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THE VOLUME 64 • ISSUE 1 APRIL 2022

PPG & Dubsmith

Split the difference

ALSO INSIDE: MAKING ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT WORK FOR YOU

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

• ‘JUICY ORANGE’ SHOWSTOPPER • PLAN TO SUCCEED • THE ULTIMATE JIGSAW PUZZLE

MIRKA Cordless Polishing Kit A complete process in a box!

With all the hi-tech, cordless de-nibbing and polishing tools and accessories packed into a handy carry case, the MIRKA Systainer is all about simplicity, convenience and productivity. Featuring advanced Li-ion batteries, the trio of MIRKA tools deliver powerful performance to use wherever you like. Compact, fast and effective, the MIRKA Systainer is a box full of solutions that save you valuable time on everyday jobs. AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL MIRKA DISTRIBUTOR PPG Australia McNaughton Road Clayton South, VIC, 3168 13 24 24

PPG New Zealand 5 Vestey Drive Mount Wellington, 1060 0800 320 320

contents APRIL2022

SCA N TO RE A D T HE REFINISHER ONLINE

64 VOLUME

THE

REFINISHER

ISSUE 1

Editor-In-Chief Paul Galea

Editorial Co-ordinator Chelsea Hilsberg

News

Too cool for school

Editor John M Stanley Creative Director Dean Parrott

Airbrush Venturi and PPG celebrating a 20-year partnership

Published for and on behalf of PPG Industries Pty Limited by

Kisschasey Creative Pty Ltd Unit 113, 91 Murphy St. Richmond, Victoria, 3121 Telephone (03) 9421 3311

Boutique by name, boutique by nature

16 Australia Head Office Locked Bag 888, Clayton South, Victoria 3169. McNaughton Road, Clayton, Victoria, Australia, 3168 Telephone: 13 24 24 www.ppgrefinish.com.au New Zealand Head Office 5 Vestey Drive, Mt Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand. Toll Free Telephone: 0800 320 320

New South Wales 10 Peter Brock Drive, Eastern Creek, 2766 Telephone (02) 9854 6600

Western Australia Unit 2/6 Colin Jamieson Drive, Welshpool, 6106 Telephone (08) 9256 3920

PPG Logo, Delfleet, Deltron, Envirobase, Global Refinish System, Harlequin, PaintManager, Prizmatique, Radiance, RapidMatch, Startline and ‑ are registered trademarks and We protect and beautify the world, Crystallance and RapidMatch are trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. SATA and SATAjet are registered trademarks of SATA GmbH & Co. KG. Third-party trademarks referenced in this magazine are the property of their respective owners.

Uninterupted productivity X-Ray Repair Planning® puts production into overdrive

Queensland 18 Breene Place, Morningside, 4170 Telephone (07) 3823 8000

Tasmania 136 Invermay Rd, Invermay, 7248 Telephone 1300 305 699

Restore to factory settings For Adrian Smith, the humble VW Kombi is a lifelong obsession. Behind the doors of his business, DubSmith Garage, a team of craftsmen breath new life into age-weary Kombis so they emerge better than the day they left the factory

Victoria 104-106 Woodlands Drive, Braeside, 3195 Telephone (03) 8586 0000

South Australia 97-105 Bedford Street, Gillman, 5013 Telephone (08) 8346 6870

Point of difference

In the driver’s seat Reflecting on 50 successful years in the industry

32 32

Icing on the cake JRT Truck Refinishers literally add the finishing touch

NEWS REFINISHER

Step into a new era at Expo stand AA59

s PPG prepares to launch its exciting new ‘digital eco system’, the Collision Repair Expo (CRE) is the perfect place to learn about how these tech driven solutions transform the collision centre of the future. Although we can’t say too much at this stage, CRE visitors will get an early opportunity to see these

emerging tools in action. Ultimately, this sophisticated new connectivity platform is set to streamline everyday collision centre operations, while delivering more efficient, consistent and cost-effective outcomes. You can say you saw it first at CRE 2022! MIRKA – Via regular on-stand demonstrations, visitors will get a clear insight into MIRKA’s ground-breaking solutions for sanding, de-nibbing and polishing, along with advanced electric and battery powered tools. Best of all, expert staff will discuss your needs and design a package of MIRKA technologies to drive productivity across everyday tasks.

SATA – Backed by almost 100 years of spray equipment expertise, the SATA stand at the CRE is a must to visit. Whether it’s the latest premium spray gun, the SATAjet X 5500, the super comfy SATA® air vision™ 5000 air hood or the new 500 Filter Series, you will find a clever, German engineered solution to exceed your expectations! R

Developing sustainable battery solutions W

ith Battery Electric Vehicles set to shape the future of sustainable mobility, PPG’s dedicated global team is making strong contributions across the sector. Indeed, PPG recently announced a partnership with the Cellforce Group (a joint venture between Porsche and CUSTOMCELLS) which will focus on developing exclusive sustainable battery cell solutions to better serve the electric vehicle and mobility segments. As part of this, PPG will supply the Cellforce Group with cathode binder systems which are free of N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP) solvent. Currently, NMP is widely used in conventional electrode manufacturing

but it has been identified as a hazard by several global regulatory agencies. PPG’s broad-based materials expertise covers virtually every area of Li-ion battery design and construction, thus giving customers the tools to boost energy density, extend service life, improve

safety, increase manufacturing throughput and reduce R cost per kilowatt hour.

NEWS 5

REFINISHER

DRIVETHROUGH

OEM coatings demand drives major investment G

rowing demand from OEM vehicle partnerships has seen PPG invest more than US$10 million to expand production at the Weingarten, Germany, site. It’s part of an ongoing push to strengthen European production capabilities, including increased basecoat production at the Valladolid site, in Spain, and the clearcoat production facility in Erlenbach, Germany. The 10,000ft² addition to the Weingarten facility will allow it to produce more than 5,000 tonnes of waterborne basecoats per year. Weingarten is a particularly strategic site due to its proximity to several of PPG’s key German OEM customers, says Roald Johannsen, PPG Vice President,

Automotive OEM Coatings, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “These investments in capabilities to produce more sustainable products, together with our focus on coatings for the next generation of electric vehicles, will ensure that we continue to create value for our automotive customers R in the future.”

Team Penske and PPG renew partnership O

ne of the most enduring collaborations in all of motorsport powers on, with PPG and Team Penske renewing their partnership for 2022. This includes PPG sponsoring Team Penske’s No. 2 Chevrolet which will feature colourful PPG livery and be driven by two-time INDYCAR SERIES champion, Josef Newgarden. It’s one of the coolest-looking cars on the track and a fan favourite, says Roger Penske, Founder and Chairman, Penske Corporation. “For nearly 40 years, PPG and Team Penske have teamed up on the track to

ensure our race cars not only look incredible with PPG paints, coatings and specialty materials, our partnership also helps us maintain the highest standards of performance.” Today, PPG not only supplies refinish coatings for Penske Corporation’s racing operations, it also provides them for the company’s truck leasing and automotive collision repair subsidiaries. R

with Paul Galea

hilst it’s great to see the wider community being given more freedom as COVID restrictions are wound back, other challenges are continuing to cause concerns. In particular, there is the ongoing breakdown of global supply chains and logistics, along with all sorts of businesses which are finding themselves constrained by isolation rules and high staff absenteeism. Not surprisingly, this is putting enormous strains on labour availability. Whilst the severity differs, it’s something that is affecting almost every region and every industry and PPG has not been immune. Therefore, I want to take this opportunity to thank all our customers and suppliers for their patience and support in these unprecedented times which look like they may be with us for some time yet. Strong partnerships get spoken about a lot here at PPG and this issue is packed with excellent examples. From an industry standpoint, our partnership with I-CAR (pg8) goes right back to when the organisation first arrived locally. It has continued to prosper through mutual respect and a common commitment to upskilling across the industry. Then there is the 20-year partnership with Airbrush Venturi (pg6). You would be hard pressed to find anyone more passionate about airbrushing than its founder, Tony Vowles, but he is equally as passionate about PPG. It has made for a mutually beneficial relationship. Some of our proudest partnerships are with smaller family run collision repairers. For example, McCarthy Panel Works (pg28) has just celebrated its 50th Anniversary and we are delighted to play a part in their ongoing success!

PPG PARTNERSHIPS REFINISHER

Too cool

for school

On the 20th Anniversary of the partnership between his regional airbrush school, Airbrush Venturi, and PPG, Tony Vowles reflects on what has been the adventure of a lifetime.

hen Tony Vowles first picked up an airbrush 38 years ago, it was one of those lightbulb moment. “I had been drawing and painting but suddenly, with an airbrush it was OMG, this is the instrument that I am supposed to create art with. It began an obsession with airbrushing which continues to this day.” Since then, Tony estimates he has personally completed tens of thousands of airbrush artworks. His incredible body of work covers an eclectic mix from epic wall murals to t-shirts, mannequins and shop fittings, through to cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles and even Sydney to Hobart yachts and powerboats. In short, he has done it all. However, Tony’s proudest moment came as a bolt from the blue when listening to a concert by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

“Coming up with a standardised method for airbrushing had been in the back of my mind for a long time but the trigger was musicology which is the science of music. I appropriated the whole concept of musicology and applied it to a visual art medium and that has never been done before. Where music has scales, octaves, etc. which provides a uniformed way for people to learn and play it, the Airbrush Venturi system uses the same principles. It has been a 35-year adventure, my greatest career achievement and the basis for building the largest airbrushing school in the world with classes available throughout Australia and New Zealand. Using the unique language that underpins the Airbrush Venturi system, means we have an identical means of teaching no matter where you are. One of the sales pitches for Airbrush Venturi is that ‘we can teach absolutely anyone to airbrush photo realism’.”

Despite his never-ending enthusiasm for airbrushing, Tony found himself disillusioned with the shortcomings of the paint products available in the early days. When an airbrush artist invests a lot of emotional energy into the job, it can be especially cruel when things go wrong, says Tony. “There is no airbrushing more heartbreaking than a custom paint job gone wrong. You might spend days on it and it looks fantastic but when you take the masking off, it also rips the artwork off in sheets. In the early days, I wasted a lot of money on well-known paint brands and I was not impressed. At that point, 20 years ago, PPG was quite new to the local market but we had heard really nice things about PPG products and decided it was worth a look. Unlike other products that are complicated and frustrating to use, PPG is the easiest to use, most reliable product on the market and it’s extremely long lasting. I found paint products that I absolutely love, including the

PPG PARTNERSHIPS 7

VIBRANCE COLLECTION® special effect finishes, and then I met the PPG team – it was meant to be! Whether it’s technical assistance, support to run an exhibition at a car show or anything else we need, the PPG team is always prepared to step up. For example, without the PPG New Zealand team, Airbrush Venturi would never have gotten off the ground in New Zealand – it was purely their support that made it happen.” According to Tony, backing from PPG also allowed him to make a contribution to those less fortunate. “The highlight of the PPG partnership has been the opportunity to demonstrate airbrushing at car shows across the region. Typically, I would airbrush onto a car bonnet and I would have the PPG tins next to me basically saying, if you want to do this, use these products. Best of all, once the artwork was done, it would be auctioned off

for charity. Over the years, I have raised over $150,000 for various charities and PPG has been there for each one.” With COVID measures winding back, Tony says Airbrush Venturi is in good shape. Indeed, it has even increased from 17 to 20 teachers, with a couple more due to join the team by year’s end. Together, they teach around 300 dedicated people per year the unique Airbrush Venturi language. The course itself is made up of six units which are carefully integrated so that each one prepares the student and gets them excited about the next step in building their capabilities. While natural attrition sees some students drop away, Tony estimates that Airbrush Venturi has taught tens of thousands of people the basics and taken as many as 5000 people to a high standard of airbrushing. “PPG makes Airbrush Venturi look good – our courses are easier to learn, more reliable and less problematic because of PPG products. At the same time, Airbrush Venturi also makes PPG products look good. The PPG partnership will always be one of the happiest chapters in my career and the chapter is still being written and it has R a long way to go!”

REFINISHER

PPG TRAINING REFINISHER

Through a close training alliance, I-CAR and PPG are determined to change the industry status quo and make regular training and upskilling a career-long journey.

hen I-CAR arrived locally (New Zealand in 1987 and Australia in 2006), the registered charity and not-for-profit training organisation introduced the region’s collision repair industry to a new learning culture. By offering a wide selection of the latest training options, the vision was and still is, to provide every person in the industry with the information, knowledge and skills they needed to perform accurate, complete and safe repairs that, ultimately, benefits customers.

Altering the status quo While it can be a challenge to convince some technicians of the merits of ongoing training, the groundswell of change is steadily growing, according to Jason Trewin, I-CAR Australia Chief Operating Officer.

on the prize “The legacy way of doing things was for a person to complete their apprenticeship training and, afterwards, any learning they received usually came from the oldest / most experience technician in their workshop. I make the analogy to golf. If your mate teaches you how to play golf but they are a hopeless golfer, it’s likely you will also be a hopeless golfer. In contrast, I-CAR offers a solution that ticks all the boxes and passes on the very latest in information and techniques. It’s encouraging that we are now seeing more and more technicians get involved. Some, mostly younger people, look at the new technology and saying, ‘this is cool, I want to get onboard’.”

Preparing for a tech driven future As automotive engineers continue to innovate with the way vehicles are manufactured, it’s more important than ever for collision repairers to keep pace. If anything, the trend is accelerating says Jason. “One main challenge is the different materials vehicles are now made from. Rather than just regular steel, they are multi-material vehicles. And they are not just welded – we are talking aerospace type technology with rivets and bonding. In addition, there is the emergence of electric vehicles and alternative fuel vehicles and all the factors that repairers need to be aware of surrounding them. At the same time, new paint products and techniques are throwing up significant challenges for painters.”

Training alliance Thanks to close relationships with vehicle OEMs around the globe, I-CAR gets unprecedented access to information about upcoming technology. This provides the basis for a vast selection of training

PPG TRAINING 9

courses which largely come via I-CAR in the US. On the local front, I-CAR also takes advantage of close partnerships with organisations, such as PPG, who share the vision, explains Jason. “PPG has been a member of I-CAR Australia since the beginning and that partnership is stronger than ever. From an industry standing, PPG has always been perceived as a leading operator, with quality products and a commitment to training, and it shares our philosophy. I-CAR tends to focus on the body side so it’s great to have a partner that is so active in the latest refinish technology.” PPG’s regionwide network of training managers and training facilities makes it a perfect partner, says Terry Noble, PPG Refinish Business Support Specialist. “Our partnership with I-CAR is all about helping the industry meet the challenges of changing times, particularly with new colour technologies and new techniques. We worked closely with I-CAR as we prepared a whole range of courses that not only upskill people, they are also eligible for I-CAR points. For example, there are specialised courses on mainstream, exotic finishes, such as Mazda’s 46V Soul Red Crystal and 46G Machine Grey, right through to a Vibrance Collection course we created for the restoration and custom vehicle sector. We even run specific courses for insurance assessors to keep them up-to-date with the latest paint technology. Courses are mainly delivered at PPG training centres where it’s the perfect environment to deliver the content because all the facilities are on-hand and there are no distractions. Afterwards, I-CAR will allocate the appropriate points to the technician.”

Gold Class standard Another area where the partnership is paying dividends is for repairers looking to achieve I-CAR Gold Class. PPG’s MVP Business Solutions has proven to be an ideal option, says Greg Tunks, MVP Business Solutions Manager ANZ. “These days, a lot of repairers use training courses delivered by the MVP Business Solutions team, to build I-CAR points in order to achieve Gold Class status. When a customer contacts us, we look at what specific training courses are going to give the best outcome for their particular

business. Whether it’s process design, paint shop throughput, Green Belt Training or whatever, we tailor the training package to what the customer needs. At the end of the day, it’s not just about customers getting I-CAR points, it’s about building and enhancing the skillset of their employees. Not only do employees tend to be more enthusiastic and efficient, they are typically more productive and that maximises the return on the investment that goes into this training and makes it R a great business strategy.”

REFINISHER

FEATURE PANEL SHOP REFINISHER

BOUTIQUE AUTO BODY

Where the modern industry trend is for collision repairers to get larger and larger, at least one successful business is determined to stay ‘Boutique’ by name and boutique by nature.

Point of differ O

ver the past decade or so, the local collision repair industry has seen the arrival of a growing number of Multi Shop Operations (MSOs), as well as an ongoing expansion in the size of repair facilities. In general, the aim is to use the economies of scale to pump through a greater volume of repairs in a shorter amount of time. While this is a valid business model, it’s not for everyone. In 2010, Ross Spataro opened the doors to his small collision repair business in the Melbourne suburb of East Keilor. Originally called Avondale Smash Repairs, the business changed its name to Boutique Auto Body when it moved

FEATURE PANEL SHOP

not as easy to achieve with high volume repairers. A key part of that, for us, is the commitment from our staff to return vehicles to the point where they are returned to OEM spec in both operation and aesthetics. That means every job we do is our business card. It’s our marketing and our advertising and it generates word-of-mouth recommendations that keep us very busy. We back that up with the extra little one-percenters on our customer service. For example, we often do afterhours drop-offs and pick-ups and we are happy to visit people’s homes or workplaces to quote or take images. Although we are happy to take on whatever comes through the doors, our customer

erence into brand new premises around four years ago. Importantly, the business philosophy stayed true to its name, says Ross. “Because we are not a high-volume shop, I think we can be Boutique by name and boutique by nature. I believe there is always going to be a market for smaller shops that are able to provide its customers with a level of personalised service and attention to detail on the quality of repairs which is, perhaps,

L to R – Paint Tech, Adrian Caruanna, Panel Techs, Scott Lafranci and Ravi Lavakish, Assembly Tech, David Becori

service and attention to detail is probably why we to get so many prestige vehicle owners coming here.” Despite taking the time to target repair quality, the focus is also on building efficiencies into every area of the Boutique Auto Body business. Indeed, moving to the brand-new workshop helped by providing a clean sheet where everything from the spray booth and prep areas to the wash bay could be placed exactly where it was needed and provided a place to store everything and have everything kept in its place. It now offers a neat, clean and efficient environment for the Boutique team to do their best work, according to Ross. “The guys keep the workshop very clean and that is a credit to them. I would like to think we are well organised and we really try to streamline our processes. Every morning we get together – admin, estimating and

FEATURE PANEL SHOP 12

Point of difference

REFINISHER

BOUTIQUE AUTO BODY

workshop – and talk about what is scheduled to happen that day. Communication helps make everything work smoothly. Of course, although we are aiming for production efficiency, it’s the way that you set up the job that sets the tone. For a start, a job isn’t started until all the parts are here and have been checked to be sure they are correct and don’t have damage. Then the guys get a detailed job sheet and we discuss all the finer points of the job so everyone is on the same page. The idea is that, once the technicians start on the job, they are able to keep going until it’s finished.” It's a strategy that has paid off in more ways than one, says Ross. “Without putting tickets on ourselves, we have never had to do a rework – ever! In saying that, the guys are not working under big pressure to meet a particular timeframe. Obviously, there are target times to aim for but there are no shortcuts – everything is done properly. We believe the long way around is the short way in the end and the reason we don’t get reworks.” According to Ross, strong supplier relationships are a key factor in keep the business functioning smoothly. Around 18 months ago, he made the major decision to begin using PPG’s ENVIROBASE® High Performance waterborne basecoat system. It’s a move Ross has not regretted. “PPG is really well suited to the type of work we do. Our painter, Adrian Caruanna, is very familiar with Envirobase and he really likes its ease of use. The technology that comes with Envirobase is the latest and the RAPIDMATCH® GO spectro is fantastic but we have

S H O P FA C T S Boutique Auto Body Owners: Ross and Marie Spataro Staff: 7 PPG Product: Envirobase High Performance Territory Manager: Mario Zitko also found that PPG is a really supportive company. In the past 18 months, while dealing with all the COVID measures, the PPG partnership has been a breath of fresh air and we are grateful for the great work opportunities that have come with the relationship.” The benefits of the partnership actually go both ways, according to Fabian Gaida, PPG Market Development Manager. “PPG has close associations with many of the local OEM vehicle importers and, as part of that, we support them with their paint warranty programs. Knowing the quality of work the team at Boutique Auto Body produce, we were able to confidently put them forward as a business where OEMs could direct vehicles for warranty programs and rely on getting a top class, factory style finish.” Industry partnerships also give regular customers extra confidence to come to Boutique Auto Body, Ross explains. “We are an I-CAR Gold Class shop and, along with the benefits of ongoing training each year, I think it does attract customers to us. Having said that, I think the future is OEM partnerships. We have Holden, GMSV, HSV and Chevrolet accreditation and we

get a lot of enquires from that. We were even chosen by Holden to build the special TribUTE to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Holden ute. I think we will see more OEMs partnering with collision repairers and we would definitely like to get onboard with another two or three.” Although he isn’t looking to expand the business, Ross is well aware that the current facility can handle a greater workflow. However, he acknowledges that achieving that comes down to having the right staff in place. “We currently have five staff in the workshop who are all long term but we definitely need two more painters and a detailer so if there is anyone out there who wants the opportunity to do some really good work, give us a call. Although there is a shortage of skilled staff out there, I think we offer something pretty unique in that we encourage our technicians to do their best work and we provide a timeframe to allow that to happen. Having said that, they will have to fit in with the really good culture we have with our team – everyone pulls in the same direction and supports each other.” With the reputation and image that Boutique Auto Body has generated in the marketplace, Ross reckons the future is bright. “It has taken a long time to get the business to where it is now and the credit for the way it works and flows smoothly isn’t down to just me. It’s about having the right people in the right place who all share the R same philosophies and attitudes.”

Essential ingredients

MIRKA 13

The MIRKA brand is synonymous with efficient and reliable performance and the launch of its MIRKA Essentials range aims to spread those benefits across the refinish process.

hen it comes to products capable of giving a high productivity boost to the automotive refinish process, MIRKA has established itself as one of world’s most trusted brands. Rather than being a follower, MIRKA has repeatedly challenged the status quo by develop innovative, market leading solutions and the new range of MIRKA Essentials is the latest to benefit from this approach. In fact, MIRKA actually took the bold step of creating a specialist internal team in order to carefully assess each step of the refinish process, look at how each essential item was used and then develop a selection of quality products that can be relied on to produce efficient, repeatable results. It’s a perfect fit for a MIRKA brand which is based around providing users with a strong return on their investment, says Matt Sbizzirri, PPG Product Specialist, Allied Products. “The MIRKA philosophy doesn’t focus on the cost of individual products – it’s about how that product

can contribute to a collision centre’s processes in order to save valuable labour time and deliver a high-quality result. The MIRKA Essentials range is based around accessories and consumable products that are considered essential in paint refinishing, collision repair, polishing and other surface finishing work. These are competitively priced products, rather than being made to a price point, and you well and truly get what you pay for. Each item in the MIRKA Essentials catalogue has been carefully designed to work hand-in-hand with other MIRKA products and tools to boost productivity and give a return on investment that far outweighs the purchase price. It's little built-in features that you really notice, such as the MIRKA Essentials Tack Cloth which is larger than the average tack cloth so you can cover a larger area and it

leaves less residue. It’s similar with the MIRKA Essentials Degreaser Cloth which performs flawlessly. When MIRKA puts its name to a product, you can be sure it’s going to get the job done with no-fuss efficiency and that is what you will find with the whole MIRKA Essentials range!” At launch, the MIRKA Essentials range consists of the following products but plans are already in place to expand the offering so be sure to keep your eyes peeled. R

MIRKA Essentials range • Mixing Cup, in 400ml, 650ml, 1300ml and 2240ml sizes • Mixing Cup Lid, to fit 400ml, 650ml, 1300ml and 2240ml sizes • Tack Cloth Waffle • Touch Up Bottle, complete with funnel • Paint Mixing Stick (20cm or 30cm sizes) • Degreasing Cloth 32cm X 40cm • Paint Strainer (125µm or 190µm)

REFINISHER

PPG IN ACTION REFINISHER

Despite not being designed to be a show car, Joe Esposito’s ultra-tough, custom Camaro, with PPG ‘Juicy Orange’ paintwork, has been unveiled to an award-winning reception.

ome things just can’t be rushed but, ‘really’, taking over 20 years to complete a custom restoration is surely pushing the limits. In his defence, when PPG Refinish Business Manager South Australia, Joe Esposito, originally purchased his 1968 Chevy Camaro, he had a definite plan in mind to get this dream project on the road in a reasonable timeframe – it’s just that life kept getting in the way! “When I bought this Camaro, it had been imported from America and it was a one-

owner, Californian car that had rusted out quarter panels. Back in the day, I planned it to be a drag-style, street car so I sold all the original running gear that I was going to replace and made a start on the body. After that, there always seemed to be another car project or a house reno that kept it on the backburner. While I was at the SEMA show 14 years ago, I bought the engine, the wheels and everything else I needed but then I lost a bit of interest and it stalled again. Finally, I decided I needed to either get stuck in or sell it.” Several years ago, the painting stage of the project happily coincided with the launch of PPG’s expanded VIBRANCE COLLECTION® range which bolstered the incredible selection of special effects finishes with primers and a clearcoat

specifically designed for custom / restoration work. Indeed, the PPG SA team actually trialled VCC580 Custom Clear on this iconic American muscle car project and came away extremely impressed with its depth of gloss and polish-ability. It was also the crucial time to make the all-important colour selection, says Joe. “We mucked around with ENVIROBASE® High Performance tinters, combined with a little Vibrance tinter, to come up with an in-your-face custom colour that really suits the car and there is a subtle pearl effect. I didn’t know what to call it so my 13-year-old daughter suggested ‘Juicy Orange’ which is just perfect. Now, people ring to ask where to find the formula for Juicy Orange!” Although it was always going to be a registered road car, when it came to the level of detail and finish, Joe simply could not help himself and continually worked to an exceptionally high standard. “It was designed as a tough street car, not a show car but, you know how it goes, you do a little extra here and put in a little more effort there and it ends up like this. It meant that when I entered it in the 2021 Adelaide Auto Expo, the organisers put it in the Elite category, rather than ‘Street’. I was

PPG IN ACTION 15

REFINISHER

Photo: Street Machine Magazine

shocked when the car won so many awards given it was up against big dollar show cars that were built from scratch as show cars. It ended up taking out Runner-Up – Elite, Runner-Up – Engine Bay & Components and Runner-Up – Undercarriage & Driveline.” Apart from the paintwork, one of the car’s most striking visual features is the gargantuan 20 X 18-inch rear wheel and tyre package that fills the rear tubs to capacity. However, open the bonnet and your attention becomes rivetted to the colossal 615 cubic-inch big block Chev V8, fed by twin turbos, through a C&S carburettor which directs drive to the rear wheels via a Turbo 400 automatic transmission with paddle

shifters and a nine-inch diff. Other features include six-piston calipers all around and a Speedtech front end, complete with custom coil-overs and a custom hydraulic power steering rack with an electric driven hydraulic pump under the dash. “The biggest challenge was all the mods to fit that big engine into that small engine bay. It was a nightmare! I had to cut the firewall and shift the engine back 45mm so I could fit the intercooler in between the radiator. Putting those big wheels underneath it and still getting it engineered for road registration was another big challenge.

Overcoming the challenges, as you go through a project like this, is the most enjoyable part. Every time someone said you can’t do this or you can’t do that, it was a challenge to prove them wrong.” Joe has been invited to enter his epic Camaro at MotorEx 2022 (April 30th to May 1st) at the Melbourne Showgrounds where it will again appear in the Elite category. After that, he is looking forward to getting the final touches done for it to be fully road registered. Then, he can settle into the diamond quilted leather and suede interior and enjoy the fruits of over 20 years work! “Once it’s registered, I will be going to all the cruises. This engine makes a lot of power and torque, even without the turbos, so I’m not planning on going overboard. I’m only going to run around 7psi of boost. It should be a very interesting car to drive!” R

FEATURE STORY REFINISHER

Restore to factory

settings D

espite its humble, working-class roots, the Volkswagen Kombi requires no introduction. You don’t need to be a VW fanboy, an automotive enthusiast or even have an interest in cars – the icon shape that was created over 70 years ago is immediately recognisable to people all over the globe, from small children through to centenarians. However, for some, the instantly recognisable silhouette develops into more than just something that generates a big smile – it becomes a lifelong obsession. Adrian Smith

reckons his passion for Kombis started very early, including learning to drive in one. Several years later, he bought his first early model Kombi Splitscreen or ‘Splittie’ but it didn’t start well. “It became problem after problem so my wife said, you either need to learn how to fix them yourself or we stop owning them. I was already a welder by trade, working in my parent’s mining industry business, and had been doing metal work for quite a while so I was able to use those skills as I learnt more about repairing and restoring Kombis. I had fun building them for myself and, when other people saw my work, I started doing mini restos for them. At that point, I realised I could turn my passion into a business so I set up in a workshop next door to my parent’s business, in Maitland (NSW), around seven years ago.” With a surname of Smith, choosing DubSmith Garage as the business name was a nice play on words and a catchy title. Although the workshop is setup for functionality, rather than ultra-slick presentation, that is exactly the way Adrian and his team want it.

FEATURE STORY 17

Entering DubSmith Garage, the typical response is, ‘OMG, this is Kombi Heaven’, but it’s not where these iconic VWs go to die – it’s where they get restored to their former glory.

“It’s a cluttered workshop but it’s also a very productive workshop. At any given moment, we are working on six different vehicles and, for anyone who loves Kombis, that makes it a very visually pleasing place. When people walk in, their eyes fall out of their head because they have never seen so many Kombis in one location. I did a headcount the other day and we have 32 vehicles on the premises, varying from jobs waiting to be started and others on hold, to jobs going through the build process and my own personal stash. Inside the workshop there is quite literally every stage of the restoration process on display, ranging from commencement of major metal works to blasting, epoxy and prepping for colour and final paintwork being chopped and buffed. If you factor in delays along the way, having a vehicle in our care for around 12 to 18 months is a realistic timeframe.” Fully restoring a Kombi that could be over 70 years old, doesn’t come cheap but DubSmith Garage has customers lined up from all over the country. Kombis were never designed or built for extended longevity so, depending on how they have been cared for over the eons, vehicles can arrive in widely varying states of decay.

“Every vehicle has its own idiosyncrasies and they will rust in very different areas which is fascinating. For example, I’m currently building a ’56 Splittie for our family. It came from Maryborough, in country Victoria, and had all the running gear removed and was literally sitting on its chassis rails, under a tree, near a creek. You would think the chassis would be rusted out but we have only had to do bare minimum metal work to rectify it.”

REFINISHER

FEATURE STORY REFINISHER

R A R I T Y VA L U E

factory settings

Restore to

For the better kept Kombis, another option is to preserve, rather than restore. “Discovering a ‘barnfind’ is something people dream of. A vehicle that has been tucked up in a shed for the past 40 or 50 years is like a time capsule. I believe that a preservation is about doing the bare minimum metal work required to retain the vehicle’s current appearance. Because these are welded together monocoque vehicles, once you start doing any metal work it can quickly get out of hand.” “When it comes to restoration, often so much rust is involved that we have made the very logical decision to mass replace metal for time efficiency. There is no longer the ability to keep the vehicle original so being delicate to its history is out the door. We love metal work but the time it takes to get a rust repair utterly perfect with the minimum amount of filler is totally outweighed by replacing that panel from end-to-end in one hit.” Whether it’s preservation or restoration, incredible attention to detail is an absolute must. “If you are not a perfectionist, this is not the industry to be in. When someone is spending six

sking which Kombi is the most valuable or sought-after is a very subjective question, Adrian explains. “The first Splitscreen Kombis were only manufactured from around 1950 to about 1954 and are known as a Barndoor Kombi. Only being built for four years means they are rare and are a big-ticket item. We have just secured the final stage build for the holy grail of Kombis – a right-hand-drive 1954 Deluxe 23 Window Kombi. There are just four in the country and only around a dozen in the world. However, in some people’s eyes there are other Kombis that are very, very rare. These were the commercial versions, that were not designed for passengers, such as the ‘single-cab’, ‘dual-cab’ and ‘panel van’. We are building two of the very rare dual-cabs at the moment.” figures which can push close to $200,000, they should expect perfection. I do regular Instagram posts on the progress of our builds to try to show people the perfection we are delivering. For example, our metal workers are very clever and, with things like panel gaps around doors, engine lids, etc, they know how to manipulate the metal to get precise, even gaps.” Once the team of three metal workers has worked their magic to create an ultra-flat metal foundation, Adrian relies on his painter, Shaune O’Neill, and a partnership with PPG to deliver a flawless finish. “In my eyes, PPG is the pinnacle of paint brands. We had used other brands but when PPG came on board at the local distributor, Bradstreet Parts, it was a natural progression for us to switch. Along with the PPG products, we have had some very good onsite technical training – Shaune is a very experienced and fussy painter but the training just helped us finetune our processes. I am very proud that we have PPG in the shop and, from a professionalism

FEATURE STORY 19

point of view, you will also notice the PPG signs in the photos and videos we post on social media.” When choosing a colour for their vehicle, there tends to be two types of owners, according to Adrian. “Purists want a colour and finish as it would have been from the factory, whereas other people just have a colour palette in mind which looks somewhat authentic to the vehicle’s era. Some of the early colour formulations can be frustrating to get because they literally have not existed for so long. That is where PPG has helped – for example, with probably the most famous Kombi colour of all, called Dove Blue. PPG was able to come back to us with a formulation in both DG or COB.” “Many of the early colours are as ugly as hell but that can also make them as rare as hell. A colour called ‘Boronia Brown’ was only used in Australia between 1957 and ’58 so it’s very, very rare. It’s fugly but, to a purist, it’s very sought after. Another rare colour combination, called ‘Palm Green, Sand Green’, only existed for two years – within the VW scene it’s known as a PG SG bus. On their own the two colours are ugly but putting them together creates the perfect marriage.” At just 37 years old, Adrian is in his prime and has ambitious plans for the future of DubSmith Garage. In 2022, he and his team will actually use their vast storehouse of Kombi experience to begin a unique build on one of the most soughtafter models – a Samba which had 23 windows (later 21 windows) to

give passengers a panoramic view. Rather than a restoration, it will be manufactured from scratch to factory specs using two in-house made chassis jigs. In the next five to ten years, Adrian is also looking forward to custom fitting emerging electric powertrain kits to some of his Kombi builds. In the shorter term, plans are in place to relocate to a larger premises but remain in the Lake Macquarie area. “I am an eternal optimist and I plan to keep restoring Kombis for as long as my body lets me and as long as the supply is available. I have my own personal stash of around 12 vehicles to build in the future.” It’s clear that with the DubSmith Garage team on the job, no Kombi will have a chance to rust in peace. R TRUE TO TYPE

ntroduced in 1950 as the Type 2, the Kombi was only Volkswagen’s second car model after the Beetle. By placing the driver right up the front and putting a wheel at each corner, the Kombi became the trailblazer for modern forward-control cargo vans and micro buses. While they certainly were not powerful, Kombis in a variety of configurations quickly endeared themselves to owners by being very capable, reliable and durable. Along the way, the Kombi became the posterchild of the Hippie counterculture movement of the 1960s and is still closely associated with beach culture and surfing. The current VW T6 Transporter can trace its linage directly back over six generations to the iconic Type 2.

REFINISHER

TALKING TRAINING REFINISHER

Taking a Stone-chips are ugly and not just for the vehicle owner. However, getting refinish film-builds correct and keeping customers informed can help avoid potentially ugly incidents.

t’s not the sort of conversation you want to have with a customer. After a repair, they return within a few weeks or months with a complaint about stone-chips in the refinished paintwork. In the customer’s eyes, it’s due to the new paint and the repairer typically sees it as just a common incident that happens when driving. Who is right or wrong doesn’t really matter if the customer is upset. The ideal situation is to try and avoid this scenario in the first place, according to John Hristias, PPG Business Support Manager Asia / Pacific.

Follow the process Obviously, a repairer can’t control the path of a random piece of road debris travelling at highway velocity which causes

a stone-chip. However, they can definitely control the refinish process used on a customer’s vehicle. Using extensive testing, the PPG technical team has determined what works best and, as a result, provides painters with a precise, step-by-step guide to mixing and apply all the refinish layers. Recommendations include the spray gun, nozzle set and gun adjustments and certain products, mixed in a certain way. Follow these steps and you will hit the critical window required for maximum resistance to stone chipping. Going rogue at any point significantly increases the likelihood of issues, such as stone-chipping.

Build in resistance Apart from choosing good quality products and the correct process, the film-build of the various layers has a very big impact (pardon the pun) on the paintwork’s ability to resist stone-chipping. We recommend using a modern Wet-On-Wet (WOW) primer which increases adhesion to the following topcoat layer. It’s also important to mix the WOW primer in the correct spectral grey which is sympathetic to the topcoat colour so, therefore, film-build is minimised and less coats of colour are required to achieve coverage. Again, it’s all about sticking to the process. If a painter chooses to mix the WOW primer with a bit of extra thinner, this will reduce film-build. It’s the same if

a painter uses a finer than recommended nozzle set. On the other hand, if you smash on heavy coats of primer, basecoat and clearcoat, you are going to end up with film-builds that are too high. When it comes to clearcoat, the film build should be around 50 to 60 microns. Too thin and it will chip and breakdown easier. Too thick and it will be prone to stone-chipping. With modern High Solids (HS) and Ultra High Solids (UHS) clearcoats, it’s basically a case of ‘less is more’. Applied in the recommended single visit mode (a light, closed coat over the whole job before immediately returning to the start and applying a full wet coat), they provide the necessary protection, along with outstanding gloss. Getting processes and film-builds correct gives confidence that if a vehicle returns with stone chipping, it’s not the fault of the paint film.

Degradation not delamination Stone-chipping causes a fracture in the clearcoat layer which then opens a pathway for moisture, sunlight, humidity, etc. to reach the underlying paint layers. Left untreated, a ‘whitish’ appearance becomes visible around the stone-chip and, at this point, the damage has progressed to be known as ‘paint degradation’. This is not a fault of the paint film and should not be confused with paint delamination.

TALKING TRAINING 21

chip shot Explanation and education Customer pick up is a great time to explain the effort your team has put into creating a tough, durable finish for their vehicle. However, they should also be made aware that there are limitations to what that paintwork can withstand. Should their vehicle suffer stone chipping, point out that your team is perfectly placed to help by sealing them off quickly and effectively with high quality paint.

• As soon as they are noticed, stonechips should be sealed off using a good quality touch-up paint – see your repairer. • Polishing / waxing of new paintwork is not recommended within the first six weeks.

• Where possible, avoid parking under trees to minimise the impact of tree sap and other plantbased material.

• Animal faeces (bird, bat, cow, etc) tends to have a high acid content so it should be washed off immediately.

• Regularly wash the vehicle with a good quality car wash, a soft, micro-fibre style wash mitt and clean water. Look for stone-chips or other blemishes so they can be rectified before they get worse.

Extra recommendations to pass on to owners: 1

• Avoid gravel roads as this is where stone-chipping can happen more easily, particularly in the first 30 days.

• Wash the vehicle in the shade – never in direct sunlight.

• Be especially careful when using a high pressure washer. Keep the washer nozzle in ‘fan’ mode and at least 60cm from paintwork, particularly around stone-chips.

• Avoid using high pressure cleaners at temperatures above 50°C.

10 • Avoid commercial car washes as the stiff brushes can leave fine scratches that dulls the shine.

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PPG CUSTOMERS REFINISHER

Despite all the challenges, Mike Kitson got all the pieces to fit perfectly as he recreated this rare and iconic Ford muscle car of his dreams.

f you have ever sat down to a multithousand-piece jigsaw puzzle and wondered where to even begin, spare a thought for Mike Kitson. His threedimensional jigsaw puzzle had originally left Ford’s Campbellfield production line as a complete car in 1969 but now it was reduced to its individual parts and he was not the one who disassembled it. Despite having rebuilt

jigsaw

and owned a number of classic American cars over the years, Mike was taking on a challenge that was next level. “After I sold my award-winning Ford Galaxy, I swore I would not do any more. However, my dream from when I was young was to own a GT Falcon and then this one popped up on an online auction. The seller had owned this November build, 1969 XW GT Falcon for 34 years and, around 15 years ago, had stripped it and done body repairs so it was just a shell on a rotisserie and boxes of parts. I got outbid on the auction but about four weeks later I got a phone call saying the auction winner had reneged and was I still interested.

My wife and I interrupted our Christmas holidays, flew down to Blenheim and bought the car then and there. It was a big risk but everything checked out as genuine, including the original ownership papers and the original silver and black New Zealand registration plates.” Although, it helps that Mike owns and runs the thriving Greenpark Panel & Paint, in the Auckland suburb of Penrose, it was still a daunting task to resurrect this classic muscle car. Fortunately, the simpler vehicle design from over five decades ago meant the task was relatively straightforward, if a little time consuming.

PPG CUSTOMERS 23

“Finding the right parts and getting them in the right places was one of the hardest things. It took a lot of Googling, going through manuals and talking to people in Australia who had rebuilt these cars. My electrician picked the wiring loom apart, rewired the internals and then re-strapped it to look factory original. For the interior, we sent the original door trims to a company in Australia who rebuilt them for us and then we bought a complete set of seat covers and a local trimmer re-did the foam and fitted them. We even rebuilt the heater core. The interior looks outstanding and we have had a lot of positive comments.” “You can buy almost anything you want for these old GT Falcons but one of the few things we couldn’t buy was an XW GT Falcon taillight housing. It meant we had to completely restore the original units. Power steering also became a bit of a challenge. Most GT Falcons from that era, including my car, didn’t come with power steering so I bought a complete second-hand kit from Australia, minus the pitman arm. Because the pitman arm has a very unusual

female to female attachment, it actually took six months to find a suitable pitman arm!” When it came to the drivetrain, the original four-speed top-loader manual gearbox was rebuilt but the engine block could not be saved thanks to a couple of major cracks. As a result, Mike had a new ‘factory’ 351 cubic inch Ford Windsor V8 built for the car. Although it looks dead stock under the bonnet, it actually punches out a little more horsepower than the original. At the same time, Mike has wrapped the original block and tucked it away in his shed should it be required in the future. Just as PPG products help his Greenpark Panel & Paint team to efficiently get on with regular collision work, they also proved perfect for this GT rebuild, according to Mike.

“We are a long-term PPG shop so it was PPG all the way from primers to clearcoat. The colour is Grecian Gold which had never been formulated in the regular Envirobase High Performance waterborne system we use, so we simply switched to painting it in Deltron solvent-borne where there was a colour formulation. When you see the car now, the finish looks outstanding!” As a final touch to bring the appearance into the modern era, Mike invested countless hours reworking door frames, door skins, etc to create tight, consistent panel gaps all around. After completing the 18 month project, Mike finally got to the best bit. “It’s a very nice car to drive and that is what I enjoy doing with it. On a nice sunny day, it’s perfect to take out and, with 630hp from the new motor, it’s fun! Everyone from teens to eighty-year-olds seem to love it and you regularly get people on the motorway who want to wind down their window and have a chat – I was a bit taken aback by that! As a standard, original XW GT Falcon, I don’t think there would be a better built R one in New Zealand.”

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M V P – X - R AY R E PA I R P L A N N I N G

Uninterrupted productivity By identifying hidden issues and eliminating efficiency sapping roadblocks, X-Ray Repair Planning® puts your production processes on the pathway to productivity and profitability.

he age-old saying goes, ‘if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail’ and this applies just as much to the collision repair process. Although no one begins a repair without some sort of plan, the fact we see holdups occur so regularly means there is often plenty of room for improvement. But where do you start to maximise efficiency, remove waste from the process and ensure technicians can continuously work on the job from start to finish with zero interruptions? PPG’s MVP Business Solutions team developed X-Ray Repair Planning specifically to offer a straightforward, user-friendly framework which repairers can utilise to supercharge their production processes, according to Greg Tunks, MVP Business Solutions Manager ANZ.

Uninterrupted flow The key aim of X-Ray Repair Planning sounds simple enough – deliver each job to

the technicians with absolutely everything in place to allow that vehicle to flow through the process with no interruptions. Its focus is on better controlling what goes on within the four walls of your business. Right up front, we are trying to eliminate all the possible roadblocks or hurdles that can prevent the technicians from working on the vehicle continuously and without delays. Ultimately, the goal is to reduce the key-to-key cycle-time and deliver the vehicle back to the customer in the shortest possible time. Not only does

this put your collision centre in the good books with the customer and their insurance company, it also delivers a healthy boost to productivity and, hence, profitability. Another under estimated advantage is that a smooth, organised flow makes the workshop a more pleasant, stress free and efficient place for technicians to do their best work.

Plan to succeed Because the collision repair process typically consists of a complex series of smaller steps, ‘planning’ is the crucial word in X-Ray Repair Planning. Before the vehicle even enters the repair cycle, it’s about providing a framework that allows you to breakdown each step and search for potential roadblocks that could stop the technicians from working on the vehicle. Although there are a variety of tools within X-Ray Repair Planning to assist with creating a standard, it’s important to understand that the standard will be different for each collision centre. It’s a matter of tailoring it to your needs.

MVP BUSINESS SOLUTIONS 25

Integrating X-Ray Repair Planning

When writing an estimate, the idea is basically to write an upfront plan for all the activities that will go into the repair and then follow that up with clear communication to everyone in the team who needs that information. Although they are not limited to X-Ray Repair Planning, there are a number of tools that have a powerful impact on the process, such as:

• Meticulous disassembly – Doing this early identifies all the damage (both visible and hidden). If parts break while being removed, it happens early and avoids delays. Reassembly parts and processes can be organised and ready to go when needed. • Visual mapping is all about delivering all the information about the job in a clear, visual format that is easy to understand and follow.

• Colour coding is a simple but effective approach to get a visual signal across. Red = Stop, do not repair. Yellow = Caution, wait for authorisation. Green = Authorised for repair.

Although taking advantage of X-Ray Repair Planning is straightforward, the MVP Business Solutions team has a number of recommendations to ensure you achieve the best results. It starts with a visit from your MVP Business Solutions consultant who can get an overview of the current processes being used. At the same time, they can give collision centre staff a basic understanding of X-Ray Repair Planning and the potential benefits the business is aiming to achieve. As mentioned earlier, every collision centre is different so it’s about creating your own ‘standard’. Typically, the estimating, panel, parts and paint departments are going to have work in unison to make this happen so engaging the people who are being asked to change is a crucial factor in creating the best standard and ensuring its long-term success.

Pilot before full production In most cases, integrating X-Ray Repair Planning involves fairly significant changes so it’s best to introduce it slowly and finetune it before going to full production on every job. It’s recommended to start with just one ‘pilot’ job. Pick one you think is going to be easy and use that to begin the development of your standard process. Before starting the pilot job, use the X-Ray Repair Planning framework to try to anticipate any roadblocks that could hold up production. Afterwards, hold a debrief to determine what worked, what didn’t work and what can be done to eliminate production roadblocks. X-Ray Repair Planning is about learning what stops technicians continuously working on a vehicle, correcting that process and creating a new standard for the sort of smooth and efficient long term production that is perfect for the modern industry. R

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PPG PEOPLE REFINISHER

PPG Staff Profile

Trevor Duke C

ars were much more interesting than school, for Trevor, but following that passion meant getting a job at just 14 years old. It could have been in any car-related trade but, as luck would have it, he took up a spray-painting apprenticeship. After completing his apprenticeship at a general collision repair shop in Sydney, Trevor moved to a business that did quite a lot of custom-type cars. Over the next few years, he honed his skills switching back and forth between custom and collision repairs.

Favourite hobbies /pastimes? Golf and dirt bike riding Favourite food? A good Italian or Thai feed Favourite drink? Canadian club or Frangelico on ice and lime Favourite music / band? Old school rock, such as ACDC or Nirvana Favourite car / motorcycle? Car – anything Holden. Bike – Kawasaki dirt bike Favourite holiday destination? Phuket in Thailand or Fiji

Training Manager NSW / ACT “It was a really good learning experience for me. With restoration work you have to know a lot more information about metals, the way to treat them and about the entire process from bare metal up. I loved it! It was top-end type work and we painted everything, including suspension parts, etc.”

Later, Trevor went looking for a long-term career path change where he would not be on the tools all day, every day and PPG became the focus. He says he thoroughly enjoyed his five year stint as a field trainer for a PPG distributor before securing a role at PPG.

“I started with PPG as a field trainer in 2008 before switching to Territory Manager Western Sydney in 2012 and then to my current role as Training Manager in 2014. It covers a large variety of training tasks involving everything from end user customers, TAFE students and teachers, PPG distributors and PPG internal staff, through to motor manufacturer and dealership staff and insurance company personnel. I really appreciate getting positive feedback from experienced technicians who are grateful for the updated information and changes that make their job easier. I really enjoy the opportunity to work with our industry on all aspects of training, products and process and it’s particularly satisfying to work with a great PPG training team from across Australia and New Zealand.”

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 opportunities https://ppg.referrals.selectminds.com/

CUSTOMER PARTNERSHIPS REFINISHER

In the

driver’s seat What does it take to navigate a business through 50 successful years in the industry? An unwavering determination to upskill, adapt to change, build like-minded partnerships and support customers.

here will you find the longest serving, continuous I-CAR Gold Class certified collision repairer in Australia? Not in a big capital city – you need to look almost 1000km north of Brisbane, in the city of Mackay which is home to around 130,000 people. For McCarthy Panel Works, continually upskilling staff is more important now than any time in the business’ 50-year history, says Andrea McCarthy, who runs the busy shop with husband, Craig. “Rather than panel beaters or painters, I prefer to call our team members ‘technicians’ because it better reflects their role in today’s industry. Repairing a vehicle today is nothing like it was even five years ago and these technicians need to have so much knowledge and skills in order to make repairs correctly and safely. And the next few years will see some of the most significant changes

in motor vehicles for the past 50 years with things like aluminium components, battery electric vehicles, composite parts, Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS), etc. This is why we didn’t just complete I-CAR Gold training to get the accreditation – it’s a key part of the ongoing training regime for our technicians. I think it’s really important that customers and insurers understand that these are the highly skilled people who are doing the job and they deserve respect. Our staff are the key to this business and we want to give them a place they can work safely and productively and earn a decent living.” Although he can’t claim to have worked there for the whole 50 years, Craig McCarthy has been around for a large slice, having joined his parent’s – Edward (Ted) and Lorraine McCarthy – business as a 15-year-old apprentice panel beater. When his wife, Andrea, came onboard, the couple created a formidable duo. With Craig taking care of internal workflow, Andrea has largely become the day-to-day face of the business and that includes getting involved in various industry organisations. Today, Andrea is on the I-CAR Industry Advisory Board and is the Chairperson for the National Auto Collision Alliance (NACA) Division of the MTA Queensland.

“It’s great to contribute but I also get a lot out of being involved in these industry bodies – I learn a lot, it opens my view on the industry and there is the opportunity to get my view across. For example, when I first joined the NACA as a committee member, there was not really any regional representation – same with I-CAR.

CUSTOMER PARTNERSHIPS 29

The reality is that, although issues might be similar to big city repairers, at the same time, they are different for regional businesses. I think I have been able to raise awareness about what regional repairers face.” Since taking over the business, Craig and Andrea have had to consistently expand the facilities to meet growing demand. This includes the recent purchase of another facility across the road which will house

reception / administration and a dedicated aluminium and composite materials repair area which particularly supports McCarthy’s role as a certified Tesla repairer. According to Andrea, it’s key partnerships, such as the longstanding relationship with PPG, which have supported the business and helped it through growth phases, over the years. “For our business to grow and remain successful, it’s increasingly important to find business partners who both understand our vision and assist us in driving forward and PPG is one of them. Even rewinding back to the early 2000s, PPG introduced us to the first MVP Business Solutions Roundtable Group in Queensland. It opened our eyes to a different world by giving us access to a group of likeminded, similar sized business owners who were all striving for a common goal. The lessons learnt are still relevant

to us. We also appreciate PPG’s regional assistance and we love our supply network. On top of that, PPG’s training for our team gives them the knowledge and skills they need to best utilise the PPG product range.” Ultimately, all the different facets which have gone into growing the business have also been responsible for building a rocksolid foundation of trust with the local customer base. “I get asked ‘what is the most important aspect of the job’ – it’s helping people who are often at a stressful moment after an accident. We take the time to listen to customers and we often go into bat for them. We have literally had claims reinstated for customers after they were going to be denied.” After taking time out to celebrate McCarthy Panel Work’s 50th Anniversary in 2021, Andrea and Craig are focused on the future. “We are not about resting on our laurels just yet – we have at least another 10 years in this game. The idea is to put the facilities, equipment and training in place to deliver for our customers while making it as comfortable as possible for our team and ourselves.” R

REFINISHER

UV UV that is the question or not

Although you can’t actually see Ultra-Violet light, it’s something that has both very useful upsides for humans, along with Some but not too much potential downsides that need to be respected.

our eyes can typically pick up wavelengths of light in a band between around 380nm (nanometres) to about 700nm. Note: One nanometre = one billionth of a metre. This visible light spectrum forms the rainbow of colours with which we are able to view the world. However, just outside the violet end of the visible spectrum, or literally beyond violet, lays Ultra-Violet (UV). Like the rest of the light spectrum, it’s a form of electromagnetic radiation produced mostly by the sun, although there are also man-made sources. It’s interesting to note that the refinish industry takes advantage of electromagnetic radiation from beyond both ends of the

visible spectrum – UV from the lower end and Infrared from above. The energy level increases at lower wavelengths so UV is actually more ‘energetic’ than IR.

The ABC of UV UV radiation is divided into three wavebands – UV-A, UV-B and UV-C. Because it has the shortest wavelengths, UV-C is the most energetic of the three bands and is the most harmful to humans. Fortunately, it’s absorbed by the earth’s ozone layer. The earth’s atmosphere filters out most of the UV-B radiation that heads our way, while UV-A tends to get through because it’s the least energetic, as well as being the least harmful to humans.

The spectrum of visible and non-visible light

Ultraviolet

Visible

Infrared

UVC UVB UVA 100

280

315

400 Wavelength (Nanometres)

700

Despite the fact you can’t see UV light, it has definite beneficial properties for humans but, in higher doses, it can also be harmful. UV from the sun triggers the production of vitamin D in our bodies which not only helps strengthen bones, muscles and the body’s immune system, it may also reduce the chances of getting some cancers, such as colon cancer. UV is also what causes skin to tan. However, too much exposure can lead to ‘sun burn’ and a higher risk of skin cancer. Over the years, fluctuations in the Refinish takes advantage earth’s protective of both UV and IR ozone layer have altered our exposure to harmful UV radiation. For example, Chlorine containing refrigerants, called CFCs, were allowed to leak into the atmosphere. Chlorine destroys ozone which caused holes to form in the ozone layer, permitting harmful UV-B and UV-C radiation to penetrate the atmosphere where they created a higher risk of skin cancers and other issues.

Breakdown effect Ultra-Violet light posses enough energy to break chemical bonds. This has a welcome upside which sees UV radiation widely

used in industrial processes and in medical and dental practices for various purposes, including disinfecting and sterilising by killing bacteria and viruses. You probably take advantage of this yourself by hanging clothes in the sunlight to dry! One downside of this effect is that UV is detrimental to paint. A dried paint film essentially consists of a solid resin binder system that holds dispersed pigment particles and both are vulnerable to attack by UV. The polymer chains of the binder can be broken down, causing loss of gloss and even chalking. In the same way, the molecular bonds of the organic pigment can be broken which disrupts how the pigment molecules absorb visible light, thereby causing the colour to fade. These attacks can be minimised in various ways. Firstly, both the resins and the pigments are formulated to be ‘strong’ or resistant to UV. Unfortunately, this is why many very attractive pigments don’t find their way into automotive use because they have insufficient UV resistance. Secondly, coating formulations are bolstered with colourless UV absorbers and light stabilisers that protect both binder and pigment.

The need for speed Products that are cured by UV light have existed for many years. For example, industrial coatings for wood finishes, some dental fillings and even in the refinish industry where PPG’s UV8080 UV Cured Primer Surfacer has been providing customers with an easy option to significantly reduce cycle-time and increase shop capacity for around two decades. Typically, UV products are formulated with very high solids and are low in VOC. They are also isocyanate free but do contain low molecular weight pre-polymers that can be harmful. This is why it’s crucial to consult product labels and safety data sheets for safe application requirements. UV lamps should also be used with due care and attention. Modern lamps use LED technology and the light is carefully controlled by the lamp design and attached filters. The light emitted is in the UV-B waveband, not unlike a sun bed, so it’s important to follow operating instructions and use all appropriate PPE. UV liquid coatings contain a photo-initiator which is energised by UV light.

This causes a bonding process where the monomers and oligomers link together to form a polymer. The reaction is very fast, so cure times are extremely short. For example, UV8080 has the incredible ability to cure in just three minutes under an approved UV lamp. Add in aerosol convenience, excellent filmbuild and no flash-off and it’s easy to see how it lets users work up to 75% faster on smaller jobs. R

CT REFINISHER

Icing on the cake Whether it’s the dealership network or owner / operators, JRT Truck Refinishers is trusted to give heavy vehicles an accurate, high-quality livery that protects them for the long haul.

n the highly competitive market for truck painting, Darren Febey is acutely aware that there is little loyalty and you tend to be judged as only being as good as your last job. Despite this constant pressure, Darren and his team at JRT Truck Refinishers (JRT) have consistently put impressive results on the board in the 15 years since he took the helm. “These trucks and buses can cost between $80,000 and $500,000 and we are putting the ‘icing on the cake’ so the finish has to be as good as a new factory finish or better. That means there is no shortcuts – it’s important to get every job right so that you continue to get the next job and the one after that.” After starting his career as an apprentice spray painter, Darren worked in workshop management positions before taking on a paint sales role. During that time, he serviced JRT and later joined the team, before eventually purchasing the company. Located in the south eastern Melbourne suburb of Braeside, JRT handles a wide range of large painting tasks, including buses, industrial equipment, boats and RVs, but its specialty is new vehicles.

CT 33

“Over the years, we have done bizarre things like amusement rides, aircraft wings and all sorts of things but we try to do nice, clean new vehicles that come via the truck dealership network. Second hand vehicles tend to be very labour intensive, requiring a lot more preparation, repairs and priming. Most customers don’t want to pay for those services so we mostly stick to new vehicles. However, that can bring its own challenges. For example, when working with the dealership network, a new truck often needs to visit a number of different places to have work done and accessories fitted so it has to move from place to place with military precision. This is where clear communication with the dealership team is super important. For example, a vehicle might be booked for the 12th but it arrives on the 16th. As well as filling the gap in our work schedule, I need to let the dealership know the job arrived late and continually keep them updated on its progress. They really appreciate that. I believe, if we do what we say we will and deliver a quality job with a reasonable turnaround time, we will be in line for the next job from them.” The arrival of the COVID pandemic came as a rude shock for Darren, as severe supply chain issues radically altered the way dealerships operate. “In the past, when a customer ordered a new truck, the dealer would simply take one off the lot and send it to us for painting.

However, now dealerships often have to wait for truck to be shipped in from overseas and that takes time. The knock-on effect over 18 months has put us well behind. During COVID it was also very difficult to maintain relationships with key dealership people because you were not allowed to visit them and have a chat like I had done in the past. My biggest challenge is to continue to get a regular flow of work in the door and COVID has shown us we are probably not diverse enough so I need to work on that part of the business.” Although it doesn’t make a lot of sense, given the facilities required, Darren points out that the pricing structure to paint a truck is actually very similar to a passenger vehicle. This makes it crucial to have good staff using

efficient processes and quality products and, for JRT, this includes PPG’s DELFLEET® Evolution paint system which was specifically developed for Commercial Vehicle applications, as well as PPG’s DELTRON® refinish system metallics and pearls. “We used other paint brands over the years but, in the fleet / commercial vehicle sector, PPG really is the brand with the strength and reputation. About 10 years ago, we decided to go 100% PPG with a Delfleet system onsite to make our own colours. Today, we promote PPG and use PPG on everything, unless otherwise specified by the customer.” As part of the partnership, JRT gets day-to-day support from Murray Henry, PPG Commercial Transport Territory Manager. “JRT has a very switched-on team of painters but I help them by dropping in to take regular film-build readings or give them onsite training on new products. When a new customer comes onboard at JRT I prepare a detailed paint specification for their vehicles and the PPG team also supports JRT when it’s looking to win new business.” Indeed, JRT’s ability to produce consistently outstanding results has seen it become a key player in a number of multi-vehicle projects, explains Darren.

REFINISHER

CT 34

Icing on the cake

REFINISHER

“For one project, we painted 300 Country Fire Authority vehicles over a threeand-a-half-year period and we did large quantities for the Australia Post / Startrack project. More recently, the Milwaukee Tools marketing team reached out to us. They wanted Milwaukee Tools branding painted onto a batch of ten vans which were then loaded up with tools and used for sales and promotional work. They understood that painting, versus wrapping, was going to give them a much better look and longevity. The reaction to the first ten vans was so good, they ordered another ten and then another and we have now done 40 vans for Milwaukee Tools and established a great relationship with the company.” Despite the volume of work it processes, the JRT crew is relatively modest with just three fulltime staff and two subcontractors on the workshop floor and a family friend who takes care of admin two days a week. “What I really enjoy is the relationships you build up, whether it be with the customer base or with staff. We are really lucky that our team has very similar interests – old cars, muscle cars, motorcycles, etc – and I think everyone appreciates that.” According to Darren, other key factors are clear communication and the right setup. “When I was in the paint sales role, I saw the good and bad ways businesses did things and I’m still continually learning.

I’m also not the sort of bloke who demands how tradespeople do each task – it’s a team thing. I explain what we are looking to achieve and, if anyone has any good ideas, let’s talk about it. The guys understand that what they do affects the end result and our

reputation. To help minimise wasted time, we spend ten minutes at the end of each day talking about what our aims are for the next day. That way, everyone knows what to get stuck into and it seems to work well.” “We have had a bigger crew in the past but I have scaled it down a little. Having said that, we can still do similar numbers, we are just doing it a bit differently. It’s all about efficiencies in the production process. If we can get vehicles in and out with a quick turnaround and a quality result, that is where you make your profit. It has to be methodical while also keeping everything flowing smoothly. When it gets extremely busy, nothing can change. It’s just about sticking to the processes that work and not taking shortcuts – it’s not rocket science!” R

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