Page 81 - Australian Paint & Panel Nov-Dec 2020

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SIZE: 3000m2
STAFF: 23
TYPE OF WORK: All types
CARS PER WEEK: 70-80
OTHER SERVICES: Mechanical, tyres, detailing, windscreen
OEM APPROVALS: Tesla, Subaru
SAM STREET
The business has really come into
its own, it’s always had great potential but now that is realised.
With over 100 cars on site most of the time, two OEM approvals and an eagle eye on which way the industry winds are blowing, the business is looking great.
JUDGE POWELL
This is a state of the art workshop
both in appearance and standard of equipment, catering for a wide
market from the everyday family vehicle to the prestige automobile and also having the capacity and flexibility to handle fleet.
U
The main workshop is beautifully lit with wide work bays. Each technician has one or two bays so they can work on more than one vehicle at a time if they want to. The pulling is at the back of the shop with a Celette system and a new Car-O-Liner, as well as a hoist. On the opposite side is the Junior paint shop. Everything is primed and painted inside the booths which have three prep bays either side of them fitted with dust extraction. The paint crew keep a tidy mixing room which is air condi- tioned. The business is dedicated to bringing on the next generation and has five apprentices with the plan to train their own staff. The couple is pas- sionate about seeing more females to join the industry – last time we visited they had a female panel beater appren- tice but she left to work in a supermar- ket. Still, they’re not giving up.
From the paint shop the fitted up cars move into the next workshop which is visible from the reception and cafe. There’s a wash down area and then the cars go to detail and final inspection and then to the customer handover area – which again is excellently lit which in turns shows off the beautifully treated concrete floors.
The Tesla approval has been great for business with the Drive repairing at least 10 per week. The Tesla customers then hop onto forums and they have had a lot of referrals. With the mix of fleet, private, insurance and OEM work the fu- ture is looking bright for the Manteits.
JUDGES’ COMMENTS
SHOP STATS
FROM TOP: Chris and Angela Manteits. Large workshop with roomy bays. All priming takes place in the booths.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Team Drive.