One of the world’s experts on automotive paint and techniques has joined the Revive! training team.

Don Carmichael spent 21 years in the automotive division of DuPont, travelling all over the world to train vehicle manufacturers on bodywork paint and techniques. During his career he advised the Jaguar, Williams and McLaren F1 teams and latterly was involved with the IMI on the accreditations side as centre co-ordinator of the DuPont Academy.

He took voluntary redundancy from DuPont three years ago and says the opportunity at Revive! came at the perfect time.

“I had begun looking for a new challenge, so when I was invited to bring my skills set to Revive! it didn’t take long to make up my mind,” said Don who lives just a stones throw from Revive’s Rugby head office. “ Revive! is clearly going places and I am looking forward to being part of it, getting out and about helping the technicians with accreditation.”

Don’s already learned some new methods in the short period he has been with the company. He said: “There’s not a lot I don’t know about paint and the best way to use it, but Revive! have developed some new clever techniques in SMART repair. My philosophy is that when you stop learning it is time to pack up.”

Revive! became the first SMART repairer to be recognised as an IMI accredited training centre last year and is the driving force behind raising standards within the SMART repair sector. Its managing director Mark Llewellyn represents SMART repairers on various industry working parties and steering committees working towards establishing a national set of competencies and standards for SMART repair techniques.

Commenting on Don’s appointment Mark Llewellyn said: “We are delighted that one of the leading experts in automotive paint techniques has decided to join Revive! at such an exciting phase of our development. Don brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge and I know that our nation-wide team of technicians will get a lot out of their training session with him.”