Hamilton & Palmer Coachworks switches to Permahyd® Hi-TEC
Hamilton & Palmer Coachworks (HPC), a 20,000 ft bodyshop facility in south east London, made the switch to the new generation Spies Hecker waterborne basecoat, Permahyd® Hi-TEC, in October 2012 and it is already seeing the benefits.
Since opening its doors in 1991, HPC has prided itself on the prestige service it offers, which is reflected in the numerous official manufacturer approvals it has received. These include, Mercedes Benz, Jaguar Land Rover and Audi VW Group and HPC often has Ferraris, Rolls Royce and Aston Martins lining the indoor car park – some of them even shipped over from the continent.
Colin Plumb, HPC general manager, says, “when I joined HPC a year ago, the industry was as competitive and challenging as ever. We constantly look at ways we could offer vehicle owners a prestige service to ensure their loyalty. We go that extra mile for them, with airport collection and drop off, a concierge service and a highly-secure indoor car park – and it really makes the difference. Add to that the close relationship we have with our long-standing distributor, Body and Paint, and our highly-efficient paint supplier, Spies Hecker who we have been working with since 2005, and it means we are a force to be reckoned with.”
The choice of Spies Hecker was an easy one for HPC; prestige cars need a prestigious paint. HPC’s recent switch to Spies Hecker’s newest generation waterborne basecoat, Permahyd® Hi-TEC, was the natural next step; HPC was immediately convinced by Permahyd® Hi-TEC.
Colin says, “the switch only took a day – it was really easy. Our head painter went to The Refinish Academy in Stevenage to work with Spies Hecker technicians and train for a day, and then two Spies Hecker technicians came to us for a week to provide hands-on training, specific to us, for the other five refinishers and to answer any questions that cropped up. The personal service we received from them was first-class and made the transition completely seamless.”
In the first six weeks HPC noticed the difference Permahyd® Hi-TEC has made. Colin says, “our throughput has noticeably increased, the finish is superior and the colour matching is second-to-none – even on the more difficult repairs. Training is vital though. Refinishers must follow the guidelines set by Spies Hecker in order to get the best out of the Permahyd® Hi-TEC system. If the steps aren’t followed, or shortcuts are taken, then repairs won’t be perfect. My advice to any bodyshop thinking of using Permahyd® Hi-TEC is this: follow the training and the switch to Permahyd® Hi-TEC could be one of the best business decisions you make.”
Dan Hartland, Spies Hecker brand marketing coordinator, UK and Ireland, says, “Colin has hit the nail on the head. Permahyd® Hi-TEC is a fantastic product but it is imperative refinishers have the correct training to maximise its benefits. We are delighted that HPC, such a forwarded thinking and dynamic bodyshop, is reaping the benefits of Permahyd® Hi-TEC after such a short period of time.”