Snap Shop: Hertrich Collision Center of Middletown
Location: 353 Auto Park Dr., Middletown, Delaware
Owner: Hertrich Family of Auto Dealerships
Staff Size: currently 10; estimated 15 when fully staffed
Annual Revenue: estimated $6 million (new location)
Average Repair Order: no data (new location)
Monthly Car Count: estimated 100-125 (new location)
Shop Size: 15,120 sq. Ft. (13,379 sq. ft. production area)
An open lot at 353 Auto Park Drive in Middletown, Connecticut, provided Hertrich Collision with the opportunity to take lessons learned from its 14 other locations to build a new facility with optimized operations.
Fixed Operations Director Harry Phillips says the location provides excellent visibility and convenient access for service to the Middletown community and surrounding areas. The greenfield building, which opened in January, was designed specifically around workflow efficiency, scalability, and long-term operational needs rather than adapting to limitations of an existing structure. It incorporates operational refinements from past greenfield and brownfield projects.
“Our facilities are designed around a simple, efficient circular vehicle flow throughout the repair process,” Phillips says. “This minimizes unnecessary movement between departments, improves communication between teams, and supports overall production efficiency. The design also allows us to scale the footprint up or down depending on the specific market and property constraints while still maintaining a consistent and efficient workflow.”
The new building incorporates additional energy-efficient features. Phillips highlighted the minimal use of overhead doors throughout the facility.
“[It] helps reduce heat and cooling loss within the climate-controlled production space while still maintaining an efficient vehicle flow throughout the repair process,” he says.
The facility is outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment to deliver efficient, accurate repairs. It has two Garmat 3000 drive-through paint booths with Accele-Cure four-fan systems. One paint booth and the prep station are one foot taller to accommodate larger fleet vehicles. Phillips says the equipment for each facility can vary based on age, market needs, and the timing of equipment investments.
“Over time, we’ve been able to identify equipment platforms and manufacturers that consistently perform well in a production environment, and we continue moving toward greater standardization across the organization,” Phillips says.
The shop also uses Kaeser 10hp screw air compressors with dryer systems and aluminum air lines, a Garmat Chinook II 27-foot heated prep station, Car-O-Liner 5500 pitted BenchRack collision repair system, Car-O-Tronic Vision2 X3 computerized measuring system, Rotary SPO12EH1 12,000-pound two-post lift, Dent Fix aluminum and plastic repair systems, Robinair 134a and 1234yf A/C service equipment, and multiple Pro Spot welding and riveting systems including:
- Pro Spot i4s Smart Spot Welder
- Pro Spot SP5 Single Phase Double Pulse Welder
- Pro Spot PR-220MV Welder
- Pro Spot PR-5D SPR Riveter
“Having experience with multiple equipment manufacturers across our collision centers has allowed us to validate what performs consistently on a day-to-day basis in a high-production environment,” Phillips says. “Equally important is the level of service and support behind the equipment. We value vendor partners who understand the importance of minimizing downtime and responding quickly when service is needed to help keep our operations running efficiently for our customers.”
The facility is currently I-CAR Gold Class-recognized. Several other Hertrich Collision locations also participate in OEM certification programs, including Ford and Honda. Phillips says Hertrich is excited about the service its newest facility can provide to its community and customers.
“As vehicle technology and repair complexity continue to evolve, we remain focused on investing in the people, processes, training, and infrastructure needed to deliver safe, high-quality repairs,” Phillips says. “We believe disciplined operations and long-term investment will continue to separate successful collision repair organizations moving forward.”
About the Author
Peter Spotts
Associate Editor
Peter Spotts is the associate editor of FenderBender and ABRN. He brings six years of experience working in the newspaper industry and four years editing in Tech. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Western New England University with a minor in integrated marketing communications and an MBA. A sci-fi/fantasy fan, his current 2010 Honda Civic is nicknamed Eskel, after the character from the Witcher book series, for the scratch marks on its hood.
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