Auto Refinish Market
appearance and support lower curing temperatures. These ad-
vances continue to allow production of ever more sustainable
coating formulations, such as low-VOC and waterborne, that are
more environmentally responsible and utilize less energy.”
With OEMs using exterior colors as a key differentiator for
their offerings, many highly chromatic, vibrant colors are be-
ing introduced that provide a candy-like appearance. “To match
these translucent colors for refinish work, PPG is incorporating
its ANDARO tint dispersion into our premium basecoat plat-
forms,” said Gareth Hughes, director of technology and global
platform marketing, PPG Automotive Refinish. “This propri-
etary dispersion process uses nanotechnology in order to get
the pigments down to the minuscule size required to achieve
the transparent, dye-like appearance. A spectral gray undercoat
system that designates a specific gray primer to partially show
through the color coat and create the final color is used with
these toners. This mirrors the similar process used by the OEMs,
for an excellent color match.”
Axalta has launched new products in a variety of regions
globally. In Europe, Axalta recently launched a cutting-edge new
generation clear coat technology, which combines excellent ap-
pearance with optimal drying attributes, either as forced drying in
five minutes or as air-dry with zero energy consumption. This clear
coat combines well with Axalta’s recently launched waterborne
basecoat system.
“In our Asia Pacific region, we launched our ‘Ultra
Productivity’ system that features G3 Clear Coat and a new
surfacer primer in China to help customers shorten the paint-
ing process and improve body shop productivity,” said Ruess-
Saltz. “In India, Cromax Pro was introduced to demonstrate our
commitment to the market and our focus on producing more
sustainable coatings. Cromax Pro features Axalta’s latest wa-
terborne technology, which helps to decrease customers’ overall
environmental footprint.”
“In the U.S. our latest waterborne technologies - Cromax
Pro, StandoBlue and StandoHyd Hi-Tec - are among the most
productive waterborne technologies and meet that challenge
with coverage in 1.5 coats to reduce booth time, painter time
and booth energy usage,” Ruess-Saltz added. “We’re also excited
about the strong interest in our Cromax Mosaic product, a low
VOC solventborne paint with full collision color capability.”
With the rapid adoption of our waterborne basecoat technol-
ogy as a mainstream refinish system, PPG is focusing on upping
overall performance of the primers and clears of our waterborne
refinish systems. “For example we’ve just introduced clearcoats
with new resin technology—products engineered to be excep-
tionally easy to apply, along with excellent gloss from the gun.
EC530 En-V Performance Clearcoat and D8173 Premium UHS
Clearcoat are the first of a series of new premium clears that we
feel will be real game changers in reducing technician applica-
tion errors and the need for rework,” said Hughes.
Quest Automotive Products have launched a number of new
products in 2014. Prospray, USC and Matrix brands have introduced over 50 new products in 2014. Every product is geared
at improving profitability or productivity. Matrix’s MPB-LV Low
VOC Solvent basecoat provided shops with the first ‘true’ low
VOC solvent system – Quest is a leader in solvent-based compliant technology. “Because of our innovative technology there
is no need for new equipment or technique,” Brunori added.
“Compliance is a seamless transition. Instant success.”
2014 and Beyond
Axalta has had significant expansion activity already this year.
“Kicking the year off, in January we broke ground to construct
additional waterborne capacity in Shanghai,” said Ruess-Saltz.
“In September we broke ground to expand our Wuppertal,
Germany operations center, already our largest, to add produc-
tion capacity for waterborne coatings. In Latin America, we just
announced a $10.5 million investment to expand resin produc-
tion in Mexico and we’re continuing with the final leg of a three
year expansion program in Brazil. Over the past 12 months we
opened a new corporate headquarters in Philadelphia, new re-
gional headquarters for North America and Asia Pacific and new
training or office facilities in key markets like Spain (Barcelona)
and the U.K. (Wellyn Garden City).”
In mid-2013, Quest Specialty Chemicals, Quest
Automotive’s parent company, acquired U.S. Chemical &
Plastics and all of its brands, including Prospray Automotive
Finishes. “This move made QAP the most diverse manufacturer in our industry – from body filler, to abrasives, to
masking products to waterborne and solventborne color and
refinish products - we have a brand and solution for every
shop need,” said Brunoir. “In 2014, we completed a major
expansion by adding over 23,000 sq. ft. of warehousing and
logistics capacity to better service our customers. More of
the same is planned for 2015. We will continue to grow organically and through acquisitions, each time optimizing our
business models, technology, logistics, information, marketing and manufacturing, to provide optimal efficiency which
means the best products, the best people and the best service
at the best price. We are excited about the future.” CW
Quest Automotive Products has launched a number of new products in 2014,
including Prospray, USC and Matrix.
