‘Repair over Replace’ strategies are becoming more prominent in the vehicle repair industry. Technologies like Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) allow for some cosmetic damage to be repaired without replacing, or even respraying affected components.
Here’s what you need to know about Paintless Dent Removal, including how it works, and the benefits it brings for insurers and their customers…
What is Paintless Dent Removal?
Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) allows repairers to fix cosmetic dents in vehicle panels without replacing or respraying the part itself.
This is not only cheaper than more intensive repairs – such as replacements and resprays – but it’s also more convenient for customers, and can often be conducted by a mobile repairer.
Strategies like PDR are also more sustainable, reducing the need to replace entire parts or components. This means less reliance on carbon-heavy parts supply chains, and fewer scrap parts removed from vehicles and sent to landfill.
How does Paintless Dent Removal work?
When conducting a PDR, repairers use specialist tools to reverse dents in vehicle panels, and smooth out the surface to its original condition.
The technician will use small, precise pushers to massage out the dent, and revive the original shape of the panel.
Because of its precision, there’s no need for any resprays or treatment – PDR allows repairers to achieve a faultless finish without removing or painting the part itself.
PDR & SMART Repair Technologies
PDR is just one example of SMART (Small to Medium Area Repair Technology). SMART focuses on ‘repair over replace’, allowing for vehicle damage to be repaired without the need to replace entire components.
Other use cases for SMART repair include fixing chips in vehicle paintwork, repairing bumpers, scuffs on alloy wheels, or even cracks in glass panels!
