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Harley-Davidson in Australia PPG shares the journey
ALSO INSIDE: PPG TRAINING FOR MERCEDES BENZ AUTHORISED AUTOBODY REPAIRERS NETWORK INSIDE THIS ISSUE
• ADDING DESIGNER AGE
• SUPERCARS' LE ADING L ADY
• M E E T M R M U S TA N G
contents DECEMBER2017
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SC A N TO RE A D T HE REFINISHER ONLINE
59 VOLUME
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Editor-In-Chief Paul Galea
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Editorial Co-ordinator Kevin Woolerton
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News
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Link to the fast train
Editor John M Stanley Creative Director Dean Parrott
The easy way to get on the road to productivity
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Proof that being isolated is no barrier to efficient practices
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CT best practice tied up with a Green Belt The CT Green Belt Training program comes to Australia
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A century of chrome, power and style Harley-Davidson was a fledgling 14 year-old company when it began selling in Australia and, shortly after, in New Zealand. In the 100 years since then, the celebrated motorcycle maker has seen off competitors to establish itself as an undisputed icon both here and around the globe
New South Wales 10 Peter Brock Drive, Eastern Creek, 2766 Telephone (02) 9854 6600
Tasmania PO Box 406, Kings Meadows, 7249 Telephone 0412 254 807
Leading lady Simona De Silvestro’s plan to bring diversity to Supercars
Victoria 104-106 Woodlands Drive, Braeside, 3195 Telephone (03) 8586 0000
South Australia 1E Oldsmobile Terrace, Dudley Park, 5008 Telephone (08) 8346 6870
Thinking outside the box
National trust 60 years on, Recar continues to be the trusted choice
NEWS REFINISHER
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Award winning app welcomes Aussie legend A
re you a DJR Team Penske or Supercars fan who just can’t stand the wait from one event to the next? There is an app for that! Now, the hugely popular Real Racing 3 gaming app includes the Shell V-Power Racing Team Ford Falcon FG X. And, thanks to the close partnership with DJR Team Penske, the superbly detailed car includes prominent PPG logos, just like you see on the original. The multiple award-winning game has been downloaded over 300 million times worldwide and is currently the #1 free app in over 100 countries. It features a wide
selection of officially licensed tracks – 39 circuits, including Bathurst’s Mount Panorama, and 17 real-world locations – and over 140 meticulously rendered cars from top manufacturers. Once you have downloaded the free mobile / tablet based app, it lets you race wheel to wheel with your mates or other gamers from R across the globe.
Leading the way P
PG partners with top level motor sport teams across the globe and this year has seen some epic results. Over in the US, 26-year-old Team Penske driver, Josef Newgarden, wrapped up his first IndyCar championship. Not only that, Team Penske drivers filled four of the top five positions – Simon Pagenaud 2nd, Helio Castroneves 4th and Australia’s Will Power 5th – and it was the 15th all-time INDYCAR title for Team Penske. On the local scene, Audi Sport Customer Racing Australia’s Geoff Emery put in a stellar performance in his Audi R8 LMS race cars to come from behind and take out the 2017 Australian GT Championship in a thrilling finale at Sandown Raceway. And
who could forget the amazing scenes at the 2017 Bathurst 1000 where Erebus Motorsport wrote another stirring chapter into its history. After starting on the front row, the #9 Commodore of David Reynolds and Luke Youlden was amongst the front runners all day but it wasn’t until the final laps that it hit the lead to take a famous R victory for the small team.
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DRIVETHROUGH
Get tooled up with Sidchrome Mustang C Edition
with Paul Galea
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s part of its latest project car venture, iconic tool brand, Sidchrome, has taken a ’69 Mustang ‘barn find’ and turned it into a classic work of art, complete with stunning PPG paintwork. Creating this masterpiece started with a complete strip down and blasting which found surprisingly little rust in the almost 50-year-old body. While the shell was being repaired, the 351ci V8 engine and the gearbox AFTER
BEFORE
were completely overhauled and enhanced. Built in a pro-touring style, this awesome pony car now features upgraded brakes, suspension, wheels and steering, along with a custom interior. And it has the presence to match thanks to sensational Nardo Grey PPG paintwork with black accents and red highlights. Best of all, you could win this very car – see the Sidchrome website (www.sidchrome.com.au) for details R on how to enter.
hange seems to be a constant in today’s industry but, throughout it, one factor holds true – organisations willing to commit to an ongoing regime of training to upskill their people are the ones which consistently rise to the top. Training benefits in many ways, whether it is implementing more efficient workshop floor processes, accessing the latest business management solutions via the MVP team or having more engaged and motivated staff. Vehicle OEMs have long recognised the importance of training. Recently, we worked closely with Mercedes-Benz to deliver dedicated training to its authorised Autobody Repairers network (pg 28). It helps ensure Mercedes-Benz owners everywhere get the same exceptional experience which strengthens the company’s brand image. Of course, PPG has long made training easily accessible to repairers and our new website ‘Training’ link makes it that much easier. I’d recommend having a browse through the site to see the great options on offer. I’m also pleased to say we will soon be offering training dedicated to the Commercial Transport (CT) sector (pg 24). The CT Green Belt Training program arrives in March 2018 and we are very excited because we see this as a very effective way to continue supporting CT operators. When it comes to ongoing support, the PPG National Colour Matching Competition (pg 20) is an excellent example. For decades it has promoted the essential skill of colour matching amongst apprentices and 2018 was particularly successful with New Zealand joining in. Congratulations to all the apprentices who R participated!
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Want to give a modern vehicle a touch of designer age – this straightforward process is ideal for creating a tough, durable finish with plenty of antique character.
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n original vehicle from the 1950s can look very cool, particularly if it comes with a nicely weathered look. However, a ‘50s vehicle has its downsides in terms of reliability, driveability, safety and refinement. Achieving the best of both worlds was the puzzle facing the team at Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum and it was renowned Sydney custom vehicle builder, Andy’s Restorations, who provided the answers. Although the job was pretty straightforward, it still took seven days a week for four weeks to meet the tight timeline, says Andy Minas. “The guys at Sailor Jerry had done all their research – they knew the particular look they were after and could show us photos. They had a late model Dodge pickup and the idea was to make it look like a pickup from the ‘50s, as well as giving it the Sailor Jerry treatment with some extra artwork and a neon sign in the back window. While it was here we also fitted air-bag suspension and did a lot of work on the chassis. The end result blew them away! It will now be used to tow their promotional trailer, with pop-up bar, to events and locations up and down the country so keep an eye out for it.”
Aged to per Step-by-step ageing 1. Disassemble and sand – After everything was removed, all the components were thoroughly sanded in the same way as you would for a regular respray. We used a 240 grade abrasive because it got the job done quickly, it keyed in nicely and we weren’t concerned about sanding marks since we were going to sand it again at a later stage. 2. Prime – Once they were fully prepared, the metal parts were primed using PPG DP 40 Epoxy Primer. The plastic parts were a little different – to give a really strong foundation and excellent adhesion, we first applied PPG’s OneChoice™ SU4903 Advanced Plastic Bond and then followed up with a coat of DP40. 3. Basecoat – This is where you choose the colours for the era you are trying to replicate. For example, in the old days OEM primers were often black or red oxide so we went with those, with the original beige colour over the top. You don’t want heavy coats because you are only going to sand them back, anyway. We applied one coat of black followed by one coat of red oxide and finished with two coats of beige – you don’t want to apply too much material because it is going to get sanded back anyway. Although we usually use PPG’s ENVIROBASE® High Performance waterborne basecoat, in this instance, PPG’s DELTRON® Direct Gloss colour was better suited. 4. Sand for effect – This is where it gets a bit creative. Stand back and have a think about where on the vehicle wear and tear is likely to take place – things like stone chipping, rub marks, distressed areas and that sort of thing. Using a machine with a
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rfection 240 grade abrasive and an interface pad, sand all those areas down through the beige into the black and red oxide layers. Once the sanding was done everything was thoroughly cleaned. 5. Artwork and ‘stains’ – The rust stains you see on the Sailor Jerry pickup were actually done by either dabbing on basecoat with a sponge or using an airbrush. The amazing artworks were hand painted by airbrush artists, Dallas Clark and Dave Kaziro – no stencils were used. Obviously, you don’t have to have any artwork but it really added a great finishing touch on this job. 6. Clearcoat – For this type of job, you don’t want a gloss clearcoat because it wouldn’t suit the aged look we are going for and you don’t want a totally matt clearcoat, either, because it looks too chalky. By using PPG’s D8115 Matt Clearcoat and D8117 Semi-Gloss Clearcoat we were able to come up with an excellent finish to suit. The two products are designed to be mixed together in different proportions to create anything from totally matt to semi-gloss. We did some test panels and settled on a mid-range, satin type finish. 7. Assemble – The final step is to carefully fit all the parts and stand back and R admire your work!
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Link the fast train A new ‘Training’ link on the PPG ANZ refinish website provides direct access to a long list of courses aimed at boosting skills, improving efficiency and driving profitability.
hen looking to improve collision centre productivity there are a number of options that are well worthwhile. These include ensuring the workplace is clean, tidy and well laid out, implementing best practice processes and using modern equipment. However, there is one sure-fire way to make a significant difference and it is often overlooked, says John Hristias, PPG Business Support Manager Asia / Pacific. “You can’t keep doing the same things and expect to improve. New products, processes, techniques and equipment hit the market all the time but if you are not trained to take advantage of them you risk losing out to repairers that are. In particular, collision centre owners need to understand the positive impact a staff training program can have on their business. Unfortunately, some people tend to take a negative view and say ‘why invest in training technicians when they might leave anyway’, however the experience of the PPG training team shows that it is actually the opposite. Regular training not only boosts the knowledge and
confidence of technicians, it also improves their morale and pride in their work and they are actually more likely to stay! Best of all, the extra skills and techniques they pick up make a definite contribution to improving productivity.”
PPG training link online Although well known as the region’s largest provider of refinish training, PPG actually offers an even wider spread of industry specific training solutions. To help make it easier to access, a new ‘Training’ link has been added to the PPG refinish Australia / New Zealand website – www.ppgrefinish.com.au Clicking on the link opens up a variety of training options to take advantage of: • Courses: Spread across various categories, you will find a comprehensive list of training courses, including technician training (such as ‘colour adjustment’, ‘Painting plastics’ and ‘SMART repairs’) and industry education courses. Click on the course name to see detailed information about course content and other relevant information.
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• MVP: The region wide MVP team conducts courses covering a wide assortment of subjects aimed at streamlining virtually every area of collision centre operations. For more detailed information on PPG’s unique MVP bodyshop development program and the specific courses on offer, go to www.ppgmvp.com.au. • Direction 21: Developed by PPG, this highly focused set of training courses gives technicians a step-by-step pathway which progresses through multiple levels from ‘Blue’, ‘Bronze’, ‘Silver’ and ‘Gold’ up to ‘Master’. • PPG Training Centres: Provides details of the network of state-of-the-art PPG owned training centres which are staffed by dedicated training managers.
• Registration form: Downloading, completing and returning the PPG training development centre registration form is the first step to taking advantage of the PPG courses on offer. • I-CAR Industry Training Alliance: Provides a quick and convenient link to the I-CAR Australia website where you will find a massive amount of information about the many courses and programs on offer. For example, the I-CAR® Gold Class™ program is recognised by both insurers and repairers as a reliable training framework which drives knowledge and skills development and builds speed, efficiency, quality and professionalism. Indeed, some PPG courses actually contribute points towards the I-CAR® Gold Class™ program.
Training return on investment makes dollars and sense When most collision centre owners commit to a training program what they are really looking for is a return on their investment. When you think about it, the only way technicians can get updated information on new technologies and processes is from attending some sort of course – whether it is I-CAR, PPG or another training organisation. This is why, says John Hristias, PPG courses are designed to provide valuable benefits for both technicians and the business.
Download the form and start your training now! “There are lots of potential areas where labour time and product usage can be reduced. Isolated in their own workshop, technicians often find it hard to keep up with industry trends so PPG courses are about improving product knowledge and introducing them to the latest equipment, processes and techniques. Even experienced technicians will pick up useful tips and techniques. It is about working smarter, rather than harder.” “Time and time again, training programs pay off in terms of dollars and cents. For everyone who attends a PPG training course it is common to see a saving of at least one hour of labour time or cycle-time reduction per day back in the workshop (see table). Right across the PPG regional training team we see the results from collision centres that use regular training for staff. They have motivated staff with the right processes and techniques in place and they enjoy a real return on their investment.” PPG’s training network includes a professional instructor in each state. More information, go to www.ppgrefinish. com.au or contact your local PPG Training Manager or PPG’s Customer Service Hotline 13 24 24 (Aust) or 0800 320 320 (NZ). R
Workshop hr/day saved after attending course
Savings for one painter (multiplied by avg $100/hr paint shop cost)
Two painters
Three painters
Four painters
1 hr/day
220/yr = $22,000
440/yr = $44,000
660/yr = $66,000
880/yr = $88,000
2 hr/day
440/yr = $44,000
880/yr = $88,000
1320/yr = $132,000
1760/yr = $176,000
3 hr/day
660/yr = $66,000
1320/yr = $132,000
1980/yr = $198,000
2640/yr = $264,000
4 hr/day
880/yr = $88,000
1760/yr = $176,000
2640/yr = $264,000
3520/yr = $352,000
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PRECISION COLLISION
Thinking outside the By taking onboard the latest in processes, products and techniques, Precision Collision has been moulded into a highly efficient business, despite being over 1500km from a major city!
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here the desert meets the ocean... is the way Lloyd Taylor describes the rugged beauty surrounding the northern Western Australian town of Karratha which he and his wife Caroline
[box] call home. The remote location (more than 1500km from Perth and over 5000km from an east coast capital city) probably isn’t the first place people would think of operating a collision centre but Lloyd has been doing it since 1999 – firstly, in his parents’ business and then, from 2013, in the business he and Caroline started, Precision Collision. Despite both operations running reasonably smoothly and successfully, he realised there is always room for improvement.
“When I ran my parent’s shop I was very comfortable in the way we did things but it is easy to get stuck in your own ways. Transitioning to our own business made me look at things differently. Basically, I was a typical collision repair shop owner who thinks they do things the best and we’ve always done it this way so why should we do it any other way. Working with the PPG guys, we started looking outside the box and that really turned everything upside down. The penny dropped when I visited PPG’s NSW Training Centre and met John Hristias (Business Support Manager Asia / Pacific). I was telling him how great we are and how many parts we could paint in the booth at one time, etc. and he threw some questions back at me. It made me
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the grind of the big cities and come here for the fishing, camping and more relaxed lifestyle. To get skilled technicians we also have to pay really well to compete with the money being paid by the mining industry. We have 13 staff at the moment and they do a wide variety of work – luxury cars and four-wheel-drives, to prime movers and even helicopters. The other day, the wash bay line had a Porsche with a prime mover right behind it. We are always busy and animal strikes make up the biggest percentage of repairs, followed by your typical carpark accident repairs. We don’t see as many road accident type stuff which you get in the cities. Talking to insurance companies, I have been able to offer them coverage across around seven postcodes so we get jobs from as much as a 300km radius of Karratha. You are also conscious that you live in the same small community as your customers so you strive to give them the best possible repair. It is not like you will never see them again!”
stop and think and I really started to get my head around how important processes are, as well as the challenge of controlling shop workflow.” Precision Collision began in a rented 300m² unit but after just three years the Taylor’s were able to purchase a 6000m² former logistics yard with around 1000m² of buildings. The aim was always to purchase their own facility and a lot of effort has been put into creating a clean, modern, well equipped workplace and this has helped to attract staff. “We haven’t had too many problems attracting staff. People want to get out of
Lloyd’s role involves estimating and helping out wherever he’s needed in the workshop. Caroline looks after accounts, MYOB, benchmarking, etc. and this has helped the couple get a better understanding of the numbers which drive the business. “One of the biggest factors has been working through the spreadsheets with Brett Humphreys (PPG MVP Manager WA) and Greg Tunks (MVP Manager ANZ) to understand exactly what it costs to run the business. Each year we get more data which makes it more accurate and predictable. It is about understanding where improvements are needed in order to make it even better. For example, a couple of years ago we took onboard PPG’s X-Ray Repair Planning™ and it has made a really huge difference to us. As soon as a job arrives all the information is written on the car where it is clearly visible – the job number, in and out dates, details about any
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Thinking outside the
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sublets and anything else the technicians need to be aware of. It also lets us go over the quote again to ensure it is on the money or, if we’ve missed anything, get it ordered.” Lloyd admits that in the beginning he was one of those owners who wanted to do everything but he has realised it is about giving his team the processes and knowledge they need to get the job done. “I’m driven by knowledge and understanding the best processes and working with PPG has allowed us to look at that from a global level. We really include our staff and spend time helping them understand why we use a particular process and what we are aiming for in the end product. They actually get excited by it.
S H O P FA C T S Precision Collision
Now, one of our strengths is the processes and it means we do more work, in a much easier fashion and that is by making people accountable for their part in the business.” Having used PPG virtually from the beginning at his parents’ business – including 2K COBRA® and DELTRON® solvent-borne systems – Lloyd has now moved to the advanced technology of PPG’s ENVIROBASE® High Performance waterborne basecoat system. “In August 2016, we switched to Envirobase. It has been such a positive change and I believe we were really ready for it thanks to all the work I’d done with John (Hristias). Ray Bondareko (PPG WA Training Manager) came up and did training for us and we have found that the colours, blending and ease of application are so much better we haven’t looked back! We are also fully onboard with SATA spray guns and MIRKA abrasives because they fit perfectly into our processes.” Although Karratha is still isolated, Lloyd says it has come a long way from the
Owners: Lloyd and Caroline Taylor Staff: 13 PPG Product: Envirobase High Performance Territory Manager: Tony Mirco
town he grew up in. These days, it boasts top class leisure complexes and shopping centres. However, there are downsides. “There is no doubt that wages are much higher, but everything up here is more expensive. Rates are high, rubbish removal costs more and power is more expensive – and, you use more of it because airconditioning is running for nine months of the year. In particular, commercial properties are extremely expensive because everything has to be shipped in from somewhere else. There is real value in commercial property, more so than paying rent, so our goal was always to own the facility and have it as an asset.” With the facility and a great team in place, Lloyd reckons the future will involve adding more workshop space and learning more so they can further refine processes in order to create a well-oiled machine. “We are incredibly busy and we have done very little in the way of advertising and social media. At the moment, we are looking into creating a really sharp business profile so there is more to come. I honestly believe that our shop is constantly full due to the quality we produce and our communication, both internally and externally. When I first started this business, I reckon I had a full book of things that needed to be worked on and refined but now I feel like a lot of the hard work is done and we are down to R just a few pages.”
Accelerate your innovation with PPG
Innovation in waterborne technology Featuring the very latest waterborne coatings technology, including a totally unique PPG developed latex binder, ENVIROBASE® High Performance waterborne basecoat system is like no other refinish paint system. Building on ten-years of proven PPG waterborne experience, it represents a quantum leap forward. As well as an eco-friendly choice, this innovative formulation comes with an unmatched combination of extraordinary speed, efficiency and versatility. The unrivalled ease of use is highlighted by superb colour accuracy and effortless blending and mottle control. Envirobase High Performance waterborne basecoat system is the ideal way to put your collision centre at the leading edge of the ‘green’ revolution, while ensuring you have all the attributes to maximise paint shop productivity and profitability. Contact your PPG representative or the customer service hotline 13 24 24 (Aust) or 0800 320 320 (NZ) for more information. www.ppgrefinish.com.au
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Talent, passion and dedication have driven Simona De Silvestro deep into the male dominated ranks of global motor sport, including Supercars, and she hopes to be the first of many!
Leading
lady
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s a precocious six-year-old growing up in Switzerland and demanding her first go-kart from her father, Simona De Silvestro had no concept of gender equality or workplace diversity. She watched Michael Schumacher win Formula One races and championships and couldn’t see any reason why she couldn’t do it, too. During her go-karting career, Simona was generally the only female on the grid but it didn’t faze her. After clawing
her way through the lower categories, it wasn’t until she reached the US IndyCar Championship in 2010 where she regularly raced against another female – Danica Patrick. Along with Sarah Fisher, they are the only women in IndyCar history to record a podium finish. In 2014, Simona became a Formula One test driver for the Sauber F1 team before switching to the all-electric Formula E series for 2015 and 2016. In a landmark move for 2017, Simona became the first full-time female driver in the Supercars era after signing a three-year deal with Nissan Motorsport. Recently, Simona visited PPG’s Clayton headquarters to give a fascinating presentation and Q&A session to the PPG Women’s Leadership Council.
Have you found it harder being a female in motorsport? So many people ask me this question and it is hard to say because I only really know my journey. Motor racing, in general, is such
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a difficult sport. For example, in Supercars there are just 24 full time drivers. I’ve always felt that when a guy is quick in a particular category he will always be considered quick, whereas a woman needs to work a bit harder and keep proving themselves – I think this is in general, not just in motorsport.
What’s the best piece of career advice you have been given? To follow your dream and what you are passionate about. Sometimes things don’t go the way you want but you really need to trust and believe in yourself and keep pushing.
Did you have a mentor? I didn’t have just one person throughout my whole career. My mum and dad were there in the early part and at each of the race teams you have your engineer and driving coaches, etc., so I have just tried to learn a lot from them. When it was a bit more difficult, it was a lot of figuring things out yourself and toughing it out.
You have had some incredible accomplishments but how did you cope with the tougher points in your career? Perhaps, the lowest point was a really big crash in practice for the Indianapolis 500. The suspension failed going into a corner at around 340km/h, the car caught fire and I burnt my hands pretty badly before I could get out. As a driver, you always feel a bit invincible but that really scared me – it was the first time I didn’t want to drive anymore. My mum is always scared when I race but she was the first to tell me I had to get back in the car. It was an interesting experience – I told myself if I don’t want to do it I should stop but if I get out with a smile I should keep going and, luckily, that’s what happened. Another challenge was missing out on the Formula One dream. Since I was sixyears-old I always dreamed about it and kept working towards that goal. Suddenly, because of something you couldn’t control, you realise it isn’t going to happen
– that was tough. I think that changed me from focusing on one thing to just being in the moment and enjoying what you have – racing and being competitive.
Do girls ever approach you for career advice? Actually, a lot of girls racing go-karts come up and ask questions. It’s funny because I don’t really feel like a role model but you just fall into it. When I was younger, maybe it would have been cool to have a female at a really high level so you could see what is possible. Maybe, that is changing a little bit nowadays.
Why do you want to encourage more women into motorsport? Motor racing is the perfect sport for that. Along with horse racing, it is the only sport where you actually compete with guys on the same level. It isn’t just driving – if you are an engineer and a woman and you can make the car go fast you should get the chance to be an elite engineer on a race car.
What are your hopes for the next three years in Supercars? This year I’ve been running in the top 15 but that isn’t where I want to be – I want to be winning. In the next two years I want to really put myself in the position to fight for a championship. You need the right opportunity at the right time and I think it is possible, otherwise I wouldn’t be here! R
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Today, Harley-Davidson is the #1 heavyweight road motorcycle brand in Australia and, why not, when the country’s love affair with the iconic marque goes back 100 years!
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hat pops into your head when you hear that distinctively deep, V-twin rumble? For most people, the name that comes instantly to mind is ‘Harley-Davidson’ but, if the world had unfolded just a little differently in the early 1900s, it might be totally different. Back then, getting around was on horseback, on a bicycle or walking and the fledgling Harley-Davidson Motor Company was just one of dozens of tiny outfits across America struggling to design a
bicycle frame to handle the horsepower of a ‘gas explosion’ engine. During this time of dramatic change, Harley-Davidson showed that it not only had what it took to survive, it had something very special which would drive it to global icon status. Not that it was obvious as William S Harley and childhood friend, Arthur Davidson, worked in a 10 x 15-foot wooden shed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to fabricate the very first HarleyDavidson motorcycle and make it available to the public in 1903. Later, Arthur’s brothers, Walter and William, joined the struggle to establish the fragile young company in the hearts and minds of consumers who were essentially looking for the same expression of freedom sought by modern riders. Thanks to rugged design and wins in high profile endurance and reliability trials, Harley-Davidson’s reputation for extremely tough motorcycles spread rapidly. In 1909, the company’s first V-twin powered model was introduced. Although it produced just seven horsepower, the image of two cylinders in a 45-degree configuration would go on to become one of Harley-Davidson’s most enduring hallmarks. By 1920, it had expanded to become the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world and Harley-Davidson products could be purchased in 67 countries, including Australia.
chrome,
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Early adopters Down Under Just 14 years after Harley-Davidson launched its debut motorcycle, the company opened its first dealership in Australia. Located in Brisbane, Morgan & Wacker Motorcycles is still operating and it is still a Harley-Davidson dealership. As one of the first markets in the world (followed a few years later by New Zealand) to gain access to HarleyDavidson’s unique style, performance and reliability, the brand has been woven into the country’s cultural landscape, says Nigel Keough, Managing Director, Harley-Davidson Australia & New Zealand. “Australians have an in-built sense of freedom and adventure. Couple this with the ideal riding conditions our country offers and we have fostered a loyal and close-knit community of committed motorcycle enthusiasts. Our fans range from 16 to 88 years old, from kids, racers, school teachers, small business owners, movie stars to CEO's and celebrating our 100 years would not be possible without them." Evidence of the long running love affair can be seen in the huge collection of vintage and iconic models around the country. Indeed, Australia is home to some of the most special and sought-after Harley-Davidsons in existence – from a 1917 T-Model V-Twin at Morgan & Wacker, to the 1927 FHA 8-Valve V-Twin racer which is one of only six of its kind left in the world. Housed at the Harley-Davidson Museum at Northside Harley-Davidson, in Melbourne, it is believed to be the only one with a side-car. And the enthusiasm shows no sign of abating. Sales have grown pretty much year on year over the past decade to the point where Harley-Davidson is the number one heavyweight (650cc plus)
road motorcycle brand in Australia. The Street 500 is the top selling LAMS (Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme) model, the Breakout has been a consistent favourite cruiser from the Softtail family and the Forty-Eight and Iron remain popular models in the sportster range.
Powerful partnership While these days you can choose your Harley-Davidson in a dazzling array of nostalgic and contemporary colours, perhaps the one colour most closely associated with the brand is ‘Vivid Black’ which was developed and supplied by PPG. The close partnership between the two global companies was kick-started back in 1989 when PPG began supplying primer and topcoat products to the manufacturing
, power and style
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chrome, power and style
plant in York, Pennsylvania. As PPG continued to actively support Harley-Davidson’s drive for outstanding quality and depth of finish, the relationship blossomed. Today, PPG products, including pre-treatment, electrocoating, basecoats and clearcoats, are used in all of Harley-Davidson’s US manufacturing plants, accounting for around 95% of its coatings purchases. PPG even supplies products to New Castalloy in Adelaide – a wholly owned subsidiary of Harley-Davidson which produces low volume, high finish wheels. PPG has dedicated a liquid development laboratory in Wisconsin entirely to Harley-Davidson and PPG technical services representatives work onsite at each of the company’s manufacturing plant in order to continually improve production line efficiency.
While PPG’s ability to provide a single source for a full range of advanced coating technologies helped fuel the growth of its relationship with Harley-Davidson, it was colour styling ability and technical support which accelerated it to the next level. For example, PPG’s Colour Styling Team works directly with Harley-Davidson stylists to highlight the latest global colour trends and help map out future colours for the illustrious brand. Chosen colours are further developed before a mock-up is created – basically, hand sprayed parts fitted on a motorcycle to give a real-life image of how the colour will look in the showroom and on the street.
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s part of the celebrations to mark 100 years in Australia, an epic ride was organised. Starting at Morgan & Wacker in Brisbane, it journeyed 2500km to Melbourne (with seven stops along the way) and partnered with the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation. Joining the group was Bill Davidson, Vice President Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee and great grandson of HarleyDavidson co-founder, William A Davidson.
drawn to it. I had to touch it and have my picture taken with it. I felt emotional to see bikes that my relatives were responsible for designing, engineering and manufacturing. Knowing that this exact bike was one of their babies in Milwaukee and here it is one hundred years later and half-way around the world in Brisbane. Which word best describes what Harley-Davidson stands for? FREEDOM! Do you think that is why the brand resonates so well in a country like Australia? For sure, the wide-open spaces and sense of adventure here is a match made in heaven for HarleyDavidson. Our purpose is to fulfil dreams of personal freedom. When you throw a leg over your bike and set off on an adventure, the stresses of life fade away and your senses come alive.
How did you find the visit to the birthplace of HarleyDavidson in Australia? When I arrived at the Morgan & Wacker dealership and saw the 1917 V Twin, I felt like it was magnetic and I was
What can fans expect in the next 100 years? I don’t have a crystal ball but I can guarantee you that Harley-Davidson will be alive and well. Our philosophy around form following function, both reporting to emotion around look, sound and feel will be a continued focus in designing and delivering bikes that put a smile on our customers faces. It’s going to be an awesome ride, that’s for sure!
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In addition, Harley-Davidson has essentially brought PPG into the innermost workings of the company. Representatives of the two organisations meet weekly – and often daily – and have formed a close working relationship. As part of this inclusiveness, Harley-Davidson invited PPG to its ‘Corporate Paint Circle’ – a quarterly gathering that allows PPG to interact with anyone who has anything to do with paint throughout the entire company.
Survival of the fittest As much as anything else, Harley-Davidson is a survivor. In 1953, as the company celebrated its 50th Anniversary, its arch rival and fiercest competitor, Indian Motorcycles, went out of business. This left Harley-Davidson as the last remaining marque from what had once been an overcrowded American motorcycle marketplace. Over the years, the brand has reinvented itself several times. In 1969, it merged with the American Machine and Foundry Company (AMF) but it wasn’t remembered as a happy time. In 1981, thirteen senior Harley-Davidson executives completed a deal to purchase the company from AMF. Under the rallying cry ‘the eagle soars alone’, the new owners set about returning Harley-Davidson to its traditional roots of quality, craftsmanship and proven engineering. The ability to consistently stay ahead of the game has been the catalyst which has attracted and held onto Harley-Davidson’s loyal fan base. For example, the 1936 Knucklehead was the first big engine
overhead valve motorcycle and it was followed in 1957 by the iconic Sportster. The FXST Softail added another dimension to the Harley-Davidson range in 1984 and we’ve since seen the V-Rod and Street. Never content to rest on its laurels, Harley-Davidson has embarked on the largest product development project in the company’s history to create its exciting 2018 range, comprising eight all-new Softail models powered by the new Milwaukee-Eight 107 and 114 engines. There is every chance that these will be some of the history models on show when HarleyDavidson celebrates its 200th year Anniversary in Australia! R B AT T L E T E S T E D
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uring both World War 1 and World War 2, Harley-Davidson supported the war effort by producing large numbers of motorcycles for military use. Not only this, the company also took the farsighted step of introducing The Quartermasters School in order to train service personnel on how to maintain and repair its motorcycles. As a result, after these two global conflicts, a large number of servicemen returned home having experienced the rugged reliability of Harley-Davidson products in extreme, life and death situations and with the technical knowledge needed to care for them. It was a powerful combination. Note: One day after the Armistice was signed to end WW1, Corporal Roy Holtz was the first American to enter Germany – he was riding a Harley-Davidson!
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SATA 21
Colourful, high quality graphics combined with exceptional performance make the boldly styled SATAjet 5000 B Sailor special edition the perfect tool to take to the water or solvent!
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aving been created in cooperation with the Porsche Design Studio, the SATAjet 5000 B is a superb piece of modern industrial design but the company’s latest ‘Sailor Lady’ special edition model takes it to the next level. With pinup good looks at the same price as the regular model, choosing the SATAjet 5000 B Sailor is a no brainer for painters and collectors, alike.
Inspired by classic pinup motifs and traditional tattoo artworks, the colourful graphics feature a nautical theme, including a cheeky sailor lady and the words ‘The SATA way – let’s spray away’. The attentiongrabbing design was actually created by Connie Manjavinos, from Colorado, USA, and went on to take second prize in the 2016 SATA Design Contest. Later, it was further developed in cooperation with graphic designer, Bryson Kinslow. Importantly, the bold graphics aren’t just for show. The SATAjet 5000 B Sailor is a proper tool with the durable, high quality surface treatment designed to retain its outstanding appearance through the rough and tumble of everyday paint shop use. On the other hand, if you chose to keep it in pristine condition in your collector’s display cabinet, we wouldn’t blame you. The SATAjet 5000 B Sailor comes with a reusable 600ml plastic cup and is available in the highly popular DIGITAL® version which includes a precise digital gauge built into the gun handle, as well as non-digital format, and in your choice of HVLP or RP technology. Not only that, it comes with all the brilliant features of SATA’s regular premium model, including compact, lightweight design, superb quality and extraordinary versatility.
Indeed, it is renowned for its astonishing flexibility (in terms of inlet air pressure and the variations painters have in distance from the job and speed) which means it can be adjusted to suit the individual preferences of any technician. The launch of the SATAjet 5000 B Sailor model gives SATA fans the chance to own this beautifully finished spray gun which really stands out from the crowd. However, thanks to its combination of looks and performance it is sure to sail out the door and stocks of this special edition spray guns are strictly limited. Contact your SATA distributor now to secure yours and avoid disappointment. A comprehensive range of SATA spray equipment is available from your PPG distributor and Protec Select distributor.
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International matchmaking For 2017, the long running PPG National Colour Matching Competition welcomes New Zealand to help reinforce the importance of this skill to apprentices across the region.
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hile it is true that spectrophotometers and other modern colour tools have made the colour matching task quicker and easier, ‘manual’ colour matching is still an essential skill for refinish painters, even if it is only used from time to time. Now starting his 49th year in the trade, Michael Gallagher (PPG NZ Territory Manager Northland), says he and the PPG team across the region are determined to keep colour matching skills alive.
“There are always difficult colours or you may get a spectro reading that doesn’t have a high match rating so you need to be able to tweak the formulation to suit. Manual colour matching is something any competent refinish painter should be able to do at a moment’s notice. It is an art we don’t want to see lost so we work closely with our New Zealand apprentices to ensure colour matching is a key part of their training. For qualified tradespeople there are specialised colour matching courses as part of PPG’s Directions 21 Training Program where they can brush up on their skills.”
Earlier in 2017, Michael was heavily involved in running a preliminary colour matching competition to select a New Zealand representative to take part in the final held at PPG’s state-of-the-art NSW Training Centre in Sydney. He says it was a great way of engaging the young tradespeople as they worked towards something exciting. “Even the apprentices who didn’t achieve a placing were enthusiastic and thanked us for inviting them. They all said they went back to their different paint shops with more confidence and knowledge.”
Colour Matching Competition
2017 results
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FIRST PLACE – WA – Dylan Branchi
South Metropolitan TAFE • $1000 Coles / Myer gift card • MIRKA DEROS • SATA Vision2000 hood • Trophy SECOND PLACE – NZ – Ross Mulder
No TAFE representation • $500 Coles / Myer gift card • MIRKA DEROS • Trophy THIRD PLACE – SA – James Pelczer
It was the same across Australia, where many apprentices took part in regional and state based competitions to determine the finalists. This saw eight nervous contestants gather at PPG’s Eastern Creek facility for the final showdown which now had an international flavour. Once again, the competition utilised the region’s most popular refinish paint system, PPG’s ENVIROBASE® High Performance waterborne basecoat system, and it was up to PPG National Colour Auditor, Manny Grillo, to set two colours which were balanced between not being too easy, yet not being overly challenging for these young tradespeople. The result was a solid COB hot rod style lime green colour and a metallic gold colour. For the final, each contestant was allocated their own workstation which contained only the equipment and tinters necessary to match each colour, including a spray-out card of the off-tinted starting colour and another ‘master colour’ sprayout card as a sample of the final colour.
TAFE SA • $250 Coles / Myer gift card • MIRKA DEROS • Trophy FINALISTS (in alphabetical order)
ACT VIC NT QLD TAS
Daniel Do – Canberra Institute of Technology Gregorio LaFerlita – Gordon TAFE Grant Mauger – Charles Darwin University Taechoon Park – No TAFE representation Andrew Stacey Lange – TAS TAFE
Note: The NSW contestant was unavailable to attend For winning their way to the final, contestants received a SATAjet 5000 B spray gun. No matter where they finished in the final, they also received a PPG gift bag of goodies, along with a participation trophy. One hour was allocated to match the solid COB colour and, following a break, the metallic colour also needed to be matched within a one-hour time limit. All the finalists found the colours challenging to match and that was reflected in the close scoring. After the pressure of competition, the apprentices were able to relax at the go-kart track where they were joined by DJR Team Penske drivers, Scott McLaughlin and Fabian Coulthard. That evening everyone gathered for a special presentation dinner where Duncan McDonnell (PPG Australia National Sales Manager) announced the top three placings but, once again, it was the art of colour matching which was the winner! The next running of the PPG National Colour Matching Competition is scheduled to start around the second quarter of 2018. For event timetables and details on how to enter, check with your TAFE college, speak to your TAFE instructor or contact R your PPG Territory Manager.
1st Place Dylan Branchi WA
2nd Place Ross Mulder NZ
3rd Place James Pelczer SA
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SHOW PONY
Despite the accolades for his latest sensational Eleanor show car build, Malcolm Sankey says his passionate team at Matamata Panelworks is far more than a one trick pony.
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lthough Malcolm Sankey doesn’t mind being called ‘Mr Mustang’ he is quick to point out that his team of craftsmen at Matamata Panelworks are passionate about tackling anything, whether it be a Mini to a vintage car or a classic through to an American muscle car. The roots of the reputation go back to 2000 when he bought the business (located in Matamata about two hours south of Auckland) and inherited a restoration job on a ’70 Boss Mustang. The owner was so pleased with the result, word spread and more and more Mustangs flowed through the door. “The Mustang began in model year 1964.5 and it is still going strong. There is definitely something about them
– they are a very cool car and a true survivor of the muscle car era. They are also quite simple – especially, the early ones are pretty straightforward. Having done so many, I know them well. I’m not saying I’m the world’s greatest authority on Mustangs – I still need to do my research but I know where to look.” Alongside restorations, Matamata Panelworks is also setup for regular collision repair work – Malcolm estimates the split is around 50 / 50, in terms of labour value. As well as three office staff, the 16-person team includes five panel beaters on restorations and five on collision work, along with three painters. “At the moment, we have 21 restos on the go and 36 crash jobs going through the repair process this week.
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We cover a huge catchment for accident work and they get the same love and care. For restos, cars come to us from the bottom of the South Island right to the top of the North Island – we even have enquires from Australia.” To improve collision repair efficiency, Malcolm recently had two large prep bays added to the paint shop and is also utilising the speed advantage of PPG’s advanced ENVIROBASE® High Performance waterborne basecoat system. “We have used PPG ever since we started and from day one the PPG guys have ‘had our back’. It is not just with products which the boys love – PPG gave us a huge amount of technical help as we were building the business and it has carried on. We do a lot of custom colours and the PPG system is perfect. It is a bit of a secret way we do it but we create colours that people love. The red on our latest Eleanor show car is a custom colour the boys formulated and it really pops.” Building an Eleanor is a little out of the ordinary, says Malcolm, because it isn’t a factory Mustang model – it was specially created for the movie ‘Gone in 60 seconds’. Although the original had fibreglass panels, the Matamata Panelworks team have fabricated a set from steel to add even more muscle appeal.
It began with sourcing a suitable Mustang and from The States. Like other major restorations, it then went through a dipping process to strip it back to bare metal. It is just one of the processes that Matamata Panelworks has perfected in order to ensure outstanding consistency and quality. “When a customer leaves us their baby they have to have confidence in us and I have 100 percent confidence that we are using the correct processes. And, you can’t expect them to leave you with a blank cheque and say I’ll see you in 18 months’ time. They want to be kept involved so every day I do a video progress report on each job and send it to the customer. It is all about communication.” Malcolm reckons jobs like the Eleanor are fantastic because they energise the team even more and keep them lifting the bar higher and higher. Despite all the dramatic modifications both internally and externally, the aim was to ensure the Eleanor looked completely ‘factory’.
The result was so outstanding it became the catalyst for another radical move. “People tell you that you do a great job but it was time for us to showcase what we had so we shipped the Eleanor to Motorex in Sydney. It was a great show, with great hospitality. We ended up winning a bronze medal for body fabrication and people came up saying they thought it was the best car in the show.” “When we bought this business 18 years ago, never in my wildest dream did I believe that we would be where we are. I’m one part of a company full of guys with passion, who love their job and work together as a team to achieve the results that you see. And now everyone should keep an eye out for the next show car we are currently building. It may well be the one that we take on the next step to R SEMA in the US!”
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MVP
GreenBelt
2018
CT GREEN BELT TRAINING IN AUSTRALIA
CT best practice tied up with a
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Exciting news! PPG’s renowned Green Belt Training
program is returning and this time it is specifically tuned to the unique needs of Commercial Transport repairers.
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part from the fact that the jobs tend to be physically much larger, the process of repairing Commercial Transport (CT) vehicles is not radically different to car-type collision repairs. However, CT repairers do face certain unique issues in running their businesses and that was the catalyst for putting in place a very special initiative, says Greg Tunks, MVP Manager ANZ. “We have done plenty of work with CT repairers across the region and we were looking for ways to provide even better support for their businesses. Through the global MVP network, I heard that our colleagues in the US were running a Green Belt Training program which is designed especially for those who repair CT vehicles. During a recent visit to the US, I took the opportunity to actually do the course myself. I not only thoroughly enjoyed it, I also knew straightaway that the content would be perfect for the local market.” “Back in 2011, the MVP team brought the Green Belt Training program to Australia and it was an outstanding success. It was all about exposing car collision repairers to advanced management concepts and many customers used them to achieve amazing results. We recorded dramatic increases in productivity and efficiency of as much as
50 to 60 percent! Although I can’t guarantee that we will see the same results out of the CT Green Belt Training program, I can’t see any reason why it shouldn’t be spectacular! To give you an idea of how highly customers in the US regard the course, Penske Corporation over there is going to the time and effort of putting all its staff across the country through this training.”
CT Green Belt Training in Australia Set to be held in Sydney, in March 2018, the first local CT Green Belt Training program is being made available to members of PPG’s region wide FleetPool Network. Two highly experienced members of PPG’s US MVP team – Mike Gunnells and James Berkey are being flown in specially to present the course and are promising three very full days (from 8am to 5pm) of comprehensive and valuable information. To ensure participants are able to get maximum benefit from this special event, the initial course will be limited to 30 people from FleetPool Network members. A selection of PPG staff, including local MVP team members, will also attend in order to sharpen their skills and knowledge, allowing them to better support customers in the field, as well as preparing them to deliver future CT Green Belt Training programs.
Some of the key elements of the program include: • Paradigm Pioneers – Prepare your people for challenges and success. • Strategic Thinking – Establishing a compelling and exciting shared vision for change • Lean for collision fundamentals – The practical application of Lean Six Sigma • Little’s law – A simple formula for accurately measuring cycle-time performance • Lean basics for collision repair – Learn the root cause of poor cycle-time performance • 5S workplace organisation – Creating an environment for increased throughput and productivity • X-Ray Repair Planning® – Eliminating 80% of waste from the production process
As well as being specially prepared for CT repairers, course content is also delivered in an easy to understand format. Although the pace of the three day course will be brisk, the aim is to make it as simple as possible to take course concepts being learnt, implement them back in the workplace and achieve maximum results.
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Who should attend? Basically, anyone who is interested in boosting the productivity and profitability of their business and, after all, who wouldn’t want that, says Greg Tunks. “The light vehicle collision repair industry has changed and continues to change dramatically and although it hasn’t happened so much in the CT sector, it is not unreasonable to expect some similar changes to occur in the not too distant future. Having said that, the motivation to change for the better doesn’t have to come from the industry. Many pioneering
5S W O CE R OR G A N KPLA N ISATIO CT repairers are already looking for ways to set the standard for others to follow. Even if you believe you run a slick and streamlined CT operation, why wouldn’t you be interested in further reducing your all-important repair cycle-time? Getting vehicles back on the road quicker is one way of impressing and retaining customers and the added benefit to repairers is improved productivity and
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profitability. Ultimately, this is the basis of what the CT Green Belt Training program is all about. Ideally, course participants should be those who are most responsible for leading change within their organisation. They just need to come along with a willingness to make changes and a commitment to a culture of continuous improvement which will help to take their business to the next level.” For more information, speak to your local MVP Manager or call the PPG Customer Service hotline 13 24 24 (Aust) or 0800 320 320 (NZ). R
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PPG Staff Profile
MindyRoberts MVP Manager VIC/TAS
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or an idea of the many opportunities at PPG, check out Mindy’s career. After completing a Bachelor of Applied Science and becoming an Industrial Chemist at the CSIRO, Mindy follow up with a Diploma in Food Technology. However, she realised working in a laboratory wasn’t for her so, in 1995, her PPG journey started as a Development Chemist, quickly followed by First Line Manager in paint production. She was then Training Coordinator for three years, Coordinator for Refinish Marketing / MVP / PPG Access Coordinator for the next seven years before taking on the role of Senior Buyer in the purchasing department sourcing pigment and raw materials for paint production. In 2013, Mindy took up her current role as MVP Manager VIC/TAS, based at Braeside.
Favourite hobbies /pastimes? Baking, cooking, dancing, Zumba (I am a Zumba instructor) Favourite food? Mexican, Middle Eastern but in general I am a food lover Favourite drink? I don’t drink alcohol but would welcome a cup of tea anytime! Favourite music / band? Latin American, Ricky Martin Favourite car / motorcycle? Red Lexus RC F Favourite holiday destination? Dubai, Spain and Italy
“My role involves working closely with collision repairers throughout Victoria and Tasmania with the aim of providing them with growth and profit opportunities. It has been a real challenge to see how the industry has changed over the past few years making it harder and harder for collision centre operators. It is great to be able to offer them a range of solutions to help them increase profitability and productivity – from collision centre audits, financial analysis and shop layout designs through to organising MVP Roundtable Group events, business solutions conferences and conducting one-onone general business consultations. This is by far the best role I have held over 22 years at PPG. I love the interaction with customers and the fact that no two days are similar. And I particularly enjoy it when I’m able to help customers achieve R excellent results.”
UNLOCK YOUR CAREER UNLOCK YOUR CAREER WITHWITH PPG PPG Founded 1883operating and operating in nearly 70 countries, Founded in 1883inand in nearly 70 countries, PPG Industries is a highly successful organisation. PPG Industries is a highly successful globalglobal organisation. And no surprise that our employees the heart And it’s no it’s surprise that our employees are at are the at heart of everything of everything we do.we do. As PPG such,isPPG is constantly the look-out for high As such, constantly on theon look-out for high join our Australian andZealand New Zealand calibrecalibre staff tostaff jointoour Australian and New Refinish Refinish Teams.Teams. regularly andspan canthe span the Opportunities Opportunities appearappear regularly and can following areas; following areas; • Technical Product Demonstrators • Technical Product Demonstrators • Business New Business Development • New Development • Territory Management • Territory Management • Account Key Account Management • Key Management • Customer Service • Customer Service • Business support MVPBMSG and BMSG Consultants • Business support - MVP-and Consultants If you’re passionate the refinish industry, If you’re passionate aboutabout the refinish industry, can can demonstrate an ambition to succeed andahave a strong demonstrate an ambition to succeed and have strong work ethic, PPG wants to hear from you. work ethic, PPG wants to hear from you. View our current opportunities at jobs.ppg.com View all ourall current opportunities at jobs.ppg.com by by selecting ‘Australia’ or Zealand’. ‘New Zealand’. selecting ‘Australia’ or ‘New A career PPG offers limitless opportunities! A career at PPGatoffers almostalmost limitless opportunities! of all, be you’ll be working an organisation Best ofBest all, you’ll working for an for organisation that thrives on innovation and where learning that thrives on innovation and where learning and and development is encouraged and nurtured. development is encouraged and nurtured. For a confidential discussion opportunities, For a confidential discussion aboutabout careercareer opportunities, contact Emma McNeill +61 3 9263 4653 contact Emma McNeill +61 3 9263 4653 or emcneill@ppg.com or emcneill@ppg.com
jobs.ppg.com jobs.ppg.com
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Star performers
A PPG training program is giving technicians from the Mercedes-Benz authorised Autobody Repairers network the opportunity to sharpen skills and share the brand’s vision.
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s well as being the oldest car maker on the planet, Mercedes-Benz has a hard-won reputation for cutting edge innovation and quality which has cemented it as one of the world’s leading premium brands. You don’t just purchase a Mercedes-Benz vehicle, you gain entry into the Mercedes-Benz world which aims to look after your needs at every step, from the showroom floor to maintenance and roadside care and even to accident repairs, should the unfortunate happen. It is here that the close global partnership between PPG and Mercedes-Benz is paying dividends. Not only has Mercedes-Benz given global authorisation for PPG products to be used in the refinish of its vehicles, the strong regional relationship has seen the local PPG team prepare a specialised Mercedes-Benz training program which has been loaded onto the prestige car maker’s dedicated SABA training portal. Recently, the first running of the training program saw technicians from the Australia wide Mercedes-Benz authorised Autobody Repairers network gather at PPG’s NSW Training Centre at Eastern Creek in Sydney.
The four days of training were split into two parts and packed with valuable information, says Darryle Browne, PPG Industry Relations Manager Refinish ANZ. “An integral part of MercedesBenz’s customer service package is the level of excellence it expects customers to experience whenever they come into contact with the brand. For example, these are technically advanced vehicles and Mercedes-Benz puts a very high importance on having its network of authorised Autobody Repairers trained to repair and refinish them correctly so that customers anywhere in the world have the same outstanding experience.” “The first part of the PPG training program was dubbed, an introduction to Mercedes-Benz. That might sound a bit strange because all these technicians already carry out Mercedes-Benz repairs but this was about covering a whole range of important topics. Overall, it looked at the Mercedes-Benz vision, what it is aiming to achieve and where repairers fit in. On the technical side, it started with the OE paint process. To repair a vehicle, it is important to understand how it was originally painted at the factory. PPG has been heavily involved at MercedesBenz factories around the globe, not only supplying the various coatings layers, but
also jointly developing breakthrough technologies, such as PPG’s CERAMICLEAR® mar and scratch resistant clearcoat. From there we took a detailed looked at the PPG product range which has been authorised by Mercedes-Benz and how it fits into the repair process.” “There was very little sitting in the classroom. Around 90% of the training was hands-on as it looked at equipment, including use of infrared and correct spray gun set up, and focused on the colour capability, application and blending of PPG’s ENVIROBASE High Performance waterborne basecoat system, as well as the correct process for painting plastics. This introduction is a key part of Mercedes-Benz training regime and it flowed nicely into the advanced module.”
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“Mercedes-Benz puts a very high importance on having its network of authorised Autobody Repairers trained to repair and refinish them correctly so that customers anywhere in the world have the same outstanding experience.”
“This is where it really got interesting as we covered off some of the real technical challenges technicians face. It included the application, blending and polishing of three-layer pearl finishes and looked at the step-by-step best practice process for repairing matt finishes. We finished off by taking an in depth look at the repair method for Mercedes-Benz’s Alubeam finish which is basically a seven-layer process.”
“The real value of this training is that all these technicians learn about the very latest product technologies and process which are used to repair these particular Mercedes-Benz finishes and get it right the first time. It is about creating highly skilled people who are capable of repairing Mercedes-Benz vehicles to a consistently high standard. Not only this, it gives the technicians on the workshop floor a better understanding of the crucial part they play in the MercedesBenz customer service package. We have already had excellent feedback from those who attended and we are putting plans in place for more Mercedes-Benz training in 2018.”
Positive response One of the Mercedes-Benz repairers to take part was Parramatta Smash Repairs. Operations Manager, Ryan Simpson, says it was an ideal chance for technicians to catch up on the latest processes and materials. “We do other training with PPG but this was great because it was specific to MercedesBenz. Troy (Guttek) came back with fresh ideas on products and processes and he was able to share those with the other guys.” According to Troy, it wasn’t about making massive changes, it was about finetuning the Mercedes-Benz way of doing things. “Mercedes-Benz wants things done in a certain way so it was good to go through those exact procedures. The PPG guys explained how Mercedes-Benz uses a spectral grey undercoat under each topcoat so we looked at how that relates to doing a new panel. We also learned a method of prepping jobs much quicker without cutting corners and we did some good stuff on matt R clearcoats.”
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PPG ACCESS REFINISHER
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Ph to opportunity A new integration with the popular We-Capture photo app is set to provide BUSINESSMANAGER users with a streamlined, fast-track solution for processing photos.
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hey say that a picture is worth a thousand words and it is certainly true in the modern repair estimating procedure. Today, lots of photos are taken of each job so that they can be used as an indispensable part of the communication process with vehicle insurers. Given that so many photos are taken, it is well worth having an accurate, streamlined system to ensure they are attached to the correct repair estimate and this is the basis for the integration of the We-Capture photo app with the BusinessManager software.
The long running BusinessManager system remains a powerful, reliable, easy to use and extremely popular estimating and collision centre management tool which is used by large, medium and small collision repairers across the region. Now, the PPG Access team has taken the step to integrate the We-Capture photo app so that users can continue to take advantage of their BusinessManager system with the convenience of wireless photo capture, download and allocation to the correct estimate.
Photo App provides seamless accuracy These days, the majority of collision centre administration operations are done on the office computer with one of the few exceptions being accident damage photography. Using We-Capture, the job couldn’t be simpler. One part of the app is installed on the office computer where it runs in the background of the BusinessManager software.
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Another app is downloaded to your chosen mobile device – phone, tablet, etc. – which is carried to the vehicle being estimated. While at the vehicle, you can create a new estimate number – if the job hasn’t been allocated one already – and then add the registration number. The mobile device can then be used to take as many photos you like of the job. Once the photos are complete, We-Capture automatically synchronises back to the office computer. You can then move onto the next job, open the estimate and take photos of it and so on to as many vehicles as you like. It doesn’t matter whether you are in the shop driveway, in the workshop or across town, the photos will be seamlessly transferred to the BusinessManager software. Not only that, the photos for each vehicle will be attached to the correct estimate for that job. Should more damage be found during disassembly, just use the same process to take extra photo which will be automatically added to the estimate. It has many advantages over the conventional method, where a dedicated camera is used.
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As a result, We-Capture saves the time and hassle of having to bring the camera into the office and physically plug it into the office computer in order to download the photos. Then, once the photos are downloaded, it avoids having to find the photo files, determine which ones are for which job and then transferring them to the appropriate estimate. In contrast, We-Capture is a simple, elegant, time-saving and accurate solution.
In app features Along with the excellent functionality it introduces to photo handling, We-Capture also has a number of very handy built-in features. • To further avoid the possibility of confusion, the registration number and / or estimate number can be superimposed onto each photo. • Although a picture says a thousand words, if you do happen to need to explain some point in the photo there is the option to add notes. • When you need to highlight something specific on a particular photo there is a secondary desktop program where you can add an arrow pointing to it or an ellipse over it. • If required, this program also offers the option to ‘crop’ or ‘resize’ each photo.
Photo App available now
All photos are automatically ‘backed up’ and can be viewed by logging into your own webpage
For more information on We-Capture go to www.home.we-integrate.co.nz/ collision-repair
e-Capture is a valuable program in our daily operations, from the front office to the floor and back again. Over the last 12 months, it has proven to save us time and money every single day with our photos. Less time downloading from cameras and attaching to job files and eliminates the risk of losing important images. The supplementary process allows estimators to promptly attend the floor allowing the repair TESTIMONIAL cycle to continue with minimal
Accessing the advantages of the We-Capture photo app is as simple as contacting your PPG Access consultant or calling the PPG Access Hotline on (Aust) 1800 627 798 or (NZ) 0800 442 531 and making a request to have it installed. The cost of using the app is very reasonable and will be more than made up for by the R enhance productivity it provides.
interruption. The simplicity of the app allows production staff to effortlessly have all their repair photos straight on file or Business Manager and in the mailbox of the estimator for quick viewing. The very rare occasion you require support, it is reliable, easy and keen on your feedback, just great! Highly recommend. Helena Willmot General Manager Willmott Smash Repairs, Cairns, QLD
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Across the region, the cream of custom vehicle builders choose to use PPG’s VIBRANCE COLLECTION® custom colours. What drives these artisans to be one of the best?
Passion
Down Town Kustoms Taree, NSW
Owner – Graeme Brewer
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lthough the six-person team at Down Town Kustoms work on vehicles which are generally decades old, Graeme Brewer says it is the latest new techniques, technologies and materials which really drive him. For example, before a finger is even laid on a custom or restoration job it is drawn and 3D modelled on computer and many prototype parts are 3D printed onsite. It was Graeme’s passion for chassis and suspension geometry which first got him into the industry, particularly at the time when mini trucks were emerging locally. After moving from Sydney to Taree, he turned his hobby into a business by opening Down Town Kustoms at just 23 years-of-age. Now celebrating the business’s 10th Anniversary he hasn’t looked back. “Hot rod and muscle car guys saw what we were achieving with our chassis and suspension work on mini trucks and they started coming to us
which progressed into full builds. Now, all we do is full builds and we are flat out.” About three years ago, Down Town Kustoms switched to PPG. “For me, it is all about the simplicity of the PPG system and the tech support we get from the PPG team such as Tony (Naughton) and Joal (Butcher). We get great results and it is easy!”
Looking to the future, Graeme is keen to continue surfing the wave of technology. “I really want to harness all the modern technology and industrial design techniques available to us so that we can do full vehicle builds with excellent drivability and functionality which I see as just as important as a great paint job.”
Favourite vehicle you have done? An FC Ute we did a couple of years ago.
Vehicle you’d really like to build? Our own one-off vehicle design using the exact same procedures as an OEM. Basically, a fully drivable concept-type car.
Favourite Vibrance colour? I like black but it comes down to what suits the car. Vibrance gives us what we need to match the colour to the vehicle we are building.
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for colour Maskell’s Customs and Classics Shepparton, VICTORIA
D
espite winning plenty of trophies for the cars he has been involved in building or painting throughout his career, Greg Maskell hadn’t won a personal award until Summernats 2017 where he came away with a ‘Master Craftsman’ award. While he doesn’t need pats on the back for his work, Greg says he was over the moon with the recognition. Growing up in the small Victorian country town of Wunghnu, Greg was always messing around with cars – either his mates or his own – and that is where the custom car bug bit hard. For 10 years he held down a day job while building cars afterhours before going full time with Maskell’s Customs and Classics around 15 years ago. With seven staff, plus wife Julie and himself, Greg says the business is extremely busy. “Applying the paintwork and building motors was my favourite part of the job and it still is. I just enjoy the challenge of customising or restoring cars. I think it is about me trying to make myself better at building cars with every job we do.” Today, Greg exclusively uses PPG products for very good reasons. “The biggest reason is support – when we were in the US with XBOSS we
Owner – Greg Maskell
any other brand. And there is such a big variety which allows us to paint anything from a concourse car to a street car.”
Favourite vehicle you have done? I’ve been really lucky to work on some great cars but I’d have to say XBOSS. Having said that, I really enjoy regular restorations – the appreciation from owners makes me want to do more.
Vehicle you’d really like to build? XR Falcon, all day long. I have a collection of XR Falcons.
Favourite Vibrance colour?
got great support from the PPG Training Centre in Detroit and it is the same all over Australia. Secondly, PPG’s colours, including the Vibrance Collection finishes, are better than
John Hristias and I were messing around with colours at PPG’s NSW Training Centre and came up with this awesome blue R – I’d love to paint something in it.
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National
trust
Up and down the country, the name Recar has been synonymous with superb service since 1953 and, over 60 years later, the winning formula keeps customers coming back.
O
ften, it is a business’ good reputation which gets customers through the door for the first time. However, after that initial experience, holding onto those customers and building mutually beneficial long-term relationships is generally based on trust between both parties. It is this factor which has been at the cornerstone of Recar’s success story, according to Bob Jones, Managing Director. “Many of our customers are national fleets and they want to be looked after by a national network who they can trust. The Recar team has a really good understanding with our customers and we see it as a true partnership. We are big on customer service and transparency with our customers. By that, I mean we are not afraid to be truthful about things like costs or how long repairs are realistically going to take. Often, fleet managers need to arrange a replacement truck so if they get bad information it can really make a mess of their plans.”
“It is very attractive to fleets to have everything done in one place so we are set up to do most things in-house. We also offer a pick up and drop off service, regardless of the size of repair, and when the vehicle is returned it is always thoroughly inspected and detailed so it shines like a diamond! Another key point of difference is that we are able to offer the support of our associate company, ISS First Response. Not only can it provide roadside assistance and breakdown service, perhaps the biggest attraction to fleets is the 24/7 emergency response service should one of their vehicles have an accident.
It takes the load off the fleet manager because the specialist ISS First Response team comes in and controls the accident site, recovery, clean up, etc. from start to finish.” Recar was already servicing Australia’s major eastern seaboard transport routes when Bob Jones bought the financially troubled business in 2005. A panel beater by trade, Bob had started his own business, Car-Trek Automotive in
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the Melbourne suburb of Footscray in the 1970s and had survived the ‘recession we had to have’ in the early ‘90s so he was highly experienced in the collision repair industry. However, purchasing Recar was a large investment so he and his accountant son, Cameron, burnt the midnight oil ensuring the return on investment was viable. A period of rationalisation followed with Recar now operating from four sites – Clayton and Footscray in Melbourne and Brisbane and Townsville in Queensland. Despite being the boss of an organisation which employs around 100 people, Bob doesn’t mind literally getting his hands dirty, says Mark Battams, Business Development Manager. “Recar bought an ex-transport facility for its Brisbane site and Bob undertook six months of work to get it right for efficient operations.
Later, the company also purchased a large piece of land in Townsville and built a new workshop there. Bob loves to build and he was literally involved at every step. I’m talking about everything from fabricating offices to installing chassis aligners, spray booths and truck washes. They are now state-of-the-art facilities with everything there to help the guys do their jobs as efficiently as possible and everything is neat, tidy and comfortable. Bob has an immense amount of pride in what has been built.” Keeping the excellent facilities staffed with skilled tradespeople can be something of a challenge, according to Donna De La Rue, Business Support Manager.
“It can be difficult to get apprentices – paint, panel and mechanical – so we work with the TAFE and VECCI (Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce & Industry) organisations to try to get good young people interested. We have staff who have been here for 30 or even 40 years but it is the young people who are the future. They are the ones who are best prepared to take on new and efficient concepts, processes and products. With all of our workshop staff we have a continual improvement and training process and, with the help of our training partners, we are aiming to achieve exciting results for Recar in the future.” In order to widen the scope of work, Recar also goes looking for other opportunities, Mark explains.
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National trust
R E C A R
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“We have just had the trainers from Schmitz Cargobull Trailers out here from Germany to put the guys through a week’s worth of training – the configuration and the way they are put together is quite different. It was a big outlay but we are now signed off as a preferred national Schmitz Cargobull Trailer repairer. No matter what job we are doing, we make sure we have the processes right. These days, it is a must in terms of productivity and it keeps reworks to a minimum.” After a lengthy spell with another paint supplier, Bob and the Recar team began questioning what they were actually getting out of the relationship. Following some in-depth analysis on product technology, support and training, Bob says a switch to PPG brought only upsides. The change occurred around two years ago and also saw Recar become part of the PPG FleetPool Network – a region-wide network of independent commercial vehicle refinishers and repairers who specialise in the repair, re-livery and refurbishment of heavy vehicles. Since then, Recar, PPG and the remainder of the FleetPool Network have already worked together on a number of major projects, such as switching the red Australia Post livery to the blue of StarTrack, says Mark. “Before we start any big project, Bob, myself and one of our estimators, Neil
Geisler, will go through the numbers. In this case, after we did the relivery for the first four StarTrack trucks we analysed the numbers again and found we needed to trim our costs. Our relationship
with Fabian Gaida (PPG Development Manager Refinish ANZ) is instrumental in sorting out any situations that crop up and this was a great example. Working with the PPG support team, we were able to develop a method which took advantage of specific PPG products, combined with a step-by-step preparation process. Fabian also introduced us to Steve Jackson (PPG VIC/TAS CT Manager) who has been fantastic with training the painters. When we added some refinements to our process of disassembly we were able to cut the cost per job by a substantial amount. Not only that, the jobs are more consistent and we avoid reworks.” According to Bob, the commercial transport repair sector remains extremely competitive, particularly in Melbourne where there are quite a few CT repairers. As it has done for more than 60 years, Recar intends to continue looking forward. “With more trucks being automatic and with fatigue management and better OH&S for drivers, the accident rate is becoming less and less which is a good thing but it does impact on our business. At Recar, we need to improve on the way we service our current customers, as well as diversify our business model into other areas. We have already mapped out where we want to be and with the second generation coming on – Cameron as General Manager and Robbie in the signwriting department – I think we are very well placed to achieve our goals.” R
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