Joondalup Smash Repairs
Eighteen kilometres north of Perth, Andrew and Angela Brownfield have set-up their dream shop – but not without some very hard work along the way.
They have lived in caravans in the Pilbara in the iron ore country, engaged in a milk run and repaired military vehicles for export and sale.
Now they have established a greenfields bodyshop at Wangara with 2000 square metres of operating space. Joondalup Smash Repairs is now a fully fledged business with all the modern amenities and programs that make for efficient bodyshop management.
Situated in an area of new suburbs and strategically placed opposite other businesses with hundreds of employees, the site was not the one they originally sought, but now with the shop up and operating, and new businesses all around, there is no doubt they have fallen on their feet.
“We weren’t really happy with this site, but when it came to completion with all these potential customers around us, it has worked out just right,” Andrew Brownfield says. “In the end, Landcorp did us a real favour.”
The business is right in the middle of several new complexes including hire organisations, chemical companies and others. “Guess where they send their vehicles when they need body repairs?” Brownfield says.
As a recommended repairer for Shannons, Australian Pensioners, Justcar, RAC, HBF, SGIO and QBE, to name a few, they are well and truly busy.
The shop carries six spray painters and three apprentices, six panel beaters and three apprentices, two estimators, a production manager, a spare parts interpreter and detailers. They are all trained and qualified to do the work. Angela manages the office, the books, training, OH&S and environmental issues.
Traffic is arranged with repairs to the left of the shop where the equipment bays are situated together with the hoists, small stripping in the middle and 120 square metres of spares on the mezzanine with the preparation area underneath; then to the sanding area and masking. Vehicles are moved forward to a Lowbake drive-through booth. There is also an Aussie spray booth, a scissor lift, two mobile Autoliners and a chainless Autoliner.
Joondalup is also equipped with an American Evolution 2 post pulling re-alignment bench and a much prized Globaljig Rotax.
The Brownfields have not ignored the environmental impact of their shop’s operations and are keen on the MTA WA Green Stamp Plan for the creation of environmentally accredited workshops. This plan puts shops through three levels of commitment. Angela Brownfield runs this process and recently the bodyshop reached level three.
Comfort for employees and OH&S procedures are also well managed and closely monitored. The lunch room is extremely clean and modern with a pool table, television and up-to-date appliances.
As far as new shops go, this repair centre is right up there with the best and the judges had no hesitation in awarding the best new shop in WA to Joondalup.