As a Mercedes Benz Certified Collision Repair Center, specific training and equipment upgrades are required.

 “It has cost $260,000 to meet the equipment requirements for Mercedes Benz,” Val said. “We have all the Mercedes equipment and our technicians stay current with all the Mercedes Benz training.”

 Fourteen journeyman collision technician’s do the body, frame and structural repair. Eight Celette benches are a mainstay at Raintree. This shop owns all the fixtures for a Mercedes Benz structural repair.

 The technicians are trained and have the equipment recommended by Mercedes-Benz. This equipment is built to repair automobiles that are designed with new materials such as aluminum, boron, magnesium and soon, carbon fiber.

 Resistance welders, specific tools for steel versus aluminum and boron kits are required to repair Mercedes Benz. Rivet extractors, rivet guns and more bonding and riveting tools are required, as well. Air bag replacements are done in house and 4-wheel alignment is sublet.

Trained technicians

 Employee training is as extensive as the equipment at Raintree.

 “Until recently our technicians were trained at the Mercedes Benz training school in California,” Paul added. “Starting this year they will go to school in Houston, Texas.”

 Schumacher Mercedes in North Scottsdale has a longstanding relationship with Val and they trust him with their valued customers.

 Lead technician Jeffrey Hollenbeck is passionate about repairing Mercedes Benz cars. This is evident from the laptop on his toolbox, open and logged on to the Mercedes Benz website. Hollenbeck references the site to identify materials and proper repair procedures.

 “Jeff is a gifted technician,” General Manager Paul Val said. “He lives and breathes Mercedes Benz.”

 Hollenbeck is one of only a handful of technicians working in independent facilities that are certified to repair the Mercedes CL series.

 “I get phone calls from all around the country asking questions about CL repairs,” Hollenbeck said. The CL in his stall is an aluminum body. He is repairing it in his aluminum clean room.  His enthusiasm for the technology and repair methodologies is evident.

 “I have done so much aluminum that is almost easier than metal,” he said with a smile. He is a craftsman of the first degree.