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Edinburgh man wins PPG Nationwide CRC Lead Painter Accreditation competition

Andy Taylor of the Nationwide Crash Repair Centre (CRC) in Edinburgh has won PPG / Nationwide CRC’s Lead Painter Accreditation competition.

andy_taylor_262x351The Lead Painter Accreditation Competition programme, designed to reinforce best practice techniques and promote technical excellence across the Nationwide group, ran from October 2012 to June 2013 and saw painters from 59 Nationwide Repair sites go through an intensive two day course and assessment at PPG Stowmarket.

Eight of the top painters from the programme were invited to Thatcham Automotive Academy on Thursday 6th June to compete to win the LPAC champion title.

The painters completed several stages of assessment testing skill areas from application and colour matching to polishing and health and safety.

Firstly, painters were tasked with application of frozen bronze Basecoat and Matt Clearcoat on a pre-primed wing. The second task tested colour matching skill; painters were supplied with an off shade premixed colour and had to colour match to a painted wing. Painters were then asked to repair a small area of damage on a panel and fadeout the Basecoat and Clearcoat within the panel.

The final task saw the painters produce stunning effects by masking off and polishing an individual custom design into Matt Clearcoat panels. Health and Safety was observed and scored throughout the day.

All of the eight finalists were strong performers and demonstrated an exceptional level of skill, but there was one clear winner who achieved a tremendous score of 286 out of a possible 300.