Autopaint pledges support to customers through EPD upheaval

Citation

(2007), "Autopaint pledges support to customers through EPD upheaval", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 54 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2007.12854cab.001

Autopaint pledges support to customers through EPD upheaval

Autopaint pledges support to customers through EPD upheaval

With the latest European Products Directive (EPD), which limits the use of organic solvents in vehicle refinishing paints, in force from January 2007, it is estimated that some 4,000 smaller bodyshops will continue to use non- compliant materials, despite the deadline. They are seemingly concerned about the cost of upgrading their mixing, drying and spraying equipment and questioning how the new regulations will be policed in such a diverse trade sector, which extends from insurance company repair networks to “back garden” sprayshops.

Championing the cause of small independent bodyshops, commercial refinishers, classic vehicle restorers and others unable or unwilling to afford the estimated £10-15,000 EPD conversion cost, leading automotive refinishing products retailer, Autopaint International, has pledged to continue supplying solvent-borne basecoats and other non-compliant finishes for the foreseeable future. With distributors able to sell non-VOC compliant products until the end of 2007 and no fixed period for bodyshops to use up existing stocks, not to mention current exemptions for historic vehicle restorers and motorcycle repairers, there is still plenty of leeway for maintaining current supplies, says the Merseyside-based company.

“Our core customers are small, independent sprayshops and the little garages around the corner that repair and refinish damaged body parts, rather than just fitting replacement panels, as well as specialist refinishers of farm machinery, classic vehicles, narrow- gauge railways, fairground equipment, lawnmowers, commercial plant, offroaders, military hardware, you name it,” says Autopaint International's MD and founder, Gary Fearns, “They're all understandably concerned about the EPD legislation and how it will affect them and their businesses, so I am assuring them of immediate continuity of supply and, if I have my way, Autopaint will be among the last still selling solvent-borne topcoats and other traditional finishes.”

Established over 25 years and based at a 32,000sq ft distribution warehouse in Knowsley Industrial Park, Autopaint International operates a network of 14 directly-owned retail stores, as far afield as Bristol, Birmingham, Luton and Newcastle. Open six days a week and offering same-day deliveries, each store stocks upwards of 400 own brand lines, all reflecting the quality, value and technical performance demanded by trade finishers and refinishers. In addition to cellulose paints, two-packs, coach enamels, synthetics, aerosols, primers, fillers and stoppers, there's a comprehensive choice of paintshop sundries and accessories, including finishing products, sprayguns, abrasives, face masks, even mutton cloth, signwriters' brushes and calibrated measuring sticks (Figure 1).

“We pride ourselves on offering everything for the professional refinisher and serious hobbyist under one roof, at lower prices than they're likely to find elsewhere,” says Gary Fearns. “We offer lines that are difficult to find nowadays, like chopped strand, and we'll maintain availability of non-compliant products until stocks are exhausted.”

Figure 1 A selection of Autopaint products

A particular strength of Autopaint International is color matching to precise shade specifications, each branch being equipped with a paint mixing scheme and comprehensive selection of tinters. Apart from tens of thousands of standard RAL, BS and OEM color formulations, trained technicians at each store can match new and faded colors against petrol flaps or other body parts, even replicating shades of a favourite pair of pink jeans or a Lucozade bottle top, as happened recently. With even apparently straightforward blacks and blues requiring perhaps three dozen different shades, it is a precise art requiring carefully metered micro- quantities of tinters, which is available to call-in customers and via mail order.

Specially mixed cellulose 2-pack basecoat, enamel, synthetic and speciality paints can be supplied in quantities down to 250ml, with no minimum order requirement, and color-matched aerosol paints can also be tinted and filled on site, for smaller surface areas and touch-up work. It is a world apart from the standard shades and touch-up paints found in high street car care outlets, enabling professional refinishers to provide the accurate color matching standards that today's customer demands. Moreover, serious hobbyists like railway modellers, classic car & bike restorers, canal boat owners and military vehicle enthusiasts can obtain exactly the same service by mail order, sending samples for matching and receiving aerosols and cans next day by carrier. Indeed, such is the company's reputation that Autopaint color-matched vehicles have appeared on TV's Hollyoaks, Emmerdale and Heartbeat.

Over the years, the Autopaint International chain has built up a list of many thousands of satisfied customers, all seeking professional paint performance at economy prices, and Gary Fearns' team is repaying that loyalty by sticking with them throughout the inevitable EPD conversion upheaval and continuing to supply the smaller bodyshops and refinishers that the major multinationals are reportedly opting to ignore.

Further information from Autopaint International, Marl Road, Knowsley Industrial Park, Knowsley L33 7UM, Tel.: +0151 549 1409, e-mail: sales@autopaintinternational.com