Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_August_2020 - 64

COLLISION REPAIR

Collision repair presents new set
of challenges and opportunities
It comes down to technology, training, and
tenacity in this ever-changing field of repair.
by Sara Scullin, Editor, PTEN and Professional Distributor magazines

T

oday's collision repair involves
a lot more than pounding out a
dent and sending the vehicle
on its way. As vehicle make-up and
technology changes, so do repair
procedures and business models.
That's a fact shop owners and
technicians are working through, and
with. Collision work has grown infinitely
more technical than in years past.
"I think the largest hurdle is making
sure we're doing a safe, proper repair per
OE [guidelines]," says Eric Shaffer, owner
of Thomas E. Brown Auto Body Werks
in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. "That
changes the dynamic of how you're doing
business; it changes the dynamic of how
the workflow happens through your shop.
It's not just a thought process, but a whole
business model change because [the way]
you're processing that car through the
shop now takes ten times longer what it
normally would. Does it need calibration?
Most of the time, yes. Are you subletting it or doing it in-house? And if you're
doing it in-house, can you stand behind
[the repair] if you're not using an OE
tool? There are a lot of things you have to
look at."
The numerous sensors in today's
vehicless have changed the collisionrepair game (see page 10). This is a large
part of the reason why continued training remains essential in this line of work
- not just in matters of diagnostics and
sensor calibration - but even when it
comes to welding and working with the

4 I Collision Repair I August 2020

aluminum and plastic components found
on many of today's vehicles (see page 8).
Many collision repair methods, like
surface prep, painting, glass replacement,
grinding, and cutting remain essential
components of collision repair work.
These, too, require the proper attention,
tools, and best practices.
Dave Gunderson, senior account
executive of transportation with 3M,
encourages shop owners and technicians
engaged in collision work to stay relevant
with all the changes taking place in the
industry - from materials to ADAS and
diagnostics and everything in between.
Luckily, training can be found in traditional and non-traditional ways, with
many classes and sessions heading online.
"We don't think instructor-led training will ever go away," Gunderson says.
"But 2021 models are coming out ... and
even with the Toyota Camry [for example] there's a whole new repair manual.
[We're looking] at new types of training to
address the complexity of repair."
In the Spring of 2020, in response
to COVID-19, 3M opened its Collision Repair Academy virtual e-training
with on-demand modules, in addition
to how-to videos on social media and
YouTube. Technicians are encouraged
to log on from home to learn and review
best practices.
It's never too late to learn a new skill,
and for technicians tasked with collision
repair, learning new skills is essential to
stay ahead of the curve.

ViewApart/iStock/Getty Images Plus

6 E ssential tools for general
and collision repair
 From hand and specialty tools
to power and air tools.

8 Welding repairs of today
C ollision repair shops must be
prepared to weld different
material types.

10 T he importance of asking
"why?" with ADAS repairs
Highlighting key elements needed
for a proper calibration.

14 Tool Reviews
*	 Polyvance 6067 Bumper Stabilizer
*	 Dent Fix Equipment
MAXI DF-505/220V
*	 SATA Spray Equipment
SATAminijet 4400 B
For more exclusive content, visit
VehicleServicePros.com/21148086
for a tool review of Autel's MaxiSYS
ADAS Calibration Tool Package.

17 Products for
collision repair
http://www.VehicleServicePros.com/21148086
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