Category: Tips

Learning is a lifelong pursuit, and with today’s complex colors, new refinish products, and procedures, there is plenty to keep up with.
PPG Certification Training is a key part of PPG’s commitment to ensure that automotive and commercial refinish technicians stay up to date with the latest products, processes and techniques for maximizing a paint shop’s productivity and quality. Gipe Auto Color can assist you with scheduling training.

Automotive And Commercial Refinish Technical Certifications

To achieve PPG certification, technicians must have at least one year of experience and successfully complete certification training specific to the PPG premium paint system used in their facility. Certification training sessions include a 2-day in-person training course consisting of classroom and hands-on training. Courses are conveniently offered at PPG Business Development Centers and various field locations across North America.

To maintain and renew their PPG certification, technicians must be recertified every two years by completing a 1-day recertification training course. PPG technician certification is an integral part of both the PPG Lifetime Limited Paint Performance Guarantee and the PPG Commercial Vehicle Paint Performance Warranty program.

Five Levels Of Automotive Refinish Certification

One often-overlooked benefit of achieving certification status is the recognition that automotive refinish technicians can gain by third-party acknowledgement and accreditation. To help recognize the professionalism of our painters, PPG offers five levels of certification: Blue, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Master.

After achieving initial Blue-level certification, technicians are eligible to graduate to the next level by attending certain qualifying classes every two years. After eight years, qualified technicians are eligible to graduate to Master Certified Technician level. With completion of

each level, technicians are awarded a patch identifying their status.

Student Certification

PPG has partnered with select colleges and technical schools to give students the opportunity to become industry certified through the PPG Partners in Education™ program. To become PPG-certified, students must pass both written and hands-on testing conducted by PPG. Upon successful completion of the program, participants earn a two-year PPG certification.

About Gipe Auto Color

To learn more about how PPG™ training certification can keep your technicians ready to tackle the most difficult colors or refinish situations, call Gipe Auto Color at 502.966.2384, Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm. We represent only the highest quality products on the market.

With over 50 team members and 9 locations serving Kentucky, Southern Indiana, Southeast Illinois, and Northwest Tennessee, Gipe Auto Color is one of the largest PPG™ Platinum Distributors in the region.  We have seven dedicated tech reps certified in all PPG™ automotive refinish product lines.  Their primary duty is to help customers apply PPG™ coatings using techniques that ensure maximum performance day in and day out.

Our service does not stop in the paint shop. We offer assistance in process evaluation, development of standard operating procedures, inventory management, performance data analysis, and targeted improvement strategies with an emphasis on customer profitability.

If you’re looking to build a new facility or add on or replace your existing airline system, you need to talk with Gipe Auto Color experts about DanAm Air’s aluminum compressed air pipe system. It’s quick to install and easy to modify. DanAm Air components are removable and interchangeable, which allows immediate and easy layout modifications. Unlike the performance of steel and copper, which degrades over time due to corrosion, DanAm Air provides clean air quality with optimum flow rate performance.

DanAm Air also offers significant savings on installation, maintenance and operating costs compared to traditional pipe. The quick, instant connections eliminate the need to thread, solder or glue pipe. Labor accounts for only 20 percent of the cost of installing DanAm Air, while labor accounts for 50 percent to 80 percent of the cost of installing steel or copper systems. DanAm Air’s aluminum pipe system significantly reduces your energy costs by increasing efficiency, reducing pressure drops, and eliminating leaks.

Available in 1⁄2-inch to 4-inch pipe sizes, the DanAm Air system features push-to-connect technology that secures connections with a simple push and provides a leak-free guarantee. The aluminum pipe eliminates corrosion, ensuring the longevity of equipment and helps to avoid frequent changes of filtration elements. DanAm Air can also be integrated into existing copper and steel piping without compromising performance, making it perfect for upgrades or expansion projects.

DanAm Air‘s benefits include:

• Energy efficient
• Push-to-connect technology
• Removable and reusable
• No corrosion
• Full bore design
• Lower install costs
• Immediate pressurization
• Modular design
• Leak-free guarantee
• 1/2″ – 4″ pipe sizes

Each pipe section is 20 feet long, and attaches to fittings such as elbows, tees, and unions through a triple-O-ring-sealed, push-to-connect joint.

Pair DanAm Air with SATA filtration for consistent refinishing results

With proper airline design and filtration, there is a constant, even pressure at a constant, high volume, which provides better color definition, better metallic/pearl orientation, and a more even film build for clearcoat, instead of bands of wet/dry/wet/dry clearcoat application.

The SATA 284 and 484 filters remove contaminants down to .01 microns, or 10 times most filter systems. Oil contamination, either through droplets or vapor, is especially problematic for waterborne basecoats, such as PPG’s Envirobase High Performance.

That oil contamination can cause blotchy metallic areas the size of one’s fist, color-match issues, and adhesion issues.

About Gipe Auto Color

To learn more about DanAm Air and SATA filtration, call Gipe Auto Color at 502.966.2384, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. And 5:00 p.m. We represent only the highest quality products on the market. With over 50 team members and 9 locations serving Kentucky, Southern Indiana, Southeast Illinois, and Northwest Tennessee, Gipe Auto Color is one of the largest PPG™ Platinum Distributors in the region.  We have seven dedicated tech reps certified in all PPG™ automotive refinish product lines.  Their primary duty is to help customers apply PPG™ coatings using techniques that ensure maximum performance day in and day out.

Our service does not stop in the paint shop. We offer assistance in process evaluation, development of standard operating procedures, inventory management, performance data analysis, and targeted improvement strategies with an emphasis on customer profitability.

PPG^™ Refinish, a division of PPG^™ Industries, is a global leader in the refinish paint and coatings industry.  PPG^™ delivers the most comprehensive set of training, tools and services for collision repair facilities across the world using the best resources available; some of whom are collision repair center owners themselves.  The MVP Business Solutions Program seeks to provide collision repair business partners with training and business development services to encourage interdependent success by turning industry challenges into opportunities.

The experts at Gipe Auto Color can design or recommend PPG^™ MVP training classes and programs for your business. Keep reading for an overview of MVP Business Solutions from the experts at PPG^™.

Lean for Collision

In order to improve operations, it is necessary to step back and observe and understand your current processes.  It is only through this analysis that you will be able to objectively critique and suggest improvements that will ultimately improve the health of your business.  PPG can help through the Lean for Collision course.

Business Courses

The MVP Business Development Series courses are the industry’s most widely attended for collision center management.  These courses also lead the industry in accreditations for I-CAR and AMI.  This series offers numerous one and two-day courses encompassing all aspects of managing a profitable collision repair business.  These courses cover the following areas:

• Marketing
• Customer Service
• Financial Management
• Estimating
• Production Management
• Leadership

Conferences

Annually, the MVP Conference offers collision repair professionals the opportunity to interact with and learn from leading collision industry experts.  Gain a different perspective by listening to high-level keynote presenters, attending cutting edge seminars and workshops as well as the opportunity to network with other people.

Market Your Shop

The collision repair business becomes more competitive and complex with each passing year.  In order to maintain a competitive edge, solid and consistent marketing efforts are essential.  Technology advancement has affected marketing almost as much as collision repair and the role web-based marketing, email marketing, direct mail and social media marketing are talked about in our industry on a daily basis.  This suite of courses will make sure you are current with available marketing tools.

Tools & Services

Are you thinking of building a new shop or additional location?  Is it time to re-engineer your current space to accommodate the latest new equipment?  Consulting from MVP Solutions can make sure your big decision is the right decision.  Over 1,000 facilities have taken advantage of layout services alone.  The MVP Solutions team of Six Sigma Blackbelts can provide the support, information and technology you need to ensure your project is a success.

About Gipe Auto Color

To learn more about MVP Solutions from PPG^™ call Gipe Auto Color at 502.966.2384, Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm.

With over 50 team members and 9 locations serving Kentucky, Southern Indiana, Southeast Illinois, and Northwest Tennessee, Gipe Auto Color is one of the largest PPG™ Platinum Distributors in the region.  We have seven dedicated tech reps certified in all PPG™ automotive refinish product lines.  Their primary duty is to help customers apply PPG™ coatings using techniques that ensure maximum performance day in and day out.

Our service does not stop in the paint shop. We offer assistance in process evaluation, development of standard operating procedures, inventory management, performance data analysis, and targeted improvement strategies with an emphasis on customer profitability.

PPG^™ Refinish, a division of PPG^™ Industries, is a global leader in the refinish paint and coatings industry.  PPG^™, founded in 1883 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, leads the industry in innovation, sustainability and color, serving customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products and construction industries.  In 2018, PPG invested more than $9 million in communities around the world.  It is this leadership and innovation that brings new products to the collision repair industry.  In July, PPG released the ECS8X-A-Chromatic Sealers to replace ECS2X and ECS6X Sealers.

The experts at Gipe Auto Color can demonstrate and recommend the optimal products for your projects.  Read on for an overview of this new product offering.

Product Information

A-Chromatic Sealers ECS81White, ECS85 Gray and ECS87 Dark Gray are premium quality sealers designed specifically for use under ENVIROBASE^® High Performance Waterborne Basecoat. these A-Chromatic Sealers are ready to top-coat in 15 minutes and have the best leveling and blend edge properties available today.  All 3 sealer colors were selected to match A-Chromatic shades G1, G5 and G7 and with a simple mix ratio, G3 and G6 can easily be achieved. The sealer can be applied over un-sanded OEM e-coat, sanded original finishes and/or properly prepared and treated bare steel, aluminum, fiberglass and plastic.

Preparation

In all cases wash all surfaces to be painted with soap and water, then apply the appropriate ONECHOICE® cleaner. Ensure that the substrate is thoroughly cleaned and dried both before and after preparation work.

Original Paintwork should be sanded using P400 grit discs (dry) or P600 grade paper (wet). Exposed bare metal should be spot primed with a suitable bare metal primer (see below).

Aluminum, Bare Steel, and Galvanized Steel must be clean, rust-free and abraded thoroughly using P280 – P320 grit paper. These substrates must be primed with SX1071 Etch Primer.

Electrodeposition Primer (E-Coat) must be thoroughly cleaned and can be directly overcoated with the A-Chromatic Sealer without abrading.

Polyester Body Fillers should be dry sanded and finished with P320-P400 grit paper.

Gel Coated Fiber Glass and SMC should be dry sanded using P320-400 grit paper.

Plastic should be dry sanded with P600 (use a finer grit for softer plastics) and prepared first with a Plastic Adhesion Promoter before sealing.

Performance Guidelines

• The use of HVLP spray equipment can give an increase in transfer efficiency of around 25% depending upon the make and model of the equipment used.
• For all substrates except un-sanded electrodeposition primer, ensure that the surface is thoroughly sanded to the panel edge or to a distance several centimeters beyond the damaged area, whichever is smaller.
• Do not apply over thermoplastic finishes such as lacquer.
• Partially used cans of hardener must be kept closed to prevent moisture contamination.

About Gipe Auto Color

To learn more the new Chromatic Sealers and the complete ENVIROBASE^® High Performance system from PPG^™, call Gipe Auto Color at 502.966.2384, Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm.

With over 50 team members and 9 locations serving Kentucky, Southern Indiana, Southeast Illinois, and Northwest Tennessee, Gipe Auto Color is one of the largest PPG™ Platinum Distributors in the region.  We have seven dedicated tech reps certified in all PPG™ automotive refinish product lines.  Their primary duty is to help customers apply PPG™ coatings using techniques that ensure maximum performance day in and day out.

Our service does not stop in the paint shop. We offer assistance in process evaluation, development of standard operating procedures, inventory management, performance data analysis, and targeted improvement strategies with an emphasis on customer profitability.

You may not be ready to leave the driving up to your car or truck’s computer, but work is rapidly progressing toward that being an eventuality.

On the path to autonomy, the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) of today are already showing how they reduce driver workload and fatigue by helping with keeping the car within the painted lines, adjusting speed and following distance with adaptive cruise control, and alerting to vehicles passing within the blind spot. The more advanced systems even apply the brakes automatically in a panic stop if the car senses an impending collision.

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) rates levels of autonomy in six levels, from zero (no automation) to five (fully autonomous, with no driver interaction required.) The most advanced of today’s cars currently operate at Level 3, what SAE calls “conditional automation,” with the driver not needing to keep his or her hands on the wheel but with the need to be able to take control at any time.

PPG is pioneering research in autonomous vehicle coatings

The ability for a car to be completely autonomous will hinge on the accuracy of sensors used to detect and discern objects as would a sharp-eyed human: “Is that a shallow puddle? Or is it a huge pothole?” And coatings play into this, as they can affect how light is reflected to the sensors.

In PPG’s testing, a black car reflected just six percent of the near infrared signal that a white car did, making it dramatically less “visible” on the road to sensors. So PPG has designed coatings that will have enhanced dark-colored vehicle detectability that will allow the light to penetrate to a reflective under-layer. The signal then bounces off that layer and returns to the sensor so that the car can be “seen” by an autonomous vehicle. It’s an outgrowth of PPG’s aerospace business, which already uses coatings that reflect light and heat. The paints could also be used for infrastructure such as signs, roads, and bridges, so they can be clearly identified and precisely measured by a car’s sensors.

More coatings to come

In addition to that under-layer coating technology that better manages the reflectivity of specific wavelengths, PPG expects within two years to market improved coatings that will absorb less infrared light and still provide excellent color and appearance. PPG will also produce improved coatings that enhance the radar reflectivity and transmission properties of plastic and composite substrates.

Certain sensors can be adversely affected if a vehicle is not clean or has excessive build of paint film or body repair materials. Some blind spot monitors, behind the rear bumper, are a perfect example. It follows that normal driving conditions mean that a buildup of mud, snow, or ice, can render those sensors inaccurate. PPG is creating easy-to-clean coating technology that allows dirt and water to quickly and easily wash away, keeping those sensors obstruction-free.

Radio frequency is another important consideration

Autonomous mobility is dependent upon radio signals. Radio frequency leakage allows electromagnetic signals to drift and bleed into one another, creating crosstalk that can negatively affect the system’s performance. Proven coatings technology from PPG’s aerospace business will ensure that signals don’t get mixed up.

When autonomous vehicles hit the road, PPG and Gipe Auto Color will be ready

These are a few considerations your technicians and painters need to be aware of for today’s vehicles and those that may be showing up at your door sooner than you think. PPG and Gipe Auto Color will be ready when that day comes. Contact us to be sure your production staff is, too!

About Gipe Auto Color

With over 50 team members and 9 locations serving Kentucky, Southern Indiana, Southeast Illinois, and Northwest Tennessee, Gipe Auto Color is one of the largest PPG™ Platinum Distributors in the region.  We have seven dedicated tech reps certified in all PPG™ automotive refinish product lines.  Their primary duty is to help customers apply PPG™ coatings using techniques that ensure maximum performance day in and day out.

Our service does not stop in the paint shop. We offer assistance in process evaluation, development of standard operating procedures, inventory management, performance data analysis, and targeted improvement strategies with an emphasis on customer profitability.

For expert assistance with PPG^™ software, online tools and resources, call 502.966.2384  Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm.