Your Source for Up-To-Date News and Research on the Collision Repair Industry
click here to subscribe to the FREE INSIGHT Editor's Desk News Alert Email
SUBSCRIBERS-ONLY
Today's News
Industry Stocks
INSIGHT This Month
INSIGHT Archives
Survey Center
Letter to the Editor
Business Tools
Subscription Information
CSI Reporting
Financial Analysis
IRS Audit Guide
Management/
Technical Info
Market Watch Rates
INSIGHT Inside this month's issue...
Feedback
Letter to the Editor
This article originally appeared in the October 2008 Issue of INSIGHT
©2008 Collision Repair Industry INSIGHT All Rights Reserved
New I-CAR Online Training Meets EPA Training Requirement
AutoNation Names DuPont Supplier of the Year
Collision Industry Relief Requests Disaster Assistance from Industry
Hendler Speaks to Connecticut Collision Repair Association
Former SCRS Executive Director Risley Joins Allstate as Claim Analyst
Mitchell International Partners with WURTH USA to Provide Enhanced Parts Databases
ASE, AYES, and SkillsUSA Partner for End-of-Program Exams
DuPont Performance Coatings Launches New Website
Clean Green Collision Debuts Environmentally Responsible Shop
I-CAR Education Foundation Looking for Instructor of the Year
Expedited Supplements Approved at Massachusetts Auto Damage Appraisers Licensing Board Meeting
INDUSTRY UPDATE
Collision repair facilities can fulfill EPA requirements by taking the Hazardous Airborne Pollutant Reduction (HAP01) I-CAR online training program. EPA standards require that all existing collision repair facilities receive training on hazardous air pollutant reduction.
Facilities have up to three years to meet the new rule and the EPA requires that training be completed every five years. New facilities must meet the requirements within 180 days of opening.
Jason Bartanen, Technical Director for I-CAR said, “This is a perfect example of an effort between the paint companies, I-CAR, other training organizations, and the EPA to collaborate on providing training as the industry does its part to reduce the hazardous effects of pollutants on the environment.”
In addition to staying in compliance with the new rule, those who complete this program will learn how to:
- Use less refinishing material
- Reduce the amount of waste during the refinishing and clean-up processes
- Increase the life of spray booth filters with less overspray
- Do their part to be “good stewards” of the environment
- Increase credibility with environmentally-conscious customers.
The Hazardous Airborne Pollutant Reduction (HAP01) I-CAR online training program takes only sixty minutes to complete and, once completed, a certificate can be printed and used as proof of completion of the training. Online training is also a tool to help earn and keep the Gold Class Profes-sionals(TM) and Platinum Individual(TM) designations.
Go to www.i-car.com/online to learn more and to complete the Hazardous Airborne Pollutant Reduction (HAP01) training.
o
DuPont has received the “2007 Supplier of the Year” award from AutoNation, the largest automotive retailer in the United States. DuPont, which received the same honor from AutoNation in 2003, is the only supplier ever to be recognized twice by AutoNation.
DuPont has been a leading name in automotive finishes – both for new cars and for the collision repair industry – for more than 75 years. AutoNation, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, operates 245 dealership locations representing 323 new vehicle franchises in 16 states.
“We are especially honored to receive this award for the second time, because we were in competition with all of AutoNation’s other excellent suppliers,” said John G. McCool, vice president and general manager - DuPont Refinish Systems. “We understand that parts and service, including collision repair, is a major component of an auto dealership’s revenue, so we are delighted that DuPont coatings and DuPont color science are contributing to AutoNation’s success.”
DuPont is the exclusive paint supplier to AutoNation. An increasing number of AutoNation locations are switching to waterborne products, which use water rather than solvents as the vehicle for paint pigments, in addition to using conventional solvent-based coatings. The use of waterborne finishes reduces emissions into the atmosphere due to a lower level of volatile organic compounds in the products.
As witnesses to the disaster that has been dealt to the Texas and Louisiana coastlines, our hearts go out to all those who have suffered loss. It is difficult or even impossible to move an entire family and belongings on one or two hours' notice, especially when everyone has to pile into one car.
To those in the collision repair industry that may find themselves, their families and their facilities threatened by natural disasters like Hurricane Ike, Collision Industry Relief remains alert and ready to help.
"Our team of specialists has been ready and available to assist since the end of Katrina," stated NABC Executive Director Chuck Sulkala. "Natural disasters are a recurring fact of life, as unfortunate as that may be, so we've come to view the Collision Industry Relief effort as an ongoing one."
The devastation that hit the Gulf Coast recently has inflicted damage on many collision repairers who may need help bouncing back from their misfortunes. While it is not Collision Industry Relief's intent to refit a collision business with tools and equipment (It is a normal precaution for the business to insure such tools.), the organization is committed to helping technicians that have been relocated and lost their personal tools to get back to work.
Some businesses may provide for employee tool replacement, but many technicians are not so lucky. When technicians lose their tools, they lose their basic means to make a living for their families. This leads to an erosion of self-respect, maybe even a loss of faith in their ability to remain self-sufficient.
Ultimately, they're out of the industry. The goal of Collision Industry Relief is to stop this cycle from occurring, and keep our industry a viable one for those who repair the cars.
The Collision Industry Relief phone lines are open at 888. 66-PRIDE and ready to field requests for help. Repairers will be directed to a specialist who will help address immediate needs and find additional support to get displaced workers back to work.
The NABC is urging the industry as a whole to help by making tax deductible donations. Online donations can be made at: collisionindustryfoundation.org.
In addition, checks can be written either to Collision Industry Relief or the Collision Industry Foundation. Donors should specify in the check's memo that the donation is for the "Collision Industry Relief Fund." Mail checks to:NABC, P.O. Box 3007, Mechanicsville, VA 23116.
Approved in December 2005 by NABC's fund-raising arm, the Collision Industry Foundation, Collision Industry Relief focuses on securing help for industry members left homeless or jobless by natural disasters. Assistance is solicited and delivered for such basic necessities as transportation, tools, household goods, and clothing, with a focus on family support first, business support second.
“The Changing Industry – Your Role In It” was the subject at hand at the monthly Connecticut Collision Repair Specialists (CCRS) association meeting. Jeff Hendler, owner of JD Hendler Associates, addressed approximately forty members about their role in an everchanging collision repair environment.
Attendees were challenged to consider the needs of today’s consumers – and the Collision Repair Industry’s responsibility to adapt to those needs through best business practices, continual education, and technical training.
“It’s about time we take ourselves out of our own four walls and look through the eyes of our customer.Let’s identify the needs – and then meet them,” said Hendler. “We must challenge ourselves to be better, to become part of the solution when dealing with our insurance partners and vendors, to properly train our technicians and staff, and most importantly – remember who we work for – our customer.”
Jeff Hendler, who resides in Pasco, Washington, has been part of the collision repair industry for over thirty years. He is a founding member of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC), acting as Chairman in 1987-1988, and the administrative director since 1984. Also a founding member of I-CAR, Jeff was inducted into the Hall of Eagles in 1989. He has been honored by the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2003 as well as named one of the “Top 25 Movers and Shakers of the 20th Century" by Automotive Body Repair News.
Lisa Siembab, CCRS Executive Director said, “We are very fortunate to have someone of Jeff’s caliber to speak to our members. He knows this industry, he realizes the challenges repairers face on a daily basis, and he offers solutions.”
In addition to the guest speaker, CCRS Chairman Angelo Campanella addressed the attendees regarding crucial repair technique updates as well as reporting on industry news and events.
“This is one of the most beneficial association meetings I have attended. I have specific business objectives that I want to achieve and CCRS will help me do that,” reported CCRS member Nick Freccia. “It helps to understand other repairers' challenges and know I am not alone. As an industry we need to learn from one another and realize that our consumers are vulnerable after an accident. We need to understand their expectations and strive to to meet them. This is what we are all about and this is who comes first – the customer.”
Connecticut Collision Repair association is an affiliate association of SCRS. Through its direct members and 34 affiliate associations, SCRS is comprised of 6,000 collision repair businesses and 58,500 specialized professionals who work with consumers and insurance companies to repair collision-damaged vehicles.
Allstate Insurance Company has announced that former Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) executive director Dan Risley has joined the Allstate claims organization as a staff claim analyst as part of the company’s efforts to strengthen its relationship with the collision repair industry. Risley will work out of the company’s home office in Northbrook, Illinois, in several areas of claim operations, including claim customer satisfaction, Allstate’s Direct Repair Program (DRP), and the Sterling and Tech-Cor businesses.
“We're excited to have Dan as part of our team. He brings a wealth of collision industry expertise, and we value his diverse background,” said Bill Daly, Allstate auto claim assistant vice president. “We're committed to strengthening Allstate’s relationship with the collision repair industry. Bringing strong leaders such as Dan into our organization will allow us to accomplish that goal much faster, moving forward.”
Mitchell International, Inc., a provider of information, workflow, and performance management solutions to the property and casualty claims and collision repair industries, and WURTH USA, have formed a data partnership that has created one of the industry's most comprehensive parts and labor databases. WURTH USA's comprehensive OEM and aftermarket product catalogs are now available - at no additional charge - in Mitchell's Alternate Parts Program (MAPP), which is fully integrated for ease of use with its estimating and appraisal solution, UltraMate(TM).
By offering the option to include WURTH fasteners on estimates, Mitchell and WURTH USA are helping to increase collision repair facilities' estimating efficiency while reducing costly supplements.
Paul Rosenstein, Senior Director of Product Management at Mitchell International, said, "Our partnership with WURTH USA helps put more of the information that collision repair facilities need easily at their fingertips while providing them with an added value. UltraMate continues to be one of the collision repair industry's most comprehensive and up to date databases. With WURTH USA now part of the UltraMate environment, technicians will be able to make better and quicker decisions that can result in more accurate and acceptable repair estimates that meet the needs of clients and insurance partners alike."
Mike Krause, President and CEO of WURTH USA, commented, "This new relationship with Mitchell is a perfect fit with our approach at WURTH USA, which is to demonstrate that we are truly 'partners in profit' with our clients. By creating a complete parts and labor database solution, we are delivering more of what collision repair professionals need to compete in today's competitive repair marketplace."
Mitchell International facilitates millions of electronic transactions between more than 25,000 business partners each month to enhance their productivity, profitability, and customer satisfaction levels.
WURTH USA Inc. was founded in 1969 in Monsey, New York as WURTH Fastener Corporation, with only one internal employee and two sales representatives distributing automotive supply type items to New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachu-setts. Since then WURTH USA Inc. has relocated to a 73,000 square foot office/warehouse complex in Ramsey, New Jersey and expanded distribution throughout the United States. Today WURTH USA Inc. employs more than 400 sales representatives and 100 internal employees to service more than 40,000 customers out of a distribution network that consists of 3 Distribution Centers.
o
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES), and Skills USA have announced an agreement to provide co-branded end of program exams for students in secondary and post-secondary automotive technology programs.
The new exams will merge the well-known NATEF End-of-Program tests into a joint offering from the three groups. The boards and leaders of all three organizations agree that this a tremendous example of association partnership to best serve the needs of students, schools and the automotive service industry.
Through the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF), ASE will oversee the question development and delivery of the exams for all three organizations. Candidates and instructors will be able to access the exam through a single co-branded test entry portal. Partner websites will link to this common portal. A Spring 2009 launch is anticipated.
“This combined effort will provide our AYES high school students with quality testing that is industry led and nationally recognized,” said Susan Moe, Executive Director of AYES.
Tim Lawrence, SkillsUSA Executive Director, agreed, adding, “Taking advantage of this unique co-branding opportunity helps us provide our students industry developed assessments without reinventing the process. The automobile, truck and collision repair areas of SkillsUSA will also be covered with the new co-branded assessments.”
“ASE is proud to provide our assessment development ex-pertise and partner with leaders in our industry such as AYES and SkillsUSA. The students will benefit from having just one set of end of program exams that are endorsed by our three organizations,” said Tim Zilke, ASE President and CEO.
Incorporated on June 12, 1972, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence was established as a non-profit organization to help improve the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians and parts specialists. Today, there are approximately 400,000 ASE-certified professionals at work in dealerships, independent shops, service stations, collision repair shops, auto parts stores, fleets, machine shops, schools and colleges throughout the country.
AYES is a partnership among participating automotive manufacturers, the Na-tional Automobile Dealers Association, Automotive Trade Association Executives, State Departments of Education and Labor, local dealerships, and select high schools across the country. AYES’s goal is to encourage quality students with a good mechanical aptitude to pursue careers in the fields of automotive technology and prepare them for entry-level positions in dealerships.
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. The organization serves more than 300,000 students and instructors annually, with 16,000 school chapters in 54 state and territorial associations. More than 15,600 instructors and administrators are professional members of SkillsUSA.
DuPont Performance Coatings (DPC) has launched a new website designed to give customers quick and easy access to information about all DPC brands. “It’s a valuable tool that will help them improve productivity and profitability,” said Fred Freestone, e-marketing manager.
The easy-to-navigate design presents a bright and inviting appearance, with content that is based on customer feedback, according to Freestone. “We listened to comments and suggestions from jobbers and shops and incorporated them into the new site.”
The content is organized under each of DPC’s nine brands: DuPont Refinish, Standox, Spies Hecker, Nason® Finishes, Hot Hues™, DuPont Commercial Finishes, DuPont Industrial Coatings, DuPont Aviation Finishes, and the newest brand -- DuPont Marine Finishes.
The website includes comprehensive product, color, and training information, as well as a new safety and environment section.
“We haven’t forgotten the favorites from our old site either,” Freestone said. “That includes online formula retrieval, the DuPont Refinish Historical Color Library, e-Career Track, and many others.” All pages are also printer-friendly.
The site is located at pc.dupont.com.
Clean Green Collision (CGC), a California East Bay collision repair shop, has debuted its sustainable auto body repair services for all makes and models of cars.
The auto body repair industry can be a dirty business. Current local, state and federal regulations do not prevent shops from using toxic chemicals, known carcinogens and air pollutants that are harmful to the environment, customers, and workers, and there is little industry self-regulation. Among the known harmful chemicals found in body shops, according to the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, are isocyanates, methylene chloride, toluene, and xylene.
Jacque Andres, founder of CGC, believes that his shop is unique in the industry. He sees himself as playing both an immediate role offering consumers a green alternative, as well as providing a model for broad change. According to Andres, "If we can turn out quality work at competitive prices using responsible business and environmental practices, others will be forced to change based on the market rather than waiting for litigation or regulation."
Andres has painstakingly redesigned the typical body shop, inventing technology, such as double layer filtration systems. CGC features these sustainable techniques and products:
- Water borne color paints (rather than solvent borne) that emit little VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and that are air dried rather than heat dried. These paints eliminate the use of solvents for clean up.
- Ultraviolet curing body fillers and primers that reduce or eliminate the use of solvents. (This process is similar to the way dentists cure filling material.)
- Multi-stage dust filters in controlled work environments. Andres invented this, and calls it the eco-plenum to help re-circulate the paint both emissions.
- Ceiling filters to trap dust that would otherwise escape through the roof into the air.
- Recycling and/or proper disposal of all paint waste and dismantled car parts.
- CGC washes its cars with a high-pressure wash systems that uses minimal amounts of water and bio-degradable soap. All runoff water is filtered before it goes into the proper drains.
- Certification as a green business by Alameda County. Recycling of all paper glass and plastic products, use of energy efficient lighting, and the other requirements needed for certification.
- At CGC every car has the air vents and the interior tightly sealed so that dust and paint do not enter the car, protecting customers from unwanted chemicals and particulates.
Through these sustainable practices CGC is able to reduce emissions of paint and dust by large amounts without any sacrifice in the quality of work the shop performs. Andres is constantly researching the newest developments in clean auto body repair. He predicts that breakthroughs in paint technology in coming years will eliminate more of the remaining VOCs from the spray booth. In the meantime, Clean Green Collision has become an industry trendsetter and role model for future change in the Collision Repair Industry.
The I-CAR Education Foundation is now accepting applications for the Education Foundation's Instructor of the Year award. The winner of the award will receive an expense-paid trip to NACE 2008 where the instructor will be recognized for their achievement. This award is open to all collision repair instructors teaching at career and technical schools and colleges.
Members of the industry can nominate an instructor for this award by visiting the websote www.ed-foundation.org and clicking on “Nominate an instructor for the I-CAR Education Foundation Instructor of the Year Award.” Collision repair instructors can nominate themselves by visiting www.ed-foundation.org and clicking on the “Nominate myself for the I-CAR Education Foundation Instructor of the Year Award.”
On August 20, the Massachusetts Auto Damage Appraisers Licensing Board (ADALB) voted to adopt regulations establishing expedited supplements in the collision repair process. The unanimous vote was handed down following a special town hall meeting at the Division of Insurance in Boston, which featured favorable testimony by representatives of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Massachusetts/Rhode Island (AASP MA/RI) and the Central Massachusetts Auto Rebuilders Association (CMARA).
Highlights of the expedited supplement regulation include an increase to the amount of money a shop can note for a supplement before an appraiser is assigned. After staying at $500 for 25 years, the amount will now be $1,500 per the revisions.
James Castleman, Esq., who served as legal counsel for AASP MA/RI and CMARA during the expedited supplement campaign, credits both associations for unifying to promote such a sweeping change to current Massachusetts insurance regulations.
“These two organizations believed that it would greatly expedite the repair process, and felt that in the right circumstance, this would be to everyone’s benefit,” noted Castleman. “Their feeling from day one was that they wanted the decision to be between the repair shop and the insurer, with the approval of the customer in the first place and applicable on a claim-by-claim basis.”
The August 20 decision comes as the result of a lengthy planning process between both CMARA and AASP MA/RI.
“This wasn’t something that came up overnight,” Castleman explained. “AASP MA/RI and CMARA had committees, ran the proposal by some insurer representatives to see how they felt about it, and came up with a consensus that they thought would be supported by both industries.”
“When used, this is a faster, more productive process for the repair industry and a quicker, money-saving process for the insurers,” explained AASP MA/RI President Rick Starbard. “It’s really a no-brainer. On behalf of CMARA and AASP MA/RI, I’d like to express my gratitude at the decision to adopt these regulations. Additionally, we sincerely appreciate being recognized by all parties that our two associations are leading the industry in working toward positive change for shops statewide.”
Feedback
Have a comment about this article? Send Email to Editor, INSIGHT's Editor
©2008 Collision Repair Industry INSIGHT
All Rights Reserved
FEATURED
LINKS:
INSIGHT Supports the NABC!
Do You?