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
PPG SEMA Booth to Feature Celebrity Customizers and Designers
Some of the most accomplished custom automotive and motorcycle artists in the nation will appear in the PPG Booth #23093 at the annual SEMA show to be held November 4-7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. They’ll be there to display their latest work: a series of custom painted surfboards. Each surfboard reflects the artist’s
Pro-Spray Celebrates Grand Opening of New Training Center
Pro-Spray Automotive Finishes, a division of Alco Industries and a leader in European technology solventborne and waterborne refinishing products for the automotive aftermarket, recently celebrated the grand opening of its new technical training center and paint production facility with over 75 customers, industry media and local politicians in Massillon, Ohio.
CCAR Offers EPA Paint Rule Training
The Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair (CCAR) has added a “Paint Rule” module for its S/P2 e-learning program. The new “Paint Rule” module is now available at no additional cost to users of the S/P2 Collision Repair training. Collision shop subscribers will find the module in the “Pollution Prevention” course. The purpose of the module
CARSTAR Promotes Executive Team, Adds to Sales Force
CARSTAR has promoted Ernie Laky to vice president and Bill Garoutte to assistant vice president in addition to his duties as senior marketing executive. It has also added Greg Dehnke on as senior sales executive. “With 280 domestic stores and growing global opportunities, we have an immense responsibility to guide and lead our franchise business
Allstate Reports $923M Loss for 3Q
Property, casualty and auto insurer Allstate says hefty hurricane-related losses and the ongoing global financial crisis drove the company to a third-quarter loss. Northbrook, Ill.-based Allstate Corp. said Wednesday it lost $923 million, or $1.71 per share, after a profit of $978 million, or $1.70 per share, a year ago. Revenue fell to 7.3 billion
PPG Presenting Waterborne Custom Colors at SEMA
PPG Automotive Refinish will debut waterborne-compliant formulas for its Vibrance Collection line of custom colors and effects at SEMA Nov. 4-7. PPG’s VWM5555 is a midcoat for the Vibrance Collection line that creates a midcoat layer over the waterborne basecoat and allows painters to use Vibrance Collection special effect pigments such as Radiance II dyes,
I-CAR to Adjust, Possibly Eliminate, Canadian Operations
Decreasing participation in training courses and losses in 2007 have prompted I-CAR to consider changing the way I-CAR Canada is operated or pulling out of the country altogether. I-CAR President and CEO John Edelen told a group of repairers at its annual meeting in Canada that it’s “not realistic” to continue operating I-CAR Canada the
NABC Recycled Rides to Give Families Refurbished Cars at NACE
Through the National Autobody Council’s Recycled Rides Program, three Las Vegas body shops – 911 Collision, Collision Authority and Sterling Autobody Center – will present needy families with reliable transportation at NACE. The shops partnered with local charities Family Promise and Safe Nest to the local families in need, and refurbished vehicles were provided by
Larry Steck Remembered for Generous Spirit, Passion for Family Business
Laurence D. “Larry” Steck, 56, vice president of Steck Manufacturing in Dayton, Ohio, passed away Friday, Oct. 17, due to complications from surgery at OSU Ross Heart Hospital in Columbus. Larry Steck, a lifelong employee of Steck Manufacturing, ran the company with his brother Ray Steck. Larry started out working for his father George Steck
New York Shop Seeking $30,000 from GEICO
Two lawsuits filed against GEICO in Syracuse, New York, by Nick Orso’s Body Shop are moving forward after a Syracuse City Court judge denied GEICO’s motion to dismiss them. The suits, filed on behalf of customers and covering eight claims, seek to collect shortages in completed repair allowances and legal costs totaling about $30,000. Mike
Ford Releases Sectioning Guidelines for New Mustang
VeriFacts Automotive, LLC announced that Ford Motor Company has responded to its request for sectioning guidelines for the new Mustang. VeriFacts had submitted to Ford field observations and photos of damage and attempted repairs being done on the Mustang rear rails. This included many vehicles that had either been totaled or had undergone an intrusive