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Letter to the Editor

Mercedes-Benz Jacksonville Port Facility Switches to Glasurit Waterborne Paint System

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. -- The Mercedes-Benz Vehicle Processing Center (VPC) in Jacksonville, Fla, recently converted its paint operation to the Glasurit 90 Line waterborne basecoat/clearcoat system. This means that all three Mercedes-Benz port facilities in North America now use 90 Line waterborne products. The Los Angeles VPC had switched to 90 Line in 1994, and the Baltimore VPC switched in 2000. The Mercedes-Benz VPCs are the final quality inspection points, at which transportation damage is repaired before the vehicles are delivered to dealerships.

Although both East Coast VPCs had the option of using solvent-borne systems that met VOC requirements, the facility managers chose the Glasurit waterborne system. According to Steve Pisano, BASF sales representative for the Jacksonville VPC, the color matching accuracy with the 90 Line system has proven to be outstanding. "The whole system is easy to use," said Pisano, "and delivers the same kind of outstanding gloss and finish as solvent-borne systems."

Mercedes-Benz is one of BASF's most longstanding customers. When new manufacturing technologies and processes made it impossible to use factory paints for repairs, BASF developed and began to supply paints specially formulated for the automotive refinish market. Today, BASF remains one of the few companies whose automotive paints are recommended by Mercedes-Benz for repairing its vehicles.

According to Joe Skurka, BASF Manager of OEM Relations, the decision by Mercedes-Benz to use the Glasurit 90 Line in all three of its VPCs is proof that waterborne technology has truly come of age. "These facilities are committed to the very high standards of quality and productivity that Mercedes-Benz is famous for," says Skurka. "We are extremely pleased that our waterborne paints meet those strict standards."

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