SHOP TALK
Page 75
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• The difference between the UK and Continental transport industry is best highlighted by the aftennarket and could not be better illustrated than by the latest paint trials.
Germany does not yet have legislation on the phase out of VOCs in CV paint, but waterbased paints are already in use there. In the UK we wait for legislation to force the change on a sceptical and unwilling industry.
It's the old story. The small recidivist element get a high profile and laws are passed to stop their antics. Unfortunately, the large, respectable and law-abiding companies are targeted for enforcement while the disreputable ones carry on as before.
The EPA is a perfect example of this over legislation and under enforcement. It only affects the larger paintshops leaving the smaller ones to use and dispose of solvent as they wish.
We also have accountants running too many businesses who don't seem to realise that from 1 January we are in a single European market and must compete against the rest of Europe. There are only two ways to do this—on price or on technology. If we are to compete on price our living standards will have to drop to equal the lowest in the EC. If we go the technology route we must invest heavily in training.
Against this background the likes of BRS—which is pumping Om into apprentice training — should be praised. If only the rest of industry followed its lead.