BASF and Nissan expand coatings and paint partnership
10 January 2013
BASF has expanded its partnership with Nissan, and is now also supplying the automaker with coatings and paints for the Pathfinder and Infiniti models at its Smyrna plant in Tennessee, USA. BASF supplies Nissan with coating solutions from e-coat and basecoat to clearcoat.
BASF is also working on more streamlined technologies with Nissan in emerging markets such as China—for example with the 3 Wet waterborne coating technique, which is also used in Smyrna.
The most notable advantage of the 3 Wet waterborne system is the elimination of one drying phase. Previously, car bodies required two 30-minute rounds in the drying oven, after application of the primer, and the basecoat/clearcoat. In the new method these three layers are applied wet-on-wet, and then subsequently dried.
This shortened process leads to shorter production time, less energy consumption, streamlined paint lines and lower emissions.
BASF is the unique supplier of “sprayables” (primer, basecoats and clearcoats) for Nissan European production sites; Sunderland (England), St Petersburg (Russia) and Barcelona (Spain). In China, BASF supplies Nissan’s Huadu plant.
BASF also has long-standing supply relationships with Nissan in Japan and India.
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