Volume 66 Number 1

BIG DOGbreAKING THe leASH

BIG DOGbreAKING THe leASH

20CATS ON THE

MOVEA state-of-the-art body shop for the Charlotte Area Transit System

keeps its f leet looking good and running

on time.

PPG Repaint Reporter Volume 66, Number 1 Winter 2007

C o n t e n t s6

BIG DOG—A WILD AND COLORFUL

BREEDA look at the manufacturer

of some of the most powerful, stylish

and popular custom bikes on the planet.

15BIKER BUILD-OFFPPG the paint of choice

for top winners of Discovery Channel’s hit

show for custom bike enthusiasts.

D e p a r t m e n t s

4 InsideLine A view of PPG Automotive Refinish from the perspective of Dean Worley, director of sales for North America.

4 TeamPPG Cirrus Aircraft, OEM Color Popularity Survey and CSC’s “Science on the Road” program—the latest PPG news.

10 What’sNew Exciting new Hot Wheels® Spectraflame® colors from the Vibrance Collection.™

12 TakingCareofBusiness The MVP team gives the rundown on new programs, services and training to help collision shops improve their performance in 2007.

16 ShopProfile How Tammy Albritton and her team at Legacy Toyota continue to rate the best-of-the-best in Toyota’s Collision Excellence Program.

18 TrainingUpdate PPG’s training team announces two new training initiatives that aim to help shops receive better technical advice and find qualified refinish technicians.

24 PPGGallery NSRA winners of PPG’s 2006 Outstanding Use of Color awards.

22DONZI—

ADVANCING THE ART OF

PERFORMANCEDonzi Marine’s

superlative reputation for high performance and

style is alive and well—with the help of PPG.

Color Your PassionWith the Vibrance Collection

If you’re

passionate about cars

and want your dream ride to

stand out from the pack, choose

a paint scheme from PPG’s

Vibrance Collection™. With its dazzling choices of the

latest hot colors and special effects finishes, it’s no wonder

why professional refinishers look to PPG to make their

customer’s passion a colorful reality.

Joe Dilkes Jr., Little Falls, NJ, 1937 Ford Pickup

Mac Nicewander, Tipp City, OH, 1954 Chevy Sedan

The Vibrance Collection. Absolutely the hottest colors for the coolest rides.

©2006 PPG Industries www.ppgrefinish.com

executive editor Ann Donati

Creative Director T. Jon Worden

Design Director Dave Buffington

Design Staff John Janiec Kevin Nowak Mark Francisco Bob Santoro

managing editor Meredith Simpson

Contributing editors Cristina Fronzaglia Calvinia Fields

Writers T. Jon WordenEli GreenbaumPaul WalterGail Driver

Production manager Shellie Hill

Contributing Photographers Dino PetrocelliSean BusherJohn WaltersSusan Stripling

PPG Repaint Reporter is published by the Advertising Department of PPG Automotive Refinish. Send comments and questions regarding this publication to:

PPG Industries Repaint Reporter Editor 19699 Progress Drive Strongsville, Ohio 44149 refincommdpt@ppg.com Or, fax to: (440) 572-6880

looking for additional copies of this PPG repaint reporter issue?

Limited copies are available via two easy ways of ordering:

1) Connect to ppgCentral via www.ppgcentral.biz

OR

2) Fax a completed advertising order form to 1-800-982-9518

Please reference part number on back cover

Silver Tops 2006 PPG Color Popularity SurveyPPG AUTOMOTIVE OEM COATINGS

For the past 20 years trend-watchers have looked forward to the results of

the annual PPG Color Popularity Survey, which reports on the production of automobiles by color by manufacturers around the world. The 2006 survey released in October proclaims that silver remains the number one color around the globe, topping the automotive color charts for the sixth year in a row. Silver surpassed all colors among North American vehicles produced in the 2006 model year with 24 percent, with the highest share (29 percent) in the luxury category.

Delf leet® Evolution Helps Cirrus Planes Reach New HeightsPPG COMMERCIAL COATINGS

PPG Technology Puts Carnegie Science Center Program On The Road PPG AUTOMOTIVE REFINISH

“Silver is going to remain popular. It’s a preferred hue because it defines character lines and features on the exterior of a vehicle better than a darker color.” said Jane Harrington, manager, color styling, automotive coatings for PPG. “But in the future it will take on a fresh appearance as blues, browns, and greens start to surge and become infused with silver to create a new look.”<

24%

16%

13% 13%12% 12%

7%

3%

SIL

VER

WH

ITE

BLA

CK

RED

BLU

E

NA

TUR

ALS

GR

EEN

SP

ECIA

LTY

The new Cirrus SR22 SE, the Signature Edition of the world’s best-selling

personal aviation aircraft, will wear an elegant and unique Sterling Silver paint finish formulated from PPG’s Delfleet Evolution coatings system. Delfleet Evolution is well suited for use on aircraft because of its extremely durable finish.

The Cirrus Design Corporation’s SE22 and their popular SR22-GTS models are now available in the Sterling Silver color, in addition to the Cirrus White color, with both colors formulated in the Delfleet Evolution system.

“Cirrus is thrilled to offer this spectacular finish,” said Executive Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, John M. Bingham. “The stunning

appearance of our new SR22 is sure to deserve a second look, both in the sky and on the ground.

“PPG has incorporated the very latest in coatings resin technology into their stand alone paint system, making it the preferred choice for the most demanding industry in the world in terms of durability and color match. This is why Cirrus aircraft have the best paint warranty in the business and why our aircraft will look good for years to come.”

For more information on the Cirrus Design Corporation and their offering of quality aircraft, go to www.CIRRUSdesign.com.<

A donation by PPG Industries to the Carnegie Science

Center (CSC) in Pittsburgh, PA, funded the development of a science education program called The Great Color Caper. Launched this past September, as part of CSC’s “Science on the Road” program, The Great Color Caper is an interactive multimedia show that teaches students about light, energy, reflection, pigments and color perception.

The program travels to schools in a five-state area surrounding Pennsylvania in a multi-colored van, customized by PPG with a host of the latest state-of-the-art PPG coatings and glass technologies. The bumpers change color with the light, and the windshield is made of PPG’s

Blue-Blocking technology that makes the windshield appear yellow from the inside and blue from the outside.

The van’s eye-catching paint finish was created by PPG Refinish Instructors Paul Stoll and Jamie Redd, using Delfleet® Evolution, and special effect additives and colors from the PPG Vibrance Collection™.

“This is the most spectacular program we have ever taken on the road,” said Jo Haas, director of Carnegie Science Center. “We are grateful to PPG for their generous gift, because we know that these types of programs have an enormously positive impact on students.”

For more information on Carnegie Science Center programs, go to www.CarnegieScienceCenter.org.<

4 5

T e A m P P G

Mention “automotive refinish coatings” and most people will typically associate the term with collision repair. But as you read through this issue of the Repaint Reporter, you’ll see a sampling of the much wider universe of applications where PPG refinish products are the paint of choice, from planes and buses to

motorcycles and boats. The reason why PPG is selected to be the preferred supplier in these less-than-typical applications varies from customer to customer. For some, it’s PPG’s outstanding color offerings. For others, durability is key. In most cases, however, it’s a combination of many factors, such as productivity, performance, ease of use, etc. The fact that PPG Refinish offers such a wide breadth of refinish systems and support products gives our sales team exceptional resources to draw from. However, coming up with the right solution that meets the unique needs of the customer also requires a sales team equipped with the knowledge and expertise to analyze each given situation and come up with the right solution. The story of PPG’s involvement with Donzi Marine is a good example. When Donzi’s materials manager called on PPG for help, he expected a simple sales call from a PPG territory manager who would sell him on why he should use PPG paint. What actually happened is an example of the great lengths our territory managers will go to, to assure that a PPG refinish solution meets if not exceeds the customer’s expectations. That sales call turned into a month-long study of Donzi’s entire approach to painting boats. It involved many hours of on-site analysis and consultation, drawing from the expertise of the local PPG distributor as well as PPG’s technical and training experts. This consultative approach was also key to why PPG became the paint system of choice at Big Dog Motorcycles, Legacy Toyota, the Cirrus Corporation and the Charlotte Area Transit System. My point is this: our North American sales team of 250 territory managers and 50 commercial territory managers prides itself on their ability to sell more than a can of paint. They embrace the challenge of doing whatever it takes to understand the customers’ needs, solving problems and coming up with winning solutions.

Ins ide L ineB y D e a n Wo r l e y D i r e c t o r o f S a l e s , No r t h A m e r i c a

More than a can of paint

0

Wichita, Kansas sits right in the

heart of the nation and the middle

of a temperamental weather belt that

generates fierce tornados and storms

just for fun. So it’s no surprise that

Wichita would also be the home of

Big Dog Motorcycles™, manufacturer

of some of the most powerful, stylish

and popular custom bikes on

the planet—motorcycles

so vivid and distinctive,

they’re as brilliantly

eye-catching as the lightning bolts that

streak across the Kansas summer

night skies.

Big

“With our product, we

appeal to individualists

and thrill seekers who

dare to be different.

That separates us from

the pack.”

Nick Messer

President, Big Dog

Motorcycles

A Wild and Color ful Breed Dog

7

0

In case you didn’t know, Big Dog Motorcycles is the world’s largest maker of custom motorcycles. The company was founded by Sheldon Coleman in 1994 and has since produced more than 20,000 premium bikes, selling them across

the United States through a network of over 100 dealers. It’s been so successful that Big Dog Motorcycles

is now the nation’s leading builder of chopper-style bikes.

The company puts out a line of five premium motorcycles featuring the top dog, Bulldog, along with the Mastiff, Pitbull, Chopper and K-9 models. Each is equipped with a V-twin, 117-cubic-inch engine, six-speed transmission, stretch one-piece steel tank, right-side drive, super fat tires, chrome components and steel fenders which make for some major road impressions.

Since Big Dog prides itself on encouraging its customers to celebrate their individuality, it offers

an unlimited variety of wild colors and graphic schemes to set each owner’s bike apart from the pack.

Building Big Dogs

Big Dog Motorcycles works out of ten structures spread out through downtown Wichita. Each building is used for a different stage of the manufacturing process. The company focuses on quality and efficiency in production and keeps almost all its development and manufacturing in-house.

The facilities are home to a blend of traditional craftsmanship and state-of-the-art technology. Wander through the buildings and you’ll find that aluminum components are hand-polished to ensure a proper finish while the precision of robotic welders is vital to fabricating the cycles’ frames. It’s this kind of overall attention to detail that results in extreme (“extreme” is the key word to just about everything at Big Dog Motorcycles) quality motorcycles—

the kind of high quality you’d expect in bikes starting at $26,800 and running up to $33,000.

The company turns out an average of 15 motorcycles each day, but anticipated demand is expected to boost that figure to 18–22 daily.

Finishes that “break the leash”

Big Dog’s marketing slogan is “Break The Leash.” The line speaks to the thrill-seeking individualism of its customers, and while each Big Dog cycle’s performance promises to help its buyer celebrate his or her individuality, nothing does it more clearly than the unlimited variety of wild colors and graphic schemes available to set each owner’s bike apart from the pack. To make certain the color work meets Big Dog’s demanding standards, the company runs an in-house paint department that’s more like an artist’s studio than

a plant paint shop.

one-of-a-kind paint job that definitely makes a personal statement. After all, that’s what Big Dog riders want to do.

And how does Big Dog ensure the quality, durability and appearance of its paint jobs? They have been using PPG paint since “day one.” They currently rely on technical service and support from Dan Hutchins of Car Color, a PPG Platinum Distributor located in Wichita, Steve Johnson, PPG territory manager, and Chris Self, PPG commercial territory manager. PPG products currently being used include Deltron® K38 High Build Primer Surfacer and DBC basecoat as well as D893 Low VOC Performance Clear.

Until recently, Big Dog created their own custom colors but virtually all are now chosen from PPG’s Vibrance Collection™ custom color line, a move Big Dog President Nick Messer believes adds to the value and image of the company’s motorcycles.

“We’re extremely excited to offer options from the PPG Vibrance Collection,” say Messer. “They’ve already been well-received by our dealer network and customers with great enthusiasm. The Vibrance Collection takes paint colors to a new level.”

The company’s offerings blend the hottest colors with unique pigments and special effect finishes resulting in deep, rich colors with a crisp sparkle effect and even some color shifts. Brown goes on to say, “Midnight Sapphire, Orange Blast and Blue Heaven are three of the most popular PPG color choices. We work with PPG to develop the colors we know our customers want. And PPG helps us deliver.”

A cult of individualists

Although motorcycles are what put Big Dog on the map, the company cultivates a loyal following through its annual Big Dog Tornado Rally held every June in downtown Wichita.

Motorcycle riders and chopper enthusiasts from across the country crowd the city’s streets during the two-day event. Last summer a crowd of over 30,000 people rode in for the high-energy weekend and with Big Dog popularity growing, the company expects attendance to soar next June. The throng typifies Big Dog customers: the stand-out-from-the-crowd individualists who make their own path and want their motorcycles to reflect that attitude.

Big Dog Motorcycles bluntly states that if you’re content to blend in with the world around you, Big Dog bikes are not for you. On the other hand, if you want to step out of a “world of sameness” and exercise your individuality, then Wichita, Kansas or your local Big Dog dealer should be your next stop. That’s where you can check out this colorful breed of Dog.<

Big Dog’s annual Tornado

Rally attracts thousands of

enthusiasts.

8

Building

The paint area is its own facility with a staff of 40 people diligently working away, meticulously filling customer orders. A cadre of 18 airbrush artists focus on producing every kind of design imaginable and as outrageous or wild as a customer requests. “Our painters can do anything,” says Bob Brown, Vice President of Manufacturing. “Just give us a photo of what you want on your bike, and we’ll do it.”

Eight levels of paint and graphic schemes are available, depending on the complexity of the design. From simple pin stripes to the most intricate illustrations, each fender and tank is individually painted and clearcoated. The end result is often a breathtaking,

BigDogs(left) Big Dog customers

can choose from eight

levels of paint and graphic

schemes—ranging from

one color and traditional to

complex and radical.

9

10 11

W H A T ’ S N e W

SPECTRAFLAMEColo r s f r om th e

In a unique licensing partnership with Mattel,

PPG now offers Hot Wheels® Spectraflame®

custom colors as part of

the Vibrance Collection.™

The co-branded Hot

Wheels®/PPG Industries paint

line emulates the eye-catching

and vibrant Spectraflame®

colors featured on Hot Wheels®

toy cars, marking the first time that refinish

professionals can purchase Spectraflame® paint.

“Today’s car owners grew up playing with the 1960s and 1970s Hot Wheels® muscle cars that featured the classic Spectraflame® colors,” said Richard Dickson, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Media and Entertainment, Worldwide, Mattel Brands Consumer Products. “We are excited to partner with PPG Industries for this first-of-its-kind partnership, allowing consumers to re-connect with the Hot Wheels® brand as adults.”

The new and exclusive custom colors remarkably resemble the anodized, “candy-over-metal” look of the original Hot Wheels® Spectraflame® colors that first appeared on the Hot Wheels® die-cast models debut in 1968. Mattel has since sold more than 3 billion Hot Wheels® cars, making the toy company the No. 1 selling brand in the die-cast vehicle category*.

Available in factory pack colors only, PPG offers a palette of 12 Hot Wheels® Spectraflame® selections to choose from: Aqua, Medium Sapphire, Lime Gold, Rich Yellow Gold, Bright Emerald, Anti-Freeze Green, Orange, Bright Red, Hot Wheels® Blue, Hot Pink, Light Red Watermelon and Purple. They can be combined to produce an endless number of gorgeous tri-coat effects.

A special product bulletin for Hot Wheels® Spectraflame®, VB-08, provides in-depth information on how to use and apply these exciting colors, including tips on matching the colors shown on PPG’s DOX 441 Color Card available for Spectraflame®. Liquid Metal must be used as a silver ground coat for Spectraflame® finishes. The recommended basecoat system is Deltron® DBC.

“We are delighted with the addition of the new Spectraflame® colors to PPG’s Vibrance Collection and the opportunity to offer these

exciting new colors to our custom finishers,” said Randy Cremeans, manager, collision segments, North America for PPG Automotive Refinish. “We are looking forward to seeing the results of the creative ways our customers will use these colors.”

For more information about Mattel’s Hot Wheels® products, please visit www.hotwheels.com.<

®

* The NPD Group / Consumer Panel Track; Jan-Aug 2006, Annual 2005, Annual 2004, Annual 2003; Mini Vehicles Category; Brands HOT WHEELS and associated trademarks and trade dress are owned by Mattel, Inc. © 2006 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

VibranceCollection

12

T A K I N G C A r e o f b u S I N e S S

W hen it was introduced over a decade ago,

MVP Services was the first program of its

kind in the collision repair industry. Since

then, we’ve enabled thousands of collision center owners and

managers to take advantage of MVP’s innovative benchmarking

tools, training and services to improve the way they run their

businesses and drive their performance levels to new heights.

Of course the cornerstone of the MVP program has always been its ability to provide collision centers with an ongoing, real world assessment of their performance. This has enabled the owner or manager to clearly

identify any critical areas of their business that need improvement in order for the shop to reach and maintain its full potential. And that’s when the rest of MVP Services come into play.

Since MVP Services is all about continuous process improvement, we too are continually looking at ways to enhance our program offerings so that our customers are assured of having all the tools, training and services required to maintain a competitive advantage in a highly competitive marketplace. Since its inception, we’ve added numerous enhancements to the MVP program. In 2007, for example, we’re adding many program enhancements including

new and updated training courses and a host of other assists for shops seeking to improve their business.

With that in mind, we thought it would be beneficial for our readers to devote this column to a review of the programs and tools currently available from MVP Services.

Real World Benchmarking

Real World Benchmarking provides collision center management with a roadmap for improving processes, implementing standard operating procedures and measuring their performance in all critical areas of their business. The performance analysis is generated utilizing MVP’s benchmark database, comprised of performance data collected over a 10-year span from more than 6,000 collision centers across North America.

Collision Center Operations Manual

Since standard operating procedures are critical to a performance-driven culture, the MVP Collision Center Operations Manual offers a full array of standard operating procedures, job descriptions, administrative management tools and much more. PPG has distributed this helpful guide to over 5,000 operations in five

languages across the globe, making it the most widely used, value-added publication of its kind. Available in both printed format as well as on compact disc, the Operations Manual enables collision centers to tailor procedures, job descriptions and tools to fit their specific operating requirements.

MVP Business Development Training Series

As the industry’s most widely-attended training program for collision center management, this training series has conducted over 2,000 days of management training across North America since its inception. Courses offered encompass all aspects of managing a profitable collision repair business—from marketing and estimating to administration and production.

Key to the success of the Business Development Series is the “real world” expertise of MVP Certified Instructors—each of whom has the valued perspective of having owned a successful collision center.

In 2007, new courses and the updating of existing curriculum will ensure this elite training series continues to lead the industry in guiding owners and managers on practical, proven ways to improve their businesses and to meet the challenges of competing in a highly competitive marketplace. See Page 14 for a complete rundown on MVP’s 2007 course offerings.

MVP Recognition

In conjunction with the MVP Training Series, the new MVP Business Excellence program will offer owners and managers an opportunity to recognize their employees to foster pride of profession and clearly differentiate themselves from their competitors. Upon completion of required training courses, recipients will receive recognition in the following categories: MVP General Manager, MVP Parts Manager, MVP Collision Center Manager, MVP Estimator and MVP Process Manager.

While the criteria and requirements are under development, each designation will require course attendance with PPG and other externally approved courses. Upon completion, participants receive a handsome plaque and other recognition.

MVP Roundtable Program

The largest network of its kind, the MVP Roundtable program offers collision center owners and managers the opportunity to work with their peers and improve the profitability and performance of their respective businesses through continuous learning and sharing of best practices.

Given the successes that participants have achieved through the MVP Roundtable program, PPG is strongly committed to supporting

its endeavors with fresh ideas and stimulus, ensuring it continues to be the leading networking forum for progressive collision centers.

Roundtable Conferences form the foundation of the MVP Roundtable program. Comprised of shop owners and managers from non-competing markets, Regional Roundtable conferences provide an environment for continuing education, peer-to-peer exchange of ideas, best practices and performance measures. National Summit conferences are also scheduled to offer networking opportunities to those who cannot regularly attend regional forums. The Roundtable program also offers Peer-to-Peer Performance Analysis—the benchmarking and review of an individual shop’s performance to facilitate discussion amongst Roundtable participants. The intent here is to leverage the combined experience of Roundtable participants in order to identify and capitalize on improvement opportunities with the appropriate best practices.

Roundtable participants can also take advantage of MVP internet-based communications tools at our Roundtable Online Tool Box, which provides users with ‘round-the-clock access to web-based training materials, business tools, news and Roundtable schedules of events.

MVP ServicesImproving on the ways we can improve your business

Facility Layout & Design

Whether the plan is to build a new facility, make major renovations to an existing structure or simply rearrange an existing f loor plan, experts from MVP’s Facility Layout and Design are ready to assist. Services range from simple 2-D drawings to full-blown 3-D CAD designs as well as advice on equipment selection to meet specific requirements.

If your shop hasn’t already taken advantage of the MVP Services from PPG program to date, we encourage you to do so. We have no doubt that PPG could make a difference in helping you maintain a competitive and profitable edge in the coming years. For those who are currently using MVP Services, we invite you to become familiar with our 2007 offerings and make use as you see fit.

By Jim Berkey and rich altieri

continued on page 14

Discovery Channel’s Biker Build-Off—if you know about custom

motorcycles, you’ve seen it. Facing off two by two, the best

fabricators and builders in the motorcycle industry compete for the

popular vote at prominent motorcycle events across the country. The

three 2006 winners featured here took the gold in their Biker Build-Off

competition, all wearing PPG paint.

Bike rBuild-OffPPG THE PAINT OF CHOICE

FOR TOP WINNERS OF THE DISCOVERy CHANNEL’S HIT SHOW

Flaming Masterpiece

Dave Perewitz of Perewitz Cycle Fabrication, Bridgewater, Massachusetts, is an icon of the custom bike world and his “Flaming Masterpiece” is a glowing golden representative of his perennial style. Highlighting the spectacular chopper is a signature Perewitz flame design executed in colors from the PPG Vibrance Collection™. A custom blend of yellow and PPG toners accomplish the dramatic paint scheme.

Way Fast Bagger

Brian Klock of Klock Werks Kustom Cycles in Mitchell, South Dakota, has used PPG finishes since 1993. Several custom mixing pigments from the Vibrance Collection create a unique look for this winner, called the “WFB” or “Way Fast Bagger.” Over Candy Apple Red, the “WFB” is adorned with graphics designed by Gene Slater and Tex McDorman of TexEfx in Sanger, Texas. Immediately after winning the Build-Off, the bike earned the title “World’s Fastest Bagger,” collecting an AMA national record at the Bonneville Salt Flats at 147.359 mph.

Shovelhead Kill Machine

The “Shovelhead Kill Machine” was built by Jason Kangas and his crew at Twisted Choppers, Sioux Falls, South Dakota while Robert Pradke of Custom Auto Design, Eastford, Connecticut, handled the finish. Pradke used Vibrance Orange Glow over Sterling Silver complemented with other special pigments mixed on-site. The Twisted Choppers bike was then clearcoated with Deltron® DC3000, first as a fast base clear, then overcoated with DCU2002 for the final coats. Twisted Choppers gave Pradke some ideas on design and colors and let him do his thing.

When the world’s best builders get ready for battle, they finish it off with PPG for a winning combination. <

Check your local listings to catch these episodes of Biker Build-Off on the Discovery Channel now.

15

Flaming Masterpiece

Way Fast Bagger

Shovelhead Kill Machine

14

MVP Business in This 2-day course provides owners and managers with a full array of proven tools, information and advice on how to position their collision repair business for success. Topics such as strategic thinking, business strategy, benchmarking, compensation planning, marketing strategy and human resource management are among the key areas addressed.

Leadership & Analysis—NEW Knowing what to change is easy—more difficult is the ability to foster and implement change in an organization on a sustainable basis. With that in mind, this 2-day course provides owners and managers the opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills and learn proven approaches to leading change throughout their organization. Topics discussed include the most common reasons why companies fail at change, proven approaches to causing sustainable change, and how to implement a plan for change.

Collision Repair As the first critical step in the repair process, estimating is a key area of focus when looking for process improvement opportunities. This popular 1-day course encompasses major enhancements to further help guide participants on effective methods of creating accurate estimates that can improve workflow, reduce waste and enhance quality.

Collision Repair Sales & This popular 1-day course encompasses new curriculum focused on helping shops tap into new business opportunities in collision repair—including customer pay repairs, meeting DRP requirements, building customer loyalty and referral opportunities—and much more.

Administrative This 1-day course focuses on maximizing administrative efficiencies as part of the repair process and has been expanded to include coverage of the proven principles for creating competitive advantages in quality, speed and cost as they pertain to administration management. Participants also gain insight into how to effectively involve employees in the effort to streamline administrative processes for higher levels of performance.

Production This 1-day course examines fundamental improvements that can be implemented on the shop floor and the processes associated with repairing the vehicle. The course is enhanced to examine how to create a more efficient production environment consisting of the right people, processes, equipment and SOPs. Topics include workplace organization, use of visual controls, standard tools, standard work (SOPs), simplified scheduling techniques and built-in-quality.

Managing Customer Regardless of the market segment that a collision center is targeting, maintaining customer loyalty is now more important than ever before in light of today’s highly competitive collision industry. This 1-day course covers the processes and techniques required to strengthen customer loyalty and manage the process effectively.

Collision Center The key to any successful business is its ability to satisfy existing customers while, at the same time, attract new ones. For collision centers, there are two main sources of customers—insurance companies and consumers. Using interactive training, hands-on workshops, and group brainstorming sessions, participants of this marketing course can enhance their expertise in developing a comprehensive marketing strategy and generate more referrals from insurance agents, DRP’s and consumers.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

the 21st Century—NEW

MVP Business Development Training Series CurriculumNew and updated courses providing expert guidance on running a progressive and profitable business

Estimating Skills—UPDATED

Customer Service—UPDATED

Management—UPDATED

Management—UPDATED

Loyalty—NEW

For information and scheduling regarding the MVP Business Development Training Series courses, visit www.ppgrefinish.com or contact your PPG distributor or territory manager.

Continued from page 13

Marketing Loyalty—NEW

14

It isn’t just anybody that can score 100% in Toyota’s Collision Excellence Program

and grow monthly collision center sales year after year. It takes someone special,

someone like Tammy Albritton to attain those challenging objectives. And if you

knew her, you’d quickly understand why she’s been able to do it. In fact, she’s won

Toyota Excellence honors twice and is on track again for 2006.

16 17

At the topof her game

TAMMy ALBRITTON OF LEGACy TOyOTA

Albritton is the body shop manager at Legacy Toyota in Tallahassee, Florida. She’s been there since it was a new facility in 2002 and from her first day on the job, Albritton has been a team player with a dedicated work ethic and a complete commitment to customer satisfaction. And it’s those qualities that have led her and her team to their daily successes.

Albritton learned the body shop business from her father and brother. Her dad owned a shop in Quincy, Florida. Her brother Sam worked there, however, dad felt the shop wasn’t a place for young ladies. But that didn’t stop Albritton from learning. She picked up a tremendous amount of practical knowledge just by being around her dad and Sam (now a well-established collision pro) and with her curiosity and drive, she began her career as a receptionist and quickly worked her way up, learning and mastering needed skills along the way.

She learned well. Recently, Albritton was among five winners nationwide who scored 100 percent in Toyota’s prestigious Collision Excellence program, which evaluates factors such as profitability, sales growth, and customer satisfaction.

Thanks to Albritton and her team, her shop is a Toyota Certified Collision Center. To earn this distinction, a shop must demonstrate a commitment to excellence by meeting benchmarks and standards in ten key areas such as Technician Training and Certification, Tools and Equipment, and Customer Satisfaction. To assure their dedication to these high standards, dealers must re-qualify for the program annually.

So how does Albritton do it? For starters she’s surrounded by a crew of hand-picked, quality-conscious technicians. She communicates with each one on a daily basis. She says, “Your team will take you far if you take them with you. We are a team in every sense of the word. I support them, they support me. They have a positive attitude and take pride in the jobs they perform daily and a passion for their chosen career.”

High morale is also maintained by recognizing people for their hard work and commitment to Legacy Toyota Collision Center. There’s also a “Technician-of-the-Year” contest—a highly-regarded honor among the staff. She firmly believes a staff needs to feel important because they are important.

That attitude spills over into a customer service emphasis. Albritton states, “Customers should know

that their vehicle is our #1 concern. Nothing else matters if we don’t have satisfied customers.” To make sure of that, she constantly looks for ways to improve the service experience. In 2004, Albritton switched to PPG’s Global Refinish System®. It was a decision she’s very pleased with. “PPG has proven itself day in and day out. The paint’s performance is stellar and the color match is superior. To have PPG in our shop means I have peace of mind. And it goes beyond product. The service I receive from my jobber, Carol’s Color Connection, owned by Carol and L.J. Raley, is nothing short of excellent.

Albritton is well aware of how competitive the industry is and what it takes to succeed. “I realize I don’t have all the answers, but I know where to find them. The important thing is being on top of your game and pushing yourself to be more innovative, creative and ahead of the competition. That’s why Toyota and PPG are successful.”

And that’s why Tammy Albritton is doing as well as she is.<

Legacy Toyota award-

winning body shop

manager Tammy Albritton

and her highly-motivated

team are committed to

customer care.

PPG’s new education program aims to alleviate shortage of qualified refinish technicians

PPG has created the Distributor Technical Representative Certification program to evaluate and test the product knowledge and technical skills of distributor representatives, with the ultimate goal of improving their proficiency in providing problem-solving support and advice for collision repair customers.

R a i s i n g the B a rNew CerTifiCaTioN program

esTablishes TeChNiCal kNowledge sTaNdards for disTribuTor represeNTaTiVes

Developed through a collaborative effort between PPG and its Platinum Distributors, the Distributor Technical Representative Certification program is comprised of an online assessment and a rigorous two-day, hands-on performance evaluation at a PPG training center. The program, developed in partnership with the Pennsylvania College of Technology, evaluates and tests candidates in six critical areas of automotive refinish expertise: product knowledge, color matching, formula retrieval software, application, equipment and mixing room management.

“This new certification program raises the bar for distributor representatives to an even higher level than the standards we’ve set for certifying refinish technicians,” says Bill Troyer, manager, training for PPG Automotive Refinish. “So those able to pass the rigorous set of tests should be proud to become certified and recognized

as ‘the best of the best’ in refinish product knowledge and skills. Of course, the ultimate beneficiaries will be collision repair centers using PPG products and color-matching systems.”

To obtain PPG certification, attendees are required to pass both hands-on and online testing. The hands-on test is designed to demonstrate the technical representative’s proficiency in properly specifying and applying a refinish system, performing a quality spot repair, as well as troubleshooting problems and evaluating paint operation equipment. The online test, covering the six key subject areas, is administered by the Workforce Development Department of the Pennsylvania College of Technology. After successfully completing the program, the distributor technical representative is recognized as a Certified Distributor Technical Representative and will receive access to benefits made exclusive to this elite group.

“PPG’s certification program is definitely worth the time and effort,” says Troy Martin, outside sales representative for Ben’s Paint Supply in Longwood, FL. “I now have a deeper understanding of the painter’s job and a better appreciation for the skills and knowledge required to use the products we service.”

The pilot program for Distributor Technical Representative Certification was launched in 2006 for employees of PPG Platinum Distributors. The program will be made available to all PPG distributors in October 2007.<

Developing competent, certified refinish technicians for entry-level

employment by PPG customers is the goal behind PPG’s new Partners in Education™ program, a collaborative initiative between PPG and leading colleges and technical schools.

Until now, PPG’s technical certification training program was open only to technicians possessing a minimum of one year’s work experience. But given the critical shortage of qualified technicians in the industry, PPG has partnered with

select colleges and technical schools to give students the opportunity to become industry certified through the PPG Student Certification Program for Automotive Collision Repair Technology.

The student certification program is open to students graduating from select schools that have been qualified for the PPG Partners in Education program. To become PPG certified, a qualifying student must first pass an online written assessment designed

to evaluate fundamental knowledge of refinish products, application equipment and techniques, color blending, tinting and color matching tools.

The second phase of the certification process involves a rigorous, hands-on evaluation where students demonstrate their skills in performing a complete refinish repair. Upon successful completion of the program, the student is awarded PPG certification, which is valid for a two-year period.

To help students find employment in the industry, PPG has created an online careers database for graduates of the student certification program. Students can enter their resumés into the database of entry-level technicians, and as new employment opportunities are identified, PPG will provide a candidates pool of qualified technicians for consideration by potential employers.

“Given the initial success we are witnessing with our student certification initiative, we’re confident that the program will grow to become a major factor in helping overcome the talent shortage our collision repair customers have long been facing,” said Bill Troyer.

For more information on the PPG Partners in Education program, please call the PPG Refinish Training Department toll-free at 1-800-970-2283.<

T r A I N I N G u P D A T e

18 19

As the largest transit system between

Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, North

Carolina’s Charlotte Area Transit System

(CATS) is also widely recognized as one

of the nation’s

most modern and

progressive. Each

year the system

handles over 19

million passengers, riding on 333 buses

and 4 trolleys traveling some 12 million

miles. In late 2007, a light rail rapid

transit, running 16 futuristic Siemens

electric-powered vehicles, will join the

system.

on the moveCATSOne can just about imagine the

huge undertaking it requires to keep CATS transit vehicles in top shape, on the road and looking good. To accomplish the maintenance requirements of the fast growing system, CATS built the South Tryon Bus Facility, a new state-of-the-art operation at a cost of $38 million.

A tour of the mammoth, architecturally-striking facility reveals what has to be one of the nation’s largest body shops, featuring the latest in equipment and innovations. The 33,500 square-foot operation features eight bays with hydraulic lifts and a centralized vacuum system for sanding operations. The modern facility features heated floors and a computerized exhaust system to keep the air fresh and clear of contaminants.

Heading up the body shop is foreman Paul Wilcox, a 20-year veteran of the fleet maintenance industry. Wilcox is especially proud of his paint operation’s two, super-sized Global downdraft booths, capable of handling buses with room to spare. Each booth is equipped with climatic controls and pneumatic man lifts to ease the painter’s time and effort to perform overall repaints. The South Tryon Bus Facility is

located adjacent to a light rail facility, which allows the two facilities to coordinate operations. The two facilities will share the bus facility’s paint shop when the light rail system comes on board. A rail spur off the main line runs directly into one of the downdraft booths to easily accommodate refinishing of the light rail vehicles.

Before Wilcox took on the foreman duties at the South Tryon facility, an automotive direct gloss refinish system was used on CATS vehicles. After consulting with PPG Platinum Distributor Bill Kincaid of Auto Body Paint Supply in Statesville, NC, and Dan Duncan, PPG territory manager, the

recommendation was made to move to Delfleet® Evolution’s FDGH commercial coatings system. “My relationship with Auto Body Paint Supply goes back 10 years so I’ve come to value and completely trust their advice,” explains Wilcox. “Given the number of miles our buses are driven each day and the fact that all of our buses are brush washed everyday, durability in that tough environment was one of the key factors in their recommendation to convert to the Delfleet system.

“So far, we’re experiencing

excellent results. The finishes are holding up extremely well.”

Wilcox relied on the PPG regional sales team and

the PPG Training Center in Atlanta to ease the transition to their new commercial coatings system. Wilcox says that the knowledge his team gained in Atlanta proved to be very helpful, in particular the training they received regarding how to adjust reducers to accommodate his shop’s varying temperatures and how to fine-tune dry times with the right hardeners and accelerators.

“I’m a strong believer in training,” Wilcox explains. “We operate a fairly small crew of eight, so we’ve cross-trained everyone in all areas of body work, so we’re always covered when someone becomes sick or goes on vacation. It’s a great group of guys.”

It’s estimated that Wilcox and his team repair up to 350 buses per year, including about 20 RO’s for complete overalls or special paint schemes. There’s no doubt they have the right facility and crew to get it done right.<

(Left) Hydraulic lifts assist

paint technicians in

applying finishes to CATS

vehicles.

(Below left) The cross-

trained, 8-person crew

at the CATS South Tryon

facility repair up to 350

buses a year.

StAte- of-the-Art BoDy Shop

keepS

The new South Tryon Bus

Facility houses a 33,500

square-foot body shop.

20 21

Pho

to c

ourt

esy

of C

ATS

Pho

to c

ourt

esy

of C

ATS

In the world of high performance boats, the name Donzi has

long been an icon representing the “best of the best.” This

illustrious reputation can be traced back to the 1960’s and

the world of offshore racing where V-bottom design

and fiberglass boat-building technology were still

emerging, and grueling ocean races, spanning

hundreds of miles, tested the endurance of drivers

and boats alike.

DonziAdvancing the Art of Performance

WITH THE HELP OF PPG AND ITS AUTOMOTIVE FINISHES At the center of it all was one address: NE 188th Street in North Miami. “Thunderboat Row” was what they called it, and the legendary Don Aronow presided over it all. During his illustrious career, Aronow would create the legacies of Formula, Cigarette, and Magnum boats, but in 1964 he brought life to the company that would bear his nickname: Donzi. Aronow owned Donzi for only a short period before moving on, but not before creating a number of notable designs and setting a high standard for performance and quality craftsmanship.

After a succession of corporate ownerships, Donzi was acquired by the American Marine Holdings investment group in 1993 and control of the firm was handed to Lee Kimmell, who along with his staff, are devoted to building best-in-class performance boats and restoring the firm to prestigious roots.

Today Donzi Marine is headquartered in Sarasota, Florida where a team of some 300 employees produce over 25 different fiberglass models, from 16 to 43 feet. The upscale performance line covers the full gamut of sleek, eye-catching offerings from center consoles and fishing boats to Donzi’s race-bred, twin cockpit ZR-model ocean racers

capable of blistering speeds over rough waters. The renaissance at Donzi has also reasserted its racing prowess as its 38ZR Competition racer is proving its dominance not just on “stadium style” race courses as seen in the United States, but on grueling, open-ocean races worldwide.

Featured in MIAMI VICE

For many years, Donzi has enjoyed a strong relationship with Hollywood, landing more starring roles than any other high-performance boat manufacturer. However, Donzi’s newest role in the movie “Miami Vice” surpasses all the rest.

22 23

Donzi’s 38 ZR model was

bestowed the “Best of

the Best” award by the

prestigious Robb Report.

continued on page 26

PPG “Best of the Best”at the NSRA Nationals

The five PPG winners for 2006 include Tom True’s 1933 Ford three-window coupe from Knightstown, Indiana, built and painted by David Webb of ORS Auto Body in Nicholasville, Kentucky. The ’33 is finished in Deltron® DBC 2007 BMW Sahara Beige topped with Vibrance Collection™ Candy Hellfire and Global Refinish System® clear. Raymond May, of Sherrills Ford, North Carolina owns the glistening black 1939 Ford with fantastic true-to-life fire lighting up the front end. Painstakingly painted by JoAnn Bortles of Crazy Horse Painting in Waxhaw, North Carolina, she used multiple shades and variations of the Vibrance palette integrated in the flames. The black Global base color was followed with D894 Clear by Wayne Springs of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Don and Linda Elliott brought their 1932 Ford five-window coupe from Chalfont, Pennsylvania. The PPG Orange Crystal Pearl™ and Cool Vanilla ride was painted in custom-blended Vibrance hues by Jeff VanLuvanee of VanLuvanee’s Hot Rods and Customs in Walnutport, Pennsylvania. Timothy and Susan Splawn traveled from Lafayette, Louisiana with their smooth 1939 Ford. PPG Candy Apple Red below and Jaguar Oyster on top, the Splawns built nearly the entire car in their garage. Jim Jolley handled the

finish at Jolley’s Collision Center in Duson, Louisiana.

Lastly, the stunning 1938 Ford pickup is a family effort from the Sellers of Lebanon, Tennessee. Husband and wife, Bill and B. J., were aided by their son, Steve. Steve is responsible for the PPG Luxo Blue and Champagne colors and graphics on the flawless hauler. With 2006 a banner year for the longstanding PPG Outstanding Use of Color Awards, these five winners exemplify the standard to which fine finishes are judged.<

G A l l e r y

The National Street Rod Association (NSRA)

Nationals, in Louisville, Kentucky, capped off the

37th annual event in 2006 with the 17th annual PPG

awards for Outstanding Use of Color. Raising the

bar, the five winners represent an intense cross section of

fabulous finishes and hot rod styles. Attracting over 11,000 cars

to the NSRA Nationals this year created a deep and varied field for PPG’s

representatives to review.

Winners for the PPG Outstanding Use of Color Award are judged

on color scheme, gloss, attention to detail and

overall execution of the finish in order

to highlight the ultimate potential of

refinish products.

Bill, B. J. & Steve Sellers,

Lebanon, TN,

1938 Ford pickup

Tom True, Knightstown, IN, 1933 Ford 3-window coupe Raymond May, Sherrills Ford, NC, 1939 Ford

Don & Linda Elliott, Chalfont, PA, 1932 Ford 5-window coupe

Timothy & Susan Splawn, Lafayette, LA, 1939 Ford

25

Working closely with Universal Pictures and director Michael Mann, Donzi produced a total of seven boats especially for the film, with three of them figuring prominently in the final cut. Mann eschewed the wild, multicolored graphics common on today’s performance boats, opting instead for monochrome color schemes and a decidedly automotive feel.

Building a Donzi

True to Donzi’s 40-year heritage, skilled workers combine space-age materials with old-world craftsmanship to create boats offering the kind of performance and attention to detail that only a hand-built boat can provide. Only the best materials are used to create a Donzi—from fine quality, multi-axial fiberglass material to extra-durable Kevlar, lightweight s-glass, composite coring materials, and even exotic carbon fiber. Depending on the boat’s color scheme, hulls are gel-coated with base colors to match and enhance topcoat colors. While it may be surprising to some, the paint finish applied above the waterline of Donzi boats is actually automotive refinish technology. According to

David Kimmell, Donzi materials manager, automotive paint offers superior color and gloss capabilities. And that’s where PPG comes into play.

PPG’s relationship with Donzi began with a phone call in February, 2006, from Kimmell to Cam Danaher, PPG territory manager. Kimmell explained that they were experiencing an unacceptable

number of warranty claims due to paint delamination. He asked Cam if PPG could troubleshoot the problem and come up with a solution. It was the beginning of a Donzi-PPG relationship that not only solved the warranty issue, but completely changed Donzi’s approach to its paint operation process.

Working together with Paul Borchert, technical representative for Reliable Auto Paints of Sarasota, Danaher and the PPG regional sales team conducted a month-long line study of the Donzi paint process and procedures. Nothing was overlooked—from the mixing room and inventory control to the type of spray equipment and buffing procedures used.

As a result of the study, a whole laundry list of recommendations were implemented. They included establishing new standard operating

procedures for painting a 43-foot canvas, a change in spray equipment and a paint system comprised of Deltron® DBU catalyzed basecoat and DCU 2002 premium, high-gloss clearcoat. All SOPs and training were translated into Spanish to assist Donzi’s predominantly Hispanic paint operations crew in making a smooth transition to the new process.

According to Kimmell, the new PPG paint system and procedures have not only resulted in significantly improved appearance, gloss and durability but have dramatically reduced how long it takes to craft a Donzi.

“We have not had a single paint warranty claim since switching to PPG,” says Kimmell. “Just as important is the fact that we’re now able to create better looking finishes in less time. Overall I’d say we’ve reduced process time by 25 to 30%. I can’t say enough about the efforts of Cam, Paul and the rest of their team. We got more on-site support from the PPG team in one month than I received from my former paint rep in three years!”

The Donzi-PPG relationship has been recently expanded to include the Vibrance Collection™, PPG’s custom color offerings. In a running change during the current model year, several Vibrance colors are being introduced into new Donzi designs.

With record retail orders, preeminence in today’s offshore racing and a beautiful fleet of speed demon offerings, there’s no question that Donzi Marine is living up to its proud heritage and advancing the art of building performance boats to a whole new level.<

26

Preferring the superior

color and gloss

capabilities of automotive

coatings, Donzi uses

PPG’s Deltron DBU system

for finishes applied above

the water line.

(above right) A

monochromatic 43 ZR

plays a starring role in

“Miami Vice.”

©2007 PPG Industries www.ppgrefinish.com

HigH PERFORMANCE COATiNgS

Systems that dramatically reduce

cycle times

COlOR ExCEllENCE

Expert color matching

tools and services

AdvANCEd TRAiNiNg

Solutions for technicians, managers

and distributors

MvP SERviCES

Business advice forincreasing repair

throughput and shopproductivity

CERTiFiEdFiRST® NETwORk

Industry-leading marketing for increased business from insurers

and vehicle owners

QuAliTy diSTRibuTORS

Exceptional service via the nation’s largest

network of independent refinish distributors

PPG’s relentless passion to maximize your shop’s

profitability with leading technology, expert tools, business advice,

marketing support and training.

Continued from page 23

VC5225 Soft Touch Clear from PPG’s Vibrance Collection™ is an

innovative, high-solids, two-component urethane topcoat that

combines a soft luxurious feel and a very low sheen to provide a top

quality finish for trim accents and interiors.

Soft Touch Clear can be used over

Deltron® DBU and Deltron DBC 2000

basecoats.

• Low sheen appearance

• Soft, luxurious feel

• Excellent scratch, burnish and

mar resistance

• Ideal for trim accents and interiors

W H A T ’ S N e W

VC5225Soft Touch Clear

HeLP SToP WASTeFuL DuPLICATe MAILINGSIf you receive duplicates of the same brochure with different customer numbers, please send us the labels. Be sure to indicate the correct label and we’ll update our records. Thanks so much for your help.

©2007 PPG Industries www.ppgrefinish.com Part No. PAMRR206, 1/07 LITHO IN U.S.A.

ATTN: PAINT AND BoDy SHoP PRESORTED STANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPONTIAC, IL

PERMIT NO. 293

PPG IndustriesAttn: Refinish Group 19699 Progress Dr. Strongsville, oH 44149

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