“It set them apart from everybody else,” he said.
As part of a performance group Christian belongs to through the company’s paint manufacturer, he toured other shops and noticed they used the Spanesi Touch. After testing it, he realized how quick and easy it was to set up and do the measurements.
“That really interested me,” he said. At the 2019 SEMA Show, the team looked at frame equipment and priced out a Multi-Bench and a Touch Measuring System. While attending a team bonding experience, Christian discovered they had won the Spanesi Touch as part of an SCRS contest the equipment provider was holding. In 2022, the shop won the contest again and received a Spanesi Q5.2 welder.
Christian was impressed with Spanesi’s 360-Degree Concept, which includes all equipment needed to outfit a body shop for a complete repair. This consists of a spray booth, measuring system, pulling benches, welders, vacuums and sanders.
With the addition of a second shop, Christian worked with Tim Morgan, Spanesi Americas’ COO, and the Spanesi team to lay out the shop most effectively. Morgan visited multiple times to ensure everything was set up correctly and working properly.
Since then, the shop purchased an additional Spanesi Touch, six Multi-Benches, a double and single spray booth and a welder for the new location.
Christian said the equipment has provided the business versatility, which has helped with shop flow and efficiency so vehicles are delivered on time.
“Spanesi equipment is state-of-the-art,” he said. “The Multi-Benches are very versatile, the spray booths are large, utilize a side load track system and full glass doors, have excellent lighting and airflow is as good as it gets. The mix room was custom-built with full glass windows, tiled floor and cabinets. It is a painter’s dream to work with this equipment.”
Christian is impressed with the training and support his team has received. In addition to Spanesi’s in-shop training, technicians travel to Chicago, IL, for classes.
Having modern, up-to-date equipment has helped when hiring new technicians.
“Any technician who comes in and sees the equipment wants to work here,” said Christian. “We’ve never had such a high volume of employees to pick from just by having the Spanesi equipment.”
Christian said many shops have been repairing vehicles the same way for 30 years and don’t realize the importance of staying current with the changes on cars.
“We always hear about ‘industry standard,’” he said. “We want to set the bar and show the industry what the standard should be.”
A key element is researching OEM repair procedures and having dependable equipment, such as Spanesi's.
Spanesi Americas Inc.
224-SPANESI (224-772-6374)
www.spanesi.us
Facebook: @spanesiamericas
Twitter: @spanesiamericas
Instagram: @spanesiamericas
LinkedIn: @spanesi-americas
YouTube: @spanesiamericas_official
To read more auto body shop profiles from the October 2023 Shop and Product Showcase, click here.
Abby Andrews