He said the move showed that he was doing his part to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) along the Front Range while appealing to environmentally savvy customers.

The VOC levels along the Front Range from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs are not much better than that of California, Weeks said.  "I honestly believe it's only a matter of time before we'll be like some of the counties in California."  Although collision repair facilities are not the main culprit, they do emit some VOCs, he said.

That prompted Weeks to look into switching from using solvent-based Glasurit 55 to its water-based brethren, Glasurit 90.

Weeks said he and Painter Troy Nauman visited a few shops in Orange County, Calif., using waterborne basecoats and the BASF training facility before making their decision.  "We spent some time with owners and painters," Weeks said, closely considering the issues and concerns that affected the transition from solvent based to waterborne.

"Color matching is one of the biggest challenges in the paint department," Weeks said, adding that after seeing the color-matching capability of Glasurit 90, he was convinced he'd make the switch.

Initially, Weeks said he was concerned with the additional airflow required to cure waterborne.  "The evaporation of water out of the basecoat requires more air."

While in Orange County, Weeks said he visited three shops with different air makeup systems.  One had made a significant investment in a Garmat Accele-Cure system, another with a less expensive one, and a third was using handheld drying guns.

"There are a handful of different airflow devices for waterborne," he said.  Given Colorado's warm, arid climate a handheld gun is more than sufficient in getting the results needed, he said, so he purchased six Iwata Aquadry waterborne drying guns with stands.  "Together they put out a large volume of air and evaporates the water out of the paint." 

These guns, coupled with his two DeVilbiss downdraft paint booths, gets the job done, Weeks said.

Before spraying a waterborne basecoat, Weeks said his painter typically uses a low-VOC BASF primer or a UV-cured primer.  The job is still finished with a solvent-based clearcoat, he said.

After three months, he said the waterborne has proven to be healthier for his painter, easier to use, has less waste, and flashes faster, increasing the speed of production, a good thing given the amount of volume vehicles from the recent tornado in northern Colorado.

In order to keep cycle times within accepted DRP parameters, especially during busy times, Weeks said it's vital to have vendors that he can depend on.  "We rely on them to make us look good.

"Customer service is No. 1," he said, adding that means delivering parts on time and acting on problems immediately.  "We are their customers and would like to be treated that way."

Vendors of choice include FinishMaster for paint and associated products, Weeks said, adding that Parts Manager Anthony Pino typically orders OE parts from Ed Carroll Motor Co. for Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen; O'Meara Ford, Honda of Greeley, and Emich Chevrolet.  For recycled parts he relies on Stadium Auto Parts and LKQ, and Keystone for aftermarket parts.

Another factor that reduces cycle times is conducting most work in house, Weeks said.

"A few years ago when the market changed, we needed to diversify," he said.  "We decided one of the ways to do so was by adding mechanical work."

The mechanical division, known as Import Auto Service, has grown to have its own customer base, mainly through marketing a $24.95 oil change in print, radio, and TV in Fort Collins, Weeks said.  The service includes oil, a filter, a 27-point inspection, and a wash and vacuum. 

Lead Technician Ray Spirek leads the charge for the mechanical shop, along with the aid of another technician and helper, Weeks said.

There is a lot of mechanical work that is needed to repair a collision-damaged vehicle, he said.  "There are a lot of electronics packed under the hood now."  For diagnostics, the shop uses a Snap-On Modis and at the time of the interview was preparing to purchase a Launch X-431 diagnostic scan tool.

Being a one-stop-shop is convenient for customers who seek convenience and trust when looking for a shop, Weeks said.  That's the message he said he uses when advertising in Style Magazine, a regional publication that serves the Front Range in northern Colorado.

When choosing outlets to advertise in, Weeks said, he tests many, then sticks with the ones that work, such as Style magazine, whose readers typically earn more than $100,000 a year, a good demographic for import-vehicle owners.