Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/597384
WeatherTechCanada.indd 1 15-07-22 10:07 AM Battery Service Battery Service Horizontal_PR.indd 1 2015-09-30 9:14 AM Battery Service Battery Service Coupon Horizontal_PR.indd 1 2015-09-30 9:18 AM courtesy kavia auto body w i n t e r 2 0 1 5 | w e s t w o r l d 45 "It's something that people are somewhat afraid of, but there's nothing there to be wor- ried about – we have the technology to repair that. ere are also high-strength steels and boron, for example. We're seeing a lot of differ- ent metals in these vehicles, and we have to be able to identify those and repair those cor- rectly as per the manufacturer's specifications." Kavia moved to his current location in downtown Saskatoon in 2007 but is now planning a move to a new, state-of-the-art 22,000-square-foot facility a few blocks away. e space will allow him to install a dedicated welding stall for aluminum frames and an area to do SGI estimates on site, and update prep stations. It was only a few years ago that he made another investment in facilities for water-based painting and drying systems. If there is a drop-off in local competitors, he says, it will be because of these types of upgrading costs. "The investment in new equipment is extremely large. Paint booths average $150,000 apiece once you account for all that goes into them; resistance welders are $30,000. You've got to have computer programs, etc., and some of the smaller shops are finding it difficult to keep up with the changes." He says it's an industry where if you're not changing and innovating and getting ready for the next level, you'll find yourself in trouble. "And . . . there's only a limited amount of collision work out there. In fact, it has been shrinking. Technological advancement in vehicles, things like lane departure warnings and distance sensors, are all making it a lot safer for the driver. So collisions are going to decline, but at the same time it becomes more expensive to repair vehicles, so the insurance companies will be writing off more of them . . . all of these factors compound the challenges in our business." W Capital Ford Lincoln and Kavia Auto Body are two of the many CAA Approved Auto Repair Service (AARS) providers. caask.ca/aars More variety in vehicle frame composition requires new repair technology.