Spies Hecker, a brand of DuPont Performance Coatings products used in the automotive collision repair industry, recently opened a new training center in Cologne, Germany.

"We are delighted about this investment and the close connection between Spies Hecker and its Cologne location. Cologne will continue to be an important location to train garage personnel to paint cars and to transfer know-how into the automobile industry," Cologne Mayoress Elfi Scho-Antwerpes said at the inauguration ceremony.

In conjunction with the opening of the center, approximately 500 customers from 34 countries visited the new training facilities and held regional meetings. Spies Hecker is marking 125 years in the automotive coatings industry.