SYMACK— A COMPLETE CONCEPT FOR COLLISION CENTRES

(Article published in L’AUTOMOBILE Collision magazine, April 2024)

By Piero Facchin

There are many manufacturers of body shop equipment, but one that stands out, and it comes from Italy. Symack began by offering a unique gas-catalytic infrared paint drying system to be installed in existing workshops.

In 2010, the company evolved to integrate this technology into a new spray booth, and then into a full range of body shop products and processes. Les Pawlowski, Symack’s North American representative, explains, “What’s most remarkable about our system is that it encompasses a variety of procedures that streamline and optimize automotive repair time.”

STANDING OUT FROM THE COMPETITION

Symack offers a turnkey solution. According to Mr. Pawlowski, “the difference between Symack and our competitors is that we produce equipment for the rest of the workshop. A comprehensive workshop design based on the workflow principle in which we incorporate the full range of our products.” Workflow (planning from the start) is a concept that aims to speed up the repair procedure with just a few technicians. “In this way, we try to generate more ‘worked’ hours with less manpower time by streamlining the process.”

The first installation of Symack products in Québec was recently completed in Saint-Hyacinthe for Lussier Chevrolet. The dealership needed to relocate its paint shop and, following a meeting with Mr. Osvaldo Bergaglio, Symack’s CEO, the owners were won over by the company’s innovative approach.

“We did a design and installation for them. It was a very good example. Many customers are renovating or expanding their establishments. In this case, we started from scratch, their workshop being a former Parmalat factory. It was a challenge, but we accepted the project because we saw the potential,” says Mr. Pawlowski.

A NEW DRYING CONCEPT FOR EVs

Symack has developed expertise and continues to conduct research in the field of electric vehicles (EVs), taking into account the multiple systems on board modern vehicles. For instance, the company has designed a catalytic infrared drying device that heats only the body panels, not the rest of the car—a critical factor in the case of EVs, since their batteries mustn’t be exposed to temperature variations. Lussier Chevrolet has a small version of this “DRY BOX,” which allows parts to be dried separately, thereby increasing production and enabling other tasks to be carried out while the parts are drying.

Mr. Pawlowski, an engineer by training, has extensive experience in automotive painting. He has been with Symack since 2019. He remembers helping his father with car repairs from a young age, and that passion is still with him. “It was the complete and integral approach of Symack’s philosophy that appealed to me.”