Next-gen B1:B2 paint process debuts

 

The BMW assembly plant in Spartanburg, in the US state of South Carolina, has become the venue for the first use in the US of PPG’s next-generation B1:B2 (wet-on-wet) waterborne paint technology.

In a conventional OEM paint process, a pre-treatment and electrocoat is followed by a primer layer which is cured before a topcoat layer of basecoat and clearcoat is applied and cured.

This process is both relatively costly and time-consuming and has, therefore, become a brainstorming focus amongst PPG’s technical team.

That’s seen the development of B1:B2 compact process technology, which incorporates into BMW’s Integrated Paint Process and reduces the number of steps necessary to paint a vehicle by moving the traditional primer application into the topcoat booth.

This eliminates the need for a dedicated primer booth and all the related processing. The B1 layer provides primer, filling, chip and durability benefits, while the B2 layer follows on with colour and additional durability.

Both the B1 and B2 layers are applied wet-on-wet and do not require a baking or a heated dehydration process in between.

“We are proud to have launched this exciting process as a first in the United States,” said Bob White, PPG director, global accounts – BMW.

“Our waterborne B1:B2 technology highlights our dedication to helping our customers reduce the overall paint shop footprint and environmental impact, while achieving superior appearance and maintaining colour flexibility.”

Compact paint processes such as the B1:B2 process generate substantial savings in capital and operating costs for OEM manufacturers by reducing the manufacturing footprint of a paint shop and reducing energy consumption while increasing overall process efficiency.