New coatings process designed to help auto makers simplify paint
processes lowering emissions and reducing costs
SHANGHAI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE: AXTA), a leading global supplier of liquid
and powder coatings, will showcase its Harmonized Coating Technologies™,
a consolidated coating system, in China at the SURCAR 2015 automotive
body finishing show in Shanghai.
Combining latest generation waterborne coatings with established high
solid coatings, Axalta’s Harmonized Coating Technologies aim to meet the
emerging needs of light vehicle original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
to achieve more sustainable and efficient car manufacturing.
At SURCAR Shanghai, Axalta will debut two new application systems for
customers in China under the Harmonized Coating Technologies umbrella:
an upgraded 3-Wet Waterborne system and High Solid
2-Wet Monocoat system. Each system responds to different customer
needs for high-performance, quality and flexibility. The systems share
the ability to reduce the number of bake/flash steps needed for curing
and are designed to deliver full-layer performance. As part of the
portfolio of Harmonized Coating Technologies, the patented and
patent-pending Eco-Concept primer-less coating system is also presented
at Axalta’s booth, representing one of the most advanced waterborne
coating processes today.
“Sustainability is at the core of Axalta’s innovation and business
development, and sustainability is a key value we share with customers,”
said Luke Lu, Vice President of Axalta and President of Axalta’s
operations in China. “At Axalta, we believe Harmonized Coating
Technologies are a concrete example of how we are putting that
philosophy into practice to provide tangible benefits to customers here
in China.”
Axalta’s Eco-Concept process is designed to reduce OEM
investments and operation expenses up to 20 percent when compared to
conventional water-borne coating processes while also lowering energy
use and emissions. It is especially suitable for waterborne coating
production lines and in shifting from medium-solid solventborne
production lines to waterborne coating lines.
The upgraded 3-Wet Waterborne system uses a specially
developed water-based coating formulation that enables successive coats
to be applied on top of prior coats while still wet or requiring only an
ambient (minimal flash) dry step between coats. The process is designed
to further reduce the bake steps and save energy.
The 2-Wet Monocoat system is designed to increase productivity
with reduced energy use and paint shop footprint. It combines the paint
performance of a clearcoat-over-basecoat system with the productivity of
a monocoat process. With this advanced technology, coating applications
can be reduced from three to two and the number of baking steps from two
to one. The monocoat appearance is achieved with a hyper-branched
acrylic polymer formulated to provide high quality appearance and
durability. Advanced weathering tests conducted by Axalta have shown
that paint applied with this 2-wet technology retains as much as 90
percent of its gloss after four years.
Axalta has been operating in China since 1984, and this experience
enables Axalta to maintain its leadership role in developing innovative,
cutting-edge coating products. In addition to the recently-opened
Jiading waterborne coatings facility, Axalta operates an adjacent plant
in Jiading, a plant in Changchun, six powder coating operations in
collaboration with its joint venture partner, four refinish training
centers, and a Global Color Lab. Axalta also operates its Asia Pacific
Innovation Center and its Asia Pacific Regional Headquarters in Shanghai.
About SURCAR 2015
As the world’s leading automotive body finishing congress, SURCAR has
been successfully enhancing innovation strategies and R&D programs in
the industry for over 50 years. It has been recognized a professional
platform for leading industrial players to showcase their advanced
solutions, technologies and applications, exchange marketing views,
share industrial insights and discuss industrial trends.
About Axalta Coating Systems
Axalta is a leading global company focused solely on coatings and
providing customers with innovative, colorful, beautiful and sustainable
solutions. From light OEM vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish
applications to electric motors, buildings and pipelines, our coatings
are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enable the
materials we coat to last longer. With nearly 150 years of experience in
the coatings industry, the over 12,800 people of Axalta continue to find
ways to serve our more than 120,000 customers in 130 countries better
every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology.
For more information visit axaltacoatingsystems.com
and follow us @axalta on Twitter and on LinkedIn.
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Source: Axalta Coating Systems