EPA to Promote Collision Repair Campaign at NACE
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) will be hosting representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Collision Repair Campaign at ASA’s International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) next week in Las Vegas. The Collision Repair Campaign is a nationwide effort to reduce auto body emissions. EPA representatives will have a booth at the Mandalay Bay
‘Right to Repair’ Passes New Jersey Assembly
The New Jersey Assembly passed the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (A.B. 803) Monday by a vote of 49 in favor, 22 against and 8 abstaining. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. Introduced by Assemblyman Reid Gusciora (D-Mercer), the legislation is designed to ensure that New Jersey independent repair shops
‘Right to Repair’ Passes New Jersey Assembly
The New Jersey Assembly passed the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (A.B. 803) Monday by a vote of 49 in favor, 22 against and 8 abstaining. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. Introduced by Assemblyman Reid Gusciora (D-Mercer), the legislation is designed to ensure that New Jersey independent repair shops
BASF Using Artificial Intelligence for Color Matching
BASF Automotive Refinish Solutions has developed a software program that applies artificial intelligence using neural networks to the process of color matching paint. At this time, BASF’s artificial intelligence color matching system is only used internally. In the future, BASF plans to offer this system to its global automotive refinish customers and leverage the technology
Langeman Wins Patent Infringement Case
The United States District Court in the Western District of Wisconsin has ruled the Langeman Manufacturing patents, covering the use of filament-bearing tape for trimming polyurethane truck bedliners, were infringed by several industry participants. “The court’s ruling confirms that many of Langeman’s competitors had unlawfully copied Langeman’s breakthrough invention for effectively trimming truck bedlinings by
BASF Launches Lean Customer Program
BASF Automotive Refinish Solutions has launched a nationwide lean training program for its collision repair customers. The program helps BASF customers implement lean principles of reducing waste and developing a culture of continuous improvement in a collision repair center. The program was rolled out in addition to BASF’s “Change is in the Air” event, which
CSi Complete Names New Sales and Service VP
David Merrell has assumed a new and expanded role with CSi Complete as vice president of Sales and Service. In a related promotion, Mary Howard has been named manager of customer service. Merrell has been in the collision repair and claims industry for more than eight years. He participates in many organizations and acts as
VeriFacts ACE Award Finalists Announced
VeriFacts Automotive announced the finalists for its annual Achievement in Collision Repair Excellence (ACE) Awards, which recognize outstanding quality of work. One award honors individual technicians (the March Taylor Technician ACE Award) and the other honors collision repair centers attaining higher repair quality as measured through the VeriFacts Shop Coaching Program. To qualify for an
Report Finds Estimates Written At Vehicle Are Less Accurate
Estimates written in the office using photos and notes are more accurate than estimates written at the vehicle, according to data from Mitchell International’s Industry Trends Report, a quarterly publication highlighting industry trends, news and statistics. This edition’s Quarterly Feature, “Are Estimates Finalized at the Vehicle More Accurate?” written by Greg Horn, Mitchell’s vice president
Shop Surveillance Offers Customers Peace of Mind
In an era defined by the instant gratification of the Internet, tech-savvy body shop owner Barbara Morgan is getting in the game by giving her customers up-to-the-minute updates on their vehicles’ repairs with the click of a mouse. Morgan installed eight cameras that stream live footage from repair bays and paint booths at Nissen’s CARSTAR
Lincoln Electric Opens New Automation Center
Cleveland, Ohio-based Lincoln Electric, a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic, arc welding systems, fume extraction equipment, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment, held an open house on Oct. 23 to showcase its new 100,000-square-foot Automation Center.
Shop Owner Hopes to Grab Customers’ Eyes with Ocean Mural
Like a lot of body shop owners today, Sal Sardina has felt the effects of a struggling economy. But he recently came up with an interesting and attention-getting way to improve his shop’s curb appeal and hopefully grab more customers. Sardina, who owns Rolf’s Airport Auto Body in Freedom, Calif., commissioned a local artist to