Schnell Auto-Lackierzentrum e.K.

Frankfurt

About the company

Schnell Auto-Lackierzentrum was established in 1997 by Thomas Schnell, a former factory painter at Mercedes-Benz. Initially operating as a sole proprietorship in Frankfurt, the business has remained independently owned but transitioned to an e.K. (registered merchant) legal form in 2005. The company has maintained its original location but expanded twice into neighboring buildings. While Thomas remains the owner, he employs two Meister-qualified supervisors to manage daily operations while he focuses on client relationships and business development.

Values

Our business philosophy centers on efficiency and reliability. We pride ourselves on meeting deadlines and maintaining relationships with insurance partners and fleet operators who value our quick turnaround times. We've embraced lean processes to eliminate waste and improve productivity throughout our operation. When it comes to work safety, I must admit we sometimes become complacent during busy periods. While we provide all necessary protective equipment, enforcement isn't always consistent, particularly with respirator usage during quick prep work. This is something I know we need to improve, but the fast-paced nature of our business sometimes leads to shortcuts in safety protocols.

Workshop

The Schnell workshop spans approximately 650 square meters divided into distinct functional areas. The central space contains two spray booths, one dedicated to passenger vehicles and a larger booth for commercial vehicles and full resprays. The preparation zone features four workstations with individual lighting and extraction systems, though the dust control could be improved as the areas aren't fully separated. Their compressor room houses two Kaeser units that occasionally struggle during peak operation when multiple air tools are in use simultaneously. The paint mixing area is well-organized with computer-controlled mixing systems, but limited in space which causes occasional workflow bottlenecks. The workshop layout reflects its expansion history, with somewhat inefficient connections between the original building and newer additions.

Services

Insurance repair work
Fleet vehicle maintenance
Dealer preparation services
Spot repairs
Bumper and plastic part refinishing
Commercial vehicle painting

Specifics

Buying behavior

I look for the best value, not necessarily the cheapest or most expensive. We've tried many brands over the years, and I prefer to stick with what works consistently. I'm willing to try new products, but they need to prove themselves quickly in our fast-paced environment.

Tool brands

DeVilbiss, Rupes, 3M, Spies Hecker, Mirka, Kaeser, WOLF