The April issue of Collision Management is now available online. You can flip through it here, but first, a few words from the Editior-in-Chief of Collision Management, Huw Evans.

Highly Specialized

Targeted repair procedures are now the norm, not the exception.

There was a time when performing body repairs on a vehicle pretty much evolved around a standard practice. A pull here, a weld there, hammer and dolly there, some body filler, sanding, smoothing and well, you get the picture. And (a few exceptions withstanding), most body technicians and shops took the same approach, no matter the vehicle or the manufacturer.

Today, things are vastly different. The advent of new materials such as Boron steel, high strength steel, aluminum alloys and even carbon fibre mean that specialized training, equipment and procedures are now mandatory to perform repairs to OE specifications. Ensuring shops have the right accreditation to handle repairs in terms of equipment and training is essential, not only to ensure the vehicle is repaired as it should be, but that both the consumer and industry brands are protected.

Seal of approval

That’s why initiatives like the Canadian Collision Industry Accreditation Program (CCIAP) run by AIA Canada, have come to the forefront. Our cover story this issue focuses on three Fix Auto Collision Centres in different parts of the country that have undergone rigorous repair procedure training and equipment investment to meet CCIAP requirements. These range from OE repair compliance to equipment needs and I-CAR Gold Class recognition.   

Our Special File delves into advanced repair procedures, taking a look at some of the tools required in modern bodywork repairs, as well as what’s involved for mixed material structures (such as Cadillac’s CT6). Yet it’s not just the repair process that’s crucial; so is the way in which the task is performed. With that in mind we’ll also be taking a look at how shops are maximizing throughput given the complexity and challenges regarding today’s bodywork repairs.

We’ve also got a whole range of content that covers everything from spray booth technology to shop tooling, and even trends in the recycling industry that play a vital role in collision repair.

It’s a rapidly changing world out there, but for the shops and collision repair businesses that are willing and able to make the investment in the right tools and training, the rewards and support from industry partners are very much worth it. As the old adage says: “You get out what you put in!”