DuPont Performance Coatings Wins 2004 Auto Industry PACE Award for Ford Launch of Innovative Two-Tone Paint Process

DETROIT, March 9 -- DuPont Performance Coatings received the prestigious Automotive News PACE Award here last night for a unique "wet-on- wet" coatings system that enables two-tone styling in one pass through the paint line for Ford Super Duty Trucks. Involving DuPont product inventions and Ford Motor Company process innovations, the new technology saves costs and boosts assembly line output of the fast-selling F-250 and F-350 pick-up trucks at the Ford Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Ky.

The Automotive News PACE Awards are given annually by Automotive News, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and Transportation Research Center Inc. Now in its 10th year, the award recognizes supplier innovation in process and product. The winners set the standard for game-changing innovation and excellence within the automotive supply industry.

"Innovation doesn't happen without true customer and supplier partnership," said Edward J. Donnelly, group vice president, DuPont Coatings & Color Technologies. "In this case, Ford Motor Company communicated a visionary need for new technology. Our DuPont team provided the innovations needed to deliver the results on time, on target with a bottom-line benefit to Ford. This productive two-tone, wet-on-wet coatings product and process innovation will truly make a difference where it matters most -- in vehicle sales."

The new paint process allows vehicles to receive two enamel colors in one rather than two trips through a paint booth and oven. As a result, Ford expects to increase output of its popular two-tone F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pick-up trucks to meet rising consumer demand.

There are several key advantages in the one-pass system. It reduces the amount of tape, plastics and paper typically used to mask the two colors. And since vehicles painted with the process require less handling, there is less chance for dirt and other contaminants to chip or scratch the paint. The technique also eliminates the need for additional basecoat and clearcoat layers.

The new process begins after electrocoating has been completed. A conventional exterior body primer is applied to the box and upper panels of the vehicle that will be painted with the main color, while an advanced primer is applied to lower sections to which the accent color is to be used. The special second primer, developed by DuPont, enables the color accent coat to be applied over the wet prime layer while maintaining traditional chip protection, corrosion protection and durability characteristics.

The process features a combination of existing equipment -- the previous primer booth was modified with new flexible robotics to handle both primer and basecoat functions. Ford also developed an advanced mask/de-mask process, which it claims is easier and faster to put on without tearing or leaving residue that might harm the finish.

The automaker began investigating the technology in mid-2001 when it couldn't keep pace with demand for two-tone trucks. With the launch, it says it was able to implement the system under budget, ahead of schedule and without downtime. Other Ford facilities are adopting the process.

DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by solving problems and creating solutions that make people's lives better, safer and easier. Operating in more than 70 countries, the company offers a wide range of products and services to markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.