Wheel Restore brings precision alloy wheel repair to the shop

LAS VEGAS—Commercial vehicles, especially those operating in last-mile delivery and urban routes, are prone to wheel damage from curbs and other obstacles.

At this year’s SEMA Show, we happened upon the Wheel Restore WR-DCM3 Diamond Cut Alloy Wheel Repair Machine, which offers automated, OEM-level precision to alloy wheel restoration. Like a CNC machine, the system expertly subtracts material to repair damage, which can reduce how much money a fleet loses after damage a wheel.

"The replacement of wheels is getting really expensive, and wheels are getting hard to come by, so it really makes sense for shops to do repair instead of replacement on wheels," explained Rick Hynes, director of aftersales, North America, for HBC Systems, Wheel Restore's parent company.

Diamond-cut alloy wheels have become standard on light-duty trucks and vans, offering a sharp, high-end finish at the trade-off of increased repair necessity due to their susceptibility to curb damage and everyday wear. The WR-DCM3 addresses that demand head-on, restoring damaged wheels through micromillimeter-precise machining that removes only the damaged surface layer while preserving the wheel’s structure and integrity. The process takes just 15 minutes and doesn't even require the removal of the tire.

Built and engineered in Denmark, the WR-DCM3 operates on standard single-phase power and features a compact footprint that fits easily into tight service bays or can even be installed in the back of a van. The 12” touchscreen interface guides the user through each repair step with visual prompts, making the process accessible for techs of all experience levels.

While similar in function to a CNC machine, Hynes explained that Wheel Restore's technology is purpose-built for alloy wheel repair rather than repurposed CNC software.

The process is simple, with three modes available to select from with pre-set cut depth, feed rate, and rpm. Calibrated laser precision auto-aligns the cutting tool, meaning cuts are accurate with minimal input. This saves time and eliminates user error. Techs can also program up to three sequential cuts per wheel, allowing the WR-DCM3 to run unattended while they handle other tasks.

"The filtering is driven by an AI engine," Hynes said, describing the initial process of laser scanning the wheel. "We've taught the AI on hundreds of thousands of wheel profiles that we've collected over the past six years of being in business, and it uses those to create the smoothest and most factory-like finish."

While the AI program used by the machine on display at SEMA was in beta, Hynes noted that it will roll out in Q1 of 2026. The program cuts the scanning process down notably from about two minutes on the older machine to 12 seconds, a significant time difference when taking into consideration the number of wheels that may come through a shop daily.

Other key features include:

Diagnostics screen for real-time machine monitoring
Wheel profile storage system for repeat jobs
Open design accommodates rims up to 30” in diameter and can process wheels with or without tires
Integration with the Wheel Restore app, which logs each repair and generates a QR code for easy digital recordkeeping and customer communication.
Compliance with CE safety standards