Sometimes considered difficult to run or a plain old hassle, body shops aren’t standard at all service facilities. Yet, when managed properly and staffed adequately, this additional service area can earn its keep and provide additional profits.
Body shop equipment is varied and wide ranging, encompassing everything from frame straightening devices to paint spray booths and the offerings keep growing. For example, some repair facilities now are including alignment systems in body shops in order to control the entire collision repair process.
Because of the breadth of equipment, it’s important to make informed purchasing choices when selecting products. In the course of your product research, talk to a variety of manufacturers as well as their customers to get a good idea what a particular piece of equipment is all about.
Keep in mind, though, that while a certain paint booth may be a perfect fit for one shop, it might be impractical for yours, or vice versa.
The following products are just a small sampling of available equipment you may want to consider when equipping a body shop.
Heavy-Duty Power Rack (Figure 1)
The Hunter RKHD heavy-duty power rack includes long approach ramps and redesigned rub rail system to create more clearance and accommodate lower and longer vehicles.
The standard product configuration is 24″ in height and includes a turnplate section, four runway sections and a pop-up ramp per side. The product also can be installed in shallow-pit configurations of 24″ or 30″ depths.
The rack’s truss system provides a 20,000 lb. per axle capacity and each leg bolts directly to the bay floor. The turnplate sections are recessed to accept optional turnplates and include adjustable front wheel stops to provide clearance during service operations. Runway sections are 33″ in width for safe drive-on and off, said the company. The product also features pop-up ramps with automatic back wheel stops and locks for safety.
Hunter Engineering Compay
Air Makeup Unit (Figure 2)
Col-Met designed its ATR EZ Heat and Cure air makeup unit to deliver conditioned and filtered heated air evenly throughout a paint booth. The unit minimizes temperature variations and removes particulates from the air that can damage the quality of a finish, according to the company.
Using 1.5 million Btu burners, the motorized auto gas control delivers a consistent burn for evenly heated airflow into the booth. With self-adjusting profile and inlet dampers, the product modulates airflow as it passes over the burners, regulating air pressure and fuel consumption, said the company. The product also has safety and comfort features designed for operator benefit.
Col-Met Spray Booths
High Capacity Spray Booths
Global Finishing Solutions’ line of high capacity spray booths are designed with flexibility in order to meet the needs of a variety of shop layouts.
The booths are constructed with insulated dual skin, pre-coated or galvanized panels. The structural components range from 11 to 14 gauge steel and all equipment installation is completed by certified technicians, according to the company.
The booths come in multiple width and length combinations that allow for expansions from 24′ to unlimited lengths. They also have four types of air flow systems: Downdraft, side-downdraft exhaust, pressurized crossdraft and crossdraft. They can be configured as drive-through or solid back, split-cabin or a combination.
Global Finishing Solutions
Frame Straightening Equipment (Figure 3)
Josam provides line frame straightening equipment designed to align trucks, tractors, trailers, buses, motor homes, construction and material handling equipment.
The products are manufactured in an aluminum alloy that makes them lightweight, strong and easy to handle, said the company. The anchoring grid to which the tools attach is flush with the shop floor.
The frame rack can be custom designed to fit any size vehicle or situation and when not in use, it becomes a working bay for general repairs.
The lack of ramps or runways facilitate the loading of damaged equipment into the shop, said the company.
Josam
