BDM Coatings appointed exclusive Catalfer partner for Ireland
BDM Coatings Ltd has been appointed the exclusive partner of Catalfer, the Italian boyshop solutions specialists on the island of Ireland.
The partnership will see BDM bring Catalfer’s portfolio of abrasives, polishing products, preparation systems, sanding equipment and bodyshop consumables to customers throughout Ireland, supported by local stock, technical expertise and hands-on demonstrations.
Italian Heritage & Innovation
Founded in Italy in 1957, Catalfer is a family-owned manufacturer with more than 65 years’ experience in the automotive refinishing industry. Led by Pasquale, Catalfer has grown from its Italian roots to establish a significant international presence, with products now distributed across more than 50 countries.
Catalfer is also a Master Distributor for 3M products, further strengthening its offering to the professional bodyshop and refinishing sectors and complementing its own extensive range of products and technologies.
Central to Catalfer’s approach is bodyshop efficiency – developing products that help technicians reduce preparation and finishing times while maintaining a high-quality result. Innovations such as the OneTech abrasive system and AIRFLUX dust-extraction technology, alongside its growing polishing and finishing range, demonstrate the company’s focus on making everyday bodyshop processes faster, cleaner and more productive.
A Strong Partnership
Derek Flood, Sales Director at BDM Coatings Ltd., said: “We are delighted to join forces with such a strong and reputable company. Catalfer has a fantastic Italian heritage and an established reputation internationally, but what particularly attracted us was their approach to product development.”
“Their focus is on helping technicians achieve the same or better result in less time. That fits perfectly with what we are trying to achieve at BDM – providing products that perform while helping our customers improve efficiency, reduce preparation time and increase throughput.”
The partnership further strengthens BDM’s position as a one-stop shop for the Irish bodyshop industry, supplying paint systems, abrasives, preparation products, PPE, equipment and consumables alongside knowledgeable technical support.
Taking Catalfer on the Road
BDM has already begun carrying out Catalfer demonstrations in Bodyshops across Ireland, allowing technicians to see and test the products in real working environments.
Earlier this year, members of the BDM team also travelled to Catalfer’s headquarters in Italy for dedicated product and technical training, working directly with the Catalfer team to develop an in-depth understanding of the range and the processes behind it.
Building on this training, BDM’s new Technical Demonstrator will travel to Bodyshops throughout Ireland, carrying out practical demonstrations and highlighting the efficiencies that can be achieved across sanding, preparation and polishing.
“The best way to understand the Catalfer range is to use it,” added Flood. “We want to put the products directly into technicians’ hands and demonstrate where genuine time and process savings can be achieved.”
See Catalfer live at Auto Trade EXPO 2026
Catalfer will feature prominently on the BDM Coatings stand at the Auto Trade EXPO in the RDS, Dublin on 10th and 11th October 2026.
BDM will run live demonstrations throughout the two-day event, with particular emphasis on Catalfer’s new polishing range, alongside its abrasive, sanding and preparation solutions.
Visitors will be able to see the products in action, meet BDM’s technical and commercial teams and learn how the Catalfer range can help improve productivity and efficiency within their own Bodyshop.
The partnership represents another important step in BDM Coatings Ltd.’s continued expansion, combining high-quality international brands with local stock, technical expertise, practical demonstrations and on-the-ground support.
Northern Ireland Distribution Opportunity available
For further information on the Catalfer range or to arrange an on-site demonstration, contact BDM Coatings Ltd. on 01 452 2348, email info@bdmcoatings.ie or visit www.bdmcoatings.ie.