Paintshop Chemspec - the paint out of Africa

Paintshop

Chemspec, the paint out of Africa

Leading international paint manufacturer, Chemspec, is looking to build its market share in Australia. It invited Paint & Panel writer Rob Kuleschow to its home base in South Africa to see first hand what makes the company tick. This is his report.
The first image of South Africa that springs to mind is one of game parks and iconic animals. But to those whose main interest is in metal beasts, South Africa is also important, being a manufacturing source for BMW, Mercedes, Ford, VW and Toyota. In addition, it provides these and other makes such as Bentley and Porsche with high temperature and speed-unlimited test conditions ‘ similar to Australia's Northern Territory.
It is not surprising that Chemspec should see Australia as a parallel market in which to sell its refinishing products, particularly MMII, the latest, premium version of its Metalux automotive paint range.
One method the company adopts for building its profile is to invite journalists and repairers to its factory to see first hand why Chemspec claims to have the best of both worlds: price and quality.
From very humble beginnings, Chemspec has grown to become the largest independent paint manufacturer in South Africa. Employing over a thousand people and manufacturing paint products and coatings for cars, furniture and industry, Chemspec's presence in the east coast city of Durban is very evident. Today it is the largest privately owned paint manufacturer in South Africa with a turnover 20 times what it was twelve years ago. In fact the company's ambitions have taken it to other African countries, USA and more recently Australia.
Factory spokesmen were keen to emphasise the price advantage of their products which, they claim, rival leading international brands on quality. This "cost effective and no compromise on quality" is achieved through Chemspec being a family owned company and therefore not shareholder driven. Cost containment is also enhanced by a policy of no giveaways and a no-frills paint system that works. A promise of exceptional service and support was acknowledged by the West Australian repairers in attendance who have been using the product.
Although Chemspec manufactures three different ranges of automotive paint systems, it is the new Metalux/Metacryl II (MMII) which features the latest international colours and paint technology which is being offered in Australia. Not only are Chemspec customers being offered a full range of competitively priced primers, basecoats, clears, solvents and hardeners, they are given an automatic mixing cabinet, scales and a computer programmed with stock control and a management system. They also have access to the resources of its Professional Colour Selection system.
To avoid colour variances that come with ink printing, 3400 colour chips in actual Metalux paint minimise the guesswork in matching the most popular colours currently available on the world market. Customers are able to access their recipes through a computer program, and colours can also be matched using a current data base of OE colours.
The "Easimix Professional" computer system provides for easy colour formulation retrieval and weighing to scale, as well as an efficient and user-friendly stock control. Linked to a scale, Easimix Professional guides the paint technician through the mixing process toner-for-toner and allows the correction of any over or under mixing. To help create a perfectly controlled and managed body shop environment, inventory monitoring, job costing, stock taking and monthly reports are also provided by the system. Chemspec says this is a cost effective solution for any panel shop with the program incorporating a full stock control system, aiding in stock holding and ordering, and producing a comprehensive monthly per job costing. This fully integrated paintshop mixing and management software program is designed to accompany MMII and Sherwin Williams paint systems.
Chemspec promises its customers that its base coats, which dry in five minutes, equal or better the opacity of most international brands. 90,000 colours are made available from the compact range using only 77 toners and a professionally staffed help desk for technical assistance.
In addition, Chemspec plans to roll out a comprehensive range of ancillary products for the Australian refinish market which will include its market leading "Formula 40" range of lightweight body fillers along with polishing and burnishing creams.

MOTORING IN SOUTH AFRICA
Rob Kulechow makes some observations


During early September the cost of unleaded petrol around Durban was heading towards 6 RAND/litre. With an exchange rate of 4.5 RAND to $1AUS, petrol is about the same price there as it is in major cities in Australia.

Many large service stations located along major highways employ 'bowser boys'. Three or four bowser boys descend on your car as you pull up at the bowser and proceed to fill your tank, clean the windscreen and, if requested, check oil, water and tyre pressures.

Signs around some intersections request that you report faulty robots. What could they mean’ Well, traffic lights in South Africa are referred to as 'robots', even with the authorities.

"Bakkie" (pronounced bucky), is the local term for a ute or
Despite the proliferation of wild life around game parks and reserves, there appeared to be very little road kills evident. Perhaps it is the use of and respect for variable speed limits imposed on drivers in those areas. The much lower speed limit applies daily at dawn and dusk when the wild animals tend to be on the move as it is a cooler part of the day.

While Australian authorities agonise over enforcing 40km/h school zone speed limits, South African road authorites have a method of 'self enforcement' which operates 24/7. From about half a kilometre before a school, there re sections of progressively more severe ripple strips. As one approaches the school itself the last section of very aggressive ripple strip must be crossed at well under to 40km/h otherwise there is a good chance of damaging your wehicle.

Improvisation at its best or worst’ Rounding a bend at speed on a rural road our driver is greeted with what looks like dozens of brick sized rocks strewn across the road. Upon closer inspection ,'roadwork' was hand written on a piece of cardboard wedged between two of the rocks, whilst the other rocks were laid out to separate the traffic from a newly laid strip of bitumen. Quick reflexes and the expectation of the 'unexpected' saved us from one very tar stained vehicle!

Incredibly polite and accommodating are the words we used to describe the behaviour South African drivers displayed on single lane each way carriageways. Unwritten etiquette has it that slower drivers veer into the breakdown lane or shoulder when it's safe to do so, continue driving and allowing through drivers who wish to travel faster. The passing driver acknowledges this act of kindness with three flashes of the hazard lights or a wave of thanks.

It is accepted that Johannesburg is rated as one of the world's most unsafe cities so it came as a surprise to see a number of bullet ridden panels and driver's doors sitting in the damaged parts storage section of a large Mercedes Benz recommended repairer in Durban.

There are some interesting methods of repair witnessed and reported by factory representatives who regularly travel to countries of central Africa. It is not uncommon for smashed vehicles to be secured to large trees and then 'pulled' by another vehicle or an elephant. Any form of measuring system is of course non existent, so if it looks right then it is right. Same applies to paint.

Special thanks to management of Chemspec in Durban , South Africa for the hospitality accorded us during the visit.