Chief Automotive Technologies hosted trade press editors Sept. 28-29 at their world headquarters in Madison, Ind., to showcase their fusion technology and give the editors a chance to try their hand at spot welding and riveting.
The day began with a briefing on the Vehicle Service Group (part of the $8 billion Dover Corp.), which includes the Chief, Elektron, Rotary Lift, Revolution, Forward Lift, Direct-Lift, Blitz, Hanmecson Lifts and Nogra brands.
Then, the editors were treated to a presentation called “You Can’t Fix What You Don’t Know.” The presentation was given by Richard Perry, global repair product manager, collision, and focused on the advanced materials appearing in vehicles today and the types of repair methods they require. Topics including MIG brazing, adhesives and the types of materials out there including aluminum, advanced high strength steel, ultra high strength steel, Usibor, magnesium, carbon fiber and plastics.
After the classroom, the media members got to hit the factory and test out a MIG welding simulator. Then, they watched a live demonstration of the MultiMig 522, ideal for the welding and brazing of aluminum alloys, sheet metal, stainless and high-strength steel. During that demonstration, Chief’s fume extractor efficiently removed all weld fume particulates.
Up next was a demonstration of the Ford F-150 shop certification-approved System Multispot MI-100Control T Spot Welder with TrueAutoMode. The editors all got to try it firsthand, as well as the PNP90 rivet gun. In fact, they actually put rivets in and extracted some out of a custom-made business card holder that Chief made for them as a keepsake.
