I finally made it to a Holden Collision Repair Forum, the last one of 2018, held at Glendale TAFE, Newcastle last week on 8 August. To be fair to myself they are usually held while awards judging is taking place which is why I haven't been before. If you are a repairer and you had the chance to attend and didn't, then just go ahead and kick yourself.
The six forums attracted around 600 attendees with Sydney having the largest turnout and Brisbane the smallest. Repairers I talked to there said it was all new and valuable information delivered. Subjects touched on included the OnStar system which will be launched next year to assist drivers in a number of ways such as calling emergency services in the event of an accident. The features of the new Commodore and Equinox were discussed, in particular where all the multitude of sensors are that will need checking or recalibrating after repairs and need to be pre and post scanned in each repair situation.
Holden's 'Brazilian man of steel' Artur Candido explained the body construction of the Commodore and Equinox emphasising the vital importance of following OEM repair methods in order to maintain the structural integrity of the vehicle. An extra weld here or there can over-strengthen a joint that is meant to deform during a crash. The new pedestrian safety system with the 'explosive' bonnet was also touched on.
A number of new parts were introduced which will make repairs more economical. Damian Cahill explained the plans for the new Holden certified repairer network and the thinking behind it, including promotion of Holden-branded insurance. He also announced a change in repair method access with the VACC’s Tech Online taking over from CollisionTech.
Ryan Williamson, 3M Automotive Aftermarket Segment Sales Manager, explained the features of impact resistant structural adhesives (IRSA) from 3M and why and when they should be used.
Kicking yourself yet? Well there was more, and the opportunity to ask questions and get answers straight from the horse's mouth. Make sure you go next year.