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9th September 2006

SMARTAIR - A SMART MOVE FOR MOTOR RETAIL GROUP

Since installing Junair’s new Smartair at-source extraction system in the group’s Bodyshop less than six months ago, a major UK automotive retailer is generating thousands of pounds of extra revenue each month on smaller and smart repairs.

With VW dealerships in Newbury, Reading and Wantage, Audi dealerships in Oxford and Newbury and a Skoda dealership in Kidlington, the Ridgeway Group operates a highly successful and growing dealer network in the south of England.

A family-owned business, the company provides the full range of services including sales, service and parts, and runs a busy body repair operation, based at the group’s PDI Centre in Newbury. As well as its own mobile smart repairs service, the company is experiencing a substantial increase in the volume of cosmetic repairs and refinishing undertaken at its Newbury Bodyshop.

Within the past six months throughput of this type of work has increased substantially and today seven operatives are carrying out smaller and smart repairs on up to 60 vehicles every week.

The ability to carry out this type of work in sharply increasing numbers is due in no small measure to Ridgeway’s decision in March 2006 to invest in the new Smartair at-source extraction system developed by Junair. As Ridgeway’s Group Bodyshop Manager, Simon Nash, explains: “The introduction of Smartair has been a revelation. The system provides a fully compliant environment for a combination of priming work and smaller or smart repairs. We’ve found it also works well for refinishing quarter panels and, in some instances, full wings on medium size cars. The result is that much of the work we previously had to do in the spraybooth oven can now be handled legally and very efficiently by Smartair. Amongst other things, this frees-up the booth for a greater number of larger, higher value jobs. Spraybooth throughput is up significantly and delays due to spraybooth bottlenecks have been cut to a minimum.

“With two extraction towers and one Smartair workstation in dedicated bays, we are able to handle far more smaller and smart repairs. So much so that just one operative is generating revenues in excess of £5,000 a month solely on this type of work.

“Although we’ve not been able to quantify it yet, we know that Smartair is also helping us to reduce our costs on spraybooth-related materials and equipment, and make significant energy-savings by taking smaller jobs out of the booth.”

Smartair, which has an International patent pending, features a unique hood and masking design. The masking is quickly and easily folded over the hood, creating an enclosure. When the extraction system is switched on, air is funnelled into the open aperture of Smartair, creating a positive flow of air into the Smartair hood. This captures and disperses paint overspray and fumes, protecting the working environment.

Ideally suited to medium area (750mm x 500mm) priming, base coat and clear coat applications as well as smart repairs, Smartair fully meets the requirements of the emissions regulations set out in the Environmental Protection Act and fully complies with relevant Health & Safety directives.

As well as opening up new profit potential within franchised dealerships like Ridgeway Audi, Smartair is attracting serious interest from independent bodyshops, de-fleet centres and smart repairers alike.

The Ridgeway Group has also invested in Smartair’s sister product, Wheelsmart, which is specifically designed for refinishing alloy wheels outside of the spraybooth in full compliance with legislation. Simon Nash sees excellent retail sales potential with both systems. “Without doubt there is a real opportunity for retail sales in the smart repair and alloy wheel refurbishment sector, and these products provide the perfect platform to build a substantial additional revenue stream for businesses like ours.”