New I-CAR Live Training Hybrid & Alternative Fuel Program Available
I-CAR’s live training program Hybrid Electric and Alternative Fuel Vehicles (ALT02), a follow-up to the Electric and Electric Hybrid Vehicles (ALT01) program, is being offered throughout North America in the coming months. This program prepares technicians to service and repair emergent new technologies on hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles. Topics covered by the course include: •
AkzoNobel Honors Most Influential Women in Collision Repair Industry
Five industry leaders were honored at the 10th annual Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry awards program held at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas on Nov. 6. Judell Anderson, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Denise Caspersen, Bedford, Texas; Lillian Maimone, Monterey Park, California; Gloria Mann, Thornhill, Ontario; and Rochelle Wicklund, Liberty, Missouri, were honored as
ABRA Opens 95th Repair Center
Minneapolis-based ABRA Auto Body & Glass has opened a new repair center in the Cherry Creek area of Denver, Colo. ABRA now operates 95 repair centers in eleven states. The Cherry Creek repair center is in a freestanding building and was formerly operated by Emich Volkswagen. The facility will be extensively remodeled and upgraded within
ESAB Announces Major Wind Energy Industry Order
ESAB Welding & Cutting Products announced its largest ever, single-customer order for welding and cutting equipment and consumables. The multi-million dollar order was placed by the wind tower manufacturer, Vestas Towers A/S, a part of Vestas Wind Systems A/S. ESAB will supply the complete equipment and consumables package, and the full order comprises automated cutting
CARSTAR Adds Regional Marketing Manager
CARSTAR Collision Services announced that Melanie Ando has joined the company’s marketing department. As the newest regional marketing manager (RMM), Ando will be supporting CARSTAR’s marketing efforts east of the Mississippi. Ando was formerly with LIVE!media, a division of The Sunflower Group, that offers companies promotional services that build brand awareness through marketing products. As
Keystone Automotive Operations Reports Third Quarter Results
Keystone Automotive Operations, Inc. announced financial results for its fiscal third quarter 2008, which ended Sept. 27, 2008. Highlights include: • Net sales for the third quarter 2008 were $136.3 million, a decrease of $18.0 million, or 11.7 percent, compared to $154. 3 million for the same period in 2007. The decrease in sales was
AkzoNobel Sikkens Chosen for Custom Cadillac Sport Rod
AkzoNobel Sikkens was selected as the paint supplier for the VSR Cadillac V-series Powered Sport Rod. This custom-designed car was unveiled in the Helios Coatings booth at the 2008 SEMA show in Las Vegas. Designed by WK Cherry LLC and constructed by Race Car Replicas, the car’s engine is a V-8 cylinder, 400-HP model from
CCRS Launches Toys for Tots Drive
The Connecticut Collision Repair Specialists (CCRS) Community Awareness Committee has launched a four-week toy drive to benefit the Toys For Tots organization in Connecticut. Association members were challenged to collect 2,000 toys in boxes placed in their shops. “After discussing the needs here in Connecticut with the Marine Corps, we realize there are concerns, due
Michigan Bill Banning Insurer-Owned Shops Passes House
Michigan’s insurer-owned repair shop legislation (H.B. 4778) has passed the House of Representatives. The bill, introduced in May 2007, would ban insurance companies from owning repair facilities in Michigan. The legislation would also prohibit insurers from developing a list of preferred shops or in any other way conveying to an insured information regarding which repair
I-CAR Education Foundation Announces Several Donations
The I-CAR Education Foundation recently announced several donations to its Industry Partners fund. AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah and BASF Corporation each contributed $5,000; GEICO Philanthropic Foundation contributed $15,000. “The future of the collision industry is being funded by the Education Foundation donors of today,” said Chris Evans, chairman of the foundation’s board of
2008 VeriFacts ACE Award Winners Honored
The winners of VeriFacts Automotive’s ACE Awards (Achievement in Collision Repair Excellence) were honored at the 2008 Collision Industry Achievement Awards Luncheon held in conjunction with NACE. The VeriFacts March Taylor Technician ACE Award was presented to Gus Marquez of Caliber Collision Center in Fresno, Calif. “Gus is the go-to guy in his shop and
Nissan to Debut ‘Collision-Free’ Vehicle
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. will demonstrate a prototype it calls an "All-Around Collision Free" vehicle with two new accident avoidance technologies – Back-up Collision Prevention (BCP) and Side Collision Prevention (SCP) – at the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in New York Nov. 16-20. The vehicle also includes two technologies already in