Ken Shafer Smash Repairs
NORTON/AP&P BEST NEW BODYSHOP NSW & ACTKen Shafer Smash Repairs
About a year ago the long established bodyshop of Ken Shafer Smash Repairs found itself bursting at the seams. The business comprised a wrecking yard as well as a bodyshop, and the family decided to separate them. Father Ken stayed at the old address, while his two sons set out to build a new bodyshop. An ideal building, formerly an engineering workshop, came up for sale right opposite them in Blaxland Road, Campbelltown. They bought it, converted it, built reception and offices at the front and a car park at the side, and moved in to start realising their dream. Their mother, Margaret, who shares their passion for smash repairs, took over the reception desk.
Now, 12 months later, Bryson Shafer (28) and Steele Shafer (32) preside over an outstanding new bodyshop, not just in the equipment they installed but the ongoing inventiveness they put into running their business.
Faced with a long main building, most repairers would position their ovens backing on to a wall ? but not the Shafers. They built their two Lowbake booths right in the middle towards the back, so they could drive cars through and around them to get to the four Trisk infrared equipped prep bays.
The refinish and prep area is fed by dismantling, alignment and panel beating on one side, with assembly and washing on the other. The work moves on an ideal, if long, U track. Cars begin their stay in the shop ? which has an average turnaround time of 3.5 days ? in an undercover open bay which serves initial assessing and final presentation.
There are 17 employees in the shop ? and growing. The brothers, both of whom are qualified engineers, work on the business rather than in it. They take three month turns at running the shop and running the front office, which means that they are always looking at the business with fresh eyes. This result in continuing improvements in methods, from work flow and repair practices to costing and management methods.
They are enthusiastic about their equipment choices. They put in Festool dust extraction which, although not cheap, they regard as highly efficient. They run Car-o-liner alignment and electronic measuring, a range of new welders including inverter and silicon brazing, DuPont paint (again quality that justifies price), Fusor bonding and in-house plastic repair. The business uses D&S Quote Plus and its technicians are on incentives.
The company does most of its insurance work with Allianz, Suncorp/GIO, and Lumley.
POWELL'S COMMENT
Even though this is an outstanding new shop as it stands, the Shafer brothers have expansion plans. They see the Blaxland Road shop as the 'mother ship' with a number of satellite drop-off and estimation centres to extend their catchment area.