Steve Smith, National Sales Manager ART at Mirka UK, looks at where tooling is heading in the CV industry in 2021 and beyond.
The role tooling plays within the body repair sector is of vital importance because it was once thought of as just another tool to undertake a procedure. The ‘just a tool’ mentality has now changed in 2021 because businesses must think about the tools they use in terms of how they impact productivity and, most importantly, how they affect the health and safety of the operator.
The wrong tool can not only impact the time it takes to complete the process, but it can also detrimentally affect the quality of the finish, which could, in turn, reflect badly on the business and its reputation among its customer base.
This has led to repairers looking to manufacturers such as Mirka for technical support and advice because they want peace of mind that their investment in tooling will cater for all the needs of the business, including the wellbeing of the technicians.
Mirka’s business views health and safety with the upmost importance. So much so, it introduced Bluetooth technology to its electric range of tooling. This technology was developed to allow businesses to easily track vibration levels, which is paramount to the safety of the operator, because it reduces the risk of HAVS and ensures the tool stays in tip top condition.
In addition, this year has also massively affected the way the industry does business, and like many others, Mirka has had to make changes. The body repair sector is a people industry, where face-to-face contact and communication is key.
This is no more evident than when you are reviewing best working practices to improve productivity and profitability. There is now light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully it won’t be too long before face-to-face visits restart, and Mirka can return to supporting businesses to ensure they maximise the benefits of using the company’s complete sanding solutions.
Staying ahead
The commercial vehicle sector is in a constant state of evolution in terms of the tooling technology required to complete jobs on the workshop floor, and this is not going to change anytime soon.
This evolution has trickled down to manufacturers like Mirka, who is leading the charge in terms of innovation, so businesses can keep up with all the technical and technological advancements that are flooding the market.
The way Mirka achieves this is two-fold. The first is the fact that its team has decades of experience across multiple areas of the industry. The second, and probably most important, is communication.
As a business, Mirka is in constant dialogue with its customers, and this provides insights into the challenges on the workshop floor, as well as the opportunities available within the sector.
This information is then circulated to the R&D team, based out of Jeppo, Finland, which enables them to develop innovative and versatile products that meet the constantly changing needs of the end user and assists in reducing vehicle off road (VOR) times, increasing productivity, and maximising the profitability of the business.
