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281Innovative championing cutting edge technology and equipment and a blueprint for modern car care the Lloyd Newcastle Bodyshop is among the best there is trusted by the world's leading luxury motor brands and with a string of awards to prove it Walk into the Lloyd Newcastle Bodyshop and you could be forgiven for thinking you had stepped into a top Harley Street clinic Which is in many ways what it is a hospital for cars In their own way today's vehicles are every bit as complicated contrary and idiosyncratic as humans Cars used to be a fairly basic mode of transport mechanical boxes on wheels with a turn key ignition that were all about superficial appearance rather than what was beneath the bodywork But the relentless march of technology has pervaded every corner of our lives and nowhere has this become more apparent than in the motor industry Every week seems to herald a new breakthrough whether it be the advent of driverless vehicles innovations in the electric car arena which are slashing recharging times and making them a more attractive proposition or the rise of connected technologies The joke that cars are now so sophisticated you could fly one to the moon and back may soon see car manufacturers having the last laugh
This is in no small part down to staff training and sustained investment in its dealerships by the wider Lloyd Motor Group Twenty nine staff are employed at the Hunter s Road set up 16 in the body shop ranging from vehicle inspectors to panel technicians engineers and paint sprayers These are no run of the mill garage mechanics however donned in oil stained overalls with a dirty rag sticking out of their back pocket You re just as likely to see them wearing a CSI style white protective suit over their smart navy blue Lloyd Newcastle branded polo shirts and heavy duty work trousers With all the high tech equipment used nowadays you need to have significant IT skills explains Scott Smith Assistant Bodyshop Manager It is no longer just about having a toolbox The training is relentless It has to be with technology moving so fast What is current now may be out of date by this time next year And with electric and hybrid cars the investment in both training and equipment is going to be huge going forward Things have changed dramatically in just the last five years
It's like painting the Forth Bridge Once you think you ve finished you find yourself having to start all over again Electric hybrid technicians are the next phase Luckily we recognised where things were headed and we have had them in place for the last four years It s why the Lloyd Newcastle Bodyshop is so highly regarded We make sure we stay ahead of the game As Scott s talking David points to a Porsche that's parked in a Direct Dialogue Bay a dedicated area where immediate on the spot analysis can be made ahead of any potential work You have to prove you have all the correct kit on site We've invested heavily in specialist tools diagnostic equipment body jigs and an aluminium extraction unit Aluminium extraction unit It is becoming more common for different materials to be used in cars David clarifies Steel filings and airborne particles will oxidise aluminium and have a corrosive effect so it is vital we avoid cross contamination The body shop is even equipped with two drive through spray booths nicknamed ovens fitted with quad burners that have reduced paint drying time to just 30 minutes Covering an impressive 12 000m² this slick operation runs 18 hours a day and deals with up to 300 BMW MINI Bentley and Porsche repairs a month The team has even been asked to work on kit cars shop signs and a gyrocopter It's proof that we can tackle anything David says with a laugh