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Painting of Automotive Exterior Panels - 2000: Materials, Manufacturing and Economics

5 January 2001

Painting of Automotive Exterior Panels - 2000: Materials, Manufacturing and Economics

    DETROIT, Jan. 5 According to BRG Townsend, Inc., reduction
of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions is the major force driving new
developments in the painting of automotive exterior panels. Governments around
the world have imposed restrictions on VOC emissions because of their effect
on global warming, causing significant changes in the materials and operations
used in the painting of vehicles.  To overcome this problem, OEMs and their
paint and equipment suppliers have been working to reduce VOC emissions by
using high solids paints, waterborne paints, powder paints and advanced
incineration systems.
    Burdens are being imposed by the need to paint new materials, such as
plastics and aluminum, which are increasingly being used for automotive
exterior panels. All of these considerations combine to make the painting of a
vehicle a dynamic and complex subject.
    Long recognizing the importance of coating technology, BRG has just
completed its third study in this area, conducting similar reports and
analyses in 1990 and 1995.  Now completed, "Painting of Automotive Exterior
Panels - 2000" updates information from these previous studies as well as
analyzing and reporting on new industry trends, technologies, suppliers and
economics.
    This report discusses the materials and technologies used in the painting
of exterior panels and encompasses the following:

    -- Industry Factors Influencing Developments in Automotive Painting
    -- OEM Coating and Painting Operations
    -- Electrocoating
    -- Powder Coatings
    -- Primer Surfacer
    -- Clear Coats
    -- Dry Paint Film Laminate Technology
    -- Suppliers
    -- U.S. Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions Regulations
    -- Phosphating
    -- Solvent and Waterborne Coatings
    -- Anti-Chip Primer
    -- Base Coats
    -- Painting of Plastic Panels
    -- Weathering Tests for Exterior Panels
    -- Material Costs

    BRG Townsend Inc., A Business Research Group Company, produces the
Automotive NewsWire(TM), and is the world leader in providing business
information to the automotive marketplace.  BRG performs proprietary
consultation and produces multiclient studies including "Instrument Panels and
Consoles-1997"; "Bumper Systems-1998"; "Exterior Panels-1995"; "Painting of
Exterior Panels-1995", "Fuel Systems-1999", "Painting of Exterior
Panels-2000".  In addition, we bring over 50 years of experience serving the
global plastics, chemicals, pulp & paper, and related materials industries.
For more information on any of BRG's products and services, access our website
http://www.brgtownsend.com or contact Sales & Marketing Manager, Abbe Scheiner
at 973-347-5300 or e-mail to ascheiner@brgtownsend.com.

    CONTACT:  Abbe Scheiner of BRG Townsend, Inc., 973-347-5300,
              ascheiner@brgtownsend.com