A local automotive repair shop celebrated the grand opening of a second facility last week. It is now one of the largest independent repair shops in the area.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held last week to celebrate the grand opening of Gates Automotive's new West Henrietta location.

The 25,000 square-foot facility on Thruway Park Drive is twice the size of its other location on Marway Circle in Gates.

The 20-year-old company specializes in collision repair, basic auto repair and towing service.

“We're all about building relationship with our customers and letting them know that we're there for them every step of the way," said Gates Automotive President Jim Fonzi. "Whatever they need we're there for them and that's how you grow a business."

Gates Automotive is going green with its new $4 million facility; the West Henrietta shop is saving nearly 80 percent on its energy consumption.

"We had some limitations with the building," Fonzi explained. "It's a 40-year-old building that we renovated, but we were able to put energy efficient lighting and energy efficient heating systems and so on that helped dramatically."

Gates Automotive has also taken measures to be more environmentally friendly with its service by going to a new waterborne paint system.

"The water-based paint instead of the solvent-based paint that uses solvents and thinners to reduce it to make it more workable with the spray guns," said Nick Eckel of Gates Automotive. "The water base uses just 10 percent water in the tint so it's a lot better for the environment and a lot safer."

The company also put in a new parts washing system. Most shops use solvents while Gates Automotive has gone to biodegradable soap and hot water.

"It's a totally contained system," Fonzi said. "Our employees don't breathe the solvent, they don't touch it, we don't create any hazardous waste. The unit separates the petroleum products from the soap and water; it's disposed of and recycled properly. The rest of it is just biodegradable soap that goes down the drain."

The new facility added 16 jobs, bringing the total number of employees to 44 between the two locations. There are plans to add another 10 locations within the next two years.

Gates Automotive