Car-O-Liner®, a leading global provider of collision repair equipment to the automotive aftermarket, recently trained representatives from Canada and the United States who will be competing in the Autobody Repair skill at the 42nd WorldSkills Competition held at the Leipzig Trade Fair and Exhibition Center in Leipzig, Germany July 2-7, 2013.
Jordy Bartman, the Canadian representative, visited our Wixom, Michigan Training Academy for three days of hands-on training. Jordy is currently working as an Apprentice Autobody Technician at Brooks Collision and is studying at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. George Mason, the representative for the United States, trained with Carolina Collision Equipment, the regional Distributor for Car-O-Liner products in North and South Carolina. George attended the Lexington Technology Center and is employed at Gilbert Paint & Body in Gilbert, South Carolina.
This year, more than 1,000 competitors from more than 50 countries/regions will test their skills in Leipzig, Germany as they compete for the coveted title of “WorldSkills Champion”. Considered “the best of the best,” contestants compete for four days in 45 occupational skill areas to include manufacturing, information technology, transportation, construction, creative arts and social services. Accompanied by their teachers, trainers and industry technical committee experts, these young people compete before the public in contests that are run and judged using demanding international standards.
In the WorldSkills Autobody Repair contest, competitors must: correct all structural misalignment of the unitized body shell using hydraulically operated repair equipment to pull/push the body back into proper alignment; verify the accurate realignment of the unitized body, including suspension attachment points using industry recognized Autobody measuring equipment; replace a damaged structural (frame) member using internationally accepted procedures; repair cosmetic damage to an exterior steel and/or aluminum and /or plastic body panel (fender, door, quarter panel, roof, etc.) by metal finishing (or repair product in
the case of a plastic panel); and, replace cosmetic non-structural exterior steel and/or aluminum body panel (fender, door, quarter panel, roof, etc.).
This is the third WorldSkills competition for which Car-O-Liner has been the main sponsor for the Autobody Repair skill. Car-O-Liner will be sending 23 complete collision repair systems to Leipzig. The systems include our Quick42™ alignment bench, the Car-O-Tronic™ Vision electronic measuring system, the CTR12000 Resistance Spot Welder, and other necessary equipment. The 22 competitors from around the world will each receive a BMW 1 Series F20 “Body in white” to repair to the point where it can be painted. A team of 8 experts will judge the results of their four day competition efforts.About Car-O-Liner® Company
Car-O-Liner Company is a leading global provider of high quality, technologically advanced collision repair equipment to the automotive aftermarket. For more than 35 years, we have supplied the automotive industry with innovative collision repair solutions, technical development, training, and customer support. Over 55,000 Car-O-Liner collision repair systems are in use worldwide. Car-O-Liner’s global headquarters are located in Gothenburg, Sweden with manufacturing operations in Kungsör, Sweden. Subsidiaries are located in Sweden, Norway, USA, UK, France, Germany, Singapore and China. Local Distributors sell our products in more than 70 countries worldwide. Visit www.car-o-liner.com for more information.About WorldSkills
Over its 60-year history, WorldSkills International (formerly known as the "Skill Olympics") has come to symbolize the pinnacle of excellence in vocational training. Every two years hundreds of young skilled people, accompanied by their teachers and trainers, gather together from around the world to compete before the public in the skills of their various trades and test themselves against demanding international standards. They represent the best of their peers drawn from regional and national skill competitions held currently in 67 countries/regions. The experience and results of all the competitions provide valuable feedback both to the individuals and the systems and enterprises in which they are being trained. For some it is recognition for outstanding achievement, while for others it provides the motivation and knowledge to aspire to higher standards. For the onlookers it is a revealing experience to see highly competent young trades people in action. The competitions are particularly effective in the context of providing positive career role models for school aged youngsters. For more information about the competition, go to: http://www.worldskills.org or http://www.worldskillsleipzig2013.com.
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