Paint and Panel: The Edge

In this episode, Sam Street and Grant McHerron talk about Paint & Panel's 2026 Bodyshop Awards with sponsors and former winners. The group includes James Frape, CEO of Compass, Glenn Harvey, Managing Director of Harvey Accident Repairs, Martin Dickinson, General Manager Collision at AMA Group, and Stuart Faid, Chief Commercial Officer with Clear 21. We begin our discussion by reviewing the evoluti...

In this episode, Sam Street travels to the ADAS Solutions Australia headquarters in Brisbane to talk with Adrian Parkes (Founder & Director) and Amy Morgan (Project & Administration Manager ) about their new AirPro Diagnostics & Auggie solutions. We review the launch of AirPro Diagnostics by ADAS Solutions Australia, a remote diagnostic solution designed to address the growing complexity of modern...

In this episode, Sam Street talks with Steve O'Brien, Managing Director of Clear21, about iBodyShop's AI capabilities, including estimation and business intelligence. We begin by exploring the rapid expansion of AI in collision repair, outlining how iBodyShop's virtual estimating platform is transforming the quoting process. We get an insight into how the system uses vehicle images and historical...

In this episode, Sam Street talks with Ash Jardine, Managing Director of Bodyshop Recruitment, about the Plan 4 Profit initiative starting this year. We begin our discussion by reviewing the evolution of Body Shop Recruit. We explore how many repairers lack a clear understanding of their true shop rates, and get an insight into the origins and development of the Plan for Profit calculator, includi...

In this episode, Sam Street talks with Hiliary Bradbury from Australian Collision Industry Alliance (ACIA), Dan Maher from L&M Smash Repairs and Ann McClure from McClure Refinishing about ACIA's successes and challenges. We begin our discussion by getting an overview of ACIA. Why it was founded, the work it has undertaken and the challenges involved with funnelling interested students into apprent...

In this episode, Sam Street talks with Ray McMartin from Sydney Automotive Paint & Equipment (SAPE) about the changes in the industry that he has both seen and driven. Ray bought SAPE back in 1976 and over the years has sourced and bought game changing equipment for the repair community. We begin our discussion by getting an overview of SAPE's history and Ray's career, how the company invested in...

In this episode, Sam Street talks with Susann Kluge, Vice President Business Management Automotive Refinish Coatings Solution Asia Pacific at BASF, about their Glasurit line how the company supports its customers to become more efficient, profitable and importantly to develop sustainable practices. We kick off our discussion by celebrating the 100 years of the scarlet Macaw as the Glasurit logo an...

This episode features a panel discussion that seeks to explain the important topics to consider when it's time to repair your car. For the panel, Sam Street and Grant McHerron are joined by Tracey Richards, Business Manager at Geoff Richards Panel Beating, Glenn O'Donnell, General Manager at North Shore BMW Bodyshop, and James Frape, CEO of Compass Corp. We begin our discussion by reviewing a hypo...

In this episode, Sam Street talks with Steve Leal, President & CEO of Fix Network, to discuss the network's presence and growth in the Australian market. We begin our discussion by comparing similarities between Australia and Canada, followed by a review of the network's efforts to develop a sustainable franchise system for entrepreneurs, and explore the benefits franchisees gain from being part o...

In this episode, Sam Street visits  I - CAR  Australia's training institute in Melbourne and learns about welding and why it is essential that panelbeaters update their welding skills.   We begin our discussion by getting an overview of the need for structural welding skills and the importance of formal training to match new body construction formats. Editor Sam and Trisha Evan from Drive get hand...

In this episode, Sam Street interviews Darrell Jacobs, CEO of the Motor Trade Association of South Australia and Northern Territory, about a number of topics relating to MTA's work and training of apprentices. We start our discussion by reviewing how the closure of the TAFE which taught Trade and Panel resulted in MTA stepping up to fill the training gap in South Australia, teaching both at their...

In this episode, Sam Street interviews James Frape at Compass about their sponsorship of the Bodyshop awards and also Chris & Shari Agnew from Sommerville Smash Repairs about winning in last year's awards. We begin our discussion with James about why Compass has sponsored the Bodyshop awards for the last 10 years, we also get an overview of the categories for this year, with awards for Best Shop,...

In this episode, Sam Street interviews Matt Hobbs, CEO of the Motor Trades Association of Australia, about the Code of Conduct review. We start with getting an understanding of why the Code of Conduct review is being conducted with issues surrounding governance structures, sanctions and penalties, dispute resolutions, and unclear assessment times. Matt shares his experience in what caused delays i...

In this episode, Sam Street interviews Steve O'Brien from iBodyshop about how artificial intelligence can help collision repairers We get an overview of how AI has been revolutionised following the improvement of processing power and increased accessibility to data sets, especially with the use of the cloud. The discussion explores the use of AI to assess the damage on vehicles, whether it should...

On this episode of The Edge, John Hristias, PPG's Sales Director, is back to share how the company is helping body shops tackle rising energy costs while keeping profits in check. He dives into PPG's latest low-energy cure products, including air-dry primers and clears, designed to save power and handle the demands of EV repairs.   John explains how these innovations slash energy use without cutti...

The Essentials of Risk Management in Collision Repair Shops In this episode of The Edge, Ben chats with Dianne Rawlings, the CEO of Risk Management Essentials, about the often-overlooked area of risk management in collision repair shops. Dianne shares her extensive background in risk management and the automotive industry, highlighting the importance of compliance, equipment maintenance, and effec...

This podcast is in the industry legends series with a former friendly rival David Newton-Ross, founder of National Collision Repairer magazine.   Have you ever wondered how there came to be three magazines for the collision repair industry, or about how I-CAR got started in Australia? Find out and much more in this great episode with industry legend David Newton-Ross. His industry stories are an i...

Exploring the Legacy and Innovation at GYS Factory In this podcast episode, the Paint and Panel Magazine Editor visits the GYS factory in Laval, France, and chats with Bruno Bouygues about the rich history and innovative strides of the company.  Established in 1964 by the Stefani family, GYS has evolved from manufacturing transformers to a diversified portfolio including battery chargers, arc weld...

Exploring the Benefits of a Four-Day Work Week Working one day less a week and experiencing better productivity and profit?  Does it sound good, or does it sound like a pipe dream?  Shortening the working week motivates staff to 'get the job done' and seems to reduce 'sick' days.  In this episode, we discuss the shorter working week adopted by various businesses in the collision repair industry. T...

Polish for Profit: Diversifying in your Collision Repair business Join this insightful episode where Matt returns to discuss the lucrative opportunities for collision repair shops to diversify into detailing services. Learn about the most profitable detailing upsells, how to efficiently apply ceramic coatings, and the best practices for setting up a detailing division within your existing business...

Behind the Stars: Understanding Vehicle Safety with ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg In this episode, Ben welcomes Carla to discuss her journey with ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program), celebrating its 30 years of leading vehicle safety. Carla shares her diverse background and explains how ANCAP operates in an independent, non-regulatory space to set benchmarks for vehicle safety.  The evolutio...

Restoring Legends: The Art of Hot Rods with Andy Minnis Join us in a captivating podcast episode with Andy Minas, an iconic figure in the Australian hot rod and custom car scene. Recorded in a fifty's diner, Andy shares his journey from tinkering with cars in the 60s to running the premier indoor hot rod and custom car event in Australia. Learn about his early influences, apprentice years, and the...

From Salvaging Parts to Leading an Industry: An Interview with Capricorn's CEO In this interview on 'The Edge,' Ben speaks with David Fraser, Capricorn's Group Chief Executive Officer and a prominent figure in the automotive industry, about his career journey and his role at Capricorn.  David shares his background, growing up in South Australia, helping in his father's recycling business, and his...

From Panel Beating to Pioneering: Richard Nathan's Journey in the Collision Repair Industry Join us as we sit down with industry legend Richard Nathan of Nathan's Truck Repairs. Richard shares his extensive journey in the collision repair industry, starting from his unexpected entry into panel beating in 1954 to his contributions to major industry advancements. We explore his role in the formation...

Shaping Tomorrow: Dr. Gavin Lind on Workforce Skills in the Automotive industry In this episode, Ben is joined by Gavin, the CEO of the Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance, to discuss the evolution and future of skills development in the mining and automotive industries.  Gavin shares his extensive background in mining engineering and policy and explains the strategic thinking behind the combina...