CANADIANS VISIT 3M SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
In December, a group of Canadian collision repair professionals completed a three-day paint prep and refinish course at 3M’s Skills Development Center, gaining hands-on experience with the techniques and processes that define modern OEM-compliant repairs.
“Being part of the course with the shops gives you a real appreciation for how detailed today’s refinish processes have become,” said Brett MacNeil, senior account executive at 3M. “Everyone here is focused on doing the job correctly and consistently, and that’s what drives better outcomes in the paint department.”
The 1,394-square-metre (15,000-squarefoot) facility opened in October 2023. The first classes actually began in June 2023. Seventy percent of the space is dedicated to workshop environments.
At the heart of the centre sits a 10.7-metre (35-foot) GFS XL paint booth with three-stage filtration. It’s one of the largest automotive paint booths available and can accommodate 16 painters at once. The facility also includes 24 workstations equipped with electrical and air service drops and a dozen welding stations, each with its own fume extraction hood.
The centre occupies land that housed 3M’s first operations outside Duluth and Two Harbors. This marks more than a century of the company’s connection to St. Paul and the collision repair industry. Four Minnesota-based artists—Adam Turman, Rock ‘CYFI’ Martinez, Biafra and Wundr — created murals throughout the facility that reflect 3M history, local culture and the technicians the centre serves.
The course began with paint shop fundamentals. Participants started with proper personal protective equipment requirements before moving to quality checks that ensure vehicles are ready for the booth.
The focus then shifted to hands-on work. Technicians practiced feathering, priming and blocking techniques — foundational steps that determine final paint quality. Throughout the day, instructors reinforced how prep decisions directly affect downstream results.
“In paint and refinish, small mistakes compound quickly,” said trainer Troy Knopik. “We stress that prep work isn’t just preparation — it’s the foundation of the entire repair. If it’s rushed or skipped, it shows in the final product.”
Primer application occupied much of the remaining time. Technicians practiced different techniques for various repair scenarios. The group also worked through full-vehicle masking exercises that emphasized efficiency, material selection and cleanliness.
Day two moved participants into the booth itself. The morning covered booth setup, spray gun adjustment and textured coating applications. From there, the course dove into colour selection, colour theory and tinting — topics that have grown increasingly complex as OEM finishes evolve.
“Matching colour today isn’t just about finding the right code,” said trainer Mike Nelson. “It’s understanding variants, lighting, spray technique and how all of that works together. We want technicians to leave confident in their decision-making, not guessing.”
The afternoon sessions focused on application work. Technicians spent extended time practicing sealer, basecoat and clearcoat techniques. The goal was building consistency and repeatability — critical skills when paint jobs need to meet OEM standards.
Like the first day, this session concluded with a Plus/Delta evaluation. Participants reflected on what worked and what didn’t, discussing how those lessons would apply back at their shops.
The final day addressed the finishing stages of paint work. Participants learned post-paint inspection techniques and blend preparation. They practiced spot repair methods with an emphasis on achieving invisible repairs that match factory finish standards.
The course wrapped up with sessions on booth efficiency and paint finishing. These showed participants how to maximize throughput without sacrificing quality — a balance that defines successful paint departments.
Training extended beyond the classroom and shop floor. On Thursday evening, the group attended an NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars. The outing gave technicians time to build relationships and continue conversations that started during the day’s sessions.
“Training like this isn’t just about the tools or the products,” MacNeil said. “It’s about bringing people together, sharing best practices and raising the bar across the region. When these technicians go home, that knowledge goes with them — and it makes the industry stronger.”
The Skills Development Centre represents 3M’s response to growing workforce challenges in collision repair. In its first year, the facility trained more than 1,100 attendees from 42 U.S. states and Canada. About 80 percent travelled from outside Minnesota and surrounding states. Since opening, the centre has hosted more than 55 events serving diverse groups: technicians, shop owners, OEM partners, distributors, performance groups and military personnel. The facility runs over 100 training sessions annually, all offering I-CAR credits. Two core programs anchor the curriculum: body repair and paint preparation/refinishing. Each summer, vocational-technical instructors from across North America attend intensive courses covering OEM repair procedures.
The centre’s instructors bring more than 85 years of combined industry experience, including 60 years on the shop floor. Their courses emphasize OEM-approved repair procedures at a time when the industry faces a projected shortage of over 100,000 collision repair technicians by 2026. Industry research shows 34 percent of shop owners cite finding qualified technicians as their biggest challenge.
The hands-on training complements 3M’s online Collision Repair Academy. Together, they help technicians stay current as vehicle technology and repair requirements continue to evolve. The facility’s modular layout allows it to adapt to different training needs and student groups, ensuring it can meet the industry’s changing demands.
