Panel Beater Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Are you searching for a panel beater job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a panel beater. Feel free to use our panel beater job description template to produce your own panel beater job description. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a panel beater.
Who is a Panel Beater?
A panel beater is a person who restores damaged automobile bodies to their pre-collision condition. An auto body mechanic does the same task in both the US and Canada. Panel beaters, also referred to as auto body technicians, evaluate the damage to the exterior of automobiles and carry out repairs, modifications, or restorations. A panel beater is a tradesperson who fixes the structural elements, frames, or panel work of vehicles made entirely or partially of metal, metal alloys, or substitute materials. This includes creating panels by hand or using a machine. Typically, panel beaters run their workshops, work as independent contractors, or are employed by auto shops. Panel beaters create cost estimates for fixing cars. They unbolt or cut broken panels off of the car to remove them. Dents can sometimes be removed with a hammer, but other times, new panels must be installed. It could be necessary to use an auto robot to pull the badly damaged vehicle back into form. Any gaps must be filled by the panel beater, who must then smooth them out using a file, grinder, and sander. Locks and handles, as well as any other removed components, are replaced.
During collisions, the doors and fenders are typically damaged, therefore it is always a good idea to put your trust in someone who specializes in fixing automotive damage. Putty fillers, metalworking, and welding procedures, as well as other types of expertise, are typically connected with panel beating. When hiring panel beaters and smash repairs, be sure to pick professionals who are skilled in what they do. This also indicates that you should pick persons who work for reputable businesses rather than less reputable ones. If you need to hire panel beaters or smash repair specialists, look for those who work at reputable auto repair shops. All of these well-known businesses frequently offer extensive training on the most recent advancements and trends in panel beating. Any panel beater or service technician must possess the proper equipment and tools to be able to participate in the body filing and flipping processes. Also taken into account are tool assemblies like socket sets and spanners.
Historically, panel beaters were employed by auto mechanics as part of their regular duties. The specialty position of a panel beater, however, has become crucial to the modern automotive industry due to the growing emphasis on technology in panel refurbishment and repair as well as the large range of automobiles on the road. In the past, panel beating entailed using a dolly, which is similar to a movable anvil, and a hammer to remove dents from the car’s bodywork. To access the panel’s back and beat it back into its former shape, typically necessitated removing the trim and fittings from the panel’s inside. It was clear that this process would take a while. Even though dollies and hammers are still used nowadays, bodywork repair is often done with a far less invasive and more economical approach. The damage can be repaired from the outside using a contemporary process called Miracle Panel Repair, which eliminates the need to strip and reinstall the interior. Panel technicians are increasingly frequently used to refer to panel beaters, in acknowledgment of the highly skilled and technical nature of the task.
Panel removal and repair, or, depending on the damage, complete panel replacement, is one of a panel beater’s main responsibilities. To ensure that panels fit perfectly in place, a great deal of experience and expertise are required. Panels are either bolted or welded onto the car frame. To provide a quote, a panel beater will evaluate the damage and suggest a full panel replacement or repair. When an automobile has undergone all necessary panel repairs, it’s time to employ the spray painter. One of the most challenging challenges required is colour matching. To ensure that the repaired areas and the rest of the automobile blend seamlessly, a spray painter will match your car’s paint colour at this point. Certainly not an easy task, but at Coconut Grove Panel and Paint, we have master spraypainters with years of experience in paint matching and spraying. Cars are then covered in masking tape and brought into our state-of-the-art spray booth for spray painting. You should be familiar with body repair kits, welding, spray painting, hydraulic lifters, and pneumatic saws to succeed as a panel beater. Outstanding panel beaters maintain effective customer relations and guarantee that body repair work is completed fast and effectively.
Five different panel beating techniques include:
Shrinking/Stretching: This entails heating the panel’s damaged region and reshaping the metal using a specialized hammer. This method is combined with planishing to return the panel to its original curves and shape.
Planishing: Using a planishing hammer, the panel surface is precisely shaped and smoothed. When metal is forced up against a shaping instrument, such as a dolly or stake, this metalworking process helps push out the damaged metal in certain areas.
Welding: By melting the work parts together during welding, metal pieces can be joined together to form a strong joint that ensures sturdy vehicle construction. Welding can be done in a variety of methods, such as with an electric arc or a gas flame, depending on the materials being bonded.
Filling: To restore the surface’s original shape and features, some small holes must be filled in using putty filler. It must be applied carefully and quickly to the region since once it hardens, it loses its usability. Sanding is needed to shape and smooth the filler as it hardens.
Sanding: The process of sanding is used to precisely shape and smooth an area so that it is suitable for spray painting. Changing the coarseness of the sanding pad can provide a distinct texture depending on the stage of the project.
Panel Beater Job Description
What is a panel beater job description? A panel beater job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of a panel beater in an organization. Below are the panel beater job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a panel beater job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
- Refit body hardware, such as door locks and trims, and install repaired or replacement panels on vehicles.
- Fill in divots with plastic filler, then refinish surfaces with file, grinding, and sanding.
- Utilize machinery and straighten damaged automobiles.
- Use welding tools to cut and join replacement portions.
- Remove the upholstery to access the damaged panels.
- Take off any broken panels or components, as well as the upholstery and any attachments to get access.
- Utilize finishing and welding equipment.
- Hammer panels to remove dents.
- Observe all work, health, and safety regulations while you carry out your job.
- Keep all tools and equipment used by the company in good functioning order.
- Mentor apprentices to learn their trade.
- Maintain and carry out every workshop procedure by all Workplace Health and Safety laws.
- Perform upkeep, repairs, and renovations.
- Determine the scope of requests for motor vehicle repairs, restorations, or customizations.
- Control the expectations of the client.
- Create cost estimates for repairs or modifications, then finalize agreements.
- Organize, plan and schedule workflow.
- Inform clients regularly of the status of their repairs.
- Remove dents, replace parts, get rid of rust, fix scratches, and spray paint panels to get damaged cars back to their former state.
- Accept customization requests.
- Ensure that you are following safety and industry regulations.
- Drive recovery vehicles
Qualifications
- GED or high school diploma is required.
- Certification for panel beaters or comparable professional training is also required.
- Previous practical panel beater experience.
- Operating recovery trucks under a license.
- Experience with brazing, general welding, and spray paint
- Ability to use metalworking, hydraulic, and mechanical equipment.
- Thorough understanding of the safety requirements and laws governing the automotive sector.
- Physically capable of using large machinery.
- Excellent interpersonal and customer service abilities.
- Skills in time management.
- Ability to occasionally work unsupervised.
- Ability to perform upkeep, repairs, and renovations.
- Ability to collaborate with others.
- Willingness to put in extra time as needed.
Essential Skills
- Communication skills: You’ll need to be able to connect with clients and outline the required work and price.
- Dexterity: For the majority of your duties, you’ll require good hand-to-eye coordination and the ability to operate a variety of tools.
- Organizational abilities: Since you probably have to juggle several duties each day, understanding how to prioritize your work will be crucial.
- Attention to detail: This position necessitates meticulousness in task completion and attention to detail. When finalizing the repair to match the rest of the bodywork, you’ll need to pay close attention to detail.
- Practical perspective: To determine the best course of action for a repair, you will need to think logically.
- Adaptability/flexibility: Being flexible and accepting of a lot of variability in the workplace are requirements for the job of a panel beater. Being adaptive to the circumstance is crucial since you can find yourself working later if you have a deadline to meet or an additional workload at some point. While retaining the calibre of your work, you could also need to adjust to various car brands.
- Excellent general fitness level: You will need to be able to handle huge metal sheets because this is a rather active role.
How to Become a Panel Beater
Step 1. Join an apprenticeship program with a reputed training organization.
In Australia, smash repairers like Sheen Panel Service collaborate with several training schools. To provide panel beater apprentice training, Sheen Panel Service works with Kangan Institute’s Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE). While other TAFEs in the Melbourne region provide automotive training and panel beater apprenticeships, make sure to ask which smash repairers they are partnered with so that you may do your homework and only work with the industry’s top panel beaters, like Sheen Panel Service.
Step 2. Complete three years of combined campus and on-the-job training.
Every year, new cars are introduced to the Australian automotive market. With new models come new technologies, which necessitate the use of new repair techniques. Sheen Panel Service workshops make sure that all of its panel beater apprenticeship students have I-CAR training credentials in recognition of the necessity for ongoing innovation. I-CAR is a well-known organization that offers collision repair training all over the world. All Sheen panel beater apprenticeship students have access to the most recent industry expertise for repairing the newest car models that are sold in Australia thanks to I-CAR training.
Step 3. Participate in one more year of practical training at a panel beating workshop
Now is the time to put your training into action with greater freedom and accountability than you would have with a panel beater apprenticeship. During your senior year, integrate yourself into the group and solidify your training and technique with the help of your mentor. The majority of apprentices who are in their last year of training as panel beaters use this year to refine their methods for becoming one.
Step 4. Get a job at a workshop that has connections to the industry and offers ongoing training.
Don’t focus solely on your current prospects while you learn how to become a panel beater. Think about how your upcoming company might be able to advance your career. You won’t keep current with the most recent collision repair techniques if they are unable to provide you with ongoing training support following your panel beater apprenticeship.
Where to Work as a Panel Beater
Panel beaters are employed by specialized body repair companies and operate in the automotive sector. These are either privately held or run by a certain auto insurance provider. Although car inspections often take place outside in workshops, a panel beater will spend most of his or her time within. Mobile panel beaters, who perform smaller works like respraying, repainting, and minor dent repair at the customer’s home, are often employed by larger organizations. Since the customer does not need to transport the vehicle to the body shop, this is frequently the more practical choice. Additionally, panel beaters frequently have their workshops or work at auto repair companies.
Panel Beater Salary Scale
In Nigeria, a panel beater normally takes between 70,000 NGN and 120, 000 NGN per month. Compared to the typical panel beater pay in the UK, which is £35,345 per year, panel beater wages in the US range from $21,010 to $69,510, with median compensation of $39,440. These pay ranges are based on various criteria, including location, education level, performance evaluations, years of experience, etc.
