As a result, 3M has focused its efforts on offering specialized products, training and support to the collision repair industry to help it be more efficient, productive and profitable in the future, said Dave Gunderson, 3M’s president and general manager of the Automotive Aftermarket Division (AAD).

Dave Gunderson

Celebrating his 34th year with 3M, the industry veteran recently shared major trends in 2022 related to collision repair and the ways 3M AAD businesses are focusing on supporting their customers. 

Gunderson pointed to statistics from an Apple Mobility Trends Report, one of the tools 3M uses to understand driving behaviors, demonstrating driving has increased 100% in the U.S. and is returning to pre-pandemic levels.

“The positive news is that driving trends are moving more toward an endemic phase, and I look forward to seeing an improving business as we go through the course of 2022,” he said.

3M Focused on New Products to Help Shops

3M launched two new solutions during the pandemic to assist shops with their productivity and efficiency in collision repair: the 3M™ Performance Spray Gun and the 3M™ Cubitron™ II Net Abrasives.

With the current raw materials shortage, paint companies, like all companies, have had to raise costs. Gunderson said the industry is starting to think long-term and focus on solutions that help offset the rising costs with product solutions that aid with shop productivity and eliminate some of the concerns.

“We have been in the industry for a long time and our job is to bring innovation and solutions to problems to the market,” said Gunderson.

The lightweight, versatile 3M™ Performance Spray Gun was created as a cost-effective and easy-to-use product for shops. Designed to deliver a...