More than 10,000 technicians across the United States and Canada have attended the PPG "Convert with Confidence" training program to help transition to waterborne basecoat. Development of the program was spurred in part by governmental mandates anticipated in a number of states and already in effect in California and Canada. To assist collision centers in the transition, PPG began the Convert with Confidence program in 2007 to provide shop owners, managers, and technicians with training and support before, during and after the conversions.
Collision center managers have had very positive reactions to PPG's program. "It was an easy transition for us," said Bruce Dennis, body shop director for ABC Nissan, Phoenix, Ariz. "With the training we received, it was great. Anytime you go and change a paint line everyone gets real hesitant and a little excited, but it was real easy, really seamless."
"We have found that shops that follow the PPG Convert with Confidence approach have been extremely successful in the conversion from solvent to PPG waterborne," said Bill Troyer, PPG Automotive Refinish manager of training. "The key to success is having a solid conversion process and PPG has created the plan that works."
"Conversion was so simple, it was unbelievable," said John Reilly, general manager, Gary Yeoman's Ford Automall Body Shop, Daytona Beach, Fla. "They put the system in and we started spraying the next day. No hiccups or anything."
Low VOC basecoats will also be mandated for 12 northeastern states and the District of Columbia as early as 2012. With the focus on green processes and products, it appears it is only a matter of time until waterborne systems will be recommended throughout the country. PPG urges shop owners to use the Convert with Confidence program to help make their transition as easy as possible.
For more information about the Convert with Confidence program, call 800/647-6050 or visit the PPG Automotive Refinish website at .
