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Midwestern News
Local news stories affecting the auto body industry in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
ABRA Auto Body & Glass Enters Indiana Market
ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a leading national vehicle repair company, announced the opening of its 42nd franchise repair center and the first in the state of Indiana.
The new ABRA repair center is located on the site of McGonigal Buick GMC Cadillac at 1220 East Blvd. in Kokomo, Indiana about an hour north of Indianapolis.
The move is part of the company’s overall plan to accelerate growth in the months and years ahead and increases the total number of ABRA repair centers to 124 in 13 states.
Michigan Drivers to See Fee Increase
Beginning July 1, drivers in Michigan will start paying a little more to support the state entity funding the no-fault coverage system there.
The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) oversees the fund that reimburses insurers for claims exceeding $500,000. Claims in the state can run relatively higher than most states because of no-fault laws there that allow policyholders lifetime medical coverage for crash-related expenses, a one-of-a-kind system used by no other state in the U.S.
The MCCA fee is charged per-vehicle to insurers, but policyholders generally pay for that in the form of higher premiums.
The MCCA fee will increase $30, from $145 to $175. It was $143 in 2010, $125 in 2009, and $104 in 2008
Car Tech Collision reopening in Green, OH, after February fire
The Beacon Journal has reported that Car Tech Collision, closed since flames burned through the building it shares with another company, has relocated to 727 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Road in Green and will hold a grand reopening party for its customers from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the new location.
The business, along with All American Box & Supply, was damaged in a $2 million fire in its former location at 2984 Chenoweth Drive on Feb. 14.
The fire started in a truck inside All-American Box & Supply, Green fire officials said.
Jason Rettberg, owner of Car Tech Collision, said it has been hectic since the fire as he and employees cleaned up the old space and as he arranged for the relocation to the new space for the four-year-old business.
All American Box has relocated to 708 Killian Road in Coventry Township.
Rettberg said the morning of the fire, he and other workers were able to get five customer cars out of the shop in time so that they were not damaged by smoke and water and falling debris from the blaze. No one was hurt in the fire.
Enterprise Rent-a-Car will also be located in the building with Car Tech, Rettberg said.
Car Tech employs seven people, including Rettberg. The shop phone number remains 330-644-6400.
Fire Destroys Chicago Body Shop
An extra-alarm fire destroyed an auto body shop in the Southwest Side’s Archer Heights neighborhood.
As CBS 2’s Kris Habermehl reports, the fire broke out late Sunday night in the auto repair shop on the east side of the 5000 block of South Western Avenue.
to read more go HERE
Cameras roll as gunman opens fire on Detroit auto body shop
Moe Fawaz describes what happened Monday morning when gunfire suddenly pierced the air of his auto body shop in Detroit. “Everyone was screaming and running for their lives, basically. It’s like being in a war zone,” he said.
to read more go HERE
Andy's Auto Body in Alton, IL, Gets Involved
Andy's Auto Body is working on a food drive for Community Hope Center and preparing for its annual golf tourney to benefit 5As. The Andy's Auto Body Golf Tourney For 5As is set for Saturday, Aug. 4, at Rolling Hills Golf Course in ...
to read more go HERE
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Sterling opens 7th Location in Chicago area, 63rd shop location
Sterling Autobody Centers officially opened a new shop location in Lincolnwood, IL, its 7th store in the Chicago area on May 14. The new, state-of-the art, 33,000-square-foot facility has 18 technicians and front office staff and is located at 7080 N. McCormick Blvd. in Lincolnwood, IL. The company now operates a total of 63 collision repair facilities throughout 16 U.S. states.
Nick Notte, president of Sterling, said the company closed certain shop locations in 2011 that didn’t fit its business model. Shifting resources from those locations allowed Sterling to open the new facility.
“Our new Lincolnwood facility is strategically placed to provide customers with industry-leading service in a very customer friendly environment,” said Nick Notte, president of Sterling Autobody Centers. “We continually monitor the needs of our customers, and last year we closed a couple of stores that just didn’t fit our model. Shifting resources from those stores allowed us to open the Lincolnwood facility in record time.”
Sterling acquired the pre-existing building and renovated both the interior and exterior, creating a cleaner, brighter and more attractive structure. Included is a new, more customer-friendly office design featuring improved lighting, warmer tones, and retail-like conveniences like free Wi-Fi and a beverage station. Many of the building elements remain, and new materials were carefully reviewed for environmental impact.
The new location includes an environmentally-friendly downdraft paint booth and dual paint prep station, utilizing 98-percent efficient air filters that meet and exceed air quality requirements. The new booth provides for the use of waterborne paints, which reduces the amount of solvent vapors in the environment.
Detroit Transmission Shop Owner is found in Detroit fire
Metro Detroit hot-rod enthusiast Kenny Moore was ready to cruise after putting the finishing touches on his '66 Cadillac convertible.
"He had just finished up and was looking forward to riding around in it in the summer," said Dion Vaughn, 33, owner of Auto Images Collision, the repair shop next door to Moore's transmission shop.
But now relatives and friends are mourning the death of the 56-year-old Southfield man, who was fatally shot after disappearing on a test drive Friday from his transmission shop on Detroit's east side. Police say robbery could have been a motive in the slaying.
to read more go HERE
Masters School of Autobody Management
Masters School of Autobody Management's will hold a one-day class:
The Nuts and Bolts of Sales and Estimating
June 22, 2012
Galesburg, Ill.
$595
This one-day class focuses on two things: maintaining a reliable system to receive cars to write estimates and build your bottom line while maintaining relationships with insurance companies. Using the Masters Forgettables, you will earn your tuition back with the first day of estimates.