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.
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6 responses so far ↓
1 Donnie Smith/ Collision Repair Instructor // Jul 25, 2010 at 8:39 am
We are supposed to switch to water borne this fall at the college I teach at. Well, were supposed to, they keep telling us we’re going to have it, but I have not heard much out of our jobber lately. If they do not have us set up by the time school starts (less than a month) I am going to be very disappointed, as I really believe the PPG waterborne paint is the way to go.
2 mike // Jul 25, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Hey Donnie, sometimes you need to get on the jobber to get things done for you. Keep calling and pestering them to get the water system into your school. That seems sad to say that it takes more than one phone call to get things done for you, especially at a school level.
If I was your jobber I would do whatever it takes to make you happy and KEEP you happy. I also know by a few years of spraying water borne that PPG IS the way to go. If your jobber is not on the ball then I suggest calling your PPG rep directly and discussing your issues with him/her.
Thanks so much for your comment Donnie, great videos on your website as well, I was watching some of your tutorials on your site and really enjoy what you are doing for the collision industry.
Keep up the great work Donnie,
~Mike.
3 jacksonville mechanic // Sep 21, 2010 at 2:23 pm
This is great, it cleared up some misconceptions i had with PPG
4 mike // Sep 21, 2010 at 2:56 pm
No problemo Mr Mechanic, glad that this article helped clear up the misconceptions for you.
Thanks for reading the Blog,
~Mike
5 Donnie Smith/ Collision Repair Instructor // Oct 16, 2010 at 5:00 pm
I just got a call from the PPG rep. I think that they are going to go ahead and convert us to waterborne. I don’t want to get too excited yet, but I think it is going to go this time!
6 mike // Oct 17, 2010 at 2:21 pm
I sure hope so Donnie, for you and your students sake. I feel it would be beneficial for your students to learn the water borne system in school rather then having to learn it in the shop.
Spray in school what you are going to spray in the shop. Very minimal learning curve that way. Your students will have to get to know the shop, NOT the paint system.
Please keep me informed as to when you convert.
Thanks Donnie,
~Mike.
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