Community college to offer waterborne paint training

Students in the Auto Body Technology program at Green River Community College will be the first in the Puget Sound region to be trained to paint vehicles using an ecology-friendly waterborne paint system.

Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishing Corporation is installing the new waterborne basecoat/clearcoat system at Green River according to Mark Millbauer, auto body instructor. "By adding an additional and completely different system, our students will be better trained and prepared for changes in the auto body industry," said Millbauer. Some states, such as California, have imposed guidelines eliminating oil based automotive paints from repair shops. The new water based paints have earned the approval of automakers such as Ford, General Motors and Volvo, to name a few.

The new AWX waterborne refinishing system will be added to the curriculum, but not replace the oil based painting system yet, according to Millbauer, who said that many repair shops in the state still use oil based paints. "It's important that we adapt our training, not only to new technologies, but to environmentally sustainable technologies," said Millbauer.

Green River's Auto Body Technology program is NATEF and ASE certified. Graduates of the program receive an Associate in Applied Science degree. It is an open entry program and students may start at the beginning of any quarter. To find out more, contact Millbauer at (253) 833-9111, ext. 4285 or by email at [email protected].