PPG Releases Waterborne Update

According to PPG, more and more collision shops are making the transition to waterborne basecoat from solvent-based systems in anticipation of new air quality regulations in California and Canada.
The move, intended to reduce VOC atmospheric emissions and improve air quality, has so far resulted in more than 700 collision shops making the transition to PPG’s Envirobase High Performance and Aquabase Plus waterborne basecoats.
To help assure shops make the conversion smoothly, PPG initiated a waterborne conversion program more than a year ago in California, known as “Convert with Confidence.”
The program provides shop owners, managers and technicians with training, advice and support before, during and after the conversion.
A similar program is underway in Canada.
“Transitions are going very smooth,” says Jim Downey, PPG senior regional manager.
“We convert an average of fifteen to twenty shops every week.”
In Canada, Debbie Nucciarone, PPG product manager, reports similar success.
“Many shop owners were eager to make the conversion early.
“They knew regulations would make the change inevitable and they wanted to adapt quickly knowing we would provide them with the training and support they needed.”
In Canada, the regulations will take effect nationwide on January 1, 2010.