Sept - Oct 05: The Paintshop

The paint shop

Swains goes Glasurit waterborne

Swains Motor Body Repairs is currently the only body shop in Queensland to be using the Glasurit 90 Line waterborne technology. Proprietor Peter Butler and manager Rick Stone are keen to keep up with the latest technology and are always investing back into the business.
Having started the business 32 years ago Butler was determined to be successful in the smash repair industry. Joined 10 years later by manager Rick Stone, they combined their knowledge and experience in growing the business and making it one of the most technologically advanced body shops in the market.
Swains is computerised through every stage of the repair process, from quoting through to the final repair stages. The use of modern technology has seen many changes in Swains shop, including staff, productivity and training.
?Eight years ago we had four spray booths and were struggling with productivity," Butler says. "We decided to have a long hard look at the business. With the introduction of the 'inhab' infa-red arch and drying system in our paint shop, we have reduced from four booths to two and a half, with fewer staff, and have increased productivity."
When Butler and Stone were told about the move to waterborne in Europe, it seemed a natural progression to them. With the help of BASF Coatings Australia, and Prestige Paint and Equipment, they formed a business plan for the introduction of waterborne into the company. After some trips to Sydney to gain further knowledge of Glasurit 90 Line it was decided to change from 55 Line to 90 Line completely. ?The change proved to be successful," Butler said.
Glasurit says that its waterborne technology has been installed by Swains because the repairer is serious about protecting the environment and 90 Line provides the means to do so.
?We had a look at two areas that would benefit us most with Glasurit waterborne technology; the environment and the work conditions of our technicians,? Stone says. Work conditions improved as the risk of solvent coming in contact with their skin lessened. The decision was also made by Swains to refurbish the paint room with stainless steel benches - though not a requirement for installation of 90 Line technology. The change to the paint shop equipment was minimal, setting up a sink for cleaning of spray guns and drums for a filtration system so we can recycle the water."
Business manager for Glasurit in Queensland, Ron Warmington, said ?Glasurit 90 Line is proving to be a successful introduction to the team at Swains, with improved preparation time and less time spent on colour matching with no loss in production.
?It has been proven at Swains that the colours on the newer vehicles are easier to match using waterborne technology. With the characteristics of 90 Line colours, the reproduction to the OE finish is flawless?.
Glasurit says that to change over to waterborne technology the main element required is acceptance of change and dedication to making the change work, starting from the top end management through to the floor staff. Once the commitment is made to change over, a full staff training program is discussed and implemented.

Wheel colours can be tricky
Adelaide smart repair trainer and supplier, Bradleys, says that while car makers are happy to keep repairers informed on the latest OE colours and ongoing variations, the same does not apply to wheels. Bradleys sells wheel repair machines and trains technicians in their use, giving it a first hand knowledge of car makers wheel colours. The trap is, when a car is silver, to assume that the wheels are the same silver. Nor are many of them chrome or metal coated; they are painted and have a separatre set or paint codes which are not easy to access. Bradleys has overcome some of this this by mixing up spray cans of some of the most popular wheel colours. These are especially suitable for wheel repairs where only a small area has to be painted.

U-POL's System 20
U-POL's System 20 range of automotive paint products have been steadily gaining popularity since their launch in 2000.
The System 20 range is produced in U-POL's state-of-the-art facility in Wellingborough, England and exported to over eighty countries. All products in the range are formulated to perform as well as, and to be compatible with, every premium brand on the market, yet at a fraction of the price.
Two best sellers in the range are 20:21 HS Easy-Sand Primer 5:1, which air dries in 90 minutes and may be used as a high-build filler, thinned 10% to use as a surfacer or 25% for use as a wet-on-wet sealer. 20:21 will build to 220 microns and features very easy sanding, no sink-back and exceptional hold-out.
Also proving very popular in the trade is 20:81 HS Clear 2:1, which features absolute ?water white? clarity, excellent flow, 40-50 micron build and dries in 30 minutes @ 60oC.
Enquiries, Tel: (02) 4731 2655.

Glasurit's new scratch resistant clear
Glasurit has added a new VOC-compliant clear-coat with extremely high scratch resistance to its product portfolio. The high scratch resistance of the new 923-45 HS Clear ensures that the finish is more resistant to external influences, helping to maintain the value of an automobile. Glasurit?s new clear-coat also provides a high quality refinish solution to carmakers who use scratch-resistant coatings in the OEM finish.
Automotive finish is exposed to constant stresses every day, such as carwash brushes, stone chipping, and road salt. Auto manufacturers have already responded to growing customer demands and are using especially scratch-resistant automotive coatings in the OEM finish. The improved scratch resistance must of course be guaranteed for refinishing as well.
Glasurit has developed the new 923-45 HS Clear scratch-resistant VOC 3.5 for this purpose. In addition to the excellent application qualities, the new clear-coat features particularly high scratch resistance. It passed the test phase with flying colors and has done a great job in the test markets in the Netherlands and Germany.
Car owners benefit above all from the outstanding reflow properties of the 923-45 HS Clear scratch-resistant VOC 3.5. The reflow properties constitute a phenomenon in which the lightest scratches repair themselves through the effect of heat, such as from direct sunlight. The high surface elasticity of the new clearcoat is ideal for withstanding adverse environmental conditions: for instance, when gravel hits the car, the impact is not nearly as destructive as with conventional clearcoat.
Moreover, the 923-45 HS Clear scratch-resistant VOC 3.5 offers short application times, with excellent drying properties and outstanding polishing behavior. The 923-45 can be used in the Glasurit 55 Line and 90 Line, and of course it meets current VOC regulations.

Efficient gun cleaning from Drester
Drester was one of the first manufacturers of spray gun cleaners and hence today is a market leader worldwide. Its equipment is characterised by a combination of quality, performance, efficiency and reliability.
The Drester 2600 is the complete manual gun cleaner for efficient cleaning of spray guns and other tools which have been used with conventional paints. It comes equipped with a wash brush which is fed with re-circulating solvent and a nozzle in the lid for rinse with clean solvent. You can spray out the gun through a funnel in the lid and dry it with an air gun, which is fitted on the side of the machine.
The Drester 9000 is the complete Automatic Gun Cleaner for all paint systems. It comes equipped with powerful Drester Teflon diaphragm pumps. These pumps have been rigorously tested and have an outstanding performance. They deliver a high volume of solvent at low pressure, which makes the machine efficient and ensures minimal loss of solvent. The machine cleans and rinses automatically, and it also has the possibility of manual washing with both circulating and fresh solvent.
The Drester gun cleaners are safe and easy to use. There are several models for solvent-based paints, and together with the paint manufacturers, Drester has developed a special machine for waterborne paints with an integrated water recycling system, the Drester 1000.
Enquiries, Tel: (02) 9568 2233.

Affordable Infrared Curing
InfraQuick is a new range of infrared curing systems to come out of Europe and has a broad range to suit the many needs of today?s repair facilities.
The InfraQuick Mini is a single panel lamp that is ideal for retouching, while the InfraQuick Mover is a mobile two-panel lamp that is recommended for preparation work.
?The InfraQuick Compact Dryer is a larger, mobile three-panel lamp that is ideal for body shops with limited space. It is perfectly sized to fit in between vehicles in the tightest preparation areas in paint shops," says Warren McMartin from Australian Importer, Automotive Colour & Equipment.
?InfraQuick is the high quality yet very affordable range of infrared dryers our industry has been waiting for. We are very excited to be representing InfraQuick in Australia. If the positive response and early sales at the trade fair in Melbourne means anything, this range is going to be a great success."
InfraQuick also offers the larger and more robust Master Range consisting of a three-panel and six-panel unit. These two mobile dryers have the ability to cover virtually any part of the car body.
Completing the range is the InfraQuick Aero Rail System. The six cassettes, hung by aluminum tracks, can cover one or several working areas. The system includes a digital control panel, proximity sensor and totally independent ignition of lamps.
Enquiries, Tel: (02) 9771 1600.

Suspended mobile curing
To meet the highest demands for production and quality, IRT Sweden developed its unique overhead rail system. The need for a modern and flexible suspended system for curing paint materials in the preparation area as well as in the spray booth resulted in the development of IRT-5000 series.
The IRT cassettes can be suspended from the ceiling, providing a means of dramatically increasing paint shop through-put while at the same time freeing up valuable floor space.
?IRT Mobile Paint Curing Units have been used successfully for more than 20 years in the paint refinishing market and this experience has shown that, based on energy savings alone, the IRT rail system achieves payback in as little as 18 months," says Andy Miller of SAPE, the Australian distributor of IRT Products.
?The IRT-5000 Suspended Mobile Paint Curing System increases the through-put of smaller and medium sized jobs, and is designed to cure all conventional as well as high-solids and water-borne materials. All exterior parts of the car can be accessed and energy usage is minimal as only the area repaired is heated.?
The IRT-5000 Suspended Mobile Paint Curing System can also be used for the flash-off of base-coat and non-sand primers in wet-on-wet applications, as well as for the curing of subsequent top coats.
Enquiries,Tel: (02) 9568 2233.

Carsystem finish compound
Paint Shops worldwide are sharing in the benefits of the Carsystem finish compound kit.
?It is very rare for a product to be successful in all markets," said a spokesperson from Carsystem. "Often we release a product that may have great success in one country but not another."
The Carsystem Speed Cut has had amazing success in removing fine scratches from fresh paint. The second product, Carsystem All-In-One, is an excellent compound for aged material and for removing scratches and restoring product back to its original finish. The third product, Gloss & Shine, is a glaze that can be applied by either hand or machine and is excellent for removing all types of swirl marks from all types of paint.
The Finish Starter Kit consists of Finish Speed Cut, Finish All-In-One, Finish Gloss & Shine, two sized Finish Foam pads and two Finish Back-pads, all housed neatly in a versatile Carsystem garage bucket. You also receive a Carsystem squeeze sponge and the Carsystem microfibre cloth for quick product removal and hand polishing.
enquiries, Tel: (02) 9792 7588.

The CeramiClear story
In June 2002, PPG, in conjunction with Mercedes Benz, developed and launched a new innovative automotive clear-coat called PPG CeramicClear. Now PPG has launched a refinish version, PPG CeramicClear, D8105.
Motor car manufactureres are always looking for new methods to preserve the original gloss and the high-quality appearance of their vehicles for a longer period of time. PPG CeramicClear, is PPG?s solution to this request.
PPG CeramicClear offers - compared to conventional clearcoats - an improved scratch resistance and a higher gloss retention. To ensure that the same level of scratch resistance is maintained, vehicles painted with PPG OE CeramiClear should be repaired with the only true refinish equivalent: PPG CeramiClear D8105.
Easy to apply and fast drying, PPG CeramiClear D8105 is a high solid clear-coat that can simply be slotted into the refinish process whenever it?s required, giving repairers the ideal tool for delivering a long-lasting, scratch resistant repair that?s the equal of the original OEM finish.
Other paint companies may claim to have the CeramiClear technology but PPG says this is not the case. PPG CeramiClear is a breakthrough invention and unique to PPG. The term CeramiClear is a registered trademark of PPG.
In addition to Mercedes Benz, other OE manufacturers will also be introducing CeramiClear onto their vehicles in coming months.
Enquiries, Tel:13 24 24.

New wet polish technology
Menzerna Polish has released a new final polish. Designed in conjunction with Mercedes Benz, the polish represents the latest in wet-polish technology. This new product has more powder and more lubricant and is designed never to run dry during polishing. This keeps the surface cooler and results in a level 4 gloss. Final Polish can remove up to 2500 grit swirls and removes all micro-traces evident on black cars after compounding. After polishing, you simply wipe away the excess polish with a microfibre cloth for an incredible result. Menzerna polishes have no silicon or artificial shine enhancers. Rival polishes, which use dry polish technology, are unable to achieve the depth of gloss Final Polish produces. It?s perfect for our warmer climate. Menzerna has released a new two-stage system for polishing ceramic and other scratch-resistant coatings. PO85RD3 Intensive Polish will remove up to 2000 grit scratches from these super hard clears and generate a level 3 shine. And PO85RE5 will remove up to 3000 grit scratches, including any micro-traces left behind on dark cars by intensive polishing. All Menzerna?s new polishes use wet-polish technology. Expensive minerals used in RE5 make it capable of generating a level 5 shine.
Enquiries, Tel: 0402 432137

Extra cut, extra size
:3M has recently introduced Perfect-it 111 Extra Cut Rubbing Compound in the larger 3.7 litre size as requested by many customers. This is an aggressive cream compound for tough, hard and low VOC clear coats that leaves a fine finish. In the event that you miss your buffing window and the clear becomes extremely hard, this is the recommended compound.
111 is a good addition to the 3M Perfect-it family of paint finishing products that have been specifically developed to provide a total systems approach to achieving the ultimate finish on automotive paints.
Enquiries, Tel: 136 136.

New filter from Binks
ITW Finishing Technologies has announced the introduction of the new Binks 'super efficiency' spray booth filter, backed with a high efficiency polyester media which dramatically increases the filter efficiency and loading capacity.
Binks has been producing high quality spray booth filters for over 30 years. The new filter has been released after exhaustive field trials and evaluations. The Binks filter is constructed from two sheets of heavy duty cardboard and formed into double 'accordion' style folds, stapled, glued and backed with a high efficiency polyester media which dramatically increases the filter efficiency and loading capacity. It is especially effective when spraying fast drying coatings such as lacquers that may pass through a standard paper filter as dry particle. The large openings in the Binks filter allow high volumes of air to be exhausted without loss of efficiency as the media loads. Binks says its filters are the only ones glued and stapled together during manufacturing and an expansion strap on the rear is also provided fitted to ensure correct spacing of eight corrugations per 30.4cm. This guarantees optimum and superior filtering performance and maximum value.

What Makes Chemspec tick
Chemspec is the third largest paint manufacturer in South Africa, and the second largest manufacturer of car refinishing paint and industrial coatings
Chemspec recognised that keeping up with colour in automotive refinishing was the way of the future and invested in a state-of-the-art colour laboratory equipped with multi-angled spectrophotometers and computerised spray robots. The facility is supported by an efficient IT department and close relationships with leading international partners, ensuring they are ahead of the demand for new and fashionable colours. The resultis the Metalux 2 range, boasting a complete and comprehensive range of the latest and most popular international pigments.
Metalux 2 is a second generation product with the original chemistry having been carried forward from the 20 year old Metalux 1 range. The Metalux 2 range is a result of an extensive development program by Chemspec, with colour being the major advancement. Metalux 2 is its premium range, covering all aspects of vehicle repair, with approximately 95,000 international colour formulations.
In addition to the extensive range of basecoat and 2K toners, there is a comprehensive selection of primers, hardeners, clear-coats and ancillaries. Metalux 2 is complemented by the Professional Colour Selector tool, essentially a colour box with 3400 actual sprayout colour cards, arranged in colour sequence, and representing most car colour shades. This tool is linked with the Easimix professional software package, giving both formulations and cross references to car colour information.
Easimix Professional, is a fully integrated paint shop mixing and management software program designed to accompany ChemSpec?s Metalux 2 paint system. Linked to a scale, Easimix Professional guides the painter simply through the mixing process toner-for-toner and allows for correction of any over and under mixing. A cost-effective solution for any panel shop, the program also incorporates a full stock control system, assisting with stock holding and ordering, producing comprehensive monthly and costing outputs per-job.
Enquiries: www.chemspecrefinish.co.za.

SATA Minijet 4 - big features for small jobs
Small in size but big on talent is the best way to describe SATA's new Minijet 4 HVLP. It has a light, compact design that is perfect for smaller jobs and for reaching hard to get at places, yet it also incorporates all the big features found on SATA premium full-size models.
Its larger 1.2mm nozzle size makes it more versatile and user friendly over a wider range of job types and includes SATA's convenient quick change air nozzle thread. The new Minijet 4 also comes standard with the SATA developed quick cup connector (QCC) system which allows the gravity flow cup to be removed or attached in just a quarter of a turn.
The Minijet 4 includes a sleek new ergonomic style that makes it more comfortable to use SATA's simple colour code identification system, and it even has a fan control on both sides of the gun to offer convenient adjustment for both left-handed and right-handed users.

SATAjet DIGITAL 2 ? a world first
The SATA spraygun revolution continues with the company's feature-packed Satajet DIGITAL 2. SATA was the first to offer painters a spraygun with a convenient digital air pressure readout built right into the handle which allows you to read and adjust the air pressure at the spraygun.
The robust and durable nature of the digital system has been well proven with SATA's first generation of digital spray guns having endured heavy-duty work day in day out in literally thousands of paint shops around the world. As a result, it's no surprise to find that, under normal working conditions, the Satajet DIGITAL 2 generation offers the same renowned toughness as any other SATA product - cleaning in a spray gun washing machine is taken in its stride and there's excellent solvent and shock resistance.
Compared with conventional spray guns with cumbersome add-on pressure gauge and adjuster, the Satajet DIGITAL 2 range is significantly lighter and shorter making it considerably easier to work with.
This state-of-the-art range includes the SATAjet 2000 HVLP and SATAjet RP gravity flow cup guns.

Special edition GTi Avanti
The stunning orange anodized finish is just part of the latest special edition GTi Avanti from DeVilbiss.
The GTi Avanti limited edition has the most individual laser graphics ever applied to a GTi and performance that reflects the quality of this leading spray gun. The GTi Avanti is available now as a boxed refinisher kit, with or without the digital pressure gauge or in a carry case complete with a DGi.
As you would expect, the fit and feel of the GTi Avanti provides a level of handling and performance that is appreciated by leading bodyshops. What?s more, the GTi Avanti features DeVilbiss?s compliant transfer efficiency, atomization and a spray pattern that provides the flexibility and control that is vital from a panel repair to a full respray. There are four GTi Avanti options so you can specify exactly the gun you need.
For the ultimate in colour control specify the GTi Avanti with the 115 HVLP air cap and 1.3 mm tip - the optimum set-up for applying solvent or waterborne basecoats, with or without the new digital gauge as part of the package.
For clear coats and conventional top coats when you need that perfect ex-gun finish, the Avanti Trans-Tech with the 110 air cap and 1.4 mm tip and again, you can now specify the gun with or without the new DGi digital gauge.
Like all limited edition GTis, the Avanti is hand built and only available on special order via your local DeVilbiss distributor.
Enquiries, Tel: (02) 9772 3000.