special feature - Australian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine

NEWSAAAA GETS INVOLVED IN EXPORTSThe Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) will play a massive role in a new Federal Governmentinitiative to take advantages of export opportunities.The AAAA has successfully securedfunding under the Government’s GlobalOpportunities Program to facilitate asignificant and sustained export program tothe USA.The AAAA project will form a cluster ofcompanies seeking to develop or grow exportsof automotive parts to North America.From the 2008-09 financial year,$75,000 has been approved each year for thenext three years from the Government.The AAAA and participants will match thismoney in financial and in-kind contributionsand can be used to offset the cost of all exportrelated activities except airfares andaccommodation.This may include business plan andstrategy development, production of capabilitydirectories and marketing collateral, inwardbuyer missions, market research, trade showstands(at events such as SEMA and PRI),overcoming logistical and regulatory barriers.The program will also include free accessto Austrade project management resources inAustralia and North America.These resources will assist in the planningand execution of the strategy as well asassisting cluster members with marketresearch, identification of customers, adviceon regulatory issues and other in-marketsupport.Trade Minister, Simon Crean, theautomotive aftermarket was one of eightindustries to receive funding.He said that many Australian businesses,particularly small and medium-sizedenterprises, lacked the scale, expertise andaccess to information that is necessary toidentify and successfully bid for contracts inglobal supply chains or major projectsinternationally.“By encouraging individual enterpriseswithin a sector to form clusters we can betterhelp these industries, as well as individualbusinesses, to become internationallycompetitive and, consequently, to promotetheir long-term sustainability and help protectemployment opportunities,” Mr Crean said.“It is particularly important in the currentdifficult business environment that wemaximise the ability of Australian businessesto combine their efforts in taking their worldclassproducts and services to globalmarkets.“By working together within an industrycluster, individual enterprises can present amuch stronger value proposition in a highlycompetitive international marketplace thanthey may be able to achieve individually.”The AAAA has experience in facilitatingexport activities and events and the exportcluster infrastructure is now well developed.It has been granted approved body statusand many members of the export cluster haveor are currently participating in this programin their own right.The key areas of opportunity for Australianaftermarket manufacturers includereplacement parts for Australian builtvehicles, such as the Holden VE Commodorewhich is badged as a Pontiac G8 in the USalong with high quality niche volumespecialty products for 4X4 and highperformance vehicles.The AAAA has identified 30 companieswho have expressed interest in participationin the cluster.Many of these companies attended aninformation session in January and the AAAAwill now seek formal expressions of interest toconfirm 15 participants.G TECHNIQ HITS THE AUSTRALIAN MARKETBURG DESIGN CLAIMS G TECHNIQ IS THE NEW WORLD LEADER IN FINISHINGSYSTEMS FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING AND DETAILING TRADEThe G Techniq refinishing system is now available in Australia, and promises to revolutionize the industry with both itsease of application, time saving benefits and most importantly global track record of outstanding results. Developed inthe harsh world of aircraft and marine maintenance, this technology can now benefit your automotive workplace.This is a product line up developed fromthe ground up as a system for trade use tosave both time and money, with ease ofapplication and industry leading finish resultsas the two main criteria. What has beendeveloped after extensive research is a twopartsystem based on the ‘Perfect, thenProtect’ principle.One of the significant advantages to tradeusers is that the G Techniq refinishing systemproducts require very low speed and pressurewhen using orbital buffers to achieve asuperior result. The speed required is between600-900 RPM while the pressure required isvery light, even to remove the worstoxidisation and contaminants as the productdoes the work for you, not the other wayaround. This leads to several advantages ofpads lasting longer, less splatter, precisecontrol of the buffer and less fatigue for staff,as well as much faster turn around times inthe shop.This system is comprised of two separatecomponents, working together to form a bond.The P1 nano polish is the first productapplied, and will remove between 85-95percent of contaminants with the wool pad.For the final finish, users swap to the blackpad for 100 percent removal of any hologrameffect on even the most difficult of blackpaint finishes. The surface is now ready tohave the C3 Smart Carnauba applied to lockin the finish and this is simply a wipe on, wipeoff process. It gives the effect of a full, labourintensive pro-valet with the ease of use of adetail spray.These products are used andrecommended by such reputable companiesas Aston Martin, Sunseeker Powerboats,Oceano Yachts, Subaru World Rally Team andmany independent high-end vehicle retailers.For more information call 03 9555 9277 orvisit www.burgdesign.com.auAU T O M O T I V E A F T E R M A R K E T M AG A Z I N E M A RCH 2 0 0 9 17