Aluminum, remember the word. An attempt to make automobiles safer and lighter, with increased economic efficiencies, may prove to be the biggest nightmare to date in the lives of collision repairers. "Aluminum comes with its own set of standards and guidelines" according to Rhody Hayes, aluminum repair expert, "and the techniques in repairing this material will be critical to the structural integrity of the vehicle.  

"It is a brand new game - highly technical - and our industry needs to be made aware of the procedures before big mistakes start happening", Hayes continued. "Vehicles are already on the road and involved in collisions, without the basic knowledge of repair techniques in the hands of the repairers.

Aluminum repair will be only one of several new technologies on display when Collision Concepts, the SCRS sponsored Trade Show and Convention, opens its doors April 6-8 in Minneapolis.

New frame measuring technology

"Accuracy, Innovation, Technology... remember these words," says Bob Olson, president of Chassis Liner, who is excited about introducing an extremely accurate breakthrough in electronic measuring at Collision Concepts. . "We have developed a state of the art precision instrument utilizing a combination of new technologies developed in other industries. Attendees will be amazed at the accuracy and efficiency of the system."

National Industry Issues Forum

Sulkala

On the Monday (April 5) prior to the trade show, SCRS will be inviting shop owners and managers to join together and discuss current issues. The event, being billed as the "National Industry Issues Forum " (NIIF), will be hosted by SCRS and moderated by industry leader Chuck Sulkala.

Sulkala, a past chairman of SCRS, is well aware of the need for such a gathering. "The industry needs to have a place where the shop owners can get by themselves and discuss their issues. The National Industry Issues Forum presents the opportunity for discussion without interference from outside entities such as insurers and vendors (making it different from CIC which includes participants from the entire industry).

In addition to the National Industry Issues Forum, the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) will be held starting the afternoon of April 5 and continuing on the morning of April 6.

Vendor seminars and the trade show will begin Friday afternoon and continue through Saturday afternoon. ICAR will also be offering a class on Saturday morning.