The third day of the 2025 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV, featured another full day of checking out new tools and equipment on the Collision Repair & Refinish Hall show floor, as well as demonstrations of new training methods and an in-depth discussion on the importance of safety inspections as part of the repair process.
The show wraps up Nov. 7.
OEM Collision Repair Technology Summits
The first of three OEM Summit sessions.
Every year during SEMA week, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) Repairer Driven Education series dedicates Thursday to automaker information. This year, all three OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit sessions all focused on one subject: OEM safety inspections.
Each session was moderated by Mike Anderson of Collision Advice, and explored how these OEM processes influence repair accuracy, post-repair safety, liability and consumer trust.
Anderson started the day by saying, “Understanding safety inspections isn’t optional – it’s central to doing the job right.” He said his goal for the day was to make sure attendees came away with a clearer understanding of how to identify, perform and document these inspections, and why doing so is essential to ensuring vehicles are truly road-ready after a collision.
Anderson first led a discussion about steering column and steering gear safety inspections. His panel included Andrew Batenhorst of Pacific BMW Collision Center in Glendale, CA, along with two representatives of the Mohawk Auto Group: General manager Gerry Rosenbarker and technician Tyler Foote, who handles mechanical work for the shop.
The topic for the second session shifted to airbags and sensor safety inspections, with Anderson joined by Rosenbarker, Foote and Tyler Smith, president of Rick’s Paint and Body in Martinez, GA.
Closing out the afternoon was a session on seatbelt system safety inspections. Bud Center, director of technical products and curriculum for I-CAR, joined Rosenbarker and Foote for the discussion.
Hands-On Show Floor Training
Both SCRS and I-CAR featured opportunities for SEMA Show attendees to test their skills or explore how to learn new ones.
I-CAR is offering three types of training in 2026: adaptive learning, interactive video and mixed reality, which uses virtual reality goggles to teach beginners hands-on skills. Show attendees could try out a virtual reality course on ADAS calibrations at the show.
A show attendee tries out I-CAR's mixed reality training.
In addition to calibrations, mixed reality training will focus on entry-level skills in EV repair and blueprinting. New technicians working toward I-CAR certification in those areas will be able to complete the first two days of training virtually before joining an in-person class at I-CAR’s training center in Chicago, cutting down on the amount of time needed to travel.
The SCRS booth held a welding and refinishing competition powered by Skillveri’s cutting-edge augmented and extended reality training technology.
Competitions ran Nov. 4-6. The winners will be announced today via SCRS’ Facebook Live at 11:30 a.m. PT.
Attendees competed for the title of "Best Welder" or "Best Refinisher" of the week, prize packages and a Full Series Pass for the 2026 SEMA Show. But the real winners are local trade schools — each finalist had the chance to direct a prize package donated by Skillveri, Southern California Collision Equipment (SCCE), Milwaukee Tool and others to a collision repair school program of their choice.
Tools to Solve Shop Problems
Refinisher Josh Sorel (@josh_refinish) found several tools he wanted to highlight on the show floor.
Martech Power Puller.
VIM Tools “had some really clever new products for body techs and painters,” Sorel said, including an upgraded emblem and trim remover that uses a high-strength line to safely cut adhesive from painted panels without damage. They also showed Sorel a new paint removal pick with micro barbs that help lift dust nibs, seeds or dirt that get trapped in a finish.
“Simple tools, but both are well thought out for real world booth and prep work,” he said.
Martech Corporation had a booth grate removal system that allows a single person to lift heavy booth panels safely, meaning no more back strain or awkward two-person lifts.
Ken Block-inspired build by Robbie Layton.
“If you’ve ever swapped filters in a full-size spray booth, you know how heavy those panels can get,” Sorel said. “This tool eliminates a major pain point.”
He also liked Martech’s new cordless dent puller, which he thought “has a lot of potential for mobile and collision repair use.”
Alta Atomization is “a lesser-known spray gun manufacturer that’s doing some really creative stuff,” Sorel said. At its booth, a standout product was a compressed-air floor sweeper that glides on rollers and uses air pressure to blow dust and debris from the booth floor.
“It’s a clever, fast way to keep the booth clean without dragging out a broom or vacuum,” he said.
Sorel also saw a car build he’d been following on Robbie Layton’s YouTube channel. Layton is rebuilding a vehicle for CboysTV, a tribute car inspired by Ken Block, who left an incredible mark on motorsports before his passing in early 2023. The rebuild is a meticulous recreation and upgrade of one of Ken’s most iconic cars.
“Seeing it in person after following the project for months was really something special,” Sorel said.
