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Paint Trends 2001Posted 3/12/2001
As e-commerce accelerates the flow of information and trends worldwide, DuPont predicts vehicle styling and color to change at a faster rate. As an indication, DuPont points to the rapid rise of silver as the most popular color for cars and trucks in Asia, Europe and North America. This trend and the 10 most popular colors by major world region are reported in DuPont's just released Global Color Popularity survey for 2000. This marks the 50th year that DuPont has conducted its vehicle color popularity survey, which is used as a baseline for predicting colors that will sell on vehicles years from now. “The world is shrinking fast and it no longer takes a year for a color trend to travel from New York to Paris or vice versa,” said Bob Daily, color styling and marketing manager for DuPont Herberts Automotive Systems, the OEM coatings unit of DuPont Automotive. “Today's coatings technology also allows consumers to express their individualism without compromising product durability, thanks to better pigments, improvements in metallic effects and advances in scratch and mar resistant clearcoats.” In regard to future trends, DuPont believes that strong individualism of consumers will be expressed in extroverted “notice me” hues of yellow in some SUV-car crossover models. High chroma, the intensity of a color, will put more punch in reds and light blues for compacts and sports cars. Special effect colors that change based on viewing angle, and brilliant metallics for certain special edition cars and larger vehicles, offer still more individualistic styling effects. This trend is balanced with a more harmonious look, expressed in subtle neutrals, mainly in white and silver. These colors will feature “beg-to-be-touched” surfaces for luxury vehicles that are achieved through micro-mica flake for pearlescent coatings, according to the DuPont study. Even as technology continues to make the world seem smaller, boundaries are also disappearing between automotive and the home appliance and fashion apparel industries. Rosanne Forde, DuPont fashion apparel director in New York City, sees the bond among these industries getting stronger as fashion and product design come together. "Fashion and automotive color preferences are very much in agreement, with blues remaining important, along with a whole range of neutrals from silver and gray to brown," said Forde. Behind the color trends lies another major force driving the coatings industry - consumer demand for colors that last more than 10 years, the generally accepted lifetime of a vehicle. Scratch- and mar-resistant coatings, such as DuPont's SupraShield, will enable cars to withstand the rigors of daily life, such as car washes, shopping carts and ill-mannered birds. DuPont also reports that the company is continually working on tough new coatings that offer ultra-low emissions for assembly plant application as they take vehicle protection to a new level. “It's just not enough for automotive colors to be fashionable and look sharp,” said Daily. “They need to offer protection for and from the environment.”
Highlights
Recent paint company announcements
Akzo Nobel Akzo Nobel has announced a new clearcoat. Using new hardeners and activators, Autoclear III can be blended to produce a quality appearance with a 30-minute bake, or gives painters the option of enhancing productivity with its speed out-of-bake. Only five cans are necessary to mix a 10-minute, 20-minute, or 30-minute baking package, which means a minimal amount of inventory investment for shops. Autoclear III comes in three packages. The Standard package offers the best appearance with a 30-minute bake time. This package is said to deliver excellent sprayability and run resistance, and is for large jobs that require a premium finish. For a speed clear, the Production package mixed with Sikkens Production Hardener and Production Activator can be baked for 10 minutes at 140 degrees F. This package is designed to maintain good appearance and resist solvent pops and other defects. A 20-minute Hybrid package is also available. Mix Autoclear III with the Standard Hardener and Production Activator to reach a “middle ground” between the extremes of speed and appearance. Mixing Production Hardener and Standard Activator will also result in a 20-minute package. BASF Automotive Refinish During a NACE 2000 panel discussion, BASF presented a new paint condition identification tool. As an approved DaimlerChrysler supplier, BASF developed the tool jointly with other companies. The book describes 32 paint conditions, offers likely causes for the conditions, and recommends preventive techniques. A primary objective was to develop an industrywide standard for describing paint conditions. BASF has also announced its R-M Aero-Max 1K aerosol system of refinish paints. Packaged in a six-pack of spray cans, it provides a fast, low-cost tool for small touch-up jobs or correcting minor errors. In addition, the company has launched Glasurit “90-Line Innovation,” a low-VOC waterbased line. The system is said to be easier, more economical and more reliable to use while maintaining gloss, durability and color. The 90-Line Innovation provides faster flash-off times, and shorter spraying and booth times. In addition, BASF has a new business analysis product. The new set of tools, which are part of BASF's VisionPLUS portfolio of value-added service products, incorporate the best practices of hundreds of successful collision repair businesses. For more BASF information, or visit http://www.basf.com. DuPont Performance Coatings DuPont Automotive Finishes has developed 4700S ChromaClear Ultra Productive Hyper Cure, which air dries in 60 to 90 minutes at 70 degrees F. Another fast-drying clear, 4500S ChromaClear Ultra Productive Urethane Clear, is a multi-use baking clear for shops with booths that can attain a 140-degree F metal temperature and maintain it for five minutes. The 4500S can also be used as an air-dry clear. In other news, Volkswagen, in cooperation with DuPont Performance Coatings, has developed a comprehensive paint program for its professional auto body painters. DuPont Performance Coatings is made up of three brands, DuPont Automotive Finishes, Standox and Spies Hecker. ICI Autocolor The new UV-SpeedPrime is a high-building priming system for spot repairs and can be applied and ready for topcoat in less than six minutes. It can be applied directly over a variety of surfaces including factory primer, factory finishes, bare steel, aluminum and galvanized metals. Once applied, it can be cured in two minutes using a UV curing lamp. By decreasing cure time, it improves cycle time, thus increasing profitability. Other product launches include MT Clears, 1K Aerosol Etch Primer, New Plastics System, High-Build Primer and Wet-on-Wet Sealers. And a new program helps shop owners run their businesses more profitably. Gateway to Effective Management (GEM) offers a variety of programs for shops, including performance analysis and management training. Matrix System Automotive Finishes Matrix recently debuted its Accu Match Intermix paint system, which combines a toner intermix system, a computerized formula retrieval system and a color chip selector for guaranteed matches. PPG Industries PPG Automotive Refinish has launched a national co-brand marketing program for collision repair centers called the CertifiedFirst Auto Body Repair Network. The network's objective is to develop and promote an image of professionalism, quality and customer satisfaction for participating collision centers. Mary Kimbro, director, Collision Center Programs, describes the program as a consumer-driven, branded network of independently owned collision centers and dealership body shops. Participants must use PPG or ICI Autocolor paint systems and meet a set of high standards based on their facilities, equipment, training and customer satisfaction. Only shops with high customer satisfaction rating scores, independently verified by Customer Research, are eligible. Participants must also conduct quarterly, documented customer satisfaction surveys. Shops are inspected to verify that they meet program standards. Another recent announcement, DaimlerChrysler AG has approved PPG Industries as a preferred supplier of refinish products and services to its repairers worldwide for warranty and aftermarket collision repair. For more news about PPG, see the ad inside the front cover of this issue or visit www.ppgrefinish.com. Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Corporation I-CAR has named Sherwin-Williams to its Industry Training Alliance Program. Students completing Sherwin-Williams' Painter Certification and color adjustment and blending courses can now apply for I-CAR Gold Class points. Sherwin-Williams also announces a move to its new headquarters: 4440 Warrensville Center Road, Warrensville Heights, Ohio 444128-2837. And as reported in the January issue of AutoInc., the company has also announced its E-Store, which is designed to simplify online ordering for current and prospective customers. For more information, visit www. sherwin-automotive.com. Krylon quick-drying specialty aerosol paints are now available in a new “necked-in” can design and a new cap design that opens with a squeeze. Dupli-Color has also launched Mirage, aerosol paint in unique color finishes for detailing automotive and truck body parts and accessories. Prismatic effects have been around for several years, but this is the first time multi-color paint has been available in an aerosol for do-it-yourself automotive paint products. The mid-coat comes in purple/green, silver/green and gold/magenta. For more information, visit www.duplicolor.com. Spies Hecker Congratulations to Spies Hecker for receiving a 2001 ADDY Award, an award sponsored by the American Advertising Federation. The ad campaign consists of three ads, “Paint Worth Its Weight in Gold,” “Paint That Keeps Your Business in the Black” and “Paint That Fills Your Business With Lots of Green.” A fourth ad will be released this year. Spies Hecker has also announced its latest Color Club seminars. Color Club is a members-only club of Spies Hecker users who conform to uniform standards. For seminar details, call (888) 371-3313, ext. 3751, or visit www.SpiesHeckerUSA.com. Valspar Valspar recently released its fourth quarter results, which can be found in the News and Events section of its Web site, www.valsparrefinish.com. Product information and formula updates are also available on the site.
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