The Auto Body Blog

PPG Trains More than 10,000 in Waterborne “Convert With Confidence” Program.

According to PPG Automotive Refinish, more than 10,000 technicians across the United States and Canada have attended the PPG “Convert with Confidence” training program to help their transition to waterborne basecoat. The development of the program was spurred in part by governmental mandates anticipated in a number of states and already in effect in California and Canada. To assist collision centers in the transition, PPG began the Convert with Confidence program in 2007 to provide shop owners, managers, and technicians with training and support before, during and after the conversions.

Collision center managers have had very positive reactions to PPG’s program. “It was an easy transition for us,” said Bruce Dennis, body shop director for ABC Nissan, Phoenix AZ. “With the training we received, it was great. Anytime you go and change a paint line everyone gets real hesitant and a little excited, but it was real easy, really seamless.”

“We have found that shops that follow the PPG Convert with Confidence approach have been extremely successful in the conversion from solvent to PPG waterborne,” said Bill Troyer, PPG Automotive Refinish manager of training. “The key to success is having a solid conversion process and PPG has created the plan that works.”

“Conversion was so simple, it was unbelievable,” said John Reilly, general manager, Gary Yeoman’s Ford Automall Body Shop, Daytona Beach, FL. “They put the system in and we started spraying the next day. No hiccups or anything.”

Low VOC basecoats will also be mandated for twelve northeastern states and the District of Columbia as early as 2012. With the focus on green processes and products, it appears it is only a matter of time until waterborne systems will be recommended throughout the country. PPG urges shop owners to use the Convert with Confidence program to help make their transition as easy as possible.

Proper Booth Housekeeping Leeds To Dust Free Paint Jobs.

Lately I have been a little more vigilante with my house keeping in our paint booth. Its not that I have been slacking off but recently I sweep a little more, wash the booth out at least twice a day and change the floor filters twice a month. I have started writing on the booth door with a water pen, the times that I change the floor filters. In addition to that information, I write down when I wash the booth coating off the walls and when the roof filters were changed. This is really starting to pay off when I see the end result after the vehicle is painted. Very limited dust in the paint and a great looking final result. If I’m happy then I know our customers are happy.

Another important step I take when painting the vehicle is tacking the panel after I apply sealer and also tacking the final coat of base while blowing at 15psi. I blow the panel/panels while tacking with an approved waterborne tack rag. This blows the fine particles away from the panel if I miss a pass with the tack rag. With any water system, you need to be sure the water is completely dry before blowing and tacking before clear coat is applied. I have seen instances where the water is still not fully dry and I have tacked the panel leaving my finger print streaks in the panel/panels. This is not easy to correct so make sure your base is dry before you blow and tack.

In addition to sweeping and washing the floor every day, I check the Quad jets for any build up of dust or overspray that has settled in the jets. I wipe the jets out with thinner and then let them blow with no vehicle in the booth for five minutes. Its simple little steps that will get minimal dust in your paint work. Sure you are going to get the odd speck or two but if you are vigilante like I am, you will be very happy with your final product, as will your customers.

With the water borne product you need to make sure you are doing your housekeeping. Lots of air movement in your booth means you are bound to kick up dust. Take the steps everyday to make sure you are producing the best quality paint jobs possible. Good luck and let me know how you are doing with your water system.

PPG conference is a massive success

Success in today’s world of collision repair is highly dependent on how well owners and managers understand the differing attitudes and preferences in play between today’s four distinct generations. That’s the view of Cam Marston, noted author and authority on multi-generational communications, speaking at the recent PPG MVP Business Solutions Conference held at San Diego’s Paradise Point Hotel. The sold-out conference, themed “Beyond Tomorrow,” drew more than 320 PPG-affiliated collision center professionals, making it the most highly attended MVP conference ever.

In his address, Marston noted that preparing for the future includes bringing out the best from employees. With four generations – known as Matures, Boomers, Xers and Millennials – now working side by side, part of that challenge is communicating and managing effectively across generational lines by treating employees as individuals. Marston defined the generations by age, Matures – 65 and older, Baby Boomers – 46 to 64, Gen Xers – 31 to 45, and Millennials – 30 and younger. He went through each generation’s characteristics, their expectations and how those qualities affect their work.

According to Marston, understanding generational differences can ease workplace frustration while increasing teamwork and productivity. For example, most Matures and Boomers put a lot of stock in their work ethic and job commitment, while for Gen Xers and Millennials, their primary identity is outside the workplace. That doesn’t mean one generation is more productive than another, it simply means each typically has its own way of doing things. Tailoring communications to reflect these distinctions is the key to success. Marston’s words resonated with his audience.

“I was very impressed,” said Sharon Wells, general manager of Collision Clinic, St. John’s NL, Canada. “We’re so busy just getting the job done, we sometimes don’t think about our workforce as individuals. His information was of paramount importance. I was with two others from my shop – we represented three different generations – and we now understand each other better.”

Attention to Social Media

Another significant difference Marston pointed out is the greater use of social media by Gen Xers and Millennials than by Matures and Boomers. His statistics show 77 percent of Millennials and 61 percent of Gen Xers maintain an Internet social media Web site profile compared to 36 percent for Matures and 46 percent for Boomers. Projections indicate these percentages will grow. This also ties in to the younger generations’ thirst for information. The topic drew plenty of attention.

“In terms of pure numbers, social media plays a big role in how we need to communicate in the future,” said Norm Angrove, senior manager, PPG Value Added Programs, who facilitated a discussion group on the topic. “There are 900 million visitors to social media sites every day. And 74 percent of that is in the United States. Twitter is growing at a 3000 percent pace. Marketing today involves the five “Cs” of social media – content, community, conversation, collaboration and connection. We can’t ignore that. Collision shops have to put their message out there using this new media.”

Selling to multi-generational customers

Marston pointed out that shop owners must recognize generational differences when selling their collision repair services: what is learned about communicating inside the collision center applies to cross-generational customers as well, especially now with social media marketing flourishing.

“Social media is already a big part of our marketing mix. It is an essential tool that will help us stay ahead,” said Sal Contreras, marketing director for Mike Rose’s Auto Body in Concord, CA. “I heard a lot of great ideas at the conference, so we plan to use the information significantly more in the future to connect with customers, insurance agents and the insurers.”

Additional speakers, seminars and breakout discussion sessions all focused on providing attendees with assistance and tools for improving their business model and preparing their center and employees for success “beyond tomorrow.” Noted industry experts, Chris Miller, senior editor of ABRN Magazine and Githesh Ramamurthy, CEO of CCC Information Services, addressed the conference on the topics of “The State of Collision Repair” and “Data and Analysis the Industry Must Understand” respectively.

How lighting affects color matching.

By Mike Henry, Manager PPG Color Print/ Electronic Tools, North America

Past editions of Repaint Reporter referenced details about OEM color variation, automotive paint pigments and color geometry. This edition will explore the impact that lighting has on our perception of color and how variations in lighting affect color match decision-making.

But first, let’s review the basics.Three things are necessary to see color: 1) a colored object, like a car, 2) a light source, such as the sun, and 3) an observer with normal color vision. Each factor plays a role in how color is perceived.

The Lighting Factor In the simplest terms, daylight can be equated to what most of us call white light. In the 1600s, Sir Isaac Newton used a prism to split white light into the spectral colors of the rainbow. Today we recognize those colors as being associated with bands of wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum. The wavelengths discernible to the human eye range from about 380 nanometers on the blue side to 740 nanometers on the red side.

Daylight is the best light source for observing automotive paint color. Daylight is composed of electromagnetic energy in sunlight, plus the blue light that is scattered by air molecules in the atmosphere and white light scattered by water and pollutants. It can be affected by weather conditions, time of day—even your latitude on the planet. That’s why a color judgment made in New York can be different than one made the following week in Sacramento.

Indoor lighting used for color matching should be as close to daylight as possible. Lighting companies offer a variety of bulbs that can be used to imitate daylight in fluorescent and incandescent light fixtures. The best artificial daylight bulbs will match up well to the average spectral power distribution of daylight, but none are perfect. Paint booths are usually a poor placein which to make color decisions. A typical paint booth design focuses on airflow and the filtration of airborne solvent vapors. It is not usually equipped with skylights, artificial daylight bulbs or strong directional light sources. For these reasons, the booth is generally not the best place from which to make variant formula selections.

The Color Factor The pigments used in today’s advanced automotive color formulations require strong directional light and broad spectral energy (daylight or something to simulate it). Here’s why… Light interacts differently with pigment in straight shade toners than with those found in metallic and pearlescent toners. Straight shade toners absorb most of the light that strikes them and reflect only a narrow band of color. For instance, a bright blue toner appears blue because it selectively reflects blue wavelengths of light. It absorbs most of the green, yellow and redwavelengths leaving only the blue wavelengths to be ref lected. Pearlescent pigments, on the other hand, produce their coloristic effects by refracting (bending) and reflecting light. The type and thickness of metal oxide coatings on pearl flakes determine their color.

As light strikes a blue pearl flake, some of the light is reflected off as white light, the rest passes through the coating and is refracted or bent to a specific degree to produce blue light. When that refracted or interference blue light encounters an edge between the flake and the paint binder, the blue light is ref lected up and out of the paint film. Weak complementary yellow wavelengths of light transmitted into the paint film and depending on the color formula, are absorbed or combined with the reflected light of other pigments on the flop. So it’s important to consider that with today’s pearlescent colors, what you see is strongly affected by the quality of your light source.

Metallic toners containing various types of aluminum f lake pigments absorb no light at all. They reflect and scatter all the light that hits them. Differences in flake particle size and surface treatment create the differences in appearance that we associate with fine, coarse and lenticular flakes. To fully appreciate the impact they have on color match you need strong directional lighting. Two different formulas might look the same or blendable in a paint booth or shop with fluorescent lights, but very different in direct daylight if one has lenticular aluminum flake.

The Human Factor It’s important to keep in mind that in the United States, about 7 percent of the male population—or about 10.5 million men—either cannot distinguish red from green, or see red and green differently.* The same applies to about 0.4 percent of the female population. To perceive a color correctly, it is essential that the observer has normal color vision, can recognize shifts in hue, vividness and lightness/darkness. Plus, a good grasp on the coloristic effects produced by metallic and pearlescent pigments is very helpful when dealing with modern automotive colors.

The Success Factor Being conscious of all of these lighting factors will help you pick the most accurate variant and achieve blendable matches. When evaluating color choices, consider shop lighting, the angle or direction of the light, the environment (air conditions, etc.) and your own ability to discern colors. Whenever possible, use direct sunlight—or a source that simulates it—to help you see all the color’s properties and make successful color decisions.

The collision shop and our insurance companies.

Lately I have been hearing “we can’t blend that vehicle, it’s a borderline write off” and I think to myself two things. One, if it’s that close to a write off then write it off. Secondly, if I butt match the door and don’t blend the fender and the quarter panel, then the customer may not be happy with the paint job as it may not be a perfect match. Some insurance companies are better than others at giving time to blend adjacent panels, but some only give “color tint” or do not give time at all. The collision repair technician has inside information on these facts but the average consumer has no clue. Also, some insurance companies will not replace your vehicles genuine parts with new genuine parts. They will try and use aftermarket parts and if no aftermarket parts are available, then they will go with new genuine parts, or if the price of a new part is cheaper than a remanufactured bumper or jobber fender, they will go with the cheaper part.

Consumers need to know what goes on when their vehicle is involved in an accident. You as a consumer need to ask many questions when your vehicle becomes involved in a collision. As a painter in the collision industry, I want to make the repairs to your vehicle look better then new. I want the color I apply to match perfectly; I want the clear coat to look like glass. I want no dust in your vehicle and I want to see a smile on your face when you pick up your vehicle from the repair shop.

Please do yourself a favour when you apply to get insurance, ask questions to your agent. Make sure you completely understand what you are getting and what you do not get with your policy. The most common thing I see is “loss of use” in your policy. Loss of use lets you use a rental car when your car becomes involved in a collision. Find out what your deductible will be if you are ever in an accident. I see many folks with the misconception that the insurance company covers all costs of your collision. Some folks just do not have five hundred dollars to cover the cost of the deductible. Please spend the time at your agents office and understand where you money is going.

Keeping along the same lines as my last post on cool applications for your mobile phones I came across this cool application many users will be interested in. It’s appropriately called “Help I crashed my car”. Help I crashed my car is a FREE smart phone app that provides you and your family with access to virtually everything you need if you are ever involved in a car accident!

Here is a description of exactly what this is and what it can do for you in case you are ever involved in a collision. “Help I Crashed My Cars patent-pending wireless technology provides you and your family with a one-click automated emergency communication system that contacts up to 3 family or friends, your insurance company, your insurance agent and your preferred body shop. It will even send your shop a map of your accident location so they can respond immediately!

Because of its GPS location technology, Help I Crashed My Car makes it easy for you to locate and contact the closest Police Department, Ambulance Service, Hospital, Towing Company, Rental Car Company, or Body Shop.

Help I Crashed My Car, also provides you with important information on what to do if you are involved in a car accident, what to look for in a quality auto body shop, and what your consumer rights are after you have been in an accident.

Help I Crashed My Car, even provides you with an Accident Report and the ability to take photos at the scene of the accident. You can then send the report and photos to your insurance company or preferred body shop”.

This mobile app is currently in use for Canadians and Americans and takes less then five minutes to download, install and set up which makes set up simple for the user. So where can you get this handy application. You can get this phone app FREE from iTunes app store, Verizon app store, Blackberry app store, Windows Mobile app store, Help I Crashed My Car.com, dozens of Body Shop Websites in North America, as well all Premier Member Websites.

In my opinion it is worth it to get started with the application as you just never know when you might need it. I know the one thing I always have with me is my phone. I do not carry my laptop with me when I travel but my phone never leaves my side. I drive a long distance to work and back and the good thing about this application is it’s free. Here is the link over to Help I Crashed My Car so you can get started as soon as you have some spare time.

PPG has introduced ColorMobile, a new convenient tool providing fast and easy Internet access to all color formulas for domestic and import vehicle colors. ColorMobile is especially designed for repairers who work away from collision centers and need access to color formulations wherever they travel. All that’s needed to use ColorMobile is a password and a mobile device with access to the Internet.

“We’re very excited to offer ColorMobile to our customers,” said Beth Ramsey, PPG global color marketing and communications manager. “It’s the ideal solution for vehicle refinishers who work on the road and otherwise would not have access to our color databases via their desktop computer. ColorMobile gives them instant 24/7 access to the information they need wherever they’re working. ColorMobile is a valuable and productive tool, and a key part of the PPG Color Retrieval System.”

Using ColorMobile, repairers are able to tap into the PPG or Nexa Autocolor Online Color websites. Color formulas are updated daily and the database contains both National Rule and compliant/waterborne system information covering all manufacturer colors including both prime and variant formulations. In addition, since ColorMobile is designed specifically for mobile repairers, it offers the ability to mix in very small amounts – as little as one ounce – as needed. To use ColorMobile, a repairer simply accesses the appropriate website URL and enters their approved password and e-mail address.

If you already have access to PPG or Nexa Autocolor Online Color Formulations and a mobile device with internet connectivity, you can enjoy many of the current features of Online Color—any time, anywhere. ColorMobile is the ideal solution for repairers who need instant access to color formulations “on the fly”. Simply log on to ColorMobile here https://buyat.ppg.com/colormobile/ppgna using your current PPG online password and username, and choose from all the latest color formulas for domestic and import car, fleet, or any type of manufacturer colors.

PPG’s EC 700 And EC 750 Water Borne Clear Coat

I was able to spray the new PPG clear coat EC700 last week and was really impressed with its overall ease of use and final appearance. My PPG paint representative Rob Festa was in to provide me the technical information on the new clear coat and offered to show me how the new clear works. We used fast hardener on a one panel job and I was impressed on how quickly we were able to complete the clear coat process. This clear is a one visit clear which means it’s back to back. One juicy coat followed by another and your all done. Immediately following the last pass you are hitting the bake button on your paint booth.

This clear cost is specifically designed to go over PPG’s Envirobase HP basecoat. The mixing ratio is 4:1 and uses no reducers. I sprayed a three panel repair with this new clear coat and used medium hardener. I liked the way the EC700 laid down better using a slower hardener selection. I would like to spray and front end job to see how it lays out on flat panels like a hood. Overall I am very impressed with the new EC700 clear coat from PPG.

I will keep you posted as to how the flat panel repairs work out with the slow hardener. This new clear will be more productive as it is a one visit clear coat. This will translate into a few more cars being painted every day.

PPG Refinish has launched its new MVP Business Solutions website. The site can be accessed directly at www.ppgmvp.com. The new site is tailored to the needs of PPG’s collision center customers and devoted exclusively to MVP training, tools and services.

“We are excited about having a website wholly dedicated to our business solutions offerings,” said Jim Berkey, director, MVP Business Solutions. “We have a strong leadership position in the collision repair industry with our MVP programs and want to make information more easily available for our customers. With the new website, they now have 24/7/365 access to our programs and services.”

The interactive site incorporates state-of-the-art technology, is highly graphic and emphasizes a contemporary, user-friendly design.

“We wanted to make this site attractive and appealing. After all, we want people to use it and enjoy their experience, so we did our best to make it easy,” added Norm Angrove, senior manager, PPG Value Added Programs. “This site is loaded with the timely and critical information our customers want. Navigation is clear and intuitive. Customers can find out about our MVP offerings and quickly get up-to-the-minute information about training, conferences and services. For example, one of the website’s key areas is Training Solutions which encompasses four sub-sections: Throughput Performance, Leadership, Business Fundamentals and ParaKaizen – all valuable tools for business success. I encourage everyone interested in our MVP programs to visit www.ppgmvp.com and learn more.”

Visitors to the site can quickly see where training courses and other events are being offered across North America, and can register online for these events.

The new site represents the first phase of PPG’s MVP website development. Even broader access to information, people and business solutions is coming in the next stage.

For more information about MVP Business Solutions, call 440-572-6149, e-mail MVPmailbox@ppg.com, or visit www.ppgmvp.com.

See the new link added to the Blogroll here on the autobody Blog and feel free to click and view the new site.

For many years PPG has worked closely with Lamborghini to develop colors that will enhance the design of these prestigious Italian automobiles. The introduction of PPG’s matte finishes created specifically for Lamborghini is set to be the latest automotive fashion style.

Lamborghini was one of the leaders of this trend when it introduced the Black Gallardo in 2006, featuring matte-black body parts. Following this initiative, a growing number of automakers are now using matte finish to highlight particular car body details. PPG is the exclusive supplier to Lamborghini for the matte colors. Lamborghini only recommends the use of PPG products when repairing matte colors.
The exciting progression of matte colors is a direct result of the close collaboration between Lamborghini and PPG Refinish. This led to the development of PPG’s new D8113 clear matte coat, designed to create a sports car effect and to accentuate these models’ style.

“All of our matte and special color cars are hand painted. We had to find a product that would not only ensure the aesthetic quality sought by our designers, but also meet the high performance standards required. PPG supported us once again, as it has done throughout the years of our collaboration during all the development stages: from product engineering to quality tests and training program for our Customer Support points,” says Claudio Nannetti, Quality Manager at Automobili Lamborghini. “The Lamborghini/PPG partnership is extremely successful and has led to excellent results. In over twenty years, we developed many painting processes for a range of different materials, from aluminums to composites, and countless finishes, including four-coat and matte finishes. Today, we are ready for new challenges and new research projects.”

This partnership also involves Lamborghini’s global support network. Achieving the special matte effect that enhances the car’s allure requires specific repair cycles and the use of dedicated, reliable, high-performing products. To ensure that its network was able to make repairs that would maintain and reinforce the brand’s high-quality reputation, a worldwide training program, focusing on matte colors, was initiated for all body shops specializing in the repair of these prestigious automobiles. This ensures that the repairs are carried out by specialized workshops after receiving specific training through PPG’s training centers worldwide, confirming once again the exclusive nature of these models and of matte finish.

Developed by PPG technicians and approved by Lamborghini, these training sessions, focused on the matte finish repair process, are designed to expand the operators’ skills in the use of specific painting systems and to allow them to learn techniques that ensure the best final result. Special attention has been placed on the repair of Nemesis black matte paint, one of the hardest to achieve, and on matte clearcoat application and drying time. The course has been shared with all PPG training centers worldwide, creating a unique Lamborghini matte color repair network.

To reinforce its total technical support, PPG also developed a manual, approved by the Lamborghini After sales organization, dedicated to the network of body shops specializing in Lamborghini vehicles worldwide and can be accessed by the entire global repair network. This details specific products to be used in each geographical area, depending on different regulations or logistic reasons.