Hot products of 2015

Jan. 23, 2015
ABRN Top Shop winners offer their insights on recommended products to add to your shopping list for 2015.

When ABRN speaks with winners of its annual Top Shops contest, the discussion eventually turns to investments in tools and equipment. Tops shops are financially successful, but that doesn't mean they're ready to throw money away on a purchase simply because industry whispers indicate it may be part of  the next big trend. Being among the best shops in the country usually involves making investments that permit them to take on additional work, increase efficiency or cut waste (in materials and time). These purchases don't always cost a lot. In some cases, shops are simply replacing or upgrading products they're already using.

Here's a look at the products recommended by the latest round of Top Shops winners.

Aluminum workstations allow shops to bundle and store welding, dent pulling and other aluminum tools. (Photo Courtesy: ProSpot)

Aluminum workstations
Repairing the latest version of the country's best selling vehicle -- the 2015 Ford F-150 -- means working on aluminum. Thousands of shops already have begun preparing themselves for this work by planning for specialize training. The larger challenge here might be affording the tools and equipment necessary to perform aluminum repairs. Shops are looking at spending $30,000 to $50,000, and in some cases more.

To make these costs more manageable, manufacturers have begun bundling tools into products such as aluminum workstations. These stations typically include features such as portable welding carts with covered work surfaces, aluminum dent pulling parts, aluminum hammers and stud welders. They can provide tool boards, air and electric outlets, storage drawers and shelves. Options include MIG welders and plasma cutters. Note that any aluminum tools to be used on the new F-150 must be approved by Ford.

Rivet guns can be used on aluminum, plastic and steel. (Photo Courtesy: ProSpot)
A variety of curtained and full shell aluminum clean rooms are available with options such as overhead ventilation and tool storage. (Photo Courtesy: D-Patrick Body and Glass)

Rivet guns
Because aluminum is heat sensitive, non-thermal joining processes must be used to bond it. Self-Piercing rivet guns use extreme pressure to remove, flatten and join rivets to connect two or more pieces of material. They're absolutely necessary for aluminum work, and also can be used on other materials such as plastic and steel.

Aluminum clean rooms/accessories
Due to issues with material contamination, aluminum and steel work must be conducted in separate areas. Previously, shops often addressed issue by adding on a new room or constructing a new, separate building for aluminum repairs. Taking these routes can be extremely expensive and beyond the means for many repairers. The market has responded with affordable, mobile or pre-manufactured clean rooms and accessories.

Mobile clean room sets include frames, heavy duty curtains and the necessary hardware. If you're looking to save a little money, you can build your own frame and order customized curtains or simply suspend these curtains from your shop ceiling.

Like This Article? Check out related training at
Is Your Collision Repair Business Ready for the Future?April 25, 2-5 p.m.

ROI of ASE Certifications
April 25, 2-5 p.m.

Vehicle Security is More
Than Just Keys

April 26, 8:30-11:45 a.m.

If your budget permits more of an investment, consider a curtained room with its own lighting and overhead ventilation. These rooms can offer additional options such as tool storage. In the event you can invest even more, consider a fully sealed room with ventilation, lighting and space for tool storage.  

One point to keep in mind here is whether you'll eventually be seeking out aluminum certification under manufacturers other than Ford. Some OEMs may have specific clean room requirements that depart from the room you're investing in.

Prefab paint mixing rooms
In January 2015, ABRN ran a safety article, “Complete compliance: Make your paint department as safe as possible,” noting the challenges shops face in keeping their paint mixing rooms up to code for OSHA and state and local rules. With shops expanding their locations into buildings not originally intended for collision repair or needing to reconfigure their operations, a pre-fabricated mixing room might be the way to go. These rooms typically meet both OSHA and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, along with other local rules. They come equipped with high efficiency air filters, provide balanced air flow and include spill containment. Some versions can be configured as standalone models or with add-ons, such as vestibules that attach them to spray booths. Others also function as paint storage rooms. Options can include built-in work benches and ramps.

Mechanical spray gun cleaners
If you're still cleaning your spray guns by hand, you're wasting time and money and not operating as environmentally sound as you could. Automated gun cleaners don't require you to disassemble guns and can clean multiple guns at the once. They also provide a thorough cleaning in two minutes, a big improvement over the 10-20 minutes employees can spend cleaning guns manually. These cleaners provide money savings because they smaller amounts of cleaners, which they can recycle and re-use. Some versions utilize new lines of green cleaners, making shop operations even safer. Because they're enclosed, these cleaners reduce the release of pollutants and help you comply with the EPA's 6H rule.

Spray booth dirt control
One of the keys to producing a great finish is keeping your spray booth as contaminant free as possible. Even with regular cleaning and proper exhaust filter maintenance, dust and dirt can still collect in the booth, particularly when the booth doors are opened and vehicles are brought in.

Manufacturers have responded with floor coating products engineered to capture particulates out of the air and trap them on the booth floor, away from the vehicle finish. Fewer particulates in the finish translates into much less time spent buffing out paint jobs. This product can prove particularly beneficial where waterborne finishes are used since the low humidity and increased air movement required for drying stirs up more dust that can end up embedded in fresh paint. Floor coatings typically are water-based and applied once a day with a pump sprayer. Shops need only sweep them up at the end of the day with a broom.

Hooded supplied air respirators offer the best protection against dangerous chemicals, while offering comfort and a full field of vision. (Photo Courtesy: PPG)

Supplied air respirators
A paint company rep recently told ABRN that he'd like to see every painter using a supplied air respirator. That comment wasn't a knock on the traditional, and extremely effective respirators, already at use in your shop. Supplied air versions offer additional advantages. Among them -- wearers are fully protected from the isocyanates and other dangerous substances that sometimes can pass through filtered respirators leading to long-term, serious health problems. Because the hooded versions of these respirators don't fit tightly against the face, they offer greater comfort, particularly for employees with beards. Additionally, hooded versions, because they offer a face shield, also allow wearers to dispense with goggles and provide a full field of vision.

Glass removal power tools
The most physically demanding part of any glass replacement is cutting through the old urethane bead to remove the glass. If your employees still are using a traditional cold knife they're risking injury due to the awkward physical twisting and turning and brute force sometimes necessary to hack through tough, cured adhesives. Glass technicians often choose to stick with the knives, despite the risks, because the available power cutting tools have had some serious drawbacks. Mainly, they're difficult to handle and sometimes cut into surrounding vehicle areas, causing significant and costly damage.

The most recent generation of power tools are proving to be significant upgrades. Greatly improved handling allows them to cut through old bonds far more easily than a manual knife, reducing removal times and employee injuries. Because they're far easier to control, the potential for vehicle damage has been virtually eliminated. These tools come available in kits with a variety of blades that can be used in other vehicle applications -- for example, removing trim, lights and other vehicle glass. 

Digital measuring systems
Last year, ABRN contributing editor Toby Chess touted the abilities of the Matrix Wand to locate hidden collision damage. The Wand utilizes a hand-held device, a digital camera and software that measures the current vehicle condition against OEM specs. The Wand then reports damage based on discrepancies between measurements. Using the Wand, shops are able to produce much more accurate estimates and identify damage they can collect additional revenue repairing.

This technology appears to be proving itself and catching on. Car Crafters, an Albuquerque, NM, multi-Top Shop winner, recently purchased the Tru-Point measuring tool. It uses a hand-held probe to measure control points such as body openings, roof lines, ball joints, pillar, wheel base and suspension. technicians can either choose control points or have the tool direct them. Tru-Point then generates a report of pre- and post-repair documentation that can submitted to insurers.

Waterborne paint remains a hot product. Even if you've made the transition to these finishes, their formulas have advanced so much the past five years that you owe it to yourself to see what your vendors and others can now provide. (Photo Courtesy: BASF)

The manufacturers says the efficiency and repair opportunities provided by the Tru-Point adds an average addition 3.5 billable hours per repairs. At $50/ hr. for labor and 15 repairs per week, that translates into $10,500 extra revenue each month. Add in profits from part sales, and the number grows even more.

Waterborne paint
Even though waterborne finishes have been around for some time and thousands of shops have transitioned to them, they remain a hot product for two reasons. One, thousands of shops still have yet to adopt them and experience the superior results, easier application and improved revenue they can provide. Second, for shops that do use them, they're worth a second look. Since introducing them, paint vendors have significantly upgraded their waterborne formulas and worked hard to differentiate them from competitors. The products being sold now are significant different from those available just five years ago. This makes it a good time to compare vendors and products to see which one could best benefit your operation. If you decide to stick with your current vendor and haven't discussed training with them lately, by all means do so. Attending some hands-on training sessions will help ensure your shop is getting the full benefits of its finish products.

Subscribe to ABRN and receive articles like this every month…absolutely free! Click here to subscribe.

Sponsored Recommendations

Best Body Shop and the 360-Degree-Concept

Spanesi ‘360-Degree-Concept’ Enables Kansas Body Shop to Complete High-Quality Repairs

How Fender Bender Operator of the Year, Morrow Collision Center, Achieves Their Spot-On Measurements

Learn how Fender Bender Operator of the Year, Morrison Collision Center, equipped their new collision facility with “sleek and modern” equipment and tools from Spanesi Americas...

ADAS Applications: What They Are & What They Do

Learn how ADAS utilizes sensors such as radar, sonar, lidar and cameras to perceive the world around the vehicle, and either provide critical information to the driver or take...

Coach Works implements the Spanesi Touch system

Coach Works Uses Spanesi Equipment to Ensure a Safe and Proper Repair for Customers