colorexpert

Spies Hecker – simply closer.

ProjectVolksrodder.

ProductsHi-TECPerformanceSystem.

ColorColorDialogDelta-Scan.

MarketingCustomer types.

2012

Product Systems • Colors • Training • Marketing

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Editorial

Our trade is constantly changing. If bo-dyshops want not only to keep up, butalso to compete on the highest level at alltimes, they have to be open to new tech-nological trends. At the same time, va-lues and traditions can still be useful. It isour conviction that a proven businessstrategy is the best foundation for inno-vation – and ultimately for success. We,to, can look back on a long and success-ful tradition – this year Spies Hecker ce-lebrates its 130th anniversary.

In touch with the industry.

One of Spies Hecker’s key principles hasalways been to identify trends early onand come up with matching solutions.This way, its partner businesses can res-pond flexibly and skilfully and master allthe challenges they’re confronted with.In this issue, you can find out all aboutsuch technological milestones as the Hi-TEC Performance System. Whatever thematerial – base coat, clear coat or sur-facer – it’s all adapted to Permahyd® Hi-TEC 480. The outcome is even greaterprocess security and nothing but imma-culate finishes.

There’s also a new product for applica-tion on large surfaces. VOC-compliantPermafleet® Hi-TEC 680 Base Coatbrings an entirely new standard of refi-nish quality to commercial vehicles.

colorexpert – tips and information for bodyshops •© SPIES HECKER GMBH, 50858 Köln, Horbeller Str. 17, Germany •Email: Patrick.Kreuz@deu.spieshecker.com Internet: www.spies-hecker.com •Responsible under the German Press Act: Karsten Jürs • Editors: Patrick Kreuz, Christian Simmert • Layout: Adfactory GmbH, Düsseldorf • Text: Mediaservice GmbH, NeussReader: LLINGUA, Gelsenkirchen • Images: Spies Hecker, CH Coatings AG, ITW Finishing Systems and Products, Hedson Technologies AB, Metalak B.V. • Reproduction, even in part, onlyby permission of the editors. The data and information on the suitability and usage of our products are not binding and do not release the user from his responsibility to carry out his owntests on their suitability for the intended purposes and processes. The product names mentioned in the articles are predominantly registered trademarks.

Thomas Melzer, Brand Manager Spies Hecker GmbH.

Tradition meets innovation. Dear Reader,

And talking of technologies of the future:as you know, Spies Hecker has had astrong commitment to electronic colourmeasurement for some time now. Withthe new ColorDialog Delta-Scan, it isnow possible to identify not only thecolor, but also the effect at the sametime – with precision, ease and speed.

Along with the above-mentioned andmany other innovations, we are also brin-ging back history in a new guise in thisissue. Do you remember the “PretzelBeetle”? Austrian airbrush artist Knud Ti-roch has breathed new life into a scrap-ped model. The outcome is a powerfulengine, broad tyres and a low-ridingbody – a hot rod, painted with the Hi-TECPerformance System. The Volksrodder isa wonderful example of the accomplis-hed blending of the time-honoured withthe totally new. Allow yourself to be inspi-red – and take part in our prize competi-tion at the same time.

Enjoy your read of the new issue dedica-ted to the fascinating world of colors andpainting!

Yours Thomas Melzer

Win a Volksrodder

T-shirt at:

www.spieshecker.com/

volksrodder

Whether solid colors, metallics or effects,the range of OEM colors is growing incomplexity. For years now, Spies Heckerhas been assisting innovative bodyshopswith digital color management – and isconstantly refining it so that bodyshopscan respond effectively even to the verylatest trends.

“With the newly developed ColorDialogDelta-Scan, refinishers get to the mat-ching formula faster,” says Dietmar We-gener, Spies Hecker color expert,adding: “The device measures not onlythe color but also the effect, which sim-plifies data evaluation enormously. Foreach reading, the device issues a cor-rection formula that can be displayedside-by-side with the measured color onthe screen. Comparisons with colorchips will soon be a thing of the past.”Another new feature of the ColorDialogDelta-Scan is the color touchscreen.Wegener: “Convenient menu guidance isassured with neatly laid-out, self-expla-natory icons.” For inputs, it’s also possi-ble to use the touch pen planted on theside of the Delta-Scan housing.

Precise measurement.

The Delta-Scan measures the paint sur-face with multi-angle optics and analysesthe color effect at the same time. “A rub-ber ring on the measuring head excludesexternal light and reflections to improvethe quality of the reading,” says colorspecialist Wegener, listing further tech-nical innovations of the device. In addi-tion, four contact pins on the measuringhead ensure that the ColorDialog Delta-Scan sits correctly on the surface. Addi-tional LEDs increase the light intensityduring measurement and contribute toexceptionally precise scanning.

The calibration of the Delta-Scan alsosaves time, as the much longer intervalsreduce the associated workload. “Usu-ally, the refinisher only has to calibratethe device once a month,” Wegener ex-plains.

The software doesmore.

The CRplus software has also been up-graded. The new software module ensu-res the straight forward application andevaluation of the measurement results.The color comparison on the screen hasa very user-friendly design and takes youquickly to the desired color formula. Themeasured data are automatically com-pared with some 250,000 formulas fromthe database. The Delta-Scan also hasinternal data storage for the direct retrie-val of car manufacturer and other colorinformation.

There’s no doubt about it: whatever thepaint finish – solid color, metallic or pearleffect – with the new ColorDialog Delta-Scan, forward-looking refinishers get tothe desired formula faster

The device is due for launch soon.

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ColorDialog

A new dimension in colormeasurement.The new ColorDialog Delta-Scan measures the color and theeffect at the same time – quickly, precisely and digitally.

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Top-Story

Hot rod Beetle!

A powerful engine and broad tyres. Achopped, low-riding body. And yet, whenyou see the hot rod, you can’t help thin-king of a VW Beetle. It’s an art project, animpassioned statement on behalf ofVolkswagen’s cult car. A modified andtuned variation on a historic car theme.“The Beetle is a car that’s accompaniedpeople down the years, from one gene-ration to the next,” says Austrian airbrushartist Knud Tiroch about his project. “Ithas inspired love, hate, desperation andhope. As a military utility vehicle in thewar. And then as the first car that be-came affordable to many in the 1950s. Ithas seen revolutions and experiencedFlower Power in the Sixties. It is theVolkswagen per se.”

Car with a soul.

The artist has been specialising in “pim-ping up” muscle cars and hot rods foryears now. In his Hot Rod Hangar inVienna, Knud Tiroch and his son Dominichave breathed new life into the ‘PretzelBeetle’. “This hot rod tells a new story ofthe forgotten Beetle that was abandonedon the scrapheap ofhistory, along with abattered old Opel Di-plomat with a GM V8engine,” says the ar-tist, explaining hissource of inspiration.“One day, the Opel really was scrapped.And the wings were taken off the Beetle.The little one thought to himself: ‘Surelythis can’t be the end of the road?!’ Itwasn’t, for the Beetle came back to lifeas the ‘Volksrodder’.”

The hot rod style

The project has a message: “If you firmlybelieve in something, it may one daycome true.” This idea is indeed motiva-tion for many – including the Spies He-cker team in Cologne. This was wherethe complete body was rebuilt and pain-ted with Spies Hecker Hi-TEC 480. Manymotifs and the Volksrodder’s logo havebeen incorporated in the paint finish it-self. There’s a hint of barbed wire trailingacross the vehicle superstructure. The

Beetlemania meets Hot Rod Art. Knud Tiroch and Spies Hecker present a global first: the “Volksrodder”.

Dominic and Knud Tiroch

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Passion for technology

The Volksrodder is unique. Handmadedown to the finest detail, no compro-mises. Weight 700 kilos with a 700 hpengine.

Body: VW Beetle Type VW 1 (PretzelBeetle), dating back to the beginningof the Nineteen Fifties.

Engine: Chevrolet racing engine,6.6 litre displacement, 700 hp, 8 cy-linders, 700 R transbrake (GeneralMotors), computer-controlledACCEL injection system.

Typical hot rod: Roof chopped by20 cm. The body has been channel-led, i.e. lowered over the frame, thewheel arches enlarged and the en-gine exposed at the front. Workinghours roughly 1,000.

Tyres: 525/15 Pro-Drag.

Paint: Spies Hecker Permahyd®

Hi-TEC Performance System.

interior of the Volksrodder is more remi-niscent of that of a B-52 bomber. Lots ofbrushed aluminium, heavy bomber seats,retro style and plenty of brass. The wind-ows are of red solar glass to provide pro-tection from the UV radiation on the saltlake. “Its look harks back to the high-speed races on American salt flats, theBonneville Salt Flat Races,” says Knud Ti-roch, explaining his interpretation of theinterior. The position of the 700 hp enginesymbolises the typical hot rod. Originallyat the rear of the Beetle, it is now, in apowered-up version, at the front. Stron-gly accentuated with body parts made ofmilled aluminium.Many details on the Volksrodder only re-veal themselves at second glance. The

bottom floor panel has been embellishedwith graffiti of the Berlin Wall. The artistexplains: “With this graffiti, I want to showthat history always accompanies us in ourlives – like the Wall that unnecessarily di-vided Germany for almost 30 years. This

is why I’ve added this feature to the lo-west part of the body.”

We know no bounds.

Technically, the project wasa real challenge for theSpies Hecker team. “We’veachieved our goal,” says aproud Frank Barduna,Technical Manager at SpiesHecker. “Despite the histo-ric body of bare steel andthe new add-on parts, we succeeded inapplying an absolutely immaculate fi-nish.” Knud Tiroch has been working withSpies Hecker for 30 years now. “I reallyappreciate these guys with their specia-lised paint knowledge and their commit-ment,” says the Austrian, happy with theirlatest cooperative venture. “For my pro-jects I need the best technical solutionsavailable on the market. For the finish, Ididn’t hesitate to choose the Hi-TEC Per-formance System.”

Floor panel

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What was special aboutthis project?

Substrate preparation and the paintingwere very precise. Don’t forget that thisis, after all, a chopped Fifties Beetle body.Bare steel. The geometry of the Beetleand the production of an absolutely

The paint finish on the Volksrodder called for a technicalmaster class. Frank Barduna describes how the SpiesHecker team rebuilt the body and surfaces.

Interview & Practice

A class apart!

Michael Kramer, Jörg Sandner and FrankBarduna (from the left to right) teamed upwith Knud Tiroch to style the Volksrodder atthe Spies Hecker Center.

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Step by step: The hotrod paint system

Step 1: Corrosion protection onthe body– Priomat® Wash Primer 4075– Permasolid® HS Vario Surfacer

5320 grey

Step 2: Rebuilding the surfaces – Raderal® IR Premium Putty 2035– Raderal® Fine Putty 0911

Step 3: Corrosion protection onsanded-through areas– Priomat® Wash Primer 4075– Permasolid® HS Vario Surfacer

5320 grey

Step 4: Smoothing the surfaces,levelling minor irregularities– Raderal® Spray Polyester 3508

Step 5: Corrosion protection onthe bare metal, isolating the sur-facer, final touches – Priomat® Wash Primer 4075– Permasolid® HS Performance

Surfacer 5320* grey

Step 6: Painting – Permahyd® Hi-TEC 480– Permasolid® HS Clear Coat 8055

*Permasolid® HS Performance Surfacer 5320grey is due for launch soon.

super-smooth surface – this alone was ahuge challenge, but one that we were de-termined to overcome.

What substrate workwas necessary?

Every single part had to be treated withmeticulous care. The overall surface hadto be rebuilt to create a tangible level sur-face and smooth transitions between ad-jacent parts, inside and outside. We hadto adjust the roof beam, door frame andgap dimensions again and again. Thesejobs alone kept the team busy for a wholeweek. It was particularly importantthroughout the project to make sure thatthe treated surface got corrosion pro-tection again and again. This is the onlyway of giving the Volksrodder a lastingand high-quality finish.

The design and paint finish are also a classapart.

Correct. First we applied the base coat inthe ground color. Then Knud Tiroch ap-plied the design at the Spies Hecker Cen-ter. After this, we sprayed an effect colorover the plastic film, then peeled off thefilm and applied the clear coat. After san-ding, we applied clear coat again andsanded it again. Then we jointly appliedthe logo with the Volksrodder signet andflames on the side, sprayed another filmof clear coat over it and sanded it. Thiscycle was repeated again before the finalfilm of clear coat was applied. Finally, thesurface was totally smooth.

How much time did youinvest in it?

Difficult to say, because we were totallyabsorbed in the project together withKnud Tiroch. It must have been more than250 working hours. But that’s all waterunder the bridge. What counts is the re-sult.

Thanks, Frank, for telling us the story.

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Training/Interview

“Train the Trainer” is the name of the in-ternational Spies Hecker training stra-tegy. At regular intervals, Frank Bardunaof Technical Service International trainstechnical consultants from roughly 18countries at Cologne headquarters. Theexpert also travels repeatedly to the va-rious Spies Hecker locations so that hecan work with local technicians underlocal conditions.

In this interview, Samuel Martínez fromSpain, Mariusz Safarzyński from Polandand Frank Barduna report on their closecommunication – and outline how allSpies Hecker refinishers all over theworld ultimately benefit.

What’s the thinking be-hind the “Train the Trai-ner” strategy?

Barduna:The most important thing for usat Spies Hecker is the close personalnetworking between all of our people, ir-respective of national borders. Whetherthe subject is innovative paint technolo-gies or complex repair methods, onlythose who are right up to date can ex-plain properly to customers what it’s allabout. And this doesn’t just mean ma-king our knowledge at German head-quarters available all over the world. Wecan of course resort to the latest equip-ment and hypermodern technology. Butfor us it’s just as important to listen to theexperience of technicians in other coun-tries. We’re fully committed to the princi-ple of mutual learning.

The second part of the strategy envisa-ges training sessions locally – so as to

lend depth to the newly acquiredknowledge. We witness how the techni-cal consultants pass on their expertise totheir technicians – who pass it on in turnto bodyshops. We therefore attach greatimportance to a uniformly high quality oftraining. It’s the bodyshop that ultimatelybenefits, in whatever country it happensto be. This is the only way we can upholdthe high standard of our wide-rangingtechnical support services.

Incidentally, we’re constantly extendingthe strategy and adapting it to currentdevelopments and trends. For instance,we’ve currently got an e-learning projectin preparation which will enable technici-ans in the various countries to obtain ad-ditional training online.

What do you as techni-cal consultants appre-ciate about the trainingsessions at the SpiesHecker Center?

Safarzyński: Mattpaints, new effect finis-hes, modern applica-tion techniques andcolor identification: agreat many technicalinnovations come ontothe market every year. And this means newchallenges for us refinishers. At headquar-ters in Cologne, we’ve got the chance tofind out about and discuss new trends. It’san ideal forum for exchanging views. To bequite honest, we’re right at the source …

Martinez: I agree enti-rely. In Cologne I getstraight answers tothe questions that areimportant for my workin Spain. There’s alsoa spirit of familiarity at

headquarters. The atmosphere and thepeople are incredibly welcoming, helpfuland obliging – and this for me is the bestbasis for successful cooperation.

Frank, you train the ex-perts in their countries.

Barduna: Yes, as Imentioned just now,this is extremely impor-tant for us. Becauseonly on location in thevarious countries canwe personally experi-

ence the different conditions under whichour customers have to work. The equip-ment, environmental factors and the localmentality – only when we go personally tothe places where our consultants train ourcustomers can we gain a genuine under-standing of the realities in the country inquestion. This is an absolutely essentialaspect of our strategy. We want to be sim-ply closer.

Mariusz and Samuel,what’s your assessmentof local training?

Safarzyński: It’s definitely a very usefuladdition to training in Cologne. The

Cross-border network.

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A turn for thebetter. The Spies Hecker Mixing Ratio Disc.

This is an indispensable aid that therefinisher should always have withinreach. On the two-sided disc are allthe VOC-compliant paint productsincluding Permahyd® Hi-TEC 480that are of relevance for modern bo-dyshops. The disc indicates the mi-xing ratios of primers, surfacers,base coat and clear coat and thematching additives and hardeners.

As of now, the handy Mixing RatioDisc from Spies Hecker is also avai-lable in digital form for mobile use onsmartphones and iPads.

people in Cologne give us wholeheartedsupport with implementation – such as inthe changeover to the Permahyd® Hi-TEC480 waterborne base coat system.

Martínez: There’s no substitute for thetraining sessions locally in Madrid. InSpain we’ve got a market situation thatdiffers a lot from that in other countries.And, taking the example of climate, we’vegot to battle with totally different conditi-ons than the Fins, for example. And thenwe not only use to some extent differentequipment, but it’s also important to rea-lise that Spanish customers have theirown views and needs.

What are the importantfactors in other coun-tries?

Barduna: I’d like to take up the exampleof the climate. Due to the hot, dry weath-

er in summer in countries like Spain, refi-nishers are confronted with tough condi-tions. Up to 40 °C in the sun and hardlyany humidity – yet the ideal storage andapplication temperature for paint materi-als is 20 °C. Appropriate measures there-fore have to be taken in the bodyshop to

safeguard the quality of the paints andsystems. In a country like Poland, on theother hand – and Mariusz knows all aboutit – the winters are extremely cold. Hereagain, all conceivable precautions haveto be taken to prevent paint defects. Wegive advice on how to correctly store,transport and apply the material.

Or let’s take another example. Owing tothe financial crisis, there’s been a strongemphasis on efficiency for some time inalmost all countries. Many bodyshopstherefore come to the Training Center togird themselves for the increasingly fiercecompetition in their countries.

And we’re ready to help them.

Frank, Mariusz and Samuel –thanks very much for the

interview!

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Hi-TEC Tools

Which additive should the refinisher usewhen applying Permahyd® Hi-TEC 480?WT Additive 6050 or WT Additive 6052?The Spies Hecker Climate Poster tells therefinisher which of the two additives isused with Hi-TEC 480 Base Coat for thegiven ambient temperature, humidity andsize of repair – quickly and at a glance.

Spies Hecker brings color to the world ofmusic. Be it Sunset Stream, LuminousBlue Pearl or Macadamia Brown Metallic,modern Permahyd® Hi-TEC colors are asof now revitalising the image of WERSIorgans. The most celebrated example isthe show organ of internationally famedcomposer, music producer and virtuosoorganist Robert Bartha. His LOUVREGS100 has been painted in VolcanoMagic, a color specially developed forWERSI. “We’re delighted to be able towork with the MUSIC STORE in Cologne,

The Spies Hecker ClimatePoster for Permahyd®

Hi-TEC 480 provides at-a-glance assistance.

The right addi-tive every time!

Worldwide, 60 to 70 per cent of cars havewhite, silver, black or grey paintwork. In2011 however, white surged to the fore.According to the Global AutomotiveColor Popularity Report, this color occu-pies the No. 1 position worldwide. Thisrepresents a quantum leap, as white wasback in fourth place in 2010. Among carcolors in Europe, black still heads thefield, but now has white hard on its heels.

But white is not just white. As an additio-nal base coat film, pearl is a source ofnew effects, such as Volkswagen’s OryxWhite. “There’s a clear trend towards

light-colored pearl effects,” Frank Bar-duna of Technical Service Internationalexplains. “On the production line, theseare now being applied more often thanever in multi-stage finishes, simply be-cause much more has now become tech-nically possible.”

“However, repairs to many new colors areonly possible with the special effect pig-ments that are additionally availabletoday.”

White on the ascendancy.

Tone colors.which now handles sales of WERSI or-gans. As a result, we’ve been privilegedto support the world’s greatest artist inthe organ scene with paint products forhis show instrument,” says chuffed colorexpert Dietmar Wegener. “Even today,organ music has plenty of fans, youngand old. The ‘dusty’ image of what wasonce known as the ‘home organ’ is welland truly a thing of the past,” he reports.A claim underscored by the new paint fi-nishes now available for WERSI organs.

Automotive color preferences in2011. Europe’s favorite colors.

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Equipment

A spirit of tradition and passion.

“Dr Allen DeVilbiss” – a man who wrote paint history.

Effortlessly wielding modern spray guns,today’s refinishers skilfully apply paint tovehicle surfaces. This item of equipment,the stock-in-trade of the present-daybodyshop, can in fact look back on along development history.We’ve all heard of Carl Benz. For it wasthis German that invented the motor carin Stuttgart 125 years ago. But what fewpeople know is that the invention of thespray gun is at least as old as the first au-tomobile. When Henry Ford had his firstcar series built on the production line in1912, “Permanent” vehicle paint was al-ready being produced by Spies Heckerin Cologne. At the time, asphalt and oilpaints were still applied with a brush – amethod that was hardly compatible withthe production line. This is when thespray gun really came into its own.

From the atomiser tothe modern spray gun.

Its history goes back to the 1880s. At thetime, it was usual for doctors to coat pa-tients’ sore throats with Vaseline orgoose grease – a cumbersome but ne-vertheless highly efficacious remedy. Yet

the doctor and tinkerer Dr Allen DeVilbissin rural Ohio, USA, was convinced theremust be a more pleasant way of adminis-tering treatment to his patients with sorethroats.In his quest for an effective method oftreatment, he developed in his littleworkshop the first adjustable sprayingdevice consisting of a rubber ball, ametal can and a short tube. The doctorfilled the metal container with Vaselineand heated it over the flame of a candleto melt it into a sprayable liquid. Whenthe ball was squeezed, the device re-leased a cloud of medicine. He then fit-ted an adjustable tip enabling him to varythe spray pattern. DeVilbiss lost no timein applying for a patent.This was effectively the birth of the mo-dern spray gun. Not only did the inven-tion bring welcome relief to his patients,but word of it also soon got around – andthe atomiser went into mass production.In 1907, finally, his son Tom DeVilbissmanufactured the first industrial version

of the medical device – at just the righttime. Because in car production, HenryFord was not alone in his search for moreeffective paint application methods.Even today, the name of DeVilbiss standsalongside Adolf-Friedrich Hecker at thedawn of modern paint history – a historyundoubtedly accelerated by car manu-facture and such pioneers as Henry Fordand Carl Benz. In a spirit of tradition, pas-sion and innovative enterprise, the mo-dern spray gun has advanced to what itis today from its beginnings over 125years ago.

However, it’s not a question of the tech-nology alone. You have to use the IR dry-ing technology intelligently if you want tosave energy. “Parameters such as objectdistance, temperature, drying time

and temperature increase have to beprecisely set,” says IRT expert KennethLundin, enumerating the key factors.“Modern IR dryers are capable of storingthese data. This gives the refinishergreater process security and createsideal conditions for optimum results.”Many IR dryers are flexible in their use.Along with the drying of putty and surfa-cer, they can also be used for base andclear coat – both for part resprays andfor spot repair jobs. Manufacturers offerdifferent types of equipment. IRT dryers,for example, can be used as cassettedryers on a mobile stand or as rail-mounted systems in the spray booth.With a hand-held lamp, the unit is alsocapable of drying poorly accessibleparts of the vehicle.

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Energy

Red hot technology. Modern infrared dryers cut costs and optimise the drying process at the same time.

Bodyshops rank among the businesseswith high energy consumption. What re-ally push costs up are ventilating andheating the booths and drying. Startingup the dryer in order to temper individualbody parts is particularly costly. Expertsestimate as much as eight euros perhour of operation. With steadily risingenergy costs, it’s worth taking a closerlook at the drying process.“By organising processes effectively andusing IR dryers, refinishers can cut theirenergy costs,” says Spies Hecker spe-cialist Wolfgang Feyrer. “Compared tothe convective drying of individual bodyparts, energy consumption can be redu-ced by almost 70 per cent. So this is anarea where the bodyshop can really eco-nomise.”

Current technicaltrends.

To keep pace with spiralling energycosts, manufacturers are constantly im-proving the efficiency of their IR dryers.And Hedson, the Swedish manufacturer,is no exception with its IRT brand: “Withthe new IRT Hyperion series, we’veboosted energy efficiency by employinggold-coated FreeForm reflectors,” ex-plains Kenneth Lundin, Product ManagerHedson Technologies IRT Systems. As aresult, “the optimised heat distributionensures a uniform temperature and en-ables a 20 per cent larger repair surfaceto be treated in the same drying time.”The object is directly heated without theambient air being warmed at the sametime.

IR drying times Material MinutesPutty 2 – 3 Surfacer 3 – 7 Primer 5 – 8 Waterborne base coat 2 – 4 Top coat 6 – 10 Clear coat 5 – 10 Surfacer on plastic 7 – 10 Top coat on plastic 15 – 18 Clear coat on plastic 15 – 18

The listed times refer to the IRT Hy-perion PcAuto series. Source: IRT.

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Accessories

Taking a new tack. From pre-treatment right through to final polishing,using the right cloths gives you the assurance of an immaculate paint finish.

Dirt and dust are frequent causes ofpaint defects – and that’s why absolutecleanliness is essential in the bodyshop.“Even if the pressure of deadlines andcosts often dominates the refinish pro-cess, consistent cleaning always paysoff,” stresses Iiro Hakola of DuPont Son-tara®. But what are the important pointsto bear in mind when cleaning?“You can only create dust- and grease-free surfaces if you use technically high-grade cloths with special propertiestogether with the matching cleaners andsilicone removers,” the expert explains.

In bodyshops you can often find clothscoated with adhesive. This is where cau-tion is advised, for cloths containingchemicals leave a film on the surfacebeing coated. “The product should therefore contain as little tack material aspossible so as to prevent wetting pro-blems.”

Quick and reliable absorption.

For surface preparation Iiro Hakola re-commends the Sontara® DegreasingCloth that the refinisher uses for tho-rough pre-treatment of the repair zone.The cloth has a textured surface on oneside and can be relied on to quickly wipeup silicone remover, for instance. “Parti-cularly when used with water-based sili-cone removers, the cloth goes a longway towards reducing flaws in the pri-ming materials or top coat.” The key pro-perties of the lint-free degreasing clothare its toughness and extreme tear resis-tance – even in its wet state.Before the application of surfacer, basecoat and clear coat, the surface shouldagain be thoroughly cleaned. The Son-

tara® Tack Cloth, for instance, removesdirt and dust particles. Such a clothshould fluff as little as possible and notleave any residues,” says Hakola sum-ming up.

Cleanliness pays off!

To create an immaculate surface finish,an extremely soft cloth is used – the Son-tara® Polishing Cloth. “This cloth is freeof additives that can cause streaks aswell as being fleecy and lint-free, and itsfibres are so soft that damage to thepaint finish is excluded,” is the professio-nal’s advice. This makes it ideal for polis-hing chrome and glass and parts of theinterior.

Furthermore, the various cloths shouldalways be regularly replaced. The rule ofthumb is one cloth per process. “Anyoneusing the same cloth the whole dayshouldn’t be surprised if the paint sur-face turns out to be flawed.” Cleanlinesssimply pays off. “Using the right clothmakes far more sense than having to re-medy the consequences of sloppy pre-paration,” says Iiro Hakola in conclusion.

Sontara® Degreasing Cloth

Sontara® Tack Cloth

14 colorexpert

OEM Trends

The changing face of painting.

Advances in automotive series finishingare having an ever greater effect on refinishing. More and more is now becoming technically possible on carmanufacturers production lines. “Obvio-usly, changes in OEM paintwork won’taffect refinishing overnight,” says PeterMinko, Manager Process & Applicationat DuPont. “At the same time, the trendsemerging in the car industry are prettymomentous!”

Mass-producedchange.

A glance at the production methodsshows what’s in store for bodyshops. “Inthe future, the depth of roughness at theelectrophoretic priming stage will be sig-nificantly reduced, which means that thesubstrate for subsequent base and clearcoat application will be more level. The en-tire paint system thus becomes appreci-ably smoother,” is the expert’sassessment. Minko also expects the layerof surfacer to vanish in the next ten years.DuPont refers to this as its “EcoConcept”– some three million cars have so far beenpainted surfacer-free. Consequently, “thefilm thickness has to be applied extremelyevenly – from one end of the car to theother,” the expert explains. “The paint filmis thus more uniform. This ensures greatercolor constancy and better color flow.” Interms of refinishing, “the process makescolor identification easier, as there arefewer different color nuances on a singlevehicle.”

How does a car manufacturer likeVolkswagen see colortrends?

One thing is certain: not only are car ma-nufacturers turning to the latest techni-cal trends, but designers are alsobecoming more creative in color deve-lopment. Car colors are becoming in-creasingly important as a selling point.

“We develop the matching colorlanguage for each vehicle type and size,”says Oona Scheepers, Senior DesignerColor & Trim at Volkswagen, outlining theapproach at Europe’s biggest car maker.“At the IAA, for example, we presentedthe R-Line in Fire Spark Red Chroma.The striking four-stage effect color un-derlines the sporting character of thespecial models. Customers up to the ageof 40 are often bolder in their choice ofcolor. Motorists of 45 and upwards tendto go for what they’re familiar with andwhat they think will last.”eher das Be-ständige und Bekannte.“

More coats and tintedclear coat.

All vehicle manufacturers are resorting tonovel effect paints with strong colors fortheir mass models. Nissan, for instance,

Automotive finishing is constantly changing. So what are the current and future trends? And what will be their effect on refinishing?

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is catching the eye with its extraordinaryKAB Ultimate Metal Silver, and Ford withits potent Hot Magenta and its new Mid-night Sky. On the other hand, Toyota,Porsche, Opel, Renault and other manu-facturers are amplifying brand identitywith effect paints containing special Co-lorstream pigments. For bright colors,new effects are achieved with tintedclear coat. In the small car segment inparticular, the clear coat gives red, forexample, deeper brilliance and enhan-ced luminosity. On the production linetoday, we’re now finding more multi-stage finishes than ever – lighter pearleffects, for instance. “More is simplytechnically feasible today,” Minko con-cludes. This means that refinishers willbe repairing three- and multi-stage co-lors more often from now on. “However,the refinishing of many new colors is onlypossible with special effect pigments.”Two current examples of refinishing:

Ford’s Midnight Sky can be repaired withPermahyd® Hi-TEC Mixing Color WT312Magic Fire. For the Chevrolet color Dy-namic Orange, Hi-TEC Mixing ColorWT383 Brilliant Orange is used.

Finding the right colorfaster.

“We’ve responded effectively to newtrends with beautifully balanced refinishsolutions and professional color ma-nagement,” says Frank Barduna, Tech-

nical Service International at Spies Hecker, commenting finally on the refi-nishing trends of the future. What’smore, the mixing formulas of current co-lors can be retrieved straight from the In-ternet. One example is Midnight Sky,which Ford’s series models have onlybeen sprayed with since 2011. Almost si-multaneously with launch at Ford, the re-pair formulas became available in theSpies Hecker Color Finder as well. Inci-dentally, in addition to color codes andnames, you can also find the modelssprayed with Midnight Sky on the pro-duction line. Plus the colors are visuallydisplayed.

Summary:

In vehicle refinishing today and in the fu-ture, not only is specialised technicalknowledge called for, but also the rightinformation on the color variant in ques-tion. Mixing formulas, special paint andits application – anyone who wants topaint cars in future, will have to be awareof the latest developments in technologyand colors. Changes in series finishingwill thus make the refinishing processeven more challenging.

How to find the right color faster: www.spieshecker.com/colorfinder

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Hi-TEC Performance System.Professionals use integrated paint systems. A system, for example, in which the surfacer and clear coat are precisely adapted to modern Permahyd® Hi-TEC 480 waterborne base coat.

It’s essential to have paint products youcan rely on. Products that ensure easyand reliable application and powerfullyenhance efficient work processes. “Withthe new Performance System compri-sing HS surfacer, Hi-TEC base coat andHS clear coat, the refinisher has a fullybalanced complete package to workwith,” enthuses Frank Barduna, head ofTechnical Service International at SpiesHecker. “Paint defects are thus reducedto a minimum.”

Everything in a single system.

“A firm foundation is providedby new Permasolid® HS Per-formance Surfacer 5320,”Frank Barduna explains. “Theproduct is very easy to apply,shows good overspray absorption andthus dries to a smooth surface with goodvertical stability and outstanding sandingcharacteristics.”Spies Hecker Hi-TEC 480 waterbornebase coat, on the other hand, is distin-guished among other things by its highopacity and color accuracy.The Performance System includes threeclear coats. For universal applications,

there’s Permasolid® HS Clear Coat 8055.“It’s suitable for all repairs and is simple,flexible and reliable in its application,”the Spies Hecker expert continues. Itsrange of uses covers standard repairssuch as mudguards and doors and partial resprays that can be handled in asingle pass (1.5 coats).Permasolid® HS Optimum Plus ClearCoat 8650 is a high-productivity clearcoat that always achieves impeccableresults, even in less than perfect booth

conditions. Since it is also extremely fle-xible in its application and dries veryquickly, it is ideal for use on Speed Re-pair jobs, for instance.For superlative results combined with re-liable application, Permasolid® HS ClearCoat 8034 is the No. 1 choice. “It too canbe used on any repair and is an assu-

rance of top quality,” says a delightedFrank Barduna. “It is simply ideal for de-sign finishes and personalised full re-sprays and can be effortlessly applied intwo coats.” Standard repairs can be exe-cuted cost-effectively in a single pass(1.5 coats). The product’s properties:good vertical stability, extra-high buildand excellent gloss. The clear coat alsopolishes very well.All in all, the new Performance Systemdelivers much more than just outstan-

ding results – and regardless of whichemployee applies the system. Straight-forward sanding and rapid applicationand drying of the materials speed up ve-hicle processing and increase bodyshopthroughput.

Hi-TEC

HS Clear Coat 8055

HS Optimum PlusClear Coat 8650

HS Clear Coat 8034

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New Permasolid® HS Performance Surfacer5320 creates a soundsubstrate for all kinds ofrepairs.

The distinctive fea-ture of this innova-tive product is itshigh solids content.“This means a little goes a long way,”stresses Frank Barduna of TechnicalService. But this is by no means all.The economical surfacer also ensu-res excellent overspray absorptionand good surface levelling. “What’smore, the surfacer can also be quicklyand easily sanded after drying.” It isapplied in anything from one to threecoats, and its mixing ratio with Per-masolid® VHS Hardeners is 5:1.In developing this high-grade Perfor-mance Surfacer, Spies Hecker hasalso followed the latest trend in auto-motive colors. The product is there-fore available not only in black andmedium grey, but also of course inwhite. Barduna: “With these three co-lors, the surfacer can be adaptedperfectly to the base coat.”

Numerous approvals.

The 2K HS sanding surfacer has me-anwhile been approved by variouscar brands. This is becoming increa-singly important, as car makers spe-cify certain paint materials andsystems for refinishes. “Becausethey’re bound by their guaranteesand warranties,” the Spies Heckerexpert explains.

* Permasolid® HS Performance Surfacer 5320grey is due for launch soon.

Image

Sporting passions.A systemyou cancount on.

With everything from the white FerrariF430 and the tuned Mercedes SLS Bra-bus to the noble Wiesmann, the currentSpies Hecker “Passions” Calendar de-monstrates an enthusiasm for sport and

luxury. “This time we’ve put the spotlighton sporty vehicles,” explains Peter Win-gen of Marketing International. At thephoto shoots, bodyshops in Belgium,Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spainand Switzerland pulled out all the stopswith their outstanding paint finishes.

The photo shoots left lasting impressionson both the bodyshops and the Spies He-cker team. Peter Wingen: “The Wiesmannplant in Germany is both unique and re-markable. The picture for the calendarsheet was taken in the production shop.Despite the shop’s size and ongoing pro-duction, the sense of organisation duringthe shoot was fascinating.”Whatever the vehicle – an elegant classiccar, spectacular model aeroplane or ahuge commercial vehicle – every singlesubject of the new Spies Hecker Calen-dar 2012 is a real stunner in its workshopsetting. The images are supplemented bypictures of the respective owners, bodys-hop managers or refinishers – all of themSpies Hecker customers with a whole-he-arted dedication to painting.

You can download the calendar images at www.spieshecker.com/calendar2012

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The new Hi-TEC 680* waterborne paint system for commercial vehicle finishes yields greater process security on large surfaces.

Spies Hecker’s Permafleet® Hi-TEC 680 isa base coat developed especially for largesurfaces – on such objects as buses,drivers’ cabs, dropsides, box bodies, su-perstructures and special-purpose vehi-cles. “Our aim is for high repair quality –particularly if powerful effects are to beachieved,” says Arno Steyns, commercialvehicle specialist at Spies Hecker.

Used for the original finish or for repairs,Permafleet® Hi-TEC680 is an assurance ofabsolutely dependa-ble results. The VOC-compliantHi-TEC base coat co-vers a broad spect-rum of colors andpermits the reliableapplication of metallic

and pearl effect colors. Thanks to its ex-cellent overspray absorption, it proves tobe economical on large surfaces as well.

Arno Steyns sheds light on the technologybehind it: “Permafleet® Hi-TEC 680 Base

Coat exploits patentedhybrid technology andthus ensures particu-larly uniform effectformation. High pig-mentation improvesits opacity.” A speciallydeveloped additive

helps to improve spraying behaviour. Theexpert continues: “The positive effect ofPermafleet® WT Additive 6060 on the basecoat’s viscosity is an advantage whenspraying large surfaces.”

The top coat is impressive with its easy andflexible application and good hiding power.What’s more, it’s now also possible tomask the paint even faster and more neatly– an important factor in view of the popu-larity of design finishes on commercial ve-hicles.

Commercial Vehicles

Permafleet® Hi-TEC 680Climate Poster.

The Climate Poster for Permafleet®

Hi-TEC 680 helps users choose the rightWT additive in relation to local tempera-ture and humidity.

* Permafleet®

Hi-TEC 680 is to be

launched soon.

New paint system for large surfaces.

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Setting thetone. Substrates can be adaptedto the base or top coatwith the matching Permafleet® surfacer colorlevels.

With the white, light-grey and dark-greycolor levels from Spies Hecker, the bo-dyshop improves the efficiency of itscommercial vehicle finishing. By se-lecting the matching Permafleet® surfa-cer ground color, it’s possible to enhancethe hiding power of the base or top coat.But where do you find the color level?“The ground color is given on the can ofthe ready-mixed base coat or top coat,”explains Arno Steyns, Spies Hecker com-mercial vehicle specialist. “If you mix thecolor yourself in the bodyshop, the colorlevel of the matching surfacer is indicatedby the CRplus color software and in theColorFinder on the Internet.”

The desired opacity can be achieved withonly 1.5 spray passes and thus saves ma-terial. “When painting commercial vehi-cles with their large surfaces, this really isa useful advantage,” says Arno Steyns.

The color levels for Permafleet® surfacerare available for the Permafleet® Top CoatSeries 630/670/675 and, as of October2012, for new Permafleet® Hi-TEC 680Base Coat.

Permafleet® Hi-TEC 680 – system recommendation.

The Permafleet® paint system comes with the outstanding chemical and mechanicalproperties so important for commercial vehicles and multi-color finishes. This commercial vehicle paint can be applied in two different paint combinations:

1. Top system wet-on-wet with Permafleet® VHS Non-Sanding Surfacer 5620 and 2. High-Class system with sanded HS Bus Surfacer 5530.

For high-quality effect finishes, we recommend a final coat of HS Clear Coat8320/8330.

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Color

Electrifying colors.“In six or seven years, we shall find that a new era of the motor car has dawned withthe onset of electromobility,” says a convinced Oona Scheepers, Senior DesignerColor & Trim at Volkswagen. At the IAA last year, the car manufacturer presented itsnew “E-Up!” model, whose very design is bolder, dynamic and looks almost futuristic.“We’re developing a color language specifically for electric cars. A technical silver blueas on the E-Up! and white stand for the electric drive.”

Elke Dirks, Color Designer at DuPont Automotive OEM Coatings, has identified newtrends. “Electric cars have to look both modern and eco-friendly. Ideally, the exteriorcolor lends expression to the forward-looking ecological strategy.” In Europe, she be-lieves, car makers are mostly going for satin metallics in light-colored, pastel shadesevocative of nature. “These color effects are chosen to stress the close relationshipbetween futuristic technology and nature – as with a frost effect, for example.” In thiscontext, white is also considered an important “front color”. In Asia, “ice blue” is thekey color symbolising the eco-generation. In the USA, on the other hand, fine metallicpaintwork draws attention to the shift towards fuel- and emission-saving models.

Training camp. “How would you depict the future ofelectromobility in a paint finish?” This isthe question put by Spies Hecker to up-and-coming refinishers in a training pro-ject. What was wanted was anextra-creative finish for the white electri-cally powered i-MiEV compact car fromMitsubishi. “The suggestions were allvery lively and imaginative, and we ulti-mately chose a blend of three of them,”says Dietmar Rausch, Manager of theSpies Hecker Center in Cologne, enthu-siastically summing up the results of theproject.

From thorough substrate pre-treatmentand elaborate design work through tothe final clear coat, the trainees had twowhole days to put their ideas intopractice with expert equipment – andshow what they had learnt so far. Mostenjoyable of all, they claimed, was wor-king on the details of the stylistic designelements and the shading. The whiteelectric car is now adorned with multi-layer printed circuit boards, plug socketsand plugs. The youngsters were absolu-tely delighted to be able to work at theSpies Hecker Center. A project thatought to spur them on for the rest of theirtraining in their respective bodyshops.

Alex Klassen, Daniel Plog and David Kloster jointly styled the iMiev at the Spies Hecker Center.

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Colorful characters.

Marketing

Whatever the task – dealing with com-plaints, negotiating a deal or attractingnew customers – a good measure ofsensitivity is always required. Understan-ding what makes people tick meansidentifying the personality type. At leastthis is the view of Frank M. Scheelen ofSCHEELEN® AG, a German firm devotedto management consultancy and diag-nostics. “Personalities can be assignedto different basic types represented bythe colors red, yellow, green and blue.”

The colors stand forcharacter types.

“To accurately gauge the person you’redealing with and to select the right con-versation strategy, you have to analysehis or her appearance, body languageand style of communication according toa certain color classification system.”Does he or she make a determined im-pression? If so, red is probably the mat-ching personality type. Does the voicelack volume, and does the person seemhesitant? This may be a green type. Forthe bodyshop, this means the “red type”is a confident negotiator who loves to beserved quickly. The “green type”, on theother hand is very reserved at first anddemands more attention, understandingand patience. He or she wants above allelse to have confidence in the bodys-hop’s work.

Targeted customer management.

Sociable people belong to the yellow ca-tegory. They tend to be amiable, humo-rous and optimistic. In talks with suchcustomers, it’s useful to illustrate repairsand other services with colorful anecdo-tes. The “blue type” is different again. Heor she tends to be critical and thorough.“Present your services without embellish-ment,” Scheelen advises. “The customerhas to be able to immediately identifywhat’s in it for him. Describe the workprecisely.”

Are you a red type? Or more of a green? Colors are closely associatedwith personality types. The business owner can respond better tocustomers by using a color classification system.

Of course, people rarely conform com-pletely to a single color type. Most peopleare a blend of all personality types. Butanyone who studies other people closelycan train himself to identify the dominanttraits and those that are less pronounced.This takes the strain out of dealing withpeople, and the bodyshop can respondmore effectively to the customer. This isprofessional customer management thatbuilds confidence.

Finding the right language.

Red type: – confident and direct. Clearly defined goals. Conversation strategy: get to the point without detours. Present neatlystructured, accurately calculated price quotations. Arguments stres-sing the advantages are particularly important.

Green type: – diffident and hesitant. Rarely speaks unless spoken to.Needs a lot of information to make a decision. Conversation strategy: what count here are trust and details. Youshould react understandingly and patiently to his or her reservations.

Yellow type: – communicative and sociable. Humorous and optimistic.Usually takes decisions without deliberation. Conversation strategy: create a pleasant atmosphere, explain thingswith imagery. This way you can stimulate his or her enthusiasm.

Blue type: – conscientious and critical. Inclined to see risks and disli-kes change. Always looking for the best price/performance ratio. Conversation strategy: respond factually and thoughtfully and preciselyexplain how the customer benefits from the work you’ve suggested.

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Worldwide

Eggs and bunnies galore!

Swiss Spies Hecker customer Carrosse-rie Hug in Koppingen took on a specialEaster mission. For local company Kof-mel Kunststofftechnik AG, it paintedoversized red Easter eggs and goldenEaster bunnies – the bunnies alone werea metre tall and were used as advertisingfor the smaller chocolate originals.The Easter eggs were painted with the in-dustrial coating system from Spies He-cker. The lettering and ornamentationunder the clear coat were applied withgreat attention to detail by a graphics ar-tist. In time for Passiontide, the two Eas-ter symbols looked suitably festive intheir colors and good enough to eat!

Flying colors in China. BMW and Spies Hecker are working to-gether in Asia as partners for superlativequality in vehicle refinishing. For the firstBMW China Aftersales Painting Compe-tition, the paint manufacturer from Colo-gne supported BMW AG in Shanghai.Professional refinishers from over 200dealerships in China attended the seven-month competition. The best twelve wereselected for the final in Shanghai. “As aclose partner to the BMW organisation,we were delighted to be able to support

the competition and introduce trade fairvisitors to everything to do with professio-nal paint application,” stresses GeorgTautz, Marketing & Strategy ManagerSpies Hecker Asia Pacific.Li Cheng, Spies Hecker Sales ManagerChina, praised the team’s efforts: “Led byour Training Manager Louie Liu, we pre-sented ourselves highly professionally tothe market. I’m very proud of our team’sperformance.”To crown the success of this involvement,

the first four places in the competitionwent to refinishers who use Spies Heckerproducts.

BMW attaches extra importance to wa-terborne base coat for professional refi-nishes, and the new patented technologyof Permahyd® Hi-TEC 480, launched inChina in 2011, is establishing itself increa-singly on the market. More and more bo-dyshops are using the efficient paintsystem. Spies Hecker is thus setting to-tally new standards in China as well.

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Enter the dragon.

When he paints racing bikes, FrankHoste is in his element. The Belgian hasbeen the owner of a cycle workshopsince 1991, before which he was a pro-fessional road cycle racer for manyyears. Along with numerous victories innational and international cycle races, hetook part in the Tour de France eighttimes and won five stages. One of thebiggest achievements of his career waswinning the Green Jersey during the1984 Tour. In his shop, he now handlesframes among other things for the Bel-gian professional cycling team, but alsofor private customers. “For instance, wecan create a modern and unique designfor an old bike so that it looks like new,”Frank Hoste explains. He uses Spies He-cker products because he appreciatestheir simple application and extra quality.

Once upon a time, there was a dragon. Or, to be more precise,a dragon tattoo on the left arm of a famous Venezuelan base-ball player who had played in all the world’s major leagues. Andthis player wanted nothing more than to have his 55 MTIpowerboat with a top speed of a “mere” 320 km/h adornedwith a spectacular paint finish. And he wanted the motif to bemodelled on his tattoo. He found a suitable boatyard, Guar-dado Marine in Miami, where a graphic design was computer-generated, showing a multi-colored, fire-spewing dragon. Butthere was one major obstacle the project had to overcome: theshortage of time. The boat had to be launched in its terrific newoutfit before the start of the new baseball season.

To achieve the desired detail and vibrancy, nothing could beleft to chance. So the Guardado team chose Spies Hecker Per-masolid® SpectroFlex Surfacer 5400 and the Permacron® BaseCoat Series 293/295. “These products enable us to carry outour work – or rather, our artwork – just as we’d imagined it inour boldest dreams. The paint material has great coverage anddries incredibly fast,” stresses CEO Eduardo Guardado. Thecustomer, at any rate, was absolutely knocked out by the fi-nish. So everyone lived happily ever after. That is, after sevenweeks of highly intricate body and paint work. Ten craftsmenwere involved overall. And the baseball player? He’s now undercontract in Japan – the land famed for its dragon myths.

For Frank Hoste, it’s always an excitingchallenge to use innovative technologyand incorporate current trends. Forexample, he combines different effectssuch as matt and gloss or light colorswith a special carbon fibre look. Andwhat is it that he likes about his job?“Being creative and innovative. No twoprojects are the same. Cycle jobs are al-ways highly individualistic.” Road cycleracing is still Frank Hoste’s great pas-sion. Which is why he’s only too happy toact as a commentator on radio and tele-vision during the Tour de France. Ahobby that’s the perfect foil to his work.

A change of gear.

Our partner bodyshops have come to rely on balanced product systems, high color accuracy, outstanding finishes and efficient service. We help them with their challenging projects. Because together we achieve more.

Spies Hecker – simply closer.

Our refinishers aim for long partnerships.

Spies Hecker GmbH · Horbeller Straße 17 · 50858 Köln · www.spieshecker.de