“We like to be on the cutting edge of technology,” said John Arnold, second-generation owner of Arnold’s Body Shop, Davenport, Iowa. “And switching to waterborne technology before it is mandated puts us ahead of the curve.” On August 1, Arnold’s will officially start using waterborne products from Sikkens.
    “Sikkens has been using this product in Europe successfully for many years. Switching now seems to be the right thing to do at the right time. A good opportunity to change things up.” 

   Arnold anticipates that the shop’s two Future Cure downdraft paint booths won’t require much in the way of retrofitting to accommodate the new product. Sikkens sent a team to Arnold’s to audit the existing set up to determine what changes will need to be made to accommodate waterborne such as more powerful compressors and fans installed in the booths. Arnold will go to the Sikkens Training facility in Chicago to review the results of the audit.
    At Arnold’s Body Shop, the goal is to make a damaged vehicle visually look and mechanically drive as though the vehicle has never been to the shop. Specializing in collision repair, glass repair and replacement, and detailing, the 27,000 square foot facility can accommodate everything from a minor dent to a major collision-damaged vehicle. The state-of-the-art equipment makes Arnold’s one of the most modern collision centers in the nation.

    The friendly ambiance begins as customers are greeted by shop ambassador Dutch, the labradoodle who serves as a welcome distraction from the often stressful repair process. Arnold’s has four drive-in estimating bays that keep customerscomfortable in volatile, mid-west weather and the friendly reception area has satellite TV, refreshments, a kitchen table, and children’s play area.

Handed down from father to son
Arnold’s reputation of excellent craftsmanship in collision repair didn’t emerge over night. Duayne and Marion Arnold founded Arnold’s in 1969, as a small family-owned business located in Northwest Davenport. Son John joined the business, eventually purchasing it.
.    John Arnold is a 1973 graduate from the University of Iowa with a BA in business administration. His first job after leaving college was with a firm that manufactured cranes and excavators. When it was time for John to move on he decided to join the family business. At the facility founded by his father, he managed to double the size of the business.
    When Duayne Arnold retired in the early ‘90s, John purchased the business and accepted the challenge of building a new facility, while tripling the size of the business. The body shop was actually built larger than necessary so Arnold’s could grow into it. Every year sales volume has increased, according to John.