Small Cars Make Big Safety Improvements for 2009
Thanks to improvements like standard side airbags, small cars are becoming better equipped to protect motorists in serious crashes, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which has released its 2009 Top Safety Picks. “Automakers have made big improvements to small cars to better protect people in frontal crashes,” said Joe Nolan, IIHS
Shop Owner Takes Anti-Steering Message on the Road
Nathan Simmons, co-owner of C and C Collision in Pasadena, Calif., may not have the advertising budget of a big insurance company, but his message has a captive audience every time he goes for a drive. Simmons recently customized his white pick-up truck with the attention-grabbing question, “Got steered?” in large letters on the truck’s
BASF Products Receive Volvo Approval
BASF Automotive Refinish announced that Swedish automaker Volvo has again approved BASF as a preferred supplier of automotive refinish products for its Glasurit and R-M products. Approval by the company required passing a number of rigorous tests at Volvo Cars’ Surface Treatment Center, where scientists verified that the finishes met Volvo’s strict internal standards. “We
Expansion Shuts Down One Shop, Keeps Another Going During Recession
Tulsa, Okla., collision repair facility Trinity Restoration closed its south Tulsa store due to the recession and over-expansion, according to owner David Miller. Trinity will keep its restoration shop open but will close its collision and mechanical operations along with an Orange County Choppers dealership. The $4 million, 25,000-square-foot south Tulsa shop, which opened in
Property-Casualty Sector Loses $9.9 Billion in Third Quarter
The Insurance Services Office reported that the property and casualty insurance sector lost $9.9 billion in the third quarter of 2008, compared to the $16.7 billion in profits earned during the same period in 2007. The collapses of Washington Mutual and American International Group significantly impacted the market, according to Insurance Information Institute President Robert
Shop Intern’s Skills to be Spotlighted in TV Documentary
An 18-year-old Pennsylvania shop intern is getting a double-dose of reality – valuable hands-on experience working in a restoration shop and a role as himself in an upcoming TV documentary on the National Geographic Channel. Steve Schwartz, a collision repair technology student at the Philadelphia-area Eastern Center for Arts and Technology, will be featured in
STRANGE BUT TRUE: Driver Brings Van to Shop in Her Sleep
Sometimes, business just falls into your lap, but in the case of an Aurora, South Dakota, body shop, it crashes into your tow truck. On the morning of Nov. 25, a 38-year-old woman fell asleep behind the wheel of a minivan while driving down Broadway Street, the main drag through Aurora. When the van eventually
Large Oklahoma Shop Cites Poor Economy for Closing
Tulsa, Okla. collision repair facility Trinity Restoration closed its south Tulsa store due to the recession and over-expansion, according to owner David Miller. Trinity will keep its restoration shop open but close its collision and mechanical operations along with an Orange County Choppers dealership. The $4 million, 25,000-square-foot south Tulsa shop, which opened in 2007,
Victory Lighting Names New Vice President of Technical Sales
Victory Lighting (UK) Ltd., manufacturers of the Heat Light range of infrared paint curing equipment, announced the appointment of Peter Phillipson as vice president, Technical Sales & Marketing. Phillipson, currently based in the United States, will be responsible for growing the automotive refinish business and developing the product brand. “We are delighted to have Peter
GM Approves PPG D8152 Clearcoat and DL V800X Surfacers for Warranty Repairs
General Motors has approved PPG’s new D8152 Performance + Glamour Clearcoat and the DLV800X series of a-chromatic primer surfacers for worldwide use in warranty refinish repairs. The two products, part of the PPG Global Refinish System, meet GM’s quality standard known as Specification GMW15406 and join a long list of GM-approved PPG coatings from the
I-CAR Announces 2009 International Advisory Committee
The I-CAR International Advisory Committee (IAC) added four new members in December who will assist the committee. The IAC serves as a communication link between the I-CAR International Board of Directors and staff and the volunteers who deliver training to the collision inter-industry. The new members of the committee include: Leo Maki, Michigan Appraisal Service;