Adelaide Motor Body Repairs
It’s well known in the autobody repair industry for owners and technicians to start early but at 7am you wouldn’t expect the office staff to be there as well.
Adelaide Motor Body Repairs is an exception. At 7am this north-eastern Adelaide suburbs bodyshop had a full crew ready to repair a line-up of damaged vehicles. The team included the owner of the family business Pat Siciliano, wife Anna and sons David and Mark.
It’s a true Italian family business founded by Pat, with his sons brought up in the trade. David, with his father on hand to help, is now the manager of the business. Like his father he is a panel beater. The shop Pat created, at the foot of the Adelaide Hills, is more than ready for business.
Mark has just finished his apprenticeship and was an award winner in his group.
The specialist skills of Anna have been a fillip for the business as well. As a former secretary to one of the directors at Myer, she has all the organising skills needed for the business. Anna does the bookings and office work and is the manager of the shop’s Ozsafe OH&S program. She has been tempted to return to the corporate world but the business needs her skills and she has stayed.
Mark, a spray painter, was brought into the business along with his brother David after major renovations to the building that Pat purchased. David, who graduated in 2006, has more experience in the business and Mark is adding to his skills with smart repair courses. Pat has taken a step-back from the business to let David manage, but he helps out when needed.
When Pat bought the building, structural work to the shop was essential. Recent work has made that an even better place to work through the demolition of a wall in the middle of the building, a lunch room established on the mezzanine and new reception and office area.
The 400 square meter shop on a 700 square meter block has been completely re-equipped, although some material came from Pat’s previous shops. They have a CMC booth and a full down-draft prep bay. The booth is equipped with railed four infra-red banks of heaters and the booth is lined with removable sheeting to provide interior booth protection. This is replaced every six months.
The shop is also equipped with a Globaljig Rotax, along with a full gamut of welding equipment including aluminium repair technology and a Monaldi silicon bronze welder.
The business has two fulltime panel beaters plus one contractor and two spray painters. The quoting system is QCQ and David does the estimating and detailing.
Although Adelaide Motor Body is a small shop, it is exceptionally well run. David seems to have a head for the business and is mature beyond his years particularly for someone out of apprenticeship just three years ago. Pat has been a help here together with Anna who brings the office aspect into line.
Insurers that provide work to Adelaide Motor Body include RAA, CGU, SGIC and IAG and like so many others that have a quality business in Adelaide and its suburbs, it draws business through repeat and recommended customers.
Powell’s view
Many children never want to see their family business let alone work in it, but bodyshops do seem to buck the trend. The Sicilianos seem to work in almost complete harmony and they have a great team, good trades skills, efficient management and excellent front office back-up with matriach Anna, a skilled office manager.