PUBLISHER’S PERSPECTIVE: See You in Vegas
Hopefully, you’re reading this on your journey to Las Vegas for this year’s International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE). As I write these words, we at BodyShop Business are busy planning for the upcoming event and looking forward to seeing many of you there. This type of face-to-face event provides all of us with an
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: A/M Parts: Like, Kind and Quality?
I recently read a news story on your Web site [CAA Survey Questions Quality of CAPA-Certified Parts] and feel the need to comment. First, a little background on me. I’ve owned and operated a larger shop on the West Coast for almost 30 years and have experienced firsthand all of the different changes that have
Lincoln Electric Introduces 108 New Welding Products in Nine Months
Lincoln Electric, manufacturer of arc welding products, has rolled out 108 new products over the past nine months, the company announced, noting that the accelerated program was designed to bring the company’s improved products to the market faster and increase the breadth of Lincoln Electric’s welding solutions to its customers. Lincoln says it maintains the
ESAB Adds New Manufacturing Lines to Ohio Plant
ESAB Welding & Cutting Products has added two new wire drawing lines at its Ashtabula, Ohio, manufacturing facility to produce wire for high production submerged arc welding (SAW) applications. This addition will significantly increase ESAB’s SAW wire capacity, the company says. The new lines will descale, clean and draw the wire to the proper diameter,
PUBLISHER’S PERSPECTIVE: Squeeze or Be Squeezed
I recently had the opportunity to speak to 250 top shops from across the United States about today’s business environment. To prepare for the presentation, I had Babcox Research survey shops about how business was going this year. While my presentation was centered on customer satisfaction, the research highlighted a trend in our industry that’s
LEAN & MEANER: Building a Lean Front Office
You’ll find that the greatest opportunity for eliminating waste in the collision repair business exists not on the shop floor but rather up front in the office. Here’s how to do it.
SUPER TECHNOLOGY ISSUE: Hybrids – It’s All About Training
The expense and time commitment necessary to get trained on hybrids is significant, but without it, you have no business repairing these vehicles.
SUPER TECHNOLOGY ISSUE: Airbag Basics
Airbags, along with other components of safety restraint systems, are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and misinformation is spreading like wildfire. Here’s the real deal on what you need to know to restore them to OEM standards.
SUPER TECHNOLOGY ISSUE: Pedal to the Metal
Carmakers are introducing exotic metals to vehicle
structures at an alarming rate for the sake of fuel efficiency and passenger safety. Understanding their properties is key to quality repairs.
Lightweight Cutting Package
ESAB Welding & Cutting’s PowerCut 900 manual cutting package is designed to pack big cutting power into a lightweight portable package. The package simplifes operation and reduces set-up time. The 60-amp PowerCut 900 cuts 7/8 in. (22 mm) and severs 1-1/4 in. (32 mm). PowerCut 900 offers the highest speed and thickness capability in its
