ATLANTA -

Facing increased demand and with a goal of boosting its conservation efforts, one Manheim site has announced the completion of a year-long project to significantly expand its body shop.

Revealed this week by Manheim Palm Beach is the culmination of a 12-month project designed to raise its body work capacity to meet increasing demand, and to help ramp up the site’s environmental efficiencies.

The project has also doubled the square footage of the Manheim Palm Beach body shop, officials said, allowing a faster and more efficient service process in which vehicles are set up in an assembly fashion.

Previously, 65 percent of vehicles going through the process had to be parked outside and brought back in one by one, at a rate of 10 to 15 cars processed per eight-hour shift. Now, Manheim Palm Beach has the capability to process 25 to 35 cars on an eight-hour shift, officials noted.  

“With the type of highline units that we sell, we are excited to have the opportunity to service those cars in a first-class shop,” said Ron Parker, general manager of Manheim Palm Beach. “The employees are really enjoying the improved working conditions, and we believe that there will be more opportunities for new and current customers.”

Environmentally, the expansion reduces the body shop’s electricity consumption by two-thirds via new lighting equipment. Occupancy light sensors have been installed or upgraded to cut lighting energy use by an additional 30 percent, company officials said, and utility drops have been installed to offer a safer, more efficient way of accessing electricity and air for power tools.

Also new are two paint tunnels and a priming booth for vehicles, both of which are down draft booths, and are National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants compliant.

“Our team in the body shop produced outstanding work in the old shop, but the new facility has allowed us to improve our quality and expand our revenue opportunities,” said Mandy Savage, assistant general manager of Manheim Palm Beach. “We have been moving cars quickly through the process and so far, the feedback from our customers has been very positive.”
 

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