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One visit application helps bodyshops increase throughput

Body and paint shops now face numerous challenges, says Standox GmbH. “New technology, increasing competitive pressure and the growing influence exerted by insurers means bodyshops must respond flexibly,” says Standox Brand Manager Zvonimir Simunovic on the occasion of the Automechanika show in Frankfurt. In future it will be essential for bodyshop operators to take their business to the very limits of profitability and to use management and operational resources even more effectively.

In this situation, Simunovic feels it is vital to provide bodyshops with high-quality products and technology that help increase efficiency and capacity utilisation. “It is an important feature of our superior coating technology that many of our products can be applied in one spray pass without flash off,” Simunovic explains. This is what is commonly referred to as “one visit application” (http://www.standox.com/1va). “One visit systems greatly reduce process times, as the usual intercoat flash-off times are not needed. Moreover, the system achieves perfect through-drying. The bodyshop saves not only time but also materials.”

Bodyshops that use the Standoblue basecoat system can apply the basecoat in combination with Standocryl VOC-Xtra Clear in a single spray pass for each material. The system will soon be complemented by the new VOC-Xtra Filler, which can also be applied in a single visit. “This will make Standox the first paint manufacturer to offer a complete one visit system,” Simunovic explains. But not only Standoblue and the Xtra Clear can be applied in one visit. This applies to nearly all Standox clears , established coating systems such as Standohyd Basecoat and Standofleet and selected fillers. “We thus offer bodyshops a large number of products that help them increase their capacity utilisation thanks to shorter repair and booth operation times.”

Standox presented the first one visit system to an expert audience as many as 20 years ago, at the 1992 Automechanika in Frankfurt. The Wuppertal-based paint manufacturer has constantly refined this technology over the years and today has an important technological lead. The technique is especially suited for bodyshops that want efficient processes, reduced energy costs and improved carbon footprint through shorter booth operation times. Zvonimir Simunovic: “In times when bodyshops are subject to growing productivity pressure, such an efficiency gain can result in an important competitive advantage.”