Recently added articles from Automotive Body Repair News:
ALLDATA Collision tops 1,000 customers
Jun 01, 2008; Adams, Bruce ... SACRAMENTO, CaHf. - More than 1,000 customers have purchased the ALLDATA Collision program subscription service since it was introduced nationally in September, according to Dan Espersen, ALLDATA senior program manager, collision. Two of the company's biggest customers are Fix Auto ...
AAA report cites high cost of crashes
Jun 01, 2008; Guyette, James E ... According to an in-depth report from the American Automobile Association (AAA), the yearly societal cost of car crashes is a staggering $164.2 billion - almost two-and-a-half times greater than the $67.6 billion price tag for traffic congestion nationwide. The situation presents an opportunity ...
Edelen says I-CAR will return to its roots
Jun 01, 2008; Sramcik, Tim ... TRAINING Speaking to a nearly-packed room of CIC attendees in Philadelphia, I-CAR board chairman and interim CEO John Edelen said his organization would be reaching out to all parts of the industry in an effort to return to what he says is the group's roots. "I-CAR had a pretty ...
CCC, Mitchell merger aims to drive value
Jun 01, 2008; Adams, Bruce ... No decision yet on platform, databases When CCC Information Services and Mitchell International complete their $1.4-bilHon merger-of-equals transaction later this year, the two privately held companies will have combined annual sales of about $460 million and 2,000 employees. "We ...
Regional report
Jun 01, 2008; Anonymous ... Tennessee association affiliates with SCRS The Tennessee Collision Repairers Association (TCRA), headquartered in Jackson, Tenn., is now an affiliate of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists. TCRA President Bob Mitchell said repairers decided to join due to eroding profits and a ...
Living in a corporate world
Jun 01, 2008; Sramcik, Tim ... When it comes to workplace paranoia, the collision industry doesn't own the monopoly on dread. Regardless of where one works these days, our lives are significantly impacted by, not just one but usually several and in some case many, corporations whose directors typically are looking to bring ...
NASTF helps unlock repair information access
Jun 01, 2008; Miller, Chris ... DATA ACCESS DETROIT - It started out as a simple flat tire. But after trying to program the tire pressure monitoring system, this otherwise marginal repair effort set off a series of electronic roadblocks until the Nissan finally had to be hauled off to the dealership on a flatbed ...
Anti-capping law gathering support in Virginia, California
Jun 01, 2008; Guyette, James E ... LEGISLATION A bill outlawing insurance company "capping" of paint and materials payments to collision shop owners has been introduced in California following passage of similar legislation in Virginia. Virginia's measure has been signed into law by the commonwealth's governor and ...
SEMA offers research, new ideas at annual conference
Jun 01, 2008; Silvery, Larry ... CONFERENCE COVERAGE NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Mass customization, which on the surface seems to be an oxymoron, is a trend that is going mainstream and is likely to change the specialty parts business, according to Jim Spoonhower, vice president of research for the Specialty Equipment Market ...
Rhode Island legislature targets discounts on deductibles
Jun 01, 2008; Albright, Brian ... DISCOUNTING The Rhode Island legislature is considering a new bill that would give the state the power to revoke or deny the license of a body shop that offers customers rebates or discounts to offset their insurance policy deductibles. House Bill 7994, introduced by Rep. Timothy ...
Akzo Nobel seeks most influential women
Jun 01, 2008; Anonymous ... IN BRIEF NORCROSS, Ga. - Akzo Nobel is accepting nominations for the 10th anniversary of the Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry awards, which takes place during the International Automotive Congress and Exposition Nov. 5-8 in Las Vegas. Elainna Sacchire, ...
Industry leaders react to proposed merger
Jun 01, 2008; Adams, Bruce ... Industry leaders had the following reaction to the proposed merger of CCC Information Services and Mitchell International. Dan Risley executive director, Society of Collision Repair Specialists: "I am not sure that anyone can give a definitive answer as to whether or not this will be ...
Wearing out your welcome: Knowing when to leave a job is important
Jun 01, 2008; Sramcik, Tim ... Sometimes it's a pain deep in your gut you feel upon waking or as you pull into the parking lot at work. Sometimes it's a feeling of hopelessness or dread or the feeling that you're shouldering all the responsibility at work. Often it's just a sense you're never again going to be happy or ...
Truck collision repair DVD offered
Jun 01, 2008; Anonymous ... A free instructional DVD that demonstrates collision repair techniques for heavy-duty trucks using PLIOGRIP by Valvoline body repair system is available. The DVD, from Ashland Specialty Polymers Adhesives (ASPA), shows industry professionals methods of bonding and repair for various types of ...
Lifetime learning drives body shop
Jun 01, 2008; Engebretson, Joan ... DAVE'S AUTOBODY Dave's Autobody of Galesburg, Ill., can measure its success in numerous ways - steady growth since its founding in 1977, a loyal customer base, quick turnaround times and low employee turnover. But a single key reason for the company's strong track record is owner Dave ...
Family repair business stresses its core values
Jun 01, 2008; Skernivitz, Stephanie ... PADULA'S BODY SHOP A family-owned business nestled in sieepy Tallmadge, Ohio, Padula's Body Shop Inc. has been quietly making noise turning out consistent collision repair work on everything from Rolls Royces to Nissans to Chevys for more than six decades. Angelo Padula welcomed his ...
Running with Vendors
Jun 01, 2008; Thomas, Al ... VENDOR RELATIONS Forming a strong working bond with your vendors helps you win the race for better service and higher revenues Though many collision repair businesses may not admit it, vendors of supplies, parts, tools and materials are like business partners. How efficiently a ...
Certain facts as intended
Jun 01, 2008; Burrow, Bruce ... PRINCIPLES OF ESTIMATING "THETIMES LISTED INTHIS MANUAL SHOULD BE USED AS A GUIDE TO FAIR AND EQUITABLE ESTIMATES OF COLLISION DAMAGE. CERTAIN FACTS ABOUT THE TIMES SHOWN SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD IN ORDERTO USE THEM AS INTENDED" This begins Mitchell's Procedure Pages from the early ...
Repainting gives new life to aging plastic
Jun 01, 2008; Anonymous ... We've all seen the plastic cladding on today's vehicles. From bumper covers and fender flares to side cladding and top cowl panels, these plastic parts can consume much of the vehicle's total identity. Over time, many of these parts fade. What once may have been a black or charcoal gray bumper ...
PRODUCT FOCUS: Plasma cutters
Jun 01, 2008; Sramcik, Tim ... Tech notes FLORENCE, S.C. - So what's the main difference between a plasma cutter and a welder, other than the obvious one - the purpose of each tool? Speaking to ABRN on April 24 at a company media event, Bob Fernicola, business manger of plasma cutting for welding equipment ...