Automotive OEM Coatings
March 2017 www.coatingsworld.com Coatings World | 61
other global markets - sustainability is one of the key trends
driving demand.
“Eco-efficiency is especially important to our customers
and is a growing market requirement,” he said. “To meet this
market need, innovations are crucial. We develop new solutions that contribute to the sustainability needs of our customers and society (e.g., integrated process, waterborne coatings
technology). We are therefore continuously analyzing our
complete product portfolio from the viewpoint of the sustainability needs of our customers, incorporating the results into
our business strategies and integrating sustainability criteria
into our R&D innovation processes.”
Research & development
According to Anne Shim, Technical and Quality director, BASF
Coatings NA, in order to ensure the highest quality products
for its customers, BASF continuously develops new products
and processes.
“Sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions are of
great importance,” she said. “Therefore, we are increasing the
share of R&D investment for sustainable solutions. All of our
R&D activities are not only limited to coatings, we also focus
on solutions beyond paint and develop products and services
to meet our customer’s needs. Digitalization is another key fo-
cus area. We are convinced that digitalization will enable us
to identify new business models and to optimize costs for in-
stance in the area of development, production, and logistics.
Digitalization will clearly change almost all areas of our value
chain within the next years.”
Fischer said that some new materials and construction sce-
narios are sensitive to the high temperatures of a typical auto-
motive paint oven. As a result, new, lower temperature curing
formulations are being developed to facilitate some light weight
vehicle construction options.
“Reducing the OEM environmental footprint and overall
cost to finish vehicles remains a primary driver for innovation.
Developments that allow wet-on-wet application, elimination of
layers and reduction of energy continues to be a primary focus
for future coating system design.”
Today’s coatings are not perfect, he added. Improvements in
stone chip resistance, appearance, scratch and mar resistance as
well as resistance to chemical attack such acid rain, bug pro-
teins, road grime and so forth can reduce warrantee claims and
add value through improved consumer satisfaction and higher
residual values.
“Consumers continue to want to be delighted with new and
fresh design, and this includes the colors which are offered,” he
said. “Development of new color space, as well as programs to
offer color in new and interesting ways continues to be a development focus.” CW
