Issue

15 | M

ar 2015

A MAN AND HIS PORSCHE. A LOVE STORY We celebrate Glasurit RCC’s first anniversary

We’ve got big plans for your bodyshopGlasurit access event hits the mark

161208

18 21

14

070410

CONTENTS

FEATURES04 A MAN AND HIS PORSCHE

Ron Goodman and his 1954 Porsche are now stars of a new film.

07 PAINTER SPOTLIGHT Sarah Bland’s skills have won her the National Collision Repair Magazine’s Future Leaders Award.

08 GLASURIT ACCESS EVENT For 60 Glasurit bodyshop owners this event really hit the mark.

10 WORKING THROUGH THE CHALLENGES One bodyshop’s story of switching to Glasurit’s 90 LINE.

12 BASF INNOVATION Discover how a compact catalytic converter system from BASF removes gaseous pollutants.

14 GLASURIT RCC TURNS ONE Help us celebrate this important milestone.

16 EARLY AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY This is where it all started.

18 THE CLASSIC DILEMMA The ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ of making a vintage car your daily drive.

20 PLAN FOR SUCCESS Glasurit ABS specialists can help you plan a more efficient and productive bodyshop.

21 PRODUCT NEWS Glasurit Matt Clear System reaches every gloss level you want.

22 COLOUR & BLENDING SOLUTIONS Just one of the many educational programs offered to your paint shop technicians.

EDITOR’S LETTER

Welcome to this issue of GLOSS magazine (Issue 15).

In this first issue of GLOSS for 2015, we continue our informative, thought-provoking and entertaining approach to the motoring industry in general and the smash repair industry in particular.

You can step back in time with a great article on early motoring history and also read how the Geelong Museum of Motoring & industry (GMOM) is helping keep that history alive. Speaking of classic cars, we look at how they can be a reliable mode of transport as well as a valuable collectible.

We also celebrate the first anniversary of the Glasurit Refinish Competence Centre (RCC) and look at how much it has achieved in just 12 months.

On top of that, you’ll see how Glasurit Bodyshop Solutions can help you design a more efficient and productive workplace. Plus there’s information on a product that lets you achieve just the gloss level you want.

One of my favourite articles is the one on Ron Goodman’s dream of taking his 1954 Porsche to race at America’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Not only does he get there but they’ve made a film about his adventures.

Inspiring stuff, Ron.

Of course, there’s a whole lot more in this edition of GLOSS including news on a BASF innovation that cleans gasoline engines, a report on the two-day Glasurit Access event, and we speak to Sarah Bland about spray painting and winning the National Collision Repair Magazine’s Future Leaders Award.

I hope you enjoy this latest edition of GLOSS as much as I have and don’t forget; if you have any story suggestions for our next issue, please let us know.

Kind regards

TONY WIGGINSHead of Coatings BASF Australia & New Zealand

GLASURIT – EDITOR'S LETTER | 03

RON GOODMAN’S

ROAD TO

Monterey

04 | GLASURIT – RON GOODMAN’S ROAD TO MONTEREY

Next month (April), ‘The Road to Monterey’ will debut, a Product 23 film that traces Ron’s dream of taking his 1954 Porsche to race at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, America’s holy grail of historic racing.

The invitation-only event, which is held during America’s famed Monterey Classic Car Week, sees 550 classic racecars from around the world – Ferraris, Porsches, Mustangs and more – competing against each other in their race groups. Many of the cars are valued into the millions of dollars. In fact, the equivalent of one of the contenders in the 2014 event recently sold for a whopping US$40 million. Ron’s car is a 1954 356 Porsche in mint condition, yet nowhere near as financially valuable as its competitors. However, he said, it consistently races well above its weight.

“At Monterey we were racing up a class because we were faster than most of the competitors in our class,” said Ron, who owns a Sydney paintshop, Exclusive Body Werks.

“I was surrounded by 10, 30, 40 million dollar cars and there I was in my little fella, which is worth considerably less… we were right in amongst it.”

Over six races on the 3.6 kilometre Mazda Laguna Seca track, Ron’s 356 claimed several second, third and fourth places. Impressively, it also took out the ‘best paddock award’ recognising the presentation of Ron’s racecar as well as the crew and the pit area across the entire two-week event.

Presentation is something Ron is fastidious about. “We spend a lot of time to make sure the car is pristine, it’s an extension of my business so it has to be right,” he said.

Ron uses Glasurit for his car and for all cars repaired at Exclusive Body Werks. He also makes sure any suppliers to his business use the product. “I’ve just had my transporter painted by Wales Truck Repairs at Sydney using Glasurit – you can only use the best paint,” he said, because “just like my car, the truck represents the business and so it’s essential that it looks great.”

continued page 06

"At Monterey we were racing up a class because we were faster than most

of the competitors in our class."

Below: Ron’s 356 in rare company at the legendary Laguna Seca Raceway.

When Ron Goodman started racing Porsches in 1995, little did he imagine that by 2015 there would be a film made to acknowledge his favourite racecar and his success.

GLASURIT – RON GOODMAN’S ROAD TO MONTEREY | 05

Above: Despite transport hiccups beyond their control, Ron’s dedicated team got the Porsche track-ready on time. (inset) Winning accolades along the way.

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE FAME

There’s no doubt that being the subject of a film is a huge learning curve and not something Ron had anticipated as part of his racing career. “I race for the enjoyment – I’m not interested in making any money from it and I wasn’t planning on building a name for myself. When Rob Schereen, a motorsport cinematographer, approached me it came as a complete surprise.

“At first being followed around by a film crew was daunting but they promised me that after a while we would all gell as a group and they were right. Even when we went out to dinner having them filming became second nature.”

Of course any film – documentary, sci-fi, thriller or otherwise – needs a degree of suspense and Ron didn’t disappoint.

“The crew was following all the preparation we do to get ready for Monterey. There’s a lot involved. Making sure the car is right, managing the logistics to get the car on the container and across to America then out to the track.”

To the crew’s elation, Ron’s car went missing en route.

“Two-and-a-half weeks into what was supposed to be a four-week journey by sea, I rang the shipping company to check up on the landing date and they told me the car was still in New Zealand.

“At first, I didn’t believe them. I thought, yeah right, this happened last year, so it can’t happen again.

“Then, when I realised they were telling the truth,

I was too embarrassed to ring my crew in the States and tell them what had happened.

“When I finally did, like me, they thought it was a joke... Of course the film crew was happy – we’d added a major drama to the story.”

After much negotiation, Ron’s Porsche 356 was put onto a plane in New Zealand and flown to California where again, incomplete paperwork, care of the shipping company, saw it held up in Customs.

Ron said the experience was excruciating. “I spent hours chasing up the paperwork, my phone bill would have been unbelievable. Finally, we had the car delivered three hours before our first practice.”

That was just 12 hours before the main event itself, and while most would have found it difficult to maintain composure, Ron said thanks to a great team he was able to quickly regain focus on the race ahead.

“I’d had my ups and downs – it was an emotional rollercoaster in the lead up – but once the car

was there and in my guys’ hands I felt pretty relaxed… They did a quick pre-check and I took it out on the track.”

WHAT’S NEXT?

With the Monterey behind him, Ron is looking forward to competing in this year’s Porsche Rennsport Reunion in October. Hosted by Porsche Cars North America, the Reunion is also staged at the Mazda Laguna Seca racetrack in California. The prestigious event will attract more than 40,000 spectators, eager to see Porsches from the earliest to the latest models on display and racing.

Selection for the Porsche Rennsport Reunion is based on the car’s credentials, its providence and the races it has participated in, with the overarching objective to get a span of Porsches that cover the full history of the marque. With limited places available and an overload of applications received, the invitation to participate is an achievement in its own right.

While Ron says there’s no guarantee that his beloved 356 will be in the line-up, you’d have to assume the chances are high – after all, it was recently described by one connoisseur as the best 356 pre-A racecar in the world.

Don’t worry if you can’t get to California this October. Just as Ron’s road to Monterey has been captured on film, so too will his Porsche’s involvement in in the fifth Porsche Rennsport Reunion.

‘The Road to Monterey’ debuts in Sydney on 11 April and will be available to view online from 15 April.

“I’ve just had my transporter painted by Wales Truck Repairs at Sydney using Glasurit – you can only use the best paint.”

06 | GLASURIT – RON GOODMAN’S ROAD TO MONTEREY

Sarah Bland is one of a small but growing number of young women choosing to enter the male-dominated trade of spray painting. It’s proving to be the right choice, too, with Sarah recently receiving a Future Leaders Award from National Collision Repairer Magazine and sponsored by NRMA Insurance.

Sarah loved spray painting, airbrushing and cars from a very early age. “I actually wanted to become a professional air brusher and work on custom cars but soon found out that there is not a big market for it so decided to become a spray painter and do air brushing as a hobby instead,” Sarah said.

Glasurit Trainer James Green immediately recognised Sarah was someone very special and a stand-out apprentice. So we asked her what it is that makes a good spray painter and makes her stand out from the rest?

“I think a stand-out apprentice is a person who is willing to learn new things and take on challenges and work very hard. You have to be willing to go the extra yards. I’m always trying to be better than the person next to me. You have to be able to push yourself and not only

meet your boss’s and your own expectations but

smash them,” Sarah said.

According to Sarah, an interesting and valuable

way to achieve her goals is to take part in

Glasurit’s Training Program.

“The training classes were very helpful. I was in

a small class, just me and one other student, so

it was pretty much one-on-one learning. We had

plenty of opportunities to ask lots of questions.

I learnt about Glasurit’s products in more detail,

blending procedures and seeing how far I could

push the products.”

Although Sarah has used other brands she is

now a strict convert to Glasurit, especially the

waterborne line. “Coming from using solvent

products to water I found they cover much better

and blending is way easier, I love it and don’t

think I could go back,” she said.

Finding a job wasn’t all that easy for Sarah but

she finally found a work shop that appreciated

her enthusiasm and strong work ethic.

“I think I am lucky at this shop because when I

was first starting to look for jobs some people

turned me down as they thought that women

belong in offices and men belong in the work

shops. This a very supportive place, we help

each other – they teach me their little tricks and

I teach them mine.”

Sarah’s dream for the future is to design and

paint helmets for Arai or Shoei. In the meantime,

she’s more than happy in her work and looks

forward to painting her R34 Skyline with the

same passion and precision she painted her last

car – a three layer white pearl R33 Skyline.

SARAH’S SKILLS SHINE PAINTER SPOTLIGHT

Although Sarah has used other brands she is now a strict convert to Glasurit, especially the waterborne line.

Right: Sarah Bland with Paul McKay of Miranda Body Shop and Lachlan Wymer of Mercedes-Benz.

GLASURIT – PAINTER SPOTLIGHT | 07

Nearly 60 Glasurit bodyshop owners and senior managers met on the Sunshine Coast in November for BASF’s annual Glasurit Access event. The two-day event focused on the importance of connecting with key stakeholders in today’s constantly changing market.

For the smash repair industry, stakeholder engagement is becoming crucial to staying in business. The ability to connect with employees, the community, market influencers and fellow smash repairers is of utmost importance as it allows businesses to create opportunities as a preferred partner in business.

For a broader view of the role chemistry plays in conserving resources, securing food and improving people’s quality of life, BASF’s

Chairman and Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand, Ross Pilling, opened the event with a tour of a ‘Marketplace of Innovations’. He invited delegates to take a captivating journey and discover 12 key technologies that are shaping our future today.

Day two of the conference was dedicated to the refinish industry. A series of roundtable discussions took place where delegates gained an understanding of how the comprehensive tools available through Glasurit can allow them to better engage with, and influence, their industry. BASF experts highlighted the benefits of incorporating stakeholder engagement tactics into future business plans, and discussed the potential of using online key performance indicators.

Delegates spent time after the discussions to review their business management and to

identify key areas for improvement, training, efficiencies and cost saving measures. Most, if not all, recognised the need to get better at connecting with industry partners and service providers who influence their day-to-day business.

The event concluded with a keynote address by energetic entrepreneur Ray Scicluna. At a young age, Ray built a wholesale distribution company that became one of the largest in Australia. Ray spoke to the delegates about how to keep their employees engaged and to take note that the best things in Iife are often not ‘things’.

The conference was rounded off with an evening of entertainment by Australia’s Got Talent finalists ‘Academy of Brothers’ and one of Australia’s seasoned professional entertainers, Daryl Braithwaite.

‘ENGAGE’ AT THE GLASURIT ACCESS EVENT

08 | GLASURIT – GLASURIT ACCESS EVENT

Like their peers, Mark and Linda McDonnell, owners of Toombul Road Paint & Panel, were full of praise for the event. “With the rapidly changing market dynamics, it’s most valuable for me and my business to get relevant and topical information, and to learn what tools there are to remain competitive,” Mark said.

Tony Wiggins, Head of Coatings, BASF Australia and New Zealand, was also pleased with the event: “This was one of the most successful conferences we’ve held in years. Our customers embraced the opportunity to learn more about BASF and how we are creating chemistry for a sustainable future. They gave us such positive feedback regarding the conference content and the quality of speakers, and we simply loved hearing that the event ‘hit the mark’ for them. That’s mission accomplished.”

GLASURIT – GLASURIT ACCESS EVENT | 09

Above: Shannon Mills (Panel Shop Manager), Kevin and Carol Mills (Company Directors) and Garey Carruthers (Paint Shop Manager).

NEW TECH, NEW THINKING.One month after installing 90 LINE, the owners of award-winning Mills Collision in Hamilton, New Zealand, realised that new technology required a new approach to their processes.

Mills Collision Repair Centre has been in business for over 40 years, specialising in all aspects of collision repairs. They are the only authorised Mercedes-Benz repairer in Waikato, and have won numerous awards, including the Motor Transport Association’s Waikato/Thames Valley Branch People’s Choice Awards in 2010 and again in 2011. It stands to reason then

that the emphasis is on achieving the highest quality finish for every vehicle repaired – which is where Glasurit comes in.

The company first started using Glasurit in 1987 and received their technical training from the German expert Manfred Seibel, marking the beginning of their long and successful relationship.

Mills Collision Repair Centre moved away from Glasurit for a few years, but soon realised it is a far superior product to what they began using, so made a swift change back. Three years ago they switched to Glasurit 90 LINE.

Garey Carruthers, Mills Collision’s Paint Shop Manager, said the company switched to 90 LINE knowing that the paint-shop would achieve a better finish on new model vehicles that were coming in for repair.

“We were having trouble matching the colours to the vehicles coming out of the factory, which were painted with water-borne paint. We found 90 LINE was better.

“Straight away the guys loved it – application was easier and the coverage was awesome. Plus it was cleaner and we were able to get rid of the solvent fumes in the mixing room,” he said.

Garey and a colleague were given two weeks training by their Glasurit technical sales representative “He came to us and he made the whole process smooth – he looked at what was existing in our workshop, what we needed to change, and he worked with us closely in the booth until we knew what we had to do. He really concentrated on the practical stuff, and by the end of the two weeks, he’d given us all the confidence in the world.”

PHOT

OGRA

PHY

BY D

ANIE

LLE

NIC

HOLS

ON

10 | GLASURIT – WORKING THROUGH THE CHALLENGES

But old habits die hard. And after a few weeks, the previous process began to creep back in. They realised that with the new technology, a new approach and thinking was needed.

With the advancement of paint technology and precision, they found colour matching was not as forgiving as in the past. They realised the key to great results was in vehicle preparation. “When you’re using 90 LINE the car has to be really tidy before you begin – so you have to water blast then blow dry it to make sure it’s completely dry,” said Garey.

Pretty soon, the paint-shop was back to producing great results on newer model vehicles. “With 90 LINE, we’ve built up a library of colours which works best for us,” said Garey.

ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES

Interestingly, another challenge Mills Collision Repair Centre faced was the high level of humidity in New Zealand’s Waikato region.

Garey said Mills Collision Repair Centre now has their 90 LINE processes firmly in place, and understands the changes needed during periods of humidity. “We are now operating more efficiently and are getting better results which is a win-win for everyone.”

Clockwise from left: Receptionists Sandy Larsen and Debbie Steiner; Garey Caruthers mixing paint with apprentice

Harry Goodwin; Mills’ Shopfront; Apprentice Stephen Hunterat at the planning board.

GLASURIT – WORKING THROUGH THE CHALLENGES | 11

With growing prosperity in many emerging markets comes an increasing wish for personal mobility. Simultaneously, global urbanisation is increasing vehicle density. LMC Automotive estimates that about one billion cars are on the roads around the globe, with this figure likely to reach almost 1.2 billion by 2018 – cumulatively affecting the air quality of the world's major cities. Propulsion concepts such as electro-mobility – fully electric or as a hybrid variant – are steadily gaining importance. “However, the internal combustion engine will remain the dominant propulsion concept on the roads in the medium term,” says Dr Klaus Harth, responsible for research on automotive catalytic converters at BASF. “Reducing pollutant contamination from internal combustion engines therefore remains an important global issue.” Official emission standards are becoming more and more restrictive worldwide. In the future, compliance with these standards will require further optimising of the catalytic converter. A promising new technology for this purpose is the new four-way conversion catalyst from BASF.

Internal combustion engines produce environmentally harmful emissions because the fuel – a mixture of hydrocarbons – burns incompletely. To prevent pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, noncombusted hydrocarbons and particulates from entering the air, gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles are equipped with catalytic converters and, in some cases, also with particulate filter systems. They clean the exhaust gas flow before it leaves the exhaust system. This has drastically reduced pollution levels over the past four decades.

The well-known three-way conversion catalyst has been in use in North America since 1976 – and in Europe since 1986. Dr Harth says: “Catalytic converters are now capable of removing considerably more than 95 per cent of the undesired substances from the exhaust gas flow.” This is achieved by the internal structure of the

conversion catalysts: exhaust gas catalysts are made of a special ceramic support, the monolith, which contains numerous parallel channels.

Depending on their intended use, the channel walls have differently sized pores. This ceramic support is covered with a washcoat containing metal oxide particles with a very large internal surface. The washcoat contains finely distributed precious metal particles (such as palladium and rhodium in three-way conversion catalysts). These materials are catalytically active and ensure the conversion of carbon monoxide (CO), noncombusted hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into water (H2O), nitrogen (N2) and carbon dioxide (CO2). As catalytically active substances, the precious metals enable and participate in the reaction but remain unaffected by it – a fundamental property of catalysts.

Three plus one makes four

BASF researchers have further developed the three-way conversion catalyst and optimised its cleaning effect: the new four-way conversion catalyst, FWC™, is a technology for vehicles with

gasoline engines. The catalyst removes the gaseous pollutants and also solids such as particulates from the exhaust gas flow. “The compact four-way conversion catalyst now combines all the important properties in a single component. Compared to the three-way conversion catalyst and the downstream uncoated particulate filter, it occupies much less space,” says Dr Harth. “We have succeeded in ensuring that the FWC produces only a slight backpressure to the exhaust gas flow,” explains the BASF expert. This is an important aspect for the automotive manufacturers. A high backpressure increases the resistance the exhaust gas flow has to overcome before it reaches the exhaust system. If the backpressure is too high, this impairs the performance of the engine and lowers fuel efficiency. To keep the backpressure as low as possible, BASF experts have developed innovative production and coating technologies. These make it possible, for example, to coat the porous inner walls of the monolith specifically with the catalytically active material. The four-way conversion catalyst has a pronounced cleaning effect. “Our many years of experience with catalyst technologies have equipped us to create tailor-made catalytic structures,” adds Dr Harth.

FOUR WAYS TO A CLEAN GASOLINE ENGINE A compact catalytic converter system from BASF removes gaseous pollutants as well as particulates.

12 | GLASURIT – BASF INNOVATION

This results in an enormously large surface with catalytic activity. By that, less precious metal is needed in the four-way conversion catalyst. The porous monolith wall also acts as a filter for the particulates, which are retained by the wall and combusted to carbon dioxide at high temperatures and with the aid of the catalytic coating. The four-way catalytic converter from BASF therefore does more than a system with an uncoated filter. Because most of the particulates are combusted to CO2, the pores of the catalyst do not easily clog – ensuring that the components remain functional. The long-term stability has already been demonstrated in a series of tests; even after more than 160,000 kilometres driven, the four-way conversion catalyst still cleans the exhaust gas effectively and achieves stringent emission limits. The system was launched in April 2013 and is now in the development and test phase with numerous automotive manufacturers – always with a view to serial production. “The four-way conversion catalyst helps automotive manufacturers to comply with the strict emission regulations like the Euro 6 standard,” says Dr Harth. “In a few years our system will be part of the established technology for exhaust emissions cleanup.”

The biggest issue will be diesel NOX and particle emission limits

Dirk Bosteels from AECC (Association for Emissions Control by Catalyst) about the new Euro 6 emission standard and what it means for car drivers and the automotive industry.

The European Commission adopted a new policy package on clean air. And the new Euro 6 standard is in force now, there will be a second step in 2017. What are the consequences for car drivers and buyers?

The main effects of Euro 6 will be reduced NOX emissions from diesel cars and better particle emission control from direct-injection gasoline engines. Users of Euro 6 cars will contribute to improved air quality. Buyers of new cars will not directly notice that, but they will emit fewer emissions when driving them. There is also a proposal to develop EU-harmonised voluntary ‘top runner’ benchmarks for ‘Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles’ – so-called SULEVs – this could be used by member states to tackle air pollution in hotspot areas. For car drivers in general, one result of the clean air package could be the extension of Low Emissions Zones.

What is the difference – compared with Euro 5?

The main difference is that for diesel cars the limit on NOX emissions is reduced from 180 mg/km to 80 mg/km, which is still 20 mg/km higher than the limit for gasoline cars. A second difference is that for direct injection gasoline cars a limit is introduced on the number of particles that can be emitted. From September 2017 this will be the same as the particle number limit for diesel cars, but until then manufacturers can ask to meet a limit that is 10 times higher.

What are the main challenges for the automotive industry?

The European Commission’s proposal to introduce a test and some form of limits for ‘Real Driving

Emissions’ is perhaps the greatest challenge for the automotive industry. A new test cycle and emissions measurement procedure will be introduced in Euro 6 which should be more representative of current driving behaviour and hence generate more realistic emissions values. For gasoline vehicles, the biggest issue will be how to meet the 2017 particle number emissions limits. Gasoline particulate filters1 are one technology that is available.

Could you outline how the emission standards will develop in the next 10 or 15 years?

It seems that the new worldwide-harmonised procedures2 and those for the measurement of ‘Real Driving Emissions’ will be a key influence on emissions requirements into the next decade. The introduction of the new worldwide-harmonised procedures is initially intended to ensure that measured CO2 emissions and fuel consumption more accurately reflect real-world driving, but should also help to ensure that vehicles meet existing emissions limits.

The new worldwide-harmonised procedures will continue to develop in further stages. Phase 2, currently planned to run to 2018, will add further test procedures including low-temperature emissions, durability, real driving emissions and in-service conformity, which will eventually replace the current tests. Phase 3 is intended to then introduce globally harmonised emissions limits. The challenge at that stage may be to ensure that EU limits are not compromised by the desire to achieve wider harmonisation.

Left: Detailed view of a three-way conversion catalyst, showing the palladium layer (blue), rhodium layer (red) that simultaneously converts nitrogen oxides to nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water with the aid of carbon monoxide or hydrogen (ceramic substrate: grey). The new four-way conversion catalyst from BASF also removes particulates (magnification 120:1, at 15 cm in width.)

Above: The four-way conversion catalyst consists of a ceramic support coated with precious metals.

1 Editor’s note: BASF’s four-way conversion catalyst employs this technology

2 Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedures

"In a few years our system will be part of the established technology for exhaust emissions cleanup"

GLASURIT – BASF INNOVATION | 13

With the view to build a better future, the intent for the RCC is to be a centre of excellence for the sustainability of the Australian and New Zealand refinish industry, and it is certainly achieving this goal.

More than 700 delegates and industry

stakeholders have come through the Glasurit

RCC since it formally restarted its training

calendar in March 2014. The popularity of the

RCC is due to the diverse benefits available to

the industry that the centre delivers.

“Through our understanding of the refinish

industry, supplier partnerships and the BASF

worldwide resources, we are providing

educational programs, events and symposiums

to benefit and advance industry stakeholders,”

said Ian Johnson, Technical Sales Support

Manager, BASF Australia and New Zealand.

The Glasurit RCC is not only used for education in process and efficiencies of the Glasurit range of products, but has experienced growth in areas such as:

• VIP days

• Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) days

• Industry stakeholders’ use of the centre

• Glasurit Educate program

• Insurance awareness.

“We have been fortunate to work with OEM’s to host joint days to launch new technologies and

February 6 marked the first anniversary of the official launch of the Glasurit Refinish Competence Centre (RCC).

GLASURIT REFINISH COMPETENCE CENTRE TURNS ONE

RCC

14 | GLASURIT – RCC TURNS ONE

Invest in the future of your business – your staff. Book a spot at an upcoming course at the Glasurit Refinish Competence Centre. Visit www.glasurit.com.au/training or contact (02) 8787 0126 for more information.

increase awareness in OEM networks to educate on latest trends, best practices and changes within the industry,” said Ian Johnson.

Insurance awareness programs provide the opportunity to showcase Glasurit’s methods and practices to ensure insurance companies understand the needs of the bodyshop during the refinish process, while at the same time showcasing correct standards and approach to repairs.

“The overwhelming message to come through in both conversation and feedback [from assessors] is the professionalism, the excellent presentation standard and the desire for more training,” said Bill Blackhall, Motor Repair Industry Specialist, Wesfarmers Insurance – Australian Underwriting. “For me, that means the training was both effective and informative.”

VIP days have grown in popularity and continue to be a success, allowing bodyshops the opportunity to understand the value-added services of Glasurit, exposure to the latest technologies, product comparisons and an opportunity to have hands-on experience with the Glasurit portfolio. The VIP days also allow industry stakeholders to trial their own products and use of the facility to promote their latest products through training.

In the bodyshop repair industry change is constant, and the educational programs offered by Glasurit reflect this change with the current offer.

“The training offer has taken on new dimensions with the education seminars aimed at specific gaps with individuals and market needs,” said Peter Jones, National Head Trainer, BASF

Australia and New Zealand, “We focus on the complete process, and the RCC is purpose built for this market requirement.”

One of the most exciting new initiatives to be held at the RCC was the pilot program of Glasurit Educate, where selected Glasurit bodyshops have been involved in partnership with South Western Sydney Institute of TAFE (SWSi TAFE). This program looks to sustain the refinish industry by attracting young apprentices and engaging them through first-class education and training facilities. This program allows apprentices to view their opportunities now and in the future.

“Glasurit Educate is unique and we will be working towards expanding the program to ensure the future of this industry,” said Ian Johnson. “We are also working closer with OEM dealer networks with their training requirements.”

To meet the high demand for training and education, there are two full-time trainers at the Glasurit RCC.

“The delegates do not want to leave once they have attended an education seminar and look forward to attending another seminar in the future,” said Peter Jones. “With two trainers we can offer dual seminars to accommodate our customer requests.”

The Glasurit Refinish Competence Centre is hitting the mark for bodyshops and influencers within the industry by providing education, engaging with the market, and providing the skills, knowledge and understanding of business today and into the future.

GLASURIT – RCC TURNS ONE | 15

THE START OF SOMETHING BIGAustralia has a great track record when it comes to innovation in transport and other important technologies. In the automotive field, Henry Sutton in South Australia invented the electric motor that became the basis for dynamos in the 1870s. A century later a Perth engineer, Ralph Sarich, developed the energy efficient orbital combustion engine.

Perhaps our most loved and iconic Australian automotive innovation is the ute. This was the result of a letter in 1932 from a farmer’s wife asking for “a vehicle to go to church in on a Sunday and which can carry our pigs to market on Mondays”. In response, Ford designer Lew Bandt developed the now famous ute and it was released in 1934.

Of course, there’s more to automotive history than these examples. So let’s look at some other important chapters in the story of the automobile from here and overseas.

THE CAR INDUSTRY STALLS IN THE UK

In the mid 19th century in the UK, steam-driven vehicles were in vogue. Some of these vehicles became commercially successful, until a backlash against such large speedy vehicles resulted in the introduction of the Locomotive

Act (1865). This required many self-propelled vehicles on public roads in the United Kingdom to be preceded by a man on foot waving a red flag and blowing a horn. This effectively killed auto development in the UK the rest of the 19th century (The law was not repealed until 1896, although the need for the red flag was removed in 1878.)

What many people consider to be the first “real” automobile was produced in 1873 by Frenchman Amédée Bollée, who built self-propelled steam road vehicles to transport groups of passengers.

The first practical automobiles with internal combustion engines were completed almost simultaneously by several German inventors including Karl Benz. He built his first automobile in 1885 and began the first production of automobiles in 1888, after Bertha Benz, his wife, had proved – with the first long-distance trip in August 1888, from Mannheim to Pforzheim and back – that the horseless coach was absolutely suitable for daily use.

By 1900, early centres for the automotive industry had developed in many countries including Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy and as far afield as Australia. Some, obviously, achieved more success than others.

Above: One of the first ‘modern cars’, Karl Benz’s 1888 Patent-Motorwagen Nr. 3 .

Left: Henry Ford alongside the 10 millionth Model T and one of his earlier vehicles, the Quadracycle.

EARLY AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY

16 | GLASURIT – EARLY AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY

AUSTRALIAN KNOW-HOW GETS RESULTS

Due to the isolation of Australia, it was more practical for Australians to make their own cars. This meant we were very active at the very beginning of both car and aircraft development and in some areas, ahead of our overseas counterparts.

Like elsewhere in the world, the first true cars made in Australia were steam cars. The first of these steam cars, the Phaeton, was made in 1896 by Herbert Thomson and Edward Holmes in Armadale, Melbourne, and was exhibited in 1900 with the first pneumatic tyres made in Australia by Dunlop.

Remarkably, the five-horsepower single cylinder steam carriage was reliable and durable enough to take Thomson and a friend 493 miles from Bathurst to Melbourne at an average speed of 8.7 mp/h.

In 1901, Harley Tarrant produced the first petrol-driven car built entirely in Australia. The car was powered by a rear-mounted six-horsepower Benz engine. This car was followed by many improved designs, including the first fully enclosed car body made in Australia. Later models included locally produced components such as engines, gearboxes and rear axles.

LESSONS FROM THE PAST

It’s important to look back on our early history to appreciate what has been achieved, to understand our industry a little better and to see just how far we have come. There have been many brilliant pioneers involved in the automotive industry and each has played a vital role in the development of the automobile.

But the fact is that the automobile as we know it was not invented in a single day by a single inventor. The history of the automobile reflects an evolution that took place worldwide – including Australia.

Which explains why it is estimated that more than 100,000 patents created the modern automobile.

GEELONG DISPLAYS ITS PROUD MOTORING HISTORYGeelong Museum of Motoring + Industry (GMOM) is the home of a fascinating collection of motor vehicles and motoring memorabilia. It’s not only an enjoyable and interesting place to visit but also a fitting tribute to the motoring and manufacturing history of Geelong.

GMOM came about when the Ford Discovery Centre closed. Rather than see the collection split up, a group of local car collectors and tourism operators got together to save the entire collection and keep it in Geelong.

You won’t only find inanimate treasures at the museum either. There are plenty of living treasures with lots of retired Ford workers involved as volunteers. There’s everyone from general workers through to designers and specialist engineers and each is happy to share their personal history.

Since opening in 1997, GMOM has averaged 10-15,000 visitors a year including families, school groups, social clubs and motoring enthusiasts.

So what’s the best exhibit in GMOM’s collection?

According to a volunteer board member, Scott Pigdon, the answer is clear. “The original desk used by Mr Henry Ford himself and then his son Edsel!”

Above: In response to a letter from a farmer’s wife, Ford designer Lew

Bandt developed the now iconic ute.

GLASURIT – EARLY AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY | 17

Who hasn’t thought, when they see a beautifully maintained piece of old machinery pass them on the road: why not buy a classic or collectible car as transport? Wouldn’t it be great to have something enjoyable to drive rather than a consumable item that owes more to a white-goods factory. And surely, if we could put a man on the moon back in 1969, shouldn’t we be able to keep an old car running reliably in 2013?

Yet choosing a collectible car over a modern one for everyday use is somewhat complicated. Can a classic work as transport rather than simply something to tinker with on weekends?

HUMAN INTEREST

A classic car has the feel-good factor. Whether it’s the look, feel, performance or even just the smell of an old car, these machines can take us back to the good old days. In style. Not that all modern cars lack that degree of involvement, but the majority these days – unless you’re spending a lot of money – lack that intrinsic sparkle.

SAFETY

One area where newer is (generally) better is safety. Everything new now has stability control and multiples of airbags. But safety levels trickle down from the upmarket models to the more affordable ones, so an older prestige car might just be a pretty safe one. A good example is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Even an E-Class built in 1996 has a five-star safety rating according to

the Used Car Safety Ratings (see racv.com.au/mycar and follow the Car Safety link). Even so, the march of technology means modern small cars are now pretty safe ones.

Yet the further back you go into automotive history, the less safety you’re likely to see. There are some cars around that are old enough to have been built without even seatbelts. To drive such a car is to feel vulnerable in the extreme. However, seatbelts can be retro-fitted pretty easily to most, if not all, cars. But even then, you might still be dealing with drum brakes, lazy windscreen wipers, dim headlights and skinny tyres.

THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE

As cars have become bigger and heavier, they generally don’t offer the pure driving experience of a good older car. Lighter cars are more rewarding to drive and there’s a certain purity and tactility in many old cars that the modern stuff can’t produce. But a newer car often has the old stuff over a barrel when it comes to convenience. We’re talking air-conditioning, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, central locking and a fully adjustable steering column – all virtually unheard of in a classic car. And could you go back to a car without power steering?

PERFORMANCE

Performance can come down to two things these days: the car’s abilities and the amount of fuel it uses performing them. While most new cars

have an acceptable level of performance, the same can’t always be said for classics. Some are underpowered at higher speeds, and handling falls into the same can of worms. What was considered decent roadholding 30 years ago might just horrify the current generation of drivers who grew up with all-wheel-drive and quality tyres. And the modern car has the fuel economy game shot to bits, too. Modern engines are clever engines, and while they offer better performance than ever before, they’re also vastly more frugal. A carburettor will never match a modern fuel-injected engine with a computer to control its emissions and consumption.

THE CLASSIC DILEMMA

Cars that have stood the test of time have a certain something. But how much

efficiency should you sacrifice for ‘character’?

18 | GLASURIT – THE CLASSIC DILEMMA

RELIABILITY

This is simple. An older car might – if you buy one that has been well made, well engineered and well maintained – be utterly reliable. But it’s a big ‘might’. Age and kilometres take their toll on even the best cars. And while a modern car is a vastly more complicated device, it’s also far less likely to break down. The flip-side is that if an old car does fail to proceed, you might be able to get it going by the side of the road with basic tools and knowledge. Should the same thing happen in a modern car, the next person you meet will be an RACV roadside patrol.

SERVICING

Where you should win with an older car is servicing and routine maintenance. It will actually tolerate home maintenance. If you’re not the hands-on type, there are plenty of general workshops out there who can service an older car and keep it in good nick. But old cars usually have shorter service intervals – say, 5000km between oil changes versus 20,000km for a modern car – so the financial advantages are sometimes cancelled out.

A modern car, meanwhile, isn’t likely to need rust protection or repairs. This alone is often enough to sway purchasing decisions of a classic car and needs to be taken seriously. Then again, a lot of modern cars need some pretty specialist attention in other areas. A workshop without the appropriate diagnostic gear won’t even know where to start on a new car and you’ll certainly pay for that level of workshop investment. But at least parts are readily available for newer cars. Mind you, the internet has opened many sources of bits and pieces, and many old-car enthusiasts are devoted online shoppers.

RESALE

Here’s a clear win to the classic car. One might drop some value as the years pass, but acknowledged collectibles are likely to have appreciated after 10 years or so. Buy the right car and the value could skyrocket, according to market forces, changing consumer tastes and fads. But even a fairly pedestrian old car will hang onto its value provided you keep it in good condition and don’t let it rust, thanks to relative scarcity and that all-important nostalgia.

WHERE TO START LOOKING

Access to classics has never been greater and there are hundreds of websites to help you find the right one. Tap into traditional magazines and don’t forget the car clubs that specialise in the make or model you’re after. Often they have a few switched-on members who know what’s around for sale even though it may not have been advertised. The only catch there is sometimes cars offered through a club are those no one in the club wants for whatever reason, so don’t forget to have the thing inspected by an independent specialist.

If you want to bypass a lot of the hassle, there are also specialist car brokers who, for a fee, can track down, inspect and even negotiate the purchase.

Using a specialist also potentially rules out one of the traps of collectibles the car that purports to be something it is not. The rising values of classic Australian cars such as the Bathurst Holdens and Fords has meant more than a few standard models have been tarted up to look like the Bathurst-winning versions. This is fine if the seller is up-front about the car’s origins, but plenty of buyers have been caught out. For instance, be absolutely sure the Ford Falcon you’re looking at is a real GT-HO and not a Fairmont with some stripes added. Get a marque specialist to verify the car’s identity. Again, car clubs are the place to start.

IMPORTING

The strong Australian dollar has been a huge bonus for anybody wanting to import a car. Cars have been coming from the US in particular in huge numbers. Buying overseas is not without its risks, and many buyers have discovered to their horror that what they thought they were buying is not quite what’s in the box on the docks. It’s not uncommon for an international seller to pretty up a run-down car with new paint and trim and present it as fully restored.

The golden rule is, you must have the car looked at by a trusted person before any negotiations have even begun. If you know what you’re looking for, travelling overseas to see the car yourself gets you a holiday and a new car if it checks out. That also means you can deliver the car to the relevant port yourself, as this aspect of the transportation process costs money, too.

The other solution is to use a shipping specialist who can handle everything, including the all-important paperwork. That includes a document called an Import Approval, which basically proves you are the car’s new owner. Without this document, the car will not leave the docks. The specialist shippers and importers we spoke to all agree the biggest mistake people make (other than buying a dud car) is not paying enough attention to the paperwork.

ULTIMATELY…

It all comes down to how much value you place on looking cool, having a real relationship with a car and think kindly of the good old days. And, of course, whether you think you can live without all those safety features and creature comforts. But what about those who do take the plunge? They might turn up sweaty occasionally and not turn up at all now and then. But at all other times, you’ll usually be able to spot them a fair way off by their big, broad grins as they sit at the wheel. So if you can deal with all this, enjoy the drive. It’s usually worth it.

by Dave Morley

GLASURIT – THE CLASSIC DILEMMA | 19

Business owners considering opening a new bodyshop or renovating or expanding an existing bodyshop have many decisions to make when planning the design and accounting for the consequences of each design element.

Bodyshop owners looking to utilise the most from their business space will benefit from working with a Glasurit Advanced Bodyshop Solutions (ABS) specialist.

The Glasurit ABS specialist works with the bodyshop owner to develop the ideal solution for their requirements with Glasurit Bodyshop Design. Step-by-step, the business owner is offered a full analysis and 3D model to visualise

the impact that the design will make on the movement of daily work and also the financial impact on the business.

“With Glasurit Bodyshop Design, we work with you to develop the optimum solution for your requirements step-by-step. As your partner, we not only take your desires into account, but also analyse the consequences, calculate costs and provide you with in-depth consultancy,” said Peter Sparks, Bodyshop Solutions Specialist, Coatings, BASF Australia and New Zealand.

It is important that the bodyshop operates at full capacity. This provides a foundation for efficient work and economic success.

To meet this goal, careful planning of the arrangement of machines and workflows prior to expansion, remodelling or building is essential. The final design will meet the business requirements, making full use of the shop, machines and employees with optimal streamlined workflows.

As a partner, your Glasurit ABS specialist provides full support during the planning process, analysing the consequences, calculating the costs and providing in-depth consultancy.

The result: an efficient bodyshop that meets all of the requirements to make your business a success and increase potential for profit.

FACILITY PLANNING

“Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.” Winston Churchill.This statement could not be more true in business.

ANALYSING YOUR NEEDS

You and your ABS specialist work together to determine your goals and desires and estimate the potential of your bodyshop for the next three to five years.

USING THE MODEL TO ANALYSE AND OPTIMISE YOUR PLANS

With the computer-generated layout plan, your ABS specialist presents you with the results of the calculations and discusses potential modifications with you.

CALCULATING COSTS

In the final step, your ABS specialist adds up the costs of the bodyshop you have planned and gives you an overview of the expenses and the amount you need to invest.

IDENTIFYING CAPACITIES

After completing the needs analysis, your ABS specialist helps you to identify the number of employees and work bays and what machines and equipment you will need.

CREATING A VIRTUAL 3-D MODEL

Your ABS specialist uses a computer to generate a real-life, three-dimensional model of your new bodyshop – with suggestions for the shortest possible distances, logically arranged work bays and structured workflows.

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20 | GLASURIT – ADVANCED BODYSHOP SOLUTIONS

Matt surfaces have been adding a special touch to cars for several of years. Glasurit developed a clear coat system for the refinish repair and offers an enlarged range of gloss levels. With the Matt Clear System, Glasurit offers bodyshops a reliable and easy way of achieving any desired gloss level for matt coatings.

Gloss levels are measured in gloss units. To start with, bodyshops could rely on 22 or 53 gloss units for refinishing, but meanwhile, each vehicle manufacturer has their own gloss levels, ranging from 12 to 65 units. Previously, bodyshops could use Glasurit 923-55 MS Clear extra matt and 923-57 MS Clear matt elastified to reproduce two gloss levels, 22 units +/- 2 and 53 units +/- 2.

To make mattters even more difficult, the OEM coating of a vehicle often shows different gloss levels on horizontal and vertical surfaces. The fact that the gloss level of the refinish coating can also vary considerably due to the influence of the substrate, film thickness and flash-off times adds to the complications involved for bodyshops.

By mixing the two matt Glasurit MS Clears in different, defined mixing ratios, bodyshops can achieve gloss units of between 12 and 65, measured at a 60° angle. This enables them to match any conventional matt gloss level using only two clears. Glasurit has produced a matt swatch with reference to a specified gloss unit to assist with the identification of OEM gloss levels. A formula to produce the identified gloss level can be easily referenced within the Profit Manager colour retrieval software.

In addition, Glasurit has revised the process and defined the individual painting steps even more precisely. This gives bodyshops a greater degree of reliability, because now they can reduce to a minimum any undesired influences such as different film thicknesses, flash-off times and the hardeners used.

ENLARGED SYSTEM FOR MATT COATING WITH GLASURIT MATT CLEAR SYSTEMFrom satin to matt finishes, Glasurit Matt Clear System reaches every gloss level.

“By mixing the two matt Glasurit MS Clears in different, defined mixing ratios, bodyshops can achieve gloss units of between 12 and 65, measured at a 60° angle.”

PRODUCT NEWS

GLASURIT – PRODUCT NEWS | 21

COLOUR AND BLENDING SOLUTIONS A profitable and sustainable business will adapt to an ever-changing environment and market. Advancements in technology and external influences change the way we approach our business and make us look at our efficiencies and areas for improvement.

Efficiency comes when employees feel more engaged with their work, and your employees can become more efficient with education.

One of the many educational programs offered to your paint shop technicians is Colour and Blending Solutions.

Colour is a critical part of the refinish repair process. The ability to achieve an acceptable colour match and a successful blend is critical to producing an undetectable repair.

Gaps in skill sets surrounding this process will lead to increased costs and possible rework. Glasurit trainers will ensure your paint technicians are using the highly effective Glasurit colour tools to their full extent, reducing the risks associated with rework and additional colour matching costs.

DELEGATE PROFILE:

Existing or new user to Glasurit, third-year apprentice to experienced paint technician

Ensure your paint technicians’ colour and blending skills are keeping your costs in check. Book a course today by visiting www.glasurit.com.au/training or phone (02) 8787 0126.

COLOUR AND BLENDING SOLUTIONS – the course detail:

The objective of this course is to enable the participants to understand the principles of economically managing the preparation of colour and to achieve an acceptable colour match utilising the Glasurit colour tools and recommended matching methods.

This will be applied practically in different blending scenarios, with the aim of achieving an undetectable blend transition.

22 | GLASURIT – TRAINING

GLOSS MAGAZINE

BASF STAFF MEMBER QUESTIONNAIRE: Brian Lewis

Your name: Brian Lewis.

Nickname: It used to be Looey, when I was younger.

Position: Colour Lab Manager.

Location: Wetherill Park.

Best part of your job: Getting a colour matched, after it’s been a bit of a pig.

Favourite movie: Lone Survivor and Top Gun, yeah, I know, it’s a bit cheesy.

Favourite karaoke song: I Did It My Way (Frank Sinatra), but also watching others try and sing it when they are drunk.

What would be your ultimate meal? English roast with all the trimmings and a glass of red.

What three people would you choose to share it with? Billy Connolly, Rowan Atkinson, and the wife of course.

If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be? Invisible.

If you could trade places with any other person for a week (famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional) with whom would it be? King or Queen of a country to see what they actually do day to day.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you? Tom Hanks.

How do you relax outside of work? Walking the dog, going out for a nice meal and watching motorcycle and car racing.

Is there a funny story you can share with us while you’ve been involved in your job? Seeing a disgruntled painter at an import centre in England, who had just been fired, repaint a brand new car without masking off anything, even painted the wheels, the tyres and all the glass.

What did you want to be when you grew up? A train driver.

And why did you decide this industry? It sort of picked me. Always enjoyed painting, household or cars, and colour matching is a good challenge.

© BASF Australia Ltd 2015. No responsibility is accepted by BASF for the accuracy of any statement of advice contained in the text or advertisements. All material appearing in GLOSS magazine is copyright. BASC0272

I M P R I N TEditor Tony Wiggins – Head of Coatings Australia & New ZealandBASF Australia Ltd 231–233 Newton Road Wetherill Park NSW 2164 AustraliaE: contact-australia@basf.com

Phone: 02 8787 0100 Fax: 02 8787 0133

Glasurit® is a brand of BASF. www.glasurit.com.au www.basf.com.au

Advertising Trudi Raymant – OMG! Creative Level 3, 180 Flinders Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia Phone: 03 9654 0532 E: trudi@omgcreative.com.au

Editorial Contributing Editor Mark Bell – OMG! Creative Level 3, 180 Flinders Street Melbourne VIC 3000 AustraliaContact for media enquiries: Phone: 02 9555 9476 E: lucy@lucidcomms.com.au

Art Direction, Design & Production OMG! Creative Level 3, 180 Flinders Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia Phone: 03 9654 0532 www.omgcreative.com.au

Photography

Rob Scheeren Danielle Nicholson Geelong Museum of Motoring & Industry iStock BASF

GLASURIT – NEWS | 23

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GLASURIT REFINISH COMPETENCE CENTRE - THINK YOU KNOW IT ALL? THINK AGAIN.

The Refinish Competence Centre at Wetherill Park sets the benchmark in collision repair education, delivering commercially oriented programs for every level of industry professional. The 2015 education dates are now online including Technology Transfer, Colour & Blending Solutions, Process Application and Fast Repair. Go to glasurit.com.au/training for info and to book.

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