Colorexpert

colorexpertS e r v i c e • T r e n d s • T r a i n i n g • M a n a g e m e n t

Spies Hecker – simply closer.

1 / 2 0 0 8

TrainingWhere the

professionals

meet.

ProductsPermaflex –

for industrial

application.

ToolsOptimal working

tools for your

bodyshop.

ServiceDigital colour

management.

Hecker is that we teach small

groups concrete skills that

can be put into direct practice

in the workshop. Whatever

the subject – new product

systems or repair methods –

the seminar is always geared

to those attending. This aids

the success of the individual

and of their refinishing busi-

ness.

Spies Hecker also sets

high technical standards at

the new Training Centre?

Dietmar Rausch: The equip-

ment is based on workshop

practice. In other words, we

rely on modern but proven

technology. This is the only

way of effectively training

operational procedures,

application processes and

colour management.

What awaits Spies Hecker

customers at the new

Training Centre?

Dietmar Rausch: The Train-

ing Centre has very strong

international ties. This is

where customers from all

over the world meet our

experts. It is here that expe-

rience is exchanged and

practical solutions for the

refinishing business are de-

veloped. More importantly,

the new Training Centre is a

forum for an open exchange of

views among professionals.

The focus is on personal

exchanges and in-depth

learning – and all this in

a very pleasant, friendly

atmosphere.

What is your training strat-

egy for the new Centre?

Dietmar Rausch: Training

lays the foundations for

higher quality and efficiency

in everyday work. Our train-

ing sessions are clearly

structured while leaving

sufficient scope for the

questions of our customers.

What is special about Spies

we will continue to give

strong support to you and

our other customers in over

60 countries of the world.

Enjoy your read!

Thomas Melzer,

Brand Manager International.

32 0 colorexpert

E d i t o r i a l

T r a i n i n g C e n t r e

and paint products that

meet the needs of the repair

exactly. With this system,

the workshop increases its

throughput, raises the pro-

ductivity of its staff, achieves

better quality and gains sat-

isfied customers.

We at Spies Hecker gear our

efforts consistently to work-

shop practice. By working

systematically we deliver the

best solutions. An example

of this is GREENTEC. This

range consisting of putty,

surfacer, waterborne base

coat and clear coat has

successfully set new stand-

ards in the market as the

colorexpert – tips and information for bodyshops • © SPIES HECKER GMBH / 50858 Köln, Germany • Horbeller Str. 17 • E-mail: [email protected] • Internet: www.spieshecker.com •Responsible under the German Press Act: Karsten Jürs • Editor: Silke Gursch, Christian Simmert • Layout: Adfactory GmbH, Düsseldorf • Text: Mediaservice Schikarski, Dormagen • Reader: LLINGUA,Gelsenkirchen • Translation: Tim Chafer, ExperTeam, Neuss • Reproduction, even in part, only by permission of the editors. The data and information on the suitability and usage of our productsare not binding and do not release the user from his responsibility to carry out his own tests on their suitability for the intended purposes and processes. The product names mentioned in thearticles are predominantly registered trademarks.

Many things work better as

part of a system – some-

thing that is becoming more

and more obvious every day.

In the office and in the work-

shop, clear procedures make

our work easier and we per-

form better as part of an

efficient team. If processes

work well together, the quality

of the finished product will

also benefit.

This principle applies perfectly

to vehicle refinishing. Ideally

you have a well organised

work procedure in place, ex-

perienced and efficient staff

first VOC-compliant product

system.

Today, we continue to de-

velop paint technology with

fully integrated products.

This cuts materials usage,

is good news for the

environment and makes a

major contribution to a

dazzling finish.

With the new Permaflex

industrial coating system,

UV technology for Speed

Repairs, digital colour man-

agement and our practical

range of accessories, Spies

Hecker supplies flexible so-

lutions for vehicle refinishing

in your business. This way,

Thomas Melzer,

Brand Manager International.

The best solutions.

Dear Reader,

Fit for the future.Refinish professionals from around the world come to

the new Spies Hecker Training Centre.

Dietmar Rausch,

Training Centre International.

Total space 2,900 m2

Practical area 1,600 m2

Seminar rooms 310 m2 – 4 seminar rooms

Training capacity 190 persons

3 preparation stations • Extraction rate adjustable from 10,000 to 20,000 m3/h

• 4 sanding arms

• 1 mobile extractor

2 car spray booths / • 4 x 7 m booth floor space each, transparent all round

1 dryer • Flash-off system for waterborne base coat

• Air throughput adjustable from 18,000 to 30,000 m3/h

• Dryer (recirculated air at 60 to 80°C)

1 commercial • Flash-off system for waterborne base coat,

vehicle spray booth adjustable up to 36,000 m3/h

1 industrial coating • 18,000 m3/h flash-off system

spray wall • Separate 3.5 m2 dryer

Colour mixing room • 4 weighing systems

• 4 mixing benches

• Mixing table with 12 sets of scales

• 6 infrared dryers

• Laboratory dryer

Environment / energy • VOC-compliant products

• Energy-optimised installations

• Heat recovery

• Spray booths emit 50% less CO2

• Environmental certification to DIN ISO EN 14001,

quality certification to DIN ISO 16949

Health & Safety • Separate breathing air system

The Training Centre in figures.

In the spray booth, surfacer

workstation or in the mixing

room – whenever the trainer

demonstrates painting pro-

cesses or repair methods or

explains details, he has his

trainees’ full attention. Take

the mixing room for example,

when identifying, mixing and

tinting colours or adjusting

the clear coat precisely with

VHS hardeners. At the Spies

Hecker Training Centre, the

refinishers themselves reach

for the mixing cup and spray

gun. This is done under pro-

fessional guidance and with

face-to-face advice and full-

scale support. Lessons are

taught individually and in line

with the trainee’s standard

of knowledge. “We demon-

strate whatever the business

needs for its success, be it

basic painting techniques

or new technologies,” is the

basic approach of Spies

Hecker’s team of experts.

Modern technology forthe field.

At one of the first seminars,

the fascination for modern

technology is clearly percep-

tible. “I’m particularly inter-

ested in electronic colour

identification.” This is a sen-

tence the trainers often hear.

Colourimeter, formulation

software or weight mix sys-

tem – here in the mixing

room, the training conditions

couldn’t be better. The highly

advanced equipment in the

spacious, well-lit rooms of

the Colouristic Department

stimulates the entire sem-

inar group. The participants

inspect the scales, mixing

bench and industrial spray

wall. “Take your sample panel

and compare the test finish

with the original colour,”

Thomas Mund tells his group.

The goal of colour training is:

“We aim for precision and

speed, and explain specif-

ically how the refinisher can

make efficient use of mod-

ern colour management.”

The new Spies Hecker

Training Centre speaks the

refinisher’s language –

internationally. Professionals

from all over the world come

together at the paint maker’s

company headquarters, swap

experiences, and learn new

and proven painting meth-

ods. The verdict after the

first training seminar: “We’ve

been well looked after, have

learned a lot and this won’t

be our last visit!”

54 0 colorexpert

T r a i n i n g C e n t r e

Hand in glove.Training at the new Spies Hecker Centre.

Thomas Mund gently guides

the spray gun over the primed

wing. “If you keep to the right

distance from the object

during application, you can

reduce the level of overspray.

This way you save on paint

material,” says Thomas Mund.

In the bright, fully glazed

spray booth of the new Spies

Hecker Centre, complete

concentration is called for.

This is where professionals

learn from professionals.

Only ten refinishers from

Germany follow Thomas

Mund’s demonstration. At

the paint manufacturer’s

headquarters, new skills are

acquired in small groups.

Direct questions,informativeanswers.

“What’s the best way to dry

base coat?”, “Can clear coat

be applied wet-on-wet?” –

The questions put to the spe-

cialist are highly specific.

Thomas Mund responds to

his seminar participants.

“We provide tips and

application instructions that

refinishers can put into

direct practice in their own

repairshops. Our training

programme is dictated by

practical need.”

Thomas Mund, Technical Service.

Faultless service for theover-fifties.

• Bright and friendly customer reception,

easy-to-read signs, attractive seating with

an offer of drinks and magazines.

• Customers addressed personally with a fixed

member of the workshop team assigned to

each customer.

• Absolute reliability: Keep to deadlines, clear

agreements and solutions that make sense.

• A confident approach builds trust.

If the service makes a good impression –

when assessing the damage, estimating

the cost or handing back the vehicle –

“Grey Pounds” will be impressed.

• Mobility is important: Pick-up and delivery

are part and parcel of the standard service.

76 0 colorexpert

T o o l s

All over Europe, consumers

are growing older. The num-

ber of people over the age of

50 is increasing. Marketing

experts call this big-spend-

ing generation the “Grey

Pound”. Until now, however,

they have rarely been spe-

cifically targeted by repair-

shops – a waste of potential

business, as various studies

claim. But what does the

50+ generation expect of

its workshop? With what

services can refinishers and

bodyshops attract these

customers in the long term?

The fact is that this cus-

tomer group of 50+ attach

great importance to mobility.

Statistics show that over half

of them have their car regu-

larly serviced and repaired.

“The older and often affluent

workshop customers expect

a high standard of service

and visual presentation,”

says a study investigating

consumer behaviour. “Grey

Pounds are happy to spend

more money on their cars.

In return they expect an ex-

ceptionally good service.”

Simply closer.

Where are the opportunities

for bodyshop and paint

experts? Sascha Kluck,

Spies Hecker Bodyshop

Management International,

says: “The 50+ target group

especially expect the work-

shop to have a clearly struc-

tured range of products

and services with plenty of

punch.” What counts here

is mobility of service, high-

quality repairs, expert staff

and solutions that meet their

specific needs. Anyone

underlining these principles

in the workshop’s advertising

will successfully appeal to

this target group.

It is a marketing strategy

that pays off – because once

older customers have opted

for a workshop, they stick

with it, says the study. How-

ever, “the personal touch is

essential for long-term ties,”

Sascha Kluck stresses. This

means that the service team

should make a special effort

to welcome 50+ customers

by name, with a self-assured

and direct approach. “Grey

Pounds then feel at home

and are happy to come

back.”

C u s t o m e r A c q u i s i t i o n

For cleaning, mixing and painting,

Spies Hecker has all the right accessories.

Particularly important when

mixing materials is the right

ratio. “This is where the Spies

Hecker Mixing Ratio Disc is

an effective help,” the paint

specialist underlines. With

a simple twist of the disc,

this working aid shows how

much hardener or thinner

has to be added to the sur-

facer, top coat or clear coat.”

The system of accessories is

supplemented by the Spies

Hecker sample panel. Mixed

refinish colours can be com-

pared right at the vehicle.

When it comes to application,

quality also depends on the

finer points. “With the particle

remover needle, the refinisher

can remove particles from

the wet paint film. This way

he eliminates the time-

consuming task of reme-

dying paint defects,” says

Frank Barduna.

Quick and reliable application.

The range of accessories for

paint application focuses on

health protection and pro-

cess reliability. Protective

goggles, gloves and overalls

are important elements of

personal protective equip-

ment. Whatever the job –

cleaning the damaged area,

mixing the material or apply-

ing the paint in the spray

booth – with Spies Hecker

accessories, the bodyshop

achieves expert and efficient

results. This also applies

to the finishing touches.

Polishing cloths specially

adapted to the product sys-

tems are an assurance of

lasting gloss.

The Spies Heckeraccessorysystem.

Cleaning

• Precleaning and

degreasing cloths for

cleaning the substrate

• The tack cloth for

reducing dust and

fluff

• Pressure bottle for

silicone remover

and water-based

precleaner

• Air blower for blowing

the damaged area

clean

Putty application

• Putty knife (plastic putty spreader)

Mixing

• Mixing cup and stick, DIN cup and stirrer,

paint filter

• Spies Hecker Mixing Ratio Disc for achieving

the optimum mixing ratio

• Spies Hecker sample panel

Paint application

• Overalls, goggles, gloves

• Object thermometer, particle remover needle

Polishing

• Spies Hecker polishing cloth

Improved with age.People aged 50+ belong to the customer group of the future.

Sascha Kluck,

Bodyshop Management.

“Efficient and high-grade

finishing is only possible

with a perfect match of

materials and application,”

declares Frank Barduna

from Technical Service at

Spies Hecker GmbH. From his

experience, “using the right

equipment and materials

makes a key contribution

to enhanced quality and

profitability.”

A smooth surface during

putty application, residue-

free cleaning between spray

passes and the precise mix-

ing of filler and top coats

are vital: “Each step in the

process contributes to the

impeccable quality of the

overall paintwork.”

Meticulouscleaning reduces defects.

Use silicone remover and

cleaner during preliminary

cleaning and also between

the steps in the process. The

special Spies Hecker pre-

cleaning and degreasing

cloths get surfaces immac-

ulately clean. The Spies

Hecker tack cloths reduce

the amount of dust particles,

thus minimising cleaning.

Precise mixingwith Spies Heckeraccessories.

The stirrers and scaled mix-

ing cups which are matched

to the product range have

proved to give quick and pre-

cise mixing. With the paint

filter, the refinisher enhances

the quality of the material and

helps the final paint finish.

Used together with Spies

Hecker products, the paint fil-

ters are a reliable mixing aid.

A perfect match.

98 0 colorexpert

P r o d u c t S y s t e m s

Spearheading progress.The Spies Hecker product systems make

bodyshops more flexible.

The pressures on professional

vehicle refinishers are greater

than ever before. These in-

clude the ever tighter squeeze

on costs, increasingly tough

environmental directives and

the growing importance of

operational efficiency. In the

face of new challenges,

bodyshops have to be flexible.

Because only those capable

of adapting their working

methods, materials and

processes to change will

survive in the competitive

environment.

Harald Paulussen, DPC Product Manager, on the future of paint development.

The Spies Hecker product systems:

• The GREENTEC product line for eco-friendly,

high-grade and efficient vehicle refinishes.

• The Speed Repair System for the rapid restoration of

minor damage.

• The Top Coat Series 600 for the professional painting

of commercial vehicles.

• The Permaflex system for high-value industrial coatings.

Creating extra flexibility.

What are the main focuses

of your research work?

Harald Paulussen: We

develop customer-focused

product systems that are flex-

ible and easy to use. Within

these systems, the refinisher

can interchange the mate-

rials to precisely meet his

needs.

What’s the point of product

systems?

Harald Paulussen: Within

a single product system, the

surfacer, putty and clear coat

can be combined to work to-

gether efficiently. For example,

if the workshop wants to

boost productivity, Express

Surfacer 5250 could be used

to speed up the process.

Application can be adapted

on this basis to the specific

requirements or conditions

in the bodyshop.

The properties of individual

products are constantly being

improved by our researchers.

The old situation of waiting

for flash-off between the

application of two or even

three base coat layers and

then the clear coat is a good

example. Today, paint films

can be applied in just 1.5

coats, with just one gap for

flash off before applying

the clear. For the bodyshop,

this means 25 – 30% less

material used as well as

time savings of 10 – 15

minutes. And our devel-

opment work is a constant

process.

What is the basis of your

research activities?

Harald Paulussen: Our de-

velopment work revolves

around modern binder tech-

nology which permits the

optimum flexibility of our

products.

Today and for the future, we

will focus on high solids and

very high solids hardener

lines. A bodyshop can mix

surfacers, top coats and

clear coats with hardeners

from a single range, with the

added advantage of im-

proved stability and durability

of the paint finish.

Harald Paulussen,

DPC Product Manager.

All the same, application

will still call for plenty of

training.

Harald Paulussen: That’s

right. New technologies make

a lot of things easier. At the

same time, the refinisher

operates in a competitive

field. Good training will

therefore stay important if

he wants to adapt new

products effectively to his

requirements.

Where do you see the future

of product development?

Harald Paulussen: Product

properties will continue to

change. New formulations

like nano clear coats will im-

prove surface durability. In

the field of waterborne base

coat, work will also continue.

However, our principle will

remain unchanged: We de-

velop products for our cus-

tomers and respond directly

to the needs of bodyshops.

The situation calls for solu-

tions geared to individual

bodyshops. Meeting these

individual requirements is the

primary task of Spies Hecker

product development. This

is where new materials are

researched and product

systems developed that are

perfectly matched to the

needs of refinishers.

“We are in direct contact with

our customers and find out

precisely what is required

for the painting process,” ex-

plains DPC Product Manager

Harald Paulussen.

Flexible product systems that

permit, first and foremost,

easy application combined

with precise and efficient

processing are the result.

Last venue is Murrayshall

House & Golf Courses at

Scone, near Perth. The par

73 course lies on 350 acres

of rolling parkland and has

plenty of water hazards to

test the accuracy of iron play.

Each Colour Club member

has the opportunity to book

two places on a first come,

first served basis. Costs vary,

dependant upon the course

selected. Further details and

a Booking Form can be

downloaded from the Spies

Hecker website.

Due to the tournament’s

popularity each event will be

limited to 40 players, so act

quickly to reserve your place.

Appointments.

1 11 0 colorexpert

A p p o i n t m e n t s

Alan Lund has been promoted to the position of Key Account Manager

Northern.

Alan has worked at Spies Hecker for the past nine years and previously

held the position of Technical Consultant in the region. He feels this

technical background will prove very useful in his new job. He explains,

“My priority is to help our customers improve their efficiency and effec-

tiveness which will improve their profitability.”

Alan lives in Greater Manchester and in his spare time enjoys spending

time with his family, swimming and repairing computers.

With all of the Home Nations

failing to qualify for Euro

2008, you may be wondering

how to spend the summer.

Why not sign up to the

Spies Hecker Colour Club

Golf Tournament? With a

selection of brilliant new

venues to challenge your

golfing skills, the 2008

Tournament looks set to be

the best ever.

The tournament schedule

kicked off on the 1st May at

the Chart Hills Golf Club, in

Biddenden Kent, regarded

as one of the finest recently

built golf courses in England.

Set on 200 acres, Chart Hills

opened in 1993 and marked

the design debut of major-

winner Nick Faldo.

The next round will be at the

Bowood Golf & Country Club

on 21st in Calne Wiltshire,

Bowood has a stately home

feel and a course designed by

Dave Thomas of Belfry fame.

Then onto to Derbyshire,

where on the 24th June you

could play the Cavendish

Golf Club, a shorter yet still

challenging course.

Next stop is Druids Glen

Golf Resort in Greystones

Southern Ireland. Known as

the Augusta of Europe, the

course opened in 1995 and

has played host to the Irish

Open four times. A spectac-

ular venue.

Colour Club Golf.

A Devon Mazda dealership commissioned a local

graffiti artist to cover a car with a Zoom Zoom-

inspired design, based on the company’s adver-

tising campaign.

County Mazda, in Barnstaple, asked Jayson

Woolmington, an art student, to swap his aerosol

cans for brushes and paint to give a brand new

Mazda5 a completely different look.

Jayson opted to use Spies Hecker Permahyd®

280 / 285 paint, without applying a clear coat. This

means the paint job can be washed off the car in

the future.

Although not experienced in using automotive paints,

Jayson found the Permahyd® 280 / 285 very easy

to work with, appreciating its excellent coverage.

He was able to mix his own colours and the good

flow made it quick and simple to create the strong

lines in his design.

Permahyd® base coat series 280 and 285 are high-

performance paints based on polyurethane resin

dispersions that can be thinned with water. The

solvent content is reduced by 90% compared with

conventional base coats.

Gwyn Llewwellyn, sales manager at County Mazda

said “Jayson has done a great job. We will be using

the car for marketing purposes, although it won’t

be going out in the rain!”

Waterborne paintsgo Zoom Zoom.Graffiti artist has designs on

Permahyd® paints.

Spies Hecker has made

two key appointments to

support and further develop

its links with the vehicle

manufacturers.

Danny Clarke and Andy

Downing become Key

Account Managers – VM.

Both have had similar

careers, with nearly 25 years

in the industry between them.

For the past nine years, both

Andy and Danny have been

Technical Consultants for

the company.

The newly-appointed Technical Service Manager, Kevin Welling, has

a range of responsibilities including the training of the Spies Hecker

technical field force and arranging VM training programmes both at the

Refinish Academy in Stevenage and in the field.

Kevin, who has worked in the industry for the past 30 years, has held

the post of Technical Consultant for the past five years. He replaces

Tony Mitchell, who has become Product Technical Support Leader for

Central and Eastern Europe and Middle East and Africa.

The CUI Academy is an in-

tegral and important part of

the CUI programme. Most

importantly, the topics cov-

ered by the modules are

suggested and designed by

CUI members at the regular

regional member meetings.

This means the CUI Academy

tackles all the areas and

issues that are relevant to

the industry and is just one

example of how CUI acts as

a genuine partner to its

members.

Examples of just a few of the

courses that have already

been completed by CUI

members include: Under-

standing the market place;

Estimator selling skills;

Employment law, Audatex

re-certification and Estimator

development (stage 1).

All relevant and important

subjects and topics where

bodyshops can further en-

hance and improve their

existing considerable skills.

CUI Academy.Spies Hecker is committed to offering the best possible training,

both for the bodyshop operatives and management.

1 31 2 colorexpert

C o l o r s U n l i m i t e d I n t e r n a t i o n a l

The Spies Hecker Training

Centre in Stevenage hosts a

range of practical and theory

courses which are available

to improve the knowledge

and ability of bodyshop staff.

These courses might be

described as refinishing

equivalent of college, but

Spies Hecker also operates

its own version of university.

The CUI Academy is an ex-

clusive training programme

for CUI members, taking

them through a series of

advanced modular courses

on bodyshop management,

marketing and a host

of technical issues that

can improve business and

enhance the customer

experience.

Each module has been care-

fully developed as a bespoke

programme. This facilitates

best practice and also en-

ables CUI bodyshop owners

and staff to develop their

skills and effectiveness in a

range of important areas.

agement, marketing and

technical areas to improve

business and enhance

customer service

• Members can access the

CV-specific marketing and

advertising programme

has been developed to in-

clude a range of market-

ing aids

• Access to exclusive tech-

nical support such as IT

• A range of highest quality

refinish materials that

produce a first class re-

finish result.

Other benefits include help

with website and brochure

design, image development,

a Truck & Trailer website,

signage and certification.

It’s easy to join, just contact

your regional representative

for more details and a regis-

tration form.

Truck & Trailer International

is a network designed to

provide independent com-

mercial vehicle repairers with

management, marketing and

technical expertise.

Spies Hecker is seeking

motivated bodyshops want-

ing to develop their quality

standards and business

skills to join the network.

Truck & Trailer International

programme includes many

solutions and business ad-

vantages developed to in-

crease competitiveness of

members and also allows

excellent networking oppor-

tunities via the regular re-

gional meetings.

Members of Truck & Trailer

benefit from a package of

services:

• The Truck & Trailer

Academy training pro

gramme takes members

through courses on man-

Truck & TrailerInternational.

For any and everything you need to know

about Spies Hecker, check out the website:

www.spies.hecker.co.uk.

Spies Hecker has set out to make its website as

informative and useful as possible for customers.

Here you can download those invaluable Technical

Data Sheets and Safety Data Sheets along with

detailed information on all of the products in the

Spies Hecker range, whether base coats, hardeners

or top coats.

Golfers can look up the next round in the Golf

Tournament and if you want to organise some

training, look no further than the training section,

which gives detail of the Stevenage Refinish

Academy as well as the programme for the various

courses.

The website also features up to date news from the

company, including new product launches and other

innovations from Spies Hecker. Members of Color

Club or CUI can access their own sections, with links

to dedicated websites, while new customers can find

out where their nearest distributor is located.

Designed to be easy to navigate, the Spies Hecker

website also offers practical assistance to bodyshops.

Take the Colour Finder on-line software feature, for

example, where painters faced with a tricky colour-

matching task, can get help in identifying the

colour and its tinting prescription. Painters can

select the car make or colour code, name or the

five-digit Spies Hecker reference number and the

programme instantly displays a colour list with all

variants and a couple more clicks of the mouse

brings up the mixing formula.

Everything you wanted to knowbut were afraid to ask …

with a commemorative plaque

made from a Porsche ceramic

brake disc.

The event was hailed a great

success, with guests enjoying

a number of special demon-

strations from Bodytechnics’

key business partners in-

cluding Spies Hecker, as well

as a display of Porsche cars.

The Spies Hecker display

featured the Colour Carousel,

which is a fascinating insight

into the world of colour.

Bodytechnics first opened

for business in 1995. The

company’s formula of com-

bining investment in the

best facilities, people and

technology with unrivalled

quality of customer service

has proved successful.

Despite doubling the size of

the premises in 2001, David

Barclay explains that Body-

technics was beginning to

feel constrained by size of the

available space and decided

to invest £1m in new, purpose-

built facility.

Three fully enclosed comput-

erised spraybooths have

boosted capacity by more

Opening the perfect Bodyshop.

1 51 4 colorexpert

B o d y t e c h n i c s

The official opening of

Bodytechnics’ new premises

in Slough earlier this year

was attended by over 200

guests drawn from insurance

companies, suppliers and

Porsche Club members.

Andy Goss, managing director

of Porsche Cars Great Britain

performed the formal open-

ing of the £1m project, using

adjectives such as “out-

standing” and “magnificent”

to describe the new 26,000

sq. ft. purpose-built facility.

Mr Goss spoke of Body-

technics’ 12 year partner-

ship with Porsche Cars Great

Britain. The company has

been one of the top five

Porsche Body Repairers each

year since 2000, also winning

on two occasions.

Today, Bodytechnics is

probably the UK’s busiest

Porsche approved centre,

repairing over 700 cars a

year, representing some

16,500 man hours.

At the end of his speech,

Andy Goss presented David

Barclay, founder and man-

aging director of Bodytechnics

than 15%. Adjacent to these

spraybooths are 12 prepa-

ration and diagnostic bays,

able to process over 20 jobs

a day for painting, with each

car stripped down and sub-

sequently refitted by the

same technician to ensure

absolute repair integrity.

As a Porsche Centre

Approved Body Repairer,

Bodytechnics has access to

the Porsche Diagnostic Check

System that’s crucial to car-

rying out a complete and

thorough repair. For example,

a total of four separate con-

trol modules are disconnect-

ed by just removing the door

or a Porsche Cayenne, each

requiring resetting by the

Diagnostic Check System to

ensure the side airbags take

the correct 30 milliseconds

to inflate in an accident.

Separate from the paint and

vehicle preparation areas, is

the new facility for bodywork

repair. Individual cabins have

been constructed for the

repair of aluminium and steel

bodyworks to avoid any

cross-contamination in the

bonding and welding pro-

Environmental facts and figures.

• The lighting automatically shuts down to 50%

of the bulbs as the natural sunlight becomes

brighter during the day. The special bulbs are

2200 Lux rated for colour matching and use

25% of the power of a conventional bulb.

• Paint ovens produce 50% more airflow for

quicker drying times. Each oven is computer

controlled, reducing the carbon footprint

by 30%.

• Confining the panel repair area means noise

levels have been reduced and fumes can be

removed, filtered and disposed of.

• A computer screen allows staff to know who

is working on which vehicle at any time as well

as monitor efficiency.

• Insulation means minimum heating is

required to keep the environment at an

optimum temperature.

grams are polished out and

scrutinised using a colour

check light that replicates

outdoor light conditions.

Considerable attention has

been paid to the systems

and processes to minimise

vehicle movements as well

as making the working en-

vironment safe and pleasant

place. In fact, customers are

now welcome to come and

see their car being repaired.

cesses. For the repair of Ultra

High Strength Steel, the latest

welding equipment benefits

from an independent power

source that maintains a con-

sistent current. It also has a

memory that tracks and

records the integrity of each

weld, car by car.

After any paintwork repair,

the car is placed on the

polishing lift. This allows the

operative to always polish at

eye level and so produce the

perfect finish. Any residual

dust nibs, swirls or holo-

Andy Goss, managing director

of Porsche Cars Great Britain

presents David Barclay with a

commemorative plaque made

from a ceramic brake disc.

The old adage, time is money, certainly applies to today’s

bodyshop, where increasing pressure on margins necessitates

maximising on potential throughput.

A fast work rate is an important part of bodyshop efficiency

and Spies Hecker knows the importance of delivering, clear, easy

to understand product and process information. So whether

it’s applying putty, priming, painting or drying, the bodyshop

operatives should be able access the information they need

instantly.

In the Spies Hecker tradition of providing practical solutions

and personal service, the company has come up with a great

tool in the form of customised work posters, tailored to the

processes of individual bodyshops.

The work poster shows exactly which products are used in the

various stages of the bodyshop’s repair and also the key para-

meters of the materials used, such as added hardener, mixing

ratios, viscosity and drying times. This means the refinisher can

access quite complex product information with just once glance.

With a straightforward, clear design, the work poster is an

One of the most popular

courses is the two-day

Colour College, which intro-

duces the importance of

colour matching and the

techniques used to achieve

this. Here delegates learn

all about colour theory and

the Ostwald Colour Circle,

tinting of solid colours,

metallics and pearls and

also using high solid and

waterborne products as well

as Health and Safety and

EPA requirements.

Training.Spies Hecker appreciates how essential role of well-trained,

competent staff is in meeting and exceeding customer expectations.

1 71 6 colorexpert

P r o d u c t N e w s

T r a i n i n g

The company is determined

to be the best training pro-

vider in the industry, offering

a range of informative and

relevant courses at its-state-

of-the-art Training Centre in

Stevenage.

The Training Centre re-

presents a major investment

for Spies Hecker and an in-

dication of the company’s

positive attitude towards

training and investment in

the future.

The new facility comprises

conference room, practical

training facilities such as

mixing rooms and three

spray booths.

The trainers are hand-picked

experts in their field. They

have knowledge of a variety

of working methods and can

pass on their knowledge

effectively.

The Product Systems

Technology course is intend-

ed to develop a complete

understanding of the re-

quirements for waterborne

and high solid refinish tech-

nologies. It includes Health &

Safety and EPA require-

ments, preparation tech-

niques, application of VHS

priming system. waterborne

and high solid technologies,

warranty repair require-

ments and the importance

of E-coat and painting

plastics.

For those repairers involved

in the specialised world of

commercial vehicles, there’s

also a course devoted to

commercial vehicle product

system.

For the dates and information

on Colour College and the

other Spies Hecker training

courses, ask your local

representative or check out

the website.

A turn for the better.

New from Spies Hecker comes an addition to the extensive Permahyd® mixing colour range.

Permahyd® WB802 Deep Black Base Coat is designed to improve the flexibility of colour

matching on both new and already existing OEM paint finishes.

Because of its deeper blue-black colour, the new Basecoat improves the colour matching

of darker, more intense colours.

As a colour from the Base Coat Series 280 / 285, it shares all the advantages of Spies

Hecker’s waterborne range. Its high pigmentation yields excellent coverage and can take

just a single application and, of course, its environmental credentials are first class.

New Deep Black Base Coat is available in 1-litre containers.

Happy in the black.

Tailor-made posters.

Spies Hecker is constantly striving to make life easier for its bodyshop cus-

tomers.

With the van and commercial vehicle refinisher firmly in mind, the company

has just developed a clever new way to work out the exact ratios required of

hardeners and reducers to use with surfacer, top and clear coats.

This smart but simple device takes away all the guesswork and enables the cv

refinisher to come up with the correct ratios to be used, which in turn, results

in the optimum drying time and, ultimately, a top quality finish.

The new Mixing Ratio Disc is straightforward to use. The paint material to be

applied is simply selected on the disc and the matching mixing ratio appears

in the window. What could be easier?

Spies Hecker’s Tyrone Kirk explains, “This is a simple yet effective tool that puts

an end to time-wasting searches and uncertainty. If the refinisher uses the new

Mixing Ratio Disc when refinishing commercial vehicles, he can be confident

he’s mixing the optimum combination of surfacer, top coat and clear coat for

a perfect finish.”

invaluable means of providing practical support, backed by

Spies Hecker’s range of Technical Data Sheets.

As each poster is entirely tailored to the specific processes of

individual bodyshops, they can only be ordered from the Spies

Hecker representative. Contact your Spies Hecker rep today and

discover how the process poster can save you time and money.

accurately and quickly check-

ing consumption of materials,

stocks and orders. And all

this with a single programme.

Spies Hecker Colour Tools sup-

port the workshop with colour

identification. With the Colour

Index, Colour Mix Master, the

ColorDialog spectro colour-

imeter and the CRplus soft-

ware, the benefits of modern

technology for vehicle refin-

ishers are to be found in the

enhancement of operational

efficiency and colour accu-

racy. In practice, this means

that with the electronic Spies

Hecker ColorDialog spectro

colourimeter, the workshop

obtains precise colour data

from the object surface and

compares them with all exist-

ing repair formulas in the

CRplus database. The Spies

Hecker technology supplies

the precise mixing formula in

a matter of seconds. Today

customers can access up-to-

date Colour Finder information

on the Spies Hecker web site

at www.spieshecker.co.uk.

“We’re gradually expanding

the application range of our

Simply quicker.Spies Hecker Colour Tools bring extra precision and efficiency into the bodyshop.

1 91 8 colorexpert

C o l o u r T o o l s

A d v e r t i s i n g C a m p a i g n

“The CRplus formula soft-

ware will be capable of more

in the future,” stresses Frank

Barduna of Technical Service

at Spies Hecker. “What has

so far been a tool solely for

searching for formulas will

also be a way of creating

better work processes.” The

paint manufacturer Spies

Hecker is thus extending its

existing computer programme

to include a module for precise

materials management –

with the aim of maximum

control in the mixing room.

The new module is capable of

colour hardware and soft-

ware,” says Frank Barduna,

explaining the German ve-

hicle refinish manufacturer’s

approach. In his view, “digital

workshop technology will

continue to grow in impor-

tance. Because only with

electronic colour identifica-

tion, digital formula searching

and professional materials

management can the refin-

ishing business organise its

colouristic processes even

more efficiently.”

Frank Barduna,

Technical Service.

Everything in colour – colour identification tools.

• Arriving at the right colour faster with the

Spies Hecker ColorDialog spectro colourimeter.

• Consumption of materials and stocks –

new programme modules of the CRplus colour

software are set to optimise control in the

mixing room.

• Add-on parts, rims and wings – in the

Spies Hecker Colour Guide, you can find the

matching colour code of all vehicle models

quickly and easily.

• For visual corrections of colours, the refinisher

is supported by the Colour Mix Master.

Speed Repair means you can work faster. Minor repairs are quick and simple thanks to rapidpreparation and a dedicated product range. There’s no need to tip us – it’s on the house.

Some refinishers don’t make a meal out of repairs.

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Spies Hecker - DuPont Performance Coatings - Wedgwood Way - Stevenage - Herts SG1 4QN - www.spieshecker.co.uk

Painting plastic isn’t a problem with the new Permasolid® Elastic Primer. It’s efficient, effective andadaptable. No wonder some refinishers are now a little more relaxed about plastic repairs.

Some repairers are flexible about plastic.

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Take a fresh look at minor repairs. The latest in innovative UV technology helps speed repair times.We’d love to show you how at our Refinish Training Facility. Isn’t it time you saw the light?

Some refinishers see the world in a different light.

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“We’re simply closer to the

refinishing business,” stresses

Karsten Jürs confidently.

Peter Wingen has no doubts:

“Our customers will identify

with the themes.” The con-

tent and images of the

campaign follow the trends in

paint repairs. This way Spies

Hecker also communicates

to its bodyshop customers

where the world’s leading

paint maker sees oppor-

tunities for the future.

High-quality paints and a

close relationship with the

vehicle refinishing trade –

this has been the philosophy

of Spies Hecker for 125 years.

Spies Hecker offers its cus-

tomers in over 60 countries

a combination of easy-to-use

products, practical solutions

and personal service on site.

All the themes of the new

Spies Hecker advertising

campaign focus on refin-

ishers. What they expect

from a modern vehicle finish

is the core message of the

advertisements, which have

been appearing in the press

throughout Europe since

March 2008.

“The growing challenges of

the market are also placing

extra demands on us as

a paint manufacturer,” as

Karsten Jürs, Marketing Man-

ager Spies Hecker Interna-

tional, points out. “In product

development, colour man-

agement and service, we give

priority to finding solutions

that make work processes in

the bodyshop easier and

further enhance the busi-

ness’s efficiency. And this is

reflected in the advertising

campaign.”

Spies Hecker marketing ex-

pert Peter Wingen explains:

“Our adverts present specif-

ic workshop situations and

highlight the benefits for the

user.” These include easy

colour identification with the

ColorDialog spectro and

CRplus, and the efficient

repair of minor damage with

the Speed Repair system.

They also incorporate pro-

fessional product training

enabling businesses to make

effective use of new tech-

nologies and the associated

working tools.

The messages are clear. With

finely tuned systems, the

vehicle refinisher achieves

his goals faster. At the same

time, the adverts also make

a statement to the market.

Some refinishersknow more.Spies Hecker launches a

new international advertising campaign.

Karsten Jürs,

Marketing Manager Spies Hecker.

2 12 0 colorexpert

P r o d u c t s

Industrial coating joins the system.With the new Spies Hecker Permaflex system,

the bodyshop can attract new business.

Refinishing businesses look-

ing for a lucrative extra source

of income would benefit

from looking at industrial

coatings.

In addition to work in acci-

dent repairs, the coating of

industrial objects can make

efficient use of the body-

shops’ capacity. Whatever

the object – machinery, dis-

pensers or electronic acces-

sories – the extra business

calls for the full complement

of painting skills. Only with

expertise and the right

balance of materials is it

possible to meet the divergent

coating needs of, for example,

furniture, containers and

agricultural machinery.

More flexibilityfor industrialcoating.

Spies Hecker makes starting

and expanding industrial

coating activities easy with

its new Permaflex product

system. “The system is ver-

satile but works efficiently

with a limited number of

products,” explains Harald

Paulussen, Product Manage-

ment and Development Man-

ager. This means “Permaflex

is a paint system based on

the Permasolid® Series 600

top coat for commercial

vehicles. With a few addi-

tional mixing pastes from

the Series 500 and seven

different binders, a broad

spectrum of surface qualities

can be applied. In addition,

a variety of effects and

degrees of gloss can also be

achieved.” These can be from

smooth to textured and from

high gloss to deep matt.

Paintwork qualitymatches object.

The paint system depends

on the requirements of the

industrial customer. Frank

Barduna: “By mixing the

materials accordingly, the

bodyshop can quickly and

precisely respond to a variety

of coating needs.”

Another advantage is that

Permaflex adheres to

numerous substrates such

as steel, zinc, aluminium

and wood and is compatible

with all application methods.

With only two primers it is

possible to coat a large

number of substrates.

The new Permaflex indus-

trial coating system will be

available to Spies Hecker

customers from Spring 2008.

Refinishers that don’t need

their own mixing system can

order ready-mixed colours

with the appropriate binders

straight from their Spies

Hecker distributor.

Versatile solutions for in-

dustrial coating – the new

Permaflex product system

creates new openings in the

refinishing sector.

When sales decline, profit dwindles. Anyone wanting to protect

his business from disaster has to spot the risks in good time.

With costs spiralling out of

control, a company can easi-

ly face financial difficulties

or be critically short of work.

With an organised business

system, such cash-flow prob-

lems can be avoided.

“Only by constantly analys-

ing the management ratios

is it possible to prevent

the business lurching off-

balance early on,” explains

Michael Zülch, Managing

Director of Wolk & Partner

Car Consult GmbH. His ex-

perience shows that “to

correctly interpret the first

signs, the financial targets

and values have to be

precisely set at times when

business is buoyant.” In

other words, the entrepreneur

defines his pain threshold for

the key management ratios.

Sales, costs and profits –

hard and fast crisis in-

dicators are all-important.

Michael Zülch: “When things

are going well, define how

many orders the bodyshop

needs at least in order to

cover costs.” What are the

levels of money outstanding

and liabilities? A precise

plan of action keeps the

business out of trouble. By

consulting with auditors,

business consultants and

tax accountants, the owner

can keep his business

afloat.

Staying afloat.

“Once the threshold has

been set, the data has to

be regularly checked,” the

expert advises. Target and

actual values are regularly

compared. This way, a

downward trend can be

realistically analysed and

the entrepreneur can take

countermeasures – to

prevent a business crisis.

Only this way can the work-

shop equip itself effectively

for difficult periods and keep

the business on course for

success.

Points the bodyshop has to observe:

• Liquidity plan as a check on solvency.

• Compare revenue and costs once per year.

• Establish the hourly rate calculated for refinishing

and body work.

• Control of monies outstanding and accounts due.

• Equity capital check: To stay creditworthy,

the workshop needs up to 25% equity.

Solutions for successful management.

Spies Hecker provides refinishers with concrete business management expertise.

With Colors Unlimited International (CUI) businesses receive professional support.

B u s i n e s s M a n a g e m e n t

Flexible solution for all applicationmethods.

Spies Hecker Permaflex

is compatible with all

application methods for

industrial coatings.

• Gravity feed gun and

HVLP

• Pressure pot

• Airmix and airless

• Electrostatic

• Rolling and brushing

Multi-storey car park.Belgium.

2 32 2 colorexpert

P a r t n e r s

With its adaptable product systems, in-depth training and face-to-face consultations, Spies Hecker is making a big

impression in Asia. For paint repairs, the Suzuki Motor Corporation and Hyundai have chosen the materials and

services of the world’s leading paint maker.

The two automotive manufacturers have signed exten-

sive global approvals with Spies Hecker.

The cooperation is being backed up by in-depth practical

training programmes for Suzuki and Hyundai dealers

and importers in consultation with Spies Hecker spe-

cialists.

Approvals from Asia.

Lights! Camera! Action! – It’s time for “Restoration Monitor”. Live and in colour, your pre-

senter Tonio Darmanin from the Paqpaq TV channel has been reporting weekly on the

restoration of a Mini Cooper at a workshop specialising in vintage cars. All of the paint

used was supplied by the Spies Hecker importer G. Molton Co. Ltd. – Andrew Grech,

Molton’s Brand Manager, reports: “The feedback has been very good and we have been

amazed by the interest these features have generated among customers.” The Mini was

completely resprayed with Spies Hecker Top Coat Series 275. During the programme,

the paint experts explained the process, step by step.

Restoration Monitor.Malta.

Hyundai and Suzuki.For several years, silver was the undisputed favourite colour

of European motorists. However, according to the current

DuPont Colour Popularity Report 2007, this colour has slipped

to No. 2 in the rankings.

In the current hit list of fancied automotive colours in 2007,

black has moved up one place and thus deposed silver from

the top of the list in most vehicle ranges. Black metallics and

pearl effects have really caught on with European car buyers.

There are no changes, however, for positions three and four.

Grey and blue have successfully defended their previous

year’s places. Last year’s surprising success story is white,

making a real comeback. Having last set the trend back in

the Eighties, shades of white, in the age of iPod and Retro,

are on the increase and have claimed fifth place. Red as an

automotive colour thus slips to sixth.

Black is back!European colour trends.

Silver loses its top spot – the most popular automotive colour in Europe is black.

The comeback of 2007 is celebrated by white.

Hollywood blockbuster “Pearl Harbour” on the road: On behalf of Kurt Nielsen

Transport in Denmark, the Swedish airbrush artist Robert Forsgren has painted

scenes from the movie on a Mercedes Actros. With fine lines and sharp con-

tours, the creative paint designer has achieved his airbrush project with VOC-

compliant Spies Hecker products, from the surfacer through to the clear coat.

The amazing result and other work by the same artist can be found on the web at:

www.hotpaintart.com.

Moving pictures.Denmark.

Sleek machines, sparkling chrome and dynamic airbrush design – in Knud Tiroch’s able hands, auto-

motive dreams come true. Muscle cars and hot rods are his hobby, and his work as an artist in Austria has

made him something of a celebrity. The designer’s life and his passion have now caught the public eye,

with the artist and his vehicles starring in the Austrian TV series Hot Rod Hangar.

The ardent car collector uses the latest Spies Hecker UV technology for Speed Repairs. An example is

the repair of his 1930 Ford Sedan hot rod generating 1,000 hp. His motto is “Fast cars, fast drying.”

When it comes to paint repairs, Knud Tiroch moves into the fast lane with Spies Hecker.

Hot Rod Hangar.Austria.

top of a bus. The roadster was restored by the Antwerp body-

shop and refinishers “Carrosserie Bruno”. Displaying plenty of

attention to detail and craftsmanship, the vintage car now has

pride of place – on the roof of the bus!

An empty parking space in the centre of town? Forget it!

In Belgium, parking spaces are just as scarce as anywhere

else in Europe. The Belgian bus and tram operator DeLijn has

now come up with a “creative solution” for all exasperated

motorists. In an innovative campaign, the company is encour-

aging drivers to switch to public transport. Playing a central

role is the exclusive parking space of an MGB Roadster built

in 1972, which rides piggy-back through Belgian towns on the

Some refinishersprofit from training.

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Keep up to date with courses at our Refinish Training Facility. Experience our new product systemsand experiment with the latest painting techniques. Discover refinishing trends, meet up with fellowprofessionals and make sure you’re in the know.



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