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Passionate or Passive about PAS 125?The new Thatcham/BSI Kitemark standard for crash repair needs serious considerationthisissue

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Issue 5

Welcome to the Autumn edition of the Source. We hope you’ll find plenty to interest and entertain you.

• How 3M can help you achieve PAS 125 requirements • Why East Bilney Coachworks is prepared to lead the way

• Toyota seeks the best in Europe

• Purple reign – a new type of bristle disc

• An account of Thatcham’s Triple Focus event

• 3M’s H&S awareness campaign is a breath of fresh air

• A day out at the British Grand Prix

• Win a Rupes Sander in competition, plus details of the last issue’s winners the last issue’s winners

sourceA reflection of what's happening and what's new in automotive aftercare from 3M

the

Fast Cut Plus: not just another compound

3Automotive Aftermarket, Automotive Aftermarket,3M United Kingdom PLC, 3M Ireland,

Tel: 016 1237 6391 Tel: (01) 280 3555Fax: 016 1237 5911 Fax: (01) 280 3509aadenquiries.uk@mmm.com

www.3mbodyshop.co.uk

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More Information?If you require further details about any of the subjects in this issue email us at aadenquiries.uk@mmm.com or tick the appropriate box,

complete this coupon and mail it to: Source c/o USP, Freepost SEA 1753, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6BR - no stamp required.

❑ 3M Fast Cut Plus compound ❑ 3M Sheet & Sander Set

❑ 3M Bristle Disc Purple abrasive ❑ 3M Automix™ plastic repair system

❑ 3M Booth Coating ❑ 3M PPS™ Colour Check Light

❑ 3M Weld Thru ll coating ❑ Would you like to receive regular email communication from 3M detailing new products, services and offers? Tick, if yes.

Competition answers - short description (there are four to find):

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❑ If you would like 3M to offer guidance on PAS 125 and the Thatcham/BSI Kitemark; tick here.

❑ Tick here if you no longer want to receive ‘the Source’.

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Toyota’s search for Europe’s finest

3M sponsors the event, supplying equipment to be used during the assessment and also a judge, in the form of 3M’s Jason Stephens. As he comments, “Toyota recognises the strength of 3M in complete processes. To use their words: ‘Top to Bottom support’. We were delighted to support this important event, recognising as it does, the genuine skill and abilities of Toyota bodyshop personnel.”Jason attended the finals,

3M’s Perfect-it™ III ™ III ™ Fast Cut Plus compound is receiving rave reviews from customers, who appreciate the speed and quality of the finish it delivers.

COMPETITION Your chance to win a 3M Sheet & Sander Set Your chance to win a 3M Sheet & Sander Set This month’s superb prize was developed by RUPES and 3M This month’s superb prize was developed by RUPES and 3M and includes a Pneumatic Orbital Sander & accessories and and includes a Pneumatic Orbital Sander & accessories and a wide range of Hookit™ abrasive sheets; all in a carry-case. a wide range of Hookit™ abrasive sheets; all in a carry-case.

Spot the difference.There are four differences in the pictures below. Describe them (very simply) and enter your answers on the coupon below or email us at aadenquiries.uk@mmm.comFirst correct entry drawn from the hat on Nov 1st 2007 will win.

held in Nottingham, where there were two winning finalists: Andrew Daniels, who works at Farmer & Carlisle of Loughborough won the paint skills event and Ian Byrne of RRG Manchester came top in the body skills section.Both automatically qualified for the European Grand Prix final, held in Brussels, which was again sponsored by 3M.Representatives from 14 countries competed against each other, showing their

Last month’s winnerCongratulations to Graham Seddon of S + S Motors in St. Helens, Merseyside.Graham is the winner of the competition in the last issue of The Source and wins a Colour Check Light as his prize.

Each year Toyota holds a competition to find the operatives with the best Body and Paint Skills within its UK dealer network.

skills in using the latest techniques and equipment in the areas of welding, colour

matching and paint quality.All the European finalists were also invited to attend

There’s rapidly growing interest in PAS 125, but fully understanding the implications, time and costs involved in reaching the required standard and obtaining and retaining the Thatcham/BSI Kitemark needs careful thought. At least, that’s the view of 3M’s Key Account Manager Mark Egan.

The aim is for both the industry and the general public to recognise that quality standards apply wherever the Thatcham/BSI Kitemark is displayed. And an amazing 82% of the public recognise the Kitemark as a mark of quality.

To obtain the BSI Kitemark, bodyshops must show that the requirements of PAS 125 have been achieved and will be maintained. This is assessed during an initial two-day visit by BSI auditors, along with two further spot-checks.

In addition to an overview of the programme, 3M can offer assistance in a number of areas including clarification of repair processes, understanding of product shelf life and checking technical competence, as well as guidance on how to meet the auditor’s requirements. “Achieving the BSI Kitemark accreditation is neither easy or cheap”, says

Mark; “but the subsequent improvements in business and repair processes offer many opportunities for a return on the investment.”

One of the key influencers in drawing up the PAS 125 standard is the Auto Body Professionals Club, whose Chairman, David Cresswell, is quick to point out its importance in the current

marketplace. “ Already several insurance companies including esure, Norwich Union and Zurich will require their approved networks to achieve the Kitemark by the end of 2008 and more insurers are likely to follow as contracts come up for revision”, he says.

What should you do next?Turn to page 2/3.

Take John Brown for example. He’s the senior bodyshop supervisor at the BMW Distribution Centre near Doncaster.“We think Fast Cut Plus is a revolutionary product. We’ve been looking for a process that does everything and now we’ve found it. It gets rid of scratches without leaving holograms.”

John has been using Fast Cut Plus for a couple of months. “To be honest, I can’t praise it highly enough. What you see, once you use Fast Cut Plus, is the finished job. There’s no reappearance of scratches once the customer washes the car.” He adds, “Also, there’s no wastage as you only use what you need in very small

amounts.”Fast Cut Plus compound from 3M is a fast-acting liquid abrasive that removes scratches from refinished or original paintwork. With minimal sling and improved clean-up performance, the new compound is easy to use and results in a superior, high gloss finish.

a worldwide ceremony held in Japan at Toyota’s headquarters.

High praise from the tradeTwo recent product launches by 3M have received a particularly enthusiastic reception from the trade.

Weld Thru II has got it coveredTake Weld Thru II, for example. Newly formulated, this primer coating protects against corrosion on surfaces to be welded. 3M’s July Swistek recently travelled to Just Car Clinic in Nottingham where panel technicians, Alex Millar and Mark Ingram were impressed. Even without purging the aerosol nozzle, it sprayed well, delivering plenty of product quickly and efficiently without runs. Scott Chapman and Dave Smith, panel beaters at Stratstone Honda up the road in Mansfield, were also complimentary, saying Weld Thru II was better than other products with minimal splatter when MIG welding.

Two bodyshops see the lightThere’s no substitute for first hand experience and when Keith Jones of Morden Coachworks was having problems matching a colour, he borrowed a 3M™PPS™ Colour Check Light from a local bodyshop.“It saved the day and I bought one straight away.” As well as an essential tool for colour matching, Keith says the Colour Check Light is “brilliant” for checking coverage before applying lacquer.Stephen Bowler of Maypole Coachworks reckons his Colour Check Light paid for itself on the first job it was used for. “We had been having coverage problems, which meant having to put jobs back through the system to recoat. Colour Check Light was money well spent.”

If the free sample is missing, contact your local 3M representative to receive your sachet of Fast Cut Plus

Whilst some bodyshops may regard PAS 125 with trepidation, Mark Baldwin, Managing Director of East Bilney Coachworks reckons he actually enjoyed the process.East Bilney was one of the fi rst independent bodyshops in the UK to gain PAS 125 in all the disciplines: cosmetic, structural – steel and structural – aluminium and composite. The company was selected to be a pilot, helping develop the standard, undergoing a ‘trial’ audit in November 2006 and then the audit proper in February. It was an easy decision to become involved in the scheme, as East Bilney Coachworks already had an ISO 9001: 2000 management system in place; had a training programme encompassing City & Guilds, NVQ and manufacturer-certifi ed tuition; and the equipment levels and maintance schedules were already established.“It’s very important for us to have gained PAS 125. It’s not just a question of the kudos, although that is huge and the additional work volumes that it has produced. It is an effective process that helps me to run the business effi ciently on a daily basis.Mark continues, “I believe insurance companies will insist on PAS 125 as a minimum standard.”East Bilney Coachworks opened its doors in 1975 and has grown steadily since

Bristle Discs offerfaster cleaning and longer life3M has added a new, improved performance Bristle Disc to its Roloc™ Bristle Disc range.

Available in the most popular, 50mm size, Roloc Bristle Disc Purple features a new open, spiral type bristle formation that limits the splaying effect, ensuring the action of the bristles is more directional. The bristles also benefi t from a new polymer formulation that makes them stiffer and lasts longer.

Bristle Discs enable the rapid removal of paint, e-coat, sealers, adhesives, coatings and light rust from

3M adds Purple to its Roloc™ Bristle Disc range

a vehicle’s bodywork. The fl exible prongs adapt well to awkward surfaces and there’s no risk of fl ying wires or damage to panel integrity,

Be seen – be safe

Road accidents are the single biggest cause of accidental death among children aged between 5 and 14 years old. Which is why 3M has launched the Be Seen – Be Safe campaign.One aspect of this is a road safety education resource for teachers and parents called

3M Streetwise, developed in association with the Department for Transport and road safety charity Brake.3M has also created a whole range for Scotchlite ™ accessories such as high visibility vests,

stretchbands, snapbands and refl ective strips, all of which can be purchased from the child safety section on the Scotchlite pages: www.3mbeseen.co.uk. Most of these products are dual purpose, for example the vests could be used as sports bibs and the stretchbands can double as

cycle clips.As you might expect from 3M, there are some exciting new products in the pipeline. For example, refl ective covers for cycle spokes are currently on trial in Germany and these have already generated great interest from the police and other cycle users.3M is sponsoring Brake’s Road Safety Week which takes place in November. The theme of this year’s event is the safety of children on foot and bicycles.

For more information on 3M and road safety, go to www.3mstreetwise.co.uk

then. The company operates from the 25,000 sq. ft. premises and has approvals from Bentley, Lotus and the VAG Group, as well as major insurers.East Bilney also paints the Mosler supercars, assembled nearby. These £140,000 carbon fi bre muscle cars are each built to the owner’s specifi cation.“We now have a good mix of vms, specialist work and insurers,” Mark comments.His analytical approach to processes enables Mark to pinpoint wastage in

the bodyshop. “Product effi ciency is very important that’s why we use 3M – it’s unbeatable for consistent quality.”He cites the Paint Preparation System as an example of reducing waste. “PPS was a major milestone for our business. At the end of every process there’s wastage but I look at how this has reduced since using PPS and it’s an amazing difference. I can’t recommend it too highly. If you’re not using it, you should be.”

repairer industries. It does this by staging a combination of live demonstrations, competitions and a seminar programme. A highlight of the 2007 show was the Thatcham/Bodyshop Craft Awards, where young

Grand Prix ticket winnerSteve Cantle had forgotten all about entering the e-mail competition relating to 3M 260L.He read the text, e-mailed back his answers and then got on with his work. “I was really surprised to get the call from 3M and told that I would be going to the British

Grand Prix.”Steve, who is assistant bodyshop manager at Elms Stansted, a BMW main dealer, took his fi ancé with him and says they both had an unforgettable day out.“The Red Arrow display before the race was amazing. We had seats in the Grand Stand and it was completely different from watching the race on TV. Noisier for a start and more diffi cult to track what’s happening as so much is going on.”After the race Steve walked the track and visited the BMW Sava display.

technicians were able to showcase their skills. A team from 3M attended the event, providing live demonstrations of some of the latest product launches including the Sheet & Sander Set, Automix™ plastic repair range and PPS™ Colour Check Light - all attracting a large audience.Fiona Bodell told The Source, “This year’s Triple

Focus was a very successful event for 3M. It has gained in stature over the years and we will defi nitely be there next year to show our latest products.”As part of its support for Triple Focus, 3M donated a Colour Check Light and a goody bag crammed with 3M products to the winner of the Apprentice of the Year competition, Kevin Pullen.

Protect Yourself 3M helps to make the bodyshop a 3M helps to make the bodyshop a safer placesafer placesafer

Ambrosetti (UK) Ltd is recognised as a leading provider of new and used vehicle preparation, specialising in life cycle management for vehicle fl eets. It offers a suite of services including PDI, vehicle commissioning, mechanical and paint rectifi cation and ‘smart’ repair.With two sites located in Kent, both of which have dealer status and direct parts supply from the

PAS 125 – What next?If you want more information about obtaining the Thatcham/BSI Kitemark then take these initial steps:

• For further information go to: www.thatcham.org/kitemark or www.kitemark.com

• Get an application pack from the BSI on 0845 765610 or email: ps.kmservices@bsi-global.com

• Purchase a copy of the PAS 125 leafl et via websites

For help and guidance from 3M, simply complete the enquiry form on the back page.

compared with other coarse removal products such as wire wheels and mule skinners.

manufacturer, the company processes 30,000 units pa on behalf of organisations including Ford, The AA Driving School and Motability Finance. Managing Director, Steve Loats, is proud of the reputation Ambrosetti (UK) Ltd has gained for expertise and customer service. He explains: “This has been achieved with a workforce that is process and quality driven and developed from our comprehensive

training programme which attained an Industry Training award in 2001. The result is a continuity of the skills necessary for quality and volume related business. We take pride in our ability to anticipate, rather than react to the changing demands of operational requirements.”In keeping with this, Steve values the close working relationship he has with 3M and in particular the customer support provided by representative Andrew

Barber. “The excellent level of service together with the quality and performance of 3M bodyshop products, perfectly complements our own business philosophy”

The idea behind Thatcham’s Triple Focus event is to provide visitors with an opportunity of keeping abreast of new products, developments and issues within the vehicle security, motor insurer and vehicle

Taking a stand atTriple Focus

The Auto Body Professionals Club (ABP) will be holding its fi rst Annual Convention on Thursday 18th October at the Heythrop Park Hotel near Chipping Norton.

The Convention, which is open to non-members for the fi rst time, will be followed by the Night of Knights awards presentation and dinner.

Contact: www.abpclub.com

Diary Date

Ambrosetti gets into trainingtraining

When it comes to the complex areas of Occupational Health and Environmental Safety, 3M has a major advantage. Thanks to having over 30 years of experience in providing industries as varied as the chemical, construction and pharmaceutical with personal protective equipment, 3M has considerable experience and knowledge of this specialist subject. As well as a wide range of personal protection products including eyewear, hearing and respiratory protection, there’s even a dedicated health & safety helpline offering technical assistance*.

3M can offer solutions to provide protection against

the majority of bodyshop hazards.

Take the need for protection against isocyanates present in paint mist generated from spraying two-pack paints. The Health and Safety Executive is in the third year of an inspecting and influencing initiative.

Obviously best practice is to wear an air-fed full face mask or visor for the entire time it takes for the booth to clear. But human nature being what it is, some painters may be tempted to lift the visor too early, to inspect the paint finish more clearly, leading to potential exposure to isocyanates which, if inhaled, can lead to the development of occupational asthma. In

fact according to the Health fact according to the Health and Safety Laboratory, and Safety Laboratory, nearly 50% of paint sprayers nearly 50% of paint sprayers lift their visors to inspect lift their visors to inspect the paint job, before the the paint job, before the clearance time is over.clearance time is over.

One solution for this One solution for this problem could be to wear problem could be to wear a 3M Half Mask with a a 3M Half Mask with a Supplied Air System and Supplied Air System and suitable goggles. However, suitable goggles. However, it is necessary to carry out it is necessary to carry out biological monitoring to biological monitoring to make sure this system offers make sure this system offers sufficient protection.sufficient protection.

Isocyanates are just one Isocyanates are just one bodyshop hazard. Another bodyshop hazard. Another problem area identified problem area identified by 3M is that although by 3M is that although operatives are aware they operatives are aware they should be protected from should be protected from dust when sanding, many dust when sanding, many don’t do it properly. The don’t do it properly. The

respirator may offer too low a level of protection for the task at hand; disposables are used too many times and become clogged and misshapen or the respirator is not worn at all times. To help draw attention to this situation, 3M has launched a special promotion, giving away a free disposable respirator with every pack of Hookit II abrasive sheets.

In November, 3M will be launching a range of Health & Safety posters and guides providing information on suitable protection for key applications and a safety directory with details of the 3M product range and advice on the best options for your bodyshop.

*UK 0870 240 4203, Ireland 1 800 509 402

Support for the StandardWhat PAS 125 means to East Bilney Coachworks