June 13, 2016—BASF announced Friday that it will compete in the R-M Best Painter Contest in France for the first time. 

Brandon Rixse of Thomas E. Brown Inc. will represent the company in the competition against 15 other paint companies from different countries. 

“The goal of the competition is to promote the profession of refinish painting,” said Mike Freeman, BASF market segment manager for R-M. “BASF is committed to developing young talent for the collision repair industry. We’re confident Brandon will be a strong representative for North America.” 

The contest will run Sept. 27-29 and test skills in the use of R-M ONYX HD waterborne technology to maximize productivity and ensure the lowest possible environmental impact. Color matching, overall knowledge of R-M ONYX HD and health and safety issues are also tested. Participants must be 30 years old or younger. 

The winner will be announced Sept. 30 and the prize includes a $2,800 travel voucher. The competition is supported by business partners 3M, EMM, DeVilbiss, RUPES and SATA.