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Chief University, the trusted training arm of Chief Automotive Technologies, introduced a new Design Based Repair course for collision repair technicians and estimators at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show this year.

“Design based repair” means following OEM repair procedures to efficiently, economically and properly return a collision-damaged vehicle to its original design specifications. As vehicle manufacturers continue to develop new designs incorporating a wide range of advanced materials, it is essential that technicians repairing those vehicles after a collision thoroughly understand the diverse metals, fibers and plastics used, as well as the processes for reforming, reshaping and replacing them.

“Change is occurring at a staggering rate within the automotive industry as manufacturers engineer solutions to meet federal mandates for improved crash survivability and increased fuel economy,” says Richard Perry, Chief training manager. “What was once a common misalignment may no longer be an obvious repair. In modern vehicles, collision damage may be transmitted to areas that previously would have been unaffected in a similar accident. Technicians who haven’t been trained to look for this damage can easily miss it, resulting in supplements and longer repair cycle times. As a leader in collision repair training, Chief is dedicated to providing education and training on how to best return damaged vehicles to pre-accident condition through design based repair techniques.”

The Chief University Design Based Repair course teaches a systematic approach to damage analysis that accurately reveals the structural, steering and suspension damage present in a vehicle, as well as procedures for correcting that damage. Because accurate vehicle height, length and width measurements are critical to a quality repair that meets OE design specifications, computerized measuring is also covered.

Technicians attending the two-day Design Based Repair course will:
•Become familiar with advanced steels and other sophisticated materials currently used in vehicle design.
•Understand how these materials are used and the repair methods they require.
•Understand the strategic placement of these materials in a vehicle’s structural design.
•Understand the principles of collision theory and how they apply to newer vehicles.
•Learn a systematic approach to structural damage analysis.
•Learn to measure collision damage and verify visual inspection findings.
•Participate in hands-on repair methods.

Chief University’s Design Based Repair course combines classroom training with hands-on demonstrations and practice. It is led by professional certified instructors in training facilities across North America. A $655 registration fee includes comprehensive training materials and a certificate of completion.

Chief University offers courses for collision repair technicians, estimators and insurance appraisers. Most are approved for I-CAR points through the I-CAR Industry Training Alliance program. Chief training also has been certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) for compliance with the Continuing Automotive Service Education (CASE) Standards. Additional Chief training topics include: Computerized Measuring Training, Full Frame Analysis & Repair Planning, Unitized Body Analysis & Repair Planning, Advanced Steering & Suspension, Advanced Frame Analysis, and Structural Damage Analysis.

Design Based Repair will be offered twice in December and numerous times throughout 2011. To register, visit www.chiefautomotive.com or call customer service at (800) 445-9262.

About Chief Automotive Technologies

Chief Automotive Technologies, a Vehicle Service Group (VSG) brand, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of high-quality collision repair products and services, including frame-pulling equipment, vehicle anchoring systems, computerized measuring systems, and vehicle frame specifications. Chief is also a leading provider of comprehensive training on structural analysis, computerized measuring, collision theory and repair.

VSG comprises eight major collision repair and vehicle lifting brands: Chief™ Automotive, Rotary Lift®, Forward® Lift, Direct-Lift®, Hanmecson®, Revolution® Lift, Blitz® and nogra®. Based in Madison, Ind., VSG has operations worldwide, including ISO 9001-certified manufacturing facilities on three continents. VSG is part of the Industrial Products segment of Dover Corporation (NYSE: DOV), a multi-billion dollar, global producer of innovative equipment, specialty systems and value-added services.

Chief Automotive Technologies introduces the EZ Liner™ Express collision repair system, a compact, in-bay solution for the majority of collision repair jobs, affordably priced at less than $10,000.

“Traditional frame racks are large, expensive and absolutely necessary to correctly return vehicles with major collision damage back to pre-accident condition,” says Mike Cranfill, Chief vice president of collision. “But when a shop relies on a single rack to repair all frame damage, bottlenecks can occur, slowing cycle times and reducing profitability. Since not all collision repair jobs require a full-size rack, installing the smaller EZ Liner Express in a few bays frees up the big rack for major jobs, while at the same time improving bay productivity and profitability.”

With a constant five tons of power at the hook and lifting capacity up to 5,500 lbs, the EZ Liner Express is a versatile pulling system for reversing light hits, as well as an all-purpose service lift/workstation for improving bay ergonomics and productivity on other collision repair tasks, including dismantling, sanding and painting.

The EZ Liner Express comes complete with Chief clamps, anchors and tower. The pivoting tower attaches to the deck in 10 different locations to create a true 360-degree repair system. Its unique telescopic design means the tower can be retracted or extended in just seconds, as needed. The EZ Liner Express has a minimum footprint of just 14 feet by 17 feet, so it can fit comfortably in small, narrow bays and provide more workspace for the technician.

The EZ Liner Express is compatible with all Chief computerized measuring systems, including the Vector™, Velocity™ and VelocityMAX, which feature Chief’s exclusive vehicle measurement data.

For more information about the EZ Liner Express collision repair system, contact your local Chief distributor, call 877-644-1044 or visit www.chiefautomotive.com.

About Chief Automotive Technologies

Chief Automotive Technologies, a Vehicle Service Group (VSG) brand, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of high-quality collision repair products and services, including frame-pulling equipment, vehicle anchoring systems, computerized measuring systems, and vehicle frame specifications. Chief is also a leading provider of comprehensive training on structural analysis, computerized measuring, collision theory and repair.

VSG comprises eight major collision repair and vehicle lifting brands: Chief™ Automotive, Rotary Lift®, Forward® Lift, Direct-Lift®, Hanmecson®, Revolution® Lift, Blitz® and nogra®. Based in Madison, Ind., VSG has operations worldwide, including ISO 9001-certified manufacturing facilities on three continents. VSG is part of the Industrial Products segment of Dover Corporation (NYSE: DOV), a multi-billion dollar, global producer of innovative equipment, specialty systems and value-added services.

Matrix System Automotive Finishes, a leader in aftermarket paint products, won the New Product Showcase in the Individuality category at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) for its Salt Eraser.

Last week Matrix System arrived at the AAPEX Show for the first time ever and won an award in the Individuality category. This included products that enhance the appearance of a vehicle or the appearance of specific components on a vehicle, such as chemicals, paints, decals, waxes and lights. Salt Eraser was featured as an innovative new product and was prominently showcased for all buyers to see.

Salt Eraser is a revolutionary new product that removes stubborn salt stains from any fabric quickly and effortlessly – without scrubbing. It penetrates the fiber deeply and breaks up and evaporates the salt within minutes of application. Salt Eraser safely eliminates salt from floor mats, carpets, rugs, and runners. It cleans, freshens, and revitalizes complete car interiors without any odor.

Salt Eraser is an ideal solution in the salt states located in New England, Middle Atlantic, and Mid-West areas of the United States. Additionally, this product is great for many home and business applications such as: cloth seats, rugs, carpet, shoes, and pants. Just spray…salt stains disappear.

“The advantage of Salt Eraser is its unique formulation has been designed to specifically to remove salt stains from carpet and fabric and outperforms general interior and fabric cleaners,” says Jim Caporuscio, director of business development. “It also provides consumers in the Snow Belt states with a fast, simple, colorless and odorless cleaning solution to remove crusty winter salt to restore their vehicles interior, and retailers with stores in Snow Belt markets an excellent seasonal sales opportunity to increase their car care and general cleaning sales.”

About Matrix System
Matrix System Automotive Finishes, subsidiary of Quest Specialty Coatings, is one of the industry’s most successful manufacturers of high quality color, clearcoats, primers, hardeners, and reducers. With an excellent product line, Matrix System has been able to convince body shops once loyal to a particular brand to convert and experience huge cost savings. Today, the AccuShade® Intermix System now leads the product line, giving body shops the ability to make over 98,000 colors with exact formulas and 2.1 VOC compliant products for California and other areas. For more information please visit www.matrixsystem.com.

Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes, the makers of Planet Color® Custom Finishes, has teamed with two of the most impressive names in the custom and performance automotive markets by introducing the Limited Edition 2010 and 2011 Barrett-Jackson® ROUSH® Ford Mustangs – soon to be available to the most discerning of muscle car enthusiasts.

Just 25 units (total!) of these high-performance coupes will be built with special Barrett-Jackson approved touches; and each is customizable to the buyer’s request.

“The only thing faster than this muscular Barrett-Jackson ROUSH Mustang was its bidding across the auction block,” said Craig Jackson, chairman/CEO of Barrett-Jackson, as the first performance Mustang was completed and auctioned at Barrett-Jackson’s recent Las Vegas auto auction event. “With the R2300 ROUSHcharger, forged internal components and a resonator exhaust, this is one good-looking Mustang that really moves.”

It Starts with the Finish
The Barrett-Jackson ROUSH Mustang package starts with a special smoking hot Planet Color® Barrett-Jackson® Collector Color Series paint. An impressive 25 Barrett-Jackson color options will be available, allowing buyers to select both a unique exterior shade and a custom stripe package to truly make a Barrett-Jackson ROUSH Mustang one of their own.

“Barrett-Jackson and ROUSH have elevated these Mustangs from performance symbols to performance legends,” explained Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “The special touches and the rich Planet Color paint scheme on these limited edition models will undoubtedly make them collectors’ items the day they roll out of ROUSH’s assembly facility.”

These mustangs include an extensive front, rear and side body kit, 20” chrome alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance Cooper RS3 tires and a lowered suspension. The few proud owners of these vehicles will be looking at one of the meanest and freshest interpretations of the Mustang they’ll ever find.

According to motorsport legend Jack Roush, “The 2010 Barrett-Jackson ROUSH Mustang ties two leading automotive brands together in an amazing package combining performance and unique styling.  People who drive a regular production model ROUSH Mustang are used to getting plenty of second looks, but with the custom Barrett-Jackson paint in the gorgeous colors, these owners will experience envy on an entirely new level.”

What’s Under the Hood?
Starting with the R2300 performance V8, the cars feature custom intake manifolds, intercoolers and radiators, cold air induction, a thoroughly revised fuel system, an upgrade clutch and a lot more—enough to crank up the power to a rock-solid 540hp and a stump-pulling 510 ft/lb of torque.

That’s a nearly 230 pony improvement over a stock Mustang GT. This will be a one-year-only engine as the 2011 car will feature the new 5.0 Liter “Coyote” engine. Thus, each model year car will be truly unique from a drive train perspective.

ROUSH’s high performance shop also came up with a custom interior package and plenty of unique appearances, including leather and black suede, featuring a contrasting red Barrett-Jackson logo.  The interior also gets an individually-painted serial badge identifying the 1-25 sequence numbers.

And if you pop the hood, owners will find a serialized Barrett-Jackson badge parked not far from the ROUSH plaque signed by the actual engine builder.

“We wanted to give customers the opportunity to enjoy the collectability of a very limited edition series of performance cars but still be able to customize it,” added Davis. “By teaming with ROUSH and Sherwin-Williams, we have merged both to give serious enthusiasts literally the best of both worlds.”

“In developing the custom colors utilized on these limited ROUSH Performance  Mustangs, Barrett-Jackson provided us with valuable information on re-styled vehicle colors from today’s top custom-car restorers,” said Adam Chafe, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Vice President, Marketing. “Subsequently, the same vibrant colors, including Red Hot Chili Pepper, Cobalt Blue and Yellow Jacket, will now be available for all automotive enthusiasts in our Planet Color Barrett-Jackson Collector Color Series.”

For more information about Planet Color or Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes, go to www.sherwin-automotive.com/ or call 1-800-SWULTRA (1-800-798-5872).