Auto Refinish Coatings Market

The global automotive refinish coatings market size reached $10 billion in 2022, according to market research firm IMARC Group. Their analysts predict that the market will reach $13.2 billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% during 2023-2028.

Growth can be attributed to a steady increase in global vehicle ownership and usage, the development of eco-friendly and high-performance coatings and the implementation of strict environmental regulations and increasing awareness of sustainability.

This increased demand for auto refinishing services has challenged manufacturers to deliver sustainable, cost-effective and accurate systems. Not only must these products be compliant with environmental regulations, but they must also help increase productivity and deliver top-notch color matching results.

Here is a look at the latest product offerings from the top auto refinish manufacturers:

Axalta:

Axalta Coating Systems announced the launch of Axalta Irus Mix, a fast and efficient fully automated and completely hands-free mixing machine for the automotive
refinish industry.

Axalta Irus Mix delivers highly accurate color and works with Axalta’s innovative packaging, maximizing profitability and providing sustainable benefits to help refinish customers meet or exceed key business and sustainability goals. The company introduced the new technology in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

“At Axalta, innovation is central to our business,” said Troy Weaver, SVP, Global Refinish. “We constantly look for ways to help our customers to do business better, enabling them to work as efficiently as possible and to maximize their profitability. When we launched our digital end-to-end color management process, Axalta Irus, we knew what the future held for the industry. Today, we are delivering technology so customers can automate and mix color like never before.”
Axalta Irus Mix completes the three-step Axalta Irus digital color management process of: Scan – Find – Mix. The new technology enables customers to work more efficiently, profitably, and sustainably. As part of an exclusive partnership with SANTINT, a leading global equipment manufacturer, Axalta drove the concept, development, design and construction of Axalta Irus Mix.

Axalta Irus Mix provides four key benefits:
• Time advantage: It is a fast and efficient fully automated mixing machine. Based on Axalta’s trials, refinish customers can eliminate mixing time labor with Axalta Irus Mix.
• Labor optimization: It is very simple to use and does not have to be operated by a technician. The process allows refinishers to do other key tasks while the paint is being mixed.
• Waste reduction benefits: Designed to work with Axalta’s bottle system, there is no need to refill or decant product into special bottles. Additionally, bottles are fitted with precise dosing lids, delivering accurate color without waste.
• Sustainability : Axalta’s bottle system is made from 50% recycled plastic, underscoring the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. Axalta’s premium basecoat qualities – Spies Hecker Permahyd Hi-TEC, Cromax Pro, and Standox Standoblue – are available in these bottles exclusively with Axalta Irus Mix.

Axalta Irus Mix was rolled out across Europe beginning in June 2023 and globally thereafter.

BASF:

Glasurit, the premium refinish paint brand of BASF, recently introduced its most advanced waterborne basecoat system – 100 Line. Focusing on a new standard of sustainability, process efficiency and highest product quality, the new line meets the highest requirements of modern body shops, the company reported.

According to BASF, the 100 Line helps customers become more competitive and increase net profits, improve their environmental footprint and drive overall performance. Glasurit 100 Line is the first basecoat line on the market with a VOC value of 250 g/l, a 40% reduction from traditional waterborne basecoats, and far lower than any global VOC requirements. The new line will fit and expand Glasurit’s existing product portfolio, consisting of 90 Line, 55 Line and 22 Line.

“Glasurit 100 Line is a game-changer for our customers. Not only does it offer them unprecedented quality and efficiency, but it has set a new sustainability standard with the lowest VOC values on the market. When you add this to its excellent color stability, robustness in application and its environmental attributes, 100 Line is the most innovative and sustainable paint system in the industry for getting more car jobs done,” said Fabien Boschetti, director, global marketing, BASF Automotive Refinish Coatings Solutions.

“When comparing with existing basecoat lines in the market, customers can expect savings of up to 35% in overall process times through faster application and shorter flash-off cycles. Another 20% savings can be made as material consumption is reduced,” added Boschetti.

Glasurit 100 Line consists of innovative pigment technology which ensures body shops are prepared for the current and future spectrum of brilliant colors in the automotive industry. 100 Line’s color stability is very robust and highly resistant to external influences. In addition, Glasurit leads with its digital color management solutions and takes the search for the right color to a new level with Glasurit’s spectrophotometer SmartSCAN. Customers can easily and quickly identify the precise colors and gain access to thousands of color formulas.

In addition to the innovative new waterborne basecoat line, Glasurit 100 Line customers also benefit from a total solution with the promise to deliver quality repairs profitably. This includes a web-based KPI reporting tool named Perform100 providing all key figures at a glance, helping body shop managers to always have a clear overview of how their business is operating. Solve100 rounds out the total solution, with a premium concierge color matching support program.

PPG:

PPG announced the introduction of PPG LINQ Color software and the PPG MAGICBOX body shop assistant for smarter wireless mixing in automotive repair shops. The advanced tools are the latest components of the PPG LINQ end-to-end digital solution for the global refinish industry that provide productivity and sustainability improvement for body shops.

With PPG LINQ, refinish customers can streamline their repair process by using PPG’s cloud-based platform and its interconnected digital hardware, software and related services. The PPG MagicBox body shop assistant is a small but powerful device that communicates environmental conditions in mixing rooms and receives formulas direct from the PPG LINQ Color software. These new tools also extend the digital ecosystem to smaller body shops not previously served by the PPG LINQ solution.

The PPG LINQ system delivers benefits including faster color-matching from any internet-connected device; less rework and no need for spray-out cards; faster and more efficient paint mixing; and waste reduction, when compared to a traditional repair process.

“When our PPG LINQ digital ecosystem is paired with our industry-leading paint products, we can help body shop owners to realize a 15% ‘key-to-key’ productivity improvement,” said Chancey Hagerty, PPG senior vice president, Automotive Refinish. “From the time a customer leaves their key with a body shop until they return to collect their car, that body shop can achieve improved productivity, reduced waste and enhanced sustainability compared to a traditional repair approach.”

The launch of PPG LINQ Color software and the PPG MagicBox body shop assistant follows the launch of other PPG LINQ digital ecosystem products, including PPG VISUALIZID™ software, the PPG DIGIMATCH™ spectrophotometer and the PPG MOONWALK® system, the company’s award-winning, automated paint mixing system launched in 2019.

“Today, thousands of body shops around the globe already use the PPG MoonWalk, PPG VisualizID and PPG DigiMatch tools,” said Alban d’Epenoux, PPG global marketing director, Automotive Refinish. “The addition of PPG LINQ Color software and the PPG MagicBox device can also mean additional productivity and enhanced capabilities for those existing users and also for thousands of other body shops interested in adopting the best digital solutions to enhance their business performance.”

Q&A with BASF Refinish

Jim Reddy, marketing manager Americas, Refinish and Industrial Coatings, BASF speaks with Coatings World
CW: How did the market for auto refinish coatings perform in 2023?

Reddy: The total number of miles driven is often used as a measure of the health of the automotive refinish business. With a large number of miles driven, there’s a higher possibility of incidents that will lead to a vehicle repair.

The number of miles driven in the U.S. in 2023 is essentially back to pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Most areas are seeing a healthy auto refinish business as well.

The new car market continues to lag for many reasons. Any time people keep their vehicles longer, there’s more likelihood that they will repair small dents and scratches and keep going.

CW: What challenges does the market face moving forward in the years to come?

Reddy: As the complexity of vehicles increases, so does the cost to repair. That puts pressure on auto body shops to remain current with repair procedures and perform with a high level of efficiency to stay profitable.

At the same time, many auto refinishers are experiencing a labor crunch. Unemployment is at an all-time low. Auto body shops, like most other industries, are having trouble hiring and retaining talented workers. Late-career professionals are leaving the industry, while fewer new people are coming in.

BASF is trying to increase the labor pipeline by sponsoring programs such as WorldSkills, Operative Talent, and “Techs for Tomorrow” to get more motivated, well-trained people to join the refinish industry. BASF is also trying to increase diversity in the refinish industry by sponsoring the “Iron Maven” custom Volvo car build – done by an all-female team – that was unveiled at the SEMA Show in 2022.

CW: What are the key issues facing your auto refinish customers and how is your company addressing those needs?

Reddy: A key issue that always faces refinish companies is efficiency. More jobs done in a shorter time make a more profitable business.

BASF has a long history of developing web-based training tools, business efficiency tools, and management tools. Our suite of tools called Refinity helps body shop owners and managers get new painters up to speed, and get more repairs done faster. This digital solution is cloud-based, which decreases dependency on localized devices and on-site services.

More and more shops are adopting the Refinity suite of tools, and as more join, they will see new features and user interface improvements from BASF.

CW: What are the newest products that your company’s refinish group has launched and what do they deliver to the marketplace?

Reddy: More and more shops are converting to use Glasurit 100 Line and lead the way in sustainability. Launched in 2021 in the U.S., Glasurit 100 Line is a total refinish solution to deliver highly efficient processes for easier, faster, and more reliable repairs.

Body shop owners can use less material, cut processing time, and cut VOC emissions, while requiring less energy.

BASF is a leader in sustainability and has specific goals to cut CO2 emissions. This helps our partners reduce their emissions as well.