SMYRNA, Ga. — Following a recent body shop acquisition and with help from BASF, partners Keith Meisner and Richard Sargo have added another eco-friendly body shop as part of their focus to further expand in the metro-Atlanta area to provide environmentally friendly collision repairs. Meisner and Sargo acquired their first location in Kennesaw, Ga., in March of 2007. With the assistance from BASF’s Scott Krause, Meisner and Sargo say the two CrashMaster Collision Centers are the first auto body repair shops in Georgia to go environmentally friendly with BASF/Glasurit 90 Line Waterborne refinishes system. The goal is to protect the region’s air, water, and soil by reducing hazardous waste and air pollution. CrashMaster Collision Centers provide repair services for damaged vehicles featuring full line collision repair services that include, paintless dent repair, 24-hour towing service and mobile auto glass replacement and repair services. CrashMaster Collision Centers are leading the collision industry in Eco-Friendly Collision Repair. they are utilizing a well-developed infrastructure are are pursuing a growth strategy that is driven by the need for the automotive repair industry to go green. Product choices and partnerships were made to give preference to bio-degradable and less toxic alternatives including recycling. For example, low VOC (volatile organic compound) lead-free/solvent-free paints are used and cars are washed with biodegradable, non-phosphate soap. Used oil, antifreeze, refrigerant, and waste paint are recycled along with sheet metal, cardboard, paper, batteries, and repairable plastics. Hi-tech equipment and technology was also used to play a part in CrashMaster’s success. Sargo and Meisner say the BASF-supplied computerized paint mixing system minimizes paint waste by mixing just the right amount for a job, and the no-VOC basecoat uses no solvents, but rather de-ionized water to reduce the paint. High volume lowpressure (HVLP) paint spray guns then deliver the paint with a minimum amount of paint waste. The spray booths are downdraft or semi-downdraft with a filtration system to capture the maximum amount of airborne particulates. | 