Revolutionising bodyshop design

Produced in partnership with Express Repair Techniques (ERT) fron AkzoNobel Sikkens, STL’s patented, moveable spraybooth is the first of its kind.  Kevin Dillon, Director at STL, explains: “It is going to make the bodyshop more efficient, and it is going to revolutionise the way we design bodyshops in the future.”

The Tempo moveable spraybooth provides bodyshops with a rapid means to complete non-structural repairs, thereby increasing profitability by radically cutting key-to-key time and reducing energy costs by up to 50 per cent. According to Kevin, bodyshops could increase profitability by a factor of four. “We believe that you can make as much profit in a 4,000 sq ft facility with the Tempo as you would in a 20,000 sq ft facility.”

The Tempo was born out of a desire to move methods and technology forward. Kevin explains: “We were talking about Smart repair, and then Express repair. We put our heads together with AkzoNobelSikkens and it just went from there. The product developed with our working partners and it is evolving day by day.

With small non-structural repairs representing an increasing proportion of a refinisher’s income, the unit was specifically designed to help bodyshop managers maximise this opportunity. The Tempo booth can traverse four to eight vehicles parked side by side. The unit is suspended from high level rails and all overspray materials are extracted and transported away through the central extract, with retractable power and compressed air booms overhead removing the need for trailing cables. The unit is also environmentally friendly and economical to run, as no gas or oil burner is needed.

Kevin continues: “One of they key advantages is that it offers valuable opportunities to capture work lost through high insurance excesses, because repairs are more affordable. It also brings invaluable cost savings to insurers through reductions in cycle times. It’s going to make key to key time quicker to achieve because you can triage the work that needs to go into the express booths, and the other work can go into stationary booths.”