Growing up, Mark Scuderi was taught not to waste anything—so when he became co-owner of Scuderi CARSTAR Auto Body in Rockville, Md., one aspect of the auto body repair business that seemed particularly wasteful to him was the paint gun cleaning process. Gallons of lacquer thinner were used to clean the guns, then hauled off by a trash removal service, requiring special handling as a toxic substance.
Mark became determined to find a better way after a visit from a local environmental agency. The agency was satisfied with all of the shop’s procedures except the paint gun cleaning process. Although shops weren’t required to comply with the agency’s recommendations, Mark anticipated that some day, a better paint cleaning process would be mandatory.
“I started looking for what else we could use and came across a product used in the OEM industry,” says Mark. He began experimenting with a prototype heavy-duty sink and motor that would pump the lacquer thinner alternative until he had something that could be used in his shop. Feedback from technicians was used to modify the product and eventually Mark felt he had a product that would be useful not only for his own shop, but also for a broader market.
In comparison with traditional gun cleaning methods, Mark says, “It’s safer and it’s cheaper; the residue collect in the bottom and can be thrown in the trash after testing.”
In 2002, Mark and his brother Chip, co-owner of Scuderi CARSTAR, created a separate company to manufacture and market the new paint gun cleaning method. They named the company Bonny Marlin after the boat that the partners’ father Al Scuderi Sr., original founder of the shop, had owned. Customers like the fact the Bonny Marlin product was developed for shop owners by shop owners, the brothers say.
