Auto Collision Centre, WA
Van Ty’s second shop is even better than his first one. He and his team work hard and appear to be crushing it.
When we first met Van he had moved from a tiny shop in Malaga, WA and purpose built a stunning new facility with impressive workflow. He’s expanded that shop and won Best New in 2018 and Best Large in 2020. Van decided it was time to double up and his research showed that the south corridor could do with more repair capacity. He found some land, and while he was building he rented a shop so that he could recruit his team and get off to a flying start.
The shop opened in November 2023 and while Van is still looking for more staff they are still repairing around 40 cars per week and the majority are complex repairs – a lot of kangaroo hits. While it’s a volume shop it is a real family affair with multiple family members involved. They would need to be as he has no intention of stopping at two shops with maybe two or three more in the future.
Auto Collision Centre (ACC) is sharp and modern from the street view and has a lovely customer area with a budget office off to the side. The offices are spacious and nicely decorated and Van has invested heavily in good wi-fi and plenty of cameras.
Van loves his blue – the uniforms, the lanes in shop are all blue. There’s an under cover quoting and delivery area at the front of the shop. Walking into the clean workshop you see Van’s instinctive approach to great workflow in evidence. Technicians have plenty of space to work in the large bays with scissor lifts to save their knees and backs. Everything is state-of-the-art from the Car-O-Liner equipment to the Lowbake paintshop with a huge prep bay and two extra large Lowbake Alphas that can take vans and accomodate all of the large 4WDs that are favoured by customers. The booths are air-conditioned to keep the painters happy and productive in the summer and solar panels will be fitted to the roof soon. The paint mixing room is clean and tidy and there’s a stylish air-conditioned smoko room for the team. The WashTec car wash was a success at Van’s Malaga shop so he’s installed one here too.
There’s a massive car park that was chock a block with cars when we visited with a rear entrance for parts delivery.
Van has a clear vision for the business. “We aspire to be the leading automotive repairer in our region, known for our quality workmanship and customer satisfaction. We aim to position ourselves as the preferred choice for individuals and businesses seeking reliable and efficient smash repair services. By continually striving for enhancement and embracing innovation, we endeavour to surpass customer expectations and set new standards within the industry.”
Van invests in training for his staff and doesn’t neglect investing time to attract future staff by networking with local schools to offer work placement and apprenticeship opportunities. He makes an effort to educate staff in sustainable working practices, incorporating eco-friendly practices into operations, such as reducing waste and adopting energy-efficient technologies. He prioritises a safe working environment.
He works on building strong partnerships with suppliers and other industry stakeholders to strengthen the supply chain, access new resources and stay informed about industry developments, and has good relationships with insurance companies.
Van has created an industry-leading collision repair facility and was a stand out for the entire judging panel.