07.15.19
Axalta opened a new, state-of-the-art Refinish Training Center in Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. The company recently announced the opening of a new refinish facility at the same location at the end of 2018.
The 1000m2 Training Center is home to Axalta’s global refinish brands Spies Hecker, Standox, Duxone, Challenger and Nason Finishes. In addition to space for theoretical training, the new Training Center comprises two spray booths, two preparation areas and two mixing rooms, all equipped with the latest technology and energy-saving features.
“We want refinishers to excel at every stage of the paint repair process and our new Training Center gives them the opportunity to work with the very latest products and equipment in a modern and dynamic environment," said Hannes Kloppers, country business leader for Axalta in South Africa. "Everything has been designed to ensure refinishers have an excellent experience and return to their body shops with the skills they need to work faster, more efficiently, and more successfully.”
Two large spray booths are fitted with three-panel folding doors to provide an extra-wide opening. There are also viewing galleries down the lengths of the spray booths, which offer a clear view inside. The spray booth floors are fully extracted and balanced, which helps refinishers achieve the highest quality paint finish during training. For improved energy efficiency, the spray booths also have an advanced auxiliary air movement system, which supplies heated and filtered airflow from each corner. This set-up has been proven to speed up the drying process by up to 35 percent. The spray booths are fitted with a fully automatic variable airflow system, which requires no operator selection. This automatically reduces the airflow through the spray booth resulting in reduced fuel and electricity usage. The bright, clean light produced by the LED bulbs in the spray booths replicates natural daylight while also being the most energy-efficient lighting method available.
