As if learning to apply new technology and waterborne paints wasn't enough of a headache, new ways of finishing an exterior are coming to the fore that will compel auto body repair shops to learn a wider variety of techniques and technologies to effect a proper and professional-looking repair.
The reader may think that paintless repair has been around for years, and that is true. Paintless dent repair resulting from dents, hail damage, dings and creases has been available for some time. But this is not what we mean. What we're talking about are new materials such as vinyl wraps and carbon fiber. These materials don't require any paint to effect a repair.
In the case of vinyl wraps, initial efforts were limited graphics for show and race cars. Eventually, some enterprising and creative minds decided that wrapping an entire car in vinyl wrap was a novel way of achieving a new look without marring the original factory paint. A few years ago, matte finishes on show and street cars were all the rage, and vinyl wraps were a top choice for achieving the look. The best vinyl wraps even have warranties for fade and tear resistance that last up to 5 years. But what happens when a vehicle wrapped in vinyl becomes involved in a fender bender? The owner will of course want a one-stop repair, meaning he or she will not want to have the fender straightened out at an auto body repair shop and then take it to a vinyl wrap installer. This then compels auto body repair shops to have at least one technician applying the proficient in applying the wrap.
A far newer development is the trend of manufacturers in using carbon fiber to finish car bodies in carbon fiber, partially or entirely. Because these panels are lighter yet stronger, carbon fiber is the new wonder material for the automotive industry. Once limited to exotic vehicles, carbon fiber is poised to be a common material in mainstream cars in the next few years. BMW will be one of the first with its urban electric vehicle. For auto body repair shops, the problem in this case is how to hide a cracked panel section which has been deliberately left unpainted? Today's automotive tastes eschew painting over the carbon fiber weave, so the resin and carbon fiber are instead finished with a clear coat. Techniques for laying up carbon fiber will have to be learned by auto body repair technicians. So apart from their hammers and torches, auto body repair workers will now have to add to their tool boxes scissors and glue to repair cars.
