Unlocking the key to attracting talent to bodyshops

The shortage of skilled labour in bodyshops, particularly refinishers, is a complex issue. Attracting talent to the industry requires alignment of several multifaceted points: it’s an industry that has a historic reputation for being hands-on, manual, dirty and potentially dangerous; today’s young people don’t expect a job for life but rather will “test and taste” different careers; and refinishers and mechanics have little to no visibility with car owners so they may struggle to find a true sense of job satisfaction.

3M and Axalta Collaborate to Launch Training Content for Automotive Refinishing

3M and Axalta today announced a collaboration to introduce a new training content series focused on automotive refinishing. The series will feature five co-branded training modules, each intended to meaningfully help technicians and shops improve their understanding of repair process practices and drive greater operational outcomes.

Axalta Introduces Axalta Nimbus™, an Advanced Cloud-Based Platform for Refinish Customers, to Improve Productivity and Performance

Axalta Nimbus connects all of Axalta’s tools and resources in a single platform helping customers to do business smarter

Axalta Introduces Axalta Irus Scan, a Next-Generation Spectrophotometer, for Refinish Customers

Innovation helps customers improve productivity, optimize labor, and reduce waste while delivering accurate color matches

Spies Hecker supports refinishers with step-by-step 3-stage repair of pearlescent whites

White has been the most popular car colour choice globally for several years. Axalta’s 2022 Global Automotive Color Popularity Report revealed 34% of cars globally are a shade of white, with pearlescent whites making up 14% of that figure. However, pearlescent whites can be tricky for refinishers when it comes to repairs, which is why Spies Hecker has created an efficient process to repair this challenging finish.

Axalta Announces Partnership with Solera, a Global Leader in Vehicle Lifecycle Management

Through this partnership, Axalta’s conventional and Fast Cure Low Energy (FCLE) refinish paint systems will be integrated into Solera’s Sustainable Estimatics platform, enabling Axalta customers to estimate their CO2 emissions per repair, while considering repair methods (repair versus replace), paint application process, and drying conditions.

Axalta Refinish launches its Axalta Academy globally – training that fits the way a bodyshop works

The Axalta Academy, a state-of-the-art global training platform for refinish professionals, is launching globally in 15 languages to empower refinishers to maintain and to improve their specialised competencies with top-class training. The platform adjusts to the way in which they work, and is backed by Axalta’s unrivalled, industry-leading expertise.

Embracing sustainability: from buzzword to transformative business model

Sustainability used to be a buzzword that appeared in annual reports and gave shareholders the feeling that the company in which they owned a stake was doing something positive. Sustainability didn’t always align with company strategy but rather sat somewhere on the side lines, looking in.

Axalta Announces Starry Night as 2024 Global Automotive Color of the Year

Axalta today announced its 2024 Global Automotive Color of the Year – Starry Night. The latest edition marks the 10th year Axalta has introduced its automotive color of the year and the first time it has featured a black shade. Starry Night is a strong, contemporary color with light blue and silver flakes that evokes the depths of our universe and space exploration.

Spies Hecker helps refinishers prepare new plastic parts reliably and quickly

Painting plastic bumpers is a common occurrence in bodyshops across the region, and none more so than new bumpers. In fact, the global plastic bumper market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.5% from 2022 to 2030. Tony Mitchell, International Training Manager for Axalta's Refinish business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, says, "Having a reliable, fast and consistent process to carry out these new plastic part repairs is vital for bodyshop efficiency.

Drivus launches new Advanced Inventory Management app

Drivus, an Axalta brand delivering business services for the automotive refinish market in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), has launched a dedicated app for Android and iPhone users for its comprehensive, cloud-based warehouse management system, Axalta Inventory Management (AIM).

Spies Hecker makes matt finish paint repairs as easy as regular jobs

With the matt finish trend still very popular with car manufacturers and car owners alike, Spies Hecker has created a process for its best-in-class Permacron® Matt Clear System, based on Axalta technology, to repair these notoriously tricky finishes.

Axalta Refinish adds RADAR compliant colour formulas to global colour database

Axalta Refinish has added RADAR compliant colour formulas to its global online colour databases - ChromaWeb, Phoenix Cloud and Standowin iQ Cloud - to be prepared for future RADAR requirements for the repair of cars equipped with Advanced Driver Assistant Systems (ADAS).

Axalta Announces Global Automotive Color of the Year for 2023 – Techno Blue

Axalta today announced its 2023 Global Automotive Color of the Year – Techno Blue. This is the 9th year the company has featured a trending color.

Axalta’s 2022 Global Automotive Color Popularity Report Marks 70th Year of Providing Industry Insights

Axalta has released its 70th annual Global Automotive Color Popularity Report, which revealed the top three automotive colors of 2022: white, black, and gray. First published in 1953, Axalta’s annual color popularity report is the automotive industry’s longest running and most comprehensive color account.

Axalta Refinish unveils new branded websites

Axalta Refinish has unveiled three new websites for its premium refinish brands – Cromax, Spies Hecker and Standox – that cater specifically for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. The sites, which went live on 17 August 2022, offer visitors modern, clean homepages and page content with an enhanced and complete browsing experience.

New Spies Hecker Permacron Matt Clear System makes matt finishes as easy as one plus one

Spies Hecker introduces its new Permacron® Matt Clear System, comprising two products: Permacron Matt System Clear Coat 8185 and Permacron Semi-Gloss System Clear Coat 8170. Formulated specifically for use as part of the Permahyd® 280/285 Base Coat and Permahyd Hi-TEC Base Coat 480 Systems, as well as Permacron Base Coat 293/295 or original paintwork, these mix together to deliver high-quality OEM matt finishes, of all gloss levels, more quickly and easily than ever before.

Axalta Refinish, Autoboys and Kanye Vimba launch new partnership in South Africa

Axalta Refinish, Autoboys and Kanye Vimba have signed a rolling long-term agreement that, effective immediately, introduces Spies Hecker premium automotive coatings across South Africa. With a national footprint and a substantial support structure of well-trained technicians, the Autoboys and Kanye Vimba teams are well positioned to extend the reach of Spies Hecker in a competitive marketplace.

Axalta Refinish showcases its drive for innovation at IBIS Global Summit 2022 in Monaco

Axalta Refinish is one of the Platinum Partners at the International Bodyshop Industry Symposium (IBIS) Global Summit 2022 in Monaco, taking place between 15 and 17 June 2022. Axalta Refinish is showcasing a number of its most recent ground-breaking firsts to a global audience of leaders and innovators in the automotive collision repair industry.

Axalta’s Fast Cure Low Energy technology – helping bodyshops across Europe cope with the energy crisis

The cost of living is increasing but what is hitting homeowners and businesses alike is the soaring cost of energy. In January 2022, the Eurozone saw energy prices increase 28.6%. For bodyshop owners across the region these rising energy cost could not come at a worse time.

New Spies Hecker Video-TEC training video shows how special plastic additive aids faster, easier repairs

Spies Hecker’s new training video detailing practical advice on its new, easy-to-use, direct-to-plastic additive is now available. With an over-coating time of only five minutes, Speed-TEC Plastic Additive 9260 saves bodyshops time and, ultimately, improves throughput.

The return of silver Spies Hecker takes Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team back to its roots

The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, who made history with eight consecutive FIA Formula OneTM Constructors’ Championships at the end of the 2021 season, unveiled its 2022 race car on 18 February 2022 at Silverstone, England, ahead of the first race weekend of the season in Bahrain from 18 March 2022.

Axalta launches Tech Tips Global Paint Defects video series to help bodyshops prevent and fix common problems

Axalta has launched an ongoing series of refinish training videos designed to help automotive repair bodyshops deal with troublesome, yet common paint defects. The first six videos are available now, to view free of charge.

Axalta Refinish announces 2022 training course dates at its Midrand training centre

Axalta Refinish announces the 2022 training schedule for its premium refinish brands, Cromax®, Spies Hecker and Standox. The course are held at its state-of-the-art Refinish Training Centre in Midrand, which is equipped with the latest technology and energy saving features. The courses cover a wide range of skills and practices, enabling refinishers to brush up not only on the basics, but also to learn the specialist techniques required to help them excel at the paint repair process.

Axalta Refinish’s new electric vehicle repair package helps bodyshops to operate safely

Axalta Refinish has introduced another first to the EMEA market - a new electric vehicle (EV) repair package, which supports refinishers and bodyshops with the repairs of EV vehicles. Sales of electric cars are accelerating – one in 10 new cars in 2021 has been powered by a battery[i] - and refinishers and bodyshops need to be prepared to handle an increasing volume of EVs safely and efficiently.

Axalta announces Global Automotive Color of the Year 2022 – Royal Magenta

Axalta announced its Global Automotive Color of the Year 2022 – Royal Magenta. The selection for the eighth edition of the exclusive Global Automotive Color of the Year, Royal Magenta, is a deep cherry color that brings a luxurious finish to the market.

Axalta extends automotive colour leadership with the 69th Global Automotive Color Popularity Report

Axalta released its 69th annual Global Automotive Color Popularity Report revealing most cars on today’s roads are white (35%), black (19%) and grey (19%). Grey increased by four percentage points worldwide. The results of Axalta’s Global Automotive Color Popularity Report are tabulated on Axalta’s analysis of 2021 automotive build data in major markets and are an indicator of current market trends.

Drivus offers personalised consultancy service with Bodyshop Optimizer launch

Bodyshop Optimizer is the latest offering from Drivus, a brand delivering business services for the automotive refinish market in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), from Axalta, a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings. The new personalised consultancy service focuses on a bodyshop’s finances with the aim to boost the bottom line.

Smart colour mixing with new Spies Hecker Permahyd Hi-TEC Basecoat 480 bottles for automated dosing

Bodyshop refinishers can achieve even faster results with the new pre-filled bottles of Permahyd Hi-TEC Basecoat 480, Spies Hecker’s easy-to-use, waterborne basecoat. There are 95 bottles in total - 68 tints in 500ml bottles and in 27 tints in 1 litre bottles - and they are specifically designed to work in the new Daisy Wheel 3.0 from Fillon Technology.

Advanced Inventory Management from Drivus simplifies stock control for bodyshops

Advanced Inventory Management (AIM) is the new service from Drivus, a brand delivering business services for the automotive refinish market in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), from Axalta, a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings.

Axalta Refinish and Audatex launch new partnership to benefit bodyshops across South Africa

Axalta Refinish in South Africa has entered into a partnership with Audatex, the world leader in database development, software implementation and services for the automobile repair and insurance claims processing industry.

Axalta’s industry-leading technology solves colour matching problems

Colour assessment and matching are two important process steps for every bodyshop; it’s easy to get wrong if the colour match is done by eye due to the subjective nature of colour. And factoring in that globally 8% of men are colour-blind[1], the risks of poor matches for bodyshops increases even further.

Spies Hecker, Official Team Supplier to Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, provides customised training support

Spies Hecker, one of the premium refinish paint brands of Axalta, a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, has been the Official Team Supplier to Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team for eight years.

Spies Hecker offers practical advice on how to avoid defects in clear coats

Support from technical specialist helps refinishers avoid pinholes and other small surface defects. Spies Hecker, one of the premium refinish paint brands of Axalta, a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, knows that even a seasoned refinisher can sometimes run into issues with tiny defects such as pinholes appearing in the clear coat

Axalta launches Drivus – An essential suite of business services for long-term bodyshop success

Axalta (NYSE: AXTA), a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, today launched a new business partnership concept for the European automotive refinish market under a new brand: Drivus. Designed to focus on the particular challenges faced by bodyshops, Drivus targets productivity, performance and profits to ensure bodyshops build better businesses.

KYBURZ chooses Spies Hecker to deliver bold finishing touch for its new electric vehicles

Swiss electric car manufacturer KYBURZ Switzerland AG continues its ongoing co-operation with Spies Hecker by painting two new vehicles in Axalta’s 2021 Global Automotive Colour of the Year, ElectroLight.

Axalta unveils the refinish industry’s first fully automated colour mixing process via Daisy Wheel 3.0

Axalta today announced it will make available pre-filled bottles of basecoat from its industry leading premium refinish brands for Fillon Technologies’ new Daisy Wheel 3.0, enabling fully automated colour mixing for the first time. Combined with Axalta’s cloud-based Digital Colour Management, bodyshops across EMEA will have access to the fastest and most productive paint process available.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team’s new livery and new colour

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team is the reigning FIA Formula OneTM Constructors’ Champion, having cinched a world record sixth consecutive title at the end of the 2019 season.

New Spies Hecker Permahyd 280/285 mixing tint

Gordon Cumming Body Repairs and Spies Hecker – a partnership with its eye on the future

Gordon Cumming Body Repairs is a state-of-the-art body repair centre in East London, South Africa, with a robust heritage and a long-standing relationship with global refinish brand Spies Hecker. The family-run business not only relies on the premium refinish brand from Axalta, a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, for its products and services, but also to train the next generation of refinishers.

Fix Network World names Axalta as Preferred Global Paint Partner

Over 700 collision shops aligned with Fix Network World in 12 countries set to benefit from five-year partnership agreement. Axalta has signed an five-year global partnership agreement with Fix Network World, one of the biggest collision repair franchise networks globally.

Black is the new black for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team thanks to Spies Hecker by Axalta

The black livery is making a return for the Team that has been a dominant force in Formula OneTM and made history with seven consecutive FIA Formula OneTM Constructors’ Championships. The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team has used the colour again on the livery of its 2021 title contender, the Mercedes-AMG F1 W12 E Performance, which was unveiled on 2 March 2021 at the Team’s headquarters in Brackley, England, ahead of the first race weekend of the season in Bahrain.

Spies Hecker introduces new Brilliant Blue mixing tint

Blue is the most popular chromatic colour on new cars. Spies Hecker launches a new mixing tint to reproduce certain shades of blue perfectly. Colours are never just colours - each one stands for something and triggers associations in those who look at it. Blue, for example, is the colour of sky and sea, of distance and vastness; it also stands for values such as harmony, clarity and calm. Perhaps due to these positive associations, blue is a favourite among chromatic shades with new car buyers.

Mercedes-Benz AG Approves Axalta’s Refinish Brands Until 2025

New Video-TEC video: Spies Hecker’s repair solution for deep reds with tinted clear coats

Highly chromatic blues and deep, lively and very intense reds are currently very much on trend for new cars. Spies Hecker, a global refinish paint brand from Axalta, has developed a process to achieve an invisible repair of these sophisticated colours using tinted clear coats. In the latest Video-TEC video, International Training Leader for Axalta’s Refinish business, Tony Mitchell, gives practical and easy-to-implement tips.

Spies Hecker gives contemporary artwork a cosmic look

For his first large outdoor artwork, established American contemporary artist Ricardo Paniagua used Spies Hecker to achieve a visually striking, high-quality and durable finish. Solar Radiance is the first large-scale outdoor artwork by contemporary artist Ricardo Paniagua, who is based in Dallas, Texas, USA.

Announcing Axalta’s 2021 Global Automotive Color of the Year: ElectroLight

Axalta announced its 2021 Global Automotive Color of the Year – ElectroLight. ElectroLight is an expressively refreshing green-yellow hue with inspired bold, contemporary flavours that echo style, energy and flair. The unique personality of ElectroLight evokes a blend of sporty design elements with functional performance and offers great versatility when combined with two-tone charcoal colour accents or matte finishes on a variety of mobility solutions.

Axalta continues automotive colour leadership with 68th Global Automotive Color Popularity Report

Axalta released its 68th annual Global Automotive Color Popularity Report revealing the most common automotive colours on the road today are white (38%), black (19%) and grey (15%). Grey increased by two percentage points worldwide and is at a 10-year high.

Axalta pays homage to its strong motorsport heritage with 2021 wall calendar

Axalta sets pulses of motorsport fans racing with the unveiling of its 2021 wall calendar - Brilliantly Fast - created by the Refinish business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). It celebrates student racing and is a fitting tribute to those professional motorsports teams that have achieved unparalleled success in 2020.

Spies Hecker tips Mazda Machine Grey three-stage finish

The popular Mazda colour Machine Grey is applied using a cutting-edge robotic painting technology called Takuminuri, which makes the repair of this three-stage colour particularly demanding. Evgeny Khmelev, Head of Training for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Spies Hecker, gives practical tips for repairing it with the Spies Hecker Permahyd Hi-TEC 480 Base Coat system

Five steps every bodyshop can take to improve their environmental sustainability

Spies Hecker is committed to supporting bodyshops in their efforts to think green and to reduce their energy consumption. Spies Hecker Brand Manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Joachim Hinz, addresses the importance of sustainability and offers guidance on what bodyshops can do to improve their environmental sustainability.

Axalta Showcases Revolutionary Responses to Changing Collision Repair Landscape at IBISConnect Africa 2020

Axalta, a leading global provider of liquid and powder coatings, is participating in IBISConnect Africa, a live online simulcast held by the International Bodyshop Industry Symposium (IBIS), on Thursday 23 July 2020 between 10am and 1.30pm SAST.

The sporty eRod Fun from Kyburz with Sea Glass finish

The successful cooperation between the Swiss electric car manufacturer Kyburz Switzerland AG and Spies Hecker will continue in 2020. Kyburz's exhibition vehicle received its design livery for the Geneva International Motor Show in Geneva at the Spies Hecker paint center Campus 105 in Pratteln and should have been presented on March 3.

Mercedes-Benz AG Approves Spies Hecker Until 2023

Mercedes-Benz AG has renewed its approval of Spies Hecker, one of the global refinish brands of Axalta (NYSE: AXTA), a leading global manufacturer of liquid and powder coatings. Effective 1 April 2020, Spies Hecker is once again approved for use across the Mercedes-Benz network in 4 European countries, until 31 March 2023.

Phoenix, the Spies Hecker colour software, is now available as an app

The Spies Hecker colour software Phoenix is now available as an app for smartphones and tablets. In addition to access to Phoenix Cloud - the global colour and product database - the app offers practical additional features such as an integrated barcode scanner.

Tactically clever: the new Speed-TEC Clear Coat 8810

Permasolid® Speed-TEC Clear Coat 8810 from Spies Hecker dries particularly quickly at low room temperatures and offers bodyshops a tactical solution for a higher throughput as well as the ability to reduce operating costs and to generate additional business.

Understandable, clear, simple: new Spies Hecker product label design

Spies Hecker has refreshed its product label design, and they are clear and user-friendly. "A good product label shows exactly what is in the tin and displays clearly all the information the refinisher needs – nothing more or less complicated than that," says Joachim Hinz, Brand Manager for Spies Hecker in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Spies Hecker scoops Paint Brand of the Year at ABP’s Night of Knights Awards

Spies Hecker - one of the premium refinish paint brands of Axalta, a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings – was named Paint Brand of the Year in the Repairer’s Choice awards at the ABP Club Night of Knights awards ceremony.

Axalta Releases 67th Annual Global Automotive Color Popularity Report

Axalta today released its 67th annual Global Automotive Color Popularity Report, which reveals the top three automotive colours as: white (38%), black (19%), and grey (13%). White has been the top automotive colour worldwide since 2011.

Teamwork is everything! – the Spies Hecker 2020 calendar

Working together for fantastic finishes: Team Work makes the Dream Work is the new Spies Hecker calendar for 2020.

Shining a light on orange: new Spies Hecker Clear Coat Colour Additive repairs new shades of brilliant orange

The new Permasolid Clear Coat Color Additive 9051 from Spies Hecker enables bodyshops to repair the latest orange trend, today. Orange is a colour that up til now was rarely seen on vehicles, but with today’s new deep luminosity, it is seeing a revival.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport: Hard work and teamwork – the formula for successHard work and teamwork – the formula for success

The Paint Shop at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport in Brackley, England, looks after painting the cars, but they are also responsible for ensuring that everything from the headset ear caps to the Engineers’ Centre Station looks amazing - and they rely on Spies Hecker’s customised solutions for all of it.