Collision Repair: Hammering out the Dents

Even though everyone in the automotive industry is pushing for safer and more solidly built vehicles, as well as increased caution when driving, there are still accidents out on the open road. Whether it’s from a careless mistake, becoming distracted by talking on the phone, or just a truly out of the blue accident, collisions are still very much a part of life for drivers of all kinds.

Although we’re making strides when it comes to safer driving, the fact that auto accidents and collisions are inevitable means that there’s ample and rewarding work in the field of collision repair. More than just buffing out scratches and popping dents back out, collision repair takes an exceptionally keen eye for details and a willingness to commit the time to reconstructing a vehicle in a way that restores it to its former glory. However, technological innovation has meant that the world of collision repair is becoming more and more accurate and intensive, making it one of the fastest growing auto careers out there. So if you’re interested in a rewarding and multifaceted career, collision repair is just one of the great trades training B.C. offers a program on!

Computerized Estimation

Using highly intelligent computerized estimation programs, collision specialists are now able to more accurately predict just how much work needs to be done on a vehicle, and give an extremely accurate estimate on how much it’s going to run the customer in terms of a dollar value. Not only will this highly advanced software arrive at an exceptionally accurate estimate, but it will also give recommendations for parts and painting techniques as well.

Popular iterations of estimation software include CCC ONE Total Repair and ADP Shoplink. Not only does this speed up the process of getting an estimation on your damaged car, but it results in an overall more accurate survey of the damage and the appropriate reparations. Auto technicians should definitely take note of this one!

Self-Healing Paintwork

While not necessarily a completely new idea, more and more collision repair shops are stocking “self-healing paint,” which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Applying this special automotive paint ensures that when a car is dinged or scratched, the paint can heal itself to a degree, meaning that damage will show considerably less than with normal paint. The most popular version of this paint uses an “oxetane-substituted chitosan precursor in a two-component polyurethane.”

What this means in laymen’s terms is basically that, when damaged, ultraviolet light splits the molecules in the paint that then spread out over the surface of the automobile, covering the damage. Chitosan is a component found in crustaceans like lobsters and crabs, and is cheap to extract.

Check out this video about Nissan’s use of self-healing paint:

Because of the constant innovations by collision specialists, not only are more jobs in collision repair popping up all over the place, but the duties and responsibilities of collision repair specialists and those who deal with automotive painting are changing rapidly. The collision industry is much different than it was 20 years ago, and it’s not just about hammering out the dents anymore. Collision repair is about doing everything you can to restore the proper shine and shimmer to a once beautiful vehicle, and technology has allowed us to do that better and faster than ever.