Dynamic duo Michael and Terry Pastalis have built and grown the family business through hard work, a transparent approach with insurers and efficiently turning out high quality repairs.
This Moorebank shop has gone from strength to strength under the management of the Patsalis brothers, including Theo, over the last 10 years. They have built on the legacy of their father Andrew who founded the business in 1988. The brothers have expanded the workshop and the paint shop to increase capacity to repair around 50 cars per week.
It's an old building and the exterior is painted a clean, bright white with the Andrews logo – the feel is a professional but friendly family run business, not a colder corporate look. Walk to the modern reception with comfortable waiting area and excellent signage and you'll find a mini-show room where customers can inspect and pick up their cars.
The panel shop is large and well organised with light repairs in once section and heavier in another. The shop is a Glasurit carbon neutral shop and the brothers have invested in new Truflow spray booths and prep stations. They are also one of the first to buy the Nitrotherm paint system (spraying with nitrogen instead of compressed air) to help with cycle times and paint costs and have been impressed with the results so far.
The expanded workshop was finished near the end of 2014 and despite having as much work as they wished to take the brothers took it slow and easy to ensure that quality didn't suffer while production increased. They took five more cars a week and once they were happy that the crew had adjusted, another five. The expanded workshop has allowed Andrews to increase its weekly production from around 30 cars to 55 – and these include at least 10-15 heavy structural jobs.
Both Michael and Terry have a calm but determined air about them. They are immensely positive about their future and the future of the industry and totally confident in their quality and processes and their ability to inspire customer satisfaction and repeat business.
We like the values that they display on their website, these also inspire customer confidence. It's great to see the next generation growing their business with quiet confidence. We won't be surprised if they soon outgrow this workshop even after all the extension work.