IAG to on-line tendering?
News
Although IAG would not confirm that it will soon move to on-line tendering in Victoria and NSW, a number of its preferred smash repairers(PSRs)and other services providers say it will happen ? maybe as soon as April of this year. They have based this on interviews conducted with repairers by NRMA and RACV representatives who are clearly fine tuning a web based tendering model.
IAG makes no secret of the fact that it has been looking at extending the system of on-line tendering that has been operating in South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland or some time.
IAG says: "the experience in these states shows the system provides benefits to both customers and repairers, by generally creating a faster, more efficient repair process."
The system for NSW and Victoria may vary in some details from that in the three established states but the principles are likely to remain the same.
Damaged Cars would be brought to a receiving depot (NSW will probably have around 15 of them) where an assessor would examine and photograph them. He would then prepare a 'scope of works' necessary to repair the car, noting parts required. Images of the car, along with the scope, would be placed on the internet where PSRs would bid for the jobs online. A repairer would be selected after the expiry date of quotes and the car would be delivered ? or more probably Just how the current four level PSR system would be applied to tendering is not clear. One repairer suggested that IAG might grade its repairers by suitability for certain car models or types of repair. Internet access codes could be used to achieve this. On the other hand, IAG may see all PSRs as equals and let them compete openly.
In other states where it operates, the on-line tendering system has met with mixed feelings. One Perth repairer says he was running his shop almost entirely from on-line tendering and loved it. Another in Brisbane didn't like the idea of what amounted to an auction, because the cheapest would always win ? which would not necessarily mean the best repair would be carried out.
In the three established states, IAG (through its various insurance brands)monitors the percentage of winning tenders its PSRs achieve and 'counsels' those who repeatedly bid too high to win the tender.
The general consensus in the three states is that IAG on-line tendering works best as a filler after more profitable work. That, of course, might not be possible in Victoria and NSW where RACV and NRMA have greater market percentages.
Although guarded about discussing the extension to on-line tendering, IAG head of claims and assessing, David Brown, said the insurer had first flagged its intention to examine the broader implementation of a tendering model at its preferred smash Repairer conference in November 2003. He said the system currently operating interstate benefited repairers, allowing them to bid on the work which best suits their skills, equipment level and capability.
?This system allows repairers and the market to set the cost of repairs, saves time and paperwork, and allows repairers to bid only on the jobs they want," he said. "The tendering model allows for electronic processing of repairs and invoices, and has an in-built feedback mechanism to help repairers improve their performance,?.
Brown said any change to IAG?s repair supply chain operating model would be discussed well in advance with preferred and associate smash repairers, who would continue to be an integral part of IAG?s business arrangements.
A Sydney NRMA PSR commented that the success of on-line tending really depended upon the clarity of the images and the accuracy of the assessors in preparing the scope. He believed the problems of discovering additional work once panels were removed would be increased under the on-line system. Insurance assessors would probably make more mistakes in estimating than panel shops currently do, and this would increase over time because insurance assessors would be confined to barracks rather than moving among shops to observe latest methods and technology.
Nathans collects prizes
Nathans Prestige Autobody Repairs The company won the Norwest Ltd sponsored "Most Outstanding Business" award, the Unilever Australia "Excellence in Enviromental Management" award, were a finalist in "Excellence in Customer Service" and "Outstanding Business Contribution". The awards were presented by the Baulkham Hills Shire Council and sponsored by local businesses. This was not the first time Nathans had been winners in these types of awards.
Nathans also won two awards made by Suncorp in conjunction with the Parramatta Chamber of Commerce: "Excellence in Contribution to the Community" and "Excellence in Contribution to the Environmtent".
It didn't stop there. When he 2004 "Champion of Champions" awards were held at the Westin Hotel in Sydney in September, Nathans won "Best Automotive Services".
And to cap it off (so far) Nathans won the 2004 Daily Telegraph award for "Metropolitan Business of the Year"
100th panel shop graduate
Richard Bushell, who runs a successful body shop in Yamba, NSW, has become the 100th Graduate ? Diploma of Business (Frontline Management) ? awarded by Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, ? through the Global Compliance Risk Management program.
Bushell had completed his apprenticeship in 1966 when he was awarded his trade certificate. With brother Noel he started business in Yamba in 1974 from a service station, called Yamba Motors. The company moved to its current premises in 1988 with seven staff.
Bushell said the program has helped him comply with the OH&S regulations and improved efficiently and profitability ? which he believes has translated to a 10-15 percent increase in profit.
With the help from the Global team that visited the workshop, Bushell prepared his ?living document? (portfolio) which was used by Swinburne to assess his competence for the diploma. The diploma assessment is competency based and reflects the improvements made in the business. Bushell said the program gave him additional management skills, which he is now using. A new computer system is being installed to provide more up to date and accurate information about the business.
Recently, 19 of the first 100 Graduates attended a graduation ceremony in Melbourne, where they were awarded their Diplomas by the Vice Chancellor of the Swinburne University of Technology.
Andrew Baker, director of Global Compliance said: ?To stay at the forefront in business you must operate in a responsible, efficient, stable and sustainable manner. This extends to risk management in all aspects of business including occupational health and safety, the environment, financial, customer service, long-term business exit, transition and succession planning.?
Global Compliance programs address the needs of proprietors of owner-managed businesses, line managers, and key employees. Global delivers a fast track tertiary qualification in a way that recognizes the skills of people with little or no academic background.
Baker says that, as a business leader you need to understand and comply with occupational health and safety legislation; understand environmental issues; identify areas where change is required; implement the changes needed to make your businesses more sustainable; be alert to changing customer expectations; have sound financial management skills for short and long term viability. There are three stages in the Global Compliance Risk Management Program: seminars, evidence portfolio and individual coaching.
New measuring system
A new electronic measuring system just introduced by Car Bench can measure not only the underbody of a car but the upper body, inside and out.
Called the 'Contact' system, the product comes from the makers of Car Bench,a leading jig based alignment system distributed in Australia by Melbourne based smash repair suppliers, Tony and Joe Rugolo.
The Contact measuring system comes in the form of an articulated arm developed for the measuring, diagnosis and repair of motor vehicles. Its compact size means that it can be placed easily and rapidly on virtually any part of a bench to take measurements. It can also be supplied with an adjustable tripod axle stand that can easily be positioned in nay needed height to allow complete and precise measurements of the entire body. The Contact system can be used with any type of bench or lifting system on the market.
The Contact's measuring range allows the operator to carry out measuring on the whole frame of the vehicle without having to move the unit from its original position.
No adapters are needed during the measuring process. Instead, there is a tracer point that can quickly be positioned into three different angles.
Contact comes with a vehicle technical data base and the measuring system 'Car-Vision' which is an advanced program that guides the operator through the identification of the reference points and deviations during the diagnosis of the vehicle.
The Contact instrument joins a number of repair products distributed by the Rugolo family team. The flagship product is still the Car Bench which Tony Rugolo says leads the field in jig alignment systems. In fact, he regards universal pin benches principally as measuring machines.
"Pulling one section of a body into shape can pull another out of shape ? something that can't happen to jig systems," he says.
Rugolo is a great believer in repairs returning cars to exact alignment after an accident. He points out that if a repair is completed and then an alignment error is discovered, the rectification process has to virtually start all over again to get the gaps right.
"Cars are built on jigs," he says. "They should be repaired on jigs too. When you put a damaged car on to a jig, a technician or an assessor can see immediately where the damage is. I'd like to see roadworthy certificates include alignment along with the other tests on the list."
Car Bench obviously sees a place for measuring systems and benches to happily co-exist, but with clearly defined roles. The main benefit of the Contact measuring system is that it measures the whole car and detect body distortion above the floor line.
Self sufficient washing
Melbourne based Ultimate Club Wash (UCW)has commenced marketing a hand car wash system that promises to answer many of the challenges to panel shops having to use and dispose of water used in washing cars. The system is a totally self sufficient, fully transportable washing facility which collects its own rain water, recycles its own waste water and has its own power supply. It enables panel shops to offer their customers clean vehicles without sacrificing the dwindling water supply and damaging the environment.
UCW can provide recycle wash water systems of varying complexity and cost. These range from low cost systems which recycle water in small volumes with occasional discharge to sewer, to larger continuous recycle systems which utilize bio-reactors to control the buildup of organics. For commercial vehicle washes where a sewer discharge point is available, UCW usually recommends a basic low cost system which can easily be added to the existing site equipment. This recycle system will treat and recycle up to 2000 litres per hour of wash water for a defined period, for up to six weeks. The build up of organics over this period will lead to odour development if the water volume is not dumped to sewer. The exit water quality will be well within the sewer acceptance limits. Chemical treatment of the recycled water can also be added to extend the dump cycle .occasionally. The volume dumped will be approximately 600 litres every four to six weeks. The system includes the following components and equipment: ? Oil solids separator, with a separator feed pump for installation in the site pump pit or final compartment of the existing site triple interceptor. ? 600 litre recycle water storage tank. This tank has an overflow and manual drain valve for occasional discharge to sewer. ? 2000 litre per hour recycle water pressure pump (350 kPa output pressure, 240V single phase supply). ? Bag filter station - three bag filters in series with 50, 25 and 5 micron bags.
BMW backs preferred
BMW is the latest car company to become involved in directing owners to its own preferred smash repairers.
The company has set up a 24 hour telephone service which suggests to owners that they take their accident damaged BMW or Mini to one of 40 approved repairers nationally. The owners are told that these repairers will offer factory support through recovery, towing, repair, and paperwork. Mondial Assistance runs the call centre and assigns the tow trucks at the behest of customers with damaged vehicles. This service augments the existing 24 hour roadside assistance.
When a call is made to the accident service, an accident case manager is assigned to the vehicle. This manager tracks the car from roadside recovery to the bodyshop and keeps the customer informed of the vehicle?s progress through the repair cycle.
Follow-up calls after the vehicle has been returned aim at complete customer satisfaction.
In its soft sell for this service BMW says "The one-call, no-pain, peace-of-mind process will be welcomed by distressed drivers who may have little time to ponder the implications of surrendering their vehicles to unknown towing operators or repairers."
The service applies to all new BMW and MINI vehicles delivered from 1 January 2004 and covers them for up to seven years - depending on model.
BMW says that its group accident management allows customers to make an informed decision about who will repair their vehicle. By opting for the recovery and repair service they can be sure their car is in the hands of the people who know BMW best. In addition, authorised bodyshops ensure correct repair techniques are employed and remove the potential for non-genuine parts to be used, protecting resale value as well as the all-important BMW driving experience.
In a tyIn line with many prestige and specialist middle market brands, BMW is pushing the need for its cars to be repaired by approved, factory-trained technicians, given advanced technology such as the multitude of electronic sensors and chassis systems, to structural bonding techniques and the widespread use of high-strength steel, aluminium and magnesium.
The programme also makes provision for preferred rate car rental to ensure customers are back on the road quickly.
Here come the Indyans
For the fourteenth year, Brisbane North TAFE students were in the pits at the Gold Coast Indy helping put the cars back on track. And for the first time the team included female apprentices.
Spray painting apprentices Tammy Murdon, of Nerang and Loren Fotheringham, of Broadbeach Waters were among 14 quick-thinking and skilled automotive students who won a much sought after place in TAFE?s motor racing repair team.
Since the inception of the race, over 130 apprentices have won the opportunity to participate in the team. The students were among TAFE?s top performing vehicle trade apprentices studying in areas such as vehicle body building, panel beating and spray painting.
The team, sponsored by the Department of Employment and Training, Group Training Australia, Brisbane, and the Suncorp Recommended Repair Group, were joined trackside by seven technical teachers and support staff.
The Brisbane North TAFE Motor Repair Team is also sponsored by DuPont, K and H Surface Technologies, FGI, Signart, Stayer Power Tools, Wurth, GTAB, BOC Gases, CIGweld, Qld Paint Supplies, Pilot Air Compressors, Hog?s Breath Cafe and Septone.
Paint you can't believe
A Melbourne company refreshingly called Products That Work (PTD) has become the distributor for The Alsa Corporation, a unique paint company in the US. Alsa produces a range of exotic special effects paints, many of them suitable for car refinishing.
The Alsa range offers 'something different' that many paint shops want to offer their customers, extending to 'something very different' with such exotica as spray on chrome, marble, crazed, wood, chameleon, glow-in-the-dark, and a variety of finishes that change colour for a variety of reasons.
For 20 years, Alsa, a ccompany virtually unheard of in Australia, has been developing coatings and finishes for information technology firms. The whimsical surface treatments often seen on keyboards and mobile phones are probably Alsa-created materials. Since November 2003, Alsa has expanded into aftermarket refinish technology by introducing its own line of eye dazzling custom painting products.
Alsa's product line is extensive, with a vast variety of trick finishes, from wild metallic basecoats to crystalline topcoats and every effect in between. In one of its products, a system of candies allows the painter to create his own colors. In another, 'crystallated' pearls pop off the surface, and another paint glows in the dark. There are crazed finishes, unbelievable color-shifting flakes, and several versions of chameleon Spectra FX paint. One of the most fascinating breakthroughs is Alsa's 'Mirra Chrome' finish, a micro-powdered aluminum suspended in an alcohol-based medium that sprays on as a virtually polished chrome finish in one coat. Add clear and it's like a mirror. It?s the nearest thing to chrome to come out of a spray gun. Add candy colors on top or mix with other effects creates a new set of tools to help unleash creativity in the spray booth.
The brains trust behind Alsa comprises Steve Flanagan, technical director in charge of R&D and Albert Banoun, VP of sales & marketing. They don't let anybody inside their development lab, but say is brimming with more new ideas. Their latest product is a chameleon finish called 'Xposures' that changes color with the temperature. A vehicle with this coating will be black in the garage, but will begin changing color as soon as the sun hits it, and will pass through a range of eight additional colors as the surface heats up.
So unusual and exclusive are these products, one would expect them to cost a fortune, but Albert Banoun says their prices are actually less than the more familiar brands. Moreover, because Alsa's products cover so well, material and prep costs are lower. Alsa is serious about making a major mark in the custom paint market,
Alsa paints are distributed in Australia and New Zealand by PTW.
Enquiries: (03) 9764 2088
AAMI backs Sydney shop
AAMI, Australia's third largest motor vehicle insurer has entered into a joint venture with a repairer to open a large new repair shop in the outer Sydney suburb of Seven Hills. AAMI already has a shop in Victoria and one being built in South Australia.
The news of the Sydney opening started rumours that AAMI had embarked upon a plan to set up a whole network of its own repair facilities but Ron Arnold, general manager of corporate affairs said this is not the case.
"We simply want to gain a better understanding of the smash repair industry so that we can deliver good repairs at a reasonable cost," he told Paint & Panel. "We selected Seven Hills because it is a big growth area and unlikely to have any material effect on existing shops. We have no plans for any more shops in Australia."
Arnold would not be drawn on the financial arrangement between AAMI and the shop's 'owner' John Guest, except to say that it would be subject to performance parameters and that it would do only AAMI work. There would be no favouritism and the shop would have to pay its own way by providing commercially competitive quotes. It would have the advantage, however, of not having to quote against another repairer ? which is the feature of AAMI's two quote system. However, Arnold said there would be terms and conditions imposed on the shop to balance this advantage.
AAMI believes strongly in its current two quote repair method. Unlike IAG it is not tempted by online tendering which Arnold sees as 'death by internet'. While AAMI has not increased its PSR network, (it believes there is a general over supply of repairers) it sees an opportunity to assist the efficiency of its existing PSRs through better understanding of the repair process.
AAMI is one insurer not embroiled in the funny money funny time debate, It is interested only in quotes for method of repair and bottom line cost.
Pocket PC does it all
The quickly advancing technology of hand held PCs is finding many applications in the motor industry. Latest entrant into the market is Motex, an Australian company which is part owned by Turners Netresult, an offshoot of Turners, the leading New Zealand motor auction house. The marriage between the motor industry and hand held computers with built in camera, voice recorder and telephone has been mooted for a while. Some companies are already successfully marketing hand held quoting devices, but Motex Australia has added the advantages of camera to capture images, voice recording for time saving comments and a mobile phone to communicate the information to a third party or remote PC. The device can also be physically linked to a PC for a direct download. While the information capturing device can be any of a number of hand held PC models on the market, the software divides into several end uses. There are applications for motor auction houses, smart repair operators, parts suppliers, and dealers who need to make inspection reports. Using the same Pocket PC based technology Motex has also designed software which combines Glass?s data for valuation with a mini estimating or scope of work application all running off the same software. Smash repairers can transfer the information captured by the hand PC to virtually any estimating system, but if they use the 'Motex Easiest' estimating software this information is automatically uploaded into the estimating system. There are several Melbourne repairers already using the full system. The main advantages is that it replaces the traditional tick-sheet, digital camera and hand written notes with a single hand held computer. Any Pocket PC computer using the Windows mobile operating system will run the software. The cost of pocket PCs start at less than $600, including mobile phone and camera. The cost of Motex software is $1000 per year, which includes regular updates of data and system upgrades.
In addition to software for bodyshops, Motex has developed an assessing system, using the same technology, for the insurance market. It can be operated at assessing centres or on-the-road. A component of the software uses vehicle parts data originally sourced by Motex Australia which specialises in the crash repair industry. Turners Netresult is a joint venture between Turners Auctions New Zealand?s largest car auction business,(a public company), and Netresult Technology a New Zealand software development company. The trans-Tasman venture began when Netresult developed one of New Zealand's first mobile computing applications for Turners Inspection Services, a business set up by Turners to provide vehicle inspection services for major car leasing companies in New Zealand for vehicles reaching 'end of lease'. This same application has been running at Turners for three years. Turners needed to replace their ageing auction administration system and formed a joint venture with Netresult to specify and develop a new system.
I-CAR may come here
Leading US smash repair training organisation, I-CAR, may set up a branch in Australia if there is sufficient support from the industry at large. Discussions have taken place between Brian Parsons, the recently appointed manager of the Australian Accident Repair Network (AARN) and Rick Tuuri, I-CAR's director of business development and North American operations to assess the interest of the I-CAR training model and concept coming to Australia.
I-CAR is North America's foremost training organisation for established panel shop management and employees rather than an educator for technical students just out of high school. It specialises in the dissemination of knowledge about the most advanced repair techniques, concentrating on re-training experienced repair professionals.
Parsons says: "If we do not find a streamlined way for our people to keep pace with understanding the repair requirements of the latest technology, the repair industry will have increased challenges in the near future." Industry support has been the key to I-CAR?s outstanding success in the United States and Canada. Tuuri explained I-CAR's position in relation to Australia: ?I-CAR is currently in the process of evaluating entering the Australian marketplace," he said. "To best accomplish this, it is important for us to do a couple of things. We need to evaluate and have a firm understanding of the Australian marketplace. We must measure the genuine interest within the crash repair industry and associated stakeholders to determine the market for any I-CAR training programs. We also need to understand the political landscape. As I-CAR stands for the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto-collision Repair, it is critical that we partner with the best neutral, inter-industry group to ensure our optimal opportunity for success in this venture." To that end, Tom McGee, I-CAR's executive vice president and CEO will visit Australia during the last week of April/first week of May 2005. He is planning an exploratory mission to determine the potential for I-CAR in Australia. Pending coordination of schedules, AARN will issue invitations to the various industry groups for a meeting to be held with McGee to explore the viability of I-CAR's entry through AARN. These groups include vehicle manufacturers, insurers, suppliers, education departments (via the appropriate TAFE Colleges) and other industry associations. Parsons says both the AARN directors and members of the national advisory group believe AARN is well placed to partner I-CAR in this project. ?We are an organisation that is committed to developing good relationships with all the industry stakeholders and fostering transparent, trustworthy relationships for the benefit of our members," he said. "This initiative not only addresses the needs of our members but will assist all crash repairers and their customers. This was the overwhelming consensus when this subject was raised at our recent National Advisory Meeting in Sydney." Interested industry groups wishing to receive an invitation to this meeting, to be held in Melbourne, can contact Brian Parsons at AARN via Email brian.parsons@aarn.com.au or by telephoning (03) 97929422.
IAG pays pronto
Insurance Australia Group has released independently reviewed figures on the time it takes to pay members of its personal insurance preferred and associate repairer networks. The results are born out by
The payment times, calculated by IAG and reviewed by KPMG, indicate it took an average of four days from the day of receipt to pay an electronic invoice from a preferred or associate smash repairer
between the beginning April and the end of July 2004.
The invoices reviewed were lodged by preferred and associate repairers in NSW, Victoria and the ACT through the Online Repair Management (ORM) System, which pays repairers electronically.
Ninety-one per cent of all preferred and associate repairer invoices received by IAG come through ORM in these states. IAG head of personal insurance manufacturing, Paul Pemberton, said the figures demonstrated IAG?s commitment to building an economically sustainable and responsible relationship with the
smash repair industry.
?The smash repair industry is undergoing a challenging period, with fewer cars per repair shop than elsewhere in the world," he said. "Competition for quality trainees and the need to continually update business skills to survive. The last thing small cash flow businesses like repair shops need is tardy payments. We?re committed to ensuring that repair shops get paid as quickly as possible for their work.
?The issue of how long it takes insurers to pay repairers has been reviewed by both the ACCC and a Senate Inquiry, and although these bodies found a lack of evidence to support assertions that late payments are endemic, we decided to conduct our own review in the interests of accountability and transparency.?
The KPMG review of IAG?s payment times included 73,690 payments made by IAG to members of the preferred and associate repairer network between April and July, 2004, for NSW, ACT and Victorian repairers associated with the NRMA Insurance and CGU brands. The review also incorporated invoices from members of the RACV Preferred and Associate repairer network, administered and paid by IMA, an alliance between IAG and RACV. By early 2005, quarterly reviews will also include payment times to members of the preferred and associate repairer network in Queensland, SA and WA.
IAG says it will continue to have its payment times reviewed, and will publish quarterly results on its wewbsite.
APPRA raises the bar
The Auto Parts Recyclers Association of Australia Inc (APRAA) launched its industry 2004 accreditation program at the APRAA 2004 national conference and trade show in Noosa, Queensland 15-17 October.
?APRAA is the peak, national industry body for the auto parts recycling/dismantling industry and so has the major role to play in leading the industry forward and encouraging higher quality standards," said Alan Marshall, APRAA?s executive officer.
?Our industry accreditation program has been going since 1997 but a major review took place this year under the leadership of Peter Barrows, our accreditation national chairman. The important commitment to business and customer quality, along with environmental best five star program. However changes this year have been intoduced to make it more affordable to members, to reduce the paperwork and to increase the program promotions.
?The APRAA accreditation program is all about raising the bar on industry standards," Marshall said. ?Our sector is facing increasing pressures on business and environmental compliance aspects, as well as the ongoing competition from new and non-genuine parts. And of course the unlicensed backyarders continue to flourish due to the lack of genuine regulatory enforcement."The APRAA Accreditation Program is optional, but assists members to benchmark their position in the market place and encourages them to plan and implement ongoing improvements."
During the recent APRAA national conference, several speakers highlighted the importance of the industry being more accountable and improving quality standards to better comptete, to survive and to satisfy the community?s growing demands on environmental impacts. Speaker comments included the importance of improving risk management practices; the new insurance discounts from OAMPS/CGU to apply to APRAA accredited members rated two stars or above; ELV environmental laws in Europe and Japan; the increasing impact of consolidators and independent marketing groups in the USA promoting higher quality practices; and importantly, the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council pushing ahead to implement the industry?s new Code of Practice to restrict the illegal second-hand parts supply, estimated to be around $300 million per annum.
"APRAA?s Accreditation Program has created a powerful, proven and highly respected framework for the industry to progress into the future," Marshall said. ?APRAA and our members are very passionate about accreditation and our vision for the industry. And this reinforces the important role of an active industry Association.?
Accrediation backs bonding
Faced with a growing need for repairers to use adhesives where once only welding was acceptable has prompted Lord Corporation and Australian Warehouse Distributors to launch an accreditation program for Fusor adhesives.
The aim is to provide the body repair industry with the skills required to carry out quality cost effective adhesive repairs using Fusor hi-tech products.
The need to accredit repairers is the direct result of consultations with major body shops, car manufacturers and work providers, at a time when the use of adhesives for repairing accident damaged vehicles is fast becoming an essential part of the repair process.
Whilst car manufacturers attempt to gain greater market share by producing safer, more fuel efficient and aesthetically appealing products, the repair industry has to come to terms with not only the many new materials now being used in the manufacturing process but also with car manufacturers repair procedures which are often documented in their technical services bulletins. Adhesive bonding is now recommended for hi-strength lightweight steel, aluminium, sheet moulded compounds and plastic body panels as well as a variety of plastics used in the manufacturer of bumper bars, spoilers, bonnets, boot lids, radiator support panels, cosmetic accessories and various components like wheel tubs. Vehicles are now rolling off productions lines with 'quiet' metal which is two layers of mild steel on either side of a layer of 'visco-elastic' material, used for strength, sound absorption and noise, vibration and harshness control, and structural foams for increased structural strength.
The vast majority of these new materials call for the use of adhesives in the repair process. It can be adhesive only, weld bonding, rivet bonding or the use of structural foams.
Fusor?s free body shop accreditation program comes into its own when body shops decide to repair rather than replace panels. Its technical and distributor support staff have already commenced body shop accreditation, so that trained shops can be listed on work provider?s data bases.
Developed by Lord Corporation, a pioneer and global leader in the development and manufacture of high-performance bonding solutions for more than 50 years, Fusor products are recognised to meet OEM standards and have been a proven solution in the aftermarket for more than a decade. In addition to a wide range of acrylic, epoxy and urethane products for metal and plastic bonding and repair, Fusor offers a line of sealers, foams, guns and other accessories.
Lord Corporation has its headquarters in Cary, NC, USA, plants in nine states, and facilities in 12 countries. Lord employs more than 2,200 people worldwide.
Enquiries, tel:(03) 9553 1977