Axalta is committed to encouraging and nurturing active participation in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects as part of “Axalta’s Bright Futures” program.
"Student racing is one of the many ways Axalta helps students to transfer the knowledge and skills learned at university into real technical, scientific and engineering solutions that they can use in their careers," said Yves Kerstens, president of Axalta EMEA.
Axalta promotes STEM education initiatives by supporting student racing programs at several universities across Europe, including:
Academic Motorsports Association of Zurich (AMZ), ETH Zurich, Switzerland – Formula Student
Formula Student is an internationally recognized motorsports competition specifically developed for students around the world. In 2010, AMZ Racing – the first Swiss team in Formula Student-created by students of ETH Zurich, the city’s STEM university, moved to the eRacing series, which focuses on prototype electric-powered racing cars.
For the third consecutive year, Cromax, one of Axalta’s premium refinish brands, is not only providing technical support and supplying the coatings for the carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic chassis but also collaborating with the team to ensure the development of a prototype with optimal racing ability.
Agoria Solar Team, University of Leuven, Belgium – The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge
The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is a biennial global competition to develop an effective, reliable solar vehicle that completes a 3,021-kilometer race from Darwin to Adelaide, Australia, over seven days.
Cromax has supported the Agoria Solar Team – the reigning World Champions in the Challenger Class – from the University of Leuven, Belgium, in this discipline since 2015. The highly successful partnership sees Cromax develop special colors, supply the paint and guide students through the paint preparation and application steps at the brand’s regional European Training Center in Mechelen, Belgium.
Wolfast Uniovi, University of Oviedo, Spain – MotoStudent
Since Axalta opened its site in Asturias, Spain, in 2002, it has forged a close partnership with the University of Oviedo. As well as supporting other initiatives, Axalta has worked for over six years with the university’s engineering team as it takes part in the MotoStudent International Competition – a global motorbike challenge between university student teams.
This is the first time, however, that Wolfast Uniovi has entered the MotoStudent Electric category.
The team is in the process of designing, developing and manufacturing a motorbike prototype with a 100% electric propulsion system, which will be ready for the next competition in 2021.
In addition to supplying the coatings, Axalta offers theoretical and practical preparation advice, technical support and facilitates training to help the team get the most out of the products used.
“The long-standing relationships we have with these and other highly talented student teams affirm our commitment to STEM initiatives," Kerstens said. "Thanks to our passion for innovation and our extensive motorsport experience, these students not only get the opportunity to put their theoretical knowledge into valuable practice, but we also invest in and help to secure the next generation of talent for our industry."
