Axalta Reaches 60,000 in Spectrophotometer Sales

Axalta announced today that it has sold 60,000 spectrophotometers, with 10,000 of those sales occurring in the last 15 months. The rapid increase in recent sales is primarily attributed to strong global digitalization trends. These increasingly popular digital handheld tools represent an accurate and fast color-matching method that increases auto repair shop productivity. The latest generation spectrophotometers and cloud-based color software are quite easy to use. Auto repair paint specialists can use spectrophotometers to easily take color measurements from vehicle paint jobs and wirelessly send these measurements to Axalta's online global color database. The color-matching software searches among more than 200,000 continuously updated formulas and, when needed, automatically presents the closest formula to provide auto repair paint specialists with the best possible match. These matches are then selected via a smartphone or tablet and sent via Wi-Fi to an IP scale to mix the color formula. This entire process delivers much more accurate results and is simultaneously much more efficient and profitable.

BASF Acquires Majority Stake in Belgian Internet Platform UBench

BASF acquired the majority stake in the internet platform UBench, which has offices in Turnhout and Geel in Belgium, on 30 September. Both companies decided not to disclose financial details regarding the transaction. The transaction encompasses UBench International NV, CarRoll BVBA and DLight BVBA. Legal approvals are not required for this transaction. UBench and its more than 30 employees continuously develop the internet platform created within the company and manage a service portfolio for various customers in the automotive aftermarket sector, such as leasing companies, insurance companies, automobile manufacturers and companies with large fleets. BASF Paints Division Head Dirk Bremm said, "This transaction reflects BASF's strategic and long-term commitment to expanding our Automotive Repair Paints expertise beyond premium paints and enhancing customer experience." BASF Senior Vice President Europe Automotive Repair Paints Katja Scharpwinkel said, "UBench is a collaborative digital platform company that expands our portfolio by providing service solutions. By bringing together all players in the automotive aftermarket sector, we are strengthening our position in the fast-growing automotive service segment." UBench will continue its current operations as an independent company within the newly established UBench BV. UBench Founder and CEO Peter Verbraeken will hold a minority stake to support the company's continuity and future strategic development.

Engineered Polymer Solutions Launches EPS 2580

Engineered Polymer Solutions (EPS) launched EPS 2580, a water-based acrylic that offers high-performance properties and can be formulated to meet strict VOC regulations. This polymer provides the capability to formulate direct-to-metal coatings at <50 g/L VOC. EPS developed the 2580 resin to fill a gap in the industrial market; this required a low VOC (<50 g/L) water-based solution that provided excellent performance for metal adhesion, corrosion resistance and high-temperature block resistance. EPS Research and Development Technical Director Robert Sandoval said "Water-based acrylic coatings typically struggle to achieve all three of these properties, but EPS 2580 fills that gap." EPS 2580 is a self-crosslinking, acrylic emulsion with exceptional gloss and rapid hardness development that can be used in both primer and topcoats. This gives end users the option of using only a single coating system, thereby reducing complexity for contractors and projects. EPS Sales Manager Christopher Farrell said, "Coatings formulated using EPS 2580 exhibit excellent corrosion resistance even in thin films (<1.5 mil dry film thickness)" and added "This may enable an end user to potentially save on material and labor costs."

U-C Coatings Acquires Eco Chemical

High Road Capital Partners portfolio company U-C Coatings announced that it has acquired the assets of Eco Chemical, Inc.'s paints and industrial coatings business. This marks the second acquisition under High Road's ownership. High Road Capital Partners Partner Jeff Goodrich said "Eco Chemical deepens UC Coatings' position in the softwood market, adds a printing processing channel and expands UC Coatings' product offerings by introducing paints and coatings that benefit from trends such as vintage wood" and added. "It also increases U-C Coatings' geographic presence on the West Coast and enables East Coast customers to access new products for the pressure-treated lumber market."