we delivered color and protection, in the future, we will be
building functionality into our products as well.
AkzoNobel is also developing technologies that allow us to
reuse raw materials. In some cases, they may be retrieved from
other paints, and in other cases, from other products. The idea
is to extend the life cycle of raw materials, or even create a “
cradle to cradle” loop where the materials are not discarded as
waste, but continuously reused. These technologies have great
promise for the future.
Tim Salatin, technical director for BASF Refinish North
America: Of course waterborne technology is increasing in
importance, as is the entire low VOC portfolio. From adhesion
promoters to clearcoats, waterborne systems are rapidly gaining acceptance in the filed.
In addition, as the use of anti-scratch clearcoats increase in
popularity with the OEMs, refinish must develop technology
with similar properties. First, refinish manufacturers must
develop a process that allows the original clear to be repaired
at all, and then ensure that the repair has similar anti-scratch
characteristics to the original coating.
Coatings World: What are the newest products that your
company’s refinish group has launched and what do they
deliver to the marketplace?
Schueler: One product that AkzoNobel has introduced this
year that actually ties in with the previous question is
StickerFix, which is a repair system using a coating that is
applied to a very thin foil. We’re very excited about it as an
alternative to touch-up pens. The perfectly matching color
can be sprayed onto the foil, which can then be applied to
minor scratches and nicks, or affixed to vulnerable parts of
cars like door edges. People often ignore those nicks and
scratches because it is annoying to try to repair them, and
the results are not all that great with touch-up pens. So we
are basically offering a DIY service that meets a need we’ve
identified. Over the longer term, we see coated foils as an
important application, and this is just one example of how
the technology can be exploited.
In addition to the recently launched Sikkens Autoclear LV
Exclusive we also launched VOC compliant clearcoats for various market segments.
Gareth Hughes, director of technology and global platform marketing director, PPG Automotive Refinish: A
major focus of PPG’s new product launches have been in support of our Envirobase High Performance and Aquabase Plus
waterborne basecoat systems. Just recently, PPG introduced
new clearcoats incorporating its innovative One-Visit technology. These new clears save significant process time by
eliminating the need for flash time between coats, and bake
times for the new clears have been reduced to as little ten
minutes. These products, combined with the fast process time
of applying our waterborne basecoat, will contribute very positively to a paint operation’s cycle time performance and
enhance the overall Lean Six Sigma equation at perform-
PPG’s Aquabase Plus and Envirobase High Performance
waterborne basecoat systems.
ance-driven collision shops.
PPG also launched a new midcoat coating for use by custom car painters and chopper builders which makes all the
custom colors and special effects finishes of PPG’s Vibrance
Collection compatible with the Envirobase HP waterborne
system. This is especially good news to those California-based customizers who had concerns whether or not a waterborne custom color system would be available to meet the
new low-VOC standards.
Salatin: Recently BASF advanced its adhesion promoter technology. The advancements have made the products easier to use
from both application and technical viewpoints. In the Glasurit
portfolio, the ultra low VOC system has a new single set of hardeners for use in undercoats, clearcoats and the single stage topcoats. This change decreases inventory requirements and complexity for our customers. For the R-M Brand, the Onyx HD line
has now added mixing clears to make the application of this
basecoat easier at extremely high temperatures.
Coatings World: What are the latest developments at
your company?
Outcalt: The growing North American demand for PPG
waterborne basecoat products was the catalyst for PPG’s
$11 million investment in their Delaware, OH facility
dedicated to the manufacture of waterborne refinish
coatings.
In addition, as part of its commitment to the growth need
and to improve the overall automotive refinish industry in
China and help meet the need for refinish skilled technicians, PPG recently established the first waterborne automotive paint training center in a college in China at
Shanghai Communications Polytechnic (SCP).
Eilenberger: Most notable is the opening of the Glasurit
Refinish Competency Center in Hiltrup, Germany. The
Glasurit Refinish Competency Center is one of the world’s
most advanced information and training facilities for
spraypainters (see page 24 of this issue for more details).
Also this year BASF is celebrating the 90th anniversary of
its R-M brand. CW
