Prinz opens DuPont training centre

News

Prinz Australia has opened a state-of-the-art DuPont auto refinish training centre at its Braeside headquarters. Prinz has a working relationship with DuPont stretching back to 1992. In 1997 the company was appointed warehouse/distributor for Victoria, responsible for appointing local Victorian distributors of the refinish brand.
The new training centre is used by DuPont to train technicians and customers in all aspects of refinish. A fully-equipped spray booth has been installed by Prinz, alongside a state-of-the-art prep area and mix room. The training facility has room for over 30 people to view demonstrations and three technical staff, managed by Frank Rugolo, are employed in the building.
Between three and four training nights every month are conducted at the new centre and DuPont, which leases two administration offices in the adjoining Prinz head office, uses the facility to launch new products into the Victorian market.

Benchmarking tool launched in Oz
Lynette Collings has launched her benchmarking program into Australia with the support of Glasurit. The program has been operating in New Zealand since 1997. Repairers who participate (at $50 subscription fee per month for 12 months) are able to compare a wide range of information on sales, costs, productivity and overheads against monthly industry averages.
According to Collings, the service is quick and easy to use: "The repairer simply logs onto the benchmarking website [www.ebenchmarking.co.nz], enters his unique ID and password and enters the relevant figures at the prompts." She said the key benefits of the program are that it allows participants to monitor industry trends, compare costs and determine if they are paying too much for services such as accountancy or electricity.

Protec opens retail outlet
Protec has expanded its operations into Sydney's northern beaches area with the opening of a retail outlet in Brookvale (tel: 02 9905 2122). The store has been operating since May.
Protec, which is the largest Australian-owned manufacturers of refinish products, already has a large warehouse facility in Milperra servicing Sydney's western suburbs which also supports both metropolitan and country distributors.
The Adelaide-based company decided to expand its presence into the North Shore, and Brookvale, with over 50 bodyshops in the near vicinity, was an ideal choice as a base for this expansion.
"After we have really got this place up and running we aim to take on more staff and add a full-time delivery driver," said branch manager Peter Doolan, who, with sales rep Keith Watts, runs the outlet.
The Brookvale branch is Protec's first retail outlet in New South Wales and so far response from the industry has been good said Doolan. "We have taken some of our customers around the shop and they have been very impressed. It's a good way of backing up the sales team out on the road who can direct customers to the shop where they can see our whole range."
In addition to carrying an extensive range of refinish products and sundries, Protec is the local distributor for DeVilbiss, Iwata, Norton, MSA and Stayer.