Spies Hecker’s oldest UK customer wins VW Bodyshop of the Year 2020.

24 February 2021 – Independent family-run Croydon bodyshop, C&P Panelcraft, was named VW’s Bodyshop of the Year at the British Bodyshop Awards in January 2021. C&P Panelcraft has worked exclusively with Spies Hecker, a global refinish brand of Axalta, a leading supplier of liquid and powder coatings, for 32 years, making it the refinish brand’s longest-standing customer in the UK – a remarkable partnership that continues to go from strength to strength.

Paul Williams, owner of C&P Panelcraft, says, “It’s been a long and interesting journey since my brother and I opened our bodyshop in 1978. Things have changed so much over the years, but we have always made sure to stay up-to-date with the latest developments. And we believe one of the reasons that we have been so successful is our unwavering commitment always to offer the highest levels of workmanship and customer service. Spies Hecker has been with us on this journey almost from the start. We have formed such a close relationship with the team that they feel more like friends. Their help and advice are always invaluable to us.”

C&P Panelcraft is a BSI Kitemarktm- approved repair centre and employs 21 staff on its 15,000 ft2 site. The bodyshop has three spraybooths and a dedicated Spies Hecker mixing room. They work with Spies Hecker’s Hi-TEC Performance System, its ColorDialog Compact spectrophotometer and Phoenix Cloud, the brand’s latest generation colour management software which enables completely wireless networking. The bodyshop’s refinishers have the Phoenix app on their tablets, enabling them to work on site without having to go to the main workshop to upload data. Spies Hecker technicians visit the bodyshop regularly to demonstrate new products and to offer training whenever required.

“There are many reasons we have chosen to stay exclusively with Spies Hecker over the years. The quality of the paint is obviously high on the list, together with the comprehensive product offering and outstanding customer service, but also the fact that Spies Hecker has so many OEM approvals in the UK, like VW. This is very important for us as we continue to expand this part of our business,” continues Williams.

Another way in which Spies Hecker is helping C&P Panelcraft stay one step ahead of the competition is related to electric vehicle (EV) repairs.

Williams says, “Sales of EVs more than doubled in the UK last year compared to 2019[1], and that’s a trend that is set to continue, so this is an area we are keen to focus on. Refinishing EVs requires a very different skillset from petrol or diesel engine vehicles, not least because the electric batteries cannot be subjected to extreme heat. For this reason, we use Spies Hecker’s energy-saving Speed-TEC products, which can be air-dried or dried quickly at very low temperatures in the spray booth.”

Gary Smith, Sales Development Manager for Axalta Refinish in the South East of England, says, “C&P Panelcraft is a hugely successful business in part because Paul and his team have always looked to the future, anticipated their customers’ needs and offered a very personal service. The partnership we have formed with them over the years has been based on our similar values. As the refinish market continues to evolve, we know that the next few years will be every bit as interesting and exciting.”

For more information about Spies Hecker’s products and services contact local distributors or visit www.spieshecker.co.uk.

About Spies Hecker

Spies Hecker, a global refinish coating brand from Axalta, develops optimum and practical paint system solutions that make bodyshop work easier and more efficient. Originally from Cologne, Germany, and with over 135 years of success behind it, Spies Hecker’s high-quality product systems, customised service and tailored training demonstrate its partnership with the refinish industry. The paint brand is one of the world’s leading vehicle refinish brands, and is available in over 75 countries worldwide.

Spies Hecker – simply closer!