2018 – BodyShop News

Hollander Launches Recycled Parts In Australia And New Zealand

Hollander International Systems has announced the launch of a new dedicated used parts marketplace called Hollanderparts.com.au. This new site will list up to 1.5 million recycled auto parts from over 150 qualified and verified automotive recyclers across Australia and New Zealand. The company says it will be the single largest site dedicated to the online sale of recycled car parts in Australia and New Zealand.

“We are proud to play our role in helping raise awareness and access to quality genuine recycled auto parts across Australia and New Zealand,” said Phil Peace, Managing Director of Hollander International Systems. “We believe this is a huge step in making recycled auto parts available and easily accessible to the mass market whilst offering a one-stop shop for collision and mechanical repair centres who want to offer a high-quality repair, cost-effectively, sustainably and at the best possible margin for their business.”

Hollander says the site is made possible by Pinnacle Professional, the largest automotive recycler yard management system in the southern hemisphere, along with the extensive collaboration of Pinnacle users. Hollander says Pinnacle enables consumers and businesses to have greater choice than ever before, whilst offering a buying experience that’s quick and helps repairers offer viable repair alternatives to vehicle owners and work providers.

All parts available on Hollanderparts.com.au will have a minimum three-month warranty, with buyers able to contact suppliers directly to discuss parts. They can match parts based on vehicle make, model and part type, then pay directly for them using PayPal.

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Technology - Products, Technology - Products, Technology - Products

BASF Introduces Platform For Digital Visualisation Of Automotive Exterior Colours

BASF’s Coatings division has introduced a digital platform it calls AUROOM, which enables OEM designers to access a database of photo-realistic virtual car colours.

BASF’s virtual colours capture all facets of automotive coatings including lightness flop, colour flop and sparkling. By mapping these colours on car models, OEM designers can virtually paint every colour proposal and gain realistic impressions of colours and effects on a complete car already in an early design phase.

BASF says AUROOM will be a valuable tool for OEM designers to speed up and perfect the overall colour design process as they are no longer solely dependent on physical samples that need to be painted and shipped. AUROOM provides further innovative features like real-time side by side comparison of different colour shades of the same colour group to make the right colour decision easier.

“Automotive coatings are highly complex colours with texture, colour position and surface defining the overall impression,” said Mark Gutjahr, head of Automotive Colour Design EMEA at BASF’s Coatings division.

“To easily understand the impact of these colour parameters on a 3D shape, the digitised colours enable the user to see this on their individual models.”

Working together with almost every car manufacturer on the market, BASF says it currently produces over 600 colours in Europe, with new colours constantly being designed. This large portfolio will now be scanned by cameras. The huge amount of appearance data generated during the scan is processed using a sophisticated mathematic model, while BASF’s colourimetric know-how contributes to ensure its authenticity. OEMs can then access the comprehensive colour data at the AUROOM platform and render it on different 3D shapes provided by the platform or CAD shapes of their own models.

“Digitalisation is an important topic, especially in the automotive industry,” said Krzysztof Patryk Stolarzewicz, head of Global Strategic Marketing at BASF’s Coatings division.

“We have a lot of experience creating colours in our labs and now we are able to digitise them and create photo-realistic digital reproductions. For our customers, it means the colour decision process will become easier, faster and much more effective. They can also use the data for their own brand-specific car configurators so that car buyers can experience automotive colours in their entire variety which supports their buying decision.”

In the start-up phase, BASF says its virtual colour solution will first be introduced to OEMs in EMEA. In addition to the digital platform, the customers will have the chance to experience the technology at AUROOM’s “analogue twin” – a specially designed showroom at the Colour Design Studio Europe in Münster, Germany.

To demonstrate the colours and effects in the most authentic way possible, BASF also developed special virtual 3-D car shapes. Like BASF’s iconic dome shape, the virtual shapes simulate various forms of a car body. In order to assess compatibility of colour with the overall design concept, OEM designers can choose shapes of different vehicle segments in AUROOM for colour visualisation.

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Motoring News

Mitsubishi Motors Confirms New Australian Headquarters To Be Built In Adelaide

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation COO, Trevor Mann, has announced that a new Australian headquarters for the company will be constructed at Adelaide with a projected ‘move-in’ date from late 2020.

The announcement comes following an extensive national search to find a suitable head office location which would support the brand’s future business requirements.

At the announcement, Mann told the company’s workforce that while a relocation of its headquarters interstate was considered, Adelaide Airport was the smart choice for the future of the business.

“MMAL is successful in Australia and we know that the workforce is a key factor in that success, which is why we are keeping the national headquarters in South Australia, and creating a new facility located within the Adelaide Airport precinct to ensure MMAL can more efficiently support its dealers and staff interstate,” said Mann.

Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) CEO, John Signoriello said the new head office will provide state-of-the-art facilities and easier access for collaboration with our teams across Australia.

“MMAL is a national team that relies on collaboration with our regional staff and dealers to get our job done, therefore Adelaide Airport proved to be the logical place for our new headquarters,” said Signoriello.

Mann and Signoriello met with the South Australian Premier, Steven Marshall MP, to advise him of the decision to keep the Mitsubishi Motors Australia head office in South Australia and to thank the state government for their support.

As part of its investment in South Australia, the state government offered a grant of $2 million to assist MMAL in the construction and fit out of the new facility.

Premier of South Australia, Steven Marshall MP, said he was delighted that Mitsubishi Motors Australia decided to keep its headquarters in Adelaide.

“South Australia has been home to Mitsubishi for over 38 years and in that time has contributed significantly to our state and likewise, South Australia has been a major supporter of Mitsubishi,” said Premier Marshall.

“This decision is a significant vote of confidence in South Australians and the state government looks forward to continuing a productive and positive partnership with Mitsubishi.”

The new Mitsubishi Motors Australia headquarters will be located at the entrance to Adelaide Airport, with the company saying this allows efficient access for interstate dealers and staff to attend conferences and utilise state-of-the-art sales and aftersales training facilities.

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Main News, Main News, Main News

Axalta Opens World’s Largest R&D Centre Dedicated To Coatings and Colour

Axalta has officially opened its Global Innovation Center, the largest coatings research and development centre in the world, with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The company says the 16,260 square metre Global Innovation Center offers unparalleled specialty labs along with office space. Its location in Philadelphia’s Navy Yard enables collaboration amongst Axalta employees, business partners, and customers throughout the Philadelphia area and beyond.

“Axalta’s Global Innovation Center will become the central hub for our global research, product development, and technology initiatives where we develop and deliver the most innovative coatings products in the world,” said Robert Bryant, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Axalta. “Whether in colour technology, polymer and formulation chemistry, or application knowledge, the world-class capabilities and talent at Axalta’s Global Innovation Center will fuel new products and deliver the solutions that our customers want to grow their businesses into the future.”

Axalta says the Navy Yard location offers an attractive workplace for new talent, and the new campus was built with researchers in mind, modelling an academic setting with a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces to foster teamwork and creativity.

“Axalta’s team of scientists and technicians at the Global Innovation Center will develop next generation coatings products and keep pace with emerging application needs,” said Barry Snyder, Axalta’s Chief Technology Officer. “Regulations and customer demands call for newer technologically advanced coatings. The increasing use of light-weight plastic and composite materials in vehicles to save fuel require new coatings formulations. Developing products to suit these and other needs will be the mission of the Global Innovation Center and Axalta’s worldwide research and development network.”

After the public ribbon cutting ceremony, Axalta hosted more than 100 customers for a first look of the Global Innovation Center with tours of the facility.

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Business, Business, Business

AkzoNobel And McLaren Celebrate 10-Year Partnership

AkzoNobel and McLaren celebrated 10 years of collaboration at the SEMA automotive show in Las Vegas, Nevada, last month.

The partnership began in 2008 when AkzoNobel became the official supplier of paint solutions for McLaren Racing. McLaren has used the company’s premium Sikkens brand for its Formula 1 cars ever since.

AkzoNobel has also been a technology partner to McLaren Automotive since 2012, with all McLaren road cars being fully painted in the company’s products.

“Working with partners like McLaren is a perfect example of our commitment to delivering cutting-edge innovation,” said Keith Malik, Key Account Director of AkzoNobel’s Automotive and Specialty Coatings business. “We’re proud to have partnered with them for 10 years and demonstrate our shared passion for high performance technologies and performance.”

Simon Roberts, Chief Operating Officer of McLaren Racing, said: “Our decade-long relationship with AkzoNobel has led us to new innovations, scientific and sustainable advancements and quality finishes. Their longevity in the marketplace, coupled with the technology we’ve developed together, has helped us in our ongoing pursuit of high performance, and we’re thrilled to call AkzoNobel our partner.”

The livery for this season’s MCL33 F1 car has made an impact, with the Papaya Spark colour scheme winning a BBC poll for best-looking car.

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Technology - Products, Technology - Products, Technology - Products

Leading Recycler Groups Endorse NSF Automotive Recycler Certification

Two leading automotive US trade groups, the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) and the United Recyclers Group (URG), have endorsed NSF International’s automotive recycler certification programme.

The independent, third-party certification verifies a recycler’s ability to meet criteria for grading, labelling and traceability, in addition to vehicle acquisition, dismantling, inventory, training, customer service and auditing requirements.

NSF International worked with leading automotive recyclers and industry experts to facilitate the development of requirements for the automotive recycler certification programme.

“With NSF International certification, recyclers can differentiate themselves in terms of meeting cycle time and ensuring accuracy when it comes to inventory, grading and part labelling,” said ARA President, David Gold. “ARA supports initiatives that require ongoing audits and underscore continual improvement.”

NSF says certified automotive recyclers undergo annual on-site audits to ensure compliance with all certification requirements. Recyclers meeting all certification requirements can use the NSF Certified Automotive Recycler mark on their website and promotional materials. The recyclers are also included in NSF International’s online certification listings.

According to Donald Porter, URG’s Chief Executive Officer, “URG supports standards that help the automotive recycling industry enhance its operations from a safety, environmental and traceability perspective. NSF International certification provides recyclers a means to demonstrate this commitment. Participation in a certification process can ensure continual process improvement, increase operational efficiency and improve the recycler’s bottom line.”

To date, PAM’s Auto in the United States, and ASV Euro Car Parts, Grant Walker Parts and Paradise Auto Parts in Australia have earned NSF International’s automotive recycler certification.

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Trade Shows, Trade Shows, Trade Shows

ASA Announces New Dates, Location For MSO Symposium 2019

The Automotive Service Association has revealed the dates and location for the 8th Annual MSO Symposium and Technology Telematics Forum (TTF).

Next year’s events will coincide with the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) in Indianapolis, Indiana on 24-25 July 2019. The two events were originally scheduled to take place during NACE Automechanika in 2019.

Due to pending changes surrounding the trade show, ASA’s Board of Directors said it had elected to move the event this year to coincide with CIC. The association said it will work closely with Messe Frankfurt regarding the future direction of NACE Automechanika, with announcements to be made in the near future regarding 2019, 2020 and beyond.

“We are looking forward to the continued growth and success of both programmes,” said ASA Chairman Roy Schnepper, AAM. “The MSO Symposium has evolved into the marquee event of the year where the most influential people in the industry gather. We appreciate the support we receive from all the industry stakeholders including insurers and OEMs.”

Bob Wills, AAM, ASA’s Chairman-elect, said ASA understands that there are many questions surrounding the future of the NACE Automechanika trade show.

“We are working very closely with our partners at Messe Frankfurt to make decisions as quickly as possible,” Wills said. “We will make those details available as soon as possible.

“We recognise the needs and value derived from a trade show have shifted, and we are devising a plan that best addresses those changing needs for our members and the industry as a whole.”

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Main News

Queensland Vehicles With Faulty Airbags To Have Registration Cancelled

Queensland vehicle owners who have not had their recalled airbags replaced will have their registrations cancelled by the state’s Department of Transport and Main Roads.

A report is currently being compiled by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) listing the registration numbers of cars that have not had the airbags replaced.

The airbags are said to be at added risk in Queensland as they can explode if exposed to high levels of moisture, especially in hot and humid conditions.

In a statement the department said: “TMR will take action against the registration of vehicles with high risk ‘alpha’ airbags once the ACCC provides details of vehicles where manufacturers have fulfilled their customer contact obligations under the mandatory recall process, but the airbag remains unreplaced.

“If a member of the community receives a defect notice, we strongly recommended they contact their local dealer/manufacturer immediately to have the vehicle repaired.

“Failure to comply with the defect notice may result in cancellation of registration for the vehicle.”

Vehicle owners on the list will be issued defect notices and have 21 days to have the recalled airbag replaced. The department will cancel the registrations of vehicle owners who fail to comply with the notice. The remaining portion of a cancelled registration fee will be refunded.

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Business, Business, Business

AMA Group Announces Executive Management Team, Board Changes

AMA Group has announced several management changes that will take effect at the conclusion of the 2018 Annual General Meeting to be held on 22 November.

Andy Hopkins will become Group Chief Executive Officer while Anthony Day will join the board as an independent Non-Executive Director. Ray Malone will continue as Chairman.

AMA described Day as one of Australia’s leading insurance industry executives who has more than 30 years of industry experience. Day was recently the Chief Executive Officer of Suncorp Group’s Insurance Operations, one of Australia’s largest insurance businesses. In that role, he had responsibility for both the Group’s General and Life Insurance operations within Australia which incorporate AAMI, GIO, Vero, Shannons and Asteron.

Hopkins said AMA is very fortunate to have Day join its Board of Directors.

“His level of understanding of our key insurance company customers’ service needs is without peer. We look forward to being able to utilise his knowledge in our business to deliver better outcomes for our customers”.

The company has also appointed Steven Becker as Group Chief Financial Officer following the resignation of Ashley Killick. Becker has spent the past two years as the Chief Financial Officer of Affinity Education Group. Prior to that, he was the Chief Financial Officer of the formerly ASX-listed Mantra Group for eight years.

AMA Group says Becker has extensive experience in high growth organisations providing financial and strategic leadership. He will be based in South-East Queensland with the finance teams and commence with the company in early February 2019.

In the interim, the Chief Financial Officer role will be performed by AMA Company Secretary and financial accountant, Terri Bakos, and the General Managers of Finance in the Panel Repair and ACAD businesses.

Malone said the changes mark an important milestone in the development of AMA Group.

“In a little over six years, the business has grown from a small troubled aggregation of automobile related businesses to Australia’s leading automobile panel repair and aftermarket parts operator. It has been my pleasure to lead the business through this stage of its development.

“The business has now reached a size that it requires a more traditional governance structure and the addition of new talent to the executive management team and Board of Directors to ensure that the next six years are equally as successful. Mr Hopkins has been my partner in growing the panel repair business over the last three years and he is ideally suited to succeed me as Group Chief Executive Officer. In this role, he will rely heavily, as I have for the last six years, on Mr [Ray] Smith-Roberts to continue his exceptional leadership of the ACAD business. Together, they will ensure AMA Group realises the significant market opportunities before it.”

Hopkins responded by saying: “Mr Malone has done an amazing job leading the creation of a truly market leading business over the last six years. It has been my pleasure to work closely with him for the last three years and over that time I have never ceased to be amazed by his entrepreneurial skills and innovative approaches to problem solving which have added very significant value to the business. I look forward to continuing to work closely with him as Chairman and head of the procurement business. The procurement business of AMA is an area of significant potential growth for AMA and I look forward to working with Mr Malone in growing that business.”

According to AMA’s latest annual report, revenue grew by 33 per cent to more than A$509 million, up from A$382 million in the previous year. The group completed 26 acquisitions, integrated 30 new facilities, and opened four new greenfield sites, taking the total number of facilities to 114.

AMA Group has also corrected an article in “The Australian” which asserted that AMA is “teaming up with Blackstone to form an offer for Suncorp’s Smash Repairs Group, Capital SMART”.

In a statement, AMA said the suggestion is incorrect. “AMA is not teaming up with Blackstone to make any offer for the Capital SMART business,” the statement read.

“Further, AMA’s announcement that Mr Anthony Day will be joining the board of AMA after the AGM has no connection with Suncorp selling the Capital SMART business. Mr Day will be joining the board due to his excellent credentials and experience in the insurance industry in Australia, AMA’s core customer group. The board of AMA believes that Mr Day will make a valuable contribution to the board.”

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Business

Seventh Car Manufacturer Hit With Class Action Over Airbags

A Sydney legal firm has added a seventh vehicle manufacturer to its class action claiming cars with deadly airbags were sold to consumers.

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart and Sullivan (Quinn Emanuel) last month filed class action proceedings against Volkswagen, while actions have already been commenced against Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Subaru, BMW and Nissan. These proceedings are being heard concurrently in the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

Quinn Emanuel is expecting to file against Ford and Audi shortly, covering an estimated 2.5 million Australian drivers it says are driving cars fitted with defective airbags. The company says the airbags have been linked to the deaths of at least 24 people worldwide, including one in Sydney last year, as well as injuring hundreds of others.

Quinn Emanuel Partner, Damian Scattini, described the airbags as “ticking time bombs”.

“Over time they degrade,” said Scattini. “As they degrade they become unsafe. On our case, these manufacturers knew these airbags were dangerous, but kept using them in their vehicles, putting profits before the safety of their customers. Car manufacturers have known about this problem for years. These airbags need to be off the road.”

The legal firm is urging consumers to check if their vehicle is subject to recall and to act immediately if a replacement airbag is available. However, Quinn Emanuel says that due to a global shortage of airbags, many Australian drivers are only being offered a temporary fix, with a like for like replacement, meaning that their airbag will have to be replaced again in the future.

The company claims that in many cases, the replacement airbags contain the same propellant used in the defective airbags, ammonium nitrate, which deteriorates over time. However, consumers are still encouraged to obtain a temporary fix, as a newer defective airbag is preferable to an older defective airbag.

“It’s about responsibility and accountability. Car manufacturers need to make good the harm they’ve done to their customers. No more, no less,” said Scattini.

Quinn Emanuel says consumers whose vehicle were, or are, subject to the Takata airbag recall may be entitled to participate in their class action proceedings. Vehicle owners are not excluded from participating if they have had faulty airbags replaced.

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