Page 37 - Australasian Paint & Panel magazine May-June 2022

WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
MIRAGE SPRAY PAINTERS AND PANELBEATERS, WA
ESTABLISHED 1977
FOUNDED BY Leo & Sev Caratti, now run by next gen Chris and Danielle Caratti.
BEST 5 YEARS Most of the the late ’90s WORST 5 YEARS The recession we had to have (Keating) and the Perth 2010 hail storm.
BIGGEST CHANGES Technology, both in bodywork and painting
BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN NEXT 5 YEARS Keep- ing up with the technology and train- ing requirements, while struggling to get a fair and reasonable rate for the work we do from some of the insurers.
EMU PLAINS SMASH, NSW
ESTABLISHED 1969
FOUNDED BY Darren Hawks, owned by son Peter since 2000
APPRENTICES Over 50
BEST PERIOD The ‘80s
WORST PERIOD: Pandemic
BIGGEST CHANGES Baking ovens
BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS Electric cars
GPI AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS, AUSTRALIA WIDE
FROM TOP:
The Emu Plains team spans three generations. and the original business shop; The original Mirage shop circa 1977 – Google this Porsche and BMW approved shop to see what it looks like today.
ESTABLISHED 1978
FOUNDED BY Colin Edwards, still at the helm at 82.
BEST 5 YEARS Last 5 years. The GPI Group now encompasses five entities, automo- tive refinish, fitness, corporate wear, bi- cycles and abrasives. During this time frame automotive, abrasives and corpo- rate have continued to move ahead, but sales of products associated with health and well-being have reached record sales levels.
WORST 5 YEARS The five years setting up the business.
BIGGEST CHANGES When I started every shop used newspaper for masking. I in- troduced brown paper and then in 1990 created a market for plastic film. The ad- vent of UV product is hugely significant for production.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN NEXT 5 YEARS To get the insurance companies to increase their hourly rate to reflect rising costs. The lack of skilled workers is also at a critical level.
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