Repair Redux
by Abby Bowman
Editor’s Note: As ADAS technology advances and repair becomes more common, technicians must know how to perform the second without disrupting the first. AGRR is re-running an updated version of this article, originally published in the Spring 2026 issue of AGRR magazine, to help readers understand the relationship between the two and anticipate the tools and techniques to come.
What makes repairing a windshield, rather than replacing it, so appealing? Historically, the strongest arguments for repair have been its environmental benefits and preservation of the original seal, along with time and cost savings. Now, as automotive technology evolves, there’s even more to consider.
“Those things are all still big factors, but we also have to factor in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS),” says Linda Rollinson, owner of Florida-based Superior Auto Glass of Tampa Bay and chair of the Auto Glass Safety Council’s (AGSC) National Windshield Repair Division (NWRD). “Repairing means we don’t disrupt the windshield-mounted camera.”
Talking ADAS
Rollinson is also the chair of the Repair of Laminated Automotive Glass Standard (ROLAGS™) 2 Standards Committee.
As ADAS systems become more complex and more common, repairing whenever possible will become the best option for those systems to remain undisturbed, Rollinson says.
GlasWeld president Shiloh Spoo agrees.
“Market conditions are perfect for repair to start being valued the way it should be,” he says. “It saves an essential, expensive piece of technology that’s in most new-model cars.”
Rising windshield replacement costs related to ADAS calibration mean customers know more about repairs, says Korey Gobin, Delta Kits sales manager.
“It used to be that we’d explain what repair is and offer it as an option, but now, customers ask for it directly,” he says. “They want shops to try at least to repair the windshield before replacing it.”
What You Know
Repair’s affordability doesn’t appeal to just consumers, Gobin says.
“Even some insurance companies will ask if you’ve attempted a repair before approving a replacement,” he says.
According to ROLAGS™, technicians can’t repair in a windshield-mounted camera’s view. That may eventually change, Spoo says.
“Some of those areas may become repairable as technology develops over the next 10 to 15 years,” he says. “Even now, there are gray areas that the industry is working together to figure out. For example, does it matter if you repair in the view of a rain sensor? Probably not as much as it would if you repaired in front of a LIDAR sensor that measures down to the millimeter.”
Next-Gen Tools and Supplies
Repair technology itself will continue to evolve, Spoo says, so technicians won’t need to be as hands-on with the process.
GlasWeld recently introduced one such tool.
“It’s a small device, called The Vybe, that will slide in underneath the injector,” he says. “It has four legs that put a small amount of pressure on the glass around the repair area and another leg that contacts the injector itself. The tool uses a specific vibration algorithm to get the resin into all the nooks and crannies in the break.”
Spoo says that The Vybe is designed to operate with minimal interaction, meaning a technician can set it up and continue other work while it finishes.
“Let’s be honest, most of the industry makes money on replacements,” he says. “It’s just human nature to focus on what earns us more money. Our goal with this and other tools was to make repair as simple and predictable as possible so that repairs can be more profitable by not taking up as much time that technicians could dedicate to other work.”
The ROLAGS standard says it is unsafe to repair damage that is in an ADAS camera’s line of sight. The rock chip on this 2019 Subaru Forester sits directly in front of the vehicle’s EyeSight system, meaning the windshield must be replaced.
Cordless tools will become more popular for a similar reason, says Gobin, and cure times may continue to shorten. He also expects changes in the repair resin itself.
“More resins will be designed to meet or exceed the structural integrity of the glass,” he says. “All-weather resins, like some of the ones Delta Kits offers, will become more common, too.”
All About Education
No matter how resin technology develops, Gobin says customer education will remain critical.
“We need to show customers what a repair looks like from multiple angles so they know what to expect,” he says.
It’s particularly important for consumers to understand that repairs won’t look perfect as heads-up display (HUD) technology becomes more popular, Rollinson says. She takes an “under promise, over deliver” approach.
“I explain that the repair may distort the HUD projection in that small area,” she says. “I slightly exaggerate how obvious it will be so that they’re pleasantly surprised with the result.”
It might not generate as much revenue, but Rollinson says a quality repair is good for business in other ways.
“Customers pretty much always tell me how impressed they are that they can barely tell it’s there,” she says. “They go home and say the same thing to their friends and family.”
“A good repair wins a customer for life,” Rollinson adds.
Abby Bowman is the editor of AGRR magazine. Email her at abowman@glass.com and connect with her on LinkedIn.
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