News Briefs
NATEF assists AFV training programs
In a recent survey, the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) asked teachers and administrators what would help them to achieve ASE certification of their alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) technician training programs. The common answer: Provide the funding and provide some help with the certification process.
In response to survey results, NATEF, under the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Certification of Higher-learning in Alternative Motorfuels Program (CHAMP), is offering AFV technician training programs direct assistance toward ASE certification.
ASE certification is available to entry-level and in-service training providers which offer training for the service and repair of compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, or propane) powered vehicles. Three levels of assistance are currently offered under the program.
For more information, contact NATEF at (703) 713-0100.
I-CAR's new Gold Class requirements
Starting Jan. 1, 1998, businesses must complete 80 percent of their total course unit requirements and employees must complete 40 percent of their course unit requirements for their individual positions or job descriptions to qualify for Gold Class. Other changes in the United States include: businesses will be required to submit payroll records indicating employees' names and social security numbers; the parts manager positions will not be required to obtain Gold Class points; each position in a glass business required to obtain training will only need two points, rather than three; and the program will move to an anniversary renewal policy, meaning that businesses will not be required to renew until one calendar year has passed; previously, all renewals took place in January.
For more information, call I-CAR at (800) 422-7872.
New PPG business development center
PPG Automotive Refinish has opened a new business development center in Naperville, Ill., a southwest suburb of Chicago.
The 7,200 sq. ft. facility will offer a full range of courses tailored to meet the needs of professional refinish technicians, collision center managers and distributor personnel. The new facility features a large classroom and paint shop and will offer technician certification and collision center management and productivity courses.
PPG operates 20 business development centers in North America. In 1996, more than 14,000 collision repair industry professionals attended PPG training courses.
Ford launches NGV campaign
Ford Motor Company recently launched an aggressive, six-city program in Salt Lake City to expand the nation's markets for natural gas vehicles (NGVs). Other focus cities include Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and New York. In each city, Ford will concentrate marketing efforts on how natural gas vehicles can best be used at airports and other locations as taxicabs and shuttle, delivery and service vehicles.
Besides natural gas and methanol, Ford offers AFVs that run on propane, ethanol or electricity. For the 1998 model year, Ford is offering six NGVs - dedicated F-Series pickups, Econoline vans, Crown Victoria sedans and bi-fuel F-Series, Econo-line and Contour sedans.
Dealers grab largest share of foreign service market product growth
Between 1991 and 1996, foreign vehicle share of the car and light truck service aftermarket in the United States soared by more than 60 percent, according to James A. Lang, president of Lang Marketing Resources Inc., a research and consulting firm.
"Over that five-year span, product volume in the foreign vehicle service market increased nearly $7 billion at user-level price," indicated Lang.
"New car dealers captured one-third of the total product increase in the foreign vehicle service market from 1991 to 1996," he said.
"Service stations and garages ranked second in share of foreign vehicle service market growth between 1991 and 1996," stated Lang, accounting for 27.3 percent of this increase. Foreign vehicle repair specialists accounted for 16.2 percent of the growth, specialty repair shops were responsible for 11.1 percent, and all other outlets accounted for 12.3 percent.
DuPont product receives patent
DuPont has received a patent for ValueShade, developed in response to the tricoats, pearls and other glamour effects. The transparent nature of these paint technologies has posed some challenges in auto body shops. In trying to properly cover and match these finishes, painters often resort to a ground coat, a tinted primer or a coat after coat of color.
DuPont research has shown that topcoat hiding is more dependent on the value (lightness or darkness) of an undercoat than its color. As a result of this research, DuPont developed ValueShade, a system based on values of gray which, when used in the undercoat, minimize the amount of topcoat required to achieve full hiding coverage. With difficult colors, the result is normally a two-to-three coat hiding system. What's more, hiding is achieved without any shift in color, which often happens when tinted undercoats are used.
Implementing the new clean air regulations || NACE Coverage || A look back at CARS '97 || Understanding exhaust gas recirculation systems || Is the chemistry right for sectioning repairs || How to work with the media || Show owners critical to success of training programs || Hunting for profit || The training enigma - Part II || Guest Editorial: Dream or Nightmare - Do the Homework || Tech Tips || News Briefs || Taking The Hill || Around ASA || Shop Profile || Net Worth || Chairman's Message
AutoInc. Magazine ®, Vol. XLV No. 11, November 1997