Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is a technique used to remove minor dents and dings from the body of a vehicle without having to use traditional repair methods, such as sanding and painting. The history of PDR dates back to the 1940s, when car manufacturers began using more lightweight materials like aluminum to build vehicles. These materials were easier to dent and scratch, and traditional repair methods would damage the material further.
In the 1960s, a group of technicians at Mercedes-Benz in Germany began experimenting with using metal rods to push out dents from the backside of a panel. The technique proved to be successful, and over time, other tools and methods were developed to refine the process.
By the 1980s, PDR had become more widely adopted, and a number of companies began offering PDR services to customers. In the 1990s, PDR was further refined with the introduction of new tools and techniques, such as glue pulling and the use of fluorescent lighting to better detect imperfections in the bodywork.
Today, PDR is a widely used technique for repairing minor dents and dings, and is considered a more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional repair methods.
