Waterborne Refinish Coatings Usage on the Rise, Overtakes Traditional Solvent Systems
(CLEVELAND, OHIO) August 24, 2018 – Waterborne coatings are here to stay. And they’re favored by more than two-thirds of the collision repair marketplace according to a new study commissioned by the Automotive Finishes division of Sherwin-Williams.
In a recent survey of more than 250 U.S.-based body shop owners and managers, more than 64 percent indicated that they have used waterborne coatings within the past 12 months. The biggest reason they said they used them was quality: color match was the leading feature cited for what a waterborne coating should offer their facility. Color match was also by far the leading reason cited for picking a coatings supplier.
Of those shop decision-makers that weren’t yet using water based refinish systems, 57 percent said they plan on looking into, or using, a waterborne system in the next 12 months.
“The extensive market survey revealed a number of trends and information regarding the use and increased acceptance of waterborne systems,” said Brian Shenk, Marketing Director for Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes. “For example, we learned the five key considerations when shop owners and managers choose a new waterborne system: first is color match, second is productivity, followed closely by ease of system use. Surprisingly, price and OEM approvals were also listed as factors, but they are much further down the list.”
The survey also revealed the key attributes collision repair facilities utilize when it comes to selecting their waterborne refinish supplier: 1) color match, 2) supplier brand reputation, 3) the system’s color retrieval capabilities, 4) product speed/productivity, 5) supplier services and training, and also 6) product ease-of-use.
The Ultra 9K system formulation delivers precise and quick color match, from mixing to spraying, with an intuitive Color Access Software and spectrophotometer. Ultra 9K is also a compact system with thousands of colors reflecting the latest OEM color styling trends.
The research revealed that when it comes to choosing a waterborne system, shop owners and managers say there have been so many innovations with new systems — increased production, quality of paint matching, better application equipment and supplier training — that more collision repair facilities need to make the switch.
“By today’s standards, all shops should be switching to water,” says Greg Weaver, co-owner of Acworth Collision in Acworth, Georgia. “Shops need to forget the water-based horror stories. Today’s systems provide better color match, better speed and are equal to, or even less, in overall expense compared to solvent.”
Driven by overwhelming evidence of the collision repair market’s preference for waterborne systems, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes is introducing the Ultra 9K™ Waterborne Basecoat System.
Compliant in both national rule and VOC-regulated areas, Ultra 9K is formulated for repeatable performance in various climates where high or low humidity is a consideration.
“The Ultra 9K system formulation delivers precise and quick color match, from mixing to spraying, with an intuitive Color Access Software and spectrophotometer,” said Shenk. “Ultra 9K is also a compact system with thousands of colors reflecting the latest OEM color styling trends.”
Weaver’s shop has been one of the recent converts to water, and in particular, to the new Ultra 9K. He says, “It was a seamless transfer into the new Ultra 9K system. Our painters love the new system. It sprays great, the color match is phenomenal and it has increased our production turning out more cars per day.”
Ultra 9K’s proven performance and application characteristics, including true wet-on-wet application, makes the system an effective solution for improving cycle time and maximizing throughput.
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