Friday, 12 December 2014

Big changes for AIRC International

A new wind is blowing through the European umbrella organisation (AIRC) of Trade Associations representing the vehicle body repair sector

On 3rd of December 2014 a General Meeting held in Brussels saw the election of a new president, relocation of the head office to Frankfurt and the voting in of a new general secretary and Board.

The new president, is Hans-Peter Schneider from VSCI Switzerland. Hans-Peter said ‘I will work, with the Board, for an even stronger AIRC bringing member countries greater benefit and real value to each member of participating National Associations’. He also said ‘As times and challenges change, so organizations must adapt. AIRC has been working for 18 months to evolve against a background of needing to serve many different countries each with different problems, work provider dynamics and expectations of a central Association’.

The new Secretary General is Dr. Klaus Weichtmann, secretary general of the German organization ZKF. AIRC remains registered in the Netherlands but the Secretariat will now operate from Germany. Other board members are Hilde van der Stichele – Febelcar Belgium, Peter Börner – ZKF Germany,

Thomas Krebs – SKAD Denmark and Malcolm Tagg – director general, VBRA UK.

Malcolm said, ‘I am pleased to continue serving the wider European repair industry as this international representation directly benefits VBRA members, not only in car repair, but in the commercial sector as well. AIRC gives VBRA a broader member backed route to European legislators and, importantly, is a lead organisation in SERMI which will affect all repairers in time’.