Started in 2007, and held every two years, the Best of Australia competition is an esteemed event that pits the top O’Brien® Automotive Technicians from around Australia against each other in a series of challenges designed to test their skills and expertise. On March 14th, O’Brien® staff from across three divisions, key customers and suppliers came together to witness the competition final and see the 7 skilled technicians battle it out for the title of Best of Australia.

We’d like to congratulate the following discipline-specific award winners:

• Jack Karssemeyer of O’Brien® AutoGlass Moorebank NSW – Best Side and Body Glass
• Nat Rouessart of O’Brien® AutoGlass Tuggerah NSW – Best Recalibration
• Jack Collins of O’Brien® AutoGlass North Parramatta NSW – Best Chip Repair

Of course, in the end, there could only be one overall winner, so we’d like to extend a huge congratulations to:

Jack Karssemeyer – the O’Brien® Best of Australia 2024 Winner.

After being awarded the title at the gala event held on the same night, we were lucky to have a chat with Jack to get an insight into his journey to the podium and what the title of ‘Best of Australia’ means to him.

Here’s what he had to say.

Introducing Jack K. – the O’Brien® Best of Australia 2024 Winner.

Jack, joined O’Brien® as an 18-year-old straight out of high school, going from trainee Technician to the Level 5 Technician he is today, in just over 4 years. He perfectly embodies the O‘Brien® commitment to excellence and has had his eyes set on being part of the Best of Australia competition for some time.

It’s no surprise that when his skills and achievements were recognised; he was in awe when his name was announced as the winner:

“It was surreal. I was so nervous standing up there and when my name got called, it felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off me… it meant everything. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and something I’ve always had my focus on.”

As a Sydney local, this was Jack’s first time competing in the Best of Australia (BOA). As he describes, his success is a testament to his manager, John Paton, and his technical trainer mentor, Mark Cameron.

“I’d like to shout out my manager, John, my mentor Mark, and the whole technical training team for the amazing job they did to help me prepare for the event. They helped me in so many ways – I hope they’re proud of what we achieved together.”

Celebrating A Century of Service

Jack’s achievement comes at an exciting time for the team at O’Brien® as the company celebrates 100 years of service in Australia. The Best of Australia 2024 was combined with a 100-year celebration event held after the competition wrapped up, where the winner was announced in front of over 300 people.

“Having BOA and the big 100-year celebration was really special – to be a part of such a milestone for the whole company was amazing and it really encouraged the best out of all the competitors as well. There was an amazing buzz out on the competition floor!”

True to the O’Brien® way, Jack admits that he made lifelong friends with his fellow BOA competitors and describes this comradery as one of the highlights of his experience:

“I love O’Brien® as a company. There are so many different branches of progression you can go through. It is like a giant family and the night showed that. People from all aspects of the company came together to support one another and although we were competitors, each of us shared ideas and insights throughout the process and had a great time – I’ve made some friends for life.”

Looking forward: The Best of Belron competition

The Best of Belron is a biennial global event held across the Belron Group. This competition recognises the best Belron technicians from 39 countries worldwide who specialise in using Belron’s standard repair and replacement processes, known as the Belron Way of Fitting. The finalist for each country’s national event is invited to compete on the world stage, which means Jack will now head to Lisbon, Portugal to compete against the best in Belron this June.

“In three months’ time, I’ll be heading over to Lisbon to compete in the Best of Belron competition. It really is an honour to be going over there to compete on behalf of O’Brien®, and to test myself against the other competitors and to show what I’m made of. I’m so excited!”

The road to Lisbon looks much the same as the lead-up to the BOA competition with ongoing training and practice alongside the Technical Training team and no doubt plenty of advice from our Australian BOA Judges and fellow competitors.

We wish Jack the best of luck before he flies off to compete in three months and no doubt plenty of advice from the alumni of Best of Australia winners who’ve represented O’Brien on the world stage. We’ll be keeping across how Jack’s preparation is going, so stay tuned for more updates on Jack’s journey to Lisbon.

Want to join the fun and be part of one of Australia’s most iconic companies?

Do you think you’d love a career at O’Brien®? We’d love to have you!

O'Brien® is always on the hunt for talented people who are looking to start a promising career with us.

Head on over to O’Brien® Careers and find the perfect role for you.

Of course, for all your AutoGlass needs, call 1800 059 829 and speak to the experts in our Customer Solutions Centre today!

The post Congrats Jack Karssemeyer, Winner of O’Brien® Best of Australia 2024 appeared first on O'Brien.

Unfortunately, however, most of the accidents we see on our roads nowadays are due to human factors often referred to as “human errors”.

The automotive industry is working tirelessly to build innovative new technology that integrates several safety-enhanced features into new cars, known as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

ADAS technology works by alerting the driver to potential hazards on the road, and in some cases, it can even take control of the vehicle if necessary. Through a complex system of cameras, sensors, radars and onboard computers, these systems are designed to supplement driver capabilities or correct driver error and help to reduce accidents, injuries and fatalities on our roads.

In a previous article, we discussed the importance of ADAS, as well as some of the more common safety features found in these systems.

Now, we’ll outline why the recalibration of your car’s ADAS cameras is important to help maintain high levels of safety and performance.

What is ADAS recalibration?

Many car safety systems rely on properly calibrated cameras. ADAS recalibration is the process of checking the alignment of these cameras so these safety features can be trusted and relied upon.

At O'Brien^®, we believe the safest option is to recalibrate the forward-facing camera(s) if the manufacturer requires at the same time your windscreen is replaced.

A camera recalibration process requires specialised tools and equipment and should be carried out by trained technicians with the necessary skills to use this equipment.

The diagram below shows just some of the key features of ADAS technology, highlighting the need to ensure that each feature is working as the manufacturer intended.

When is ADAS recalibration necessary?

While it’s safe to suggest that most vehicle repairs after an accident would require the cameras and sensors to be recalibrated, there are also several other instances where recalibration is necessary that most vehicle owners overlook.

As an example, according to many manufacturer guidelines, any of the following events can potentially misalign a vehicles’ ADAS and require recalibration of the camera:

windscreen replacements

tyre changes or wheel alignments

disconnection or partial removal of cameras from their mounting

some technical repairs

Failure to recalibrate a vehicle’s camera means that the ADAS safety features may not be able to be relied upon. You could experience false warnings and alerts, distances could be misjudged and steering pull to name a few.

As you can see, it’s extremely important to ensure that you don’t overlook the recalibration process in these instances where recommended by the manufacturer for your vehicle.

O'Brien Cal-Tech^® Recalibration solution

Unique to O'Brien^®, our Cal-Tech^® ADAS Recalibration service is state-of-the-art. We recalibrate your vehicle’s forward-facing camera systems, so you can continue to rely on safety features such as auto-braking and lane detection.

The O'Brien^® Cal-Tech^® solution is supported by Bosch, updated frequently and performed by our in-house technicians who have undertaken quality technical training programmes.

On completion of the recalibration, you will receive a Cal-Tech^® Recalibration certificate so you can drive away with confidence.

See our video explainer on what to expect if your car requires an ADAS recalibration at O'Brien^®.

Making it easy at O'Brien^® AutoGlass

If your vehicle has a cracked windscreen and is fitted with ADAS technology, then O'Brien^® can perform both the windscreen replacement and the Cal-Tech^® recalibration at the same time.

So when you next need your windscreen replaced, think of O'Brien^® Cal-Tech^® and our team of expert technicians.

To speak to one of our friendly team to learn more about our ADAS service, call 1800 059 829 or click here to book online and one of our friendly experts be back in touch with you soon.

The post Enhancing Safety With O’Brien Cal-Tech® ADAS Recalibration appeared first on O'Brien.

Vehicle accidents sadly do happen on Australian roads. While it’s hard to put a number on the number of accidents that take place each year, we do know that in the 12 months to February 2022, there were 1137 fatalities due to road accidents – an increase of 2.3% from the previous 12 months.

However, as new cars are released each year, more and more are being fitted with in-built safety features. Known as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), this technology works to automate and support the driver experience and aid in a safer journey.

In this article, we will outline exactly what ADAS is, as well as the features that aim to provide you with a safer experience while out on the road.

What is ADAS?

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) consist of many crucial road safety features designed to assist and protect the driver by mitigating, or alerting them to, potential hazards on the roads. This gives the driver more time to react and makes for safer driving decisions.

These days, most modern vehicles come with several standard pre-installed safety features as part of ADAS technology. The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), Australasia’s independent vehicle safety authority, then tests this technology in simulated road accident situations.

Upon review, they award an ANCAP Safety Rating to each vehicle to indicate its ability to protect those in and around the car in the event of an accident, based on its safety features – with 5 stars being the maximum rating given.

Why is ADAS important to drivers and vehicle occupants?

Unfortunately, the majority of accidents on Australian roads are caused by human error.

This can be due to distractions on the road or inside the vehicle, lapses in concentration, fatigue, or even a simple lack of experience driving on busy roads.

ADAS vehicle technology works to warn the driver in case any hazards are on the road, or while manoeuvring, allowing time for the driver to take control and correct their vehicle. In some vehicle models, ADAS technology can even take action on behalf of the driver to avoid these hazards such as auto braking or lane assist. If this technology can see things before you do, and those things that you don’t, then it can help to predict and reduce the likelihood of an accident.

Not only does this help protect the driver and the occupants of the vehicle, but also any other drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians on the road as well.

ADAS technology is designed to help save lives on our roads by aiming to reduce driver error and helping them navigate and react to a potential hazard.

The key features of ADAS technology

There are more than 200 vehicle models with an ANCAP safety rating in Australia. Here, we list some of the ADAS features that help to increase a vehicle’s safety rating and improve driver performance. As every vehicle is different, we recommend you check with your manufacturer or refer to your vehicle manual to identify what safety features your car has.

1. Reversing Camera

In vehicles with a reversing camera, the camera automatically activates when the car is put into reverse, providing the driver with a clear view of what’s behind them. Newer model reversing cameras now also provide guidelines that indicate where the vehicle will end up at its current angle, and proximity alerts will sound as the vehicle gets closer to an object behind it, and some can even alert you to approaching vehicles and pedestrians.

2. Collision Avoidance

Collision avoidance sensors operate while the car is moving in either a forward or reverse direction, depending on the vehicle. When an object is detected in front of the vehicle, the sensors work to apply the brakes accordingly. If the object is simply another vehicle moving in the same direction, the system works to maintain a safe driving distance behind it, regulating to the same speed as the vehicle. However, if the object ahead is stationary, the system will pull the car up as quickly and safely as possible to avoid a collision.

3. Lane Departure Warning System

This safety feature uses forward-facing cameras to monitor lane markings around your vehicle and alert the driver when the vehicle unintentionally approaches or crosses these markings. Some Lane Departure Systems even take over control to move the vehicle safely back into the lane.

4. Blind Spot Monitoring

Blind spot detection systems use sensors to provide drivers with an indication of whether there are other vehicles sitting in their blind spot. The system will then sound an alarm or light up to warn the driver not to move into the lane at that point in time.

Of course, whilst these safety features are important, it’s still everyone’s responsibility to look before manuovering, to drive safely and responsibly, and to always follow the road rules.

Why recalibrate your vehicle’s ADAS system

Did you know that if the camera is a few millimetres out, it may not function as the manufacturer intended, which could increase the risk of collision? So, it’s important to always ensure that your vehicle’s ADAS system is working correctly.

The moments when you need to recalibrate your ADAS cameras or radar sensors are usually when your car is involved in an accident, or you when you have to replace your cracked windscreen.

Simply ask your smash repairer, insurance company or a vehicle glass provider who is authorised to perform and ADAS recalibration.

Your vehicle’s ADAS must be maintained regularly to ensure optimal performance as the original manufacturer intended.

ADAS Cal-Tech® recalibration with O'Brien® AutoGlass

At O'Brien AutoGlass, we understand the importance of safety for everyone on our roads. That’s why, when we replace your cracked windscreen, we also offer ADAS recalibration services at the same time. Not only does this save you time but it also means you can drive away with confidence, knowing you can still trust those safety features such as auto braking and lane detection.

Our highly trained O'Brien technicians use state-of-the-art technology to perform the recalibration. Upon completion they will also provide you with a recalibration certificate for your peace of mind.

Check out our quick video explainer on what ADAS is & how it works

For more information, call us on 1800 059 829 or send us a message to speak with our friendly experts.

The post How ADAS Technology Works To Keep You Safe While Driving appeared first on O'Brien.

Proving what a quick learner he is, just this month he had a crash course in show biz and is the new face in the latest O'Brien^® TV ad about windscreen cracks and our Cal-Tech^® ADAS Recalibration service.

Ed decided to put himself out of his comfort zone and volunteer to be part of the ads when the marketing team put a call out looking for technicians to be part of the campaign.

“I decided I would send a quick audition video to the marketing team as a bit of a laugh. I wasn’t expecting to hear back but clearly, my hidden talent shone through.”

Ed who describes himself as quite reserved said the experience in front of the camera was a change from his day to day job as a technician. He expressed that he was certainly out of his comfort zone being in front of the camera but that was also the major reason he decided to go for it.

Ed enjoyed his day on set and was incredibly humbled by the experience commenting that he hadn’t given professional actors enough credit in the past as it was a long and tough day.

The marketing team was happy with his genuine, laid back professionalism. “We love casting real technicians in our advertising,” said Vivian Oppl, group marketing head, O'Brien^®. “They lend a certain credibility, authenticity and professionalism to what we are trying to convey to our customers about the friendly and expert service they can expect when they bring their car to O'Brien^®.”

The new O'Brien^® ad is all about educating car owners that when a windscreen cracks in a vehicle that has ADAS technology, like auto-braking and lane detection, they will need to have their front-facing camera recalibrated as well. The O'Brien^® Cal-Tech service is state of the art and is performed just after the windscreen replacement so customers can drive away with confidence knowing they can still trust those safety features.

While Ed enjoyed his time on set, he was equally happy to go back to his day job.

“The thing I love most about working for O'Brien^® is the independence that being a mobile technician brings and knowing that I’m providing a unique essential service. I enjoy meeting lots of different and interesting characters and seeing their happy expression after a successful windscreen replacement or repair.”

Outside of TV shoots and work, you’ll find Ed enjoying the outdoors.

“When I’m not at work I’m usually on the south coast bushwalking, swimming and eating good pub food, working out or tinkering with my cars.”

If you have a windscreen that needs repairing or replacing, make sure you’re in touch with O'Brien^® and it may be Ed (or any one of our famous auto technicians) that responds to the call.

Click below to view our latest Ad featuring Ed!

The post Meet Ed Finlay – The Star Of Our Latest TV Ads! appeared first on O'Brien.

Jake has worked for 12 years with O'Brien®. While he’s normally well at home on the tools repairing or replacing windscreens out of our new O'Brien® AutoGlass Moorebank branch, this month he was put slightly outside of his comfort zone, starring in a series of new service related videos.  

The videos, which cover topics such as windscreen chip repair and explaining ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) see Jake star as an O'Brien® AutoGlass expert. He helps explain and demonstrate the processes of a windscreen chip repair, windscreen replacement and the O'Brien® Cal-Tech ADAS Recalibration. 

Jake was picked to feature in the videos for his experience and passion for his job but here we learn a bit more about him outside of the bright lights and cameras. 

What was your first job with O'Brien® and what other jobs have you had in your time here? 

I started working with O'Brien® 12 years ago in the Bus and Truck division and then later moved on to be a trainee doing windscreen repair and replacements on cars. From there I worked my way up to become a Level 4 Tech (the most experienced automotive technician level at O'Brien®) and most recently I have been working as a leading hand (senior technician managing and overseeing other technicians) at our O’Brien® AutoGlass Moorebank branch. 

What do you like most about working for O'Brien®? 

I like working with the great bunch of people I have around me. We all help each other and have a laugh while we work. 

What is your career highlight so far? 

I replaced a windscreen of a car that was on set for the movie Hacksaw Ridge (the World War II movie released in 2016, starring Sam Worthington and directed by Mel Gibson). Once I had finished the job, I was shown around the movie set. It wasn’t your average day in the office that’s for sure and one that sticks out for that reason. 

When you’re not at work, how do you spend your time and what do you enjoy doing? 

I have two little kids who keep me pretty busy but outside of that I also own a project car. I love working on it and even take it racing. It’s a 2003 Subaru WRX that has been built to be a street and track car. I have raced it at the drag strip, at roll racing as well as various racetracks including Eastern Creek Circuit, Wakefield Park Raceway and Pheasant Wood Circuit. I have even raced it on the skid pan against NSW Highway patrol. 

If you’d like to see Jake in action replacing windscreens, repairing chips and performing an O'Brien® Cal-Tech ADAS Recalibration then cehck out these videos:

• Windscreen chip repair 1
• Windscreen chip repair 2
• Windscreen recalibration 1
• Windscreen recalibration 2 

Our O'Brien® technicians are experts in this field, so if you need your windscreen repaired, and Jake is not around to help you can rest assured that you’re in good hands with any of our experts. Just call 1800 059 829 or go on online today to book in your car.

The post Meet Jake – Our Senior Auto Technician and YouTube Star! appeared first on O'Brien.

More and more technology is being built into windscreens and as things like heads up display (more on that later) become common practice, O'Brien^® stays close to the changing technology and adapts accordingly.

Already in operation in Australia is Cal-Tech^®, an innovative recalibration solution for various types of vehicles that O'Brien^® has developed in partnership with BOSCH. Cal-Tech^® is available at all O'Brien^® AutoGlass branches and means the advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) built into a car (parking assist, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot detectors are just some examples) are recalibrated at the same time the windscreen is replaced or repaired.

In Australia, the number of vehicles on the road, equipped with driver assistance technology, is estimated to jump from 21% in 2019 to 46% by 2025. O'Brien^® has seen a 175% increase in demand for Cal-Tech^® ADAS Recalibration in the last 12-months and continues to work with leading industry players and research institutions to make sure we’re always at the cutting edge of this developing technology.

Compared to what is in the pipeline for automotive technology, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Dr Chris Davies, Head of Technical Research and Innovation at Belron^® Technical (part of Belron^®, which is the parent company of O'Brien Australia) shared with us some insights on what we can expect into 2021 and beyond.

Spoiler alert – no time travelling hovercrafts on the horizon just yet.

Q: What will be the biggest change to windscreen technology this year? 

A: We don’t expect a radical change in windscreen technology this year, but the steady growth of forward-facing camera fitment will continue.  In Europe, it will be mandatory for vehicle manufacturers to introduce advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) into their new models by 2022 and on all models sold by 2024, with a consortium pushing for a similar introduction in the US.  This means that camera fitment is set to grow and we expect that these will be fitted to 100% of new vehicles from 2024 in Europe.  We also anticipate steady growth in heads up display (HUD) technology fitment over time as vehicle manufacturers focus more on safety and ensuring that drivers stay focused on the road ahead.  The new Mercedes S Class has an augmented reality windscreen where not only is vehicle performance information, such as speed and fuel levels, projected on the screen, but also additional driver relevant information such as navigation instructions.  These technologies will not only impact the windscreen complexity and the installation process but could also require additional recalibration steps as the functionality is dependent on the forward-facing camera.

 Q: Could you explain a bit more about augmented technology in windscreens and how this will be used in the future? 

A: Heads up display (HUD) and Augmented Reality (AR) windscreens are intended to keep the driver focused on the road ahead by providing essential information in their line of sight, rather than on another device in the car.  Our glass suppliers consistently inform us that they are working on AR projects with the vehicle manufacturers and that they expect to launch products in the near future.  If the AR system is to overlay road and route relevant information onto the glass then the technology must know what is in front of the vehicle and where the driver is looking.  This means that we expect the ADAS system forward-facing camera to monitor the road ahead and also potentially driver-facing cameras will be required for seamless operation.  The complexity of an AR windscreen will probably impact on the cost of materials and will add to the difficulty of the replacement job in future with recalibration of the camera/s and adjustment of relevant projection optics being needed.

Q: How far away is this technology? 

A: Mercedes is already introducing this technology on their premium level S-Class, but we expect this to filter down to other models over time.  Over the next 2 to 3 years we expect other vehicle manufacturers to introduce this technology.

Q: How will O'Brien^® technology have to adapt to cater to this new technology? What is already in place? 

A: Belron^® Technical will work on identifying the correct processes, skill and technology requirements to replace the glass and recalibrate the vehicle technology to help ensure the safe functioning of all systems.  O'Brien^® will need to ensure that the replacement parts are fit for purpose and that the technicians are supported with the relevant training and availability of tools and recalibration technology.

Click here to find out more about O'Brien^® recalibration services using Cal-Tech^®.

To learn more about Chris, and his global knowledge and expertise on all things related to Automotive Technology and ADAS, you can follow him on LinkedIn

The post Cars and Windscreens Of The Future appeared first on O'Brien.