Axalta

National Business Council Returns In 2019

The Axalta Services team will be showing body shops how to meet the challenges of achieving productivity and profitability, head on, through a National Business Council symposium held at the Novotel in St Kilda, Melbourne from 11 to 13 August 2019.

Axalta says Axalta Services works hard with body shops to successfully manage both productivity and profitability by creating networking and management training opportunities engineered specifically for body shops. The company says the National Business Council symposium creates such a platform to effectively demonstrate how, through innovative business solutions, body shops can restructure to create a more sustainable business model, helping to future proof their business.

“The 2019 National Business Council is all about providing valuable insights into some of the tools and techniques that are critical in increasing throughput and decreasing cycle times within the collision repair process,” said Robin Taylor, Axalta’s Services Manager.

According to Axalta, the symposium’s seminars will focus on issues that are currently impacting or will impact body shops, as well as “looking at effective business strategies, targeting customer relationship management and change management”.

Attendees will also hear from Collision Advice’s Mike Anderson, who brings extensive knowledge and experience from the US market. Anderson will discuss leading trends in the US and focus on his experience in a dynamic industry.

Happening every few years, Axalta says the National Business Council is a networking opportunity for people in the industry to come together and share their experiences. Not only do attendees leave with insights into how to make their body shop more productive and profitable, but they also leave with a greater understanding of where the refinish industry is heading and how rapidly it is evolving.

“After attending the National Business Council, it made me realise just how many changes are happening in our industry today,” said Bert Rowsell, Managing Director of Rowsell Collision Repairs, about the 2016 conference. “I gained valuable insights that I can now take back to my businesses and more importantly, I have great networking contacts with whom I can share ideas. I found the two-day seminar very informative, with quality guest speakers and lively group discussions. I eagerly await the next conference.”

To learn more about the National Business Council or to register your interest, please visit www.axalta.com.au/axaltaservices.

Axalta Services Offers Course To Help Redefine Body Shop Processes

Axalta is offering an I-CAR-approved Lean Foundations Course designed for body shop owners, managers and team leaders to improve processes and reduce waste in their body shop.

With ongoing time and cost pressures from insurance companies and work providers, collision repairers are constantly looking for ways to “do more with less”. Axalta says Lean Foundations is a highly interactive one-day course that allows participants to walk away with an in-depth understanding of tools and techniques to drive efficiency and profitability in their shop. It will also present easy-to-understand concepts and tools that help participants challenge and refine their processes using the knowledge and skills of their own employees.

The company says the principles and tools discussed in the course provide an ideal foundation for removing waste and improving processes within a body shop. While short-term gains or improvements are often made, process improvement either stalls or regresses. That’s where the company says its Axalta Services team excels in its presentation of the course, giving tips on where process improvements become derailed and how to get things back on track.

Axalta’s training alliance with I-CAR means that upon completion of the Lean Foundations course, an attendee will be awarded credit hours that can be applied towards the I-CAR Gold Class Professionals and Platinum Individual designations, or be used to meet role relevant annual training requirements.

The training dates for Lean Foundations in 2019 are:

  • Adelaide 13 March
  • Brisbane 20 March
  • Sydney 27 March
  • Melbourne 8 May
  • Perth 15 May

Full details on Axalta Services and the latest courses available can be found at www.axalta.com.au/AxaltaServices.

Axalta Announces 2018 SEMA Show Event/Appearance Schedule

Axalta has announced the schedule of events in its booth, #22391, during the 2018 SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada from 30 October to 2 November 2018.

The schedule includes appearances by top automotive builders, artists, and special guests to showcase Axalta’s refinish and original equipment coatings and colour.

Headlining Axalta’s schedule on Thursday 1 November at 2:00pm is the unveiling of Nevermore, a piece of fine art created by “Impossibly Real” artist Peter Maier with Cromax refinish paint. Maier is world-renowned for his lifelike art featuring animals, cars, people, and products. His work is currently on exhibit in the Butler Institute of American Art and often sells for US$100,000 or more. During this special event, Nevermore co-collaborator and pinstriper, Andrew “Pooch” Cappuccio, will join Maier onstage where they will greet attendees and autograph reproductions of the piece for the first 150 people in line.

Also on the schedule, and for a second consecutive year, are the wildly popular Middlecott Sketchbattle duels emceed by Jamie Little, NASCAR pit reporter for Fox Sports. In-booth duels occur on Tuesday 30 October at 10:00am, 12:30pm and 3:00pm, as well as on Wednesday 31 October at 9:30am and 11:30am. The main event and Axalta-sponsored Middlecott Sketchbattle Experience is at 8:00 pm at the Industrial, 2330 Industrial Road in Las Vegas.

On Wednesday 31 October from 1:00pm to 4:30pm, artist Kristian Baena of Zac Brown Customs will be demonstrating automotive airbrush art. Long-time SEMA Show favourites, Paul Quinn and DeWayne Connot, will follow with pinstriping demonstrations on Thursday 1 November at 9:30am and 3:30pm, and on Friday 2 November at 9:30am and 1:00pm.

“Meet the Builder” discussion sessions with the builders of the custom vehicles in Axalta’s booth will occur on Thursday 1 November at 11:00am with Dale Boesch, winner of the 2018 National Street Rod Association’s Builder of the Year award, and on Friday 2 November at 11:00am with Big Oak Garage, a 2015 Great Eight Ridler finalist.

To learn more, visit axalta.us/sema2018.

Axalta’s Acquire Quantum EFX Selected As Finalist For 2018 R&D 100 Awards

Axalta announced its Color Retrieval System featuring Acquire Quantum EFX was named a finalist for R&D Magazine’s 2018 R&D 100 Awards, which features the top 100 revolutionary technologies of the past year.

 The Axalta Color Retrieval System is the company’s proprietary online process designed to help customers obtain any colour information needed, quickly and more efficiently than ever before.

“The Axalta Color Retrieval System and the Acquire Quantum EFX are helping to digitize the body shop industry and reduce its reliance on matching colours by their visual appearance,” said Barry Snyder, Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer. “The System packs innovative colour technology into a lighter and faster unit to help customers create more accurate and faster colour matches, allowing for more vehicle throughput.

“Axalta is an innovation company and we invest four per cent of sales each year to developing new technologies. The Axalta Color Retrieval System and the Acquire Quantum EFX are new innovations paving the future for a more efficient body shop industry. We’re thrilled and honoured to be named a finalist in the R&D 100 Awards.”

The R&D 100 Awards is an annual awards programme which will be held in mid-November. The programme identifies and celebrates the top 100 revolutionary technologies of the past year. These awards recognise 100 of the top innovations across five categories: Analytical/Test, IT/Electrical, Mechanical Devices/Materials, Process/Prototyping, and Software/Services. The R&D 100 Awards Finalists were selected by an independent panel of more than 50 judges representing R&D leaders in a variety of fields.

Axalta’s Acquire Quantum EFX.

Axalta’s Charlie Shaver To Lead Specialty Chemicals After Sale Completion

Charles “Charlie” Shaver will join Specialty Chemicals from Axalta, where he currently serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. He will step down as CEO of Axalta on 4 September but will remain Chairman of the Board.

In its strategy to separate Specialty Chemicals from its Paints and Coatings business, AkzoNobel announced in March 2018 that it had agreed to sell its Specialty Chemicals business to The Carlyle Group and GIC. Upon completion of the transaction, expected before the end of 2018, Shaver will head the new company as Chief Executive Officer.

Shaver brings more than 35 years in leadership roles across the global chemical industry. His appointment is subject to completion of the transaction.

Axalta Appoints Yves Kerstens As Vice President And President for EMEA

Axalta has announced the appointment of Yves Kerstens as Vice President and President of the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

He succeeds Matthias Schonberg effective as of 1 August 2018 and will be based in Axalta’s EMEA headquarters in Basel, Switzerland.

Before joining Axalta, Kerstens worked at Bridgestone Corporation for 13 years where he held a number of senior executive roles in the EMEA and the Asia Pacific regions.

He previously worked in the management consulting sector, holding various positions at Capgemini and Ernst & Young Consulting.

Kerstens holds Master’s degrees in Electromechanical Engineering Technology, Industrial Management and International Corporate Governance.

Joe McDougall, Axalta’s Executive Vice President and President of Global Refinish and EMEA, says:

“I am delighted to welcome Yves as Axalta’s new EMEA president.

With his vast leadership experience, he has all the skills necessary to guide our business in the region.

He will have a clear focus on our customers while also looking to expand Axalta’s business interests as well as optimising business processes.”

Axalta Services Offers Course To Help Body Shops Develop Leadership Skills

Axalta Coating Systems is offering an I-CAR approved leadership course nationally, designed for body shop owners, managers and team leaders to develop the skill set to become successful leaders within a team and business.

Named simply the Leadership Course, participants will walk away with an in-depth understanding of how to differentiate leadership from management, motivate and develop staff, build a positive working culture and create the next generation of leaders that will ultimately translate into happier, more effective staff and a strong business model.

Running a body shop requires leadership at all levels of management. Axalta Services says it understands the importance of this and the impact it can have on a body shop’s business sustainability. This led the team at Axalta to develop a leadership course that focuses on providing the right techniques to lead a team effectively and efficiently. The course targets:

  • Understanding the differences between leadership and management
  • Developing and motivating body shop staff to improve performance, retention and conflict resolution, whilst creating a positive and meaningful culture
  • Identifying the right management style for the business

The programme will show attendees how to effectively communicate, build and sustain better teams, create a positive culture in the business and keep staff engaged for the long term. Axalta says strategies designed to keep and develop staff have never been more critical as the pool of people from which to draw upon is dwindling at an alarming rate.

The I-CAR certified leadership course is taught using a highly interactive guided learning model to keep attendees engaged in the learning process. Numerous concepts will be available, including:

  • Identifying the task or functions critical to becoming a successful leader
  • Increasing retention and reducing absenteeism
  • Providing opportunities to network with other business leaders
  • Providing techniques to establish and improve employee engagement

Axalta’s Training Alliance with I-CAR means that upon the completion of the leadership course, an attendee will be awarded credit hours that can be applied towards the I-CAR Gold Class Professionals and Platinum Individual designations, or be used to meet role‑relevant annual training requirements. The training dates in 2018 are:

  • South Australia – 22 August
  • Queensland – 29 August
  • New South Wales – 25 September
  • Western Australia – 10 October
  • Victoria – 5 December

Full details on Axalta Services and the latest courses available can be found at www.axalta.com.au/AxaltaServices.

Axalta Names Trip to Germany Promotion Winners

Franco Missaglia from Stylefinish Auto Body in Mentone, Victoria and Craig Hall from Craig Hall Bodyworks in Canberra, ACT have won Axalta’s 2018 Win a Trip to Germany promotion.

Each winner will take in the sights of some of Germany’s most beautiful cities, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich, whilst visiting museums and automotive manufacturing plants, including Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The tour will also focus on Automechanika, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary.

“Axalta would like to sincerely thank its customers for their continued support,” said Steven Brett, Axalta Coatings Systems Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand. “Our aim is to make the tour, which includes Automechanika, a wonderful experience but also an opportunity to gain insight into the advancements happening in our industry and the impact they may have on the Australian automotive repair market now and into the future.”

Missaglia was thrilled to have been named a winner.

“I would like to thank Axalta for the great opportunity this promotion has given me to not only visit Germany but to travel with likeminded professionals,” he said.

Paul Wake, Axalta’s Sales Director, presents Craig Hall from Craig Hall Bodyworks with his winning certificate.
Paul Wake, Axalta’s Sales Director, presents Craig Hall from Craig Hall Bodyworks with his winning certificate.

Terrence Hahn Appointed New Axalta Chief Executive Officer

Axalta Coating Systems today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Terrence Hahn as Chief Executive Officer, effective 4 September, 2018, succeeding Charlie Shaver, who served as Axalta’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since 2013. Hahn will also serve on Axalta’s board of directors, expanding the board’s size from eight to nine directors.

Hahn was most recently President and Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell International Inc.’s Home and Building Technologies group. Shaver, who has chosen to step down as Chief Executive Officer to pursue a unique professional opportunity, will remain on Axalta’s board and serve as Non-Executive Chairman, working closely with Hahn to ensure a seamless leadership transition.

“On behalf of Axalta’s board, I want to welcome Terrence Hahn to the company,” said Shaver. “We are confident that Terrence is a great choice to lead Axalta going forward. His accomplishments as an executive with over a decade of domestic and international experience across multiple business groups at Honeywell, along with his nearly two decades of previous experience in a variety of leadership roles at air products and chemicals, make him a terrific fit for Axalta.

“Since I became CEO more than five years ago, we have prudently managed Axalta’s business and balance sheet, positioning the company to capitalise on opportunities as they arise and generate long-term shareholder value. I am very proud of our achievements as well as our excellent prospects for the future. I recently informed the board that I was considering stepping down as CEO and, consistent with our long-term succession planning, the board commenced a search for a potential successor CEO to build on Axalta’s accomplishments and lead the company forward. We identified Terrence as having a proven track record of success, and the right expertise, experience, and personality for Axalta. I look forward to a successful transition of the Chief Executive Officer role to Terrence and a wonderful partnership with him in my role as Chairman.

“Serving as CEO of Axalta has been an honour and a privilege. It was an extremely difficult decision to step away from an executive role at Axalta, but I am confident that Terrence has the right skillset to take Axalta to the next level of growth and development.”

“I am honoured to join Axalta at this dynamic time for the company and the coatings industry,” said Hahn. “Axalta has leading positions, a terrific executive team, strong global presence and top brands. I am excited about the tremendous opportunity at Axalta to drive organic growth through innovative and value-add offerings that will deepen existing customer relationships and attract new customers, as well as add inorganic growth through strategic acquisitions. I appreciate the board’s confidence in me and look forward to working with Charlie and the Axalta leadership team to help drive the next phase of Axalta’s growth and build shareholder value.”

Mark Garrett, Presiding Director of Axalta’s board, added: “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Charlie for his outstanding service to Axalta. As CEO, he led the company’s separation from its former parent and oversaw Axalta’s initial public offering and listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Under his leadership, Axalta has made tremendous strides, driven by a resolute commitment to customer service and innovation. We are very pleased that he will continue to serve as Chairman. We are confident in a seamless transition of leadership to Terrence Hahn. With his experience and impressive track record he is well-suited to lead Axalta’s continued growth in the coatings industry.”