Standox focuses on the art of refinish

Coloured clearcoats and stylish three-coat colours such as shimmering pearl white have become common features on our streets. The result is that more and more vehicles with such unusual finishes need to be refinished. But repairing damage to three-coat, coloured clearcoat or special pigments is a demanding task that differs from everyday refinishing. – This is in terms of the repair and the calculation of time, materials and costs. This is where a refinisher can really show his abilities.

When dealing with unusual colours, the colour code should be identified prior to any estimate. This way, the refinisher knows at an early stage whether the vehicle has a special colour coat build-up.

Armin Sauer, colouristic expert and Training Manager at Standox commented: “Only once I know how the colour coat was created I am able to make a realistic estimate of the materials, time and costs of a repair. With a three-coat finish, for instance, I must know any special features and how the paint finish was sprayed.”

The preparations are more time-consuming as spray-out cards must be produced. This must be taken into account in the estimate. If special pigments are needed, the refinisher should check at an early stage whether these are in stock. “It is annoying when I have the correct formulation ready and only realise when mixing that the special mixing base I need is not on the system.”

Refinishers using Standowin from Standox enjoy a clear advantage here. After having entered information such as the color code, the car make and model, the year of manufacture and/or the color name, the program identifies the formulation. Right now any colour containing a special mixing base, has this marked in the formulation. Starting with the 2/2012 update, an additional pop-up window will open before the formulation is sent to the scales indicating that a special mixing base is needed.