The 2022 SEMA Show opened Nov. 1 with the first of four full days of automotive aftermarket product demos, education opportunities and eye-popping vehicle builds.
The show runs through Nov. 4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
New Product Showcase Award Winners
At the SEMA Show Kick-Off Breakfast held just before the show officially opened, SEMA announced the winners of its Best New Product in several categories, including Collision Repair and Refinish.
The winner was Test Drive CoPilot from Opus IVS. Runners up were 3M’s RepairStack Performance Solutions, and the Fast Puller by GUNIWHEEL.
"Opus IVS is a technology company that innovates, and this award is a recognition by industry that our resources are focused on solving real challenges our customers face," said Brian Herron, CEO of Opus IVS. "Industry week has started off on a great note for us, and we are grateful for the recognition."
"I am humbled and proud to see my idea come to life and receive such a coveted award," said Frank Terlep, founder of Auto Techcelerators. "Test Drive CoPilot is designed to help collision repairers properly perform, validate and document ADAS systems on a vehicle operate as designed by the OEMs before the vehicle is delivered back to the vehicle owner."
The award-winning solution will be on display in SEMA's ADAS Garage, the SEMA Launchpad as well as alongside the future of ADAS Service, available now, in the Opus IVS booth #31095 in the South Hall Upper.
Count’s Kustoms Build Reveal
Danny Koker and the crew from Count’s Kustoms officially unveiled yet another custom build Nov. 1 at the SEMA Show---a 1970 Chevelle convertible named “Sapphire,” in the Hertz Kompressoren space.
Completely rebuilt from top to bottom, the custom paint job speaks to the ’70 Chevelle’s body lines. Ryan Evans, lead custom painter, used 10 shades of blue to pay homage to the vehicle owner’s beach lifestyle, and to the SS’s factory-inspired stripes.
Look closely and you’re immersed in the details, although ever-so-subtlety, something Evans is known for; he buried water drops in the stripes to mimic morning dew when oceanside, and he created a coral detail using a texturing technique.
Also in the Hertz space is a custom painted compressor, Model No. HBD5, that looks like it’s going 500 mph with its racing-inspired scallops and leafing---also the handiwork of Evans.
Hertz Kompressoren is a long-time partner of Count’s Kustoms, supplying the shop with its air compressors and other related equipment.
SCRS RDE Sessions
The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) is once again hosting its Repairer Driven Education series.
Among the offerings Nov. 1 was “Protecting Your Business Against Liability Exposure from Evolving Technology,” featuring David Willett and Shaughn Kennedy of SPARK Underwriters and collision repair shop owners Tracy Lewis and Jason Mundy.
The panel discussed evolving technology and the associated risks for a shop owner.
“The idea is you should go away with at least three action items,” Willett said.
A full recap of the presentation will appear in the December 2022 issue of Autobody News.
Abby Andrews