Interstandox

Interstandox 71 the world of vehicle refinishes

New technology for greater success

Standoblue sets the standard

Commitment to Formula One

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS trusts in Standox

New effect colours

exclusivelineXL for distinctive finishes

GB

2 contents

title story Standoblue for greater business success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Luxury coachbuilder CARAT paints with Standoblue . . . . . 6 j o u r n a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 workshop management exclusivelineXL for distinctive finishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Attracting new customers with Classic Color Partner . . . . 10 Viewing classic car colours on the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Standoblue is the new basecoat technology that unites past and present. With many tens of thousands of colour formulations, the evolution of colour identification takes

on a new dimension. Page 4

products Standofleet Color Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 The clearcoat for fast-track processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 gallery MERCEDES GP PETRONAS trusts in Standox . . . . . . . . . . . 12 international Blazing the trail: Heckendorn AG paints with Standoblue . 14 Alubeam: an exclusive paint finish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

imprint Interstandox The world of vehicle refinishes Interstandox is intended solely for internal use. We would be glad to grant approval to requests for reproduction.

Published by the Interstandox Editorial Board Standox GmbH, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany E-Mail: sandra.piwonski@deu.standox.com Responsible for content: Sandra Piwonski Concept/copy editing: K1 Gesellschaft f端r Kommunikation mbH, Ulf Kartte, Cologne Graphic design, image processing: 230Volt, Axel Helmus, D端sseldorf Images: Title picture: Standox GmbH Standox速 is a registered trademark.

As the official Team Supplier to the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS race team, Standox is the exclusive source of colours for the Silver Arrows in the 2011 Formula One season.

Page 12

The extraordinary colours of the Standox exclusivelineXL not only give cars that special something. They can also add style and a distinctive finish to items such as helmets, motorcycles, furniture and smartphones.

Page 9

editorial 3

Technologies and strategies for your success Repair shops are faced with ever tougher demands. On the one hand, there's the need for investment to sustain a high standard of service and repair in the face of spiralling costs. On the other hand, the constant changes in service and repair market means managers have to make the right investments now for a profitable future.

Some companies have made use of the last two years to consolidate their position, while others have focused on boosting sales and productivity. Together, these two

Zvonimir Simunovic, Brand Manager Standox GmbH.

strategies help create better performance today and more opportunities tomorrow.

The two keys to success in this context are high capacity utilisation and a solid capital base. With Standoblue, Repanet and worldwide approvals from leading car manufacturers, we provide the innovative products and services that give our customers the support they need.

In addition to saving material, our new Standoblue basecoat technology is also a key source of time savings for professional refinishers. With suitable training and an adjustment of process times, bodyshops are able to expand their capacity with minimal investment and reduce repair times as a consequence. In this connection, our international Repanet repair network helps create the best capacity utilisation with such measures as “Color for Life�, a life-long paint warranty. Providing customised assistance to bodyshops, Standox Consulting delivers tailor-made strategies and services to help make workshop processes faster and more efficient.

Colour identification is one of the most important activities in any bodyshop. This is why we focus increasingly on highly advanced electronic aids like our Genius spectrophotometer and Standowin software. On top of this, we have developed Color Tools especially for Standoblue that help the refinisher to arrive at the right colour quickly and reliably. Often it’s little things that make a big difference.

Zvonimir Simunovic

4 title story

Standoblue: A new technology for greater business success Standox has been developing innovative and forward-looking paint systems for over 50 years. The Wuppertal-based paint manufacturer has now launched Standoblue, a basecoat system that sets new standards with its outstanding product properties. Standoblue has been successfully launched on the important European markets and many customers are already reaping the benefits of the new system.

Thanks to a new, superior basecoat technology, Standoblue to achieve with the aid of Standoblue Hardener – without always produces immaculate results, regardless of working time-consuming flash-off. This also gives perfect film properconditions, climate and painting techniques. To make this ties and high resistance to mechanical damage. possible, specially selected pigments have been integrated in a forward-looking basecoat technology with outstanding flow. The very latest Color Tools for rapid colour identification For the finest metallic gradations, a new process has been Standox is responding to the growing importance of electronic specially developed. With its excellent product characteristics, aids in colour identification with a package of useful the new system delivers exceptional and, more importantly, Color Tools. Genius, the electronic spectrophotometer, the consistent colour accuracy, brilliant colours and an impeccable Standowin colour search software and the Digital Color Display finish. Standoblue’s special pigments not only ensure represent an excellent combination for paintwork with cloud-free finishes, but also support tens of thousands of unrivalled colour accuracy. Standox has also developed Color easily mixed colours and variants.

Tools specifically for Standoblue:

Simple, flawless application

• The Standoblue Color Box in which the possible variants of

Standoblue works well in a broad range of application

OEM car colours are neatly stored in swatches.

conditions, is simple to apply and thus helps cut overall • Barcodes on the colour chips and a barcode reader so that job times. The refinisher mixes the colour, adds Standoblue

colours can be read in and identified by Standowin even

Viscosity Adjuster and applies the basecoat in one and a half

faster.

coats. Thanks to the carefully designed orientation of the • The Effect Navigator with swatches in original Standoblue pigments, cloud-free finishes and with immaculate flow are

materials. Combined with Genius, this helps to correctly

now possible. The product’s special characteristics ensure

assess the light and effect gradations of a scanned metallic

flawless application. However, should a dust particle be

colour.

trapped in the paint film, it can be swiftly removed with • The user-friendly computer scale with a touch-sensitive straightforward sanding and repainting.

and high-resolution monitor for the best-possible colour rendition.

For blending-in on small areas or into adjoining vehicle parts, • The Colormix Poster that simplifies identification of the ready-to-spray Standoblue Color Blend is employed – the

colour position in the colour space for each mixing base.

results are always excellent and without visible boundary marks • Magnetic stickers for clear marking at the mixing bench. or colour differences. Interior and 3-stage finishes are easy

title story 5

Training for effortless use of Standoblue It is Standox’s claim to always give its customers the best training available on the refinish market. And this applies particularly to a new paint system like Standoblue. To ensure that bodyshops worldwide are always trained to the same high quality standards, the international instructor team subjects technicians and instructors in various countries to in-depth and

“The results are always perfect” – What customers say about Standoblue “With Standoblue, it simply doesn’t make a difference any more who does the painting – the results are always perfect.”

Michael Schäfer, Lackier- und Karosseriezentrum Schäfer (Germany)

continuing training in the use of Standoblue. This means instructors are aware of, and can communicate, the system’s huge potential. Businesses that want to switch to Standoblue have the chance to try out the new materials and working methods at special Standoblue seminars in national Training Centers. There they can afford the luxury of making mistakes without the usual consequences in the workplace. In addition to this, Standox application specialists can also visit bodyshop premises during changeover. Since the launch of Standoblue, about 1,000 bodyshops overall have been introduced to the

“Colour accuracy with Standoblue is truly impressive.”

Arne Hansen and Dennis Karlsen (right), Industrivejens Autolakering A/S (Denmark)

new technology.

“Standoblue is easier to apply, and you only need a single sweep of the spray gun.”

Raymond Dubbeldam, Autoschade Dubbeldam & van Noordenne (Netherlands)

“Overall, the entire painting process is faster and less susceptible to flaws.”

Monika Tschallener and Johann Weiskopf, Auto Haid GmbH (Austria)

6 title story

Standoblue brings a shine to luxury vehicles If James Bond, the legendary British film hero, really existed, his car would probably come from luxury coachbuilders CARAT Duchatelet in Belgium. And it would certainly be finished in Standoblue.

At the coachbuilders in Liège, high-security, individually film thickness is necessarily thicker than on normal vehicles,” equipped limousines and off-road vehicles are built – by hand. he explains. “There aren’t any flaws in the clearcoat despite the The company’s customers include businesspeople, celebrities, thicker film. It has excellent gloss and flow, dries well right politicians and heads of state from all over the world. Every through and is easy to polish.” single vehicle is fully dismantled here before being rebuilt, armoured, individually equipped and resprayed in the colour For the paintwork of an armoured luxury limousine, Delayer of choice. The 150 employees build about 50 custom vehicles needs an average of ten to twelve litres of Standoblue Basecoat and about ten litres of Standocryl VOC 2K Clearcoat. Each

this way each year.

armoured component is sprayed individually before being The 40 employees in the paintshop know from their own subsequently polished and reassembled. The fact that no experience that armoured vehicles place special demands on transitions are visible at all on the fully assembled vehicle is application and drying. At the same time, the special product attributable to innovative Standoblue technology, which properties of Standoblue have impressed senior painter ensures uniform pigment orientation in the paint. Clouding Jean-Paul Delayer and his team. “On the vehicles we build, the during application or colour changes during drying are thus excluded. And it is precisely this that makes the new Standox technology ideal for the challenging painting work at CARAT: “We owe it to our customers and our reputation to deliver this high quality. And that’s why we use Standoblue,” Purchasing Manager Patrick André explains.

Images: CARAT Duchatelet

The interior of an armoured vehicle partitioned-off from the front part of the vehicle. The rear door area has been stretched by 30 cm.

You can’t tell at first glance that this noble Rolls-Royce limousine is armoured. The front and rear doors have also been lengthened and the roof raised.

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journal 7

2011 car colour trends – worldwide

Colour trends: Black and silver neck and neck the majority of vehicles are silver, black, grey and white. Next in line are red and blue, shades of beige and brown, as well as Global colour trends show that black and silver are jostling for shades of green, gold and yellow. Standox’s experts don’t the top slot in popularity. This is one of the results of the annual expect preferences to change radically in the coming years.

Standox analysis of current colour trend data. Grey and white However, the spectrum of colours will broaden. Even today, the are joint third at 16 per cent each. A comparison of the leading various colour groups are invigorated by countless variants and colours in different countries reveals changes of position, but nuances with new, unusual hues. the overall colour picture remains uniformly “achromatic”, i.e.

Relics of paint history The “Swinging” Sixties are currently being brought back to life at Standox’s headquarters in Wuppertal. This is where visitors can admire, among other things, the perfect miniature model of a Mercedes repair shop of the period. The model repair shop lovingly hand-crafted by Wuppertal artist Dirk Patschkowski (pictured) is just one of many exhibits enabling visitors to relive Standox company history.

“Be it old paint cans or colour charts – if seemingly trivial objects aren’t collected in time, they’ll one day be gone for good,” explains Andreas Keller, Head of Technical Service at Standox. He has been rummaging around in the company and among dealers and customers for old documents, photos, paint cans and tools. And the haul is impressive. His collection covers everything from paint cans from all stages of Standox history via price lists from the Sixties to a restored Goggomobil TS 250 built in 1967.

20 years of Standox in Estonia Benefit AS has been the Standox distributor in Estonia and the leading supplier to the country’s bodyshops since 1990. The anniversary was celebrated by 100 guests – dealers, customers and business friends – at a conference centre near Tallinn. Many customers arrived in their immaculately restored classic cars to underline the high quality of Standox paint systems and Benefit’s classic car expertise.

8 journal

Standox presents “The Art of Color” In a new image campaign, Standox is restating its claim to be the premium supplier of refinish paints. The campaign’s main theme “The Art of Color” takes up and re-interprets the brand slogan of “The Art of Refinishing”. The high-grade artistic images present seemingly accidental spills of paint reminiscent of Rorschach ink blots. A closer inspection, however, reveals their affinity to the familiar Standox philosophy. This is backed up by brief texts explaining the brand values and benefits to the customer and drawing attention to further information on the Internet. The images revolve around the spheres of expertise that underpin Standox’s position on the market: Colour expertise, high-grade product systems, and training skills. The first images of the international campaign entitled “Blue Woman”, “Shell” and “Two Men” are already in use.

More will follow in the course of the year.

Standoblue captures the imagination at “Auto & Korjaamo” Over 10,000 bodyshop professionals visited

numerous customers that have so far been

“Auto & Korjaamo”, the biggest international

using Standohyd decided to switch during

exhibition for vehicle workshops, parts and

the exhibition,” explains Veikko Nieminen,

accessories in the Nordic countries. HL Group

Brand Manager Standox at the HL Group:

OY, Standox distributor in Finland, took part in

“And plenty of users of other makes of paint

the three-day fair in Helsinki with a 270 m²

couldn’t help being immediately impressed by

stand. The main attraction of the stand was

Standoblue.”

Standoblue, the new Standox basecoat system. “The advantages are so obvious that

Virtual tour of the Standox Center At www.standox.de/virtuell, visitors and potential

From there it is possible, with further clicks, to

customers can now find out on the Internet how the

change the angle, zoom in and out and move about

Information Center in Wuppertal looks and where

the building. What is particularly innovative is that

everything is located. Users simply navigate with

the tour is also possible by using a smartphone.

the mouse. Clicking one of the red dots on the ground plan opens up a view of the desired room.

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workshop management 9

exclusivelineXL for distinctive finishes Standox has launched its exclusivelineXL, a series of to their subtle play of colours that often call for a special effect colours that follows on from the Exclusive Line closer inspection, they really catch the eye. Further range, so popular with lovers of custom paintwork. The information on exclusivelineXL is available on the Internet select colours not only give cars that special something, but at www.standox.com/XL. Here a photo gallery and information they can also add style and a distinctive finish to items such on the various colours can serve as inspiration for one’s as helmets, motorcycles, furniture and smartphones.

own designs. Aided with folders of original paint charts, bodyshops can introduce interested customers to the

Two years of development work have gone into Magic special effect paints.

Magenta, Atomic Orange, Shifting Carbon, Urban Bamboo, Explosive Gold and Python Green. The paints certainly live up to their names. They light up in the sun and, thanks

exclusivelineXL App The new Standox App gives interested cus-

When it is moved, the phone display shows how

tomers and professionals the chance to view

the colour shifts in changing light conditions.

the fascinating colours of the exclusive paint

The App also includes sample objects painted

edition on mobile phones. The smartphone

with exclusivelineXL colours and thus supplies

serves effectively as a digital panel.

plenty of inspiration for personalised design finishes. Developed for Android smartphones, the App is free of charge and can be downloaded at www.standox.com.

10 w o r k s h o p m a n a g e m e n t

Attracting new customers with Classic Color Partner The market for classic vehicles is growing rapidly. With a new marketing strategy, Standox is giving bodyshops the chance to bring their skills to the attention of owners of classic cars.

The vehicle registration statistics say it all. The vehicles can be efficiently solved with Genius, the number of motorists that own vehicles more than opto-electronic spectrophotometer from Standox.

20 years old or classic cars at over 30 years old is growing. In Germany, for instance, there are more By introducing Classic Color Partner, Standox is now than 1.6 million registered vehicles over 20 years going a step further. To appeal to owners of classic old. Their owners often have an emotional automobiles, the company has developed a series attachment to their vehicles. The maintenance and of attention-grabbing marketing tools. These include care of such vehicles is elaborate and requires sample letters for personalised direct mailings, expert knowledge.

advertising copy for placement in the local media, the Classic Color Partner logo in various file formats.

For professional repairs, Standox offers bodyshops There are also a door name-plate, banner display advanced and cost-effective paint systems that are and flag enabling businesses to draw attention to also particularly suitable for the painting of classic their special skills at the entrance to their premises. cars. The problem of identifying the colours of older A repair video and a brochure graphically show the various steps of a professional repair process.

Bodyshops that are interested can obtain further information from their Standox partner.

Viewing classic car colours on the Internet With the Classic Color documentation, manufacturers at the time. The documenclassic car fans can now find out all about tation gives a good impression of the the original colours of their favourite colours available at the time and how models. To this end, the Wuppertal paint classic vehicles may have looked in manufacturer has digitised its historic their original paintwork. The data can be colour documentation and posted it on downloaded at the Internet. Organised by country, the www.standox.com/classic. total of eight volumes cover the colours of European car brands from Auto Union to Volvo, as supplied by vehicle

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products

11

Standofleet Color Tools for better

commercial vehicle repairs Standofleet from Standox not only gives a high-grade mixing chromatically sorted colour swatches, matting swatches and base system for painting commercial vehicles, but also the the Colormix Poster are now being supplemented increasingly tools that bodyshops need to quickly and reliably find the right with electronic Color Tools. Hypermodern tools like the Genius colour. Also the task of efficiently identifying colours has spectrophotometer, Standowin colour software and convenient become more demanding in the commercial vehicle sector. online colour searches make it possible to identify colours and Such tried-and-tested aids as the Standofleet Color Box with convert them straight into the equivalent mixing formulations with the minimum of effort. Whether a colour is scanned by the refinisher with Genius and then read into Standowin or tinted and adjusted with the aid of the Standofleet colour poster makes no difference, because all the Standofleet Color Tools are mutually complementary and can be combined as desired.

Information on the available Standofleet aids can be found in two brochures. “Step by step to the right colour. Standofleet Color Tools” presents an overview of the various tools, while “The Color Poster for correct tinting. Standofleet” visually demonstrates how to tint colours with the aid of the Color Poster. Further information can be found at www.standox.com/standofleet.

The clearcoat for fast-track processes Standocryl VOC Express Clearcoat is a

Thanks to its energy-saving features

high-grade 2K clear for spot repairs and

such as reduced drying time and tempe-

partial and complete resprays. It is

rature plus its improved air-drying

versatile in its application and hardens

performance, it boosts bodyshop

very quickly. High-performance, high-

productivity and profitability. In only

yield and easy to polish, it reliably

15 to 30 minutes at 50 to 60 °C object

produces impeccable results even in dif-

temperature, it hardens sufficiently for

ficult processing and drying conditions.

body reassembly. Overnight air drying and extra-fast infrared drying are also

It is applied in a single pass and can be perfectly adapted to the particular application conditions with the appropriate Standox VOC hardeners and thinners. There are certain specific combinations for different types of repair.

possible.

12 g a l l e r y

MERCEDES GP PETRONAS trusts in Standox

As the official Team Supplier to the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS race team, Standox is the exclusive source of colours for the Silver Arrows in the 2011 Formula One season.

Paint finishes in Formula One have to satisfy tough require- properties in extreme conditions. The technicians at Standox ments. The Standox paint system is renowned for its visual have made special efforts to make the paint as light as possible impact so that the race vehicles make the best possible in order to facilitate compliance with the strict weight limits. In impression on the media and spectators. Standox paints are addition to painting the race cars, all the show cars and trucks also distinguished by their high strength and hard-wearing of MERCEDES GP PETRONAS, cooperation with Standox also extends to technical training for the team. This enables them to carry out any necessary repairs to Formula One vehicles on the spot after the race.

Images: Mercedes GP Petronas

“Looking forward to the cooperation and the opportunities arising from it: Nick Fry (CEO Mercedes GP Petronas), Anthony Cashel (Marketing Support Manager DPC Refinish Systems), Jodie Henly (Brand Marketing Specialist Standox UK), Zvonimir Simunovic (Brand Manager Standox GmbH) (from left to right).�

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g a l l e r y 13

“Zvonimir Simunovic talking to Andrew Moody (right).”

“Product choice is extremely important to us” Interview with Andrew Moody, Head of Paint and Graphics, MERCEDES GP PETRONAS

interstandox: How does the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS paint

interstandox: How exactly does the cooperation with Standox

shop work compare to a normal bodyshop?

work?

Andrew Moody: It is very similar in many aspects, and we use

Andrew Moody: On the technical side, the cooperation

very similar tools and products. The big difference is the way

between Standox and MERCEDES GP PETRONAS is a two-way

that we use them. Although carbon fibre is an inherently

street with constant feedback from both parties. On-site

strong material, it can also be very fragile and it has to be

training with the Standox technical team and use of the

treated with extreme care as some of the bodywork has a

Training Academy in Stevenage have been important parts

final skin thickness as little as 1 mm. Therefore great care has

of our training programme. It is essential that all painters

to be taken whilst abrading these surfaces. This is even more

continue to learn fresh techniques and have refresher

important with “Class A” components such as wings where as courses. But it does not stop there: We are constantly the slightest piece of damage could compromise the safety

working on new substrates which require different products

of the car and our drivers.

and methods, so it is a constant learning process for both the Paint Shop and Standox.

interstandox: What special requirements have to be met by the paint of the Silver Arrows?

interstandox: How does the on-site refinishing of the racing

Andrew Moody: Speed is the most critical requirement. We

cars after the races work?

have very short turnaround and manufacturing lead times

Andrew Moody: After the cars have been stripped, repaired,

so it is vital that we use only products which can offer us

scanned and inspected, they will return to the Paint Shop to

minimum curing times. It is also essential that we can use

be repainted if required. This means weighing the component

the paint in an aero-friendly manner (e.g. no large edges on

and removing existing or damaged paintwork and starting

aero surfaces, so product choice is extremely important to us.

again. This is normally carried out over a three to four day period and normally means extremely long working hours

interstandox: How important is the paint of the Silver Arrows

for the staff. The car is also constantly evolving with new

for the success of the racing team?

bodywork and wing upgrades. We try to plan these to be ready

Andrew Moody: Weight is everything in Formula One, so the

for when the cars return from a race so that we can spend

paint that we use plays an important role in ensuring that

the turnaround time focusing on the chassis and other

weight is kept to a minimum. We have a written procedure for

homologated parts. The one thing that we never worry about

all of our processes. Part of this entails each component being

is running out work – there is always something to paint!

weighed before and after the paint process followed by an inspection sign-off.

interstandox: What do the drivers think of the cars new design?

interstandox: Which and how many vehicles are painted in

Andrew Moody: The feedback from the drivers has been

the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS livery?

really good. Everyone seems to love the gloss effect which

Andrew Moody: Our fleet of nine race trucks and six driver

makes the cars really stand out on the track.

scooters are all painted in the MERCEDES GP PETRONAS livery. There is also an enormous amount of race team equipment that will be painted every winter before the new season begins. This includes the garage walls, overhead lighting systems, grid trolleys, hospitality panels, computer racks, water chillers – the list is endless!

14 i n t e r n a t i o n a l

The refinishing team at Heckendorn.

Blazing the trail: Heckendorn AG paints with Standoblue The example of Carrosserie Heckendorn AG in Switzerland shows how cutting-edge paint technology can help to enhance efficiency and quality in the bodyshop.

Andreas Heckendorn, second-generation owner of the family The new system has also impressed the specialists at business with ten employees in Oberwil near Basel, has always Heckendorn when it comes to what are often problematical wanted to be technically state-of-the-art: “Blazing the trail is blend-ins. “The results are outstanding,” says sprayer Patrick not the overriding reason, but we’re happy to pave the way,” Billot, “and you can’t see any transitions or colour differences he explains with a smile. In 1994, at a time when waterborne between the original paint surfaces and the blended-in paints were hardly a big talking point, Heckendorn became patches.” At the same time, the paint dries extremely quickly the first bodyshop in Switzerland to introduce Standohyd, the and thus accelerates the work process. “With Standoblue we Standox waterborne paint system.

save valuable time in the booth,” says Billot. Electronic colour identification is very much on the advance at Heckendorn as

Heckendorn was in fact perfectly happy with his Standohyd well. The interplay between Standoblue and Genius, the system when he heard from paint supplier André Koch AG, the Standox spectrophotometer, is particularly efficient.

Swiss general distributor for Standox, that Standox had “With Genius, we can measure the colour right at the car launched a new, groundbreaking basecoat technology. body,” Andreas Heckendorn explains. “The results are highly A practical demonstration and detailed talks with Philipp dependable even where difficult colours are concerned.”

Bernet, the André Koch marketing manager, then persuaded Overall, the verdict at Heckendorn after changeover is him and his four-strong refinishing team of the outstanding thoroughly positive: “Thanks to its straightforward application, quality of the new, VOC-compliant Standoblue system. process security has been enhanced. And we have the Application required only minor adjustments from the team at assurance of always being able to offer the customer top Heckendorn. The refinisher mixes the desired colour and quality.” adds Standoblue Viscosity Adjuster instead of the usual Demineralised Water. Then the basecoat is applied in one and a half spray passes in a single work process – without timeconsuming flash-off.

In the Color Box developed specifically for Standoblue, variants of standard colors are neatly arranged on swatches.

The basecoat is applied in one and a half spray passes in a single work process – without time-consuming flash-off.

Clearly laid-out posters on Standoblue application and blending-in make the work process easier.

With Standoblue and Genius, perfect colour identification becomes reality.

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i n t e r n a t i o n a l 15

Pasi Paananen, owner of KELE Design.

Alubeam: an exclusive paint finish

Images: KELE Design

www.keledesign.fi Extravagant design presents the Art of Refinishing at its best. The Finnish designer Pasi Paananen has finished an exhilarating motorcycle, the Brawl Bike, in Alubeam from Standox. Alubeam is a silver colour with an extreme metallic gleam that takes a lot of skill to apply.

interstandox: Can you tell us a bit about your career to date?

interstandox: How difficult was the paint finish with

Pasi Paananen: I’m 34 years old and have been running my

Alubeam?

own motorcycle design business, KELE Design, in Iisalmi,

Pasi Paananen: It certainly was a challenge. The painting

Finland, for about two years now. Before this I worked as a

itself wasn’t the problem, as the paint is highly impermeable

designer in Austria, at a company called KISKA. There I was

to light and covers well. The difficult thing was preparing the

part of the KTM motorcycle design team. I designed the

surface. Since I don’t use wet-on-wet systems, I had to give all

KTM Stunt 690 concept bike and the KTM 990 SMT series-

the parts thorough preparation. The stopper was wet-sanded

production bike.

with 1500 grit paper.

interstandox: What exactly does your work entail?

interstandox: Where does the unusual name “Brawl”

Pasi Paananen: I give motorcycles a customised design. This

come from?

includes design proper as well as making parts and custom

Pasi Paananen: It comes from the film “Transformers”.

painting. About 50 per cent of my customers are ordinary

“Brawl” is one of the brawling Autobots and it has shiny

bikers, while the others are company customers, i.e.

armour with an aluminium finish. The name aptly describes

motorcycle makers, race teams etc.

the powerful and aggressive nature of this motorcycle.

interstandox: We’re eager to know more, of course, whether

interstandox: You’ve realised a huge range of projects –

you designed the “Brawl” for a specific customer?

which are the ones that really stand out?

Pasi Paananen: I’m afraid I can’t say anything about it. The

Pasi Paananen: There have been many truly challenging

owner is a private customer and doesn’t want any publicity.

projects. If I had to pick one out, it would be the Stunt 690, which I designed for KTM. That really was something special.

interstandox: What was your contribution to the project?

And how long did it take you?

Pasi Paananen (laughing): At any rate, too long. Seriously, though, it must have been about nine months. But we couldn’t always work on the project, so there were breaks along the way. My main tasks were design, production, painting and assembling the body. I also replaced the bike’s suspension, wheels, switches and electrics.

Lutz Menze Design

IN LOVE WITH COLOR.

Professional vehicle refinishers know that identifying the right color is the be all and end all in this trade. Standox, the European leader in automotive repair technology, helps you find the perfect color match reliably and efficiently. Our advanced Color Tools include Color Search Software, an electronic Spectrophotometer as well as an Online Color Search.

This way you always have access to the latest information, even when using a mobile. For the perfect color match, Standox delivers the best results. For more information visit www.standox.co.uk/colortool Interstandox 71