Mazda's Three Layer Wet Paint System Receives JSPMI Prize

Tokyo, Japan, Dec. 26, 2003 - (JCN Newswire) - Mazda Motor Corporation
has been awarded the newly-established "Prize for Promoting
Machine Industry" from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Machine
Industry (Chairman: Shoichiro Toyoda) for the development of its "Three
Layer Wet Paint System." With the environmentally friendly paint system
recognised as an exceptionally significant technology, Mazda has
received the "Minister of Trade, Economy and Industry Award." The award
ceremony will be held on February 3 at the Tokyo Prince Hotel.

The Three Layer Wet Paint System simplifies the painting process by
combining the primer coating process with that of top coating to deliver
comprehensive environmental benefits. For instance, through application
of this new technology volatile organic compounds (VOC) have been
reduced by as much as 45 percent to meet the latest European regulations
of 35g/m2. Concurrently, Mazda has cut CO2 emissions by more than 15
percent compared to the previous painting process, as well as achieving
a significant reduction in cost. This technology is currently applied at
Mazda's Hofu Plant #1 and #2 in the manufacturing of Atenza/Mazda6 and
the recently launched Axela/Mazda3.

"This prize recognizes Mazda's originality and high level technical
capabilities," said Mazda President and CEO Hisakazu Imaki. "Amidst
increasing worldwide awareness of the importance of environmental
protection, we have developed this new painting technology that
successfully reduces both VOC and CO2 emissions. In the future we will
continue our efforts to develop new technologies that support the
building of products unique to the Mazda brand while contributing to the
advancement of automotive technologies."

The Prize for Promoting Machine Industry recognizes companies,
universities, research institutes and individuals that have achieved
notable results in the area of research and development involving
original, innovative and economical machine industry technologies and
have contributed to the manufacturing of new products, improvement of
product quality/performance and production streamlining through the
successful application of these technologies. Presented by the Japan
Society for the Promotion of Machine Industry (JSPMI), the award was
newly established in 2003 after combining the former "Prize of Japan
Society for the Promotion of Machine Industry" and "Prize for New
Machine Developed by Small and Medium Enterprises." Mazda has been
awarded the highest "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award" for
the first time, while receiving eight times in its history a JSPMI
award, such as the one for "Development of the Rotary Engine." 

Technology applicable 
Three Layer Wet Paint System. 

Awardee (company) 
Mazda Motor Corporation (President and CEO: Hisakazu Imaki). 

Awardee (those who responsible for the technology) 
Teruo Kanda, Staff Manager, Painting, Trim & Final Assembly Engineering
Dept. 
Masaki Kake, Assistant Manager, Painting, Trim & Final Assembly
Engineering Dept. 
Takakazu Yamane, Senior Research Engineer, Technical Research Center. 
Tsutomu Shigenaga, Technical Research Center. 
Toshiyuki Katayama, Assistant Manager, Body Development Dept. 


Outline of technology 
1. The Three Layer Wet Paint System combines the primer coating process
into the top coat process. Primer, base coat and clear coat are applied
in succession after which all layers are baked at once. This simplified
process requires less energy, resulting in dramatic reduction in the
amount of CO2 emitted. 
2. With the application of all-new coating control technology and more
efficient coating robots, equal paint thickness and improved coating
efficiency are delivered. Mazda worked jointly with paint manufacturers
to develop a new low solvent paint that delivers high coating stability
to achieve successive coating of three layers. Comprehensively, the new
system delivers significant improvement in coating quality, while
reducing VOC emissions and costs.


About Mazda Motor Corporation

Mazda Motor Corporation was established in 1920 and is one
of Japan's leading automobile manufacturers. With its headquarters in
Hiroshima, Mazda has two plants in Japan and manufacturing and assembly
operations in sixteen other countries. Mazda cars and trucks are sold in
more than one hundred and thirty countries. Ford Motor and Mazda agreed
to collaborate in 1979, Ford Motor Company started investing in Mazda
and increased its shareholding to 33.39% as of March 31, 1999. For
further information, please visit the Mazda Motor Corporation home page
at: www.mazda.com/flash.html <http://www.mazda.com/flash.html> 

Contact
Mazda Motor Corporation
Mr K. Yoshitake
yoshitake.k@tky.mazda.co.jp
03-3508-5022