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  5. Collision Paint Shop Efficiency
Collision Repair
Paint technician using 3M Performance Spray Gun 2 System
Making increasingly complex automotive painting processes, simpler.

Navigating new and existing paint challenges to help achieve streamlined success.

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Tips, resources and products to help you manage colour complexity, texture matching and OEM standards

Automotive painting is evolving, presenting new challenges for painters. Colour application is increasingly complex, due to increased use of specialty colours and metallics across vehicle manufacturers. Painters need more technical skills to handle colour complexity, match new textures and meet OEM paint requirements. Today's painters must adapt to the intricacies of modern paint formulations.

Below we explore the challenges and best practices of colour complexity, texture matching, OEM paint requirements and production efficiency—to help you simplify the complex paint process.

Navigating complex colour applications: Challenges, best practices, and solutions

The evolution of paint colours and techniques continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the industry. Achieving the right finish now requires a combination of adapting to environmental factors, advanced materials, precise equipment, and expert application skills. As these trends continue, being aware of the technology and techniques will be crucial for success in the increasingly sophisticated world of automotive painting.

  • Paint technician spraying vehicle part with illustrative icon of paint drop over image

  • Successful colour and paint application starts with:
     

    • Ensuring proper spray gun setup for finer atomisation and smooth finishes.
    • Engaging in continuous training to adapt to evolving car paint colours and technologies.
    • Enhancing your and your shop's understanding of paint properties for effective mixing and application.
    • Recognising specialty colours during estimation to account for additional time and expenses.
    • Meeting OEM paint standards and staying updated on guidelines for compliant and quality repairs.

    Below, explore 3M resources and products to help you navigate complex colour applications.

    Infographic: Making complex colour and paint line application, simpler (PDF, 97.2 KB)

    Article: Navigating the complex world of automotive colour and paint lines (PDF, 511 KB)

Matching new challenging textures: Key strategies to implement now

Matching textures is a new challenge for automotive painting professionals. Undercoats, like rocker guard, once had uniform textures but now vary in texture across manufacturers. Topcoats need to match panel textures for invisible repairs. If the factory orange peel is rough, you'll need to spray to match that texture. Proper spray gun setup and masking techniques are essential.

  • Paint technician spray a textured panel with 3M Performance Spray Gun 2 with illustrative icon of texture

  • Consider implementing these five key strategies to help match these challenging textures:

    • Recognise texture variety and learn adapt your technique accordingly,
    • Using quality paint masking materials when creating crisp or soft transition lines,
    • Modify spray gun distance, overlap and speed to replicate surrounding panel texture,
    • Stay updated on evolving paint technologies and refine your skills and master new application methods, and
    • Adjust spray gun settings like fluid flow, air pressure, and tip size to achieve desired textures.

    Below, explore 3M resources and products to help you match new challenging textures.

    Fine-tune your technique: Explore the infographic for matching textures (PDF, 97.2 KB)

    YouTube Texture Matching Series including: Matching rock and chip guards, Transition Lines and Final application

Meeting OEM paint requirements: Three essential requirements for compliance

Adhering to OEM paint requirements can help ensure quality, compliance and cost-efficiency over time. It's important to check these requirements for every paint job, guidelines can change on a weekly or monthly basis.

  • Paint technician spray a car with illustrative icon of checkmarks over the image

  • To meet strict OEM paint requirements consider the following in your repair planning:
     

    • Mil thickness, radar-safe paint formula and non-reparable areas
    • Integrate paint processes and formula lookups into your shop's repair planning
    • Equip your shop with ferrous and non-ferrous mil thickness gauges for accurate measurements before and after painting.

    Article: A starting guide - Meeting OEM requirements for paint

Maximising paint booth efficiency: Strategies for minimising waste and maximising output

The spray paint booth can be a bottleneck due to drying times, use of specialty colours and wasted booth space. Rising paint costs make accurate estimates and quality checks vital. Improve efficiency with parts-off painting, booth schedules, tracking refinish hours and premixing colours.

  • Paint technician user 3M PPS 2.0 Cup System in paint booth with illustrative icon of a stop watch over image

  • Improving paint efficiency and reducing waste may require some trial and error, but here are some places to start:
     

    • Consider removing parts from vehicles before painting to free up booth space
    • Use a dry erase board and create a dedicated booth schedule to plan cycles for the next day
    • Implement floor staging to organise parts effectively before you move them into the paint booth
    • Use mixing software to ensure accurate paint mixing and consider tinting primers to reduce basecoat usage
    • Ensure proper application techniques are used and adjust spray gun settings to suit your needs

    Transform your automotive painting process with these efficiency tips— Download the infographic (PDF, 97.2 KB)

    Article: Streamline your paint booth process and workflow

Explore 3M™ Performance Spray Gun Paint System

Designed for the modern professional painter, 3M™ Performance Spray Gun is designed specifically to save you time while delivering top-of-the-line performance. Its integrated system includes quick-change replaceable HVLP and fine finish atomizing heads and 3M™ PPS™ Series 2.0 Spray Cups, which makes for faster cleanup, changeovers and cycle times. Learn more about the whole system below.

  • Group image of the 3M Performance Spray Gun Paint System
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3M™ Performance Spray Gun 2
close up of 3M™ Performance Spray Gun 2

See the newest generation spray gun product details or check out our original 3M™ Performance Spray Gun

3M™ PPS™ Series 2.0 H/O Pressure Cup
close up of 3M™ PPS™ Series 2.0 H/O Pressure Cup
Explore the H/O pressure cup product details
3M™ Performance Gravity HVLP Atomizing Heads
close up of 3M™ Performance Gravity HVLP Atomizing Heads
Discover the benefits of the HVLP atomizing heads
3M™ Performance Gravity Fine Finish Atomizing Head
close up of 3M™ Performance Gravity Fine Finish Atomizing Heads

Explore the 3M™ Performance Gravity Fine Finish

3M™ PPS™ Series 2.0 Spray Cup System
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See the details about our linered spray cup system

Click on a red dot to explore the product

Frequently Asked Questions about paint efficiency tips, resources and solutions

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