Building a sustainable business at Welland Crash Repairs

DuPont and Australasian Paint & Panel have teamed up for a second year to find out which repairers have embraced a more sustainable view of their business operations.

As more emphasis is placed on sustainability, business operators are being held to greater account for their actions when it comes to operating an enterprise that has an adverse effect on the environment.

With the realisation that business operators need to adopt a more sustainable approach to the way they deliver the services to their customers, Du Pont Performance Coatings and Australasian Paint & Panel teamed up to find out what business owners and managers in the autobody repair industry were doing to reduce their impact on the environment and offer a more sustainable way of do business.

One panel shop that has taken a serious approach to a more sustainable business is South Australian repairers Welland Crash Repairs.

Welland Crash Repairs is owned and operated by Marianna and Carlos Varricchio, who consider themselves to be very conscious of the environment and are working toward making their business sustainable for the future.

Marianna said the business has been granted stage two accreditation for the MTA’s “Green Stamp Plus” environmental management system.

“This process has involved reviewing all aspects of our operation to determine where and what negative impacts we have on the environment and has assisted us in addressing and minimising these impacts for the future,” she says.

“Our company actively seeks to recycle all possible waste material, minimising our waste entering landfill.”

Welland Crash Repairs has installed PPG’s Waterbourne refinishing system and their technicians are now fully trained in its use.

Steps they have taken to become more sustainable include:

•Use of a low VOC refinishing system

•Use of UV curing primers, lower energy usage required for fast curing of products

•Use of natural gas to fuel spray booth

•Purchasing recycled gun wash for remaining solvent based products.

•Recycling bumper bars and plastic components

•Recycling metal body panels and components

•Recycling waste oils and fluids including oil, coolant, refrigerant gas, etc.

•Using an approved wash bay and plate type oil separator.

•Installation of a screw type a compressor which lowers energy usage and reducing noise pollution.

•Recycling cardboard packaging.

•Replacing our spray booth filters and regularly servicing our extraction system to reduce airborne pollution.

•Using dust extractors for dry sanding operations.

“It is our goal to become a ‘green business’ and to be an industry leader in South Australia,” Marianna said.

“We take our environmental responsibilities seriously and we are committed to continuously improving our business operations.

“We are aiming for level three of the MTA’s Green Stamp Plus environmental management system.

“Level three is the industry best practice level, something we are very close to achieving.”

Other equipment used in the shop includes a Cutmaster 38 Plasma Package and the Fronius TPS 2700 Inverter Pulse mig complete package, 32 amp plug from Welding Equipment and Service and a Wielander & Schill Inverter Spot Welder from Body Shop Paint Supplies SA.

We would like to hear your story about how your business has been made more sustainable, and securing the future of this industry.

Fill in the form in this issue of AP&P or go online to www.dupontpc.com.au/sustainability and fill in the form.

You could be like last year’s winners, Rosenthal Automotive in South Australia, reaping the benefits of a better approach to business and picking up a study tour with DuPont.