The Latest in Paint

It's no secret the collision industry is in a period of change.

And that applies to the paint department, as well. Think back to the practices of a few decades ago, and it’s almost hard to believe just how much has changed.

In recent years, increased safety practices, lean principles, a focus on efficiency, improved paint booths, and the advent of waterborne paint have all revolutionized the way that painters—and collision repair shops, at large—work.

All of those changes, however, have had positive impacts. Shops are able to push through more work, eliminate bottlenecks, and, most importantly, guarantee the safety of their employees.

From tools and equipment to certifications, there are a number of trends making their way to the paint booth about which every painter should know and consider.

Shop Certification

Certifications from organizations such as PPG not only assure your shop and clients that the person wielding the spray gun is qualified to do so, but offers the guarantee that the painter is up to date on current application techniques and safety procedures. Achieving PPG Master Certified Technician status doesn’t occur overnight, but its five-step program offers a comprehensive, skills-based curriculum to ensure long-term mastery. Qualified painters can graduate to the next level every two years, meaning an eight-year journey is necessary to achieve top status while keeping up with OEM’s rapidly changing, warranties, procedures, textures and technologies.

With almost two dozen PPG training centers across North America, painters of every stripe and skill set will find something to learn at a variety of courses specializing in brand (such as Aquabase® Plus, Deltron ®, Envirobase® High Performance, the Vibrance Collection® and more) or category (such as collision refinish, commercial coatings, custom painting and more). The PPG Online Academy is also available; known as the knowledge resource for every facet of the refinish business, the PPG Online Academy utilizes a wide range of online resources including technical and product training as well as professional development courses, videos, process documents and more, all designed to provide round-the-clock access to information to improve the performance of your shop or skill set.

Learn more at ppgrefinish.com.

Shop Tools

Tools such as SATA’s RPS Multipurpose Cups and the SATAjet X 5500 increase paint shop efficiency by making the best use of a painter’s time—by painting, of course. RPS cups save time, paint and cleaning materials and feature a unique venting system for a regular air flow rate, easing color match and media spread. Bendable, clean, safe and refillable, the multipurpose cups have revolutionized efficiency in the paint shop by eliminating redundancies such as spills, poor mixing and onetime-use utilizations.

The SATAjet X 5500, on the other hand, catalyzes the efficacy of the RPS cups by enabling each painter to customize sprayout according to their needs. The 5500 features “I” and “O”-type nozzles in both HVLP and RP, and due to a groundbreaking design of the fluid tip and air cap, an air distribution insert is no longer required. The X-nozzles reduce paint waste, spray quietly, and allow painters to grow their skill sets while laying down the cleanest, purest coats imaginable.

Shop Safety

As the rise of contemporary waterborne systems continues to affect the nature of collision center repairs and paint shops, it bears mentioning. Waterborne systems have proven themselves very effective in many ways, particularly safety—less odor and improved air quality are just a few of the advantages waterborne

systems offer. PPG waterborne technology also brings excellent color matching and performance. In fact, the majority of collision repair centers in the United States that have converted to waterborne are located in National Rule areas, ungoverned by stricter VOC compliance regulations.

Waterborne typically generates up to 75 percent less hazardous waste than the typical solvent basecoat while also reducing the volume of sprayable base necessary;

most PPG waterborne customers enjoy about 25 percent less sprayable base and up to 90 percent less reducer, drastically reducing product and increasing savings.

PPG waterborne systems increase shop efficiency and contribute to a better working environment in other ways. Toners mix with just a shake, eliminating the need for mechanical mixing, which helps to minimize energy consumption and reduce noise levels.

The Painter's Playbook is presented by PPG and SATA/Dan-Am Co.