Article Summary
Over 70 collision repair technicians attended The Efficiency Edge workshop at Pfaff Autoworks to gain hands-on training on modern vehicle repair techniques, including dent repair, panel straightening, EV structures, and ADAS calibration through live demonstrations by industry experts.
- 70+ technicians attended the high-energy workshop featuring rotating demo stations and hands-on training
- Key topics covered included glue-pull dent repair, panel analysis, metal movement, and EV structures and ADAS calibrations
- Expert trainers emphasized that careful planning and preparation prevent costly rework and improve finish quality
- Industry vendors including 3M, PPG, BASF, RUPES, and SATA provided live demonstrations and direct instruction
- The event highlighted that modern collision repair demands constant upskilling as vehicle technology evolves
Jeff Pabst, president of Pfaff Autoworks, set the tone fast, reminding the crowd that “a large percentage of the industry is behind the times when it comes to repairing modern vehicles.” Moments later, the shop floor broke into rotating demo stations run by 3M, PPG, BASF, RUPES, SATA, Titanium Tools, Flatline, Caruk and Associates and Area22 Training. Trainers moved quickly. Panels moved quicker.
One of the biggest draws of the night was Robert Gargaro of Titanium Tools, who ran a detailed glue-pull dent repair session. He stressed preparation and panel analysis, telling the group that “no two dents behave the same way — depth, size and position all change your repair strategy.” Techs crowded close to watch him demonstrate differences between shallow impressions and deep, stretched metal.
Across the shop, Kelly Roberts of BETAG Innovation led structured hands-on sessions on dent correction and damage evaluation.
His message was simple: a careful plan saves hours of rework. Evercoat’s Randy MacLeod followed with reminders about filler use, cautioning techs not to spread lightweight filler so thin that it sets before it can be shaped — a mistake that slows jobs and hurts finish quality.
Vendor stations kept the energy high. RUPES ran live polishing demos. SATA walked attendees through airflow and spray-gun setup. Flatline and Area22 coached techs on metal movement and panel straightening, offering the kind of direct instruction that rarely happens during daily production.
Between stations, techs compared techniques and asked rapid-fire questions about EV structures, ADAS calibrations, aluminium movement and OEM repair procedure changes. Younger technicians jumped into every demonstration, with one summing up the mood best: “With all the new technology coming into this industry, there’s always stuff to learn at these events.” A prize draw closed out the evening, sending Kevin Kazama, Owen Dale, Jen Tam and Riz Patel home with gear courtesy of event sponsors.
But the bigger payoff was the reminder that modern collision repair demands constant upskilling. For many in the room, this was the most useful — and most fun — training night of the year.
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