Coatings World - October 2011

vent-based systems in terms of ease of use, color match and per-
formance, has made it easier to overcome general skepticism end
users have for VOC-compliant products,” he said. “For example,
in Florida, a state where stricter legislation has yet to be enacted,
one of our key distributors predicts 80 percent of his collision
repair customers will voluntarily make the switch over to PPG
waterborne systems in the next couple of years.”
In addition, PPG’s comprehensive “Convert with Confidence”
program for shop owners, managers and technicians is proving
successful in providing the necessary training and planning guid-
ance required for a successful transition.

Price point, product quality, support systems and expanded
distribution are the basics behind what an auto refinish customer
has expected for many years, according to Brunori. “Matrix Sys-
tem was founded on the premise of offering customers high qual-
dustry and we are determined to address these needs.”

“[There] has [been] an overall
slowdown in the collision repair
industry causing the demand for
repair paint to decline,” said Vitor
Margaronis, marketing director,
BASF Automotive Refinish North
America. “In Asia and high
growth parts of Eastern Europe,
the opposite is true. Demand is
increasing due to the increased
number of vehicles being sold.”

ity products at a fair price back in 1983. Our company was
fortunate to be on the front end of the ‘alternative choice’ growth
curve addressing a need the market was demanding.”
Economic conditions today have fueled the desire for price
point relief at the shop level creating opportunities for small start
up companies to enter the refinish market. “Matrix System will
continue offering technologies and product platforms to help
ease the profitability challenges our customers are struggling
with,” Brunori said. “Two tiers of products—Matrix branded
and Refinish Solutions—will continue to be the drivers for the or-
ganization. Our sales and technical staff continue to grow across
the United States with basic orders: ‘stay in front of the cus-
tomer’. Matrix distribution partners are the best in the industry
and can get product in the hands of our customer typically
within one-day. These are the issues today in the auto refinish in-

Reducing cycle time

Reducing cycle time from repair order to vehicle delivery is rap-
idly becoming the key focus of competitive collision centers and
a major differentiating factor for retaining new business and
gaining new business. “Improving cycle time is powerful,” said
Jim Berkey, director, business solutions group, PPG Automotive
Refinish. “It directly translates to a more satisfying repair expe-
rience for the policyholder but in turn it benefits the shop by re-
ducing costs and making better utilization of fixed assets. The
same performance that attracts new business allows the shop to
flow additional business through the same fixed assets.”
Reducing cycle time requires a comprehensive approach in-
cluding a critical look at existing processes from start to finish
throughout the collision center. “This requires that the collision
center organizations move beyond the traditional skill sets in-
volved with repairing a vehicle and develop skill sets in rebuild-
ing more competitive processes,” said Berkey continued. “With
the most comprehensive set of Lean for Collision programs avail-
able, PPG is providing the required training, tool sets and onsite
support required for an organization to move from thinking
about Lean processes to implementing Lean processes.”
Just as important, PPG has developed faster, more accurate
color-matching tools, and faster dry coatings to speed refinishing
times. Along the same line, utilizing the latest in color matching
software and tools is important.

“The ability to avoid ‘re-dos’ and quickly access the right
color formula that accurately matches the customer’s vehicle the
first time out is critical to cycle time performance,” said Mary
Park, director, global color, PPG Automotive Refinish. “Over the
past few years PPG has invested much of its global resources to
deliver ‘right first time’ matches.”
These efforts have contributed to PPG’s new, revamped Paint-
Manager color software program that incorporates an innova-
tive RapidMatch workflow process that can also make use of a
new, advanced spectrophotometer.

“These innovations set a new benchmark for taking accurate
readings of a vehicle’s actual color,” said Park. “We’ve also invested
extensive effort in providing color matching tools specifically for our
waterborne basecoat systems. For example, we provide our water-
borne users with a comprehensive deck of color chips, each sprayed
with our actual waterborne refinish paint. So when a chip is paired
to match the customer’s vehicle, customers can count on getting that
exact color after it is mixed and applied.”
How fast a refinish system works has long been a factor of con-
cern for collision centers. “Given the increased emphasis on cycle time
performance this criterion becomes even more important today,” said
Gareth Hughes, director of technology and global platform market-
ing, PPG Automotive Refinish. “Our coatings R&D team is contin-
ually looking at ways to speed dry times of our products.”