NEW-AGE TOOLS
EIGHT NEW PRODUCTS SHOWN AT SEMA THAT COULD TRANSFORM YOUR WORKPLACE
Story by Allison Rogers
The SEMA New Product Awards are a highlight of the automotive industry, showcasing cutting-edge innovations and tools that push the boundaries of performance and design. This year, a remarkable selection of over 1,600 products competed across 18 diverse categories, each vying for recognition based on criteria such as innovation, technical achievement, quality, and market appeal.
Collision Repair took a deep dive into this year’s New Product Showcase to identify the standout tools that we believe will make the most significant impact in our market. Join us as we reveal our top picks for the coolest advancements that are set to transform the industry.
SATAJET X 5500 LOWRIDER LIMITED SPECIAL EDITION BY SATA
This limited-edition SATAjetX 5500 Lowrider is a topquality spray gun available in both HLVP and RP compliant technologies. SATA says the spray gun is perfect for spraying all types of topcoats, sealers and clears. Plus, the SATAjet X 5500 Lowrider is a limited production special edition surface coating that will help you stand out. This spray gun is available across the United States and Canada at authorized SATA distributors.
REVV ADAS PLUS BY REVV ADAS
The winner of the SEMA Best New Product — ADAS Category, Revv ADAS is a SaaS platform that allows collision repair facilities and calibration businesses to identify new revenue streams from required ADAS, safety, steering and functional calibrations on repaired vehicles. According to the company, Revv ADAS Plus delivers a complete calibration identification solution with an advanced rules engine, workflow management, CCC and Mitchell integrations, as well as customizable options for each shop. The program allows for advanced quoting based on labour rates, insurance or vehicle make, plus seamless billing and invoicing via Quickbooks integration.
PRO SPOT ERGO LIFT ASSIST™
The revolutionary Pro Spot Ergo Lift Assist™ System (ELA) is the tallest and most versatile motorized boom mechanism for spot welding applications. Designed to reach higher (9.25’ / 2.82 m) and lower (5’ / 1.5 m) than most conventional booms, the ELA makes spot welding any area on today’s high reach/wide footprint vehicles accessible and ergonomic. The Ergo Lift Assist™ is designed for today’s high-profile SUVs, vans and trucks, and the battery-powered ELA has over nine feet of vertical reach.
GPR STAR VORTEX COOLER FOR GLUE PULL REPAIR BY KECO BODY REPAIR PRODUCTS
The GPR Star Vortex Cooler is a cooling solution designed to improve the performance of glue pull repair (GPR). It rapidly cools down hot glue, allowing technicians to work faster and more efficiently by minimizing wait times during the repair process. The GPR Star Vortex Cooler—not yet available in Canada—is said to be ideal for shops and locations where ambient temperatures are elevated. The cooling effect of the vortex action reduces temperatures and times between pulls, according to KECO.
FORMOSA VCU BY FORMOSA EV
Winner of SEMA’s Best New Electric Vehicle Product, Formosa EV’s Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) simplifies EV conversions by acting as a universal translator between components. The company says this eliminates the need for CAN bus programming; normally, setting up the communication between car parts requires a lot of technical programming, though Formosa says its VCU removes this hassle. The product itself is designed for DIY enthusiasts and is said to offer easy set-up via a user-friendly mobile app. The VCU is said to be automotive-grade and OEM-tested, according to Formosa EV.
SAGOLA SPRAY BY SAGOLA BY
ELCOMETER
Experience hands-on spray painting training without the mess! Developed by expert spray paint technicians, the Sagola SPRAY VR program allows refinishers-in-training to master essential techniques in a safe and eco-friendly environment. Practice repeatedly to refine your skills while saving paint and materials. Receive instant feedback to learn from your mistakes and improve your technique. Discover the perfect gun distance for a flawless finish, adjust your hand positioning for optimal fan patterns, and understand the ideal speed for effective spraying. Elevate your craftsmanship and gain confidence in your abilities with our innovative virtual reality training!
HUNTER UNIVERSITY BY HUNTER ENGINEERING
Launched in Summer 2024, Hunter University is a new global learning platform designed for easily accessible training for customers, technicians, technical school instructors, students and other interested parties. The Hunter University platform, which is available in 21 languages, collects all of Hunter’s extensive learning content in a single place, offering dozens of free online courses worldwide, as well as streamlined registration for handson, in-person courses at training centres around the United States. Hunter Engineering notes that all existing content was updated and refreshed as part of the nine-month effort, often converting from dynamic modules with narration and video. The online courses are generally presented in five-minute segments, so even a 10-module course can be completed in approximately one hour.
TRAINING CONTENT BY 3M AND AXALTA
3M and Axalta have announced a collaboration to introduce a new training content series focused on automotive refinishing. The series will feature five co- branded training modules, each intended to meaningfully help technicians and shops improve their understanding of repair process practices and drive greater operational outcomes. The first three training modules from the series centred on optimizing process productivity, efficiency and quality in refinishing, are scheduled for release globally on December 2, 2024, and will be accessible through the 3MTM Collision Repair Academy and Axalta Academy platforms. The training content will also be made available on 3M and Axalta’s social media channels. Additional training modules focused on safety and sustainability will become available in 2025.
