Equalizer Helps Family-Owned Shop Perform Quality Repairs

NOTE: This October SPS was originally published online in October 2018.

Harlan Huizenga started C&H Body Repair Inc., a family-owned-and-operated shop, in 1974. It is located in Orange City, IA.

Aaron Huizenga, Harlan’s son, has been around the shop his whole life, so it felt natural to follow in his father’s footsteps. He went to school at Northwest Iowa Community College to study collision repair. After he finished school, he started working for his dad in the early 2000s.

Now, as the owner of C&H, Aaron’s company strives to do quality work, especially when it comes to customer service and the services they provide. They are a part of the community, and he believes that people are more trusting of people they know.

C&H Body Repair specializes in auto body repair and refinishing, frame repair and refinishing, glass and windshield replacement, auto detailing, paint-less dent removal, 24-hour towing and recovery services, as well as door unlocking.

The company has been family-owned-and-operated for many years, and everyone who works at the shop has contributed to its reputation.

“I give my employees credit because without them, we wouldn’t be able to provide the great services we offer,” Aaron said.

Quality is important to Aaron and his company, which is why when their supplier introduced them to Equalizer, it was a perfect fit.

Since 1987, Equalizer has invented, developed and brought many new products into the auto glass industry. Its products are transforming auto glass removal and replacement technology.

The most recent purchase C&H Body Repair made from Equalizer was the Viper. The Equalizer Viper is a wire removal device designed for small quarter glass removals, but can also be used on windshields and rear glass. It’s small, light, and easy to maneuver.

“We were running into smaller quarter windows and rear glass that were hard to remove with our current tools. Our supplier showed us how the Viper product worked, and we saw the benefits of this tool,” Aaron said. “Any time we can take out windshields and other glass components without damaging other parts of the vehicle, we will be able to save both time and money for our shop and the customers.”

A few other products they use include the Equalizer Stingray and the Equalizer Visual Vacuum plunger cups. The Stingray is perfectly designed for cutting out windshields, no matter the direction you are cutting. The rotating speed control allows you to have a wide range of speeds.

The Visual Vacuum plunger cups are trustworthy and have the capacity to hold around 90 pounds each. One interesting fact about the plunger cups: They are designed for curved glass. The average person has no idea that there is a difference between a flat glass vacuum and a curved glass vacuum.

Each year, Equalizer sends its employees to teach and participate in many training seminars and trade shows and provides training for shops’ employees, which was one thing Aaron liked about the company.

He and his crew were able to get training on the products they purchased from Equalizer.

“We are certified with Dinitrol Urethane. We also took the Equalizer class that was put on by Autobody Specialties in Sioux Falls, SD.” With the class, his employees were able to be properly trained on how to use the products.

“They (Equalizer) have the right tools for the right job,” he said.

C&H Body Repair recently earned a Gold Class certification from I-CAR. The Gold Class title is the highest role-relevant training achievement recognized by the collision repair industry. This is important to Aaron because it shows insurance companies and his customers that they are receiving the best training available.

“Our guys are properly trained,” Aaron said “We have certified welders and paint technicians. I think if you have the proper equipment, the best certifications [you] can get and ongoing training, people will trust you.”

Aaron is proud of his company and his employees.

“We keep up-to-date on our certifications and continue to seek ongoing training,” Aaron said.

Using tools from a company like Equalizer not only makes certain tedious tasks easier, but it also helps his team keep up with the latest innovations.

“Technology is changing,” Aaron said. “Our goal is to keep up with it.”

C&H Body Repair Inc.
Location: Orange City, IA
(712) 737-4095

Company At A Glance...
Type: Collision, Glass and Towing
Facility Employees: Five
In Business Since: 1974
Number of Locations: One
DRP Programs: Three
Combined Production Space: 4,800 square feet

Equalizer
Company Contact: Monique Stearns
(800) 334-1334
https://equalizer.com/

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Source: Autobody News

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Tags: Auto, auto body, body repair, body shop, collision repair, Equalizer, frame alignment, frame machine, framerack, repair equipment, repair technology


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