Page 55 - Australasian Paint & Panel magazine Nov-Dec 2021
P. 55
WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.A
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FOUNDED: 2007
SIZE: 1400m2
STAFF: 14
TYPE OF WORK: All
OTHER SERVICES: Windscreen, mechanical, air-con, tyres, PDR
APPROX CARS PER WEEK: 30 OEM BADGES: GM
JUDGE POWELL
A well-presented body shop with good signage and suitably located work areas. Scott has added a new light
tunnel and a triage area to streamline the big hits process.
U
SHOP STATS
are put away immediately, bumper bars are cut up ready for collection (sadly not recycling as no one offers it). There’s an equipment bay tucked out of the way but in easy reach, Spanesi mini-benches and a Car-O-Liner bench rack. The top of the rectangle is used for parts that are ready to be refitted The paintshop is clean and tidy with two drive-thru master booths and a couple of downdraft prep bays.
They were painting the bumpers for the Redbull racing team for the Triple 8 race series when we visited.
Stahult has changed paint companies to Octoral and is very happy with the finish and support as well as the hefty saving on his paint bill.
He’s recently signed a lease to take over two sheds opposite the paintshop. These will be used to thoroughly blue- print the tow-ins, quote them and strip them. Also for refit and PDR bays and this will speed up cycle times.
He has built a light tunnel since we last visited in the covered quoting bay which is especially useful for hail dam- age and quoting. Parts storage is next door and is organised and uncluttered.
Stahult is very matter of fact and mod- est about the shop. Apart from the very chichi customer area it’s very plain but
uber functional. Every area has a sign, all the processes are honed, he just makes it look effortless.
He always has an apprentice on the go – there are two at the moment. Turn- ing out 30 cars a week with five panel techs and two paint techs plus an ap- prentice is pretty productive given the nature of the work.
Stahult started the business just four years after he finished his ap- prenticeship. It’s impressive to see how much it has grown and how confi- dent he is in the future.
TOP LEFT: Panel shop. TOP: Scott Stahlhut. ABOVE: New light tunnel.
JUDGES’ COMMENTS
