With the company’s deep roots, extending over 150 years in history, Axalta possesses the most technological advancements available in paints and coatings (Figure 2). Derived from ancestry like DuPont, Axalta is proud to have sponsored the four-time NASCAR champion, Jeff Gordon. His #24 Hendrick Motorsport car is on display today at the Axalta headquarters.
The company currently operates on almost every continent and its Philly-based global innovation center (opened in 2018) is the largest coatings research and development center on the planet! With over 10,000,000 color options logged, the company is not shy when it comes to new color formulations. Creative ventures like the annually offered "Color Popularity Report" allow Axalta to have extensive global data to help them reach their customers’ wants and needs, efficiently (Figure 3).
A tour and presentation of the beautiful facility were offered by Axalta’s Anthony Calabria and Steffen Apollo. The magnificent building was erected in 2018 and accommodates over 150 employees (scientists, technicians, and chemists). State-of-the-art technology is being implemented and has been since the company’s inception.
During the tour, Calabria was keen to point out Axalta’s rich history (Figure 4). A timeline proudly stretched out and spanned the wall of a long corridor, displaying the company’s extensive accomplishments. Just at the end of that corridor was a room dedicated to color creation and formulation. Colors found in nature tend to drive creativity and the colors available, many of which have five diversifications. Much of this is dependent upon factors like the humidity during paint application and the country the paint was applied in, due to how the batch was created. Being able to match paint to the exact derivative is imperative.
The tour included a lesson from one of the best pin stripers in the paint industry, Paul Quinn (Figure 5). He taught us that are only three strokes utilized in pinstriping. Although it sounds easy, it certainly requires a steady hand, plenty of patience, and even more practice. The paint is applied with a brush created from the tail hair of a Russian squirrel. The brushes are hand-made by only a handful of people and are kept in proper condition with a special type of oil. The condition of the brush is crucial to proper paint loading and application. The brush holds a tremendous amount of paint.
The Axalta Media Day was a tremendously fun event. And being a service-technical based person, I didn't feel I was the right person to attend this event. However, after visiting the impressive facility, my knowledge about paint is quite larger than before. A heartfelt thanks to all at Axalta and OneMagnify who made this event possible.
About the Author
Brandon StecklerBrandon Steckler
Motor Age Technical Editor
Brandon began his career in Northampton County Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he was a student of GM’s Automotive Service Educational program. In 2001, he graduated top of his class and earned the GM Leadership award for his efforts. He later began working as a technician at a Saturn dealership in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he quickly attained Master Technician status. He later transitioned to working with Hondas, where he aggressively worked to attain another Master Technician status.
Always having a passion for a full understanding of system/component functionality, he rapidly earned a reputation for deciphering strange failures at an efficient pace and became known as an information specialist among the staff and peers at the dealership. In search of new challenges, he transitioned away from the dealership and to the independent world, where he specialized in diagnostics and driveability.
Today, he is an instructor with both Carquest Technical Institute and Worldpac Training Institute. Along with beta testing for Automotive Test Solutions, he develops curriculum/submits case studies for educational purposes. Through Steckler Automotive Technical Services, LLC., Brandon also provides telephone and live technical support, as well as private training, for technicians all across the world.
Brandon holds ASE certifications A1-A9 as well as C1 (Service Consultant). He is certified as an Advanced Level Specialist in L1 (Advanced Engine Performance), L2 (Advanced Diesel Engine Performance), L3 (Hybrid/EV Specialist), L4 (ADAS) and xEV-Level 2 (Technician electrical safety).
He contributes weekly to Facebook automotive chat groups, has authored several books and classes, and truly enjoys traveling across the globe to help other technicians attain a level of understanding that will serve them well throughout their careers.
