2019

UV Fast Curing System

To ensure profitability and streamline work processes, UV curing technology is being used more and more in various paint processing markets. The technology enables you to work faster and more efficiently while significantly reducing curing time between process steps.

The Colad Fast Curing Lamp can be used to cure UV curing putties, UV curing paints and UV curing primers and body fillers on both small and larger areas.

Extremely powerful, equipped with high intensity UV LEDs and more than 200 mW/cm2 power.

  • For drying UV curing products
  • The cured surface can be processed immediately after curing
  • Easy to operate due to its high-tech, lightweight ergonomic design
  • Shock resistant technology
  • Extra strong, solvent resistant clear glass lens
  • Cord wired, so always at your service. All day, every day!

I-CAR Awards Gold Class To Cranbourne Body Works

I-CAR Australia has announced that Cranbourne Body Works in Victoria has been awarded I-CAR Gold Class status.

“Cranbourne Body Works entered the Road to Gold programme as part of the Holden Certified Collision Repairer programme,” said Gary Wood, Gold Class Coordinator. “The commitment and dedication to the training schedule from the entire team has been first class and they fully deserve to be recognised as a Gold Class facility.

“Achieving this accreditation highlights Cranbourne Body Works’ attitude toward ongoing training for all staff members that ensures a high level of quality and safety on every repair. Well done to everyone involved.”

“We are very proud of our staff’s commitment and positive approach to undertaking I-CAR training,” said Kevin Slattery, Managing Director, Cranbourne Body Works. “Their hard work and dedication reinforces our company belief in keeping up with the technological advancements and delivering safe quality repairs.

“Partnering with I-CAR has given us the confidence to meet the many changes within the industry to ensure we are prepared for the future. The process has established a culture of continuous learning and the team at Cranbourne Body Works is ready to meet the future head on.”

Suncorp Banking And Wealth CEO Moves To RACQ

Suncorp Banking and Wealth CEO David Carter has resigned from his post at Suncorp to become Group CEO at RACQ.

Carter will leave the company in early 2020 after 14 years at Suncorp and over three years in the CEO role. Carter joined the company in 2006 as Executive General Manager for advice solutions and, since then, has held a number of leadership roles, both in Australia and New Zealand.

“[David] has been a great contributor to the leadership team, and on behalf of everyone at Suncorp, we wish him well in his new role,” said Steve Johnston, CEO of Suncorp Group. “We are now well placed to continue to build on this success and leverage the investments we have made.”

The bank has implemented some customer initiatives under Carter’s leadership including Apple and Google Pay, the staged rollout of the New Payments Platform, and building the foundations for Suncorp’s digital banking strategy.

Suncorp said it has begun a robust recruitment process and was considering candidates from Australia and overseas to find Carter’s replacement.

“It is an exciting time for Mr Carter to take on this role leading Queensland’s largest club when the organisation has never been stronger and where it now has almost 1.8 million Queensland members in more than 70 per cent of the state’s homes.” said Bronwyn Morris, RACQ President and Chair.

“RACQ’s status as one of Australia’s most trusted brands and the diversity of its business lines makes it a truly unique organisation,” said Carter. “I look forward to leading Queensland’s largest club and market-leading financial services companies.”

Mandatory Data Sharing Law Locked In For Australia

The Australian government has announced that it will introduce a mandatory data sharing law. The data sharing law will allow independent workshops access to all motor vehicle service and repair information for a price.

The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) says the law will provide a level playing field in the sector and allow consumers to have their vehicle safely repaired by the repairer of their choice.

“This is an incredible result for our members, who came to us with their concerns, put competitive rivalries aside and fought alongside us to have the law changed for their customers, their businesses and the wider industry,” said Stuart Charity, CEO of the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association.

“This announcement has been a long road and is the culmination of tireless work by the AAAA team to push for government action to address this important competition issue. We have personally met with over 75 federal MPs, facilitated hundreds of workshop visits by MPs all around the country and had countless early morning and late-night discussions with ministers and other industry stakeholders.”

The announcement is also a huge moment for the AAAA who has long championed the Choice of Repairer campaign on behalf of their members and the wider industry.

“It is also an important win for consumers,” said Charity. “Our Choice of Repairer campaign has sought to increase community awareness around consumers’ right to choose their repairer and their new car warranty and servicing rights.

“This has been an industry wide effort and I would like to acknowledge the invaluable role played by automotive industry associations – Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA), Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC), Australian Automobile Association (AAA), and the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

“I’d like to personally thank the Assistant Treasurer Hon. Michael Sukkar for his leadership on this issue and commitment to introduce a mandatory data sharing law that will benefit small businesses in the automotive service industry as well as every Australian car owner.

“We look forward to seeing progress on an exposure draft and we will review every word to ensure that car manufacturers are not able to wriggle though any loopholes that would prevent or restrict consumer choice and ultimately harm competition.”

Kona Electric Earns ANCAP Five-Star Safety Rating

The Kona Electric has become the first electric vehicle to be crash tested in Australia, achieving the maximum ANCAP five-star safety rating in the process.

The Kona Electric underwent a frontal offset crash test and received an audit test score of 14.97 out of 16.00, slightly better than the 14.07 achieved by the petrol engine variant which was tested in 2017.

The frontal offset test simulates a head-on crash with another vehicle of the same mass and travelling at the same speed. This is a type of collision which represents 60 per cent of serious crashes on Australian roads.

The test saw 40 per cent of the front driver’s side of the Kona Electric collide with a crushable aluminium barrier at 64 km/h.

Kona’s overall score of 35.07 out of 37.00 is the sum of its frontal offset test result, its maximum possible scores in the side impact and pole crash tests, and its maximum score for the inclusion of seat belt reminders.

“Kona Electric’s pioneering position as the first ever EV crash tested in Australia, and its continuing ANCAP maximum five-star safety rating, further underscores Hyundai’s eco vehicle leadership,” said JW Lee, CEO of Hyundai Motor Company Australia.

Four Big Manufacturers Back Trump On California Emissions Challenge

According to Reuters, major car manufacturers are siding with the Trump administration in its bid to bar California from setting its own fuel efficiency rules or zero-emission requirements for vehicles in the United States, the companies said in a filing with a US appeals court.

The move by General Motors, Toyota, Hyundai and Fiat Chrysler follows legal challenges by California, 22 other states, and various environmental groups in September. Those challenges aim to undo the Trump administration’s determination, issued in September, that federal law bars California from setting its own tailpipe emission standards and zero-emission vehicle mandates. The group backing Trump also includes Mazda, Nissan, Kia and Subaru, along with seven US states including Alabama, Ohio, Texas, Utah and West Virginia, which argue that without the rule, their residents would have to pay “higher vehicle costs.”

In their filing with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, the manufacturers and the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) said they backed the administration bid to bar individual emissions rules by states. They asked to intervene, arguing the administration’s rule provided “vehicle manufacturers with the certainty that states cannot interfere with federal fuel economy standards”.

A spokeswoman for California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said the action “doesn’t change our resolve to fight as long and hard as necessary to protect our standards. The courts have upheld our authority to set standards before and we’re hopeful they will yet again.”

Other car companies – BMW, Ford, Honda and Volkswagen – which announced a voluntary deal with California in July on emissions rules, are not joining the bid to intervene on the administration’s side.

John Bozzella, President and Chief Executive of Global Automakers, a trade group representing major car companies, said those companies had little choice but to back the administration. “It’s been the federal policy for the better part of 40 years that the federal government has the sole responsibility for regulating fuel economy standards, but it doesn’t have to get to that,” Bozzella told reporters, speaking for an ad-hoc group, the Coalition for Sustainable Automotive Regulation.

“We can still reach an agreement” on fuel economy rules, Bozzella said, adding that companies still support a “middle ground” between California and the administration that would see rising attainable fuel efficiency requirements.

The Obama-era rules adopted in 2012 called for a fleetwide fuel efficiency average of 46.7 miles per gallon by 2026, with average annual increases of nearly five per cent, compared with 37 MPG by 2026 under the Trump administration’s preferred option.

After the four manufacturers, including BMW, announced the voluntary California pact, the Justice Department warned them the agreement “may violate federal antitrust laws,” according to documents seen by Reuters.

I-CAR Awards Gold Class To Gold Coast Collision Centre

I-CAR Australia has announced that Gold Coast Collision Centre in Queensland has been awarded I-CAR Gold Class status.

“It is a credit to Gold Coast Collision Centre that they have completed the training required to achieve the I-CAR Gold Class accreditation in such a short period of time,” said Gary Wood, Gold Class Coordinator. “Participating in virtual classroom training, I-CAR steel welding certification and ITA training with their refinish company has displayed their commitment to training, ensuring that all staff members are equipped with the most up to date knowledge required to safely repair today’s vehicles.”

“We are immensely proud to have reached Gold Class status,” said Daniel Leishman, Gold Coast Collision Centre owner. “Our staff have embraced a learning culture with an enthusiasm towards future training. By developing a strong relationship with I-CAR and other industry training alliances, we are ensuring we are up to date with the latest in technological advancements and safety developments to ensure a complete and safe repair for each and every vehicle.

“All roles throughout the business have greatly benefited from the range of training made available by I-CAR from accurate estimating [to] structural training, including welding certification, and refinish. The ability to train online and through other training alliances such as PPG, Car-O-Liner and 3M [has] assisted us to reach our goal of Gold Class Accreditation. We look forward to a continued partnership with I-CAR.”

Carsten Knobel To Become New Henkel CEO

Henkel has announced that CEO Hans Van Bylen will step down at the end of his term, handing over the position to current CFO Carsten Knobel from the start of 2020.

Van Bylen has been with the company for around 35 years, 15 of which were on its Management Board and four years as CEO.

“After about 35 years with Henkel, I have decided that with the expiration of my contract next year, it is now the right time to make an orderly change at the top of the company,” said Van Bylen. “For personal reasons, I will not seek a further term as Chairman of the Management Board. I would like to thank all employees and my colleagues in the Management Board for their dedication and commitment over the past years, as well as all members of our supervisory committees for their support and advice.

“I am also glad that we were able to appoint Carsten Knobel from within our Management Board as successor and CEO. I am convinced that Henkel will continue to develop successfully under his leadership.”

“Hans Van Bylen has made a significant contribution to the successful development of our company over the years and has actively developed numerous senior leaders,” said Dr. Simone Bagel-Trah, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board and Shareholders’ Committee. “Under the leadership of Hans Van Bylen, all business units were further strengthened through acquisitions and partnerships.

“The acquisition of Sun Products significantly expanded the market position of our Laundry & Home Care business in the USA, our largest market worldwide. Acquisitions were also made in Adhesive Technologies and Beauty Care. He put particular emphasis on the digitalisation of the company in all areas, which he drove forward with great determination. We would like to sincerely thank him for the important course settings during his time as CEO and for his commitment to our company for more than 35 years.”

Knobel studied business administration and technical chemistry at the Technical University of Berlin, starting his career at Henkel in 1995 as assistant to the Management Board member responsible for research and development. He then moved to the Beauty Care business unit, where he held various positions of increasing responsibility in controlling, mergers and acquisitions and the operating businesses. Following his roles as Head of Corporate Strategy & Controlling and Financial Director of the Beauty Care unit, he was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 2012.

“With Carsten Knobel, we have appointed an excellent successor from within the company,” said Dr. Bagel-Trah. “He knows Henkel very well and has many years of international management and leadership experience. He is highly regarded by his colleagues on the Management Board as well as by our employees and has also an excellent reputation in the capital markets. We are convinced that, together with the entire Management Board, he will continue to drive vigorously the development of our company. On behalf of all Henkel committees and employees, I wish him all the best and success for the future.”

Knobel is also a member of the Supervisory Board of Lufthansa and Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Bundesliga Soccer Club Fortuna Düsseldorf in Germany.

“I am grateful for the trust which is expressed through this appointment,” said Knobel. “I am looking forward to working with my colleagues on the Management Board and our global team to shape the future of Henkel. We have excellent employees, leading brands and technologies, exciting innovations and great opportunities for further sustainable profitable growth with our businesses in a dynamic market environment.”

The Official SEMA Ignited Video (2019)

SEMA Ignited, the SEMA Show after-party, is said to host more than 18,000 industry trade and general public guests who will see hundreds of the world’s best custom cars from the trade-only SEMA Show, Formula Drift demonstrations, high-flying stunts from the Nitro Circus, celebrities, food trucks and live music performances.

Fix Auto Australia Expands In WA

Fix Auto said that Cockburn Toyota in Western Australia is the newest partner to join its collision repair network. The new Fix Auto Cockburn location will be the company’s first point of representation south of Perth.

“We represent undoubtedly the world’s strongest brand in our sales and service business and we know how important that is when you need support, scale and opportunity,” said Cockburn Toyota’s Mark Mcdonnell. “We see the Fix Auto brand as being able to give us and other independent repairers that same strength and scale in the collision space. We look forward to leveraging their systems, process and operational support to grow a very important part of our business.”

“Cockburn Toyota is an outstanding business that holds itself to the very highest standards; they are meticulous in everything they do and are completely focused on delivering excellence to customers,” said Stuart Faid, Regional Vice President Asia, Australia & New Zealand, Fix Network. “They represent all of our own values perfectly and are a great cultural fit for us. We are delighted to welcome them to the Fix Family. This strategic location also delivers on a commitment to our customers centred around being where they need us to be.”