WHAT’S HOT
The latest in what’s happening in the South African market of collision repair is featured in What’s Hot. Keep up-to-date with new products, training developments, technical know-how and much more.
BIG FUNDING BOOST FOR AUTO PARTS SUPPLIERS IN THE EASTERN CAPE
The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) has launched a R50m blended finance scheme in Gqeberha, for up-and-coming micro, small and medium-sized automotive component suppliers, and aftermarket service providers in the Eastern Cape. The focus on this segment of the market is a bid to bridge current funding gaps facing small and medium operators.
PRE-SCANS AND POST-SCANS; TIMING IS EVERYTHING
With a scan being done before repairs begin and after repairs are complete, the time and energy you’ll need to spend on diagnostics will multiply, and with the ever-increasing amount of electronics being added to vehicles, the importance of pre-repair scans and post-repair scans cannot be stressed highly enough.
SETBACK FOR SA MOTOR INDUSTRY
Mercedes-Benz SA’s shift reduction at its East London plant, resulting in 700 job losses, reflects a significant setback for local vehicle manufacturing. This decision was driven by decreased global demand for C-Class sedans amid a shift towards SUVs and crossovers. The company also cited port challenges contributing to reduced production levels.
STANDOX ENABLING MORE EFFICIENT REFINISHING WITH ONE VISIT APPLICATION
Time is money, and in today’s economy, this has never been more accurate. That’s why in any busy body shop, energy savings, material consumption, efficient workflow and intelligent division of labour are vital to optimise work processes. The spray booth is just as important; refinishers should optimise their time there too.
NEW HYUNDIA i20
Hyundai’s new i20 has hit the road in South Africa with a refreshed, stylish design that is part of a well-rounded motoring package in the segment for hatchback cars, where it occupies a sizeable 10% share of this competitive part of the local car market.
VOLKSWAGEN TO INVEST R4BN TO PRODUCE THIRD MODEL AT KARIEGA PLANT
Volkswagen Group Africa (VWA) will invest R4-billion in its manufacturing plant in Kariega, in the Eastern Cape. The investment will be used to prepare the plant for the addition of a third model to the company’s production line-up from early 2027. The third model, which will be a compact sports-utility vehicle (SUV).
CUSTOM BIKES GALORE SAYS “PAINT BY WAYNE”
Wayne Deintjie has been tackling motorcycle custom respray work and specialising on restoring customers repairs back to their original finish in his business, “Paint by Wayne”. He has an amazing database of motorcycle original colour formula’s that cover hundreds of thousands of the popular bike colours, shades and derivatives.
PROTECT EFFECT ON ADHESIVES IN RISING TEMPERATURES.
Adhesives are vital across industries, especially in automotive repair, where their strength and application are key. Knowing how temperature and humidity affect them is crucial for maintaining effectiveness. Studying adhesive performance in high heat offers a complete guide to ensuring strong bonds endure.
FORD SA BUILD ONE MILLIONTH RANGER BAKKIE AT SILVERTON FACTORY
One million Ranger bakkies have now rolled off the line from Ford South Africa’s manufacturing plant in Silverton. Production of the Ranger bakkie at the factory began in 2000, making it almost a quarter-century since manufacturing of the brand’s popular bakkie started. And it is fitting that we celebrate this milestone.
ELECTRIC ACCORD
Isn’t it time there was a unified approach to high voltage system isolation? The past decade and a half has been pretty miserable for collision repairers when it comes to where things are located on a vehicle. Just consider the straightforward task of making a vehicle with any system carrying more than 60V safe to process.
DYNAMIC FLOW TECHNOLOGY FOR NEW SAGOLA SPRAY GUN RANGE
After considerable research Sagola have now introduced their all-new dynamic flow technology 4600 range globally, with the promise of a more even layout and uniform paint distribution from top to bottom. The system has introduced a colour coded air cap to minimise problems associated with difficult base coat colours.
AI APPS DISTORTING DAMAGE IMAGES SAY ALLIANZ
Allianz has seen a 300% surge in fraudulent use of apps to manipulate images, videos, and documents, calling it a major scam affecting insurance. They noted a 29% increase in fraud prevention across motor, home, and application claims in 2023. The rise includes tactics like ghost brokers and deep fake technology.
COATINGS FOR AFRICA EXPO – SANDTON
The multi-million-dollar industry which helps to protect just about every surface you can think of, descended once again at the Sandton Convention Centre. Coatings for Africa brought varied business conferences with many interesting products and surfaces that enhance and decorate the industry in every sector.
INDASA PARTNER WITH WORLDSKILLS PROGRAMME
INDASA’s involvement in SpainSkills enhances the competition with industry expertise. They believe sponsoring and participating in judging will provide crucial knowledge. This collaboration exemplifies effective industry-education partnerships, vital for developing new teaching methods and preparing students for careers.
THE SILENT MAJORITY STAYING SILENT DOES NOT WORK
You could be lulled into complacency with all the constant game changing, new rules and demands that never stops coming in the area of South African collision repair. For a clear picture of what needs to be changed going forward, perhaps we should take a deep look at how others are solving them.
LIFE ON THE GARDEN ROUTE IS HEAVEN FOR PETROLHEADS
Living in Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route for nearly four years, Roger Houghton finds it a haven for petrolheads. Active in motor clubs for over six decades, he enjoys local events like the Simola Hill Climb and George Old Car Show, and participates in various car enthusiasts’ groups.
IBIS DELIVERED A GLOBAL SUMMIT TO SHOUT ABOUT
The 2024 IBIS Global Summit concluded successfully at the Sheraton Rhodes Resort in Greece, emphasizing enhanced collaboration under IBIS Worldwide’s theme “Transforming Tomorrow Together.” Following extensive networking and seminars, attendees departed with valuable insights and strategies to address sector challenges and opportunities.
WHY OH WHY IS ACCIDENT DATA OF AUTHORISED VEHICLE REPAIR BEING SOLD TO THIRD PARTIES
There are a number of open questions that need public intervention when it comes to the sale of private vehicle accident data compiled from data of major insurance companies. Details of any previous accidents that a vehicle may have been involved in its life on the road appear to be sold without the vehicle owners’ knowledge.
MODERN COLLISION REPAIR CENTRE, COLOUR REFINISH EXCELLENCE
Nico Higgs, the founding father of the most impressive and inspiring repair centre, Modern Collision Repair Centre (MCR), in the heart of Mpumalanga, he will always wax lyrical about becoming the first body shop to adopt the latest Standoblue hydro technology when it was launched back in 2010 by Axalta.
HYUNDAI SA AFTERMARKET TEAM ON THE MOVE
The team from Hyundai SA Parts Distribution Centre recently held a national roadshow engaging with their repair partners. These body shops are part of the Hyundai Automotive Repair Programme (HARP) and the roadshow was to re-establish active contact and communication with HARP members.
MOTOR INSURANCE; IS IT WORTH ALL THE FRICTION?
The growing crisis in vehicle valuation and the effect of pared back damage evaluation is leading to more customers being short changed, and a building problem of sub-standard repaired vehicles which have by-passed collision repairers. The amount of money involved is astounding, but the system is not working well.
GLASURIT 100 LINE PAINT SOLUTIONS – PROVEN PERFORMANCE!
In the ever-evolving world of automotive refinishing, staying ahead of the curve is not just a goal; it’s a necessity. Enter Glasurit 100 Line, the game-changing paint solution that is reshaping the industry landscape with its unparalleled innovation and commitment to excellence. Glasurit 100 Line boasts unrivalled colour precision.
BMW ACCIDENT REPAIR CENTRES UPDATED ON COMPACT COLORSYSTEM SPECTROPHOTOMETER
Hot on the heels of the successful launch of the BMW Group’s new ColorSystem, with Axalta technology on the inside, their latest ColorSystem Spectrophotometer has been introduced.
Training has stepped up a gear at Axalta for the BMW Approved Repair Centres (ARC). The ColorSystem Spectro assists in keeping pace with updated vehicle colour formulas.
BALCO AUTO COATINGS NELSPRUIT ON THE MOVE
Balco Auto Coatings Nelspruit have needed to expand due to the success of being one of the largest PPG distributors. The company was established back in the 1920s and has adapted along the way to celebrate their clients, their company and the PPG team.
RARER-THAN RARE AMERICAN CLASSICS
Kobus Mostert is a car collector extraordinaire. He recently opened a private museum in George to house some amazingly rare and valuable American cars that form just part of his vast collection, inviting members of the Southern Cape Old Car Club for a preview to drink in cars that have world-wide collector value.
BOOSTING BODY SHOP EFFICIENCY WITH AIR-DRYING FAST SURFACER
In the fast-paced world of car refinishing, two things are crucial: increased efficiency and cost effectiveness. The new innovative DeBeer Refinish 8-347 Fast Surfacer offers an easy solution for increased efficiency and cost effectiveness.
CARVELLO LEADING THE VALUE FOR MONEY REFINISH MARKET SAYS REAL RESEARCH
In a specialised survey conducted by Real Research, the demand from refinishers and body shops for a high-performance value cost refinish system this year, showed an increase for the popular Carvello Luxor branded premium refinish brand. It showed an astonishing 20% increase in demand and popularity over last year’s survey.
SAGOLA TEAM ARE SUPER ACTIVE AROUND THE WORLD
The team at Sagola have had their work cut out for them in the first quarter of 2024. Sagola products are now available globally. The team from Elcometer UK, have a vision and activity plan to enable their end-users to see the latest technology in refinish application that they have to offer.
A PLACE FOR QUIET CONTEMPLATION
Who is the greatest racing driver? All names, fact and figures can be quoted and debated. We should however have to travel back further in time, because there is one driver who dominated racing in the 1960s and is the benchmark against all other drivers measured themselves – Jim Clark.
AUTOMECHANIKA JOHANNESBURG – FUTUROAD LOGISTICS REVIEW
A CEO breakfast for Automechanika South Africa was held recently at Kyalami. It put the local logistics and road freight future in focus, as industry big hitters attended the function. They looked to evaluate the prospective growth of local logistics and newly contemplated connected vehicle technology going forward.
THE SUZUKI SALES PHENOMENON IN SOUTH AFRICA CONTINUES…
Since 2017, Suzuki has leapfrogged its way up the sales charts. This company continues to astound local industry commentators and its competitors in the South African vehicle market as it has outsold Volkswagen/Audi in terms of retail sales through its dealers for each of the first three months of 2024.
THERE IS ONLY ONE RAPTOR!
Raptor Coatings has succeeded in the 4×4, caravan and RV industry due to its resilient durability off-road. It doesn’t need any expensive equipment and Raptor is the only comprehensive range where all products are available in aerosols as well for the DIY enthusiast. Raptor comes in black, white, and tintable.
THE CHALLENGE OF CHINESE VEHICLES
Now with numerous Chinese brands flooding Europe and moving into the UK, Dean Lander, Head of Repair Sector Services, discusses the challenges surrounding the repairs of these new models. Having anticipated China’s emergence as a mass car producer, Thatcham Research began working with its vehicles manufacturers several years ago.
VEHICLE DAMAGE QUANTIFICATION DEVELOPMENTS
There is a new development programme for Vehicle Damage Quantifiers (VDQ) members, who meet the minimum criteria to acquire a VDQ qualification through a statutory Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process at a QCTO Service Provider. There is a need to build a skilled workforce pool in this sector.
TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR AIR COMPRESSOR MADE EASY
An air compressor is a vital piece of equipment that helps you power various tools and machinery by converting power into potential energy stored in compressed air. When it stops working, it can be due to several reasons that may range from a simple fix to a complex repair.
AXALTA LAUNCHES ACADEMY GLOBALLY
The Axalta Academy, a state-of-the-art global training platform for refinish professionals, has launched globally in 15 languages to empower refinishers to maintain and to improve their specialised competencies with top-class training. The platform adjusts to the way in which they work, and is backed by Axalta’s unrivalled, industry-leading expertise.
BODY FILLERS, WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT THEM?
This versatile putty, mud, goo, whatever your slang term, is an essential product that helps us return a crushed vehicle to its glory. It can be perfect for scratches, dents and even for treating rust perforations. Here are some best practises and tips for applying this miracle of modern science.
FORD IMPROVES ITS EXPORTS INTO AFRICA
Ford has been an also-ran for the past few years in terms of its exports of built-up vehicles into Africa. Even this year its sales of the new Ranger have been disappointing. Then, unexpectedly last November, it sold 924 units into Africa to top the list of local manufacturers and distributors.
RAMP UP FOR HYDROGEN
GM and Honda have announced the start of production at their 50/50 joint venture production facility, Fuel Cell System Manufacturing (FCSM) – the first large-scale manufacturing joint venture to build commercialised hydrogen fuel cells. GM and Honda share in the belief that hydrogen and fuel cell technology play a big role in meeting zero-emission needs.
AI AND THE IMPACT ON THE AUTO BODY INDUSTRY
How is AI being used and applied in the auto body world? It’s largely centred around “computer vision,” which is a computer analysing images and then taking that, along with other inputs, to help with writing an estimate or determining if a car is a total loss.
DAIHATSU ACCUSED FOR FORGING SAFETY RESULTS
Toyota Motor Corp, has ceased production indefinitely in four of its Japanese factories. This follows a recent suspension of vehicle shipments globally due to the discovery of flawed safety testing. The Japanese government is looking into allegations that the company falsely passed safety tests on certain car models for over 30 years.
UK POTHOLE DAMAGE AT A FIVE-YEAR HIGH
Pothole-related breakdowns are at a five-year high with new data showing that spending on road maintenance has almost halved in a little over a decade. Data shows that the worst area for potholes in the UK is Northumberland with over 180 000 reported over four years.
AI AND WHITE-COLLAR JOB DISPLACEMENT CAN HELP SKILLS SHORTAGE
The rise of artificial intelligence has brought significant changes to many industries, leading to both challenges and opportunities in the job market. As AI continues to evolve, it has led to layoffs in some white-collar sectors while opening new avenues in others, including the collision repair trade.
DISCOVER THE NEXT GENERATION OF AUTOMOTIVE REFINISH: LAUNCH OF GLASURIT LINE IN SA
The Glasurit 100 Line revolutionises panel repair with its shorter spray and flash-off times, boosting efficiency to new heights. This line ensures faster basecoat processes, enhancing productivity without compromising on quality.
REAL RESEARCH SURVEY INFORMATION RELEASED
The value segment in refinish is on the increase with a Real Research survey showing it now has 56% of the local market that is incredibly price conscious in this economy, but still looking for quality coatings. The SA repair industry is incredibly unique, and this survey proves that.
PPG SA LAUNCH QUICKLINE®
Value brands now account for roughly over 50% of the market share. PPG has launched Quickline® which is an easy-to-use solvent borne basecoat system for two and three repairs that also delivers consistently good colour matches for all major car makes.
INAUGURAL GRADUATION FOR JOINT PROJECT BETWEEN HOLLARD INSURANCE AND C3 AUTO BODY REPAIR ACADEMY APPRENTICES
The first graduation from a joint pilot project between Hollard Insurance and C3 Auto Body Repair Academy has taken place. They developed it around the training parameters that currently exist in the industry and this new focus is proving very successful.
IT’S A GANGSTER’S PARADISE OUT IN THE TOWING ARENA
The lunacy that is the towing arena in South Africa come under scrutiny from an insider. What are the loopholes being exploited? Where will this lead to in the long term? Perhaps by understanding the ugly truth we can make a way forward.
GENEVA 2024 THE END OR A NEW START
For the first time in four years the Geneva international show for automotive designers finally took off. Praise for BYD, MG Motor, Lucid, Renault, Dacia (also Renault) and a whole raft of support from owners of gloriously rare vehicles for making this a special event. Where was everyone else?
OCTORAL PF345G RAPID SURFACER
The new Octoral PF345 Rapid Surfacer utilises cutting-edge technology to eliminate the need for spray booth usage. This helps to maintain cost-effectiveness and improve efficiency with air-drying power. Removing the 30-minute bake cycle frees up the spray booth for additional work, furthering efficiency goals.
A NEW DIRECTION IS NEEDED URGENTLY
Right now, there is a circulating survey where they are asking CRA membership to define procurement source for alternate parts purchased in the vehicle repair cycle from both parts and paint supply concerns involved in the aftermarket transaction on each quotation. Why is the insurance industry still interfering?
MIX & MATCH FLYING WITH THE CHALLENGER BRAND
By constantly reinventing themselves Mix & Match have been able to deliver on their promises which is the cornerstone of their ongoing success. The business has successfully transitioned to the convenience of a click-of-button service and keep pace with additional savings in both time and money for their client base.
THE POWER OF ONE… SO LET’S PULL TOGETHER
Passion is a gift given to us. It is an amazing tool to drive us forward and inspire others in a positive trajectory. It is the cousin of integrity, excellence, and humility. Let’s work together with those who are already changing our nation one person at a time.
QUOTING FOR PAINT ACCURATELY WITH PAINTWIZZ
What is a fair price to pay for paintwork in collision repair? How can you determine this fairly and accurately? PaintWizz has the answer, and is a local product, conceived by two body shop owners who understand the business backwards. Take away guess work and increase your bottom line.
WORLDSKILLS SA 2024
This year’s WorldSkills 2024 was a very close contest, held at the BASF Refinish Competence Centre (RCC) in Midrand. Kai Pietersen, from False Bay College is this year’s winner and will represent South Africa in Lyon, France, in September this year.
GAS CONVERSIONS INCREASE FROM CELETTE SA
With the constant and rapid increase in the cost of diesel fuel, the case for a change to an LPG gas fired heating system is on the increase. Celette South Africa are the importers of specialist LPG burners. Improve your body shop activity by increasing workflow and save on costs.
TUNZI AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIES RELOCATE TO NEW PINETOWN PREMISES
After 22 years in Durban central, Tunzi Automotive Suppliers have made a move up to Pinetown, but their contact details stay the same. The company have built up a great reputation for service and back-up technical service.
WHAT MAKES SAGOLA DIFFERENT?
Sagola understand their client’s needs. They have worked closely across the world with major refinish brands to determine each of their requirements. This enables their guns to deliver faster atomisation with an ultra-fine and a smooth loading with the material being used.
NEW NANO TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL AFFECT THE PAINT SHOP
Paint and body shops are little by little adapting their work processes to new technologies to get better results in their repairs. Nanotechnology is a way for research and development labs to experiment with the design and manipulation of matter, at the atom or molecular level, with industrial purposes.
NAVIGATING THE INTRICATE LANDSCAPE OF COATINGS AND ADAS
Preparing vehicles with ADAS seems a little bit like the Wild West these days, particularly in the realm of paint and coatings. It is critical that refinishers follow OEM guidelines and recommendations when repairing vehicles with ADAS. Even so, grey areas can remain.