Montrose Panel Beating turns 40.

Shop profile

Montrose Panel Beating turns 40

It was a passion for cars that led Harry Kelberg to build one of Melbourne's biggest smash repair businesses.
Having started his career at Jim McKeown Motors as an apprentice, Harry Kelberg enjoyed working on various race cars with aluminium hand-built bodies such as Lotus and Cooper Climax. During his seven year employment there he spent the last three years helping run the business. It was during this time he started to dream of bigger career opportunities.
‘I started my own business - Montrose Panel Beating - in Montrose (Victoria) in 1966," he recalls, "in a little tin shed with a timber floor which measured 8 metres wide x 10 metres long. That was the start and over the next few of years we added a couple of tin sheds."
It was a far cry from the high standard of some bodyshops today however, it provided a start Kelberg would capitalize on in future years.
‘Ten years later we moved into new premises and then in 1988 we built a second, much more modern shop Lilydale.
"What enormous advances I've seen since I started. The biggest changes have been in the technology in painting and spraying applications, going to very sophisticated computer measuring systems and, of course, the excellent spray booths, ovens and mixing rooms available now."
Like all companies, Montrose Panel Beating faced challenges moving the business forward. Investment was needed to ensure the company's position in the future.
‘It cost some money, of course, but now the quality of repairs is so advanced that you can virtually reinstate a motor car to its’ pre-accident condition."
In a competitive market it is hard to keep ahead of the competition. And in a declining industry how has Montrose Panel Beating been so successful over its 40 years’
Harry Kelberg's policy has always been to replace equipment as soon as it becomes dated. This may be one reason why he's run with the Glasurit paint refinish system.
‘We were using a paint product that we were happy with but in the new Lilydale shop we trialled Glasurit for three months. We were happy with the colours, flow of clears and the high quality of the finish,’ Kelberg says.
These were not the only changes he made to ensure he remained competitive in his market.
‘We have some very good quality repairers around us, but in spite of that we have been able to achieve an enormous amount of growth. In 1988, when I commenced the operation in Lilydale, it covered an area of 5000 square feet. Today it covers approximately 25,000 square feet. Both shops have separate painting facilities in separate buildings. In Lilydale we have expanded and fitted out a new paint shop using Glasurit, Lowbake ovens, mixing room and drying facilities, and huge dustless preparation areas with dust extraction and infra-red curing. Also we have recently installed a new computerised Car-o-Liner straightening bench along with Car-o-tronic measuring and inverter welding.’
Montrose Panel Beating has accepted change and kept up with technology. Harry Kelberg also attributes his business success to his staff. His employees have been with him for so long that over a third of them are due for long service entitlements.
‘I have been fortunate to have loyal staff and I have done this by building up the reputation of being fair, and having the most modern equipment and facilities. That attracts people to work for us.’
The Lilydale shop employs 22 staff and Croydon 15. This puts the company into the big league in terms of staffing. It also operates a fleet of tow trucks.,