Jan - Feb 2002: News In Brief

In Brief

Workplace safety chart launched
To aid the reduction of workplace accidents and improve safety, Pro-Visual Publishing (tel: 02 9281 2611) launched its fifth edition of the 'Body Repairers Workplace Safety Chart 2002' in January, to address the most significant safety issues within the body repairers industry.
The chart has been compiled with the support and co-operation of the MTA to ensure it addresses hazards specific to the industry.

Car-O-Liner looks for distributors
Car-O-Liner welding products will be distributed throughout Australia by a new team of distributors giving service and support. If you would like to become a Car-O-Liner welding distributor you can contact Car-O-Liner AB sales on tel: +46 227 412 00, fax: +46 227 319 00 or email: sales@car-o-liner.se. If you are interested and would like information you can contact existing local distributors; Automan Sales, tel: 08 9553 6785 or Queensland Paint Supply, tel: 07 3875 1266.

Diesel LandCruisers launched
Toyota Australia has launched a turbo-diesel powered LandCruiser 78 Series of five vehicles including two high-grade RV models.

NRMA changes name, CEO
In a move that some NSW repairers may find slightly ironic, NRMA Insurance is seeking to distance itself from its namesake roadside assistance group because of that company's perceived political blunders last year. From 1 January the NRMA Insurance holding company has been renamed Insurance Australia Group, under new chief executive Michael Hawker.

Lewer Smash chooses Sikkens
Leading WA repair shop, Johnny Lewer Smash Repairs, has decided to go with Sikkens.
Located south of Perth in the town of Mandurah the business is owned and operated by John and June Lewer.

RSP showcases high tech vehicle
The RSP Australia press facility recently produced the steel body panels for the AXCESS Australia Low Emission Vehicle; and award-winning project designed to showcase Australian manufacturing. The RSP press facility was initially set up to manufacture automotive rust repair panels but has also been involved in a number of specialty, short-run pressing jobs and manufacturing programs.

Small car safety results released
The Holden Barina, Honda Civic and Subaru Impreza have joined the ranks of the Audi A3, Holden Astra, Mercedes A140, Peugeot 206, Toyota Echo, VW Golf and Beetle by being awarded four stars out of five for their vehicle safety performance in the latest tests by the independent Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

VACC invests in carsales.com
The VACC has taken a stake in automotive sales website carsales.com. The deal also involves Reynolds and Reynolds, which has a major stakeholding in the online venture.

New Glasurit manager appointed
Owen Webb has recently joined BASF Wattyl Coatings as national commercial vehicle manager to promote Glasurit refinishing systems in the commercial vehicle market. Webb originally ran his own smash repair business in the NSW Southern Highlands before entering the automotive paint industry as a contract demonstrator around the time the industry was making the switch from acrylic to 2-Pak.
Webb can be contacted at BASF Wattyl Coatings, tel: (02) 8787 0100, or mobile: 0417 239 984.

New Auto One MD
Auto One has appointed Tim McCauley to the position of managing director and to the board. McCauley has over 20 years of business development and extensive franchise experience having worked with more than 25 franchise companies throughout Australia.
McCauley joined Auto One two years ago as general manager. He is currently focussed on developing the next generation of Auto One stores and creating value to be a member within the group.

First firebombs, now murder
First it was insurance assessors' cars being firebombed, now the Sydney crash repair sector has become embroiled in murder. The dismembered remains of a man later identified as Terry Falconer, a convicted drug maker on work release from Silverwater Prison were found by fishermen on the Hastings River, north of Sydney recently. Falconer had been working at Wreck-a-Mended Smash Repairs in Ingleburn when three men posing as policemen entered the premises and 'arrested' Falconer and drove him away.

Suppliers look to trim trading terms
Major equipment suppliers to the collision repair industry are reining in their trading terms and looking hard at their standing accounts as the industry downturn continues. Repairers' cash flow situations are bound to suffer as suppliers seek to identify those shops that are likely to best survive. Suppliers themselves are suffering as the tough business climate means investment in new equipment slows.

GIO DRP maintains pace
The GIO direct repair program is continuing to function as normal despite Suncorp Metway's takeover of the company and the departure of the initiator of the scheme, Keith Dean. Suncorp is keeping quiet on its intentions for GIO but it is believed a major review of its operations will be completed by February. It appears however, that the number of repairers GIO deals with in Sydney may be cut to around 40 shops while the assessing methodology may be altered slightly, with less emphasis on a collaborative approach between assessor and repairer.

Lynbarr top PSR
Lynbarr Industries of Fairfield, Sydney, recently won the Preferred Smash Repairer of the Year Award said NRMA Insurance.

Small businesses hit by large bank fees
An updated New South Wales Government-commissioned study released by the minister for small business, Sandra Nori, has suggested that bank fees on small businesses around Australia are escalating and have passed the $2 billion mark.
During November Nori told parliament that the banking study from the University of NSW Financial Services Consumer Policy Centre calculated "on average, banks are charging every small business $2000 a year in fees".

3M moves
Phil Henderson, national sales and marketing manager for 3M's Automotive Aftermarket division, has left the company for personal reasons and is relocating from Sydney to Adelaide. He aims to stay in the industry from his new base. Replacements for Henderson and Stuart Glase, product manager, who has moved to a different 3M division, will be announced soon.

Glassmatix on the horizon?
The VACC, it is understood, is trying to obtain a working copy of Glassmatix, the UK estimating system operated by Glass's Guide, with a view to possibly implementing the system in Australia sometime in the future. Integrating such a system in Australia is no small undertaking, as Audatex found to its cost.

NRMA apprentices
NRMA Insurance has placed 13 apprentices with Preferred Smash Repairers through the Jumpstart and Autobody Scholarship programs since the schemes' inception last year.

Insurers make the grade
Suncorp Metway is listed at number 20 on the Financial Review's Best Performing Companies list while Wesfarmers is 17th. Based on returns on investment, the list is topped by bionic ear manufacturer Cochlear.

Building collapse
Up to 12 prestige European vehicles were damaged when the building housing motor mechanic business Central Autohaus collapsed late last year. The building, on busy Parramatta Road was fatally weakened by a construction site next door.

VW restructures
Volkswagen, Europe's largest car maker, has split its stable of brands into two groups: Audi, Lamborghini and Seat will make up a 'sports' group while Volkswagen, Skoda, Bugatti and Bentley will comprise the other group.

NSW passes car industry reforms
Major new laws to try and prevent crime and protect legitimate business were passed by the NSW Parliament late last year. The Motor Trade Legislation Amendment Act overhauls the Motor Dealers Act 1974 and the Motor Vehicle Repairs Act 1980, which have not been comprehensively updated for over 20 years.
As part of the new laws, tough new crime prevention measures have been introduced to force car dealers and repairers to report if they suspect cars or parts have been stolen. The maximum fine for unlicensed car dealing and repair work has increased to $110,000. Motor dealers are now also required by law to tell car buyers if a vehicle has been damaged by floodwater or was previously written-off.

Glasurit signs new sectors
Signwriting, furniture manufacturing and boat building are all industries the Ratio-Truck System from Glasurit has been winning over recently, proving it is not just commercial vehicles that can benefit. John Montgomery of Colourfast Automotive, a Glasurit distributor, said the versatility of the R-T System is evidenced by sales into the signwriting sector among others. "The qualities that make the R-T System so successful for the commercial vehicle sector are also paying dividends for other customers, such as signwriters," he said.

UK company wipes up
Car Consumables, a UK company producing solvent-resistant wipes specifically for the auto finish market as well as a range of personal health and safety products to protect car painters from hazardous chemicals visited Australia recently on a trade mission. Contact the British Consulate-General (tel: 02 9247 7521) for more details.

Storms batter NSW
Severe storms in NSW in November are likely to have cost insurers dear but most of the damage was confined to housing. A localised hail storm in Sydney, with stones up to 2cm in diameter, did its best to prop up the ailing bodyshop sector but its lack of severity failed to put a dent in the market.

PBR gains ISO 14001
Leading Australian brake systems manufacturer PBR has received ISO 14001 environmental certification for its East Bentleigh factory complex.

Tetrosyl to expand
Tetrosyl Australia is set to expand with the company announcing plans for a full national operation to be in place by the early part of 2002. "For our plans to grow substantially we are establishing a fully equipped and staffed national head office backed by interstate representation," said general manager Graeme McLean. "We're also intending to put local manufacturing in place during the 2002 calendar year. The search for suitable premises for the national head office, distribution warehouse and manufacturing plant is at an advanced stage and a staff recruitment program is already underway," he added.

BMW, Subaru take Best Cars honours
The 2001 Australia's Best Cars Award was dominated by Subaru and BMW, each with three category winners. Holden and Mitsubishi took out two categories each while Hyundai and VW each won one category.

Akzo biggest
Akzo Nobel, manufacturer of Sikkens Refinishes, is the world's largest paint and coatings company according to a recent issue of Coatings World magazine.
PPG Industries is the second largest such company, behind Akzo Nobel which has worldwide sales of US$5.15 billion.

VACC looks to train assessors
The VACC is considering setting up an assessor training course through its Collision Repair Council. The Insurance Council of Australia has apparently been contacted but has not expressed interest in the idea.

Toyota moves
John Perdrix has moved from his position as head of Toyota's Consultant Group to take up a position at Daihatsu. Perdrix had been working on rolling out a Toyota repairer network in Australia.

Jaguar aims to double sales
Jaguar Australia plans to double sales by the end of next year with the release of the new X-Type, a car which will go head to head with the BMW 3 Series, the Mercedes C Class and the Audi A4.

Clever poly
Melbourne company Composite Materials Engineering has developed a new polypropylene for use in a wide range of automotive components. Its major advantage is its ability to maintain the physical properties of the material once recycled.