Article Summary
Collision technicians must engage in continuous training beyond their initial certification because modern vehicles with advanced electronics, structural materials, and safety systems require precision and accuracy that cannot be achieved through guesswork or outdated practices. Key areas like three-dimensional measuring, ADAS calibration, EV safety, and sustainable repair practices directly impact vehicle safety, quality, and shop profitability.
- Modern tolerances are tight: Today's vehicles with ADAS and electronic suspension systems require accurate structural dimensions, as other systems depend on proper alignment and calibration.
- ADAS calibration failures often stem from setup issues: Many problems are not software-related but involve sensor angles, floor levels, and lighting conditions that technicians must understand and control.
- 3D measuring is essential for structural repairs: Experts agree that three-dimensional measuring is the standard approach when changing structural parts or verifying vehicle structure accuracy.
- Sustainable practices improve profitability: Green repair techniques like glue-pull systems and waste reduction directly save materials, time, and money while improving overall shop processes.
- Training builds confidence and competency: Understanding EV safety, measuring technology, and ADAS systems removes hesitation and enables technicians to perform repairs safely and effectively.
FOR COLLISION TECHNICIANS, TRAINING DOESN’T END WITH A DIPLOMA
This November, I spent several days at the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, attending countless seminars and events focused on the latest procedural best practices. As ever, I was shocked to see just how much the collision industry continues to demand of its technicians in terms of technical knowledge -- and of the potential consequences of them failing to keep up.
One message came through clearly through all of the sessions I attended: modern vehicles do not allow for guesswork. The work we do today depends on accuracy, understanding and process in ways it simply didn’t a decade ago. That theme runs throughout this issue of Bodyworx Professional, which draws heavily from the SEMA seminars our team covered. These stories aren’t about trends for the sake of trends. They’re about lessons technicians can apply on the shop floor — lessons that directly affect safety, quality and confidence in the finished repair.
In one session on three-dimensional measuring, Ruben Castorena put it plainly: “Today’s vehicles have evolved so much in the past ten years — with new materials, electronic suspension and ADAS. That means it’s very important that we put the vehicle back to its correct dimensions because other systems rely on that.” I-CAR’s Anton Verwijst reinforced the point, saying, “I’m a firm believer that 3-D measuring is the only way to go when you’re changing structural parts or checking the structure of a car.”
Accuracy came up again and again, particularly in discussions around ADAS. During one session, the warning was stark: “You can have ‘green’ alignment specs that are still pointing the system in the wrong direction,” said I-CAR’s Scott VanHulle. Autel’s Stewart Peregrine added that many calibration failures have nothing to do with software at all. “Most of the time, the system is communicating properly. The issue is the set-up — sensor angles, floor levels, lighting.”
Those comments underline a reality technicians already feel every day. Systems are trusting. Tolerances are tight. And the absence of a dash light does not mean the job is done. Even in non-structural repair, the sessions challenged long-held assumptions. KECO’s Chris White spoke about expanding what technicians consider repairable. “A lot of people simply don’t believe these sorts of repairs are possible,” he said, noting that modern glue-pull systems can restore panels many would still replace. “These dents tend to lock up on you. This helps you unlock it.”
Some of the most interesting seminars focused on sustainability, but this was less about environmental messaging and more about practical steps every technician could take to reduce waste and improve efficiency at their bodyshops. BASF’s Jeff Wildman framed it in straightforward terms: “When we start talking about sustainability, the first questions are, ‘Is your business sustainable? Will it be here in five years?’” Jason Black of I-CAR added that many so-called green practices are simply good repair practices. “If you’re saving materials, you’re saving time, saving money and improving the process.”
Across sessions, another point kept resurfacing: training builds confidence. Whether the topic was EV safety, measuring, ADAS or refinishing, the speakers agreed that understanding the technology removes hesitation. As Joel Dufkis of I-CAR put it during an EV safety session, “Everyone needs training to repair EVs safely and effectively.”
That’s why this issue exists. The stories collected here are meant to share what was discussed, debated and demonstrated at SEMA — not as theory, but as working knowledge. Only by learning the latest techniques, and understanding why they matter, can this industry continue to return vehicles to the road safely and correctly.
Progress in collision repair has never come from standing still. It comes from technicians who are willing to learn, adapt and apply new knowledge with discipline and care. I encourage you to spend time with the stories in this issue, take what’s useful, and keep asking questions. The vehicles we repair — and the people who rely on them — deserve nothing less.
