the amount of invasive welding you can do on a panel. If you’re going to repair the panel, it has to be cold pulls or glue pulls. Shops will have to keep

up with what the requirements of a repair on a contemporary vehicle entail. There’s a huge OEM interest.

At KecoTabs, we continue to work on tab and adhesive technology, pulling techniques, refining the process, and making sure that everyone who has a GPR system at their shop is using it to its full capability.

The more information that we can get out there, the more we can implant it into the technicians. We say, ‘Hey, this kit in your shop, you’re using it wonderfully. But did you know you can do more?” They will do more work in less time. We just want to educate those in the market. I can’t tell the future, but I don’t see GPR going away anytime soon.

Visit www.kecotabs.com/pages/pull-to-paint to learn how to maximize GPR results.

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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

AN UNCERTAIN PATH, AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE The question of OEM Certifications

BY MADDY KYLIE

T

he automotive industry is an industry like no other. Ripe with innovation and backed by some of the world’s greatest minds, it is a landscape that is constantly evolving.

Over the past few years, the industry has made some of the biggest changes yet—cue electric and autonomous vehicles.

This boom in technologically advanced vehicles has made following OEM Repair Procedures more important than ever and, along with it, OEM Certification programs have taken off.

In the eyes of Leanne Jefferies, vice president of Assured Performance Network Certified Collision Care, which manages and administers OEM Certifications for 11 vehicle brands in Canada, there are many benefits to securing automaker-approval seals.

“Shops can qualify for multiple OEM certifications with the same tools, equipment and training, eliminating redundancy and making the process affordable and efficient. The certification requirements reflect what is needed to properly and safely repair vehicles.”

William Monteith, general manager of Barrie, Ontario’s CSN Zenetec Collision, which touts 15 OEM certifications says the main benefits of getting OEM certified is the first-hand knowledge and training “that you just can’t get anywhere else.”

Adding that OEM certifications gives repairers peace of mind, knowing that each vehicle is being fixed properly.

“It’s great support for the technicians to see exactly where you’re supposed to join panels, where to weld, how many welds, and the materials to use when welding and what equipment to use. So, it’s very specific and it’s very well put together and the overall quality of repair at the end of it, is the best.”

Similarly, Lorenzo D’Alessandro, owner of four shops in the GTA, CSN 427 Auto, Avenue, CSN Heartland and Mercedes-Benz 427 Auto, says it’s very important that the vehicles coming into their shops “are being fixed the way they were designed to be fixed.”

Obtaining OEM certifications is also a great way to gain exposure.

“OEM Certified shops gain access to valuable marketing tools. This includes signage for their office, and OEM certified logos that can be displayed on their websites, business cards, marketing materials, social media and advertisements. Shops can promote their credentials in their community, with fleet accounts, insurance brokers, insurance partners and their customer base,” says Jefferies OEMs also refer consumers to certified shops through their online shop locators, roadside

48 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

Andrew Shepherd says, contrary to popular belief, obtaining OEM certifications doesn’t necessarily mean an increase in customers.

Leanne Jeffries, vice president for Assured Performance Network’s Certified Collision Care sees many benefits to OEM certifications.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Despite the cost of obtaining OEM certs, CSN Zenetec—which touts 15 approvals—feels its necessary to stay ahead of the curve.

assistance services, and through dealer referrals, she says. Some insurers also take OEM certifications into consideration when referring customers to a shop.

As with any endeavour, it’s not all sunshine and roses. While OEM Certifications boast a host of benefits, Andrew Shepherd, senior director of industry Programs and executive director of I-CAR Canada says, contrary to popular belief, obtaining OEM certifications doesn’t necessarily mean an increase in customers.

“I haven’t seen any evidence yet that [OEM certifications] lead to an increase in volume for the shop participating in said programs.”

He says while there are a lot of benefits to becoming an OEM certified shop, the equipment requirements can be a bit tricky to navigate.

“It’s relatively easy for shops to participate, except where the OEs require substantially different equipment,” he said. “Certain OEMs, require one of two brands of welders and then a shop that already has half a dozen welders would have to go out and add two more.”

Having to purchase OE-specialized equipment for certain brands, on top of training and annual renewal fees, can add up quickly. D’Alessandro says OEM certified shops will spend up to 30 to 40 thousand a year on training for each OEM certification they obtain and about 250 thousand on equipment.

Similarly, Monteith says OEM certifications are a massive investment.

Lorenzo D’Alessandro, owner of several GTA-based CSN collision centres, says shops will soon have “no choice” but to be OEM certified.

“It’s hard to put out the money that the OEs require— for as many brands as we have— for it to make sense. We do lots of volume, so we can but it’s still a huge investment. I’ve got a line on my P&L for certification training and equipment and it’s become a cost centre in itself,” said Monteith.

But with more and more electric and autonomous vehicles on the way, getting OEM certified might be the new norm—like it or not.

Certification continues to gain momentum in Canada. Most OEMs now have a certification program with over 20 percent of shops participating in one or more programs, says Jefferies.

“This movement towards certification has

increased the technical capability of the industry, providing benefits to all stakeholders, and ensuring consumer safety is protected.”

D’Alessandro says soon vehicles will become so technologically advanced that shops will have “no choice” but to become OEM certified.

CSN Zenetec also continues to obtain OEM certifications, despite the cost because they want to stay ahead of the curve and prepare for the future.

Shepherd urges shops to do what’s best for them—if that means getting OEM certified then they should do it, if not, they should look at other options.

“If there is an ROI, pursue it.”

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 49

INSURANCE

KLEIN

ON CLAIMS SGI introduces new position to improve communication between the company and the auto repair industry

BY MADDY KYLIE

O

Meet Karen Klein, SGI’s new claims industry partner representative.

“You’ve asked for solutions and we listened.”

– Saskatchewan Government Insurance 50 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

ver the past year, repair shop partners have shared concerns with some of SGI’s processes, including not always having the ability to receive timely responses from them.

In response, Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) introduced a new position— claims industry partner representative—to improve communication between SGI and the auto repair industry.

“You’ve asked for solutions and we listened,” said SGI. The intent of this new position is to provide an additional point of contact to help customers navigate through challenging claims situations and respond to your inquiries when the claims employee on file is unable to provide a solution.

The insurer’s goal is to enhance the communication between SGI and the auto repair industry, creating a more positive experience for shops and its mutual customers.

Karen Klein is the new claims industry partner representative. Klein comes from the Swift Current Auto Claims office and brings several years of experience from various auto claims roles. Her former experience as a road run adjuster has also made her familiar with appraisal functions.

INSURANCE

The insurer’s goal is to enhance the communication between SGI and the auto repair industry, creating a more positive experience for shops and its mutual customers.

For the last ten years, she’s been a senior adjuster (Adjuster 3) at Swift Current Claims.

Klein will begin her new role on Monday, May 3, 2021.

At first, SGI will be introducing this in phases and starting with a small number of shops to determine what works best for shops and SGI. Then SGI will begin rolling it out gradually to all shops in alphabetical order.

SGI has already in touch with a few shops for the first phase, so there aren’t any changes for shops right now. However, SGI has been receiving and reviewing shops’ concerns, and are working on improving business relations with shops across Saskatchewan. SGI will contact shops when it’s ready to phase it in.

Shops should continue to seek information or guidance from the current claims employee who is assigned to a particular file. However, the new claims industry partner representative will be available to you to provide an avenue to resolve your complex questions and inquiries, obtain claims guidance and resources for your shop operations and collect and oversee your

suggestions on how to improve our working partnership on a larger scale.

Klein will work closely with SGI’s Shop Relations Representatives in the Technical Research Services department to respond to or triage your inquiries to the applicable person.

Their collaboration will ensure industry issues are dispatched and dealt with in a timely and appropriate manner.

The position will also have a heightened focus on data collection, says Sean LeBlanc, SGI’s senior director of Corporate Claims Improvements and Strategic Partnerships.

“We wanted to take this opportunity to get someone focused on these issues and start documenting them and collecting data. So, we can determine if we have root causes of problems that we need to address. Or if there are underlying issues that can be solved through a change in workflow or training. That is one of the goals of this position, is to gain and collect that data.”

The overall goal of this new position is to strengthen SGI’s relationship with its “high value partners.”

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 51

INSURANCE

UNITED FRONT Vehicle data ownership catches insurer group attention

(AIA Canada) Your Car. Your Data. Your Choice. campaign aims to raise awareness about vehicle data ownership—a right which vehicle manufacturers believe they’re entitled to.

BY BIANCA MAZZIOTTI

Y

our Car. Your Data. Your Choice. has gained attention from a Toronto-based insurance consultant.

Brought to Canada in November 2020, the Automotive Industries Association of Canada’s (AIA Canada) Your Car. Your Data. Your Choice. campaign aims to raise awareness about vehicle data ownership—a right which vehicle manufacturers believe they’re entitled to.

According to Tim Zeilman, vice president of global products (cyber) for HSB, which dictates standards in equipment breakdown and specialty coverages, insurers are more likely to side with consumers and repairers on the issue, as OEM data ownership could “impede” the claims process.

“It seems like there’s quite a bit of possibility that [data ownership] would impede an investigation,” said Zeilman. “You don’t just have to get the driver’s consent to access the data. You’re going to have to get the consent of some third party that might be significantly more difficult to deal with.”

Zeilman believes that car owners should be able

52 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

to retrieve their data without having to go through their car manufacturer. He also cites the potential risk that the car manufacturer denies insurers access to the data that could determine who was at fault for an accident, and if the data is withheld, it could interfere with insurance claims.

“These accident investigations are often undertaken by law enforcement, at least in the situation where it’s a serious accident,” he said in an interview. “And frankly, I don’t know today whether law enforcement has arrangements with auto manufacturers who control that data. But that seems like an obvious direction it might go in. It may not be easy for the two of those groups to agree on something.”

Ultimately, Zeilman told Canadian Underwriter that, ideally, “logic will prevail, and there will be some sort of understanding over shared data.”

AIA Canada estimates that, by 2022, roughly 70 percent to 95 percent of the vehicles on the road will have wireless technology that sends information about the condition of the vehicle to the automaker.

GOOD ‘OL GIARD Bob Giard reflects on his career and contributions

B

ob Giard has been a cornerstone of the automotive collision realm since the ‘60s. He remembers prepping cars for $30 a week, using gasoline as a prep agent to clean surfaces. Yes, times have changed, and process have evolved; but the one thing which hasn’t changed are the connections and friendships Bob has created, maintained and grew, up until he announced his retirement from his post at Assured Concordia West last month.

Bob’s father was an appraiser at Weirs Appraisals in Montreal, and Bob recalls going with him to towing compounds.

This is where he fell in love with smashed cars, and the process to bringing them back to working order. After four summers of prepping cars for paint, he moved on to become a service advisor at a Volvo dealership where he learned about the mechanical aspects of cars.

With this knowledge, he could now pursue a job in an environment he liked, so he secured himself a role at a custom Corvette shop.

Over the next few years, Bob’s experience and personal motivation led him back into collision repair as a road appraiser, working back in a dealership environment and even partnering up with his dad. He admits he did change jobs a lot; however, the opportunity to learn from these experiences is what helped to build his toolbox of skills, experience and the size of his network.

Bob joined the Assured team when he was 50 years old; Don Strong was going to open the Concordia West facility, he wanted Bob to work for him, not only for his expertise, but for his ability to connect and build relationships with people. Don knew Bob could be a positive catalyst in helping the team evolve and creating a rich culture. After four interviews over six weeks, Bob was on board.

Advice Bob has shared will all those he has mentored over the years, include.

are not a number, talk to them, don’t shout, “next!”

Bob’s most memorable moment in his career was meeting his wife Lynn, when she came into the facility looking for a job.

Oddly enough, she lived 10 doors down on the same street Bob lived on, and they never connected.

Bob’s peers have been sharing kind words about the dedicated mentor in the wake of his retirement news.

“I have been a thorn in your side—but to me you have been a mentor and a life coach,” said one of Bob’s colleagues. “We are saddened by losing an asset the next generation won’t have the opportunity to engage. I love you like a brother, look up to you as a father and cherish you like a best friend.”

Bob, we thank you for your honesty,

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integrity, and respect over years—we wish you and Lynn all the best in the adventures which await you both.

WHO’S DRIVING

ACCOUNTABILITY IN ACTION Steps to a sustainable business

BY JAY PERRY

T

here is a lot of elements involved in practicing accountability.

Ultimately, accountability boils down to communications.

Information sharing within communications in an accountability framework. It takes an objective position and puts focus onto the facts. We must have an evaluative approach to have success in holding people to account.

This evaluative approach helps everything else to become much easier and helps us work smarter, not harder. Sustainability is a key

facts do not excuse or reasons for why something didn’t work out the way we thought it would. We are not playing the “blame game.”

Another point to keep in mind is that accountability must be practiced every day, all day. That means you will evaluate things that did go right too!

This is an important factor in taking any negativity out of our approach to accountability. When we can acknowledge when things have gone right, we reinforce a positive message about how we want

If you keep those four Ws—what, who, when and what —at the top of your thoughts when you practice accountability, you will eliminate assumptions thus getting everyone on the same page. benefit to learning how to put accountability into action. When practicing accountability all day, every day we build the team’s abilities in leadership, problem solving, cooperation and collaboration.

These are the steps that lead to a sustainable business. Without these, a company is doomed to premature failure.

The very first step in accountability in action is clarity. Assumption often creeps into conversations and people leave with misguided ideas as to what is being done, who is going to do it, when is to be completed and—most importantly—why we are doing it. If you keep those four Ws—what, who, when and what—at the top of your thoughts when you practice accountability, you will eliminate assumptions thus getting everyone on the same page. Use them as a checklist to conclude any conversations with the team.

Once you have achieved this level of clarity in the communications piece, it is time for action.

After that we want to evaluate what actually happened. This is where the ‘audit’ mindset helps. When we just look at the facts of what happened it reduces the emotional tensions around the process of accountability in action. This evaluative mindset is examining

54 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

things to run. This helps the team learn how they should be thinking, appeals to their sense of fairness and often gives them courage to become more engaged and actively support the leader in getting to the goal. Think about your own experience in being recognized in a balanced way—acknowledged for doing something correctly and guidance when you have been off-track.

The bottom line in accountability in action in practicing it with everything under your roof—the big and the small. It is another way that we can stay the one who’s driving.

JAY PERRY

is the founder of Ally Business Coaching, a process improvement and leadership development firm, and co-author of the book Success Manifesto with Brian Tracy. Jay is also an education partner with California Coast University in Santa Ana, California.

He can be reached at jayperryally@gmail.com.

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LET’S TALK TRAINING

101

READING COMPREHENSION Welcome to reality—hop aboard or hop off

BY STEFANO LIESSI

T

ime flies when you are having fun—but it also seems to whiz by when we’re under pressure.

I have been in this industry for 39 years and can admit that much of it is a blur. When I look back on the changes that have come to fruition in this time it is equivalent to standing at the bottom of a mountain looking up. Have I learned anything over those years, absolutely, do I know everything I need to know? Absolutely not. I am constantly learning new innovative ideas and tooling applications.

If you had told me at the beginning of my career that ‘computers’ were going to be a dominant component of the automotive collision repair industry, I would have laughed at you, made my way to the lunchroom, grabbed another coat hanger and continued to oxy acetylene braze in that patch on that ’79 Parisienne.

Moving forward to 2021 I am dining on some well-done crow, reading tech sheets, and looking up OEM information on my

computer. The days of “heat ‘er up till she’s red” are long gone.

So, what do we do now? The answer: spend a considerable amount of time making sure that we are getting it right the first time by sourcing our Tech Advisor, AllData, and OEM literature.

We are learning that every manufacturer has a different ideology with regards to what and how we repair, no longer is it a one slice does all.

Yet, as it has been over the decades, we just slowly morph these new approaches into our processes by osmosis and surprise. Nothing like learning something second hand six months later.

Even still, there are some that refuse to acknowledge the changes, fighting the new reality of our industry to the bitter end. There are some that get on every moving band wagon passing through town.

It is time to embrace change, but this all depends on a few factors: do you take pride in what you do every day? Are you genuinely

56 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

concerned with doing the right repair to put the vehicle back to OE spec? Are you truly engaged with the idea of researching repair techniques and applying them? Yes, is the correct answer to all these questions, by the way.

In general, the idea of procedural focus as applied to structural repair is new to our structural repair techniques. A lot of information that I gather is through articles and interactions in industry, so I decided to do some digging myself on how to go about gathering some firsthand knowledge as if I was an appraiser or technician in a shop.

I decided to delve into a 2017 Acura MDX hit on the left side rocker, which includes various layers of HSS and UHSS not to mention three different welding processes. I discovered all this information after spending well over an hour going through the OE procedures available on Tech Advisor, along with repairability matrix documents from I-CAR while creating an estimate on Mitchell.

LET’S TALK TRAINING

Creating an estimate properly requires far more time than ever before.

Welcome to 2021.

Was all the information systematically available in one location? No. Was I able to complete a full tear down and itemize everything in that time? No—I do not literally have a vehicle in my office. From this exercise alone it is evident that creating an estimate properly requires far more time than ever before. Welcome to 2021.

Now let us delve into the repair. As a technician, I now have a plethora of sheets loaded with technical information to read, averaging approximately 250 words/minute equates to approximately two minutes per page, now throw in the comprehension aspect—and double that time minimum. I found out that all plug welds on panels <1mm are a 6mm hole, 1mm – 1.5mm material requires plug weld holes of 8mm, material >1.5mm are 10mm holes. I also found out that weld through primer must be Zinc based (not copper), there are three different weld applications in the one procedure – MAG plug – STRSW- MIG braze.

Oh my, it does not stop just there—oh no, no—how about the fact that some of these weld procedures have parameters as well, such as, all STRSW performed on 1180-1500mpa MUST be done using manual settings on you welder (not auto). Your MIG Brazing is done utilizing two strategically placed 8mm plug holes. Did I mention that Honda provides a list of 31 “welding conditions” that you use to set your STRSW for indicated welds, this application utilizes 4 of these “conditions”—of

which, for this repair, you need to flip through multiple times.

Now, we also need to destructively test our welds, for each type of weld, Plug, Braze and Spot. Honda provides a formula to utilize in measuring the tear out. It is a mathematical formula involving square root, for those of you that said you would never need that new math. This means adding time and line items to the sheet for welder set up and destructive testing, not one line, but three as they all require different parameters to be met. If we don’t add these line items, we give a false image of the actual time to complete the repair process, skewing your KPIs –another modern day repair influencer for another article.

Remember, even with all of this we have not even begun to dip into initializations, calibrations, DTCs, and specifics for ADAS modules. Not to mention measuring and documenting the process. This is only for one make, model, and year. This does not give

you a one and done application, the research needs to be continuously done for each vehicle you are estimating regardless of make and model. Line items on your sheet to look this up? – you bet’cha.

This is our new repair world. How are you feeling now?

Normally I conclude my columns with a statement that reads along the lines of “In my opinion, and you are entitled to my opinion” however, this tag line does not apply today.

The information and ideologies I write about today are fact.

These points are not up for debate or negotiation by anyone, they are required to be understood, applied, documented, and accounted for during any repair by any person.

If you plan on repairing vehicles, then this is just the beginning of what is involved. If you are a repairer, estimator, owner, or insurer, you had better get on board as we are all still at the bottom of the mountain.

STEFANO LIESSI

A Red Seal technician and founder of Canadian Collision Specialist, Stefano Liessi enhances his experience with 12 years of I-CAR instructing, coupled with high school teaching to bring training that encompasses all learning types. With experience on the corporate side of the industry, as well as in management and ownership, Stefano’s focus is proper repairs and equitably for all people involved in the collision industry.

OUR HISTORY IS YOUR

HISTORY

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PRAIRIE VIEW

BE LIKE BRAYDEN Work ethic opens doors

BY CHELSEA STEBNER

J

une celebrates fathers—something this industry has quite a lot of.

The dad I’m going to share a story about is my brother from another mother. I want to celebrate an exceptional father and role model in the shop: my co-worker Brayden Neufeld, Parr Auto Body’s shop manager and co-owner of the business.

When we first met, Brayden was a young kid coming from a

Over the years, Brayden’s persistent work ethic has allowed him to secure every opportunity he could find. He was eager to step into each area of the shop: “Oh the disassembly tech is off? I’ll try that,” he’d say. “There’s no painter? I’ll try it out,” and so forth.

One day, I was attending roundtable meetings with our paint company and I asked Brayden to tag along for a meeting. He did not

Over the years, Brayden’s persistent work ethic has allowed him to secure every opportunity he could find. He was eager to step into each area of the shop: ‘Oh the disassembly tech is off? I’ll try that,’ he’d say. ‘There’s no painter? I’ll try it out.’ country shop. He showed up to the shop on a Monday morning, and no one knew he was coming. He was thrown into the fire for sure! In those early days, Brayden says he feared me; that I meant business.

During his first few months at Parr, Brayden managed to bend a truck frame in half, attempt to remove a windshield moulding and crack a windshield and finally; set a quarter glass in a vehicle and have it shatter and that one was in the boss’s daughter’s car!

Somehow, despite this mess, the autobody gods smiled on Brayden.

We kept him on board. There was just something endearing about the kid, and our boss knew he was a key to our future.

58 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

disappoint. He showed up, listened far more than he talked, asked some questions, and began learning more about the ‘soft skills’ side of the business.

Fast forward a few years and some of the Parr team were asked if we wanted to buy into the business. Brayden was one of them.

Today, Brayden is an integral part of Parr Auto Body, with the ability to estimate vehicles, care for customers, refinish cars and everything else in between. His passion, skill and commitment to our team and shop are outstanding attributes.

As a leader in our business, our young team looks to him for his

PRAIRIE VIEW

wisdom, words of advice or let’s face it, sometimes a kick in the butt.

His mentorship of our team and ability to always shift perspective and find the positive are outstanding attributes.

With customers, he always finds a way to be kind and compassionate. Quite frankly, he’d give people the shirt off his back.

Brayden chooses to quietly volunteer his time with Skills Saskatchewan, Skills Canada, our provincial auto body association, along with coaching hockey and baseball.

He really is a mentor to our young team, an amazing dad to three little boys and husband to Nikki. If anyone wonders if our shop’s values are practiced daily, you just look at Brayden and watch him you’ll see those values are lived out daily.

In celebration of the dads of the industry, know that our young staff are watching. They are learning and they are following in your footsteps—so make them good ones.

With customers, Brayden always finds a way to be kind and compassionate. Quite frankly, he’d give people the shirt off his back.

CHELSEA STEBNER

is the CEO and managing partner of Parr Auto Body in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and a member of the CCIF Steering Committee. She can be reached at chelsea@parrautobody.com.

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JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 59

TOM’S TALES

UPPING THE STANDARDS Building the band at Dodge City

BY TOM BISSONNETTE

I

nitially, my role at Dodge City was twofold: run the day-to-day business of the existing bodyshop, even though the previous shop manager was still on staff, and work with the contractors that were building the new shop next door to Parr and the dealership.

It was…interesting. I would be at the old shop for the morning and in early afternoon I would pop over to the construction site to give direction to the building contractor. I have to give the dealer principal credit; he basically gave me a free rein to re-design the floor space and select the equipment needed to bring the shop up to world class standards.

I had Ton Reineking lean in on the building design because he had an uncanny knack for design and layout.

The dealer principal originally had the building about 600 sq.-ft. smaller and with supporting tele posts in the middle of the shop.

His thought was, “if the bodyshop doesn’t pan out, we can always make the building into a strip mall.” Ton convinced them to nix the tele posts, make a nice drive though layout and install skylights in the ceiling to provide natural light during the day.

For equipment, Ton recommended a downdraft paint booth, a spacious paint mixing room, vacuum extraction throughout the shop, two paint prep stations and a CarO-Liner bench — mounted on a hydraulic hoist built into the floor—with a mechanical measuring system. Keep in mind that was 1989; this shop was impressive even by today’s standards.

The budget went from half a million to over a million dollars quickly and the dealership’s

“controller”—an apt title—Jim, almost lost his mind. Jim was a good guy but he was totally focused on controlling costs, especially at the bodyshop which had been a drag on the business for years. Looking back, I can’t say as I blame him; but for that first full year we were not friends, and I felt he went out of his way to make life tough for the bodyshop.

Back at the old shop I had a group of guys that were typical flat rate primadonnas, set in their ways and not happy about changes

moody and not willing to be a team player.

You think you can’t do without them, until they are gone, and your existing staff come to and tell you how much they appreciate you for doing it!

One of the men that approached me after Gary’s departure was a young man named Vern Windrim; a quiet but very capable young man. I asked him to step up and take on more of the work and he told me that he was thankful because Gary always took the

For equipment, Ton recommended a downdraft paint booth, a spacious paint mixing room, Vacuum Extraction throughout the shop, two paint Prep Stations and a Car-O-Liner bench— mounted on a hydraulic hoist built into the floor— with a mechanical measuring system. Keep in mind that was 1989; this shop was impressive even by today’s standards. that were taking place. One of them, Gary, probably the best production body man we had. We had a conversation about his attitude being so negative. He told me “I’ve always had a bad attitude; I’m not going to change it and you’re not going to change it either!”

He was right, I didn’t change it, but I changed his employment status.

Maybe you have an individual like that at your shop? They’re your best producer but he’s

60 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

best jobs for himself and left the drippings to everybody else.

I mentioned that the previous bodyshop manager was still employed at the shop and demoted to assistant manager. His name was Len and he was a very nice man but he was probably in his 60s and wasn’t ready to have a 32-year-old whippersnapper tell him how to run a shop. He quit gracefully and went to work for a small local independent shop.

TOM’S TALES

The dealer principal had a son that was basically out of control and one of my jobs was to get the young guy on track. I tried for about two months to talk some sense into this kid, but he was simply too rebellious and unwilling to take advice. It was a tough conversation with the dealer principal to explain to him that for his son’s own good he needed to be fired. Initially, he pushed back but I told him it is either his son or me. I was literally prepared to walk out, but he—thankfully—agreed with me and the kid was gone.

I still struggled with a sense of hopelessness each day that I came to work. We were a single income family and money was tight.

I was married with three children under the

30-degree temperatures outside. Don came to talk to me about the new shop and all the changes I had planned for the business.

He got me talking about the future, not the challenges I was going through right at that time. He made me realize that I had an extraordinary opportunity to raise the bar for collision repair shops in Saskatoon and he told me that he would like to be a part of it.

Don was a painter; his brother Dennis was a legendary body man and they grew up working on cars together. I was flabbergasted that a man of his caliber would come and ask me for a job!

I can honestly say that after Don left my office, I knew we were going to do something special together. Once again, I was reminded

Don Pogoda made me realize that I had an extraordinary opportunity to raise the bar for collision repair shops in Saskatoon and he told me that he would like to be a part of it.

age of five, and my wife made the decision to be a stay-at-home mom. She had a great job at the local technical college, at that time called Kelsey Institute, but after we paid the children’s daycare it pretty much ate up her wage. She figured that there was no point going to work and have somebody else watch her children grow up. She stayed home for 10 years. When she left Kelsey, she was using a word processor, basically an electronic typewriter; 10 years later offices were using Word and Excel on computers. She started back to work at Kelly Services to be trained on Microsoft software.

In some ways it was tough. We barely had enough money to pay all our bills and most holidays were either staycations or travelling with her parents who had a motorhome. We don’t regret it, if we had to do it all over again we certainly would.

One day in February, when I was in a particularly melancholy mood, a man by the name of Don Pogoda came riding up to the shop on his bicycle—despite the negative-

that once you decide to move forward it seems like some higher power brings the people and resources that you need to succeed. I could feel that power.

The new Dodge City bodyshop opened in March of 1989. We hit the ground running trying to get things organized and the work flowing in. I still had most of the existing staff from the old shop, but it was clear that we were going to need some new staff to meet the surge in work.

Don Pogoda came on board and helped get the paint shop into a nice rhythm. We were doing work for the local Jaguar dealer and Don had previous experience with European vehicles so he was a perfect fit. I needed a body man and, surprisingly, Parr Auto Body basically told Dennis Klemecki to quit and come and work with me! The new manager felt Dennis was loyal to me and he literally talked him out the door. What a gift!

Shortly thereafter I got Art Sekuluk and Art’s nephew Darryl Tomyn—both terrific painters from Parr. Brian Sanders, one of the

top producing body men in town showed up shortly after and applied for a job, he wanted to work for a shop that was progressive and busy.

The final piece was a young man named Abe Fehr, he could do it all, paint, body work, frame and PDR—before anyone had even the slightest clue what that was—with unbelievable speed and quality. It was a combination of, “if you build it, they will come” and that higher power bringing me the resources I needed.

The icing on the cake was getting Don Swick to come and work at Dodge City. I did not mention it before, but I had let Don go from Parr Auto Body about a year earlier.

Don was a terrific young man, and it was a hard decision, but I think it was a good lesson for him to temper his enthusiasm. He was managing a local glass shop when I called him and asked him if he’d had enough of the glass business, which was very cutthroat at the time, and would like to come back to the bodyshop world.

Thankfully, he agreed. Once Don came on board, it was like I had my lucky rabbit’s foot back!

We had a state-of-the-art facility, a super busy dealership backing us up and an all-star staff ready to kick things into high gear. I was starting to forget about Parr Auto Body, finally!

TO BE CONTINUED…

TOM BISSONNETTE

is the director of the Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers (SAAR). Tom’s Tales is a series of Collision Repair magazine articles chronicling his journey through the collision industry, since 1982. Besides telling his story, Tom hopes that today’s shopowners and manager can learn from his victories—and his mistakes.

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 61

REGIONAL NEWS | BRITISH COLUMBIA

REGIONAL NEWS | COAST TO COAST B.C. LOVES EVS Electric vehicles sales are on the rise in British Columbia, with more than 54,000 light-duty EVs now registered in B.C, says the provincial government.

Energy Minister Bruce Ralston says that’s the highest reported purchase rate of electric vehicles in North America, making the province a leader in the EV sales market.

B.C.’s annual zero-emission vehicle report says residents are also adopting electric technology in less traditional ways, including motorcycles and cargo e-bikes, spurred by a

EV sales are on the rise in B.C. as the province aims to have 100 percent of the new vehicle sales be zero-emissions models by 2040.

vehicle incentive program.

The report tracks B.C.’s progress for its zero-emission vehicle targets and the province is on track to exceed the 2025 targets with light-duty electric vehicle sales representing 9.4 percent of all such vehicle sales last year.

The Zero-Emission Vehicles Act requires vehicle makers to meet increasing annual levels of electric vehicle sales of 10 percent by 2025, 30 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2040.

VAX PASS An update to the Employment Standards Ac t w i l l a l low Br it ish C olumbi ans up to three hours of paid leave for COVID-19 vaccine appointments, in an effort by the province to ensure that no wages are lost for employees looking to get in line.

“We know that many workers can’t afford to lose pay, and we need to make sure that it’s as easy as possible for workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine,” said Harry Bains, B.C.’s Minister of Labour.

“This paid leave will ensure that no one will have to choose between losing pay and getting their doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.”

Provincial labour leader, Kim Novak, spoke positively of the announcement.

“We are pleased with the news that the B.C. government is mandating paid time off for all workers to get COVID-19 vaccinations,” said Novak, president of UFCW 1518.

“Today’s announcement means a critical barrier has been removed for workers – they no longer have to choose between getting paid at work or getting their life-saving vaccinations. This is a big step in the right direction and a big win for workers, especially those who have been working on the front lines throughout this pandemic. They have been hit hard and no longer must worry about having their pay cheque deducted for getting their vaccines. We thank Minister Bains and the B.C. government for acting swiftly on this legislation.”

“We are pleased with the news that the B.C. government is mandating paid time off for all workers to get COVID-19 vaccinations,” said Kim Novak, president of labour group UFCW 1518.

GREEN GRANT The government of British Columbia is doing its part to support environmentally sustainable Canadian businesses with the announcement of investments in 24 projects across the province.

On Sunday, the provincial government issued a press release announcing that “The Supply Chain Resiliency Grant Program has awarded one-time funding of up to $400,000 to organizations with wide-ranging projects that focus on various aspects of fortifying B.C.’s manufacturing ecosystem.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated the importance of our

manufacturing sector for the critical madein-B.C. goods it delivers and jobs it provides in every region of the province,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation.

“This investment and partnership with business associations and communities strengthen our province’s supply chains, helps protect our industry sectors from external interruptions and helps B.C. manufacturers become even more globally competitive.”

Among the recipients of the grant were Victoria-based Rainhouse Manufacturing

62 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

Canada Ltd, in partnership with Canadian Electric Vehicles Ltd. and the University of Victoria for a project designing, testing and certifying battery packs for the manufacturing of electric and hybrid vehicles.

“This multi-sector initiative will help increase manufacturing diversity in B.C., boost the emerging market of battery technology, drive the local economy, and support green technologies in many areas, including electric vehicles, marine transportation, ocean research and offgrid storage,” said Rainhouse president Ray Brougham.

BRITISH COLUMBIA | REGIONAL NEWS

CALLING TIMEOUT If the current state of auto insurance in British Columbia wasn’t confusing enough, the province’s attorney general is applying for a partial stay in a B.C. Supreme Court ruling about jurisdiction over motor vehicle injury disputes, pending its appeal of the same decision.

On March 2, B.C.’s Supreme Court ruled that ICBC’s (Insurance Corporation of British Columbia) updated settlement model, introduced in April of 2019, is unconstitutional.

The Civil Resolution Tribunal Act was introduced as a way to mitigate the significant costs accrued by ICBC in what they consider to be “lower-value disputes” by allowing customers to seek settlement from a tribunal, outside a traditional court of law.

However, a lawsuit from the Trial Lawyers Association of B.C. and its subsequent judgement found that the act denied injured people their constitutional right to go to court.

B.C.’s Attorney General, David Eby, is now

ROAD CHECKS On April 23 the RCMP announced they will set up road checks on highways connecting B.C.’s regional zones to enforce the ban on non-essential travel.

Police will conduct periodic road checks at key travel points and violators could be fined $575.

All non-essential travel between the province’s three regional zones will be banned until May 25.

RCMP can now set up road checks on highway corridors connecting the zones — but not within the zones, such as in downtown Vancouver. Farnworth said police can ask the driver for the reason for their travel, along with their name, address, licence and secondary identification if they have recently moved.

Documentation proving the reason for travel will not be required, and vehicle passengers will not be asked for documentation.

calling for the judgment to be put on hold to allow the tribunal time to resolve existing disputes that occurred after April 1, 2019 and were moving through the tribunal’s process at the time of the March 2 judgment.

The ruling does not affect the tribunal’s upcoming jurisdiction over enhanced care benefits, reductions in ICBC rates effective May 1, or rebates being sent to ratepayers after cost savings from fewer crashes during the COVID-19 pandemic, Eby said in a statement.

The RCMP announced road checks on highways connecting B.C.’s regional zones to enforce the ban of non-essential travel.

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 63

REGIONAL NEWS | ALBERTA

PANDEMIC PARTNERSHIP Alberta and Montana have reached an agreement to speed up the vaccination of Albertans by inoculating truckers who transport essential goods across the Canada and United States border.

Starting May 10, Montana will be providing vaccines to truckers entering the state at a rest stop near Conrad at no cost. The service is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until May 23.

Alberta commercial truck drivers who are regulated to transport goods into the United States will be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

About 2,000 Alberta truck drivers are eligible to be vaccinated under the program.

“We’re doing everything we can to get a vaccine into Albertans’ arms as fast as possible, including by forging this innovative agreement with Montana. We are very grateful to Montana Governor Gianforte for the generous donation of vaccines to protect our truckers,” said Premier Jason Kenney.

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ALBERTA | REGIONAL NEWS

Two men were arrested in connection with the chop shop operation: Kyle Donovan Fletcher, 33, of Vegreville, and Dean Peter Gamache, 31, of La Corey.

CHOP STOPPED Alberta Mounties have laid down the law on a chop shop operating north of Bonnyville after they recovered 12 stolen vehicles from the property, just over a month ago.

The suspicions of police were raised when a stolen Ford F350 service truck was discovered on the property, prompting local RCMP to investigate the matter.

Police estimate that $246,000 in stolen

property has been recovered from the site.

Two men were arrested in connection with the operation, Kyle Donovan Fletcher, 33, of Vegreville, and Dean Peter Gamache, 31, of La Corey.

Fletcher is facing charges of Obstruction, Assault on Police, Attempt to disarm a Police Officer, Fail to comply with Release Order, Possession of property obtained by crime over

$5,000, and Mischief over $5,000.

Gamache is facing charges of trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000, tampering with a vehicle identification number, twelve counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, four counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, and mischief over $5,000.

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SASKATCHEWAN | REGIONAL NEWS

PRAIRIE PACT Following in the steps of its prairie neighbour, the government of Saskatchewan has announced that it too will be partnering up with the U.S. state of North Dakota to help facilitate COVID-19 vaccines for select essential workers in the province.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that is planned to help about 2,000 Saskatchewan workers receive the vaccine.

“Trade with the United States is essential for the Saskatchewan economy,” said Moe. “These essential workers are crossing the border to ensure our residents and those in the United States have access to the goods and services they need to get through this pandemic. This extraordinary

level of cooperation helps protect more Canadians at a time when vaccine availability in America exceeds that of Canada, and we thank Governor Burgum for working with our province to make this happen.”

Having secured a similar deal with the Manitoba government, Burgum expressed continued enthusiasm to be working with Canadian provinces to help keep supply chain workers safe.

The North Dakota Department of Health will provide the staff and infrastructure to administer vaccinations. There will be no cost for the vaccination program to either the State of North Dakota or the Province of Saskatchewan, as the United States government provides vaccines and reimburses the cost of administering vaccines.

ELECTRIC ANGER

Angr y owners of electric vehicles (EVs) in Saskatchewan have been holding demonstrations to protest the provincial government’s proposal to slap an annual $150 tax on their rides.

The tax, which will take effect on October 1, 2021, is part of Saskatchewan’s 2021-2022 budget. In a press release, the provincial government said the tax is “a road use fee for electric vehicles at the time of registration to ensure that all road users contribute to road maintenance and replacement.” The tax only applies to passenger vehicles, and not to any battery-powered commercial or farm vehicles, or inter-provincial trucks.

The release added that, “These vehicles contribute to wear and tear on provincial roadways, but because they do not consume traditional fuels, they are not contributing to highway maintenance through the provincial fuel tax.” There’s also a possibility that a tax could be levied at charging stations.

As with other provinces, the cost of

maintaining and improving Saskatchewan’s highway system is partially funded through the provincial fuel tax, which EV owners don’t pay. In the last fiscal year, Saskatchewan paid almost $616 million for road maintenance, but collected about $454 million in fuel taxes.

That got EV owners riled up enough to bring out their battery-powered cars for demonstrations against the tax. The SaskEV Society protested in Saskatoon, while the Tesla Owners of Saskatchewan met in Regina.

When implemented, it will be the first provincial tax on EVs. Drivers in Saskatchewan are eligible for a federal rebate of up to $5,000 when buying or leasing an EV, but Quebec and British Columbia are the only provinces supplying their own rebates on top of that.

Saskatchewan launched a “green” rebate in 2008, under which qualified owners of highly efficient vehicles got a 20 percent break on their registration and insurance, but it was discontinued in 2012.

Jason Cruickshank, president of the SaskEV Society, told the CBC there are only about 400 electric vehicles in the province overall.

There also aren’t very many fast-charging stations either. According to ChargeHub, there are only 37 public charging stations in Regina, with nine of them offering Level 3 fast-charging. Saskatoon has 32 public stations overall, and only one is Level 3.

If implemented, Saskatchewan will be the only province with a designated tax on electric vehicles.

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 67

REGIONAL NEWS | MANITOBA

DIAMOND JUBILEE Small town bodyshop Virden Auto Body celebrated 60 years in business with an article in its local newspaper.

The Beltz family has owned the business since 1972. Garry Beltz took over the business from its original owners, Tony Wade and Bob Smith, and the facility has been led by Garry’s son, Todd, for the last 17 years.

Garry first set foot in the autobody industry after he spoke with Ken Seafoot, the boss at the local Mercury dealership. Seafood asked Garry what he’d been up to work-wise, and their conversation ended with a job offer that saw Garry start in the bodyshop the very next day.

“There was a body man there and I started as his helper. I liked the idea,” he said.

He soon pursued certification, became a bodyman at the facility and worked there for two years before setting his sights on a bigger goal. He put an ad in the local paper

Garry first set foot in the autobody industry after he spoke with Ken Seafoot, the boss at the local Mercury dealership. Seafood asked Garry what he’d been up to work-wise, and their conversation ended with a job offer that saw Garry start in the bodyshop the very next day.

announcing he was in search of a bodyshop for purchase and Virden Auto Body answered the call.

As for Garry’s son, Todd, he can hardly recall a time he wasn’t skirting around the shop as a kid. He’s been an official part of the business since 1996 and is a Red Seal journeyperson in paint and autobody work.

Garry and Todd are hugely proud of their long-term team of staff, including Jennifer Chapman, who works in the office and Red Seal journeypersons Bryon Ludlum with 47 years of service; Blaine Sigurdson with 30 years and Gavin McGregor with 12 years.

Join Collision Repair mag in celebrating Virden Auto Body’s 60th anniversary!

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www.symach.com 68 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

ONTARIO | REGIONAL NEWS

DON’T TRIP OVER THE CHAIN Pre s i d e nt and C E O of C ana d i an Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), Dennis Darby released a statement today, addressing concern over several policy changes recently made by the Ontario government that manufacturers are worried could negatively impact the Canadian supply chain.

Derby’s statement is as follows: “Over the past year the role and importance of the manufacturing sector has been on full display. As manufacturers have demonstrated on countless occasions during the pandemic, manufacturing is not only vital to our economic success, but essential to helping our country face our toughest challenges. From

the production of PPE to the manufacture of vaccines and medicines, a strong and healthy Canadian manufacturing industry is in Canada’s best interests.

Today, we are deeply concerned about the Region of Peel’s orders regarding businesses and ignoring their contribution to this fight.

Although we recognize that the situation is critical right now, this unilateral decision could have a catastrophic impact on Ontario’s manufacturing sector.

It is troubling to see politicians taking actions that are not based on science and that could endanger our food, PPE, and drug supply, in addition to undermining global supply chains of some of Canada’s most important economic contributors like

automotive and aerospace. As you might know, the Canadian manufacturing sector is interconnected. So, by taking these actions without a broader coordinated approach, the Region of Peel is putting the integrity of our supply chain at risk.

We therefore call on the provincial government to intervene and ensure a coordinated plan for manufacturers across the province that is connected to broader societal and economic realities. We also once again offer to the government to leverage our sector’s capabilities to increase rapid testing and to speed vaccination efforts and call on the government to focus their attention for their efforts in the Peel region and other hotspot areas.”

Manufacturing is not only vital to our economic success, but essential to helping our country face our toughest challenges.

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JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 69

REGIONAL NEWS | ONTARIO

ONTARIO’S ACES Pfaff Autoworks of Vaughan, Ontario, has been named a finalist in VeriFacts Automotive Achievement in Collision Repair Excellence (ACE) award for 2020.

Each year, VeriFacts Automotive recognizes a collision repair center that has participated in the VeriFacts Verified Quality (VQ) Program for a minimum of six months and has consistently delivered superior output repair quality. The finalists for the ACE Award for exceptional collision repair center have all displayed an industry-leading commitment to safe, correct and smart repairs, according to VeriFacts.

Pfaff Autoworks was the first Canadian shop to receive a VeriFacts Quality Medallion in 2019. Collision Repair mag recently spoke to General Manager Jeff Pabst, where he said the facility has recently been focused on preparing for ever-increasing influxes of technology in the industry, including the shift toward electric vehicles.

“We’re a Tesla-certified facility, so we’ve

Pfaff Autoworks was the first Canadian facility to receive a VeriFacts Quality Medallion in 2019.

seen first-hand the increase in volume in [the EV sector]. We’re also a Volkswagen, Audi, MINI, BMW and Porsche-certified shop; those manufacturers are all pushing hard and heavy on EVs. So, we’ve been looking at this for about a year now, gearing ourselves up so we’re not caught behind the eightball when they really start to flood in,” he said. “We’re

anticipating somewhere in the neighbourhood of 20 to 30 percent of the cars that we repair in the next three to five years will be EVs.” The winner of the 2020 ACE Award will be announced by VeriFacts later this year.

For a full list of finalists, visit verifactsauto. com/2020-ace-awards-exceptional-repaircenter-finalists.

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ONTARIO | REGIONAL NEWS

MODIFIED DECISION After modifying his sportscar a 21-year-old Ontario man was denied an insurance claim.

According to a Global News article, Modasir Ayobi decided to lease a 2020 Subaru BRZ for $500 per month, as per an agreement made a year ago.

Ayobi takes great pride in his sports car.

He even works two jobs to be able to afford it.

So, after he got in an accident in March, and his insurance company refused to pay, he was devastated.

“They denied the whole claim, around $35,000,” Ayobi told Global News.

The claim was denied because Ayobi had modified the exhaust system, without the permission of his insurance company.

“If I knew modifications would affect insurance, I wouldn’t have done that,” he said.

In a letter that was sent to Ayobi he was initially insured, Desjardins Insurance did warn him about the risk of modifying his vehicle.

“Your vehicle is considered to be modified if it has been changed in any way from its original condition in order to improve or alter its performance, appearance or

A 21-year-old man said he never would have modified his car if he had known it would hinder the collision claims process.

increase its value. If you make or plan to make modifications to your vehicle, contact us to make certain we are able to insure you properly,” the document says.

Ayobi had the exhaust system upgraded, but kept the original. So, it could be reinstalled after his four-year lease ended. This minor modification ended up costing him not only his car, but his insurance policy was also cancelled.

However, Ayobi’s story does have a happy ending. After Global News contacted the insurance company. The company reexamined the case and has now decided to pay in full.

However, other drivers may not be as fortunate. If a person does want to modify their vehicle the safest route is probably to check-in with their insurance company first.

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 71

REGIONAL NEWS | QUEBEC

EV APPREHENSION Over half of Quebecers say they would opt for an electric or hybrid vehicle but not without government incentives, says a new survey.

According to a recent survey conducted by autoHEBDO.net, 55 percent of respondents are open to the idea of buying an environmentally friendly vehicle. However, 80 percent of buyers reported they were motivated by government incentives.

This means that less than a quarter of the population would be willing to buy a green vehicle at full price.

Among those who are motivated to buy an electric vehicle because of government incentives, 44 percent say the minimum subsidy should be at least $10,000 and 19 percent say the amount should be between $4,000 and $6,000.

Among Quebecers motivated to buy EVs because of government incentives, 44 percent say the minimum subsidy should be at least $10,000, and 19 percent say the amount should be between $4,000 and $6,000.

INSURANCE VACATION The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) is giving Quebec drivers a two-year vacation from paying the insurance portion of their license renewal fees in 2022 and 2023. This will bring most license renewal bills down to $23.

If you drive a passenger vehicle Quebecers can expect to save $184.11. If you have a combined car and motorcycle license, expect to save $338.15.

Montreal city skyline on waterfront, Quebec, Canada 72 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

Driver’s license holders will only have to pay $4.75 in fees and $18.60 in charges on their license renewal, as well as the portion of the insurance contribution for demerit points on their record, if any, according to the SAAQ. The SAAQ made this announcement on April 30 and said this vacation comes from a $1.158 billion surplus.

REGIONAL NEWS | QUEBEC

FUELLING FRANCOPHONE TRAINING

Cityscape Quebec City

I-CAR Canada is pleased to announce the launch of the new French-language Professional Development Program (PDP) in Fall 2021. The PDP includes an allnew course format based on 30 and 60-minute online courses, providing more efficient and effective training for collision repair.

With this launch, Francophone technicians and shops will have the latest in vehicle repair training. The course translation project has taken almost three years and a $1 million investment by the main partners, the Quebec Government, CSMO Auto, AIA Canada and I-CAR. For more information, contact collisiontraining@ aiacanada.com.

I-CAR Canada is prepped to launch new French-language courses this fall.

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REGIONAL NEWS | ATLANTIC

Research by HelloSafe found that price quotes in Atlantic Canada increased by 13 percent in the first quarter of 2020, 11.5 percent in the second quarter, eight percent in the third quarter, and 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter.

Coastal cliffs on Cape St Mary in Newfoundland

TOUGH BREAK, B’Y Pandemic lockdowns and the drop off in auto collisions that followed unfortunately won’t earn Newfoundlanders any cheaper rates for auto insurance and may actually see the province’s drivers paying more than they did pre-pandemic.

Research by HelloSafe found that price quotes in Atlantic Canada increased by 13 percent in the first quarter of 2020, 11.5

percent in the second quarter, eight percent in the third quarter, and 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter.

“It’s not a good trend,” said Alex Desoutter, a spokesperson for HelloSafe.

While it does not have any official data, HelloSafe estimates that insurance companies in Canada paid out $2.7 billion less in claims last year.

Desoutter estimates the savings in Atlantic Canada at nearly $350 million.

A clearer picture of pandemic insurance rates is expected to come with the release of theGeneral Insurance Statistical Agency’s perprovince statistical breakdown of insurance claims, which will likely happen in June.

This data is courtesy of Hellosafe.ca

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

ION SPOT ANTI-STATIC GUN

THE SPANESI TOUCH ELECTRONIC MEASURING SYSTEM

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The Ion Spot is a tool designed for the painter who wants to eliminate static electricity from any material that is being readied for painting.The tool works on compressed air only, has no electrical input, no batteries, no charging devices. It can be used on all surfaces where electrostatic discharge is a problem – plastic, aluminum, or steel!The Ion Spot will remove static electricity from the workpiece for up to 40 minutes, though ideally, painting should be done within 15 minutes of application. Removing the static electrical charge from the workpiece keeps dust and other particles from collecting on the ‘to be painted’ surface and providesa cleaner and smoother finished painted surface.

The Touch electronic measuring system from Spanesi® performs repair diagnostics on any lift, bench, or surface. The Touch ensures that vehicles are returned to OEM specifications, all while generating a complete set of pre-repair and post-repair documentation. The Touch is outfitted with all the probes and extensions to reach the most difficult measuring points with ease. Utilizing the intuitive WinTouch software, the Touch provides measurements for vehicle frame and structural items, wheel alignment checks, user-added points (with accompanying photos), mechanical and suspension parts, and comparative measurements.

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Airopower is a pneumatic 5.25 tons push and pull ram that eliminates the problems of leaking porta powers yet is far more versatile. Operated with one hand or the included remote cable it is much easier to use. 60% of the repairs you are currently using your frame machine or floor system for can be completed using the Airopower with the optional 53 – piece accessory kit for a fraction of the cost or floor space. By bracing off the strong areas of the vehicle and pushing the weak damaged area, sheet metal can be restored in many cases in less time than it takes to get the car on the bench or the P4 system. Faster than setting up a second puller, Airopower System complements any brand of frame machine.

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World’s first 2K with unlimited potlife Car-Rep’s 2K products deliver professional quality 2-component performance without mixing or activation. Featuring patented Wise 2K® technology the products are always ready to use with a deactivated hardener and resin packed in the same compartment. The hardener is activated when sprayed, which means you can use the product repeatedly till the can is empty. Car-Rep 2K delivers exceptional value for professional smart repair with savings up to 50% – no paint losses, no premixing and no cleaning. Product line-up includes polyurethane clear coats and epoxy-based primers, fillers, and top coats. Genuine 2K quality: chemical and fuel resistance, corrosion and scratch resistance and exceptional adhesion as easy as 1K spray paint.

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Seeking to maximize efficiency in your body shop? If the answer is yes, meet Carbeat. It helps you optimize your body shop’s production and communication flow, and so much more. Carbeat is a patented software system combined with a large digital touch-screen that is customized to suit your business, operated by your own associates. As an interactive tool, CarBeat provides a detailed look at your production in each independent phase of the repair. Plus, with built-in departmental analysis and reporting of cycle times and bottlenecks, it helps you better control production and process flow and increases your shop’s profitability and efficiency.

Lightweight and easy to use, the 3M™ Performance Spray Gun was built for the modern painter. With a large fan pattern and excellent transfer efficiency this spray gun delivers on the premium performance you expect but with smarter clean-up. Made from an impact-resistant composite, it is one of the lightest spray guns in the industry yet durable enough for today’s professional painters.

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If you are looking at multiple portable dustless sanding units, it is wiser to invest in one industrial central system. With the central unit installed in a remote location, noise is significantly reduced and floor space is maximized to create greater productivity. Each system is versatile in its function, capturing sanding dust at the source and is also used for vehicle detailing and general shop cleanups. Eurovac also provides custom engineered layouts so that drops are located exactly where they are needed for maximum efficiency. So while Eurovac offers top of the line portables, it may be worthwhile to check out the benefits of a central system for your facility.

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. This device has been noted to improve efficiency in automotive repair shops by helping control severity, improve cycle times, reduce loss of use, meet more guaranteed completion dates, secure better results for the DRP partners and loyal customers all while keeping the car in the production lane at the repair facility. asTech Master Technicians can service many trouble codes remotely and provide real-time assistance to shop technicians at the vehicle when needed.

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 77

RECYCLING

TAKING THE THRONE Wally Dingman steps down as ARC chairman, Dalbert Livingstone to step into role

BY ALLISON ROGERS

T

he Automotive Recyclers of Canada (ARC) recently announced its 10-years-standing Chairman Wally Dingman of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario’s Caughill Auto Wreckers of will be stepping down from his position.

Dalbert Livingstone of Island Auto Supply in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island will take over the role of chairman.

Wally joined the ARC board in 2008 as treasurer, simultaneously serving as president for the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (OARA). In 2011, Ed MacDonald retired his position as ARC chairman to serve on the Au-

regulations he helped create gain recognition across Canada.

“Seeing CAREC grow and serve its purpose has been extremely rewarding,” he said. “Prince Edward Island has adopted its regulations, as has Alberta. It’s been rolled out across the country and I’m hoping to see the rest of the provinces do the same, or at least implement something similar.”

As Dalbert transitions into the role of chairman, Wally says he’ll remain on-call to provide guidance and continue to serve on the ARC Board of Directors.

“I definitely still want to be involved in pro-

to take over,” Livingstone told Canadian Auto Recyclers. “While you never think you are ready to take over guidance of a national industry association, with Wally agreeing to stay on the Board and mentor my transition, it was an honour I could not pass up.”

While youthful in the industry, Dalbert has a long history of service. He purchased Island Auto Supply in 2013 from his grandfather Harvey Livingstone and joined the Board of Directors of the ARC Atlantic affiliate, the Automotive Recyclers Association of Atlantic Canada (ARAAC) in 2012 to begin his education of working within industry associations. This

“Seeing CAREC grow and serve its purpose has been extremely rewarding,” – Wally Dingman, former ARC chairman and owner of Caughill Auto Wreckers tomotive Recyclers Association (ARA) board, leaving Wally in the position of leadership.

For Wally, his initial mission was twofold: to promote the Canadian Automotive Recyclers Environmental Code (CAREC) as an industry standard across Canada, and to foster the national scrappage program that became Retire Your Ride (RYR). Wally said his proudest moment as ARC chairman has been seeing the

viding whatever guidance I can and assist in the transition to a new Chair,” said Wally. “As long as I can serve in a useful capacity, I’ll be willing.”

When the time came to name a new ARC chairman, the organization immediately turned to Dalbert.

“Wally and I have been speaking over the past few months about his transition out of the Chair position, and he asked if I was ready

78 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

was an especially sweet election, as Harvey Livingstone was one of the founders of the Maritime Auto Wreckers Association in 1972—the precursor to the present day ARAAC. Dalbert eventually worked his way up to president of that association and now serves as treasurer. He also spent four years on the Board of Directors of the U.S.-based Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) as the organization’s

RECYCLING

Dalbert Livingstone, owner of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island’s Island Auto Supply, will now serve as the ARC chairman.

Wally Dingman, owner of Caughill Auto Wreckers in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, has served as ARC chair since 2011.

Canadian representative. He joined the ARC Board of Directors in 2017.

“I am incredibly honoured to be the Chair, and I would like to help Canadian auto recyclers with any regulatory changes in their respective provinces, especially with the rapid deployment of high voltage cars coming to market,” said Dalbert. “ARC needs to be on the forefront of training, safety, and proper recycling of these

EVs and their batteries. I would also like to help Canadian recyclers with the burden of time and money spend acquiring salvage and work to find ways to ease tension with the auction companies. Most of all I would like to see ARC continue as the driver for positive change in the industry, raising awareness of professional auto recycling in all corners of the country and on the international scene as well.”

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 79

RECYCLING NEWS

Brought to you by

BRIGHTER DAYS The resilience of the global recycling industry was showcased at the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) annual conference and exposition stage as organization President Robin Wiener said U.S. recycling industry output is up 6.4 percent from pre-pandemic levels.

“As the industry gathers virtually for our ISRI 2021 annual convention this year, we are proud to celebrate how recycling plays an essential role in not only our environment but also in the US and global economies,” said Wiener. ‘As the world recovers from a global pandemic, the resilience of the recycling industry once again shines through with a

total economic output that is up 6.4 percent compared with pre-pandemic levels.”

An Economic Impact Study conducted by John Dunham and Associates says that the U.S. recycling sector is “directly responsible” for more than 159,000 jobs. In addition, 346 000 jobs are indirectly supported by the industry through suppliers and services.

The US recycling industry generates US$ 116 billion (almost EUR 100 billion) in economic output for the national economy, according to the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) during its annual convention and exposition. The recycling sector’s direct contribution to the economy is US$ 46.4 billion.

THE BARREN BUYING LANDSCAPE With salvage in such short supply and recyclers vying for any vehicle they can get their hands on, the role of the educated and disciplined buyer has never been more important.

During an early May Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (OARA) virtual training session, led by Rob Rainwater of Profit Team Consulting, Marty Hollinshead, Shan McMillon, Dalbert Livingstone and Stuart Ady discussed the current state of the Canadian and U.S. salvage markets, sharing the skills they’ve found helpful in navigating the so-called new normal.

Like many other Canadian recyclers, Dalbert Livingstone, owner of Charlottetown, P.E.I.’s Island Auto Supply says he’s been forced to expand his horizons in the face of supply concerns.

“We’re looking at a broader range now. I’m buying cars in Ontario and Quebec as opposed to just the Maritime provinces now. You have to bid on more cars to win—it’s bidding to the masses,” he told the panel. “And, with the price of salvage, you really only get a few pieces of value in every auction.”

“If we don’t pay more, we don’t get the salvage,” Ady, owner of Ernie’s Used Auto Parts in Castlegar, B.C., concurred.

For Hollingshead, owner of Indiana, U.S.based Northlake Auto Recyclers, the key to navigating the market and securing the right write-offs lays in ensuring you understand

the value of what you’re looking to buy and sticking to your guns.

“You have to be an educated and disciplined buyer,” cautioned Hollingshead. “There’s no point in buying if, three or six months later you find you didn’t make any money on the buy. You need to be knowledgeable and informed about what you’re buying—just because you win the car doesn’t mean you’ll make money on it.”

“The keyword there is discipline,” said Rainwater. “Don’t panic, don’t overbid—be disciplined in your thoughts and believe in your data, your metrics and what you’ve looked for in your numbers.”

Ady, owner of Ernie’s Used Auto Parts in Castlegar, B.C., said his team has taken note of such strategies.

“When it comes to salvage, we have to pay more, but we need to stay dialled in and know exactly what part is going to turn over faster.

Sometimes you just have to concentrate on

80 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

what you’re getting out of the part, turning a profit and moving on to the next piece.”

While the panel agreed it’s buyer-beneficial to make educated, reasonable bids, there is a way of taking such a concept too far.

“How important are the commodities now?” asked Rainwater. “If you’re going to bid on a late-model Ford pickup, are you understanding what you have in core commodities and factoring the value into the bid?”

All panellists came to an agreement on the consultant’s question.

“You shouldn’t factor that in,” said Hollingshead. “For a full-service, late model recycler, core scrap is a byproduct of what we do. If you factor all of that in there, you’re almost definitely going to pay too much for the vehicle.”

“I’m in the same boat,” agreed Livingstone.

“Though factoring those prices in did help me buy more end-of-life off the street because I knew that cat’ was bringing in $250 to $300.

A lot of these vehicles wouldn’t pass their inspection, so I was picking up a lot more of those with higher bids.”

“I always consider scrap metal, catalytic converters and all that as a sort of bonus—we didn’t include it in the bid. Though, catalytic converters are kind of slipping into that number,” laughed Ady.OARA has been hosting weekly virtual training sessions since late March.

TOWING NEWS

TOWING NEWS

Brought to you by

TOW-TAL CONTROL The Ontario government is looking to introduce legislation that seeks to “strengthen the province’s oversight of the towing sector,” along with measures to protect vulnerable road users and increase penalties for those engaging in high-risk driving behaviours.

Through the newly introduced Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act, 2021, the Ontario government has proposed to establish a certification system that would require tow truck operators, tow truck drivers and vehicle storage operators to require a provincial certificate.

The provincial government also seeks to introduce a Standards of Practice for the industry, with the intention of protecting customers. This will include vehicle and equipment requirements, invoicing practices, roadside behaviours—such as how far back a tow truck should be if not requested at the scene—and penalties for avoiding the regulated standards.

Finally, the province looks to appoint a Director of Towing and Vehicle Storage Standards to oversee the certification process and to appoint towing inspectors to enforce

the Act and investigate any complaints.

“The Provincial Towing Association of Ontario has been leading the towing industry through a provincial licencing model to elevate professionalism in towing,” said Mark Graves, president of the Provincial Towing Association of Ontario. “The legislation Premier Ford and Minister Mulroney are announcing today is the framework required to implement a towing industry licencing system. The PTAO supports this legislation and looks forward to working directly with the government for implementation.”

The towing regulations come as part of the new Moving Ontarians More Safely Act (MOMS), which, if passed, will create tougher penalties for drivers caught engaging in unsafe

and high-risk driving, such as street racing or stunt driving.

According to the government, street racing and stunt driving offences have been trending upwards since 2015—but Summer 2020 saw an even greater spike.

Proposed measures to combat stunt driving include increasing vehicle impoundment from seven days to 14 days; increasing roadside driver’s license suspensions from seven days to 30 days; lowing the threshold for laying street racing/stunt driving charges for those traveling 40 km/h or more above the posted limit on roads where the speed limit is less than 80 km/h and implementing stronger post-conviction license suspensions for repeat offenders.

Solutions a national success. I am honoured to even be mentioned in the same breath as the other nominees and the previous award recipients.”

E.L.C Towing Dispatch Solutions was founded by Carpenter in 2015. The company manages the logistics and dispatch of a tow throughout Canada and the U.S. but also mediates between insurance companies and towing businesses, repair facilities, and auto recyclers in the automotive industry.

The company helps prevent unnecessary expenses and provides towing and storage logistics.

Carpenter has had to overcome several obstacles while building her business—such as having to navigate through an extremely male dominated industry. So, she is very thankful to see her hard work recognized in this format.

“It’s an honour that my peers are recognizing my hard work and to see that people are taking notice,” Carpenter told Collision Repair Magazine.

Carpenter hopes to inspire other women to take up space in predominantly male industries.

“Don’t give up. Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re not worthy or that you’re not good enough or that you don’t belong.”

The RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards is a national awards program celebrating the achievements of female entrepreneurs in Canada.

For 29 years, the awards have shone a spotlight on Canada’s most accomplished and impactful women who have demonstrated excellence—from economic growth to social change, from local to global reach, across multiple sectors.

AWARDING WOMEN Dara Carpenter, CEO of Torontobased E.L.C Towing Dispatch Solutions has been nominated for a second time for the 2021 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards.

“For those that know me I am not one to brag or tout my personal achievements however this award nomination is special to me so please forgive a little self-indulgence,” Carpenter wrote in a LinkedIn post.

“As I am sure you are aware It has been an interesting journey navigating through a male dominated and challenging industry.

It is truly rewarding to be nominated and recognized for all the hard work and effort that has gone into making ELC Towing Dispatch

JUNE 2021 COLLISION REPAIR 81

LAST WORD

A WRECKLESS WORLD Your job is safe in the crash-free future

BY ALLISON ROGERS

ADVERTISER INDEX 3M........................................ 04,77 Air Pro Diagnostics................... 41 AkzoNobel................................ 77 Arslan Automotive ................... 07 Assured..................................... 53 AsTech................................. 35,77 Autel US.................................... 29 Axalta........................................ 84 Carcone’s Auto Recycling........ 71 Cardinal Couriers Ltd............... 10 Caroliner................................... 39 Car-Part.com............................ 83 CARSTAR.................................. 27 Color Compass Corp............... 47 Equalizer................................... 73

W

hat does a collision-free future look like for the autobody repair industry?

At the idea of such a reality, many would imagine the collapse of the sector; no collisions mean no cars to repair. But that’s where you’d be wrong.

Honda recently made the statement that, by 2050, the OEM would tout zero traffic collision fatalities per year involving its vehicles and motorcycles, globally. The automaker plans to curb the severity of highway crashes by implementing its omnidirectional advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) to all new automobile models the company introduces in major markets by 2030. The Japanese giant

Many envision the future of collision repair to be less about restoring a twisted frame and beaten panels and more about the upkeep of such high-tech collision avoidance systems.

Eurovac................................ 69,77 Fix Auto..................................... 22 Hail Specialist........................... 65 IBIS............................................ 66 Impact Auto Auctions............... 55 Lift Auto Group......................... 38 LKQ.......................................16,17 Polyvance................................. 59 ProSpot International Inc... 2,3,76 Reliant Finishing....................... 43 Rexall........................................ 63 Sata........................................... 09 Sherwin Williams...................... 25 Simplicity Car Care................... 11 Spanesi Americas Inc...........21,76 Spray Max................................. 19 Symach..................................... 68 Thorold Auto Parts................... 79 Titanium Tools .....................51,76 Wisespray North America Inc... 76

Allison Rogers is the editor of Collision Repair magazine.

She can be reached at allison@mediamatters.ca.

tsunami-sized waves of technological advancement and change. With the introduction of aluminum panels, plastic welding, paintless dent repair, glue pull repair, three-stage coatings, e-coats and so much more, this industry has handled and adapted to more change—at a faster pace—than most could ever dream of.

Not to mention the impressive ADAS technology of today; a whole other beast the industry persistently navigates.

Look to the aviation industry for proof. In 2020, large commercial airplanes saw 0.27 fatal accidents per million flights, resulting in a total of 40 fatal collisions and 299 fatalities worldwide, according to aviation consulting

isn’t the only one making such claims. In 2017, General Motors CEO Mary Barra announced what she called to be an “ambitious vision” for GM—zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion—achieved by harnessing new technologies to prevent crashes from happening in the first place.

“No more crashes. One day, no more lives lost,” Barra wrote in the LinkedIn paper.

To reach such ambitious goals, OEMs admit technological advancements need to be made.

While impressive, it’s not likely that vehicle technology will be, in 30 years, at a point where it is capable of repairing and calibrating itself.

That’s where you come in.

Many envision the future of collision repair to be less about restoring a twisted frame and beaten panels and more about the upkeep of such high-tech collision avoidance systems.

With hundreds of sensors present on new vehicle models—and more added by the year—a mere fender bender in the grocery store parking lot will result in a complete recalibration of the system so many drivers rely on to keep them safe from more serious crashes.

Anyone that’s spent more than 10 minutes speaking to a seasoned repairer knows that the last 20 years of collision repair have seen

82 COLLISION REPAIR COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM

firm To70. Comparatively, approximately 1.35 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes, according to the World Health Organization.

Regardless, careers as an aircraft maintenance engineer remain in the picture. As of 2019, there were 17,662 licensed aircraft maintenance engineers in Canada, and there remains demand for such skilled technicians in the field.

You may be saying, “Well, that makes sense—aircrafts are much more advanced than automobiles,”—but give it some thought. We’re already seeing automakers make sweeping statements regarding the inclusion of ADAS in all new models. Companies worldwide are entering the now-popular race toward autonomous driving.

We may not be driving planes quite yet, but rest assured your job is safe with the amount of technological advancements ahead for the automotive industry. If you stay in tune with the happenings and ensure your skills are aligned with the times, you’ve got a long career in the field ahead of you.

And hey, if we do end up in a collision-free future, that’s a whole lot more time for restorations. Could be worse.

A X A LT A C O A T I N G S Y S T E M S

Color, meet your match.

With the ColorNet® system from Axalta, it’s easy to get the right color match. The system includes the industry-leading Acquire™ Quantum EFX and on-screen ColorProofing that eliminates the need to do spray-outs. It’s color match made easy.

Find your perfect match.

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