Masterpieces 2010 – this means bringing creativity and love to the bodywork and paintwork. Fascinating finishes from all over the world, gathered together on the popular Spies Hecker Calendar.

The Spies Hecker Know-how programme Colors Unlimited International (CUI) supports repair companies in management, marketing and customer acquisition. Sascha Kluck, head of the customer loyalty programme, talks about targets and measures.
 
How do repair companies benefit from getting involved in CUI?
Colors Unlimited International provides paint and bodyshops with support in business management, offers new opportunities in customer acquisition and ensures that companies have a professional image. Companies are able to use different elements flexibly. We have put together tailored measure packages that each workshop is able to use according to their requirements.
 
 

A noble metallic finish, optimal corrosion protection and a tough surface – exciting new Permaflex Iron Mica Top Coat 510 is the latest addition to Spies Hecker’s industrial coating segment.
 
Whatever the object – staircase railings, steel girders or works of art – innovative Permaflex Iron Mica Top Coat 510 is ideal for tough customer requests in the industrial coating sector. Along with pronounced long-term protection from corrosion and high resistance to scratches, the new member of the Permaflex family also scores with its rough matt effect.
 
 

With the new Permaflex gloss and texture swatches for industrial applications, it’s even easier to give customers optimal advice.
 
The Permaflex system offers refinishers boundless scope in terms of application and paint grades, covering everything from smooth to textured and from high-gloss to dull matt. So that bodyshops can advise their customers even better in the choice and design of paint surfaces, Spies Hecker has developed a gloss and texture swatch. The 27 chips present a multitude of examples illustrating the various effects that are possible with this system.
 
 

Precise, practical and now even handier – the improved Spies Hecker ColorDialog spectro spectrophotometer simplifies color identification for refinishers.
 
The vehicle is ready for painting and the colour now has to be precisely identified. With a digital spectrophotometer, this task is much easier, and particularly with the optimized version of the ColorDialog spectro. “In the refinement of the device, we’ve responded to users’ comments, requests and suggestions,” explains Dietmar Wegener, Color Coordinator at Spies Hecker.
 
 

Competent service and efficient products – the Permafleet product system offers painters of commercial and special-purpose vehicles cost-effective solutions for all conceivable needs.
 
Buses, coaches, trucks, box bodies, construction vehicles and tank trucks – commercial vehicles come in all shapes and sizes, and how the paint finish has to perform varies accordingly. Different substrates such as aluminium, steel and plastic and different applications call for special product properties: Elasticity, non-slip characteristics and resistance to wear, chemicals, climatic effects and mechanical stressing, to name but a few.
“Permafleet is more than just a paint system,” says Arno Steyns, Spies Hecker commercial vehicle specialist. “In addition to the balanced paints designed optimally for large surfaces, we support our customers with technical solutions, practical working aids and an extensive range of accessories.” Technical data sheets and system posters give a rapid guide to the purposes, mixing and application of the paint system and ensure greater process security in the workshop.

 

What do Know-how programmes and Body and Paintshop systems offer the refinish repair shops? Spies Hecker promises targeted solutions – in marketing, management and technology.
 
The economic situation in the repair market has seen better days. Due to fluctuations in the number of incoming orders, purchasing hesitance and increased competition, body and paintshops are facing new challenges. “We are sensing increased uncertainty about the future development of the market among the managers of companies,” explains Sascha Kluck, head of the customer loyalty programmes run by paint manufacturer Spies Hecker. The reason: “Business planning at companies is getting more difficult. Business owners are particularly concerned with liquidity and getting in new orders.”
 
 

We are pleased to announce the dates of the CUI Regional Meetings as follows:
 
15th September - Brunton Park, Carlisle
16th September - Cranage Hall, Knutsford, Cheshire
22nd September - Hilton Swindon Hotel
23rd September - DuPont, Stevenage

With the goal posts constantly moving within the employment law framework and the current economic uncertainty affecting business confidence... members canuse Spies Hecker HR as a direct replacement to high cost, pay as you go solicitors. It is able to help members deal with any day to day employment issues and the service can also help significantly with qualification towards achieving PAS125 accreditation.

The service contains contracts of employment, an employee handbook and a variety of letters, forms and templates designed to support staff management and appraisal reviews, which are some of the key requirements of achieving PAS125. Further guidance on PAS125 can be obtained from John Chapman of Spies Hecker on 07789 924902 For Spies Hecker HR Members, the total service costs just £37.20 + VAT per employee per annum and includes 24/7 advice; a unique web based support portal, offering relevant legal information and over 250 compliant template documents; a full dispute management service and insurance covering all legal fees. For further information and a free trial of the service, contact Russell Guest of ESP Ltd on 01483 229199 or russellguest@espltd.info or www.spieshecker.co.uk
 
 

The Estimator Development Programme, as part of the CUI Academy, has been introduced to ensure that Members are aware of current work provider initiatives and thinking. The programme commenced last year, with a benchmarking exercise that revealed that many estimators had little specialised training for this important role. The estimator is, effectively, the bodyshop’s salesman. It’s essential that he prices the estimates correctly and that they meet customers’expectations. It’s also essential that any work estimated is profitable for the bodyshop. CUI is aware how the estimator role has changed over the past 5 years. Most work providers have in-house engineers instead of field personnel.

Around 75% of estimates are submitted electronically with images and yet most estimators have had no image training. Indeed the ATA estimator accreditation fails to assess the estimator’s ability to take a quality picture. CUI has organised specialised training for members, with the help of Paul Smith to address this and the ability to produce quality images has been highlighted as an important issue. CUI has demonstrated its commitment to the network by purchasing 10 digital cameras for bespoke training days to address and improve this area of industry oversight.