Rapid City continues to grow while having one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. A lower workforce pool and higher demand for services means industry and business owners continue to look for solutions. Mike Devine, owner of J & J Truck and Auto Body, is familiar with the labor struggles the industry faces. But continually seeking ways to improve efficiency, precision, and profitability for the business is also on his mind. This led Devine to partner with PPG Industries and Auto Body Specialties to bring in a new piece of technology.
The PPG MoonWalk®, an advanced automated paint mixing system, has emerged as a game-changer for collision shops. The machine automates the process of mixing Envirobase®, High Performance Coatings, a line of paint from PPG.
Significant Advantages
One of the standout features of the MoonWalk® is its ability to eliminate waste and mess. Traditional paint mixing often results in material overuse and spills, costing shops time and money.
Precision is essential in the automotive painting process, as slight variations in color or application can lead to costly rework. When returning a vehicle to its owner, the color match must be perfect. The MoonWalk® system automates the paint mixing process with precision and accuracy greater than if mixed by a human hand. Tim Maedche, territory manager with PPG details, “accuracy in mixed color is to a 100th of a gram”. Additional benefits of saved time and a clean workspace allow technicians to focus on critical tasks, generating faster turnaround times.
The automated mixing system delivers significant advantages in material waste reduction, process automation, accuracy, and revenue generation.
This was one of the reasons Devine decided to install MoonWalk®. The second, Devine explained, “would be the efficiency to let our painters prep other cars while the paint was being mixed so they were more productive. We were able to get more work done. In this industry it is really hard, in our area, to get employees. It acts almost as an employee itself which is very helpful.”
J & J Truck and Auto Body is the first collision center to install this autonomous technology in western South Dakota. The team understands it is operating in an industry where skilled labor is in high demand. Maedche reemphasized that, “the innovative technology that Moonwalk brings to the industry is like adding a qualified technician to the team.”
Workplace Culture
The benefits offered by the MoonWalk® can play a crucial role in a region where job postings for automotive technicians are at an all-time high. It can provide a work environment that promotes job satisfaction and allows employees to focus on the tasks they enjoy most.
This advantage of the system maximizes a painter’s talents. Automotive painting is an art, and skilled painters take pride in their craft. However, when they are slowed down by repetitive tasks, such as mixing paints manually, it can limit their ability to focus on the more creative and technical aspects of their job.
When asked about being able to remove the task of paint mixing, Jeremiah Gnehm, paint technician at J & J emphasized, “It kind of drives you crazy trying to get the right amount of drops in there, you don’t have to worry about that anymore now. It’s way more accurate.”
By automating the mixing process, MoonWalk® frees up time for painters to apply their skills more effectively. Kirk Harrington, sales representative with Auto Body Specialties, shared that he has seen it used as a retention tool in the industry. Harrington went on to note that he was told by a MoonWalk® user, “I don’t know if I’d go anyplace else to work if they didn’t have this.”
By enhancing the overall workflow and reducing the burden of manual tasks, the MoonWalk® system fosters a culture of collaboration. Employees can focus on working together to achieve the best possible results for their customers, rather than being tied down by tedious processes.
When asked if the team was excited to bring in the new technology, Devine emphasized, “Definitely. Every painter. They are all excited about it. It’s a lot more accurate. So, they don’t have to worry about mixing too much paint, running out in the middle of a job and then having to mix more and then it not being the same. The machine is going to mix the accurate color every single time. They are really excited about it.”
The paint technician in their truck shop primarily sprays PPG Delfleet Essential®, a line of paint suited for larger equipment. However, Devine shared that the truck paint technician has had a few opportunities to spray the paint mixed by the MoonWalk®, and the technician stated, “that’s the biggest tool improvement that he could imagine bringing into a paint shop.”
MoonWalk® is an exciting addition to the Rapid City collision repair community, helping shops streamline their operations, gain a competitive edge, and assist in retaining a skilled and satisfied workforce. It has created a positive atmosphere where employees feel connected to a shared purpose.
After several weeks of having the MoonWalk automate their paint mixing, Devine reflected “It’s been a lot better and had a bigger effect than we thought it would ever have.”
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About Auto Body Specialties
Auto Body Specialties (ABS) is a wholesale distributor of automotive parts, glass, and PPG Paint to body shops and manufacturers. ABS is proud to be a PPG Platinum Distributor supporting the product and workforce needs of the collision repair skilled trades in South Dakota.
