Plastfix has launched a digital training and research studio in Adelaide, accelerating the company’s ability to deliver online training in plastic restorations to its field technicians. With constraints in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Plastfix says this new capability can provide training and upskilling for staff.
According to the company, the project uses the latest in online software, filming, cloud storage, audio and editing technology to create the smartest training delivery solution in the industry. New training content can be conceived, produced and edited within 24 hours. Plastfix has also integrated the ability to live-stream training, with the capacity to reach up to 50,000 viewers per session around the world, perform remote quality control and interact with users in real-time. The facility will add to the library of more than 150 plastic repair videos that the company currently hosts.
The video content platform is managed by Tradiebot Industries and allows interactive training to be conducted for users with live engagement, remote assessments, training and available jobs using its online and mobile platforms.
Raw training video is recorded during the day, uploaded to a cloud-based server, edited overnight and stored on an online distribution portal. It is live and ready for distribution the following day through the mobile productivity app WorxManager by Tradiebot Industries.
The Plastfix Digital Training Studio is located in the Innovation Centre at MTA South Australia. The company says it is key to its ability to provide flexibility to plastic repair technicians when upskilling, while also undertaking induction training for new recruits.
The digital hub is also equipped with 3D printers to support Plastfix Lab’s research and development activities. This enables the testing of prototypes and the building of a comprehensive catalogue of various lugs and brackets, allowing the company to repair additional damaged plastic parts like expensive headlight assemblies.
“The opening of this new digital training studio provides Plastfix the opportunity to facilitate and undertake training on a whole new level, using an entirely new process for training and video content development,” said John Morrissey, Director of Training and Product Development at Plastfix. “I am hugely impressed with what has been achieved and applaud our CEO Mario Dimovski for having the vision and drive to get behind our solution, backing its development and supporting my appointment to run such a high-tech facility. We are focusing strongly on training, innovation and aligning our restoration processes to return parts to pre-collision OEM condition.
“Within the studio we are also now testing some exciting new plastic repair tools. These have been developed by our Plastfix Labs Division using 3D printing and with the support of BASF, who will be supplying the leading-edge 3D plastic material [for] this effort.
“The placement of the studio within the MTA also allows various other trades and apprentices to observe some of the new developments taking place within our industry.”
According to Plastfix, MTA South Australia CEO Paul Unerkov has seen the multiple benefits provided by the Digital Training Studio and is eager to create a number of digital training hubs in order to promote and push the organisation’s training needs to a wider audience. Plastfix says this is the first of many exciting new solutions and technology advancements planned for the innovation centre as it “leads the way in promoting and pushing the boundaries of true digital transformation within the collision repair industry.”