More collision centers in the National Rule areas of North America are now using PPG Automotive Refinish waterborne products than in low-VOC regulated areas. The announcement was made recently by Tim Jones, PPG waterborne segment manager. Of the more than 9,000 collision centers in the U.S. and Canada using PPG waterborne products, more than fifty percent of them are in areas not required to meet current lower VOC limits. Such limits are in place in California, Canada and Delaware and will soon be implemented in Maryland, Utah and other regions.


Regulated (compliant) regions require collision centers to use low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) refinish products. PPG’s waterborne basecoats were introduced to serve such markets. While collision centers outside the low-VOC regions have more latitude in using traditional solvent-borne products, a significant number of shops have chosen to convert to PPG’s Envirobase High Performance and Aquabase Plus waterborne systems even though there is no obligation for them to do so.

“The wave of conversions has been remarkable,” said Jones. “In areas not restricted by current or impending low-VOC compliance standards, more collision centers apparently understand the value and quality of PPG products and service. They are making the change as a matter of preference. They realize PPG is not just a great waterborne option—it’s a great overall option.”

Jones attributes the success of PPG’s waterborne products to several factors including product quality, ease of use, superior color match and PPG’s highly effective Convert With Confidence conversion process. “Change can be difficult, and switching to waterborne is one of the most important decisions a shop can make. Customers are discovering that our unique process makes the conversion simple. And once a shop has converted, it can capitalize on the advantages and benefits PPG waterborne provides over solvent for color match, ease of use and productivity.”



PPG initially debuted its waterborne technology to the automotive OEM market in 1986. In 1992 it introduced the world’s first commercialized automotive refinish waterborne basecoat, and in 2006 PPG launched its third generation and current waterborne technology, as found in the Envirobase High Performance and Aquabase Plus brands. Keeping with the company’s innovation leadership in waterborne technology, PPG recently added a new waterborne primer surfacer and has more related products on the way.