The right solution for every sector.

MMA distributes quality coatings, finishing products and collision parts to body shops, industrial and commercial businesses, and individuals. We start from your needs, not from a price list.

MMA distributes quality coatings, finishing products and collision parts. We start from your needs.

Describe my need or find a part in the catalogue

Pick your sector. The chameleon adapts.

Automotive refinish

For body shops, restorers and individuals.

A complete paint system, from primer to clear, with the colour tools and shop supplies that go with it.

Describe my need All about this sector

Waterborne or solvent basecoat, in a premium or mid-range line
Primer surfacers, wet-on-wet sealers, epoxy and etch primers
Standard and fast 2K clears
Formulas, factory variants and colour chips for colour matching
Fillers, fibreglass and plastic repair
Abrasives, masking, degreasers and polishing
Spray guns, cups, colour-match lamps and infrared drying
Respiratory protection, including supplied air, and PPE

Industrial

For plants, fabrication and maintenance shops, and industrial painting contractors.

Protective coatings for steel and equipment, chosen for the real environment, with the prep, application and protection to match.

Describe my need All about this sector

Epoxy and direct-to-metal primers, polyurethane topcoats
Coatings for fabricated parts, machinery and shop-applied structures
High-durability systems (zinc, epoxy mastic, high heat): project by project
Rust converters, rust control and touch-up primers
Prep: abrasives, degreasers, blasting equipment
Spray guns, gun parts and compressed air
Respiratory protection, including supplied air, gloves and coveralls

Commercial

For fleets, truck and trailer shops, and heavy or farm equipment.

Paint systems for commercial vehicles, from primer to topcoat, in your fleet’s or the manufacturer’s colour.

Describe my need All about this sector

Epoxy and direct-to-metal primers for steel, aluminum and galvanized
High-solids topcoats, single-stage or base and clear
Fleet and equipment-maker colours, also in aerosol
Chassis coatings, cavity wax and anti-chip
Truck bed liners
Abrasives, masking, spray guns and PPE

Powder coating

For powder coating shops and manufacturers.

Our powder line-up is taking shape. Right now, we supply what happens before the oven: prep, compressed air and shop protection.

Describe my need

Degreasers, abrasives and non-wovens for prep
Small blasting equipment
Compressed air: filters, dryers, regulators and fittings
Respiratory protection, gloves and coveralls
Powders and high-temperature masking: on request

Collision parts

For body shops and individuals.

Economy or CAPA-certified parts, searchable by vehicle or part number in our online catalogue, with price and availability. Plus the paint matched to the colour code.

Describe my need

Bumpers, reinforcements and absorbers
Fenders, hoods, doors and tailgates
Headlights, tail lights and fog lights
Grilles, mirrors and mouldings
Radiators and condensers
Search by year, make, model, or Partslink or OEM number
Pay online, pick up in Chicoutimi, Jonquière, Alma or La Baie

A finish that’s right the first time.

A redo costs a booth cycle, product and a day. Together we build a complete system, from prep to clear, that fits your booth.

Right colour: Formulas, factory variants, colour chips and a well-planned blend.
Booth freed up: Wet-on-wet primers and fast clears: fewer steps.
One system: Primer, basecoat and clear designed to work together.
Compliant: Canadian VOC limits and up-to-date safety data sheets.

How we work

You describe your jobs Types of repairs, booth, mixing equipment, what keeps coming back.
We propose a system Primers, basecoat, clear and supplies, with the process and technical data sheets.
We follow up A defect, a colour that won’t match: we find the cause and can point you to training.

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Waterborne or solvent basecoat?

Both give a great finish. The right choice depends on your booth and the way you work.

	Waterborne basecoat	Solvent basecoat
Drying	Needs good air movement in the booth.	Dries fast, little affected by humidity.
VOCs and booth	Less solvent in the booth; the 420 g/L limit is easier to meet.	Must also meet 420 g/L, ready to spray.
For whom	Shops set up for waterborne drying (blowers, venturis).	Shops without waterborne drying equipment, touch-ups.

Either way, the clear on top is usually a 2K clear.

Primer surfacer or sealer?

Two primers, two jobs. Mixing them up costs sanding time or hiding.

	Primer surfacer	Primer sealer
Job	Fills sanding scratches and small imperfections.	Seals and evens out the base right before colour.
Sanding	Sanded before colour, dry or wet.	Wet-on-wet: no sanding before basecoat.
When	After filler, or on a surface that needs levelling.	Factory-primed new part, base to even out.

VOC limits: 250 g/L for primer surfacer, 340 g/L for primer sealer (SOR/2009-197).

Wet-on-wet, explained

One less sanding step on new parts.

How it works: Basecoat goes over the primer sealer after a short flash, with no sanding.
Where: Mostly on new parts already primed at the factory (e-coat).
What you save: A sanding step and booth time.
Tinted undercoat: Light, medium or dark grey to suit the colour: the basecoat hides in fewer coats.

Follow the flash time on the technical data sheet.

Fast or standard clear?

The clear often sets the length of the booth cycle.

	Standard clear	Fast clear
Cycle	Usual flash and bake.	Less waiting: the booth frees up sooner.
Typical use	Large areas, overall paint jobs.	Spot repairs, high-volume shops.
Watch for	Booth time.	A shorter application window.

Clear coating VOC limit: 250 g/L ready to spray. Some clears are designed for a shorter or lower-temperature cure.

The paint code is not enough

The paint code is a starting point, not a guaranteed match.

Factory variants: One code often has several variants: lighter, darker or yellower.
Ageing: Sun and time change the original paint.
The tools: Formulas and variants, sprayed colour chips, a spectrophotometer reading.
The spray-out: Spray a test card and compare under a colour-match lamp before the part.

Give us the vehicle’s colour code or VIN.

Blending into the next panel

Even a well-matched colour can look different from one panel to the next.

How it works: The colour is faded into the adjacent panel so the eye does not see the transition.
Plan it: Repairs go better when the blend is planned from the start.
The clear: Clear then covers the whole panel, or is blended per the planned method.

Plan it at the estimate: blending is often billable.

Painting a plastic bumper

Without the right prep, paint peels or cracks.

Clean: A cleaner designed for plastics, before and after sanding.
Bond: Adhesion promoter or a primer with plastic additive on thermoplastics (PP, TPO).
Stay flexible: A flex additive prevents cracks on parts that bend.

Adhesion promoter VOC limit: 840 g/L.

Bare metal: epoxy or etch?

On bare steel, galvanized or aluminum, the primer provides adhesion and protection.

	Epoxy primer	Etch primer
Job	A strongly adhering anti-corrosion barrier.	Bites into the metal for adhesion.
Typical use	Large bare areas, long-lasting repairs.	Small spots sanded through to metal.
Next	Surfacer or colour, per the data sheet.	Covered with a primer surfacer or sealer.

Some primers combine epoxy protection and surfacer in one product. Wash primer VOC limit: 660 g/L.

Choosing a body filler

The right filler sands easily and does not show through the paint.

Universal: For most dents on steel.
Finishing: In a thin coat, for pinholes and fine scratches.
Fibreglass: To reinforce and fill holed or repaired areas.
Aluminum, flexible: For aluminum panels and parts that flex.

Measure the hardener per the data sheet: too much or too little hurts sanding and durability.

Abrasives: which grit, when?

Each step has its grit. Skipping one leaves scratches under the colour.

Coarse: Stripping, taking to bare metal and shaping filler.
Medium: Finishing filler and sanding primer surfacer.
Fine: Prep before basecoat and blend areas.
Very fine: Fixing clearcoat defects, before polishing.

Discs, sheets, sponges, non-wovens and blocks: tell us your sander and your step.

Masking it right

Sloppy masking means a hard edge or a bleed to fix.

Automotive tape: Holds through the bake and comes off without residue.
Fine line: For clean edges on stripes, mouldings and blends.
Foam tape: In openings and jambs: no visible paint line.
Paper and film: To cover the rest of the vehicle fast and clean.

Liquid masking and booth coatings help keep the booth clean.

Orange peel, runs, craters

Three common defects, three families of causes.

Orange peel: Film too thin, wrong viscosity or reduction, gun too far, booth too hot.
Runs: Too much product or coats too close together. Fine-sand, then polish or recoat.
Craters: Contamination: silicone, oil, dirty compressed air. Dedicated degreaser and filtered air.

A photo of the defect helps us find the cause with you.

VOCs: what the law says

In Canada, SOR/2009-197 limits VOCs in automotive refinishing products.

Who it covers: Anyone who makes, imports or sells these products, distributors included.
How: The limit applies to the ready-to-spray product, hardener and reducer included.
Examples: Colour 420 g/L, clear 250, primer surfacer 250, primer sealer 340.
Exemptions: Non-refillable aerosols and very small touch-up containers.

Follow the mixing ratios on the data sheet: they are set to stay under the limit.

Breathing safely with 2K

2K hardeners contain isocyanates, a cause of occupational asthma.

Spraying: Quebec’s CNESST points to supplied-air respirators: no cartridge is approved for isocyanates.
Sanding: A particulate respirator may be enough, depending on the dust.
Where: In a ventilated booth, with exposure kept as low as possible.

Ask us for the safety data sheets of your products.

Conventional or HVLP gun?

Part of the sprayed product never reaches the part.

	Conventional	High efficiency (HVLP)
On the part	Often 20 to 40% of the product (EPA).	About 50 to 65% of the product.
Overspray	Lots of overspray in the booth.	Less overspray, cleaner booth.
Setup	Higher air pressure.	Stick to the specified inlet pressure.

A clean gun with the right tip, properly set, matters as much as its type.

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Full blast or targeted maintenance?

Surface prep makes a system last. When blasting is not possible, there are solutions.

	Abrasive blast (SSPC-SP 10)	Tool cleaning (SP 2 / SP 3)
Durability	Highest: the base of high-durability systems.	Shorter, but maintenance happens without a shutdown.
Constraints	Dust, containment, equipment shut down.	Running plant, hard-to-reach areas.
Products	Zinc-rich primer, epoxy, polyurethane or polysiloxane topcoat.	Surface-tolerant epoxy mastic, then topcoat.

The right choice depends on the corrosivity category and the service life wanted before the first major maintenance.

Your site under ISO 12944

The standard ranks environments by how corrosive they are to steel. The system starts there.

C1 – C2: Heated, dry interiors; unheated buildings with condensation, rural areas.
C3: Urban or moderate industrial areas, food plants.
C4: Industrial areas, chemical plants, swimming pools.
C5 – CX: Humid, aggressive industrial areas with near-constant condensation; extreme.

Immersion and buried steel have their own categories.

How long should it last?

ISO 12944 means time before the first major maintenance, not a warranty.

Low (L): Up to 7 years.
Medium (M): 7 to 15 years.
High (H): 15 to 25 years.
Very high (VH): Over 25 years.

The longer the target, the more prep and film thickness matter.

Zinc-rich primer

Zinc corrodes instead of the steel, like galvanizing.

How it works: A scratch does not let rust creep under the film.
Two families: Organic (epoxy zinc) or inorganic (zinc silicate).
Prep: Usually needs a thorough abrasive blast, near-white type.
Next: Epoxy intermediate and topcoat, depending on the system.

It is the base of high-durability systems in industrial or salty environments.

Surface-tolerant epoxy mastic

For maintaining steel when abrasive blasting is not possible.

On what: Hand- or power-tool-cleaned steel, loose rust removed.
Why: Running plant, no dust allowed, hard access.
The trade-off: Shorter durability than after an abrasive blast.

Good for targeted maintenance: fewer shutdowns, more frequent touch-ups.

Polyurethane or polysiloxane?

Two topcoats for outdoor, sun-exposed steel.

	Aliphatic polyurethane	Polysiloxane
In the sun	Holds its colour and gloss well.	Even better gloss and colour retention.
System	Over an epoxy intermediate.	Can often replace intermediate and topcoat.
Isocyanates	Yes, isocyanate hardener.	Some formulas are isocyanate-free.

Epoxy alone chalks in the sun: outdoors it needs a topcoat.

Back in service fast

Some systems cure much faster than conventional urethanes.

The products: Polyaspartics and fast-cure systems, often direct to metal.
In the cold: Can go on cold steel where others must wait.
One coat: In low to medium corrosivity, it can replace epoxy plus urethane.

These products often contain isocyanates: use suitable respiratory protection.

Hot surfaces

Above 204 °C, you need a high-heat coating.

Where: Stacks, ducts, ovens, exhausts, process equipment.
The families: Silicones, inorganic ceramics, zinc silicate.
The trap: An ordinary coating blisters and flakes in the heat.

Give us the service temperature, continuous and peak.

Tanks and immersion

A lining protects both the tank and what it holds.

The families: Epoxy phenolics, epoxy novolacs, 100% solids systems.
The contents: Water, chemicals or fuel: each has its own demands.
Drinking water: Insist on a coating certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61.

Prep and thickness control are critical in immersion.

Intumescent fireproofing

A thin coating that swells in a fire and insulates structural steel.

How it works: In heat, the film swells into an insulating layer.
The standard: Fire-resistance ratings are tested to CAN/ULC-S101.
Thickness: It depends on the steel section and the rating required.

Thinner and neater than spray-applied fireproofing, for exposed steel.

Concrete floors

Forklifts, oils, chemicals: bare concrete wears and stains.

Epoxy: Abrasion and chemical resistance, easy cleaning.
Urethane cement: For heavily used floors, depending on the use.
Fast systems: Polyaspartics: quick return to service.
Safety: Non-slip finishes and traffic lane marking.

Floor enamel VOC limit: 250 g/L (SOR/2009-264).

Dry film thickness

Thickness defines how the system performs. It gets measured.

The unit: Micrometres (µm) or mils: 1 mil = 25.4 µm.
Too thin: The planned protection is lost.
Too thick: Risk of cracking, trapped solvent and waste.
Coverage: Quantity = area × thickness ÷ volume solids.

Example: a common C4 system is about 200 µm in three coats.

Surface prep grades

SSPC (now AMPP) and ISO 8501-1 standards describe the surface to reach.

SP 1: Solvent cleaning: oil and grease, before anything else.
SP 2 / SP 3: Hand or power tool (St 2 / St 3).
SP 11: Power tool to bare metal.
SP 6 / 10 / 5: Commercial, near-white (Sa 2½), white metal blast (Sa 3).

The data sheet gives the minimum prep for each product.

VOCs in maintenance coatings

On site, industrial maintenance coatings fall under SOR/2009-264.

Industrial maintenance: 340 g/L maximum.
Metallic pigmented: 500 g/L, where zinc-rich primers fall.
High temperature: 420 g/L.
Excluded: Coatings applied in a shop or factory to a product.

Every product comes with its WHMIS 2015 safety data sheet.

Isocyanates

Polyurethanes and some polyaspartics contain isocyanates.

The risk: Respiratory and skin sensitizers, the leading cause of occupational asthma in Quebec.
The rule: Exposure kept as low as possible, even below the limits.
The options: Some polysiloxanes, epoxies and waterborne products are isocyanate-free.

For spraying, a supplied-air respirator is recommended.

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Steel, aluminum or galvanized?

Each metal needs its own prep and primer. A wrong choice shows fast.

	Steel	Aluminum and galvanized
Prep	Degreasing, then sanding or abrasive blasting.	Degreasing and light abrasion: smooth surface, poor grip.
Primer	Anti-corrosion: epoxy or zinc-rich.	An adhesion primer designed for these metals.
If it’s wrong	Rust creeps under the paint.	The paint peels off in sheets.

Frames and underbodies get a thicker protection.

Calcium, salt and gravel

Here, trucks spend the winter in de-icers and gravel.

The base: Well-prepared metal and an anti-corrosion primer, epoxy or direct-to-metal.
The topcoat: High-solids, resistant to UV and pressure washing.
Exposed areas: Frame, underbody and rocker panels: a thicker protection.

Calcium chloride, more aggressive, is used in the harshest conditions.

Protecting the frame

That is where rust starts, out of sight.

Remove rust: Rust remover, converter or mechanical prep, depending on its state.
Protect: Anti-corrosion primer, then a chassis coating.
Cavities: Wax or anti-corrosion product sprayed into cavities and frame rails.
Underbody: Protective and anti-chip coating where gravel hits.

Underbody coating VOC limit: 430 g/L (SOR/2009-197).

Direct-to-metal primer

A primer that bonds to prepared metal with no extra coat.

On what: Steel, aluminum or galvanized, prepared per the data sheet.
What you save: Fewer steps and fewer products in inventory.
For whom: Fabricated parts, repairs, short runs.

Check the data sheet for the metals and prep it is designed for.

Single-stage or base and clear?

Two ways to finish a truck or a piece of equipment.

	Single-stage	Base and clear
How	Colour and gloss in one product.	A colour coat, then a clear.
Strengths	Fewer coats, booth freed sooner.	Metallic and pearl colours, deep gloss.
Typical use	Fleets, equipment, solid colours.	Truck cabs, effect colours.

Single-stage VOC limit: 420 g/L ready to spray.

High solids

More resin and pigment, less solvent in every litre.

More film: More thickness per coat for the same sprayed volume.
Fewer coats: Less handling and a booth freed sooner.
Fewer VOCs: Regulatory limits are easier to meet.

Stick to the data sheet thickness: too thick and the film dries poorly.

Your fleet colour

A truck that does not match the others hurts the fleet’s image.

Starting point: The fleet’s or the manufacturer’s colour code.
No code: A sample: a fuel door, a cap, a removed part.
The tools: Digital colour-matching tools exist for commercial vehicles.
The check: A sprayed test card, compared before painting.

Keep the formula used: the next order will match.

Truck bed liners

A textured coat against abrasion, impact and slipping.

Where: Pickup boxes, flatbeds, steps, work surfaces.
Formats: Aerosol, roller or spray gun, depending on the area.
Prep: Degrease and sand: adhesion makes all the difference.

Truck bed liner VOC limit: 310 g/L.

Farm equipment

Fertilizer, manure, humidity and sun all attack the paint.

The attack: Ammonia from fertilizer and manure is corrosive; soil wears.
The topcoat: Waterborne or high-solids, depending on your shop.
Colours: Equipment makers’ colours, also in aerosol for touch-ups.

Regular washing limits the attack of fertilizer and manure on the finish.

Heavy and forestry equipment

Abrasion, impact, oil and weather, all year.

Prep: Thorough degreasing: oil prevents adhesion.
Primer: Epoxy or direct-to-metal on bare steel.
Topcoat: In the manufacturer’s colour, UV-resistant.

For a touch-up, an aerosol in the original colour keeps rust away until the repaint.

Free up the booth sooner

A vehicle off the road earns nothing.

Fewer steps: A direct-to-metal primer instead of two products.
Fewer coats: High-solids single-stage.
Fast drying: Hardeners and products designed to dry faster.
Spot drying: Infrared lamps for local repairs.

Tell us your booth temperature: it changes the right choice.

Waterborne or solvent?

Both exist for commercial vehicles and equipment.

	Waterborne	Solvent
Shop	Less odour, flammability and solvent to breathe.	Less sensitive to shop humidity.
Drying	Needs good air movement and heat.	Dries in a wider range of conditions.
VOCs	Limits are easier to meet.	High solids to stay compliant.

The right choice depends on your drying equipment, temperature and humidity.

VOCs in a fleet shop

Trucks and trailers fall under the automotive refinishing regulations.

Covered: Any self-propelled vehicle, trucks included, and mobile equipment, trailers included.
Not covered: Factory application during manufacturing.
Examples: Primer surfacer 250 g/L, colour or single-stage 420, clear 250.

Source: SOR/2009-197.

Aerosol touch-ups

For a scratch, a part or a small area, without getting the gun out.

2K aerosols: Two-component primers and clears in aerosol, for gun-like durability.
Equipment colours: Equipment makers’ colours available in aerosol.
Rust control: Primers and converters to stop rust on the spot.

2K aerosols often contain isocyanates: use suitable respiratory protection.

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Polyester or epoxy powder?

Both are durable, but not in the same place.

	Polyester	Epoxy
Use	Outdoors: good UV and weather resistance.	Indoors or as a base coat: excellent adhesion and chemical resistance.
In the sun	Keeps its colour and gloss.	Chalks and yellows in the sun.
Examples	Outdoor furniture, railings, vehicle parts.	Primer under polyester, indoor parts, equipment.

For demanding outdoor use, an epoxy primer under a polyester topcoat combines both.

Pretreatment

Powder bonds no better than the surface you give it.

Degrease: Cutting oil, grease and fingerprints block adhesion.
Remove rust: Rust and mill scale come off later, taking the powder with them.
Convert: A conversion treatment improves adhesion and corrosion resistance.
Dry: A wet part traps water under the film.

Rinse well after each chemical step: residues hurt adhesion.

Blasting before powder

On rusted or painted steel, abrasive blasting takes the part back to bare metal.

What it removes: Rust, mill scale and old paint.
What it gives: An anchor profile that helps adhesion.
Then: Blow off dust and coat quickly, before rust comes back.

Wear a suitable blasting hood and respiratory protection.

Masking for the cure

Masking has to survive the oven temperature.

Tapes: High-temperature tapes designed for powder curing.
Plugs: Silicone plugs and caps for holes and threads.
The trap: Ordinary tape melts, sticks or leaves residue in the oven.

Check the masking’s maximum temperature before curing.

Powder primer

A first powder coat under the topcoat.

Why: More corrosion protection for demanding outdoor use.
Types: Epoxy primers, sometimes zinc-enriched.
Curing: The primer is often partially cured, then the topcoat cures both.

Follow the data sheet for temperatures and times between coats.

Outgassing

Pinholes in the finish? The metal may have released gas.

The cause: Castings and galvanized steel can release gas during the cure.
The fix: Preheat the part to outgas before coating.
The powders: Some powders are formulated to better tolerate outgassing.

Test on one part before a full run.

Film thickness

Too much or too little powder shows, and costs.

Too thin: Poor hiding, less protection.
Too thick: Orange peel, a finish less impact-resistant, wasted powder.
Measuring: A thickness gauge on the cured part.

The recommended thickness range is on the powder’s data sheet.

Curing

What counts is the metal temperature, not the oven air.

Time at temperature: Cure time starts when the part reaches temperature.
Thick parts: They heat up more slowly than thin ones.
Under-cure: Poor adhesion and chemical resistance.
Over-cure: Colour that yellows or shifts, a more brittle finish.

A temperature recorder on the part removes the guesswork.

Textures and finishes

The finish changes the look, and what it hides.

Smooth: From flat to high gloss.
Textured: Better at hiding metal defects and handling marks.
Metallic: Some need a powder clear to hold up outdoors.

Ask for a sample panel before choosing.

Touch-ups

Touching up a powder-coated part is never invisible.

Small chip: A liquid touch-up in the same colour protects the metal.
Defect before curing: Blow off the powder and start over.
Defect after curing: Recoat the whole part, or strip and redo.

Check that the powder’s data sheet allows a second coat.

Compressed air

The air carrying the powder must be dry and clean.

Water: Moisture makes powder clump and hurts application.
Oil: It causes craters in the finish.
The fix: Filters, a dryer and regular draining.

We can supply filters, regulators and fittings.

Grounding

Powder sticks thanks to the electrostatic charge.

Hooks: Keep them clean: cured powder on hooks breaks the ground.
Corners: Inside corners attract less powder (Faraday cage effect).
Settings: Adjust voltage and flow for difficult shapes.

Poor grounding gives uneven thickness.

Powder or liquid paint?

Two processes, two ways of working.

	Powder	Liquid
Solvent	No solvent to manage.	Solvent or water, VOC limits to meet.
Equipment	Booth, electrostatic gun and oven.	Booth and gun; drying depends on the product.
Touch-up	Hard: the part gets redone.	Easier, blending possible.

The right process depends on your parts, volumes and equipment.

Safety in the shop

Solvent-free does not mean risk-free.

Dust: Suitable respiratory protection during application.
Fire: A cloud of fine powder can ignite: good ventilation, no sparks.
Skin: Gloves and coveralls to limit contact.

Read the safety data sheet of each powder.

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Economy or certified?

Both replace the original part. The difference is in the verification.

	CAPA certified	Economy
Verification	Tested by CAPA, an independent body: fit, materials, safety.	Made for the same application, with no independent certification.
How to tell	A numbered yellow and blue CAPA seal on the part.	No certification seal.
When to choose it	Claim that requires it, newer vehicle, safety-related part.	Older vehicle, non-insurance repair, tight budget.

NSF stopped certifying collision parts in 2019.

Partslink or OEM number?

Two numbers to find the same part. Our catalogue searches by both.

	OEM number	Partslink number
Who issues it	The vehicle manufacturer.	The aftermarket, for interchange.
Where to find it	On the original part or in the maker’s documentation.	In replacement parts catalogues.
Useful for	Confirming the exact application.	Finding economy or certified equivalents.

Have a number? Type it as is into the catalogue search.

Finding the right part

Year, make and model are not always enough.

The version: Sedan or coupe, trim level, engine, hybrid: the part can change.
The options: Sensors, headlight washers, heating, built-in turn signal.
The number: The number on the old part often settles it.
The VIN: Give it to us when in doubt: it identifies the exact vehicle.

A photo of the old part helps too.

Left or right?

A side mix-up happens fast. Here is the rule.

The rule: Left and right are read sitting in the vehicle, facing forward.
In North America: Left = driver side, right = passenger side.
Abbreviations: LH = left, RH = right.

Same rule for front and rear: you face the front of the vehicle.

Safety-related parts

Some parts are about more than looks.

Which ones: Bumper reinforcements and absorbers, headlights, brackets.
Why: They play a role in a collision or for visibility.
Our advice: Prefer a certified part when one exists.

CAPA certification checks fit, materials and safety, among other things.

The CAPA seal

Proof that a certified part really is.

What it looks like: A numbered yellow and blue seal on the part.
Why it matters: It lets you verify that the part is certified.
Do not remove it: Leave it on the part, or note its number before painting.

The catalogue shows which parts are certified.

Headlights and tail lights

One model can have several different headlights.

The technology: Halogen, LED or xenon: they are not interchangeable.
The trim: Black or chrome housing, adaptive headlight depending on the version.
After fitting: Have the headlights aimed so they light the road properly.

Check the old headlight or its number before ordering.

Radiators and condensers

Under the hood, the right part depends on the mechanicals.

The engine: Displacement and engine type change the radiator.
The transmission: Automatic or manual: built-in cooler or not.
Hybrids: Hybrid versions often have their own parts.

Compare fittings and dimensions with the old part.

A part to paint

Most collision parts arrive primed, not painted.

On receipt: Check the primer and the part’s condition before prepping it.
Test fit: Fit the part before painting: a fit issue is easier to fix.
The paint: The colour matched to the paint code, with matching primer and clear.

Give us the colour code along with the part.

Price and availability

The catalogue shows each part’s price and availability.

As a guest: You see the retail price and can order online.
Registered customer: You see your prices and order online.
To be confirmed: When availability says “to be confirmed”, we get back to you.

We confirm availability and timing after you order.

Pickup

Pay online, pick up in store.

Where: In Chicoutimi, Jonquière, Alma or La Baie.
When: Once we confirm the part is ready.
Payment: Online, when you order.

You pick the store when you order.

Before fitting the part

A few minutes of checking saves a teardown.

Compare: Set the new part next to the old one: shape, mounts, holes.
Accessories: Brackets, clips and mouldings are sometimes sold separately.
Sensors: Check the sensor and camera locations.

In doubt? Call us before painting or drilling.

The right solution for every sector.

Automotive refinish

Industrial

Commercial

Powder coating

Collision parts

A finish that’s right the first time.

How we work

Protect for longer, shut down less often.

How we work

Fleets that keep looking sharp.

How we work

A great finish starts before the oven.

How we work

The right part, the first time.

How we work

Practical guide

Waterborne or solvent basecoat?

Primer surfacer or sealer?

Wet-on-wet, explained

Fast or standard clear?

The paint code is not enough

Blending into the next panel

Painting a plastic bumper

Bare metal: epoxy or etch?

Choosing a body filler

Abrasives: which grit, when?

Masking it right

Orange peel, runs, craters

VOCs: what the law says

Breathing safely with 2K

Conventional or HVLP gun?

Practical guide

Full blast or targeted maintenance?

Your site under ISO 12944

How long should it last?

Zinc-rich primer

Surface-tolerant epoxy mastic

Polyurethane or polysiloxane?

Back in service fast

Hot surfaces

Tanks and immersion

Intumescent fireproofing

Concrete floors

Dry film thickness

Surface prep grades

VOCs in maintenance coatings

Isocyanates

Practical guide

Steel, aluminum or galvanized?

Calcium, salt and gravel

Protecting the frame

Direct-to-metal primer

Single-stage or base and clear?

High solids

Your fleet colour

Truck bed liners

Farm equipment

Heavy and forestry equipment

Free up the booth sooner

Waterborne or solvent?

VOCs in a fleet shop

Aerosol touch-ups

Practical guide

Polyester or epoxy powder?

Pretreatment

Blasting before powder

Masking for the cure

Powder primer

Outgassing

Film thickness

Curing

Textures and finishes

Touch-ups

Compressed air

Grounding

Powder or liquid paint?

Safety in the shop

Practical guide

Economy or certified?