Diversified  technology company 3M has opened a new state-of-the-art Refinish Training Centre in Atherstone, Warwickshire.  The centre was officially opened by Jim McSheffrey, Managing Director of 3M United Kingdom PLC at a ceremony attended by 3M personnel from Ireland and the UK.

The 3M Automotive Refinish Centre (ARC) features a vehicle repair workshop and spray booth, along with various meeting rooms and breakout areas.  The centre has also been fitted with dedicated paint mixing and gun cleaning rooms, enabling training visitors to get hands-on with 3M’s range of paint application systems.

Speaking at the opening Jim McSheffrey said, “This is an investment being made by 3M to create a modern and up-to-date facility that we can use to show our customers how to get the very best out of 3M products, enabling them to get hands-on with the solutions we offer.”

As an accredited QAA training provider with several staff members holding senior level C, 3M is ideally placed to develop solutions and training programmes for bodyshops. Mark Deakin, General Sales and Marketing Manager for the 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division, commented, “With the opening of the ARC we have created a facility which demonstrates our commitment to excellence in the industry and to furthering the skills of bodyshop operatives. The training offered will help bodyshops reach nationally-accredited standards, boosting their efficiency and their competitiveness.  The ARC has superb facilities to provide training for bodyshop operatives and managers, our channel partners, paint companies and other industry stakeholders.” Mark added, “As a leading brand in the refinish market, it is fitting that we are now able to offer the highest standards in training through what we believe will become one of the best automotive refinishing training centres for the UK and Ireland.”