Issue 11 | Nov 2013
GLOSS EXCLUSIVE: HOT ROD LEGEND CHIP FOOSE Glasurit’s new centre of excellence opens soon Boy oh boy, girls are working in bodyshops Formula Vee a winner in Tasmania
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GLASURIT – EDITOR'S LETTER | 03
EDITOR’S LETTER
Welcome to this issue of GLOSS magazine (Issue 11). Welcome to the final issue of GLOSS for 2013. We hope your year has been a good one and that you have been able to take full advantage of the latest Glasurit products and services. We are pleased to be able to bring you some great stories in this issue and to introduce you to some fascinating people in the industry. This includes Chip Foose, a famous American automotive designer, painter and TV star. Chip talks about his work, his cars and the inspiration he gained from his father. We look at how Glasurit 90 LINE is impressing bodyshop owners all over the country – from Ballarat in Victoria to Darwin in the Northern Territory. It’s not just the boys who are using 90 LINE, either. In the article ‘Girl Power’ you will read about how two young women with determination and talent have become successful and respected painters. Another article looks at new BASF coatings that make cars sparkle and shine like millions of stars on a moonless night, while Head of Design Europe at BASF, Mark Gutjahr, introduces us to the new green colours that will feature on cars in the near future. The big news is that a new state-of-the-art Glasurit Refinish Competence Centre will open in early 2014. This facility will be like nothing ever seen or experienced before in the crash repair industry. As well as the latest equipment and cutting-edge processes and technologies, there will be highly skilled professional instructors who understand where the industry is headed, and know how to help repairers remain successful in an ever changing and extremely competitive environment. We hope you enjoy catching up with all the latest news in this issue and that you have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous New Year. If you have any story suggestions for our next issue, please let us know – we’d love to hear from you. Kind regards
CONTENTS WATERBORNE 18 BUSY IN BALLARAT Mick Murphy’s business is the biggest and busiest in Ballarat. FEATURES 04 FOOSE CONTROL We talk to famous automotive designer and builder Chip Foose about art, cars and his dad. 07 A NEW COATING THAT HAS US SEEING STARS What makes new XSpark sparkle? 08 GREEN IS ALL THE GO Expect to see a lot more of the colour green on the automotive landscape. 10 G IRL POWER Two determined young women are making their mark. 12 AUSTRALIA’S NEW CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE Glasurit’s new Refinish Competence Centre to open soon. 13 BASF LEADS THE RACE IN RUNNING SHOE TECHNOLOGY Using BASF technology, adidas have developed an entirely new running shoe. 14 TEAMWORK REALLY WORKS Automotive Refinish Technology (ART) in South Australia welcomes a new team. 16 A SERIOUS DAY ENDS WITH A FUN-FILLED NIGHT Seventy Glasurit bodyshop owners and senior managers met on the Gold Coast for work and play.
TONY WIGGINS Acting Head of Coatings BASF Australia Ltd
20 A FORMULA FOR FAMILY FUN The Bocchino brothers work on building and racing Formula Vee motorcars. 22 GLASURIT NEWS Views, profiles and industry updates.
04 | GLASURIT – FOOSE CONTROL
FOOSE CONTROL Chip Foose is an American hot rod shop owner, automotive designer and fabricator, and star of the reality TV series 'Overhaulin'.
GLASURIT – FOOSE CONTROL | 05
Clockwise from top: Chip Foose has fans all over the world; Chip’s drawings are as popular as his cars. PHOTOS BY JOE PURVES
He began working on automobiles at age seven in his father’s shop and painted his first car at just 12. He’s been flat out ever since, but has managed to stay in perfect control. GLOSS caught up with Chip on his recent and first trip to Australia, where he was special guest at Motor-Ex in Sydney. Here’s what he had to say. What advice would you give to a young spray painter who would like to get into a design position like you? Well, I love to build and I also love to draw. I started drawing when I was three years old and I started working in my father’s shop when I was seven. But as far as giving advice to somebody who knows how to paint and wants to design, my advice would be to draw as much as you can but also go to a design school. I went to Art Centre College of Design; I actually have an industrial design degree specialising in automotive. You were working with your dad at age seven and you painted your first car aged 12! Yes, it was a 356 Porsche, which at that time was worth maybe four or five thousand dollars so it wasn’t an expensive car. We were just painting it and we did it in a solid black so we could sand the runs out that I got in it. Dad let me actually spray the car though. That’s amazing. So was there ever a time that you weren’t going to go into this industry or was it just a given? My Dad always said that I’m not going into this industry. You know, I was helping him out in the shop and he’d say ‘You’re not going to do this for a living, you’re going to go work for a car company’ and I actually did work at a car company for a short while and the first day I was there I realised I didn’t want to stay there. Why was that? The gentleman next to me had been there 26 years and I was just doing a short-stay internship and he was re-building his pencil sharpener for three days. He was taking it apart and putting
it back together and taking it apart and putting it back together. After three days he whooped and hollered ‘Yay I did it!’ I asked him ‘What did you do?’ and he said ‘I balanced my pencil sharpener’. He showed me that he could sharpen the pencil without any vibration at all. That’s when I realised that I had to get out of there. And that’s a true story. If you were to restore an Australian car, what would you choose and what would you do to it? Well, I did two drawings this weekend at the show and one was the Monaro, but I actually blended some ‘69 Camaro details into it. I put a whole front end of a ‘69 Camaro onto it. There are four little fins that are in the front fenders, I pulled those back and put them in the rear, and I opened the rear wheel well so that I could get a larger wheel in the back. I also did the XY Coupe. The Ford, the four-door. One of the most popular Australian cars there is but I actually put the Falcon top on it because that’s the one that was the Mel Gibson car in Mad Max. I used that roof on this four-door and I also took the approach of ‘What if Carrol Shelby was racing in Australia when that car first came out?’ so I did kind of a Shelby twist on it. The Tractor Rod. Would you say that’s probably one of your most unusual projects? That was a very unusual project. The John Deere head had called us and all they wanted me to do was paint it for a promotional piece. I did have to stay with their colours but I added some pearl and I thought, ‘You know, it would be more fun if I could actually play with this.’ So everything that we did to the tractor you could unbolt and put it right back to stock. Take it out and re-plough the fields if you wanted to. I didn’t want to diminish what the tractor actually is but I wanted to have some fun with it. So we built a dropped axle and changed the wheel and tyre sizes and got the thing as low as I could with the big wheels on it still and tried to make it look like an original indie car. One of the things I could not get rid continued page 06
06 | GLASURIT – FOOSE CONTROL
Above: One of Chip’s hot rods, the renowned Hemisfear, is featured on ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’.
of was that huge bull bar at the back, you know that protects the tractor if it tips over. So rather than having the big cover on it, like they do, I turned it into what would be the F1 umbrella that the umbrella girls hold. You’re very busy with your show, your company and I know that you’re involved with children’s charities. Could you explain to me a typical day in the life of Chip? I generally leave the house around 6:30 or 7am and I have a contract with Disney where I do paintings for them and they sell the paintings. I have to sign those so I’m often there first thing in the morning, signing a few of those. Then I’ll either go to my shop or the ‘Overhaulin’ office first to make sure that everyone has a direction and then I’ll go to the other. Then I might run up to the wheel company to check on how the wheels are coming in as far as for a certain project or to pick something up. I’m generally working at either my shop first then ‘Overhaulin’ but I try to split my time up between both of them each day. Unless we’re in a crunch at one place then I’m there all day. Usually I’ll try to get home around 6:30-7 at night, have dinner with the kids. If I don’t fall asleep on the couch then I go back to one shop or the other to try and catch up. Then my studio is at home. We have a studio at the shop, studio at the set and then I also have one at home. This is where I’m generally doing all the drawings that I need to take to the shop the next day to give out so they have direction. With regard to your partnership with BASF with your ‘Color by Foose’,
how do you choose? What makes it in to the selection? The colours are in my head and the colours that I’ve mixed are the colours that I’ve mixed for projects or colours that I’d like to use on projects that I have not used yet. We were actually doing the factory pack where you buy it with the label and everything and its actually very hard to do and expensive. So I told BASF let’s just make the formulas available and then anybody can have them. It doesn’t need to be a factory pack. That’s the way we’re doing them now.
"I was blown away with the quality and the quantity of cars." A lot of young designers look to you for their inspiration. Who would you say is your inspiration? My father. I like to consider that my career is an extension of his and I’m still trying to make him proud. He’s sure to be proud that you were the youngest inductee into the Hot Rod Hall of Fame. How did that feel? It’s a great feeling, but I still think that my father was more deserving than me. Why do you say that? Well as a kid I remember being blown away by the stuff that he was doing and he also worked
for other people that got inducted. You never want to overshadow what your father has done. He is my hero and in my mind he is better than what I have done. So what cars live in your garage at home? What do you use to go and get milk? My daily driver is a Ford-produced 500 Foose Edition pickup. That’s pretty much my daily driver but I also have a couple of ‘69 Camaros, and a 2002 Thunderbird that I call the ‘speed bird’ because it’s completely modified. I have a ‘42 Buick convertible, a ‘47 Ford convertible, ‘53 Corvette. I have a lot of cars parked in a friend’s warehouse I have cars that reside in a couple of museums. At home, I have one of the Camaros, the Speedbird, the F-150, and then my wife has two Mercedes. She has an S550 and a GL 450, which is an SUV. So you’ve had a very busy weekend. Did you enjoy it? Yeah, it was fun. There are some amazing cars. I had seen some of those cars in magazines from Australia but of course, I had never been here before. I was blown away with the quality and the quantity of cars. I figured I would see a few that were high quality but there are a lot of them here. Yeah it was amazing. How do you think the Australian cars stand up on a world scale? I think these are some of the better cars that I’ve seen, going around the world and going to different shows. There is some beautiful stuff in here. I would put them in America any day.
GLASURIT – A NEW COATING THAT HAS US SEEING STARS | 07
A NEW COATING THAT HAS US SEEING STARS
What makes new XSpark® from BASF sparkle like thousands of stars on a clear, moonless night? It’s the fact that it contains very fine particles of glass that reflect light with greater precision and intensity to create a more distinct sparkle. Indeed, no other specialeffect coating glitters and shines quite as brilliantly as XSpark. As Stephan Schwarte, Head of Basecoat Pigments/Dispersion and Colour Design Lab, noted: “With XSpark, we have achieved a level of exclusive effect previously unknown.” What’s really special about XSpark is that the distinctive sparkle is particularly effective only in
light and therefore looks exceptionally luxurious without being intrusive.
reflection conveys an exceptional depth to the coating.”
Mark Gutjahr, Head of Design Europe at BASF, was delighted at the versatility of the new coating. “Depending on the intensity and colouring used, the effect creates a very sporty and elegant look,” he said. "Dark colour ranges achieve an almost mystical appearance while shades of white are more refined. The intensity and effect can vary from subdued yet elegant to intensive and crystal-like.”
Not surprisingly, XSpark is targeted at premium car manufacturers and their customers. Meike Flöck from Marketing for Automotive OEM Coatings, in summarising the results of market research among new car buyers, said: “We see great potential for XSpark because consumers will view it as something special so it’s sure to generate enthusiasm and excitement.”
While developing this special-effect coating the designers worked closely with scientific experts to achieve an optimum result. Mr. Schwarte said: “The glass particles in the coating flash clearly in the light. The resulting pure, single-coloured
XSpark is a welcome addition to the XColours family and continues BASF's leadership in innovative, special-effect coatings. Main image: New BASF XSpark® coating makes cars sparkle.
08 | GLASURIT – GREEN IS ALL THE GO
GREEN IS ALL THE GO
As Mark Gutjahr exclaims, “It’s about time for us to have more colour!" Which is just what you’ll get with the wide variety of new greens.
GLASURIT – GREEN IS ALL THE GO | 09
After more than a decade in which black, silver, white and more recently, brown have made their mark on the roads, the automotive landscape is set to become more colourful. In particular, expect to see a lot more shades of green. As Mark Gutjahr, Head of Design Europe at BASF explained: “With new technologies, new models and new mobility concepts, a shift in values is on the horizon. In this context, green as the colour of growth and a new beginning is playing a key role.” A whole new motoring environment You could be forgiven for thinking that a green colour range is connected to nature and represents a pristine environment. However, the truth is that the new greens that will be applied to cars in the coming years are making a point of leaving their environmental image behind. Society’s values are shifting from a romantic ‘back to nature’ view to one of seeking intelligent solutions and relevant technologies. With this in mind, green stands for new values such as straightforwardness, responsibility and individuality, as well as for harmony and balance, which are becoming increasingly important to everyone. A colourful approach As Mark Gutjahr exclaimed enthusiastically: “It’s about time for us to have more colour!", which is just what you’ll get with the wide
variety of new greens. You’ll also get more flexibility and be able to meet your customers’ needs in an original and individual way. New effect categories and topics such as haptics and mat coatings will give you even more possibilities when it comes to creating distinctive finishes. For example, the use of new effect pigments ensures a striking glitter that makes a clearer, cleaner and more intensive impression than any other previous effects. The distinctive sparkle is particularly effective in light, giving the coating an elegant impact without being overbearing. A world of many colours While green is setting the trend for bold automotive colours, BASF’s global design team has identified clear differences in regions throughout the world. Even if green is the global theme, the way it is presented in Asia Pacific, North America and Europe varies greatly. Here we can expect themes such as nature, relaxation and harmony to have a strong influence on the green colour range. Subtle but multifaceted colours are expected, with vibrant pastels playing an important role.
The new greens that will be applied to cars in the coming years are making a point of leaving their environmental image behind. Below: Mark Gutjahr, Head of Design at BASF Europe, explores the possibilities a green palette brings.
10 | GLASURIT – GIRL POWER
GIRL POWER
“When you finish the job and it looks great, it makes you feel great,”
Sisters are doing it for themselves … and doing it very well indeed. There are not many female painters working in Australian bodyshops. But the ones who are have brought an enthusiasm, passion and eye for detail that is really getting noticed. At the start the boys found it rather amusing to have a girl in the shop, but once they saw how quickly these girls learnt and how high their standards were that soon changed to genuine respect. Besides, as 19-year-old Lauren Neill from Canberra said: “I can give as good as I get.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROHAN THOMSON
Lauren’s making her mark in Canberra Unlike her sister, who is a beautician, Lauren Neill always wanted to learn a trade and work in an environment that was a bit more physical. Moving to Canberra from a small country town, she began her apprenticeship in early November 2012, just after finishing her final year of secondary school. Like all apprentices, Lauren started with the basics including priming, rubbing and helping keep the workshop neat and tidy. Then it was painting under supervision for four months and for the past six months she has been painting on her own – making the same decisions and judgements as a fully qualified painter. Lauren works with a full Glasurit system including 90 LINE and has been impressed with
both the system and the support Glasurit has given her and the rest of the team. “When you finish the job and it looks great, it makes you feel great,” Lauren said. Lauren’s interest in great-looking cars doesn’t stop when she leaves work. Her dream is to own either a 1967 Impala or a 1974 Charger. “I just love the way they look and now with my training and experience I could make them look even better if I wanted to,” she said.
Photos: After only 12 months, Lauren has developed plenty of knowledge and skills.
GLASURIT – GIRL POWER | 11
The power of persistence To become a painter, Tara Savage literally had to travel the world. First, as an English backpacker, she got a job as a detailer at a Sydney bodyshop. It was here that a senior painter gave her a chance to help with removing scratches and getting parts ready. Subsequently, Tara spent more time in the workshop and was inspired to become a fully qualified painter. However, visa restrictions meant she could not complete her apprenticeship in Australia and had to move back to England. It’s a testament to Tara’s determination and character that this is exactly what she did. After her training in Bristol, where Tara finished two months early and with the highest marks in her class, she moved back to Sydney and is working as a senior painter.
The bodyshop where Tara works recently changed to Glasurit 90 LINE waterborne paints and everyone found the changeover very straightforward. “Glasurit helped set it all up and then came back to see everything was fine – which it was,” Tara said. When it comes to results, Tara couldn’t be happier. “When everything is done and the car looks like new, it really does give you a sense of pride. We’re all happy – the boss, the manager, the customer and me, of course.”
Photos: Tara works on all sorts of vehicles including luxury vehicles like Mercedes Benz.
“When everything is done and the car looks like new, it really does give you a sense of pride.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY PIPER
12 | GLASURIT – AUSTRALIA'S NEW CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE
AUSTRALIA’S NEW CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE Opening in early 2014, the new Glasurit Refinish Competence Centre (RCC) will be the most advanced and highly developed refinish education centre and solution provider in the entire Australia and Pacific region. It is set to provide considerable added value for bodyshop owners and their staff through demonstrating best practice systems in efficiency and environmental responsibility, while highlighting the latest refinishing processes and painting technology. At this world-class facility, spraypainters, managers and owners will learn how to boost the quality of their work – making it better, quicker and a lot more efficient. Which means
more cars through the booth in a day, and more money in everyone’s pocket. Each year, more than 10,000 participants take part in seminars and workshops offered by the 46 centres located around the world. Now it’s our turn to take full advantage of all that this innovative and technically brilliant RCC has to offer.
This new facility will be like nothing you have ever seen or experienced before. As well as the latest equipment and cutting-edge processes and technologies, there will be highly skilled trainers who understand where the refinish business is headed and how to remain successful in an ever changing and extremely competitive environment.
This new facility will be like nothing you have ever seen or experienced before.
Glasurit is the leading waterborne paint in the world and now with our new RCC, we can really expect some extraordinary results. If you thought Australia couldn’t shine any brighter in summer, wait until you see the cars in a few months' time.
GLASURIT – BASF LEADS THE RACE IN RUNNING SHOE TECHNOLOGY | 13
DID YOU
KNOW?
BASF LEADS THE RACE IN RUNNING SHOE TECHNOLOGY “When the foot is pushed off the ground, the force expended is largely returned to the athlete. This results in completely new and improved running behavior. Many runners have told us that the shoe feels like it is almost alive.” Rebound effect material: 2,500 Infinergy foam beads form the midsole of the new running shoe.
Cross section of a single foam bead: The scanning electron microscope image shows tiny air bubbles (measuring 30 to 300 microns) enclosed in the BASF plastic.
BASF materials experts have supported adidas in its quest to make the lightest, fastest running shoes for more than 20 years. Now, using BASF’s new foam Infinergy,™ adidas has developed the Energy Boost, a completely new running shoe with unique spring and cushioning properties. Its outstanding feature is the midsole, the central element of every running shoe. It is made from new particle foam that absorbs the shock impact on the foot during jogging, while simultaneously cushioning the foot. The high rebound effect of the material provides the runner with an energy return not offered by any other running shoe.
InfinergyTM is made of expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (E-TPU). Uwe Keppeler, material and process developer at BASF, said: “E-TPU is manufactured by foaming the starting material, TPU granules. After pretreatment with pressure and heat, the individual granules measuring up to five millimetres each are blown up like popcorn.” In the process, its volume increases tenfold to produce oval foam beads with tiny, closed gas bubbles inside. BASF research scientist Frank Prissok said: “These sealed air cells make the lightweight foam beads very elastic and provide the desired rebound effect. The individual beads can be imagined as being like tiny footballs - the more air they contain, the better they bounce and rebound back.” Remarkably, adidas needs about 2500 of these small beads for every midsole.
A midsole made from InfinergyTM is particularly effective at absorbing the shock impact on the foot. As soon as the compressive impulse subsides, the foam returns to its original shape at lightning speed. The sole therefore absorbs the runner’s energy, but then returns a large amount to the runner. This rebound elasticity of the individual InfinergyTM beads literally transforms the running shoes into energy stores. Gerd Manz, Senior Innovation Director Global Brands at adidas, explained: “When the foot is pushed off the ground, the force expended is largely returned to the athlete. This results in completely new and improved running behavior. Many runners have told us that the shoe feels like it is almost alive.”
14 | GLASURIT – TEAMWORK REALLY WORKS
GLASURIT – TEAMWORK REALLY WORKS | 15
TEAMWORK REALLY WORKS PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN HEMMINGS
South Australian Automotive Refinish Technology (ART) is heading in a new direction. There’s new staff, new ideas and a whole new approach. It’s paying dividends, too, with four new smash repairers signing up with Glasurit in the past four months. Business Development Manager, Steve Housden, has worked in the refinishing industry for over 30 years and is delighted to be involved with such an iconic, quality brand. “Glasurit is renowned to be the best. The quality and performace is outstanding,” Steve said. He also has plenty of praise and respect for his staff. For example, Steve believes his two technical sales representatives are the best there are. “These two are the best I’ve ever worked with – both personality wise and when it comes to technical expertise and ability, just brilliant.” The sales technical reps he’s talking about are Jason Evers and Peter D’Orsi who are certainly excited about the new direction ART is taking. Jason said: “I think currently ART SA has a great team of people that can provide good service as
well as backup and support. We are able to offer the bodyshops a higher level of education when it comes to product and application, but more importantly also better process education.” New team member Peter D’Orsi says it’s a privelege to work for such a professional and supportive company like ART, which is complemented by and easy to use product and a great bunch of customers. Customer service representative Alison Sharpen believes the new staff members have brought a broader spectrum of knowledge and fresh perspective to the business. People are also working together as a team and developing new ways to provide better service and more competitive pricing. Alison said: “We’re all striving to be the best we can!”
The team spirit at ART flows through to birthday celebrations and weekly meetings where everyone is encouraged to contribute and share their ideas. You can sense a real enthusiasm, confidence and positive feeling about the place, said Sean Littler. “Our customers are talking to other customers and telling them how good we are. Which is great because word-of-mouth advertising is the best you can get, there is a real spirit and energy from them,” Bob Copeland said. Steve also wants ART South Australia to be known for its honesty and trust. He believes that customers not only want to deal with knowledgeable people, but honest people. “When you deal with ART you’re dealing with people who know what they’re talking about, people you can really trust.” So what does the future hold for ART? What is the team plan? “We definitely plan to keep moving things forward,” Steve said. Our plan is to be a successful, happy place and with the outstanding team we have in place, the sky really is the limit.”
“Our customers are talking to other customers and telling them how good we are. Which is great because word of mouth advertising is the best you can get,”
The team at ART (L-R): Far left: Bob Copeland, Jason Evers, Steve Housden, Peter D’Orsi Left: Alison Sharpen, Sean Littler.
16 | GLASURIT – A SERIOUS DAY ENDS WITH A FUNFILLED NIGHT
A SERIOUS DAY ENDS WITH A FUNFILLED NIGHT
For the smash repair industry, sustainability means you have to be able to adapt to change. Keeping up with new technology is essential if you want to maintain a sustainable business. That’s why nearly 70 Glasurit bodyshop owners and senior managers recently met at the Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast to discuss this very issue.
gave a fascinating presentation about how chemistry could help improve productivity and create a much better future for all of us in the smash repair industry. He also outlined some major trends within the industry that he believed would influence business sustainability.
refinish market. In this market, after the car’s initial warranty is up, insurance companies are increasingly influential in decisions as to where the vehicle will be repaired. • Property/casualty claims economy as influencer – Vehicle repair has emerged as a more relevant cost area, for focus and control by industry influencers.
Through informative discussions with BASF and industry experts, participants were able to recognise the need to drive change and incorporate sustainable measures in their future business plans.
Business sustainability trends • Technology shift – BASF’s waterborne refinish coatings are increasing their market share. This is largely due to the growing demand from influencers in the industry (original equipment manufacturers, insurance companies) for water-based technologies over solvent-based technologies.
The advantages of Advanced Bodyshop Solutions (ABS) Another inspiring speaker was BASF’s David Priestly, Business Manager, New Zealand, Groups and ABS. David encouraged everyone to take full advantage of ABS to enhance sustainable business growth.
Kenneth Marshall, Director, Automotive Refinish Coatings Solutions, Asia Pacific, BASF,
• Influencer shift – The premium car segment makes up 60% of the global automotive
He outlined how ABS could help Glasurit bodyshops to keep ahead of the constant
GLASURIT – A SERIOUS DAY ENDS WITH A FUNFILLED NIGHT | 17
changes in their business and the industry with key performance indicator management and coaching tools, group meetings, seminars, facility planning and business health checks. Concluding the day was the energetic and captivating Peter Thurin, founder of Blackbelt in Excellence. He explained how to motivate employees and how small changes could make a big difference. High praise from participants Tony Wiggins, Acting Head of Coatings, BASF Australia Ltd., was delighted with how the event went. “The Palazzo Versace was a superb venue and the entertainment in the evening was tremendous, but what pleased me the most was the positive feedback from participants
regarding the conference content and the quality of the speakers,” Mr Wiggins said. “With the rapid change in market dynamics we always try to bring relevant and topical information to our customers, and to have this overwhelmingly ratified as hitting the mark was the most satisfying part for me.” The conference was followed by an evening of great entertainment by one of Australia’s most outstanding singers, Mahalia Barnes (daughter of Jimmy Barnes), and her band The Soul Mates. As you can see from the photos, everyone had an absolute ball.
Photos: Music, magic and merriment made for a magnificent night.
18 | GLASURIT – BUSY IN BALLARAT
BUSY IN BALLARAT PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALDONA KMIEC Not many people in Australia, let alone Ballarat, have as much experience in the smash repair business as Mick Murphy. He worked as a painter for 18 years, spent four years as the manager, and three years ago he bought the business. That’s 25 years of accumulated knowledge and experience, so he certainly knows what he’s doing and how to achieve excellent results.
GLASURIT – BUSY IN BALLARAT | 19
Mick Murphy’s business, Inland Bodyworks, is the biggest and busiest smash repairer in Ballarat, Victoria. With six painters, nine panel beaters and a detailer, 30 to 40 cars a week go through the shop.
Photos: Thanks to Glasurit, Mick Murphy's business runs better than ever.
90 LINE gets results Achieving excellent results is exactly why Mick decided to change over to Glasurit 90 LINE. Besides the fact that he’d heard such good things about Glasurit service and seen such brilliant finishes using 90 LINE, he was also having trouble with both the product and the people at his current supplier. It didn’t take long for Mick to discover why Glasurit’s 90 LINE waterborne system is quickly becoming the most popular coating in bodyshops around the world. “It’s highly concentrated, quick and gives you great coverage. 90 LINE has fantastic hiding power, it's environmentally friendly, fast drying and it saves us time and money on materials.
What more could you want?” Mick said An easy changeover Mick found changing over to 90 LINE waterborne coatings was easy. “Everything went well and the people from Glasurit knew exactly what they were doing,” Mick said. “The whole package is great – the application system, colour system and all the help and training. All the boys are very impressed. Much better than we’re used to actually.” Great people As well as the quality and range of the Glasurit products has to offer, Mick was also particularly pleased with the quality of Glasurit’s people. “They’re all very helpful and
you always get the same bloke so you build up a strong relationship,“ he said. “They’re not scared to express their point of view. They’re good teachers, too, and show you the best way to go about it. They’re nice guys as well, which is a bonus.” A bright future With the support of Glasurit, Mick was confident that the future of Inland Bodyworks would be healthy and prosperous. He viewed programs such as Advanced Body Solutions as adding real value to his business, both from a commercial and organisational perspective. “Like everyone, we want to work smarter not harder. Which is what we’re doing now and it seems to be really paying off,” Mick said.
20 | GLASURIT – A FORMULA FOR FAMILY FUN
A FORMULA FOR FAMILY FUN
What is a Formula Vee? The Formula Vee class is based on a pre-1963 Beetle, using a collection of the stock parts to form a competitive racing car around a purposebuilt tube frame and racing tyres. The VW engine, transmission, front suspension, brakes and wheels are stock or modified stock parts. The chassis is a tube frame design and the body is fibreglass or carbon fibre. The idea is that the average person can build and maintain the car.
PHOTO BY BLUEPATCH PHOTOGRAPHY
GLASURIT – A FORMULA FOR FAMILY FUN | 21
Not many brothers are as close as Nino, Luigi, Alfonso and Vincenzo Bocchino. Not only do they work together at Bocchino Motors in Hobart, they also play together – just like they did when they were kids. Only now it involves Formula Vee racing cars and speeds up to 190 kilometres an hour.
girls were attracted to him when he was a young racing car driver.
The Bocchino brothers became involved in motor racing some 25 years ago and each plays an important role in this winning team. While Nino is the driver, the others ensure the vehicle remains in top condition – working on everything from mechanical to bodyworks and painting.
Being involved in motor racing has also been good for the Bocchino brothers’ business. Their personalities and skills have attracted a lot of customers over the years. What’s more, they’ve made some great friends, too. “We’ve been racing against each other for so long and Tasmania is a small place, so we know each other on and off the circuit. We have a great camaraderie and friendship,” Nino said.
After 100 races on the local circuit there have been many highlights, but one really stands out for Nino. “I must say the real highlight for me was winning the Formula Vee State of Tasmania Championship in 2011,” he said. Motor racing has its dangers and the Bocchinos have been involved in several crashes. Thankfully, no one was hurt except for the cars. But with all the brothers’ talents on hand, fixing the cars took next to no time.
Clockwise from left: The brothers keep their Formula Vee looking good and going fast. Another win for the Bocchino brothers. Nino was Tasmanian state champion in 2011.
The brothers chose Glasurit water-based paint for their racing cars because it is stronger and more flexible on fibreglass vehicles. It looks great, too, according to Nino. “It is very important for the car to look beautiful just as it’s important for it to go very fast,” Nino said. Beautiful cars aren’t all Nino likes being surrounded by. He laughed when asked whether
“What do you mean when I was young? I’m still young and love being surrounded by attractive girls. I often organise grid girls for motorsport events.”
The Bocchino brothers believe that “we don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing”. Nino said: “As long as I’m moving, I will never be too old to be involved in motor racing whether behind the wheel or part of the support team.”
“What do you mean when I was young? I’m still young and love being surrounded by attractive girls."
22 | GLASURIT – NEWS
GLASURIT NEWS
VERY IMPORTANT PERSONS
VERY IMPORTANT PAINT
Up until the Glasurit 90 LINE VIP night, virtually no one in Darwin was using this waterborne technology. That’s why Gary Laugher from the coatings distributor Robayne saw a great opportunity to promote Glasurit in general and 90 LINE in particular. By being the first to actively promote waterborne technology, Gary believed Glasurit would become leaders in this area. With the support of Ron Warmington, Business Development Manager from Glasurit, Gary organised a special VIP night to promote the benefits of 90 LINE over solvent paints. Thirty five people attended and all were eager to learn about this new technology. An avalanche of questions was asked and there was plenty of interest in how 90 LINE would dry in Darwin’s tropical climate.
It was here that Gary was able to conduct a demonstration in the onsite spray booth then invite guests to apply it themselves. This proved to be beneficial in allaying any concerns about how 90 LINE would perform in Darwin. The response to the night was overwhelming. Guests were delighted to be involved in such an informative and interesting event. One shop has already changed to 90 LINE and another is scheduled to change in November. Territorians often feel they miss out on nights such as this and are not kept up to date with the latest products and business trends. With this in mind, there will be another VIP night in Darwin in early 2014. There will also be one in Perth in November. If you’re in the industry, make sure you book a place. You’ll be treated like a VIP.
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GLASURIT – NEWS | 23
GLOSS MAGAZINE
GLOSS EXCLUSIVE: HOT ROD LEGEND CHIP FOOSE Glasurit’s new centre of excellence opens soon Boy oh boy, girls are working in bodyshops Formula Vee a winner in Tasmania
Your name: Rosy.
Favourite Karaoke song: Dancing Queen by ABBA.
Position: Demand Planner.
What would be your ultimate meal: Hot Indian curry.
Location: Wetherill, Sydney.
What three people would you choose to share it with: My family.
How long in this position: Approximately 10 years. How long at Glasurit: 15 years. Best part of your job: The challenges. Worst part of your job: The unknown. Biggest achievement in this role: Being here for 15 years. Favourite movie: The Bourne Identity.
How do you relax outside of work? Country or beach drives. Is there a funny story you can share with us from your job? Lots but they just can’t be published! What did you want to be when you grew up? Kindergarten teacher. Why did you decide on this industry? I fell into it purely by chance. Tell us something that we would find surprising about you? I’m a qualified lab technician.
AND OUR NEXT FEATURE IN GLOSS MAGAZINE IS … YOU!
Cover photograph courtesy of NINO BOCCHINO
Rosy Farnon
Issue 11 | Nov 2013
GLOSS STAFF MEMBER QUESTIONNAIRE:
I M PR I N T Editor
Tony Wiggins – Acting Head of Coatings Australia & New Zealand BASF Australia Ltd 231–233, Newton Road Wetherill Park NSW 2164 Australia E: contact-australia@basf.com Phone: 02 8787 0100 Fax: 02 8787 0133 Glasurit® is a brand of BASF Australia Ltd, a company in the BASF-Group. www.glasurit.com.au www.asiapacific.basf.com Advertising Trudi Raymant – OMG! Creative Level 3, 180 Flinders Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia Phone: 03 9654 0532 E: trudi@omgcreative.com.au Editorial Contributing Editor Mark Bell – OMG! Creative Level 3, 180 Flinders Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia Contact for press enquiries: Phone: 02 9555 9476 E: lucy@lucidcomms.com.au Art Direction, Design & Production OMG! Creative Level 3, 180 Flinders Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia Phone: 03 9654 0532 www.omgcreative.com.au
We want to hear from our readers, whether you’re a bodyshop owner, staff member or distributor. We want to hear about any interesting refinish or restoration projects that you’re working on, things that are of concern to your bodyshop or the industry, changes you’ve implemented that you’d like to share with other readers or just funny
stories from your bodyshop. Write us a letter, drop us an email, send us a photo or just ask us a question if you want. We’re looking forward to featuring some of your contributions in future issues of GLOSS. Contact Trudi at OMG! Creative trudi@omgcreative.com.au or phone 03 9654 0532
Photography BASF-Group Joe Purves Getty Images Jeremy Piper Rohan Thomson John Hemmings Aldona Kmiec´ Bluepatch Photography
© BASF Australia Ltd 2013. No responsibility is accepted by BASF for the accuracy of any statement of advice contained in the text or advertisements. All material appearing in GLOSS magazine is copyright. BASC0174
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Glasurit, 231-233 Newton Road, Wetherill Park NSW 2164 Australia Tel: 02 8787 0100 Fax: 02 8787 0133 www.glasurit.com.au