COLOURING THE FUTURE

HOW AUTOMOTIVE PAINT CONTINUES TO BE A FUSION OF TECHNOLOGY AND ARTISTRY

Automotive repair remains a vibrant canvas of both ongoing technology and talent. Gone are the days of guesswork, when automotive paint was a process of continuous trial and error. In 2024, automotive paint technologies continue to act as a blend of cutting-edge technology with artistry, transforming the paint booth into a place for true innovation.

To paint a picture: imagine waterborne systems that can not only reduce VOC emissions but can also offer superior adhesion and finish quality. Consider colour-matching systems that can analyze the exact hue of a car’s paint and feature software that can calculate the perfect formula. And who can overlook the advancements in curing technologies? Ultraviolet-cured paints and infrared drying systems allow repairers to go from spray to finish in record time.

While these features may feel like trends that are just emerging on the hue-rizon, they’re happening now.

Take, for instance, Nissan’s recent and ongoing development of an automotive paint that can cool vehicle interiors by twelve degrees Celsius. The paint, developed in partnership with Radicool, a specialist in radiactive cooling products, incorporates metamaterial synthetic composite materials and functions by reducing the transfer of heat into surfaces such as the roof, hood, doors and vehicle panels of a treated vehicle. The paint is also resistant to salt and chipping, peeling, scratches and chemical reactions. Moreover, when looking from technology to talent within automotive paint, at the end of April, Fix Network and its Calgary, Alberta Training Centre partnered with the Alberta-based CAREERS to host a young woman in trades and technologies day, where a group of high school students with no prior autobody experience learned about opportunities in the trade.

During the day, students learned about painting gear and suits, prepped panels, applied tack and spray sealer and base coat, airbrushed with stencils and finally, applied clear coat during a panel painting project.

Led by Jeff Francis, Fix Network’s technical trainer for Western Canada, the students took to the tasks of the day with flying colours. One such student, fourteen-year-old Olivia Gagnon commented that while she “didn’t really think the trades and technology were interesting,” she was excited about “the aspect of painting and stencils” in the automotive industry, “and the opportunity to add your own creativity and individuality to your projects.”

In this way, as repairers continue to paint the road ahead, it is key to continue embracing the dynamic interplay of innovation and creativity.

Look to the pages ahead and check out the products that are contributing to a palette that is rich and diverse.