“I chose Global Finishing Solutions because of their solid reputation for quality. As I worked with GFS, I found they also have exceptional communication, customer service and technical expertise.”

Maaco Collision Repair & Auto Painting
📍Carpentersville, Illinois

Amar Patel recently opened a brand new Maaco body shop, complete with a GFS Ultra^® XD Paint Booth and Mix Room.

Please introduce your business and tell us your story: I prepped my first car when I was 14. My dad promised the car to me and my twin brother when we turned 16. He was happy to get another two years out of the car and wanted it to look good. I have been fixing and hot-rodding cars since then and like to get out on the track when time and funds permit.

I also have two engineering degrees in mechanical and manufacturing engineering, and I have experience in industrial welding, painting, process, fabrication, molding and design. Now I’m going back to my roots — switching gears to owning my own automotive refinishing business. I started looking into Maaco franchises a little over two years ago, and I signed the agreement on February 29, 2016 to open my own Maaco shop in Carpentersville, Illinois.

What services do you offer and how many jobs do you plan to perform? Our core offerings include paint and light collision work, but I also want to find ways to make it fun and complete car builds like you see on TV. We have an efficient layout that allows us to paint more than six cars a day using one paint booth.

What finishing equipment did you purchase and how did you decide on GFS equipment? We have a semi-downdraft Ultra XD Paint Booth with six-tube lights, light reflectors and observation windows, as well as an Ultra XD Mix Room.

I chose Global Finishing Solutions because the GFS name is synonymous with a good company and top-of-the-line products. No one is ever like, “eh” when they’re talking about GFS. The products are readily available, and the timelines are more certain. GFS products also manufactured and shipped within close proximity — I don’t even know where the other paint booths are being manufactured.

I can’t say enough good things about Don Putney and his staff at Collision Equipment Experts (CEE). GFS and CEE have been great to work with — I was able to get a lot of information before the purchase. Don has even come in a few times to collaborate and discuss the layout proactively so I could make facility layout adjustments based on his feedback. I like that there is an open line of communication for support.

How do you think the equipment will benefit your business? GFS booths, first of all, function exceptionally well. GFS paint booths also provide a phenomenal working environment for employees, and they look nice and show well to the customer and employees.

I plan to give tours of the shop, so I want it to look nice. You won’t get a better impression anywhere else. It all fits — nice shop, nice equipment.

What is your plan for the future of your business? Once our core offerings are extremely strong, I would like to try to find a way to expand those core offerings, and possibly open another Maaco shop. The shop is well laid out and we have plenty of parking. We will try to paint as many cars as possible at this facility and are looking to add one or more locations in the near future. We can really do well if we think a little outside of the box. I always want to find the best way to do something. “This is how we’ve always done it,” will never come out of my mouth.