BASF has announced that its flagship Glasurit® line of auto refinishes has been chosen for the new Maybach luxury vehicle from DaimlerChrysler. That's right - refinish products on new vehicles.
BASF also announced that it has joined with Ford as a sponsor of the new Ford paint and body technology center.
It also demonstrates an innovative trend in automotive coatings - the factory use of paint systems originally developed for and proven in the automotive refinish market.
With this spring's North American debut of the Maybach, DaimlerChrysler is bringing back a prestigious brand last seen in 1940. In its latest incarnation the Maybach, built in Germany, is the epitome of luxury. Every Maybach is finished by hand using BASF's Glasurit 90 line waterborne basecoat and a high-performance clearcoat.
"This same basecoat system has been available to collision repair shops for the last ten years," said Joe Skurka, Manager, OEM and Industry Relations, BASF Automotive Refinish. "We're very proud to be supplying this product to DaimlerChrysler, and we think the fact that Glasurit waterborne was chosen for a car like the Maybach speaks volumes about the quality of this product.
"It also means that collision repair shops that use Glasurit products, including 90 Line, can be sure they are using the most OEM-like finish on the market - a further guarantee of repairs that are indistinguishable from the original finish in both appearance and durability. Excellent first-time results, along with the renowned Glasurit productivity, can halp make a collision repair business more competitive and increase customer satisfaction," said Skurka.
Ford Paint and Body Tech Center
Ford Motor Company has called upon BASF as a sponsor and supplier to the newly opened Ford Paint and Body Technology Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The new facility provides Ford with a valuable R&D capability and will help strengthen the links with Ford dealers and independent shops that make paint and body repairs on Ford vehicles.
"The Paint and Body Technology Center will benefit Ford dealer body shops and independents by improving productivity and the quality of repairs," said Skurka. "We've worked with Ford for many years in developing repair procedures, and this new facility will make the development process much more efficient. The state-of-the-art Glasurit waterborne system provides the best possible color match, while meeting strict emissions requirements."
BASF and other suppliers to the collision repair industry were eager to sponsor Ford's new facility, according to Skurka, because it offers an unprecedented opportunity to develop and test products, processes and equipment in close collaboration with a major automotive manufacturer.
BASF's Automotive Refinish business has issued its third-quarter, 2003, North American training program. The courses cover the latest and most advanced techniques for proper application and color adjustment of Glasurit® and R-M® paint systems. All of the U.S. facilities offer Glasurit and R-M programs that meet the mandatory requirements for General Motors and Ford certification.
Several of the nationwide sites also offer training in the use of the innovative Glasurit Small-Damage Repair System™, as well as the R-M Cycle Time Reduction Repair System. Environmental considera-tion and safety instruction are integral parts of all the classes.
For registration information, call the BASF Customer Service Center at 1-800-201-1605 and select option #7.
