Regina, Saskatchewan — The 80th Auto Electric Service Trade Show took place in Regina on Thursday, where more than 100 vendors witnessed the latest tools, equipment and training in the automotive industry.
BETAG Innovation’s Dave Flockhart and Art Ewing were in attendance, as well as Scott Kucharyshen of Saskatchewan Polytechnic. The trio were there to promote Sask Polytech’s BETAG course offering; the vocational college offers BETAG’s Outer Panel Repair Specialist course, which “takes repairs to the next level,” according to Kucharyshen.
The course is designed to help collision centres repair more parts, rather than replace, and is said to drive production by increasing the technician’s capability and efficiency.
Given recent interest, Sask Polytech has upped its BETAG course offerings. Four separate classes will run from August through December this year; two in Saskatoon, and two in Regina.
“If you’re interested in [this course] and getting a reduced rate—up to 66 percent off—make sure you call Jeremy Shaw at Sask Polytech at 306-659-4073,” said Kucharyshen.
Click here for more information BETAG’s OPRS course at Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
Kucharyshen also noted that Sask Polytech has tripled its intakes in certificates, both at the Saskatoon and Regina campuses.
“We’re hoping to put almost 100 new students out into the trade each year.”
The college is also looking at opportunities for an estimating course, partnered with BETAG, which will also cover damage analysis.
Others in attendance included Tom Bissonnette of the Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers (SAAR); Brett McNeil of 3M, who showcased the Festool dustless sanding system and Cubitron abrasives; Constantino Uliano of Spanesi Americas, who brought the FLASH pulling system, the Spanesi Touch 3D measuring system, the PULL UP! glue system and more; Josh Stoez of Specialty Product Sales, with the Innovative Tools Super Stand and the new Spray Gun Cabinet Deluxe, in addition to various UniRam products; and Gilbert Cormier of PPG Canada, who brought the impressive automatic paint-mixing system Moonwalk.
Bissonnette was live on the SAAR Facebook page multiple times throughout the Thursday event. Click here to view SAAR’s footage.
