COATINGSPARTNERCOATINGSPARTNERCOATINGSPARTNER

FOR A CLEANER WORLD.HOW WATERBORNE BASECOATS HELP THE ENVIRONMENT.

LESS IS MORE.CHROMATE-FREE PRIMER FOR IMPROVED ECO-EFFICIENCY.

THE BETTER WAY ...BASF SETS STANDARDS FOR COATING CELLPHONES AND LAPTOPS.

COATINGSP A R T N E R

The BASF Coat ings magaz ine 2 /2007

2 COATINGSPARTNER

Raimar Jahn (right) and colleagues with international roots: Elisabete de Oliveira Martins Braga (Portugal), Sven Israel (Germany), Lilian Yoo (Korea), Jing Tang (seated, China), Aydin Atalan (Turkey), and Dr. Audree Andersen (Canada).

Dear readers,

BASF Coatings is shaped by people with a wide range of technical, cultural, and biographical experience.

Combining the variety of perspectives into mutual objectives and concrete benefits for our customers is vital.

In the photo, you can see colleagues who successfully translate their international experience in their work as

part of the BASF Coatings team. These are young colleagues who work in various areas such as environment

and safety, marketing, communication, procurement, production and research. Some of them are at the very

beginning of their journey with BASF Coatings. They thus represent state-of-the-art competence and future

potential.

Our team has expanded and has become more colorful, and this is reflected by the diversity of the topics

in this issue of COATINGSPARTNER. The RELIUS Group joined the Coatings Division this past January.

RELIUS’ product portfolio encompasses industrial coatings and construction paints for interior and exterior

use. We now offer architectural coatings in two large regions: in South America, where we have operated

successfully for years, and with RELIUS on board, now in Europe as well.

We’re looking forward to the new challenges and invite you to gain insight into our work. For instance, by

providing a closer look at the development of eco-efficient products and processes, we’re showing that the

success of our customers and environmental protection are equally important to us.

I hope you will enjoy reading this new issue of our COATINGSPARTNER magazine.

Raimar Jahn

CEO of BASF Coatings AG

President of the BASF Group’s Coatings Division

3 COATINGSPARTNER

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12 BRAZIL RENOVATES

WITH SUVINIL®

34 ECO-EFFICIENT

WATERBORNE BASECOATS

8 ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

COATING FOR FACADES

CONTENTS

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY: Coatings for wind turbines

ON THE SPOT: UV primer wages war on tiny nicks

PROGRESSIVE: Chromate-free primer for coils

ECO-EFFICIENT: Coated aluminum

SUCCESSFUL: Wall paints in Brazil

CLEVER: Efficient automotive coating

PARTNERSHIP

MOTIVATING: Brightening up school halls

INDIVIDUAL: Glasurit® makes trucks gleam

FRUITFUL: Successful partnership with Mittal Steel

in South Africa

DYNAMIC: The development of R-M® in Eastern Europe

LOVINGLY: How Glasurit® spruces up jet interiors

WORLDWIDE PRESENCE

TRENDSETTING: Coatings for cell phones and

laptop computers

CAPTIVATING: Fresh colors for facades

CLOSE TO THE CUSTOMER: New BASF Coatings

application center in India

EFFICIENT: Waterborne basecoats – more quality

and environmental protection

SETTING THE TONE: A new sheen for classic cars

IN BRIEF: News from all over the world

UNIVERSAL: How BASF Coatings makes life more colorful

IMPRINT

26 FRANÇOIS DESNÉ ON COATINGS FOR CELL PHONES AND LAPTOPS

4 RELIUS REFINISH PRODUCTS ON ROTOR BLADES

26 FRANÇOIS DESNÉ ON COATINGS FOR CELL PHONES AND LAPTOPS

4 RELIUS REFINISH PRODUCTS ON ROTOR BLADES

36 FIRST AID FOR OLD GEMS

4 COATINGSPARTNER

A TIME TO TURN.

Wind turbines have it good, since they get to

spend all day in the fresh air. You might get that

impression, anyway. But if you take a closer look,

you’ll see that it’s not all that easy. Bad weather

is the nemesis of the environmentally friendly

turbines. Snow, hail, and heat give the winged

giants a beating, adding to the stress of standing

out in the open more than 8,000 hours a year.

Optical and mechanical damage to the rotor

blades is only a matter of time. The result

is frequent repair and downtime, as well as a

curtailed lifespan of the entire facility.

The coatings experts at RELIUS are allergic to the

word “standstill”, so it’s only natural that they have

come up with an innovative system of refinishing

products for rotor blades. The system’s advantages

include its flexible application and the fact that

it can be easily integrated into already existing

RELIUS coatings systems. Both touch-ups and

complete overhauls on both mounted rotor blades

and dismantled components are problem-free.

At high altitudes, holes and uneven surfaces can be

repaired using the OLDODUR® Gelcoat filler. The

sensitive rotor blade edge is protected with OLDO-

DUR BladeProtect. And then there’s a 2-component

PU acrylic topcoat or the high-solids variant OLDO-

DUR HS topcoat, which can be used as needed in

order to seal surfaces. Repairing major damage to a

rotor blade generally requires disassembly. This is

where the ground crew comes in. First the damaged

spots are repaired with OLDODUR Gelcoat filler.

Then OLDODUR BladeCoat RA is applied with a

roller for overall protection of the blade, including

primer and abrasion protection. Finally, OLDODUR

BladeProtect and a 2-component PU acrylic

topcoat or an OLDODUR HS topcoat provide the

rotor blade and its edges with the protection it

needs.

RELIUS INDUSTRIAL COATINGS

TO MAKE SURE THAT WIND TURBINES TURN INSTEAD OF STANDING STILL,THE EXPERTS AT RELIUS, A COMPANY WHICH WAS RECENTLY INTEGRATEDIN BASF’S COATINGS BUSINESS, HAS COME UP WITH SOMETHING SPECIAL.

5 COATINGSPARTNER

THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS BAD WEATHER,

JUST BAD COATINGS.

RELIUS systems have already been used to provide

sustainable protection for more than 10,000 wind

turbines throughout the world. For Harald Müller,

head of BASF’s RELIUS Industrial Coatings unit,

that’s only the beginning. He’s drawn to the sea.

“The big offshore facilities in particular will be

increasingly significant in the future for harnessing

energy.”

The impacts at open sea are especially intense for

the facilities. “We have provided support for the

development of offshore facilities from the very

beginning. With a combination of experience and our

pioneer spirit, we’ll continue to provide the operators

of the facilities with intelligent coatings solutions in

the future,” Müller promises. RELIUS is placing a

particular focus on environmentally friendly coatings,

which are waterbased or solvent-free. The builders

and operators of the facilities are involved in the

planning from the outset. “We are able to respond to

special demands quickly and in a way that is tailor-

made,” Müller explains. Environmentally friendly

coatings for environmentally friendly energy – a per-

fect combination. Who cares about the weather?

6 COATINGSPARTNER

UV PRIMER

VP-126 Power-Fill ultraviolet (UV) primer is the

new magic bullet in the war on surface and metal

defects that cause major reprocess expenses.

The primer was originally developed by BASF for

use in automotive refinishing. Now for the first

time, BASF Coatings is offering the UV-curable

primer for repairing isolated defects in the

automotive OEM coating process. With this new

primer, a body with a tiny

mar no longer needs to go

back through the entire

coating process, but can

be touched up precisely at

the site of the flaw.

John Van Antwerp, BASF

Coatings Account Manager

for General Motors North

America, explains the

economic and ecological

advantages of the new

primer.

WHAT CAN THE NEW ULTRAVIOLET PRIMER DO

THAT OTHER PRIMERS CAN’T?

In automotive coating, the primer is the second of

four layers of paint. It serves to smooth out uneven

areas and protects the vehicle from stone-chipping.

The new ultraviolet primer has outstanding filling

properties, corrosion resistance and ultra quick dry-

ing time. These properties allow us to broaden the

scope and improve the efficiency of the spot recoat-

ing process. The UV cure primer can be applied to

a thickness of up to 150 µm and will cure in only

two to three minutes, while a conventional primer

can only be applied up to 25 µm and may take up

to thirty minutes to cure. That puts us in a position

to quickly touch up tiny defects without causing

major delays in the paint process. In addition, the

new primer is an eco-efficient coating solution,

since its VOC content is only half that of conven-

tional solventborne products.

7 COATINGSPARTNER

AND HOW DOES VP-126 POWER-FILL WORK?

VP-126 primer is applied to an isolated defect in

one or two coats and is cured in just a few minutes

with an ultraviolet light. The treated spot is sanded

immediately afterward and can be topcoated with

basecoat and clearcoat.

WHO WAS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS

DEVELOPMENT?

The implementation of the new primer stems from

the collaboration between BASF Coatings and

General Motors Paint Engineering. The engineers at

GM were looking for a high build, corrosion-resis-

tant primer that could be used to repair isolated

defects. In the automotive refinish business,

touching up minor flaws is routine. BASF Coatings’

OEM employees knew that their colleagues from

automotive refinish development had just launched

a UV-curable primer. Together with GM, we evaluat-

ed the product and determined that it could

provide significant benefits in the automotive OEM

coating process.

HOW WAS THE NEW PRIMER TESTED?

The UV-curable primer was thoroughly tested for

use with OEM coatings and the spot repair process

was tailored to meet GM requirements. It was criti-

cal that the primer meet all durability and adhesion

specifications. At the same time, the touched-up

THREE MINUTESIS ALL IT TAKES.“AN EXACT SPOT TOUCH-UP IS PREFERABLE TO A FULLREPROCESS.” FOLLOWING THIS PRINCIPLE, A NEW PRIMER ISMAKING SHORT WORK OF MARS AND DEFECTS.

spot must have an appearance that matches the

rest of the vehicle and must not be detectable on

the body.

WHAT SIGNIFICANCE DOES THE NEW PRIMER

HAVE FOR BASF COATINGS?

The significance of this innovation to BASF is that it

clearly demonstrates one of the core BASF values

of “Helping our customers to be more successful”.

The implementation of VP-126 primer at GM shows

that BASF recognizes the importance of working

with our customers to understand their needs.

We develop innovative products and intelligent

solutions, in partnership with our customers, to

increase their competitiveness. It was great that our

achievement was recognized with an Automotive

News PACE Award Honorable Mention in April.

It applauds our innovative, high performance

throughout the sector.

better than before. Corrosion protection values

determined using the usual test methods (salt spray

test, climate chamber test) exceeded all previous

results; not even a hint of rust could be detected. In

addition to corrosion protection, COILTEC® UNI-

VERSAL P CF also meets current industry stan-

dards for spreading rate, functionality, adhesion,

flexibility, and deep drawability. Since it can be

used for all galvanized substrates and topcoat

technologies, it accelerates and streamlines the

production process. This saves time and money

and is good for the environment.

GREEN LIGHT FOR GREEN PRODUCTS.

In the field of coil coatings as well, BASF Coatings

paid attention to the environmental sustainability of

its products early on. Around 20 years ago, it was

the world's first company to develop a chromate-

free alternative to solventborne primers for custom-

ers in the household appliance industry, and soon

afterward for the construction sector as well. Just

ten years after the first tonne of chromate-free

primer left the plant, the breakthrough on the market

BASF Coatings is one of the world’s leading sup-

pliers of chromate-free primer for coil coating.

Recently, total production of the environmentally

friendly COILTEC® UNIVERSAL P CF coating

technology surpassed the 30,000-tonne mark.

“Without the right partners, lots of enthusiasm,

and a great deal of commitment, we would

not have been able to reach this goal,” says

Dr. Wolfgang Kranig, head of Precoatings Europe

and Africa at BASF Coatings. The company has

now set new standards with the third generation

of the universal primer, which was specifically

adapted to chromate-free pretreatment.

Primers are used to ensure corrosion protection

and optimal adhesion of the topcoat systems when

coating cleaned and pretreated steel coils. The

improved chromate-free universal primer harmo-

nizes with any pretreatment of the steel, offering

better surface cover and higher eco-efficiency than

its predecessor. As a homogeneous white system

solution, it offers ideal conditions for both smooth

and textured topcoats and prevents the dreaded

rust from occurring on galvanized steel panels even

MAKING A GOOD THING

BETTER.

THE ENVIRONMENT, THE CUSTOMERS, AND THE CONSUMERS REAP THE BENEFITS.

CHROMATE-FREE PRIMER

was achieved. The eco-friendly technology is now

used for the housing of refrigerators, stoves, and

microwave ovens, as well as for facade elements –

a success that can be primarily attributed to the

progressive and innovative thinking on the part of

the customers. “We have always worked closely

with our customers in the area of research and

development,” says Dr. Peter Steiert, head of the

Industrial Coatings Solutions business unit. “This is

the only way to bring about optimal solutions the

market actually needs.”

COIL COATING.

Throughout the world, coil coating is

becoming more and more popular. The

motto “Finish first, fabricate later” sums it

all up. Pretreated steel sheets are contin-

uously coated with primers and topcoats

directly at the steel manufacturer in

technologically sophisticated yet cost-

efficient high-speed processes. After-

ward, they are rolled up into huge coils

again. They are then transported to the

processing industry as coils or sheets,

where they are cut up, reshaped, and

joined, depending on their use, for in-

stance in the construction, appliance,

and vehicle industry.

THINKING GREEN ISGOOD. ACTINGGREEN IS BETTER.WHEN DEVELOPING NEW TECHNOLOGIES, BASF COATINGS IN NORTH AMERICA IS ALSO INCREASINGLY GOING FOR MORE ECO-EFFICIENCY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.

Don Algrim and Tracy Rajala, the developers of EcoCeram®.

EXTRUSION COATINGS

11 COATINGSPARTNER

HOW DOES “EXTRUSION COATING”

WORK?

“Extrusion” refers to a process in which a

heated aluminum log or billet is continu-

ously pressed through a specially formed

opening using very high pressure. During

extrusion coating, the extruded aluminum

profiles are cleaned and pretreated and

spray painted to the desired color and

gloss level. The resulting end products are

used in the architectural building and con-

struction industry or to build windows for

trucks, busses, boats, and recreational ve-

hicles, as well as automotive components.

Following the launch of ULTRA-Cool® paints for

coating metal roofs that lead to better heat

reflectivity, savings in energy, and less smog, a

new innovation is now causing a sensation: It’s

EcoCeram®, an environmentally friendly and

improved technology for coating specially for-

med (extruded) aluminum profiles that are used

to manufacture products such as windows, door

frames and building components.

The innovative technology, which practically elimi-

nates the use of solvents containing HAPs, com-

plies with the stringent U.S. Hazardous Air Pollutant

Standard (HAPS). Compared to the predecessor

system, EcoCeram has better flow properties and a

smoother appearance, better throwing power for

complex parts and excellent sag and blister resis-

tance. The coating is recoatable, offers extraordi-

nary color and gloss control, and is available in a

broad range of colors and gloss levels. EcoCeram

is “ready to spray” with no reduction necessary.

The eco-efficient coating technology is “PODable”,

meaning it can be easily produced at the custom-

er’s location using BASF’s “Paint On Demand”

processes.

LOWER HAZARDOUS OUTPUT CALLS FOR

MORE INTELLIGENT INPUT.

The product development started in 2004 by BASF

chemists Tracy Rajala and Don Algrim at the

Southfield research lab. The next year already saw

the first trials at the site of a customer in the extru-

sion industry. “Due to a change in the U.S. EPA’s

MACT (Maximum Achievable Control Technology)

standard in 2007, which requires a reduction in

HAPS at coating facilities, we get customers inter-

ested in the product”, says Rajala. “Once they trial

the product, it’s sold based on its superior appli-

cation and appearance. It has better flow character-

istics and smoother appearance, better wrap

around for complex parts, and excellent sag and

blister resistance at high films.” Don Algrim adds,

“I’m glad the industry is accepting this product,

because it will significantly improve our environ-

mental quality.”

A GOLD MEDAL FOR THOSE WHO MAKE

INDUSTRY GREENER.

Tom Hutch, President of Aerolite Aluminum and

former chairman of the Aluminum Extruders Council

in NAFTA, states that he was excited to see a com-

pany such as BASF step forward and develop a

much needed green system for the industry. Hutch

adds that coaters will want to team with forward-

looking coating suppliers that are interested in

developing products that are environmentally sound.

EcoCeram will significantly reduce emissions of

hazardous air pollutants. “EcoCeram is now a

cornerstone of BASF extrusion coatings sold into the

extrusion market and demonstrates our committed,

consistent and customer-focused business motto,”

says Barry Nichols, sales representative.

Winnebago motor coach with windows, doors and structural components made of extrusion profiles from CAPCO, a Winnebago subsidiary.

12 COATINGSPARTNER

SUVINIL USES AN EYE-CATCHING CAMPAIGN TO SHOW WOMENHOW TO BEAUTIFY THEIR HOMES IN A MATTER OF HOURS.

That’s the first scene in a new film promoting

Suvinil®, the market leader for architectural

coatings in Brazil. The men report strange

changes that have come about in their homes.

In the meantime, their wives are sitting in a bar,

and are laughing about the shocked expressions

on their husbands’ faces when they discovered

the new blue wall in the kitchen or the green one

in the hall.

Brazil’s women are now taking painting into their

own hands – and Suvinil is offering them support.

The slogan, “Renewing is quite easy. It is just a

matter of desire,” makes it clear that it’s easy to

set new accents in your home by adding a bit of

new color on the walls. In fact, it’s so easy that

women can do this within a day and surprise their

husbands when they walk through the door in the

evening. To help them, Suvinil has a range of new

products, including Suvinil Color Test®, an extremely

small paint container that holds just about

200 ml of paint. This small amount makes it

Four men playing cards. Suddenly one of them

talks. “Do you know what happened to me last

Thursday? I came home, and all of a sudden

there was a red wall in my bedroom.”

GRAB THOSE P

SUVINIL IN BRAZIL

13 COATINGSPARTNER

possible to test the effect of the desired color at

home before purchasing a bigger amount. If a

woman wants to surprise her husband with a fresh

new color for her walls, then Suvinil Quick Dry

Enamel® is exactly the right product. This water-

borne paint is dry enough to touch after only

30 minutes. It is completely dry in five hours. Con-

ventional wall paints take about 2 hours for the

surface to dry and 12 hours to completely dry.

NINE LITERS OF SUVINIL – AND YOUR

HUSBAND WON’T RECOGNIZE HIS WALLS.

The new Suvinil product doesn’t just dry faster

than regular paints, it’s also environmentally

friendly, has hardly any odor, and offers protection

from mildew and algae. The new 9-liter paint

bucket ensures easy handling of the paint. “A

medium-sized paint container that doesn't weigh

much and has a comfortable handle was long

missing on South America’s architectural coat-

ings market,” says Francisco Verza, head of BASF

Coatings’ Architectural Coatings. Another ad-

vantage is that the amateur painter can thin the

paint directly in the container and start painting

immediately.

PEACE OF MIND, HAPPINESS, COMFORT

AND ENERGY ARE ALL A QUESTION OF THE

RIGHT COLOR.

The goal of Suvinil’s new marketing strategy is

transferring Europe and North America’s highly

contagious “Do it yourself fever” to Brazil.

Market leader Suvinil is targeting women in par-

ticular. “We want to make wall paint a significant

lifestyle factor that stands for quality of life

and well-being, especially for our female

customers,” explains Eugenio L. Neto, Suvinil

Marketing Manager. The “Sensation Concept”

is a step in this direction. With this concept,

various color groups are to communicate feel-

ings like peace of mind, happiness, comfort,

and energy. “With the help of the new products

and by integrating the lifestyle aspect, we hope

to convince our customers that a new paint job

is a simple, quick, and economical way to ren-

ovate,” says Neto. The time is ripe. According

to a new survey, 56 percent of Brazilians plan to

repaint their homes in the coming months.

When it comes to women, 62 percent have

plans for repainting. That means, grab your

paint roller! www.suvinil.com.br

AINT ROLLERS!

14 COATINGSPARTNER

With its “Integrated Process II”, BASF Coatings

has once again developed and successfully

launched a new, highly efficient technology for

automotive OEM coating. In the process, which

also meets the high standards for automotive

coating with regard to appearance and functio-

nality, specially formulated basecoats take on all

the functions of the primer, such as stone chip-

ping protection and UV resistance.

Generally, automotive OEM paint systems consist of

four coats – cathodic e-coat, primer, basecoat, and

clearcoat. Since the basecoats in the “Integrated

Process II” are already outfitted with the proper-

ties of the primer, an entire coating step can be

skipped. Both the primer application section of the

paint line and the primer oven are eliminated

in the process. This frees up capacity for other

applications. In addition, it reduces investment and

operating costs, saves on material, and improves

productivity, energy, and ecological balances.

The new technology has already been successfully

BASF COATINGS’ BRAND NEW TECHNOLOGY STEPS UP AUTOMOTIVE OEM COATING.

THE EQUATION FOR SUCCESS:

INTEGRATED PROCESS

SUBTRACT THE PRIMER TO MULTIPLY CAPACITY.

15 COATINGSPARTNER

implemented for production of the MINI at the BMW

Group’s Oxford (UK) plant. It is suitable for applying

all of the basecoats used at the plant.

MORE RESEARCH + MORE IDEAS + MORE

INNOVATIONS = MORE PROFIT FOR OUR

CUSTOMERS AND PARTNERS.

BASF Coatings has been working and doing

research on integrated processes for over ten years

and has constantly fine-tuned them. As project

manager Dr. Wolfgang Duschek puts it: “In the

automotive industry, coating products that are

carefully matched to each other are applied in order

to accomplish various tasks based on the ex-

tremely wide range of specifications encountered in

automotive surface finishing. The question as to

whether such systems, which have proven them-

selves millions of times over and which are truly

cutting-edge in economic and ecological terms,

can be perfected further and whether they can

comply with increasingly tight environmental reg-

ulations has now been answered by BASF Coatings

with a resounding ‘yes.’”

THE BEST SOLUTION IS BEST ACHIEVED WITH

THE BEST TEAM.

BASF Coatings and BMW Group employees worked

together closely to realize the project at the MINI

plant in Oxford. Dr. Duschek put together an inter-

national BASF Coatings team including Michael

Richert (material development), Ralf Kebschull

(applications specialist), Dr. Jorge Wellmann

(launch leader), Dr. Achim Gast (BMW Group

account manager), Paul Kelly (technical service at

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE.

BASF Coatings’ “Integrated Process II”

has achieved remarkable success,

recently winning the Business Excellence

Award 2006. The BASF Board of

Executive Directors awards the coveted

prize for innovative concepts that are

based on solid market knowledge and

tailor-made solutions for customers.

The international “Integrated Process II” team.

the Oxford plant), and Kevin Hayes (BMW Group

UK account manager), which cooperated closely

with the BMW team at the Oxford plant. January

2004 saw the beginning of the cooperation, and

by July 2005, the first paints with the desired

properties were ready to go. The system was then

launched and has been successfully established in

the meantime.

LESS TIME FOR APPLICATION MEANS MORE

TIME FOR PRODUCTION.

The new technology has provided the BMW Group

with huge advantages. Using the infrastructure

of the plant’s primer application area, which had

become obsolete, the plant designers installed

a second basecoat/clearcoat line. The goal was

to increase production from 200,000 vehicles to

240,000 vehicles per year. Dr. Duschek praised the

teamwork: “We worked with the BMW Group crew

for many months, including many weekends and

nights, in order to make this project successful.

It attests to the fact that ideas, teamwork, and part-

nership always lead to success.”

16 COATINGSPARTNER

WITH LIVING COLOURS FROM RELIUS, A DRAB SCHOOL BUILDINGWAS TURNED INTO A COLORFUL SPACE FOR LIVING AND LEARNING– WITH A HUGE IMPACT ON ITS SURROUNDINGS.

LIVING COLOURS BRIGHTENUP SCHOOL WALLS.

give the students the feeling that they belonged,

could feel safe, and that the school was divided into

specific zones. Appold chose LIVING COLOURS

from RELIUS, selecting coordinated shades from

1,000 colors available. For the artist, it was particu-

larly important to distinguish between the adminis-

trative area of the school and the classrooms, and

to set up zones by various age and learning levels.

The RELIUS color fan deck is based on the well-

known Natural Color System (NCS)® and is divided

into nine sections based on mood. They can be

easily identified as dynamic, warm, and matter-of-

fact and cool colors. The intelligent design of the

color fan deck ensures that all of the neighboring

shades of a color section can be smoothly

coordinated. In redesigning the Tarp school center,

artist Appold used continuous lines in a special

light shade of gray that was supplemented with

shades of green, blue, or orange as needed.

A NEW COAT OF COLORS FOR DREARY WALLS.

Just four years after launching the renovation, all

of the expectations placed in the new concept

have been fulfilled. The walls remain free of damage

or graffiti, and students, teachers, and parents are

happy. Now there are plans to develop a concept

for redoing the school center’s facade. It goes

without saying that RELIUS will be supplying the

paint. Public interest is great, and both residents

and politicians see the school as a major location

factor that has increased the attractiveness of

the small town. In Tarp, the intensive cooperation,

artistic input, and lively color range provided

by RELIUS has contributed to turning a plain

and simple renovation project into one that is a

beacon.

If you were to ask kids to do some brainstorming

on the topic of school corridors, you’d probably

hear something like, “Dark, dreary, Get me out

of here!” Except if you did the exercise among

the nearly 1,200 students at the Tarp school

complex near the north German city of Flens-

burg. Their answers are more along the lines of

“Super, sweet, A great place to hang out!”

What’s behind this surprising response is a

holistic color concept that was implemented

using LIVING COLOURS from RELIUS, a part of

BASF Coatings.

It all started when renovation was scheduled to

comply with a new fire protection ordinance. It gave

the architects and RELIUS technical consultants an

opportunity to take a good look at the school's lay-

out and decor that dated back to the 1970s. The

experts thought it was time for professional color

design to come in and turn the drab corridors into

what they needed to be: spaces for hanging out

and communicating. The school administration was

convinced in a matter of seconds, and Flensburg’s

renowned color designer Uwe Appold was recruited

for the artistic implementation. Appold rolled up his

sleeves and started by asking students, parents,

and teachers what they liked and disliked about the

school. While the overall responses were positive,

they also revealed that in the recent past, the mix of

students with major age differences and social

backgrounds had given rise to increasing aggres-

sion and more vandalism.

MORE COLOR AT SCHOOL = MORE FUN IN THE

CLASSROOM.

Giving the school a color makeover was intended to

RELIUS ARCHITECTURAL COATINGS

18 COATINGSPARTNER

TRUCK PAINTING

“Despite the fact that two out of three finished

trucks are painted in a shade of white, color

is on its way in,” says Andreas Rosien, key

account manager for BASF’s Commercial Trans-

port Coatings Solutions. “Due to their modular

assembly, as well as their colors, trucks are

becoming more and more individual.” Here

again, BASF Coatings is there to help. With its

Glasurit® brand 68 and 90 Line paints,

coating truck bodies and plastic add-on parts

is a piece of cake – no matter what color you

want.

TAKE SCANIA, FOR EXAMPLE.

The Swedish truck manufacturer chose Glasurit®

brand paints in December 2005. The agreement

with Scania grants technical approval for the supply

of Glasurit® 68 and 90 Line paints to the Scania

plants in Zwolle (Netherlands), Södertalje (Sweden),

and Angers (France). The corresponding undercoat

materials and high-solids clearcoat were also

approved. The changeover was completed in 2006.

William van Wijk, who is responsible for surface

coating at Scania, praises the cooperation: “We

produce high-quality commercial vehicles for de-

manding people. This calls for top-of-the-line

quality from our employees and also from our

partners. Glasurit has never let us down, and has

always worked efficiently.” In addition, 60 Scania

employees were trained in the use of the new 68

Line. The Scania paint technicians are living proof

of the cooperation, since they all wear white jump-

suits with the Glasurit logo.

SEMIS MAKE A SPLASHON THE ROADS.

WITH OVER 60,000 COLOR VARIATIONS, BASF COATINGS PROVIDES POWERFUL COATINGS SOLUTIONS FOR TRUCKS,

BUSES, AND AGRICULTURAL AND CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES.

OR KÄSSBOHRER . . .

In spring of 2004 BASF Coatings presented the

advantages of its 68 Line in Eugendorf, Austria at

the well-known commercial vehicle manufacturer

Kässbohrer Transport Technology. Soon afterward

the first prototypes were already being refinished

with 68 Line products. The results, which included

rapid process times, huge savings in materials,

excellent appearance, excellent surface hardness,

and brilliant gloss, were convincing. A year later,

90 Line for commercial vehicles as well as the

Glasurit 924-68 clear passed Kässbohrer’s critical

tests with flying colors. In summer of 2005,

Kässbohrer changed the entire painting process

throughout special vehicle construction and

refinishing over to Glasurit 68 Line technology.

THE PIÈCE DE RÉSISTANCE: DESIGNER

TRUCKS.

If you want a truck of the future, Friedrich

Schramm, owner of the Schramm vehicle produc-

tion company in Cologne, Germany, is the man to

see. He refinishes truck models designed by icon

Professor Luigi Colani. With their aeronautical cur-

ves, these trucks conjure up images of a spaceship.

Colani’s goal is to develop truck bodies in stream-

line form in order to achieve especially low air

resistance values and in turn greatly lower fuel

consumption. For his current model, Glasurit®’s

VOC-compliant 68 Line HS 2K CV Topcoat is

making a first-class contribution to this efficiency.

The demand and the business potential for design

in the commercial vehicle sector are huge. In

response, Glasurit is offering a unit on “application

design” at some of its training seminars on using

68 Line. This will help bodyshops meet their

customers’ individual needs, enabling them to do

sophisticated paint jobs, like color graduation on

buses.

Colani truck, Kässbohrer, Scania trucks.

BETTER THAN EVER: 68 AND 90 LINE

FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES.

Both 68 Line and the 90 Line waterborne

basecoats emit significantly fewer volatile

organic compounds (VOCs) than solvent-

borne paints, meaning that they are in

complete compliance with the stringent

new VOC directives. The products have

excellent technical qualities, dry quickly,

are flexible, and yield excellent gloss.

PARTNERSHIP IN SOUTH AFRICA

20 COATINGSPARTNER

Arcelor Mittal, the world’s largest steel company.

2006 was a significant year, and an especially good

one. The Coil Coatings unit achieved a significant

increase in sales, and the contract with Mittal Steel

in South Africa confirming BASF as the exclusive

supplier of coil coatings was renewed for the next

years. There’s a good reason for this: teamwork

with the customer at all levels. Driaan de la Guerre,

responsible for the Coil Coatings unit in South

Africa, says, “Our partnership does not stop at sup-

plying coatings but includes services such as joint

developments and marketing activities as well as

technical service.” He adds, “The better we know

the needs of our customers – and the needs of their

In 1999, BASF Coatings took over the industrial

coatings production of Hydro Coatings in South

Africa and established two modern production

sites for industrial coatings in Vanderbijlpark

and Pietermaritzburg – chiefly for coil coating

paints. The objective was to be able to serve

the market more efficiently from local sites and

successfully provide support for each and every

customer.

In the last five years, a successful partnership has

developed between BASF Coatings and steel pro-

ducer Mittal Steel South Africa, one of BASF

Coatings’ top ten customers worldwide and part of

TOP SERVICESWIN TOPCUSTOMERS.TAKE SOUTH AFRICA, FOR EXAMPLE. WE PRODUCE LOCALLY, GIVE ADVICE LOCALLY, AND IN SO DOING, HAVE THE BEST SOLUTION FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AT ALL TIMES – LOCALLY.

The Coil Coatings unit achieved a significant increase in sales.

21 COATINGSPARTNER

customers – the better the solutions we can

develop for them. We offer the right solutions for

successful cooperation right here on site.”

THE RIGHT SOLUTION AT THE RIGHT TIME.

Take water-based primer, for instance. BASF’s Coil

Coatings team developed it locally, specifically for

Mittal Steel in South Africa. It has the same proper-

ties as a solventborne primer, providing optimal

corrosion protection, but since it’s solvent-free, it’s

less damaging to the environment.

In addition to the primer, there is a two-layer poly-

urethane roof repair system that meets the special

requirements the South African market poses on

the steel producer. It serves to renew coatings that

have been bleached out by the sun and are peeling.

BASF Coatings also provides technical support

and, along with Mittal Steel, takes a close look at

the appearance of the roofs.

HIGH STANDARDS FOR SAFETY AND

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

BASF Coatings’ other services make it a highly

desirable partner as well. For instance, the Paint

Management concept allows the customer to con-

centrate 100% on its core business – the coating

process. BASF is responsible for the coating materials

and optimizes the supply and logistical processes.

This is exactly the case with Mittal Steel. In the area

of quality assurance, BASF Coatings introduced a

quality management system that was certified by

the South African Bureau of Standards. In addition,

high standards for safety and environmental pro-

tection also guarantee that BASF employees have

a safe and healthy workplace.

Team spirit is what gives the real edge.

22 COATINGSPARTNER

The Eastern Europeans are pulling out all the

stops. When it comes to car ownership, they are

now in fourth place after Western Europe, Japan,

and North America. And they rank fifth in car

production, following Western Europe, Asia

(excluding Japan), North America, and Japan.

With a predicted annual increase of 2.1 percent

until 2010, the growth rate in this segment sur-

passes that of Western Europe, North America,

and Japan. The Russian ruble crisis of 1998 has

been long forgotten. Quite the contrary, in fact: In

July 2003, mandatory liability insurance was in-

troduced for all vehicles in Russia, kicking off a

regular bodyshop boom.

Products by R-M, one of BASF Coatings' automotive

refinish brands, are currently being marketed in

THE MOVERS AND SHAKERS AT R-M® USE CLEAR MARKETING STRUCTURES, FIRST-CLASS PRODUCTS, AND PERFECT SERVICE TO ENTER MORE AND MOREEASTERN EUROPEAN MARKETS.

15 Eastern European countries: Armenia, Belarus,

Bosnia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan,

Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia,

Slovakia, and Ukraine. The R-M website (www.

rmpaint.com) now appears in eight languages, in-

cluding Russian and Polish. Len Holtkamp, head of

the Key Account Management unit, has committed

his team to the recipe for success. “We offer sustain-

able, practice-oriented products, training, and color-

matching systems, and, through our ‘Programmes for

Success’ consultancy and support. For our custom-

ers, this boosts sales and optimizes workflows.

A positive example is Peter Bojor, CEO of

Romservice, a dealership in Romania. Bojor launched

the ONYX HD waterborne basecoat system (80 per-

cent fewer solvents and 90 percent less waste than

R-M IN EASTERN EUROPE

EASTWARD HO! R-M ON THE MOVE.

R-M importer Carsystem-Voss from Szczecin has a state-of-the-art bodyshop with an affiliated training center.

23 COATINGSPARTNER

Impressions of “Concours Carosserie-Peinture”.

solventborne systems!) in 2002, and today is one

of Romania’s leading suppliers of waterborne

basecoats.

Russia is the venue of another success story: The

ONYX HD waterborne basecoat system celebrated

its premiere in Russia with a training seminar in

Moscow. This was the first opportunity for Russian

painters to become acquainted with R-M brand

waterborne automotive refinish products. Change-

overs to ONYX HD are also planned for Belarus and

Ukraine.

FROM RAGS TO RICHES: WITH R-M, FAIRY

TALES COME TRUE.

Take the success story of Polish R-M importer

Carsystem-Voss (CSV) from Szczecin, for example.

The partnership with R-M started in the early 1990s.

When CEO Rafal Zmyslowski traveled to the BASF

Coatings sites in Clermont, France, and Münster,

Germany, to learn about R-M products and services,

he would sleep in his car. These days, he has more

than 300 employees and a bodyshop of truly model

character with a training center covering more than

1,000 square meters.

It recently hosted Peugeot’s “Concours Carosserie-

Peinture”, a one-of-a-kind bodywork-paintwork

competition. Tadeusz Maczynski, Director of Peugeot

Poland’s Parts and Services Department, viewed the

event as a real feat: “In our bodyshops, we want to

deliver top performance to our customers. That’s why

continuous training is required for our employees,

plus top-rate products and efficient processes.

Jean-Pierre Pattou, head of Business Development Export for BASF Coatings, Artur Roman, Vice President of Peugeot Poland, and Rafal Zmyslowski, CEO of Carsystem-Voss (from left to right) are pleased about their successful partnership.

THE RUSSIAN COATINGS MARKET.

The Russian coatings market has re-

corded growth across the board. In 2006,

the consumption of coatings and paints

in Russia increased by 11 percent to 1.172

million tonnes. Some 860,000 tonnes of

coatings and paints are produced in

Russia, and 395,000 tonnes are imported

from other countries.

And this is where we can rely on R-M and BASF

100 percent.”

WHAT’S AN AUSTRALIAN PAINTER DOING IN A

POLISH CLASSROOM? HONING HIS SKILLS –

WHAT ELSE?

R-M is currently the top paint brand used by

Peugeot’s Polish network of authorized bodyshops.

Sixty-four percent of the bodyshops use R-M paints.

The cooperation with the affiliated International

College of Refinish Competence, whose president is

Sylwester Tutko, is also very positive. At the college,

Peugeot and other carmakers provide their spray

painters with training and qualifications. Participants

come from all over the world, even from places as far

away as Australia.

These are just a few examples that stand for a

number of other good partnerships, not just in

Eastern Europe, but all over the world. One thing

is for certain: There are definitely more R-M team

success stories to come.

COATINGSPARTNER24

COATINGS FLY HIGH

READY FOR TAKE-OFF!BASF COATINGS’ PAINTS MAKE JET INTERIORS SHINE.

COATINGSPARTNER25 COATINGSPARTNER

Before the “Lufthansa Dream Technicians” send

up VIPs in their exclusive private jets, they ensure

that their clients’ wishes are their command, both

inside and outside the aircraft. When it comes to

the interior décor, the designers rely on BASF

Coatings’ Glasurit brand paints.

The buildings and workshops of the Lufthansa

Technik aircraft tuning company at Hamburg

Fuhlsbüttel Airport go by the name of “Completion

Center”. Engineer Jochen Bauch is the manager of

the Interior Workshop. Referring to what he and his

colleagues create as a “dream world” is practically

an understatement. The best example is a super

private jet that proudly left the ground after two

years (!) of work, some of which was carried out in

three shifts-per-day operations. All of the paints were

precisely coordinated with the rest of the interior

such as floor coverings, window trim (some with

mother-of-pearl effect), and shelves and storage

space on the side walls. Other features include

different temperature zones in the bedrooms, dining

rooms, living rooms, and conference rooms, 50-inch

plasma screens, a complete entertainment package

with perfect acoustics, room dividers made of

polished glass, heated towel racks, showers and

bidets, a one-of-a kind bar, artistic lighting, and so

much more.

IF YOU WANT TO FLY IN THE LUXURY CLASS,

ONLY A 5 STAR PAINT WILL DO.

“We work with only high-quality materials that meet

the strictest air safety regulations,” says Interior

manager Bauch. Right at the outset various tests

were carried out that required fires to be extinguish-

ed within a few seconds. The paint application itself

posed a new challenge. The furniture consists pri-

marily of sturdy paper honeycombs that have been

impregnated. Their properties are completely dif-

ferent from those of the automotive products BASF

Coatings usually deals with, like car bodies. “But in

this case as well, we guarantee good hiding power

and durability,” says BASF employee Theo Kötter,

who is in charge of color formulation. The veritable

cornucopia of colors he has on offer is a standard

part of the Glasurit design package: “During the

completion of the recently delivered jumbo jet

alone, 44 colors were used for the interior of the

plane.”

ISN’T IT GREAT THAT SOME PAINTS STAND UP

TO EVERYTHING?

Once the surfaces have been sanded, and the

filler surfacer and Glasurit® 22 and 55 Line paints

have been applied, six to eight layers of clearcoat

are required – not to mention the final polishing.

“In order to bring about effects like the appear-

ance of a windless sea, as opposed to a sea with

waves, we need good painters and polishers, and

of course, the best paint,” says Bauch. No wonder

that the design plan for the new Airbus A380, with

a cabin area of 602 square meters on two decks,

is referred to as “VVIP”: for very, very important

persons.

Glasurit® paints turn luxury aircraft into veritable dream worlds.

INDUSTRIAL COATINGS

The “wrinkle effect” is a sophisticated coating inspired by the appearance of ancient Korean porcelain.

27 COATINGSPARTNER

IT’S ALWAYS BETTER TO BEA LAYER AHEAD.

FRANÇOIS DESNÉ, REGIONAL BUSINESS MANAGER INDUSTRIAL COATINGSSOLUTIONS ASIA PACIFIC, SPEAKS ABOUT INNOVATIVE COATINGS USED FORCELL PHONES AND LAPTOPS.

The Asian market for coating cell phones, digi-

tal devices, and laptops is growing by leaps and

bounds. The world’s hub for the manufacturing

of cell phones and laptop computers is the

Asia-Pacific region. Of the one billion cell

phones shipped around the world in 2006, the

vast majority was manufactured in China.

The same applies to laptop computers, digital

cameras, and MP3 players, which are extremely

popular today. This has generated a large

demand for coatings in this region.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE CELL PHONE AND

LAPTOP COATING MARKET IN ASIA?

Sales of cell phones are surging in emerging

markets like India and China. In more mature

economies, like Japan and South Korea, devices

are becoming smaller, with functionalities and

retail prices increasingly appealing to the mass

market. Moreover, OEMs are designing their

electronic equipment for specific demographic

groups. In China, for instance, there are pink

digital cameras for women, and in Japan colorful

cell phones customized for children are marketed.

WHAT IS THE BASF COATINGS’ PARTICULAR

EXPERTISE IN COATINGS FOR CELL PHONES

AND LAPTOP COMPUTERS?

As a coatings company benefiting from over

100 years of experience in Asia-Pacific, we have

excellent technical expertise in various key areas

of coating technologies and coating applications

specific to this region. In cell phone and laptop

computer coatings, we have in-depth expertise

in color design, coating chemistry, and coating

processes for the various substrates and end-use

performance required by our customers.

28 COATINGSPARTNER

WHAT KIND OF “INNOVATION” DO YOU OFFER

YOUR CUSTOMERS?

Our customers require continuous innovation in

color, appearance, quality, and process efficiency.

As an example, color coatings for cell phones can

have a life cycle as short as six months. This im-

plies that our color design experts are constantly

innovating to develop new color ranges, special

colors, or surface effects, with different gloss

levels in order to constantly keep up with market

trends and ensure we meet the needs of our

customers. At the same time, consumers are

looking for improved resistance to scratches and

fingerprints, which entails developing coatings

with higher hardness or improved resistance to

marking.

HOW DOES BASF COATINGS DISTINGUISH

ITSELF FROM COMPETITORS?

For BASF, the customers’ needs come first. The

BASF Coatings team constantly listens to its

clients and strives to meet their requirements with

innovative, tailor-made, and value-added solu-

tions. To do so, BASF focuses on improving the

customers’ entire value chain. For instance, in

addition to the coating product for cell phones and

laptop computers, BASF also puts forward inno-

vations in color design and provides expertise with

concrete solutions to improve the efficiency of the

coating process. This helps our customers better

respond to the market need for new colors or to

improve their overall efficiency, ensuring their suc-

cess in their markets.

WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?

Our team has recognized expertise in the develop-

ment of high-performance coatings, environ-

mentally friendly systems, and color design, of

course. At the same time, our experts provide

dedicated support in the coating process and

coating technology, looking for improvement

in efficiency and yield. As part of the BASF

Group, we also benefit from world-class chemical

expertise in fields such as plastics, performance

polymers, injection molding, and key raw materials

and processes for coatings.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PARTICULARLY GOOD

EXAMPLES OF YOUR EXPERIENCE?

Recently, we have been able to help our cus-

tomers with innovative designs and even more

cost-effective technologies. First, we were able to

be innovative in the area of color design by devel-

oping the “wrinkle effect”, a sophisticated coating

inspired by the appearance of an ancient Korean

ceramic vase. Secondly, with the new generation

of our Belfine® coating system, a combination of

an epoxy primer and an acrylic-melamine topcoat

system, we have met the most demanding cus-

tomer needs in terms of appearance, performance,

and process yield for laptop computers. This

means improved gloss level of the coated film

with a lower application cost, as our technology

significantly improves the yield of the coating

process.

WHAT IS YOUR TARGET FOR THE FUTURE?

Our target is to follow leading customers, and to

help them grow wherever they decide to go. To do

so, we will further rely on our three pillars: close

partnership, innovation in system solutions, and

global support. Our customers are now expanding

to India. Vietnam, which joined the WTO in Janu-

ary 2007, will also be an interesting market in

the future. As a reliable partner, BASF will make

sure that it provides customers with tailor-made

solutions that they can use to successfully

maintain their market positions in the future as

well. So they’re always a layer ahead.

INDUSTRIAL COATINGS

30 COATINGSPARTNER

“You never get a second chance to make a first

impression”. With buildings, the first thing to

meet the eye is the facade. To ensure that this

first impression is a good one, RELIUS offers a

colorful full-service package for protecting and

painting all types of facades.

“There is no standard solution for protecting and

designing facades,” says Klaus Börjes, sales mana-

ger for RELIUS construction paints, describing the

challenge posed to the product developers. He

adds, “To get outstanding results, planning, pro-

ducts, and implementation have to be coordinated

to a T.” Historic buildings have completely different

requirements from those that have been constructed

with modern materials. Different locations and spe-

cial architectural styles set the bar for protecting

facades and the type of design extremely high.

With its product portfolio, RELIUS offers solutions

to meet nearly every requirement. For instance,

exterior acrylic paints are real all-around talents.

They’re water repellent, weather resistant, and

environmentally friendly to boot. For historic build-

ings, silicate paints and renders are the products

of choice, since they adhere particularly well to

mineral substrates but are also CO2 and water-

vapor permeable. Silicone resin paints are suitable

for nearly every substrate, and are highly water

repellent as well as resistant to dirt pick-up.

RELIUS CRACKS THE HARD NUTS.

But here’s what makes RELIUS paints a cut above:

Builders, facade specialists, and planners used to

WHEN IT COMES TO FACADE SYSTEMS, THE EXPERTS AT THE RELIUSGROUP, WHICH NOW BELONGS TO BASF’S COATINGS DIVISION, AREJACKS OF ALL TRADES.

20,000 FABULOUSCOLORS MAKE BEIGEMONOLITHS A THING OF THE PAST.

RELIUS FACADE SYSTEMS

31 COATINGSPARTNER

have just three colors to choose from: beige, beige,

or beige. Thanks to the innovative RELIUS Living

Colours Tinting System, which offers over 20,000

harmonious shades, now the sky’s the limit when it

comes to color design. The RELIUS experts also

have a means for countering fungal attack and algal

fouling in their arsenal: ALGOSILAN®, an environ-

mentally friendly broad-spectrum anti-microbial

agent, keeps unwanted microbiological trespassers

at bay.

Yet RELIUS’ expertise kicks in even before painting

begins. When it comes to External Wall Insulation

Systems (EWIS), RELIUS products have the Midas

touch. They are suitable for nearly all types of faca-

des, are easy to apply, and prevent the cold from

penetrating masonry. In addition, they are kind to

the environment, since modern facade insulation

systems substantially reduce energy consumption.

AS SERVICE LEADERS, RELIUS EXPERTS PLAY

IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.

“The way we see it, services that have been work-

ed out down to the last detail are simply part of

our product line at RELIUS,” Börjes explains. For

instance, with RELIUS’ virtual facade color design

software, concepts for the appearance of a facade

can be developed and experimented with right on

the computer screen. Producing colors that are off

the beaten track is no problem either, thanks to

the intelligently designed RELIUS Living Colours

fan deck.

In addition, the facade experts at RELIUS have a

highly specialized team of field representatives who

provide comprehensive advice on initial painting,

renovation, and restoration of facades and also

work directly on site. “This is how we provide our

customers with competent, one-stop advice and

give them tailor-made products and services,” says

Börjes. To put it in a nutshell: If you still have a

boring facade, you’d better have a good excuse!

THE NEW STAR IN THE RELIUS TEAM.

Silcosan F1 silicone resin paint. Thanks to

innovative pigment technology, vibrant

colors like turquoise, yellow, or orange

can be tinted. The advantages of Silcosan

F1 at a glance:

No limits to design – more than 8,000

colors, with great hiding power and

color stability

High early water resistance

Highly water repellent and resistant

to dirt pick-up due to beading effect

Reliable protection of the paintwork

from fungal attack and algal fouling

thanks to ALGOSILAN

32 COATINGSPARTNER

coating in India’s booming automotive industry. BASF

Coatings, with its experience and international opera-

tions, is exactly the right partner. It not only offers

important expertise on integrated coating processes,

but also provides the new generation of water-based

paints that are the key to successful cost-efficient

and environmentally safe working. And now for an

absolute highlight: Mangalore’s new application cen-

ter demonstrates these technologies to its customers

on a laboratory scale. These customers include lead-

ing international carmakers including Ford, Daimler

Chrysler, Renault, Japanese car manufacturers

Maruti Suzuki and Honda Siel, as well as Indian

producers Tata Motors and Mahindra.

The automotive market in India is getting ready

for the future. 2006 was a record-breaking year.

For the first time, more than two million vehicles

were produced, and experts predict a growth of

nine percent for the next decade. This is a good

reason for BASF Coatings, with its years of

experience and modern technology, to position

itself on this market. To do this, a coatings appli-

cation that is economical and environmentally

high performance will be adding pizzazz to the

Indian automotive market.

State-of-the-art application and trouble-free imple-

mentation in daily production are essential for OEM

STOP BY, ASK QUESTIONS, SEEFOR YOURSELF.MANGALORE, INDIA. BASF COATINGS’ NEW APPLICATION CENTER

FOR DEVELOPING AUTOMOTIVE COATINGS MAKES RESPONDING TO CUSTOMER REQUESTS EVEN QUICKER.

The inauguration of the new research center by Prasad Chandran, Chairman of BASF Group in India and Head South Asia, Mutsuo Aoki, President of BASF Coatings Japan and head of BASF Coatings in Asia Pacific,and Dr. Andreas Kreimeyer, Member of the Board of BASF Aktiengesellschaft (from left to right).

BASF COATINGS WELTWEIT

The BASF Coatings team at the application center.

APPLICATION CENTER INDIA

33 COATINGSPARTNER

TELL ME WHAT YOU NEED, AND I’LL SHOW

YOU HOW BASF COATINGS WILL MAKE IT

WORK.

The new application center for developing auto-

motive OEM coatings is one of the gems of the

BASF Coatings subsidiary in Mangalore, India. “It

allows us to work very closely with our customers

and provide them with tailor-made solutions,”

explains Dr. Dhruva Ramkumar, head of BASF

Coatings in India. At the application center, the

conditions at the customer’s paintline can be per-

fectly simulated, so that the BASF Coatings team

in India can respond to special requirements more

quickly. For instance, it’s easier to vary the level

of atomization or the climate, as well as to

develop new shades.

TO GET THE MOST ACCURATE IMPRESSION,

YOU NEED TO SEE FOR YOURSELF.

And that’s especially true for BASF Coatings custo-

mers. At the new application center, they can get

detailed information about all coating processes.

The center is equipped with state-of-the-art testing

facilities, conveyorized, advanced electrostatic bell

applicators and two electrostatic sprayguns for ESTA

application. In this process, which is frequently used

in automotive coating, the coating is electrostatically

charged and can be applied with particularly low

loss. BASF Coatings employees learn how to oper-

ate the complex machines at special training

seminars. This world-class equipment puts BASF

Coatings in an excellent position to expand its range

of products and services for its customers and

increase its share of the Indian growth market.

WATERBORNE BASECOATS

OUT WITH THE SOLVENTS, IN WITH THE WATER.

OUT WITH THE SOLVENTS, IN WITH THE WATER.

waterbased primers for the Japanese automotive

OEM coatings market. In China, waterbased paint

systems are also becoming increasingly significant.

And BASF Coatings has taken on a major role in

this country as well. As the result of a cooperation

with General Motors Shanghai, vehicles coated

with waterborne basecoats began to roll off the

assembly lines in China in 2005. It is expected that

the global market share of waterborne basecoat

technology will continue to grow significantly.

Global use of solventborne paints is expected to

drop to approximately 40 percent by 2015. BASF

Coatings’ waterborne basecoats have not just

kicked off a trend. In coatings technology, today’s

innovative formula has already become tomorrow’s

classic recipe, and one that is indispensable for

automotive production.

THE HISTORY OF WATERBORNE BASECOATS IS A CLEAR TESTIMONY OF BASF COATINGS’ COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT,

SUSTAINABILITY, AND STATE-OF-THE-ART COATING SOLUTIONS.

35 COATINGSPARTNER

THE SUCCESS STORY OF

BASF COATINGS’ WATERBORNE

BASECOATS.

Start of waterborne basecoat production

at the BASF Coatings Würzburg site

Introduction of BASF waterborne base-

coats at Opel in Bochum, Germany, and

Volvo in Gothenburg, Sweden

General Motors uses waterborne base-

coats in production in North America for

the first time.

“Integrated Process” introduced at

DaimlerChrysler in Rastatt

Changeover to waterborne basecoats in

Japan at Honda and Nissan

Changeover to waterborne basecoats in

China in cooperation with General Motors

Shanghai

BASF Coatings Schwarzheide site

supplies 100,000th tonne of waterborne

basecoat

20th anniversary of waterborne basecoat

production in Würzburg

1986

1987

1989

1997

2000

2005

2006

2006

For over 20 years, the production of waterbased

automotive OEM paints has been a key area of

expertise for BASF Coatings. For many leading

carmakers, waterborne basecoats, which are

produced and supplied throughout the world,

have long been essential product components.

A significant milestone was reached with the

introduction of the “Integrated Process”, with

which a new waterborne basecoat system takes

on the functions of the primer, ensuring a more

efficient application process.

Waterborne basecoats owe their success to water

as a basic component. In contrast to solventborne

basecoats, water replaces most of the organic

solvents. This way, the majority of the volatile

organic compounds (VOCs), which are harmful to

the environment, can be eliminated. The use

of BASF Coatings’ waterborne basecoats in the

20 years of their production history has meant

savings of approximately 100,000 tonnes of sol-

vents in Germany alone. With the development of

environmentally friendly waterborne basecoats, the

research experts at BASF Coatings have reached

three important objectives: The new coatings

formula is ecologically sustainable, meets environ-

mental legislation requirements, and offers custom-

ers a novel, eco-efficient coating solution.

QUALITY AND ECO-EFFICIENCY ARE THE

STRONGEST ARGUMENTS FOR WATERBORNE

BASECOATS.

Their environmentally friendly composition does not

negatively impact the quality at all. And there is no

limit to their range of use. In addition, the coatings

offer protection from stone-chipping and UV radia-

tion. In the past 10 years alone the global share of

waterborne basecoats has risen from 20 to some

35 percent. By the late 1980s, carmakers in Europe

and North America had already discovered BASF

Coatings’ waterborne basecoats for their vehicle

bodies. In 2000, the waterbased paint wave reached

Japan. Ever since, the BASF Coatings plant in

Totsuka has produced waterborne basecoats and

Classic car aficionados

invest a great deal of

time in their hobby. How-

ever, rust and scratches

on the finish are often

a thorn in the side of

vintage car owners.

Here is the solution:

“Glasurit Classic Car

Colors”. At the end of

March, Glasurit®’s new

service was unveiled in

Essen, Germany, at the

“Techno Classica”, the world’s largest classic

car show. It is now available to the public, pro-

viding perfectly matched automotive refinish-

ing to restore beloved classic cars. Jürgen

Book is head of BASF Coatings’ Automotive

Refinish Customer Service and is a classic car

enthusiast himself. He explains the new service:

36 COATINGSPARTNER

MR. BOOK, HOW HAS THE RESPONSE BEEN TO

CLASSIC CAR COLORS?

It’s been fantastic. For the first time there is now a

color matching service on the market that can be

used to find the matching color for refinishing clas-

sic cars. Our automotive refinish brand Glasurit has

over 100 years of experience in refinishing cars and

owns the world’s largest color archive with over

200,000 mixing formulas. So far this has been an

insider tip among classic car owners. Due to the

large number of requests from classic car fans, we

decided to make the information in our archive

accessible to car owners. The new service ensures

that classic cars can be restored to their original

pristine state, whether or not the owners want to

completely respray a vehicle in the original color,

match the original paintwork during a panel repair,

or just repair cosmetic damage.

FINE COLORS MAKE FINE CARS.GLASURIT CLASSIC CAR COLORS OFFERS CLASSIC CAR FANS A BRAND NEW COLOR MATCHING SERVICE WITH OVER 200,000 MIXING FORMULAS.

COLOR MATCHING

37

HOW DOES THE NEW SERVICE WORK?

Classic car owners will find a link to “Classic Car

Colors” at www.glasurit.com, where they will be

guided to an online database for searching color-

matching solutions for various makes of cars, as

well as all kinds of information related to automo-

tive refinishing and restoration. A practical template

with room to enter the year, model, manufacturer,

and color group takes the user to the desired color,

step-by-step. The database with original colors and

their assignment in the COLOR-PROFI System, a

collection of thousands of color chips with original

paintwork, provides insight into the history of colors

used for cars in the past. Previously existing color

information and original color samples serve as

the basis for the collection and offer some orien-

tation as to how vehicle colors may have looked

in vintage years. The database is constantly

expanded and updated.

DOESN’T THE COLOR CHANGE OVER TIME?

Yes, that’s true, for instance yellowing, weathering,

poor care, and touch-ups all impact the paintwork,

to name just a few examples. Just as every vehicle

has its own history, so does its paintwork. That’s

why when classic cars need to be refinished, it’s

essential to compare the actual vehicle’s finish with

the matching color chip from Glasurit’s COLOR-

PROFI System. This can be done either at the

dealer or at a Glasurit bodyshop. You can find

dealers’ addresses at www.glasurit.com.

SO WHAT ARE THE MOST FREQUENT PAINT-

WORK DEFECTS?

Since classic cars are treated with kid gloves, most

of the damage tends to be cosmetic, such as key

scratches or minor dents. Many drivers don’t even

know that a professional and inexpensive repair

process for cosmetic damage is available. In these

cases, however, Glasurit’s RATIO-Spot-Repair Sys-

tem can be used to repair paintwork defects on just

a small area – up to 3 centimeters in diameter. Most

of the original paintwork of the car is preserved,

which maintains its value at the same time.

There’s a matching color for every classic car.

38 COATINGSPARTNER

The Eco Jet at the SEMA Expo in Las Vegas.

Mitsuoka Motor's new “Orochi” captivates its

beholders with a fantastic design and R-M® brand

waterborne basecoats.

BASF Coatings Japan's R-M ONYX HD waterborne

basecoat system has been adopted in the concept

color purple pearl (color code name: Fuyaou) for

Mitsuoka Motor Co., Ltd.’s super car “Orochi”.

A paint system that’s suitable for small volume

production was sought because only 400 Orochi

vehicles will be produced over a four-year period by

skilled craftsmen. To express the “Fuyaou” image

based on purple pearl, color matching was carried

out using trial and error based on R-M’s extensive

color information. The color achieved as a result

fits the expectations of Mitsuoka Motor’s designers

exactly.

R-M MAKES A SUPER RACER GLEAM.

The Eco Jet, for instance, with its mega motor, hot

sound, and a glossy appearance provided by

Glasurit® 90 Line.

The Eco Jet is eco-friendly, yet delivers 650 horse-

power. It’s a futuristic power pack that was custom-

made for car enthusiast Jay Leno, America’s

“Tonight Show” host. General Motors used

Corvette inspiration to create the design, and the

helicopter-strength engine is powered by bio-

diesel. BASF Coatings’ paints were used to put the

shine on the Eco Jet. The eco-friendly Glasurit 90

Line waterborne basecoat system provided a

silvery shimmering finish.

The Eco Jet, designed as a show car, will be rarely

seen on the roads, but will be gracing the stages of

shows such as the SEMA (Specialty Equipment

Market Association) Expo in Las Vega, the Detroit

Auto Show, or the Mondial de l’Automobile in

Paris.

WHAT DRIVES GUYS WILD.

SHORT CUTS

R-M® paints give the new Orochi its amazing sheen.

39

At the Geneva International Motor Show, the

German car-tuning company Mansory presented a

Rolls Royce Phantom finished with Glasurit® black

mat-effect paints.

Mat-effect paints are causing sensations at car

shows all over the world. The silky soft appearance

of surfaces coated with mat-effect paints attracts

drivers as if by magic. Mat-effect paints are two-

component clearcoats. The key difference between

mat-effect paints and high-gloss lacquers is the

addition of a matting effect that gives the clearcoat –

the fourth layer of paint – a mat appearance that

contrasts with the “standard” glossy finish. Currently

the application of mat-effect paints is a special pro-

cedure that requires painstaking handling, since the

paint cannot be finish-sanded or polished. In response,

BASF Coatings is carrying out projects to refine the

clearcoat for use in the standard OEM application

process. By the way, BASF Coatings has also

developed paints for refinishing mat paintwork.

A new and promising partnership is now underway

in Italy.

BASF Coatings Spa and Honda Italia Industriale

Spa have just signed a supply contract for electro-

coating products and products for coating plastic

add-on parts. This means that Honda motorcycles

and scooters produced at the Italian Atessa site for

distribution in Europe, North America and Asia are

now coated with BASF Coatings’ paints. Honda

Italia Industriale is the Italian subsidiary of Honda

Motor Co., the world’s largest motorcycle producer.

Honda selected BASF Coatings as a partner due to

the outstanding quality and, in particular, the high

level of corrosion protection of BASF’s innovative

e-coating system, CathoGuard® 580 Black.

The leadfree product stands out due to its high

efficiency and contains less than one percent sol-

vents. This means that less coating material is

required, which in turn benefits the environment.

This is key for both Honda and BASF Coatings.

BASF COATINGS’ PAINTS MAKE HONDA SHINE.

MAT ATTACK.

Classy design: The Phantom finished with Glasurit®black mat-effect paints.

ENDURANCE TEST FORPAINTS.

The notorious Dakar

Rally is torture – and

not just for man and

machine.

The finish of the ve-

hicles participating in

the legendary desert

rally also suffers under

the grueling conditions.

Sponsor and paint

manufacturer R-M® is

especially pleased that the Tatra truck team it sup-

ported together with Czech importer Mikos has

made it to the medals podium again. Miloslav

Kostal, Mikos owner, says, “For us, participating in

the Dakar Rally is a valuable opportunity to test the

durability and quality of R-M paints on all material

substrates of the vehicle – including steel panels,

aluminum, and plastic – under extremely grueling

conditions. At the Dakar Rally, high gloss of the

finish and a flawless appearance are just as essen-

tial.”

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same era. The aquatinta illustrations in this oeuvre

served as a model for the artists at the Stobwasser

factory. More information is available at

www.museumfuerlackkunst.de

40 COATINGSPARTNER

SHORT CUTS

Museum für Lackkunst presents two spectacular

new acquisitions.

A previously unknown cabinet from the workshop of

the famous Dresden court lacquerer Martin Schnell

and a cycle of 24 lacquer miniatures depicting the

Simplon Road manufactured by the Stobwasser

factory are the new stars at the Museum für

Lackkunst, a museum for lacquer art owned by

BASF Coatings AG. The Cultural Foundation of the

German Länder (German federal states) made a

major financial contribution toward the purchase of

the cabinet crafted by Schnell, which was most

recently part of the furnishings at a French castle.

The foundation’s commitment recognized both the

unique value of the cabinet from an art history point

of view, as well as its significance as a supplement to

the two small chests from the Schnell workshop

crafted at the same time that were already owned by

the museum. Together with the cabinet, they now

form an ensemble that is one of a kind.

The framed panorama of 24 lacquer miniatures is

just as unique. It contains the famous views of the

road built between 1800 and 1806 at the order of

Napoleon that crosses the Simplon Pass in the

canton of Valais in Switzerland. This cycle, which

was created on commission around 1820 at the

Berlin subsidiary of the famous Stobwasser lacquer

factory, is unparalleled in lacquer art history. At the

same time, the museum acquired the illustrated

travel description of the Simplon Pass done by the

Swiss father-and-son painter team of Gabriel I

Ludwig Lory and Gabriel II Matthias Lory during the

TWO UNIQUE TREASURESFOR MÜNSTER.

A new highlight: the cabinet crafted by Martin Schnell.

The museum’s director, Dr. MonikaKopplin.

BASF Coatings is the proud recipient of General

Motors’ Supplier of the Year Award for 2006.

The Supplier of the Year Award recognizes BASF for

outstanding performance as a global supplier of

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) coatings. It

is the fourth time in five years that BASF has recei-

ved this award. “We are proud to honor BASF as

one of the ‘Best of the Best’ GM suppliers in 2006.

BASF achieved the award based on outstanding

performance in 2006. We appreciate their energy,

hard work and dedication to the success of GM,”

said Bo Andersson, GM group vice president,

Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, at the recog-

nition ceremony in Orlando, Florida. “It is truly an

honor to be recognized as a global supplier exem-

plifying the level of performance that General

Motors expects from the ‘Best of the Best’ in this

very competitive environment,” said Jay Baker,

President of BASF’s Coatings business in North

America. “Winning this award

four times since 2002 is a

tremendous source of pride

for all of our employees as we

work every day to strengthen

our relationship with General

Motors by providing world class

products and services.”

BASF COATINGS HONOREDBY GENERAL MOTORS.

Bo Andersson (left) and Jay Baker.

41

In cooperation with its customers, BASF Coatings

helps identify and harness market potential early on

in the game.

With the support of BASF technical service teams,

three coil coating lines have started up in Russia,

the United Arab Emirates, and Poland in the past

few months. The customers operating the lines use

the well established COILTEC® primer and POLY-

CERAM® topcoats to coat steel and aluminum

bands. The products come from the BASF Coatings

sites in Burago, Italy, and Münster, Germany. This

is one example of how BASF products and a com-

plete service portfolio will be continuing to ensure

quality and requirements of the customers and

provide impulses for new ideas and developments

in the future.

RELIUS presents itself at the leading European

trade fair for color, design, and building protection

in Cologne.

“Innovative, individual, and intelligent”. These are

the three key words which RELIUS used to pre-

sent itself to trade visitors at the “Farbe - Ausbau

& Fassade” (Paint - Construction and Façade) fair,

with a stand area of 240 square meters. The key

word “innovative” stands for the product side,

since as usual, RELIUS presented a number of

innovative products and product improvements at

this leading industrial trade fair. For example, in

the area of wood coating, “Olassy” represents a

brand new assortment on the market.

“Individual” is the key word for RELIUS’ market

support. Both professional painters and RELIUS

THE Is HAVE IT.

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER,BIGGER AND BOLDER.

BASF Coatings Japan was the host at the Tokyo

Color Show 2007 in April. The Tokyo Color Show is

an annual event at which BASF Coatings presents

the latest color trend and new colors to designers in

the automotive industry. The highlights of the event

were the global color trend presentation by Eiji

Fujimori from Japan, Michaela Finkenzeller from

Germany and Paul Czornij from the United States

and the exhibit of more than 100 new automotive

colors. This year BASF Coatings Japan presented

colors for cell phones and laptop computers, and

the presentation was also well received by the

participants.

LATEST TRENDS AT THETOKYO COLOR SHOW.

supply stores can rely on a specialized marketing

and service package.

“Intelligent” is the best way to describe the numer-

ous training courses offered at the RELIUS Master

Academy. The program includes three modules:

Traditional seminars on current market and product

topics, practical and real-life oriented application

seminars at the Point of Colour showrooms, and a

trainee course lasting several months that prepares

participants to climb the career ladder as RELIUS

technical consultants

SH

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42 COATINGSPARTNER

WE BRING

COLORTO LIFE.

BASF COATINGS WORLDWIDE

the products of choice for both manufacturer-

authorized and independent bodyshops. Industrial

applications for commercial vehicles such as

trucks, buses, and agricultural and construction

machines are another major focus.

INDUSTRIAL COATINGS.

In the field of industrial coatings, BASF Coatings

focuses on coil coatings (for application to steel

and aluminum bands), foil coatings (for finish foils),

and liquid and powder coatings. Their applications

are extremely diverse, ranging from use in the

furniture and construction industries, to the coating

of household appliances, pipelines, ships, and wind

turbines.

ARCHITECTURAL COATINGS.

BASF’s architectural coatings activities are based in

Europe and South America. Under the Suvinil brand,

the company has been the market leader in Brazil

for many years. Since the integration of the RELIUS

Group in early 2007, BASF Coatings has offered

construction paints for interior and exterior applica-

tions as well as external wall insulation systems in

Europe, too.

Coatings and paints from BASF Coatings protect

surfaces and give them color and luster. We aim to

meet the toughest technical and quality standards,

providing solutions that are aesthetically appealing

and respect the environment. Two words get right

to the heart of our business competence: Coatings

Solutions. Our ability to develop intelligent solu-

tions gives our customers the cutting edge on the

international playing field.

AUTOMOTIVE OEM COATINGS.

When it comes to automotive OEM coatings, BASF

Coatings is among the top three global leaders. In

partnership with our customers, we develop inno-

vative and eco-efficient technologies. As part of its

system supplier concept, BASF Coatings takes on

additional service tasks and is thus closely inte-

grated in its customers' processes.

AUTOMOTIVE REFINISH COATINGS.

In the automotive refinish sector, BASF Coatings

develops and markets a comprehensive portfolio

of refinishing systems with its Glasurit®, R-M®,

and Salcomix® brands. Their high quality, reliable

application, and high color accuracy make them

43 COATINGSPARTNER

WORLDWIDE.

BASF Coatings is a division of BASF, the world’s

leading chemical company. In 2006 the Coatings

Division achieved global sales of about 2.3 billion

euros. A network of production, technical service,

and research and development in all regions through-

out the globe ensures that we’re close to the custo-

mers no matter where they may be.

MAJOR PRODUCTION SITES IN EUROPE

AND AFRICA.

Germany (Memmingen, Münster, Oldenburg,

Schwarzheide and Würzburg)

France (Clermont de l’Oise and Strasbourg)

United Kingdom (Deeside)

Italy (Burago Molgora and Verbania)

Netherlands (Deurne)

Spain (Guadalajara)

South Africa (Vanderbijlpark)

Turkey (Istanbul)

NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA AND ASIA.

Argentina (Tortuguitas)

Brazil (São Bernardo do Campo)

China (Shanghai)

Japan (Totsuka and Ako)

Mexico (Tultitlán)

Canada (Windsor)

USA (Belvidere, Greenville and Southfield)

COATINGSPARTNER 2/2007

PUBLISHED BYBASF Coatings AG

Postfach 612348136 MünsterGermanyTel.: +49 2501 14-3399Fax: +49 2501 14-3750Internet: www.basf-coatings.com

MANAGING EDITORDr. Martin Rissmann

PROJECT MANAGEMENTSusanne Focken

EDITORIAL STAFFRichard AmbergerRoman BishopLisa FulnerDr. Michael GolekAnne Heimes-SchellerKerstin HoffmannSusan JaszkowskiManuela KönigAlexandra Kruse Serena MarettiNatsuko OsadaPatricia de-Nobrega-Pecego Danielle RobinsonJörg SchneiderKathrin SpichalaJohn TomlinsonStephanie WehrLilian Yoo

CONCEPT, TEXT AND LAYOUTALDER KOENIG, Hamburg

TRANSLATIONDr. Karen Leube, Annette Ulrich

PHOTOSAlder Koenig, BASF Coatings, BMW AG,CAPCO, Carsystem-Voss Polen, Getty Images,Imagesource, Lufthansa, www.pixelio.de, RELIUS,

LITHOGRAPHY AND PRINTINGLV.Druck, Münster

DOWNLOAD: www.coatingspartner.com

How do you like the new COATINGSPARTNER?Please send your feedback and suggestions tosusanne.focken@basf.com

WHEREVER OUR CUSTOMERS NEED US, WE’RE THERE.

A passion for coatingsCoatings by BASF protect surfaces and give

them color and luster. For automotive OEM

coatings, automotive refinish coatings and

industrial coatings our customers rely on our

ability to provide intelligent solutions that will

improve their products. Whether it is research

and development or production and service –

you can depend on BASF Coatings worldwide.

BASF Coatings AG

+49 2501 14-0

www.basf-coatings.com

The Chemical Company

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Gm

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Coatings Solutions

The Chemical Company