As the collision industry gathers in Seattle for the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) meetings this April, the Collision Repair Education Foundation will be hosting a high school and college collision career fair for local students on Thursday, April 21st. The event will be taking place in the Double Tree Seattle SEA-TAC Airport Hotel, which is […]
Scharpwinkel Named Head of BASF Refinish Coatings in Europe
Dr. Katja Scharpwinkel took over the position as head of the Automotive Refinish Coatings Solutions Europe business unit at BASF’s Coatings division in Münster effective February 1. She succeeds Harald Pflanzl, who was appointed head of the BASF Group’s Central Europe unit in Vienna effective the same date. Scharpwinkel has held various positions throughout her […]
Mississippi Bills Seek to Limit Collision Repair Labor Rates
Pair of bills before the Mississippi Legislature seek to cap labor rates to national average. Automotive Service Association opposes legislation. Two bills were introduced last week in the Mississippi legislature that would, if passed, limit the labor rates charged by collision repairers in the state. Mississippi Senate Bill 2187 (SB2187), introduced by Senator Videt Carmichael, […]
Suncorp Acquires LKQ Stake in ACM Parts
Suncorp Group announced it has acquired full ownership of the ACM Parts joint venture after purchasing that stake owned by LKQ Corporation (NASDAQ:LKQ), Suncorp’s partner in the joint venture. Originally announced in August 2013, the ACM Parts joint venture brought together the US-based non-OEM and recycled parts supplier with Australia’s largest insurer to establish an […]
Leslie Hess Appointed Interim Director of Arizona Department of Insurance
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has appointed Leslie Hess as the Interim Director of the state’s Department of Insurance. Hess has worked in the insurance and financial services industries, both the private and public sector, for over 25 years. Hess was with the Department of Insurance for 12 years as deputy receiver and legal advisor. She […]
AkzoNobel Announces 2016 Distributor Council
AkzoNobel’s Vehicle Refinishes announced the members of its 2016 Distributor Council. The Distributor Council of Vehicle Refinishes spans the company’s thirty year history in North America. Over this period of time Vehicle Refinishes has looked to advisory bodies drawn from its distribution network to assist AkzoNobel in establishing frameworks for our business practices as well […]
Moseley Appointed Executive Director of NAB and VBRA
The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) in the United Kingdom has announced the appointment of Jason Moseley as Executive Director with the responsibility for the National Association of Bodyshops (NAB) and the Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association (VBRA). Moseley will provide strategic direction and input to NAB and VBRA, leveraging an improved set of innovative […]
Michigan House Passes Bill Amending Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Act
Legislation updates 1974 law. Includes amendment to proposed certified non-OEM parts requirement. Michigan House Bill 4344 (HB4344), that proposes an extensive update of the state’s Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Act, was passed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday by a vote of 84-22. The bill, supported by the Automotive Service Association of Michigan […]
Virginia Legislature Passes Photo Appraisal Bills
The ability to use photographs and videos to prepare auto insurance appraisals of physical damage is one step closer in Virginia as both House and Senate pass companion bills. Both the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate passed companion bills allowing the use of photos in auto physical damage appraisals. Virginia House Bill 870 was […]
Uni-Select Reports Growth in Paint Sales
Parent of FinishMaster reports growth in refinish sales for both the fourth quarter and full year. Uni-Select Inc. the distributor automotive refinish and industrial paint and related products across North America, as well as in the automotive aftermarket parts business in Canada, reported financial results with increased EBITDA margins for the fourth quarter ended December […]