Refinisher Vol65 Issue 1 2023

ALSO INSIDE: GLOBAL GIANT EMBRACES DIGIMATCHTM AND VISUALIZIDTM TECH

• MEET JOHNSON FAMILY RACING

• AN ELECTRIC SCOOTER WITH COLOURFUL AMBITIONS

• MAINTAINING THAT SATA MAGIC

Connect. Automate. Digitise.

The end-to-end digital ecosystem bringing advanced, game-changing technologies to your collision centre

Introducing the 3D digital sprayout

This advanced, 3D digital colour visualisation tool smoothly interfaces with the next-generation PPG DigiMatch™ camera-equipped spectrophotometer to totally transform the user experience of selecting the best colour match formulation from PPG’s extensive library.

Compact, fast, easy-to-use spectrophotometer

PPG’s high tech DigiMatch spectrophotometer features a digital colour camera to significantly boost performance. The camera’s six imaging angles combine with six reflective angles to provide additional texture information to help quickly and precisely retrieve the correct formula match.

Sprint finish

Despite cutting her teeth in powerboat racing and tarmac circuit racing, Brooke Newson reckons the prospect of getting behind the wheel of a fully-fledged sprint car was terrifying. So, when her dad called to say he had bought a sprint car, let’s go racing, her first thought was “Oh my god, this is actually happening!”.

LEROS

Formula 500. “When you are in amongst the pack on the track, having great colours and logos is really important to stand out. This year’s cars have turned out really well and a lot of that is down to PPG paint. PPG was one of my first sponsors and it has been part of my racing ever since.” R

saves the day

When you want to save time on sanding a big job, you need to think big, just like MIRKA’s innovative LEROS tool with its long handle and 225mm diameter sanding head. Often facing large, relatively flat surfaces, Royans Wagga put a LEROS to the test and it passed with flying colours, says Chris Kerr, PPG Territory Manager NSW. “The team at Royans Wagga are having great success with

DRIVE THROUGH

Runninga business isn’t easy and sometimes seeking outside help is the best solution. It’s not a sign of weakness – it’s about recognising your strengths while also understanding where you can leverage the expertise of others to boost business performance. I’m pleased to say, these key business partnerships are a PPG strong suit across the globe.

Check out our stunning cover and feature article (pg 16) and it’s easy to understand why Andy Minas (from Andy’s Restorations) reckons ‘Champagne Lady’ is one of his team’s most complex builds. Interestingly, despite his decades of experience, Andy was wise enough to call in specialist expertise,

Another category, another title for Geoff Emery!

With three Australian GT titles already under his belt (2017, ’18 and ’19), Geoff Emery, has now added a prestigious Porsche Carrera Cup Pro-Am Championship to his trophy cabinet. When the dust settled following a hectic final round on the Gold Coast, the PPG supported ace actually finished the 2022 season tied on points with Dean Cook. However, a count back saw Emery awarded the title. After the disappointment of finishing a close second in 2021, this was redemption. “It’s really good to get a Porsche Carrera Cup (Pro-Am) Championship under my belt. This is a tough championship

WITH ANDREW BLAKE REFINISH MARKETING DIRECTOR ANZ

when it was required, including PPG for the signature colour that gave the car its name. At the same time, our largest global refinish customer, the Boyd Gerber Group (pg 6), partners with PPG for paint products and the latest PPG LINQ digital ecosystem technology, while Indian start-up, Bounce, trusted the PPG Asian Paints team to develop funky launch colours and deliver an OEM supply (pg 28). Then there is the Action Smart Group (pg 10) which chose to partner with PPG because we took the time to understand their business model and provide them with targeted national support. Also in the mix is the regionwide MVP Business Solution team who can provide business management support at whatever level you need, such as with Hadwen’s Prestige Collision Repairs (pg 24). It’s all about win / win partnerships that help businesses put together all the pieces for long term success.

There is a lot of preparation involved and you have to be surrounded by good people and good sponsors, like PPG. We have enjoyed a long and successful partnership over the past 15 years or so.” R

hroughout three years in the hyper competitive Touring Car Racing (TCR) Australia series, Tony D’Alberto has learnt plenty of lessons and in 2022, he put them into practice. On the back of an extremely consistent season, where he scored multiple race wins and podium finishes, the long-time PPG partner was able to wrap up the coveted TCR Australia championship at the Mount Panorama finale. “It’s really nice to get that win! This is a highly competitive championship so you have to finish races to accumulate points and every point counts. I’m super proud to be able to deliver a championship with Honda, especially when they put a lot of faith in the program when TCR first came to Australia. PPG has been on the journey with me since I was a kid racing go-karts and I’m proud to have their support for the TCR campaign.” R

Hitting the bullseye

In general, refinish painters are a pretty world-weary, sceptical bunch. Faced with ‘another’ new technology that is going to change their lives, they can often be indifferent or even hostile. This is exactly the scenario the PPG technical team often walked into when rolling out the new DigiMatch and VisualizID technologies to the company’s largest global refinish customer. Comprising over 800 shops across the U.S. and Canada, the Boyd Gerber Group has enjoyed a strong partnership with PPG since around 2004. Despite the Gerber management team being blown away when they saw DigiMatch and VisualizID in action, individual painters on the shopfloor were not prepared to cut the PPG team any slack, according to Elson Dolliver, PPG’s Boyd Gerber Assured Account Manager.

threw all the worst-case situations and colours at us. DigiMatch and VisualizID nailed it and he switched to loving the process. Once the other painters saw that, the news spread quickly. These painters have been around the block and they know what is real and what isn’t and these technologies have definitely caught their imagination. You can’t fake it!”

Perfect partners

Combining the DigiMatch spectrophotometer with VisualizID 3D visualisation software creates something truly special. As well as being compact, lightweight and intuitive to use, the DigiMatch spectro features an inbuilt digital camera allowing it to gather an unprecedented amount of data from six imaging angles, as well as

As DIGIMATCH™ and VISUALIZID™ technologies rollout in Australia and New Zealand we look at its spectacularly successful launch with PPG’s biggest global refinish customer.

This highly detailed information from the target colour is seamlessly transferred to the VisualizID function in PAINTMANAGER® XI by WiFi or via the docking station. This is where it makes the jump from physical sprayout to 3D digital spray-out. On one side of the screen, VisualizID displays a digital rendering of the vehicle colour, created from DigiMatch spectro data. The operator then selects any of the colour formulations from the vehicle paint code search which generates a digital spray-out right next to the target vehicle colour. Technicians can then make comparisons as if they were holding a conventional spray-out against the vehicle and, with a click, they can select and compare any of the colour variants on the list. The 3D spray-outs can be rotated to any viewing direct and the light source direction can be moved around to help view different effects. Other options, include ‘blend view’ (representing a blend situation) and ‘edge view’ (representing an edge-to-edge finish), as well as different angles to assess the flash, flop and face of the colour and the ability to zoom into the images to help pick up potentially subtle differences.

Game-changer

As the number of Gerber shops using the technology continues to grow, the success of the program just keeps gathering momentum, says Elson Dolliver. “We are way past the days of having just five to

the 3D renderings as a flat or a curved panel, they can use different light sources and from different directions.

One of the tricks they quickly picked up on is the ‘formula compare’ option. It lets you compare up to four variants at a time and it lists the tinters used in each mix. VisualizID will also renders two variants at a time so you

can compare them side-by-side. That has become super popular!”

Other clever DigiMatch features have also contributed to the positive shopfloor feedback. For example, when measuring a vehicle’s paintwork, it’s easy to use the touchscreen to enter the paint code and a reference, such as the last four digits of the job number, so it’s there when the reading is downloaded. An ‘automatic’ mode adds even more convenience. Once the spectro’s three sensor pins are activated to indicate a good seal on the target panel, the device can be programmed to automatically

0 seconds and 5 seconds without the operator having

From strength to strength

With the number of North American DigiMatch and VisualizID growing rapidly, Elson rates it as one of the most successful PPG implementations ever. “New technology doesn’t necessarily live up to the hype but, in this case, people are actually blown away because DigiMatch and VisualizID really works. The confidence of the painters is way up and we see them nail colours a heck of a lot faster, without having to do a spray-out.

Family fast

Impressive as they are, pure numbers don’t tell the full story of Dick Johnson’s enduring legacy. Along the way to creating a motor sport dynasty under the Dick Johnson Racing (DJR) banner, the Aussie racing legend personally racked up five Australian Touring Car Championships and three Bathurst 1000 victories. However, that pales into insignificance when compared to his family legacy – his son, Steven, and now with third generation racer, Jett. Indeed, Jett and Dick have enjoyed a strong bond from day one, according to Steven Johnson.

“It’s a back story a lot of people don’t know. Mum and Dad have been through

sport environment, you might think it was inevitable that Jett would end up on track but it was his choice at each step. After starting in go-karts, he progressed through the Hyundai Excel Series to his current drive behind the wheel of a 525hp TA2 Mustang where, after a hard fought season, Jett was crowned 2022 TA2

the fact we can follow in his footstep and go racing as a family. Depending on the race meeting, we will have Mum and Dad, my sister Kelly, my wife Bree and our daughter Lacy, all pitching in and cheering Jett on. Recently, when we brought the car down for the Sandown round, I actually drove the truck from Brisbane and back with Jett and

Interest from other racers looking for a service that prepares their cars and delivers them to the track has been the catalyst behind the creation of Team Johnson Speed Shop. Totally separate to DJR, it is wholly owned and operated by the Johnson family. At this early stage, it has just two full time employees, one of which is Jett who is following in his father’s footsteps by completing a motor mechanics apprenticeship. However, plans are in place to continue building the car preparation business over the coming

FOLLOWING IN THE TYRE TRACKS OF HIS FATHER AND GRANDFATHER, JETT JOHNSON HAS SET HIS SIGHT FIRMLY ON FORGING A MOTOR SPORT CAREER AND HE IS DOING IT WITH FULL FAMILY SUPPORT.

Joining the Johnson family for the journey is long term DJR team partner, PPG. As a result, Jett’s TA2 car features PPG paint, along with an instantly recognisable colour, says Steven.

“Dad really came to public attention at the 1980 Bathurst 1000. As a privateer, he was leading the factory teams by a country mile in his Tru-Blu Falcon when he hit the famous rock that had rolled onto the circuit.

Everyone knew that blue as Dick Johnson’s colour so I have since used Tru-Blu on my Touring Car Masters XD Falcon and now Jett has used it on his car. We got the paint code from Keith Chesterton, the longstanding DJR painter, and the team at Arrow Transport, at Larapinta, painted Jett’s car in PPG. Jett even got to pitch in to help get the paintjob done.

It looks sensational and the number of comments we get regarding Jett Johnson in a Tru-Blu Mustang is phenomenal! It’s a bonus that Jett’s major sponsor, NAPA Auto Parts’ colour is predominantly blue.”

As well as first-class motor racing genes, Jett also benefits from an incredible storehouse of family knowledge, Steven explains. “As a driver, it’s very different to what people think – it’s not just turning a steering wheel and using the pedals. Dad passed on what he learnt to me and I have passed on what I learnt in my career to Jett so he has a pretty good chance to be much better, much quicker than Dad and I.”

Although ultimately aiming for a Supercars seat in the future, Jett sees Trans Am as a great proving ground. “With a Trans Am car, I am learning to drive the car straight, conserve the tyres and still be fast. They are really good habits to help me take the next steps. At the moment, I am really enjoying the environment at the races, with dad and sometimes grandad at the track, along with mum and the guys on the team. We rely heavily on each other and there is a great level of teamwork. It’s especially cool to be able to race a car that is in the Tru-Blu colour!” R

Action stations

Whether it’s due to climate change or not, the frequency of severe hail weather events is increasing in Australia. Not only that, destructive storm cells are popping up in places where they have not been seen before. This means it’s all too easy for a vehicle to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and suffer hail damage. Worse still, it can easily become just one out of tens of thousands of claims that flood into insurers. Despite this overwhelming volume of claims, owners still expect their vehicles to be repaired in a timely manner and ensuring that happens takes a specialised solution and a trusted relationship with insurers – something Action Smart Group (ASG) has been cultivating for over 15 years. The brainchild of two Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) experts –Adam Blackwell and Adam Henningsen – who also happen to have extensive

hospitality / customer service experience, this innovative organisation offers insurers a very attractive set of capabilities. As well as fixed sites in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour and its homebase in Brisbane, ASG offers the ability to spring into action to set up shop close to the hail event location and deliver a combination of PDR and conventional repair methods, says Henningsen. “Where hail events used to be confined pretty much to Sydney’s north up to around the Sunshine Coast, we are now seeing regular large hailstorms elsewhere, such as Melbourne and Adelaide. We have been able to offer insurers an end-to-end solution for dealing with hail damage and, in return, they have shown a lot of faith in our abilities.”

Response time following a hail event is vital, says Blackwell, such as when Adelaide was struck by

one of the biggest storms it has ever seen in October 2021. “Logistically, the first 72 hours after an event are critical. As soon as we know that a volume of claims is coming in, we are travelling to that location and talking to commercial real-estate agents in order to secure a suitable site in a convenient location with all the features we need to successfully run our operation. In the current market this is getting harder and harder but for Adelaide we were lucky that the old Holden factory was situated pretty much in the epicentre of where the storm happened. It’s four years since Holden left so our team had to clean

In close cooperation with suppliers, including PPG, Action Smart Group has created a unique model for efficiently dealing with hail event damage, wherever it happens in Australia.

and prepare the 60,000m² space, including recommissioning six spray booths that were already in place. That allowed us to quickly set up our triage process to get the ball rolling for customers.”

A key part of the mindboggling level of logistics is to have the right team members in the right place at the right time and, often, for extended periods, Henningsen explains. “We have around 100 fulltime staff and, at its peak with contractors, we are talking around 400 people. Because we have been doing this for so long and we have a reputation as a good employer, with a great culture, we have a fairly large pool of contract tradespeople who literally come from all over Australia to support us. Our strategy is that we don’t fish in the same

pond as the traditional repair network. For example, in Adelaide we didn’t advertise locally for staff, we brought our technicians in, mostly as a fly-in, fly-out operation. It can be lucrative for those who are willing to work hard but it doesn’t suit everyone.”

For owners of hail damaged vehicles, the first point of contact is the triage process where the vehicle is assessed, photographed and the necessary administration tasks are completed for the insurer. It’s also where the ASG team decide the repair method, according

to Blackwell. “If the car can be repaired using PDR it’s still the best method for hail damage. If that is not achievable, we look at conventional repair methods, whether any new panels are needed and what paint process will be used. We are a one-stop-shop and because we control the whole of the process, everything is done to a schedule.”

Henningsen continues, “We are very aware that we can’t deliver a quality product on our own so we are very grateful for the partnership with PPG and the faith they have shown in us. When you are repairing 400 cars per week, out of one

Action stations

location, it falls so far outside the traditional cookie-cutter repair model you need people who share the vision. Darryle Browne (PPG Business Manager NSW) has been exceptional in understanding our business model, offering us the support we need and sharing knowledge. When we have needed them, PPG has been there. For example, throughout the Adelaide program we had PPG’s local team, Tyson Jak, Antony Minici, Evelyn Martin and Joe Esposito, onsite making sure we had exactly what we needed to get that volume of cars through and that allowed us to meet our customer’s expectations.”

Back in 2015, ASG invested heavily in developing and building their own transportable spray booths. These patented, fully certified units have

proven very effective and have been redeployed time and again, including in Adelaide where they combined with the existing, onsite units, to give the team an incredible 12 booths to process work through.

It’s just one example of the search for high tech solutions, says Blackwell. “At the moment we are working with a scanning company and it has the potential to give us a real step-change in technologies. Rather than using a technician who might be tired, hungry, hot, cold, etc. it’s a scanning machine that identifies exactly where damage is and the size and then runs a report. It gives an accurate count that is repeatable time after time. Afterwards, we can do a second check to make sure all the repairs are completed and that goes hand-in-glove with our internal quality assurance program. We are also keen to take advantage when PPG introduces new technologies. For example, PPG’s new MOONWALK® automated dispensing machine has the potential to be a real game changer for us in the future.”

Apart from day-to-day operations, ASG faces a variety of challenge, such as negotiating the pathway out of COVID and dealing with spiralling inflation. This is why after each storm event and at the end of each storm season, the team get together to conduct a thorough review to determine what worked well and what can be refined. The drive for continuous improvement is embedded in ASG’s DNA, says Henningsen.

SHOP FACTS

Action Smart Group

Owners:

Adam Blackwell & Adam Henningsen

Staff: Up to 400

PPG Product: Envirobase High Performance

National Account Manager: Darryle Browne

“We really enjoy the thrill of setting up a new shop from scratch and creating a production environment that has the right processes and people in place. We are trying to do it better each time. The key that we believe sets Action Smart Group apart is ‘service’. Both Adam (Blackwell) and I come from a hospitality background so we understand what service is. I relate what we do to a restaurant. Instead of chefs working back-of-house, we have PDR technicians, panel beaters and spray painters and we have front-of-house people who deal directly with the customers. Meteorological forecasting models tell us that hail events are going to get worse but by making sure we keep up with technology, partner with likeminded companies and keep ourselves culturally aligned, we believe we can continue to deliver for our customers.” R

From a corner store to a household name, Taubmans paint by PPG celebrates a long heritage of developing and manufacturing premium quality architectural paints in Australia.

125th

Anniversary for TAUBMANS®

Even back in 1897, George Henry Taubman understood the need to have paint products that suited local needs. As a professional sign writer, he was not happy with the paints available at the time and that drove him to focus on creating the perfect recipe for making the best quality paint that could cope with Australia’s harsh and diverse climatic conditions. To his wife’s horror, George is said to have begun his experimentation with paint making techniques and recipes in the family kitchen. After a close call and under protests from his wife, he moved to the shed of his house.

In 1901, the growing demand for locally produced paint products prompted George and his brother, Nathaniel, to set up Taubmans’ first paint and varnish works in the Sydney suburb of St Peters. By 1910, the success of the venture saw company stores set up in every Australian state, along with a factory in Wellington, New Zealand. In 1938, George died at the age of 76 years old but Taubmans remained family run until 1952. During the mid-twentieth century, the company underwent rapid expansion with both industrial and retail premises established in all of the Australian states, as well as New Zealand. By 1964, Taubmans was one of Australia’s biggest companies. Along the way, it has been responsible for revolutionising the way consumers select colours. Market leading solutions, such as the ‘Taubmans House of Ideas’ and the Spectrocolor range, have continued to evolve right through to the very cool, very high tech and very easy to use, Coloursmith app and website which was launched in 2020.

Although the way Taubmans researches and develops paint products has moved on in leaps and bounds over the years, George’s passion and focus on being a leader in quality and innovation lives on. As part of PPG’s global network, the Taubmans research and development team has access to technologies from all over the world.

Just as George did all those years ago, it’s about using the latest technologies

to create products which are specifically tuned to this region’s unique environment, particularly in terms of high UV readings. Today, when you trust a locally manufactured Taubmans product to get your painting project done with panache, there is a good chance you are following in the footsteps of your parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc. Even 125 years on, every can continues to carry a piece of George’s ingenuity and spirit! R

Slick presentation and customer friendly features were high on the list of priorities when PPG distributor, Platinum Auto Paints, expanded from its original Sydney outlet, to open a new branch in the Perth suburb of Osborne Park, in April 2018. There is even an onsite spray booth providing a perfect venue for conducting training or demonstrations. However, the recent arrival of PPG’s ground-breaking MoonWalk automated dispensing machine opened up a new opportunity to become a showcase for the latest technology, says Platinum Auto Paints Director, Nick Fardoulis.

Platinum Auto Paints puts the finishing touch to its Perth branch with PPG’s unique MOONWALK® automated dispensing technology taking pride of place.

“I heard about MoonWalk from overseas and I had seen photos and videos but when I stood in front of it at PPG Welshpool, I was just so impressed with its accuracy, the time it saves and how easy it is to use. Our Perth branch is a very nice looking place and the decision to install a MoonWalk really adds to that vibe. When customers walk in, the first thing they see is a high-tech MoonWalk machine.”

It was Nick’s father, Aki, who originally bought the Platinum Auto Paints business back in 2003. These days, with Aki semi-retired, the family business is run by Nick, whose main role is looking after Western Australian operations, and his brother, Stelio, who takes care of the Sydney branch. With a team comprising two sales representatives, three delivery drivers, a general manager and an office manager, as well as Nick, the Perth branch services PPG customers across the vast distances of WA. This means from as far north as Karratha and Broome, down to Esperance and Albany in the south. Note: At the time of writing, a second WA Platinum Auto Paints branch was set to be opened in Bunbury to better service the southern regions of the state. Having a MoonWalk onsite is another way that Platinum Auto Paints flies the PPG flag while adding another string to the company bow, says Nick.

“As well as showcasing the technology to customers, the MoonWalk gives us capabilities that are difficult to replicate without it. For example, the accuracy is incredible. I didn’t think it would be possible to add such tiny amounts of tinter but MoonWalk does it down to 0.01 gram accuracy and it does it consistently day-in, day-out. This is beginning to be especially handy for our existing ENVIROBASE® High Performance customers. With MoonWalk we can accurately mix a very small volume of product which a painter would struggle to do in a refinish paint shop. Another handy option we offer is where they have a formulation with tiny tinter amounts or where it includes an unusual tinter that the repairer

doesn’t want to buy. We can quickly and accurately dispense their chosen colour without any hassles or stress at their end. We are already getting a fair few people asking for Envirobase mixes but I see a time coming when more and more customers will want to take advantage of MoonWalk technology, now that we can offer it.”

Thanks to his ongoing experience with the day-to-day operation of MoonWalk, Nick is convinced that it has a wide application

across the industry. “Initially, I thought MoonWalk would only really be suited to MSOs and big operations but, the more I have seen it in action, the more I see a lot of benefits for even medium sized collision repairers. It’s very fast to learn – you spectro the job, download the data, choose the best formulation match and ‘click’ to dispense. While MoonWalk is dispensing the formulation, the painter can be doing some other productive tasks to get the job ready. It’s a great labour time saving. As well as making life easier for customers who install a MoonWalk, it also helps the distributor supporting them. For example, MoonWalk has a screen that shows remaining tinter volumes so it’s simple for our sales rep to visit, quickly check which tinters are low and arrange for replacements so that there are no delays for the customer.”

As a family business that is growing and expand to service its customer base, Nick sees technology as a key point of difference with Platinum Auto Paints. “We are proud to fly the PPG flag and installing a MoonWalk gives us one more tool to help show customers and potential customers what PPG and Platinum Auto Paints can do for them.” R

To register your interest in a MoonWalk demonstration or to join the list to have a unit installed, simply contact your PPG Territory Manager or the PPG Customer Service Hotline (Aust 13 24 24 or NZ 0800 320 320).

The Platinum Auto Paints Perth team

Platinum Auto Paints Director, Nick Fardoulis

Images: Brad McDonald – Total Exposure

With an epic design concept, incredible craftsmanship and signature PPG paintwork, Champagne Lady gracefully reimagines an era of automotive elegance and sophistication.

When it comes to the custom car genre, it takes something pretty remarkable to get Andy Minas truly emotional. After all, he has pretty much seen it all in almost five decades of building custom cars, hot rods and street machines – most of it at the helm of his respected Sydney business, Andy’s Restorations. However, when he first spied his team’s latest creation in the main display hall of the 2022 Hot Rod & Custom Auto Expo, Andy swears he was immediately captivated.

“For around 18 months, I had seen the car every day in the workshop but I couldn’t really appreciate it until I saw it on its own in the 5000m² show hall. It just struck me – the boys and I had pulled it off and it looked incredible. It nearly brought a tear to my eye. The fans and the judges loved it, too. It went on to receive the ‘Elegance Award’ which is for the car that has the most visual impact and creates the most fuss and from the moment it was unveiled that is what Champagne Lady did.”

Trusted partnerships

While now it’s easy to appreciate the style and charm of this epic machine, the project almost took a very different pathway. The result came down to a partnership of trust between Andy and the owner, Stuart Brancourt.

“With any new job, we start by sitting down with the owner to get an outline of the concept, the level they want to take it to and what they want to do with the car. Originally, Stuart was thinking of a wild, futuristic type car but I suggested a concept that made use of the elegant lines and was not going to date. The design of the fibreglass body he’d had made is actually a combination of three different cars – the front of a 1941 Willys, the centre of a 1939 Bugatti Type 57C and the rear of a 1939 Lincoln Zephyr. When we started researching, this combination gave us the perfect basis for a 1930s elegant, concourse sort of car and Stuart trusted us to take it to the next level.”

Body of work

When the body arrived at Andy’s Restos it was simply a shell, straight out of the mould with no supporting framework or chassis. One of the first priorities was to convert the soft, rounded shape, typical of fibreglass, into the sharper lines you would expect from a pressed steel body. After calling in the expertise of Peter Lamb from Melomotive, the team spend literally thousands of painstaking hours, measuring, re-fibreglassing, filling and contouring to eventually get the bodywork to the point where people don’t even realise it’s not steel.

Andy, himself, spend around two weeks fabricating the bespoke chassis. After welding together 100X50mm steel rails, he added crossmembers and other fixtures to accommodate a four-link rear end with nine-inch diff, a Jaguar power steering rack and air-bagged suspension. A written off, low kilometre, late model Holden Commodore donated it’s 6.2 litre V8, gearbox and computer to the build. Perhaps the trickiest job on the entire list was the mammoth task of constructing a steel supporting framework, says Andy.

“The fibreglass body was just floppy and there was nothing underneath supporting it or connecting it to the chassis. Normally, you would hang panels off of a steel frame but this was the opposite – we had to build an entire network of steel framing to sit inside a body that was already complete. Although I have a lot of experience, sometimes you need people with specific skill to support you with things like this so I called in Dean Finch from Melbourne. Even then, there was a fair bit of trial and error where we would fabricate a part, decide it didn’t work so scrap it and start

again. One of the biggest challenges on the build was the doors. On a conventional car, there is usually a relatively straight front edge so you have the space to swing the door off two hinges but, because of the curvy door shape, there wasn’t the room. We went for suicide doors and ended up fabricating one big single hinge for each door to swing from. That and getting the body lines sharpened up, were the biggest challenges.”

Bubbly personality

Having set the bar so high for the build, an attention-grabbing paint colour was always going to be key. As a lifelong PPG user, Andy took advantage of the partnership to develop an ENVIROBASE® High Performance colour perfectly suited to the style and character of this smooth flowing piece of automotive artwork.

“We wanted the car to look like it was a special model coach-built for a rich movie star back in the 1930s and colour was a big part of that. I tried lots of different colours on painted frogs but none of them seemed to suit. Then we decided to think a little outside the square and I came across Aston Martin colours. I told John Hristias (PPG Sales Director Australia) that I had found a colour that had potential but it lacked a bit of oomph and he said leave it to me. He must have added a little PPG magic because, when he came back with this colour, we showed it to Stuart and he as rapt. We reckon it looks a bit like the colour of champagne so when we did some brainstorming for the name of the car that colour led the way to ‘Champagne Lady’!”

“My son, James, and I did all the prep work for paint and I got John Hristias to help with application.

This is such a big car and it’s all one piece so if one person was to paint it, they would burn

themselves out and you could end up with inconsistencies. Over a very long day, we ‘double gunned’ it, doing half each and bouncing off each other the whole time. We use SATA spray guns and I one hundred percent believe you could not spray that colour without them. I could not believe how well it laid down and it was off the gun with no streaks, mottle or blemishes. The way I look at it, if you use the right equipment, with the right gun setup, you get the right result.”

Style with substance

Throughout the build, thousands of small but crucial decisions were constantly being made in order to keep the design statement perfectly on track. This is where the team often let their creative juices really flow to create a variety of detail touches that help elevate it to the next level.

“It’s little things that really make a difference. Like where the exhaust exits through the back of the body, we were originally going to fit fibreglass bezels around them. However, we thought they might burn so we got a toolmaker to make a pattern so we could get them cast in metal and then chromed. Another touch is the badge on the back of the body which you push down to pop the fuel cap. Some parts are off-the-shelf, such as the grille and headlights which are off a 1940 Willys, while others are custom, such as the wheels which were specially made by Mike Curtis from Curtis Speed Equipment in the US. They look like a hubcap or dress rim but, in fact, they are machined from solid aluminium. Inside, we continued the theme of an elegant car from the ‘30s. There is plenty of beautiful leather trim and a steering wheel and instruments from the era but behind the scenes it has a modern edge. A touchscreen stays hidden until you turn on the infotainment system and it controls everything, including the headlights, horn, airbags, start, etc, via a built-in c-bus system computer.”

Andy admits to making his share of mistakes over the years but what he has learnt has given him a rare insight into getting the design just right. “The bodywork was beautiful and I left it under primer so I could study it but whichever way l looked at it, something was missing. I asked for advice from people I trust and we all agreed it needed a highlighting mould along the side. I used a lovely piece of aluminium extrusion to sweep from the side of the bonnet line, right across the door and then curve down into the quarter panel. It just adds that little statement of extra elegance.”

Top of the pops

Following its award-winning debut earlier in the year, Champagne Lady is set to visit more local car shows so that fans can take in its sensual, graceful curves. At the same time, ambitious plans are being hatched to take this epic piece of automotive art on a tour of events in the US. Despite building countless cars over the years, Champagne Lady will always hold a special place with Andy.

“When you are building a one-off car like this, it drains you because it takes constant concentration and you put yourself under pressure to deliver perfection, perfection, perfection. With its sweeping lines and a tail that drags behind like a bridal train, Champagne Lady is a great interpretation of a car from that elegant ’30s era. It would be top three on the list of cars I have built and all three are statement cars with showstopping visual impact. We are honoured that Stuart trusted us with this job. Without projects like this, myself and my team would not have an outlet to use our skills to express our automotive vision!” R

Second hand efficiency

A previous life

Commonly called ‘green parts’ because they are recycled, the use of second hand parts in collision repairs has been on the rise in recent times, thanks to a number of market factors. It might be about reducing repair costs on an older vehicle or, perhaps, new parts simply are not available. Either way, it’s crucial your collision centre has a dedicated,

Because it came off an actual production car, a second hand part is a genuine factory part which should mean it fits and works as per the original. Having said this, it pays to do a trial fit to confirm it is the correct part for the vehicle on your workshop floor. The downside of a second hand part versus a new part, is that it has had a previous life before it came to you. This means that it typically comes complete with minor dents and / or stone chips and its share of road grime build up.

Second hand plan

Unfortunately, the process of cleaning and repairing a second hand part can add significantly to the cycle-time, compared to a new part. Estimates show that a minimum of around $180 to $200 worth of labour and materials are required to bring a second hand part up to the required standard prior to topcoating. This is why it’s important to have a written process for second hand parts, which gets the job done as efficiently and quickly as possible, and that you look to recover that cost as part of the job. To make it easier, PPG local technical team has created a complete, step-by-step process chart for efficiently dealing with second hand or ‘green’ parts.

Tips and recommendations

Strip – Start by completely disassembling and removing all add on parts, including mouldings, trim, decals, trim tapes, etc. from internally and externally.

Clean – Use a high-pressure washer to help remove any dirt and contamination from

Specifying second hand parts is a common part of today’s repair process, which is fine as long as you have the ability to deal with them and avoid being short changed.

both the inside and outside. As part of this process, use a red scourer and soapy water or degreaser to go over the entire panel and loosen any stubborn grime wherever you find it. The aim is to get it as close to new panel clean as possible. This also removes the risk of contamination and dust inclusions in the final paintwork which can reduce cycle-time and result in costly rework. Check film-build – It’s well worth checking the film-build before continuing with the process because, if it’s too high, you need to take it into account, particularly, if you are offering a warranty on repairs. Applying more paint to a part with high film-build could result in other issues. If film-builds are above recommended guidelines, it should be discussed and noted with the work provider prior to moving forward.

Tailored repair method –Typically, you are looking at two or three carpark ding type

repairs and it’s important to take time to assess them and choose the option that will give you the best cycle-time. If it’s available, PDR can be a really good option.

Filler over paint – Even though these are tiny dings, don’t be tempted to take the shortcut of applying body filler over paintwork. Spend the little bit of extra time it takes to do it right.

Body filler – When mixing small amounts of body filler, the proportions of part A and part B need to be precise in order to get the right adhesion, curing, etc. As a result, we recommend using something like the PPG Startline Ultra Body Filler with Cartridge Dispenser System which dispenses the exact proportions every time.

Stone chip fails –

A major challenge with many second hand parts is stone chips which are often so fine, they can’t easily be seen. If you simply sand the panel and apply primer / paint, any stone chips will immediately become obvious and result in a rework or a bottleneck in the spray booth while the painter tries to fix them ‘on the go’. Stone chip WOW factor – When it comes to the primer step, use a Wet-On-Wet primer but in ‘high-build’ mode. For example, PPG EnviroLOCK Primer can simple be mixed in a different ratio allowing it to be applied as a high build primer in a single visit mode, rather than a traditional high build that takes three coats with flash-off in between. Another advantage is that WOW primer leaves a nice smooth surface finish which is much easier to sand and, again, helps reduce cycle-time.

We recommend using LVP-207 EnviroLOCK

Primer which is a G7 groundcoat shade. Being so dark, it acts as a guidecoat which outlines and highlights any chips, scratches or blemishes you might have missed and any body filler repairs that may need to be blocked. After sanding, the correct spectral grey is applied prior to painting in the booth. R

A few simple tips for cleaning, maintaining and replacing the nozzle set on your SATAjet X 5500 will help maximise its lifespan and application performance.

Ready,set,go!

For any painter, the daily routine of disassembling and assembling their spray gun – including the removal and refit of the nozzle set – makes it an extremely familiar task. Doing it properly is the basis for looking after your spray gun so that it will look after you, in terms of delivering ease of use and peak performance, while minimising application issues that lead to frustrating rework. However, despite how common this task is, there are a few practical SATAjet X 5500 maintenance tips you may not be aware of. Incorporating them will help extend the lifetime of a nozzle set to the max.

Everyday wear

A nozzle set primarily wears out due to paint material passing through the components i.e. the fluid tip and the paint needle. As it flows, paint material causes friction on the fluid tip and the paint needle. Although we are talking about a relatively soft liquid flowing over hard metal components, when this happens for long enough and at a high enough velocity, wear and tear slowly starts to alter the precisely designed shapes. The actual amount of wear varies with the type of material and its composition, as well as with the usage.

Sequence of disassembly and assembly

Properly cleaning your spray gun requires the disassembly of the nozzle set and it’s here that it’s particularly important to ensure that the paint needle has been removed prior to unscrewing the fluid tip. If this is not done, the fluid tip and the paint needle will rub against each other due to the rotation, thus causing ‘artificial’ wear and tear.

Fluid tip durability

In order to prevent air from entering the material channel where it creates a ‘fluttering’ spray pattern, the fluid tip must be handtightened to achieve a proper seal function. This corresponds to approximately 11 to 14 Nm in the case of SATAjet spray guns and 12 Nm in the case of minijet spray guns. With the SATAjet X 5500, the fluid tip is sealed by means of the attached fluid tip seal, whereas all other SATA spray guns are sealed via the air distribution insert.

If excessive tightening torque is used, the fluid tip seal and / or the air distribution insert can be squeezed, resulting in a permanent dimension reduction (i.e. making it shorter or thinner). Due to the gap created between the spray gun body and the seal element, air will be able to stream from the air passages into the material channel, eventually leading to the formation of bubbles inside the vented cup. As a consequence, the fluid tip will alternatingly release material followed by air causing an intermittent material flow (effectively a fluttering spray pattern) which can result in an imperfect finish and possible rework.

Important note: Dried material residues or other types of contamination in the area of the material channel or on the nozzle components can also affect the spray fan pattern. With this in mind, it’s recommended that you first check whether the spray gun and, in particular, the nozzle set have been thoroughly cleaned. Should a faulty spray pattern persist, you must replace the defective seal.

Why always replace the complete SATA nozzle set?

Each nozzle set consists of three individual components – a paint needle, fluid tip and air cap. At the completion of each SATA production process, all three of these

components are tested for their manufacturing accuracy and quality. On top of this, all components then have to pass a final, comprehensive manual quality check as a complete nozzle kit. Only then can they leave the factory, either mounted in a new gun or as a replacement nozzle set. This ensures the spray fan pattern (height / width / shape), as well as the atomisation, meets the high SATA standards. If one of the three elements falls outside the defined tolerance range, that nozzle set will not produce the optimum spray pattern required. In practical terms, this results in negative effects, such as mottling or colour shade deviations when applying basecoat, increased paint material consumption or poor clearcoat distribution (orange peel). Rework resulting from a worn nozzle set is not only frustrating and time consuming, it also causes considerable disruption to shop workflow.

As mentioned above, each nozzle set is subject to gradual wear and tear which cannot be detected by the naked eye.

To actually determine which component is most affected would require specialist measuring equipment and replacing just one part of the nozzle set will not result in the same box-fresh, SATA spray pattern as found in a brand new gun. This is why SATA recommends the regular replacement of the complete nozzle set (between around six months and one year, depending on the actual usage) to ensure you continue to benefit from the precise, market leading spray pattern you invested in when you bought your SATA gun. R

Support base

As a third-generation collision centre owner, Tyden Hadwen felt like management should somehow come naturally. After all, back in 1930 his grandfather, Albert, had founded the business in the Brisbane suburb of Bowen Hills and his father, Don, had gone on to establish Hadwen’s Prestige Collision Repairs as a repairer of choice across a wide customer base. However, when Tyden took over the day-to-day reins around five years ago, it didn’t go quite the way he planned.

“Within 18 months I had completely burnt out. My father was very successful and I learnt my management style from him. However, he used a micro-managing style where every decision came through him and he was the only one who could make decisions. After trying to use this style that he had been taught, I was at my wit’s end and I knew it had to change because it was not working.”

Around that time, two things happened to drive a major shift in mindset for Tyden. Firstly, he was approached by a highly experienced collision centre manager, Quinten McTaggart, who he immediately clicked with and, subsequently, employed as his second-in-charge. Secondly, he contacted Ben Doughty, MVP Business Solutions Manager Queensland, to see what business support was available.

“Quentin challenged me to change every single day but, sadly, about seven months

after he started, he had an accident and passed away. He sparked the change in me and in the business and we have been able to continue that with the support of Ben and some business coaching. In particular, Ben has been instrumental in guiding the direction of change, instead of just making changes for change’s sake. We have partnered with PPG for a very long time – we

are talking decades – and we have always worked closely with our PPG representative but working with the MVP Business Solutions program, through Ben, has taken it to the next level. We have done the Green Belt Training course and I was part of an MVP Business Solutions Roundtable Group and all those things played a part in altering my management attitude.”

Asking for help is not easy but taking the opportunity to get your MVP Business Solutions manager involved can be the first step on the journey to achieving your business goals.

Access to support from the MVP Business Solutions team is available as part of the package of services that come with being a PPG customer. According to Ben, there is no such thing as a typical client for the MVP Business Solutions program. Collision centres can have as little or much support as they want and the program is tailored to the needs of each client.

“Hadwen’s Prestige Collision Repairs is a very good business but it was not quite performing at the level it could be. Together with Tyden, we have been able to implement a series of continuous improvement strategies, including lean management and 5S, as well as working on the visual side of the business to boost that crucial first impression. One of the first priorities was to get the team onboard and we did that by explaining why changes were needed and where we were looking to make changes. From there, we asked for their input because these were typically things they were dealing with every day. It has been great to see the whole team at Hadwen’s wholeheartedly throw themselves into this program and achieve significant positive change.”

“Ben and the PPG team have been instrumental in guiding us along our pathway to continuous improvement”, says Tyden. “We have an ‘Action Plan’ which gives us a

clear direction for each step of the journey. Importantly, by keeping our team involved at every step, the response has been really positive. They have a voice which is heard rather than PPG just coming and changing things. Throughout COVID we invested a lot in training. We kept the same team numbers and kept them employed every single day but, typically, one day a week we would

do training. We got through and we got a stronger team out of it. Every single day, I am honoured to share with my team how much they are appreciated.”

It has also given Tyden an opportunity to work on his management style – or should that be leadership style? “It’s hard, especially if you have come from being a tradesperson. Over the past few years, I have identified the difference between management and leadership and I have worked on changing myself to lead, rather than manage. It’s like being a father – you are there to support and guide the team members, not do it for them. As a result, they are empowered to solve problems and implement solutions and that is awesome because it gives them ownership of their role. I am really excited about the future because we have new ideas coming into the business and Ben has given us a platform of what we need to work on. I am only just starting on this journey!”

R

The PPG MVP Business Solutions team works closely with small, medium and large collision repairers across the region. This service is included as part of PPG’s comprehensive support package and accessing it is as simple as contacting your local MVP Business Solutions Manager or making an enquiry via mvp.anz@ppg.com

Ben Doughty, MVP Business Solutions Magager QLD (left) and Tyden Hadwen (right).

Terry Noble

Business Support Specialist

Ihave enjoyed being a painter from the first day onwards. Over the years, I have always been someone who wants to keep improving my knowledge and skills and then pass them on to other people. After finishing my apprenticeship, I went back and did other advanced painting courses and also did a panel beating apprenticeship. Later, I did some part time TAFE teaching.”

After a stint with PPG between 1994 and 2000, Terry ran his own contracting

At the end of Year 10, Terry left school with a strong work ethic and a drive to succeed but no clear career direction. A chance meeting between his father and a spray painter when they were having a drink in a pub put him on the pathway to a spray-painting apprenticeship and the collision repair sector has benefitted from his passion and enthusiasm ever since.

and seeing them improve. In my current role, I support everyone within the PPG business, from technical training to product introductions and process developments, as well as OEM support programs, MSO support programs and the development of specialised training courses. Whatever needs to be done! It’s fun because I am doing something different everyday and meeting all different types of people along the way as I travel for this national role.”

“For example, at the moment I am working

on a refinish process for a brand new exotic OEM colour that will be coming out soon. Even after 42 years in the trade, I still love the challenge!” R

MORE ABOUT TERRY

• Favourite hobbies/pastimes?

Motorcycle riding (road and trail), fishing and restoring old motorcycles

Favourite food? A good pasta / Italian and Greek food

Favourite drink? Gin or a cold beer

Favourite music / band?

Creedence Clearwater Revival / U2

Favourite car / motorcycle?

Ford, Ducati, Honda

Favourite holiday destination?

PPG STAFF PROFILE

Here at PPG, we work to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 135 years.

Have a career with us & you will find meaning in your work every day! You will engage in opportunities that will shape you both personally and professionally. We make it happen and seek candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our values, with the commitment and drive to strive today to do better than yesterday – everyday.

PPG provides equal opportunity to all candidates and employees. We offer an opportunity to grow and develop your career in an environment that provides a fulfilling workplace for employees, creates an environment for continuous learning, and embraces the ideas and diversity of others

If you are passionate about the automotive and refinish industries, then PPG could be for you!

Opportunities may include:

-Technical Demonstrators

-Retail Sales Assistants

-Territory Managers

-Key Account Managers

-Customer Service

-Business Support

-New Business Development

View our current opportunitieshttps://ppg.referrals.selectminds.com/

From Henry to the modern factory finish

Since Henry Ford famously told customers they ‘could have any colour they like, as long as it’s black’, OEM paint finishes have evolved to deliver incredible gloss, durability and a vibrant rainbow of colours.

Back in the early 1900s, there was no such thing as automotive paint technology so early car makers had to make do with whatever was available. Made from natural oils, such as linseed or castor oil, these alkyd coatings were a carryover from the horse and cart era. As well as being brush applied and typically taking days to dry, they featured minimal gloss and durability.

1920s

Henry Ford had no particular affection for the colour black but when the founder of the Ford Motor Company discovered that the black paint, of the time, dried faster, it suited his fledgling production line process. However, cars still sat around for days waiting for the paint to dry and this didn’t fit with the efficiency goals Ford and other automotive trailblazers were searching for. It’s here that paint manufacturers began to develop the first automotive specific coatings. Typically based on cotton, they consisted of a nitrocellulose resin mixed with a solvent to create a low viscosity coating that also drove the development of the first spray guns. Drying time was slashed from days to hours and it eliminated brush marks for a better finish but durability was still poor.

Note: German spray equipment innovator, SATA, was already produced precision atomisers to deliver mouth and throat medicine, so when a leading paint maker came looking for a company to develop a spray gun to apply a new automotive paint, it was perfectly placed. SATA’s first spray gun was produced in 1925 and the rest is history.

1930s to 1950s

As automotive OEM paint technology developed, stoving alkyd enamels were introduced. ‘Stoving’ indicates that these coatings were high baked to achieve a faster drying time, along with a tougher finish, less prone to scratching. Having said that, in modern terms, stoving alkyd enamels were not particularly durable or glossy. On the plus side, colours slowly became more popular, essentially using the same system as today – finely ground colour pigments mixed into a resin medium.

1960s

For the first time we see hardener introduced, in conjunction with acrylic enamels which were baked at 140°C. The resulting chemical reaction created better adhesion and a cross-linked coating structure that produced a tougher, more durable final finish. Early metallic finishes also began to emerge. However, being Direct Gloss (DG) systems, the metallic

particles were right through the coating, including on the surface where they would oxidise. What looked good in the showroom often didn’t translate to long term durability. One thing that did have a major impact on long term durability, by minimising corrosion, was the introduction of anodic electrocoat or ‘e-coat’. PPG became the first to successfully launch a cathodic e-coat system which is still used today. Unfortunately, some OEMs didn’t choose to add e-coat to their paint process until the 1980s!

1970s to 1980s

As more and more OEMs offered their customers the choice of metallic colours and finishes, we see the first Clear-Over-Base (COB) finishes arrive in the late 1970s. With a clearcoat layer to protect them, vehicle finishes offered much greater durability, particularly for metallics. As we rolled into the 80s, pearlescent mica colours began to become more common. At the same time, nonmetallic colours, such as white and red, often continued with DG technology but the pigments tended to suffer without a protective clearcoat layer.

1990s to 2000s

As environmental sustainability becomes a growing concern, OEM paint systems alter technologies to include the option of waterborne basecoat, as well as high solids solvent-borne coatings. Robotised electrostatic bell application began to take over around this time.

Using electrically charged droplets that are attracted to the substrate, they delivered superior transfer efficiency and finish quality.

2010 to today

These days, more and more OEMs are taking advantage of compact paint systems, such as PPG’s B1:B2 and XP Basecoat technologies. Where a traditional OEM paint process starts with e-coat and a bake, followed by primer and a bake, and is finished with clearcoat and a bake, the compact paint system introduces a streamlined solution.

For example, the XP Basecoat process starts with e-coat and a bake but then applies a basecoat colour layer that includes primer properties, before adding a Wet-On-Wet clearcoat layer, followed by a final bake. As a result, an entire application and bake step is removed from the process which saves on time and the energy for the bake cycle, as well as requiring a smaller paint shop footprint.

Technology take up

As major steps have been taken in OEM paint technology over the years, you would think it would be a no brainer for vehicle manufacturers to update but it’s not that simple. Most new technologies necessitate at least a significant paint shop refit, while others need an entirely new paint shop. Therefore, a change of paint technology can easily require an investment of over $100 million and any advantages must be balanced against that. R

Multiple ch ice

After first throwing open its doors back in 1956, Bridgman Street Panel Beaters has staked a place as a trusted and enduring fixture for the people of Dunedin, on New Zealand’s South Island. However, that doesn’t mean the business has stood still. Having started out as a standalone panel shop, its capabilities were expanded in 1972 when a paint shop was added. Another momentous step took place in 2002 when a major extension and renovation coincided with Bridgman St being welcomed as a foundation member of the PPG FleetPool Network in New Zealand. Although he doesn’t remember the beginning because he was just a baby, current owner Brent Johnston, has actually been a shareholder in the business from the very start. He found himself thrust into the limelight in 1982 when his father and business founder, Lerwick Johnston, died suddenly. After surviving the baptise of fire, Brent has been at the helm ever since.

Heavy vehicle repairs, refinish and re-liveries had long been part of the job mix flowing through the workshop but the 2002 overhaul provided a significant boost to the team’s ability to tackle both light and heavy vehicle work, according to Brent. “The paint shop covers around 14,000ft² (1300m²) and it’s fitted out with two car sized booths and two truck booths. At nine metres long, five metres wide and five metres high, the truck booths don’t just give us size, they also give us versatility. A dividing door in the middle of each one means they can be operated as one long booth or two separate smaller booths. The workshop was actually designed with help from the PPG team and, today, it still helps our jobs flow smoothly. These days, I would say the job split would be somewhere in the vicinity of 85% cars and 15% heavy commercial work. Although we do some light accident repairs on heavy vehicles, most of the work is refurbishments

and re-liveries or applying branding to new vehicles. Because our spray booths are bigger than many others around Dunedin, we also do quite a few campervans. Heavy vehicle jobs come to us from as far south as Invercargill (approx. 2.5 hours’ drive), around Timaru to the north and Central Otago and Queenstown to the west. We try to make sure we do the ‘right’ type of jobs to suit our capabilities and workflow. Although we are not the cheapest, we definitely don’t take shortcuts and we are consistently turning out quality work which I think our customers trust and appreciate.”

Whether it’s dealing with light or heavy vehicles, PPG has been a key longstanding partner that Brent could rely on for more than just market leading paint solutions. “Early on, we used a number of different brands but we have been 100% PPG since 1983. As part of that, we have always been keen to keep up with the latest technology.”

Brent Johnson (right) discusses a job with one of his trusted team.

“For example, on the car side we switched to ENVIROBASE® High Performance (waterborne basecoat system) as soon as we could and, on the truck side, we use the latest DELFLEET® Evolution products.”

The workshop team consists of three dedicated heavy vehicle technicians and eight technicians on the car side. While he admits the two teams can be a bit territorial about their allotted space in the combined workshop, there is also a strong camaraderie and willingness to work together as a team. Although staff

members don’t normally switch sides of the workshop, the extra resources are handy when an urgent job crops up. For example, if a large job needs sanding and prepping, Brent has the option to throw, say, six people onto it and get 12 hours of labour completed in just two hours. According to Brent, fostering this ‘team mentality’ goes right back to the initial employment process.

“Although skilled staff

are really difficult to find, getting the right fit for our company is super important. It starts with the initial interview where we are looking for people who are going to suit the culture of this business. Recently, we have also been getting the workshop foreman to sit in on the second interview to make sure they are comfortable with the candidate. We feel that, with harmony in the shop, we get greater productivity. Building a strong

Multiple ch ice

team culture is not easy but it does pay off. We have a lot of staff who have been here for more than 10 years – Jarrod, the manager on our commercial side, has been with us for in excess of 20 years! At the same time, we have a couple of young painters who have just completed their apprenticeship so we are celebrating that milestone and hoping they will be with us long into the future. Out on the workshop floor, we also try to match the production schedule to the different team members. For example, some of the lads like doing three or four smaller jobs in a day, while others prefer bigger jobs that will occupy them for four or five days. Because we are trying to allocate them work they like, I believe they are more productive.”

From the early days of taking over at Bridgman St, Brent says he has been on the lookout for ways to help his team work smarter, rather than harder. A key part of that has been getting heavily involved in PPG’s MVP Business Solutions program which is available to customers as part of their support package.

“We are now working with Nigel Hamilton (MVP Business Solutions Manager NZ) and that side is super important to me – it’s one of the reasons I have stayed with PPG over the years. The key message for me is to measure everything – if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. We measure the materials and the labour we use for every job. If we measure properly now, it will help

make for more accurate estimates on future jobs. One area I have been on a bit of crusade recently is making sure we are using the most efficient processes. Thanks to the PPG team, I was able to tour one of the Repairhub facilities in Christchurch. If we can utilise some of the ideas and procedures that Repairhub do, it will make us a better organisation right across the board. Our PPG Territory Manager, Morgan Boyd, is also planning to take some of our shopfloor team for a Repairhub tour so they can brainstorm even more ideas.”

At 66 years of age, Brent says he still enjoys

the buzz of dealing with customers and delivering a great job. Despite having no real desire to retire, that doesn’t mean he can’t take things a little easier.

“My form of retirement is to maybe only do a two-day week or perhaps just take opportunities when they come up. For example, if a mate suggests a fishing trip to the west coast at short notice, I can say yes. I have a great 2IC, in Chris O’Leary, behind me and a skilled team who I can trust to consistently get the job done, even if I am not there. It’s something I really cherish because without good people you don’t have a business.” R

THE FUTURE

AT SATA STARTS WITH AN

The revoluti onary SATAjet X 5500

Perfectly synchronised nozzle airflow geometry ensures perfect material distribution, optimised atomisation and precise spray fan shapes. All of this combines with material savings and a much softer application with a reduced noise level.

Two distinct available spray fan patterns per nozzle size allowing either enhanced application control or increased application speed as well as the adaptation of the nozzle set to different temperature and air humidity levels.

SATAjet X 5500 explanation video www.sata.com/x5500io

SATA Nozzle Selector APP www.sata.com/nozzlefinder