H & M Malaga Smash Repairs
AAMI/AP&P AUTOBODY REPAIRER OF THE YEAR REGIONAL WINNER (SMALL SHOP) WA
The move to using Glasurit waterborne paints has been a good one, according to Muoi Nguyen, who operates H & M Malaga Smash Repairs with his wife Hang.
Since Australasian Paint & Panel’s last visit to their repair shop, the Nguyens have undertaken a significant expansion. They used to operate out of just one unit in the complex that they now have full use of.
In 2009 they added two more units to the complex, catering for new prep bays, an expanded paint shop, larger oven and a new office.
They now have better dedicated areas for the various parts of the repair process.
They have 14 staff, including three panelbeaters and two apprentice beaters, two spray painters and one apprentice painter.
There is also a work shop foreman, dismantlers and fitters and office staff. The shop averages about 25 cars per week.
Muoi and his manager handle quoting, shop management and quality control while Hang runs accounts and work scheduling.
In WA, as in other Australian states, insurers are drawing up lists of repairers according to the equipment they have. By investing in the latest equipment by Fan welding products, H & M has joined a small number of Perth shops to which local insurer RAC sends more recent model vehicles.
The majority of cars are now made with increasing percentages of high-strength steel, but a shop needs both the equipment and the training to cut and weld it.
The shop runs the Glasurit waterborne paint system, with QAD corner blowers installed into the Junair spray booth to assist the drying process.
The booth is taller and longer than a standard booth and is heated using natural gas.
Other equipment includes a host of Fan welders including two Spot welders, two Mig silicon bronze welders, dent pullers and a plasma cutter. There are two Auto Robots and two Atlas mini benches, which include the clamps for Mercedes Benz and BMW. Quoting is done using the Panel and Paint quoting system.
H & M Malaga Repairs has RAC Insurance repair approval, as well as a close working relationship with Allianz, SGIO, HBF and Zurich and all other major insurance companies.
It is also one of five selected members in Western Australia belonging to the Australian Accident Repair Network (AARN).
In the not too distant future, the business plans to evolve into a repairer for mainly prestige vehicles.