Highly Commended

Awards 2003

Ammaculate Smash Repairs
Clint McGee and Milton Whiteford show what a small shop with multi-skilled people can do. In addition to these two harmonious partners (plus their wives in the office) there is only one painter and an apprentice. Space is precious, hence a Pro Spot overhead rail welding system, plasma cutter, folding jig and high rack storage wherever possible. Perth-based Ammaculate is not afraid to tackle big hits however. Most mechanical work is performed in-house as the partners will turn their hand to most tasks. RAC is the biggest work provider, along with Thrifty and Osborne rentals. Because through-put is critical, every repair is in the spotlight.

Bensons Smash Repairs
Brothers Roy and Emanuel Gramoglia are passionate about the panel beating business. "This is a personality-led industry," Roy says. "You have to be client-focused. Any shop that expects to survive just has to learn to work with insurance companies."
Understandably, Bensons gets most of its work from insurers, with a high rate of repeat business. The 1992-established Sydney shop comprises of two spacious work areas, one for panel and the other for paint, plus a separate elegant administration and reception block. There are 18 employees, including five panel beaters, four painters, one detailer and three apprentices -- who receive special encouragement from management. The company is currently experimenting with incentive-based pay, probably to include a swipe card system.

Bob Dobell Smash Repairs
The building Bob Dobell chose for a new location three years ago had to be modified, but now has room to store 40 cars along with a washing and detailing bay on the lower ground floor. Upstairs there is a well-equipped work space with two Galaxy spray booths, two Car-O-Liners, IRT infra red mobile systems and a curing arch and three Herkules dust extraction boom arms. The Sydney shop uses Glasurit refinishing materials exclusively. Another enviable feature of the facility is the elevated production office which gives a total view of the workshop. Dobell gets about 95 per cent of his work from insurers and has strong support from the local Honda dealership.

File Finish
Up until October of last year Rohan and Samantha Pearce were running a very busy bodyshop repairing such exotica as Ferrari, Morgan, Maserati and Lotus. Then the dealer who provided most of their work opened its own bodyshop and took half of File Finish's technicians along with it. The young couple are now firmly on the road back, having learned a hard lesson about baskets and eggs. They have also had to reacquaint themselves with assessors and insurance companies.
File Finish, the only authorised Lotus and Morgan repairer in Australia, has excellent street exposure in Fitzroy, Melbourne, where you'll still find some of the world's finest sports cars being returned to as-new condition for owners who put badge and quality before price.

J&W Zarb
Joe Zarb has been on his present site in Osborne Park, Perth since 1970 but completely gutted the building and started again four years ago. The result is an excellent facility; scrupulously clean, well designed and very efficient.
J&W Zarb is part of the Car Craft group ("one of the best moves I ever made," says Zarb) and specialises in Renault and Nissan as well as being an authorised Eunos repairer.
The shop is equipped with the latest equipment, including a Monarch booth, mix room and ducted prep area, Trisk mobile infra red lights and PPG refinish system. Zarb has taken pride in the appearance of the shop and boasts of "the only panel shop in Perth with a neon sign".

Parsons Motor & Bodyshop
This Castlemaine, Victoria shop stands out in the rural surrounds with its excellent presentation and modern façade. Only two years old, the facility, run by Doug Parsons and his family, is thriving. "Kangaroos are a winner for us," says Parsons, who states that the working class background of Castlemaine means most of his customers drive older vehicles. This does not stop him from turning a profit however. "We can make more money out of a ten year old car than a new one because we do not need to fit new parts," he says. Even though he also owns the local wreckers, he still maintains that older cars can be profitable.
The building incorporates a mechanical shop which means everything can be done in-house. Two Seetal booths and a huge ducted prep area, Sikkens refinish system, as well as a Multiliner and Shark measuring system mean the shop is very well-equipped.

Stylers Bodyworks
Loris and Frank Puglia, who run Stylers Bodyworks in Brisbane, not only have an efficient shop but they go to extraordinary lengths to keep in touch with their customers.
"People change their cars and their insurance companies," Loris says, "but as customers they don't change."
This is why she sends out 2000 company newsletters every quarter. It isn't just about car care, either. There are topics of community interest and a bit of fun as well. While Frank, with 20 years panel repair experience, is the operations manager of the shop, Loris has used her marketing and business qualifications to promote the image of the company. "You can't sit back and wait for business," she says. "You have to go out and chase it, and that means communicating."

Swains Motor Body Repairs
Managed by Rick Stone and owned by Peter Butler, Swains is a large but progressive shop. Based in Slacks Creek, Brisbane, the well-equipped facility is broken up into teams of technicians. Three teams of five in the panel shop each have a leader and an apprentice. In the paint shop, two teams of six operate on a rotating basis; everyone takes a turn at prepping, painting, drying etc. Meetings are held every morning to plan the day ahead and production through-put is a priority. Using an Inhab infra red curing arch, 20 cars are put through the booth on a good day.
The shop is run on the basis of $100 an hour so efficiency levels are high, given the relatively low hourly rates paid by its key work providers. An extension to the shop will be completed next year and this is certainly a shop ahead of the game.