Untapped, Unsaturated Market, International Trends in PDR - Huge Opportunity for Indians

New vehicle technology and construction are transforming the repair industry. They are also introducing challenges to those tasked with properly and safely returning collision-damaged vehicles to the road. For example, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)—now standard on the latest automobiles—have made diagnostic scanning and calibration a necessary step in the repair process.

Additionally, automakers focused on fuel economy have prompted increased investments in equipment designed to repair components made of aluminum and other lightweight materials.

These changes to vehicle technology and design—along with the industry’s continued focus on quality, structural integrity, and environmentally sound practices—are renewing interest in paintless dent repair (PDR).

Just like traditional collision repair methods, PDR—also known as paintless dent removal—restores the body of a damaged automobile to pre-loss function and appearance. It is primarily used to fix small dents and dings, body creases, and hail damage but can also be applied to other patterns of damage on exterior components. Highly trained and certified PDR technicians with special tools carefully either massage or pull the impacted area, removing the dent without using paint or body filler.

For consumers, PDR can be a viable alternative to collision repair processes that require straightening, filling, sanding, and repainting. In fact, according to research data, an estimated 80% to 90% of minor dents and dings may be fixed using PDR.

In this article, we explore the latest PDR trends, discuss its benefits and challenges, and highlight the technology changes driving new PDR processes.

PDR Benefits & Challenges

Unlike other repair methods, PDR retains the factory fit panel, eliminates the use of foreign substances on the vehicle, and preserves the factory base coat and clear coat—all significant benefits. It is most often applied to new vehicles (those 0-3 years old) at a rate of 6.43% as compared to 3.38% for all other vehicle ages combined (Figure 1).

In addition, there is very little difference in the utilization of PDR based on material type, although one of the primary challenges affecting widespread PDR adoption is the responsiveness of lighter-weight substrates—such as aluminum and high-strength steels—to PDR methods. However, research data shows almost identical results in the use of PDR regardless of whether the panel is constructed of mild steel or a lightweight material (Figure 2). This is encouraging as a greater percentage of major component panels now feature lighter-weight materials, especially as manufacturers look to offset the weight of high-voltage batteries in increasingly electrified fleets.

4. While the frequency of PDR utilization declines the closer a vehicle gets to full electrification (Figure 3), the differences in repair methods can likely be explained by the lower adoption rate of vehicles with electrified powertrains in areas most impacted by severe hailstorms. When we examine PDR use in collision and property damage claims only, we find a similar pattern but with a much lower degree of spread between the different propulsion types (Figure 3).

Reducing the need for refinish operations using PDR has the potential to lower material costs, streamline the repair process and decrease cycle time.

Besides providing a high-quality repair outcome with the least amount of invasiveness, PDR also presents repair facilities with opportunities for increased efficiency and environmental stewardship. All refinish paint companies reported paint price increases of 10% in Q3 2021 and forecasted further hikes in the months ahead, putting collision repairers under duress as they attempt to manage expenses for paint and materials.

In most cases, these facilities receive a flat hourly rate for paint and materials that do not fluctuate based on changing market conditions. During a period of unpredictable inflation, the paint and materials profit center—while slim at best—can quickly turn into a liability on a balance sheet. Reducing the need for refinish operations using PDR has the potential to lower a collision repair facility’s cost for materials, streamline the repair process and decrease cycle time. Lowering expenses on the repair side also benefits insurance carriers responsible for covering the repair costs of their policyholders. This, in turn, benefits consumers by preventing premiums from rising too rapidly. In an analysis that compared a 3-hour conventional repair on a 2018 Toyota Rav4 hood to PDR repair methods found that PDR provided a savings of $278.85 for this single panel.

The reason: PDR eliminates the need for refinish time, drastically reducing the overall expense of the repair operation.

Environmental Considerations

As it relates to environmental stewardship, PDR is perhaps the most eco-friendly option for any sheet metal repair since it requires no chemicals, fillers, paints, or replacement parts.

Metals manufacturing plants typically use varying styles of blast furnaces, which are most often coal-fueled. This process normally requires approximately 770 kg. (3,212 lbs.) of metallurgical coal to manufacture one ton of new steel.6 7 When a shop repairs a part, the original finish must be sanded away. After metalworking is completed using an appropriately selected method, a polyester body filler is applied and sanded before primer, basecoat and clear coat are added. Many common fillers use a styrene monomer base (a derivative of benzene) along with inert compounds, such as titanium dioxide, to produce the properties necessary to make the products effective and robust. However, this styrene monomer poses potential risks. A popular filler manufactured by 3M contains 204 grams per liter of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) as well as 0.372 pounds of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPS) per product pound.

The diagram on the next page illustrates the expected carbon footprint of three different collision operations performed on a steel hood:

1.) replacement of the part,

2.) traditional repair using body filler, and

3.) PDR. While the exact figures used here are estimates only and based on a variety of data sources, it is clear that there is a wide range of environmental impacts introduced depending on the repair method.

Introduction of New Dent Repair Tools and High Precision Dent Removal Techniques Transform the Automotive Paintless Dent Repair Market

The Global Automotive Paintless Dent Repair Market is estimated to be USD 429.36 Mn in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 549.81 Mn by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 5.07%.

Moreover, the increasing number of accidents and collisions on the road is driving the demand for paintless dent repair services. The use of specialized tools and techniques makes this method an effective way to repair minor dents and dings caused by accidents and collisions.However, the market faces challenges such as a lack of skilled technicians and limitations in repairing complex and severe dents.

For India, with the huge population, learning PDR can be huge opportunity to address the scarcity of trained manpower globally to cater the increased demand of skilled manpower, apart from reducing the carbon footprint using the conventional method in the country.