As claim professionals and collision repair facilities, we have one responsibility to our customers: Return them to a properly repaired vehicle. Technological advances have original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) using new materials called advanced high-strength steel (AHSS). These steels require new repair procedures. In my observations of repairs that I have seen, I have found great concern for both repairers and insurers. While some collision repair facilities and insurance companies are on top of this change, others are not even aware of it.

Looking Back at Repairs

In the past, vehicles were designed mainly of mild and other forms of traditional high-strength steel. These steels allowed more repair flexibility, since the repairer could use heat to stress-relieve the steel. Sectioning and splicing were also procedures that were very common and carried out on a daily basis. These repair procedures were only to be used if the OEMs required it, yet obtaining the information from the OEM was not easy to accomplish. While some of the OEMs have repair information, others did not as it was not mandatory to do so.