In May, Synergy hosted a bodyshop tour to Croatia to see some recent bodyshop developments and how Irish bodyshops are influencing bodyshop design in Europe. During our visit the group was hosted by AutoZubak Croatia’s leading VW Group dealership. In business for over 45 years, Auto Zubak has just invested in a major upgrade to its current bodyshop site which it shares with the dealership and independent online used car sales business. The installations included new USI Italia prep areas complete with Infrarr infra-red units similar to those fitted in Kingdom Crash Repair in Tralee and two of Usi Italia’s latest spray booths.

A presentation by Auto Zubac’s Daniel Ivankovic and Dimitrije Trbovic in their state-of-the-art inhouse training centre. “Auto Zubak see a great future in auto body repairs so much so that we are in the process of investing further in a new twenty-four thousand square meter bodyshop facility on a brownfield site currently in the final stages of the design and planning process. To achieve this, we need to work with strong partners like USI Italia and AkzoNobel Sikkens”
Dimitrije Trbovic

The new bespoke bodyshop will feature an Express Repair line based on the similar concept designed by Owen Cullen of the Accident Repair Centre Dublin and USI Italia. This unique express repair concept model has been showcased by USI Italia at major trade events in Europe such as Automechanika in Frankfurt and Autopromotec in Bologna in the last few years.

The presentation was followed by a very interesting and lively group discussion on the universal issues that face all bodyshops. This included:

• Attracting young people
• Retaining skilled staff
• Challenge of the climate crisis with rising energy cost
• Its effects on our industry & training ideas and how innovation will be a vital part of the overall solution

It was generally agreed that meetings like this visit and sharing of ideas and strategies were crucial to creating a sustainable future for all.

The following day the Synergy Group visited RIMAC in its newly completed headquarters and production facility just outside Zagreb. The Croatian automotive manufacturer famous for developing and producing the Nevera electric sports cars. Rimac Technology also produces drivetrains and battery systems for automotive businesses specialist facilities.

This was a unique opportunity to have a behind the scenes factory tour including their all-important paint and body facility before full production and expansion on this new site.