SUPERIOR REFINISHES

HAVING RECENTLY INVESTED IN A TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED INFRA-RED ROBOT SPRAY BOOTH FOR SUPERIOR REFINISHES, MEC'S REFINISHING MANAGER, ANTHONY RICE, EXPLAINS THE MACHINE IS ONLY ONE OF TWO IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

"The system is great to work with as it improves the paint gloss, colour match and durability. How the finish looks years down the track is just as important to us as the day of the repair", says Anthony. "Benefits to both ourselves and the customer are enormous: overspraying is limited, the transfer efficiency is high and waste is minimised. One of the biggest advantages of the robot machine is drying time - it only takes eight minutes for a vehicle to dry. This is key in reducing our turnaround time back to the customer."

MEC uses PPG paints - their colour library in Australia has more than 190,000 formulas for colours of cars just in Australian and New Zealand regions. Globally PPG estimates their international colour libraries store a combined one million colours across 40 different product lines. "All staff in the refinishing division have undergone extensive PPG training, enabling MEC to deliver the best refinishing services available", says Anthony.

Whether the cars in the workshop are imports or locally manufactured, by the time a new model is in the showroom, MEC already has the colour available and ready to go. And there is a lifetime warranty on the paint.

THE REPAIR
EXPERTS

GONE ARE THE DAYS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO REPAIR A VEHICLE BACK TO ITS PRE-COLLISION CONDITION. DUE TO TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN BOTH VEHICLE MANUFACTURE AND AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR, TECHNICIANS NEED TO BE HIGHLY SKILLED IN THE AREA, ENSURING COMPLETE AND FLAWLESS WORK.

MEC's Repair Workshop Manager, Dean Maturo said that because each actual collision is unique, it is treated accordingly.

"The team at MEC really is expert in working with insurance organisations to consistently and efficiently deliver only the highest quality repair possible", says Dean. "Simplified, the repair process starts with analysing the damage, preparation of a detailed estimate, outlining repair requirements: sometimes this will be repairing damaged panels and parts, or if necessary, replacing them with new ones; plus structural repair, corrosion protection, steel and aluminium welding, matching the vehicle's paint finish and checking safety features."

"When cars are being repaired, MEC use a laser beam measurement machine to ensure the panels are within recommended manufacturer tolerances, which is generaly between one and three millimetres", says Dean.

Once repairs are complete, the vehicle is sanded and primed in preparation for painting.