Zubak Grupa invests over 10 million euros in deficit occupations and even faster damage reporting

A huge differentiation has arisen between the perception of the craft work of painters and body repairers and the occupation itself, or the technology that is possible in that occupation, especially the robotization of the entire process in which the occupation has a true technological character, but also contains a ‘craft’ form in such a way that it can become the author’s work of the performer.

On the other hand, the need for vehicle repairs or the work of body repairers and painters is becoming a pressing issue in Europe due to climate change, which has caused an increase in damage to vehicles in certain periods and areas by more than 40% due to increasingly frequent hailstorms and other natural disasters.

The solution to this so-called perfect storm effect is provided by Zubak Grupa, which on September 1, 2023, will open the AutoZubak EDU Academy and the AutoZubak PRO center for damage reporting and assessment in Velika Gorica. More than 2 million euros have been invested in both projects so far, and the total investment over the next 5 years is estimated at 10 million euros.

The goal of the AutoZubak EDU Academy is to popularize the profession of car body repairers and painters and attract more students to vocational schools for these deficit occupations. In addition, the academy aims to educate existing car body repairers and painters about new technologies and materials used in vehicle repairs.

Partners of the EDU Academy are leading companies in the industry such as AkzoNobel, USI Italia, Mirka, and SATA, and full support for the academy has been provided by the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, the Faculty of Transport, the Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Trade School, and the Craft and Industrial School.

– The AutoZubak EDU Academy was established primarily as a result of our needs but also our love for learning, with the aim of transferring top knowledge and new technologies to automotive professionals and those who will become them, with the help of esteemed educators and industry partners. This is one of the first initiatives in Croatia aimed at addressing the shortage of skilled labor. There is no simple way to replace vocational occupations that involve training and education for a specific skill in the labor market, and educational institutions must collaborate with the industry that is interested in developing the said activity, emphasized Dimitrije Trbović, a member of the Management Board of Zubak Grupa, who will speak at the upcoming Weekend Media Festival about this pressing issue of skilled labor shortages.

AutoZubak PRO is an innovative and unique project in Croatia through which clients will be able to report and assess damage to their vehicles, as well as repair the same damage. Through direct cooperation with insurance companies, the complicated and lengthy process of reporting and assessing damages will be simplified and accelerated for a better user experience and even faster and higher quality repairs.

Zubak Grupa will continue its investment in employees, both current and future, as well as in improving after-sales processes with the opening of the EDU Academy and the PRO center for damage reporting.