Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) has opened its new automotive research and training center at the J.W. Zacharias Physical Damage Research Centre in Winnipeg.
“Changes in how vehicles are manufactured are having a significant impact on the reparability of new vehicles,” said Minister Cliff Cullen in a release announcing the center’s opening.
“The opening of this new research and training facility will benefit vehicle owners and Manitoba’s collision repair industry by ensuring that when vehicles are involved in collisions, they will be properly repaired back to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards.”
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The new center will allow qualified technicians to collaborate with the province’s repair industry, allowing both groups to discuss repair methods related to complex automotive materials such as aluminum, carbon fiber, high strength and ultra, high-strength steels.
Technicians will also offer access to training on new and emerging vehicle repair techniques and equipment.
“Manitoba Public Insurance recognizes that the auto manufacturing industry is creating significant change for the collision repair industry and costs of repairs are increasing, which is why we are taking steps to save Manitobans money over the long-term,” commented MPI president and CEO Dan Guimond.
“This facility and the staff within it will ensure that the auto body technicians in Manitoba remain highly skilled and able to respond to rapidly changing vehicle construction and repair techniques. It’s expected that by next year, half of the Manitoba fleet will represent vehicles with complex materials, many of which require specialized training, tooling, equipment and facilities to ensure these vehicles are repairs safely back to manufacturer standards.”
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