National Collision Repairer December 2024

DECEMBER 2024

www.nationalcollisionrepairer.com.au

ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE INDUSTRY AS THE LEADING MAGAZINE

All guns blazing Partnerships that thrive in the spray shop

INSIDE

A workshop at the heart of its community No holding her back

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Contents

Latest News 6

Product Showcase

COO Christine Clancy christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au

38 Local News

Automotive industry news and information from around the country.

SALES DIRECTOR Brad Buchanan bradley.buchanan@primecreative. com.au 0413 672 403

46 Global News

Keep up to date with a selection of industry news from across the world.

Special Reports 12 Partners in success

Flexible systems that have transformed a busy workshop.

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20 Investing for expansion From storm chaser to a growing business.

Siobhan Macdonald is not about to let the grass grow under her feet.

26 Confidence grows

The latest State of the Nation report.

Update on how to win the best new recruits.

EDITOR Eugene Duffy eugene.duffy@primecreative.com.au 0412 821 706 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Michael Ingram michael.ingram@primecreative.com.au 0423 266 991 PUBLISHED BY Prime Creative Media 379 Docklands Drive, Docklands, VIC 3008 03 9690 8766 www.primecreative.com.au

22 Finding the gap and thriving

28 Changing perceptions

BUY. SELL. HIRE.

CEO John Murphy john.murphy@primecreative.com.au

16

Regular Features

AUSTRALIA’S NEW ONLINE PORTAL DEDICATED TO BUYING, SELLING AND HIRING CARS AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT.

For advertising opportunities, contact DISCLAIMER ben.coleman@primecreative.com.au The National Collision Repairer magazine is owned by Prime Creative Media and or call 0466 545 published

by John Murphy.664 All material

16 Talking Shop

A community player.

Scan the QR code to find out more.

30 Future Leaders

Knowing what you want.

44 Stateside

The SEMA wrap-up.

50 OEM Snapshot

More developments from the world of automotive manufacturers.

52 Custom Corner

Do the exotics regain value?

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in National Collision Repairer magazine is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical, including information and retrieval systems without written permission of the publisher. The editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published.

The opinions expressed in National Collision Repairer magazine are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by, the publisher unless otherwise stated. © Copyright Prime Creative Media, 2024 Articles All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to adjust any article to conform with the magazine format.

Whether it’s supercars, antique or classic cars this is your one-stop-shop for buying, selling and hiringHead a variety of cars Office 379 Docklands Dr, sellers. from both dealers and private Docklands VIC 3008 P: +61 3 9690 8766

Advertise on Nationalenquiries@primecreative.com.au Collision Repair www.primecreative.com.au Marketplace to reach the right buyer.

Sydney Office Suite 11.01, 201 Miller St, North Sydney, NSW 2060

Editorial

Jobs well done The year is drawing to an end and like many in the industry, we are wondering what happened to 2024.

It seems on occasion the greater the rate of change, the faster time passes, and we are left scratching our head at all those vanished months. And there are few industries that can claim the same rate of change as the automotive sector and all the repairers that must keep pace with it. But looking back on 2024 and all its changes, it is also one of significant achievements for the collision repair industry Early in the year the federal government signed off on its New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, a long overdue emissions framework that is sure to play a major role in reshaping the Australian car parc. So far, the impact is being most markedly demonstrated in market and consumer behaviour that will inevitably affect repairers. The first change is the rise and rise of Chinese brands on Australian roads and the other is the ever-increasing change to the mix of powertrains driving the Australian fleet. In 2024, the strongest trend has been in the proliferation of hybrids rather than pure electric vehicles. This consumer trend shows the best policy in the world needs to be followed up with supportive action, in this case overcoming the barriers that still exist for EVs, range and cost. But whatever the government has planned to boost charging infrastructure or off set costs; one thing is a constant going into the future; these cars will crash and need to

be repaired. It is an achievement in this year and the next that so much of the industry is readying itself to deal with alternative powertrains whatever they might be.

Similar changes, and coming at a steam-train pace, are the other kinds of technology increasingly incorporated into the cars that must be fi xed. A US study, showing 2023 vehicle models had on average at least six ADAS systems, indicates this train may have already arrived. And because OEMs see this safety technology as a major selling point, we can assume the ultrasophisticated technology will just keep coming and be as standard in all new vehicles as cruise control or seatbelts.

Again, it is an achievement of the repair industry that it is not waiting for government legislation to regulate this area but getting on with the job at hand; fi xing ADAS equipped cars. The interest and investment in equipping and skilling workshops to be ADAS ready in 2024 alone has been extraordinary. At its core is the industry intent to serve the customer and deliver those repairs in as near-new condition as possible. Not only to the high quality customers expect but also to those safety standards every driver is entitled to.

So, this is our way at NCR of saying well done to all the crash repairers out there for every car they have put back on the road in 2024, safely and efficiently. That is what the industry is all about and it should end the year with some satisfaction and pride at how often this was done.

Eugene Duff y Editor The National Collision Repairer

To receive our weekly e-newsletter sign up at www.nationalcollisionrepairer.com.au 4 www.nationalcollisionrepairer.com.au

Do you have the

Future Leaders

in the collision repair industry working for you?

The Future Leaders series run by The National Collision Repairer is a showcase of individuals in the industry who display outstanding future potential and growth.

We would like you to consider nominating people who fit this description.

It is a great opportunity to recognise emerging talent and leadership and give some high-profile recognition to your exceptional staff through our magazine and website.

To nominate someone, send us a name, contact details and a brief synopsis of their achievements to: eugene.duffy@primecreative.com.au or call 0412 821 706 for more detail.

Proudly supported by iag

Product Showcase

Projecta has built an industry-wide reputation on reliability and when it comes to getting engines started whatever the environment, from broadacre farms to mine sites and repair workshops, they are there to back automotive workers up.

Victoria’s Mt Buller operates over 100 pieces of machinery and capital equipment, to maintain its ski fields and this means getting large vehicles including snow groomers, fourwheel drives and excavators that are diesel-powered started in sub zero temperatures.

The maintenance team at Mt Buller, put two Projecta Intelli- start Jump Starters, an IS1400 and an IS3000 to the test and the impressive results have saved the team time and effort according to

Maintenance Manager, Brett Smith.

“The Projecta units are simply unreal; the IS3000 had no problem starting our 400hp, 8l diesel snow groomers from flat, while the IS1400 was also great on equipment such as snow mobiles and the four-wheel drives,” Smith says.

“Before having the Projecta Intelli-Start units we’d tried other brands of jump starters with not much success – their capacity to jump start failed after only a couple of months. We’ve also used two N120 batteries that we moved around on a trolley or sled, but these were cumbersome and awkward to handle.”

“Being light and portable, you could grab the Projecta which probably weighs half as much as a conventional battery and be up and running within five minutes compared to 20 minutes if we’d needed

Image: Projecta

When the going gets tough A maintenance team member uses the Projecta IS3000 Jump Starter on a snow groomer.

the battery trolley or sled,” Smith says.

The IS3000 is suitable for both 12V and 24V electrical systems and provides 1000A clamp power for 12V systems and 850A for 24V electrical set-ups.

The IS1400 is suitable for 12V electrical systems, offering 500A clamp power, enough to start petrol-powered vehicles up to 7.0L displacement and diesel engines as large as 5.0L. For more information go to www.projecta.com.au

UNLOCK YOUR DIAGNOSTIC POTENTIAL WITH PREMIUM DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT! At Premium Diagnostic Equipment, we don’t just supply top-of-the-line scan tools – we empower you to get the most out of them with our dedicated, expert technical support.

Our professional-grade scan tools are designed to meet the needs of every workshop, from pre/post scan reports, quick diagnostics to complex troubleshooting across a wide range of commercial and passenger vehicles. Manufactured for performance, reliability, and ease of use, our tools help you complete each job with precision and efficiency.

WHY CHOOSE US? Quality Tools: Our cutting-edge diagnostic scan tools are engineered to deliver accurate, reliable results on any job.

Trusted brands: We supply a range of trusted brands such as Topdon, Autel and Launch Comprehensive Support: With Premium Diagnostic Equipment, you’re not just getting a product; you’re gaining a partner. Our expert technicians are here to answer questions, provide troubleshooting tips, and help you master new features and updates.

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07 3180 6771

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Accurate and reliable vehicle measuring systems are essential technology in the collision repair industry, particularly for serious structural repairs. With precision and ease of use, vehicle measuring systems are a tool in the workshop that can enhance work systems and boost efficiency.

Accurate and reliable vehicle measuring systems are essential technology in the collision repair industry, particularly for serious structural repairs. With precision and ease of use, vehicle measuring systems are a tool in the workshop that can enhance work systems and boost efficiency.

Car-O-Liner’s auto body measuring system is designed with precision engineering and advanced technology with this objective in mind.

Car-O-Liner’s specialised tools have the ability to identify misalignments and deformities, ensuring vehicles are accurately restored to their original specifications.

As a combined system with Car-OData, they also have the ability to keep a workshop up to date with the latest OEM changes in an ever-evolving automotive landscape.

The Vision2™ software

The Vision2™ Software is Car-O-Liner’s wireless communication software.

Using advanced sensors, lasers, and software, the system measures key points on a vehicle’s frame and body, comparing them to the manufacturer’s specifications to identify discrepancies.

Technicians are able to analyse structural damage and accurately plan repairs.

By providing accurate measurements, the auto body measuring system enables technicians to address hidden collision damage that may not be visible to the naked eye. This technology is especially vital in modern vehicles, where measurement precision impacts a vehicle’s integrity and safety.

Several types of auto body measuring

systems are available, each utilizing different technologies for accurate measurements.

Photo-based and easy-to-learn, Vision2™ presents an intuitive workflow that allows for quick and accurate measuring. Choose between Vision2™ - X1, X2, X3 or PointX® software, according to your equipment and body shop needs.

Vision2 x 2

The Vision 2 x 2 software is a computerised measuring system that allows technicians to obtain highly accurate measurements, ensuring that repairs adhere to manufacturer specifications.

The software can help to restore a vehicle’s structural integrity and ensure that it meets safety and performance standards.

The Vision 2 X 2 has Car-O-Tronic® lower and upper body measuring, and includes support for High Measurement Point (HMP) adaptor.

The precise measurements from Car-O-Liner’s system contribute to the safety of the repaired vehicle. By utilising a computerised measuring system, technicians can ensure correct alignment and reduce the risk of postrepair issues.

The Vision 2 X 2 software allows for a targeted repair plan, based on accurate measurements, prevent unnecessary work, resulting in savings for both the workshop and the vehicle owner.

• Suspension check — determines if there are any bent suspension parts

Car-O-Data

Car-O-Data® is the world’s largest vehicle measurement database. The database supplies the right data reference for the measuring process.

Covering more than 18,000 vehicles, the data service provides access to current measurement data. With immediate up-to-date information about new and updated vehicles accessible via the internet, technicians receive continuous updates from the Car-O-Liner team, in cooperation with automotive manufacturers around the world.

To learn more, visit car-o-liner.com.au

Benefits for your workshop

• Lower and upper - vehicle body measuring points for fast diagnosis and repair • Clamping data - detailed clamping and setup information for each unique vehicle • Immediate updates - continuous flow of newly-released vehicle information via internet • Support evo™ - Vision2™ X3 contains information on EVO™ 1-2-3 Anchoring and Holding Systems

Image: Car-O-Liner

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Precision adds to efficiency

The Vision2 software wireless communication tool.

The National Collision Repairer 7

Clear winners for the workshop

Images: PPG

Product Showcase

PPG’s LVC 131 and 177 Clearcoats allow the workshop to make the best choices on their priorities with high quality outcomes.

PPG has taken flexibility and energy efficiency choices to the next level thanks to two new additions to its clearcoat range.

With three different drying modes – airdry, low temperature or high temperature cure – LVC-177 Rapid Performance Clearcoat gives the workshop freedom to choose the best option for your repair process. Utilising its next generation air-dry and Ultra High Solids (UHS) technology, LVC-177 Rapid Performance Clearcoat gives repairers unprecedented versatility to achieve pretty much whatever goals they are after.

Combined in this one easy to use package is the choice of three different drying modes. If the priority is cutting energy costs while minimising CO² emissions, then the workshop can take advantage of ‘air-dry’ mode where this clearcoat is dust free in just 20 minutes at 20°C and ready to fit up in only 60 minutes. Alternatively, there is the option to choose a short, lower energy, ‘low

temperature’ cure (20 minutes at 40°C) and the job is ready to handle in as little as 20 minutes. When there is the need to push a job through a bit quicker it’s easy to switch to the ultra-fast, ‘high temperature’ cure (five minutes at 60°C) where the job is ready to fit up after cooldown. This allows the freedom to choose the best option for your repair process – air-dry, low temperature or high temperature cure.

Unlike older air-dry technologies, LVC-177 Rapid Performance Clearcoat does not suffer from humidity related issues.

No compromise performance means this advanced formulation also delivers on ease of application and superior finish.

Flexible application characteristics provide the choice of single visit mode (a light closed coat followed by a full wet coat) or you can go with the traditional two coat method. Whichever application or drying mode is used, the result is a glossy, mirrorlike finish.

LVC-177 Rapid Performance Clearcoat also provides an excellent option for

dealing with the growing list of hybrid electric vehicles and full electric vehicles by helping to minimise or eliminate the potential to generate unwanted heat in the battery cells.

Features • Sustainability – Reduced energy bills and CO² emissions • Ultra flexible – Choose the drying mode that fits your repair process • Air-dry mode dust-free (20 minutes @ 20°C) – Helps minimise energy usage • Low temp mode (20 minutes @ 40°C) – Quick cycle-time with reduced energy usage • High temp mode (five minutes @ 60°C) – Fast process time and potential to reduce energy costs • Single visit application – Saves time and material • No compromise performance – Excellent drying properties mean a superior finish every time • Hybrid and EV friendly – Minimises potential impact on battery cells

Formulated using PPG’s premium Ultra High Solids technology, LVC-131 UHS Clearcoat combines flexibility and ease of use aiming for a highquality end result.

With an easy application process, painters and business owners can benefit from the modern, simple and versatile LVC-131 UHS Clearcoat.

The clearcoat offers the choice of a quick and easy single visit mode (a light closed coat immediately followed by a full wet coat). Or, if you prefer, the traditional two coat method. The user-friendly application characteristics of LVC-131 UHS

Clearcoat make it easy to produce a fine peel finish. The premium Ultra High Solids clearcoat features a long pot life and effective polishing characteristics.

PPG’s Ultra High Solids clearcoat formulation gives it the versatility to be utilised on a wide variety of jobs, from a single panel, right through to a total respray.

With a 15 minute (@ 60°C) high temperature cure, or 40 minutes (@ 40°C) low temperature cure, there is an opportunity to shorten process cycletime while also making a saving on energy costs and boosting sustainability.

Alternatively, LVC-131 UHS Clearcoat also produces effective results when cured using gasinfrared technology.

Features • Multipurpose clearcoat – Ideal for a single panel to a full respray • High temp mode (15 minute @ 60°C) – Fast process time and reduced energy costs • Low temp mode (40-minute bake @ 40°C) – Hybrid and EV Friendly • Single visit application – Saves time and material • Excellent finish and polishing – Fast detailing and high-quality end result

All-round performance

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Energy saving Air-Dry primer offers flexibility full electric vehicles by helping to minimise or eliminate the potential to generate unwanted heat in the battery cells.

LVP-565 Air-Dry Primer aims to be the readymade solution that gives the workshop unparalleled versatility to drive efficiency, profitability and sustainability.

Pursuing the four pillars of workshop success; quality, efficiency, sustainability and profitability is front of mind for many repair businesses and one input that can affect all four is energy costs.

So, delivering the ability to slash paint shop energy costs and reduce CO² emissions without added investment, is one of the strong attractions of PPG’s new LVP-565 Air-Dry Primer.

The advanced primer technology in the new LVP-565 Air-Dry Primer promises an opportunity to boost profitability by offering the flexibility to fit a workshop’s priorities and production processes.

LVP-565 Air-Dry Primer’s ability to air-dry in as little as 30 minutes at 20°C, lets the workshop save energy, power costs and get on with the next steps in the repair process.

Alternatively, using Infra-red technology or conventional baking can accelerate the drying time.

PPG says the LVP-565 Air-Dry Primer delivers superb adhesion and priming characteristics in either scenario and does not rely on humidity conditions to enhance the speed of drying.

It also has impressive outright application speed and excellent sanding properties and PPG cites the example of the rapid single-visit application mode where no flash-off is required.

The specialised characteristics of the high-tech primer have been tuned to deliver excellent film build and the ability to lay down a super smooth film that is fast and easy to sand.

It also provides an excellent option for dealing with hybrid electric vehicles and

Since being unveiled in 2019, PPG’s MoonWalk automated paint mixing system has been installed in more than 2300 collision repair centres around the globe and it’s showing no signs of slowing down.

As customers recognise MoonWalk’s unprecedented ability to increase productivity, while helping to ensure a cleaner, more efficient paint mixing process, it has become an essential tool for collision centres of all sizes.

Its ultra precise, automated mixing process minimises human error, leading to more consistent results and reduced wastage and rework. Typically, users

report a boost in productivity by more than 10 per cent.

PPG Vice President, Americas, Automotive Refinish Tom Maziarz says MoonWalk units have now been sold to collision centres in all 50 states of the US. “Reaching this milestone reflects the PPG MoonWalk system’s impact on the industry,” Maziarz says.

“Digital innovation like this supports the next generation of painters and sets a new standard in the industry.”

The most recent installations were at Central Paint and Body, in Wyoming and at Morrow Collision Centre, in Nebraska where owner Dan Morrow says it’s

the perfect tool to boost paint shop performance “The PPG MoonWalk system will transform how our technicians work and allow us to serve our customers more efficiently. With its precise colour matching and waste reduction features, it will become an integral part of our operation.”

For more information on MoonWalk or to arrange a visit from the mobile ‘MoonVan’, speak to your PPG Territory Manager, your MVP Business Solutions Manager or the PPG Customer Service Hotline on 13 24 24 (Aust) or 0800 320 320 (NZ).

PPG’s new LVP-565 Air-Dry Primer can bring multiple benefits to the workshop.

Highlights • Rapid air-drying – Instant ability to slash energy costs and reduce CO² emissions • Drying modes: air-dry, IR, bake – Versatility to choose the best option for you • Advanced PPG technology – Fast drying process not dependent on humidity • No flash-off, one visit application – Boost process efficiency • Super smooth laydown – Fast and easy sanding process • Reduced cycle-time – improved productivity • Hybrid and EV friendly – minimises potential impact on battery cells

The revolution continues

The National Collision Repairer 9

Special Feature

Images: U-pol

Quality without compromise

Perfection Body Werx owner Scott McGuire and team member Paul Farrugia are passionate about restorations.

Specializing in restoring and performing full rotisserie rebuilds of classic vehicles and muscle cars, Perfection Body Werx is a hidden gem in the world of car restoration.

In the world of high-end car restorations, reputation is built on results and word-of-mouth. You won’t see a sign outside their workshop, nor will you find a flashy website or a bustling social media presence.

Their exceptional restorations and a reputation for unparalleled quality have clientele queuing up; this exclusive body shop is booked solid for the next two years.

Currently, Perfection Body Werx is undertaking a bare-metal restoration of a 1976 Bathurst model XB GT with a rich racing history, which will be showcased at Summernats.

“These cars have become incredibly valuable” Scott says. “This one had to be

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restored to its original specifications and to the highest standard possible.”

Scott MacGuire has been at the helm of Perfection Body Werx in Kirrawee, New South Wales, for five years, bringing 30 years of smash repair expertise to the table. The shop’s mission is clear: quality without compromise.

“We don’t cut corners,” Scott says.

“These cars are investments, not just another job from a car yard.”

For top-tier restorations, Scott turns to trusted products.

“I’ve been using U-Pol products for 15 years. We use U-Pol Copper Weld #2 and Dolphin Glaze,” Scott says “U-Pol Copper Weld #2 is perfect because it coats the bare metal surfaces between panels, sealing them. Originally, these cars rusted because there was nothing between the surfaces. Copper Weld #2 coats the metal, and you can still weld through it. So, once it’s restored, it’ll

last longer than any of us.”

U-Pol Copper Weld #2 offers superconductivity and is suitable for use before SPOT, MIG, and TIG welding on prepped surfaces. Its strong adhesion and superior rust protection make it perfect for durable restorations.

For body refinishing, Scott and his team use U-Pol Dolphin Glaze for its superior quality and ease of use. “It flows out really Perfection Body Werx turn to trusted products for a demanding job.

Details of the XB GT restoration

The Bathurst muscle car restoration of the XB GT demanded exceptional attention to detail from Perfection Body Werx.

well, is easy to sand, and is excellent for filling pinholes.”

Dolphin Glaze’s self-levelling formula eliminates surface imperfections before painting. Its smooth, ultra-fine finish requires minimal sanding, making it perfect for restoring the distinctive lines of classic cars like the XB GT. Scott also uses U-Pol Copper Weld #2 and Dolphin Glaze on his personal

projects, including his 1970 Datsun 1600 in classic Honey Brown. Scott and his iconic show car frequently appear at shows and rallies, including All Japanese Day, where he won Best Paint last year.

Despite their low-key presence, Perfection Body Werx has become the premier destination for classic and muscle car restorations in South Sydney.

Known for their use of high-end materials,

authentic restorations, and unwavering commitment to quality, they have earned their stellar reputation.

For more information on U-Pol’s Copper Weld #2, Dolphin Glaze and their range of auto refinishing products, visit u-pol.com/au To contact Scott MacGuire at Perfection Body Werx, call 0416 009 254

Cover Story

Partners in success Relationships with suppliers can be a critical support for any repair business. But when they are dealing with change and innovation, this is when the qualities of a partnership, like the one Willmot Smash Repair Specialist enjoys with 3M, shine through.

Willmot Smash Repair Specialist in Cairns is a collision repair centre that despite some handsome growth will not compromise on two key traits: delivering consistency of quality to customers and a spirit to innovate.

“We’ve been through a lot of growth,” WSRS owner Wes Jenkins says.

“We just opened another facility and increased our non drivable facility.

We’re a sizable company now, doing anywhere from 60 cars to 100 cars a week, depending on the mix, but definitely doing a lot of larger jobs.

There’s about 40 of staff all up, so, a pretty dynamic little workshop.”

Community reputation

Innovation in the spray booth

One of the most recent changes Willmot Smash Repair Specialist has undergone, Images 3M

Part of that growth has been successful relationships and Wes is happy to give the testimonial for suppliers who share his values.

“I’ve owned the business up here 10

years and worked at Willmot Smash Repairs for 20 and we’ve always used 3M. Every product, if we can, we use 3M.” One of his key business objectives is to deliver a consistency of service and repair to all his customers and this has helped him build a solid reputation in Far North Queensland. Part of this, he says is the consistency and quality of products that come into the workshop.

“Cairns is a small town, so quality is paramount,” Wes says.

“Being able to provide consistency to our staff members, it comes from good product; good sandpaper, good guns, good paint. It all adds up. If they’ve got a good product and good training, good people, and good company support, well it’s easy to keep the consistency.”

in partnership with 3M, is an overhaul of its spray paint system and the introduction of 3M’s Performance Spray Gun along with the PPS 2.0 Cup system and Fine Finish Nozzles The 3M Performance Spray gun is designed to optimise the paint application process, including offering consistent paint application that gives fine atomisation and colour replication, reducing the likelihood of imperfections or the time spent needed on rework.

For Wes and his paint team, led by veteran spray painter ‘Sticks,’ one of the outstanding qualities of the 3M system is its ease of use. This becomes critical with four spray booths and a high turnover of jobs moving through the business.

“I think what the 3M gun has done is certainly created consistency across all painters. It’s just a very friendly gun to use, “ Wes says.

“They spray consistent every time.

They’re easy to set up to get it put on.

It’s very friendly to use with the 100 Line and I’d say that’s probably its biggest advantage for us.

“You don’t have to worry about wear in your tips because they’re replaceable.”

Efficiency and durability

3M’s system consists of the Performance Spray Gun with the PPS 2.0 Cup system and interchangeable Fine Finish Nozzles.

12 www.nationalcollisionrepairer.com.au

Sticks echoes this sentiment and highlights the flexibility of the system that adds to its ease of use and spraypainting efficiency.

“You can use it for wet on wet, clear or base coat- all in one. You’ve just got to arrange the tips out to the size that is suited,” Sticks says. “We can move down a gauge to 1.2mm and use it for clear.

We use a 1.4 for base coat.

“It’s consistent and user friendly,

For busy spray painters, the 3M Performance Paint System adds ease of use and efficiency to the workshop.

and it’s time saving. That’s one of the biggest things because every spray painter hates cleaning guns.”

The modular system with interchangeable nozzles offers easy changeover that simplifies cleaning, maintenance and can save replacement costs in the longer term.

“We’ll put these in the gun cleaner, wash them through and they wash out really well,” Wes says.

“But you don’t have that problem moving forward of not wanting to buy a new setup for your gun because it’s expensive. Whereas with these you can throw the air cap away and start again.

The ability to refresh your gun all the time is unbelievable.”

Sticks is also quick to point out that with the right care this doesn’t convert into a high turnover, due to the durability of the Fine Finish Nozzles.

“I think people have it in their heads that you’ll chew through the disposable tips, and it is not that way at all. I did a test when we first got the gun, and I didn’t change a tip for two months.

I painted a lot of cars through that, probably 150 colours and haven’t changed a tip,” he says.

Another of the advantages for workshops 3M aims is to deliver with the Paint System is the potential to lower paint consumption.

“With the PPS adapters, you can save as much as is possible,” Sticks says.

“These guns definitely put the paint

on the way it’s meant to go on, without splattering and you can use it upside down too.”

Business synergy

For Wes even incremental savings brought about through efficiency of process, time, energy or product savings can assist in the overall outcomes and profitability of the workshop.

“It always adds up, these little one per cents,” Wes says.

“The boys, strive to be efficient every day and it’s something we got drummed into us here. I think the product fits in with everything that we’re about and everything that we do here.”

The introduction of the system also came with plenty of back-up from 3M as the business transitioned.

“The support is unbelievable,” he says.

“We promote innovation here. That’s something I’ve said to my boys all along.

“It’s an old mentality in this industry to say; ‘It’s working, I don’t want to change it,’ and I believe spray painting is probably the hardest to change. But we’ve got that culture of trying new things here. The boys are receptive to that.

That’s just how we do things.”

“The whole crew, they’ve seen plenty of change. They’ve seen us go from, a little shop with eight staff, to what we have today; two major shops with 40 staff and a turnover of about $15 million a year.”

WSRS’s dynamic approach to change

and innovation is one of the synergies that has further consolidated their relationship with 3M. “They’re a premium product, and we’ve always wanted to align our sites ourselves with premium products,” Wes says.

“They’re always at the forefront of technology. And I’ve always wanted to align myself with people that are at the forefront and willing to change.

“I’ve always said, if there’s something that’s the latest and greatest, I want it in my shop. As a business owner, you want to know all about it and put it to the test.”

Speed, efficiency and finish in one package

The art of a quality repair lies in the ability to match the existing finish seamlessly, ensuring that repairs remain invisible to even the most critical observer. However, achieving this should not come at the expense of increased costs and labour. With the introduction of the Performance Spray Gun, 3M has revolutionised coating efficiency through its engineered plastic nozzles, which offers industry leading transfer efficiencies. The technology introduced in these HVLP atomising nozzles, which must be stressed are not disposable, but interchangeable, presents a significant cost-saving potential in paint materials because of the high transfer efficiency when The National Collision Repairer 13

Cover Story

Willmot Smash Repair Specialist can do up to 100 vehicles a week, so efficiency in mixing and pouring is vital.

settings are optimised for the coatings being applied. With the rising costs of paint and coatings in the Collision Repair Industry, investing in the 3M Performance Spray Gun can profoundly impact a Paint Shop’s bottom line. The industry-leading transfer efficiency of 78 per cent not only reduces material wastage, thereby lowering paint bills, but also minimises excess overspray, which leads to secondary benefits such as reduced booth maintenance and downtime, as filters and booth coatings require less frequent changes, ultimately resulting in less waste. The 3M Performance Spray Gun with HVLP nozzles offers the best opportunity to maximize every mix.

Alternatively, when it comes to applying challenging coatings, fine atomisation is critical and with the advent of new coating technologies advancements in spray gun technology has been critical to facilitate this

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need. The 3M Fine Finish Atomising nozzles are the latest technology introduced by 3M to enable accurate and efficient application of these critical coatings in high-production repair environments. The introduction of the 3M Fine Finish nozzles enhances the ability to spray critical coatings with improved atomisation, reducing stress for painters and minimising the chance of rework. These nozzles are specially engineered for finer atomisation, aiding in colour and effect reproduction for the most challenging coatings while maintaining high levels of efficiency and material usage. All this technology wraps up into driving down repair costs and decreasing booth cycle times.

However, not only is the technology optimised for application, but benefits are also immediately gained during the clean up stage with minimal solvent required to clean the nozzles.

This helps reduce the occupational

hazards for the painter which studies have shown cleaning of the spray gun shows significantly high levels of exposure for the painter and any worker nearby.

Together, the range of HVLP and Fine Finish Nozzles for the 3M Performance Spray Gun offers unprecedented levels of adaptability within the collision industry. This innovation helps achieve the highest quality standards and provides the opportunity to “Mix Less, Paint More.”

Interested in learning more? Scan the QR code to be contacted by our team.

Discover how 3M’s innovative Paint Applications Solutions can unleash the full potential of your workshop.

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The National Collision Repairer 15

Talking Shop

JVS Bodyworks at sunset.

The soul of the country repairer For a small, country workshop, hours from the nearest city, JVS Bodyworks has done well to establish itself as a respected, quality repairer. Part of that success is making a positive impact within the community and collision repair industry.

JVS Bodyworks is a collision repair workshop that has cemented itself within the community.

The JVS Bodyworks team comprises of eight staff, with two administration staff and six people on the workshop floor.

Images: JVS Bodyworks

A country repairer with a community driven spirit, JVS Bodyworks in Renmark, South Australia, has a reputation that belies their modest size.

In a rural location that has all the hallmarks of country generosity,

The workshop interior.

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Prepped to repair between 10-15 vehicles per week where collisions on the vast open country roads can often be severe.

Originally from Sydney, Renmark has been home to Jason and his family since his primary school years, and the community feel has made it hard to leave.

JVS Bodyworks first opened nine years ago in 2015. Starting completely from scratch with an empty shed, Jason and his wife, Tracey, built it up to what it is today. With a dual qualification in paint and panel, Jason has the knowledge and experience to build the best team around him.

“We saw the vision for the workshop and ran with it,” Jason says.

With a proactive attitude and a mentality of ‘act or it won’t happen’, Jason has created a workshop with a reputation that travels beyond the tight-knit town of Renmark. With work coming from locations, hours away in Adelaide and Murray Bridge, or from border towns in New South Wales, and Mildura, Victoria, JVS Bodyworks has established a wider footprint.

Jason and Tracey Gordon.

When the business first opened, Tracey initially worked part time in the business, but as the workshop started taking off, she jumped on board full time managing the administration and invoicing work.

“To get a business up off the ground and running you need to put in the hard yards,” Jason says.

“As soon as we knew the direction we wanted to head in, we knew buying an existing business wasn’t on the cards, so building a workshop from scratch was where it all began.”

repair often occurs after an unpleasant experience, and offering a service that will not only look after the vehicle, but the person behind the wheel is the reason why Jason and his team are held in high regard.

“Being in a collision is a traumatic experience for some people, and clients really appreciate it when you go that extra mile for them,” Jason says.

“That is the rewarding side of the job, we make sure you are not just a

Operating in the country

With a population of around 10,000, the town of Renmark is built upon community values.

“Rural people support one another.

You walk down the street and everyone knows everybody,” Jason says.

“When you help someone out, they appreciate it. They will buy you a coffee, or buy you a drink at the bar just for fixing their car.”

Creating a friendly and welcoming environment for clients is part of the fabric at JVS Bodyworks. Collision

Keeping up to date with the latest ADAS equipment.

The National Collision Repairer 17

Talking Shop

Aiding the next generation

Apprentice, Lachlan Brown at JVS Bodyworks.

number that goes through the shop.

There is a face, a family, the kids go to school together, it is a community.”

Community involvement

JVS Bodyworks is an active member of their community, whether that be visiting schools during their careers and business weeks, sponsoring sporting teams, helping out at working bees, or the end of year Christmas pageants.

“We are embedded among our community. We get a loyal following which is great to see,” Jason says.

“We have a close-knit town and we are happy to be part of it anyway we can.”

In alignment with the socially and community minded values, JVS Bodyworks also offers a child restraint

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service. The only nationally accredited child restraint service in the region, the team at JVS Bodyworks keeps up to date on the latest legislation and fitting requirements.

Jason highlighted how the move to include child restraint services was to increase the safety for children and families on the road.

“It is another way we give back to the community,” Jason says.

“We get a lot of first-time mums and dads coming to us as there are few fitters in our area.”

“We have seen a lot of poorly installed car seats when we repair on cars after a collision. We try to help out the community in any way we can, and the fundamentals of starting to do car restraint safety was a community minded decision.”

In an effort to build the next generation of talent in the north eastern rural towns of South Australia, JVS Bodyworks is an active recruiter of apprentices.

“We are big on having apprentices.

We’ve always made it a priority to have them, and we are always training,” Jason says.

“The industry needs apprentices. It is one way to keep the industry alive and growing.”

To ensure that apprentices get the most out of their training at JVS Bodyworks, Jason limits the number of apprentices in the shop to give the existing staff the capacity to correctly train and teach.

“We have found the happy balance when an apprentice reaches their third year, we employ a first-year apprentice,” Jason says.

We find that it keeps a happy medium where the head panel technicians don’t get overwhelmed with the workload.

We make sure they are here to learn and progress, not just sweep floors and wash cars.”

In the recent MTA SA Apprentice awards night, JVS Bodyworks was awarded the “Industry Employer of the Year” award for 2024. Recognising their commitment and drive to training and upskilling apprentices.

Currently on the lookout for their next apprentice, JVS Bodyworks will be welcoming a new apprentice in the new year.

“We are looking forward to welcoming a new member of the team,” Jason says.

Everyone on the same page

Jason identifies the team at JVS Bodyworks as the main strength and foundation of the workshop. Jason ensures that his team are maximising their potential while remaining united by the same end goal.

“We try and keep the team happy and feeling fulfilled,” Jason says.

“We make sure everyone is on the same page and enjoys coming to work.”

To keep the workshop moving forward, fine tuning the day-to-day procedures

has been instrumental in improving the quality of work and time efficiency.

“We have implemented a lot of new procedures in our parts distribution and traceability systems,” Jason says.

“We have a lot of ‘stop, go” programmes on the floor. So, we have a red, yellow, and green system that helps the team through visual cues as to where a car is in the repair stage.”

JVS Bodyworks have also implemented the ‘stop, go’ programme with their parts management system.

Jason explained that when a job has all the required parts, the system turns green so everyone is aware of the new status of the vehicle. The efficient system has allowed the team to work effectively together, but also as individuals.

“The system has made a massive improvement. Each guy is owning the job they are doing, not relying on others to do the job for them. They can each make their own decisions and the workflow moves well,” Jason says.

“The system has definitely paid the dividends at the end of the day.

Everyone is moving together in one direction.”

Keeping up to date in the country

More than aware of how quickly the repair industry changes, Jason aims to keep up to date with the latest technologies, equipment and advancements in the industry.

“The industry has changed so much, even from when we first opened nine years ago,” Jason says.

In particular, Jason keeps his team up to date with EV and ADAS training.

JVS Bodyworks has a strong focus on maintaining pace in an evolving industry. They were one of the very first collision repairers in South Australia to have a full, in-house ADAS calibrating capabilities and trained technicians. This was a significant financial investment, that allowed JVS Bodyworks to be at the forefront of changing technology and best practice.

“Two months ago, we upskilled one of our head panel technicians for EV

repair at MTA SA’s brand new training facility,” Jason says.

“His next training will be a step further and that will focus on the repair of EV batteries.”

The training isn’t just for his heads of department but are also for the apprentices coming through the ranks.

“We have two other guys completing their introduction to EV Training.

Hopefully after the EV battery module is complete, our apprentice can move into that space too,” Jason says.

In Renmark, as well as numerous other regional and rural communities in Australia, EVs are not a common sight on the road. Jason however, believes it is important to be ready and equipped for the future, despite the slow uptake of EVs in his community.

“We see what’s happening in the city, and there are more EVs and Hybrids each year. It will eventually flow into the regional areas, and when that happens, we will be prepared,” Jason says.

New EV equipment is also on the cards for JVS Bodyworks to ensure the team’s safety when repairing on EVs. “We have a new EV hoist coming before Christmas too. We run every tech as a hoist so we look after everyone’s bodies. Everyone works at eye height,” Jason says.

A tight knit team

With a team of eight people, maintaining a cohesive and unified workplace at JVS Bodyworks is essential, especially in a small community.

“It is tricky, but you have to work at it otherwise it won’t happen,” Jason says.

“We have pizza nights, and down time where we celebrate our wins and each other’s achievements without it being all about work.”

Jason has taken a top-down approach when creating a positive atmosphere at work.

“We are big on birthdays too. We have a birthday box, lucky dip and we celebrate with tea and cake. Everyone looks forward to somebody else’s birthday” Jason says.

Jason also implemented a ‘toolbox’ meeting each morning that allows for transparency between the front of house staff and the technicians.

Not only does Jason promote a happy and healthy workplace, but he also supports a healthy relationship between repairer and workshops.

The collision repair industry in Australia is known for being a ‘closed off ’ community, but organisations like Car Craft aim to unite workshops and raise industry standards and practices.

“Networking betters the industry.

It is not a them vs us scenario. The members of Car Craft are all passionate in bettering the industry, not just about turning the car over,” Jason says.

The road ahead for Jason and JVS Bodyworks is to maintain their quality standard of work, as well as solidifying and strengthening their existing procedures.

“It is encouraging to know that we have a good reputation out there. We receive good feedback in the sense of word of mouth, and a loyal client base,” Jason says.

“We are looking forward to the next nine years.”

JVS Bodyworks’ logo.

The National Collision Repairer 19

Special Report

Keeping up the pace

Images: SAPE Group

Sometimes business growth occurs so fast it is hard to keep track. Adjusting to demand requires the right equipment and the right people to back up a business.

Owner Peter Soper, pictured with Gibson Busch-Lees from SAPE, will now expand his business.

Sometimes business growth occurs so fast it is hard to keep track.

Adjusting to demand requires the right equipment and the right people to back up a business.

The GYS spot welder and Spanesi Multibench have given the business greater flexibility.

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As a specialist in small carpark dents and hail damage, Peter Soper says there was time when he lived the uncertain life of a storm chaser.

Fortunately for the communities of

the south NSW coast, he has become much more focussed.

“I used to be a storm chaser, but I wanted to start a family and settle down a little bit, so I moved away from that and built the panel shop,” Soper says.

Dynamic Dentz started out in 2019 as a family-owned business primarily as a Paintless Dent Removal shop.

“In 2022, we bit the bullet and moved to a bigger location at 15 Quinns Lane in South Nowra, where we bought a spray booth and with only two staff, got to work.

“Word got out quickly that we had a fast turnaround and produced highquality work. Before we knew it our small shop had rapidly grown to six full time staff; two painters, an apprentice painter and three panel beaters.”

Now Soper will open a second business, in partnership, in Bomaderry, focusing on fleet repairs that they will call Dynamic Fleet Repairs.

“We’ve just built a brand-new Pan spray booth and bought a new compressor and got all the lines and everything plumbed in. So we’re hoping to be operating after Christmas.”

“It’s gone from zero to 100 in a very short amount of time,” he says.

“It is amazing how quickly everything happened and how it all turned out. The amount of upgrades and things that we’ve done to this small shop in a small amount of time is just crazy.”

What Soper knew was he needed to invest in equipment to keep pace with the demand and valued having the SAPE Group as a supply partner, as he took on more business opportunities.

“When we started, we were just doing small bumps and scrapes, and the jobs started to get bigger and bigger, and we needed to invest back into the shop to be able to do these bigger jobs. Now we’ve been doing turrets and quarter panels, seal panels, and we wouldn’t have been able to do these bigger insurance jobs if we didn’t have the correct equipment.”

“So, in April this year, when the Collision Expo was on, I was down there because I knew I wanted to put the money back into the business to buy that equipment,” Soper says “As more and more insurance work started coming through the door, we bought a new GYS spot welder and a Spanesi Multibench to assist in our workflow and continue our fast turnaround time.”

He has barely looked back since.

“The welder is getting tons of use and already we’re getting a return on the equipment that’s been put in. It was a good purchase,” he says.

“We’d already had the bench from the start of the year, and it’s a quality piece machinery and I knew I was safe to buy it.”

But also important to Soper is the back up and support of SAPE Group staff, including Group Equipment Manager Beau Knowles.

Soper is proud of how the team at Dynamic Dentz has grown.

“From day one, when I spoke to Beau he pretty much said what we could do.

He didn’t pressure me when I said I was meaning to put a deposit on but when I was ready to go, everything was on point.”

This supportive relationship was important for a busy workshop, he says.

“They came down when they said they were coming down and if there was a small issue, or when we were still learning how to use equipment, they sent one of the members up to show us how to how to use it.”

His team are fast learners, and he is lucky to enjoy a united purpose from his staff when it comes to adapting to demand.

“We’ve got a really good group of people. Everyone that works here is great and at the top of their game. We all have the same goal, and we’re all heading in the same direction.”

His second project, Dynamic Fleet

Repairs, opening shortly, is more focussed in its market but Soper continues to be passionate about delivering rapid key-to-key times for the communities he serves.

“We want to look after the businesses and company vehicles, especially the NDIS and support workers. Because whenever a car gets damaged, they’re taken off the road, and when they go into a generic panel shop, they’re put back in the pipeline. It doesn’t matter where you go, every panel shop is booked out months in advance. We want to cater for company and business vehicles directly.”

With the right staff, equipment and support, Soper says his formula for a repair business is simple but effective.

“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, but we’re trying to bring something different to the service. If the quality is right and the turnaround time is right, people are happy to come.”

Dynamic Dentz will now extend to a second business.

The National Collision Repairer 21

Women in Repair

The will to succeed Owning your own business can be intimidating, especially if it is grappling with ever-changing automotive technology. But at only 25 years old that is exactly what Siobhan Macdonald took on. Now four years on and with five employees at Premium Diagnostics, she shows just how far determination can take you on the journey.

Recognition for her business achievements.

Siobhan started Premium Diagnostics at 25 years old.

Images: Siobhan Macdonald

At just 29 years old, Siobhan Macdonald has claimed her space in the automotive industry. With a trusted, five star reputation for customer service, and numerous awards under her belt, Siobhan is living proof that you don’t need a mountain of experience behind you to achieve your goals, just a strong desire and determination to succeed.

Siobhan’s business, Premium Diagnostics is a tool wholesaler that specialises in car diagnostic scan tools. Based in Arundel, Queensland, Siobhan’s business is fuelled by her passion for cars, and the satisfaction of solving complex vehicle issues.

Growing up in a small town called Feilding on the north island of New Zealand, Siobhan found her passion for cars and motorsports. With no family ties to the automotive industry, or to a trade in general, Siobhan was the first in her family to be involved in the industry.

As soon as she was old enough to drive, Siobhan started buying, swapping and selling cars. With a clear passion for the industry, Siobhan jumped straight into a light vehicle mechanics apprenticeship

as soon as she had finished high school.

At age 17, Siobhan made the leap and moved 6 hours away from Feilding to Auckland to undertake her apprenticeship.

After gaining her qualification and working in Auckland for a few years, Siobhan was after a new adventure and opportunities.

At 21 years old, and with her sights set on the Gold Coast’s sun and beaches, Siobhan moved across the ditch by herself, and secured her first job in Australia as a service advisor at Sunshine Ford. And the rest has been history.

Starting Premium Diagnostics

Owning her own business by 30 was never part of Siobhan’s plan. With little

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business experience, the organic way in which Premium Diagnostics was born, is a credit to Siobhan’s quick thinking and action.

Beginning the business in June 2020 while still employed full time, it took six months to go full time.

After four years of living and working in Australia, Siobhan noticed a glaring gap in the market while she was trying to source a scan tool.

“It all started when I needed a scan tool for my own car,” Siobhan says.

“I asked my boss at the time if I could take the scan tool home so I could use it on my own car and to no surprise he said no.”

“I called up places I thought would have them and no one really seemed to know much about them,

Siobhan with her first car in her hometown of Feilding.

and they were quite expensive too.”

From there, the cogs were set in motion for a new business venture that would fill a void in the automotive industry.

“I definitely saw a gap in the market,” Siobhan says.

“I ended up buying a scan tool and taught myself how to use it.”

With a drive and resilience to succeed and push through any initial obstacles in her way, Siobhan was determined to learn more about the equipment and take advantage of the scarce knowledge surrounding the equipment.

Initially, Siobhan sold the equipment on Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree while working full time as a service advisor. With success straight off the bat, Siobhan knew she was onto a winning idea.

“It got to the point where it was crazy. I was meeting customers in the car park after work and taking calls during my lunch break,” Siobhan says.

After six months of trying to juggle her full time job and her growing business, Siobhan took the leap and quit her job as a service advisor for Jaguar Land Rover and threw everything she had into the business.

The transition from a secure and stable full time job to a business owner proved to be an overwhelming undertaking.

“It was very scary to begin with.

Siobhan had an interest in cars from an early age.

Having a stable income every week to the unknown was overwhelming at first,” Siobhan says.

“Initially I had lots of free time as all my energy was focussed on the business and not on juggling both of my jobs at the same time. I got to enjoy the beach and sun quite a bit, which I loved.”

With no financial backing or investors behind her to start a business, in the beginning Siobhan ran a mobile mechanical business on the side to fund Premium Diagnostics, as the equipment was too expensive to order before a purchase had been made.

The next step for Siobhan after a successful start on Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree, was creating her own website.

“It was really exciting when I knew I was onto something that would be a success,” Siobhan says.

The move to a website, however, didn’t come without some initial hesitation from the people around her.

“I had friends who laughed at the idea of starting a business and starting a website. When I told them about running ads and a website they started questioning how much I knew about running a business,” Siobhan says.

“Regardless of what other people thought, I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do.”

Doing business in a male dominated industry

Despite the male predominance in the automotive industry, Siobhan has worked hard to establish herself as an expert in the equipment she is selling.

At times however, Siobhan finds herself having to prove her capabilities to her male customers.

“In this industry you have to work twice as hard to prove yourself as a female,” Siobhan says.

“In the beginning when I was answering all the calls myself, I would cop a lot of from older men who wanted to speak to ‘one of the boys’. They were completely unaware that it was my business.”

“Once I start talking, they often realise that I do know what I’m talking about, but I have to prove myself. They just assume that because I am a female that I have no idea.”

Even after four years in the business, Siobhan still has phone calls from men who instantly disregard her.

‘I have men who will straight away ask for a guy to speak with and they often say ‘I don’t think you will be able to help me’,” Siobhan says.

“I don’t even bother anymore I just say no worries and transfer the call.”

Overcoming obstacles

On a business level, Siobhan identifies the key obstacle she had to overcome as the challenge of letting go.

The National Collision Repairer 23

Women in Repair

On site at her Arundel office.

Siobhan with one of many scan tools and equipment at Premium Diagnostics.

She says owning your own business is not about trying to control every aspect it on your own.

“The quickest way to burn out is by trying to control every little thing in each department. It is the fastest way to hate what you’re doing,” Siobhan says.

With more experience under her belt, Siobhan learnt to let go of many aspects and chose to focus on her strengths.

“I have learnt to delegate tasks that you aren’t good at or don’t like doing to other people,” Siobhan says.

‘It is a much more efficient way to operate a business.”

Recognition and awards

Siobhan’s success in the business

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world has not gone unnoticed.

Winning the Gold Coast Girls in Business Young Entrepreneur Award for 2024, and the Gold Coast Business Awards in 2023, Siobhan has grown Premium Diagnostics into a recognisable business outside of the automotive industry.

“Both of those wins were really cool moments and a good time for reflection. Our strength is definitely our customer service,” Siobhan says.

At Premium Diagnostics, the business is centred around the customers and helping people find a resolution to their equipment issues.

“We love helping people and

our reviews definitely reflect that,” Siobhan says.

“When an issue is really complex and the vehicle has already been to four other mechanics, and we log on to the scan tool remotely and are able to identify the fault that’s a great feeling.”

When not at work

With a hectic schedule and a thriving business to look after, Siobhan enjoys the slow life when she is out of the office. Living on an acreage outside of Arundel, Siobhan rehabilitates injured wildlife until they have fully recovered, and ready to enter the wild.

“Having an acreage has been really fulfilling for me. I have always loved animals,” Siobhan says.

Aside from spending time at her land, Siobhan’s passion for cars is never too far away. In her spare time, she also enjoys getting out on four-wheel driving adventures and spending time on the boat.

Future plans

Siobhan’s focus for the business in 2024 has been on establishing solid processes and procedures in place to ensure a smooth and effective business structure.

“We have grown so fast, so quickly that we need to implement a structure in place so we can grow bigger.”

For 2025, the plan for Premium Diagnostics will be to grow the product range and look towards the future of the industry and what it has in store.

“The EV and ADAS space is something we are taking note of.

The industry changes so quickly and we want to be able to participate in it,” Siobhan says.

Siobhan credits the team behind Premium Diagnostics for being the most important assets behind her business.

“Everyone that has been on board so far has been great,” Siobhan says.

“The team we have built has been instrumental to the success of the business.”

Siobhan with her Gold Coast Girls in Business Award in 2023.

The Premium Diagnostics team.

The National Collision Repairer 25

Special Report

Rebounding back Images: Capricorn.

Despite ongoing challenges, the aftermarket industry is showing remarkable resilience, particularly in the confidence of owners in their businesses.

Capricorn’s annual report is a vaulauble annual insight into the industry.

Capricorn’s annual snapshot of the automotive aftermarket has found confidence has increased in the industry but several key problems, like getting skilled workers, remain for collision businesses.

The State of the Nation 2024 survey found that confidence in the industry was at a four year high, the highest level since it began recording the responses of members in 2020.

Cost of living pressures and revealing figures of succession planning were some of the other highlights from the comprehensive report.

The survey garnered answers from more than 1500 member businesses across the aftermarket sector including seven per cent of these from the collision and paint and panel industry.

The key issues

Like last year’s special report, it found skills shortage topped the problems

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faced by automotive businesses, with 54 per cent of responses, but this year’s result was equalled by the issue of managing a work life balance.

There was a slight improvement in the skills crisis in automotive according to the survey, with 39 per cent saying they are still struggling to get skilled staff after 2023’s high of 43 per cent.

But paint and panel remains the worst affected aftermarket field, with 73 per cent responding they have a resourcing issue of some kind.

Collision repair businesses are also looking to apprentices to solve some of the pressures, with 82 per cent employing young trade interns and more than half saying they will continue to do so.

The State of the Nation also noted that it had “consistently found that automotive apprenticeships are seen as less attractive than apprenticeships in other industries.”

The report included a breakout on the Australian Collision Industry Alliance, the key industry not-for profit association specifically tasked with addressing this uptake in recruits in the hard-hit collision sector.

Confidence grows

Despite these factors a confidence gauge, that Capricorn has evaluated for the first time, shows a gradually increasing confidence in the industry, with most businesses showing high to very high levels of confidence in their own business.

The Capricorn Confidence Index combines the responses to three questions, confidence in the automotive industry, confidence in their own business’ future and plans for business growth, to calculate a single score out of 100 points. This score reflects the

overall business outlook of respondents, and with four years of data and insight, offers Capricorn and the automotive industry a consistent metric.

Capricorn CEO designate Brad Gannon highlighted the resilience of the aftermarket industry despite ongoing challenges.

“The Capricorn Confidence Index is a barometer for the health of the automotive aftermarket industry, and we believe it’s the most accurate measure of business owners’ confidence in the future of the automotive aftermarket,” Gannon says.

“Business and industry confidence is often used as an indicator of the overall condition of an industry and is a helpful tool in anticipating and preparing for future challenges.”

In 2024, the Capricorn Confidence Index for Australia was 71.3 points, so while the industry is facing significant change and current economic conditions may be challenging, the majority of business owners are confident in the future of their industry and their business.

Over the past four years, the Index

in Australia has improved by three points from 68.3. This reflects growing optimism amongst Capricorn Members regarding their current position and economic outlook.

“At Capricorn, we take great pride in working in an industry that is prepared to tackle the future, whatever it may be, with enthusiasm and optimism,” Gannon says.

Capricorn is now in its 50th year since a group of service station owners got together in 1974 and as a reflection of this growing confidence, can now boast more than 30,000 members.

Overall, high levels of confidence in their own businesses was at 65 per cent, up from 56 per cent, and for collision repair businesses this was only slightly lower at 63 per cent.

In paint and panel businesses high confidence in the wider industry was at 39 per cent (compared to a sector wide response of 48 per cent) but a further 36 per cent were moderately confident.

It also noted that 71 per cent of businesses intended to grow, with the highest percentage targeting increased efficiency (67 per cent) increasing profit margins (56 per cent) and hiring more staff (45 per cent) as part of their plan.

Price pressures

Other issues outlined in the report include a new rise in price-sensitive customers or other cost of living pressures at 45 per cent of respondents, with 40 per cent listing the rise in the cost of parts as a big problem.

Technical issues rated lower as the biggest problem among responders, with 26 per cent listing the access to diagnostics and information, while only 17 per cent listed EVs as a major problem. 15 per cent listed insurance companies determining prices as a major challenge for their business.

Capricorn Member Director for Victoria and Tasmania Mark Cooper says in the report, the inconsistent flow of repairs caused by cost of living pressures demands businesses plan and reassess resources.

“The cost-of-living crisis has really started to bite. Demand for our services

The report outlines perceptions of the most pressing problems faced by automotive aftermarket businesses.

has started to drop off as customers delay their vehicle servicing to save a few pennies.

“As we all know, while this might reduce workshop bookings initially, after a while the tow trucks will start appearing and our workshops will fill up with major repairs. Either way, we get the work — it just isn’t consistent.

That makes managing our businesses and achieving the desired profitability a little harder.

“If you’re feeling the economic squeeze, now is a good time to revisit your labour rates, charge for time spent on diagnostics and end time discounting. Make use of the technical data and support available and other industry sources to help you with those tricky diagnostic problems and turn diagnostics and fault-finding into a profit stream, not an expense.”

Succession planning

The State of the Nation report has also highlighted another issue the aftermarket industry is faced with and that is the ageing nature of its business owners.

Almost a quarter of business owners responded they were planning to retire in the next five years with a further 22 per cent planning to do so within the next decade.

Of those who have a retirement plan in place, a quarter are planning to transfer ownership while 41 per cent will put the business up for sale. As many as 22 per cent responded to the survey that they would close the business down.

Talent pipeline

But in signs the industry is also changing, apprenticeship uptake is still strong with 65 per cent employing newcomers, down slightly from 73 per cent.

Women in automotive have also substantially increased with 16 per cent of businesses employing women, who now make up one in five workers in the aftermarket, according to the report.

This is not just front of house and administration roles either, as now 36 per cent of female workers are listed as ‘on the tools’ up from 19 per cent in 2021.

The National Collision Repairer 27

Skills Update with David Allen

Good will hunting Collision repair has fallen “off the radar” of many young people considering a future in trades. But industry leaders are stepping up community level engagement like never before to bring it back.

Image: FCAI

For RMIT automotive student Jack Nicholls, there were three major drawcards to a career in the auto industry.

The chance to earn good money, to work with new technology, and to be hands on with cars.

But he fears he may be part of a dying breed.

“There are far less car enthusiasts than there have been in the past,” Nicholls says.

To counter this trend, leading advocacy body the Australian Collision Industry Alliance is helping put collision repair shops into prominence at career expos and community events.

FCAI founding member Rob Bartlett says they are working to change the image of the industry.

28 www.nationalcollisionrepairer.com.au

ACIA’s founding member Rob Bartlett says collision repair has become too disassociated with its workers and their work and is viewed by most customers as a drop off and pick up engagement.

“Most people don’t have the sort of day-to-day connection with the industry they might have say with tradies who come to their homes.”

The impact of the collision repair industry’s skills shortage has largely managed to stay out of the public spotlight but the Motor Association of Australia’s Matt Hobbs says it’s of vital importance to plug the sector’s skills gap.

If not, the impact on the car parc risks bruising national productivity.

While there is no data on the fiscal impact to Australian productivity, Hobbs says anecdotally the effect is severe.

“It’s not hard to put two and two together,” says Hobbs.

“You’ve got these shortages keeping cars from being repaired and off the road. It has to have an impact on productivity.”

Industry insiders worry the situation could worsen unless recruitment uptake improves in the years ahead.

Bartlett says in some states, drivers were waiting between six and eight weeks for car repairs.

“I think if we get the industry back to a place of high productivity it takes some of the pressure off the need for recruits and it makes it more sustainable,” says Bartlett.

“If you have a low productivity shop, it makes it harder to invest and grow your business.”

Back on the radar

The ACIA has been focused on raising

awareness about careers in collision repair and its work has enjoyed strong industry support.

But Bartlett says he is still amazed by the number of young people being lured away by short term jobs over trades.

“The collision industry is on nobody’s radar,” Bartlett says. “And panel shops are still thought about like the shops of the 1970s.”

“In 2024, shops are more corporate, cleaner, neater, better equipped, better run. ACIA is picking careers days and events, whatever and wherever makes sense to have a chat and show our faces. We’re working to add to the number of people trying to get this message out,” he says.

Research conducted by ACIA in collaboration with Griffith University’s Business School found just 44 per cent of automotive jobs were filled in Australia last year.

Capricorn’s State of the Nation: the Skills Shortage report also found it was taking shops between seven and nine months to find employees.

Bartlett says a bigger picture plan was needed to bring in fresh recruits or collision repair risked being overshadowed by higher profile trades like construction.

“ACIA has grown rapidly and we’re using the money from our membership almost exclusively to promote the collision repair industry to young people,” he says.

“ACIA has resources to assist members attending career days, help them with information and promotional stands, and talk to them about which ways they can engage.”

New-look industry

Jack Nicholls is a 25-year-old automotive mechanical engineering student at RMIT. Jack says an interest in evolving car technology appealed to him and helped motivate his choice of study.

That and a desire to be able to work on his own car.

“EVs and renewable energy tech are changing the industry and I think that appeals to young people,” Nicholls says.

“But I also think there are far less car enthusiasts than there have been in the past.”

He says a lot of his high school friends had decided to take up a trade, but few had considered a job in the auto industry.

“There’s a general vibe that plumbers, sparkies and builders get a better ratio for money to work,” says Nicholls.

“I think people see the job as confusing and a little obscure, especially now Australia doesn’t manufacture cars anymore.”

In a positive sign, some MTAs have reported record interest at career days this year including MTS SA/NT reporting more than 500 students, parents, teachers and career advisers to an August event.

The ACIA’s Rob Bartlett says the response received at some of their career events has been incredibly positive, with some apprentices even identified and recruited on site.

Image: kirkam/stockadobe.com

Modern collision repair demands skills and knowledge of a high standard to return cars to pre-crash condition.

“We don’t need to be perfect and win every potential recruit, but we still need to win a bit more than our share to turn it around,” he says.

in and reinvent the wheel, let those groups have the funding they need to have their impact felt at a greater level rather than just in our local areas.”

New field of recruits

Positive outlook

Empowered Women in Trade (EWIT) general manager Melinda Davis says changing how the industry assesses potential recruits will be key to developing the workforce.

“We need to be focusing more on recruits’ skills, their attitude, their capacity to fill the role,” Davis says.

Davis says the hunt for skilled workers needed to widen and shrug off more traditional notions around age and gender once attached to paint and panel jobs.

“When we just look at gender, we’re probably not getting to the root cause of a solution,” she says.

“The solution needs to be ‘who are the right humans for these roles?’ Not just men and woman, the skills.”

EWIT has also taken a community fronted approach to tackling recruitment, looking not just to school leavers but also more mature workers hoping to transition careers.

Davis notes there would be no government silver bullet to solve the skills shortage.

“There’s a lot of great organisations out there doing good work to fill the skills gap,” she says. “They’re just underfunded and under resourced.”

“Rather than having government step

Bartlett says the growth of ACIA’s membership is reason enough to be positive about the growth of the collision repair workforce.

But he says optimism alone would not be enough to shift the dial.

“The growing size of the national car parc means productivity will have to lift for the industry to be sustainable, because recruitment alone won’t be able to keep pace,” he says.

“There’s a lot of complex moving pieces here. ACIA is here to add resources and thinking, to add boots on the ground, to have more of that direct focus on collision repair and really think about what we as an industry need to do.”

“There’s still a long way to go before we can confidently say the industry’s skills gaps are going to be closed.”

However long it takes to solve one of the industry’s key issues, its strengths still lie in the passion of its young technicians and the optimism they have in its future.

Long term, Nicholls’ dream is to own his own shop where people can repair and modify their cars at a reasonable price.

“I definitely see myself sticking around in this industry.”

The National Collision Repairer 29

Future Leader

Endless opportunities From struggling for seven months to find a workshop to take her on for work experience, to winning international awards for spray painting a few years later, Maxine Colligan has established herself as a leading figure for females in the industry.

With a resilient nature and a determination to prove she was on the right track, Maxine started her spray painting apprenticeship at TAFE NSW Campbelltown in 2016 under the guidance of TAFE teacher and industry veteran, Carl Tinsley.

“People in my life were sceptical about me joining the industry at first.

When I told them I wanted to do a spraypainting apprenticeship, they looked at me like I’d grown a second head,” Maxine says.

“People would ask why, and I would turn around and say why not. Little did they know the opportunities that it would bring; the medals, and overseas trips, it’s been great.”

“I’ve had an above ordinary experience in this trade and I think if the Maxine with her TAFE teacher, Carl Tinsley.

Images: Maxine Colligan

Known for her international award wins, and industry success, Maxine Colligan is a name you may have heard of before. NCR sat down with Maxine to discuss her rollercoaster journey in the automotive industry, and why she would encourage the next generation of females to consider a career in repair.

people in my life knew that from day one, I would have received a different reaction initially.”

During her four-year apprenticeship Maxine worked with the AMA Group in Milperra, where she stayed until mid 2020.

From there, Maxine scored a job at ARB, where she further enhanced her spray-painting skills, by joining their colour coding team.

Equipped with nine years of spraypainting experience, Maxine was ready to embark on a new pathway within the industry and tackle new challenges. In 2022, Maxine completed a Certificate 4 in training and assessment at TAFE, which allowed her to dabble in teaching.

Maxine started her apprenticeship after high school.

“Last year I ended up teaching at my old TAFE, Campbelltown. It was cool to be on the other side of things,” Maxine says.

“I taught a seven-weeknight class which covered spray painting fundamentals. The people who were enrolled were typically an older crowd, so everyone wanted to be there and learn which was great to see.”

Finding new pathways

With a growing desire to learn a new skill and shake things up, Maxine shifted her focus to learning a new side of the industry, sales.

Maxine now works at Wallaby Crash Supplies in New South Wales as a sales

NCR recognises the ongoing support of IAG for the Future Leader’s series and their continued support in developing industry skills.

30 www.nationalcollisionrepairer.com.au

Finding her passion for spray painting.

representative in their automotive team.

“When I first started my apprenticeship, I thought I would be a spray painter for decades to come.

Having the opportunity to try a new career in the same industry is amazing,” Maxine says.

“I wanted a change, so I thought I would give sales a go and see what happens.”

Maxine is six months into her new sales role and is enjoying the ‘seamless transition’.

“Being in sales you get to see so many different people and shops. You get to form a relationship,” Maxine says.

“The industry is quite small so it’s great to reconnect with people. You can get to know people on a personal level.”

Positive mentorship and guidance can often make all the difference as to whether someone commits long term to the rewarding, yet challenging and testing repair industry. Luckily for Maxine, her new boss, Kate Zovi is the exact encouragement she needed in her new venture.

“Kate is amazing and does so much for the company and for the women that work for her. She’s has been a massive rock for all of us,” Maxine says.

“She always supports me and links me up with people who can help.

It definitely wasn’t a case of diving into the deep end, which I am really appreciative of.”

Maxine’s transition, however, didn’t come without some initial hesitation.

“I was so nervous to begin with because I have never sold anything to anyone before. But Kate was so reassuring and reminded me that I have all the prior knowledge of the products and what they can do,” Maxine says.

Representation in the industry

Nearly hitting the decade milestone in her career, Maxine reflects on the challenges she encountered along the way. Maxine identifies one key realisation about the industry that took her a while to wrap her head around.

“I didn’t realise how alone I was. And I mean that in the sense of how male dominated the industry is,” Maxine says.

“The women are few and far between and when I was starting out, I didn’t know anyone, let alone any women in the industry.”

Finding a community within the industry was also a challenge for Maxine. However, online communities provided the support and connections she was after. In particular, a former heavy diesel mechanic, Louise Azzopardi, formed a Facebook group, and podcast for females in male dominated trades. Louise has been a key supporter of Maxine.

“I would often go home from work feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated and unsure of my career.

Having Louise there to reassure me that my feelings were normal and that everything would work out was really helpful,” Maxine says.

“I’ve met the majority of my female friends in the industry online, through Facebook groups.”

While the support for females in trade has risen and gained momentum, there is still a push to create a community for females in the collision repair industry.

“A lot of groups online come from females in construction and industries like that, not necessarily females in collision,” Maxine says.

Challenges

In the early days of her career, Maxine noted that being a female was a discouraging factor for numerous workshops that hesitated to bring her on board for work experience.

On the tools.

The National Collision Repairer 31

Future Leader

Maxine at the WorldSkills training in Australia.

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Moving on to new adventures within the industry.

“It took me seven months to get an apprenticeship when I first started,” Maxine says.

“For an industry that is very short staffed, you would think they would be open to apprentices.”

During her first year at TAFE, Maxine handed out numerous resumes to workshops, and constantly got knocked back.

“I was told ridiculous things like ‘we don’t have a female bathroom here that’s why we can’t employ you’”,” Maxine says.

One shop that rejected Maxine’s application claimed they were fully staffed and had no room for an apprentice.

Only a few months later, the same shop hired half of her pre-vocational class.

Later, when she heard her classmates’ experiences at the shop, it seemed as though Maxine dodged a bullet, but better still, she gained a resilience that would benefit her for years to come.

“On one hand its discouraging to receive so many setbacks, but on the other it really was a blessing in disguise,” Maxine says.

“Shops that will put the time into you

32 www.nationalcollisionrepairer.com.au

and your training are out there and are definitely worth it.”

International recognition and awards

With all of the opportunities that have come her way, Maxine celebrates the industry for all it has to offer.

“It’s never been just spray painting which is really cool,” Maxine says.

The industry even facilitated Maxine’s first overseas trip in 2019. After winning the regional and national WorldSkills Competitions in Australia, Maxine qualified for the International WorldSkills Competition.

Taking every opportunity in her stride, Maxine travelled to Kazan, Russia in 2019 for the WorldSkills competition.

“My first overseas trip was to Russia of all places!” Maxine says.

“Russia was definitely a culture shock.

They had airport-like security just to go into a supermarket.”

Maxine highlighted her time in Russia as one of her career highlights thus far. Winning three medals in Russia, Maxine brought

Maxine with her e how de to se siness! e QR co your bu Scan th Sustainable Practice Award benefit n ca G LINQ PP zw from the internationalu.be/t4isZfVLw yout WorldSkills Competition.

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D home more than just her achievements. ing the 3 Introduc rayout sp l a it ig Maxine won the Best in Nationd award, and was awarded a bronze medal for o-use Vehicle Painting, and a silver medal in t, fast, easy-t Compac hotometer p spectro the Sustainability award.

Looking to the future

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Happy with her new role in sales, Maxine is content with her progress so far but isn’t ruling out getting back on the tools.

G LINQ™ “I don’t know exactly what the future ExplgiortaleEcthose PPystem.

Di Q.com IN GL Visit PP holds, but I wouldn’t rule out going back to spray painting,” Maxine says.

Maxine is focussed not only on helping other females enter the industry, but also helping them navigate the industry once they find themselves immersed in the challenges of the industry. Maxine’s advice is simple, yet sometimes all you need when starting a new chapter.

“I would love to be able to help people pick the right workshop for them, not necessarily the one that is closest to them,” Maxine says.

“Don’t let people tell you that you can’t do something. You have to know what you want and go after it, regardless of what other people think.”

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National Collision Repairer Promoting businesses, growing the industry www.nationalcollisionrepairer.com.au

Special Events

Clear vision ahead Image: AGA

The Auto Glass Association held its second successful Trade Show in Melbourne in November and highlighted a future focussed sector that is meeting the challenges posed by repairs with increased in-built technology.

Crowds could learn from key suppliers and tech companies at the Auto Glass Show.

With dozens of leading glass companies and hundreds of attendees from across the automotive sector, the 2024 Auto Glass Association Trade Show held at the Flemington Showgrounds was an important gathering for the repair industry.

The theme was about a lot more than glass, and the focus was how technology is increasingly playing a

Images: PCM

National Auto Glass Supplies COO David La Macchia at the Auto Glass Show.

34 www.nationalcollisionrepairer.com.au

role in auto glass and the evolving skills needed to handle it.

The event was a valuable opportunity for industry networking with industry leaders, along with displays from leading tech and tool companies, as well as information sessions on the latest industry developments.

The strong focus on education continued with many of the major exhibitors.

Platinum Sponsor of the show, National Auto Glass Supplies had a significant presence at the show and a presentation that the auto glass industry was very much looking to the future.

“We are very engaged here along with the other sponsors and all the exhibitors at getting the message out there about the advances in the glass industry,” National Auto Glass

Supplies COO David La Macchia says.

He said his company, that partners with one of the world’s largest glass manufacturers FYG Glass to supply the repair industry, is dedicated to keeping pace with the technology as cameras and radars for ADAS systems were increasingly incorporated into windscreens and other auto glass.

La Macchia believes they will shortly be the majority of all windscreens produced, and his staff were committed to keep up to date with the training and skills needed.

“Whether it is in the factory in China,, where we make quarterly visits, or the many micro-credentialled courses that are available for our staff,” La Macchia says.

“We also want to educate our customers that they are not working with simple glass anymore but often

Image AGA

Leading suppliers were on hand to give demonstrations and training tips.

glass industry point of view,” he says.

“The advance of this technology is really good for the industry , it makes replacing the glass a higher-value transaction and as it is more specialised, businesses can charge more.”

Jones also believes the tone of sophisticated technology that was evident at the Auto Glass Show sends a good sign to the future industry and particularly in attracting a new generation of talent that is looking for more skilled and technology-based roles.

“It’s attracting a different kind of individual,” Jones says.

“It as much about the grey matter than it is about strength or other skills for instance.

“And it’s exciting for them; every car has its own set of problems. No day is the same and that is a great challenge.”

Hella Australia General Manager Aftermarket Glareh Kayhoor agreed on the speed at which both glass and automotive technology was advancing but this opened more career opportunities for young people.

“It is totally changing as an industry,” Kayhoor says. “OEMs are continually investing in the safety and the technicians need to be continually learning.”

But she said this also adds to more career options.

“There are pathways of deep specialisation and there are more generalist skills, but they (recruits) can be successful in either.”

Image: AGA

with ADAS equipped glass and this involves a safety aspect as well, that will continue to evolve.”

Leading experts in ADAS equipment Hella Gutmann Solutions was present to show how working with ADAS systems could be incorporated into the workshop as a business opportunity.

Hella Australia National Manager Phil Johnston said while many businesses had questions about the space and equipment they needed, he says there were many positive responses about the potential to incorporate portable or mobile ADAS set ups that could be folded and stored away.

“Our brief first and foremost is education,” Johnston says. “We want to take the fear out of the workshop. Then we can get a demonstration done and show them how they can adapt.”

Scheduling one day of the week for all calibrations and clearing the appropriate space on the workshop floor for the ADAS equipment was one of the options he had discussed with business owners to take advantage of the increasing demand for the work.

National Windscreens CEO Campbell Jones said the advances in windscreen technology and ADAS were amazing and were taking place simultaneously with major changes in automotive transmission technology.

“But it doesn’t matter if it’s powered by hydrogen, electric or petrol, these vehicles will always need glass and that’s fabulous from a

Hella Australia National Manager Phil Johnston shows of their ADAS solutions.

The National Collision Repairer 35

Industry Training and Events

Cornerstone skills Change is occurring rapidly in automotive design, materials and technology but precision and accuracy remain the cornerstones of effectively repairing today’s vehicles.

Images: I-CAR

Technicians must employ precise measuring techniques to stay across the changes in vehicles.

In the collision repair industry, the drive toward complete safe and quality repairs has never been more critical as vehicle construction and emerging technology continue to ramp up with each release of new vehicle models.

As technicians who’ve seen firsthand how the evolution of vehicle materials, repair techniques and equipment has reshaped our approach to structural repairs, we understand the importance of technicians entering the industry, particularly structural technicians, having the knowledge and skills needed to execute high-quality structural repairs following a collision.

Today, precision and accuracy are the cornerstones of effective vehicle repair, particularly when working with highstrength and ultra-strength steels.

Traditional methods vs. precision techniques

The structural integrity of a vehicle is paramount to ensuring its safety and performance on the road. In the

36 www.nationalcollisionrepairer.com.au

past, repair methods often involved excessive amounts of pulling and force, combined with heat to restore the vehicle back into alignment. While these methods were considered “the norm” then, they’re no longer sufficient for today’s vehicles. The industry has moved away from these techniques due to material constraints and an increased understanding of safety concerns.

Modern vehicles are built with advanced materials, such as highstrength steels and aluminium that are sensitive to heat and can lose their strength if not handled correctly, compromising the structural integrity of the vehicle. These exotic materials with the addition of adhesives can no longer withstand the excessive forces required to straighten their structures.

This shift in repair methodology is also driven by manufacturers who now specify areas of a vehicle that should not be straightened but instead replaced to maintain structural integrity.

Vehicle build tolerances are now much tighter than in previous years with some vehicle manufacturers going as low as 0-2mm. The goal is no longer just to return a vehicle to its preaccident appearance but to ensure that it performs as designed in the event of another collision and to restore its pre-accident structural integrity. This is where accurate measuring and pulling techniques come into play – and where the importance of continuous training with courses such as I-CAR’s new interactive measuring, anchoring and pulling courses becomes evident to keep up with current techniques and methods.

The constant change of structural repair equipment

The tooling and equipment that is used to analyse and repair collision damage has kept pace with the advancements in vehicle construction technologies.

Structural Repair Equipment has become increasingly sophisticated,

offering better anchoring and pulling capabilities. These advancements have made it possible to handle a wider variety of vehicles, but they also demand a higher level of training and expertise from collision repairers.

As the complexity of using sophisticated equipment becomes more of a challenge, education can help bridge the gap between traditional practices and modern requirements. The importance of continuous learning cannot be overstated, as it provides technicians with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the complexities of today’s structural repairs.

Understanding vehicle damage

In collision repair, accurate measurement is the foundation of a successful repair. Understanding the extent of vehicle damage is crucial to the development of an accurate repair plan.

To complete an accurate damage analysis at the estimating phase, measuring is critical as without this you cannot get a true reflection of the damage within the structure. With vehicle manufacturers now demanding tighter tolerances in the repair procedures, the precision required in both measuring and pulling has increased. Technicians must be diligent in their measurements to avoid missing hidden damage that could compromise the repairs effectiveness and ultimately the safety of the vehicle’s driver and passengers.

Courses available

I-CAR Australia’s two newest programs on measuring, anchoring and pulling consider both vehicle types. These are aimed at both body repair technicians and estimators alike and will guide each student through the entire process and build on their current skills:

Collision repair facilities are also under pressure to measure vehicles more thoroughly throughout all stages of the repair process. This approach not only ensures that all damage is identified and addressed but also aligns with a culture of commitment to quality repairs that should always be reinforced throughout a shops team.

Wheel alignment and ADAS calibration

The integration of advanced driverassistance systems (ADAS) into modern vehicles has added another layer of complexity to collision repair. Proper wheel alignment is crucial for ADAS calibration, but the two processes are often handled separately. There is a genuine need for technicians to understand how these systems interact with the structure of the vehicle and the importance of following precise procedures for both alignment and calibration.

Comprehensive training either through I-CAR or its Industry Training Alliance partners also highlights these technologies and challenges, emphasising the need for a wellrounded approach that considers both structural repair and ADAS calibration. By ensuring that all systems are correctly aligned and calibrated, technicians can help maintain the vehicle’s occupants.

Accurate measuring for all repairs is also a key part of ensuring safety features are maintained.

“pull to repair” to “pull to replace”.

This change reflects the growing complexity and safety requirements of modern vehicles. Technicians must make informed decisions, considering factors like material strength, safety system integration and manufacturer specifications.

Structural and safety systems

The industry is also witnessing a shift in repair practices, from

Finally, it’s important to recognise the interdependence of structural integrity and vehicle safety systems. A vehicle’s structure is the backbone that supports systems like airbags and ADAS technology. Any misalignment or structural deficiency can compromise these systems, countering the purpose of these vehicle components. Therefore, maintaining structural integrity is not just about aesthetics; it’s about ensuring the vehicle can perform as designed in critical situations.

Industry Training Updates supplied

by I-CAR Australia.

ST086E01 Unibody Measuring, Anchoring, and Pulling • Research, Inspection, and Preparation • Front Damage | Sedan • Rear Damage | SUV • Car-O-Liner Tolerance Settings • Tools • Stress-Relieving • Measuring Is Essential • Anchoring • Documentation

ST087E01 Full-Frame Measuring, Anchoring and Pulling • Research, Inspection, and Preparation • Full-Frame SUV • Full-Frame Pickup • Car-O-Liner Tolerance Settings • Tools • Measuring Is Essential • Documentation • Anchoring • Stress-Relieving

Informed decisions

The National Collision Repairer 37

Local News

EV sales are at their lowest quarterly total since 2022 as buyers turn to hybrids for convenience and longer range.

Leading motoring advocacy group, the Australian Automobile Association’s quarterly update of EV Index also shows internal combustion engines’ (ICE) share of the Australian market continues to decline as new technology takes over.

While new EV sales have declined below 20,000 new vehicles for the first time since the start of 2023, hybrids now sell almost 50,000 vehicles per quarter, a continual growth pattern over the last seven quarters.

During the third quarter of 2024 battery electric vehicle sales declined by 25.10 per cent (from 25,353 to 18,990).

Plug-in hybrids have also grown continuously over this period and though coming from a low base, now sell four times the new vehicles they did in 2022, at 7232 vehicles per quarter.

The AAA EV Index analyses all new light vehicle sales across the country in conjunction with FCAI

data released on a monthly basis.

The overall new vehicle market had also contracted 7.60 per cent for the quarter (from 312,889 to 289,098) including the 9.16 per cent drop in ICE vehicles whose market share declined by 1.27 per cent.

Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (HFCEVs) still accounted for a tiny fraction of sales, with only three sold in the quarter and a total of ten recorded in 2024.

The AAA noted that hybrids now outsold EVs in Canberra, once its strongest market.

But it also noted the fluctuations in government incentives, including that plug-in hybrids are currently exempt from fringe benefits tax but that benefit will end on 1 April 2025.

While some jurisdictions offer stamp duty and registration discounts for EVs, government rebates for EV purchases have now ceased in all states except Western Australia.

WA had the lowest September 2024

Australia must prioritise battery recycling industry Australia will lose critical resources and be stuck offshoring used batteries unless it develops a recycling industry in the next decade, researchers say.

Edith Cowan University research engineer Dr Yasir Arafat told the National Collision Repairer, government and industry needed to coordinate on policy to tackle soaring lithium-ion battery (LIB) uptake.

“Australia is significantly lagging behind countries such as China, Europe, South Korea, Japan, and the USA,” says Dr Arafat.

“Currently, only about 10 per cent of LIBs in Australia are recycled, with the majority sent offshore for processing.”

Europe by contrast has an LIB recycling rate of 60 per cent.

LIB recycling is expected to become

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a billion-dollar industry within Australia over the next decade as EVs proliferate in the car parc.

Dr Arafat said the federal government’s $532 million National Battery Strategy was a step in the right direction, but more specifics were needed to speed up its implementation.

“If coordinated efforts begin soon, we could see substantial progress within five to 10 years, but this will require sustained investment and policy support,” he says.

Establishing a circular economy for batteries has become a priority for OEMs. Dr Arafat says developing better technologies around LIB recycling processes would be crucial to reducing health risks for workers and potential environmental harm.

“Once LIBs undergo mechanical,

quarter decline in BEV market share among all jurisdictions (-0.58 per cent compared to -1.53 per cent nationally).

Electric Vehicle Council Head of Legal, Policy and Advocacy Aman Gaur says the recent figures belied the longer-term growth in EVs which had climbed from less than 1 percent of all new car sales in 2019 to nearly one in ten today, when counted with PHEVs. “While these opportunities are encouraging, there remains a long road ahead for widespread EV adoption in Australia. The premature withdrawal of incentives for electric vehicles in several states coupled with lingering concerns about EVs is stifling rapid uptake,” Gaur says.

“Governments must continue implementing targeted programs that make it easier and more affordable for Australian households and businesses to transition to electric vehicles. At the same time, the industry must continue to address misconceptions about EVs to attract the next wave of adopters.”

The local recycling of EV batteries hasn’t kept pace with the uptake of EVs.

electrical, or thermal abuse, [they] can leak hazardous materials, posing risks to workers like auto mechanics who handle them,” he says.

“Proper training and protective measures are crucial to minimize exposure to toxic substances and prevent accidents during the dismantling or recycling processes.”

Batteries improperly stored or handled are known to be a potential fire hazard.

Dr Arafat said this vulnerability could worsen in years ahead as batteries became higher volume, collection rates for LIBs remain poor, and Australian regulations stall short of global best practices.

Image: imageflow/stockadobe

Has the EV trend peaked?

A new partnership between the Bureau of Meteorology and major insurer Suncorp is hoping to take the surprise sting out of a major inflicter of vehicle body damage; hailstorms.

Hail remains difficult to predict for forecasters who rely on radar for warnings of its imminence but identifying hail from other precipitation and, particularly its size, is problematic.

2023 insurance claims from extreme weather cost the nation $1.6 billion in losses including about $170 million in motor losses from a single adverse event in Queensland at Christmas.

The new collaboration between Suncorp and the Bureau of Meteorology’s Science and Innovation Research Group is attempting to better assess the risk of hailstorms by linking data of what is happening in the sky with what is happening on the ground.

The research project analysed where damaging hail had fallen historically, using machine learning to combine large amounts of data from BOM radar recordings with Suncorp insurance claims.

This will help create a Hail Damage Estimate (HDE) score and more accurate forecast of radar data.

While automotive panel and

windscreen damage from large hailstorms has been widely reported, the data could also help in other property damage and even crop losses.

Suncorp Scientific Specialist, Pricing & Analytics Dr Rhys Whitley says the problem so far has been the broad nature of the predictions when the impact can be very localised.

“To date, the best weather forecasts can do is warn the public of thunderstorm activity over very broad geographical areas and that there is a potential for hail,” Whitley says.

“This hasn’t really changed much in Australia for the last 20 years.

“If there are very large hail stones, they’ll typically fall straight down. But other sizes of stones might deflect elsewhere within the storm, or high winds might accelerate their falling pattern. Melting can also occur before it hits the ground.”

Previously, hail forecasts gave broader, ‘city-wide’ indications of hail, whereas the new radar can provide a more detailed, suburb-level indication.

“We can say, for example - ‘there is damaging hail developing in this storm system, and it is likely to hit the following areas,” he says.

Dr Rhys Whitley, worked on the

Image: Seeless/stockadobe.com

Better predictions sought of hail damage

Predicting when and where the most severe storms occur may help in automotive damage claims.

project with Lisa Ye and Dr Nina Ridder from Suncorp’s Natural Perils team who co-authored the research paper, with BOM’s Science and Innovation Research Group, titled ‘Radar and environmentbased hail damage estimates using machine learning.’

The article was published in the ‘Atmospheric Measurement Techniques’ scientific journal in January 2024.

Wage data could be hook collision recruiters need In what will be seen as some positive publicity for the collision repair industry, new data shows wages for key technicians is outpacing inflation.

Leading recruitment agency Seek has reported data showing the top ten trades with growth in wages over the last five years that have outpaced the inflation rate of CPI. It found panel beaters came in at number two with wage increases of 32.26 compared to a CPI raise of 20.9 per cent.

Spray painters also secured a place

in the top ten at number eight with wages lifted by 28.2 per cent.

Bakers took out the top spot and auto mechanics came in just behind spray painters with increases of 23.48 per cent.

The news story picked up by Nine Media will be welcome news for recruiters for the collision industry at a time when there are ongoing skills shortages in the industry.

It may also serve as a positive influence on young people making their career decisions at

the end of the schooling year.

“This is a testament to the opportunity for Australians to unlock stronger earning potential through wider skills and education routes such as trades,” Seek head of employment analytics Leigh Broderick told Nine news.

“Over the past five years, we’ve seen the demand for skilled trades rise, driven by robust industry growth and a persistent skills shortage.

“This has positively impacted salary growth in a number of roles.”

The National Collision Repairer 39

Local News

The seemingly unstoppable advance of automation like ADAS is filtering into the used car sector, making it significantly safer, new research has found.

Monash University Accident Research Centre’s (MUARC) latest 2024 Used Car Safety Rating report, released last month, found the average risk of injury or death for drivers in 2022 car models is 36 per cent lower than in 2002.

Research lead and MUARC Director Professor Stuart Newstead said the spread of ADAS across the used car parc is so significant the Centre created a new rating methodology to better reflect its impact.

“The proportion of used cars equipped with ADAS will only increase as older vehicles retire and the new brands with mandated safety features filter into the market”, says Professor Newstead.

“It takes Australia about 22 years to get through the used car fleet, but there’s been a rapid uptake of ADAS technology since federal mandates for new cars kicked off in January 2012,” he says.

“We expect the bulk of used cars to have [ADAS] by 2025 and near 100 per cent by 2034.”

The 2024 report awarded a five-star safety rating to slightly over one in five of the 534 vehicle models analysed based on their crash avoidance technology and driver and other road user safety performance across police and injury data between 1987 and 2022.

Electronic stability control was noted as having become significantly more available in car models since 2008.

Autonomous emergency braking, roll stability control, lane keep assist and reversing technologies also factored into analysis.

Professor Newstead said the updated safety ratings would “empower consumers to make a safer choice” when purchasing used vehicles.

“We need to consider how the vehicle

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Image: Itipol/stockadobe.com

‘Rapid uptake’ of ADAS is making used car parc safer

Older cars are significantly less safe in crashes.

protects you as the driver in a crash, the injury risk the vehicle poses to other road users in the crash and how likely the vehicle is to avoid a crash altogether,” Professor Newstead says.

“The Used Car Safety Ratings ‘Overall Safety’ rating reflects the balance of performance of a vehicle across all these aspects.”

A 2021 report by the federal Department of Transport said it expected ADAS to be “ubiquitous” across Australia’s new car market by 2045, especially as self-driving technology advances.

A report by the US Partnership for Analytics Research in Traffic Safety found more than 90 per cent of 2023 US vehicle models had at least six ADAS systems.

The report found improvements in overall driver safety for the light vehicle fleet has improved by over 55 per cent since 1981.

It also found medium, and small SUVs have more models rated five-stars for Overall Safety compared to small and medium cars, partly reflecting that the majority of these vehicles are newer.

But small SUVs and light cars had the worst occupant protection, largely due to their lighter weight and sometimes poor specification for safety equipment.

For the popular commercial utes and people movers there was less beneficial findings, as it found they performed

relatively poorly in occupant protection, despite being heavier.

“Of greater concern is the high risk of injury these vehicle types pose to other road users emphasising why crash avoidance technologies such as lane keep assist and autonomous braking are so important for these vehicle types, “ the report noted.

Newstead said the updated ratings will empower consumers to make a safer choice both for them and the broader community.

The 16 Safer Pick vehicles that the research gave 5-stars in every category are (in alphabetical order): • Audi A4/S4/RS4/All Road (MY 2008-2015) • Honda Civic (MY 2016-2021) • Honda Odyssey (MY 2013-2021) • Hyundai Tucson (MY 2015-2020) • Mazda 3/Axela (MY 2013-2019) • Mazda 6/Atenza (MY 2012-2022) • Mazda CX-5 (MY 2017-2022) • Mercedes Benz CLA-Class C117/X117 (MY 2013-2019) • Mercedes Benz E-Class W212/C207/ A207 (MY 2009-2016) • Mercedes Benz GLA-Class X156 (MY 2014-2019) • Mitsubishi Outlander (MY 2012-2021) • Subaru Impreza/XV (MY 2016-2022) • Toyota Camry (MY 2017-2022) • Toyota Corolla (MY 2018-2022) • Volkswagen Tiguan (MY 2016-2022) • Volkswagen Touareg (MY 2011-2019)

The aftermarkets leading advocacy body will add even more experience from the worlds of auto tech and parts with the latest additions to its board.

Glareh Kayhoor, General Manager Aftermarket at HELLA Australia, and Dale Durden, General Manager - Sales & Branch Operations at CoolDrive Auto Parts have joined the board of the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association Glareh Kayhoor brings 23 years’ experience and specialises in quality systems, operations, and product management and now leads the Aftermarket division at HELLA Australia.

Dale Durden comes to the board with over 30 years of experience, having worked in sales, supply, and distribution throughout the automotive aftermarket and is General Manager - Sales & Branch Operations at CoolDrive Auto Parts.

The duo join the team of 11 on the board that now represents some of the biggest players in the aftermarket retail and services space.

Glareh Kayhoor and Dale Durden have joined the AAAA board.

CEO of the AAAA CEO Stuart Charity says their experience will help steer the strategic direction of the AAAA and the broader aftermarket industry.

“We are delighted to welcome Glareh and Dale to the AAAA Board. Both bring a wealth of knowledge and passion for the industry, and I am confident they will provide fresh insights and perspectives as we continue to navigate the evolving landscape of our sector,” Charity says.

Peter Rogers from Repco Authorised

Images: AAAA

New faces on AAAA board from Hella and CoolDrive

Service and Darren Robinson from HELLA both retired and current AAAA Board member Mike Carnemolla was re-elected for another three-year term the AAAA’s 44th Annual General Meeting in Sydney last week.

“We sincerely thank Peter and Darren for their significant contributions over the years,” Charity says. “Their wisdom and strategic insight have been invaluable, and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours,”

Crash towing laws locked in for WA Capped prices for towing and storage after vehicle crashes and breakdowns have now been locked in for Western Australia.

The new laws regulate prices and set maximum charges for the towing and storage involved in a crash in the Perth and Peel regions and the banning of advertising, or payment of spotter’s fees across the state.

It also establishes other safety standards and set fines and sanctions for operators who are caught breaking the law of up to $45,000.

Outside of the capital area the government says, “charges for all other crash towing and storage across the State are to be reasonable,” but did not specify exactly how this would work in Australia’s largest state and one of its most sparsely populated.

The impact of the changes on the car owners and the crash repairers aiming to fix

their cars after towing is still to be seen but the WA government says safety, fairness and efficiency are driving the change.

“Increased penalties are also on the way for towing workers and towing service providers who breach the requirement of the Authority to Tow form or who behave unacceptably,” it says in a statement.

The Towing Services Bill 2024 passed State Parliament in an effort to reform elements of the WA industry. The changes follow other states including NSW, Queensland and Victoria that have regulated towing industries that prohibit excessive charging for towing and storage after accidents.

They also prohibit the touting of particular repairers to drivers and establish the right of the accident driver to determine where the vehicle is towed.

WA minister assisting the Transport

Minister David Michael said the department of transport will work with the industry to implement the reforms.

“The passing of the Towing Services Bill means that the Cook Government can now rebuild the reputation of WA’s crash towing industry - making it safe, fair, efficient and affordable for the people of WA,” he says.

“The public should be aware of the immediate ban on spotter fees, which means the towing industry cannot advertise or offer spotter fees to the community. It is also an offence for members of the public to receive spotter fees.

“I encourage the WA crash towing industry and the community to register their interest for regular updates on the reforms as they progress.”

The Department of Transport will commence industry information sessions on the new regulations and reforms.

The National Collision Repairer 41

Local News

More ACCC focus needed on data sharing and consumer expectations

EV Education The VACC is also stressing the need for better consumer education and expectation on EV servicing requirements and costs and that the alternative powertrains come with their own complexity and time delays for repairs.

“As the transition to EVs accelerates, the ACCC must focus on ensuring that consumers are well-informed about the inherent limitations of EVs, such as range constraints, faster tire degradation, and technological complexities. These

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factors are critical for consumers to understand when purchasing an EV.”

Image:vibrantvisions/stockadobe.com

Protecting consumer data in the collision industry and a better buyer understanding of the limitations of EVs are some of the points Victoria’s peak automotive body wants the ACCC to focus on.

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) has submitted its response to the ACCC’s 2024 Strategic Review, calling for increased regulatory attention on key issues within the automotive industry.

It also wants a stronger focus from the ACCC on how consumer rights are affected by information sharing in the automotive sector and a stronger scrutiny of new OEMs following the NVES .

“As the automotive industry undergoes significant transformation, it’s crucial that the ACCC focuses on these key issues to ensure fair competition and protect both consumers and businesses in our sector,” VACC CEO Geoff Gwilym says.

VACC’s submission highlights several critical areas including concern that the New Vehicle Emissions Standard in 2025 will likely bring new foreign OEMs to the Australian market, including at least ten Chinese car manufacturers.

“Therefore, it is essential for the ACCC to proactively address the ongoing lack of accountability among car manufacturers regarding their ACL obligations,” it notes in the submission.

Data Protection But the VACC has also highlighted the broad issue of information including those encountered by repairers with diagnostics and the protection of privacy data in vehicles under the MVS scheme.

“It is vital that all data providers, including OEMs and third-party entities, make diagnostic, software, and programming data and files fully accessible to independent automotive businesses. This will ensure a level playing field and allow for the continued safe and effective repair of vehicles across Australia,” the submission says.

“VACC is concerned that OEMs are collecting and storing the private details of Australian businesses on centralised databases located outside of Australia. This may be inconsistent with legal provisions outlined in the MVIS, particularly as mentioned in the Explanatory Memorandum (1.159). Immediate action is required to ensure the protection of privacy data, and compliance with the MVIS’s requirements.”

It also wants the ACCC to oversee compliance of third-party data aggregators.

“In the collision industry, third-party data aggregators must be held to the same safety standards as outlined in Section 7 of the MVIS Rules. VACC urges the ACCC to take steps to ensure all third-party providers strictly follow these safety requirements.

Other areas of focus Other areas the submission highlights include; 1. Warranty and recall processes: VACC called attention to issues with car manufacturers delaying or rejecting warranty reimbursements to dealers. They recommended stricter enforcement to ensure fair

The VACC believes the ACCC has a stronger role to play in the evolving world of automotive data.

compensation for warranty claims, product defects, and recalls.

2. Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Scheme: While progress has been made, the VACC urged the ACCC to address compliance with the “fair and reasonable” standard for data access and ensure thirdparty data aggregators meet safety requirements.

3. Environmental claims and sustainability: VACC called for ACCC oversight to mitigate unrealistic consumer expectations around EVs and protect businesses from vexatious environmental claims.

4. Unfair contract terms: Concerns are raised about unilateral changes to franchising operations manuals, which can significantly impact dealership profitability.

5. New market entrants: With the influx of new EV manufacturers, particularly from China, VACC recommended proactive measures to ensure accountability regarding Australian Consumer Law obligations.

VACC also stresses the importance of balanced regulation, considering the rights and responsibilities of dealers, manufacturers, and consumers.

‘Swiss army knife of skill sets’ needed The transition to electric vehicles is a reminder of the skills and knowledge required by the collision repair industry to be prepared for whatever vehicle enters the workshop.

The MTA recently gave evidence to the Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water’s inquiry into the transition to electric vehicles (EVs).

During public hearings held in Adelaide, MTA general manager media, marketing and policy, Kaes Cillessen and general manager apprenticeships, Jodi Ryan, reiterated to the committee that Australia is likely to see combustion technology play a strong role for decades to come, alongside hybrid and electric vehicles.

The committee heard that a combination of cost-of-living pressures, in addition to the removal of generous subsidies had moderated last year’s explosion in electric vehicle sales.

“Today, consumers are showing a

stronger preference for hybrids and plug in hybrids which are experiencing the greatest surge in sales this year,” Cillessen says.

In recommending policy options, the Committee were encouraged to have a broad perspective.

“The MTA supports measures to encourage the uptake of all zero and low emission vehicles,” Cillessen says.

“This includes expanding incentives for the purchase of electric, hybrid and plug in hybrid vehicles, as well as reconsidering the sunset on fringe benefits tax for plug in hybrid vehicles.”

Ryan told the committee that more than 10,000 current technicians in South Australia required some form of upskilling in electric vehicles and that new industry entrants also needed to be prepared.

“Apprentices starting in the automotive industry today will require a Swiss army knife of skill sets to be able to work on whatever enters the workshop,” Ryan says.

Following the Adelaide hearing, Committee members then toured the MTA’s state-of- the-art Training and Employment Centre in Royal Park as part of the inquiry.

The committee heard from the MTA how dual trade apprenticeships offered by the MTA Training and Employment, an Australian first, is adapting to meet the skills shortage in the industry.

“Rather than having two technicians doing two different roles, dual trade apprentices become super-technicians who can work on it all,” Ryan says.

“Apprentices starting today need to have auto- electrical and electric vehicles knowledge by the time they complete their training in five years’ time.”

The submission follows advocacy by multiple motoring industry bodies including the AAAA and the MTAA about the need for more support for the repair industry to meet the transition to a low emissions car parc.

Australia’s largest auto cooperative has added a new board chair to its leadership group as it prepares for 2025.

Mark Rowe will replace Mark Cooper as the chairman of Capricorn and be joined by incoming Group CEO Brad Gannon from 1 January 2025, as the pair focus on driving the organisation forward.

Rowe has a background an auto electrician by trade, has been a business owner and Capricorn Member for over 25 years and was elected to the Board in October 2022 as the Member Director for Queensland.

Rowe says he is thrilled to be taking on the role of chair at such an exciting time for the industry.

“This year Capricorn celebrated half a decade of helping automotive businesses like mine and I’m looking forward to continuing to support this

purpose for the next 50,” Rowe says.

“We’re experiencing a once-in-ageneration transformation in automotive and no one knows exactly what the future holds. What we do know, is Capricorn will be there to support businesses in the industry, no matter what the future is.”

Capricorn CEO designate Brad Gannon congratulated Mark Rowe on his appointment.

“Mark has been a valued Board Director for the past two years, passionate about the industry and Capricorn’s role in supporting business owners. I look forward to continuing to work with him to benefit the whole Capricorn Community,” Gannon says.

Mark Cooper has been the Chair of the Capricorn Board for the past five years.

“Mark Cooper has been an instrumental Chair of the Capricorn Board, leading the organisation through a period of record

Image: Capricorn.

Incoming chair to steer Capricorn into a new era

Mark Rowe and Brad Gannon will lead Capricorn into 2025.

growth. I look forward to continuing to grow on his fantastic legacy,” Rowe says.

After 18 years at Capricorn, five as its head, Capricorn CEO David Fraser will retire from the role at the end of the year.

The National Collision Repairer 43

Stateside with John Yoswick

Bringing the collision industry together SEMA week in Las Vegas, that includes the CIC quarterly conference, is a feast of ideas but is also a great opportunity for the industry to refocus.

Images: John Yoswick

With more than 140,000 people, about 1,400 vehicles and more than 2,400 exhibiting companies inside and outside the Las Vegas Convention Centre, there’s a lot vying for attention of SEMA attendees.

But for collision repairers, there were key meetings and training sessions throughout the week that drew them – at least temporarily ¬– from the trade show itself.

The Collision Industry Conference (CIC), for example, regularly holds one of its quarterly meetings during SEMA week, bringing together shops, insurers, automakers and industry vendors.

During one session of the meeting, California shop owner Kye Yeung, who co-chairs CIC’s new “Repair Processes and Procedures Committee,” said he’s stopped using the term “set-up and measure” within his shop.

“When I opened my business in

Shop owner Kye Yeung, who cochairs CIC’s new “Repair Processes and Procedures Committee”.

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1975, a lot of things were handwritten, and I think the terminology ‘set-up and pull’ or ‘set-up and measure’ was just us being lazy,” Yeung said during the committee’s presentation. “It was just a term so we didn’t have to do a lot of writing. And unfortunately that term is still used today, yet they’re two separate operations.”

He and the committee then showed how the process and equipment used to anchor, measure and pull vehicles has evolved significantly over decades, looking today nothing like the process – and the amount of time – required in the past. That’s why his shop has stopped using the “setup” term.

“It’s been antiquated. It doesn’t really say much. There’s no definition of it what’s really included and what’s not,” Yeung said. “What we do as far as dealing with cars that have structural damage is we ‘mount and calibrate to a frame bench for structural alignment and/or structural parts replacement.’”

The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS), the primary autobody trade group in the United States, said earlier this year that it plans to conduct a study of structural set-up and measure. The study will be similar to the SCRS 2022 study of blend refinish labor times, which helped lead the major estimating systems to reexamine their formulas for that procedure and add more flexibility to their systems related to blending.

Several hundred SEMA attendees spent part of their time in Las Vegas at the Collision Industry Conference.

What entry-level techs are looking for

The CIC “Talent Pool and Education Committee” brought together a panel of collision repair students at the meeting in Las Vegas to share what drew them to the industry and what they are looking for from potential employers. All the students are attending one of seven U.S. schools participating in the “Collision Engineering Program,” in which autobody repair students rotate every eight weeks between school and working in a shop.

A poll of the CIC audience at the start of the discussion found that about 43% assumed opportunities for growth and development would be the No. 1 thing that would attract students to a shop. About 27% said they thought it would be salary and benefits, about 21% said a positive team culture, and 9% thought work/ life balance was the biggest draw for entry-level techs.

How did that mesh with what the students said?

“What entices me more is an employer that really cares about continuing education, making sure their employees have their certifications,” Hector Gomez said.

“A shop that takes pride in what the shop produces, and making sure everything is safe.” He said he would be less interested in a shop that didn’t offer some flexible scheduling. “Just have family in mind,” he said. “If I don’t have any time with

my family, then I’m not performing as well as I can.”

Victor Yanez said a dirty or disorganized shop wouldn’t appeal to him, and he’s looking for an employer with a lot of patience. “Because obviously we are just starting out, so we don’t know much.”

Julio Silva agreed. “I would like to say a shop focused on growth and development,” he said. “Going into a body shop, I’ve had a great experience. It’s having a great mentor to teach you step by step. It takes time. You cannot be perfect in a week.

I’ve been doing this for a year-and-ahalf, and compared to last year, I’ve learned a lot.”

Romiro Mireles said low pay would be a challenge for him. “We do need tools, and they’re not free,” Mireles said.

But Silva said he knows the money won’t be great to start. “With salary and benefits, I know later on it will come,” he said. “I’m not chasing the money. I’m more chasing my passion about cars.

I want to become a great painter or a great bodyman. I know if I work hard, the money will follow.”

something bad happens. The more important thing is proactively having a cybersecurity expert come in and assess your systems. Then the hardest thing for some people is to actually listen to them because all of a sudden they tell you that you need to spend money.”

Kennedy said he equates it to having your doctor say your cholesterol is high yet you don’t want to pay a monthly gym fee. “’I feel pretty good and nothing bad has happened yet, so I’ll just do it on my own,’” Kennedy said some people think. “That’s kind of a failure point.”

He said a cybersecurity expert can help you identify areas of vulnerability within your company. “A lot of shops don’t realize that all these scan tools they have in the shop are all running on Wi-Fi,” he said. “How many of their employees are running on the same Wi-Fi? How many of them are also on these social media sites or the shopping sites that happen to be

controlled by a communist country?

That’s where the real risk comes in.

That’s why I think it’s more important that you have a security expert that comes in, assesses your individual shop, your weaknesses, your strong points, and sets a plan for you, and that you actually listen to them. That’s more important than the insurance itself.”

Kennedy said it’s also important to really understand the cyber policy you buy.

“Your insurance has a lot of fine print about what your obligation is under that contract,” he said. “If it specifically lists certain things, like you agreed that you’d have multi-factor authentication, things like that, and you didn’t do it, then you put yourself in jeopardy where you may actually have a claim denied because you didn’t uphold your part of the contract. And a lot of times people don’t go through that policy enough, or your agent doesn’t explain it to you, and then there is a jeopardy there.”

Adding more cybersecurity

Cyber protection was the focus of a presentation by the CIC “Data Access, Privacy and Security Committee,” offering real-world best practices to avoid having digital systems hacked or becoming a victim of ransomware.

Shaughn Kennedy of Spark Underwriters, a business insurance agency focused on the automotive repair industry, said threat assessment and cyber insurance are among the key steps businesses of all sizes should consider. Kennedy said shops should understand if their business insurance policy excludes cyber, in which case they may want that coverage added back in through an endorsement or a stand-alone cyber policy.

“People ask me: How much cyber [insurance coverage] do I need,” Kennedy said. “Well, insurance is there to pick the pieces up when

The massive Las Vega show is always a magnet for new ideas in the collision industry.

The National Collision Repairer 45

Global News

New Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB) technology could possibly avoid 100 per cent of forward collisions at speeds up to 55km/h, a new US study has found.

A trial of 2024 car models by the American Automotive Association (AAA) found AEBs avoided all forward collisions at speeds of 20, 40 and 55 km/h during monitored testing.

AEBs on models from 2017/18 subjected to the same trial were found to be half as likely to avoid a collision, though their efficacy improved as speed decreased.

The majority of 2024 vehicles tested also managed to avoid forward collisions at 70km/h, but none were able to avoid a collision at 90km/h.

AAA’s director of automotive engineering research Greg Barnum says, “The advancements by automakers [in AEB technology] are commendable and promising in improving driver safety.”

“There is still significant work ahead to ensure the systems work at higher speeds,” he said.

The US National Highway Traffic

Image: nottenaj/stockadobe.com

New AEB systems could eliminate low speed crashes

Advances in AEB systems are showing promise at reducing low speed collisions.

Safety Administration issued new safety standards earlier this year requiring AEBs to be fitted on all vehicles from 2029.

The standard requires AEBs to be able to stop collisions at up to 100km/h.

The AAA stated advanced sensor technology, optimised braking algorithms to avoid false positives, and more realworld testing would be needed to meet the future standard and called for more research and development investment.

All new Australian vehicles have been

mandated to have AEBs since March 2023, while all vehicles on sale will be required to have AEBs fitted from March 2025.

AAA’s study concluded that AEB technology had improved significantly and was performing in line with expectations.

It also warned AEBs should not be viewed as standalone technology, and road safety still demanded attentive and alert driving standards.

Learning opportunities abound at SEMA Upskilling was high on the agenda at one of the world’s biggest aftermarket shows.

The SEMA show held in Las Vegas in November, is annually a hub of ideas for the global collision repair industry. As part of the focus at the show, 3M and Axalta also announced a collaboration to introduce a new training content series focused on automotive refinishing as part of their online training academy.

The series will feature five training modules, each intended to help technicians and shops improve their understanding of repair process practices and drive greater operational outcomes.

The videos will be brand-agnostic and

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accessible, produced by 3M and Axalta to set a new benchmark for how operational knowledge can be shared across the industry. The first three training modules from the series; optimising process productivity, efficiency and quality in refinishing, are scheduled for release on December 2, 2024, and can be accessed through the 3M™ Collision Repair Academy and Axalta Academy platforms.

In a statement 3M and Axalta says the push is aimed at meeting the critical shortage of skilled labour and the need to collaborate for the continued support of refinish process training and the skills development

of collision repair technicians.

3M Automotive Aftermarket Division Dave Gunderson, president says the training content is intended to teach industry-best practices in a clear and easy to implement manner.

“At 3M, we believe training is an invaluable tool that should be considered a reinvestment into the health of a business,” Gunderson says. “Our commitment is to be an industry resource for training solutions that continue to empower shop productivity, efficiency and quality. This new training content series with Axalta is a testament to that commitment.”

Super hybrid battery unveiled with such vehicles. Short range, slow charging, and reduced low-temperature performance have emerged as critical challenges demanding immediate solutions. Designed for hybrid vehicles of EREVs and PHEVs, CATL’s Freevoy frees drivers from the constant need to charge, a common drawback of existing hybrid vehicles, offering the

convenience of one charge to power an entire week’s commute. Additionally, it delivers impressive charging speeds, providing over 280 kilometres of range on 10 minutes of charging, aiming to dispel range anxiety for EREV and PHEV owners. The Freevoy has already been used on numerous models from Geely and Chery.

Image: maurice norbert/stock.abobe.com

CATL has launched a new super hybrid battery that can achieve an electric range of over 400 kilometres and superfast charging.

The Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery is the world’s first hybrid vehicle battery to achieve a pure electric range of over 400 kilometres and 4C superfast charging, its creators say.

According to global technology company CATL, the Freevoy Battery represents a new era for high-capacity EREV and PHEV batteries.

Range anxiety has been reported as a key issue for the uptake of electric vehicles in Australia. The Freevoy Battery has the potential to change the EV range game.

With EREVs (extended range electric vehicles) and PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) gaining prominence in the new energy vehicle market, CATL says consumers have increasingly expressed frustration over their unsatisfactory pure electric experiences

In a world first, the Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery can achieve a pure electric range of over 400km.

Automakers rapidly adopting seatbelt safety tech Automotive manufacturers have moved quickly to adopt new seatbelt reminder technology as incoming data shows its safety benefits.

US not-for-profit, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated 62 per cent of 2024 car models tested as having a “Good” seatbelt reminder system, up 45 per cent on 2022.

Less than a quarter of tested brands were rated “Marginal” or “Poor”.

Four of Australia’s highest selling car brands, Hyundai Tuscon, Mazda CX-5, Toyota Corolla and Toyota RAV4 received a “Good” rating.

IIHS President David Harkey said the rapid progress was “a big win” for road safety in the US where seatbelt uptake has had a chequered past.

“Automakers can boost a vehicle’s

performance in this test with just some small software changes,” Harkey says.

“These easy tweaks can have a big impact on road safety.”

IIHS research found seatbelt reminder technology, like visual prompts for the driver and audio prompts for passengers, could cut fatalities and had the same impact on belt wearing rates as systems limiting vehicle speed.

Not wearing a seatbelt continues to have a disproportionate impact on road fatalities despite seatbelt reminder systems being mandatory in all new Australian cars since 2005.

More than 150 road fatalities in Australia, just over 15 per cent, are linked to not wearing a seatbelt. The most recent federal road safety reports found over 95 per cent of Australian

road users ypically wear a seat belt.

IIHS senior research scientist David Kidd says, “We found that an audible reminder that lasts at least 90 seconds increased belt use by around 30 per cent.”

“That means we could save at least 1,600 lives a year [in the US] if every vehicle on the road was equipped with a good rated system.”

Almost half of US road fatalities are linked to not wearing a seatbelt.

The current vehicle safety Australian Design Rule requires a visual seatbelt reminder for drivers, and an audio reminder for front and back seat passengers.

A UN safety recommendation made in May this year called for audio belt reminders to last at least 30 seconds for front and back seats.

The National Collision Repairer 47

Global News

New research in the US has highlighted what it calls a crisis in crashes and the attendant fatalities caused by the large utes and SUVs. The report from the Road to Zero Coalition, a National Safety Council initiative funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, found large pick-ups and SUVs now make up 75 per cent of the US car parc and contribute to the worst proportional results in fatalities due to their design and weight.

These include pedestrians, cyclists and people in other smaller cars involved in a crash.

It quotes the Economist Intelligence Unit (2024) that for every life saved in the heaviest one per cent of light trucks, more than a dozen occupants of other vehicles would die.

Pedestrian deaths involving SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans rose about 77 per cent in a decade between 2012 and 2022, while over the same period, the number of sales and leases of such vehicles rose by 50 per cent.

Pedestrian deaths and others traveling outside vehicles have been on the rise

The safety report shows the weight and height of large utes added to crash impact.

for a decade with 2022 marking the deadliest year for pedestrians in more than 40 years, the NHTSA says.

At the same time, the average hood height of passenger trucks increased by at least 11 per cent between 2000 and 2021, and their average weight increased by 24 per cent between 2000 and 2018, according to a Consumer Reports analysis of industry data.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found the in 30 years, the average US passenger vehicle is now 10 cm wider, 25 cm longer, 20cm taller and 500 kgs heavier.

Other factors that it says are driving the worse crash outcomes are height

and weight relative to pedestrians, crash incompatibility with smaller cars, unique front-end geometry and stiffness and large blind zones caused by design and height.

It notes that car buyers pursuing safer cars buy the larger vehicles, only to make the matter worse for other road users in an ‘arms race’ of size and weight.

It wants comprehensive strategies within the Safe System Approach to address the complex interplay between vehicle size, safety, and transportation mode choices including better visibility in light trucks, NCAP safety testing oversight of these factors and better road design.

“This comprehensive report sheds light on important factors contributing to roadway safety — the impact of vehicle size, weight, and direct vision,” NSC president and CEO Lorraine Martin says in a statement.

“While more work is needed to solve this pressing challenge, the research is clear: government, manufacturers, and drivers all need to come together to tackle this critical safety issue, so more people can return home safely each day.”

UK won’t follow Europe and US in imposing tariffs Following the EU’s vote to increase tariffs on Chinese-built electric cars, a key figure within the UK government said the country has no plans to follow suit.

According to Automotive News Europe, China exported more than 60,000 electric vehicles to the European Union in September. The shipments jumped to the second-highest level on record, ahead of additional tariffs expected to take effect this year.

Major Chinese manufacturer BYD, that will be hit by a 17 per cent tariff in Europe, has responded by saying it is the EU consumer who will suffer by potentially

48 www.nationalcollisionrepairer.com.au

missing out on some of the best new EV technology.

BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li told Automotive News Europe the tariffs were a “short-term challenge” but that the added cost of the levies would be passed on to car buyers.

The United States has also declared tariffs as high as 100 per cent to prevent an influx of Chinese made EVs. Australia currently has no tariffs for Chinese vehicles that come in under the luxury car tax threshold.

According to a report by AutoNews, Jonathan Reynolds, the UK Trade

Minister, said there have been no complaints raised by local manufacturers that would warrant the Federal Government to introduce similar taxes.

“I do have the power as the Secretary of State to make that referral… we keep it under close analysis, but I think it’s important our [automotive] industry is different, and as of yet industry itself has not asked for that referral to the TRA [Trade Remedies Authority],” he says.

In addition, Reynolds said his “primary concern” is to ensure a thriving trade and export economy for local British producers.

Image: Pomonji/stockadobe.com

Light trucks are making crashes worse; report

EU automakers under pressure to stay competitive European automakers are struggling with its mandated 2025 EU emissions targets, according to several key auto CEOs, as they grapple with ascendant Chinese car manufacturing.

According to BMW CEO, Oliver Zipse, Europe must cancel its plan to ban new fossil fuel-emitting cars from 2035 to reduce reliance on China’s battery supply chain and avoid the shrinkage that would “threaten the European automotive industry in its heart”.

The European Union’s plan to ban the sale of combustion-engine cars from 2035 will lead to a “massive shrinking” of

its automotive industry, Zipse told media.

But other manufacturers like Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares say that any delay to the 2025 EU emissions target will mean that European automakers will fall further behind their Chinese rivals.

The issue they agree on is how the EU automotive manufacturing industry can stay competitive with an ascendant China that has rapidly integrated EV production and can produce vehicles more cheaply than EU counterparts. A number of European automakers, including Renault and Volkswagen, as well as the lobbying group ACEA, have urged the European

Union to review, suspend or modify the 2025 targets, which are about 15 per cent tougher than the current rules, because the market for electric vehicles has slowed significantly.

Automakers that miss their target face a fine of €95 per gram per vehicle. Recent estimates say the industry faces total fines of €15 billion based on current emission figures.

“The harsh reality is that our Chinese rivals build EVs for one-third less than we do,” Tavares says. “We need to raise our game. Every second we spend pausing is time we lose to improve.”

Prepare to be ‘scintillated’ both technological advancement and enduring values.”

The overall theme of the colours was branded as “Routing” referring to the concept of “routing” in communication technology which signifies how information is transmitted.

Routing reflects the evolving nature of communication through a diverse palette of colours, the BASF’s design experts say in a statement.

“This year’s trends feature new reds with intense purple shades, signifying a

shift from darker and blueish reds,” the description reads. “The dark achromatic colours have been energised by intense colour effects, offering dynamism beyond solid black. Fine metallic effects are particularly characterised by strong effects on the surface, which give metallics new radiance.

“The spectrum of pastel colours continues to diversify, for example in beige and light green tones already available in the market, as well as in unusual intermediate tones.”

Image: BASF

Global coatings giant BASF has released its latest colour concepts for automotive, where it seeks to capture upcoming trends, and for the Asia Pacific region it is all about ‘Scintillation’.

Designers from BASF’s Coatings division have created a new collection of colours titled the 2024-2025 Automotive Colour Trends, aimed at inspiring automotive designers with different tones and themes for different global markets.

The colour titled Scintillation was chosen for the Asia Pacific region.

“It stands out in Asia Pacific with its smart warm grey and liquid metal effect designed by a novel, low-emission basecoat technology,” the launch statement read.

“This colour implies the future affinity between human and non-human intelligence and enhances the brand value of high-end vehicles and their quality and sustainability.”

BASF head of Automotive Colour Design for Asia Pacific Chiharu Matsuhara says the tone captures the region’s drive for refined yet forward-looking design.

“It aligns with the region’s focus on creating high-quality, sustainable automotive solutions that resonate with

2024-2025 Automotive Colour Trends has found Scintillation is the big new colour for the Asia Pacific region.

The National Collision Repairer 49

OEM News

Hyundai launches into hydrogen

Image: Hyundai

Hyundai has launched into the niche world of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles in the hope it can make them more attractive and viable for the mainstream motoring world.

Hyundai Motor is eager to be a pioneer in the commercial hydrogen energy area and unveiled its Initium concept as part of the diverse range of power transmissions in its portfolio.

The new concept vehicles have zero emissions and are capable of returning power to the grid.

The Initium concept from Hyundai is

The Initium concept plans to have a range of over 650 km.

targeting a range of over 650 km with 150 kW of power and they expect to unveil the concept in LA and China this month with product launches in 2025.

A date for Australian sales has not been revealed.

So far, the uptake of hydrogen as a viable form of private transport has been slow with only ten hydrogen vehicles sold in Australia so far in 2024 and a very limited number of refuelling stations.

This has not stopped other larger OEMS and bodies investigating its possibilities, including Toyota and the CSIRO. Hyundai Motor Company, President and CEO Jaehoon Chang says it is part of the company’s strategy to be a leader in multiple areas of mobility into the future.

“Hyundai Motor’s clear, unwavering commitment to hydrogen over the past 27 years is rooted in our belief in its potential as a clean, accessible and therefore fair energy source for everyone,” Chang says.

Hyundai and Genesis Global Design Executive Vice President SangYup

Lee says the ‘Art of Steel’ design language enhances three concepts; enhanced range, performance and spaciousness.

“Our challenge began from the manufacturing stage, where we pushed the formability of steel to the extreme to create a form of art,” Lee says.

“With Initium, we’ve crafted a more SUV-like design that is both solid and safe, reflecting our dedication to our customers through ‘customer-centric design’.”

Hyundai says the concept also includes a FCEV-specific route planner that “addresses one of the biggest pain points for FCEV buyers: charging infrastructure.

“With this feature, users can easily plot an optimal route, finding charging stations along the way without having to access a separate app or make a phone call. Users can check the location accessibility and operating status of an identified charging station, as well as the number of waiting vehicles and therefore the possibility of charging.”

Jaecoo lines up for local sales It continues to be the year of new auto brands that could well change the face of future repairs and ‘Made in China’ is the country of origin workshops will need to be ready for.

Jaecoo will be the latest Chinese auto brand to announce its entry in to Australia with plans for a launch early next year.

Jaecoo’s first model will be the J7, a mid-sized SUV which boasts seven drive modes, seating for 5 adults and currently uses a traditional ICE power transmission.

Jaecoo CEO Lewis Lu says the new J7 embodies the brand’s theme

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“From Classic, Beyond Classic” and is the ideal model to introduce the innovative new marque to the country.

“As Australia’s first taste of Jaecoo, the new J7 has an important role to play,” Lu says.

“Boasting high levels of sophistication and performance – not to mention a modern yet classic design aesthetic – the J7 will appeal to customers who love the great outdoors but are not prepared to compromise on either comfort or standard specification.”

The plan flows similar launches from numerous Chinese and EV brands

hoping to capitalise on changing consumers tastes and the advent of the new vehicle efficiency standard in 2025 The legislation was flagged as a gateway to increase the options for consumers for low emission vehicles and save them money.

Multiple new EV models are on offer in 2024 and new brands, particularly from China are hitting Australian shores including Zeekr, smart and Xpeng, JAC Motors, and Leapmotor.

These will join already-established Chinese brands, such as Chery, LDV, GWM, Haval, and BYD.

Toyota and BHP to trial first-ever EV HiLux

multi-pathway approach towards decarbonisation, and when we do something, we want to make sure we do it right,” Callachor says.

“Joining with BHP to help further develop this HiLux BEV prototype is an important step in creating low-

emission technologies in the light commercial vehicle space, particularly for use in harsh and demanding mining environments.”

BHP’s Port Hedland operation is the largest iron ore loading port in Australia, and one of the largest in the world.

Mercedes Benz has opened a world-first in-house electric vehicle battery recycling plant which the auto giant says marks a milestone in its efforts to close the battery loop.

Recycling is considered essential to maintain consistent supplies of valuable critical minerals needed for their manufacture, especially as global EV uptake grows.

In contrast to the small scale of battery recycling in Australia, the 7,000 square metre plant in Kuppenheim near Stuttgart in southern Germany will be able to process 2,500 tonnes a year, contributing to 50,000 new EV batteries. The plant will extract critical minerals including lithium, nickel and cobalt from old batteries at a retention rate of 96 per cent.

Mercedes Benz Production, Quality and Supply Chain Management Division boss Jörg Burzer said “[Kuppenheim’s] innovative technology enables us to recover valuable raw materials from the

battery with the highest possible degree of purity.”

“This turns today’s batteries into tomorrow’s sustainable mine for raw materials,” Mr Burzer said.

The plant will use more energy efficient hydrometallurgical processes and will be powered by 100 per cent green energy, including the plant’s own 350KW rooftop solar. The burn associated with present EV battery recycling methods is considered one of the biggest barriers to their sustainable use.

Recycling of EV batteries in Australia is currently low volume due to the fledgling nature of the market and can be expensive due to the need to offshore the process.

Australian EV sales rose 120 per cent in 2023, with an Electric Vehicle Council report released in May showing more than 98,000 of the 180,000 EVs now on Australia’s roads were only bought last year.

Research by the University of Technology Sydney projects more than 30,000 tonnes of EV batteries will enter Australia’s waste management stream by 2030.

Toyota earlier this year announced they are exploring carbon neutral EV recycling methods in partnership with Toyota Chemical Engineering.

Mercedes Benz said it spent “tens of millions of Euros” on the Kuppenheim plant, which will also receive funding from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

Company chair Ola Källenius said “Europe’s first integrated mechanicalhydrometallurgical battery recycling factory marks a key milestone towards enhancing raw-materials sustainability”.

“Together with our partners from industry and science, we are sending a strong signal of innovative strength for sustainable electric mobility and value creation.”

Image: Toyota

Toyota Australia and BHP have announced a trial of the first-ever Battery Electric HiLux double cab ute prototype.

The trial of the electric HiLux double cab will be deployed at BHP’s Port Hedland operations in Western Australia where it will be used in a range of applications traditionally performed by diesel-powered light vehicles.

Starting in November, the trial will run for about 12 months, with BHP to provide feedback to Toyota after the conclusion of the trial.

Toyota Australia President and CEO Matthew Callachor said the trial marked an exciting opportunity for both companies and was a significant milestone in the HiLux’s history.

“Toyota has long advocated a

One of the workhorses of the mining industry, the HiLux will now bring EV power to its models.

Mercedes Benz opens ‘world-first’ recycling plant

The National Collision Repairer 51

Custom Corner with Cliff Chambers

Exotic real estate Folklore decrees that if you keep something for long enough it could eventually become valuable. Problem is, some things can’t just be pushed to the back of the sideboard and forgotten for decades. Cars are among them.

Almost any new car will drop 25 to 30 per cent in value the moment it is registered and continue to decline over several years, sometimes decades.

High priced, prestige models have a reputation for gobbling up owners’ money at prodigious rates, but people who buy them new seem not to care.

For a while there wasn’t a significant problem because high-end models

produced during the 1960s and ’70s did hold value and today can be worth many times their original cost.

During the 1990s,as car prices soared and average incomes didn’t, that dynamic changed.

The cars you see here all would have cost around the same when new as a decent house in a good metropolitan suburb. When comparing the Ferrari, its real-estate equivalent would be a mini mansion with triple garage and pool.

If depreciation during the 1990s looked bad, then the next downturn was appreciably worse. This was the one that went by the name of Global Financial Crisis or GFC.

Auction barns during 2008-09 began filling with cars that just days earlier had occupied spots in executive car parks. Now they would be battling for slots in prestige dealer yards at prices a fraction of the finance contracts they had left unpaid.

Declining prices during the past decade still haven’t boosted used market demand and a lot of older prestige models remain hard to sell.

Which factors might exert pressure on prestige values into the future is anyone’s guess. The best strategy for now is to pick a car that suits your means and lifestyle and revel in an experience you could not have contemplated when the car was new.

ASTON MARTIN DB7 COUPE CLOSELY RELATED in size and design to the XK8 Jaguar, Aston Martin’s DB7 came initially with a supercharged Jaguar engine, then a V12 that had been cobbled together from a pair of V6 Ford engines. Nobody seemed to mind all of this parts bin engineering and platform sharing as it was helping keep two iconic British brands – Aston Martin and Jaguar – alive while under the haphazard ownership of FoMoCo. The first new-style Astons available to Australia were DB7 coupes, priced initially at almost a quarter of a million dollars. They arrived towards the end of 1995, but it took time to re-establish the Aston Martin brand in Australia.

Sales during 1998 finally reached double digits, comprising 10 coupes and three Volante convertibles. The soft-top DB7 had been launched a year earlier at almost $280,000 and it came as no surprise that few found local owners. These are still classy cars though, with exclusivity on their side. Available cars are more likely to have been sold new in other countries but these are (or should be) less expensive than local deliveries. Fear of the unknown is a major factor in the restrained values of later model Aston Martins.

Service support, even in major Australian cities, isn’t easy to find and parts are relatively expensive for a car that continues to decline in value.

PR ICE NEW 1996: $249,445. PRICE NOW CONDITION 1: $62,000

FERRARI 456GTA YACHTING, SO they say, is akin to standing under a cold shower tearing up money.

Owning a front-engined Ferrari – a modern one anyway – must feel somewhat similar.

Ferrari had been doing well for several years with its array of mid-engined models, having deleted the slow selling 400iAV12 in 1985. In 1992 though, it announced a new front-engined, V12-powered 456GT which was released to Australia in 1994 and followed in 1996 by an automatic GTA version.

With Australia still hauling itself painfully out of recession, half million-dollar Ferraris weren’t on the shopping list for even wealthy car buffs and hardly any 456s sold here.

A decade later though, that situation had changed.

The 456s that had been sold new in other right-hand drive markets were arriving locally as personal or dealer imports.

No longer a $500,000 indulgence, these cars were landing at $140,000-180,000 and being offered by retailers at $200,000.

Fast-forward 20 years and excellent examples of the 456GTA will struggle to make $150,000. Doesn’t matter that these are a very practical Ferrari with more power than a Testarossa plus some actual space inside. When buying a Ferrari, style is everything.

PRICE NEW IN 1996: $493,863. PRICE NOW CONDITION 1: $135,000

52 www.nationalcollisionrepairer.com.au

JAGUAR XKR 4.2S COUPE TWO-DOOR Jaguars from the 1960s and ’70s have finally achieved parity with their newcar prices and, at last report, XJS convertibles from the late 1980s are also getting back on to equal terms. Nobody, however, is rushing to spend $200,000 on an XK8 or XKR. Struggling under the yoke of Ford ownership, these Jaguars sacrificed character for durability, but even that didn’t work once reports began to surface of V8 engine failures.

No such problems were experienced in 2003 when the new 4.2-litre supercharged V8 with 298kW appeared. Despite significant improvements, the revamped coupe had also barely moved in price; the 4.0-litre XK8 in 1998 costing $203,000 with the 4.2S in 2003 at $209,000.

What didn’t change either was the pace at which depreciation cut into the V8 Jags’ retained value. By 2011, a 4.2-litre supercharged XKR coupe had plunged to less than $70,000. Five years later, the price of these cars in excellent condition had dipped below $60,000 and that is where the majority have stayed.

Later XKRs suffer no endemic problems, but the need for maintenance is ongoing and costly. Then again, if you spend $30,000 on a mechanically neglected car and invest another $30,000 in repairs, the result will be a sound, reliable and relatively cheap Jaguar.

PRICE NEW IN 2003: $209,00. PRICE NOW CONDITION 1: $52,000

MASERATI COUPE GT MASERATI FOR many years stood in the shadow of Ferrari and Porsche before finding its niche. Maseratis built during recent years have found owners amongst people who like owning an exotic car but not to the extent of strapping on a helmet and fronting every other month at the club track day.

Maserati’s GT Coupe, which arrived early in 2003, used a 4.2-litre V8 just like the XKR Jaguar but made its287kW without help from a supercharger.

GTs were a plush device, with everything visible inside being leather trimmed, front seats that were comfy but not clingy, and room for two more in the back. Standard as well were power windows, seats and mirrors, plus air-conditioning and a concert-hall music system.

Maserati clearly weren’t worried by weight, which hit 1690kg.

The new model obviously appealed to Maserati’s Australian ownership base, helping boost sales from 60 cars during 2003 to 107 by 2006. None of the above helped curb Maserati’s problems with value retention, which over a five-year finance term would struggle to achieve 30 per cent. By 2011, the wholesale value of a 2005 model had slumped to $70,000 and from there drifted slowly downward.

Most Maserati GTs in the market won’t have seen much use and 20-year-old cars now typically show 45,000-60,000km while priced a $45,000-55,000.

PRICE NEW IN 2004: $207,500, PRICE NOW CONDITION 1: $48,000

PORSCHE 928GTS PORSCHE IS regarded as a brand that does a good job of protecting its devotees’ investment from rampant depreciation. Sadly, that doesn’t extend to the ones who bought a 928.

The shark-nosed, front-engined coupe was by 1992 running a 257kW 5.4-litre V8 and its price had hit $230,000. Three years later when the 928 experiment was finally terminated, the cost of a new one had risen by another $11,000 and just 19 cars would be sold locally during that final year.

Surviving 928GTS Porsches accordingly aren’t easy to find in the used market, but rewarding if you do. These are a properly luxurious GT, packed with gear that was lacking from early versions.

The GTS isn’t a cheap car to keep either, as the owner filling one from a 98 Premium pump can attest. The tank takes 86 litres and just 500 kilometres of spirited driving will see it needing to be filled again.

As an automotive experience though, the 928GTS has few rivals, especially in the region of $100,000. Unlike some in this group, low kilometre examples are scarce, so be wary of high-priced cars that could soon need considerable sums spent on maintenance.

PRICE NEW IN 1995: $241,711, PRICE NOW CONDITION 1: $105,000

IMAGES: ASTON MARTIN, FERRARI , PORSCHE, MASERATI, JAGUAR The National Collision Repairer 53

CAR-O-LINER ADS 2024_NATIONAL COLLISION REPAIRER VOL7 NO4.qxd 25/11/2023 4:58 PM Page 77

Tech Tips with Trevor Duke

Building in second-hand efficiency

Startline body filler is perfect for second hand parts.

Dealing with second hand parts is increasingly common so dealing with them efficiently adds to repair workflows.

Images: PPG

Today, having second-hand parts specified is common. While this can be a hassle, having the right products and repair processes in place, gives you the ability to get the job done as quickly and effectively as possible without eating into your profit margin.

Issues

as the painters try to fix it on the go. recommended guidelines, it should Benefit from technology – The primer be discussed and noted with the work On the plus side, a second-hand part is a stage is where you can take advantage provider prior to moving forward. genuine factory item so it should fit and of the latest primer technology, such as Tailor the repair method – Often the part work like the original. On the downside, PPG’s EnviroLOCK™ Primer. Although it’s will arrive needing two or three carpark it’s had a previous life so it tends to come a Wet-On-Wet primer, by simply mixing it ding-type repairs so it’s important to with minor dents and/or stone chips and in a different ratio, it can be applied as a assess them and choose the method to its share of road grime. Cleaning and any high build primer in a single visit mode. achieve the best cycle time. If available, repairs can quickly blow out cycle time This is far quicker and more efficient PDR can be a great option. so it’s crucial to have a written process than an old-school high build primer No filler over paint – When it comes for second-hand parts. To make it easier, that takes three coats with flash-off in to the repair, don’t be tempted to take PPG’s local technical team has created between. Another advantage of PPG’s the shortcut of applying body filler a complete, step-by-step process chart EnviroLOCK Primer is that it leaves a nice over paintwork.

– ask your PPG Territory Manager or smooth surface which is much easier to Body filler – When mixing body filler Training Manager. sand and further reduces cycle-time. We (particularly in small amounts), the Tips and recommendations recommend using LVP-207 EnviroLOCK proportions of part A and part B must be Primer which is a G7 groundcoat shade. precise in order to get the right adhesion, Strip and clean – Completely Being so dark, it acts as a guidecoat curing, etc.

PPG’s Startline Ultra Body disassemble the part both internally and that highlights any chips, scratches or Filler, with Cartridge Dispenser System, externally. Use a high-pressure washer blemishes that might have been missed is a super convenient solution because it to remove contamination from inside dispenses the exact quantities every time. and any body filler repairs that might and out, then use a red Mirlon scouring need to be blocked. After sanding, the Stone chip fails – Second hand parts pad and soapy water or waterborne correct spectral grey shade is applied often come with stone chips that are degreaser to go over the whole panel before topcoating. so fine they can’t easily be seen. If to loosen stubborn grime. This helps you simply sand the panel and apply minimises the risk of contamination and Tech Tips are brought to you by primer and paint, chips will Road, dust inclusions in the final paintwork.

Head Office: Unitany1, stone 25 Industrial Unanderra, NSW 2526 Trevor Duke – PPG National Training immediately be obvious, resulting in Check film-build – Before continuing, Ph: (02) 4271 6287 l Email: julie@car-o-liner.com.au Manager ANZ. a rework or a spray booth bottleneck check the film build. If it’s above

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