John Norris, of www.ciia.com , and host of the 10:30 a.m. two-hour conference/seminar, believes that the seminar's special guests will provide profitable and significant information to assist shop owners in tough economic times. "The goal is to provide an impetus to change this industry and to look at working together for a better industry" said Mr. Norris. "These two-hours may be the most important two hours this year for shop owners to understand the ways of meeting today's challenges."

Guests include: 

Alex Cavadias, Chemical Sectors Division, Environment Canada

First in a series of presentations,  learn about the  proposed regulations  to reduce VOC emissions from  c oatings and  surface cleaners.  Environment Canada will outline their  proposed regulations and their interest in industry feedback.  Get an idea of how the regulations may impact your refinish operations.

Discussions will follow on next steps to move forward as an industry.

Seating is limited. Time is tight. There is no cost to this seminar or most other seminars being held this weekend, however you must register with CarFixWORLD for the show online at : http://www.carfixworld.com/en/attendee/registration.asp

Pricing for  2 three-day event tickets is $35.00.

(Please note: NATA and www.ciia.com  affiliate members discount pricing is 2 tickets for $25.00.  Contact 1-866-309-4272 or: http://www.ciia.com/newsletters/cfxworldnata241special.pdf

For more information on this important seminar call 1-866-309-4272 or info@ciia.com
(see headlines)

AADCO To Buy Dominion Auto Recycling Inc.

(BRAMPTON, ON) - Sept. 22 /CNW/ - AADCO Automotive Inc. has entered into a letter of intent providing for the purchase of Jorama Holdings Inc. of Stoney Creek Ontario, according to a press release issued today.

Jorama Holdings Inc. owns and operates Dominion Auto Recycling Inc., which has been a leading provider in the Golden Horseshoe Area for over 60 years with recycled auto parts and rebuilder vehicles. The purchase price will be comprised of cash, vendor-take-back financing and stock. The transaction is expected to close on or about November 15, 2006, and will be subject to regulatory approval.

Mr. Benjy Katz, the owner of Jorama Holdings and the operator of Dominion Auto Recycling Inc., will continue to run that business as a wholly owned subsidiary of AADCO Automotive Inc. As Chief Operating Officer of yard operations for AADCO Automotive Inc., he will also oversee the operations at AADCO Vehicle Disposal Services Inc.

"The purchase of Dominion Auto Recycling Inc. is just the first step in AADCO's corporate strategy to become the dominant national provider of LKQ (used) and aftermarket parts serving the automotive repair industry. The combined companies will have approximately $15 million in annual revenue initially, be profitable, with positive cash flows further strengthened by effective use of historic tax losses," said Charles Hodgkinson, President and CEO of AADCO Automotive Inc. "We are partnering with an established, long-standing business, with exceptional management talent in Benjy Katz, who shares our vision of the marketplace opportunities."

Added Mr. Katz, "this is a unique opportunity to build upon the foundations that my family has laid over the past three generations. Through this consolidation not only will we be able to serve our customers better as they become multipoint operators, but we will be able to generate superior operating efficiencies and a broader operating scale. We believe the synergies will have a substantial impact on our corporate bottom line both in the short and long term, and bring a multitude of growth opportunities for us to advantage."
(see headlines)

I-CAR Training Approved for CEU Credit in Ontario

(HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL) - September 19, 2006 - I-CAR Live training programs have been approved for continuing education unit (CEU) credit in Ontario by the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO). RIBO is the self-regulatory body for insurance brokers in Ontario established in 1981.The following I-CAR Live training programs have been approved along with their designated amount of CEU technical credit:

Aluminum Panels and Structures Damage Analysis (DAM05)
- 3 hours
Corrosion Protection (CPS01) - 3 hours
Customer Relations and Collision Repair (CUS01) - 6 hours
Frontal Impact Analysis (DAM02) - 3 hours
Fundamentals of Collision Repair (FCR01) - 3 hours ·
Hazardous Materials, Personnel Safety, and Refinish Safety (WKR01) - 3 hours·
Mechanical Systems Analysis (DAM03) - 3 hours
Restraints, Interior, Glass Side and Rear Impact Analysis (DAM04) - 3 hours·
Steering and Suspension Damage Analysis (DAM06) - 3 hours
Vehicle Identification, Estimating Systems, and Terminology (DAM01) - 3 hours

To search for the above I-CAR training programs in Ontario, visit the CEU specific page on the I-CAR web site at www.i-car.com. For additional information about RIBO, visit www.ribo.com.
(see headlines)

Maaco welcomed industry guests to its dazzling, pristine training centre and new head office during the official opening celebration in mid-September. The new facility in Milton, ON, will have several functions, says Gary Dohring, president of Maaco Systems Canada Inc., the franchising organization for Maaco collision repair and autobody painting shops in Canada. One function is to serve as a showpiece for Maaco's corporate identity. "We needed a place that people could come to and say Wow!," Dohring explains.

The facility is also equipped with training rooms and a bodyshop geared toward training purposes. One wall of the Garmat paint booth is equipped with a window for students to observe the painter.

"Franchisees will send their best people here," says Dohring. "They can be exposed to the Maaco system in a controlled environment."

In addition, for national fleet accounts, the first paint job, which serves as a model for all others, will be performed at the training centre. The process will be filmed and distributed to franchisees on DVD, to ensure process and product consistency across the country.

Dohring feels the combination of training in a classroom setting and setting a standard procedure for national accounts will enhance consistency across the brand.

While Maaco is still strong in fleet accounts, the company has also emphasized cosmetic collision repairs in the last few years. Dohring noted that since Maaco founder Tony Martino introduced the "Cosmollision" concept in 2001, same store sales have risen an average of 40%. Maaco defines cosmollision as the cosmetic and collision repair of damaged but driveable cars for customers paying out of their own pocket.

(courtesy of Bodyshopbiz.com)

(see headlines)

NATA Canada Salutes Volvo Cars of Canada Corp.

NATA Canada representatives Dale Finch and Rene Young recently met with Michel St-Hilaire, Vice President, Customer Service of Volvo Cars of Canada Corp. to discuss Canadian aftermarket access to Volvo's technical information web site and service tools. Mr. St-Hilaire expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of working more closely with the Canadian aftermarket through NATA Canada citing that, "We all have the same goal - looking after the customer."

Recognizing that Volvo owners in all parts of Canada have a choice in where and how to fulfill their vehicle's the service and repair needs, Mr. St-Hilaire embraces a spirit of cooperation with the independent automotive repair and collision repair industries and pledged his support for NATA Canada's Vehicle Information and Service Tool Access (VISTA) initiative.

Volvo Cars of North America LLC maintains a technical information web site, located at www.volvotechinfo.com where a variety of subscription types and durations can be purchased at reasonable prices for 1994 to present year models. It was reported earlier that this site did not accept registrations from Canada , but Mr. St-Hilaire assured NATA Canada that the site is, in fact, open to Canadians and will remain so.

NATA Canada would like to congratulate Mr. St-Hilaire and Volvo Cars of Canada Corp. for cooperating with the Canadian aftermarket automotive industry to ensure that Volvo owners will continue to enjoy the freedom of choice and level of service they have in the past.

------------------------------------------------------------------NATA is a federally chartered 58-year old organization, with current representation on the Board of the Canadian Automotive Repair and Service Council (CARS), along with the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (CVMA), the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada (AIAMC), the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) and the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA). The National Automotive Trades Association of Canada currently represents:

Automotive Retailers Association of British Columbia (ARA)

Automotive Service and Repair Association of Alberta (ASRA)

Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers ( SAAR )

Automotive Trades Association of Manitoba (ATA)

Hamilton district Autobody Repair Association (HARA)

Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario (AARO)

Collision Repair Association of Nova Scotia (CRANS) (see headlines)

CAREER DAY FOR MOTIVE POWER IS AROUND THE CORNER!

This is a free admission great opportunity for young people and unemployed. Call 1-866-309-4272 for more information.

Toyota Canada Inc. has just announced that the school with the highest number of students attending Career Day will win a Lexus for their school lab!!

From recycling and glass replacement to collision repair and motor vehicle mechanic- a wide range of employment opportunities are highlighted.

With Alex and Quinton (Q) from PIMP MY RIDE, the pit stop challenge tire change, over 100 exhibitors and dozens of career presentations to assist students with apprenticeship and job placement opportunities, Career Day Forum at CarFixWORLD will be the largest motive power career show in Canada.

On Friday September 29, 2006 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Direct Energy Centre (formerly the National Trade Centre) at Exhibition Place, Toronto will feature Employment Interview Alley (with online employment postings available), and prizes to be won like a trip for two to the Grey Cup in Winnipeg. Racecar driver D.J. Kennington and his Castrol CASCAR racer are at the show, along with presentations from industry shop owners explaining how to get a job in their shops. Canada Skills Ontario and CARS Council representatives, apprenticeship, OYAP, CITIMotive training and community college speakers are there all day.

Unemployed young people can register at the Job Connect booth and talk to exhibitors about incentives and grants that can reduce the cost for an employer in hiring. The young Canadian winners of Canada Skills tech competitions will be explaining their trades.

Don't miss the hourly air bag detonations and the detailing demonstration. Schools can also win a shipment of auto parts for their school's use and a package of educational software for their lab's computer from Mitchell International.

Please see the enclosed event agenda and flyer. Admission is free to schools!!

Just call us at 1-866-309-4272 and let us know when to expect your students or your bus.

Career Day Forum-the largest motive power employment and apprenticeship opportunities show in Canada . Don't miss out on the value to you and your students.

Career Day Schedule (Adobe Acrobat document)

(see headlines)

Pair caught with toxic load

Good Samaritan pens in van till police arrive

Courtesy of The Hamilton Spectator, Daniel Nolan

A citizen is being credited with catching two young men red-handed as they dumped 16 oil drums of waste in a secluded field near Valens yesterday.

The rented U-Haul used by the two men, believed to be in their 20s, was blocked in the field just before noon , by the good Samaritan, when he saw them hastily pushing the drums out of the back of the van.

He then called police.

The citizen has told Hamilton police and the Ministry of Environment he does not want to be publicly identified.

The two young men, who were taken away from the scene in a cruiser, but who were later released, are from Oakville .

A 77-year-old neighbour, who declined to give his name, rolled up to the scene in his tractor after getting a call from the resident blocking in the van. One other neighbour came over.

He said the two young men offered no resistance once they realized they were penned in, and police were on their way.

"We told them they'd have to lift their barrels back into the van, but they were too heavy," said the man.

Ministry officials and workers from Team 1 Environmental Services were on the scene at Regional Road 97 and Lennon Road later in the day, determining what was in the drums.

The two men were attempting to abandon the drums on Hamilton city land -- the field is part of an unopened road allowance for Lennon Road . It is between Valens and Freelton, near the Beverly Swamp .

Nine drums had been pushed out of the van before they were caught. One drum was marked "Boat grease," another said "Water, oil, waste coolant" and a third said "Dirty coolant water, oil."

Mitch Gibbs, manager of emergency services for Team 1, said testing determined 12 of the drums contained oil, two had paint, one had grease and one had solvent.

He believes the drums were dumped by "what we call a ma and pa autobody shop," which did not want to pay the few thousand dollars it might cost to dispose of the material properly. The two young men might have been paid $500 to do the job, he said.

Tina Davies, a senior environmental officer in the ministry's Hamilton office, said the dumping was obviously not the way the drums and their contents should be disposed of.

Team 1, hired by the ministry, took the drums away last night.

"I'm glad to see they were caught and they were stopped." said Davies. "The impact was minimized by them being caught. It could have impacted water. It would have been a lot more expensive to clean up."

Davies said it's likely the ministry's investigation and enforcement branch will be notified of the dumping.

Both Davies and Gibbs said its uncommon to catch people illegally dumping waste.

"It's very unusual," said Gibbs. "It's normally out at night or something like that, and the city foreman or the patrol people will discover it. It's unusual to catch someone in the act of doing it."

He said illegal dumping, however, is common throughout the city's rural areas.

"It's cheap waste management," added Gibbs. "We've had cleanups in the city where drums are dumped right in the middle of the road."

(see headlines)

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS FOR COLLISION REPAIR SEMINAR

Called "the most important two hours this year for collision repairers"

The Collision Industry Information and Assistance ( www.ciia.com ) has released the names of the special guests that will be speaking at the Saturday morning collision repair seminar at CarFixWORLD at the Direct Energy Centre ( formerly National Trades Centre), Exhibition Place, Toronto.

John Norris, of www.ciia.com , and host of the 10:30 a.m. two-hour conference/seminar, believes that the guests will provide profitable and significant information to assist shop owners in tough economic times. " The goal is to provide an impetus to change this industry and to look at working together for a better industry" said Mr. Norris. "This two-hours may be the most important two hours this year for shops owners to understand the ways of meeting today's challenges."

Announced guest speakers include:

Alex Cavadias, Chemical Sectors Division, Environment Canada

Alex Szabo Collision Industry Standards Council of Ontario (CISCO)

Stephanie Lewis, InsuranceHotline.com

Mary-Beth Kellenberger, Sr. Consulting Analyst, Frost & Sullivan

Discussions will follow on next steps to move forward as an industry.

Seating is limited. Time is tight. There is no cost to this seminar or most other seminars being held this weekend, however you must register with CarFixWORLD for the show online at : http://www.carfixworld.com/en/attendee/registration.asp

Publisher's special pricing for members is 2 three-day event tickets for $35.00.

(Please note: NATA affilate members discount pricing is 2 tickets for $25.00.  Contact 1-866-309-4272 or view here )

For more information on this seminar call 1-866-309-4272 or info@ciia.com

(see headlines)

A CAREER DAY FIRST--ONLINE EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS

For the first time ever for a motive power event in Canada, students interested in employment in the industry can e-mail their resumes to employers at Interview Alley, at NATA-sponsored CarFixWORLD Career Day, and arrange to have a discussion on employment with many business owners, chains and banner shop representatives in attendance.

Interview Alley is only one area of student interest at the Direct Energy Centre (formerly National Trade Centre), Exhibition Place, Toronto.

On Friday September 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., thousands of students, unemployed young people and apprentices and their teachers can attend any of the 34 free student seminars, visit over 100 exhibitors, and greet celebrities like Alex and Quinton from MTV's PIMP MY RIDE. Pit Stop Challenge, CASCAR racecar and student vehicles including a SAE Formula racer, solar cars and a dragster are all scheduled to be at Career Day at CarFixWORLD. Centennial College features air bag demos every hour and Canada Skills student winners will speak with the young people.

The school with the most students attending will win a free Lexus, courtesy of Toyota Canada for their school lab.

Students can forward their resumes at:
http://www.carfixworld.com/en/careerday/resumes_intro.asp

Get more information on Career Day at www.carfixworld.com or call 1-866-309-4272 or info@ciia.com for your buisiness to participate in Interview Alley.

(see headlines)

Interview Alley, on-line resumes and employment subsidies all at Career Day
August 15, 2006

Thousands of young people and students are expected to arrive from schools and employment agencies for Career Day Forum at CarFixWORLD on Friday September 29.

The National Trade Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto is the location for seminars, presentations, activities, and hands-on demonstrations, like air bags. CASCAR racer D.J. Kennington and MTV TV’s PIMP MY RIDE stars Alex and Quinton (Q) will speak with students and fans. Many government and help agencies are at Career Day to showcase programs, incentives and credits that can be used to offset new hire costs. Community colleges, CARS Council and Canada Skills-Ontario are in attendance as well as guest student National Competition winners and over 60 industry exhibitors.

Career Day is the best possible time for employers in the service and repair industries to talk with the most eager and interested potential future employees and apprentices.

“If you are a shop owner or manager and know that you will need motivated, valuable apprentices soon, then this is the date and place to come” says John Norris, one of the Career Day organizers. “Students can send in their resumes online to www.carfixworld.com at Career Day and CarFixWORLD is offering a special admission for employers at Career Day Forum who want to interview prospective staff.”

Schools and students also win at Career Day. The school with the most students attending will receive a Lexus for their school’s lab courtesy of Toyota Canada. Other schools receive up to $5000 of auto parts with special prizes and offers from Mitchell International.

Students can win a trip for two to the Grey Cup in Winnipeg courtesy of Castrol.

To register to interview students and find out about hiring incentives and credits for apprentices, please call 1-866-309-4272 or info@ciia.com

To register for the CarFixWORLD Saturday and Sunday industry events, seminars and exhibits, please see www.carfixworld.com

(see headlines)

is now offering WHMIS Training for your auto service or collision repair business

DON’T RISK A MINISTRY LABOUR OFFENSE ORDER
If your WHMIS Training is not up to date, please make arrangements to attend this session

Location: 606 Rennie Street, Hamilton

Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Cost: $50.00 (GST included), per person

Outline: MSDS, warning symbols, diesel exhaust, batteries and isocyanates.

Included: Handbook and certificate upon successful completion

Pre-registration and payment is mandatory. If you wish to attend, please contact 1-866-309-4272

SPONSORED BY PIPELINE AUTOMOTIVE & HARA (see headlines)

After five consecutive years of losing market share to dealerships, aftermarket service providers have stabilized their share of service occasions, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Canadian Customer Commitment Index Study.

Over this time period, dealerships have steadily increased their share of the service market, hitting a high point in 2005 at 45% -up from 40% in 2002. In 2006, dealerships lost one percentage point of service share to aftermarket brands, creating a 44%/56% mix between dealers and aftermarket providers. Each percentage point of share translates into almost $90 million in service revenue annually for dealerships in Canada.

Customer satisfaction has improved for the industry as a whole by 8 index points-the largest recorded increase since the study was redesigned in 2003. The service station channel shows the strongest improvement, increasing 17 points from 2005, followed by tire specialists with an 11-point gain.

Fountain Tire ranks highest in overall customer satisfaction amongst automotive service provider brands. Autopro and Petro-Canada Certigard follow Fountain Tire in the rankings.

"While Fountain Tire's relationships with customers often begin with a tire purchase, in many cases, it eventually becomes the facility the customer goes to for all service activity. In fact, customers report that more than 60% of the service activity performed at Fountain Tire has been non-tire work," said Rohan Lobo, senior manager of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates in Toronto.

The study, now in its ninth year, measures the service satisfaction and loyalty of owners of 2- to 12-year-old vehicles. Overall satisfaction and loyalty with the service provider is determined by examining five key factors: appointment/check-in, service advisor, work quality, after service and customer orientation.
(see headlines)

In a major show of support for the collision repair industry accreditation program, senior Ontario government staff met with CISCO supporters to offer suggestions on next steps.

CISCO, The Collision Industry Standards Council of Ontario Inc., is the group representing the collision repair, autobody and auto refinish industry in Ontario, in moving forward with an accreditation program of facilities to assist consumers.

A number of senior staff from the Ministry of Government Services, Consumer Protection Branch, including Assistant Deputy Minister Rob Dowler, met with a room full of CISCO supporters who came with answers to previous government questions on the program.

CISCO's efforts are based on requesting the government to move ahead and proclaim the already passed, Collision Repair Standards Act of 2002, that would set the stage for industry accreditation.

Mr. Dowler congratulated CISCO on the wide range of support that they had obtained and offered recommendations on what the staff needed next in order to implement a self-managed program.

Alex Szabo, President of CISCO, thanked the many supporters for their strong effort in continuing to help CISCO. At the meeting offering their encouragement to the government were representatives from:

Ontario Automobile Dealers Association and Toronto association
Consumers Council of Canada
Canadian Automobile Association
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Hamilton district Autobody Repair Association and www.ciia.com

Included in a package presented to the Ministry were letters of support from:

Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council
Canadian Collision Industry Forum
Insurance Bureau of Canada

"This wide-range of support will help the industry identify to government how important it is to move forward with mandatory shop accreditation and self-management to provide a level-playing field for industry and better consumer protection. Government is certainly eager to look at underground operations and abuse issues." said Mr. Szabo.

For more information on CISCO , please see: http://www.ciia.com/provinces/ontario/cisco.html

(see headlines)

CarFixWORLD Career Day highlights Alex and “Q” from MTV’s PIMP MY RIDE!!
Win a free Lexus vehicle for your school courtesy of Toyota Canada!!

With almost three thousand student attendees already scheduled to come to Career Day Forum, three months before the event takes place, organizer John Norris of the National Automotive Trades Association (NATA), predicts that Career Day Forum at CarFixWORLD will be huge success. This free event takes place at the National Trades Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto on Friday September 29, 2006 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

With special promotions like seeing the free spray booth that will be given away, or knowing that one student will win two tickets with airfare to Winnipeg’s Grey Cup football classic, it is certain to interest students. The school that brings the most student attendees wins a free Lexus vehicle courtesy of Toyota Canada. Other prizes for schools include up to $5000 worth of auto parts and free estimating software.

The jam-packed day includes presentations from guest speakers on apprenticeship, Job connect, grants and employment incentive programs. The young apprentices that won the National Technological Skills competition at the Canada Skills Olympics this year will be updating the student audience on their experiences and urging young people to look at automotive service as a good career choice with a great future.

Over 60 automotive service suppliers and manufacturers are in attendee and apprenticeship services, college advisors and job placement staff are in attendance.

CARS Council speakers, Canada Skills Ontario and car manufacturers will have presentations on how to become an apprentice in any auto repair trade.

Online interviews and in-person discussion will be featured in Interview Alley, where young people can talk to interested employers in 6-minute interviews to move them into automotive apprenticeship careers.

You can join Centennial College and watch air bag detonations, meet race driver D. J. Kennington and the Castrol CASCAR race car and participate in the Pit Stop Challenge.

Solar cars, race vehicles and students working on project cars are featured. Participate in the live interview (or just get their autographs) from Alex and Quinton “Q”, from MTV’s hit show, PIMP MY RIDE, or test your skills in the car detailing competition.

A bus subsidy for schools is still hoped to be announced soon and a noon-hour teacher luncheon is being discussed.

For more information, to register your school for this exciting day or if you are interested in helping or interviewing, please call 1-866-309-4272 or info@ciia.com

Several business-oriented speakers of interest to the collision repair sector are have signed on to share their knowledge at CarFixWORLD, the dynamic one-stop shopping industry event for the Canadian automotive service and collision industry taking place Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 in Toronto.

Friday, Sept. 29, is primarily reserved for students and apprentice activity; Saturday and Sunday, September 30 and October 1, are filled with prominent experts from every aspect of the automotive aftermarket. Three important areas - the Studio Stage, the Service Shop and the Seminar Station -- have a steady fare of high profile experts and prominent
personalities addressing every subject area, from the business of the aftermarket to the latest technical innovations to the most glamorous aspects of top-rated automotive TV shows.

On Saturday, Dennis DesRosiers, Canada's leading automotive authority, will present "Ten Significant Trends the Aftermarket Needs To Respond To" as the event's keynote address.

Beverlie Cook - from Skills Canada explains some of the incentives that the federal government offers to businesses that employ apprentices. She reveals that you can earn money from the Canadian Government just by hiring an apprentice.

Jay Perry, CEO of Automotive Business Consultants, is well known in the collision industry for small business solutions and strategy. He will explain his formula of productivity + efficiency+ recruitment = profit as a model for enhancing business profitability.

Mary-Beth Kellenberger, a senior consultant industry analyst for the transportation industry discusses how vehicle design will impact the repair industry as well as the importance of technician training and growth of peripheral persons.

As well, I-CAR Canada will review "Automotive Technology Trends in the Collision Industry".

Attendees can also expect guest appearances by Alex and Quinton "Q" from "Pimp My Ride", Castrol Dodge CASCAR contender DJ Kennington, Courtney Hansen, the host of Spike TV's Power Block, plus contests and challenges, customized cars and new equipment demos in scores of booths.

CarFixWORLD takes place September 29 - October 1, 2006 in the Direct Energy Centre (formerly known as the National Trade Centre) at Toronto's Exhibition Place. Further information, including how to register, can be found at carfixworld.com.

(see headlines)

RS Finishing Systems Inc. has stepped up to the plate with a strong incentive for attendees of CarFix WORLD. The company is donating an Ausen spray booth (27 ft. x 13 ft.), valued at more than $50,000, as a prize to the collision attendees. Bodyshop magazine is working with CarFixWORLD and RS Finishing Systems to showcase this valuable prize.

As well, Wakefield Canada, the country's marketer and distributor of Castrol lubricants, has taken an aggressive position at the CarFixWORLD event. The Castrol brand is prominent at the Grey Cup, so as major sponsor, Wakefield is offering tickets and airfare to the 2006 Grey Cup to be held in Winnipeg.

"We anticipate these two prizes will create a lot of interest in the event and underline that this is now the aftermarket show in Canada," comments Carol Bell-LeNoury, the show's manager.

In addition to the Wakefield/Castrol and RS Finishing commitments, several other major automotive aftermarket companies have contracted to take part in CarFixWORLD this past week. Dominion Sure Seal, Snap-On Tools, FMSI Automotive, Mitchell International, Ingersol-Rand Canada Inc., AMH Canada, SATA and The John Bean Company have all signed on as exhibitors.

CarFixWORLD is gaining momentum quickly this month, adds Bell-LeNoury. "With top notch presentations, a rapidly growing slate of first tier exhibitors and now these exciting grand prizes from Castrol and RS Finishing, this is now quite an exceptional event."

CarFixWORLD takes place from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 at the National Trade Centre, Toronto. For more information, visit www.carfixworld.com.

(see headlines)

Several significant players in the Canadian aftermarket and collision industry have signed on for CarFixWORLD, the automotive industry exhibition taking place September 29 to October 1, 2006 at Toronto's National Trade Centre.

The exhibitor commitment continues to grow and an early survey of potential show visitors indicates attendance will exceed initial expectations, according to John McLean, the event's manager.

Exhibitors who have signed on include Carcone's Auto Recycling, Cars Systems Inc., Chicago Pneumatic Tool, Citation, Delphi, Dominion Sure Seal, Fleetchek.com, Global Finishing Solutions, Gojo Industries Inc., Henkel, Hofmann, Inov8, Matco, Transport Canada, RS Finishing Systems Inc. and Thermofluid Technologies.

CarFixWORLD also conducted an email survey to trade publication readers in both the repair and collision sectors. Nearly 1,000 replies were received. The survey indicated consistent enthusiasm for the "one big show" concept from all sectors of the aftermarket community.

Survey respondents indicated an enthusiasm for the show to focus seminars on product training, business management, technology/equipment, tools and recruitment. "This speaks to our extensive schedule of seminars and special presentations at the show.

CarFixWORLD will set a new benchmark for the industry," noted McLean.

Check www.carfixworld.com for more information.

(see headlines)