Mar - Apr 2002: News In brief

In Brief

Tetrosyl moves
Auto detailing and cleaning specialist Tetrosyl Australia has relocated to new, larger premises at 2/3 Southpark Close, Keysborough, Victoria 3173, tel: (03) 9798 2933, fax: (03) 9798 2977.

New Standox GM
Standox has a new general manager, Lance Wiess, to replace Phil Amos who has taken up the position of managing director of ERS.

Sikkens: as seen on TV!
Sikkens' Autocoat BT product range has been selected by Brimarco Industries for its current project of manufacturing eight new mobile studios for the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). The broadcasting equipment will be transported in an expandable semi-trailer with a length of 14 metres.

NRMA rolls out PSR initiatives
NRMA Insurance has set up a website for its Preferred Smash Repairers and is due to send out a regular industry newsletter to the network as well. Fact-finding trips to RACV's Accident Repair Centres are also being arranged for interested PSRs.

Automechanika Asia postponed
Organisers of the Australian Automotive Trade Show were expecting to pick up a number of international exhibitors after the Automechanika Asia in Singapore was postponed until 2003.

Car pollution measured online
Victorian motorists are now able to measure how much their cars are affecting air quality, how much they spend on petrol per year and what affect a change in driving style and maintenance could have. RACV and EPA Victoria have developed the Car EcoMeter, a web-based program that estimates emissions and fuel consumption. Check out www.racv.com.au or www.epa.vic.gov.au for details.

Leister in Oz
A range of hot air welders from Leister are now available in NSW and Victoria from plastics machinery company Techspan Australia.

Woods, Ford still on track
Ray Leigh, director of the Woods Group in Melbourne, said it was "highly unlikely" that the recent announcement by Ford USA to sell its wholly-owned Collision Team of America crash repair network in the US would affect Ford's relationship with the Woods Group. Ford holds a minority stake in the repair group.

Trade show postponed
The 2nd Queensland Automotive Expo which was planned for 15-16 February 2002 has been put 'on hold' by organisers due to lack of response from the trade.

Wesfarmers up
Wesfarmers' insurance division posted a 32 per cent increase in earnings for the first six months of the year to $34.6 million. The company said profits would continue to grow in line with the worldwide increase in insurance premiums.

Trade fair bookings up
Trade Fairs and Events Australia claimed a flood of space applications for this year's Australian Automotive Trade Fair, leading to 80 per cent of space now being sold. MTA NSW recently took up sponsorship of the show after the Australian Aftermarket Association dropped out last year.

Nearly 10% use factoring in Vic
According to the latest VACC survey on payment periods by insurers, almost 10 per cent of the repairers who responded to the survey are using factoring agents, after effectively giving up hope of receiving prompt payment from their work providers.

NEW Capricorn CEO
Former Coles Myer and Aherns/David Jones general manager Trent Bartlett has been named new CEO at Capricorn Society.

NRMA Associate program up and running
The NRMA Associate Smash Repairer program commenced on 1 March 2002, replacing the Known Repairer and Competitive Partner programs, each of which expired on 31 January 2002.

Gemini double trouble
People born under the star sign Gemini are more likely to crash their cars than any other star sign, according to research by Suncorp Metway. Those least likely to crash were born under the sign of Capricorn.

Small car safety results
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).

Former repairer murdered
The dismembered remains of a man later identified as former smash repair operator Terry Falconer, a convicted drug maker on work release from Silverwater Prison, were found by fishermen on the Hastings River, north of Sydney late last year. Falconer had been working at Wreck-a-Mended Smash Repairs in Ingleburn when three men posing as policemen entered the premises, 'arrested' Falconer and drove him away.

Tetrosyl appointment
Frank Wilson has been appointed Tetrosyl sales manager for Victoria and South Australia as part of the car care company's expanded marketing plan.

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".

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.

Ford, Bridgestone appeal
Ford and Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding have won the right to appeal against a US Federal Court decision to grant class status in claims related to the Firestone tyre failure and Ford Explorer roll-overs of the past decade.

Zurich A OK
Zurich Australia Insurance has been given an A-plus credit rating by Standard & Poor supported by the group's strong capitalisation and solid level of capital surplus.