Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_August_2020 - 58

A toolbox with no wasted space
This customized modular tool system keeps every tool
and part perfectly organized.
by Kayla Oschmann, Assistant Editor

G

rant Batten, owner of Southside
Autowerks in Newnan, Georgia,
has had all different kinds of
toolboxes over his 20-year automotive
career, but when he was introduced to
Sonic Tools' MSS+ four years ago he
was hooked.
"What makes the box so unique is that
it's able to house everything I need... and
it does it perfectly," he says.
Batten opened his own shop two years
ago, starting out as a small, home-based
business that soon turned into a brick
and mortar shop, specializing in Audi,
Porsche, and Volkswagen maintenance.
At his previous job, he traveled around
the world, which is where he had first
seen Sonic Tools' MSS+ in the UK. When
it came time to decide which toolbox
to go with for his own shop, it was an
easy decision.
"I wanted to go with Sonic Tools
because of the organization system they
have," he says. "I like efficiency. It helps
me put my tools back at the end of the
day and to keep a clean workspace."
Because MSS+ is a modular system
and Batten had an odd-sized area to put
his toolbox, he worked with a Sonic Tools

58

PTEN

AUGUST 2020

OWNER:

Grant Batten
Shop: Southside Autowerks
Location: Newnan, Georgia

representative to custom design his box.
He was able to calculate the measurements to fit precisely how he wanted.
"Having it designed through them,
I've got exactly what I need and nothing
more," Batten says. "It was very efficient
[in the sense that I did not buy] something that I wasn't going to use. There is
no wasted space."
Previous boxes, he noted, left him
with drawers that were too tall or
too narrow where he couldn't utilize
them efficiently. Now, he has drawers
with organizers and foam inserts for
everything, from individual fuses and
small hardware pieces like drain plugs
and washers, to torque wrenches, his
favorite tool.
"With drawer organizers, everything
has its own space," he says. "Every day
I know exactly where each tool is and
where it goes. I know very quickly if I'm
missing anything and I've yet to replace
a tool because of the foam system. It's
really unique and comes in handy."

www.VehicleServicePros.com

p Batten's toolbox consists of

a large, 6' double-wide cabinet
and 22' stainless steel benchtop
with two cabinets above and four
cabinets below. In addition, it has a
total of 22 drawers, backing, space
for a 35" computer monitor, and
under-cabinet lighting.

Batten's toolbox consists of a large,
6' double-wide cabinet and 22' stainless
steel benchtop with two cabinets above
and four cabinets below. In addition, it
has a total of 22 drawers, backing, space
for a 35" computer monitor, and undercabinet lighting. It also locks.
At first, Batten wasn't sure if he would
like the under-cabinet lighting feature,
but he finds that it really comes in handy.
And because it's a modular system, he
can remove the cabinet directly below
the computer monitor to create a workspace similar to a desk, complete with a
keyboard and mouse.
Another feature that he likes is that
it doesn't show fingerprints and cleans
up nicely.
In the future, Batten is looking to
build a new facility with six to eight bays,
where he would like to replicate this exact
toolbox for each bay.
Want to see more photos of Batten's box?
Visit: VehicleServicePros.com/21144769
Want to show off YOUR Big-Time Box?
For more information, email
Editor@VehicleServicePros.com.
http://www.VehicleServicePros.com/21144769 http://www.VehicleServicePros.com
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