Nordal's Auto Body Glass does it all

Morley Nordal got into the auto body and repair business back in 1994 when he opened his shop just north of Arborg up on Rd #131, 1/2 mile east of Provincial Road 326. Today, it is a full service business with 6,000 sq. ft. of shop space.

Last year at this time, Nordal acquired the former R.K. Repair shop at 317, 1st Ave. in Arborg, which has since become the automotive branch of Nordal's Auto Body Glass as it celebrates its first year anniversary.

"We are total automotive, total auto body and total glass service," emphasizes Nordal, who runs the family business along with his wife Debbie and his brother Wesley, who is in charge down at the Arborg location, which is presently undergoing interior and exterior renovations.

"We also do classic car restorations when we have the time," adds Nordal, who says that they have a very long waiting list of such projects to look after. "The only thing we don't do in-house is the upholstery, which we contract out." (They usually manage to finish about three of these a year, as the priority must be given to the flurry of activity in the auto body and automotive sections of the business.)

With its 5,000 sq. ft. of shop space, Nordal's Mechanical in Arborg is also a certified NAPA Autopro service centre, which is a very valuable asset in the automotive business these days.

"We use almost exclusively NAPA auto parts whenever possible," says Nordal. "The great thing about NAPA is its extensive dealer network and the national warranty program that comes with the work. Repairs are guaranteed with a warranty that is good all across North America, which is all about giving the customer peace of mind, especially when they are travelling," Nordal adds.

In all, Nordal's has just over a dozen employees at its two locations, including seven inter-provincial journeymen, three registered apprentices and three counter personnel (parts and service). Each of these staff members receives ongoing training and certification every year.

"We have all the latest diagnostic tools, including scanners and other specialized equipment. Also, we have the Interlake's only certified Volkswagen technician who is actually from Germany and received his training firsthand from VW," says Nordal.

As for the body shop, it has a semi downdraft spray booth (which draws air down from the top and pulls it towards the front to clean over-spray off the cars that are being painted) and they do frame straightening with a 30-foot Black Hawk frame machine. These services are available for all sizes of vehicles, from light to medium and heavy duty.

Both shops are CAA approved repair centres and the automotive shop is also a certified provincial safety inspection station.

"I always say that the best thing about this business is the smiles and the customer satisfaction you see when they come to pick up their vehicles," concludes Nordal.